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Soviet famine of 1932–33
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The Soviet famine of 1932–33 was a major famine that killed millions of people in the major grain-producing areas of the Soviet Union, including Ukraine, Northern Caucasus, Volga Region and Kazakhstan,[2] the South Urals, and West Siberia.[3][4] The Holodomor in Ukraine and Kazakh famine of 1932–33 have been seen as genocide committed by Joseph Stalin's government[5][6]; it is estimated between 3.3[7] and 7.5[8] million died in Ukraine and between 1[9] and 2 million (40% of all Kazakhs) died in Kazakhstan.[10][11][12][13]
Between 2.4[14] and 4[8] million ethnic Ukrainians are estimated to have perished as a result of the famine. The exact number of deaths is hard to determine due to a lack of records,[15][16] but the number increases significantly when the deaths in the heavily Ukrainian-populated Kuban region are included.[17] Older estimates are still often cited in political commentary.[18] According to the findings of the Court of Appeal of Kiev in 2010, the demographic losses due to the famine amounted to 10 million, with 3.9 million direct famine deaths, and a further 6.1 million birth deficit.[15]
Stalin and other party members had ordered that kulaks were "to be liquidated as a class" [19] and so they became a target for the state. The richer, land-owning peasants were labeled 'kulaks" and were portrayed by the Bolsheviks as class enemies, which culminated in a Soviet campaign of political repressions, including arrests, deportations, and executions of large numbers of the better-off peasants and their families in 1929–1932.[20]
Major contributing factors to the famine include: The forced collectivization of agriculture as a part of the Soviet first five-year plan, forced grain procurement, combined with rapid industrialisation, a decreasing agricultural workforce, and several bad droughts. The famine is seen by some historians as a deliberate act of genocide against ethnic Ukrainians and Kazakhs while other critics dispute the relevance of any ethnic motivation, as is frequently implied by that term, and focus instead on the class dynamics between land-owning peasants (Kulaks) with strong political interest in private property, and the ruling Communist Party's fundamental tenets which were diametrically opposed to those interests.[21]:507 In addition to the Kazakh famine of 1919–1922, these events saw Kazakhstan lose more than half of its population within 15 years due to the actions of the Soviet power. The famine made Kazakhs a minority in their own republic. Before the famine, around 60% of the republic's population were Kazakhs, but after the famine, only around 38% of the population were Kazakhs.[22][23]
Gareth Jones was the first Western journalist to report the devastation.[24][25][a]
Unlike the previous famine of 1921–22, Russia's intermittent drought was not severe in the affected areas at this time.[26]
Historian Mark B. Tauger of West Virginia University suggests that the famine was caused by a combination of factors, specifically low harvest due to natural disasters combined with increased demand for food caused by the industrialization and urbanization, and grain exports by the Soviet Union at the same time.[27] The industrialization became a starting mechanism of the famine. Stalin's First Five-Year Plan, adopted by the party in 1928, called for rapid industrialization of the economy, with an emphasis on heavy industry. With the greatest share of investment put into heavy industry, widespread shortages of consumer goods occurred while the urban labor force was also increasing. Collectivization employed at the same time was expected to improve agricultural productivity and produce grain reserves sufficiently large to feed the growing urban labor force. The anticipated surplus was to pay for industrialization. Kulaks who were the wealthier peasants encountered particular hostility from the Stalin regime. About one million kulak households (some five million people) were deported and never heard from again. Forced collectivization of the remaining peasants was often fiercely resisted resulting in a disastrous disruption of agricultural productivity. Forced collectivization helped achieve Stalin's goal of rapid industrialization but it also contributed to a catastrophic famine in 1932–33.[28]
A similar view was presented by Stephen Wheatcroft, who has given more weight to the "ill-conceived policies" of Soviet government and highlighted that while the policy was not targeted at Ukraine specifically, it was Ukraine who suffered most for "demographic reasons".[29]
Lewis H. Siegelbaum, Professor of History at Michigan State University, states that Ukraine was hit particularly hard by grain quotas which were set at levels which most farms could not produce. The 1933 harvest was poor, coupled with the extremely high quota level, which led to starvation conditions. The shortages were blamed on kulak sabotage, and authorities distributed what supplies were available only in the urban areas. The loss of life in the Ukrainian countryside is estimated at approximately 5 million people.[30]
The Law of SpikeletsEdit
The "Decree About the Protection of Socialist Property" – nicknamed by the farmers the Law of Spikelets – was enacted on August 7, 1932. The purpose of the law was to protect the property of the collective farms. It was nicknamed the Law of Spikelets because it allowed people to be prosecuted for gleaning leftover grain from the fields. There were more than 200,000 people sentenced under this law.[31]
There was a wave of migration due to starvation, and authorities responded by introducing a requirement that passports be used to go between republics, and banning travel by rail.[citation needed]
Soviet internal passports (identity cards) were introduced on 27 December 1932 to deal with the exodus of peasants from the countryside. Individuals not having such a document could not leave their homes on pain of administrative penalties, such as internment in Gulag labor camps. The rural population had no right to freely keep passports and thus could not leave their villages without approval. The power to issue passports rested with the head of the kolkhoz, and identity documents were kept by the administration of the collective farms. This measure stayed in place until 1974.
