text:
Fri, 29 August 2014
This week Harry is joined by St Anthony to discuss the Maribor disaster analysing the many areas where things went wrong and looking for any positives which there may be to take from it - the guys don't think there were any. After discussing what wasn't good about the game, the guys also discuss their hopes that Ronnie will get things right, some fears he may not but mainly criticism of the board for not adequately supporting him. After this, the boys decide that now we're in the Europa League we may as well enjoy it and they look forward to who we may get in the group stages of that competition. With the games ongoing as the lads speak they make it up as they go along but decide it will be fun to see something different. Please do your best to enjoy! The bhoys can be found on twitter; and
Direct download: CU_Pod_224_-_Searching_For_The_Positives.m4a
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 7:43am UTC |
Thu, 14 August 2014
With all the shenanigans of the last few weeks, in fact with everything that has gone on at Celtic since the departure of Neil Lennon Harry decided it was time for a podcast discussing the breif season so far. Who better to join him than man in the know, musical expert, golf aficionado and @bythemin mogul Lawrence Donegan? Lawrence and Harry discuss Lennon, Deila, Iceland, Warsaw, Perth and all things in between - and there has been a lot in between. Also on the podcast is music from the Bluebells and Gary Bird. The Bluebells track is a special one - it was written by Lawrence MANY years ago, when he was a fresh faced lad of 19. Enjoy The two contributors can be found on twitter; @lawrencedonegan and @Harrybradycu
Direct download: Celtic_Underground_Podcast_No.223_-_Deila_M_for_Manager.m4a
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 11:13pm UTC |


text:
Here's the typical progression: you are in a great client/coach relationship and you are moving forward well and good work is being done. The client comes on time, is excited and engaged, and seldom misses an appointment. After about four or five sessions, the client starts missing appointments. Although they do have reasons for skipping appointments and although they seem appreciative of you and the work, they stop attending sessions, often without notice or a clarifying conversation.
Have you ever experienced this?
I interviewed Dr. Joshua Swift and he shed light on the mystery of missing appointments and what to do about them. Dr. Swift studies why people in treatment (therapy or coaching) sometimes just stop showing up. The phenomenon, he confirmed, is prevalent regardless of the professional background or perspective of the client or healer. He calls it premature discontinuation, which is when a client leaves but you, the practitioner, feel the work is not complete.
According to Dr. Swift, there are several things that we can do to reduce the likelihood of clients dropping off the map, but they all revolve around two central themes – conversations and assessments. Here are some of the most important things a professional can do:
1.) Talk about the ending upfront.
Have the conversation upfront about the likelihood of your client deciding to end the coaching relationship without letting you know. Talk about what you and your client will do and what conversations will be had if the client begins to become less interested, upset due to emotions that surface during sessions, or disengaged.
This conversation can feel awkward on both sides but will better serve the client/coach relationship.
Everyone deals with overwhelming life issues differently. Discussing defeating patterns that can lead to discontinuation upfront can be very helpful. For example, clients who are conflict avoidant often run at the first sign conflict in their life. This pattern is to avoid and run. Discussing this from the beginning is helpful in addressing and arresting the undesirable pattern.
Another useful conversation is preparing the client for what may happen in the session. For example, telling them that you may do work that brings deep and intense emotions to the surface and these can be extremely uncomfortable but valuable. It may not reduce the intensity of the emotions or the likelihood of the client getting upset, but it will reduce the element of surprise.
These conversations can not only inform the current work with a client but also give the coach valuable feedback on their coaching. Is there something that I am doing that may be a contributing factor to the client's loss of interest? By asking ourselves these questions, we can become better observers of ourselves.
2.) Discuss the 'general' number of sessions in the intake process.
The coach should consider proposing a specific number of sessions to work with whatever issue/s that the client presents.
This is a great way to manage expectations. Many issues can be adequately addressed in between 8 and 12 sessions. The end can also be marked by a date rather than by the number of sessions.
After that number of sessions, the client can reassess if they need more guidance on the issue, or if something else has come up that they would like to further explore with additional sessions.
3.) Consider using an objective tool to measure progress.
The third thing we might consider is employing the use of an objective tool like some psychometric measurements after each session and using them to facilitate ongoing conversations about progress. This is helpful as a way to determine if we are missing the mark, moving forward, or sliding backward.
In my practice, I take an assessment of the areas clients want to work in and then have them rate them in 1) order of importance and 2) rate each in terms of the current level of satisfaction. And while I don't do a touchpoint after each session, I've found that my clients like to do quick inventories. It gives them an action step, garners their opinion, and keeps them engaged.
Exploration & Practice
- What is your practice with regards to establishing an agreement with your coaching clients regarding the number of sessions?
- How do you assess "progress" with your client? Would you be willing to use different approaches depending on the client?
- Dialogue with other coaches: what best practices do they use to ensure coaching relationships end with integrity?
Interested in expanding your coaching skills or continuing your education? Check out our coaching programs here.
About the Author:
Sislena Grocer Ledbetter, Ph.D. is a social psychologist, researcher, lecturer, author and life coach. She received a Bachelor's degree in psychology from North Carolina Central University, – Magna Cum Laude. She earned with honors, her Master's and Doctoral degrees in psychology from Howard University. Her post-graduate studies include educational leadership trainings at Georgetown University Graduate School of Professional Studies and Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She has received several fellowships and internships including the Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowship for public service in which she served as a White House Intern during the Clinton administration. Dr. Ledbetter has made contributions to the field of education, research, consumer marketing, and psychology. She has held higher education leadership roles including Director of Counseling and Student Development and Associate Vice President of Student Development. She is currently teaching in the Psychology Program at the University of the District of Columbia.
Related Blog Articles
How Newfield Coaches Work Their Magic
Transformational coaching helps clients change the fundamental way they see their breakdown and are being to access potentialities that would have otherwise remained hidden or dormant.
What is Ontological Coaching?
In this special audio blog, Veronica Olalla Love, Newfield Network's CEO, explains what's behind the word "ontology" and why body, emotion, and language are so crucial to this type of learning.
What's It Like to Attend a Newfield Course?
"It was not that I changed, it was that I learned to access all of the parts of me that were hidden, locked down and misunderstood. It is not hyperbole to state that I am transformed."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Interpretation
"Application for Membership Form": means the application for membership form to be completed and submitted to BatFast Cricket Centers Ltd in order to become a Member of BatFast.
"BatFast"means BatFast Cricket Centers Ltd with correspondence address of Unit 12 Quayside Court, Colwick Quays Business Park, Colwick, NG4 2JY.
"Bookings" means the booking of the simulator time, as per our website.
"Booking Fee" means the fee charged to guests of Members that are attending with a Member and non-members.
"Contract Term" means a minimum period as stated on the membership form and which is renewable on a monthly basis until the agreement is terminated by either party in accordance with these terms.
"Member" means the person who is named on the Application for Membership form and for whom, following acceptance by BatFast, BatFast has agreed to provide services to, in accordance with these terms.
"Members Page" means the page on BatFast's Website that details the name, contact details, and information from play within our simulator.
"Membership" means the period of time when a Member is contracted to BatFast.
"Membership Fee" means the payment made by the Member to BatFast to cover membership costs for the Contract Term.
"Membership Term" means a period of 3 months minimum.
"Terms and Conditions": means the terms and conditions of Membership set out below.
"Website": means BatFast's website https://www.batfast.com
- Agreement to these Terms
When applying for Membership of BatFast, the Member confirms that it has read and agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Upon membership being accepted by BatFast, the Member will be provided with its own copy of the Terms and Conditions and they should be retained for future reference.
- Contract Term and Payments
3.1 Membership of BatFast is for an initial Contract Term of 3 months and is subject to payment of the Membership Fee each month.
3.2 Following the expiry of the initial Contract Term and any subsequent Contract Term, the Member must renew their Membership paying the Membership Fee for the next Contact Term otherwise Membership is terminated in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
3.3 Guests attending with Members shall pay the same Booking Fee whilst non-members will be charged the Booking Fee plus an additional charge. A Booking Fee shall not be refunded if a Member or non-member is unable to attend the Booking following the expiry of the Booking deadline date.
3.4 All charges quoted to the Member for the provision of Bookings are inclusive of VAT.
- Warranties and Liability
4.1 BatFast shall not be liable to the Member or be deemed to be in breach of these Terms and Conditions by reason of any delay in performing, or any failure to perform, any of BatFast's obligations in relation to the Booking, if the delay or failure is due to any cause beyond BatFast's reasonable control, and time shall not be of the essence. In respect of an event cancelled by BatFast for any reason whatsoever, liability shall be limited to refunding the Booking Fee.
- Termination of Membership
5.1 The Member may terminate the Membership by giving written notice to BatFast. If notice is given during the Contract Term, the Member will not be refunded the Membership Fee for the Contract Term.
5.2 Either party may at any time terminate the Membership by immediate written notice if the other commits any material breach of these Terms and Conditions or goes into liquidation, becomes bankrupt, makes a voluntary arrangement with its creditors or has a receiver or administrator appointed.
5.3 Upon termination of the Membership for whatever reason all sums owed by the Member to BatFast shall become due and payable by the Member with immediate effect.
- General
6.1 Membership allows all a Member's personnel to access certain areas of the Website. If a Member decides to cancel their Membership, access will stop.
6.2 If you enter your details in any enquiry form or contact form you are giving your express permission for your details to be added to our database for contact and marketing purposes. Your details may be provided to a third party, see Clause 6.4 below.
6.3 BatFast understands that email marketing is a useful tool, however, Members are politely asked to keep email marketing to other Members to a minimum and to include an 'opt-out' facility on every email. BatFast reserves the right to suspend the Member's access to the Website in the event of complaints from other Members, and such complaints would constitute a breach of these Terms and Conditions.
6.4 Members and attendees at an Event acknowledge and accept that BatFast reserves the right to publish email contact details of the attendees at each Event. The contact details may be provided to other attendees, the speaker, the venue, nominated charities or other worthy causes (as determined by BatFast from time to time). If you would prefer that your contact details are not published, please let us know by contacting us at email@example.com
6.5 As a Member of BatFast, the Member agrees to conduct themselves in a professional and business-like manner, treating other members and the team with respect at all times. If BatFast should receive a complaint about any Member's behaviour, it reserves the right to suspend Membership. Such complaints would constitute a breach of these Terms and Conditions.
6.6 Membership of BatFast is at the sole discretion of BatFast and it reserves the right to refuse Membership.
6.7 Our website uses cookies to monitor browsing preferences. If you do allow cookies to be used, certain personal information may be stored by us. We will never share your personal details with third parties.
6.8 Wavier. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any of its rights under these Terms and Conditions shall be deemed to be a waiver of that right, and no waiver by either party of any breach of these Terms and Conditions by the other shall be considered as a waiver of any subsequent breach of the same or any other provision.
6.9 Confidentiality.
6.9.1 Each party undertakes that it shall not at any time disclose to any person any confidential information concerning the business, affairs, customers, clients or suppliers of the other party, except as permitted by below.
6.9.2 Each party may disclose the other party's confidential information:
(a) to its employees, officers, representatives, subcontractors or advisers who need to know such information for the purposes of carrying out the party's obligations under these Terms and Conditions. Each party shall ensure that its employees, officers, representatives, subcontractors or advisers to whom it discloses the other party's confidential information comply with this clause; and
(b) as may be required by law, a court of competent jurisdiction or any governmental or regulatory authority.
6.9.3 Neither party shall use the other party's confidential information for any purpose other than to perform its obligations under these Terms and Conditions.
6.10 Notices. Any notice to BatFast is to be sent in writing to Unit 14 Bloomsgrove Industrial Estate, Bloomsgrove Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JG or by email to email@example.com. Notices to the Member will be sent to the address on the application form, unless BatFast is otherwise informed in writing. The provisions of this clause shall not apply to the service of any proceedings or documents in any legal action.
6.11 Severance. If any provision or part-provision of these Terms and Conditions is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of the Terms and Conditions.
6.12 Entire agreement. These Terms and Conditions constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes and extinguishes all previous agreements, promises, assurances, warranties, representations and understandings between them, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter.
6.12.1 Each party agrees that it shall have no remedies in respect of any statement, representation, assurance or warranty (whether made innocently or negligently) that is not set out in this agreement. Each party agrees that it shall have no claim for innocent or negligent misrepresentation based on any statement in these Terms and Conditions.
6.13 Variation. No variation of Membership shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the parties (or their authorised representatives).
6.14 Force majeure. Neither party shall be in breach of these Terms and Conditions nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations under these Terms and Conditions if such delay or failure result from Bookings, circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control.
6.15 Third parties. No one other than a party to these Terms and Conditions shall have any right to enforce any of its terms.
6.16 Governing law. These Terms and Conditions, and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.
6.17 Jurisdiction. Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions or its subject matter or formation.


