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Japanese director and Cannes favourite Hirokazu Kore-eda enters the race for the Palme d'Or with Our Little Sister (Umimachi Diary, 2015), adapted from the Akimi Yoshida's manga. It tells the story of three grown women who live in their late grandmother's house and fend for themselves, as if a version of the family from Kore-eda's excellent Nobody Knows (which showed at Cannes in 2004) had somehow managed to make it into adulthood and self-sufficiency. Mother and father have divorced. Dad has another family now (they think) and mother is mainly absent, an intermittent but rare visitor. The sisters get along just fine without them, bickering and fighting and making up the way sisters do.
Each of the women is a different personality in such a sharply delineated way as to hover just above stereotype. The older sister, Sachi (played with cool authority by Haruka Ayase), is the default matriarch, working shifts as a nurse at the local hospital. She also takes on the lion's share of domestic duties. Effectively she's the scold. Next one down is Yoshi (Masam Nagasawa), who works in a bank and likes her boyfriends and her beer. Chika (Kaho) is the crazy little sister – the Harpo of the group – crawling around the floor like a toddler, dating the boyfriend with the craziest hairdo and serving as the comedy safety valve for the other two's on-off tension. When their father dies and they decide to go to the funeral, the three sisters meet Suzu (Suzu Hirose), their half-sister and – seeing that she is obviously unhappy with her step mother – offer to take her in.
Kore-eda's latest is remarkably angst-free. There are no real villains nor antagonists. School is okay, bad luck happens, some people misbehave, but through weakness rather than evil. Arguments are more likely to be based on misunderstandings than irresolvable differences. The sisters and their loves might hurt each other but without malice and everyone ultimately will seek and receive forgiveness. Sachi is having an affair with a married doctor in a way that dangerously replicates the behaviour of the hated other woman, but the doctor is a well-meaning man whose ambition is to treat children with cancer for crying out loud. And as Suzu's dead mother is the other woman, Sachi and her sisters must now find it in their hearts to forgive her for Suzu's sake. Yoshi is upset by the latest in a string of bad boyfriends, but there is always a welcome at home and we know that it will all be worked out in the end. Yoshi, Sachi and Chika become three surrogate mums for Suzu and she in turn is a rejuvenating presence who adds an unexpected angle to their lives. She joins the school football team and happily joins in the house rituals of making plum wine.
The sisters recognise themselves in her independence and self- sufficiency, but also in her own troubles with her past. All the sisters have lost their childhood, either through death or divorce and in Suzu they have an opportunity to witness the trauma from an opposing perspective, giving them the chance to come to terms with the past. None of this is particularly dramatic, and certainly not melodramatic. The humour is as gentle as the girls are and, without sharp edges, the film occasionally veers towards schmaltz, but Kore-eda's deft touch and his eye for a subtle yet precise detail keeps the world grounded and consistently interesting, funny and at times moving. The performances of all the actors are uniformly excellent in that they never strike you as performances. Seasons change and shadows pass overhead, and Kore-eda enjoys spending time with his family so much that he can be forgiven for perhaps staying a little too long, yet Our Little Sister remains an intelligent, quiet work from a master filmmaker.
The 68th Cannes Film Festival takes place from 13-24 May 2015. For more Cannes coverage, simply follow this link.
John Bleasdale | @drjonty


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Pamd's Profile
About me
I live in a cottage in Cornwall nr. the Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan. My garden is a cottage wildlife garden, but I do like to grow rare & unusual plants. Not really into veg. I love Hellebores, Snowdrops, Sasanqua Camellias and the little autumn Cyclamen. I'm not into bedding plants much, may plant a few hanging baskets to hang down the driveway. Mostly I grow herbacious perenials, and then I "cheat" and grow lillies,glady's and other summer bulbs in pots, and when I have a gap in any borders either stand the pot of whatever there or dig it in. I also have a small collection of Dierama's, (Angels Fishing Rods) some of the shorter varieties.
I also run a small B & B & meet lots of lovely people from
all over the world. Mostly they come to visit the Eden Project or Heligan. Here in Cornwall we also have other marvellous gardens, one being Pine Lodge Garden.
I love photgraphy, mostly flowers, not that I'm an expert. Also reading, mostly in the winter.
I am a retired florist. Run my own business for fourteen years, but went into floristry when I was fifteen. I have four lovely grandsons, age 11. 8. 6. & six months.
Latest photos
Latest blogs
Latest questions
What else
Joined in Feb 2009
Country: United Kingdom
County: Cornwall

subset: commoncrawl


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Australia Awards Engagement
A Study NSW Project
Enhancing linkages with the NSW Government
Enhancing linkages with the NSW Government
Australia Awards are prestigious international scholarships and fellowships funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) offering the next generation of global leaders an opportunity to undertake study, research and professional development.
Australia Awards contribute to the long-term objectives of promoting growth and stability in our region, as well as strengthening links between people and organisations to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. They equip recipients with the skills and knowledge to drive change and contribute to the economic and social development of their own countries, in effect, building the human resource capacity of partner countries within mutually agreed development sectors.
The Australia Awards Global Scope program is designed to foster stronger links between NSW Government and Australia Awards students. This interactive program provides an opportunity for Australia Awards participants to better understand the NSW public sector priorities and operations.
The program stands as a positive example of Commonwealth and NSW Government collaboration to support the international education sector.
This year, more than 30 international student scholars took part in the Australia Awards Global Scope program over June and July 2021.
Coming across 14 countries and 9 NSW universities, students worked on projects within different government agencies, receiving support from mentors and clients.


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This privacy notice is designed to help you understand how and why we use CCTV.
Film footage of individuals is classed as personal data where an individual can be directly or indirectly identified.
Why do you need to process my image and how will you use it?
Some of our buildings have CCTV for the purposes of:
- Reducing crime in the form of theft, fire, vandalism, physical and verbal abuse to its personnel and property by aiding prevention through deterrence and detection.
- Providing a safer and a more secure environment for all personnel working within the premises, or any members of the public with lawful reasons for being at the premises.
- Maintaining the security of buildings and associated contents.
The Fire and Rescue Service Act 2004 makes it a requirement that we secure the provision of the personnel, services and equipment necessary efficiently to meet all normal requirements and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 provides the obligation to safeguard our employees.
CCTV footage is used for investigation purposes, for the prevention and detection of crime and for internal matters such as, accident investigations. Decisions on how footage will be used are made on a case by case basis.
We do not perform any covert surveillance, covert surveillance is that carried out in a manner calculated to ensure that subjects of it are unaware it is, or may be taking place. All buildings where CCTV is fitted will display awareness signs.
Who will have access to the information?
Access to our control room is monitored by live feed CCTV, this can be viewed by anybody in the control room at that time, but they do not have access to the hard drive.
Upon request from the responsible department, our Technical Services team would access the CCTV hard drive to download copies of requested footage. They would then pass it to Health or Safety, Property Services or another Service manager who has a legitimate reasons to review it. For the purposes of prevention and detection of crime, we would securely disclose the footage to the Police, upon request.
CCTV is managed by Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service.
How long will you keep hold of my information?
Where footage is stored on the hard drive it is retained for a period of 14 days. Footage that has been downloaded from the hard drive is reviewed at least annually, to determine whether it is still required to meet the intended purpose. We cannot determine how long the Police would retain any footage given to them for crime prevention purposes.
Is there anything else I need to know when it comes to my personal information?
Where the capture and use of the image is based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw this. Find out more about the rights you have when it comes to your personal information or who you can contact to discuss it further.
Who can I contact about my personal information?
You can contact our Data Protection Officer with regard to any issues related to the processing of your personal information, including exercising any of your rights or making a complaint.
We encourage people to bring to our attention any instances where they think our collection, or use of, information is unfair, misleading or inappropriate.
Data Protection Officer
Joint Police & Fire Headquarters
Butterley Hall
Derbyshire DE5 3RS
Telephone: 01773 305305
Email: email@example.com
Right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office
If you wish to complain about any aspect of the handling of your request, then you should contact our Data Protection Officer at:
Data Protection Officer
Joint Police & Fire Headquarters
Butterley Hall
Derbyshire DE5 3RS
Telephone: 01773 305305
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
If informal resolution is not possible and you are still dissatisfied then you may apply for an independent internal review by our Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive. Please note that any request for an internal review must be made within 40 working days of the date on which the attempt to reach informal resolution has come to an end.
If you remain dissatisfied following an internal review, you may take your complaint to the Information Commissioner. Please note that the Information Commissioner will not investigate your case until our internal review process has been completed.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is the UK's independent body set up to uphold information rights. You have a right to lodge complaints with them.
To find out more about them, visit https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/who-we-are/
To contact them, either visit their website, dial 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745 or write to them at:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Cheshire SK9 5AF
Last updated 30 April 2018
Privacy Policy - CCTV Policy (pdf 86.35 KB)


