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MY BLOG by MATT GARVIN - + - + - ENTRY 8: RACE TO THE BOTTOM There is, and has been for some time, a race-to-the-bottom going on. We are going the wrong direction, and no one likes it, yet nothing is done about it. I am talking about the cheap crap that is made, that looks good on the shelves, breaks within weeks, and winds up in a landfill or choking turtles in the ocean. I am talking about the self checkouts in more and more stores all the time. Here is an idea: Pay your staff to scan my stuff and bag it for me. Why is this being offloaded to customers? (I know why, but I don't agree with it.) Why are people on bikes, usually with no helmets or lights, delivering food with cartoonishly oversized backpacks on. This is third world bullshit happening, right here in Toronto-the-good. Probably right here in every city, everywhere. When I am dissatisified with a product or service, why do I have to go through automated hell on the phone before I can talk with a live human. If ever. God forbid you need to cancel something. Calling Rogers or Bell to cancel a cell phone or a TV package is going to take forever, and bring tears of frustration. Why is it like this? *How* can it be like this? How did we let this happen? I had a problem with Uber Eats once, just as COVID really got going, and wanted to complain. They literally did not have a phone number I could call. I had to contact them through their App, and it tried to automate everything so I couldn't even complain in my own words. I had to use some stupid menu system to piece together my grievance, and ultimately after being funneled through their funhouse menu system, the "complaint" I built did not even match what had actually happened. An hour later I was refunded 31% or some nonsense that some computer algorithm had decided was appropriate. If I didn't like it, tough. What is going on here? This is where we are at? This is progress? There is less and less human interaction as time marches on. And more and more "AI" (which is stupid as hell). And more making actual humans behave like beaten down robots. Several months ago, when I was at a Dollarama buying cheap crap (because the cheap stuff is no worse than the "good stuff" these days) there was no one working at the cash register, period. The only employee in sight was assisting people at the self checkout. I told them I preferred to use a normal checkout with an actual person, and not this half-automated BS that means Dollarama can hire less people. The minimum wage worker looked at me like I was from Mars. They helped me scan my cheap crap and said with resignation: "This is the way it is. Nothing we can do about it." It *does* feel like there is nothing we can do about it. It is so *dehumanizing*. Ha! I just checked Dollarama stock. Since it's founding in 2009, Dollarama stock has gone from around $3 to an all time high of over $59! As of... today! Now that's progress! - END OF BLOG ENTRY 8 -
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This is a PDF Pattern (Digital Download) for the Estrella Bag
Digital downloads are non-refundable.
Price is in Canadian Dollars.
Pattern written in Imperial and Metric.
Pattern is only available in ENGLISH.
The Estrella Bag is a great bag for summer and all the festivities that come with it - markets, festivals, fairs, and so much more! It's a medium sized bag with a fun shape. On the inside, you will find a simple slip pocket for easy access. The easy to grab handle stands up well for a quick grab and go. The name Estrella means Star. How to pronounce Estrella? Click here.
The Add-On File can also be used to modify the handles to be attached with Rectangle or O-Rings. You can find the Add-On file here.
Finished Size: 14" W x 17" H x 4" D (35.5cm W x 43cm H x 10cm D)
Complexity: On a scale of Boisterous Beginner/Adventurous Intermediate/Excitingly Advanced, this is Boisterous Beginner. Domestic friendly. Rectangular pieces are only given by cut chart.
- (1) Magnetic Snap 14mm (optional)
- (1) "Handmade" or Logo Tag (optional)
- (12) Small Rivets 8mm x 6mm (optional)
Fabric Requirements:
- 3/4 yd (68.5cm) Vinyl, cork, or faux leather at 54" (137cm) WOF
- 1/2 yd (46cm) Woven Lining at 44" (112cm) WOF
- 1 yd (91cm) Woven Interfacing at 20" (51cm) WOF
- Large Scraps or 1/2 yd (46cm) Pellon Decovil Light 525 for bag and to back snap hardware if applicable
Other Materials:
- Duct tape or other tape to back logo (optional depending on hardware use)
- Removable marking pen, pencil, etc
- Rotary cutter or scissors
- Pinking shears
- Rivet setter tool or rivet press (optional depending on hardware use)
- Grid ruler
- Fray check
- Pliers (optional depending on hardware use)
Brandy Gilbert-Jackson of Bean's Bags and Handicrafts Co. - Tutorial
Chanova Alcala Mabry of That's Sew Nova - Tutorial
Lauren Mormino of MoreMeKnow and YouTube Lauren Mormino - Tutorial
Monica Ann Bernstine of Castine Handcrafted - Tutorial
YouTubers are welcome to do their own tutorials should they wish. Please do not include pattern instruction pages or paper pattern pieces within your video as this does violate the terms delineated within the pattern.

subset: commoncrawl


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Today marks a decade since I launched Tongwynlais.com.
I didn't intend to create a hyperlocal website, it sort of happened accidentally.
I relocated to South Wales in 1996, living in various parts of Cardiff and down in Barry. Then I moved to Tongwynlais and fell in love with the village.
"This site should probably have some news to keep it interesting and make people come back."
After settling in and exploring the area I decided that Tongwynlais needed some promotion. I'm a keen photographer and web developer so I set up a basic site to post some photos.
My next idea ended up being quite significant. I thought to myself, "This site should probably have some news to keep it interesting and make people come back."
Version 1
The website looked like this for the first three years. The original design had a slightly different logo but isn't that different from today's appearance. I've retained the primary colour that was originally inspired by painted woodwork on Castell Coch.
The logo represents the three towers of Castell Coch and alludes to the chevronels of Glamorgan.
Version 2
I refined the logo for the launch of the new website in 2015.
Looking Back
Shortly after starting the site, I became aware of a new trend in the creation of "hyperlocal" websites. Cardiff University were supporting local sites and a community emerged throughout the UK. I enjoyed attending conferences and events dedicated to hyperlocal news.
Running the website has been incredibly rewarding. It's given me the opportunity to meet lots of new people and learn new skills. I've interviewed politicians, helped set up a community survey, created a newsletter, opened a shop and visited Downing Street.
I've spoken on panels about my experiences, taken part in hackathon and completed a community journalism course.
I started out with the intention of creating a news source that could be handed over to someone else if I decided not to continue.
However, I began to realise how hard this would be and that the site was becoming more of an outlet for my interests and creativity.
After seven years of covering news and community issues, I decided to focus on topics that I'm really passionate about. Starting a website dedicated to Castell Coch was part of this new direction.
The site now covers art, local history, photography and adventures around Tongwynlais.
I can't thank readers and contributors enough for their kind comments and hard work over the years. Every comment, like and share is greatly appreciated. 🙂
437 posts
3.6 posts per month
15 guest posts
305,000 page views
17,900 Tweets
1,774 Twitter followers
1,200 Facebook followers
2014 – most number of posts
Version 3
The latest version of the website contains some subtle refinements. I've recently moved it to a new host, which will hopefully improve the speed and reliability.
The Future
I've got plenty of ideas for new content so please subscribe if you haven't already and share with a friend!
If you have any feedback, comments or suggestions for topics to cover, I'd love to hear from you.


