text:
Three days after its release, The Division 2's eight-player raid is no longer unbeaten on consoles. The game's PS4 leaderboards show that two eight-player teams have cleared it, the first clocking in at over 36 hours, the second at nearly 20. The Xbox One leaderboard shows a team clearing it in 17.
The raid, called Operation Dark Hours, after an obscure TV movie starring Ronald Reagan and James Dean, has proven unusually tough for console gamers.
A team of PC players first cleared the raid when it launched on Thursday, battling through its four boss-battle encounters inside and outside of a fictional Washington DC airport, in just over five hours. Console leaderboards, however, had been blank for days.
The gap in raid completion across platforms has led to player theories that the raid was accidentally tuned to be too difficult for the technological capabilities of console framerates and controllers. The raid requires a lot of rapid turning and precise shooting during brief moments when enemies are vulnerable.
Zach Caraway, one of the players who first cleared the raid on PS4 in a 36-hour run, however, doesn't think the console raid is arduous strictly due to technical limitations. He told Kotaku that it's essential that teams work together.
"I believe on the final boss and the first boss, it's all about team coordination," he said. "We always had people up and shooting. Frame rate could be an issue for some on console but the main thing is just getting the right 8 guys/girls and keeping them going. Don't fight and argue or it will cause disarray from were people need to be focused."
He added that people shouldn't overemphasize scoring a headshot. "People on console need to focus on RAW damage," he said. "Headshots damage won't help us as much when you miss the head."
Caraway said his team's 36-hour run was done with a standard PS4 controller and involved a five-hour break and some interruptions due to "Delta" server errors and bluescreen game crashes, including during the fight against the raid's final boss, a drone-launching truck called Razorback. "We had to just wipe and give up twice when we had the Razorback to more than half health and then boom...two deltas at the same time," he said. "We wiped and ran it again."
The raid allows players to take breaks and resume at checkpoints. Large chunks of the remarkable run by Caraway and his TNT clan have been archived on Twitch.
In response to a user of the game's subreddit wondering about the best build to use, Caraway confirmed that, like so many others, he'd focused on using AR and LMG machine guns and a DPS, damage-centric build. "[Y]ou guys will get it," he said, offering encouragement.
It's been unusually difficult for console players to even get through the raid's first boss, which the developers said on Thursday would serve as a check of whether players were powerful enough to handle the raid.
While skill could be a factor and while many elite players and the most tight-knit player groups could possibly have gravitated toward PC, the gap between how long it took PC players to beat it and how long it took console players to clear it is unusual. A site that tracks Destiny 2 raids shows that, for the raids released for the game since it was available on console and PC, console players have usually only lagged behind be a matter of hours, not days.
That gap between PC and console completion has fueled theories that the raid's difficulty on consoles is indeed in part because of consoles' technical limitations compared to those of the PC.
"It's the lack of precision and smoothness console players have in comparison to playing on a PC," a UK-based player named Sang whose team took 10 hours to beat the raid's first boss, told Kotaku on Saturday. He said he's played The Division 2 on console and, when it was in beta, on PC. "PC players do have the distinct advantage of a mouse and keyboard where they can land those important accurate headshots. Playing TD2 on consoles are also limited to 30fps (and sometimes lowers with some frame drops) and PC players can enjoy much higher framerates and it makes a world of difference."
On Sunday, Sang said his team had nearly beaten the raid's final boss twice but that in both instance someone on the team either got a blue-screen game crash or a server disconnect.
PC players, meanwhile, are now romping through the raid. The initial five-hour completion time has long since been shattered. Players on that platform are now clearing it in under 24 minutes.


text:
Colin I. Cameron CPA, CA
Colin Cameron is the founder of Profits for Partners, Management Consulting Inc. Colin has been advising professional service firms for more than 25 years and led a law firm to become one of the most profitable firms in British Columbia.
Early in his career, Colin worked as a Chartered Accountant in public practice with Thorne Riddell, a predecessor firm to KPMG. He advised a variety of companies in various industries, providing audit, tax and technology consulting advice. Following his time with Thorne Riddell, Colin was Chief Operating Officer of Clark Wilson LLP, a major Vancouver law firm with 85 lawyers and more than 150 staff.
Colin facilitated the creation of several firm strategic and financial plans which resulted in Clark Wilson LLP becoming one of the most profitable law firms in Vancouver.
As a key advisor, he worked closely with the firm's Managing Partner and all major firm committees. With a focus on profitability, he streamlined the firm's operations and governance and implemented a new partner compensation structure. In doing so, he demonstrated an in-depth understanding and appreciation of the firm's culture and its acceptance for change and improvement.
Colin also built and led a powerhouse administrative management team, oversaw the adoption of leading edge technology and steered all financial and administrative operations of the firm.
Colin established Profits for Partners in May, 2009. He advises professional firms in the following key areas related to profitability:
- Profitability Improvement
- Strategic Planning
- Firm Governance
- Partner Compensation
- Financial Management
- Operations Management
- Strategic Management
Chartered Accountant, British Columbia Institute of Chartered Accountants, Vancouver, B.C., 1980
Essentials of Management Consulting, Canadian Association of Management Consultants, 2007
Bachelor of Arts (Commerce), Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C., 1978
Certified Financial Planner, Financial Planners Standards Council, 2005

subset: commoncrawl


text:
"Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion." -Barry Lopez
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Something in My Pocket! SOL: 14 of 31
7 comments:
Sometimes it doesn't take much to make a teacher's heart sing. Love those good neighbors who come bearing gifts.ReplyDelete
It's so great to realize that someone is really listening and remembering, even if after you've walked away. What a great friend and story :)ReplyDelete
Oh no...now I am humming the Brownie song too!! What a fun post...and so glad your class next door neighbor somehow found the kind of markers you eanted. Here comes that tune again!!! Jackie http://familytrove.blogspot.com/ReplyDelete
That's awesome. I love that your friend swooped in and saved the day :).ReplyDelete
Our teaching life can be so stressful. I totally related to the search for something that should be a supply staple but often isn't. It is a small joy that totally makes our day to find. What a wonderful buddy. How delightful that you made up a song for the occasion!ReplyDelete
It IS the little things in life that make the difference! :-)ReplyDelete
It's the little things that can make our days, right? Some days big good things happen... but as long as these little things keep coming we can keep going :)ReplyDelete


text:
Signalling a willingness to break the nuclear cooperation deadlock, Water and Power Minister for Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry had suggested that Pakistan and the US consider cooperation in civil nuclear technology to meet Islamabad's energy needs.
"We have informed the visiting secretary of state that the crippling energy crisis is a bigger threat than the war on terror. Hydel and nuclear energy are on our priority list and we can consider a civil nuclear deal like India," Asif told a joint press conference with Kerry after holding talks on energy cooperation.
Providing details of his discussions with Kerry, Asif said that the US government asked for possible areas where energy cooperation would be possible, including nuclear energy.
He added that while the government was seeking cooperation in wind, solar, hydel and nuclear energy sectors, the government would hold further detailed discussions on the issue of nuclear cooperation in follow-up meetings.
Referencing the civil nuclear energy deal with India, Asif said that with the energy crisis destroying economic output and fuelling instability, the US should consider giving similar technology to Pakistan.
"The whole world is focusing on the war on terror, which is a local issue for Pakistan, while our biggest threat is the energy crisis which is causing a loss of Rs1,000 billion each year," said Asif. He said overcoming load-shedding would lead to accelerated economic growth, employment opportunities and would reduce terrorism in the country.
Appreciating the efforts of USAID in improving the energy sector in the country, Asif said that the government had also played its part by clearing the Rs500 billion circular debt, resulting in power production reaching 16,000 megawatts.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that the importance of energy was critical to the future of Pakistan. He added that USAID had provided technology to indentify accurate data of power supply, line losses and power theft. "We underscore our vital relations with Pakistan and emphasise the importance of energy is future of Pakistan," said Kerry, adding that the US Congress had approved over $7 billion aid for Pakistan under Kerry Lugar Bill, which included support for the energy sector.
Kerry added that out of the total aid, the US had so far disbursed $3.5 billion, highlighting that the US government was committed to providing energy to Pakistan.
"Change in power subsidy and efficiency in energy sector are must for improvement in power system and I will go to Washington with increased number of energy projects," said Kerry.
Highlighting the wide range of economic initiatives being undertaken by the US through its aid program, Kerry said that his government was so far funding projects which will add 1,200 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2013.