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Brownfields Virtual Presentation
To better acquaint community members and stakeholders with the Stafford Brownfields Initiative, a virtual public presentation was held in conjunction with the Board of Selectmen's Meeting on 12/15/2020. The presentation was designed to broaden understanding and involvement of the Brownfields Program, identify potential Brownfield sites within Stafford, and share adaptive, conceptual reuse scenarios for the former Earl M. Witt Intermediate School.
EPA's Brownfields Program provides grants and technical assistance to
communities, states, tribes and others to assess, safely clean up and
sustainably reuse contaminated properties.
Grant Funds
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has selected the Town of Stafford to receive two (2) Community Wide Brownfields assessment grants. The $300,000 ($200,000 in hazardous substance sites and $100,000 in petroleum) assessment grant funds will be used to: update an inventory of potential brownfields sites in the Town; educate residents about the Brownfields program; solicit information on additional potential brownfields projects for the inventory; develop a site prioritize and selection criteria for the inventory; conduct Phase I environmental site assessments (ESAs); select sites for Phase II ESAs; and identify possible reuse and cleanup options for selected sites. Brownfield assessments are expected to encourage the cleanup of underutilized and contaminated, or potentially contaminated, properties and return them to beneficial reuse.
What is a Brownfields?
The EPA defines a brownfield site as "real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contamination." Why is this of interest to property owners and developers? Brownfields are also development and revitalization opportunities. Common contaminants include asbestos, lead paint, hydrocarbon spillages, solvents, and pesticides. If the land is properly cleaned up and the contamination is remediated, the site can safely be used for other purposes. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment.
Stafford Brownfields Initiative
Funds from the community-wide assessment grant will help to transform currently blighted areas within the Town of Stafford into clean public spaces that the whole community can take pride in. Through community engagement efforts, the public will gain knowledge about the brownfield sites affecting their community. These funds will allow us to identify and quantify the contaminants that exist within these brownfield sites so that they can eventually be remediated and redeveloped with additional leveraged funding. The assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of brownfields will act as a catalyst for the area's revitalization and lead to sustainable development of Stafford. Stafford's overarching goals are to preserve attractiveness of the community, increase growth of employment and tax base, and improve the overall quality of life of its residents.
Assessment Grant funds are used for:
Site inventory and prioritization
Community engagement
Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessments
Cleanup planning
Site reuse/redevelopment planning
Town of Stafford Brownfield Program goals:
Return vacant or underutilized properties into productive reuse
Protect human and environmental health
Increase tax base
Spur job growth
Eliminate blight
Create usable greenspace
Leverage additional resources
For Businesses & Developers
If you are looking to conduct any of these activities at a property in Stafford, this program is here for you. Most financial lenders require an ASTM Phase I ESA to be conducted prior to securing a loan. The Town's Brownfields Program can walk you through this process and may be able to conduct these Phase I/Phase II and/or Hazardous Building Material Assessments for you.
The Town can also assist with cleanup and reuse planning, if needed, following the outcome of the Phase I/Phase II ESAs and/or Hazardous Building Material Assessments. The services the Town can provide can save property owners and developers anywhere from $5,000 to over $50,000. These services can also help remove the stigma and uncertainties of contamination often associated with brownfields that hinder the revitalization of these properties. Funds are intended to kick-start and assist in the redevelopment process.
Some of the significant benefits of this program for the community and private property owners include:
Help transform blighted sites in neighborhoods.
Encourage higher property values, create jobs, positively impact the local economy, and create safer, healthier places for us to live, work, and play.
Help remove the stigma and unknowns associated with these properties to make them more marketable sand facilitate redevelopment.
Provide due diligence assistance to potential purchasers of Brownfields sites.
Opportunity to apply for state tax credits for property cleanup
For Residents
The Town selected the team of Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc. to work with Stafford to implement the Brownfields program, perform community-wide education and outreach, as well as inventory, site assessment and cleanup/reuse planning activities.
The Town of Stafford is asking the community, local businesses and residents for input on the brownfields sites in the community that they are concerned about and would like to see considered as part of the assessment and cleanup / reuse planning process.
At various stages of the assessment process, the Town may sponsor community meetings to discuss the project and present findings to the public and solicit input. Notices will be posted on our website in advance of the meetings, and announcements will be emailed to residents and other interested parties. In addition, an information repository will be set up at the Town Hall, where residents and members of the public will have access to documents pertaining to the selected site, including Phase I and Phase II reports.
Stay Informed
The Town will maintain a mailing list of residents and the community stakeholders wishing to receive email updates on the grant related brownfields activities. The Town will distribute periodic updates summarizing completed and planned site activities. This mailing list will also be used to notify the public of any upcoming community meetings.
To learn more about property eligibility, contact Amber Wakley at (860) 851-8102 or firstname.lastname@example.com
Helpful Links
Though this program has been funded, wholly or in part, by EPA, the contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA.


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At least three job postings have popped up online for Google Fiber operations and management in San Antonio. Now don't get too excited, the jobs come with a caveat:
"Not all cities where we're exploring hiring a team will necessarily become Google Fiber cities. If you're hired and your city doesn't become a Google Fiber city, you will continue to play a role in an existing Fiber city or Google headquarters. Due to the dynamic nature of local government, utilities, and organizations, we're looking for flexible, senior leaders."
The positions for Google Fiber "city manager," "outside plant quality assurance manager," and "outside plant engineering manager" were posted on May 21, June 25, and June 30 respectively. Only the city manager position, which would lead the local team, carries the notice of the position(s) tentative nature.
"We haven't made a final decision about bringing Google Fiber to San Antonio," a Google spokesperson said. "But when we do decide, we want to be able to hit the ground running, so we're starting to look for candidates who could help lead our team in each metro area."
Similar positions are open in other cities that Google is considering expanding its high-speed Internet service.
The latter two more technical positions seem to carry more logistical responsibilities. Past the industry jargon, it seems Google Fiber wants a team on the ground to further explore the possibility of bringing its advanced fiber optic broadband lines – which would provide Internet speeds of roughly one gigabit per second, about 100 times faster than typical broadband to San Antonian customers.
Combined with the recent filings of permitting paperworks by engineering firms working for Google, as first reported by the Express-News, the prospect of San Antonio becoming a Google Fiber city looks promising.
"But it's not time to load the confetti yet," said Councilmember Ron Nirenberg (D8). "(Google's) M.O. has been extremely cautious."
In statements and announcements, Google representatives keep their cards fairly close to their chests:
"San Antonio has been great to work with as we've explored bringing Google Fiber to the city, and filing this permit is an important next step," a Google spokesperson stated in an email. "There's still a lot of work to do, but we hope to provide an update about whether we can bring Fiber to San Antonio soon."
The Fiber Race
Google Fiber has established service in some neighborhoods in Austin, Kansas City, and Provo, Utah and announced a second round of cities – Salt Lake City, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Raleigh-Durham – earlier this year. Google's aggressive expansion into the Internet service providing business was seen by many as a challenge to traditional broadband providers like AT&T, which announced its intention to build a 1-gigabit network in Austin just weeks after Google announced its own. AT&T's GigaPower had its Texas launch in October 2014 and serves thousands of customers. Google Fiber in Austin, however, is available to only a few neighborhoods, called "fiberhoods" after its launch in January 2015.
San Antonio was considered for Google Fiber last year, but was ultimately passed over and joined Portland, San Jose, and Phoenix on the "potential Fiber city" list. AT&T has confirmed plans to bring GigaPower to San Antonio, soon after Google said it was considering the Alamo City. The advantage AT&T has is the existing infrastructure to reach hundreds of thousands of customers already using its existing U-Verse Internet service.
The advantage of the "fiber race" for customers is competition. AT&T customers that live in cities without Google Fiber pay more per month than customers that have chosen GigaPower over Google Fiber. Typically, customers in cities with both services, like Austin, pay about $70 for gigabit Internet from either company.
In Dallas, where there is no existing or planned Google Fiber network, pricing started at $90 for the up-to-100-megabit Internet service and $110 a month for up-to-1-gigabit Internet service.
Many said that the sheer size of San Antonio was one of the main sticking points for Google.
"We have an extremely large city that creates infrastructure challenges for anything – whether its sidewalks or technology," Nirenberg said.
San Antonio is well known for its sprawl, a feature often highlighted by infrastructure and technology discussions.
"There are a number of factors that can influence when we can move forward with building a fiber network in a city; examples include things like the ability to use existing infrastructure (e.g. attaching to local utility poles) and the topography of an area," the Google spokesperson stated. "Each area has unique considerations at the city and state level — all of those factors can affect how quickly we move through the planning process, and whether we decide to bring Google Fiber to a city."
According to the Express-News, a 33-page document filed with the City of San Antonio reveals Byers Engineering Co.'s plan for how Ervin Cable Construction Co. could install the Google Fiber network in a small section of a neighborhood on the northwest side between loops 1604 and 410. The plans don't say either way if the Great Northwest neighborhood will indeed be ground zero for Fiber.
This story was originally published on Thursday, July 9.
*Featured/top image: Fiber optics. Photo by Flickr user Tony Webster.
Related Stories:
The Revolution will be Digitized: The Road to Broadband
Lighting Up Dark Fiber: San Antonio's Broadband Plan
How Google Fiber in San Antonio May Deter Internet as a Public Utility
San Antonio's High Speed Network Still Untapped