The lack of passports could not completely stop peasants' leaving the countryside, but only a small percentage of those who illegally infiltrated into cities could improve their lot. Unable to find work or possibly buy or beg a little bread, farmers died in the streets of Kharkiv, Kiev, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Vinnytsia, and other major cities of Ukraine.
The famine of 1932–1933 was officially denied, so any discourse on this issue was classified as criminal "anti-Soviet propaganda" until Perestroika. The results of the 1937 census were kept secret as they revealed the demographic losses attributable to the Great Famine.
Some well-known journalists, most notably Walter Duranty of The New York Times, downplayed the famine and its death toll.[32] In 1932, he received the Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence for his coverage of the Soviet Union's first five-year plan and thus, he was considered the most expert Western journalist to cover the famine.[32] In an article "Russians Hungry, But Not Starving", he responded to an account of starvation in Ukraine and, while acknowledging that there was widespread malnutrition in certain areas of the USSR (including parts of the North Caucasus and Lower Volga), generally disagreed with the scale of the starvation and claimed that there was no famine.[33] Duranty's coverage led directly to Franklin Roosevelt officially recognizing the Soviet Union in 1933 and thus revoked the United States' official recognition of an independent Ukraine.[34] A similar position was taken by the French Prime Minister Edouard Herriot, who toured the territory of Ukraine during his stay in the Soviet Union. Other Western journalists, however, did report on the famine at the time, including Malcolm Muggeridge and Gareth Jones, who both severely criticised Duranty's account and were later banned from returning to the Soviet Union.[35]
As a child, Mikhail Gorbachev experienced the Soviet famine in Stavropol, Russia. He recalled in a memoir that "In that terrible year [in 1933] nearly half the population of my native village, Privolnoye, starved to death, including two sisters and one brother of my father."[36]
George Orwell's Animal Farm was inspired by Gareth Jones articles about the Great Famine of 1932–1933.[37]
The International community has denounced the USSR government for the events of the years 1932-1933. Holodomor that took over Ukraine is often classified as genocide. However, the classification of Holodomor as Genocide is a subject of debate. A comprehensive criticism is presented by Michael Ellman in the article "Stalin and the Soviet famine of 1932 - 33 Revisited" published in the journal in Europe-Asia Studies.[38] The author refers to the UN Convention which specifies that genocide is the destruction 'in whole or in part' of a national group, "any acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group". [39] The reasons for the Holodomor are claimed to have been rooted in the industrialization and widespread collectivization of farms that involved escalating taxes, grain-delivery quotas, and dispossession of all property. The latter was met with the resistance that was answered by "imposition of ever higher delivery quotas and confiscation of foodstuffs."[40] As people were left with insufficient amount of food after the procurement, the famine occurred. Therefore, Holodomor occurred, in most part, due to the policies that favored the goals of collectivization and industrialization rather than the deliberate attempt to destroy Ukrainians as a nation. As "The excess deaths of 1932 – 33 were only a relatively small proportion (very roughly a tenth) of the total Ukrainian population,"[38] the event fails to satisfy the definition within the definition given by the UN.
