text:
Borrowers, Banks Gather To Save The Dream, Avert Foreclosure
Banging The Gong Signals A New Start
By KENNETH R. GOSSELIN
October 21, 2011
HARTFORD Alicia Lopez flew more than 3,000 miles from her home in San Francisco to Hartford, just to talk to her bank at the "Save the Dream Tour" mortgage modification event at the XL Center.
It would seem a long way to travel, but Lopez was in a hurry: She was four days away from a foreclosure auction on her home.
"I've been talking with my bank for a year, but they didn't come up with a solution," Lopez said. On the flight to Hartford, "I just kept thinking, 'If I don't get it, I'll need to find a place where I can rent.'"
On Friday, Lopez, a worker in a janitorial company, worked out new mortgage terms with her servicer, Bank of America, that will allow Lopez and her brother, an unemployed construction worker, to stay in the home they bought together four years ago.
The event brings together struggling homeowners with lenders and loan servicers to talk face-to-face. The "Save the Dream Tour," sponsored by the Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America, or NACA, a nonprofit housing advocacy group, first helps borrowers pull together all the documents they need, develop a budget, and determine what would be affordable.
All this is done before borrowers meet with banks and servicers. That, organizers say, eliminates the confusion that often ensues when borrowers try to deal with their troubles on the telephone, getting a different person every time they call.
As many as 5,000 homeowners are expected to attend the event in Hartford, which started Thursday and continues through Monday. Save the Dream comes as Connecticut continues to struggle with stubbornly high foreclosures and little improvement in unemployment.
Kennedy Lidonde, who lives in Woodstock, started working with NACA even before he came to the XL Center. He was armed with all of his documents including pay stubs, mortgage statement, property tax bill and tax return and had already developed the budget that would make a modified mortgage affordable for him, his wife and four children,
Still, it wasn't a matter of just walking in and out. He spent from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, finishing up around noon Friday.
Unlike many borrowers seeking help, Lidonde wasn't behind on his mortgage payments. But he was in danger of missing a payment after he lost his job as a supervisor at a college in Worcester, Mass., and was forced to take a lower-paying job as a car salesman. His wife works as a clerk at the same college where he once did, but it wasn't enough to make ends meet.
"I thought, 'How am I going to keep coming up with $2,400 for the mortgage,'" on top of credit card, food and utility bills, Lidonde said. "It all started piling up."
Bank of America offered to drop Lidonde's mortgage rate from 5.89 percent to 3 percent, cutting his monthly payment to $1,600 on his four-bedroom, Cape Cod-style house near a lake. The payment comprises principal, interest, plus escrow for taxes and homeowners insurance.
While the monthly payment is lower, the term of the mortgage will stretch from 30 to 40 years, Lidonde said.
"It's going to take a little longer, Lidonde said. "It's going to be like starting over, but it's a relief."
After he was handed his new loan documents Friday, Lidonde struck a gong, a tradition Bank of America instituted at the event to signal a new start for the borrower. The sound resonated throughout the exhibition hall and was greeted by thunderous applause.
Lidonde is among the estimated 80 percent of homeowners who will secure a loan modification after attending the event.
NACA has signed legally binding contracts to ensure that homeowners get a fair shot at an affordable mortgage. Those contracts came after months of what NACA founder Bruce Marks describes as "nonviolent, bank terrorism."
Marks, who was in Hartford on Friday, said NACA pressured banks by protesting at the homes of executives and by disrupting shareholder meetings to call attention to the country's foreclosure troubles.
Marks said relations with the banks are more cordial these days. "We are strictly here to help people through the process," he said.
David Hodge, a firefighter from Springfield who has been sidelined on disability, said he was approved for an $800 reduction in his monthly payment enough to keep his family in the Colonial-style home they built three years ago.
Of Bank of America, Hodge said: "I'm now one of their No. 1 customers. The $5 fee on the debit card won't matter now."
Includes option to search related Hartford sites.
Advanced Search Search Tips


text:
What's Next? Tips for Setting Your Small Business Up for Growth
Jan 25, 2021Description:
You've started your business and have hired your first staff member. Things seem to be going well and you have lots of new ideas to help your business, but one question keeps resurfacing in your mind: What's next? The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar have been there and have a plan to help you and your business reach new heights.
Show Notes:
Each year, more than 600,000 new businesses open in the United States. If yours is one of them, congratulations! You accomplished something great, and it's time to build on that foundation. Tackling the question of "What's next?" can seem overwhelming, but The CoLab has tips to help you identify your priorities and turn that work into business growth.
Ready to dive in and know what's next? Here's what we're covering in this episode of The CoLab:
● [1:28] It's time to regroup and talk about next steps for your business. That includes identifying impact areas where you can increase your efforts and improve your business. This episode will focus on four key impact areas that should be your priority.
● [06:20] Impact area: Marketing. No matter what kind of business you own, you need to promote it.
● [13:40] Impact area: Sales. Sales can come from a variety of avenues, but it's important to use these avenues to stay in front of your current and new customers.
● [21:00] Impact area: Finances. Staying on top of your finances is about more than watching your bank account.
● [29:40] Impact area: Human, community, and business relations. People are what drive the success of any business, so make sure you're investing in your employees, clients, and partners.
Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Start Making Additional Income!
Learn how to make a stable source of income for your real estate or mortgage business with this untapped resource.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The organizers of the upcoming Göteborg Film Festival have posed a question: Do you have what it takes to put yourself in a woman's position? In a unique interactive film experience created by celebrated artist and filmmaker Anna Odell, powerful men such as hockey legend Börje Salming, a former president of Interpol and a Swedish former minister of justice are offered the chance to undergo gynecological exams as a way of showing their vulnerability. Welcome to The Gynecological Cinema Chair at Göteborg Film Festival.
The whole experience is interactive, open for anyone with a ticket, and during the screening you yourself will have to make a bold choice if you want to see the whole story fold out.
"I dare promise that no similar experience has ever taken place at the Göteborg Film Festival, or any other film festival for that matter," says Jonas Holmberg, artistic director, Göteborg Film Festival. "The work explores issues that are personal, political and extremely relevant to this year's festival focus on equality and feminism."
Odell is one of Sweden's most famous and influential artists. Her film The Reunion was presented at the Venice Film Festival and won the FIPRESCI award for best debut in the side sections Orrizonte and Critics' Week. She also incited extensive debate in Sweden after faking and filming a suicide attempt as part of her film Okänd, kvinna 2009-349701.
At Göteborg Film Festival 2020 she will for the first time show her work Undersökningen (The Examination), specially made for the festival. In the film, the artist explores the gynecologist's chair as a metaphor for vulnerability.
"You get up in the chair voluntarily, but I dare say that no one feels comfortable in it. It is also a chair that is used exclusively for examining women, which perhaps makes it even more suitable for the project," says Odell. "On the other hand, I think the position is quite familiar to many men. They often sit with their legs spread widely, taking up a lot of space. The position in a gynecological chair is basically the same, you just tilt it backwards."
The participating men featured in the film are:
Börje Salming, hockey legend, inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Thomas Bodström, former Swedish minister of justice
Björn Eriksson, former director of the Swedish police and former president of Interpol.
Robert Aschberg, journalist and TV host
Jan Guillou, author and journalist
Mark Levengood, journalist, author and TV host
Michael Dahlén, professor of marketing and consumer behaviour at the Stockholm School of Economics
Mårten Castenfors, head of Liljevalchs konsthall, one of Sweden's leading art galleries
Stefan Larsson, director and former head of multiple Swedish theatres
Göran Greider, author, poet and editor-in-chief of Swedish newspaper Dala-Demokraten
Anders Palmér, artist
The Gynecological Cinema Chair will take place January 25 – February 2.
For more information visit: https://goteborgfilmfestival.se/en/the-gynecological-cinema-chair/


text:
Photo Friday: Villanova Winters Through the Years
By Ethan Shea
If warm weather is preventing you from getting into the holiday spirit, Falvey Memorial Library is here to help! Our Digital Library curates countless collections, including the photographs above, creating windows to the past. These images date back to the 19th century and allow us to reminisce on times when our campus was covered in the snow we all (okay, maybe not everyone) know and love. Whether you're looking forward to winter weather or hoping for continued warmth, here at Falvey, we hope you enjoy the holidays and have a relaxing winter break!
Ethan Shea is a first-year English Graduate Student and Graduate Assistant at Falvey Memorial Library.
1 People Like This Post
0 Comments »
No comments yet.
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI