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Shearman & Sterling advised the underwriters of Cytek Biosciences' initial public offering of 16,749,330 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $17.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds to the company of approximately $237 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses. The offering consisted of 13,949,401 shares sold by Cytek and 2,799,929 shares sold by certain of its stockholders. The shares began trading on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "CTKB" on July 23, 2021.
Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs & Co., Piper Sandler and Cowen acted as joint book-running managers for this offering.
Cytek Biosciences is a leading cell analysis solutions company advancing the next generation of cell analysis tools by delivering high-resolution, high-content and high-sensitivity cell analysis utilizing its patented Full Spectrum Profiling (FSP) technology. Cytek Biosciences' novel approach harnesses the power of information within the entire spectrum of a fluorescent signal to achieve a higher level of multiplexing with exquisite sensitivity. Cytek Biosciences' FSP platform includes its core instruments, the Aurora and Northern Lights systems, its cell sorter, the Aurora CS, and reagents, software and services to provide a comprehensive and integrated suite of solutions for its customers.
The Team


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Berk Operacı Oldu
Berk Becomes An Opera Singer
Kaan Elbingil
Were these courses existing in ancient times?
In this 2nd book of the series, Elbingil is inviting his readers to the new adventures of Berk, again full of fun. He opens the notion of raising a "project child" to discussion with his distinctive narration. The story tells in a humorous way about the feelings and experiences of those "project children" running from one course to the other. This standalone book of the series is illustrated also by Merve Atılgan.
The only desire of Berk is to go on for a vacation during his holidays, whereas all his friends with various talents have to rush from one course to the other. Based on the advices of their neighbours, Berk also tries different courses. One day, a new neighbour, who's an opera singer moves in. Would he help Berk to discover his hidden talent?


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Romance and fine wine both need time to breathe…
Her family's successful winery business in the Finger Lakes region of New York should have gone to Tessa Price. She'd always dreamed of running the winery, but when the "prodigal son" returns to take up the reins, she boldly strikes out on her own, purchasing Sand Creek Winery—a cash-strapped competitor—right out from under her family. She can forge her own destiny, using her marketing skills and big plans to bring new life to the winery. But first she has a proposition for the sexy previous owner. And he's likely to hate it.
Kevin "Max" Maxwell would never have willingly sold his winery to anyone named "Price." Family always comes first, and if paying for his sister's cancer treatment cost him his business, it was worth it. But when the new owner offers him a one year contract to stay on as general manager, with a possible bonus, he really can't afford to turn it down. He can ignore the effect her deep brown eyes and heart-shaped face have on his senses for a year, can't he?
Relationships, like slowly ripening vineyards, take time. But Max has been keeping a secret from Tessa, one that could destroy her hopes for their future. Will a terrible accident force Tessa and Max to face how much they have to lose, or tear apart their budding relationship forever? Sometimes a romance is like a fine wine. To be its best, it just needs time to breathe.
Targeted Age Group:: 18+
Heat/Violence Level: Heat Level 3 – PG-13
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I wrote the Loudon Series and the Price family were very minor characters and were begging to have their stories told too. I also spent time working in a family run winery with all the dynamics at play. It was a natural fit.
How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
Don Price, the oldest son was a main character in Ready to Soar. When his father had a heart attack and pressured him to move back to Crescent Lake and run the family business it created a ripple effect for his sisters and brothers. I wanted Don to come from a large family and they just took shape very quickly in Ready to Soar.
Book Sample
The moment Tessa opened the heavy wood and glass door, her eyes were drawn to the tall, open stairwell. Kevin Maxwell leaned against the steel and glass banister, watching her.
He greeted her with a flat smile. "Good morning, Ms. Price. Welcome to Sand Creek Winery."
The glass door closed behind her with a small whoosh. She squared her shoulders and walked into her winery. "Please call me Tessa."
He gave her a half nod. "Tessa."
"I'm glad you're here. I wanted to talk with you."
"I've been clearing out my"—he gave a slow shake of his head—"your office. I won't be long."
She ascended the stairwell. "Wait."
Kevin's cool blue eyes met hers. He was dressed casually in a crisp, cream-colored shirt, the cuffs rolled back, which highlighted strong hands and muscled forearms. He had high cheekbones, a long, thin nose, and was more handsome up close. She guessed he was around her age.
"I'd like to start our relationship on the right foot."
His eyes never left hers. Challenging her.
She had been right that he wasn't thrilled to see her. She had negotiated the purchase through a broker since she suspected he wouldn't sell to a Price, no matter how much money was involved. She'd made a fair offer and he'd accepted it.
She pointed to an open door. "After you."
He did a one-eighty and strode through the doorway.
The large room was dominated by a long maple conference table and several leather chairs. In front of her was a wall of windows that looked out over acre after acre of vines. Pride surged in her. It already felt like she belonged. Several boxes were strewn about, in various stages of being packed. Not seeing a desk, she set her black leather briefcase on the table and walked to the windows.
"Quite the view." Kevin had come to stand next to her. He was so close, she could feel the waves of indifference radiating off him.
Without looking at him, she said, "It looks completely different from this perspective. The virtual tour didn't do it justice."
"When I built this building, my intent was to be able to look out and witness nature as it nurtures the vines. Watching the vineyard throughout the seasons gives me hope for the future. There's nothing like it." He turned away as if he couldn't bear to look any longer.
"Impressive." She was reminded of the view in Don's office. It was strikingly similar. She turned from the window and gestured to the chairs at the table. "Please, can we talk?"
He dropped to a wooden stool, leaving the executive chair noticeably empty.
Unsure where to start, she said, "You can trust me with Sand Creek Winery." She empathized with how it must feel, forced to sell his business.
When she sat down, he gave her a curious look. "It was either accept the blind offer or let the bank take it. I'll admit if I had known it was a Price, I might have reconsidered."
She cocked her head to the side and let that comment slide. "I have a proposition for you." She wanted to rephrase that, but it was already out there.
His eyebrow rose and his chin dropped a fraction of an inch. "I'm listening."
"I would like for you to stay on as the general manager."
She could have heard a pin drop.
"And why would I want to do that?"
She leaned forward and clasped her hands, resting them on the polished wooden surface. "You're a good winemaker. I suspect a good marketing campaign can change sales. I happen to excel in sales and marketing."
"You think very highly of yourself."
She thought she saw a glimmer of humor in his crystal-blue eyes. "You know how to manage the field workers. You have a couple of excellent wines, but I want to hire an enologist to work with you, someone who is interested in growing this business."
Kevin leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "What's in it for me besides a paycheck?"
She suspected she had captured his interest. "If after the first year we exceed our profit by twenty percent, I will give you an additional bonus." She held up a hand before he could speak. "That would be in addition to the profit-sharing plan I'll be rolling out to all full-time employees."
He gave a snort. "Your staff consists of Brad, who manages the warehouse and is laid off every winter; Mrs. Hanley, who works part time in the tasting room, and we bring on seasonal workers in the vineyard."
"Maybe that's it for now, but I'll grow the staff as well." She lifted her chin. "I plan to turn this winery around and make this region take notice."
His eyebrow cocked. "You're rather bold. Do you have a concrete plan to back up your words?"
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Fossil Discovery Exhibit
Debuted: January 2017
Amount Raised: $1,500,000
Top Donors: MS Doss Foundation, The Brown Foundation, Amon G. Carter Foundation, Alec Rhodes, Abell-Hanger Foundation, Permian Basin Area Foundation, Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation
The Fossil Discovery Exhibit is here! Our Grand Opening was January 14, 2017. This new exhibit, the first new exhibit space in the park in over thirty years, features the Park's 120 million years of paleontological history.
Big Bend National Park has one of the richest collections of fossils in the nation – over 1100 fossils including 35 Cretaceous-era species. As recently as May 2013 a new fossil, Bravoceratops, was discovered. The Park has so much to intrigue the public, and this new exhibit highlights the best of Big Bend's collection. In addition to educating and entertaining current visitors, the Fossil Discovery Exhibit is attracting new visitors, families in particular, to come see what the Park has to offer.
Big Bend Conservancy is continuing its stewardship of this amazing site by providing additional signage in The Boneyard and an endowment for the ongoing protection of this site in 2020.
To be taken to Big Bend National Park's official Fossil Discovery website, click here.