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Employee Spotlight - Aimee Pidgeon
(July 21, 2016) Growing up, Aimee Pidgeon had aspirations of becoming a journalist. Her love of writing provided a creative outlet and pushed her to explore careers where she could express herself. She loved the idea of developing her talent to become part of an Advertising and Marketing team.
As life does, it took a different route and a few years after high school, Aimee decided to join the U.S. Army in hopes it would provide a good chance to explore other options. An injury shortened her military journey, but led her to an unexpectedly long career in law enforcement.
Prior to working at the Tampa International Airport, Aimee spent 13 years with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. During her tenure, she was in charge of multiple projects to include compliance with state and national accreditation management, records and budget management, property management and training. She was able to tap into her creative side publishing a department newsletter and creating a public web page for detention officer recruitment, as well as video images and voice over writing for a recruitment campaign, which aired on the WB network.
Aimee earned her Bachelor's Degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida in 2012, which led her to the Airport Police Department where she had been the past 3 years. Her role as a Public Safety Administration Manager within the APD helped to expand her knowledge of budget and compliance management. She also handled several other projects that always kept her "going at 100 miles an hour," she said.
This was perfect environment for her, she said, because "I thrive on keeping a fast pace and always handling new and challenging projects."
"I love being a part of a team where I can help improve processes," Aimee said. "I'm passionate about the work that I do and it's important to me to be a part of something great!"
Continuing on her creative path, Aimee also published the department's monthly and annual newsletters. Just in the last year, she received recognition for the successful completion of the APD's fourth accreditation award from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in November 2015.
This past May, Aimee took on a new role as the Operations Administration Manager, working under Director of Operations Lloyd Tillmann.
"After 15 years in law enforcement, it's like starting a completely new career," Aimee said. "I know I have a lot to learn. Aviation is a whole different world than law enforcement, but I'm up for the challenge."
Aimee manages the department's calendar and the student internship portion of the Airport Management Internship Program. She sits on planning committees for the 2017 National College Championship football game and the 2018 Florida Airports Council (FAC) Conference, as well as completing various other duties. To help her gain knowledge within the aviation field, she reads publications which focus on aviation operations and management.
Born in New Bedford, Mass., Aimee's family moved to the Brandon/Riverview area when she was 7 years old. She always had an active interest in sports, playing soccer and softball, and even spent a couple years on the high school dance team.
Aimee lives with her husband, Rich, in the Brandon area, where the two recently bought a new home. As huge sports fans, they have season tickets to the Tampa Bay Lightning and often travel to watch Florida State University football games. The couple likes to plan "mini-vacations" around sporting events. Aimee also loves shopping, reading and the beach.
"Any place on the water is therapeutic to me," she said.
Her next personal goal is to get her Master's degree in either business or public administration.
"I do see myself here at Tampa International Airport for the rest of my career," Aimee said. "So I'd like to learn everything I can and advance along the way."


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Tot Programs
Hands On, Engaging Learning
for our youngest students!
Our Tot programs for children ages 2 to 3, introduce the HighScope curriculum to our youngest members! These programs celebrate being a toddler and set the stage for a lifetime of exploring, independence, and learning in our safe and dynamic classroom setting. The philosophies of our Tot programs are the same as our multiage classes, we're hands on and not afraid to explore and get messy! Using the High Scope approach, children are involved in active, participatory learning experiences each week during their time at MCP. Through engaging hands-on activities and play, children are guided by teachers to interact with other students, learn self-help skills along with many other skills to build independence in a classroom setting.
At the Milford Cooperative Preschool we place emphasis on teaching our students the value of being a part of the MCP community, as well as enriching and supporting the community that has supported us since 1949! As a Tot Programs student, you are not required to fundraise or attend membership meetings; however, your child has access to all of the hands on, real life experiences sponsored by our cooperative families and the community!
Set your child up for an easy transition to our multiage preschool program!
Parent/Tot Program
for ages 2 to 3
Engage in a classroom setting and make new friends together! This program is for our youngest students, ages 2 to 3 years old. Students, along with parents (or caregivers) will explore the classroom full of hands-on learning toys and equipment including sand table, workbench and reading corner. Students and parents enjoy socialization, and interaction with other 2 years olds and their parents!
Our Parent/Tot program runs weekly. Each session is 1 hour and 15 minutes long and includes several focused activities and/or projects which provide students a wonderful introduction to the HighScope curriculum. Activities are geared for the younger student's developmental level and also include circle time including songs, finger plays and stories, and (weather permitting) outside time.
Independent Tot Program
for ages 2.5 to 3
Let your child's first independent school experience be one that they enjoy! Drop them off for 90 minutes of independent, self driven experiences in a classroom geared towards their developmental needs!
This program, for ages 2.5 and older, offers a full independent first classroom experience. It runs weekly and each session includes several focused activities and/or projects themed around one of the six HighScope Key experiences, circle time including songs, finger plays and stories, and (weather permitting) outside time.
learning from and giving back to the community
Learning from and Giving Back to the Community
Our cooperative format, community presence since 1949 and location in downtown Milford offer us many opportunities for unique, real life learning experiences that cannot be duplicated in another school setting. Fully immersed in the Milford community, students learn the importance of building a community, enriching the community, and giving back to the community, by example. As a member of the Tots Programs, you are invited to participate in many of the experiences we offer!
interested in learning more?
Contact us to schedule a tour of our Little Red Schoolhouse!
Ready to Enroll?
We're enrolling! Visit our Enrollment page to learn more!


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Danger Ahead. [original single article from The Century Magazine, Volume 31, Number 1 (November, 1885), pp. 51-59]
Ephemera, New York: The Century Co., 1885. Good with No dust jacket as issued.
Pages lightly tanned with small holes at side edge. Else clean. One engraved illustration. Last page is a photocopy; all other pages are original. Article is contained in a clear protective sleeve. Photocopy of Century Volume 31 title page included for bibliographic context. ; Article on the state of American society and economy in the 1880s by American theologian, editor, and author Lyman Abbott (1835–1922). 9.25" tall; 9 pages.
Item #4180003
Price: $12.00
See all items in Americana, Ephemera, History, Periodicals
See all works by Lyman Abbott


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Some benefits of research paper writing agencies
The online world can be truly fascinating in the way it has evolved so rapidly, over the course of a couple of decades. Nowadays, there are very few things that cannot be done on the Internet and billions of people out there access it every day. From access to information to easily keeping in touch with your friends and family on the other side of the world and from buying products of all kinds to buying services, there is an enormous things to do on the Internet.
Among the services that have become very popular on the Internet, research paper writing are very commonly known. Basically, you can leave your assignment into the hands of somebody who has experience in doing this and, for a certain fee, he/she will deliver it in due time so that you can submit it to your teacher. These agencies usually offer all sorts of academic writing services and not just research paper writing so you will be able to call for their help if you need an essay, a personal essay or even a doctorate dissertation. Here are some of the benefits these agencies can bring you with:
- You can have more time for yourself and for focusing on your skills
- You can have more time to build your resume by attending all kinds of extra-curricular activities (such as volunteering, for example).
- You can have more time for your friends and family.
- Professional research paper writers are people with experience in this field and they will know exactly how to write a good research paper.
- These agencies usually offer research paper writers with a lot of sources from which they can get the materials they need in order to write well-researched papers.
- Furthermore, these writers are usually people who have a diploma in their field and who will not be hired by serious agencies unless they can bring forward recommendations from people they have already worked with (including professors, for example).
- If you are running out of time, a professional research paper agency will be able to deliver a very good research paper even in a couple of days.
- You will not have to deal with the confusion of having to learn what an academic writing style is all about.
- You will be able to get a good grade even if you are not particularly interested in the subject of your research paper.
Looking for help with term paper? Visit My Paper Writer - paper writing service for college students.


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ESPN's Todd McShay proves it's never too early for anything, really, in the world of new media by posting his full first-round projections of the 2012 NFL Draft — mere days after the 2011 version has cycled down. To no one's surprise, McShay has Andrew Luck, the all-world quarterback from Stanford, going No. 1 overall in the draft.
Using a draft order of Scouts, Inc. writer Matt Williamson's power rankings after the draft, McShay has the Chiefs drafting at No. 17 overall. With that choice, the Chiefs take an inside linebacker, Man'ti Teo of Notre Dame:
Te'o has developed into a solid player and should emerge as one of the elite linebackers in the nation in 2011. He continues to improve his recognition skills and has the quickness and power you look for in a starting inside linebacker in the NFL.
That position isn't a stretch in the slightest when considering the level of importance of the choice and the current Chiefs players at the position. After addressing other holes, inside linebacker would be next up on the list and if the Chiefs aren't pleased with the progress of Jovan Belcher, this could be a sign of things to come. Then again, we'll hear about another 100 prospects in this same slot if we're already talking about the 2012 NFL Draft.


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With their final pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots finally selected an offensive player. At pick 235 in the 7th round, the Patriots drafted Northwestern wide receiver Jeremy Ebert.
Ebert, at 5'11" and 200 lbs, has seen his stock skyrocket recently, following an exceptional pro day in which he posted a 40-yard dash time of 4.38, 10-yard split of 1.54, 20-yard shuttle of 4.15 and 3-cone drill of 6.7 seconds (would have ranked third of all receivers at combine). And it's not as if Ebert is just a workout warrior - he produced regularly at Northwestern, leading the team in receptions the last two years and recording 173 career tackles with the Wildcats.
Ebert is a solid route runner who played a lot out of the slot at Northwestern. With his below average height and strength, he'll probably play that role in the pros as well. So at this point, Ebert looks like a developmental slot receiver who will have a chance to at least make the practice squad. For the 235th pick, this seems like a solid pick-up for the Patriots.
Greg's Grade: B