text:
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Beyond the Deep Woods
I finished this audiobook tonight. It was eh. Too much action. Too much drama. Perhaps because there were two authors? I'm not sure. I haven't decided if I will read or listen to the next book in the series.
When Twig's mother - a wood troll - sends him off to stay with relatives, Twig dismisses her advice and strays from the past. Lost in the Deepwoods, he falls into one batch of trouble after another.
Maybe it was the narrator, but I thought Twig was much too whiny. I wanted to offer him a bit of cheese to go with that whine (har har har).
So, I give this book a *yawn* and say read it if you are looking for something and can't find anything else. It's not the worst that I've listened to, but definitely not the greatest.
2 comments:
My cousin and I are just beginning to write a fantasy novel about a really unique idea I had. I noticed that you claimed a book you read (or listened to, rather) had two much action, and you thought that it way because of two authors.
I'm wondering if you think that will affect the book my cousin and I are writing? I think the idea could do very well if we come through with it and it's well written... - Wednesday, July 30, 2008 3:57:00 PM
- Ama said...
I think that if you work together throughout and can make the story flow well, it can be done nicely. This story felt like the two authors were almost competing for the action scenes or that one author wrote a bit or a chapter, then the other author wrote the next.
I've read other books that had more than one author that were, in my opinion, very well written. One example would be The Spiderwick Chronicles by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black.
So, if you and your cousin collaborate in your writing you can write an excellent tale. Just write, rewrite, reevaluate, read, write, and continue the cycle until your story flows as if from one pen. - Wednesday, July 30, 2008 11:53:00 PM


text:
BDP to start next phases of Old Trafford
The Manchester studio of the architectural practice is set to deliver phases two and three of the redevelopment of Lancashire County Cricket Club's ground.
BDP designed the first phase The Point, a £12m conference and events venue which was completed and opened in July last year.
The cricket club won a Court of Appeal decision at the start of July which dismissed a judicial review plea from Albert Gubay's development company Derwent Holdings against Trafford Council's approval of the club's ground re-development plans.
Two new double tier stands will ensure Old Trafford cricket ground will have a permanent capacity of 15,000 seats, extendable to 25,000 with temporary seating for major matches, coupled with planned hospitality facilities as part of the club's overall £32m investment.
The new stands will be supplemented with support facilities for the media, players, education and the club's support staff.
The club's decision to reorient the wicket, which will now run north-south for the first time in 150 years, is creating additional international and county wickets along with a larger playing area.
The club has already started implementing its legal planning consent by moving ahead with the installation of four new 53m high floodlights.
The new ground design integrates a number of energy and resource efficiency measures including rainwater harvesting, solar collectors, and low energy lighting.
Gavin Elliott, chairman of BDP's Manchester studio, said: "We have worked very closely with the club to develop the design, which complements and extends the unique 'post-industrial' aesthetic already established with The Point.
"We didn't want to do a poor man's version of Lord's with white tents on the top of every building, and perpetuate that romantic notion of cricket on the village green, complete with cycling vicars and warm beer.
"Cricket isn't like that up here in the North West. It's more of a blue collar game, there's a different demographic and a different atmosphere. We wanted our design to reflect that.
"This will be extended to the other elements of the redevelopment, further reinforcing the specific architectural narrative which relates to the ground's post-industrial context and the changing face of 21st century cricket."
The development is part of the overall plans being led by Ask Developments, which includes a 100,000 sq ft Tesco food store fronting Chester Road near to the ground, bringing investment of at least £70m and over 500 jobs into parts of Trafford which suffer from low levels of economic activity and employment.
Construction work on the next phases is expected to begin in autumn this year, with completion due in 2013, ready for the Ashes series that summer.
Your Comments
Nice quote from Gavin Elliott. Can anyone explain where the mahoosive Tesco is going to be built?
By Tim
Tesco will go on the grassed area just visable in the top left corner of the picture above.
By Solstice


text:
Centre informed the SC that an Enforcement Task Force had been formed to enforce compliance with the measures laid down to curb pollution
New Delhi: In a pre-emptive move, the Central government on Friday informed the Supreme Court that an Enforcement Task Force (ETF) with 40 "flying squad" members had been set up to enforce compliance with the various measures laid down to bring down air pollution in the national capital, which turned "severe" on Friday.
The court directed the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to ensure adherence to the directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas.
Vested with powers to take punitive and preventive steps against non-compliant/defaulting persons and entities, the five-member task force has two independent members. The top court had Thursday questioned the effectiveness of the jumbo-sized commission which has everyone from government ministries and departments.
Initially, the court was informed that the ETF will have 17 flying squads, which will be augmented to 40 within 24 hours. The ETF will function in addition to the steps being taken by the Central Pollution Control Board and the pollution boards of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
The Centre's decision to set up the ETF came soon after the Supreme Court indicated it would form an independent task force to secure the compliance of the measures to bring down the air pollution. The court favoured an independent task force in the wake of repeated floundering of government agencies in enforcing the steps to curb air pollution.
Asking the Centre, the Delhi government and the NCR states of Haryana and UP to strictly adhere to the directions issued by the commission, a special bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant permitted the Uttar Pradesh government to approach the commission for relaxation of the eight-hour operational restrictions on sugarcane crushers, sugar mills and those engaged in milk dairy operations.
Besides other directions earlier to control air pollution, the commission has ordered that all schools, colleges and educational institutions will remain closed, and only those trucks operating on clean fuel or electricity will be allowed to enter Delhi. All industrial units running on fuel other than clean fuel can run only for eight hours and stay shut on weekends.
Only five of 11 thermal power plants will be operational till December 15.
The court sought details on the availability of the standby alternative power supply to meet shortfall due to putting on standstill six thermal power plants within a 300 km range around the national capital.
Reacting to the Centre's decision to constitute the ETF, senior lawyer Vikas Singh, appearing for petitioner student Aditya Dubey, on a sceptical note told the court that last year when the court appointed the one-member Justice Madan B. Lokur Committee to monitor curbs on stubble burning, the Centre promulgated a law constituting the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas. He said this time when the court indicated setting up of an independent task force to monitor the implementation of steps to curb air pollution, the Centre has come with an Enforcement Task Force.
The court allowed the Delhi government to resume construction activity for seven new Covid-19 hospitals and for providing better infrastructure facilities at 19 existing hospitals.


text:
Advent at Scandalize
With so VERY much going on this month we were bound to miss something (OK a few somethings). Looking through group messages, Sami found that Scandalize had an Advent Tree. Well GEE!!!
Already a member in long standing she hopped over and found today's gift. This is probably one of the best clothings groups around -- especially if you like past gifts still available and lucky boards that change often. It is a paid group so we probably won't be showing a lot from there, but it would be very remiss NOT to mention.
More great gathering tips coming tomorrow --
EDIT: This is my SECOND edit. Another Scandalized member found that EACH gift under the tree is a separate gift and that you can click on each one any day. It IS very laggy there as you might imagine so easy to see how the confusion happened. Sorry for the misinformation!
Pose by: the bench


text:
Using some Addons will make it easier for you to get Wow Class Gold
If you want to focus on making Wow Classic Gold, there are several addons that may prove useful, and the following are especially worth considering.
For gold-conscious players, the auctioneer is an important tool to ensure you maximize your earnings. Not only does it simplify the experience of the auction house itself, let you easily cut existing listings, buy at the cheapest price, and track the market, it also shows the auction price of the items in your bag, allowing you to judge Value, you pick up something while in the outside world.
If you have a gathering profession, a plugin like GatherMate may make it easier for you to ensure that you don't miss a herb or a mining node. GatherMate will remember the location of each herb and ore you collect and display this data on mini maps and world maps to make collection easier and more efficient.
For those who really want to master the money-making skills in World of Warcraft, TradeSkillMaster is the ultimate plug-in, a powerful set of tools that covers everything from handmade to auction. However, at the complex end of the World of Warcraft plugin, it definitely needs some learning for beginners, so unless you really want to collect every copper you can collect, it may not be worth studying in-depth.
Yeah! Of course. If you want to get a bunch of WOW Class Gold as quickly as possible, I certainly suggest you buy it from any WOW Class Gold trading website online, which must be the easiest way to get the stuff you want on WOW Classic, you will probably ask which online trading store you should go to. Right now, I personally believe that our website-Mmobc.com might be your best choice for buying WOW Classic Gold.
We are committed to meeting the burden of all our customers by being a trustworthy seller with years of experience. You'll buy WOW Classic Gold from our platform in a safe and secure setting to spice up your adventure and better your gameplay. Please contact LiveChat 24/7 online if you want to order from us or have any questions!
In addition to WOW Classic Gold, Mmobc.com also provides other kinds of Wow Classic Items and WOW Classic Level Boosting. We will glad to have you come here!