text:
Bonnie A. – Yelp
During a contested time with high stress and elevated emotions there is only one thing to put your mind at ease – a professional in your corner that you can implicitly trust.
This was my experience with John Hosford and his staff at Hosford & Hosford. John fought my fight like it was his own and genuinely cared about me and my family. He took a situation that I had deemed impossible, unraveled the chaos and set us on a course that ended in a fair and reasonable reality that I could continue life with. John has unique abilities beyond great legal counsel that allow you to face your situation with confidence.
I would highly recommend Hosford & Hosford for your family legal needs…hands down.


text:
Rock Slide Repair on 101 at Gaviota Tunnel
Caltrans Project to Reduce Falling Rocks August 31
Caltrans will continue the next phase of a project to reduce the amount of rocks falling onto Hwy. 101 at the Gaviota Tunnel on Tuesday, August 31.
Motorists can expect full closures of Hwy. 101 in both directions north and south of the Gaviota Tunnel. These five minute closures will occur every 15 to 20 minutes between 9:00am and 2pm to allow a helicopter to lift fencing and mesh to the top of the hilltop.
The contractor for this $700,000 project is AIS Construction of Carpinteria, CA. This project is expected to be completed in early September.
Caltrans reminds motorists that 'we're here to get you there.'
For traffic updates on other state highway projects in Santa Barbara County, motorists can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-568-0858 or visit the District 5 website.


text:
Numerous men fantasies to spend their time with busty and hot women in every possible circumstance. Undoubtedly, this is not possible for all the men at all the time because of different scenarios. In fact, a lot of times males do not get a hot female partner. So, living this sort of fantasies may not be an easy thing for a lot of men in easy ways. However, if you will take help of sexy beautiful models, then you will not have to stress over this sort of scenario. In fact, you will not have to dreams about sexy and busty ladies since you can have them as your buddy with beautiful models services
When you take beautiful models services, then you fume and busty women that can use companionship services to you for your enjoyable. This will be actually a good idea for you since it can assist you get stunning and busty women as your dating partner for your enjoyable. This will be an easy thing that you can try to have hot and sexy ladies as your partner for date or other fun activities. At the time of taking services of busty beautiful models you can likewise share the things that you fantasies about attractive girls and it can assist you have more bliss as well.
If you would take services of beautiful models, then you will likewise have freedom from the majority of your fantasies. I am saying this due to the fact that you will have the ability to live the majority of your fantasies and desires with hot and busty girls in your reality. And if you can't live them in reality, then you can think of sharing that with a hot woman. This is a guarantee that if you will share such things with hot beautiful models, then also it will offer happiness to you in a way that you may never get in any other way.
You can have some horny and adult fun with women from beautiful models services.
If you have a desire of having some horny and adult enjoyable with hot lady, then you can take beautiful models services for that. When you will take beautiful models services then you can get many hot and attractive girls as your buddy and you take pleasure in some horny and adult enjoyable things with them. Talking about these adult or enjoyable things that you can delight in with women, it can include a great deal of things in this list. These things can include horny dance, adult companionship, hot massage and much more from them. So, if you want to have this fun, then you can try beautiful models and you can delight in some adult and randy enjoyable with hot girls.
When you will take the services of beautiful models then you can hire them for having an erotic massage. I make sure when you will get the sexual and attractive massage from hot beautiful models, then you will feel fantastic adult pleasure with them. You, you can simply share your requirement or desire with them then you can have a hot and sexy woman as your partner for massage. So attempt this option and after that you can delight in good and leaving adult enjoyable with hot and lovely girls from these services.
This is just one thing that you can get while taking the services of cheap and hot beautiful models in London. But if you would take their services to have a great and romantic dating then likewise you can get that service having no complication or trouble at all. For having all those services men in Walthamstow only have to contact cheap London beautiful models supplier then they need to share the sensations or feelings to service firms. When they would do it, then they are going to have the best and most remarkable experience with ease and they are going to have the most wonderful fun as well. So, in last I would say, sexual predators need to not take services of cheap beautiful models in Walthamstow or in London. However apart from sexual predators everybody else would surely have great fun with this choice.
Looking excellent in nude condition is an art and pictures of beautiful models can show that to you
In our world and present civilization being naked is a big taboo and individuals would never have favorable opinion about those that are getting nude. I do not know if I am right or incorrect about it, however I have a various point of view in this point. I think that if you reveal yourself in an artistic way, then being naked could be a real art. I agree lots of people would not agree with me and I will not blame them because I also had comparable opinion in this subject till I saw some pictures of beautiful beautiful models.
And after that day I changed my opinion entirely for exact same and now I see the world with a different perspective.
In fact I was trying to find some hot beautiful models as my partner for a party. At that time I chose to hire a paid buddy after checking some pictures of beautiful models. So, I visited the website of my favored beautiful models company and I checked out the profiles of all those women that deal with them as paid partner. On that website, I saw some amazing pictures of beautiful models and in some of those photos they were totally nude also. But despite of their nudity, I was able to feel their appeal and I can state I felt that experience since I saw art in all those images.
When I saw those nude images of gorgeous beautiful models then I saw art in every manner. They were using absolutely nothing, but they were not looking vulture in any manner. Certainly, they were looking hot, but that is likewise an art particularly when you are using absolutely nothing. With my experience I can with confidence state that if you or anybody else will see nude images paid buddies, then you will likewise see art in that and you will alter your opinion similar to I changed.
To obtain some attractive British girls you can take beautiful models services
When you take a trip to Britain then you might get enthralled with the charm of British ladies. If you establish a fetish for British women throughout your travel then it would not be a surprise for me in any manner. I am saying this due to the fact that lots of males develop this sensation for British women while taking a trip to Britain and they all desire to invest more quality time with these hot females. All these stunning and sexy women have numerous amazing qualities that make them tempting for men. That is why all the men try to date hot ladies in this nation.