Estimation of the loss of lifeEdit
- The 2004 book The Years of Hunger: Soviet Agriculture, 1931–33 by R.W. Davies and S.G. Wheatcroft, gives an estimate of 5.5 to 6.5 million deaths.[41]
- Encyclopædia Britannica estimates that 6 to 8 million people died from hunger in the Soviet Union during this period, of whom 4 to 5 million were Ukrainians.[42] According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, "Some 4 to 5 million died in Ukraine, and another 2 to 3 million in the North Caucasus and the Lower Volga area."[9]
- Robert Conquest estimated at least 7 million peasants' deaths from hunger in the European part of the Soviet Union in 1932–33 (5 million in Ukraine, 1 million in the North Caucasus, and 1 million elsewhere), and an additional 1 million deaths from hunger as a result of collectivization in Kazakh ASSR.[43]
- Another study, by Michael Ellman using data given by Davies and Wheatcroft, estimates "'about eight and a half million' victims of famine and repression", combined, in the period 1930–33.[31]
- In his 2010 book Stalin's Genocides, Norman Naimark estimates that 3 to 5 million Ukrainians died in the famine.[20]
- In 2008 Russian state Duma issued a statement about the famine, stating that within territories of Povolzhe, Central Black Earth Region, Northern Caucasus, Ural, Crimea, Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus the estimated death toll is about 7 million people.[44]
See alsoEdit
- The Holodomor, contested theory the 1932–33 famine was deliberate
- Russian famine of 1921
- Kazakh famine of 1932–33, Kazakhstan's portion of the 1932–33 famine
- Droughts and famines in Russia and the Soviet Union
- ^ Markoff, Dr. Alexandr Pavlovich (1933). professors of the Russian Commercial Institute (eds.). "Famine in the USSR" (pdf). Bulletin Economique Russe (in French). 9. Retrieved April 18, 2016.CS1 maint: Uses editors parameter (link)
- ^ Engerman, David (June 2009). Modernization from the Other Shore (Google Books). ISBN 9780674036529.
- ^ "Famine on the South Siberia". Human Science. RU. 2 (98): 15.
- ^ "Demographic aftermath of the famine in Kazakhstan". Weekly. RU. Jan 1, 2003.
- ^ "International Recognition of the Holodomor". Holodomor Education. Archived from the original on 31 December 2015. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
- ^ Sabol, Steven (2017). "The Touch of Civilization": Comparing American and Russian Internal Colonization. University Press of Colorado. p. 47. ISBN 9781607325505.
- ^ a b David R. Marples. Heroes and Villains: Creating National History in Contemporary Ukraine. p.50
- ^ a b "The Party versus the peasants". www.britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
- ^ NICCOLÒ PIANCIOLA (2001). "The Collectivization Famine in Kazakhstan, 1931–1933". Harvard Ukrainian Studies. 25 (3–4): 237–251. JSTOR 41036834. PMID 20034146.
- ^ Volkava, Elena (2012-03-26). "The Kazakh Famine of 1930–33 and the Politics of History in the Post-Soviet Space". Wilson Center. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
- ^ Татимов М. Б. Социальная обусловленность демографических процессов. Алма-Ата,1989. С.124
- ^ "Famine of 1932 | Soviet history". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-02-04.
- ^ a b Наливайченко назвал количество жертв голодомора в Украине [Nalyvaichenko called the number of victims of Holodomor in Ukraine] (in Russian). LB.ua. 14 January 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ "Yulia Tymoshenko: our duty is to protect the memory of the Holodomor victims". Tymoshenko's official website. 27 November 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-11-29. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ Naimark 2010, p. 70.
- ^ "Harper accused of exaggerating Ukrainian genocide death toll". MontrealGazette.com. 30 October 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
- ^ Conquest, Robert (1986). The Harvest Sorrow. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 117. ISBN 978-0195051803.
- ^ a b Naimark, Norman M (2010), Stalin's Genocides (Human Rights and Crimes against Humanity), Princeton University Press, p. 131, ISBN 978-0-691-14784-0.
- ^ Marples, David R. (May 2009). "Ethnic Issues in the Famine of 1932–1933 in Ukraine". Europe-Asia Studies. 61 (3): 505–518. doi:10.1080/09668130902753325.
Geoffrey A. Hosking concluded that: Conquest's research establishes beyond doubt, however, that the famine was deliberately inflicted there [in Ukraine] for ethnic reasons...Craig Whitney, however, disagreed with the theory of genocide
- ^ http://world.lib.ru/p/professor_l_k/070102_koval_drujba.shtml - "Запомнил и долю казахов в пределах своей республики - 28%. А за тридцать лет до того они составляли у себя дома уверенное большинство"
- ^ PIANCIOLA, NICCOLÒ (1 January 2001). "The Collectivization Famine in Kazakhstan, 1931–1933". Harvard Ukrainian Studies. 25 (3/4): 237–251. JSTOR 41036834. PMID 20034146.