text:
It's well known that St Petersburg isn't a cheap destination, and most of its entertainment comes with a price tag. But there are still many attractions you can enjoy for free. From St Petersburg's elegant parks and sprawling flea markets to stunning Orthodox cathedrals and cutting-edge art galleries, there's something for every penny-pinching traveller. Here's our pick of the best free things to do in Russia's imperial capital.
Make use of free-admission days
Some of St Petersburg's top museums organise free-entrance days. For the State Hermitage Museum it's the first Thursday of the month, and for the Kunstkamera the third Thursday each month. Other museums are admission-free throughout the year, for example the Vladimir Nabokov Museum or the Sigmund Freud Museum of Dreams. In many Orthodox cathedrals you also don't have to pay an entrance fee. While the church architecture is stunning enough from the outside, just wait until you enter – the icon art is breathtaking.
Relax in parks and gardens
If you love the green spaces, don't miss St Petersburg's parks and gardens. There are plenty to satisfy any taste: the small, hidden Yusupov Gardens, the royal Mikhailovsky Gardens, the calm Tavrichesky Gardens, or the famous Summer Garden with its marble sculptures. The recently reopened New Holland Island in the city centre is St Petersburg's latest cultural hub and a haven for artists, writers, professionals and tourists alike.
Stroll around Alexander Nevsky Monastery
The Alexander Nevsky Monastery is the most important Orthodox monastery in St Petersburg; its Church of the Annunciation was the first resting place for the tsarist family. The monastery is magnificent both inside and outside, but for many visitors the major attractions are its four historic cemeteries (which charge a small fee) – this is where you'll find the graves of Dostoevsky, Tchaikovsky, Roerich and many other great names of Russian culture.
Learn about modern Russian art
You don't have to spend a fortune on tickets to see modern art in St Petersburg. Some of the city's most progressive art galleries – Anna Nova (annanova-gallery.ru), Marina Gisich (gisich.com), Art Re.Flex, KGallery (kgallery.ru), Bulthaup (design-gallery.ru) and Name Gallery (namegallery.ru) – don't charge admission, giving visitors access to enough paintings, sculptures and installations to fill an entire day. On the opening nights you'll be treated with a glass of champagne and some appetizers; check the websites for dates of new exhibitions.
Browse the bookshops
Bookworms will love St Petersburg's oldest bookshop, Dom Knigi, and the Bookvoed chain of stores (bookvoed.ru; centrally located shops are open 24 hours). If you aren't planning on buying a book but still want to read one, you can just pick a title, sit and read it from cover to cover – no one will ask you to leave. These bookshops offer a beautiful collection of art books, obligatory Russian classics as well as a lot of books in English.
Visit a flea market
The biggest flea market in St Petersburg, located in the north of the city, is a place you'll be telling your friends about for a very long time. 'Udelka', as the locals call it (because of its location near the Udelnaya metro station), is an extremely atmospheric place that offers a huge variety of artefacts such as antique icons, hand-painted samovars and, of course, the busts of Lenin. It's open every weekend.
Explore the underground
The St Petersburg metro (metro.spb.ru) is one of the most attractive and ornate underground systems in the world – not to mention the deepest. Each station has stunning architecture and its own history. The most beautiful stations are Avtovo, Zvenigorodskaya, Narvskaya, Baltiyskaya and Kirovskiy Zavod, so make sure you break up your journey to admire them. The metro is not only a very impressive place but also the most popular way to travel around the city – it's cheap, fast and efficient – and no matter how far you need to go, you'll pay the same fare.
Hang out at anti-cafes
The 'anti-cafe' (or 'time-cafe') concept – which originated in Moscow – has become very popular in St Petersburg. The name means you are not charged for the coffee, snacks and sometimes desserts on offer; instead, you pay for the time spent there. This is perfect if you're looking for a quiet space where you can relax, play board or computer games or even work if you need to. The oldest anti-cafe in St Petesburg is Ziferblat, but Miracle, Freedom and Ziferberg are also worth checking out.
Take a free tour
Every day at 10:45am, St Petersburg Free Tour (petersburgfreetour.com) offers a 2.5-hour walking tour through the centre of the city, departing from the Alexander Column on Palace Square. The walk covers all the essential sights, and the guides are very passionate and enthusiastic. While the tours are absolutely free, they're also quite popular so don't forget to book beforehand.
Hit the Baltic beaches
The northern coast of the Gulf of Finland, with its sandy beaches flanked by pine trees, is a very popular summer destination for St Petersburg residents. A relaxed atmosphere, fresh air, clean beaches and plenty of good restaurants make this a must-visit. If you're in the city in winter, you can go for a walk on the frozen gulf – the views are overwhelming.


text:
The fragrance of roasted meat quickly spread out. That strong meat fragrance continuously assailed the nose of everyone present, making the worm inside the stomach of everybody to protest endlessly. Moreover, all of them continuously drooled uncontrollably.
As for that big-headed monster, it was even more unable to bear. Its saliva was gushing out from its big mouth as if it was a floodwater bursting out of the dam. It wanted to come over but fearing the might of Little Three and Fire Qilin, it was forced to use its two small eyes to unwaveringly stare at those meats on the grill.
Now the fire magic elements of Long Yi had also turned into a magic core after he had absorbed the fire energy of Fire Qilin, and he had finally stepped into Mage realm. So roasting meat was naturally smooth and easy.
This moment, Little Three couldn't bear any longer. Just after Long Yi sprinkled seasoning, it bit the meat of fire rabbit as fast as the lightning, then chewing a mouthful of meat, oil flowed out from the corner of its mouth. After Little Three took the initiative, Fire Qilin and Violent Lightning Beast were also unwilling to be left behind, instantly more than 20 roasted meat of fire rabbits in the grill disappeared without leaving any remains.
Long Yi was indifferent, and he just looked at these cute animals competing with each other to rob the roasted meat while grinning. In any case, there were still Beggar's Chickens, so there was no need to worry about having nothing to eat.
Just then, Long Yi sensed big-headed monster's that yearning gaze, then turning his head, he saw that completely ignoring those thrown out games on the ground that were not roasted, big-headed monster excitedly swallowed a mouthful of saliva while fixedly staring at the things of the grill.
"Second Brother, it looks so pitiful, please give it a roasted fire rabbit." Ximen Wuhen went beside Long Yi and said lightly.
Long Yi smiled and nodded his head, then snatching final roasted fire rabbit, he threw it towards the big-headed monster.
Big-headed monster ate this roasted fire rabbit, then was stunned on the place. After a good while, it cried which unexpectedly was somewhat mournful. Moreover, tears unexpectedly flowed out from its small eyes.
"Second brother, it…it is shedding tears." Ximen Wuhen was extremely surprised and said. She had never heard magical beast and other animals shedding tears. Having heard what was said, others also came over in succession and for the time being, all the women expressed sympathy towards this big-headed monster.
"Looking at its appearance, it must be remembering a sad thing." Shui Ruoyan said.
"It is definitely thinking about its family." Ximen Wuhen said.
Long Yi was also startled, the expression of this big-headed monster was unexpectedly very similar to humans. Looking at that grieved appearance, he couldn't help but think it was a human.
Long Yi waved his hand towards this big-headed monster, and this big-headed monster was stupefied for a little while, then it immediately rolled over towards them. And the girls behind Long Yi subconsciously retreated several steps back, because the appearance of this big-headed monster was truly underwhelming. Long Yi however didn't mind, and somewhat hesitantly reached out his big hand and touched big-headed monster's those tentacles in its head, and unexpectedly discovered that these tentacles were extremely warm and soft, and actually felt extremely good.
Big-headed monster issued a cry, and it had an enjoying expression on its face.
"Feels so comfortable, do you all want to touch it?" Long Yi turned around and asked with a smile.
"As if, you are definitely lying." None of the women believed him and not even one was willing to come up to touch.
"Why would I deceive you all, if you all don't believe in me, then forget it." Long Yi curled up his lip and said.
"Second brother, I believe in you, but with its big mouth, won't it eat me in a single bite?" Ximen Wuhen nervously said.
Long Yi looked at the big mouth of this big-headed monster, yes, it indeed appeared a little frightening. So he patted big-headed monster and said: "Can't you become a bit smaller?"
Big-headed monster seemed to not understand the words of Long Yi, so it looked at Long Yi with confused eyes.
Long Yi called over Violent Lightning Beast, then asked it to demonstrate becoming smaller from big size. After that, big-headed monster immediately understood. It excitedly cried out, then its as if a hot-air balloon body instantly began to slowly shrink, shrinking to the size of normal people's head. This appearance unexpectedly looked a lot cuter compared to before.
Ximen Wuhen quickly ran over to touch and exclaimed: "True, it truly feels comfortable to touch."
After Ximen Wuhen said so, big-headed monster immediately became a popular person from a horrid person. All the women compete with each other to caress the head full of tentacles of big-headed monster.
Long Yi just smiled looking at the scene, but in his heart, he was thinking about the origin of this big-headed monster. Although it was not very good-looking and its appetite was also unusually big, but it was unusually intelligent too. Its IQ was not something that a normal magical beast could possibly compare.
With clear and bright moonlight shining, Illusory Magic Forest was dyed into a silver world. And with the howling of the wind, the trees of the forest began to rustle and dance with the wind.
Long Yi sat down inside his tent in meditation, and suddenly felt a burst of impatient movement within his dantain, beginning to restlessly jump left and right.
Long Yi opened his eyes, and his luminous as if stars eyes suddenly emitted a dim light in the dark. He calmed down his qi and spirit, then calmly felt the restless movement of true qi within his body. He knew that this was the sign of his AoTianJue about to breakthrough a layer. He had been feeling this sign for a period of time, however it was never as strong as today. Perhaps, tonight AoTianJue would advance to the third layer.
The temple of Long Yi pulsate, the true qi of AoTianJue was increasingly getting violent within his meridians, beginning to attack still closed Yinwei meridian and Yangwei meridian. These two meridians were two of the eight miracle meridians. Yin operates five internal organs, yang operates six hollow organs, and after linking these two meridians, yin-yang would combine, and greatly increase his strength.
Long Yi had lived for two life and also had cultivated AoTianJue two times, so he was very clear about the pain he had to endure before breaking through. This was just like a butterfly breaking out of a cocoon, without undergoing painful struggle, how can it be so gorgeous and beautiful? He used palm wind to open the door of the tent, then using internal force, he left behind large words on the ground, then used a barrier to seal the tent.
The true qi within his body got more and more violent, and also got denser and dense, beginning to violently attack towards Yinwei and Yangwei meridians. A burst of unbearable pain spread out from these two meridians, spreading all over his body. The forehead of Long Yi was filled with sweat as he tried to relax his body as much as possible, calmly enduring this pain. This kind of ** extreme pain, he somewhat enjoyed it, yes, indeed enjoying. From enduring he reached enjoying. This absolutely was an inhuman process.
True qi began to assume the spiral form, then attacked the meridians. This feeling was as if someone was tearing apart the tissues within the body little by little. It was not a short-term process to open up these two meridians. At that time, in Lost city, when Long Yi had suddenly broken through to the second layer of AoTianJue, he had spent quite a few days. And especially, Yinwei and Yangwei meridians were very long. They spread from the inside and outside of legs to the stomach, again to shoulders and to neck, moreover, that spiral-shaped true qi had to gradually run through this entire meridians to successfully breakthrough.
Long Yi often issued a groaning voice, and this voice was not as painful as it may seem, but it was similar to the voice let out by women when they were feeling comfortable and refreshed.
This moment, the body of Long Yi emitted the radiance of seven attributed magic elements. Among them, black color was most flourishing, followed by water, lightning and fire. As for others, their radiance was very weak.
A black shadow suddenly came out from within the body of Long Yi and formed a phantom in front of Long Yi. Then it muttered in a strange voice: "This smelly brat truly is sufficiently abnormal."
The shadow circled around Long Yi few times, then said: "Seven attributed physique, moreover the magic elements are so thick, but his realms however are so low. This truly is strange, anyway, I will help you promote your dark magic element, I hope you will help me in the future."
The shadow said, then changing into a wisp of black smoke, it wrapped around the left hand of Long Yi. After that, the Demonic Stone inlaid in that blood colored skull in the center of the palm immediately emitted a dark black light, which was deep as if a black hole that wanted to suck in everything. The black smoke that wrapped around the left hand of Long Yi fluctuate, then the black light of Demonic Stone began to follow that black mist and entered the body of Long Yi, directly seeping into the dark magic elements inside the sea of consciousness of Long Yi.
At this time, the sky was already bright. Ling Feng and the three girls came to the front of Long Yi's tent. The very first person to see the words on the ground in front of Long Yi's tent was Ling Feng. At that time, when it was still late at night, Ling Feng tossed about on the bed and wasn't able to calm down her heart. She really missed the warm bosom of Long Yi, thereupon she quietly crawled out intending to sneak into the tent of Long Yi. But who would have thought that the tent of Long Yi was surrounded by a very powerful barrier. And at that time, under the moonlight, she clearly saw few large words: Cultivating, don't worry.
Time slowly passed, dawn became dark and dark again become bright, like this, it had already been three days and night since Long Yi stayed inside his tent. But as before, there was no movement. Although all of them knew that Long Yi will be fine, but they unavoidably still got worried.
"Ling Feng, you and my second brother have been together for so long, did he ever cultivated for such a long period of time?" Ximen Wuhen stepped forward, then catching the hold of Ling Feng's hand, she asked. She knew Ling Feng was a girl like herself, and in a haste, she forgot to avoid the contact.
"He hasn't, but I think Long Yi should be in the process of making a breakthrough, otherwise he wouldn't have left these words." Ling Feng smiled and said, but her eyes hinted Ximen Wuhen to pay attention.
Ximen Wuhen paused, then quickly released the hand of Ling Feng. But saw that Shui Ruoyan was smiling ambiguously at her, and Yinyin was looking at her with hostility.
Ximen Wuhen stuck out her tongue, then turning around she squatted down and stroke the shrunk version big-headed monster. And unexpectedly as if talking with it, she muttered: "Second brother, he still hasn't come out, do you understand what I am saying? He is the one that gave you roasted meat to eat, you should call him master…no, should call father, hee hee."
"Wuhen, you shouldn't arbitrarily find Long Yi a child without his consent, be careful, he might beat you when he came out." Shui Ruoyan said with a smile after hearing Ximen Wuhen.
"He dares, what is wrong with Big Head? Having it as his child is naturally his good fortune, isn't that so, Big Head?" Ximen Wuhen smiled and said.
Big-headed monster however somewhat confusedly squinted its already small eyes, then unexpectedly revealed an expression as if it somewhat understood, making all of them surprise in succession. They thought, could it be that it understood the words of Ximen Wuhen?