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Women's Health
Over the years, a woman's body changes due to decreasing hormone levels. Commonly known as menopause, hormonal changes during the process of aging can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain and belly fat, brain fog, difficulty sleeping, decreased libido and sexual dysfunction. Today, there are medical treatments and procedures that women can choose to feel and look younger and slow down the process of aging.
Schedule a visit with Dr. Croland to learn about the latest treatments that improve the symptoms that are making you feel tired, stressed and/or fatigued.
We treat symptoms associated with menopause and hormone imbalance, as well as offering weightloss treatment and facial aesthetics.


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1-3 Month Baby Essentials
My top 1 to 3 month baby essentials that I have enjoyed and can't live without these past 3 months. No seriously, mommy hood would be much harder without these products. Watch the video:
Some of the Products listed in the video:
Banana Baby toothbrush
Dohm white noise machine
Mustela Foaming Shampoo
California Baby Calendula Cream
Watch my Newborn Essentials video:
*I share my favorite products and ideas because I love them! Some of the links are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission if folks click through to buy. I use the funds to pay for costs associated with this site which keeps it free from other advertising and allows you these articles to remain free!


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My Five Best Discoveries
Photo and text by: Muskan Gupta, 1st Prize Photo Essay Winner
Life is actually the other name of Discoveries.
We keep on learning forever; and we learn only when we discover something new. This is an all along process which can slow down but can never stop. Whenever a person stops to explore and discover, they stop
s to learn and grow and overall live.
I don't know what the proper definition of discovery is; but for me, it is in everything we see or do. Whether it's a beautiful scenery, or the birds flying in the sky; whether it's a flower that just bloomed or the trees which are laughing after the rains.
Each and everything is a discovery for me because if I had never seen them, then I would never have been able to enjoy and explore them. Being able to experience these little things that happen
s around us daily and being able to appreciate them is a discovery for me. Many of us fail to get this joy of life and are busy finding it on the things which makes it even more meaningless and hard to find. I was so lucky to be able to see and get them imprinted on the camera of my mind.
To find these beautiful little creatures playing together was such a bliss to the heart. They taught me to look around and find the world
so wonderful around me.
These birds going back to their homes along with each other taught me the value of family, friends and company. They taught me how just being together helps in managing and solving even the biggest of issues.
This beautiful sunset which seems like it will disappear into the ocean taught me that every day is a new day. It taught me to leave the regrets behind, learn from the mistakes and start again with a new energy to the new day.
These beautiful scenes that stole my heart, taught me to look positivity at each and every place. This place looks beautiful even after centuries, then why can't I be a soul that is beautiful from within.
These beautiful scenes that stole my heart, taught me to look positivity at each and every place. This place looks beautiful even after centuries, then why can't I be a soul that is beautiful from within.
The sun playing peek-a-boo with that baby tree, the happiness of these trees in the sunlight have its own kind of vibe which will steal your heart away. They are also teaching me to see the beauty in things which we usually ignore.
Thus, why can't I say that each and every picture is teaching me something to grow. Nature and even the social world are giving me the lessons to explore something new each moment. The only thing was, I needed an eye to discover them and when I did, they were ready with their arms open to take me in their world and show me the things which we forget to see, as we start growing up.
As we grow up, we slowly start being so focused and serious that we forget to stop and look around. We see the bigger things so much that we forget ourselves and also the beauty that the little things of this world hides in front.
I am grateful that I was able to discover them, before they got lost somewhere in this fast-paced world of progress. The progress which seems to have people make forget about the beauty that we hold within ourselves and getting lost into the world of selfishness which is taking us far away from discovering what we really should discover.


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Heavy-duty transport of the NEG Micon wind turbine from Germany to Kazakhstan. The loading was done by heavy-duty cranes. The three long and relatively light rotor blades were loaded on a truck, the tower parts (34 tons, 35 tons and 21 tons)on a low loader each, the 34-tons generator nacelle additionally on an additional low…Mehr lesen
Transport of an excavator TEREX TM 350 (ATLAS 1804 MI)
Transport of an excavator TEREX TM 350 (ATLAS 1804 MI) from Cologne, Germany to Atyrau, Kazakhstan by low-loader and railway. Railway transports have a lot of advantages: Via rail, your goods reach their final destinations more quickly as via sea and less expensive than via air. Large volumes and heavy masses can be transported over…Mehr lesen


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Why the Gender Gap in Jewish Leadership?
Share Your Perspective
By Leading Edge
Edge is working on a project to address the persistent gender gap in
top leadership at Jewish nonprofit organizations, and we're
interested in your
perspective about
what's causing it.
If you share the vision of a Jewish future with equal opportunities for all leaders, we hope you'll take 5 minutes to respond to this questionnaire by March 23, 2020. Your input will be used to create a comprehensive map of the challenges that constitute this problem – a full picture of the root causes and the highest-leverage opportunities. (Click here to see an example of the kind of map we're aiming for.)
All responses to this questionnaire are valid and anonymous.
share this questionnaire with those who may be interested among your
personal and professional networks. We want to gather as wide a range
of informed responses as possible.
If you have any questions or feedback about the survey, please reach out to us at email@example.com.
Thank you for joining us on this journey. Here's to taking on the persistent leadership gender gap, together!


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Anne Raven Wilkinson, a dancer who was the first African-American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company. In 1955 Anne broke the color barrier signing with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
Anne Raven Wilkinson was born on November 2, 1935 to Anne James Wilkinson and Frost Bernie Wilkinson in New York City. Both of her parents were born and raised in South Carolina but moved north to pursue their educations. The family eventually settled in then-middle-class Harlem, New York to open Raven's father's dental practice; the office was directly across the street from what would become the Dance Theatre of Harlem, foreshadowing Wilkinson's future in dance. Dr. Wilkinson was known for his equal treatment of black and white patients, sowing the seeds of equality early as an example to his daughter.
When Wilkinson was five years old, her mother took her to see the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo perform in New York City. Upon recollection of her introduction to ballet, she shares, "[Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo] did Coppélia, and I remember being so overwhelmed by the orchestra, the curtains, the lights, that I started crying." Her mother soon enrolled her at the Dalcroze school to begin her formal training. Four years later, she enrolled at the Swoboda school, which came under the management of Ballet Russe director Sergei Denham in 1951. Wilkinson auditioned for the company many times, but was not initially invited to join, presumably because of her race. That is, until her fourth attempt.
"Frederic Franklin gave the audition class. [In 2013], just before Mr. Franklin passed away, I went to visit him in the hospital. He said to me that the day of that audition, he went to the company staff and said, 'You just have to take her—she's a beautiful dancer.' That was the first time he'd ever told me that… Mr. Denham took his advice. After the audition, he said to me, "How would you like to be in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo?" I almost fell over!"
Wilkinson's entrance into the company in 1955 marked the first time the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo hired a black dancer—in the height of the Jim Crow era.
Wilkinson's first two years in the company passed without incident. She performed across the United States and was promoted to soloist in her second season. There was a generous percentage of international dancers in the company, "so most of the time [she] didn't have to worry too much" about discrimination or racial prejudice. But when the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo toured the South in the 1950s, problems started to arise.
"I remember one time in Montgomery, Alabama, the tour bus rolled into town, and everyone was running around with white robes and hoods on. They stopped traffic, there were so many of them. There was a rapping sound on the bus door, and this man jumped on in his hood and gown. Several big strapping male company dancers got up and moved toward him. He threw a fistful of racist pamphlets all over the bus before they chased him out."
When such incidents occurred or appeared likely, Wilkinson's peers stepped in to protect her. "[I]f it looked like there might be trouble after a show, company boys would appear at the stage door to escort [her] back to the hotel." Although she wasn't always welcome in the American south, she always felt at home with the company. In a time when her own country rejected her for skin, the dancers were her family, her protectors, and her biggest fans.
After seven years of dancing with the company, Wilkinson resigned, much to the chagrin of Sergei Denham. She searched for work in other companies, but was never offered a contract—New York City Ballet's George Balanchine told her she "was not his type of dancer", American Ballet Theatre's Lucia Chase "barely looked" at her, and the Met Opera Ballet's Alicia Markova "acted as if [she] didn't even exist" during her audition. After one brutal rejection after another, Wilkinson chose to retire her pointe shoes and entered a convent. Two years later, she had an epiphany:
"Shortly after that I realized I had to look more closely at myself. The idea of working in a convent to glorify God made me see that I had been given a great gift, a wonderful opportunity to dance, and I had not yet used that gift to its fullest. I needed to go back and fulfill what I'd yet to fulfill. So that's what I did."
She began by doing a simple barre at home, and later returned to formal classes. Soon after, Sylvester Campbell of the Dutch National Balletsuggested she dance in Holland. They sent her a contract to begin the following September.
Her experience in Europe differed greatly from that in the United States. Wilkinson danced with the Dutch National Ballet from 1967-1974. She faced little to no racism in Holland because a "history of slavery didn't exist there and, by implication, the institution of racism" was also non-existent. The Dutch people were "more concerned about who you were than what you were." After 7 years with the company, dancing everything from Sleeping Beautyto The Firebird, she retired at 39 due to a mandatory retirement age. Although the company offered to pay for her teacher training, she yearned for home. She returned to the United States 1974, and joined the New York City Opera, where she still experienced racial prejudice from artistic staff members. Nevertheless, she asserted that she is glad she returned to the US.
"I love my country and I'm glad to be living here. Whatever the problems are, and there are many, at least people are trying to do something about them. That's the kind of spirit I love about this country."
Wilkinson continued to perform and dance at age 82, although she "organically retired" from the Opera in 2011 when it folded. She served as a mentor to American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, Misty Copeland, until her passing in 2018.