- ^ a b "Welsh journalist who exposed a Soviet tragedy". walesonline.com. November 13, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ Brown, Mark (November 12, 2009). "1930s journalist Gareth Jones to have story retold: Correspondent who exposed Soviet Ukraine's manmade famine to be focus of new documentary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ Viktor Kondrashin, Голод 1932—1933 годов. Трагедия российской деревни, Moscow, Росспэн, 2008, ISBN 978-5-8243-0987-4., Chapter 6. "Голод 1932—1933 годов в контексте мировых голодных бедствий и голодных лет в истории России — СССР", p. 331.
- ^ Mark B. Tauger. "Natural Disaster and Human Actions in the Soviet Famine of 1931-1933" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-08-24. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
- ^ "Internal Workings of the Soviet Union - Revelations from the Russian Archives". Library of Congress. 15 June 1992. Retrieved 19 November 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "The Soviet Famine of 1931-33: Politically Motivated or Ecological Disaster?". www.international.ucla.edu. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
- ^ Siegelbaum, Lewis H. "Professor, Michigan State University". Seventeen Moments in Soviet History. Michigan State University. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- ^ a b Ellman, Michael (September 2005). "The Role of Leadership Perceptions and of Intent in the Soviet Famine of 1931–1934" (PDF). Europe-Asia Studies. 57 (6): 823–41. doi:10.1080/09668130500199392. Retrieved 2008-07-04.
- ^ a b Lyons, Eugene (1938). Assignment in Utopia. Transaction Publishers. p. 573. ISBN 978-1-4128-1760-8.
- ^ Walter Duranty (31 March 1933). "RUSSIANS HUNGRY, BUT NOT STARVING; Deaths From Diseases Due to Malnutrition High, Yet the Soviet Is Entrenched". The New York Times: 13. Archived from the original on 2003-03-30.
- ^ Taylor, Sally J. (1990). Stalin's Apologist. Oxford University Press.
- ^ Shipton, Martin (June 20, 2013). "Welsh journalist hailed one of greatest 'eyewitnesses of truth' for exposing '30s Soviet famine". Wales Online.
- ^ Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev (2006). "Manifesto for the Earth: action now for peace, global justice and a sustainable future". CLAIRVIEW BOOKS. p.10. ISBN 1-905570-02-3
- ^ Obenson, Tambay A. (July 23, 2015). "140 New Projects Selected for the IFP's 2015 Project Forum Slate". indiewire.com. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
- ^ a b Ellman, Michael (2007). "Stalin and the Soviet famine of 1932 – 33 Revisited". Europe-Asia Studies. 59 (4): 663–693. doi:10.1080/09668130701291899.
- ^ http://www.un.org/ar/preventgenocide/adviser/pdf/osapg_analysis_framework.pdf
- ^ https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/World-War-I-and-the-struggle-for-independence#ref275911
- ^ Davies & Wheatcroft 2004, p. 401.
- ^ "Ukraine – The famine of 1932–33". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ Conquest, Robert (1986), The Harvest of Sorrow: Soviet Collectivization and the Terror-Famine, Oxford University Press, p. 306, ISBN 978-0-19-505180-3.
- ^ Works related to Soviet famine of 1930s at Wikisource
- Davies, RW; Wheatcroft, SG (2004), The Years of Hunger: Soviet Agriculture, 1931–33; Harrison, Davies, Wheatcroft 2004 (PDF) (review), UK: Warwick.
- Ellman, Michael (June 2007), "Stalin and the Soviet Famine of 1932–33 Revisited" (PDF), Europe-Asia Studies, 59 (4): 663–93, doi:10.1080/09668130701291899.
- Finn, Peter (April 27, 2008), "Aftermath of a Soviet Famine", The Washington Post.
- Kuromiya, Hiroaki (June 2008), "The Soviet Famine of 1932–1933 Reconsidered", Europe-Asia Studies, 60 (4): 663–75, doi:10.1080/09668130801999912.