text:
U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill and Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley traded a few verbal jabs on Thursday in a heated hour-long debate in Kansas City.
During an exchange about health care and repealing the Affordable Care Act, the gloves came off.
"He went to Yale for law school," McCaskill said, pointing at Hawley. "I went to Mizzou for law school, but I think I can keep up."
The Missouri Senate race is one of the most watched in the nation.
The winner could tip the majority for either party in the U.S. Senate.
"Which just shows you this whole campaign has been a big scare tactic for Senator McCaskill," said Hawley. "It's about scaring voters. I say we can get down costs. So I say we can cover people with pre-existing conditions, and we could do it without Obamacare."
"I did 50 town halls," said McCaskill, the incumbent Democrat. "You know what people talk about the most at those town halls? Healthcare. You know what I want to hold onto? All of the consumer protections that he's trying to get rid of in court."
The debate was hosted by KMBC and covered a wide range of issues from immigration to President Donald Trump.
"I have I supported the president, you bet," Hawley said. "I happen to think the policies he is pursuing are good for the state when you see unemployment dropping, when you see wage growth when you see blue-collar job growth at its highest rate since 1984."
McCaskill argued she has been able to work with Trump more than most Democrats but took issue with his style.
"That the leader of the most amazing nation in the world thinks it's ok to lie all the time," McCaskill said. "I mean just, lie after lie. He told the Wall Street Journal three days ago that he didn't impose any tariffs. He needs to talk to soybean farmers in Missouri that are in the red this year."
I guess the Senator just wants us to keep paying for all other Countries to have free trade. How does that help us in any way?
The best question of the night was about the Veritas Video, in my opinion. She dodged that question completely. She never answered it.
IMPACT: McCaskill Fumbles Questions about Veritas Videos in Missouri Debate (Video)

Angelo Pacheco from Kansas City welcome
Hi, what would you do to stop gun violence affecting my peers across the nation, would you vote for more school funding to provide more security and will you, Senator McCaskill vote for an all-out ban like you said in last week's Project Veritas video?
Since you brought it up, let me just say about the Veritas videos, there was nothing in those videos that were bad from my perspective because people in Missouri know where I stand on these issues.
They got some kids behind closed doors talking out of school, big deal. I'll tell you what was a big deal, they fraudulently embedded themselves in my campaign for weeks, for weeks misrepresenting who they were.
They got into our computers proprietary information for 20 hours, who knows what they stole?
They weren't there to help me, they were there to help Josh Holley. And the idea that a complaint has been filed with the Attorney General's Office, and when we called to ask about the complaint they said call the campaign.
The Attorney General's Office cannot allow there to be a new normal that fraud can be committed in anybody's campaign. I don't care if it's somebody I'm for or somebody I'm against.
If somebody can come in and commit fraud and get in your computers and the Attorney General does nothing that cannot be the new normal.
I want to give both of you 60 seconds but go ahead Mr, Hawley.
Thank you, there's The Washington two-step right there!
Senator McCaskill is caught saying something on video and then she blames me. Her initial reaction was to accuse me of fraud, to accuse me personally of fraud, which is absolutely outrageous and totally not true.
And then to ask for the state of Missouri I guess to appoint a prosecutor with taxpayer money to go after her political opponents, and I know it's become fashionable on campuses for liberal Democrats to shut down speakers they don't like but I have never heard of the state appointing a prosecutor with taxpayer money to go after a political opponent.
And to accuse me, I just think it's again, we're at the desperation phase of Senator McCaskill's campaign.
Miss McCaskill
Yeah, you know, I'm not asking for a lot of time, by the way, he's appointed special prosecutors all the time.
He's, his office, there have been three different articles written in the last two weeks about the mess in his office.
Right now he's in a hurry, he's never even gone in a courtroom and tried a criminal case in his life, so maybe he should be appointing the prosecutors.
But the point is that this was a fraud this isn't about the tape. People in Missouri know where I stand.
I've done 52 town halls.
I've walked in anywhere in Missouri said come on in, ask me any question.
I'm not afraid to tell anybody where I stand.
I am afraid of an attorney general that looks the other way when somebody comes in and steals proprietary information out of somebody's computer.
I do want to ask a follow-up here, real quick so indulge me for a few moments, if you would.
Miss McCaskill, do you blame Mr. Hallease's campaign for that video?
No, I don't blame him for that video but what I do blame him for is when a complaint is filed under the merchandize practicing Act, which he talks about and touts all the time, with a clear prima facie case has been laid out, that instead of immediately saying, of course, we'll look into it, they refer us to his campaign as if this was not a serious matter.
That's what I'm complaining about.
And Mr. Hawley, did your campaign have anything to do with that video?
Absolutely not, and to accuse me of fraud, which is what Senator McCaskill did, she said that I committed fraud, that I participated in a fraud.
She said that on television.
I didn't say that on television.
Again, it's on KOLR-10. The video is widely available. I'm sure it's being sent even now.
SoI invite you to look at the record, but these kind of desperate attacks are sad to see especially at the end.
It's been a long 36-year career for Senator McCaskill but I hope that this isn't how she's going to go out.
End Transcript
People just can't know that." McCaskill Hides Agenda from Voters, "semi-automatic rifle ban" (Video)