text:
"She had 38 stab wounds to her head, chest and thighs."
Husband Mohammad Qoraishi, aged 27, of Hull, was jailed for a minimum of 16 years and 82 days on June 7, 2019, for murdering his teenage wife.
Maidstone Crown Court heard he stabbed 19-year-old Parwin Quriashi 38 times on Christmas Day in 2018 at her home on London Road, Maidstone.
Qoraishi and the victim were cousins and had an arranged marriage in August 2018. He moved into her home five days before the attack.
The prosecutor Alexandra Healy explained that there had been tensions leading up to and following the marriage.
It was heard that Qoraishi hit his wife over the head with a frying pan before launching a "frenzied" attack with a kitchen knife.
He stabbed her in the head, neck, chest, thighs and abdomen. One wound to her neck was 6cm in depth.
Ms Healy said: "Parwin was just 19-years-old and was the victim of a ferocious and sustained attack in her own kitchen.
"She had 38 stab wounds to her head, chest and thighs.
"She had also been strangled and had been hit to the back of her head with a frying pan."
Ms Healy added that some of the knife wounds could have been inflicted after Parwin was already dead.
Following the attack, Qoraishi drove to the port in an attempt to flee, however, it was shut as it was Christmas Day.
Qoraishi was arrested at the wheel of his car wearing blood-stained clothes.
Parwin was discovered in the flat when neighbours became worried after hearing noises and a woman's screams.
Qoraishi was questioned four times by police. He claimed Parwin's father had threatened him.
During a hearing in May 2019, Qoraishi pleaded guilty when he was expected to enter a not guilty plea.
After private talks with his barrister, Qoraishi appeared at his hearing via prison video link and repeated:
"Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty."
Judge David Griffith-Jones QC told Qoraishi: "This was a senseless murder of your wife.
"Whilst I'm prepared to accept the murder was not premeditated but occurred in a fit of rage in which you snapped, it is clear that you knew what you were doing and your intention was to kill her.
"The inescapable fact is you performed these acts of utter barbarity and in the cold light of day you've had to face the enormity of what you've done.
"You inflicted upon her a catalogue of both blunt and sharp instrument injuries from which she sadly but inevitably died."
"Given the extent and obvious ferocity of the attack and the injuries caused, there can be no doubt that your intention, whilst not premeditated… must have been to kill your wife."
Defending Qoraishi was Bernard Tetlow QC who stated that the trigger for the attack was because of the arranged marriage.
He also explained that he was happy living in Hull and that Parwin's father refused to let her move to Hull where her husband had a home and a job.
In a letter, Qoraishi said: "I am deeply ashamed about what I did and can only apologise from my heart and plead for forgiveness."
Mohammad Qoraishi sat impassioned as he was jailed for life, to serve a minimum of 16 years and 82 days.
After the sentencing, Senior investigating officer DCI Ivan Beasley said:
"This was an unprovoked and savage attack on a defenceless young woman.
"Her tragic death at the hands of her husband has left a family mourning her loss.
"Qoraishi fled the scene and was tracked down by officers near Dover.
"It is only right that he will now spend a considerable time in prison for this brutal crime."


text:
Keilwerth Baritone SX90R at Musikmesse Frankfurt
Just in time for Musikmesse Frankfurt 2000, Julius Keilwerth present their first baritone saxophone of the SX90R series. Like with the SX90R alto and tenor models the 'R' stands for rolled tone holes. Soldered tone hole rings achieve improved airtightness, reduction of key noise and a better sound projection. The new baritone saxophones of the SX90 and the SX90R series feature a bell support for improved stability. Nick Brignola, awarded best baritone player already several times, was one of the first to try the new instrument and was enthusiastic about the sound.
The Julius Keilwerth ST 89 alto and tenor saxophones will be shipping with a new case made of Greenline-material featuring back-carrying straps.
A new thumbrest which can be adjusted verticallay and horizontally is available as an accessory for all Keilwerth saxophones. Players with very large or very small hands can now optimize their hand position.
The highly successful Diamond bows are now available in copper supporting extra warmth of sound.
© 3/2000 Pro-Music-News
©1997 ©2000
. All rights reserved. Thank you for visiting Pro-Music-News.


text:
Prenuptial agreements might have a bad reputation from tabloid accounts of celebrity divorces, but these important legal arrangements are for more than the rich and famous. Nor are prenuptial agreements a statement that a couple plans to divorce or otherwise wants an exit strategy. When done right, a prenuptial agreement can help a couple take […]
Get A Case Evaluation
We are happy to provide a consultation to all first time clients.
Please complete the form below and we will contact you.


text:
This aircraft is on public display at the Titan Missile Museum.
The Bell UH-1 is perhaps the best-known American helicopter in the world. Made famous by its use in Vietnam, versions of the "Huey" remain in both military and civil service today. Designated HU-1 by the Army and H-40 by the Air Force, the first Hueys flew in 1958. In 1962, the designations were changed to UH-1. By the mid-1960s, Hueys could be found in every branch of the U.S. military and were entering the civil and foreign military markets. The "F" model of the UH-1 was built for the Air Force specifically to provide support for the Titan and Minuteman missile sites. It featured a new engine and gearbox system that initially gave it a new designation of XH-48A. The UH-1F now on display is the first prototype of this version of the Huey. A total of 119 UH-1Fs were built between 1964 and 1967.
Diameter of Main Rotor
Fuselage Length
Maximum Speed
Service Ceiling
Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, California, 1966
Serial Number
Pima Air & Space Museum
Creating unlimited horizons in aerospace education through the preservation and presentation of the history of flight.
Charity EIN: 86-6031135
Copyright ©
Website by CS Design Studios
Contact Info
6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson, AZ 85756
Operating Hours:
Open 9 AM – 5 PM Daily
Last Admittance at 3:00 PM
Follow Us


text:
How to Care and Clean Your NOGU Jewelry
Caring and cleaning for your NOGU bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings shouldn't be rocket science. Here's your go-to guide for cleaning and caring for all of our jewelry based on the material they're made of.
Sterling Silver and Vermeil
1. Avoid over-exposing your sterling silver and vermeil pieces to water. While water its self shouldn't harm your jewelry it can eventually induce tarnishing over time. Make sure to take them off before working out, washing your hands, or taking a shower as salt and other chemicals can be harmful to the metal
2. Additionally, take it off before applying perfume, hair products, or skincare products
3. Store in a dry place, away from harsh elements like direct sunlight, cold, or heatTo clean: wipe and buff gently with a dry, clean cloth.
Stainless Steel
1. Even though stainless steel does not corrode or rust, it can scratch easily. If possible, wear your stainless steel jewelry solo so it doesn't get scratched by other jewelry
2. Store separately from jewelry made from other materials
To clean: pour warm water and mild dishwashing soap into a small bowl and dip a soft, lint-free cloth into the water. Wipe the stainless steel jewelry with the damp cloth until the piece is clean. Rinse the jewelry and towel dry once you are done.
Iridescent and Lampwork Glass
1. Ideally, keep lampwork glass away from water, but iridescent glass (like Mermaid and Galaxy Glass) is waterproof. Keep in mind that chemicals like chlorine can damage the sterling silver accents which many iridescent glass pieces have
To clean: lightly dampen a soft cotton cloth and wipe glass jewelry carefully. Towel dry afterward.
Semi-Precious Stones (Including Hematite)
1. Avoid exposing your gemstones to the harsh chemicals found in hair and skin care products
2. Store in a dry place, away from harsh elements like direct sunlight, cold, or heat
To clean: scrub gently with a soft-bristled brush (like an old toothbrush), warm water, and detergent-free soap. Rinse with warm water and towel dry.
CZ Diamonds
1. Chemicals and soaps will leave residue on cubic zirconia diamonds
2. Assure minimal exposure of water to the CZ diamonds
To clean: scrub gently with a soft-bristled brush (like an old toothbrush), warm water, and detergent-free soap. Rinse with warm water and towel dry.
Corded Jewelry
1. While nylon and linen cord may seem simple to take care of, avoiding exposing them to too much water and harsh chemicals
To clean: using your fingers, scrub gently with lukewarm water and detergent-free soap. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
To learn more about each type of material, visit our About Our Materials blog.
Reviews (4 comments)
Haz wayne On
Recently received my Rainbow White Gold Mermaid Glass bracelet and I love it! It's very soft and feminine and looks great on my wrist since I'm tanned
Looking forward to buying another one!
Mimi Mayer Bennett On
I luv the brand new Gemstone WrapBracelets & ordered about 5 of them! Cannot wait until they arrive!! I plan to stack several & wear a couple of them as necklaces! Thanks!!
Yu Li On
Happy with my previous NOGU purchase.
Sandi Richardson On
Thank you I found the information on how to clean my bracelets very helpful
I love my firefly and mermaid bracelets
Thank you


text:
Four years ago, yoga teachers Jesse Schiller and Rachel Evans travelled from their home in Vancouver, Canada to Asia where they spent a year exploring. What they discovered on that trip was a source of huge concern, explains Rachel: "Travelling overland through Asia we were struck by the environmental and human harm caused by our western push for fast fashion."
So shocked were they to see first-hand the impact that the western world's crazy consumption habits were having on the East, that Rachel and her then fiancé Jesse were determined to catalyse change, as Jesse explains:
"We returned home to Vancouver intent on creating a company that made gorgeous products with ethics that our mothers would be proud of...our hope was that by building a successful company in which the story behind the products was as important as the products themselves, we could inspire others to do the same".
It seems they have done just that. Just over a year ago Jesse and Rachel (by this time husband and wife) launched lifestyle brand Kooshoo through which they designed, produced and sold ethical fashion accessories. Their headbands, hair ties and shawls are made of environmentally friendlier fibres such as Tencel and organic cotton which are dyed (in the world's only 100% solar powered dye house), cut and sewn in downtown Los Angeles. Some of the cloth used in the collections is even woven there too, and all the packaging is recycled and / or biodegradable.
This month Kooshoo launched a crowdfunding campaign for their new, and I think stand-out piece - the Journey Shawl. The interest here lies not just in the ethical production and style credentials, but with the very fact that this piece is multi-purpose – it can be worn in twelve different ways. Kooshoo's aim is for the Journey Shawl - which they see as their 'direct response to fast fashion' - to 'reduce waste by becoming that one invaluable piece that makes any outfit look fantastic.' It's versatility would certainly be make it an excellent addition to any holiday capsule wardrobe.
Kooshoo reached their $10,000 CAD target in just four days, but are not resting on their laurels just yet - they have now introduced their 'Stretch Goals' which include a hand-made bag line and Peruvian winter collection. If you would like to snap up a Journey Shawl and support Kooshoo's crowdfunding project on Kickstarter, then don't delay - you have until Thursday 3rd April. International shipping is available on the rewards which include:
Pledge $10 CAD (approx £5.44) or more to be the recipient of a hand written 'Thank You' postcard and a Balinese Wish Bracelet.
Pledge $75 CAD (£40.83) or more, and you will receive a hand dyed Journey Shawl in the colour of your choice and a 'positive affirmation' organic cotton travel bag.
Pledge $275 CAD (approx £149.72) or more and receive five hand dyed Journey Shawls and five accompanying 'positive affirmation' organic cotton travel bags.
The word 'Kooshoo' actually means 'feeling good' in Norfolk, a language indigenous to Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, where Rachel and her sister Leilani (also their product designer) are from. Jesse and Rachel have remained true to their yoga roots and in line with their feel good ethos are determined to have a positive impact locally, as well as lessen the negative globally. This is evident in their commitment to donating 11% of their profits to a local charity Karma Teachers in downtown eastside Vancouver, known as 'the poorest postal code in Canada'. Their support over just one year has funded yoga and meditation classes for 1000 people from a local disadvantaged community. So, should you choose to invest, your money will not only be used to protect the planet but to help look after people too.
Find out more by reading on below, and by visiting Kooshoo's crowdfunding page on Kickstarter.