- Kindler, Robert, Stalin's Nomads. Power and Famine in Kazakhstan, Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh University Press, 2018.
- Luciuk, Lubomyr Y, ed, Holodomor: Reflections on the Great Famine in Soviet Ukraine, Kingston, Kashtan Press, 2008
- Markoff, A (1933), Famine in USSR.
- Snyder, Timothy (2010). Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin. London: The Bodley Head. ISBN 978-0-224-08141-2.
- Thorson, Carla (May 5, 2003), The Soviet Famine of 1931–33: Politically Motivated or Ecological Disaster?, UCLA International Institute.
- Wheatcroft, SG (April 1990), "More light on the scale of repression and excess mortality in the Soviet Union in the 1930s" (PDF), Soviet Studies.
- Kondrashin, Viktor, ed. (2009), Famine in the Soviet Union 1929–1934 (PDF) (slide stack), Katz, Nikita B transl. docs.; Dolgova, Alexandra transl. note from compilers; Glizchinskaya, Natalia design, RU: Russian Archives, archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-19.


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Marine Interdiction Agent
Customs and Border Protection
CBP - Northwest US, United States; CBP Central Southeast, United States; CBP Florida, United States; CBP Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands, United States; CBP Southwest, United States
Closed No longer open
Permanent - Full Time
Posting Dates
Open: April 16, 2016 ()
Close: May 15, 2016 ()
Position Properties
General Inspection, Investigation, Enforcement, And Compliance Series
Internal Job Number: MIA 16-5 1679180
Organization Details
Customs and Border Protection
Department Of Homeland Security
Salary Information
$50,600.00 - $65,286.00 Per Year29% below average
Pay Band: GL-1801-09/09
Who Can Apply?
United States Citizens
Position Summary
Do you desire to protect American interests and secure our Nation while building a meaningful and rewarding career? If so, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is calling. DHS components work collectively to prevent terrorism, secure borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard cyberspace and ensure resilience to disasters. The vitality and magnitude of this mission is achieved by a diverse workforce spanning hundreds of occupations. Make an impact; join DHS. Discover a challenging and rewarding career with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the sole organization responsible for securing the nation's borders. CBP employees protect our Nation's borders from terrorism, human and drug smuggling, illegal migration, and agricultural pests while simultaneously facilitating the flow of legitimate travel and trade. The Marine Interdiction Agent (MIA) position starts at a salary of $50,600 (GL-9 grade level), with promotion potential to $71,012 (GS-12 grade level). Apply to this exciting opportunity to strengthen the Department's and our partners' ability to perform their homeland security functions by doing the following: Conducts maritime patrols and interdictions at sea,on lakes, and rivers to prevent the illegal entry of weapons of terror Conducts interdiction operations against national security threats to include, illegal drugs and undocumented aliensmuggling Conduct joint investigations with other agencies related to border security in the maritime environment, employing multiple investigative techniques and capabilities Due to the extensive pre-employment screening process, we are actively recruiting to fill future MIA vacancies with AMO. If you are interested in a career with CBP as an MIA, we encourage you to apply to this announcement. We expect applicants from this announcement to Enter On Duty (EOD) within 18 to 24 months. The MIA position requires that you possess one of the following Merchant Mariner Credentials: Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels License (OUPV) or Master's License or Deck's Mate License. Learn more about what aMIA does by viewing our Podcast For more information about CBP's mission, activities, and careers, please see http://www.cbp.gov/ .Follow U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Twitter @CustomsBorder CBP encourages women, minorities, and veterans to apply for an exciting career with Customs and Border Protection. View common definitions of terms found in this announcement.
Basic Requirement: You must possess and submit a legible copy of the pages showing the expiration date and capacity of your vessel license. One of the following current United States Coast Guard issued licenses (Merchant Mariner Credentials) in order to qualify for this position:
- Masters License (any tonnage)
- Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) License
- Deck Mates License (Chief Mate, Second Mate and Third Mate) of greater than 200 gross tons
- Deck Mates License (Chief Mate, Second Mate and Third Mate) of 200 gross tons or less (Near Coastal and Offshore)
*Again, You must submit legible copies of the pages showing the expiration date and capacity of your license. There is no exception to this requirement. If you do not provide the requested pages from your MMC you will be found ineligible for this vacancy.