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Chris Rock named in model's suit
It's been more than a decade since Chris Rock and a shapely blond model struck up a conversation over Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. The relationship that followed was brief -- two dinner dates -- but there seems to be no end to the fallout from the liaison.
The second date led back to Rock's hotel room, which led to sex -- he has said he was separated from his wife at the time -- which led to a paternity suit, then tabloid headlines, an allegation of rape, the hiring of private investigator Anthony Pellicano, two DNA tests, a confidential settlement, testimony before a federal jury and, on Thursday, the revelation of a new civil suit.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge unsealed the suit, which was filed against Rock in August, at the request of the plaintiff, Monika Zsibrita, the model from the Four Seasons. Now 36 and a married stay-at-home mother, Zsibrita said she wanted the court papers made public so people, especially those in her native Hungary, would know her version of a story in which she is often portrayed as a gold digger.
"My side has never been out," she said outside the courtroom. "This has basically ruined my life."
The suit accuses the comedian of breach of contract and a host of other charges, and its overarching theme is that the comedian known for his caustic humor is, as Zsibrita called him in a conversation after the hearing, "a monster." She accuses him of first raping her, then siccing a criminal private investigator on her and finally raining potshots on her on Howard Stern's radio show.
Rock's publicist and the attorney representing him in the suit did not return calls seeking comment. But in his testimony at Pellicano's wiretapping trial last year, where he was perhaps the most famous if not the most important witness for the prosecution, Rock portrayed Zsibrita as a shakedown artist.
"Someone who was not pregnant with my child claimed to be pregnant with my child and requested large sums of money for this," he testified. He said he turned to Pellicano because he thought he was being scammed.
After Zsibrita's daughter was born in 1999, two DNA tests determined Rock was not the father. In September 2000, almost two years after their hotel-room encounter, Zsibrita filed a report with the Beverly Hills police accusing Rock of rape. Pellicano obtained a copy of the confidential report and shared its contents with Rock.
"I'm not supposed to have this thing," Pellicano told Rock in a phone conversation he secretly recorded, part of which was played for jurors at his trial last year. No rape charges were filed against Rock.
In court papers, Zsibrita says that she did not initially make a sexual assault complaint with police because she was embarrassed, and that she finally went to authorities at the urging of a rape counselor. Pellicano, who is serving a 15-year sentence, is also named in the suit. The filing refers to portions of the recorded phone call in which Rock says being accused of rape would devastate his career and Pellicano promises to "blacken this girl up to the left and right." According to the suit, Zsibrita's home was repeatedly broken into and photos of her daughter removed.
Zsibrita said that she never asked for money from Rock, but that he gave her several checks totaling less than $18,000. The gold-digger label irritates her, she said, because she comes from a wealthy family: "I am not a poor girl. I don't need to date people for money."
Zsibrita is also suing Beverly Hills and three police supervisors. A spokesman said the department had no comment.
Her attorney, Neville Johnson, said Zsibrita initially filed the suit under seal because she did not want to run afoul of the confidentiality agreement contained in a 2000 settlement of the paternity case. He said that Zsibrita should not be bound by the agreement because Rock had talked about her during a 2004 appearance on Stern's show. According to a summary of the show included in court papers, the comedian said that his sexual liaison with Zsibrita was consensual and that he had been set up by a Nigerian hustler who was actually the father of her child.
A lawyer for Rock argued that the file should remain sealed, but Judge Peter Lichtman said it was "incongruous" to seal the file when details about the relationship between Rock and Zsibrita were available on the Internet.
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By SALISU SANI-IDRIS
ABUJA- The remains of the late Hajiya Zainab Ali, mother of the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, were interred on Wednesday at Gudu Cemetery, Abuja, amid tears and prayers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Hajiya Ali succumbed on Tuesday evening while suffering from an undisclosed ailment.
Speaking shortly after the burial prayer, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi said the deceased lived a glorious and an exemplary life.
While praying that God grant her a peaceful rest and forgive all her sins, Bello implored family members to emulate the exemplary life she lived.
"She happened to be my direct sister, but we lost her today to the cold hands of death. She lived a glorious life.
"Now that she has gone back to God Almighty, we pray that God forgive her all her sins. As Muslims, we believe we shall return back to God and she has returned to God. "he said.
Earlier in his funeral prayers, the Chief Imam of Abuja National Mosque, Dr Kabir Adam, stated that death was a lesson to the living, as all mortals were bound to die.
In attendance were the Secretary to the Government of the Federal, Mr Boss Mustapha, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, the Minister of Police Affairs, Malam Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi and some other top government functionaries. (NAN)


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RSP-1 Remote Source Plate
The RSP-1 Remote Source Plate is used with RTI Audio distribution systems (Models: AD-8x/AD-4x/AD-8/AD-4) to allow a convenient connection and control of remote audio sources. Wall mounted in a standard single gang electrical box, the RSP-1 provides the analog audio inputs for devices such as a PC, Apple iPod® dock or CD player that are located away from a centralized rack. A single Cat-5 cable delivers the audio to the RTI audio distribution system and infrared control to the audio source via the RTI control system.
The RSP-1 is sold separately.
- Two RCA audio inputs for connection of the audio sources such as a CD player.
- One 3.5mm stereo mini jack for connection of audio sources such as an Apple iPod or PC.
- One 3.5mm mono mini jack for connection of an IR emitter to control the audio source via the RTI control system.
- Requires only one Cat-5 cable.
- Mounts into single gang electrical box and uses Decora® style wall plate (not included).
- No power supply required for operation
|Audio Inputs
|Two RCA, One 3.5mm stereo mini jack
|Infrared Output
|One 3.5mm mono mini jack
|Wall-mount in single gang electrical box
|Operating Temperature
|+32°F to +122°F (0°C to +50°C)
|Operating Humidity
|5% to 95% Non-condensing
|Three Years (Parts & Labor)


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The mother of Marios Papageorgiou will be asked to experience a new discomfort.
Varvara Theodorakis will be forced to live again the tragic moments her son experienced in the hands of his abductors, who still refuse to confess where his body is.
At the hearing on Friday, 18th May, it was decided on serious grounds to postpone and resume from the beginning of the procedure and a new court order on 17th September 2018.
This practically means that the tragic mother of Marios Papageorgiou will be called upon to return to court again from the beginning, experiencing this pain once more.
Check out all the developments of this thrilling case here.