James O'Keefe: McCaskill's Response is Outrageous (Video)

Body Language – Senator Claire McCaskill Response to Project Veritas Footage (Video)

After the debate, both candidates said they thought they had made a strong closing argument to Missouri voters.
"I thought this was a great debate today, a nice clear contrast," Hawley said. "There was a lot of argument from Senator McCaskill, and I think her real argument is not with me. It's with the people of the state. And she seemed frustrated with the fact that people are unhappy with her voting record and a little defensive about it. But it's not about her and me. It's about her conflict with the people of the state."
"Well it's hard for me because he just kind of makes stuff up," McCaskill said. "It is a record number of fact checks that have called his ads lies. And rather than quit saying them, he just keeps repeating them. It's hard not to get frustrated when someone keeps lying about your record."
Well, according to the liberal biased website  Politifacts  the Senator lies at least half the time.
Related Sources:
By: Lexy
On Twitter? Follow me:
@PoliticallyRYT
Have Information? Message me!
I want to see the big red tsunami knock McCaskill right out of her Senate seat.
I want to see a Big Red Tsunami knock out ALL lying, cheating, evil, violent, Democraps and RINOs. Enough is enough!
Just studying her statements and reactions to questions that out her liberalism. I find her a Social-Democrat in hiding trying to trying cover herself in enough political protective screen lotion to appeal to maybe get elected.
In short NOT TO BE TAKEN AT FACE VALVE, OR TRUST TO HONOR PROMISES.
Welp I personally think we need short terms for them 2 yrs each and Minium wages for them all none this millions that both parties all sides seem to leave with when 2 yrs is done that's it they live like we do !,,no security nothing ….they have to live like we do !!!!


text:
Dear Readers,
In the week leading up to the publication of our MIDTERM chapbook, we've selected a few poets to interview regarding their work both in this issue and more broadly. Please enjoy the following conversation with Annie Christain and follow the link below for details of the MIDTERM 4 release reading on December 19th.
MIDTERM 4 Release Reading
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself. How are you? What have you been creating during the pandemic?
I'm a poet, professor, and proud parent of four-year-old twins. Having recently faced and made it through many intense personal challenges, I'm now more able to quiet my mind and enjoy small moments and appreciate them for what they are. My newer poems have a slower pace and more subdued tone as a result. During the pandemic I've been working on my third manuscript of poetry. So far I've written poems with forms inspired by tweets, taxonomy grids, movie trailers, and transcripts from TV signal intrusion incidents.
2. Do you have a favorite poet or poem?
Right now I keep coming back to "I Loved You Before You Were Born" by Li-Young Lee. The longing and love the speaker describes for his object of affection goes back before and beyond eternity, which is both endearing and maddening since the object of affection is elusive, making the speaker an ouroboros, a snake that is only whole through the perpetual devouring of itself. I like that the poem is romantic but also honestly describes the loneliness of the human condition. The speaker actually submits to it since "In longing, I am most myself, rapt, /my lamp mortal, my light /hidden and singing." It's a sincere and thought-provoking poem that I can't let go of.
3. You are a professor of Humanities at SUNY Cobleskill. How do you think your time in teaching has impacted your writing and your thoughts on writing?
I teach at a college that has many agricultural based programs, and as a result of this, the student essays I read often draw me into that world and introduce me to many concepts I wouldn't come across otherwise. One of my students wrote an essay about robotic milking, about how quite often the cow comes to the point where it wants to be milked by a machine and, of its own accord, enters the milking room like clockwork. This animals' reliance on machines prompted me to think of humans and their own dependence on technology, which then led to my writing a poem where people enter a milking machine, but the device itself is never named, so what exactly is being taken from the characters and why is a key question in the poem. I have my students to thank for giving me so many interesting ideas to ponder.
4. You've recently published your first full-length poetry collection, "Tall as You are Tall Between Them." What prompted the title? How was the process?
The title was taken from my poem "Inside a Hand Basket at the Burlesque Theater." The original meaning was one of empowerment, that two monoliths maintain their height and power only when the speaker is figuratively "standing tall" between them—a speaker that is unable to physically stand. When I chose that as a book title, I believe I was subconsciously thinking of the way in which the book (when thought of as a living being) could gain strength or power each time a reader engages with the material. Julie Marie Wade viewed the title as: "I'm also thinking how everything is measured by something other than itself, the way the title 'you' is only tall in relation to 'them,' and maybe not tall at all without 'them.'"
5. Your two pieces forthcoming in MIDTERM tackle an intersection between technological futurism and the construction/deconstruction of gender. How do you generate this discourse within a space that has seen a lot of misogynistic characters, theorists, writings?
Many times the writing space I enter into and create is done with the purpose of creating a safe space to confront and counter injustices, especially misogyny, homophobia, and racism. I generate this discourse by keeping honesty and fearlessness at the forefront of my mind and doing my best not to dilute my message despite outside pressures or expectations to either censor myself or to stay within certain confines of past social justice themed messages or poems.
6. How did your usage of form develop over time? Do you find the creation of the visual elements of poetry to be engaging, reductive?
In my early work, my poetry forms were inspired by my public readings. I placed line breaks, spaces, and stanza breaks on the page based on where I paused while reading the poem aloud. For my subsequent work I tried more experimental forms as a way to challenge myself and to keep the writing process fresh and exciting. I also tried using forms that some might consider overdone or cliché to see if I could breathe new life into those forms.
7. What would be a piece of advice you give to young writers– especially young queer writers? Why?
My advice to young writers is to be careful about the advice you take from more experienced writers. Discernment is vital because the objective mentors you're looking for may be harder to find the more promise and talent you have. My advice to young queer writers is to not let others define you or your writing and to be mindful of how much the world needs to hear your voice and perspectives.
ANNIE CHRISTAIN is a professor of composition and ESOL at SUNY Cobleskill and a former artist resident of the Shanghai Swatch Art Peace Hotel and the Arctic Circle Art and Science Expedition. Her poems have appeared in Seneca Review, Oxford Poetry, Prelude, and The Lifted Brow, among others. She was a first-place winner of the Driftwood Press In-House Poem Contest and received the grand prize of the Hart Crane Memorial Poetry Contest, the Greg Grummer Poetry Award, the Oakland School of the Arts Enizagam Poetry Award, and the Neil Shepard Prize in Poetry. Tall As You Are Tall Between Them, her debut book of poetry, was published by C&R Press.