You qualify for the GL-9 grade level (starting salary $ 50,600) if you possess the following: You must have at least one year of Law Enforcement experience that provided you with the knowledge of basic law enforcement methods, techniques, and skills. All experience must be clearly accounted for in your resume and explained in detail, articulating the type of law enforcement work you have performed with specific examples that include the position titles and the length of time (including hours per week) served in each position. If you do not provide detailed work experience as stated above, you will be found ineligible for this announcement. Examples of law enforcement experience include, but are not limited to: enforcing laws, effecting arrests, performing surveillance, conducting interviews and interrogations with witnesses and suspects, collecting and securing evidence, writing reports detailing activities and observations, and providing expert testimony in court; OR
Master's degree or equivalent graduate degree or two full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, or a J.D. or LL.B., in a qualifying field (e.g., criminal justice, homeland security, justice studies, law enforcement, courts and judicial systems, forensic technology, and corrections and rehabilitation); OR
A combination of successfully completed post-bachelors education and experience. This will be calculated using your resume and unofficial transcripts submitted with your application.
Firearm Proficiency: Firearm proficiency is required for Marine Interdiction Agents and is part of the training provided.
Current Federal Employees: Current federal employees who apply to this announcement will be required to serve a probationary period in accordance with 5 CFR 315 and may be required to accept a change to lower grade, which may reduce their current salary based on Federal pay regulation.
Probationary Period: You must serve a one-year probationary period during the first year of your initial permanent federal appointment to determine fitness for continued employment.
Mandatory Completion of Basic Training: You will attend approximately 23 weeks of paid training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy (FLETC) in Glynco, GA, consisting of 15 weeks of Air and Marine Basic Training (AMBT) which includes a 100-meter swim and 15-minute survival float test that must be passed to complete the course; followed by 4 weeks of Spanish Language training (if you failed the Spanish Language proficiency test given during the AMBT course); and 4 weeks of Marine Law Enforcement training. Additionally, you will be required to complete the following training programs after successful completion of AMBT: (1) Crewmember training course at your local duty station; (2) Tactical Boarding Officer training course; and (5) Initial Vessel Commander Certification at the National Marine Training Center (NMTC) in St. Augustine, FL. Failure to successfully complete all of the training may be grounds for mandatory removal from the position.
Physical Requirements: You must be physically able to perform strenuous duties under rigorous environmental conditions. For example, duties require physical stamina in running long distances, climbing, jumping, etc., withstanding exposure to extreme weather conditions for extended period; and standing and stooping for long periods of time. Irregular and protracted hours of work are also required.
Uniforms: This position requires you to wear an officially-approved uniform while in a duty status.
Shift Work: This position requires regular and recurring shift work. You must be willing and available to work rotating shifts. You may also be rotated between assignments and duty locations.
Drivers' License: You must possess a valid drivers' license.
Travel Required
- 25% or Greater
- You will be required to travel frequently. This may require extended foreign and domestic, Temporary Duty (TDY) assignments.
Relocation Authorized
You will serve as a CBP Marine Interdiction Agent performing marine law enforcement operations involving the detection, prevention, interdiction and apprehension of terrorist, terrorist weapons and other contraband and persons from illegally entering or attacking the United States. Your duties will include, but not be limited to:
- Serving as an Air and Maine Operations (AMO) vessel commander or crew member in law enforcement operations utilizing CBP marine assets.
- Conducting maritime patrols, surveillance and pursuit activities related to the interdiction of smuggled contraband via land, air, and sea.
- Conducting high speed vessel pursuits and intercepts of suspect vessels under adverse and sometimes hazardous conditions during the hours of darkness and in times of foul/inclement weather.
- Searching vessels and/or persons to gather evidence to support allegations of criminal or terrorist activity.
- Conducting independent and joint investigations.
- Working closely with other Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to gather/share intelligence information regarding illegal maritime activity to include identifying and preventing potential acts of terrorism.
Polygraph Examination: The MIA position is a polygraph-required position. You must take a polygraph & have favorable results. Please see: http://www.cbp.gov/careers/join-cbp/which-career/apply/background-investigation
Background Investigation: DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo & successfully pass a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) as a condition of placement into this position. This may include but is not limited to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) name and fingerprint check, review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs. Please see: http://www.cbp.gov/careers/join-cbp/which-career/apply/background-investigation
Age Requirement: You must be referred for consideration before reaching your 37th birthday in accordance with Public Law 100-238. Federal civilian law enforcement positions covered by Title 5 U.S.C. 8336(c) or Title 5 U.S.C. 8412(d) may have sufficient service to meet the requirement. There are no exceptions to PL 100-238. The age restriction does not apply if you are a veteran preference eligible.