text:
With the filing of a federal lawsuit on Tuesday, gunmaker Smith & Wesson revealed a new front in the war on your guns; New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewel has begun a widespread crusade targeting firearms manufacturers; ostensibly over their advertising practices, but in reality because of their very existance.
As the Wall St. Journal first reported, Grewel has issued a subpoena seeking a range of internal documents relating to how their guns are advertised, including claims of the safety of the company's products, whether they "make a home safer, or enhance one's lifestyle; whether an untrained consumer could successfully and effectively use a Smith & Wesson firearm for personal or home defense; and whether private citizens should have the right to carry a concealed firearm."
Rather than rolling over for the anti-gun Attorney General, however, Smith & Wesson fired back with litigation challenging the subpoena and maintaining that Grewel's actions are an "abuse of his position" undertaken "to suppress a political viewpoint with which he disagrees."
The lawsuit argues that Grewel's anti-gun ideology has led him to join gun control activists in targeting gun makers through "lawfare," noting, for instance, that Grewel has specifically hired a law firm named Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP with an eye to target gun manufacturers. That firm is also counsel for a little-known coalition called FACT, which is comprised of anti-gun litigators from Giffords, Brady, and other gun control groups. FACT's mission is to "craft creative legal strategies" to advance the gun control agenda, and at the moment, going after gun manufacturers for their advertising is seen as a tactic with a lot of potential.
The gun industry had been largely free of legal attacks since a 2005 federal law granted it immunity from liability claims over gun violence.
But in 2019, the Connecticut Supreme Court said an AR-15 maker could be held legally responsible for marketing practices that allegedly made the semiautomatic gun the weapon of choice for mass shooters. That court overturned the dismissal of a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by families of victims of 2012's mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Since then, the parents of a woman killed in the 2017 Las Vegas massacre have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the manufacturers of the AR-15 style rifles used by the gunman under a similar theory.
Unlike the two cases mentioned by the Wall St. Journal, it doesn't appear as if Grewel's subpoena is connected to any particular event. Instead, it looks like a fishing expedition on the part of the Attorney General, as well as an attempt to chill gunmakers' speech, which is exactly what the attorneys for Smith & Wesson argue in their complaint.
Through the Subpoena, purportedly acting pursuant to the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, the Attorney General commands Smith & Wesson to produce a vast collection of documents on a number of topics, most of which are, at bottom, opinions on either legal issues or matters of current public debate. These statements of opinion should not be subject to review by State officials for "accuracy," and cannot form the basis of any investigation sounding in "fraud."
For example, the Subpoena treats as fraudulent, any alleged position that guns enhance safety. To the extent Smith & Wesson has ever advocated for such a position, it is an opinion held by many people, many of whom are customers of Smith & Wesson's business. The search "do guns make you safer" in Google returns 248 million results. Some of those returns reflect the position that guns do not make one safer, while others present the exact opposite position.
The Subpoena also demands that Smith & Wesson defend what appears to be a legal position on the Second Amendment – to wit, the Subpoena demands the company's position on "[w]hether Smith & Wesson [f]irearms can be legally carried and concealed by any [c]onsumer, [i]ncluding by New Jersey [c]onsumers, while in New Jersey[.]" This purported legal position cannot constitute a statement sounding in fraud.
On and on and on the questions continue, with many of them indeed reflecting a matter of opinion as opposed to incontrovertible fact.
The remainder of the Subpoena constitutes an unconstitutional fishing expedition into virtually all of Smith & Wesson's purported advertisements and marketing materials, going back decades. Moreover, as evidenced by the Attorney General's close coordination with antiSecond Amendment Activists, this fishing expedition is aimed at obtaining documents for use by those anti-Second Amendment Activists. To wit, the Subpoena demands:
a. "copies of all [a]dvertisements for [Smith & Wesson] [m]erchandise that are or were available or accessible in New Jersey [c]oncerning home safety, concealed carry, personal protection, personal defense, personal safety, or home defense benefits of a [f]iream[;]
b. [a]ll documents [c]oncerning any test, study, analysis, or evaluation considered or undertaken . . . which relates to, addresses, evaluates, proves, disproves, or substantiates any [c]laim made in th[ose a]dvertisements[.]"
The Attorney General warns Smith & Wesson in the Subpoena that "[f]ailure to comply with this Subpoena may render [Smith & Wesson] liable for contempt of Court and such other penalties as provided by law."
As the Second Amendment Foundation's Alan Gottlieb told me in response to the news of Grewel's witch hunt, "New Jersey may have been the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights, but their Attorney General is the last person to recognize it."
Grewel's not just going after Smith & Wesson. The National Shooting Sports Foundation's Larry Keane says that he's aware of a number of manufacturers who've been served with similar subpoenas, and we'll be talking more about that later today on Bearing Arms' Cam & Co.
The Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs has sued Grewel several times over the state's gun control laws, and the group's executive director Scott Bach told me in a conversation on Tuesday evening that the "out-of-touch" AG can't be satisfied merely by restricting the Second Amendment rights of those who set foot or live in the Garden State.
"Now they want to blame others outside of New Jersey for problems they have been unable to solve," Bach continued. "Instead of severely punishing criminal behavior inside New Jersey, they have turned to falsely scapegoating those outside New Jersey who have done nothing wrong. Their efforts will fail."
It's clear that Grewel and the anti-gun attorneys involved with FACT have decided to pursue an anti-Second Amendment goal of bankrupting gun manufacturers by targeting the First Amendment rights of corporations like Smith & Wesson to not only advertise their products, but to speak about the right to keep and bear arms itself. I'm glad to see Smith & Wesson pushing back against Grewel and his gun control allies, and I expect we'll see more companies do the same in the coming days. Let's hope Bach is right and that the AG's efforts fail, because if they succeed the results could be devastating for more than one of our rights.


text:
Well look at that, a car in a tunnel. Not just any car, but a Tesla Model S inside a tunnel being dug beneath Los Angeles by Elon Musk's Boring Company. Proof once and for all that a car can, uh, fit inside of a tunnel.
Oh, right, you're not supposed to drive through the tunnel yourself. The plan is for regular cars to be lowered down on a lift to an awaiting "electric skate" that will transport vehicles along magnetic rails at speeds of up to 124 mph (200 km/h).
The test tunnel being built beneath SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, just outside of Los Angeles, is a proof of concept. A dry run, if you will, that will let Musk and Co say, "See, I've safely built a two-mile-long underground test tunnel, now give me the approvals I need to build my first Hyperloop."
So yes, it's a car in a tunnel — but it's also the proverbial canary in a coal mine that should be a warning to those who profit off entrenched forms of transportation.