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Making Old New –
Multiplayer gaming is important. Pong, one of the first games to popularize video gaming was entirely focused on multiplayer. And can you image a Halo or CoD title that excluded a multiplayer component? MMO's would never have been invented if multiplayer gaming didn't exist either.
Since the dawn of video games, multiplayer has remained an important element to the overall fun factor. Unfortunately, the consoles of yesteryear were limited to same sofa multiplayer only. With the advent of services like Xbox Live and PSN in conjunction with readily available WiFi high speed internet access, playing online with friends around the world is now something that is not only common, but expected.
Below is a list of five classic games that really should be put on services like Xbox Live Arcade and retrofitted with online support. The key to point out here is these games only need to be implemented with online multiplayer support and leaderboards. The graphics, soundtrack, and overall gameplay elements really do not need to be reworked to have a quality gaming experience. The only thing these games need is the ability to play online with randoms and close friends. Of course matchmaking, lobbies, and a drop-in drop-out party system falls under the online support umbrella.
In no particular order:
Secret of Mana – SNES
One of the few games to actually make use of the SNES multi-tap, Secret of Mana is co-op heaven that still holds up today. Up to three players can adventure their way through a whimsical land filled with monsters, magic, memorable weapons and a soundtrack that is one of the best of all time. It is true that the translation might not be as well written as you might remember, but Secret of Mana would make killer use of online multiplayer. Yeah, putting this game on XBLA for 1200 MS Pts would see many digital downloads unlike the awkward iOS port.
Chu Chu Rocket – Dreamcast
Sega has slowly been releasing games from their DC library over the last couple years. But instead of giving us another way to play Crazy Taxi, why can't we play Chu Chu Rocket online? It is ironic because Chu Chu Rocket was the first game to make use of the DC's modem port but since internet play wasn't very popular back in the Dreamcast era it still goes on this list. But this also means the general framework for netplay is already written into the game. Chu Chu has also been ported to iOS and Android. So why isn't this addictive and fast paced multiplayer focused puzzler on XBLA? Sega, playing Sonic Adventure, Sega Bass Fishing, and Sonic The Fighters on XBLA is great, but can we please get Chu Chu Rocket on XBLA?
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance – PS2, Xbox, GC, GBA
Like Secret of Mana, hack n'slash dungeon crawlers are always a good time to play with a buddy or two. Baldur's Gate is no exception and would gladly be downloaded for a $10-$15 price tag if lag free online multiplayer was included. Champions of Norrath came later but the early Playstation Network made online support unstable.
Powerstone 2 – Dreamcast
The Powerstone series is the pinnacle of arcadey fighters. When fighting gamers put down Smash Bros, they pick up Powerstone for is over-the-top entertainment value and stellar multiplayer component. Replay value is also sky high as crafting new weapons and destroying opponents never gets old. The PSP was lucky enough to see a bundled UMD of Powerstone 1 and 2 on a single disc but featured local wireless multiplayer only. Like Sega, Capcom has recently been reaching back into their back catalog of games but have neglected to give fans online support for their coveted fighter.
Dungeon Explorer – TurboGrafx-16
If you never heard of Dungeon Explorer, you are not alone. One of the few TG-16 games to actually make use of the five player option found in the system's hardware, Dungeon Explorer takes everything you love about Gauntlet, Zelda and even Blaster Master and mixes them into one story based overhead adventure. Dungeon Explorer is pretty much impossible when attempting to venture solo; this game was designed for multiplayer co-op play. Currently, the best way to play this game is from the Wii Virtual Console as five Wii Remotes can sync to the system at the same time. But this game's full potential can finally be realized if online multilayer support was installed.
These are just five of many games that would benefit from being retrofitted with modern online capabilities. Sound off in the comments below with old school games you would like to see outfitted with online multiplayer support.
Other suggestions:
Balloon Fight (NES)
Contra (NES)
Contra III (SNES)
River City Ransom (NES)
Super Dodge Ball (NES)
Jet Force Gemini (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure (GC)
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The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Servicemembers United announced today a national "Voices of Honor" Tour to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), a former West Point professor and Iraq War vet, is the lead sponsor of legislation to repeal the unpopular policy that bars LGBT people from serving openly in the United States armed services.
Murphy said, in part:
"Our president, President Barack Obama, has stated that If Congress can get a bill to his desk repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, he will sign it into law. It is now our job, and my job specifically, to quarterback this through the Congress of the United States to do just that. I can not tell you today how long it's gonna take. All I can tell ya is that paratroopers don't quit, and paratroopers get the job done. To remove honorable, talented and committed Americans from serving in our military is contrary to the values that our military holds dear."
Video of Murphy's speech after the jump.
"Voices of Honor" will make stops in Philadelphia; Trenton; Virginia Beach; Phoenix; Kansas City, MO; Orlando and Tampa and will feature former Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva, the first American soldier injured in Iraq, among others. CNN points out that some of those involved were chosen because they're straight, as outreach to other straight soldiers.
Much more video from today's event here.


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Religious prejudice is rampant in the world today. In my opinion, prejudice comes from ignorance. Most of us know little about religions other than our own. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be writing about different religions. I hope you will enjoy this journey of exploration.
Today we will begin with Islam.
The Muslims--followers of Islam--believe that God established a covenant with the children of Adam and that God has sent prophets to countries around the world to guide humanity. These prophets include Jesus, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Muhammad.
The Muslims believe that God's final message is contained in the Qur'an, which was revealed to Muhammad in the Arabic language through the angel Gabriel.
The Muslims see God as transcendent and the creator and sustainer of the universe. On the "Day of Judgment", Muslims believe that each human being will be judged according to the deeds they performed in life.
There are five fundamental religious duties expected of every Muslim. Sometimes called "The Five Pillars of Islam," they include:
1. Witnessing--affirming the absolute unity of God and accepting the prophecy of Muhammad.
2. Worshipping--offering prayers five time a day to God while facing in the direction of the Ka'bah in Mecca.
3. Charity--paying at least 2.5% of wealth annually to help the needy and to "purify" one's own possessions.
4. Fasting--abstaining from food, drink and conjugal relations from dawn until dusk during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
5. Pilgrimage--visiting the Ka'bah and other sites in Mecca at least once in a lifetime during the prescribed days of Dhu'l-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
In my next post, I will write about Hinduism.


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A publication of the Archaeological Institute of America
History is rewritten when archaeologist Wolfgang Helbig teams up with a forger
The inscription, likely forged by Helbig, on the Praenetse fibula
At a meeting of the German Institute in Rome on January 7, 1886, Wolfgang Helbig described an engraved gold fibula or dress pin found at Palestrina, ancient Praeneste, in 1871. Helbig had a good reputation in the archaeological community and had been second secretary (assistant director) of the Institute since 1865, so there was no reason to doubt his account or the fibula's authenticity.
About 4.5 inches long, the fibula was not unique, but its Latin inscription was. The text was mundane, reading "Manios has made me [or, had me made] for Numasios." However, the use of the characters FH for the sound F made it linguistically earlier than any other known Latin inscription. Helbig dated it to the 6th century B.C., the date then given to the Barberini and Bernardini tombs at Palestrina. Known as the Manios or Praeneste fibula, it remained a chronological benchmark for study of the development of Latin for nearly a century.
But Helbig hadn't told the Institute audience all he knew. He said a friend owned it, and that friend was Francesco Martinetti, a seller of antiquities, faker, and smuggler. And there were signs that something was wrong with Helbig's tale. The fibula was later said to be from the Bernardini Tomb, which was excavated in 1876. That contradicted Helbig's story, but he didn't challenge it. The few who raised questions about the fibula, such as archaeologist Giovanni Pinza in 1905, were ignored. Helbig said it was genuine and if the exact circumstances of its discovery were murky, so what.
Books by Wolfgang Helbig, a scholar gone bad over a century ago, are still in print today
Though he was intellectually gifted, Helbig's personality did not impress everybody. Archaeologist Otto Jahn had thought him lacking in self-discipline, and the great classicist Theodor Mommsen said he was "a lightheaded fly" and a "loafer." In fact, things were worse, and the real story of Helbig and the Praeneste fibula is one about "the world of the salon, of the collector, of the rich and famous, of the dealer, of the masterpiece and the fraud" (Holloway 1994).
A comprehensive study by Margherita Guarducci in 1980 showed that suspicions about the fibula were well founded. In La cosiddetta Fibula Prenestina. Antiquari, eruditi e falsari nella Roman dell' Ottocento, Guarducci, a University of Rome Greco-Latin epigraphist, pointed out that the inscription was rather poorly executed, compared to genuine ones, as though engraved by an amateur. She noted how, compared to ancient gold, which can be brittle, the fibula could bend quite easily. Chemical analysis showed that the gold was unlike specimens known to be from Palestrina. Finally, examination of the inscribed area showed that the surface had been treated with acid to look old. Guarducci knew of Helbig's involvement with Martinetti, who could have made the fibula, basing it on real ones from Palestrina. But analysis shows the inscription matches Helbig's handwriting.
Why would Helbig, with his reputation and position, do this? Perhaps the ambitious scholar thought a brilliant "discovery" would aid him in being appointed head of the Institute. Indeed, shortly after Helbig presented the fibula, the first secretary (director) Wilhelm Henzen died. Helbig was made acting director, but did such a poor job that he was sacked, leaving October 1, 1887. Helbig then began what has been called a Jekyll and Hyde existence (Gordon 1982):
On the one hand, the life of a much respected scholar, much honored by the Italians and the French; on the other...[an] unscrupulous businessman, who with his collaborator Martinetti made a fortune out of illegal, fraudulent activities--illegal in acquiring antiques as well as in getting them transported out of Italy by bribery, not to mention the fraud involved in embellishing genuine antiques to get higher prices and in creating fake antiques.
Helbig's contemporary philologist Ulrich von Wilamowitz Moellendorf described him as "swimming in the thick of society, well known to both the Roman and Piedmontese aristocracy, to the connoisseurs of art and to dealers."
Martinetti's motive for selling fakes and smuggling was money. Like Helbig, he made a fortune, much of which he hid in his home. Caches of valuables--ancient and modern gold coins, and ancient gems--were found when it was torn down after his death. But why did Helbig, married to a wealthy Russian princess, need to sell forgeries?
With the fibula, self-advancement seems likely. Tom Hoving, who devotes an entire chapter to Helbig in False Impressions (1996), attributes the faking simply to needing more cash to support a lavish lifestyle. In his review of Bachelors of Art: Edward Perry Warren & the Lewes House Brotherhood (1992), William Calder speculates about Helbig's "frequent appearance" in Warren's circle. Born into a wealthy Massachusetts family, Warren lived in Oxford with his partner John Marshall at Lewes House, "where women were not welcomed." A collector, Warren also purchased for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where his brother chaired the board. The authenticity of number of antiquities he bought is now doubted. Calder speculates that paying blackmail, perhaps to hide sexual indiscretions, was a reason Helbig dealt in forgeries.
The Helbig-Martinetti collaboration continued until the latter's death in 1895, and then some (Gordon: 1982). When Martinetti was dying, Helbig went to his warehouse and took a statue of a youth, supposedly an ancient copy of a masterpiece by the Greek sculptor Polykleitos. He sold it to Carl Jacobsen, the Danish brewer and founder of the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. The next year it was exposed as a fake (its "patina" washed off). The "Boston Throne" may be a genuine ancient marble relief or may be another Helbig-Martinetti fake, possibly carved in Rome in the early 1890s. Warren bought it for the Museum of Fine Arts from Helbig in 1896.
For nearly a century, the Praeneste fibula was seen as a key artifact. Now it has been revealed not as an ancient piece, made for or by Manios, but as a modern testament to self-promotion and an unholy alliance of scholarship and fraud, made for and by Helbig. It shows that artifacts with no documented findspot must be treated skeptically, no matter who presents them. Even great scholars can be wrong, misled, or, sometimes, go bad.