See 'Required Documents'.
Notice to Retired Veterans: Military retirees at the rank of major, lieutenant commander, or higher are not eligible for preference in appointment unless you have a service-connected disability. This does not apply to Reservists who will not begin drawing military retired pay until age 60. Please see veterans' information.
Residency Requirement: You must meet one or more of the following primary residency criteria for the last three years prior to applying to this announcement up through entering on duty:
- Resided in the United States or its protectorate or territories (excluding short trips abroad, such as vacations);
- Worked for the United States government as an employee overseas in a federal or military capacity;
- Been a dependent of a US federal or military employee serving overseas
- A current CBP employee
Exceptions may be granted if you can provide complete state-side coverage information required to make a suitability/security determination. Examples of state-side coverage information include: the state-side address of the company headquarters where the applicant's personnel file is located; the state-side address of the professor in charge of the applicant's "Study Abroad" program; the church records for the applicant's overseas church missions; and/or the state-side addresses of anyone who worked or studied with the applicant while overseas.
Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence: The MIA position is a weapons-carrying position. Any person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence cannot lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition. Therefore, if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you are not qualified for this position.
Drug Testing: You must pass a drug test as a condition of employment for this position. Once employed, MIAs are subject to random & unannounced drug tests.
Medical Examination: You must undergo & successfully pass the medical screening process.
Physical Fitness Screening: Due to the strenuous nature of the MIA duties & the associated training programs, fitness tests have been developed to screen candidates for entry-level MIA positions. Please see: http://www.cbp.gov/careers/join-cbp/which-cbp-career/air-and-marine/marine-interdiction-agent

subset: commoncrawl


text:
From Greensgrow Farms:
"We will be joined by Ploughman Farm Cider, Commonwealth Cider and Kurant Cider the 3rd Saturday of each month June – October alongside our farmstand and CSA pickup. You'll get to taste a variety of hard ciders from our area's fine cider makers.
Ploughman Farm Cider is the proud maker of ciders made from apples grown in Adams County, PA. They grow, harvest and produce ciders from our friends at Three Springs Fruit Farm.
Commonwealth Ciders are traditionally fermented hard apple ciders made right down the street from the farm, our longtime community partners. Their ciders are fermented dry with no additional sweeteners, artificial flavors, preservatives or colors.
Kurant Cider, based in Perkasie, is working on a new space in our neck of the hood. Their ciders are crafted with inspiration from traditional French, English, and Spanish ciders and are ultra dry and unfiltered with a touch of American farmhouse character.
This month we will also be joined by Faked, plant-based, healthy desserts layered in mason jars! All jars are vegan, oil-free, gluten-free, no added sugar and no salt. Jars are naturally sweetened with dates and other dried fruits and do not contain any concentrated sweetening agents and come in a variety of flavors. Plus 5% of sales go to the Nutritional Research Foundation."


text: November 05, 2011 / Noah Caine On His Time in Prison: "But you really have to look at the science of the situation. You guys come here to talk and report but you don't actually look at the facts of what this business is all about. The best thing that happened to those guys and they should stand on their mother's shoulders and kiss my ass because I went to prison or they would not be existing right now. They'd be a flash in the pan and would have made some money and opened up a restaurant or bar somewhere where they live at." Mike Tyson. Champion Words. Champion Mentality. Champion Shit. Comment 0 Likes tags / mike tyson, boxing, Sports


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My Fav Fixies, Reviewed for 2019
The first time I saw a fixie, I thought, "That is one beautiful bike." I instantly fell in love with the clean chain line and minimalist look.
Fixed gear bikes are everywhere, and they're here to stay. I can't remember the last time a bicycle style hit the scene so hard. Riders everywhere are getting into the simplicity and visceral experience of riding without gears or a freewheel (or, in some cases, brakes!)
One gear, one speed, it's a blast.
The good news is fixies are very affordable. The bad news is that, because they've become so popular, there's a lot of cheap junk on the market—nameless brands made from garbage components.
So if you're on a cheap budget, what are the best fixed gear bikes?
