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Texan Food Banks Need Your Help Getting Back Surplus Produce
If you've been involved with Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB) at any level, whether as a volunteer, donor or client, you know just how important fresh produce is to our daily mission.
We believe that everyone deserves the right to access nutritious food, and fresh fruits and vegetables are cornerstones of a healthy diet. Recently, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) made a momentous decision that will impede our ability to distribute fresh produce into our communities.
On October 1, TDA cut the Surplus Agricultural Product Grant, which allowed TDA to purchase fresh produce from farmers to then distribute it to the 21 food banks across Texas.
The grant cut occurred because the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on everyone, including our local government. At the height of the pandemic, Texas' number one source of income—sales tax—was severely compromised. Families didn't shop as they sheltered in place for months, and the only purchases they made were groceries and medications, which cannot be taxed under state law.
As Texas continues to financially recover, the state was left with some difficult decisions on what portions of their budget should be cut. TDA made the unfortunate decision to cut this specific grant, which will inevitably cut access to fresh fruits and vegetables for thousands. According to statistics produced by Feeding Texas, TAFB alone will lose $152,807 that would have come from the grant. This translates to 1.2 million pounds of fresh produce that won't be distributed into our 13 counties.
Farmers also lose out on the ability to sell their surplus crops, which means that they're not only losing money, but also their food is also going to waste in the process. The Surplus Agricultural Product Grant helps stimulate the economy via the multiplier effect, since the farmers spend the funds they receive to reinvest in their crops. Without such, our Texas economy would suffer.
So how can you help? We recommend you contact Commissioner Sid Miller from TDA and ask him to reconsider TDA's decision to cut the Surplus Agricultural Product Grant. As the head of the TDA, Commissioner Miller has the power to make budget changes and allot any necessary cuts to a different program. The Surplus Agricultural Product Grant is absolutely necessary for those who rely on food banks to provide fresh produce for their family. You can help put fresh fruit and vegetables on a family's table by taking action. Contact Commissioner Miller through any of the following channels:
Main Office
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 12847
Austin, TX 78711-2847
Phone Number: 512-463-7476
Email: email@example.com
District Office
Mailing Address : 6407 S US Hwy 377
Stephenville, TX 76401
Phone 254-968-3535
Social Media
Facebook- Sid Miller (@MillerForTexas)
Instagram- @millerfortexas
Twitter- @MillerForTexas
You can also read Feeding Texas' response to this decision by clicking here.


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Smart mattresses are one of the latest household items to join the digital revolution. These mattress models use technology to adapt to different body types and sleeping styles. Common offerings include tracking physical parameters and providing insights on how to improve sleep.
Smart mattresses have obvious appeal for the technologically minded, but they may also tempt those who have trouble finding a comfortable bed or a sleep partner with differing firmness preferences.
We'll cover our top picks for the best smart mattresses as well as which types of sleepers are best suited to each one. We'll also discuss more general information on what to expect from a smart mattress and how to know if it's the right choice for you.
Sleep Doctor's Picks
Best Overall
Trial Length 365 Nights ($99 Return Fee)
Warranty Lifetime, Limited
Trial Length / Warranty
365 Nights ($99 Return Fee) / Lifetime, Limited
Type Airbed
Firmness Adjustable – Soft (3) to Firm (8)
Price $2,525 – $4,625
Sleep Doctor's Take
The Solaire from Saatva is an airbed that allows you to adjust the mattress' firmness level between soft and extra firm feels. The adjustability and dual-sided design make the mattress a great choice for most sleepers and couples with different preferences.
- Adjustable firmness with 50 settings
- Zoned comfort system
- Reinforced edge support
- Sleepers who weigh less than 130 pounds may prefer a mattress with more cushioning
- Couples who prioritize motion isolation may find the responsive surface transfers more movement
The Saatva Solaire is an adjustable airbed with 50 firmness options ranging from soft (3) to firm (8). Sleepers have the option to adjust the firmness using a remote control and save their favorite firmness level. Our testers liked that queen and larger mattress sizes featured a separate air chamber on each side of the bed, which allowed each partner to select their preferred firmness according to their individual needs.
Above the air chambers, a quilted organic cotton Euro-top cover sits atop a 1-inch layer of aerated Talalay latex. We found this gave the mattress a light, responsive feel. The natural latex is also certified by the Rainforest Alliance and zoned into five sections, which offered our testers targeted support and pressure relief.
An additional 2-inch layer of gel-infused memory foam adds contouring, and a moisture barrier protects the vulcanized rubber air chambers. The foam perimeter encasement helps reinforce the edges, making it easier for you to get in and out of bed.
Because of its adjustable design, the Solaire performed well for our testers across the board, particularly for those over 130 pounds. The breathable materials help keep heat retention to a minimum, and the latex layer adds a responsive feel that makes it easier to switch positions.
Saatva offers the Solaire in twin XL, full, queen, king, split king, California king, and split California king sizes. You can also opt for an upper flex option with king and queen models that can be paired with Saatva's Lineal Base for additional comfort options.
Saatva provides a 180-night sleep trial with a $99 return fee. The Solaire comes with a 25-year limited warranty and complimentary White Glove delivery with old mattress removal.
We found that the adjustable firmness, zoned comfort system, and reinforced edge support made the Saatva Solaire a good option for combination sleepers as well as those over 130 pounds.
Most Innovative
Eight Sleep Pod 3
Trial Length 100 nights
Warranty 10 Year, Limited (foam) 2 Year, Limited (technology)
Trial Length / Warranty
100 nights / 10 Year, Limited (foam) 2 Year, Limited (technology)
Type Foam
Firmness Medium Firm (6)
Price $3,095 – $3,795
Sleep Doctor's Take
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 is an innovative model featuring biometric sensors that track your sleep and allow you to change the surface temperature. The sensors also track your body temperature and adjust throughout the night. This makes the bed a great option for hot and cold sleepers alike.
- Advanced temperature control with programmable functions
- Smart alarm clock
- Tracks sleep stages, heart rate, breathing, and other parameters
- The mattress has a higher price-point
- The all-foam design may cause sleepers who weigh more than 230 pounds to sink in too deeply
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 is a 12-inch foam mattress with a medium firm (6) feel that suits most sleeper types. The cotton blend cover wraps around two layers of polyfoam that conform to the sleeper, helping to relieve pressure points. We found that the firmer 4-inch layers of transitional polyfoam and high-density polyfoam provided sturdy spinal support and reduced noise and motion transfer, making it less likely for sleepers to notice when their partner moved in bed.
During testing, the mattress stood out for its active grid with biometric sensors, which is designed to deliver smart pressure relief and temperature control. Our testers liked having the ability to program a temperature or set the temperature to a timer. We also liked that the mattress featured ambient sensors that clocked room temperature and humidity, helping to achieve a comfortable sleep environment.
The sleep trackers recorded a variety of metrics, such as sleep stages, tossing and turning, total sleep time, and heart and breathing rate for each tester. If you dislike waking up to a traditional alarm clock, a smart alarm can transmit gentle vibrations and gradually change the temperature to wake you. You can control these features using a smartphone app, which both Android and iOS offer.
The Eight Sleep Pod 3 comes in full, queen, king, and California king. Eight Sleep provides a 10-year limited warranty for the foam mattress and a two-year limited warranty for the technology. The Eight Sleep Pod 3 comes with a 100-night sleep trial and ships free to the contiguous U.S.
With biometric sensors, advanced temperature control, and a smart alarm, the Eight Sleep Pod 3 offers innovative technology that especially benefits sleepers weighing 230 pounds or less who want insights to their sleep quality.
Why You Should Trust Us
Our team has years of experience helping readers navigate the sleep product industry — from mattresses to bedding, accessories, and sleep technology. Our team includes a range of sleepers that reflects different weight categories and preferred sleep positions so we can accurately determine which mattresses best suit different individuals.
When it comes to smart mattresses, we paid special attention to firmness adjustments, temperature control, sleep tracking, and app integrations.
More Mattress Types
What Makes a Mattress Smart?
Smart mattresses leverage technology to provide a more personalized experience for sleepers. Smart features may include adjustable firmness, sensors that track your sleep parameters, or programmable temperature regulation. These features often are controlled with a smartphone app or by connecting the bed to Alexa or Google Home.
Smart beds were first introduced in hospital settings when hospital beds were used to predict potential pressure sores and issue basic prompts for position changes. While the technology has been around for over 100 years, smart mattresses for the average consumer have only been on the market for the last decade.
What Features Do Smart Mattresses Have?
Smart mattress features aim to fine-tune comfort and deliver personalized information on sleep parameters. Each model accomplishes this by integrating a variety of techniques.
Smart Mattress Features
Sleep Tracking
Sensors embedded in a smart mattress may track your sleep stages, total sleep time, breathing, heart rate, and other sleep-related parameters. While the data may not be as accurate as a professional sleep test, it can provide a starting point if you are curious about your sleep quality.
Firmness Adjustments
Mattresses with adjustable firmness levels include air chambers so sleepers can manually adjust the firmness level. The bed may also automatically adapt to the sleeper as it detects pressure points throughout the night. Mattresses can have multiple zones for the hips, lower back, shoulders, and other sensitive areas.
Smart Alarm
Smart alarms wake you using methods like dawn simulators or gentle vibrations. They may also track your sleep and wake you when you are in a light sleep stage to prevent grogginess.
App Integrations
Many smart beds can sync with your smartphone, tablet, or smart home voice assistant, such as Alexa or Siri. The mattress sends sleep data to your device, and in turn, you can use the device to program functions on the bed.
Temperature Control
Temperature technology allows you to program an exact temperature or set the mattress to cool down gradually as you drift off to sleep. This feature often works via water channels that run through the entirety of the mattress surface. In some mattresses that are a queen size or larger, the mattress may have a thermostat on each side.
Do Smart Mattresses Help You Sleep Better?
The features included in smart mattresses are intended to help improve your sleep. Smart mattresses may accomplish this either by making real-time comfort adjustments or by providing information about your sleep quality so you can take control of your sleep routine.
Can You Use an Adjustable Base With a Smart Mattress?
Although some models can accommodate an adjustable base, others may not be designed to withstand that degree of flexibility. Adjustable bases may also be incompatible with smart elements, such as water pumps that regulate temperature. Be sure to consult the owner's guide before pairing your smart mattress with an adjustable base.
Should You Sleep on a Smart Mattress?
Mattress choice depends on your body type, sleeping style, and personal needs and preferences. However, smart mattresses have clear benefits for certain types of sleepers, particularly for those who embrace technology or have trouble getting comfortable on a standard mattress.
- Hot sleepers looking for temperature controls: Smart mattresses allow you to set the mattress to your exact desired temperature.
- Couples with differing sleep needs: Usually, you and your partner can each program your own firmness or temperature settings, making smart mattresses ideal if you find it difficult to agree on comfort.
- People wanting to optimize their sleep with tracking data: Smart mattresses can offer insights into sleep quality, microarousals, and other parameters to help you fine-tune your sleep habits.
- Sleepers looking for adjustable firmness: Smart mattresses often allow complete customization of firmness levels in precise increments. You may also be able to set different firmness zones to accommodate pressure points or areas that require more support. Adjustable firmness may be particularly useful for those recovering from an injury or those who experience chronic pain.
Smart Mattress Pros and Cons
- Offers control over firmness and temperature
- Sleep tracking features
- Can integrate with other smart home devices
- Good option for couples with different comfort preferences
- Higher price-point than standard mattresses
- Technology usually has a shorter warranty lifespan
- Limited selection
- Some shoppers may not want technology in the bedroom
Accessorizing Your Smart Sleep Routine
There are a number of smart accessories available that complement smart mattresses. If you're on a budget, smart accessories may be a more accessible purchase.
Smart Sleep Accessories
Smart Light Bulbs
A smart light bulb connects to the internet so you can control it from your smartphone, tablet, or virtual home assistant. Sleepers can program smart light bulbs to gradually turn on in the morning or change to warmer hues before bedtime.
Smart Lamps
Similar to smart light bulbs, smart lamps offer features such as gradual dimming to help you fall asleep. They may also have charging ports or settings that imitate a candle flame.
Smart Pillows
Many smart pillows reduce snoring by vibrating or adjusting the pillow angle in response to heavy breathing. Smart pillows may also have built-in speakers, sleep trackers, temperature control, or alarm clocks.
Smart Mattress Covers
Smart mattress covers may offer individual temperature regulation technology, personalized alarm clocks, or sleep tracker functions that can be used with your existing mattress. If you have other smart technology, such as lighting or thermostats, you may be able to synchronize your devices.
What Else Should You Consider Before Buying a Smart Mattress?
Beyond features, materials, performance, and pricing, it's important to consider several other factors before purchasing a smart mattress.
Some Assembly May Be Required
Unlike a standard mattress, smart mattresses may require more legwork to set up. For example, you may need to connect tubing and pumps, plug in cables, program sensors, or download an app before you gain full use of the bed.
Sleep Tracking Apps and Accessing Data
Sleep data is typically collected via integrated sensors and sent to your smartphone or another smart device. Most commonly, the sensors analyze your movements, heart rate, and breathing patterns. Based on your movements, they estimate your sleep time, nighttime awakenings, and how much time you spend in each sleep stage. This method is not as accurate as directly measuring your brain waves, but it can be a good compromise for everyday users who are curious about their sleep patterns.
Mattress Weight and Movability
Airbed models may weigh anywhere between 60 and 120 pounds. Thicker profiles, denser materials, and additional technology may further increase the mattress' weight.
Generally, at least two people are needed to move a queen size mattress. Smart models may require extra care when moving and may not lend themselves to folding or compressing. Be sure to read the owner's guide to see if you need to disconnect any parts before moving the mattress.