text: Are vector sequences available through genbank.bio.net? I have seen references to such a "synthetic DNA" database, but I don't see it on the DB list in the on-line genbank access. Am I looking in the wrong place? or just SOL? Specifically, I'm looking for seq's of the Hieter yeast vectors pRS303-306 and pRS 313-316 (Genetics 122:19-27). thanks for any input--- dennis


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The Glow fly has resided here for many-many year and its has been a major place for some Terengganu' people, researcher and student to came here for study or firefly's appreciation activities and marvel at the many Glow fly that habitat here. The glow fly sanctuary here was almost not known to any body except for the villager and fisherman in and near Kampung Ibok, Chukai Town at Kemaman district.
|Tour by kemamanguide.com
Recently our Terengganu state government in 2006 had started promoting and selling the Firefly sanctuary as recommendation sight-seeing and number one glow fly appreciation area inside the state after Sungai Penarik Firefly Sanctuary, near Kampung Penarik..
When the local News paper like News Strait Time Press or (NSTP), The Sun, and Utusan Malaysia had highlight the concern and plead of the Kemaman people ,Villager of Kampung Sungai Ibok and tourism operators. When the Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh found out about the sanctuary 's problem Our MB Dato' Idris then had direct the Kemaman 's DO or District Office to ensure the habitat of the fireflies was well protected , preserved and not disturbed. and like wise the State Government Tourism Action Council' secretariat also had now started to promote Sungai Yak Yah as the state newest attraction and building the necessary amenities needed like a jetty , toilet and etc.
To tell you the truth there was a lack of publicity on the place during the fuss .I myself who had live in Kuala Terengganu Town Center,(KTTC) for almost 10 year . Though that Sungai Penarik in Setiu District, is the only Glow fly / Firefly sanctuary in Terengganu (which Ping anchorage agency always organise a trip there). I had never heard about the glowfly sanctuary in Kemaman until the fuss from the News Paper during the end of 2005 . Even thou there was two local Che Ghani and his partner, Zainal Ibrahim, were organising firefly-watching trips since 2001.
Because the fuss last year, I had travel with my friend from KT Town a weeks after the Chinese new holiday just to see for my self. There lack of road signs, no signboards or pointer along the way to inform traveller and tourist about the fireflies sanctuary's that we tooks and insanely one hour driving and asking for pointer to the sanctuary from the local village people even though its only 11km from Chukai !!!!! .Still it was quite worth with to see the many firefly (I prefer calling them glow fly) along the river.
(2013 - There is now Good roadsign and pointer that lead to the place)
Currently there are only two local villagers (Che Ghani and his partner, Zainal Ibrahim) who dedicated their full time bringing and conducting daily firefly tours and guide for by paddleing their wooden boat as not to disturb the firefly habitat and appreciation activities.and Kudus!! for they part in protecting mother nature's treasure. Both of them can be found at the jetty. Or you can rent a boat from the many fishermen here. In 2005 the state government and theYang Berhormat / Most Honourable DO of Kemaman Distric had banned the use of motorised boats along the river Yak Yah. .....Kudos !!
The appreciation activities can be done all around the year except from the month of October to January and the best time to go here for firefly appreciation activities is from July to September, which is the mating season for the firefly.
Currently.I don't have any picture of the place after my last trip there my RM 1700 worth local " I " Digital camera went on a swim in the river and had never recover. The place are still quite unknown and with the fact that I didn't find any picture of the place in the Web prove it. .The tour operator are not many except for village folks and those two who pioneer and had organising firefly-watching trips with they paddle boat since 2001.
Until i link the image from Kemaman.com 2013
Those "Two" are Che Ghani and his partner, Zainal Ibrahim, (Che Ghani Son also operate the website call kemamanguide.com. They now conduct daily firefly tours from 7.45pm to midnight for RM20 per person. They can be contacted at 019-9336458/013-9365681 . Their now own Fibre Boat with battery power engine which can accommodate between 10-15 people per trip. They avoid using the engine oil as it can disturbing fireflies habitat
Its is best to stay at the many cheat and budget motel and hotel at chukai as you can see how life goes on in this quite town which is quite famous for its fresh Kopi ' O (Grounded Fried Coffee bean + hot steaming H20 + sugar = Kopi' O .that its taste and aroma had attract a lot of people especially those from Singapore, KL, Johor,Pahang and KB who frequently travel from the north to singapore and vice versa
Only basic facilities provided:1) Main Jetty
2) Slide way Jetty
3) Waiting Hut
4) Surau @ Prayer room
5) Parking lot
6) Toilet
How To Get HereArrange with local tour operator to take you to Sungai Yakyah in Kampung Ibok, about 15km from Kijal. There are battery operated boats available at the main jetty which provides an undisturbed trip to watch one of the nature's wonders.
Local Tour Operator
Please Contact
Mr Che Ghani or Mr Syaiful (a Licensed Tourist Guide)
They also offer Turtle watching experiace in Monica Bay at Pantai Telok Mak Nik, Kamaman,
at 019 917 4012 (Ghani - Malay Speaking)
or 017 928 6281/019 907 4012 (Syaiful- English and Chinese Speaking).
0730pm – First trip
1000pm – Last trip
- Hotel Cukai Utama
- Awana Kijal Golf, Beach & Spa Resort
- Cheneh Recreation Resort
- New Sri Buana Hotel
- Hotel Safura & Apartments
Where To Eat
- CRR Restaurant
- Restoran Pertama Kijal Seafood in Kijal
- Kemaman Restaurant
- Mawarni Restoran
- Mohd Noor Mohd Madarsa Restauran
If you are here don't forget to stop at Try Tong Yuan Restaurant and Kedai Kopi Hai Ping for the best fresh coffee ( in Whole East peninsular if you ask me) with toast and fresh kaya (coconut jam) spread in the quiet little town of Chukai in Kemaman district .
If you are a traveler and you wish to stay here.... you can opt to stay at Chukai where there are many cheap hotel and economy budget hotel to be found or if you had a lot of money you could stay at Kijal is you are a tourist who just want to relax you can stay at the many high class resort here.Which is also one of Terengganu' famous green for golfing.
Fireflies Image credit - kemamanguide.com
MOST IMPORTANT Recommendation if you are in Kemaman between feb - august
While you are in Kemaman, Please remember to make a trip for Turtle watching activities nearby at Monica Bay. Turtles watching is usually available daily during the period of Feb to August, where Green Turtle return to East Coast long coastline to lay her egg. A once a life time experience. Otherwise, you can contact Che Ghani or Syaiful (a Licensed Tourist Guide) at 019 917 4012 (Ghani- Malay Speaking) or 017 928 6281/019 907 4012 (Syaiful-English and Chinese Speaking). They will be inform you when a turtle is spotted landing and you then travel your way toward the beach at Pantai Telok Mak Nik, Kamaman, usually between 2030 to 2100.
photo credit: Ashley Harrigan via Flickr cc
Image Credit: kemamanguide.com