text:
"Greed Has Poisoned Men Souls!" Speech from Charlie Chaplin's 'The Great Dictator' Video Posted October 02, 2012
"Greed Has Poisoned Men Souls!"
"I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor, that's not my business.
I don't want to rule or conquer anyone."
Speech from Charlie Chaplin's 'The Great Dictator'
Video Posted October 02, 2012
I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor, that's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that. We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.
The way of life can be free and beautiful. But we have lost the way.
Greed has poisoned men's souls, has barricaded the world with hate;
has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.
We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in:
machinery that gives abundance has left us in want.
Our knowledge has made us cynical,
our cleverness hard and unkind.
We think too much and feel too little:
More than machinery we need humanity;
More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness.
Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.
The airplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair".
The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish. . .
Soldiers: don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you, who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.
Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate, only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers: don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty.
In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written:
- "The kingdom of God is within man"
Not one man, nor a group of men, but in all men; in you, the people.
You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power, let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.
Soldiers! In the name of democracy: let us all unite!
- Joe's blog
- Login to post comments
- Login to post comments
- 4 votes
"Political Fraud" by ClassWarFilms
"Political Fraud" by ClassWarFilms
- Login to post comments
- 3 votes
US Elections: Pick Your Poison
US Elections: Pick Your Poison
Published on Oct 2, 2012 by TheRealNews
Chris Hedges: The system has not been able to respond in a rational way, the way the Roosevelt administration responded rationally through the New Deal. And because of that, we're in deep, deep trouble. So I think all of our hope now has to be invested in acts of civil disobedience
- Login to post comments
- 3 votes
War on Health - Gary Null's documentary exposing the FDA
War on Health - Gary Null's documentary exposing the FDA
Published on Jul 10, 2012 by TheHealthRanger
War on Health - Gary Null's documentary exposing the FDA. Posted with permission. A must-see documentary.
Learn more from Gary Null at the Progressive Radio Network: www.PRN.fm
- Login to post comments
- 3 votes
Virtual 911
Published on Sep 28, 2012 by Snordelhans
From the Whatreallyhappened.com website, written by Mike Rivero: "VIRTUAL 9-11: Will Israel Hack The US Banking System Computers and Falsely Blame It On Iran?"
- Login to post comments
- 4 votes
Who's Afraid of an Open Debate?
The Truth About the Commission on Presidential Debates.
The Commission on Presidential Debates is a private corporation headed by the former chairmen of the Republican and Democratic parties. The CPD is a duopoly which allows the major party candidates to draft secret agreements about debate arrangements including moderators, debate format and even participants. The result is a travesty riddled with sterile, non-contentious arguments which consistently exclude alternative voices that Americans want to hear.
- Login to post comments
- 2 votes
Excellent Video
I DID NOT watch last night's debates. But I heard about them.
Voting for Death
By Linh Dinh
October 04, 2012 "Information Clearing House" - America, you have become a nation of enablers and apologists for tyranny and mass murder. You condemn the Nazi and gulag guards of times past even as you celebrate your own mercenaries and torturers, even as you explain away, if not outright cheer, the unspeakable crimes committed by your sons and daughters. You don't care who you kill, as long as your soldiers are paid, and your munitions, bomb and tank factories are humming.
Safely ensconced in academic luna parks, your leading intellectuals lean slightly right or left, but never enough to rock this blazing gunboat, lest they sour the cocktail parties or, god forbid, have their tenure revoked. Mouths stuffed with antipasti, they're expert at sidestepping Israel's prolific crimes, 9/11, Bin Laden's faux death or the parasitic Federal Reserve, and as another joke election nears, they're all gung ho about candidates who back illegal wars and banking frauds, since each is supposedly the lesser of two evils.
For the past five presidential elections, winning candidates have won 52.9%, 50.7%, 47.9%, 49.2% and 43% of the popular votes respectively, so there hasn't been an overwhelming mandate for any of them, but with the runner ups from the other major party often close behind, and in 2000, actually ahead in the popular vote count, the two-party system has gotten a stranglehold on our public life and pocketbooks. As for our senators, only two are not Democrat or Republican. An American election, then, is basically a rigged referendum for this thoroughly corrupt and murderous system, and simply by voting, you will give it the green light to go on killing and looting. Every four years, we're railroaded into sanctioning endless war and bottomless corruption. If disappointed, we're then steered by our brainwashing and dumbing down media to a near clone of our current rapist.
The Good Old Party spooks the upper and middle classes by threatening, If you don't vote for us, the Dems will take your hard-earned cash and give it to the freeloaders, crackheads and other miscellaneous losers, while the Democrats, in turn, scare the lower rungs by snarling, If you don't vote for us, the Republicans will let your retired, diapered ass rot under a bridge, on a piece of cardboard, but lordy, lordy, lordy, it is already happening, but let us not sweat the details.
It is fitting that as our most important vote has become nearly meaningless, we're offered myriad opportunities to vote for all sorts of irrelevant acts and personalities, from singing oafs to dancing buffoons, to steroid-charged sluggers. Americans have never voted so much for so little.
Each party paints the other as the greater evil, though both are equally whorish to a military banking complex that has wrought so much grief and destruction worldwide, including here. As they offshore your job, they may toss you a free cell phone or allow you to wed your same sex lover, but isn't it time, seriously, we demand that our money be spent responsibly for our benefits? But, no, we can only beg for small change, instead of real ones, and must vote, again, for proven liars and criminals, and hope, against all evidence, that they won't impale us this time. So how does it feel to have so much evil, deceit and betrayal hardening through the entire length of your being? But what's worst about this is that you yourself have allowed it to happen, have enabled it, if only symbolically, by voting for one of the two parties that are pro war and pro corruption. They will likely get 99% of your votes, in fact, so America will have endorsed overwhelmingly, again, an openly criminal agenda, and the world will again be aghast.
With his cartoon dynamite, Netanyahu's recent UN speech brings to mind Powell and his phony chart before the Iraq invasion, but Bush at least tried to convince that a war was necessary, whereas Obama hasn't even bothered. Ignoring congress and the American public, he simply ordered a massive bombing campaign against Libya, which he mockingly dubbed a "kinetic military action," unleashed lesser strikes against Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan, and sent terroristic proxies into Syria, all without significant protest from our dozing public or groveling intelligentsia.
Pumped with nonstop propaganda from our corporate media in this mad house of mirrors, we neither see nor care how others perceive us, for even as international protests mount, our flags burnt, our soldiers killed by supposed allies and poll after poll shows us among the most despised nations on earth, we still believe we're loved and admired worldwide. Our politicians are only too glad to pander to this vanity. Romney, "We have a moral responsibility to keep America the strongest nation on earth, the hope of the earth, the shining city on the hill." Obama, "Never bet against the United States. The United States has been, and will always be, the one indispensable nation in world affairs." Only children believe in everlasting anything, but that's how our daddy and mommy politicians talk to us these days.
So the world will again be aghast, as will posterity, unless we can prove that we're not behind the winning criminal. Already, nearly half of Americans don't cast ballots in any election, but we must make this abstention purposeful, as a clear sign of protest and not an act of apathy. The world must see that Americans aren't all deranged and hypnotized as those who cheer and vote for one lying criminal after another. We're better than this, so let's prove it. Imagine thousands in public places, declaring, "NOT IN OUR NAME!" The sooner we can effect a divorce between us and our rogue government, the sooner we can get rid of it. If nothing else, to resist this electoral farce is to wash our hands, partially, at least, of the innocent blood being spilled. It is the only moral decision.
Linh Dinh is the author of two books of stories, five of poems, and a just released novel, Love Like Hate. He's tracking our deteriorating socialscape through his frequently updated photo blog,State of the Union
- Login to post comments
- 3 votes
Max Igan & Ken O'Keefe - False Flags & the American Interest
Max Igan & Ken O'Keefe - False Flags & the American Interest
Published on Sep 28, 2012 by aodscarecrow
Max Igan and Ken O'Keefe's breakdown on Israeli lobbyist Patrick Clawson's suggestion of using a false flag event as a means of initiating conflict with Iran. Gaza rooftop.
- Login to post comments
- 3 votes
World Main Show Only - Financial Coup Coast To Coast AM
World Main Show Only - Financial Coup Coast To Coast AM


text:
Khadi Sandalwood Moisturizer
khadi Sandalwood moisturiser is good for all skin types. Ayurveda recommends Sandalwood for clear skin and complexion. It fights rashes and keeps skin infection-free. It is also a natural sunscreen. Khadi Moisturiser Sandalwood is also excellent after shave lotion.
It has a wonderful woody aroma and will help cure nicks and cuts. Sandalwood aroma is one of the best cures for insomnia and to help relax stressed nerves. Use the moisturizer all over your body after an evening shower for a goodnight's sleep. A great moisturizer for chapped hands and feet.
Sandalwood and Aloe Vera will help you to get rid of spots and pigmentation. It is also fortified with Wheatgerm oil one of nature's best anti-oxidants to keep skin soft and supple.
For External Use Only


text:
Play on a Plane is the Kansas Aviation Museum's once-a-year family event when they open up several planes on the ramp and let you look inside, or even walk inside them!
This is an all-ages event Saturday, May 21. Admission is just $3 per person (all ages) OR just $8 per carload!
Some of the planes you will get to walk through include:
- Boeing 727 (FedEx)
- Boeing 737
- Beech Starship
Play on a Plane is a family-friendly event with children's crafts and activities, vendors, and a lunch concessions stand.
All of the outdoor activities are weather dependent and subject to change.
If Museum docents are there be sure to talk to them. They will be able to answer any questions you may have. (You can learn SO MUCH from the docents. And sometimes they have great stories to tell! It makes the whole experience more fun and educational.)
And don't forget there's a special price for this event! Admission is only $8 a carload OR $3 per person (whichever is cheaper).
Be sure to join them for a full day of fun and activities. It will be a great way to spend the Saturday.
Date: Saturday, May 21, 2022
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Kansas Aviation Museum, 3350 S. George Washington Blvd., Wichita, KS 67210
Cost: $3/$8
For more information, visit the Kansas Aviation Museum website here.