subset: commoncrawl


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Social cohesion, Participation, Inclusion through Cultural Engagement (SPICE) is an EU Horizon 2020 funded project dedicated to citizen curation of cultural heritage spanning over three years, from May 2020 to April 2023. Horizon 2020 is an EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation that provides funding to projects tackling societal challenges. The objective of SPICE is to support citizen curation through co-design with a diverse set of museums and communities.
There are five different case studies involving museums and participant groups in which codesign and evaluation of citizen curation activities will be implemented. The countries in which these case studies are being carried out are Finland, Ireland, Israel, Italy and Spain. The Irish case study is being carried out at IMMA through a collaboration with Open University.
IMMA's case study aims to support groups who are less able to visit the museum physically, such as asylum seekers and children with serious illnesses, to access collections and share their own perspectives, both online and in the museum. Participants will be encouraged to think about universal, personal themes such as family to make interconnections across groups.
For further information on the SPICE project, contact [email protected]
Discover selected artworks from our Collection with IMMA Viewpoints. This new programme invites you to explore IMMA's outdoor artworks on your phone while visiting the historical site of IMMA and the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Here, you can learn about our outdoor Collection and share your viewpoint about various sculptures. You can also explore how others have reacted. To join the IMMA Viewpoints conversation click here.
Explore how diverse communities have interpreted artworks and exhibitions at IMMA with IMMA Deep Viewpoints. Using this web app you can view works of art through the eyes of a wide range of minoritised or under-served communities, such as Irish Travellers, migrants and people seeking asylum, young people living with lifelong illnesses, and many other groups that have traditionally lacked access to the museum. Explore community-authored selections of artworks and share your own responses here.
The Irish case study is being carried out by IMMA in collaboration with Open University.
The Open University (OU), established in 1969, is the UK's only university dedicated to distance learning. It has around 150,000 undergraduate and more than 30,000 postgraduate students. The largest faculty within the Open University is the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Knowledge Media Institute (KMi), a research centre within the STEM Faculty, was set up in 1995 in recognition of the need for the Open University to be at the forefront of research and development in a convergence of areas that impacted on the OU's very nature: Cognitive and Learning Sciences, Artificial Intelligence and Semantic Technologies, and Multimedia. KMi has extensive experience of creating, managing and participating in national and European research projects related to cultural heritage, semantic web, digital libraries and technology enhanced learning.
University of Bologna [Project Coordinator]
Aalto University
Aalborg University
Design Museum Helsinki
GVAM Interactive Guides S.L.
Open University
PadaOne Games
CELI – Language Technology
Complutense, University of Madrid
CIRMA University of Turin
Fondazione Torino Musei
University of Haifa and Hecht Museum
Centro Nazionale delle Ricerche.
Please note this is archive content and may not display optimally.
Welcome to IMMA. Our website may not work correctly in your browser. We only support IE 10+ (PC only), Chrome 60+, Firefox 55+, Safari (9+ Mac / 5+ PC).


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Will You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions?
You may want to lose weight. Or take up a new activity. Or learn new skills to apply to old activities. Whatever your New Year's resolutions, there are some things More >>
How Serious Are You?
Are you a serious, goal-driven person with a mission in life? Or are you pretty much a goof-off? Take the quiz and find out!


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Start the Ripple
"[These] techniques [have] allowed me to go into a room and mediate a conflict between some guys who were on the verge of killing each other. These tools created a process that allowed them to communicate and walk away while saving face."
Prison of Peace Inmate, Valley State Prison, California
Be Empowered in Every Moment
This project is about teaching you listening, communication, and de-escalation skills that allow you to spread respect, compassion, and wisdom throughout your community.
These skills have transformed the lives of thousands of people just like you.
Calm an angry child or teenager in 90 seconds or less
Listen to your spouse in a way that will transform your marriage
Turn anger into understanding quickly and efficiently
Remain present and calm no matter what anyone says to you
Create real, sustainable peace in your family, your work, your school, your church and your community
Become a powerful respected leader
Live a centered, calm, empowered life regardless of the drama around you
'Our Asperger grandson flew into a rage last week because his sister appeared to "get credit" for a comment the two of them made at the same time. Linda had listened closely to my description of your teaching and she said to our grandson, "You feel you haven't been listened to." He immediately affirmed her statement and then she said, "That makes you feel bad." Within 10 seconds, the listening and communication skills you taught us restored calm and reduced a normally escalating set of circumstances into a calm that might otherwise have taken hours to achieve. Thanks!'
Larry B., Nashville TN
How It Works
This is a different type of online workshop. The best way to learn and master the de-escalation communication skills is by practice and with coaching. That's what this program provides. You purchase the online course and materials, preferably through a trained facilitator who knows you. You go through the course in about four hours with a trusted friend. Then get 4 weekly coaching sessions online in a small group session with your facilitator. By the end, you should have solid mastery to de-escalate anyone anytime.
Learn On-Line
Online training means you can take the lessons when you want. You can repeat the lessons as often as you want. You can work anywhere you have Internet access. You can attend the coaching sessions online too. Efficient, effective, modern learning of 21st century skills.
Coaching Customized For You
In teaching these skills to thousands of people over ten years, we have learned that coaching over a period of time is essential to mastery. Doug Noll has trained people with a strong desire to serve others as facilitators and coaches. Every week for four weeks, you can attend an online small group session to ask questions, learn from others, practice your skills, and build community.
Your Investment
Purchase the online video course and downloadable materials and attend 4 weekly coaching sessions online. Your investment: $360.00. Start immediately.
'"Your work has been the most profound life-changing training I have ever put my time and effort into. I am a Clinical Psychotherapist graduating with high honors. My focus is cognitive rehabilitation with a specialty in neuroscience and brain injury.
Through your work, I am a much better person, therapist, mother, friend, wife, and all the other roles I play in life. This training should be a requirement for all clinical therapists. I learned more from you than all my work in grad school in reference to seeing the big picture."
Click Here to Learn More About the Noll Affect Labeling System (tm)