text:
Download our All Government Jobs Android app to get updates on your mobile.
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has issued the latest notification for IIT Sarkari Naukri. Applications are invited for the post of Project Associate, Technician. Other details of like Education Qualification Details, Required Age Limit, Mode Of selection, Fee Details and How to Apply are given below…
IIT Sarkari Naukri
Total NO. Posts - 09 Posts
Last Date 28 March
Organization: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT
Type of Employment: Central Govt Job
Total Vacancies :09 Posts
Post Name: Project Associate, Technician
Official Website: www.iitm.ac.in
Applying Mode: Online
Starting Date: 18.03.2020
Last Date: 28.03.2020
Details Of Vacancies:
Details Of Vacancies:
- Project Associate
- Senior Technician
- Junior Technician
Qualification Details:
- The candidates must have passed the Diploma, B.E/B. Tech or the equivalent from a recognized Board For IIT Sarkari Naukri.
Required Age Limit:
- Refer to Official Notification
Salary Package: Rs.16,000 – Rs.21,500/-
Mode of Selection:
- Written exam
- Interview
Steps to Apply For Online Mode:
- Log on to the official website www.iitm.ac.in
- Candidates can apply through online
- Candidates should ensure that they fulfil the eligibility criteria as per IIT Sarkari Naukri
- Click on the submit button for submission of the application.
Important Instructions:
- Before Applying, Candidates are advised to go through the instructions given in the notice of examination very carefully.
Focusing Dates:
- Application Submission Dates: 18.03.2020 to 28.03.2020
Notification Link: Click Here
Application Link: Click Here
Download our All Government Jobs Android app to get updates on your mobile.


text:
The right advice for opportunities and project that drive innovation in your organization.
Keep your operation going with our support services for Database, Middleware, Infrastructure, applications and so on.
Best manpower on site to support your needs on any technology skill: database, middleware, development and so on.
Get ready for today innovation changes. Take a training with our consultant team on Business Transformation, Technology, Methodologies and so on.
World class and custom solutions that drives innovation. We are authorized partner for brands like RedHat, Oracle, Microsoft, McAfee, Docker, Veritas, Quest, Netsarang and VMWare.


text:
If you are not on the Internet – it is at best surprising.
While to be there just "to be there" does not make much sense.
A website is not simply "an Internet site" – it is a possibility to offer information, convince, and reveal your ideas. The most important thing to do is to create the right impression. To say who you are, what you can offer, what benefits you can provide, and in what ways you are different from your competitors.
And not only say, but show it with style.
A website is an outfit. Its design should meet your company's philosophy, customer's needs, and the mood of the situation.
In this sense we are your stylists who will help you choose the right outfit. One person may look great wearing a T-shirt and shorts, while another is born for classical business suits and silk ties. Everyone to his taste.
We know what fits. We will think it over and come up with a solution.


text:
Last year's Chess Camp was a magical experience for all who attended. Don't forget to sign up for the 2015 Fremont Summer Chess Camp.
reblogged from: https://chessmusings.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/fremont-summer-chess-camp-week-2/
Fremont Summer Chess Camp: Week 2
The Torres Chess and Music Academy's Fremont Summer Chess Camp continued to enrich the lives of children during its second week of operation. Below are some of the highlights from week 2:


text:
05 Mar Blush Baby Carnations
Posted at 22:03h in Blog, Inspiration
Even though I am staring at snow on my porch, it's officially March and had to share a little Spring with you! I picked up a bouquet of baby carnations for a photoshoot this weekend. I couldn't believe how delicate and dainty they were. And just the perfect shade of blush. Nice and affordable, and really packed in there so good bang (ie, volume) for your buck. Be on the look out! I'm seeing wedding, baby shower, Easter brunch tables! I take back everything I ever said about carnations…
{And stay tuned for the what I was shooting, super excited to share! XOXO}


text:
Prime minister: MS Estonia documentary was an investigation game-changer
Prime Minister Jüri Ratas (Center) says that new facts emerged in a documentary on the sinking of the MS Estonia, airing on Swedish television, information which no previous report has addressed.
"In my opinion, this is a sufficient reason to initiate and carry out a technical investigation, which of course also means underwater, seabed and wreck investigations," Ratas told ETV investigative show "Pealtnägija"
The "Pealtnägija" episode covered the documentary, "Estonia – a Discovery that Changes Everything" and whose first episode (of five) aired on Monday on the Discovery Channel Sweden. The documentary shows footage of a four-meter-long hole in the MS Estonia's hull, which has led to speculation that this was the real cause of the disaster, rather than the official explanation that a failed bow visor was to blame.
The documentary's maker, 33-year-old Henrik Evertsson, an award-winning freelance journalist and Swedish citizen based in Norway, is currently awaiting trial in Sweden for engaging in unsanctioned diving, after the September 2019 expedition to film the wreck.
While the vessel the documentary makers used flew under the German flag – Germany is not a signatory of an international agreement to preserve the sanctity of the site, including a bar on any diving activities – Evertsson and another Swedish citizen involved in the dive come from a country which has signed up to it.
Jüri Ratas said that this very agreement was part of the reason why the presence of the hole had not come up before.
"Estonia joined the agreement in 1995. The final report was issued in 1997, and no such evidence has been presented so specifically before. Now we have it in pictures and on film," Ratas told "Pealtnägija".
"The reason we are starting a new technical investigation today is because the Discovery documentary series has come out, showing a significant gap or hole in the starboard side of the ferry.
"If we had the 100 percent truth today on why such new information has emerged, why this gap has arisen, then the investigation should not begin, because there are answers. We do not have those answers today," he went on.
Follow ERR News on Facebook and Twitter and never miss an update!
Editor: Andrew Whyte


text:
Cricket: Pakistan Bowl Against England In Third Test
Zeeshan Mehtab Published August 03, 2016 | 03:59 PM
BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom,(APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Augst,2016) - Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to field in the third Test against England at Edgbaston on Wednesday. As announced by captain Alastair Cook on Tuesday, England made one change from the side that won the second Test at Old Trafford by 330 runs to level the four-match series at 1-1, with fast bowler Steven Finn replacing injured all-rounder Ben Stokes, out with a calf problem. Pakistan made two changes, with Sami Aslam replacing out-of-form opener Shan Masood and right-armer Sohail Khan coming in for Wahab Riaz to add variety to what had been an all left-arm pace attack. Left-handed batsman Aslam, 20, made two hundreds for Pakistan Under-19 against their English counterparts on a tour of England in 2013.
The grey skies above Edgbaston promised to offer swing movement to Pakistan's fast bowlers and make life difficult for England's batsmen. "The conditions have been a bit cloudy," Misbah told BBC Radio's Test Match Special. "We know from the last three or four days the pitch has been under covers.
There's a bit of moisture under the pitch. "Bowling first is a better option," explained Misbah, whose side won the first Test at Lord's by 75 runs. "We need a sort of attitude like Lord's.
We need to improve in our bowling, and you need to bat better, we've been struggling a bit." Cook added: "It's an interesting call. We would have batted. "I don't think the 'overheads' are going to change too much over the five days," the opener said. "It looks a good wicket.
It's been under cover for 24 hours and there's a bit of moisture around." This was England's 500th home Test match. They have won seven of their last 11 at Edgbaston, with their most recent Test defeat at the Birmingham ground coming against South Africa in 2008. This was also in-form England all-rounder Chris Woakes's first Test on his Warwickshire home ground.
"We've got a good record here -- it's nice turning up at a ground where you've got good memories -- but it means nothing on day one," said Cook. Teams England: Alastair Cook (capt), Alex Hales, Joe Root, James Vince, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Steven Finn Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez, Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), Sohail Khan, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali Umpires: Joel Wilson (WIS), Bruce Oxenford (AUS) tv umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)


text:
Dhondup Wangchen has been honored today with journalists from Brazil, Kyrgyzstan and Liberia Tuesday at the 2012 International Press Freedom Awards in New York for taking huge risks to expose human rights violations in their countries.
Dhondup Wangchen, honored with CPJ's 2012 International Press Freedom Award from Committee to Protect Journalists on Vimeo.
They were honored at an awards dinner in New York, although two of them — Kyrgyz reporter Azimjon Askarov and Tibetan Dhondup Wangchen — were unable to attend as they are currently imprisoned. But his wife Lhamo Tso attended the ceremony.The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said the four reporters "have faced severe reprisals for their work, including assault, threats, and torture."
"We are inspired by these journalists who have paid a high price for their enduring dedication to the truth," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon.
The winners are:
– Brazilian Mauri Koenig, an investigative reporter who has spent 22 years covering human rights abuses and corruption. Koenig was almost beaten to death while reporting for stories on the kidnapping of Brazilian children for military service in Paraguay and has received many death threats.
– Wangchen, a Tibetan documentary filmmaker who made the film "Leaving Fear Behind" about his homeland ahead of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He was promptly detained and sentenced to six years in prison.
– Askarov, a Kyrgyz journalist and human rights activist sentenced to life behind bars after writing about corruption and abuse of power. According to human rights groups, the criminal case against him was fabricated.
– Mae Azango, a rare female journalist in Liberia, had to go into hiding after writing about female genital mutilation.
The CPJ honors between four and seven individuals or publications each year at the New York banquet.