text:
Misslopez beauty tips: time to improve your skin!
The best way of giving a true care to dry skin is the application of a moisturizing mask. To optimize this performance, nothing like making a smooth peeling on the face, which helps eliminate dead cells and allows assets to operate in deep moisturizing.
This type of mask should become a weekly routine practice for dry skin and a cure for skin exposed to very cold weather, wind, excessive sun or charged environments due to heating.
Get ready for the perfect summer!
Feelgood Womanhood


text:
Army chief of staff, head of the employers' union, a workers' union, and a coalition government — these are the key players in Bouteflika's political regime.
In a sudden twist to Algeria's political saga, some of the pillars of Abdelaziz Bouteflika's long-standing regime are withdrawing their support for the 82-year-old president, who now rarely appears in public since suffering a stroke in 2013.
But who are the mainstays of Bouteflika's establishment?
We've broken down the key players. All of them have backed the Algerian president since his ascent to power but their support became more salient during Bouteflika's 3rd and 4th terms, and the 5th term election bid.
Army's chief of staff Ahmed Gaed Salah
Lieutenant General and the army's chief of staff Ahmed Gaed Salah is also Algeria's deputy defence minister (Bouteflika is defence minister).
On Tuesday, he said a constitutional procedure that would declare Bouteflika "unfit for office" should be triggered, arguing this would meet the demands of protesters who want to see the ailing president removed from office.
Speaking on local television, Salah said that starting the constitutional process was "the only guarantee for political stability".
Salah called for Algeria's constitutional council to rule whether Bouteflika was fit for office. This kind of ruling would have to be ratified by a two-thirds majority of members in the two houses of parliament.
Under Article 102 of the constitution, the chairman of the parliament's upper house, Abdelkader Bensalah, would serve as caretaker president for at least 45 days after Bouteflika's departure.
Coalition parties: National Rally for Democracy and National Liberation Front
The National Rally for Democracy (RND), headed by former prime minister Ahmad Ouyahia, and the National Liberation Front (FLN), led by Mouadh Bouchareb (Bouteflika acts as the honorary president of the party), form Algeria's coalition government. They've been allied since Bouteflika's accession to power in 1999.
On Wednesday, both the RND and the FLN issued statements backing an army call for Bouteflika to step down a day earlier.
READ MORE: Bouteflika's FLN party supports army's call for ailing president to resign
For Bouteflika, the loss of Ouyahia's and the FLN party's support is yet another blow to his withering leadership.
Ali Haddad, head of the employer's union (FCE)
Ali Haddad, one of the richest men in Algeria according to Forbes, has provided financial backing to Bouteflika's election campaigns.
He is the owner of the construction company ETRHB Haddad Group, which is now one of the largest in the country.
Haddad is also a key stakeholder of the Algerian football club USM Alger and owns various newspapers as well as a TV station.
General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA)
The UGTA headed by Algerian politician Abdelmadjid Sidi Said, is the main Algerian trade union. It was founded in 1956 to mobilise Algerian workers against French colonial interests.
A long-time a staunch supporter of Bouteflika, it also backed the army's calls for the president to step down.
Is there an opposition?
Not really. Bouteflika managed to get rid of a real political opposition but the main opposition party is represented by the Movement for the Society of Peace, an Islamist party currently led by Abderrezak Makri and aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood.
The people
Thousands of Algerians have been protesting for five weeks now demanding the removal of the entire ruling political system. Demonstrators say that declaring Bouteflika "unfit to rule" over article 102 is not enough.
"Protests will continue... Algerians' demands include a change of the political system," Mustapha Bouchachi, a lawyer and activist, told Reuters.
"The implementation of Article 102 (the part of the constitution that covers declaring a president unfit for office) means that the symbols of the system will oversee the transition period and organise presidential elections," he said.
"We want a real democracy, not a facade of a democracy," said postal worker Zakaria Jaziri.
READ MORE: Why are people protesting in Algeria? | Euronews answers


text:
Li, Nianlong and Han, Teng and Tian, Feng and Huang, Jin and Sun, Minghui and Irani, Pourang and Alexander, Jason (2020) Get a Grip:Evaluating Grip Gestures for VR Input Using a Lightweight Pen. In: Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. CHI '20 . Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), New York, NY, USA, 1–13. ISBN 9781450367080
The use of Virtual Reality (VR) in applications such as data analysis, artistic creation, and clinical settings requires high precision input. However, the current design of handheld controllers, where wrist rotation is the primary input approach, does not exploit the human fingers' capability for dexterous movements for high precision pointing and selection. To address this issue, we investigated the characteristics and potential of using a pen as a VR input device. We conducted two studies. The first examined which pen grip allowed the largest range of motion---we found a tripod grip at the rear end of the shaft met this criterion. The second study investigated target selection via 'poking' and ray-casting, where we found the pen grip outperformed the traditional wrist-based input in both cases. Finally, we demonstrate potential applications enabled by VR pen input and grip postures.


text:
Well known facts about poker qq online
The person who is committing cash on the wagering activities is always aspiring to make a huge amount of money. As they know that betting is the fastest way for bringing more cash. The betting universe is always stuffed with risks and luck. All the activities are mostly luck based and competed by various players across the globe. There are various examples of the game like roulette, poker, blackjack, and many more.
For winning lots of cash, wagering is performing the betting games 24 hours a day and various card games are obtained during online poker. These are very attractive and are soaring. Various enthusiasts of wagering during the gameplay are applying the strategies for earning money. Most of the tactics are bluffing the bet and using the tactic. The gameplay is mostly relying on the cards. If you are having greater cards, then you would be able to earn a lot of money without any issues. As compared with the casino, many players are preferring to enjoy gambling games on the betting platforms online. Let's see more about this in detail.
Beneficial Impacts of Online gamibling platforms:
People are getting a lot of advantages in online gambling platforms. There are various gambling games in which individuals are easily performing through online gambling platforms without going outdoors. The most appropriate betting platform which can assists you in gambling is the pkv games where your wagering services are safeguarded. You will also receive some bonus and discount deals on the platforms.
There are numerous gambling platforms where you can experience betting games, the most reliable place for gamers is referred to as the poker online qq. Players will get the experience of the excellent wagering community and each of the casino players on this website will get the right services. This is the specific gambling platform that is having a remarkable experience for the workers who are conserving the wagering around the clock. The fanatics of the casino are obtaining fair betting on the internet. If required, the individual can click and check the public website and find more about it.


text:
Officials with the National Multifamily Housing Council know that technology is changing everything. The company points at success stories such as Uber. It's the largest taxi service on the globe, but the company doesn't own a single vehicle. It looks, too, at Airbnb, a major player in the hospitality industry that doesn't own a single property.
No industry, then, is immune to the impact of tech. And the apartment business? That's no exception.
The National Multifamily Housing Council addresses the impact that technology will have on apartment living in its recently released 2018 Consumer Housing Insights Survey. It's an important report because apartments remain an ever more popular housing option. The Multifamily Housing Council reports that developers will have to add at least 4.6 million apartment units across the globe by 2030 just to keep up with demand.
To create its Consumer Housing Insights Survey, the National Multifamily Housing Council teamed up with national architecture and design firm KTGY. What do KTGY and the council's researchers believe the apartment of the future will look like?
First, apartment spaces will become more flexible. Think movable walls that can turn living rooms into offices or bedrooms. Think, too, of pop-up amenities. Maybe your dinner table is hidden until it's needed. Then renters can pull it out of a hidden area in the wall when it's time to eat.
Such flexible spaces can make even small apartment spaces seem more spacious. This is important in urban areas, where space might be limited.
According to the Consumer Housing Insights Survey, 83 percent of surveyed renters said that it is important to have a living space that evolves with different stages of life. The survey found, too, that 78 percent believe it is important to have a space that can transform to meet different needs.
The Internet of Things – better known by its acronym IoT – will play a bigger role in apartment living, too. The IoT of things simply refers to devices that are all connected to the Internet and then talk to each other. This could mean a smart light bulb that sends a message to renters' cell phones telling them when the light bulb is about to run out, or a refrigerator that warns consumers when that carton of milk might be nearing its expiration date.
Technology research firm Gartner says that 26 billion devices will be connected through the cloud-based IoT by the year 2020. This means that apartment dwellers could control their lighting, appliances and home security devices remotely.
But the Consumer Housing Insights Survey says that the biggest advancements associated with IoT technology will be on the owner side of the multifamily industry. As Shawn Mahoney, chief information officer at Boston-based GID, says in the report, smart tech will allow building engineers to monitor, control and constantly analyze all aspects of an apartment building. Armed with so much data, building managers will be able to correct problems before they turn into bigger, more expensive ones.
This is just a hint of what the report includes. The research also found a generational divide among renters, one that looks to have important ramifications for apartment building owners and developers in the future.
According to the report, a majority of younger renters think that the amenities and features offered by younger renters should be accessible to the larger community surrounding a building. A majority of Baby Boomers, though, feel the opposite.
According to the survey, 58 percent of Millennials say that apartments should provide helpful services and amenities to the surrounding community. Only 38 percent of Baby Boomers agreed with that same statement.
In the future, then, will developers have to include services in their apartments that could benefit the surrounding community, such as park space, public dog walks or meeting rooms open to the community? Maybe. Or maybe Millennials, as they age, will change their minds and feel more like their Baby Boomer peers.
Then there's the trend toward healthier living. Fitness centers continue to rank as the most desirable of apartment amenities. But these onsite exercise centers are now longer enough for a growing number of renters who prefer a more holistic approach to health.
These renters want space dedicated to mental health as well as physical health in their apartment buildings, the Consumer Housing Insights Survey said.
According to the report, 93 percent of respondents said that it is important to have a transquil space in apartment buildings to unwind and unplug. The survey found that 76 percent of respondents said they are already working to achieve a healthy lifestyle, while 57 percent said they wish they had an environment that would promote better sleep.
Developers, then, might have to focus more on providing not just high-end wellness centers, but green space around their apartments, yoga studios, places for residents to store their bicycles and soothing, quiet areas in their apartments. And those sound-proof windows and walls might become more important to sleep-hungry renters.
The Consumer Housing Insights Survey also cites what some researchers refer to as the "age of the consumer." What does this mean? High-speed Internet and micro-computers – such as powerful smartphones – are giving consumers immediate access to more information that is not controlled, filtered or distributed by sellers. Thanks to the cloud, mobile devices and social media, consumers have more information and choices than ever, and they are not shy about going elsewhere to seek better customer service.
Renters are customers, of course. And they will expect even better, more immediate, service from their landlords in the future. The survey found that 72 percent of consumers expect companies to understand their unique needs and expectations, and 66 percent of consumers say they are likely to switch brands if they feel that they are being treated like a number. A total of 70 percent of respondents said that technology makes it easier than ever to switch brands.
Landlords and owners, then, have to provide their renters with what they want – whether that's high-speed Internet, high-end community spaces or state-of-the-art fitness studios – or risk higher vacancies.
And what do renters want today? According to the survey, renters ranked amenities such as parking, pools and fitness centers behind reliable cell reception and high-speed Internet. Apartment owners, then, better make sure it's easy for renters to get online and stream.