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ATMs Crash Across The Country After "Bank Holiday" Warning
Following rumors of a "bank holiday" that could limit or prevent altogether cash withdrawals later this week, Twitter and other Internet forums were raging yesterday about numerous ATMs across the country that crashed in the early hours of Sunday morning, preventing customers from performing basic transactions.
It's unknown whether the crashes were partly a result of a surge of people trying to withdraw their money in preparation for any feared bank shutdown, or if mere technical glitches were to blame. The fact that the problem affected numerous different banks in different parts of the U.S. would seem to indicate the former.
The Orange County Register reported that the problems were "part of a national outage" which prevented people from performing simple transactions such as cashing checks and withdrawing money.
"Computer issues" were blamed for similar issues in Phoenix Arizona, while in Birmingham Alabama, Wells Fargo customers' online banking accounts and ATMs displayed incorrect balances.
The banks primarily affected were Wells Fargo, Chase and Bank of America, but according to blogger Phil Brennan, who studied Twitter feeds and other Internet message boards that were alight with the story, numerous other financial institutions were also affected, including US Bank, Compass, USAA, Suntrust, Fairwinds Credit Union, American Express, BB&T on the East Coast and PNC.
"Twitter is going crazy with reports of ATMs and online accounts going down as of 01:00 hours EST of the 7th of November 2010," writes Brennan. "This is happening to many banks all across America. Some are trying to say that it is a computer glitch to do with the change in Daylight Savings Time, but I will call BS on this as we manage to put our clocks back over here in the UK without knocking out ATMs and online accounts nationally."
Brennan questions whether the outages were the first warning shots in a move to "devalue the dollar," just days after Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke sparked an international currency war by announcing that the Fed will buy $600 billion of U.S. government bonds over the next eight months.
Any perceived inability of banks to deal with a sudden demand for cash would undoubtedly place in peril the United States' triple A credit rating and spark a fresh dollar crisis.
"In the light of what is going on geopolitically, I am still very suspicious about the reasons for this mass downtime of ATMs and Online Accounts, adds Brennan. "There is still a very distinct possibility that November the 11th will turn into an extended Bank Holiday so I would advise all those who can get their money out of their banks to do so, even if you have to pay your upcoming bills manually."
As we reported last week, the "bank holiday" rumor has reared its ugly head once again, after a story emerged that a pastor was told by one of the managers of a prominent east coast bank that banks would close for an undetermined amount of time, and that when they reopened, "all withdrawals by checks would be limited to $500 per week – no matter what the balance in the account is."
Though the story is still an unconfirmed rumor, banks have been preparing for limiting withdrawals. As we reported back in February, Citigroup sent an advisory to its customers at the start of the year which stated that the bank reserved "the right to require (7) days advance notice before permitting a withdrawal from all checking accounts." The advisory stoked fears that financial institutions were preparing for bank runs.
While we still think this new bank holiday rumor will subside as the previous two did earlier this year and last, in the current economic climate it would be foolish not to keep at least a small amount of your savings in physical cash. The current financial turmoil has been likened with the post 1929 period, during which newly elected Franklin Roosevelt declared a "bank holiday" that lasted four days, therefore such a scenario is not without historical precedent.


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This document is a summary statement for the convictions of Scripture that we preach and teach within this faith family. We do not hold this document as inerrant nor exhaustive. We have addressed the major themes of theology and where we stand on each. There are many other matters not addressed in this document and we understand there will be various convictions.
The purpose behind a document like this is to help everyone understand what we preach and teach. Many people may come from different religious backgrounds and therefore believe differently. We want each person to know what this faith family believes on these major themes as that will help them know if this is a church that is in agreement with their convictions.
Content above is the work of The Village Church (Flower Mound, TX)
and the Southern Baptist Convention (Baptist Faith & Message, 2000)
We accept the Bible, including the 39 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament, as the written Word of God. The Bible is the essential and infallible record of God's self-disclosure to mankind. It leads us to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Being given by God, the Scriptures are both fully and verbally inspired by God. Therefore, as originally given, the Bible is free of error in all it teaches. Each book is to be interpreted according to its context and purpose and in reverent obedience to the Lord who speaks through it in living power. All believers are exhorted to study the Scriptures and diligently apply them to their lives. The Scriptures are the authoritative and normative rule and guide of all Christian life, practice and doctrine. They are totally sufficient and must not be added to, superseded or changed by later tradition, extra-biblical revelation or worldly wisdom. Every doctrinal formulation, whether of creed, confession, or theology, must be put to the test of the full counsel of God in Holy Scripture.
*2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; Mark 13:31; John 8:31,32; 20:31; Acts 20:32
There is one God: infinite, eternal, almighty and perfect in holiness, truth and love. In the unity of the godhead, there are three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal. The Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Holy Spirit, yet each is truly Deity. One God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — is the foundation of Christian faith and life.
*Genesis 1:1,26; John 1:1,3; Matthew 28:19; John 4:24; Romans 1:19,20; Ephesians 4:5,6
God the Father is the Creator of heaven and earth. By His word and for His glory, He freely and supernaturally created the world out of nothing. Through the same word He daily sustains all His creatures. He rules over all and, together with the Son and the Spirit, is the only Sovereign. His plans and purposes cannot be thwarted. He is faithful to every promise, works all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose and in His unfathomable grace gave His Son Jesus Christ for mankind's redemption. The Father made all things for the praise of His glory and intends for man, in particular, to live in fellowship with Himself.
*Matthew 23:9; Luke 10:21,22; John 3:16; 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Timothy1:1,2; 2:5,6; 1Peter 1:3; Revelation 1:6
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the eternal Word made flesh, supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. He is perfect in nature, teaching and obedience. He is fully God and is fully man. He was always with God and is God. Through Him all things came into being and were created. God the Son was before all things and in Him all things hold together by the word of His power. He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over all creation and in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Jesus is the only Savior for the sins of the world having shed His blood and died a vicarious death on Calvary's cross. By His death in our place, He revealed the divine love and upheld divine justice, removing our guilt and reconciling us to God. Having redeemed us from sin, the third day He rose bodily from the grave, victorious over death and the powers of darkness and for a period of 40 days appeared to over 500 witnesses performing many convincing proofs of His resurrection. He ascended into heaven where, at God's right hand, He intercedes for His people and rules as Lord over all, awaiting His victorious return. Jesus Christ is the Head of His body, the church, and should be adored, loved, served and obeyed by all.
*Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 5:6-8; 6:9,10; 9:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-23; John 20:30, 31; Matthew 20:28; Ephesians 1:4; Acts 1:11; Hebrews 7:25; 9:28; 1 Timothy 3:16
The Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Through the proclamation of the gospel, He persuades men to repent of their sins and confess Jesus as Lord. By the same Spirit a person is led to trust in divine mercy. The Holy Spirit unites believers to Jesus Christ in faith, brings about the new birth and dwells within the regenerate (the follower of Jesus). The Holy Spirit has come to glorify the Son who in turn came to glorify the Father. He will lead the church into a right understanding and rich application of the truth of God's Word. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. The Holy Spirit makes intercession for believers to God the Father. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. He is to be respected, honored and worshipped as God the Third Person of the Trinity.
*John 14:16,17,26; 15:26,27; 16:8-18; Romans 8:9,26; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 1:13b,14; 5:18
God made man — male and female — in His own image, as the crown of creation, that man might glorify God through enjoying fellowship with Him. Tempted by Satan, man rebelled against God. Being estranged from his Maker, yet responsible to Him, he became subject to divine wrath, inwardly depraved and apart from a special work of grace, utterly incapable of returning to God. This depravity is radical and all-encompassing. It extends to his mind, will and affections. Unregenerate (unsaved) man lives under the dominion of sin and Satan. He is at enmity with God, hostile toward God, and hateful of God. Fallen, sinful people, whatever their character or attainments, are lost and without hope, destined to an eternity in hell, apart from salvation in Christ alone.
*Genesis 1:26,27; Romans 3:22,23; 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3,12
Jesus Christ is the gospel. The good news is revealed in His birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension. Christ's crucifixion is the heart of the gospel; His resurrection is the power of the gospel and His ascension is the glory of the gospel. Christ's death is the substitutionary and propitiatory sacrifice to God for our sins. This means that it satisfies the demands of God's holy justice and appeases His holy wrath. It also demonstrates His mysterious love and reveals His amazing grace. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. There is no other name by which men must be saved. At the heart of all sound doctrine is the cross of Jesus Christ and the infinite privilege that redeemed sinners have of glorifying God because of what He has accomplished. Therefore, we want all that takes place in our hearts, churches and ministries to proceed from and be related to the gospel.
God created us to be with Him and bring Him glory. (Genesis 1,2)
Our sin separated us from God. (Genesis 3)
Sin cannot be removed by good deeds. (Genesis 4 – Malachi 4)
Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again. (Matt. – Luke)
Everyone who trusts in Jesus alone has eternal life. (John)
Life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever. (Acts – Revelation)
(From Dare 2 Share Ministries)
*1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Isaiah 53:10,12; John 3:16; Romans 4:25; 5:8; 8:32; Ephesians 1:12
The proper response to the gospel is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, a faith that is naturally accompanied by repentance from sin. Biblical repentance is characterized by a changed life, and saving faith is evidenced by kingdom service or works. While neither repentance nor works save, unless a person is willing to deny himself, pick up his cross and follow Christ, he cannot become His disciple.
This response to the gospel is rooted and grounded in the free and unconditional election of God for His own pleasure and glory. This gospel of grace is to be sincerely preached to all men in all nations.
*John 20:31; Acts 15:8,9; 16:30,31; Romans 1:16,17; 3:21-31; 4:4,5,13; Galatians 2:16; 3:11,26; Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 5:4,5,13
Salvation, the free gift of God, is provided by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone. Anyone turning from sin in repentance and looking to Christ and His substitutionary death receives the gift of eternal life and is declared righteous by God as a free gift. The righteousness of Christ is imputed, or credited, to him. He is justified and fully accepted by God. Through Christ's atonement for sin an individual is reconciled to God as Father and becomes His child. The believer is forgiven the debt of his sin and (via the miracle of regeneration) liberated from the law of sin and death into the freedom of God's Spirit.
*Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 10:4; Isaiah 53:4-6,10; Mark 10:45; 14:24; John 1:12; Romans 5:8; 8:3,4; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8,9; 1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 2:14,15; 9:28; 1 Peter 1:18,19; 2:24; 3:18
The Holy Spirit is the active agent in our sanctification and seeks to produce His fruit in us as our minds are renewed and we are conformed to the image of Christ. Though indwelling sin remains a reality, as we are led by the Spirit, we grow in the knowledge of the Lord, freely keeping His commandments and endeavoring to so live in the world that all people may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. All believers are exhorted to persevere in the faith knowing they will have to give an account to God for their every thought, word and deed. The spiritual disciplines, especially Bible study, prayer, worship and confession, are a vital means of grace in this regard. Nevertheless, the believer's ultimate confidence to persevere is based in the sure promise of God (which is most certain) to preserve His people until the end.
*John 17:17; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 10:10,14; 12:14; 1 Peter 1:2
The Church, which is the body and espoused bride of Christ, is a spiritual organism made up of all born-again persons. We believe that the establishment and continuance of local churches is clearly taught and defined in the New Testament Scriptures. We believe in the autonomy of the local churches, free of any external authority and control.
The Church exists to worship and glorify God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It also exists to serve Him by faithfully doing His will in the earth. This involves a commitment to see the gospel preached and churches planted in the entire world for a testimony. The ultimate mission of the Church is worship and the means by which this is accomplished is the making of disciples through the preaching and embracing of the gospel. Upon conversion, newly redeemed men and women are added to a local church through baptism and devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, the Lord's Supper and prayer.
*Acts 13:1-4; 14:27; 15:19-31; 18:22; 20:17,28; Romans 16:1,4; 1 Corinthians 3:9,16; 5:4-7,13; 12:12-14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 1:22,23; 5:25-27; 1 Timothy 3:1-3; Titus 1:5-11; 1 Peter 5:1-4
The Holy Spirit empowers believers for Christian witness and service. The promise of the Father is freely available to all who believe in Jesus Christ, thereby enabling them to exercise the powers of the age to come in ministry and mission. The Holy Spirit desires to continually fill each believer with power to witness, and imparts His supernatural gifts for the edification of the Body and the work of ministry in the world. Particular spiritual gifts do not prove the presence of the Holy Spirit, nor are an indication of deep spiritual experience. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit at work in the church of the first century are available today and are to be earnestly desired and practiced in an orderly manner. The gifts are essential in the mission of the Church in the world today.
*John 15:7; Acts 1:8; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7,11,13; 1 Cor. 13; Ephesians 4:7,8; 1 Peter 4:10,11; 1 John 5:14,15
Water baptism is only intended for the individual who has received the saving benefits of Christ's atoning work and become His disciple. Therefore, in obedience to Christ's command and as a testimony to God, the church, oneself and the world, a believer should be immersed in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Water baptism is a visual and symbolic demonstration of a person's union with Christ in the likeness of His death and resurrection. It signifies that his former way of life has been put to death and vividly depicts a person's release from the mastery of sin.
As with water baptism, the Lord's Supper, or Communion, is to be observed only by those who have become genuine followers of Christ. This ordinance symbolizes the breaking of Christ's body and the shedding of His blood on our behalf, and is to be observed repeatedly throughout the Christian life as a sign of continued participation in the atoning benefits of Christ's death. We do not in any way believe that these elements become the real body and blood of our Lord as we partake of them, but serve only as symbols of a greater reality.
As we partake of the Lord's Supper with an attitude of faith and self-examination, we remember and proclaim the death of Christ until He comes again, receive spiritual nourishment for our souls, and signify our unity with other members of Christ's body.
*Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41,42; 18:8; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
The consummation of all things includes the future, physical, visible, personal and glorious return of Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and the translation of those alive in Christ, the judgment of the just and the unjust, and the fulfillment of Christ's kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. In the consummation, Satan with his hosts and all those outside Christ are finally separated from the benevolent presence of God, enduring eternal punishment in hell, but the righteous, in glorious bodies, shall live and reign with Him forever in heaven serving Him and giving Him unending praise and glory. Then shall the eager expectation of creation be fulfilled, and the whole earth shall proclaim the glory of God Who makes all things new.
*Matthew 16:27; Mark 14:62; John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Cor. 15; Philippians 2:10,3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:15; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10; 2 Timothy 4:1; Titus 2:13; Revelation 20:4-6,11-15
God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.
We believe that while being absolutely equal in personhood and dignity, man and woman are distinct in regards to roles in the home and church. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.
Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.
*Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Galatians 4:28; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7