text:
UI students who are interested in studying abroad in Germany for the summer, fall, or academic year are invited to attend an information session on Germany's Dortmund Exchange program, on Friday, February 3, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in 315 Phillips Hall.
Come and learn about this amazing study abroad opportunity in Germany!
Study at the Technical University of Dortmund for the summer, fall, or academic year, taking courses in the liberal arts and sciences while being immersed in the German language and culture, or study for the summer in an English-taught program specifically designed for U.S. college and university students.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Kerby Boschee in advance at firstname.lastname@example.com or 319 335-0353.


text:
MAN TGA + Interior
This is MAN TGA and its own interior, addons for your Euro Truck Simulator 2 gameplay!
Just download and install for using this awesome truck!
Tested and worked fine on ETS2 1.8.x!
Screenshots for MAN TGA:
How to install MAN TGA + Interior mod for ETS2:
- Download this mod.
- Unzip it!
- Paste the .scs into the My Documents/Euro Truck Simulator 2/mod folder.
- Enjoy!


text:
Gravitek Labs
Link to web site:
Gravitek Labs is a technology consultancy and web services firm specializing in internet strategy and web application development. We facilitate community and collaboration through innovative web technologies, and our team has fun while we're at it because we love what we do.
We offer a wide range of services such as planning & consulting, information architecture, design, development, quality assurance, and performance & scalability planning. We help you make use of open source software to improve your business and meet your goals, making sure to get you involved and contributing back to the communities along the way.
Our projects range from retail & ecommerce sales, social networking platforms and community sites, and custom web applications to usability testing prototypes and complex API/web services based tools. We work with a wide variety of small, medium, and large businesses, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and large Fortune 500 enterprise customers.
While we're at it we make it a priority to be involved with open source communities by participating and helping organize local user groups, regional camps and larger conferences. We also support these events, Drupal and it's developers, as well as other open source projects, financially and with code contributions such as the Drupal Sky theme, Skinr, Ubercart Quickbooks Integration, Dynamic Views, Webcams, & Patterns modules.


text:
Technical Papers
Discover solutions to unique assembly challenges through our technical papers and presentations. Our Field Application Engineers are specialized in identifying and solving problems so if you are having assembly issues, please contact us today!
What Do You Want on Your Tombstone? – Tombstoning Defects and How to Avoid Them
Tombstoning, draw-bridging, bill-boarding, and skewing are all common defects that are caused by movement of components out of their intended position. These defects typically occur with passive components and are a common issue for electronics manufacturers. Tombstoning, draw-bridging, bill-boarding and skewing can be caused by the circuit board design, pick and place errors, stencil design, reflow profile, and other potential sources. These potential causes of tombstoning and related defects were studied in order to create solutions for this issue. This paper summarizes the results of this work.
Fill the Void V – Mitigation of Voiding for Bottom Terminated Components
Voiding in solder joints has been studied extensively, and the effects of many variables compared and contrasted with respect to voiding performance. Solder paste flux, solder powder size, stencil design, circuit board design, via-in-pad design, surface finish, component size, reflow profile, vacuum reflow, nitrogen reflow and other parameters have been varied and voiding quantified for each. The results show some differences in voiding performance with respect to most of these variables but these variables are not independent of each other. Voiding in solder joints is a complex issue that often requires multiple approaches to reduce voiding below required limits. This paper focuses on solutions to voiding for commonly used bottom terminated components (BTCs).
The Effects of Surface Finish on Solder Paste Performance – The Sequel
This is a second study on how solderable surface finish affects solder paste performance in the surface mount process (SMT). The first study was presented at SMTA International 2018 and included print, reflow and voiding data on 6 different surface finishes run with 4 different solder pastes. This work explores some of the surface finish & solder paste combinations in more detail with an expanded set of SMT parameters. All of the test results, including data from the first study, are summarized, compared and contrasted. Discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of each combination of surface finish and solder paste are given with respect to the various SMT parameters. Recommendations are made for optimal combinations of surface finish and solder paste.
Size Matters – The Effects of Solder Powder Size on Solder Paste Performance
Solder powder size is a popular topic in the electronics industry due to the continuing trend of miniaturization of electronics. The question commonly asked is "when should we switch from Type 3 to a smaller solder powder?" Solder powder size is usually chosen based on the printing requirements for the solder paste. It is common practice to use IPC Type 4 or 5 solder powders for stencil designs that include area ratios below the recommended IPC limit of 0.66. The effects of solder powder size on printability of solder paste have been well documented.
The surface finishes commonly used on printed circuit boards (PCBs) have an effect on solder paste performance in the surface mount process. Some surface finishes are non-planar like hot air solder level (HASL) which can lead to inconsistencies in solder paste printing. Other surface finishes are difficult to wet during reflow like organic solderability preservative (OSP). What is the overall effect of surface finish on solder paste performance? Which solder paste is best for each surface finish? It is the goal of this paper to answer these questions.
Printing of solder paste and stencil technology has been well studied and many papers have been presented on the topic. Very few studies have looked at how solder paste volume affects solder joint reliability. It is the aim of this work to correlate printed solder paste volume to solder joint reliability.
Voids in solder joints are a concern for many electronics manufacturers. They create weakness in the solder joints which can lead to mechanical failure. Voids can slow or limit heat transfer away from the component which can lead to thermal failure. Voids can also interfere with electrical signal flow creating problems with the function of the circuit board. Minimization of voiding is beneficial for the life and function of the circuit assembly.
Fill the Void II: An Investigation into Methods of Reducing Voiding
Voids in solder joints plague many electronics manufacturers. Do you have voids in your life? We have good news for you, there are many excellent ways to "Fill the Void." This paper is a continuation of previous work on voiding in which the following variables were studied: water-soluble lead-free solder pastes, a variety of stencil designs, and reflow profiles. Quad Flat No-Lead (QFN) component thermal pads were used as the test vehicle. The voiding results were summarized and recommendations were made for reduction of voiding.
Fill the Void III
This study is part three in a series of papers on voiding in solder joints and methods for mitigation of voids. In this study several new variables were tested and compared to previous data on voiding. A new circuit board design was used which is different than the circuit board used in previous studies. The new circuit board design includes two sizes of QFNs (Quad Flat No Lead), BGA's (Ball Grid Array), and LGA (Land Grid Array) components which are susceptible to voiding.
Fill the Void IV
Voids are a plague to our electronics and must be eliminated! Over the last few years we have studied voiding in solder joints and published three technical papers on methods to "Fill the Void." This paper is part four of this series. The focus of this work is to mitigate voids for via in pad circuit board designs.
An Investigation into the Durability of Stencil Coating Technologies
It is well documented that Nano coatings on SMT stencils offer many benefits to those assembling PWBs. With reduced standard deviation and improved transfer efficiency nano coatings can provide, there is also a cost. As PWB assemblers work to justify the return on investment, one key question continues to arise. What is the durability or life of these coatings and what can be done in the print process to maximize the life of the coatings? This paper addresses durability of the coatings in relation to the number of print cycles and underside wipe cycles applied as well as materials used on the underside wipe process. Different parameters will be applied and data will be collected. The results of this study will be summarized to help those using or considering the use of these nano coatings to improve their print process and suggestions will be given to maximize the life of the coatings.
Improve SMT Assembly Yields Using Root Cause Analysis in Stencil Design
Reduction of first pass defects in the SMT assembly process minimizes cost, assembly time and improves reliability. These three areas, cost, delivery and reliability determine manufacturing yields and are key in maintaining a successful and profitable assembly process. It is commonly accepted that the solder paste printing process causes the highest percentage of yield challenges in the SMT assembly process. As form factor continues to get smaller, the challenge to obtain 100% yield becomes more difficult. This paper will identify defects affecting SMT yields in the printing process and discuss their Root Cause. Outer layer copper weight and surface treatment will also be addressed as to their effect on printability. Experiments using leadless and emerging components will be studied and root cause analysis will be presented on various common SMT defects.
Step Stencil Technologies and Their Effect on the SMT Printing Process
It is a common fact that the print process is one of the most critical elements in SMT production and many of today's assemblies include both miniature components such as 0201's, Micro-BGA's, LGA's and QFN's as well as large components such as large connectors on the same assembly. Printing the proper volume of paste on these assemblies is not always possible by adjusting the apertures on single level stencils. As a result, manufacturers are finding that "Step Stencils" allow them to apply the correct amount of paste to different components on the same assembly with excellent first pass yields.
What's coming down the tracks for Printing and Stencils
This presentation discusses trends of current and future printing technologies including new foil materials, mesh materials, new stencil lasers, nanocoatings and more.
Printing Practices for 01005 Components
01005 components are a challenge due to their size. They are popular for use in high density circuit boards including cell phones, bluetooth, wearable technologies and more. This paper explores the printing challenges and solutions when working with these small components.
Water Soluble Solder Paste, Wet Behind the Ears or Wave of the Future?
With the prevailing trend towards no-clean formulations, water soluble solder paste technology has fallen behind no-clean technology, especially for use with lead-free solder alloys. This paper details the research and development of a new water soluble lead-free solder paste that improves on the performance characteristics of existing technologies.
An Investigation into the Use of Nano-Coated Stencils to Improve Solder Paste Printing with Small Stencil Aperture Area Ratios
This paper presents data on small area ratio printing for component designs including 01005 Imperial (0402 metric) and smaller 03015 metric and 0201 metric chip components and 0.3 mm and 0.4 mm pitch micro BGAs. The aperture area ratios studied range from 1.06 down to 0.30. The effects of nano-coatings are studied and compared to uncoated laser cut, fine grain steel stencils.
Formulation of a New Liquid Flux for High Temperature Soldering
Through-hole soldering is alive and well in the electronics industry, despite its predicted demise at the hands of surface mount technology. Through-hole soldering is largely used for connectors, switches, and other components that require a high solder joint strength. High reliability circuit assemblies will likely use through-hole technology for many years to come.
Dispelling the Black Magic of Solder Paste
This paper presents a process for evaluating solder pastes using a variety of methods. These methods are quick to run and are challenging, revealing the strengths and weaknesses of solder pastes. Methods detailed in this paper include: print volume, stencil life, response to pause, open time, tack force over time, wetting, solder balling, graping, voiding, accelerated aging, and others. Hard data is gathered and used in the evaluation process. Also presented in this paper are a set of methods that do not require expensive equipment or materials but still generate useful data. The goal is to help the electronics assembler choose the best solder paste for their process.
Performance Enhancing Nano Coatings: Changing the Rules of Stencil Design
Nano-coatings are applied to solder paste stencils with the intent of improving the solder paste printing process. Do they really make a noticeable improvement? The effect of Nano-coatings on solder paste print performance was investigated. Transfer efficiencies were studied across aperture sizes ranging from 0.30 to 0.80 area ratio. Also investigated were the effects of Nano-coatings on transfer efficiencies of tin-lead, lead-free, water soluble, no-clean, and type 3, 4, and 5 solder pastes. Solder paste print performance for each Nano-coating was summarized with respect to all of these variables.
Can Nano-coatings really improve stencil performance?
This paper will present a rigorous method for evaluating the performance and economic benefits of solder paste stencil nano-coatings. Criterion such as underside cleaning, bridging, transfer efficiency across SARs, solder paste deposit geometry, post-print cleaning, and abrasion resistance of the coating, will all be considered and weighted. Performance of currently available coatings will be compared. A discussion of the economic impact on current and future SMT design will be included.
Improving SMTA Yields Leadless Components
Regardless of where one is in the world, the desire to pack "more power" into smaller devices is a common thread. Advancements in technology and miniaturization go together like peanut butter and jelly. A cellular telephone from the 1990s had considerably more computing power than what NASA had available to launch the Apollo missions in the 1960s and 1970s. The NASA computers took up rooms and rooms of space. The 1990s cellular telephone would fit into a small bag. A modern smartphone is orders of magnitude more powerful, than either, and fits into one's pocket.
SMT Assembly Challenges and Proven Solutions for Improving Yields
Surface mount technology (SMT) assemblies are getting more complex as advancements in the areas of printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing and component design become more main stream. Most SMT manufacturing processes have to now be capable of building "hybrid" assemblies, which contain both previous generation technology and more cutting edge technological advancements. Increasing SMT assembly yields is a must, but it is getting more and more difficult to just maintain yields, let alone increase them, as new technologies continue to be introduced.
SMT Printing Challenges
This paper discusses new developments in stencil laser and material technology and shows how these advancements, when combined, provide comparable and cost-effective alternatives to traditional electroformed stencils. The results are improved yields, cycle time reductions, and significant cost savings.
Solder Paste Stencil Printing
The introduction of the metal solder paste stencil, decades ago, to the SMT assembly process was a revolutionary change in electronics production. Wire mesh screens were the standard before then and the physics of pushing solder paste through a wire mesh severely limited aperture sizes, print volume consistency, stencil longevity, and print speed. The metal solder paste stencil dramatically improved upon all of these deficiencies.