text:
As you've undoubtedly already heard by now, the verdict in the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation case is in, and the final tally shakes out to Heard owing Depp a bit more than $10 million for defamation of character. To make matters worse for Ms. Heard, the actress does not have the financial wherewithal to cover this debt if it's enforced.
Speaking with Savannah Guthrie on a Thursday morning episode of "The Today Show," Amber's lawyer was asked point-blank whether her client can afford to pay a $10.35 million judgment.
Her lawyer's exact reply was:
"Oh, no. Absolutely not."
Before the trial, we pegged Amber Heard's net worth at $2.5 million. If that number is in the ballpark, and the $10.35 million judgment is enforced, Amber could conceivably be considered to to have a negative net worth at the moment.
So, what are Amber's options going forward?
First, let's do a brief breakdown on that $10.35 million.
The jury awarded Depp $10 million in compensatory damages from Heard, plus another $5 million in punitive damages. But the latter was reduced to $350,000 following Virginia's caps on punitive damages.
Interestingly, the jury also awarded Heard $2 million from Depp as part of her counter-suit. That still leaves an $8.35 million net debt owed to Johnny and limited options going forward.
Heard's attorney Elaine Charlson Bredehoft says that her client plans to appeal the ruling. Unfortunately that might not be so simple. If Amber wants to pursue an appeal, she will likely be required to post a bond for the full $10.35 million while the appeals process makes its way through the court, plus interest. Speaking to CBS News, Attorney Sandra Spurgeon put it like this:
"For an individual who doesn't have the ability to pay the judgment and no ability to post the bond, then there is a real issue if the winning party intends to execute the judgment."
If Heard does indeed appeal the decision and doesn't post a bond for the amount of the award, that would place the decision on whether to execute the judgment with Depp, who of course is a much wealthier person from his decades as a high earning movie star. With his stated interest in getting "the truth" out over any dollar amount, it's possible that he'd be willing to negotiate a lower settlement for Heard to cut her losses and drop her appeals. "He's in the driver's seat right now," as Spurgeon put it, going on:
"[Depp has] already won in the court of public opinion…Maybe he's willing to say, 'If you drop the appeal, I'm willing to drop the judgment'."
Depp could be willing to drop the matter and consider it a massive PR victory, but if that doesn't happen and Heard is indeed unable to pay the judgment, two other options remain: the garnishing of future wages and even property holdings by, and declaring bankruptcy.
Earning Potential
As a film and television star, albeit one with something of a cloud hanging over her at this point, Amber could just work really hard to pay the debt down. If the debt was enforced, Amber's future wages could be garnished, while other assets like real estate, jewelry, and so on, could also be up for grabs. However, the law does protect some financial assets from seizure in situations such as this one, like retirement accounts.
File for Bankruptcy
Another option would be to file for bankruptcy. But contrary to what you might assume, even that isn't as simple as you might think. Bankruptcy law prohibits debts from "willful and malicious injury by the debtor" to be discharged through insolvency, and since the jury's ruling specifies Heard's "defamation with malice," attorney Brian Pastor told CBS that could trigger a problem for Heard, should she go down this route – but again, that would only apply if Depp made the decision to formally object to her discharging the ruling through bankruptcy. As Pastor points out, any action on Depp's part following a positive verdict could be seen as vindictive by the public and end up being more trouble than it's worth:
"The overriding issue is, with someone like Depp, is that as a practical matter you want to go back to making movies that make you a giant payday, and therefore, the most important thing for you isn't this $10.35 million, it's your ability to get a paycheck for $10, $20, $30 million…Ticket buyers might be turned off by him going after her for that $10.3 million."
Elon Musk to the Rescue?
Another hail-Mary option for Amber would be… Elon Musk.
The world's richest person happens to be another ex-boyfriend of Amber's. He could easily use a teeny-tiny portion of his $200+ billion net worth to settle Amber's debt. And that wouldn't be totally out-of-character for Musk. When Amber and Johnny initially divorced, she vowed to donate the multi-million-dollar settlement to the ACLU and the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. In the trial we learned that Elon actually ponied up around $500,000 of the $1.3 million she has donated to the ACLU so far.
Speaking on the trial over Twitter, Elon recently said:
"I hope they both move on. At their best, they are each incredible."
Maybe Elon can help them both move on with a little $8 million payment.


text:
VT Editor July 10, 2012 from VeteransToday Website
...The CIA, of course...
Mark Zuckerberg was not so smart after all,
but just fronting for
the CIA in one of the biggest Intelligence coups of
all times. But enough with the lead in.
Let's take you directly to our source where you
can get it straight from the source's mouth, including seeing Zuckerberg
getting his award.
We really need your comments on this below so we can speak to power with one
voice… something that can rarely be done around here. I know what you're thinking, but no, I am not stupid… all of my Facebook material is all made up, including all of my friends. I am in the 'safe zone.' My momma didn't raise no fool... But how about you?


text:
Order for freezing plant to Faroese vessel F/T Gadus
- On February 23, 2021 /
- In Frontpage, News
The Faroese ship owner P/F JFK Trol has ordered a new factory trawler from Tersan Shipyard in Turkey – newbuild no. 1102. The trawler will be 88,1 m long, and is designed by Skipsteknisk AS as their design ST-119.
We are proud to be chosen as the supplier of the cargo freezing plant onboard this new vessel, and Teknotherm will deliver a high-efficient cargo freezing plant using ammonia as refrigerant.
Ammonia is all natural and the most environmental friendly refrigerant – used by Teknotherm for most of our refrigeration systems for fishing vessels for the past 20 years.
Further, we will also deliver the provision refrigeration plant for this vessel.
The vessel is scheduled for delivery to owner in end of 2022.


text:
For a stress-free Disney or Universal Studios vacation, let the FREE expert planners at Royal Carriage Vacations take care of every detail including dining reservations, applying discounts, and onboard cruise credit.
Happy Halloween! Did you know that in countries such as Mexico, trick-or-treating is not the custom for children? Instead, you may be familiar with hearing the words "Dia de los Muertos" or "Day of the Dead." I'm here to share a little bit of history and background of this three-day celebration and how you can partake in the festivities at the Disney Parks this year.
Dia de los Muertos begins on October 31 and ends on November 2nd of each year. The three-day celebration originated in Mexico, even though the celebrations are practiced in other Latin American countries, the United States, and throughout Asia and Europe. It derives from ancient pre-Columbian cultures and civilizations in remembering ancestors and those that have passed before us.
[the_ad id='41482′]
By the late 20th century in most regions of Mexico, practices had developed to honor deceased children and infants on November 1 and honoring deceased adults on November 2. In Catholicism, November 1 is All Saints Day and November 2 is All Souls Day.
Honoring our loved ones that have left earth is done in many different ways during Dia de los Muertos. On the eve of October 31st, families come together at the cemetery and begin by cleaning and decorating the graves. They also make ofrendas (altars), which can include pictures, relics, favorite foods or goods of loved ones. Vibrant-colored banners are made from papel picado (pecked paper which is a decorative banner of elaborate designs into tissue paper).
Ofrendas also include Mexican marigolds. (cempasúchil) It is believed that the petals of these flowers reach the ancestors and deceased loved ones and serve as a guide for their journey back home to earth for the festivities.
Pan de muerto and calaveras are also used to celebrate the holiday. Pan de muerto is a sweet roll that is shaped like a bun and is topped with sugar. Calaveras, also known as sugar skulls, adorn the altars.
There is a myriad of ways that the celebration of Dia de los Muertos is practiced throughout Mexico. Each region can be very different in customs and traditions. For some areas, it is traditional to spend all day at the cemetery for the three days enjoying Mariachi music, dancing, and feasting on tamales. In other regions, families attend church services while others spend the night at the cemetery or have picnics. Many families who are not able to visit the cemetery build their ofrendas in their homes.
As a sociologist, I love learning and teaching about new cultures and traditions. Within my immediate family, we have introduced new and continuing yearly traditions as our family is biracial. Ever since our daughters were young, we have made ofrendas within our own home complete with pictures and an item that reminds us of our family and friends or a treat that they enjoyed. We even remember our family pets who have passed.
In November of 2017, Pixar released the film Coco, which takes place during Dia de los Muertos. Guests can now participate in the celebration at The Disneyland Resort and the Mexican Pavilion in Epcot.
For the last few years, Zócalo Park in Disneyland has displayed a beautiful homage to Dia de los Muertos that includes activities and information regarding the tradition. Zocalo Park is located in front of Rancho del Zócalo Restaurante in Frontierland. The display is available from September 6-November 3rd.
California Adventures
Also from September 6 through November 3, Disney California Adventure Park is transformed into an immersive event at Paradise Gardens Park that features live Mariachi music, a special photo opportunity with Miguel from Coco, a meet and greet with Miguel between performances, and the Árbol de la Vida or Tree of Life experience where guests are invited to write a memory and/or remembrance of a passed loved one to display on the nearby walls and tree.
Per the Disneyland website, throughout the day Disney and Pixar's Coco comes to life through enchanting performances by the Storytellers of Plaza de la Familia, singer/storyteller Mateo, a folklórico dance ensemble, the GRAMMY® Award-winning Mariachi Divas and traditional tunes sure to touch the heart during this moving salute to family. Miguel even makes a whimsical cameo in an appearance inspired by Mexican folk art.
Downtown Disney at Disneyland
The Día de los Muertos celebration at Downtown Disney's Tortilla Jo's Mexican Restaurant will take place Friday, November 2 and Saturday, November 3 from 2-8 PM. More information can be found at Tortilla Jo's website.
Tortilla Jo's Dia de los Muertos Festivities:
Saturday: Kids arts and crafts, cookie decorating, & pumpkin painting 12-5 pm | Face painting 12-4 pm | Tequila & Bacanora tasting 4-7 pm | Mariachi Divas 12-5 pm
Sunday: Kids arts and crafts, cookie decorating, & pumpkin painting 12-5 pm | Face painting 12-4 pm
The Mexico Pavilion at Epcot is a wonderful place to celebrate Mexican culture during Día de los Muertos at Walt Disney World. The Mexico Pavilion offers the "Remember Me!" La Celebración del Día de los Muertos, a display of Día de los Muertos cultural décor and Mexican folk art year-round so guests do not have to only visit during the three-day celebration in October!
Within the Día de los Muertos displays, guests can view images from characters from "Coco" visiting the graves of loved ones well as a large display of Miguel visiting his family's ofrenda. There is also an interactive activity for guests to create their own Coco-inspired character, and the great part is that it can also be linked to Disney Photopass!
Another great way to get into the Mexican spirit of Dia de los Muertos at Epcot is by paying a visit to the Mexican Pavilion during Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival through November 23rd.
Last week it was announced that the fan-favorite, "Mariachi Cobre Presents…The Story of Coco" will be returning for three days specifically for the Dia de los Muertos celebration at EPCOT. You can read all about this news here.
Dia De los Muertos Merchandise
In August of 2019, Mouse Gear at EPCOT began to sell a variety of Dia de los Muertos merchandise such as Skull Ear Hats, Minnie Ears, and t-shirts. Fortunately for those not able to visit the parks directly, Dia de los Muertos merchandise can be purchased on the shopDisney website.
There is also new merchandise now available at the Mexico Pavilion in EPCOT. I will be adding the calavera mug, the concha ears, tumbler, tote and t-shirts to my collection! Not to mention Mariachi Mickey, Donald, and Goofy… Si, por favor! (yes, please!) Last but not least, you can even purchase a papel picado banner to bring into your own home! Take my dinero, Disney!
I invite you and your family to partake in the festivities of Dia de los Muertos at the Disney parks, your community, or within your own home by making an ofrenda to your loved ones that have passed. It is a beautiful way to remember those who left this earth, but that have not been forgotten. Feliz Dia de los Muertos!
How will your family be celebrating Dia de los Muertos this year?
-Marisol White