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Scrabble?! STEWIs stew valid for Scrabble? Words With Friends? Lexulous? WordFeud? Other games?
Definitions of STEW in various dictionaries:
noun - agitation resulting from active worry
noun - food prepared by stewing especially meat or fish with vegetables
verb - be in a huff
WORD SOLVER(tip: SPACE or ? for wildcards)
There are 4 letters in STEW ( E1S1T1W4 )
To search all scrabble anagrams of STEW, to go: STEW?
Rearrange the letters in STEW and see some winning combinations
Scrabble results that can be created with an extra letter added to STEW
Anagrammer is a game resource site that has been extremely popular with players of popular games like Scrabble, Lexulous, WordFeud, Letterpress, Ruzzle, Hangman and so forth. We maintain regularly updated dictionaries of almost every game out there. To be successful in these board games you must learn as many valid words as possible, but in order to take your game to the next level you also need to improve your anagramming skills, spelling, counting and probability analysis. Make sure to bookmark every unscrambler we provide on this site. Explore deeper into our site and you will find many educational tools, flash cards and so much more that will make you a much better player. This page covers all aspects of STEW, do not miss the additional links under "More about: STEW"


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Back To The Future was shot in high definition and is also best viewed in full-screen mode. Extra features, longer highlight reels from the trips and production photos can be found on the DVD's, which are available from Jill Martin. In lieu of a writeup here, I kept a detailed Production Log that can be viewed here (scroll to the bottom for the first entry).
If you want to watch just the Back To The Future segments (with just one of the music montages) or share it with your non-Jeeping friends, I've uploaded that version onto YouTube.


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The Attendant
Save Liquid error (snippets/product-badge line 32): Computation results in '-Infinity'%
$95.00 - $395.00
Full Length 1:16 min
Available for MP4 video download by purchasing a corporate or single-site license.
The attendant is the member of the confined space entry team that monitors the conditions inside and outside the space as well as the condition of the entrants inside the space. The attendant is a vital part of the confined space entry team. Although the attendant must also be trained as an entrant, the attendant must NOT enter the space and must prevent unauthorized employees from entering while waiting for rescue personnel to arrive.
Topics include the duties required by the attendant before, during and after confined space work is performed.


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Catch-22; Joseph Heller
Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Condition: New
Discover Joseph Heller's hilarious and tragic satire on military madness, and the tale of one man's efforts to survive it.
It's the closing months of World War II and Yossarian has never been closer to death. Stationed in an American bomber squadron off the coast of Italy, each flight mission introduces him to thousands of people determined to kill him.
But the enemy above is not Yossarian's problem - it is his own army intent on keeping him airborne, and the maddening 'Catch-22' that allows for no possibility of escape.
We Also Recommend
A Brief Guide to Philosophical Classics, From Plato to Winnie the Pooh; James M. Russell
Regular price €5,00 €5,00


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Commenter Ohsnap discovered an epic World of Warcraft thread in progress from the Onyxia server: Who Wants to be the GM of DSOL? This is for real. Basically, it's the old "husband and wife Warcraft team and one of the two is getting some extracurricular action", in this case, the wife. The husband wrote:
Hello and thank you for taking the time to read my post.
Contrary to what you might assume or believe, I am the GM of Dirty Sons of Liches (look me up in the armory if you doubt it) and the only remaining founder. The guild is a little over a year old, my days as GM is about to end and I need someone to take over for me.
As you might know, Gilgamesh is my wife in real life and has placed a significant amount of work into the guild and people are likely to respond why not give it to her. The primary reason is I intend to gkick her from the guild when I return home from work tonight.
As it turns out playing wow isn't the only thing she likes to do in her free time. I hear that she is often very friendly over ventrilo…very friendly.
With that said, I have decided not to disband the guild- the guild deserves to live on. I would like to just give it away….for free. Website, DKP, everything.
Whats the catch?
Simple really, I need some information. I want to know EVERYTHING. Considering Gilgamesh doesnt work, and I pay for everything, I have access to everything. Name your virtual price.
Visit http://www.dirtysonsofliches.com/ for my contact information.
Thank you very much and happy hunting.
Holy crimony.
Many (most?) of us have seen similar in our guilds and games, but rarely do you see such … publicity, and by the wounded party no less. Let's call him the petitioner, because we know that's where this is going. (Somewhere there's a judge about to get an intro into the underbelly of online society. She did what? Where? People do that?)
Reply #21 by the petitioner:
I also wanted to add, if you think you were the only guy that got to have some "Private Time" with my wife because you are special…you are wrong. There are 3 that I know of.
I don't want this information so I can "Track People Down" or do anything at all. I just want to have closure and move on with my life. And in this process I hope to be able to make something good out of it- and if that means I need to give away several thousand gold or guild bank items it seems like a very small price to pay.
I dunno. If you're an Onyxia pixel humper, I hope you're a rogue IRL and can stealth to and from work.
And finally, reply #275 (page #14) by the petitioner, apparently this isn't the first incident … big surprise there:
Just to clarify some things. We were in counseling as this happened. Ironically because she had done this in the past on a different server and it was something I was still trying to deal with. One guy she told me about the other I found out on my own.
Gilgamesh was the love of my life. She was everything to me, I am sorry that I could not give her everything she needed. But as she explains, I made her do this.
I work between 30-80 hours a week, when i get home its not uncommon for me to cook dinner for us around 10pm and watch her eat as she "Runs The Guild". Often times I am too tired and just drink beer.
I don't want this post to sound as if I am trying to validate what I have done here. But rather to ensure that I never allow myself to be subjected to my own blind faith and devotion.
She took my escape from reality, twisted it, and made it real. Now I have done the same. Perhaps she did not feel what she was doing was cheating. I wonder when she reads this if she will differentiate the between fantasy and reality then.
Bonus! An Onyxia paparazzo snapped some screenies of private conversations between an ALLEGED pixel humper and other guildmates in reply #298 (page 15).
Additional resources: Encyclopedia of Demeter – Gilgamesh Drama, including links to cited materials, additional media and fan club information.
I can add to that. Best Gilgamesh post, in hindsight:
I MISS YOU CHUBBY!! Ony is just not the same now without all you guys 🙁
(Good work, Ohsnap. Way to snoop out the epic drama!)
UPDATE: Oh no! As anticipated, the forum thread got killed! But not before I archived the entertaining material in Furl. I'll post SS's to Flickr tomorrow (or whenever Furl is functioning again) … for the lolligaggers.


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SGD Rates and Bonds Weekly
Economic News
Jun Non Oil Domestic Exports -8.8% YoY vs expected -5.8%
Jun Non Oil Domestic Exports 3.2% MoM vs expected 2.4%
Jun Electronics Exports -12.4% YoY vs expected -9.7%
Jun CPI 1.8% YoY vs expected 1.8%
Jun CPI 0.2% MoM vs expected 0.3%
Uneventful week with USDSGD chopping between 1.26 and 1.27 in an indecisive marketplace. The June NODX had a pretty poor showing though I am not sure if it could be the "haze effect".
Trading wise, the market took new interest in the 2-5-10Y butterfly in patchy trading as market players continues to shrink and trading is dominated by a few, deterring the rest from taking positions. The short end remained capped with the 6M SOR holding near its 12 month low of 0.32 for the past 6 weeks in a truly stagnant market.
As the slowdown continues to take root, we can expect heightened vigilance out of regional central banks which makes positioning difficult. Nonetheless, the short end should have found support and if the outlook takes a turn for the worse, we can expect the short end of the curve to hold their ground and be the first port of call for hedging efforts. In addition, today's MAS revision of the inflation outlook is supportive of the USDSGD which makes a case to be paid.
I like the 1Y1Y forward at 0.70% (currently 0.77%) which looks like a support. The 5Y should be consolidating at the current 1.5% area.
Activity slowed into the week and yields only rallied after the weekend with Bernanke out of the way. Buyers favoured the belly to 10Y papers on short covering and curve plays while the long end >10Y saw little demand probably on street lightening into the new 20Y auction next month end.
The search for yield from investors extended past the 2-4Y papers, yielding close to nothing now, after the gargantuan maturity on 1 Jul and we saw the 5-8Y papers taking their turn to shine for bonds to outperform swaps in all the tenors except the long ends.
10Y yields under CPF rate again for the average Singaporean to lose out. I am not a strong supporter of bonds at these levels especially after the inflation forecast has been cut.
The fwd fwd chart shows a huge steepening in the SGS curve >3Y which vindicates the buying we saw in the past week. The 2020-2021 still looking expensive.