text:
There's an obsession with "immersion" in virtual reality. Everyone wants to find the next way to make VR experiences feel more real. So far, the best ways to do it have been room tracking sensors that let you walk around a designated area or wireless hand controllers that let you grab things in the virtual world. Now, a new startup is betting big on plastic shoes that give you a sensation that you're actually walking around in the virtual world.
The Cerevo Taclim is pair of tactile feedback shoes and wireless hand controllers made to work with Google VR experiences that make it feel like you're actually walking on the surface shown in the virtual world. That means snow crunches beneath your feet, grains of sand rub against your toes, and water splashes as you wade around in virtual puddles—at least in theory.
The idea is totally freaking insane, and it immediately caught my attention at this year's CES. Virtual reality has been one of these hyped-up categories for years, but it's always fallen short of complete immersion. I decided I had to give the Taclim shoes and controllers a chance in order to see if its dramatically improved any VR experiences.
The creator of the shoes booted up a fighting game, and I was asked to walk into the arena where I'd fight a bunch of robots. As i entered the arena, I stepped on water, concrete, and sand. Each different element provided a different sensation on my toes, the balls of my feet, and my heels. I wouldn't call it realistic, but the sensation did at least somewhat help me suspend my disbelief that I wasn't actually in the middle of a crowded convention center in Las Vegas.
The shoes themselves are really easy to strap on and are relatively simple builds. There are two straps that go across the top of your feet like a pair of Tevas or other athletic sandals. There are tactile feedback motors in both the front and rear of the shoes and also across one of the straps. It's enough to give you a tingly feeling in your feet as you march in place, walking around a virtual world. There are also motors in the palms of the hand controllers that come with the shoes, though I didn't find them all that helpful, and frankly, they weren't that innovative. They looked like modified versions of the Oculus Touch controllers.
Cerevo says it hopes to ship the Taclim set in the fall of 2017, and the pair of controllers and shoes will cost between $1,000-$1,500. It's a steep price to pay, especially since its only compatible with Google VR at the moment, but Cerevo says it hopes to add bigger platforms—namely Oculus, Steam VR, and PlayStation VR—in the near future. We certainly hope so because without the support of those bigger platforms, these shoes will be dead on arrival. Still, it's a very fun accessory to play with and it would be even better if they worked with room tracking sensors. Then, finally, we might get some real immersion.


text: Versilia, located along the coast of Tuscany, it falls within the province of Lucca, is divided into seven municipalities: Viareggio, Pietrasanta, Camaiore, Forte dei Marmi, Massarosa and Stazzema Seravezza: a view from the sea, mountains, hills and endless sandy beaches. Versilia, always synonymous with entertainment, tourism and social life, also offers an important artistic and architectural landscape that includes charming medieval churches, picturesque villages, Roman ruins and archaeological sites. In summer and winter, thanks to a mild climate, Versilia offers tourists the possibility of a wide range of opportunities: beaches with facilities for swimming, suitable even for children with lots of playgrounds, as well as parks, pine forests, the Apuan Alps and various events ranging from Viareggio Carnival at the Puccini Festival in prizes and more.


text:
Home Tags Vox Pops
Tag: Vox Pops
Two years down the line: Is the public contented with the government?
Jul 25, 2020: Pakistan held its 11th general elections. Two hundred and seventy two (272) seats of the National Assembly and 593 seats of four provincial assemblies were up for grabs. Over 105 million people were eligible to cast their votes. Although ...


text:
Views of Home
In 1968, Apollo 8 placed humans into lunar orbit for the first time. As the astronauts in their spacecraft emerged from behind the Moon, they were surprised and enchanted by an amazing view of Earth rising over the lunar horizon. Bill Anders quickly snapped a picture of the spectacular Earthrise.
Humankind viewed their planet and saw not a jigsaw puzzle of states and countries on an uninspiring flat map – but rather a whole planet uninterrupted by boundaries, a sphere of dazzling beauty floating alone in the void.
Cameras on NASA spacecraft have treated us to intriguing perspectives of our home planet from various locales.
The Deep Space Climate Observatory, or DSCOVR mission, was launched to monitor the solar wind in real time, but it has also delivered these wondrous images of every continent peeking out from misty shrouds blanketing our ultramarine oceans. Since mid-2015, DSCOVR has been snapping images like these of the fully-lit Earth, most days every 1 to 2 hours, from a stable point between the Earth and the Sun that is about a million miles (1.6 million km) away.
On Valentine's Day 1990, the Voyager spacecraft captured this photo of our planet from the amazing distance of 3.7 billion miles (6 billion km). This 'Pale Blue Dot' image, requested by Carl Sagan of the Voyager imaging team, showed the Earth as a single pixel and inspired Sagan's book of the same name.
As Sagan wrote "The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena… this distant image of our tiny world … underscores our responsibility to … preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
A number of spacecraft have taken the opportunity to capture images and videos of Earth and the Moon when flying by Earth for a "gravity assist" to far-off bodies in our solar system. Galileo did so in 1992 on its way to Jupiter, as did Juno nearly two decades later. In 2005, MESSENGER took these beautiful images of our home, then looked back again just before entering Mercury's orbit five years later.
MESSENGER isn't the only spacecraft to look back at home from its destination across the solar system.
On July 19, 2013, NASA's Cassini spacecraft slipped into Saturn's shadow and turned to image the planet, seven of its moons, its inner rings -- and, in the background, our home planet. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has collected a treasure trove of data and discoveries about the Moon. LRO's camera also treated us to spectacular views of our planet from lunar orbit. Here's one such image taken in October 2015.
Images of home have come back to us from Mars' orbit and from the surface of Mars itself.
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took this picture of our planet and its moon on November 20, 2016, when Mars was 127 million miles (200 million km) away from Earth.
This image, captured by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover from the surface of Mars on Jan. 31, 2014, showed 'evening star' Earth shining more brightly than any star in the Martian night sky. From the vantage point of Mars, Earth is visible either in the early evening or early morning, just as Venus is from the vantage point of Earth.
What might the caption be when a human stands on the surface of Mars and focuses the camera back on home?
For more views of Earth from both near and far, visit science.nasa.gov.