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A true NZ high country experience, this pint-sized abode is set in the beautiful North Canterbury Mountains in an old ski basin at 1260m above sea level. Drive or hike in to Terako Hut to find all the creature comforts inside – queen sized bed, mini fire, couch – and a luxurious wood-fired hot tub filled with fresh mountain water outside. With exclusive access to Mt Lyford Adventure Park activities including hiking and mountain bike riding, summer swimming in the nearby lake and winter skiing only five minutes away, pack your sense of adventure for this solar-powered escape.
Things we love
Outdoor Hot-tub
Hiking & MTB


text: We have put together this information sheet to help beginners avoid ending up with craft rooms full of stuff you will never use. Mistake #1: Buying "pretties"before essentials. Any seasoned crafter will tell you that you will run out of glue long before you run out of patterned paper. What […] ScanNCut 5 mistakes beginners make when craft shopping


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Veronica continues to try and force Jeffery to do her bidding. She insults him by calling him a queen. He is taken aback by her wickedness and controlling nature. She then tells him to warn Candice she will show her what a "bad bitch" really is. The next morning, Hanna is interrupted by the detective reading scriptures to Benny. She feels he knows she is there. He insists and convinces her to grab a bite to eat with him in the cafeteria. Jim and David are impressed with Maggie's choice for their campaign headquarters. Maggie demands that Jim and David not try anything with the female volunteers. She also inquires about Candice, asking if he slept with her. Jim demands she butt out of his personal life. She warns him if she finds him doing anything underhanded she will leave the campaign. Before she leaves she shows them a composite sketch of the driver of the hit and run. It looks just like Wyatt.
Back at Candice's apartment Landon and Jeffery meet for lunch and their first date. Jim and David try to devise a plan to locate the Black Sedan and help Wyatt. They also ponder what to do about Candice permanently. Jim reveals to him Candice is pregnant and that Amanda is suing them for her inheritance. David decides it is time to call "The Malones."Jim resists, feeling they are too extreme. David takes his reluctance as a sign he still has feelings for Candice and insists he call them immediately.
At the hospital, Hanna and the detective talk over lunch. He questions her resolve, she turns to her faith finding inspiration in the story of King David and the loss of his son. He asks her what she will do if Benny does not pull through, wanting her to see all sides of the outcome. He seems to be falling for her. At lunch, Jeffery and Landon discuss his mother. The former tries to get him to open up when he discusses the lives of homeless LGBT youth. Jeffery wonders how any parent, including his could hate their child. He becomes more uncomfortable and abruptly leaves Landon speechless. At The Cryer's home Kathryn's patience with Celine has begun to thin. Veronica arrives to rendezvous with her and Maggie. The former tells her she should fire Celine. Kathryn feels it better to keep her friends close and enemies closer. They discuss Hanna and how well she knows her. She insists on having Benny moved, but Veronica warns her against it. Their conversation is cut short when Maggie arrives.
There, Maggie inquires on Candice's identity. She receives the same chill from them as she did from their husbands. Maggie reveals Candice's history as well as that of her child's father, Quincy Maxwell. It is revealed Veronica represented his brother in court and that he has been locked up for life. She tells them where Quincy is and that getting him out might eliminate Candice as a problem.
Kathryn goes to see Hanna as she visits with Benny. She tries to get Hanna to trust her and get Benny moved to a better hospital. Hanna asks her did Wyatt hit Benny. Kathryn refuses to answer her, repeating, "I came here to offer help for your son." Hanna refuses her help, asks her to leave, and resigns much to Kathryn's chagrin. The latter leaves tearfully. Hanna arrives to court late. There, the judge rules in Tony's father. The latter's counsel inquires openly about organ donation. She pleads desperately with him to spare Benny's life.
Catch Tyler Perry's " The Haves and The Have Nots" Tuesdays at 9 : 00 PM EST only on OWN. For more episode recaps of "The Haves & The Have Nots" check out www.heymikeyatl.com.


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As blockchain-based digital innovation continues to flourish globally, existing models for collaborative decision-making are slowly becoming obsolete. Democracy as a whole is being questioned since public trust in the system has been eroding for some time now.
Horizon State is an all-new blockchain-based voting platform. It makes use of a native token to facilitate decision-making protocols as well as trust mechanisms that ensure fair and just outcomes. Since the core AI is entirely decentralized, Horizon State is able to deliver trustworthy attributes for voting procedures.
This platform deploys "digital ballot boxes" that are transparent yet secure. Each and every voter is registered within the system, and their activities can be clearly viewed by authorized participants, thereby allowing for clean and unbiased voting.
In terms of its structural framework, Horizon State makes use of three core components, namely:
- A safe voting protocol
- An electoral stage which can be used by prospective candidates to disseminate and spread their core ideas and agendas
- An analytical toolset that is designed to break down voting and check on the overall efficacy of each candidate's public influence
Using the aforementioned technology, this system has the potential to be implemented and used not only for electoral purposes, but also to administer business operations for various companies, organizations and other conglomerates.
- Horizon State makes use of a digital ballot system that is based entirely within the blockchain.
- The system maintains the anonymity of all voters.
- Results and outcomes are not only faster, but also much cheaper and more efficient.
- It can be adopted freely by organizations of all sizes without having to change their existing digital infrastructures.
- The platform is user friendly and does not require extensive technical knowledge pertaining to the blockchain.
Key Features
Horizon State makes use of a foundational ledger that is unforgeable. All results are recorded immutably so as to ensure completely fair outcomes. In addition, the vote casting mechanism is highly efficient and does not take up too much of one's personal time.
Overview of features delivered by Horizon State
The platform employs native Decision Tokens (HST) for running all internal voting processes. Horizon State is also in the process of creating an all-new engagement and deliberation platform meant to increase voter engagement and opinion solicitation.
This platform can be accessed not only via computers but also through smartphones and other handheld devices. Some of the other core technologies that have been incorporated into this system include:
- NLP (Natural Language Processing)
- User-friendly AI (Artificial Intelligence)
- VUI (Voice User Interface)
Visual representation of the platform interface
Through the use of these services, Horizon State is able to foster an immersive experience around the decision-making process.
How Horizon State works
Users who are eligible to vote in a particular democratic process have the option to cast their votes directly via the platform. These votes are recorded onto the Ethereum public blockchain, and there is a small processing fee that is paid to the developers for conducting verification checks for each participant.
An overview of how the system works
Also, each vote is sent directly to a specific campaign ID, without any identifiable data being involved in the transaction. This basically means that the system does not carry any details about its participants, thereby boosting user privacy.
The interface is highly visual and requires no knowledge or understanding of the blockchain in order for users to participate. For added accessibility, there is also a mobile app that can be used to streamline the entire process.
Lastly, it should be mentioned that different organizations will be given permission to use their own filter mechanisms to identify eligible voters. For example, matters pertaining to national politics will require authorities to check user backgrounds against the official electoral roll. Similarly, for small-scale elections, eligibility criteria can be defined by the granting of access to specific individuals or common domains.
About the company
Horizon State's core dev and admin team consists largely of professionals who hail from various domains including IT consultancy, blockchain dev, and foresight strategy.
Jamie Skella is the founder and chief executive of the entire operation. He is also the person responsible for creating MiVote, the world's first blockchain voting MVP. Jamie has previously served as a director at Tatts Group as well as the Australian Football League.
Dan Crane is the financial head of Horizon State. Dan has previously worked as the chief online officer for an Australian Stock Exchange top 100 company. On his LinkedIn page, he describes himself as a "crypto asset researcher, investor and ICO advisor".
Lastly, Nimo Naamani is one of the main technological brains behind this project. Nimo is the former chief technology officer at iPayroll and has been in the software development domain for over 20 years.
Token Performance History
The Horizon State platform makes use of a native currency called Decision Token (HST) to execute all internal transactions. Since HST has only been on the market since last November, it is difficult to assess its future investment potential.
HST token lifetime performance chart (courtesy of CoinMarketCap)
Upon its introduction, the price of a single token was around US$0.29. However, during the crypto boom of last December and January, the price of a single coin scaled up to an impressive US$5.50.
What's even more noteworthy is that the value of HST has remained quite steady since the start of this February, and the price of a single coin currently stands at US$0.886.
Final Thoughts
With unfair voting and biased elections being reported all across the globe, Horizon State is offering the public a highly useful platform that can reinvigorate the democratic process.
Owing to its simplicity and overall usability, it will be interesting to see how Horizon State fares this year. With its native token (HST) doing fairly well on the market, this may actually be the year when this technology takes off and enters the mainstream.
If you would like to start investing in Horizon State, HST token pairs are currently being traded on online exchange platforms such as Kucoin, Cryptopia and Livecoin.