text:
One of the executive orders President Joe Biden signed on his first day in office is a 100-day mask mandate. The rule applies to all federal property, including national parks, airlines, trains, and transit systems that travel between states.
Many travelers and parts of the travel industry are applauding the move. And it looks like we'll have the new Bernie Sanders-bundled-up-at-the inauguration meme to help us remember to stick with the program.
There's even an app that will help you put the masked-up Sanders at your favorite airport – or anywhere Google has mapped.
Here here is at Chicago O'Hare and Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport.


text:
Make use of this time to reboot learning: S V Kiran, Apollo Hospitals
Dr S V Kiran is the Senior Vice President & Head - Human Resources, Apollo Hospitals. Over the last couple of decades, he has worked in multliple HR roles across a number of healthcare companies including Medanta, Fortis and Takshashila.
In this exclusive conversation with People Matters, Dr. SV Kiran talks about the key lessons that transformed the healthcare sector, the formalization of new learning priorities and engaging employees by building meaningful connections and giving them choice.
Q. The healthcare industry was at the forefront of the pandemic. What have been the topmost shifts from a learning perspective according to you?
With COVID19, the healthcare industry had to relook at the entire learning agenda and how we look at the learning function. The biggest shift was the move away from a familiar learning environment – which was most often a classroom or a theatre/ auditorium setting. Learning on-the-job and within a lab setting was a key feature of learning– whether it was learning how to do CPR or engage in infection control training. Learning programs were mostly instructional. And online training and pre-recorded content was very minimal.
Since COVID19 mandated physical distancing, there were reasonable restrictions on capacity to deliver training. The size of the class was reduced to 1/6th of the capacity. That's when we boosted technology based training. We are currently upgrading to Fusion Learn from Taleo.
During the pandemic, we wanted to teach our doctors and nurses a number of things: how do you wear masks, how do you protect yourself and your team when there are suspected cases? And technology was the first leaver to impart this information – that could then be transmitted to everyone. And the reach is significantly higher with live sessions/ pre-recorded sessions.
Q. The move away from familiar modes of learning to new ones would have been tough. What were some new opportunities that came from it?
Technology enabled an anytime, anyplace learning flexibility. There was the opportunity to learn when one was traveling, when employees werer at home or a time they chose.
Secondly, we had control of the quality of training, because you have one expert trainer and everyone had access to the same content, unlike a classroom scenario, where you have ten different trainers across different regions.
Third, we could make learning interactive. And people tend to open up and ask more questions when they're learning virtually as opposed to a classroom set up.
This period also taught us the importance of learning. Traditionally, people do the same job throughout most of their careers – only with greater quality over a period of time. For example: A lab technician may see a change of technology and terminology but would more or less be doing the same job. We also realized that we need to engage in multi skilling and re-skilling because there was a need to operate with minimum possible resources. There was also a need to unlearn and re-learn processes.
Due to the rise of digital medical consulting, there was also the digitization of medical resources and access. There was a need to reskill people to do something else. And while we were are doing that, we realized there were new jobs and new skill areas that we could focus on. With this in mind, we brought greater clarity on these new job roles and communicated it with employees. Then, we followed up with a questionnaire to understand how much of the new job roles were already familiar to our employees.
Doctors had to get used to checking medical records online. And this brought about a paradigm shift in the approach and drive to learn. Today, people realize that specialization may not work in their favour, if their skills become irrelevant suddenly. There's a need to be relevant to the market.
Q. How are all these insights informing your future learning roadmap?
I'm creating a learning strategy for the next financial year. And the focus is to take learning up by a notch – where we define competencies, identify gaps, align simulations, and make it mandatory to qualify for a particular skillset in order to occupy a role and/or seek growth. We are working with EY on some of these items already.
Q. How did you think about engagement with a whole new host of priorities with digital consulting etc. that needed continuous communication?
More than learning specifc engagement, there was a need to engage with employees on a personal level and it subsequently had an impact on their workplace performance and learning. There were a number of steps that the management looked into. Since there was fear around COVID19, and a risk of contracting the virus, people had to make a choice as to whether they wanted to continue working or take a professional break. They had to choose between treating COVID19 patients and non COVID patients. The most important thing we had to do was engage with employees, to make them feel important and contribute their best. Our senior leaders personally met employees who were living in hostels during this time.
We also engaged with the families of the staff to assure them of the safety at work, and if they contracted the virus, we assured them that will take care of them. We also insured them for additional cover. The engagement with the family built an emotional connect with the brand. Hospitals were also equipped with vegetable kiosks, barbers etc., to make the lives of employees better.
Recognition was one form of engagement that helped motivate employees and we also certified their contribution during the pandemic. So it gave people a real sense of purpose.
Q. When you spoke about multi-skilling, reskilling. How are you formalizing some of these learning?
We are categorizing them into job categories – one for doctors, then nurses followed by paramedics. We have now developed focused online learning for the majority of our staff including courses that cater to their real life workplace experience. Including how to write notes, what are the nuances in reading an ECG, and everything that isn't taught in a medical school. Similarly, there are staff who engaged in technical/ statistical work who want to understand the clinical aspects of work – so we gave them access to simulation labs and online demos, and that made a huge difference. There are a whole host of courses mapped to the level of their careers. It helps foster careers, and helps them perform better.
Q. How are you thinking about the role of technology in instilling the right habits and behaviours for learning?
Technology can play a critical important role here. During this time, we've brought in a lot of technology to digitize HR. In fact, we are working towards operating on paperless HR model and we're confident that we will achieve it.
There is no way we could have navigated learning without technology. And it has a real impact of the employee experience as its focused on the pull factors and not just 'top to down' push factors. Technology helps us with the range of courses, it builds convenience, align counselling and keeps up consistency, captures data and helps map future aspirations.
Q. What is your advice that you'd like to share with HR leaders embarking on a similar transformation journey?
I would tell leaders that this is the right time to reboot your strategy. Life is not going to become suddenly normal. And therefore, it is important for the organization and the talent to relook at learning from the perspective of relevance and fun.
This interview is a part of #HRReboot Week– The road map to re-opening the workplace brought to you by Oracle and People Matters, that's focused on building a resilient workplace. Follow #HRReboot to get access to insights and experience from the exclusive conversations we have with a group of leaders who are leading the future of work. Click here to register.