text:
After high school swimming ends, USA swimming still has a month to go with state and then sectionals for the swimmers who have the times to qualify for those meets before it switches over to long course training for the summer. State is a little easier to qualify for than sectionals as the sectionals lead to junior nationals, hopefully, for the swimmers who can advance with their times. Matt already has junior national times in the 100 and 200 Freestyle and the 100 Backstroke, so he is swimming with the hopes of getting a junior national cut time in the 50 Freestyle also. We shall see.
The USA state meet was one of just getting back in the water to competitively swim some of the swims that went by the wayside during the high school season, i.e. in high school one just gets to swim 2 events, so Matt's concentration was on the 100 Freestyle (he placed third in that in high school state) and the 200 Freestyle (he placed first in that). He also swims the backstroke, so he was entered in that and the 50 Free, the 200 IM, and the 100 Butterfly (which he and his coach agreed was not a stellar performance so although he made finals for that, he decided to scratch).
The Wall at meets is always a gathering place for the swimmers, checking their times, their placings, their competition, etc. It also includes the various time standards for the high powered meets, so the guys are always checking those times against their own times to see what they qualify for...I can tell by the way Matt is pointing in this photo that he is checking out the National times at the very top. The dream.
Harrison has always been slightly smaller and slightly less in stature than Matt, but this year the growth spurt has evened them out! We've known Harrison since the first grade, so as I look at them standing together, my heart sort of seizes up remembering all the years between then and now and knowing that sooner than I can imagine, they will head off to different colleges, swim for different teams, etc. Like Scarlet, "I'll think about that tomorrow."
Some kicking back time up in the stands having a drink and checking out the psych sheets...you can tell this is a more relaxed meet as the boys are kicking back in the stands and not down on deck focusing and gearing up for serious swims. They have their junior national cuts, so now they can relax a bit more.
Matt, Harrison, Jack, and Charles down on deck posing for a shot for the blog...the swimmers like to see themselves here on the blog, so I try to get shots that are usable, i.e. wearing the longer swim trunks and not the tiny little Speedos.
With the re-entry into USA swimming, comes re-entry into swimming with the college kids, etc. High school swimming is just that, high school aged swimmers. USA is different in that once you hit age 15, you swim with all the swimmers over the age of 15, meaning a lot of college kids. Even then, Matt pretty much holds his own, so after four months of not swimming the 100 backstroke much, he still placed 5th and Harrison still placed 8th.
1st and 2nd places went to Purdue college kids, 3rd and 4th went to the same old contenders that Matt has faced in that swim since early on ever since he has been swimming USA since he was seven years old, so no real surprises there.
The swimmers have all known each other for all these years, so it is fun for them to get to state and compete with each other each year.
When it comes to relay swimming, it is difficult to beat a CSC relay team.
CSC had two relay teams, placing 1st (Nick, Daniel, Jonathan, and Matt) and 3rd (Mike, Kiernan, Harrison, and Charles). The winning team supplies the person handing out the awards, so for our team, it was Roch for this race, always nice to have Roch around.
Matt tied for 7th in the 50 Free, and for the life of me, I cannot remember how he placed in the 200 IM, not one of his usual swims. It was good to be back as a USA team with Daniel and Harrison being able to swim on the team again now that the high school season has ended.


text:
Measuring results is all the rage in organizations, but it is often wrongheaded and counterproductive
By Jerry Z. Muller
In recent decades, what I call "metric fixation" has engulfed an ever-widening range of institutions: businesses, government, health care, K-12 education, colleges and universities, and nonprofit organizations. It comes with its own vocabulary and master terms. It affects the way that people talk and think about the world and how they act in it. And it is often profoundly wrongheaded and counterproductive.
Metric fixation consists of a set of interconnected beliefs. The first is that it is possible and desirable to replace judgment with numerical indicators of comparative performance based on standardized data. The second is that making such metrics public (transparency) assures that institutions are actually carrying out their purposes (accountability). Finally, there is the belief that people are best motivated by attaching rewards and penalties to their measured performance, rewards that are either monetary (pay for performance) or reputational (rankings).
But not everything that is important is measurable, and much that is measurable is unimportant. Most organizations have multiple purposes, and that which is measured and rewarded tends to become the focus of attention, at the expense of other essential goals. Similarly, many jobs have multiple facets, and measuring only a few of them creates incentives to neglect the rest. Almost inevitably, people become adept at manipulating performance indicators. They fudge the data. They deal only with cases that will improve performance indicators. In extreme cases, they fabricate the evidence.
It's not that measurement is useless or intrinsically pernicious. The challenge is to specify when performance metrics are genuinely useful—that is, how to have metrics without the malady of metric fixation.
Should you find yourself in a position to set policy, here are some questions that you should ask, and the factors that you should keep in mind, in considering whether to use measured performance, and if so, how to use it.
What kind of information do you wish to measure? The more the object to be measured resembles inanimate matter, the more likely it is to be measurable: that is why measurement is indispensable in the natural sciences and in engineering. When the objects to be measured are influenced by the process of measurement, measurement becomes less reliable. Measurement becomes much less reliable the more its object is human activity, since the objects—people—are self-conscious and are capable of reacting to the process of being measured. The more rewards and punishments are involved, the more people are likely to react in a way that skews the measurement's validity.
How useful is the information? The fact that some activity is measurable does not make it worth measuring. Indeed, the ease of measuring may be inversely proportionate to the significance of what is measured. To put it another way, ask yourself, is what you are measuring a proxy for what you really want to know? If the information is not very useful or not a good proxy for what you're really aiming at, you're probably better off not measuring it.
Are alternative measurements available? Are there other sources of information about performance, based on the judgment and experience of clients, patients or parents of students? In a school setting, for example, the degree to which parents request a particular teacher for their children is probably a useful indicator that the teacher is doing something right, whether or not the results show up on standardized tests. In the case of charities, it may be most useful to allow the beneficiaries to judge the results.
What is the metric for? It's crucial to distinguish between data used for purposes of internal monitoring of performance by the practitioners themselves—say, teachers who want to know how much their students seem to absorbing—versus data to be used by external parties for reward and punishment, such as government agencies. It's the difference between crime data used to discover where the police ought to deploy more squad cars versus data used to decide whether the precinct commander will get a promotion.
Tools of measurement are most useful for internal analysis by practitioners rather than for external evaluation by the public, which may fail to understand their limits. Such measurement can be used to inform practitioners of their performance relative to their peers, offering recognition to those who have excelled and offering assistance to those who have fallen behind. To the extent that they are used to determine continuing employment and pay, they will be subject to gaming the statistics or outright fraud.
What are the costs of getting the data? Information is never free, and often it is expensive in ways that rarely occur to those who demand more of it. Collecting, processing and analyzing data take time, and a large part of their expense lies in the opportunity costs of the time put into them. Every moment that you or your colleagues or employees devote to producing metrics is time not devoted to the activities being measured. If you're a data analyst, of course, producing metrics is your primary activity. For everyone else, it's a distraction. Even if the performance measurements are worth having, their worth may be less than the costs of obtaining them.
Who develops the measurement? Accountability metrics are less likely to be effective when they are imposed from above, using standardized formulas developed by those far from active engagement with the activity being measured. Measurements are more likely to be meaningful when they are developed from the bottom up, with input from teachers, nurses and the cop on the beat.
This means asking those with the tacit knowledge that comes from direct experience to provide suggestions about how to develop appropriate performance standards. Try to involve a representative group of those who will have a stake in the outcomes. In the best case, they should continue to be part of the process of evaluating the measured data. A system of measured performance will work to the extent that the people being measured believe in its worth.
Does the measurement create perverse incentives? Insofar as individuals are agents out to maximize their own interests, there are inevitable drawbacks to all schemes of measured reward. If doctors are remunerated based on the procedures they perform, it creates an incentive for them to perform too many procedures that have high costs but may produce low benefits. If doctors are paid based on the number of patients they see, they have an incentive to see as many patients as possible and to skimp on procedures that are time-consuming but potentially useful. If they are compensated based on successful patient outcomes, they are more likely to take the easiest cases, avoiding problematic patients.
Just because performance measures often have some negative outcomes doesn't mean that they should be abandoned. They may still be worth using, despite their anticipatable problems. It's a matter of trade-offs, and that too is a matter of judgment.
With measurement as with everything else, recognizing limits is often the beginning of wisdom. Not all problems are soluble, and even fewer are soluble by metrics. It's not true, as too many people now believe, that everything can be improved by measurement, or that everything that can be measured can be improved.