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The Huntington Library is so excited about their acquisition from Gagosian that they made a short film (click on the image to see it:)
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens announced today the acquisition of a major painting by Robert Rauschenberg (1925–2008), who said it was a visit to the Huntington Art Gallery in the 1940s that inspired him to become an artist. Global Loft (Spread), 1979, a dynamic example of the groundbreaking artist's "Spreads" series, will go on view in the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art on July 5, 2012.
"This is a tremendous day for American art at The Huntington," said John Murdoch, Hannah and Russel Kully Director of the Huntington Art Collections. "This is our first purchase of a major painting representing the period in which American art was indubitably at the leading edge of international innovation. It means we are now pushing forward with the development of our collection on a much broader and more modern front. It is a wonderful pledge to our own future."
The acquisition of Global Loft (Spread) was made possible by a gift from an anonymous donor for the purchase of American art made after 1945 in memory of Robert Shapazian (1943–2010), whose estate gave The Huntington Andy Warhol's painting Small Crushed Campbell's Soup Can (Beef Noodle), 1962 and Brillo Box, 1964, as well as a group of Brillo boxes by Pontus Hultén in 2010. Global Loft (Spread) is being acquired directly from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, represented by Gagosian Gallery.


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Our original plan was to leave Dolisie and head directly to Brazzaville, however, our sources in Dolisie said that the road to Brazzaville was not safe and we would most certainly encounter rebels along the way. The only other alternative was to head west to Pointe Noire and get our Angola visas there. From Pointe Noire, we could cross through the Angolan province of Cabinda before heading south into the DRC and then continuing on into mainland Angola. This was the same route our friends the African Surfers had taken so we headed west without hesitation considering it would save us a lot of driving on poor roads, we had been offered a place to stay in Pointe Noire and assistance with our visas and I was still extremely ill with malaria.
Tag Archives: expats
New Photos – Congo (Pointe Noire)
November 8, 2008 – 9:35 pm
By Steve Bouey | Posted in Africa, Congo, New Photos | Also tagged Africa, Angola, Congo, Heineken, MTN, Pointe Noire | Comments (0)


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Tue, 27 September 2016
Wherein we discuss Gotham, Shameless, Supergirl, The Path, Mr. Robot, the future of PC operating systems, massive TV-watching queues, Pandemic: Reign of Chtulhu, the conventions and other events that we always miss, overrated media franchises, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, our hopes for the Nintendo NX, and our most epic gaming (and reading) binges. Starring Ryan Scott and Ryan Higgins, with special guest April Scott.
Direct download: GeekboxRadio_Ep391.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:30pm PDT
Tue, 20 September 2016
Wherein we discuss Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, Galavant, revisiting Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Blair Witch, American Horror Story, Dark Matter, Narcos, Dragon Quest VII, Pokemon Go, Alice's return to World of Warcraft, and the games that we play with our significant others. Starring Ryan Scott, Adam Fitch, Justin Haywald, Ryan Higgins, and Alice Liang.
Direct download: GeekboxRadio_Ep390.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 2:45pm PDT
Tue, 13 September 2016
Wherein we discuss touring San Francisco, the best Woody Allen movie, No Man's Sky, doing science, Day of the Tentacle, lore in online role-playing games, Chris Metzen's exit from Blizzard, Warcraft Adventures, Super Mario Run, Nintendo vs. mobile, Mario Kart 64, wacky phone sounds, bad movies and games that we love anyway, and the horror movies that scare us. Starring Ryan Scott, Adam Fitch, Justin Haywald, and Ryan Higgins, with special guests Josh Epstein and Allie Zvirblis.
Direct download: GeekboxRadio_Ep389.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 3:00pm PDT
Wed, 7 September 2016
Wherein we discuss World of Warcraft: Legion -- from the perspective of two Beast Mastery-spec hunters. Yes, we devoted an entire episode to this game. Starring Ryan Scott and Ryan Higgins.
Direct download: GeekboxRadio_Ep388.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 6:30pm PDT
Thu, 1 September 2016
Wherein we discuss Pokemon Go pro tips, World of Warcraft: Legion, Stranger Things, the New Galaxy Style New Nintendo 3DS XL, insane video game marketing ideas, old Sierra games on Steam, Gene Wilder, Batman vs. Deathstroke, investment in TV shows, Preacher, and the tech gimmicks that we hate. Starring Ryan Scott, Adam Fitch, Justin Haywald, and Ryan Higgins.
Direct download: GeekboxRadio_Ep387.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:45am PDT


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The Santa Clara News is an online portal where you will find hyper-local coverage in and around Santa Clara, CA. News on municipal government, elections, arts & entertainment, local sports, professional sports, community events, crime and anything else we feel relevant to the Santa Clara community. You'll also read guest opinion columns and editorials at times. Feel free to contact us or send us news tips. This site will constantly evolve as we build up this news outlet. This site was founded by Robert Haugh, a Silicon Valley journalist who has covered an array of topics in an around Santa Clara and the Silicon Valley for over 15 years. Follow this page, or like the associated Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/SantaClaraNewsOnline/
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And yes, we were peaceful. Had a great time but even better time Wednesday Morning.
NOTE: The Santa Clara Police Department received information that a "Flashmob" was going to assemble at Stevens Creek Blvd. and Winchester Blvd. at 12 p.m.. Approximately 60 Donald Trump supporters were on hand. SCPD observed reported the demonstration as peaceful.