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With a fluffy kitten on show on the home page, there is no doubt that Wink Bingo is aiming for the cute market and this is shown with consistency throughout their site.
There is plenty of help on offer and although the help section is very wordy, it does offer a lot of advice for any user and this should mean that people are kept up to date with everything they need to know to get the best from their bingo playing.
With 75 and 90 ball bingo available at the Wink Bingo site there is plenty of scope to get online and get playing and thankfully the games move at a slick enough speed. The game screen is very pink and sometimes it can be a bit disorientating but with the autodaub function there is no great problem with this and it is possible to play numerous cards at the one time with no difficulty.
An interesting promotion found on the sites homepage is the chance to win £150 each day during September to enable members to add to their Winter wardrobe. As a short running promotion and at only £1 needed to play, this is an interesting offer which may entice in a few more casual players.
New members are automatically given a £15 bonus allowing them to play bingo without costing them anything which should be seen as a no risk opportunity to use the Wink Bingo site. After registering, take advantage of this offer to play a few games and see what works best for you.
After this, the first deposit placed by a new member will be matched 200% (between £5 and £100) and then any subsequent deposit between £10 and £100 will be rewarded with a 50% bonus.
There is also a 10% cash back facility offered by the site where Wink Bingo will give 10% back of all losses to their members. This and a whole host of cash prizes up for grabs means there are many reasons to continually return to the Wink Bingo site for all your bingo needs.
In addition to all this, Wink Bingo also operates a referral scheme where players can earn bonus points for enticing friends to come to the site.
As well as the bingo offerings, there are a few other ways the patrons of Wink Bingo can while away their time onsite and the other games include:
There is also private messaging allowed between members which make for more of a social networking site as opposed to a plain old bingo site. If you have friends who are also part of the site this can be an easy way to stay in touch and to increase the fun you have whilst playing bingo in your own home. A lot of the enjoyment from going to physical bingo halls comes in the form of catching up with friends and the social aspect and this is something that Wink Bingo has worked hard to offer to its members.


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CHURCH: Successful churches alter their callings
Sun | Local
Despite the low per-capita of attendance in Kitsap County, some churches are thriving.Tom Wagner, the church administrator at South Kitsap Presbyterian Church in Port Orchard, said his church's attendance has gone steadily upward in the last few years. The church's informal service and excellent music program have attracted many new people, who have in turn reached out to their community through Helpline and Family Kitchen, a program providing meals to low-income residents.
Outreach to young people is important at South Kitsap Presbyterian and many other churches. Churches offer afterschool and night programs for elementary students through young adults.
On Tuesday nights, more than 300 teenagers and young adults flock to Christ Memorial Church in Poulsbo for Legacy House, a rock-concert style worship service that has kids dancing in the aisles.
Josh Epperson, a member of the Legacy House staff, says most of the kids who come to the service don't go to Christ Memorial or any church.
"But they come back (here) because they see lives are changed," he said.
Dan Wilson, pastor for the past 14 years at Navy Yard City Bible Church, says his church, after years of flat numerical growth, has started to multiply in part because of a strong youth program. More than 100 children gather at the church Wednesday nights.
When visitors "come into the church, they see God changing lives and they say 'This is where I want to be,' " Wilson said.
Paul Meeker, pastor for the past 10 years at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Bremerton, is watching his church turn around after many years of declining membership.
Many factors influence growth, he says, but what he sees most from current church members is good old-fashioned friendliness.
Darla Kitchens, who works on the 67-member pastoral staff at Christ Memorial in Poulsbo, says people who attend her church often are reminded from the pulpit of their responsibilities as a Christian, including sharing the faith with non-Christians, trusting in Christ, praying, contributing money and learning from the Bible.
But, she says, no one church member is doing all those things perfectly.
"It's a process," she says. "All these different people are at all these different places in life. I think it's a process."
From a more sociological point of view, John Boonstra, executive minister of the Washington Association of Churches, finds people shopping for churches to meet their needs and to make community connections. Choosing a church based on its efficient child-care program isn't bad, Boonstra says, but it's not biblical.
"It's not 'I want to use my religious faith to build a church,' " he said.
Rogers B. Miles, a professor of religion at Whitman College in Walla Walla, said, "... many Americans, in choosing what church they will attend, pay more attention to the friendliness of the congregation, the times and the informality of worship or the charisma of the pastor than they do the niceties of theology."
Patricia O'Connell Killen, a religion professor at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, says people who attend church seek truth and understanding, but they aren't usually informed about a church's doctrinal details or belief structure.
Consultant minister Bill Robinson, who was a pastor in Texas before moving to Kitsap County, said he finds many churchgoers in the Northwest refreshing because many are seeking the right reasons, he said.
But church also can become a social club, where people have a "religious orientation to Christianity." Despite the South's high church attendance, "I think the people who are going to church here are going for a better motivation," he said.
But will they continue to attend into the 21st Century?
"I have my days when I am wonderfully hopeful and there are days when I say, 'Lord help us, because I don't know what else to do, ' " said Veronica Kelley, pastoral associate at Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Jamie Greening, who has been pastor at First Baptist Church in Port Orchard for a year, sees Kitsap as "ripe for what churches have to offer."
Spiritual hunger exists among the people trying to be satisfied with fat bank accounts, new cars, homes and powerful jobs. Often, though, people find those things are empty and seek new satisfaction, church leaders say. The church needs to be ready to convey its message to these seekers.
"These are transitional days for the Lutheran church," says Meeker, of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Bremerton. Evangelism and outreach programs need to be re-evaluated.
Robinson puts it much more dramatically.
"Stop navel-gazing and get your eyes off yourself," he says. "A great majority of time and resources are spent on ourselves and that's not good."
Instead, he said, people who go to church should reach out to the community.
Steve Wexler, pastor of Abundant Life Foursquare Church in Bremerton, said that could be better accomplished if churches worked together.
"No single church can reach everyone," he said.


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One of the fascinating articles in the latest issue of the Devil's Artisan dives into a rather non-traditional project taken on by Canadian painter David B. Milne in the early 1940s. Milne became fascinated by the history of playing cards and created a series of watercolours featuring the characters we normally see on face cards–kings, queens and knaves/jacks. These watercolours were later used to create actual decks of playing cards in 1973 by Stan Bevington and David Silcox.
You can read about this fascinating project in DA 88.
You can also purchase one of a limited number of sets of these playing cards, should you find the project of particular interest. Keep reading for information about the set and how to order.
* * *
(David Milne/Coach House Press/Stan Bevington/David Silcox). A set of two decks of the standard 52 playing cards plus two jokers each, measuring 9 x 6.3 cm (standard size), designs based on two watercolours by David Milne. (Toronto: Coach House Press, 1973). 1 of 100 sets in a custom-made wooden box (11.5 x 14.8 cm, either Ontario white pine or Ontario walnut) with a sliding lid.
The rectos of both decks are illustrated with a watercolour design from Milne's 'King, Queen, and Jokers' I and II — the first deck features a reproduction of figures taken from of one watercolour image in 'King, Queen, and Jokers I', while the second deck features a reproduction of figures from one watercolour image in 'King, Queen, and Jokers II.' The figures for the knaves, queens, kings and jokers are taken from the Milne watercolours, which in the original watercolours are full-figures but for the face cards in the decks are depicted in the more traditional three-quarter figure.
In an interview with Don McLeod in DA: The Devil's Artisan (issue 88, 2021), Stan Bevington discusses the genesis and evolution of these cards and details their printing and production. The process involved the use of integrated random grain screenless photography and a complicated colour separation procedure.
Sets of the cards can be ordered from David Mason Books at:
firstname.lastname@example.com or 416-598-1015
Appointment is necessary to view. Please call.


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Suppose you are a dinosaur fan, then the Jurassic World series is bound to excite you. Plus, to add to the cherry on the top, you could always play the Jurassic World Evolution game after watching the movie. But, playing games is not still as simple as watching a movie. This requires an understanding of controls and the gameplay and knowledge of fixes if you face issues while playing. The guide will help to Solve Jurassic World Evolution Crashing on startup in your Windows 10 PC.
How To Solve Jurassic World Evolution Crashing On Windows 10?
There are four primary troubleshooting methods to fix Jurassic World games that keep crashing on your Windows 10 PC. So, Fixes have been recommended by experts on various gaming forums and have seemed for many across the globe.
Method 1: Verify Game Integrity
This first fix applicable in resolving Jurassic World Evolution Crashing on startup is to verify the game files' integrity on your PC. Well, Every game launcher installs the game on your PC, leaving a lot of files and folders. Suppose any of these files are corrupted or appear missing, you will face issues while launching the game. Hence, the first fix is to check the files and repair or replace them if needed through your game launcher. Here are the following steps:
Step 1: Start, Launch the Steam application and click on the Library tab.
Step 2: Then, From the list of games installed on your system, locate and make a right-click on Jurassic World Evolution & select Properties from the context menu.
Step 3: Now, in the Properties window, choose the Local Files tab & then click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
Step 4: Next, Once the process completes, restart your system and then relaunch Epic Launcher to initiate the game & check if the Jurassic World game keeps crashing issue persists.
Method 2: Toggle Overlays
Another solution to resolve Jurassic World Evolution Crashing on startup is to disable your Steam Launcher's overlays feature. Here're the steps to do that:
Step 1: First, Open the Steam application and click on the Steam link in the upper left corner.
Step 2: Then, click on Settings and then click on the In-Game option from the left panel.
Step 3: Next, uncheck the box labelled as Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game in the right panel.
Step 4: Suppose you are using Discord, you can also disable overlay due to this launching the Discord app and click on the Settings icon that looks like a gear wheel.
Step 5: Well, In the General Settings, toggle off the IN-Game Overlay switch located on the right panel.
Though the overlays have been disabled, check if the Jurassic World game keeps crashing issue has been fixed.
Method 3: Modify Graphics
To Solve the Jurassic World Evolution Crashing on startup, you can modify the graphics settings and lower them a bit for better performance. Here're the steps on how to do that:
Step 1: Start, Open the Steam Launcher and initiate the game.
Step 2: Now, Once the game launches, choose the Settings option on the home screen.
Step 3: Then, click on the Display option.
Step 4: Next, In the Display window, change the Screen Mode to Windowed from Borderless.
Step 5: Here, uncheck the checkbox next to VSync to turn it off.
Step 6: Now, navigate back to the Settings Menu, and this time clicks on Graphics under Display options.
Step 7: Finally, In the Graphics window, turn down all the options one by one.
Once Its done, exit the game and the launcher and restart the system. Then, Check if the Jurassic World game keeps crashing issues after lowering the Graphics Settings.
Method 4: Update Drivers
This final step to resolve Jurassic World Evolution Crashing on startup is to update all your drivers, especially the graphic driver. So, Drivers are installed to maintain the communication channel between the software like OS, apps, and the hardware installed in your system. That is why you must ensure that your PC has the latest updated and compatible drivers to ensure your computer's smooth and flawless functioning. Well, Updating drivers can be done in two ways: So, Manual and Automatic.
Option 1: Manual Method Of Updating Drivers
This Technique involves identifying your hardware (let us begin with your graphic card) and then visiting the official site to search and download the latest drivers for your product. So, Once you have downloaded them, you can install them and move to the next set of drivers required by Jurassic World Evolution. The process is time-consuming and requires a lot of effort with considerable tech knowledge & skills.
Option 2: Automatic Method Of Updating Drivers
This alternative to the manual method is to install a third-party application that can scan all the hardware and check the drivers installed on your system. This can then compare those with the latest drivers available on the internet and notify you via a list of driver issues. So, All missing, outdated, and corrupt drivers are taken into account and considered for replacement by the application.
Well, Smart Driver Care is one such application that automatically updates drivers in your system with a few clicks. This takes the back of your system drivers before replacing them. Here're the steps to update your drivers automatically:
Step 1: Download & Install Smart Driver care from the official website or the link given below:
Step 2: So, Once installed, open the app and run the Smart Scan Now button.
Step 3: Next, a list of driver issues will appear on the screen. Tap on the Update driver link beside the driver you wish to update, and it will be updated.
Step 4: Now, Once you have fixed your driver issues, exit the application, and restart the PC for the changes to take effect.
Now, Check your PC, and you will find that it delivers optimum performance and would have fixed many issues including the Jurassic World Evolution Crashing on Windows 10 PC.
Also, Check :
Final Words:
This Jurassic Worlgameplayon is a fantastic game that delivers a unique experience to gamers around the world. Still, the experience is ruined if the game crashes and does not allow you to play. While mentioned earlier, the fixes have resolved the issue for many gaming forums and are bound to do the same for you.