text:
The Online Matchmaking Cover Up
If you're searching for something different as compared to matchmaking online dating might just be the reply. To start with, matchmaking dating is growing rapidly extremely https://www.topbeautybrides.net – mail order brides websites ideal for individuals who shouldn't have enough time to find dates the particular tradition technique of hanging out within the bars just about every weekend. Online matchmaking can be described as well-known tendency in the modern society.
The Basic Facts of Online Matchmaking
Third, matchmaking dating is concerning finding persons you want to date. Then you should always explore dating dating among your choices. Among the list of rest of the method of meeting a date, matchmaking was basically named the most effective compared to blind dates, quickness dating, sole bars and etc .. Internet dating is constantly upgrading the features when using the key aim of raising the of internet dating services.
Life, Death and Online Matchmaking
Weighing heavily on your choice is the approach serious a relationship it's searching for. Just in case the relationship is conducted seriously in that case family members even offers a significant role in the practice of assortment. Without it it will not function. You will be able to be able to pursue interactions without needing to guitar fret about each of the lies you have spun. Which has a free online dating site you could encounter even more people that are just curious and might not be when serious like you're about finding a person wanting to setup a devoted relationship.
Once you become more knowledgeable about how to use an internet dating service or decide you're really objective on finding that special someone, then you're able to look at the benefits of transforming into a paid representative. In the many cases, the net dating service can provide you having a private together with secure contact process. Moreover, the internet online dating services are compromised by the adult porn industry along with utilized to be a type of promotion for stripdance and prostitutes. Cost-free online dating sites services are actually so popular it includes now come to be a common choice attach along with others and is also no longer looked down on. In the past few years they have grow to be very popular.
Top Online Matchmaking Choices
While using abundance regarding dating sites readily obtainable, you can find one which caters to just what you're trying to find. It's vital, nevertheless , that people intending to try out a matchmaking web-site learn to encounter the dating service which usually best fits their very own demands. And there is many on the web matchmaking web sites readily available, it can also be problematic for people to choose one which is most well suited for their requirements and costs.
Want to Know More About Online Matchmaking?
The majority of the professional dating sites supply free studies. Internet dating internet sites aren't the identical as cultural places. The net dating sites have become to be extremely popular among men and women all over the world. At the moment you should be aware there exists various sorts of grownup personals online dating services.
Online dating is not dissimilar to classic dating. Internet dating just isn't an avenue for any lazy. Internet dating may provide you with the opportunity to fulfill a number of people in a number of exotic locations, it might be tougher for you to get together due to the range between nations around the world. Internet dating has its own costs that you should be careful regarding, such as long distance phone calls which could wind up getting very costly, using the time spent on the telephone. To put it different, single folks seeking the other online can be regular lately. Even though you might have reached understand the other person online, face-to-face is a brand-new ball game.


text:
Privacy Policy
Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool Privacy Policy
At Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool, we are committed to protecting your privacy.
Any information that we collect is used to provide the best possible experience for visitors. By using a web site maintained by Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool, you agree to the terms set forth below. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, please do not use this website.
A. Privacy Policy
Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool reviews our Privacy Policy periodically, and we reserve the right, at our discretion, to modify or remove portions of this Privacy Policy at any time. This page should be reviewed from time to time, so that you can be aware of any changes. This Privacy Policy applies to all websites produced and operated by Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool. If you want to communicate with us about our Privacy Policy, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com, or contact us at:
Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool
10408 Hwy 290 West, Austin, Texas 78736
(512) 288-2370
B. Collection & Use
Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool recognizes the privacy concerns of users of our websites on the Internet and the importance of protecting the privacy of personally identifiable information collected from them. As a general policy, no personally identifiable information, such as a visitor's name, address, email address, telephone number, or credit card information is automatically collected on our websites. Such information is collected only when it is knowingly and voluntarily submitted, and Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool uses such information only for the purpose for which it was submitted, unless we disclose other uses in this policy or at the time of collection.
We maintain reasonable and appropriate safeguards to ensure the security, integrity, and privacy of such information in our possession. Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool does not sell personally identifiable information to third parties. Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool will not disclose, sell, trade, or rent personal information it collects to outside parties. We reserve the right to monitor visitor traffic patterns and website usage to help us develop the design and layout of our websites to enhance your online experience.
C. Security
Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool does its best to safeguard your information in all forms.
D. Cookies
Cookies are small bits of information that are stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive to enable us to do a number of things to make your visit and future visits more enjoyable. Our cookies do not contain any personally identifying information about you. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually change your browser settings to prevent that. Users should consult their browser help files for instructions on how to refuse cookies. Visitors may also receive cookies from third parties, but Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool cannot control the content of those cookies.
E. Promotions
Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool may run promotions on our websites that require submission of personally identifiable information by participants. Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool may use the information collected in the aggregate so we can determine, for example, how many visitors to our website participated in the promotion. Promotions are subject to change without notice.
F. Links
Our websites may be linked to or from other websites that are not operated by Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool or any company affiliated with Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool. Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these third-party websites. Our websites may also be linked to websites operated by companies affiliated with Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool. Visitors to those websites should refer to their separate privacy policies and practices.
Legal Disclaimer
Thank you for taking the time to visit this Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool website and reviewing our Legal Disclaimer.
Disclaimer of Liability:
In preparation of this site, every effort has been made to offer the most current, correct, and clearly expressed information possible. Nevertheless, inadvertent errors in information may occur, and information may become dated. In particular, but without limiting anything stated herein, Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool disclaims any responsibility for typographical errors and accuracy or timeliness of the information that may be contained on Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool's websites. Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool also reserves the right to make changes at any time without notice. If misleading, inaccurate or otherwise inappropriate information is brought to our attention, a reasonable effort will be made to fix or remove it. Please contact email@example.com with any concerns.
Links to Third Party Websites:
The documents on this website may serve to provide access to the World Wide Web. Because the Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool website connects to the Internet, once you leave the Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool website, Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool cannot control the information you access. Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool links to external websites in the hope that users will find reference material on related subjects. Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool does not control those sites and is not responsible for the content included in them, including without limitation, any subsequent links contained within a linked site, or any changes or updates to a linked site. Each individual site has its own set of policies about what information is appropriate for public access. Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool is not responsible for any information or material located at any site other than official Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool websites.
Disclaimer of Reliability:
Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool makes no representations or warranties regarding the condition or functionality of this website, its suitability for use, or that this web service will be uninterrupted or error-free.
Disclaimer of Damages:
By using a Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool website, you assume all risks associated with the use of the site, including any risk to your computer, software or data being damaged by any virus, software, or any other file that might be transmitted or activated via a Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool website or your access to it. Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool shall not be liable for any damages of any kind (general, special, incidental or consequential damages, including, without limitation, lost revenues or lost profits) resulting from the use or misuse of the information contained in a Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool website.
Disclaimer of Endorsement:
Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Copyrights and Trademarks:
©2023 Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool. All Rights Reserved.
All material on this website is copyrighted by Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool, except for some material that is copyrighted by others and used here by permission. Copyrighted material may not be copied, reproduced or otherwise used for commercial purposes without the written permission of the copyright holder. This site also contains some trademarks, which may not be appropriated by persons other than the trademark owner and may not be used contrary to trademark law. If you wish to request permission to use materials in a manner otherwise prohibited herein, please send an email to: email@example.com or contact us via telephone at (512) 288-2370.


text:
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Resident Eighth Birthday
5 comments:
Y'see, if you keep feeding them they keep coming back:}ReplyDelete
Penblwydd hapus carriad annwyl:}
Oh, she's a rare eater. Vegetables by first choice. Even a bar of chocolate will carefully last her the whole day (unlike her little sister who can do a bar of Dairy Milk in two bites).ReplyDelete
But it's bloody hard work bringing up a ghoul. However sweet when otherwise.
We tend to link Ems (though very un PC and some find it quite deplorable) to a male Gorilla. The similarities are very striking though, particularly the very loud and aggressive "bark" which makes some people practically lose bowel control.ReplyDelete
BWT my Fliss became 25 todayReplyDelete
I confess I don't even know how many kids you've got Fi! Which is a bit odd I confess. I know you had 'em young but of course I've got no faces to put to names.ReplyDelete


text:
Cum show with dildo // Tip menu in bio // tip 222 for snap // 555 for video bundle // 1000 for used panties/socks [287 tokens
#ohmibod Show 4 now then add #shibari to #cum @5k Tokens and @10k Tokens! - Multi-Goal : #ohmibod Show 4 now then add #shibari to #cum @5000 Tokens! and @10000 Tokens!
tip 22 for my BIRTHDAY! 49 roll die. 69 spin wheel. videos for sale, see profile. HT gets all videos and snap at end. Naked at goal. [3476 tokens
Pussy lick distraction @Goal | Fresh baked brownies and pics raffle 25 tkns (US only) #raffle [825 tokens
tip me 30 for spank me, 40 for blow job or 10 if u want see me in doggy style--each goal*pussyflash! -x16goal:tease with fingers x20goal:fuck my pussy with toy x25goal:anal tease x30goal:anal play
.HELLO.:).... snap 4 life= 684 tok....400 see pussy fuck......1800 see my WET FINGERS TOO......if u r naughty u can buy my vids / picts [367 tokens
Every time goal is met top or bottom clothes comes off! Cum show is this Friday but maybe a little fingering after clothes are off? [1323 tokens
SHHHHHH NEIGHBOURS OUTSIDE!!!! DOUBLE DATE RAFFLE #ohmibod #make us cum a lot // make out=299// #lick boobs=399 #snap=550tlk(both) #squirt every goal
Lets see how many times can we hit my lucky number!Every 10 goals = surprise!! #lovense #ohmibod #cum #squirt [51 tokens
#tokenkeno Uncover prizes by tipping the numbers on the board. Goal is: [Butt-plug] Type /b to see the board. Type /p to see prizes. MVP wins [21
hi! dildo fuck pussy@goal/ finger ass@2 goal/@3 fuck big dildo/@4 2finger ass/@5 ride big dildo/@6 2finger ass/@7but plug/@8dildo in pussy finger ass/@10cum show/@15dp /@20cum show [466 tokens
PUSSY- 50TK /anal-60 BIG TOY ANAL -100TK/ DP-200 show lasts as long as tips in the jar - [Show Stopping - Start Tipping to start it
OhMiBod : Device that vibrates at the sound of Tips and makes me wet. - Multi-Goal : #fuck with dildo the brunnete at @30 goals #lesbian #cumshow
'CrazyTicket': Timer started! ass and pussy finger and hot cumshow,squirt. Type /timeleft to see the time remaining to buy a ticket before the show starts! Type /cmds to see all
#ohmibod : who can make me #cum #squirt? @30 goals naked--- 88boobs 111ass 156boobs and ass 189pussy #ohmibod
Ohmibod!!Jump into the pool-1000tk/Boobs-100tk/Pussy-200tk/get naked-500tk/anal-800tk/show feet-90tk/ - Multi-Goal : Strip
Lovense lush cream all over at 15 goals, buttplug at 30,squirt at 40 goals! - Multi-Goal : #cream #lovense #lush #nora #lovense #squirt #lush #nora #oil #cream
sHHHHH my DADDY at home for the morning #ohmibod_lovense_multigoal - double vibration, more pleasure!!! - Multi-Goal : toples #squirt #ohmi
Ohmibod:Toy that vibrates at the sound of Tips and makes me wet. - Multi-Goal : #topless@9// #naked@19// Pm 25// Spanks x5-55//Boobs 80// Pussy/Ass 110//Flash Naked 160//11Tip me if u think i am
#tokenkeno WIN A PRIZE W/ EVERY TIP! cum show @ cleared board. MVP wins my vid collection. type /p 4 prizes /b 4
Siswet19's Crazy Fuckmachine - It fucks me at the sound of tips and makes me very wet. - Multi-Goal: Squirt every goal!! #fuckmachine #ohmibod
#eatingpussy #ass #69 #lickpussy #naked #cum- just say what you want - [Show Stopping - Start Tipping to start it
#snap = 444; Tip 33 to #spin; King today wins one of the videos with Millie/ tip 111 to play the roulette/ 2 **NEW** videos with Millie-999 each [1354 tokens remaining] #wheeloffortune #fun