text:
California's vaccine lottery continued with its second drawing on Friday, awarding 15 more Californians with $50K for getting a COVID vaccine.
Unlike in last week's drawing, there were at least a couple of winners from inland, land-locked counties. But the majority were once again from the SF, LA, and San Diego metro areas, with five winners in the Bay Area. (Remember to watch your phone for unknown calls or anything labeled "State of California," because winners will be contacted by phone first.)
Newsom kicked off Friday's drawing telecast by touting the fact that the state has administered "just shy of 40 million doses of vaccine — that's 15.9 million more doses than the state of Texas, which has the second largest number of vaccinations." California's vaccination rate is double that of Florida, and California now has the lowest COVID case rate of any state in the nation. Newsom noted that that is "significant when you consider the size and scale of this state, and the density in this state."
Newsom also introduced one of last week's drawing winners, adorable 17-year-old Nancy Gutierrez, a high school student from Vista, in San Diego County. Nancy said she was excited to get the vaccine when it became available, and she booked appointments for her parents as well back in May.
Nancy said that when the call came from the state, her mom answered and came in the room saying, "Nancy, you won't believe it..." And while they were incredulous at first, "After a few more phone calls we were like 'I think this might be true.'"
She also put in a plug for getting vaccinated, for anyone who is hesitant — which is the whole reason the state is doing this lottery.
Newsom was down in San Diego for today's telecast, and they patched in the actual ball drawing from State Lottery headquarters in Sacramento — where the people doing the drawing were state legislators Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman and Assemblymember Kevin McCarty along with the Sacramento Kings mascot, in a lion costume.
Today's winners hail from Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Monterey, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, Kern, Fresno, and Santa Clara counties — with two from Santa Clara and three from L.A.
On Tuesday, as the state declares its big reopening day, another 10 vaccinated Californians will win $1.5 million apiece.
Previously: You May Want to Answer Unknown Calls For a Couple Weeks As CA's Vaccine Lotto Kicks Off


text:
First-off, anyone with a PC who hasn't yet played Half-Life is a fool. Go buy it and play it. Now. The game is a mix of first-person shooter and puzzle solver, with varying scenery and a shedload of characters and alien creatures. Yeah, it's a bit old now, and the graphics do look old, but the game is good enough that you won't care about that after an hour. Just go play it, and possibly the expansion packs Opposing Force and Blue Shift. Then come back and read the following (which contains plot spoilers for anyone who hasn't yet played the game) and agree that Half-Life could, if handled right, make a great movie.
Okay, here's the pitch.
Gordon Freeman rides the monorail to work at the Black Mesa research complex, dons his hazardous environment suit and heads into the test chamber. An aggressive test on a piece of "anomalous material" triggers a resonance cascade, a violent reaction that causes several portions of spacetime to mingle.
Gordon awakes in the ruined test chamber, fire and smoke and sirens, and sees scientists badly injured. Heading off to look for help, he realises that the resonance cascade has had effects that reach well beyond the test chamber.
Presumably because of the HEv suit's airtight nature, Gordon Freeman never speaks. Think of him as the strong, crowbar-wielding, silent type. His adventures are based around being directed by one terrified scientist after another, in the hope of closing off the rift in spacetime. He fends off alien creatures, US Marine squads sent to cleanse the facility, and government special-ops soldiers who have their own orders and who view everyone as expendable.
At the same time, the script should follow the story of Corporal Adrian Shephard [from the Opposing Force expansion pack]. His team of Marines have been shot down, crash landing into the midst of the carnage at Black Mesa. They never received their orders, so they do their best to fight off alien hordes while trying to find military command. When the tide of battle turns against the human forces, Corporal Shephard's team try to escape the facility, only to be abandoned to their fate by their superiors. As the Corporal's team is reduced in numbers, Shephard realises that human special-ops soldiers are just as much a threat to him as the alien forces are.
Alongside Freeman and Shephard, the script ought to feature the adventures of Barney Calhoun [from the Blue Shift expansion pack], a security guard who arrives at work, only to plummet down an elevator shaft when the resonance cascade causes violent tremors to shake Black Mesa. But Barney is a hardy fellow, so he dusts himself off and readies his pistol. Running into a group of scientists hiding from the violence, he helps them escape to an abandoned facility. In order for the scientists to reactivate a prototype teleporter, Barney has to roam around getting things ready in the hope that they can all teleport out of Black Mesa. And he does it all with a smile.
All three parts of the Half-Life gaming experience feature sections where the characters teleport to the alien world Xen. I think having all three characters visit Xen would be overkill for the movie, but others might disagree. What wouldn't be in dispute, though, is how to end the movie. Gordon Freeman's task is vital: he needs to destroy the Nihilanth that is holding open the spacetime rift, in the hope of sealing off the invasion. And his final meeting with the mysterious G-Man is a great way to end the movie.
The Half-Life games really are rich with characters, creatures, action, violence, compassion and story. I'm sure that Half-Life could make an incredible movie, but only if it was written and created by people who had played the games and taken a lot of notes. If I had connections in the movie business, I'd be pushing for it to happen. Hopefully someone actually in the movie business is already eyeing this one up.
The following would be unwelcome in a movie version of Half-Life:
2010-10-21: Looks like I'm flogging a dead horse here, for two reasons. Firstly, plenty of Hollywood types have already tried to pitch a Half-Life movie, and done a bad job of it. And secondly, Valve are thinking that maybe they should make the movie themselves. This is according to an interview in PC Gamer.


text:
- 92 views
Welcome to the 24/7 KTN Kenya News Channel on YouTube – your trusted source for the latest news and updates in Kenya and beyond. Stay informed with our comprehensive news coverage, breaking stories, in-depth analysis, and exclusive reports. Our live-streaming service brings you real-time updates on current affairs, politics, business, technology, health, entertainment, and much more. Join us and be a part of the conversation, and don't forget to subscribe for the latest news and updates. Stay connected with KTN Kenya News, your reliable news partner. #KTNKenya #NewsChannel #BreakingNews #KenyaNews #ktnprime #livestream #livenews
SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more great videos:
https://www.youtube.com/ktnnewskenya Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KTNNews
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KTNNewsKenya
KTN News is a leading 24-hour TV channel in Eastern Africa with its headquarters located along Mombasa Road, at Standard Group Centre. This is the most authoritative news channel in Kenya and beyond. Watch KTN Live http://www.ktnnews.com/live Watch KTN News http://www.ktnnews.com Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/ktnnews Like us on http://www.facebook.com/ktnnews
State of the banking industry | Trading Bell with Maina Chege part 2
- - LIVE|| TV47 Matukio ››
- - LIVE|| TV47 Matukio ››
- 27 Feb 2024 - Human rights groups Monday accused Egypt of a "smear campaign and threats" against an activist group that reported the construction of a walled enclosure in the Sinai bordering the Gaza Strip.
- 27 Feb 2024 - West Africa's regional bloc ECOWAS said Sunday it was easing sanctions imposed on Guinea and Mali, a day after announcing a similar decision for Niger, another country under military rule.
- 27 Feb 2024 - Government has affirmed that the country is on course to start registration of Kenyans into the new Social Health Insurance next month, insisting that the exercise must end in June so as Kenyans start enjoying the benefits in the 2024/2025 financial…
- 27 Feb 2024 - President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga made a trip to Uganda on Monday to meet President Yoweri Museveni. President Ruto indicated that the meeting had been organized to deliberate pertinent issues touching on…
- 27 Feb 2024 - Reading Time: 2 minutes The sixth session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) that begins in Nairobi today provides a great opportunity for […]
- 27 Feb 2024 - Senegal's President Macky Sall was on Monday due to begin talks to end weeks of political turmoil and decide a date for the delayed presidential poll, but major political and social stakeholders have said they will not attend.
- 27 Feb 2024 - The BRICS countries are increasingly switching to settlements in national currencies and are continuing to study the issue of creating a common currency of the union. Such a trend in the coming years may sharply reduce the share of the US dollar both as…
- 27 Feb 2024 - According to a police report obtained by Citizen.Digital, the arrest took place at Onyango's office in the prestigious China WU-YI Plaza in Kilimani.
- 27 Feb 2024 - Hundreds of pupils in southern France headed to school in uniforms for the first time on Monday as part of a national experiment to determine whether to make them compulsory.
- 27 Feb 2024 - Reading Time: 2 minutes Reforms initiated by President William Ruto's administration will play a significant role in shaping his legacy. If he succeeds, he […]


text:
Oil prices rise over 1% after falling to 9-month low the previous day
New Delhi [India], September 27 (ANI): Oil prices rose more than 1 per cent on Tuesday after declining to nine-month low a day earlier, amid the hint that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) -- the producer alliance -- may go for output reductions to prevent further collapse in prices. There were also indications of a possibility that the European Union may put a price cap on Russian oil.
During the last trading session, the prices of oil had dropped to the lowest levels under the pressure of a surging dollar that makes greenback-denominated crude oil more expensive for buyers using other currencies, and rising interest rates, which might trigger recession and lower oil demand.
In the previous two trading sessions, Brent plunged 7.1 per cent while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude slumped 8.1 per cent. Officials from major producers reacted to the past days of declines by indicating they may take action to keep price stability.
"Crude oil prices are showing signs of stabilising after the swift decline towards a nine-month low with markets considering the prospects of further action by the Opec members at their October 5 meeting, as the oil cartel hinted at their discomfort with declining crude prices," said Sugandha Sachdeva, vice-president for commodity and currency research, Religare Broking.
She also said that softening of the dollar index and uncertainty over a price cap being imposed by the EU on Russian oil were also underpinning crude oil prices, and that they foresee prices to witness recovery towards $80 a barrel for WTI while for Brent, prices look to rebound towards $87 a barrel.
Brent crude futures for November settlement rose $1.17, or 1.39 per cent, to $85.23 per barrel by 0644 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). US WTI crude futures for November delivery were up $1.13 at $77.84 per barrel.
The US Federal Reserve's rate hike brought on a strengthening dollar, with the dollar index, that measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, climbing to a 20-year high on Monday. (ANI)