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Guide to Foursquare Badges
End Park Foursquare's Top Badges sachuset THE POPULAR LOCATION-BASED SOCIAL NETWORK Badge Name % of Users with Badge Badge therimac Rank House Newbie Badge Congrats on your first check-in! 94.4% Cambridge St AColumbus Woterfro D State St 2 Adventurer Badge You've checked into 10 different venues! 107 85.2% Aquanum Olo 3 Local Badge You've been at the same place 3x in one week! n St 77.9% House aport Explorer Badge You've checked into 25 different venues! 25) ancock ver 71.4% Mass Tumpike 5 Super User Badge That's 30 checkins in a month for you! 71.4% 30 Bost 6 Bender Badge That's 4+ nights in a row for you! 60.7% nventi Ehibition Rotch Playaround 7 Superstar Badge You've checked into 50 different venues! 150 Crunked Badge That's 4 stops in ane night for you! 51.0% South Boston Super Mayor Badge A special shoutout for holding down 10 mayorships at once! s Blvd 27.9% E Bth Columbia Rd Preble St 10 Overshare Badge 10+ checkins in 12 hours! Next up: hweeting that yoU unlocked this Overshare badge? 26.3% "Chart based on data from foursquare.grader.com. Design by: Roshni Mirchandani square Find out where you rank on grader forsqure redercom HubSpot www.digisecrets.com W Ist 5 dway
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Subscribe to
Samy Bahra
This proposal has been rejected.
Samy BahraBacktrace
- Website: http://backtrace.io/
- Blog: http://repnop.org/
- Twitter: @0xf390
Samy Al Bahra is the cofounder of Backtrace, where he is helping build a modern debugging platform for today's complex applications. Prior to Backtrace, Samy was a principal engineer at AppNexus, where he played a lead role in the architecture and development of many mission-critical components of the ecosystem. His work at AppNexus was instrumental in scaling the system to 18 billion impressions with orders of magnitude in efficiency improvements. Prior to AppNexus, Samy was behind major performance improvements to the core technology at Message Systems. At the George Washington University High Performance Computing Laboratory, Samy worked on the UPC programming language, heterogeneous computing, and multicore synchronization. Samy is also the founder of the Concurrency Kit project, which several leading technology companies rely on for scalability and performance. Samy serves on the ACM Queue Editorial Board.
Proposals for this user
* Bringing scalable parallel software to the masses
Despite more than 20 years of active research and development, a lot of scalable synchronization remains inaccessible to many students, engineers and open-source projects. Why? And what has been done so far?
|Refereed Presentations
|Samy Bahra
* Compile Once Debug Twice; Picking a compiler for debuggability
Symbolic debuggers are one of the most important tools in the programmer's toolkit, but also one of the most overlooked pieces of technology. They have to work in some of the harshest conditions, supporting a huge set of programming languages and aggressive transformations by compilers. This talk explores how these debuggers work and how they fail.
|Refereed Presentations
|Samy Bahra


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I did it!Topic: Uncategorized| 2 Comments »
I made the purchase.
Like a woman on a mission I waltzed into Gap Baby(Maternity)–my old ways of Gap Body clearly forsaken. I girded my loins and picked up the first pair of elastic band jeans I saw and about 5 tops (for moral support). I crept into a changing room and sat down facing the jeans. It was really quite crowded in there with this 300 pound gorilla. I had a bite of emergency chocolate and pulled the plug.
It really was not so bad. Quite comfy really.
I felt brave enough to even open one eye and step out of the changing room to review.
At this very moment a gorgeous blonde glided by my door asking a shop assistant if they had the the dark wash skinny jeans in size 0 as 2 were too baggy.
I slammed the door, pulled up my phone, and spent next 5 minutes looking up fat celebrities. I cant stand Roseanne when she opens her mouth but I sure enjoy looking at her.
With renewed courage, I called for a shop assistant to get me every pair of maternity jeans they had. Many minutes/hours later I had THEM. Yes, they had the band, yes, they were 70 bucks (!!! never EVER spent that much on pants)…BUT they were size 4. And that is all that mattered. If I had known that Gap Maternity secretly has vanity sizing, I would have been shopping there for years.
So, all is well. I am poor but vain as ever. Aaaaah. Such a warm and fuzzy feeling.


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Russia's GRU: A Cold War Spy Power with the Cruelty of ISIS
They've supposedly poisoned former spies. They've apparently downed an airliner, killing hundreds of innocent people. They're allegedly fond of "burning traitors alive."
Is this the Islamic State group?
No. It's Russia's GRU.
According to the U.K. Mirror, the GRU — which stands for "Main Intelligence Directorate" in Russian — is the agency behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter with the nerve agent novichok in the United Kingdom earlier this year.
Two men have been charged in that attack according to the U.K. Guardian — Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.
However, if accounts are true, that sort of attack is standard stuff for the GRU.
"The secret group trains its 25,000 soldiers in 'non-linear warfare' which can be used to destabilize nations through cyber attacks and espionage," the U.K. Mirror reports.
"The GRU have been deployed in eastern Ukraine to support the separatist movement and are also thought to be behind alleged disruption ahead of the 2016 US presidential election.
"Under Vladimir Putin Russia has stopped short of outright aggression but, through the GRU, have become masters of cyber warfare and underhand tactics."
That includes the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over the Ukraine in 2014, which resulted in the deaths of 298 people.
"It was started as an intelligence-gathering agency for the Bolshevik Red Army a century ago," the Mirror reports.
"Ever since then it has remained separate from other intelligence organizations and was kept entirely separate from the more famous KGB during the Cold War but still ran operations during that time."
And they're every bit as violent as you would imagine. Take what happened in 1985 when four Russian diplomats were taken hostage from the Soviets' Beirut embassy by Islamists.
One of the Soviet diplomats was killed. So, the GRU managed to track down a hostage-taker's family member and "castrated them, cut him down into pieces and sent him to the hostage takers." They then threatened to do the same to the rest of the hostage-takers. All three of the remaining diplomats were released safely.
Of course, the Soviet Union is no more and the Cold War is over. We all knew of the KGB and their actions, yet NPR national security correspondent Greg Myre said that they were "broken up with separate domestic and foreign intelligence services complete with new names."
"The lesser-known GRU, founded a century ago by Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky, just kept going under the same name."
The secretive organization is linked to a number of actions beyond what's mentioned, including the destabilization of Montenegro, assistance to the Assad regime in the Syrian Civil War and other related horrors.
Russia, of course, denies this all. However, given what we know about the GRU, crimes like the novichok poisoning in the U.K. could become a much more regular occurrence — and given that the Trump administration has put sanctions on the Russians of late and are threatening a showdown in Syria, it could mean they hit the United States next.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


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Most Recent
Culture Clashes
Are you "blessed" or "privileged"?
They might seem close synonyms but the Devil is in the details **** A couple of years back a viral video showed a large group of older teens getting...
Saturday Selections – January 11, 2020
If conversion therapy is bad why is "sex reassignment" good? It's been said that our culture wars are really just a battle over the dictionary. "One ...