text:
Aspenti Health, a full-service diagnostic laboratory specializing in toxicology screening, has won the nation's first ever Clinical Lab 2.0 "Shark Tank"! The competition was held May 2, 2019, in conjunction with the 24th Annual Executive War College on Lab and Pathology Management in New Orleans.
The Clinical Lab 2.0 "Shark Tank" showcased forward-thinking clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups that are committed to the Clinical Lab 2.0 movement, a Project Santa Fe Foundation initiative aimed at guiding laboratories from test volume to lab value models.
"We are thrilled to be recognized for our work serving the unique needs of substance use healthcare. And, most importantly, across our organization for our unyielding commitment to employing innovations to solve this [opioid] crisis," Aspenti Health CEO Chris Powell stated in the news release.
The projects were judged on Clinical Lab 2.0 attributes, such as:
- Risk stratification by population;
- Closure of care gaps;
- Lab results as early detection; and
- Lab intervention for improved clinical outcomes.
"This project, as well as all of the other cases that were presented, were quite strong and all were aligned with the mission of the Clinical Lab 2.0 Movement," said Khosrow R. Shotorbani, President, Executive Director, Project Santa Fe Foundation, in a news release. "This movement transforms the analytic results from a laboratory into actionable intelligence at the patient visit in partnership with front-liners and clinicians—allowing for identification of patient risks—and arming providers with insights to guide therapeutic interventions.
"Further, it reduces the administrative burden on providers by collecting SDH [social determinants of health] predictors in advance and tying them to outcomes of interest," continued Shotorbani. "By bringing SDH predictors to the office visit, it enables providers to engage in SDH without relying on their own data collection—a current care gap in many practices. The lab becomes a catalyst helping to manage the population we serve."
Co-Use of Opioids Tied to Social Factors
Aspenti Health's "Shark Tank" entry—"Integration of the Clinical Laboratory and Social Determinants of Health in the Management of Substance Use"—focused on the social factors tied to the co-use of opioids and benzodiazepines, a combination that puts patients at higher risk of drug-related overdose or death. The project revealed the top two predictors of co-use were the:
- Prescribing provider practice, and the
- Patient's age.
Myra L. Wilkerson, MD, who served on a three-judge panel tasked with selecting the winning project, said the Vermont toxicology laboratory's entry stood out in two key areas.
"We felt their project had an application to a broader population, but also moved beyond traditional [laboratory] functions or even medicine," explains Wilkerson, who is Chair of the Diagnostic Medicine Institute for the Geisinger Health System. "Patient advocacy groups, payers, and providers all have come to realize you can identify a disease, you can provide a treatment, but so many other things impact it, especially in this community. When it is an addiction, there are so many other factors that play into whether or not they are going to be successful in their treatment plan. And a lot of them are social things."
Educating Care Givers and Public on Dangers of Co-Use Drug Addictions
Working in collaboration with Staple Health and the University of Vermont Health Network, Aspenti selected "co-use" for this initial lab outcome study because of the significant patient safety implications and relative simplicity of its definition—the co-presence of positive laboratory results for both opioids and benzodiazepines.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 30% of overdoses involving opioids also involve benzodiazepines. Aspenti's "Shark Tank" presentation highlighted the fact that co-use of the drugs accounts for nearly 2.5% of opioid-related emergency department visits, costing the healthcare system an estimated $47.5 million per year.
Based on the study results, Aspenti Health plans to develop educational programs that warn about the dangers of co-using opioids and benzodiazepines.
"We identified geographically hotspots where co-use was more prevalent, so we can target our educational initiatives centered on those geographical locations—not just to providers, but also to families and patients—to raise awareness about co-use so the risks are mitigated collectively," Warrington said.
Advancing the Value-based Healthcare Agenda
The Executive War College Clinical Lab 2.0 "Shark Tank" advances a conversation about the lab industry's future that began at the inaugural 2016 Project Santa Fe meeting. Lab industry stakeholders brainstormed about the transition from volume-based to value-based healthcare, and the role laboratory-driven innovations could play in reducing total cost of care.
As healthcare shifts to a value-based reimbursement model, Wilkerson believes laboratory leaders must re-engineer their role in the continuum of care by creating meaningful clinical diagnostic insights for population health initiatives.
"What's your executive leadership concerned about? What are your payers concerned about? What are your accrediting or regulatory bodies concerned about? What are their top priorities and how can you do something that improves patient care but helps them address their problems as well?" she asks. "That's where you create value."
As the Clinical Lab 2.0 Innovation Award winner, Aspenti Health will receive:
- An invitation to speak at national lab conferences this fall;
- A consultation with a Project Santa Fe member lab to discuss successful Clinical Lab 2.0 innovations and identify new ways to deliver more value in patient care; and
- Publication of a case study of their Clinical Lab 2.0 project by Dark Daily or its sister publication The Dark Report.
With labs in Vermont and Massachusetts, Aspenti continues to identify opportunities for directly contributing to improvements in the care of substance abuse and pain management patients. Warrington says that with its SDH project, Aspenti plans to focus on other key laboratory outcome measures—such as treatment adherence and relapse. Next steps include integrating this work into the practices of partner doctors within the University of Vermont Health Network.
Wilkerson's advice to other clinical laboratories is to follow Aspenti Health's lead.
"When you look at the national trends, the percentage of traditional fee-for-service or volume-based healthcare is going to go down to 25% of the total healthcare spend by 2021," she points out. "The other 75% will be based on value-added services around quality metrics, efficiency, cost reduction, utilization, etc. Labs that aren't starting to think this way now are going to be behind and at risk in the future."
—Andrea Downing Peck
Related Information:
Aspenti Health Wins Clinical Lab 2.0 Innovation Award
Improving American Healthcare Through "Clinical Lab 20": A Project Santa Fe Report
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Benzodiazepines and Opioids
Project Santa Fe Labs Deliver Value with Tests
Improving American Healthcare Through "Clinical Lab 2.0": A Project Santa Fe Report


text:
We're not kidding. Barack Obama is a great bargainer and negotiator. The reason why we are forced to defend the boob is because there is great wailing, gnashing of teeth, and lamentations across the Hopium dens and Big Media publications denouncing (or at least "questioning", which for an Obama Hopium Guzzler is akin to a great denunciation) Obama's negotiating skills.
Why, the Hopium Guzzlers ask, is their Boob God Obama surrendering on issue after issue and getting nothing, absolutely nothing, in return? We have an answer. It's an answer we have been providing to the witless dolts for years. Are you ready to hear the answer?
Are you really ready for the answer?
Well here it is: Obama is a great bargainer and negotiator when it comes to getting something for himself.
Yup. Dolts, idiots, Hopium Guzzlers, how else do you think Obama got that great Rezko house in Chicago if not for his great bargaining, great negotiating skills and willingness to sell anything and anyone out?
And there is no contradiction in calling Obama a great bargainer and a boob simultaneously - he's a great bargainer for his personal advancement and personal interests – he's a boob because he has no world view (if any) that comports with reality and because he lacks the experience and intellectual depth (yup, he's a dummy no matter what you read) to learn from experience, preferring to bitterly cling to the insults and abandonment dreams of his father.
Charlie Rangel was censured in the House today. Did you catch that on TV? I did.
You had 77 Democrats voting against censuring him, 170 voting for it. Only 2 Republicans voted not to censure him while 163 voted to censure him.
I wasn't happy with the votes. I was really hoping he would have at least half the Democrats support him. I guess not.
If you want to read the report, click here for the House Ethics Committee's page with the report on it.
It's really depressing, honestly. And it makes me sad. I worry for Maxine Waters as well. She's up next and I wish they would just drop the charges. But hopefully Maxine will fight better and stronger than Charlie did.
There was a Politico story I saw this morning that I wanted to note. New Congress member Tim Scott (South Carolina) announced he wouldn't be accepting the invitation to join the Black Caucus while Alan West plans to join. Both are Republicans.
I'm glad they won their races. I didn't even know any of the Black Republicans running had won until this morning.
I think it's good because Tim Scott and Alan West can be in the GOP huddles and deal making and maybe demonstrate that we're all the same. I do not think every Republican in Congress is a racist but I do think that a number of them lack an awareness when it comes to racial issues. Or have in the last decade. I'll wait and see what goes down now that we're in the '10s. But in the '00s, it was not pretty.
So good luck to Tim Scott and Alan West.
Going out with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"