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GLASGOW — The COP26 climate conference closed on this evening with a deal that many countries described as imperfect and unsatisfying, but ultimately a step forward in limiting global warming.
The U.K. presidency presented a compromise text called the Glasgow Climate Pact that recognized how far off the world was from holding warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
"The negotiations have been far from easy," said Alok Sharma, the COP26 president. But he said the deal would "keep 1.5 alive" by calling on countries to raise their climate goals in 2022.
Countries closed the rule book of the Paris Agreement, agreeing to establish an international carbon market and set up processes to discuss increasing financial assistance for developing countries in the coming years.
There was a historic mention of a "phase down" of coal and "phase out" of fossil fuel subsidies. Many countries, including the EU and small island nations, lamented that India and China had intervened in the final hour of the conference to change the language on coal from "phase out" — which is still the first time the fossil fuel that's one of leading causes of climate change has been mentioned by the signatories of the Paris Agreement.
The document linked above does not include the changed language on coal, as it was changed in the final plenary.


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As you contemplate moving beyond your piggy bank, the two types of financial institutions that you're most likely to deal with are banks and credit unions. Their products and services are about the same, but their values and motivations are very different. Learn how.
It's a Money Thing is a registered trademark of Currency Marketing


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LeBron James was irate last year when he finished second to Marc Gasol for defensive player of the year. James has a scoring title, regular season MVP's, finals MVP's and etc.
The only thing missing from his trophy collection is defensive player of the year. He's made it one of his goals this year and he should get a very good look at it.
LeBron is the only person in the NBA that guards all five positions. He did that exact thing last night in Los Angeles. James guarded everyone from Darren Collison to DeAndre Jordan.
"That's why I should be Defensive Player of the Year," James said. "No one has ever done this before."
It's hard to argue with the king here.


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Do you like to cook? For many people, cooking is a favorite pastime. While it does feed the family, it's also an activity that brings them pleasure. Sometimes it's a comforting feeling, serving up an old family recipe. Maybe it's your mother's homemade chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, the ones you got caught stealing out of the cookie jar when you were a kid. Or maybe it's your grandmother's Hungarian goulash, served up on special occasions. Regardless of the recipe, for those who like to cook, it's a pleasure, not a chore.
It's often fun to have the option of cooking while you're on vacation. Pancakes seem to taste better when they're cooked in a mountain cabin. Diamond Mountain Rentals offers Gatlinburg cabin rentals with fully equipped kitchens, so you can whip up your favorite recipe and enjoy a little taste of home while you're away.
Here are a couple of our favorite cabins ready for your culinary magic. See if they inspire any cooking creativity in you.
Lazy Bear Den: Lazy Bear Den is a 2 BR, 2 BA cabin with spacious, modern living spaces. A combination kitchen/dining area will inspire creativity, whether you're contemplating your dinner options or your next day's adventures in Gatlinburg. Whip up a spaghetti dinner, or cook steaks on the charcoal grill, whichever suits your mood. You'll find options for culinary creativity here.
Reclining leather sofas and a gas fireplace in the living area make this place feel like home from the moment you walk in. Both bedrooms in this cabin have king-sized beds and private baths. Cable service and TVs throughout give you TV-viewing options. And the game room with pool table and foosball give you fun entertainment after your day of exploring Gatlinburg. Don't forget to save time for a dip in the outdoor hot tub after dinner! Lazy Bear Den is the perfect hideaway for your fall vacation.
Spirit of the Mountains: Located less than 5 minutes from the Gatlinburg Strip, Spirit of the Mountains is one of the nicest Gatlinburg cabin rentals. A large fully equipped kitchen with breakfast bar gives you a great place to have coffee in the morning as you plan your day. Or gather around the table in the cozy dining area and enjoy the mountain views as you have breakfast. Tall ceilings, wood paneling throughout, and a gas fireplace make this cabin feel warm and toasty. With 2 BR and 2 BA, you'll have enough space for the whole group. Cable TV, Internet, a pool table...there are lots of amenities here to make your stay comfortable and entertaining.
In the mornings, take your coffee (and maybe a blanket) out to the deck to enjoy the views. You have lots of scenery-viewing options; there are decks on the front and the side of this cabin, and they're stocked with rocking chairs and a porch swing. The hot tub is also located on the deck, so you can relax and soak sore muscles if you've hiked too far that day. This cabin is so inviting, you may not want to leave!
Diamond Mountain Rentals offers great Gatlinburg cabin rentals for your next fall vacation. Make plans now to stay in one of these cabins in Gatlinburg, or any of the others available from Diamond Mountain Rentals. And bring a few recipes along with you, just in case you need them!


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- How Philanthropies Leverage Opportunity ZonesExternal Content / Website
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 provides a new incentive — centered around the deferral, reduction, and elimination of capital gains taxes — to spur private investments in low-income areas designated by states as Opportunity Zones. Given the significant interest among investors, it is possible that this new tax incentive could attract hundreds of billions of dollars in private capital, making this one of the largest economic development initiatives in U.S. history. If successful, the tax incentive could create new mechanisms for both matching investment capital to market opportunities in neglected communities and ensuring that economic growth redounds to the benefit of people who live in or nearby disadvantaged places.
The broad objective of this new tax incentive — expanding economic opportunities for places and people left behind — cannot be achieved by the market and outside investors alone. Cities in the broadest sense — local governments, urban institutions, urban networks will need to act with deliberate agency and purpose if Opportunity Zones are to spur growth that is inclusive, sustainable and truly transformative for each city's economy. The implementation of Opportunity Zones, therefore, will be as much about codifying local norms and models as promulgating federal rules and guidance.
Given this perspective, it is clear that philanthropies have a critical role in helping cities realize the full economic and social impact of Opportunity Zones. Foundations often possess the community legitimacy necessary to convene disparate urban stakeholders around hard challenges and intriguing possibilities. They have the discretionary capital necessary to make investments in community development enterprises and other local institutions so these organizations can leverage Opportunity Zones. They have the patient, risk-tolerant capital necessary to invest in Qualified Opportunity Funds, aligned funds or individual transactions. They have the respect for evidence-driven decision making that is conducive to catalyze, capture, codify and communicate new norms and models as they emerge.
The potential role of philanthropies is amplified for foundations like Knight that operate across multiple communities of disparate size, economic profile and market condition. In some respects, the Knight Foundation's engagement with 26 cities offers a natural lab for experimentation with different kinds of interventions, which will be described below.
This paper identifies seven distinct and complimentary roles for foundations to play:
- They can play a stakeholder convening role by helping cities organize for success by coordinating efforts within government and across key institutions and sectors.
- They can play an asset mapping role by supporting the design and marketing of Opportunity Zone Investment Prospectuses to enable cities, counties and states to communicate their competitive advantages, trigger local partnerships and identify sound projects that are ready for public, private and civic capital.
- They can play a market making role by supporting the collection of market data, the conduct of market research and the provision of patient capital.
- They can play a community building role by helping residents who live in or near Zones express their preferences, obtain skills, start businesses and help improve the quality of life in the neighborhood.
- They can play an institution building role by enhancing the capacity of existing public, private and civic organizations and by creating or supporting new institutions or intermediaries that can help cities design, finance and deliver transformative investments and initiatives.
- They can play an innovation inducing role by using challenge grants and other mechanisms to source pathbreaking ideas among urban stakeholders or push key players to coalesce around coordinated neighborhood investment strategies.
- They can play an information sharing role by speeding the process by which innovative strategies, practices and instruments are captured, codified and communicated.


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Beginner's Hydroponics Gardening Kits!
I only wish that they had these Hydroponic Gardening Dome Kits when my kids were youngsters! No dirt, just nutrient rich water to grow your own plants!! Which means No Mess! What a great way to teach the kiddies about biology and the value of growing your own veggies, fruits, and herbs! I think these beginners kits would be perfect for adults too, simply because some people can't be out in the sun or are physically incapable of tending a garden. All of these kits are available on Amazon, but the quantities are going quickly, so don't wait if you are interested.
DuneCraft Dome Terrariums Hydro-Dome
This complete kit comes with everything you need, greenhouse with hydroponic tray, two-part nutrient, net pots, rock-wool, seeds, hydro-pump for aeration and complete instructions. Grow those greens!
Dunecraft Everbearing Strawberry Hydro-Dome Science Kit
Maybe greens aren't your thing, so here's a strawberry kit that any kid or adult would surely love to experiment with.
Miracle-Gro AeroGarden 7-Pod Indoor Garden
with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit
Finally, if you want to take it up a notch, then go for this Miracle-Gro hydroponics herb garden. This is nothing like fresh herbs when your cooking, and with this system every thing you will need is right at your fingertips, including the seeds. 🙂
I have no doubt that some of you will see the value in this type of food growing system, and I really do believe that it's going to be the wave of the future for many up and coming gardeners. I also found a video on Youtube for all of you DIYers who would like to build your own basic hydroponics kit. I'm always up for new challenges.
If any of you dig in and try one of these hydroponic systems, please share with all of us. I also want you to know, that some of the links above are my referral links, which means I may get a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you of course. Thank you for your support!


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A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera are out with the music video to their new single 'Say Something', off Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino's debut album 'Is There Anybody Out There?', out January 21st on Epic Records/Black Magnetic.
Talking about her participation on the song, Aguilera told Idolator, "It's so quiet and still and steady and in a way pleading. I'm only taking on projects that feel good to me and represent, as always, a purpose of the here and now in my life."
Watch the Christopher Sims directed video via YouTube below.