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Original 12 X 12 inch 0il painting on quality cotton canvas with optional unfinished wood floating frame. AT THE BEACH
Update January 31, 2013 – En plein air painting that was part of new series "Squared to the Sea" and has now been reworked.
ArtWork Archive original paintings and acrylic sketches currently available.
Related articles
- My Grand Studio (creativepotager.wordpress.com)
- Good Morning En Plein Air (creativepotager.wordpress.com)


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What is an ads manager campaign? Do you know? The ads manager campaign here is in line with the Facebook ads manager platform. If you are an active user of the Facebook platform then you will be familiar with this. Well, you don't just have to be familiar with the Facebook platform to be familiar with this Facebook tool. You need to be a marketer on the platform. This further means that you already make use of the Facebook platform for business purposes such as advertising and so much more. if you have no idea about this platform on Facebook and how it works, then here is your chance. Keep reading to find out more about it.
Ads Manager Campaign
I remember the first time a friend of mine found out about advertising on Facebook. I mean he was perplexed. He never knew that he too can advertise or use the platform for advertising purposes just like most users using the platform for business purposes. Well, he wasn't cool about it, not until I told him about it and how it works. This tool on Facebook simply means creating ads via the Facebook ads manager platform. Facebook ads manager campaigns are ads or ad units on the platform. This is a must-use tool as an advertiser on the platform.
How to Create an Ads Manager Campaign
Creating an ads manager campaign is easy. All you need to do to successfully create an ad campaign on Facebook is to visit the main ads manager platform Here. On the ads manager platform, click on the 'create tab'. When you click on this tab, you will need to set up an audience, budget, placements, and others. When creating ad campaigns on the Facebook ads platform, there are two workflows with which you can choose from. The guided creation option guides you through the steps in creating a campaign to completion. If you are new to Facebook ads, you need to choose this workflow. The second workflow to make use of is the quick creation workflow. This option is for advanced and skilled advertisers who are familiar with Facebook advertisements.


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Today, Tabby is announcing that it has raised a $50 million Series B, valuing the company at $300 million.
The jump in market penetration is one reason tabby has scaled 20x in transaction volume since June 2020. According to the company, more than 400,000 active shoppers use its platform, and approximately 3,000 installs are recorded daily.
The fast growth has allowed tabby to secure another round of capital than originally planned, cofounder Arab adds. In June, the company raised $50 million in one of the largest debt facilities by a fintech in the MENA and GCC region. The investment follows tabby's seed and Series A rounds of $7 million and $23 million in 2020
These past few years have seen the emergence of buy now, pay later services worldwide, with leading players raising buttloads of cash to serve an insatiable young adult population who don't fancy credit cards or paying interest.
In the Middle East, not less than ten startups offering BNPL services have launched within the past three years.
Tabby is one such service and clearly the most known in the region. Today, it is announcing that it has raised a $50 million Series B, valuing the company at $300 million.
Global Founders Capital and STV led the funding round, with participation from Delivery Hero and CCVA. Existing investors, including Arbor Ventures, Mubadala Investment Capital, Raed Ventures, Global Ventures, MSA Capital, VentureSouq, Outliers VC, JIMCO, and HOF, also participated.
Hosam Arab founded the company in late 2019 after he left fashion e-commerce Namshi, a company he led as CEO until a Dubai-based real estate firm acquired it. The launch of tabby as a buy now, pay later solution was to specifically target economic problems of the MENA and wider GCC region, says Arab.
Globally, BNPL services address obvious pain points around the flexibility of payments for customers and better conversion rates for merchants. However, in the Middle East, there's another component tabby wanted to address, which was the over-dependence on cash as a payment method. It's so deep-rooted that while running Namshi, Arab noticed that 80% of the transactions recorded by the company were cash-based, presenting unique challenges to scaling the e-commerce platform.
"With buy now, pay later, our view and hypothesis was that, in addition to the well-known benefits of buy now, pay later, we also provide an alternative for consumers to pay online digitally. And if we're able to do that, that becomes a very interesting solution for the retailers of this market."
The company integrates with retailers to allow their customers to shop at online and physical stores with interest-free installments. Tabby went live in early 2020. Although it had a relatively slow start because the launch coincided with the onset of the pandemic, it turned out to be in the company's best interests, as merchants and customers began to shift online significantly. While pre-COVID e-commerce penetration levels in the GCC region stood at single digits, Arab thinks it might have increased to double digits due to the sheer number of merchants and consumers that have since embraced online commerce.
The jump in penetration is one reason tabby has scaled 20x in transaction volume since June 2020. According to the company, more than 400,000 active shoppers use its platform, and approximately 3,000 installs are recorded daily. In addition, over 2,000 global brands and small businesses, including Adidas, IKEA, SHEIN, and Marks & Spencer, use the platform.
The fast growth has allowed tabby to secure another round of capital than originally planned, Arab adds. In June, the company raised $50 million in one of the largest debt facilities by a fintech in the MENA and GCC region. The investment follows tabby's seed and Series A rounds of $7 million and $23 million in 2020 per Crunchbase. This means tabby has received over $130 million despite launching early last year.
But tabby isn't the only company with such firepower in the region. Its Saudi counterpart Tamara recently raised a $110 million Series A in debt and equity financing from Checkout. Although Tamara claims Checkout acquired a minority stake, there are contrasting reports that prove otherwise.
If the latter is true, the buyout follows a line of consolidation happening in the MENA and wider GCC region. In May, Australian BNPL company Zip Co said it was acquiring Spotti, another major player in MENA, for $26 million. Afterpay also took a significant stake in Postpay's recent $10 million investment. This series of events makes tabby the sole independent local player in the market. But how does the company see competition playing out?
"We're seeing this level of competition globally. I don't think that our market is any different. I think the market is big enough to handle a few players. How many players is really the question, and will that lead into further consolidation down the line potentially?" he said.
"I think what we've seen as well, even with Square's acquisition of Afterpay, is that there needs to be a broader differentiation from the just plain vanilla BNPL. I think, if you continue to play in that very limited space of BNPL, the opportunities are going to be fairly challenging."
Maybe this is why tabby strategically positioned itself with Delivery Hero instead of taking investments from an established BNPL player. The company, which owns and operates several regional food and grocery delivery companies, including Talabat, InstaShop and Hunger Station, has one of the largest customer bases in the MENA region. And the investment marks Delivery Hero's first fintech iinvestment in MENA.
"As we expand our offering, we're looking at strategic partners where we see ourselves offering the same services in the future. And working with Delivery Hero which has one of the largest consumer platforms in the region, makes a lot of sense for us. Much more sense than working with, let's say, a global BNPL player with zero presence in this market," Arab added.
The funding will help tabby expand its product portfolio and enter new markets in the GCC area. When that happens, will we see more consolidation take place? For instance, will companies like Klarna and Affirm, which don't have a presence in MENA and the GCC, try to acquire or buy a majority stake in tabby?
"There is a very long journey ahead of us and where we believe we're headed and what we want to build around this business," Arab said. "And so the short answer is no, we're not looking for a quick exit; otherwise, we would have probably done it by now. The opportunity here for us is significantly bigger."


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Guests at Celebrity Connected's Pre-Oscar Awards gifting suite event included Gilles Marini, Donal Logue, Hart Denton from Riverdale, Craig Robinson, Bret Dalton from Agents of SHIELD, Kimberly J. Brown, and a surprise appearance from Justin Bieber.
There were plenty of great brands giving out tons of great gifts including:
KJ Couture – Shapewear & Compression Garments
FabPops – sleek and functional magnetic phone grip in black and rose gold
The Lovely Lobo – deliciously scented Lotion Balls
No Crap In It – all natural essential oils that provide healing for anxiety, pain, and help with sleep
CBD Daily and Emeral – two CBD companies with products like Scalp Therapy and Soothing Serums
CoCaBee – ultra-hydrating Lip Balm
Lube Light – useful container for Lube (and Lotion) with a light attached to the top
Borcik – beautiful and delicate minimalist Jewelry
Bay Dog Biscuits – grain free Dog Treats
J Scent – unique scents based on specific elements of Japanese culture, from Japan.
The biggest highlights were BethCarina's nature inspired jewelry from Australia. Beth, the artist, draws her inspiration from nature, as well as the precious and semi-precious stones with which she works.
While many brands were charitable, there were two that stand out. Each with their own first aid kits. My Medic is an organization attempting to provide high level first aid kits to every classroom in the US. Kits that include the basics like bandages, along with tourniquets in the sadly likely event of a school shooter. Be Smart Get Prepared also has some cool first aid kits, especially their snazzy bandages and Silvex Wound Gel, but their donation system gives a percentage of proceeds back to hungry children all over the world.
For more products from Oscar Awards gifting suites, click here!
— Yael Tygiel


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The Story of Guinness American Blonde Lager
Irish tradition meets American spirit in Guinness American Blonde lager. Complex and flavorful. Light, floral and alive with citrus. This beer is perfectly balanced with a lingering malt and biscuity finish. It's the coming together of vibrant flavors, of character drawn from both sides of the pond. And it's come a long way to get here.
"Complex and flavourful. Light, floral and alive with citrus. This beer is perfectly balanced with a lingering malt and biscuity finish"
Ireland and America go way back. Ours are histories that have crossed paths countless times. Our cultures may be totally different but we've still got a lot in common. One thing we can definitely agree upon is what makes a good beer. Whether it's stout or lager, we demand the same things: quality, distinctiveness, character. The first fusion beer in the Guinness Discovery Series, Guinness Blonde combines the best European brewing techniques – as well as our famous strain of Guinness yeast – with the finest American hops and malts. A collaboration between the Guinness brewers in Dublin and their counterparts at the Latrobe Brewery in Pennsylvania, the result is an American pale lager akin to that of the 1930s: a crisp, light beer that's big on flavor.
Tasting notes
Aroma: Light and hoppy with floral and citrus notes
Flavor: A complex and flavorful lager, hoppy and citrusy on the nose
Palate: Lively mouthfeel, crisp and refreshing with a long malt biscuity finish
Appearance: Golden amber colored beer with a dense head
Hops: Mosaic, Willamette, Mount Hood.
Guinness Storehouse
Located in the heart of the St. James's Gate Brewery, the Guinness Storehouse is Ireland's most popular tourist attraction. It's the home of the Black Stuff, the heart of Dublin and an unforgettable start to your Irish adventure.
The journey begins at the bottom of the world's largest pint glass and continues up through seven floors filled with interactive experiences that fuse our long brewing heritage with Ireland's rich history. At the top, you'll be rewarded with a pint of perfection in our world-famous rooftop Gravity Bar. Now that's our kind of higher education.
From where it all began—with one man and £100—to where we are now, we've been honing our craft since 1759. With over 20 world-class beers in production, and a wealth of exciting new brews being dreamed up daily by our ever-enterprising brewers, it's no surprise that the Guinness name is known and loved in 150 countries. But, no matter where it is brewed or served, you can be sure your Guinness is still inspired by the pioneering batches of our legendary stout, crafted at St. James's Gate in Dublin, over 200 years ago.
Event Calendar:


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Uri Avnery is an Israeli peace activist who has advocated the setting up of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. He served three terms in the Israeli parliament (Knesset), and is the founder of Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc).
Today, the Great Game between the current two great empires — the USA and Russia — is going on all over the place from the Ukraine to Pakistan. It proves that geography is more important than ideology: Communism has come and gone, but the struggle goes on as if nothing has happened.
"If he steals my cow, that is bad. If I steal his cow, that is good" — this moral rule was attributed by European racists to the Hottentots, an ancient tribe in Southern Africa.
It's hard not to be reminded of this when the United States and the European countries cry out against Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two provinces which seceded from the Republic of Sakartvelo, known in the West as Georgia.
Not so long ago, the Western countries recognised the Republic of Kosovo, which seceded from Serbia. The West argued that the population of Kosovo is not Serbian, its culture and language is not Serbian, and that therefore it has a right to independence from Serbia. Especially after Serbia had conducted a grievous campaign of oppression against them. I supported this view with all my heart. Unlike many of my friends, I even supported the military operation that helped the Kosovars to free themselves.
But what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, as the saying goes. What's true for Kosovo is no less true for Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The population in these provinces is not Georgian, they have their own languages and ancient civilisations. They were annexed to Georgia almost by whim, and they have no desire to be part of it.
So what is the difference between the two cases? A huge one, indeed: the independence of Kosovo is supported by the Americans and opposed by the Russians. Therefore it's good. The independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is supported by the Russians and opposed by the Americans. Therefore it's bad. As the Romans said: Quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi — what's allowed to Jupiter is not allowed to an ox.
I do not accept this moral code. I support the independence of all these regions.
In my view, there is one simple principle, and it applies to everybody: every province that wants to secede from any country has a right to do so. In this respect there is, for me, no difference between Kosovars, Abkhazians, Basques, Scots and Palestinians. One rule for all.
There was a time when this principle could not be implemented. A state of a few hundred thousand people was not viable economically, and could not defend itself militarily.
That was the era of the "nation state", when a strong people imposed itself, its culture and its language, on weaker peoples, in order to create a state big enough to safeguard security, order and a proper standard of living. France imposed itself on Bretons and Corsicans, Spain on Catalans and Basques, England on Welsh, Scots and Irish, and so forth.
That reality has been superseded. Most of the functions of the "nation state" have moved to super-national structures: large federations like the USA, large partnerships like the EU. In those there is room for small countries like Luxemburg beside larger ones like Germany. If Belgium falls apart and a Flemish state comes into being beside a Walloon state, both will be received into the EU, and nobody will be hurt. Yugoslavia has disintegrated, and each of its parts will eventually belong to the European Union.
That has happened to the former Soviet Union, too. Georgia freed itself from Russia. By the same right and the same logic, Abkhazia can free itself from Georgia. Read more...
- Opinion: Hottentot morality - Uri Avnery - Daily Times
- Görüş: Hotanto Ahlakı, Uri Avnery - Daily Times (Turkish) - Circassian World


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In wrapping up our look at the Sacramento Republic roster heading into the 2020 season, forward is the easiest position to look at, believe it or not. While there are just two players rostered in goal for SRFC, there are also just two pure forwards on the roster as well. Expect the midfield to play a big role in attack in 2020, and for academy products to perhaps get some run, but the two guys on the roster up top are top talents in the USL Championship.
Cameron Iwasa
Returning for his fifth season in Sacramento, Iwasa is coming off another top-line campaign, in which he finished tied for fifth in the USL Championship Golden Boot with 17 league goals last year. At 26, he's in the prime of his career and will be expected to do a great deal of the heavy lifting again this year, and as long as he stays healthy his consistency indicates that's a safe bet. Iwasa hasn't scored 20 in a season yet, and that's not easy to do in this league (typically only around two players do this in the league each season), but that is a worthwhile goal, to see if he can push himself. All in all, Iwasa's return is huge for Sacramento, and hopefully he can put together another stellar campaign.
Kharlton Belmar
The newcomer this year is a very exciting one, as Belmar joins up after a year at Nashville SC. The 27-year-old possesses considerable experience around the league, having played for Swope Park Rangers and Portland Timbers 2 in addition to Nashville. Like Iwasa, Belmar had a cup of coffee at Sporting Kansas City as well, so he's a player with the interest of MLS teams, while having above-average USL talent and putting together a good track record in this league.
Belmar is a streaky player, and has three double-digit scoring seasons in USL in his history, but he'll likely be looked to be someone who can be fairly reliable while being the second option to score. If he can get to double-digits this year, and Iwasa is scoring regularly, too, then Sacramento could have one of the top forward corps in the league.
Above all, the big concern heading into the season is that there are two pure forwards on the roster, but if both stay healthy and in form, it may be a best-case scenario situation, having two good strikers who will get plenty of run on the field. And if they click, then SRFC could be set up very well indeed in 2020.
What do you think? Leave a comment below!


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Sharing @F-L-O-W
Sacrifice and Success
In response to a member comment about reducing poverty:
Mike replies: Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day. At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day. More than 80 percent of the world's population live in countries where income differentials are widening
Another member's comment: The "two 100-year plans" are both China domestic development goals. They were formed back in the 80's. The first 100-year plan is "100 years since the formation of CCP (in 1921)", which brings it to ~ 2020, and the goal is the elimination of extreme poverty.
The remarkable thing about these plans is that in 1980 China had 540 million people living in extreme poverty. By 2014 there were only 80 million. In 1980 China's GDP was $189 billion, about 1% percent of World GDP. [see: Gross World Product] That was when China planned to get to 30% of the global GDP by 2050. In 2015 China's nominal GDP was around $11 trillion, about 15% of the World GDP. List of countries by GDP (nominal). So they are 35 years into their 70-year plan, with another 35 years to go. If they published their plans back in 1980, people would say that they were crazy. Now it looks like something quite do-able.
Mike's reply: We scoff at long term planning, but the Chinese are making 50 to 100-year decisions as are some middle eastern countries and whether it all works out is another thing. But the long trek view is clearly present in all of this.
To Live @F-L-O-W we have to re-orient ourselves to a set of emerging conditions. We're attempting to design for something emerging. We are trying to address something that does not exist yet.
In the film The Matrix Reloaded (2030 – The Oracle says, "We can never see past the choices we don't understand.") The only truth we can hold is something that we can be, do, have, become, or contribute, based on what we know now. Nothing stays the same. When our structuring no longer fits the conditions, new problems are created.
Awareness unfolds out of filters and biases. It takes much more energy to work, were we are not already biased. Gifts, talents, skills, experience, etc. @F-L-O-W — and altered states — are not where we normally live. How do we scaffold @F-L-O-W so that it comes more often than not. It's simple, but not easy.
Growth, more, consumption, assumption engine is the Matrix in which most try to live.
Another member's comment: My anecdotal evidence makes me wonder if thrift for gain in certain areas may be more wired in Asian cultures. My son's Chinese tutor made a good living as a scientist at the university, but she also tutored kids on the side, taught Sunday Chinese school, and taught painting lessons, and sold tofu for $2 a block.
She and her husband lived in a huge brick house in a high-end neighborhood. I really can't picture an American in a neighborhood like that selling cookies at work for a $1 profit, even though $1s add up.
I met some Chinese people who had moved here within the past 5-10 years. They lived incredibly frugally — and I mean frugally, like sitting on a folding chair in the living room that they found on the side of the road and growing veggies and raising rabbits on the back patio of the apartment — but a few years later they would house hunt for 6 months, looking for just the right deal, and buy a house — for CASH. It was really interesting.
Mike gives an example: Secretary leaves $8 million for students.
Sylvia Bloom, from Brooklyn, worked for the same law firm for 67 years until retiring at age 96. She died not long afterward in 2016.
She left behind a fortune, the bulk of which was donated to help fund scholarships for disadvantaged children.
Member question: Can you be more specific regarding how to match the right model with the right person?
Mike's response: Traits/Motives dictate largely which values emerge. Those values usually map to particular basins, each basin has a core set of algorithms or rule set. Determining through self-knowledge what those are, help in mapping to the core model which, for all practical purposes, built around a matrix of express self, sacrifice of self, now and later.
It's clear that the legal secretary — as do many using that core of DQ-BLUE — sacrifice self to get later — THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR, amass large amounts of money using simple methods such as stick with things, spend less than you make, save your money, keep expenses low…. Most of us would not be happy with her life — boring. But it does create success as defined by about every measure in that basin, and others also.
Anyone can do it, as long as you have those motives or a design @F-L-O-W, that cued, scaffolded, supported, and lifted where necessary.
Member follow-up question: What steps lead me to living @F-L-O-W?
- Happiness is natural when you are using your talents, gifts, and strengths.
- Know thyself, moving through unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence.
- Move in to match your talents, strengths, and motivators with your effort; not up into your head, competing, comparing, or judging.
- Stop pretending by naming your judgments and look for what's true.
- Become clear and confident in what you are saying "yes" to and what you are saying "no" to. Explore how closely your capability matches your requirements for success.
- Increase your comfort level with being vulnerable and reaching out to others capable of helping.
- Create your design for success including the essential resources, people, and systems.
- Build relationships that will provide adequate feedback from a perspective you need.
- Get clear about the values that make your life worth living.
- Keep score to track what's working and what's not. Celebrate and revisit your design.
Note: Later this year Mike will be releasing his latest book, Dynamic Inquiry.
PS: In June we will continue covering Mike's most recent book @F-L-O-W: FIND, DESIGN,USE TALENT to Emerge Happiness and Success in a Postmodern World
If you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or need some additional help, please use the form below to submit them. Someone will get back to you within 48 hours. /p>
We hope you pick up valuable insights, ideas, and
tools during this process, which you can use for your own development as
well as your work and leadership with others.
You, Me, and We @F-L-O-W
Mike R. Jay is a developmentalist utilizing consulting, coaching, mentoring and advising as methods to offer developmental scaffolding for aspiring leaders who are interested in being, doing, having, becoming, and contributing… to helping people have lives.
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Learn how you may become a member of our Inner Circle and receive the cutting edge on the most current thinking in Leader Development. Visit Inner Circle Membership.