text: Oceana (later known as Polyenso) was an American rock band from St. Petersburg, Florida. Formed in 2007 and starting off with a post-hardcore sound, they were signed to Rise Records and released their debut album The Tide on March 4, 2008. Their sophomore full-length Birth.Eater was released on May 19, 2009, and featured the new vocalist Brennan Taulbee. They debuted a lighter indie rock sound with their EP Clean Head, which was released on May 11, 2010. While recording their third album, One Big Particular Loop, in 2012, they reinvented themselves under the name Polyenso and have been performing under that moniker since.


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Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA); Market Facilitation Program (MFP) Payments to Producers, 36565-36567 [2019-15767]Download as PDF
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 145 (Monday, July 29, 2019)] [Notices] [Pages 36565-36567] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2019-15767] ======================================================================== Notices Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section. ======================================================================== Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 145 / Monday, July 29, 2019 / Notices [[Page 36565]] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farm Service Agency Commodity Credit Corporation Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA); Market Facilitation Program (MFP) Payments to Producers AGENCY: Farm Service Agency and Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: MFP provides payments to producers with commodities that have been impacted by trade actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of exports. This NOFA announces the availability of MFP funds for eligible producers of specified agricultural commodities for 2019 that include certain non-specialty crops, specialty crops, dairy, and livestock as specified in this NOFA. On behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the Farm Service Agency (FSA) will administer MFP. MFP dairy and livestock payments will be calculated on the eligible production amount multiplied by the participant's share in the commodity multiplied by the MFP payment rate. MFP participants of non- specialty and specialty crops will receive an MFP payment based upon the participant's ownership interest in the 2019 crop that was planted and reported to FSA for the 2019 crop year, including cover crops that are planted for harvest following a prevented planted non-specialty crop. The payment rate used by CCC to issue payments for non-specialty crops will be on a county-by-county basis and reflects the amount of damage incurred in a county by producers of the non-specialty crops from the imposition of tariffs by other countries on U.S. agricultural products. The payment rate for specialty crops will be on a state-by- state basis if sufficient data is available, otherwise payments will be on a national basis. This NOFA also announces the availability of 2018 MFP payments for a limited number of producers who are now eligible for assistance as the result of a provision of the Additional Supplemental Appropriations For Disaster Relief Act, 2019 (2019 Disaster Relief Act). DATES: Application period: July 29, 2019 through December 6, 2019. Comment Date: We will consider comments on the Paperwork Reduction Act that we receive by: September 27, 2019. ADDRESSES: We invite you to submit comments on the information collection requirements for MFP. In your comments, include the date, volume, and page number of this issue of the Federal Register, and the title of this notice. You may submit comments by any of the following methods, although FSA and CCC prefer that you submit comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket ID CCC-2019-0003. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Mail: William L. Beam, Deputy Administrator, Farm Programs, Farm Service Agency, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250. All comments received, including those received by mail, will be posted without change and publicly available on https://www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William L. Beam, Deputy Administrator for Farm Programs, telephone: (202) 720-3175. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background CCC revised 7 CFR part 1409 in a final rule published in the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register specifying the eligibility requirements, payment calculations, and application procedures for MFP. MFP provides assistance to producers with commodities that have been impacted by trade actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of exports. This NOFA announces the availability of MFP payments for 2019 agricultural commodities. For the purposes of MFP for 2019, agricultural commodities referred to as ``non-specialty crops'' include the following row crops: Alfalfa hay, barley, canola, corn, crambe, dried beans, dry peas, extra-long staple cotton, flaxseed, lentils, long grain and medium grain rice, millet, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, rapeseed, rye, safflower, sesame seed, small and large chickpeas, sorghum, soybeans, sunflower seed, temperate japonica rice, triticale, upland cotton, and wheat. Specialty crops are: Almonds, cranberries, cultivated ginseng, fresh grapes, fresh sweet cherries, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts. Section 103 of Title I of the 2019 Disaster Relief Act (Pub. L. 116-20) provides that if the average adjusted gross income of a person or legal entity is greater than $900,000 the person or entity is not eligible to receive a MFP payment unless at least 75 percent of the adjusted gross income of the person or entity is derived from farming, ranching, or forestry related activities. This provision is applicable to 2018 and 2019 MFP payments and is less restrictive than the 2018 MFP eligibility provisions established by CCC. Accordingly, CCC will reopen the 2018 MFP program application process for just those producers affected by this statutory mandate and that application period will run concurrently with the 2019 MFP application period. All other provisions of the 2018 MFP apply to these newly eligible producers. Application Process Each eligible producer applies for MFP participation once by completing a ``Market Facilitation Program 2019 (MFP 2019) Application'' (form CCC-913). Each applicant must submit a complete form CCC-913 either in person, by mail, email, or facsimile to an FSA county office, or online through www.farmers.gov. Producers may submit form CCC-913 in any county office nationwide for all crops for which they have an interest. Payments will not be issued until a producer certifies, as applicable, the: Quantity of production of dairy or hogs; and For non-specialty and specialty crops, the producer's ownership share interest of the crop as specified on the ``Report of Acreage'' (form FSA-578) filed with FSA for each farm that is the [[Page 36566]] subject of the request for payment under MFP. Payment Rates The MFP payment rates will be as determined by CCC and will be in effect July 29, 2019. The non-specialty crop payment rates have been established as a single rate per acre basis for each county. These rates will be posted to FSA's website www.fsa.usda.gov. A nationwide MFP payment rate of $15 per acre will be used to provide MFP assistance to producers who were prevented from planting a 2019 non-specialty crop on a farm but were able to plant a CCC approved cover crop intended for harvest. This will assist in the marketing of the anticipated lesser production of the cover crop. Prevented planting is the inability to plant the intended crop acreage with proper equipment by the USDA recognized final planting date for the crop because of a natural disaster. Cover crops that are planted for harvest following a prevented planted crop must be planted no later than August 1, 2019. Cover crops and non-specialty crops planted after August 1, 2019, are not eligible for assistance under MFP. The total number of acres used to calculate a MFP payment on a farm is equal to 2019 planted acres of non-specialty crops, not to exceed 2018 planted acres and prevented planted acres of non-specialty crops as adjusted for acreage that is available for planting as the result of 2018 expired Conservation Reserve Program contracts. For specialty crops, the payment will be calculated by multiplying the state per acre payment rate if sufficient data is available for the specific commodity by the producer's reported share interest in the specialty crop as reported to FSA on a FSA-578, or according to the applicable crop insurance policy. If sufficient data is not available, national data will be used. For specialty crops, only acreage with fruit or nut bearing plants will be eligible under MFP. State per acre payment rates by specific commodity will be posted to FSA's website www.fsa.usda.gov. The payment rates and units of measure for hogs and milk will be posted to FSA's website www.fsa.usda.gov. The payment rate will apply to the producer's total production of hogs and milk, as defined below. The MFP payment will be made after a producer certifies the amount of production for hogs and milk. The actual production used to calculate an MFP payment under this NOFA is for 2019 production in which the applicant had an ownership share for livestock commodities. Specifically, required production information is as follows: For hogs, the number of head of live hogs owned on a day selected by the applicant between April 1, 2019 and May 15, 2019; and For milk, the historical production reported for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program. The ownership share for milk will be as reported to FSA for the DMC Program for dairy operations that were in business as of June 1, 2019. Dairy operations that are not in business as of June 1, 2019, are ineligible for MFP. Ownership for live hogs will be reported to FSA on form CCC-913; if a person or legal entity has a contract to grow the hogs, but does not own the hogs on a day between April 1, 2019 and May 15, 2019, the person or legal entity is ineligible for MFP. Producers must comply with the provisions of: 7 CFR part 1409; This notice of funding availability; and Form CCC-913. Production Evidence On the application for hogs and milk, the producer will certify the amount of production and note the source of production evidence. If requested, the producer must also provide supporting documentation as determined by CCC for the amount of production. For non-specialty crops, if requested, the producer must provide supporting documentation as determined by CCC to support the reported acreage reported on form FSA-578. For specialty crops, if requested, the producer must provide supporting documentation as determined by CCC to support the reported acreage reported on form FSA-578 or as reported to the producer's crop insurance provider. CCC may require a producer to supply documentation that can be used to verify the actual production of hogs and milk and the producer's share in non-specialty and specialty crops. Examples of acceptable documentation include evidence provided by the participant that is used to substantiate the amount of production reported, custom harvesting records, production costs records, contemporaneous measurements, truck scale tickets, or other records that are determined acceptable by the FSA county committee. MFP Payments As stated in the final rule published in this issue of the Federal Register and in 7 CFR 1409.105(d), the payments will be provided in up to 3 payments. The first payment will be up to 50 percent of the total calculated payment. CCC will determine if any further payments are warranted. If CCC determines that a second payment is warranted, it will be up to 75 percent of the total calculated payment less the amount received in the first payment and the second payment period will begin in November 2019. If CCC determines that a final payment is warranted, it will be for the remaining amount of the total calculated payment, unless otherwise adjusted by CCC, and the last payment period will begin in January 2020. Payment Limitation For 2019 MFP payments, there will be 3 separate payment limitations for each person or legal entity: 1. $250,000 for non-specialty crops announced in this NOFA; 2. $250,000 for specialty crops announced in this NOFA; and 3. $250,000 for hogs and milk. No person or legal entity can receive more than $500,000 under 2019 MFP. Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), FSA is requesting comments from interested individuals and organizations on the information collection activities related to MFP. The burden hours in this NOFA cover the additional respondents, and still use the approved numbers in the request of 0560-0292 for MFP. To start the MFP information collection approval, FSA received emergency approval from OMB for 6 months. Upon receiving the emergency approval with a new temporary OMB control number, this information collection request will be merged with an approved information collection request of 0560-0292 to update the numbers and forms. Title: Market Facilitation Program (MFP). OMB Control Number: 0560-New. Type of Request: New Collection. Abstract: This information collection is required to support all MFP information collection activities (applicable NOFAs and the regulation in 7 CFR part 1409) to provide eligible producers payments with respect to agricultural commodities that have been impacted by trade actions of foreign governments resulting in the loss of exports. The information collection is necessary to evaluate the application and other required paperwork for determining the producer's eligibility [[Page 36567]] and assist in producer's payment calculations. For the following estimated total annual burden on respondents, the formula used to calculate the total burden hour is the estimated average time per response multiplied by the estimated total annual responses. Public reporting burden for this information collection is estimated to average 0.39 hours per response. Type of Respondents: Producers or farmers. Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 780,000. Estimated Number of Reponses per Respondent: 1. Estimated Total Annual Responses: 1,445,400. Estimated Average Time per Response: 0.39 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 519,067. FSA is requesting comments on all aspects of this information collection to help us to: (1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the FSA, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the FSA's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. All comments received in response to this notice, including names and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office of Management and Budget approval. Environmental Review The environmental impacts for MFP have been considered in a manner consistent with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the FSA regulation for compliance with NEPA (7 CFR part 799). As stated in the MFP final rule, the implementation of MFP and the participation in MFP do not constitute major Federal actions that would significantly affect the quality of the human environment, individually or cumulatively. The final rule served as documentation of the programmatic environmental compliance decision for this federal program; therefore, CCC will not prepare additional environmental compliance documentation for this NOFA. Federal Assistance Programs The title and number of the Federal assistance programs, as found in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, to which this NOFA applies is 10.123--Market Facilitation Program. Richard Fordyce, Administrator, Farm Service Agency. Robert Stephenson, Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation. [FR Doc. 2019-15767 Filed 7-25-19; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 3410-05-P
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An Uplifting Downsizing
Planning to downsize and simplify her life, Elaine Cohen focused her vision on a luxury retirement condominium in La Jolla. "I had several friends who lived there. I loved the convenient location near everything and all the amenities, including the indoor pool, gym, regular lectures and the availability of a meal plan," explains Elaine, who enjoys an active life. When the penthouse hit the market, she saw the panoramic ocean-to-mountain views from the 21st floor. Experiencing the 2,400-square-foot residence's open, airy feel, she knew she had found her new home. But the interior, originally done for the prior owner when the building opened in 1991, needed a complete makeover. Elaine and her late husband had sold their 6,800-square-foot home in Rancho Santa Fe and their winter home in Palm Desert furnished, knowing their furniture was too large for any condominium they chose. She retained only a pair of favorite sculptures, family keepsakes and a selection of art and collectibles, many purchased on their overseas travels.
Elaine selected interior designer Keri Goldsmid of 3 Goldfish Studios on the recommendation of a friend in the building whose home Keri had helped downsize. One of Keri's specialties is assisting clients pare down their belongings for retirement living. "I enjoy helping them figure out what they really want to keep and what they're OK not keeping," she says. Foremost is assessing what furniture and accessories fit into smaller spaces, as well as identifying and retaining favorite items needed to create the new home's sense of "personal sanctuary," she explains. Keri interviews her clients to determine how they anticipate using their spaces. Then she structures the home's overall "story," with individual rooms' functions forming distinct but interconnected "chapters." When Elaine and Keri first met, Elaine's instructions for the remodel centered around two focal points that she did not include when selling her previous home furnished.
"I wanted the living room designed around my two John Kennedy bronze sculptures, which we bought about 10 years ago in Park City, Utah, near our vacation home," Elaine says. One is a stylized figure of Audrey Hepburn with a child and the second represents two entwined lovers. She also requested a neutral color palette and comfortable living spaces. In developing her plans, Keri begins with the "rhythm of the architecture," filling in whatever elements are missing, she explains. In the penthouse, she gutted the interior, retaining only a cedar-lined closet in the master suite. Building on the living room's barrel arch, Keri introduced warmth and interest to the design by installing maple-stained, post-and-lintel wood beams that link the entry hall with the living and dining rooms while also opening up the spaces. Because the condo occupies most of the building's top floor, Keri was able to pop up the ceilings by about 10 inches in some rooms, while being careful to retain an appropriate scale for the spaces. She added wood-framed soffits to the dining room, kitchen and master suite. In the bedroom, she employed the soffits to create a more intimate proportion.
The choice of Mohave quartzite for stone counters proved pivotal. "Elaine loved the quartzite. We built the home around it," Keri says. From that came the condo's color palette of creams, beige, taupe, brown and bronze and the selection of coordinating glass tile for the dining room bar and kitchen. To enhance the living room, Keri added a cream-colored, stacked-stone fireplace flanked by custom wooden cabinets to display family photos, sculptures and keepsakes and another cabinet by the bar for Elaine's collection of Lalique and Baccarat crystal and colorful Venetian art glass. The pass-through kitchen received all new appliances, dark wood cabinets and a custom banquette with an oval glass table in a breakfast nook adjoining the sunroom and guestroom/computer room. A pair of whimsical, food-themed works from Elaine's art collection — the three-dimensional Bagels and Locks and Eggs Benedictus — adorn the walls. For flooring, Keri chose a textured, light wood-grain laminate that's softer to walk on than wood and accented it with a mix of area rugs. She installed wall-to-wall carpeting in the master bedroom and matte porcelain tile in the bathrooms.
In selecting upholstered couches and chairs, Keri emphasized comfort, shopping with Elaine to test for height, depth and tilt of the back, as well as the softness of cushions. The living room's twin sofas, two arm-chairs and cushioned bench provide seating for eight, matching the number of guests that Elaine can accommodate at her expandable, mahogany dining table. For special entertaining Elaine brings out tables and chairs, normally stored in the expansive storage room exclusive to her penthouse. The generous space Keri designed throughout the unit for easy movement also accommodates easy setup of extra seating. "I've hosted 25 for Thanksgiving dinner for 30 years," Elaine explains. For the master suite, Keri designed a headboard edged in wooden trim that echoes the soffit edging and completed the bedding with a lustrous metallic bronze coverlet. For the reading area, she added a built-in wooden display cabinet, two upholstered armchairs with an ottoman and a desk flooded by sunlight. The master bath features a stone-encased tub, glass-enclosed shower and twin sinks set in quartzite counters. Because Elaine's family usually stays in hotels on visits, Keri transformed the unit's second bedroom into a flexible guest room/computer room, using the quartzite as a desktop, and introducing orange accents through the queen sleeper sofa's upholstery, cushions and a painting. A nearby ottoman provides additional storage. The adjacent sunroom, furnished with a comfortable sofa and upholstered bench, offers a quiet spot for reflection and relaxing amid broad ocean views. Working with her associate, Adriana Nixon, whose special expertise is fiber, Keri introduced sparkle and pizzazz with textured fabrics and metallic accents throughout the condo. Gold, silver and bronze appear in metallic-threaded cushion covers; bedcoverings; lampshades; accessories; sculptures; and paintings, some of which Keri, an accomplished artist, created for specific spaces.
Throughout her work, Keri blends custom and high-end furnishings with well-designed, modestly priced choices that mesh to create the entire look. A home is the sum of its components, she explains. What matters is that they work together to create one's home as a "sacred space." Surrounded by old and new favorites from her art collection and Keri's comforting designs, Elaine reports that she has settled into a vibrant lifestyle amid the luxury environment of her retirement community.