text:
Best And Worst Game To Play Online For Real Money
Be certain to benefit from Caesars Casino triple and dual Status Points promos when all factors are increased or tripled. No surprise, they will certainly make you incorrect guarantees and every little thing else that attracts you; the fact behind is that they could be playing a video game with you simply to take all your cash. "He desires it since he understands he can make points occurs when the sphere remains in his hands. It's simple to reach the following condition-degree because you gain Status Points as you play and level up, and also, as you obtain extra factors each time you make an acquisition. Whenever you invest time playing on the internet ports at Caesars Casino, the incentives roll in as well, as your advantages expand. Online casinos likewise enable you the wonderful opportunity to bet just the casino or with various other individuals that you never need to see.
Beginning with the Hourly Lobby Bonus, where you can gather complimentary coins every couple of hrs, as well as you'll obtain the possibility to rotate for a huge coin incentive once daily from our Legacy Bonus. Also, you'll certify to gather a lot more cost-free presents and coins to improve gameplay, and also, you'll get the most effective coin bundle offers anywhere. Below is our listing of the ideal on the internet casino poker websites in NJ. Free online casino poker video games provide gamers accessibility to several designs of on the internet casino poker free, without any threat, providing card gamers enough possibility to exercise and establishing their card abilities before taking them to the huge table. That claimed, there are various approaches to embrace while playing this casino poker video game. These factors to consider are implied to the supplement-not replace-any neighborhood, state, territorial, government, or tribal security legislations, policies, or policies with which companies should conform.
Casinos and also video gaming procedures can figure out, in cooperation with regional, state, territorial, government, or tribal health and wellness authorities, whether and also just how to execute these factors to consider, making Enzibet changes to fulfill the demands as well as conditions of the neighborhood area. As some casinos and also pc gaming procedures return to in some locations of the United States, CDC supplies the adhering to factors to consider for methods in which casinos, as well as video gaming drivers, can aid safeguard personnel as well as clients as well as slow down the spread of COVID-19. Then, even more, a private engage with others, and the much longer that communication, the greater the danger of COVID-19 spread. For more details on bars as well as dining establishments within casinos, please see CDC's Considerations for Restaurants and also Bars. You better concur that you will certainly not try to turn around, charge-back, block, terminate, or whatsoever effort to avoid us from getting the down payment and also you grant us sharing details with 3rd celebrations essential to refine your down payment and also to carry out any kind of history check needed, in our single discernment, to make sure that your settlement resource, as well as technique, are licensed.


text:
A disused warehouse is set to be transformed into a new temporary police station complete with custody cells.
Plans for the former Barum Auto Parts building on Seven Brethren in Barnstaple are expected to be submitted today as police say the project to replace the current police station is "moving at pace".
Last month we reported that Barnstaple's existing police station on North Walk has had to be vacated because its roof is faulty and repairing it is not "economically viable".
The new temporary station at the former Barum Auto Parts warehouse - which is near the town's leisure centre and Tesco Extra store - would house officers, staff, volunteers, a public front office and a custody centre.
Under the proposals most officers and staff would be accommodated at the Seven Brethren site, while some specialist staff would be relocated to offices at Roundswell.
Police say discussions with prospective landlords and North Devon Council have proceeded rapidly, and the OPCC is now ready to submit a planning application.
They say it is likely the new site would be suitable for three to five years, giving suitable time to investigate the possibility of building a bespoke station to serve the North Devon area.
North and West Devon Superintendent Toby Davies said: "We have been working hard to identify suitable options that could be delivered within the challenging timescales.
"I am hugely appreciative of the high level of support and flexibility shown by partner agencies in north Devon which has made this task all the more easier.
"The old Barum Autoparts building is well placed to respond to the demands of our area and provides a strong, visible presence within the town centre. This site will include a public enquiry office and provide an accessible means of contact within an area of high footfall.
"The Seven Brethren site does not have quite enough space to house all of our policing functions, so we will be relocating some of our specialist functions to the Roundswell site. This site is pretty much ready to go and will meet the needs of those policing functions.
"Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic I am confident that we will be able to make this move happen without there being any noticeable impact on the service we provide for our communities."
Commissioner Alison Hernandez said: "We still have a significant amount of work to do on this important project but I am hugely reassured by the amount of progress that has been made in a short amount of time, and while everyone involved has the additional challenge of coronavirus restrictions to deal with.
"I spent time in north Devon recently, talking to potential partners, and am in regular contact with councillors who have been in touch about this matter.
"I would like to thank them, and everyone who is working on this project, for their support. We will, of course, be keeping our communities informed as the project progresses."
The OPCC has sought and received the help of public sector partners in progressing the move rapidly, notably North Devon Council.
The council's leader, Cllr David Worden, said: "I'm delighted we've been able to help and support our local police by providing them with this accommodation.
"We've always had a positive working relationship with them and this will only cement our partnership working further. I wish them all the best in their move to their new premises."


text: The Honolulu Mini Maker Faire is this weekend and soldering classes are still available. Learn proper soldering technique and take your project home with you. Both the class and the event are free! There is also free parking on site. Reserve your free tickets and register for a seat in the soldering class before time runs out.


text:
The Easiest Homemade Almond Milk
Almond milk is quickly becoming one of the most popular dairy-free milks in the U.S. and with good reason—it's delish!
Easily made at home, the most common method is this ultra-smooth technique that employs a nut milk bag. But...I've got a secret ingredient that requires no soaking or straining so that you'll have your own fresh almond milk in minutes!
Bonus—any blender will do!
Check out my secret:
Super-speedy DIY Homemade Almond Milk
By Allison Rivers Samson
Makes 4-5 cups
1/2 to 1 cup almond butter (depending upon how rich you want it)
4 cups water
1. In a blender combine all ingredients and process for about 45-60 seconds. Transfer to a jar or bottle and you're done!
Jazz It Up!
- Use any nut butter of your choice.
- Add in flavorings like vanilla or almond extract and sweeten with maple syrup or stevia if you wish.
For more tips and tricks for delicious dairy-free living, check out The Dairy Detox.
© Recipe by Allison Rivers Samson, Self-care Coach, award-winning vegan chef and author of Quick + Easy DIY Salad Bar, The Dairy-Freedom Cookbook, Comfortably Yum, and Co-Founder of The Dairy Detox.
Video credit: Michelle Cehn


text:
This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)
The following is a summary and analysis of the terrorist attacks and counter-terrorism operations that occurred during January 2014, as researched and recorded by the ICT Database Team. Among the most important events occurring this January:
- On January 1, Lebanese authorities announced that Majid al-Majid, the leader of al-Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades (AAB) was arrested in Beirut. However, details of the intelligence operation, regarding his capture (in late December 2013) until the announcement of his death, are ambiguous. It was reported in local media of a US tip-off leading to his capture. The AAB was responsible for the November 2013 attack on the Iranian embassy in Beirut and Majid's arrest was part of an investigation into the attack. On January 4, al-Majid died of kidney failure whilst in a military hospital in Beirut.
- On January 9, a suicide bomber was prevented from attacking the Ibrahimzai School, where 2000 children were attending an assembly, in a Shia dominated area of northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Schoolboys Aitazaz Hassan Bangash, 14 and his cousin Musadiq Ali Bangash became suspicious of a man dressed in school uniform who asked them for directions to the school. Aitazaz challenged the man and during the scuffle, he detonated his explosives, killing both himself and Aitazaz. Two people were injured including Musaqiq. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LEJ) claimed responsibility for the attack. The military called for the nation's highest military award for Aitazaz.
- On January 9, Spanish police arrested eight people with suspected links to Basque Homeland and Freedom (ETA). Amongst the suspects were Arantza Zulueta and Jon Enparantza, two well known lawyers who were accused of trying to revive the 'prisoners front', a wing of ETA aimed at keeping jailed activists in line with the group's aims.
- On January 14, Turkish security forces raided offices and homes aligned to the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, the largest non-governmental organization that is suspecting of aiding al-Qaeda. Turkish authorities said that Ibrahim Sen, a senior Al-Qaeda militant who was released from the Guantanamo Bay in Cuba in 2006, was amongst those arrested.
- On January 20, Detachment 88, Indonesia's anti-terrorism police, thwarted a plot to bomb police stations, nightclubs, and a brothel in East Java, Indonesia. Two militants identified as Isnaini Ramdhoni 30, and Abdul Majid, 35, were arrested.
- On January 22, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced that it arrested three Palestinians from east Jerusalem who were in the advanced stages of plotting to carry out a series of large-scale bombing and shooting attacks on multiple targets in Israel. They were recruited online by Ariv Al-Sham, an al-Qaeda operative in Gaza.
- On January 24, a series of bombs targeted police in Cairo, Egypt killing 10 people and wounding 100 others. Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (Supporters of Jerusalem) claimed responsibility for the attacks.
- On January 30, 24 people were killed and 50 others wounded when a team of armed militants attacked a government Ministry of Transportation building in north-eastern Baghdad, Iraq and took a number of people hostage; nine were killed. Four bombers detonated their explosives vests during the assault, a fifth was shot dead by security forces and the last died shortly after being shot. No group claimed responsibility for the attack but authorities blamed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).
iHLS – Israel Homeland Security
Click here for the full ICT Database Report – January, in PDF format.