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"You can take the girl out of the suburbs but you can't take the suburbs out of the girl."
FKA twigs has shared another new track from her forthcoming album, Magdalene.
'home with you' arrives accompanied by a video directed by and starring twigs herself, which depicts the artist leaving a wild looking party, driving home and ending up in a surreal suburban garden.
"You can take the girl out of the suburbs but you can't take the suburbs out of the girl", she explains. "'home with you' reinforced my reoccurring suspicion that when i'm in doubt, I should follow my gut and go home".
FKA twigs also revealed in a tweet that the release date for Magdalene, which was originally scheduled for later this month, would be pushed back to November 8.
Check out the cover art and tracklist for Magdalene below.
01. 'thousand eyes'
02. 'home with you'
03. 'sad day'
04. 'holy terrain' [Feat. Future]
05. 'mary magdalene'
06. 'fallen alien'
07. 'mirrored heart'
08. 'daybed'
09. 'cellophane'
Read next: Juliana Huxtable – Untitled


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Sinclair Broadcast Group hit by ransomware attack, upending local TV newscasts
By Sean Lyngaas and Brian Stelter, CNN
Sinclair Broadcast Group, one of the largest TV station operators in the US, said Monday that a ransomware incident is disrupting some of its office and operational networks.
At an early afternoon town hall meeting held via Zoom, staffers were told that the ripple effects are widespread and the full ramifications are not yet known.
The intrusion "has caused — and may continue to cause — disruption to parts of the company's business, including certain aspects of its provision of local advertisements by its local broadcast stations on behalf of its customers," the company told investors. Shares traded down nearly 3%.
The disturbance impeded the production of local newscasts throughout the day on Sunday and again on Monday, according to staffers at some TV stations.
"Still no email, phones, file video or graphics," a reporter said Monday.
"They expect us to keep broadcasting as if we aren't down," a reporter at a different station said.
They requested anonymity because Sinclair executives have prohibited employees from speaking with outside media about the matter.
Some of the impacts of the ransomware attack are visible to viewers. At WBFF in Baltimore, Sinclair's flagship station, Monday's midday newscasts aired without any of the usual graphics or accompaniments. Some of the usually live segments were clearly pretaped.
The reporters who spoke with CNN said they have not been told of any timetable for getting back to normal.
Sinclair began investigating the incident on Saturday, and on Sunday identified "certain servers and workstations in its environment were encrypted with ransomware," Monday's corporate statement said.
The unidentified hackers also stole data from Sinclair's network; the company said it was working to determine what information was taken. Sinclair said it had notified law enforcement and US government agencies, and that it was working to "restore operations quickly and securely."
Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley repeated the statement at Monday afternoon's town hall and fielded questions from staffers, but he had little concrete information to share, according to the reporters who spoke with CNN.
He did specify that employees will still receive their paychecks despite the disruption, one of the reporters said.
Sinclair is responsible for 185 television stations in 86 markets, according to its website. It also runs regional sports networks.
The company's stations are still on the air, and are continuing to show national and syndicated programming like talk shows and sitcoms.
The problems are largely hindering local live programming, like the newscasts that typically air for multiple hours a day.
Some stations struggled to produce newscasts on Sunday without writing, editing or scheduling software.
Kristin Bien, a weekend anchor at Sinclair-owned WSBT 22, tweeted Sunday morning that the incident was a "corporate-wide problem."
"All we are told right now is that we have technical difficulties," one journalist at a Sinclair-owned station told CNN Sunday night. "We are still told to broadcast if we can, so we're doing what we can with our live unit and weather graphics. We don't have access to our company emails or anything that requires a company log in."
Ransomware — malicious software that locks computer networks until victims pay a fee — has been a threat to US businesses for years. But it became a national security priority for the Biden administration after a series of ransomware incidents disrupted US critical infrastructure firms this year.
This isn't the first time that a cybersecurity incident has hobbled a prominent TV broadcaster.
Australia's 9 News network in March said a cyberattack disrupted its live broadcasts. And in the US, local stations owned by the Cox Media Group were hit in June.
The Record, a cybersecurity news outlet, was first to report on the ransomware incident at Sinclair.
™ & © 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.


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- White Freshwater Pearls
- 925 Solid Sterling Silver Heart Charm with Freshwater Pearl
- Stainless Steel/925 Sterling Silver Clasp and Extension Chain
- Length: 13 - 15 Inches
- Handmade in Los Angeles - please allow 1-5 business days for this item to ship
THE 3 ROW DBL VENUS HEART CHOKER is an updated version of our OG 3 ROW VENUS HEART CHOKER. We added a second VENUS HEART to this piece because sometimes more is just more. Handmade with meticulous attention to detail, this choker is a true showstopper! Wear it to elevate a basic tee look or to complete a fancy fit.


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As an authorized dealer of Cambridge Elevating, Crown Elevator and Lift Company offers custom elevators equipped with remote monitoring. Outfit your home with a custom indoor elevator to match your budget and style. Our interior elevator experts will help you choose the best elevator model for your space.
The Cambrian Model
The Cambrian model features a submersible pump motor for quiet operation. An infrared safety light curtain adds security. Choose from a variety of cab and fixture finish options for a complete customized home elevator.
The Heritage Model
The Heritage model's unique door system combines a sliding door system on the elevator car with automatic or manually operated swing doors on the landings. The two-speed hydraulic valve provides soft start and stop.
Remote Monitoring Adds Peace of Mind
Cambridge Elevating home elevators can be equipped with remote monitoring. This advanced technology delivers real-time elevator health status checks to our maintenance team. We can offer proactive service and keep your elevator running smoothly and safely for years to come.
Learn More About Our Partnership with Cambridge Elevating
Watch the video and learn more about Cambridge Elevating interior elevator options for your home.
Visit the Cambridge Elevating website to learn more about their commitment to residential elevator safety and design.


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Hand Craved Small Whale
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Approximately 6" long
2.75" tall
2" wide
Photos shows both sizes so you can see comparison.
Color of wood and shape will vary.
These whales are just so special to have! Each one is unique in character.
Trees are gathered from several sources: from locals who have trees that have to be removed because of damaged by weather or having to clear lot for building construction. Trees are indigenous to Western NC, the finished product/tree is made from local wood grown in NC and Hand Crafted in Boone NC, ie "Made in the USA".


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What I intended to do in Fury: The film's writer and director responds to CSM Rush
It seems that, because of Fury, I will forever be known by some parties as the filmmaker who failed to do his homework.
By David Ayer
Best Defense guest respondent
I appreciate Sergeant Major Rush's thoughtful article reviewing my film. It seems that, because of Fury, released in 2014, I will forever be known by some parties as the filmmaker who failed to do his homework. With all due respect to the Sergeant Major, I can speak to the research and documents I used for my research.
I have learned World War II is like a fractal, with manifold points of view. It is so vast, and so all encompassing, that there is simply no common point of view.
Fury depicted 2nd Armored, a heavy armored division that was the literal spearhead of the Allied advance. This massive grouping of men and equipment was distilled down to a few handfuls of tanks racing forward alone across the land. It was my intention with the film to show the intimacy of a combat crew, the working conditions, the fear, the relief. The working soldiers' war. Follow your orders, do your job. If you live, you live. If you don't, you don't.
In terms of the treatment of German dead, I based the truck filled with corpses off an Army Signal Corps photograph I believe was taken in 1945. I read somewhere that graves registration removed the U.S. dead immediately, and let German casualties linger, to give the impression to our soldiers they had better odds. I have read several interviews reporting truckloads of German dead, and their burial in mass graves.
It's interesting Sergeant Major Rush mentioned the implausibility of the character Norman being put into armor with no training. My research indicated that after the Battle of the Bulge, and into the spring of 1945, the U.S. Army was suffering manpower shortages. There are many accounts from Armor Divisions veterans recalling replacements arriving with zero armor training. Zero. This was common and a serious issue the divisions wrestled with, sometimes forming ad-hoc training platoons for a very quick tank school. I can't speak to infantry replacements, as I focused my research on ETO Armor.
Regarding the prisoner being executed, this was craft of fiction. However, it was based on the reality of endemic killing of POWs in the ETO. I read veteran accounts detailing many such killings, and have been told of such events in personal interviews. These were not professional soldiers. These were regular men, of the Depression era, enduring excruciating conditions. This was a harder, rougher generation, and they may as well have been fighting on Mars, they were so far from their homes, their lives, and their civilian identities.
I didn't make a documentary. I wanted to breathe life and emotion into a war that is fast disappearing from living memory. I'm proud of the film, and worked hard to get as much correct as possible.
David Ayer is a writer and director, whose filmography includes Fury, End of Watch, and Suicide Squad. He is a former U.S. Navy Submarine Sonarman.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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