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The peaceful community envisioned by Martin Luther King Jr. is still just a dream for millions of black Americans, and the chilling findings of a new national study of home-loan applications help to explain why.
A quarter of a century after the late Rev. King described the black ghetto-dweller living on a "lonely island of poverty" as an "exile in his own land," black families are still denied the chance to accumulate wealth in the most fundamental way.
Blacks applying for home loans are rejected more than twice as often as whites, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution analysis of the last five years of loan data from America's 3,100 savings and loan associations and mutual savings banks.
Redlining -- refusing to lend in black and declining neighborhoods, often the only ones minority families can afford to buy into -- appears to be on the rise.
In fact, the lending gap is so wide and so pervasive that, in much of the country, high-income blacks are rejected at the same rate as low-income whites. Race is a better predictor of a loan application's success than sex or marital status.
These findings are alarming for several reasons:
First, because they bear out similar, earlier findings in Atlanta and Boston, demonstrating that although regional differences exist, the odds are against home ownership by blacks nationwide.
Second, because credit discrimination against people who can't borrow money to buy or fix up houses contributes to neighborhood decline, causing property values to stagnate or plummet in a vicious cycle.
Third, because home ownership is the American way -- the principal way -- of gaining a foothold in a community, creating a legacy for one's children and building an asset against which to borrow for education, vacations, emergencies and retirement. Yet it has not been within reach of all Americans, and the gap appears to have widened in the post-civil-rights era, as federal regulators have decreased their enforcement of fair-lending laws.
The Reagan administration reduced the number of examiner hours devoted to consumer regulations, including fair-lending laws, by 74 percent during its first term. The Federal Home Loan Bank Board, which regulates savings institutions, collected data it never bothered to analyze. And, though regulators reported declines in lender compliance with technical aspects of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, they have not referred a single case of credit discrimination to the Justice Department for prosecution since 1978.
Racial bias may not be the only explanation; the study data revealed nothing about the debt burdens or credit histories of loan applicants. But, lenders admit, clearly unqualified applications tend to be weeded out by realtors before lenders see them.
Pressure is building in Congress for a Justice Department investigation of the racial disparities, and one is warranted. But Justice itself has been accused of dragging its feet. What is needed most is an unequivocal commitment from the highest ranks of the new administration to enforce the fair-housing laws and write new ones, if necessary, to put an end to discriminatory lending practices.Go to the next article or back to the Color of Money index or Power Reporting
Reprinted with permission from The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution. Further reproduction, retransmission or distribution of these materials without the prior written consent of The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution, and any copyright holder identified in the material's copyright notice, is prohibited.
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Love My Dog Training Guide with Master Resale RightsThe Love My Dog Training Guide teaches dog training techniques that use positive reinforcement and rewards rather than punishment and intimidation.
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» [ View the Sales Page and Sales Copy ]
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Since the ebook itself sells for $17.00 (minimum price to protect everyone, may not be sold for less), if you make just one sale you break even if you don't get the custom branded version—all sales after that is money in your pocket to spend as you like! If you get the branded version you'll make a profit with just your second sale. Anyone can make a couple of sales, and there's an instruction set included to help you get started.
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This mandatory tour will take you to visit two of the most visited sites by national and international tourists. You will first visit the Nemocón Salt Mine, located on the outskirts of the city of Bogotá. There you will find more than 500 years of history, you will discover how the miners carried out the process of the extraction of salt and you will feel as a miner of the time.
Later, you will be able to visit the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá, an underground temple that dazzles its visitors with a unique spiritual and architectural experience.
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Damascus, SANA – Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Fayssal Mikdad on Monday met Michael Ebye-Amanya, the new Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) office in Syria, and Mohammed Abdi Adar, the current director who will leave his post in February.
Mikdad welcomed the new director, asserting that Syria will continue supporting UNRWA to ensure providing a good life to Palestinian refugees in the country and enhance copreation between the two sides.
The Deputy Minister said Syria supports the UNRWA in the face of the challenges it faces and the attempts by the US and the Israeli occupation authorities to undermine the organization.
He denounced the Israeli decision to shut down UNRWA schools in Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
For his part, Ebye-Amanya voiced gratitude for Syria's efforts to ensure the success of the UNRWA, thanking the government for the facilitations provided to his predecessors which he witnessed firsthand when he was Deputy Director.
Mikdad also voiced appreciation of Adar's efforts during the time he was director, while Adar noted that Syria is one of the few countries hosting Palestinian refugees that treats them like citizens.
Hazem Sabbagh