text:
City Councilman Jesse Arreguín will ask the city manager tonight to investigate whether two medical cannabis collectives are operating in violation of Berkeley's zoning laws.
Arreguín's announced his intent after a contentious meeting of the Medical Cannabis Commission on Thursday, Dec. 1. The MCC spent a large part of its meeting debating whether to send a letter to city officials drawing attention to the proliferation of collectives in commercial districts, but could not agree on the wording. The MCC will take up the matter again in January.
"I don't think this should be swept under the rug," said Arreguín. "It is an important issue. Some action needs to be taken. The city is trying to be sensitive to these particular collectives, which provide medicine to patients. At the same time, they are clearly violating the city's zoning laws and medical marijuana ordinances."
A group of neighbors who live near the Perfect Plants Patients Group on Sacramento Street near Oregon has sent a letter to the City Council expressing concern about the unauthorized cannabis collective, which is operating in a commercial district, contrary to Berkeley's zoning ordinances. Arreguín said he would ask City Manager Christine Daniel at the council meeting to investigate the claims in the letter.
The city has been aware of 3PGs for months, as well as the fact that another cannabis collective, Forty Acres, is operating in a commercial district. Wendy Cosin, now the interim planning director, wrote an email to Forty Acres in February 2011 expressing concern that the organization was "illegally operating a dispensary," but the city has taken no steps to correct the situation, despite articles in Berkeleyside and letters from residents.
"I am also troubled by the fact that no action has been taken on this issue," said Arreguín.
The MCC voted at its November meeting to send a letter to city officials drawing attention to the two collectives operating in a commercial district. Law requires that collectives only operate in a residential zone. Only the city's three licensed dispensaries can operate in a commercial area.
When a draft of the letter was presented at the MCC's Dec 1. meeting, a number of people, mostly connected with Forty Acres, expressed concern.
Chris Smith, one of the co-founders of Forty Acres, said the letter was based on unproven information and a hidden agenda – the desire of the city's three dispensaries to preserve their profits.
"You are trying to send off a letter that has no basis at all," said Smith. "It's a distraction. You guys need to be focusing on the issues – which are patients' rights."
Smith's father, Scott B. Smith, reiterated that point.
"It's all about money," said the elder Smith. "It's all about race. It's all about position. Unless the people who were in the community before do not change their tactics and their ways, hell is going to be paid in one way or another."
Representatives of the dispensaries took issue with the idea that they were in the medical cannabis business for money rather than helping patients.
Aundre Speciale, the director of Cannabis Buyers Club of Berkeley, or CBCB, said her organization is concerned about the rise of unauthorized collectives not because she wants to shut them down, but because she wants a level playing field. It is not fair that CBCB has to pay taxes to the city and has to shut by 9 pm and the collectives do not, she said.
"If I could change the name of our nonprofit operation from a dispensary to a collective, do we get to stay open all hours of the night and not pay taxes?" said Speciale. "I am furious that members of the collectives are portraying us as the for-profit bad guys. We are not profiteers. We have much higher expenses because we follow the rules. To be called a profiteer over that … I find insulting."
MCC Commissioner Toya Groves, who is also one of the co-founders of Forty Acres, objected to many aspects of the proposed letter. She thought it was not right to lump Forty Acres together with 3PGs because Forty Acres was operating from its San Pablo location before the passage of Measure T in November 2010. That measure was the first time Berkeley set zoning regulations for collectives, so Forty Acres should be grandfathered in, she said.
Groves also said that by calling the collectives "unauthorized dispensaries" in the letter, it was casting them in a negative light. The letter seemed to want to shut them down, said Groves.
Groves also expressed concern that singling out these two collectives, which are run by people of color, might be racially motivated.
"The grouping of these collectives, which are very different, is a very high concern to me," said Groves. "I am going to play the race card here. The only two similarities is who they are organizationally and the demographics of the patients they serve. It appears to be racially biased."
Commissioner Stewart Jones, who was one of the co-authors of the letter under discussion, took umbrage at this assertion.
"I would appreciate it if you ceased raising the race issue," said Jones. "There is no race motivation behind it."
The commission started to wordsmith the letter but when it became clear that would be contentious, Commissioner David Stoloff made a motion to indefinitely table the letter. That motion failed and the commission then decided to try and finesse the letter in the next few weeks and bring it back before the commission.
In a separate matter, the city will start issuing business licenses to cannabis collectives in 2012, announced Elizabeth Greene, the city planner who staffs the commission. This will allow collectives to pay taxes to the city.
Rapid growth of cannabis collective raises concerns [9.20.11]
Concerns raised about new medical cannabis collective [10.27.11]
Commission ponders growth of unlicensed pot clubs [11.4.11]
Berkeleyside publishes many articles every day. To see all our stories in chronological order, and read ones you may have missed, check out our All the News grid.


text: I want to learn Spanish, and while I wish I could just move somewhere and be immersed, that is not feasible at this juncture. So I am reaching out to the open source world to help me along. The first step was to get a flashcard-like system that would provide me with a way to test my vocabulary and keep track of my progress. To that end, I have installed Mnemosyne. Read all about it because it is a pretty groovy program for flashcard learning. I then downloaded and installed the four Spanish card packages available through the site. As you can see on the left, the site has many languages supported, as well as a variety of other topics to study (including Swedish road signs). This gives me my base of vocabulary and expressions. Second on the list of tools is the Firefox plugin ImTranslator. This is a great plugin for doing on the fly translations. So when I browse a site in Spanish, or come across something I want to know how to say in Spanish, this plugin gets me going in the right direction. Using the default media player in Ubuntu, Rhythmbox and its ability to play online radio stations, I've searched for and subscribed to several Spanish music and news sites. So now I get to hear music, news, and commercials in several different Spanish cities (Madrid and Barcelona stations currently, though I plan to get some Central and South American stations since that's where I'll likely travel to first). And, for some extra vocab, I signed up with the Spanish Word-a-Day mailing list. I've really enjoyed the emails as they have a word, pronunciation guide, synonyms, the word in a sentence, and usually some Spanish trivia, like a joke, expression, or conjugation table for a verb/tense. The most important piece, however, is actually conversing with native speakers, and I am lucky to have a Mexican restaurant across the street with several native speakers who I've gotten to know. Any other tools you suggest? I think my next one will be finding folks who speak both English and Spanish and chatting with them via GChat or Skype.


text:
A way to earn cash when you sell your diabetic test strips.
We are a top-rated, and trusted test strip supply buyer. Check how it works now.
Are you interested in selling your unexpired, undamaged diabetes test strips? Call us now!
Get rid of your unused or undamaged lancets?
Call 1(877) 898-1117
Want to sell diabetic test strips for cash? Start selling your undamaged, unexpired diabetic supplies to us. To sell your True Metrix diabetic strips, Accu-Chek diabetic strips , Freestyle diabetic strips, OneTouch, and Contour Diabetic Strips, Diabetic Lancets, and many more unused diabetic supplies to Sellmystrip.com fill out the form below and get an offer today!
Sellmystrip.com, One of the largest diabetic supply buyers in New York City. We believe in making strong relationships with our clients. We make selling strips easy at our site.
I had no idea about selling strip, but the team at sellmystrips.com has cleared all my doubts and shared all the steps for selling my strips.
– Patrik Cham
Selling strip at Sellmystrip.com is very much easy. I got a fantastic experience while selling strip with them.
– Thomas Watson
Sellmystrip.com is the only diabetic strips buyer, which has given me the high value of strips. I never expect that my strips are so worthy.
– Marry
The idea of selling diabetic strips is wonderful. It let the diabetic test strips get reached to the needies and make the seller earn money with their unused test strips.
– Danny Walker
I love sellmystrip.com a lot; I think they are doing a great job. I usually send them my unopened and unexpired diabetics test strip.
– Nick Key


text:
The history of the Museum
The Museum of torture of Naples is the unique reality of a museum of this kind present in Southern Italy. The idea of concentrating in one place this unprecedented collection, is Oscar Mattera and Paolo Lupo which, pushed by the great interest for the history of Naples, as well as by the love for their city and for a passion for unknown objects linked to torture have amassed 60 pieces in constant growth, such as the museum.
Naples was one of the few cities in which the Inquisition has never caught up in the bottom. This is a topic that was immediately at the heart of two that the museum are also the directors.
The Museum of torture of Naples, in fact, wants to impress without be horrified. Its main purpose is to illustrate one of the darkest periods in history to stimulate a constructive reflection.
It tells, moreover, the history of Naples, which opposed, precisely, for well twice at the inauguration of the tribunal of the Inquisition: it wants to bring the example of a people that is invoked for his freedom!