text:
An American official has told reporters that the equation in Syria has changed in favor of the Syrian regime.
"The balance of military forces on the ground has turned in favor of the Syrian regime," the unnamed official said.
"We don't want to interfere militarily for many reasons. We and the Russians agree on refusing any Islamic rule in Syria. We are trying to agree between our demand that Assad step down and preventing the establishment of an Islamic state", the official added.
When journalists asked why America doesn't communicate directly with the regime, as Europeans do, the official smiled, adding: "Who told you we don't? Should we declare it?"
The official also explained that there is a difference between the American and Saudi approaches towards the solution in Syria.
Serious talks are underway between the Russians and Americans about a political formula that can replace Geneva II. The tension in negotiations is at its peak and with success and failure equally possible.
The only obvious observation in the first round of negotiations is that the Syrian regime came to the conference more willingly than to Geneva I over 18 months ago. while the opposition came to the conference much more disassembled than it was in Geneva I.
It is not expected that the regime will accept dealings with the negotiations as if both parties are equal. The question is whether the Syrian National Coalition and its supporters will accept this. It seems that America has started to accept this reality.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer


text:
In 2006 Philip Maignaut and the Djoliba Music Store began a collaboration and research project that resulted five years later in the birth of the Spacedrum and a new company, SAS Metal Sounds. Metal Sounds, a small company based in Toulouse, France, today manufactures Spacedrums (a type of handpan), Zenkos (tongue drums), as well as now importing Steeldrums (steelpans), and other instruments.
The Metal Sounds Team
"We make and deliver up to 35 instruments each month in our workshop near Avignon, France."
Metal Sounds customers tend to be musicians, therapists, music schools, and ordinary people who enjoy their unique metallic, melodic percussion instruments.
Each instrument has it's story. The Zenko, for example, is a tongue drum (also called a "tank" drum or "hank" drum), originally built from a propane gas tank, which was then improved by Metal Sounds designer Elie Dacenko in collaboration with an industrial subcontractor. This stainless steel melodic percussion instrument spreads sound in smooth, soft waves. Its high harmonics content is the result of perfect tuning that remains stable over the years.
The Steeldrums used to be hand crafted in France until they found a need to make room for the new Spacedrum. The Steeldrums are now imported from Trinidad and Tobago where Metal Sounds partners with some of the best manufacturers and tuners on the island.
"Using specific tools, we offer a full range of Spacedrum designed and assembled with great care from selected stainless steel sheets (special alloy), using some mechanical process. The tuning, it is an art. This know-how acquired along the years is a guarantee of quality that we can now produce reliable and sound instruments."
Spacedrum® - The Handpan according Metal Sounds
SPACEDRUM®, the intuitive handpan, is a metal melodic instrument inspired by the original steel drum (aka the steelpan) and by the Hang® invented by PANArt® in 2000. Metal Sounds' handpans have been designed and handcrafted in France, since 2006. Metal Sounds was the first handpan producer in France and creator of the mutant concept with a 13 note chromatic stainless handpan. Also the handpans are available in different sizes. Constant innovation and developement is Metal Sounds' mission still to this day !
As everybody's requirements, tastes and desires vary, Metal Sounds offers these 2 lines of handpans:
- The Spacedrum Evolution® is handmade from stainless steel, after our extensive improvements and hours of hammering we now offer the 5th generation of this handpan with its unique reversed note layout, with Ding as the first note on the scale. It is extremely easy to play, strong and powerfull with a sustained resonance. This is the perfect handpan for music-therapy or relaxation.
- The Spacedrum Nitro® is handmade from nitrided steel and gives a totally different sound to the Evolution®. This type of handpan or pantam is designed for musicians, percussionists and everybody who wants to groove to the music. The sound is soft and round, while the tones are precise and offer a choice for all percussive technics, when either played soft or dynamically.
The production quality and fine tuning of our handpans, with the selection of diverse scales (pentatonic, diatonic, harmonized) make the Spacedrum a renowned and respected musical instrument worldwide.


text:
This is a nationwide database of over 9,000 field service representatives that service metropolitan and state-wide areas in all 50 states. The database is provided in a searchable PDF format as a DOWNLOAD from the SOFI server. This field representative database contains NO National or Regional field service firms ... only field service representatives ... the workers in the field.
The database lists field service representative names, addresses, telephone numbers, emails, Faxes, websites, years of experience, services offered and the area serviced in a PDF format. It is not available in an Excel format. The PDF files in the DOWNLOAD are searchable on keywords using Adobe Reader. Every record also contains a date showing when the record information was last verified.
Anyone looking to hire field service representatives needs a copy of this database in a PDF format. Sorry, it is not available in any other format. This is NOT an automatic download. We will need a couple of hours to transfer our current database to a PDF format and upload it to our server so that it can be downloaded. We will email you the download link as soon as possible ... usually within a couple of hours. Call 352-324-6042 (east coast) if you have any questions.
WATCH VIDEO on how to search this PDF file for keywords such as cities, counties, ZIPs, etc.


text:
The Garden Villa
May 31, 2022
The Big Fake Wedding is an alternative wedding show featuring a real vow renewal ceremony, tasty food and drink samples, and a dance-party reception. The unique aspect to The Big Fake Wedding is that engaged couples are able to see vendors in action throughout the event.
As a photographer, I was able to showcase my skills by capturing the event. Vendors are also provided with a table in the "Tunnel of Love" which is a section that guests walk through to see which vendors are being showcased. I encourage couples to talk in person with their vendors prior to hiring them and events such as this are a great way to do that!
For vendors considering being a part of this event, I say do it! I had a lot of fun and am glad I was able to photograph it. When I first was considering the opportunity, I felt it was a big commitment and I wasn't sure I would see the results I wanted. I went in open minded and decided the benefits The Big Fake Wedding provide photographers was worth the investment to me.
I had the priveledge of being invited to be a part of The Big Fake Wedding in Orlando on May 31, 2022. The venue which hosted the event was The Garden Villa located in Winter Park. I love this venue and the portraits I captured are just so beautiful because of all the gorgeous greenery which surrounds it.
The Big Fake Wedding provides photographers and videographers with the opportunity to photograph a styled shoot prior to the event. The styled shoot started with portraits of the couple, then the wedding party, details, and decor photos.
Wedding decorators and planners showcased their work through 10 uniquely decorated reception tables.
When the event began, couples had the opportunity to walk around, look at decor, and begin talking with vendors.
About 30 minutes after the doors opened, guests were ushered outside to a ceremony space to watch the vow renewal.
After the exchanging of vows, everyone went back to the main reception area to enjoy the food and drink samples, talk to vendors, and dance! At the beginning of the reception, guests were able to view a special first dance by the couple. The night ended with the couple having a send-off with flower petals and a surprise carriage ride.
published in


text:
Communities in Victoria's north are on high alert with the swollen Murray River expected to break its banks in the coming days.
Evacuation warnings are in place for people in Echuca and the smaller towns of Barmah and Lower Moira, with the Murray likely to start peaking on Wednesday.
There are concerns river levels could exceed the 94.77 metres recorded during the 1993 floods.
Echuca residents have spent the past few days building a makeshift flood levee from sandbags to try and protect thousands of homes and businesses.
Flood warnings are also in place for towns along the Loddon, Campaspe and Goulburn rivers.
Overnight on Tuesday, major flooding happened at Appin South on the Loddon River and at Rochester on the Campaspe River with residents being told to move to higher ground.
Major flooding at Kerang from the Loddon River is expected overnight on Wednesday, with the water forecast to peak around the January 2011 level.
A sandbag levee is expected to help keep the majority of the town dry, but it could be cut off for up to seven days.
Floodwaters are starting to recede in the hard-hit towns of Rochester and Shepparton but Premier Daniel Andrews warned the state's flooding risk was far from over.
"We are going to see more rain," he told reporters on Wednesday. "We've still got many thousands of people whose … homes are full of water.
"We have others who can't get back. It's a very challenging time."
Up to 400 Australian Defence Force personnel are being deployed across the state to help with sandbagging, rescues and deliveries of supplies to flooded communities.
The state government on Tuesday announced a $5.5 million food relief package to ensure flood-affected families don't go hungry.
Free kindergarten is also available for families in flooded communities, while senior students sitting their VCE exams will also receive additional support.
With the state's river systems already reaching their peaks, the Bureau of Meteorology is warning more rain and thunderstorms are on the way.
There could be between five to 15 millimetres of rain for much of the state on Friday, while the northeast could record up to 50 millimetres.
Residents are being advised to head the flood warnings and evacuate or move to higher ground if necessary.
They should also stockpile medication and other emergency supplies in case they're cut off, and avoid driving through floodwaters, Mr Andrews said.
"It just means we've got to send crews to rescue you," he said. "It's dangerous for you and it's dangerous for them."
Tara Cosoleto
(Australian Associated Press)