I've built them professionally for years now, so I feel qualified to review eight of the top, affordable fixed gear bicycles for sale today. I'll give a brief overview of the components, build quality, and noteworthy features.
Price range? We'll specifically look at the best fixed gear bikes below $500.
Hopefully by listing the pros and cons of each ride, you'll find a top quality fixie to fit your budget. Read on!
What does a good, inexpensive fixed gear bicycle look like?
The best budget-priced fixie bikes are simply those which are well designed and properly fitted. They should have decent components, and the frame should be well constructed.
I mean, track bikes like this are already noticeably cheaper than their geared cousins. Less componentry means a lower cost for the manufacturer, and a lower price for you.
The Wheelset:
An affordable fixed gear bicycle is only as good as the wheel set it rolls on. You want something that rolls well, something that's sturdy, and something that's equipped with a high quality cog and freewheel.
I've ridden on some bad cogs before; what happens is the lockring which holds the cog in place will strip. That's bad news if it happens mid-ride.
Many fixie-style bicycles, even budget models, will come fitted with a flip-flop hub. A flip-flop has both a fixed and a freewheel cog on it. To switch, you just take your rear wheel off, flip it around, and reinstall.
The freewheel cog means you can coast and pedal backwards. It's a great feature to have if you live in a hilly spot.
The Crankset:
A good riding experience is often determined by the quality of the cranks. They transfer all the power from your legs to the rear wheel, and you'll want something that's light, tough, smooth, and strong.
1) Pure Fix: An affordable fixed gear bike for under $400
This is one of my 'go-to' brands, typically my first suggestion when someone tells me they want an full-featured, inexpensive fixie bike.
Pure Fix's line of single speeds are beautiful bicycles. They seriously turn heads with their good looks. I appreciate their low-key, 'stealthy' design because you can easily customize it to make it your own.
It features a welded steel frame with a slightly aggressive, urban-inspired stance. You won't be forced to hover over your handlebars, but the frame geometry is designed for a nimble, responsive, city-friendly ride.
The wheelset is made by Pure Fix, and features deep dish style alloy rims laced to a pair of KT Quando hubs. The rear is a flip-flop hub, and it comes with a freewheel gear and lockring. The hub quality is OK, my only beef is that they could use a bit more threading for the lockring.
It rolls on Kenda tires and tubes, and uses a Lasco laser cut three piece crank with a sealed bottom bracket. It has wide handlebars with BMX style grips, and a single front brake (Radius brand calliper).
For anyone going fixed, the Pure Fix reviews well and is one of the best fixed gear bikes for a beginner. Find a colour / wheel combination that works for you and dive in.
The Breakdown
The Good: Great looking ride, Lasco cranks, great wheels
The Bad: Rear hub threading is tight
2) Big Shot Dakar: A dual-brake, budget-priced fixed gear bike, excellent reviews
This review is specifically for the Big Shot Dakar, but it covers the brand's entire line of fixies, since colours are designated by name. They come in a range of hues, so choose the name that best suits your style.
With Big Shot, you get a lot of components for a reasonably low price tag. What you DON'T get is name brand anything, but that's not the end of the world.
They state that the frame is track inspired, but it's really an all-around bicycle with a relatively comfortable geometry.
It's constructed using 4130 chromoly, which is a durable yet light alloy and a step above what you find on most budget-priced fixies.
Equipment-wise, this is one of the better fixed gear bicycles for under 500 bucks. It comes with dual brakes, and the dual calipers stop really nicely. I love how tiny and 'stealthy' the brake levers look. Despite their small size, you still get an impressive amount of leverage.
It also comes equipped with a flip-flop rear hub, so you can ride fixed or free, your choice.
The whole line also happens to have one of my absolute favourite features: bullhorn bars. Bullhorns are comfortable, attractive and more versatile (in my opinion) than traditional drop bars.
All Big Shot bikes are assembled and boxed in the USA, and their customer support is superb. All told, the Havana is one of my top fixed gear bicycle picks for $500 or below.
The Breakdown
The Good: Chromoly frame, great brakes, bullhorn bars
The Bad: No brand name components (not really a serious con though.)
3) Critical Cycles: A cheap fixed gear bike for well under $300
If you're hoping to find a truly affordable fixie bike, like less than $300 bucks, Critical Cycles has a good model called the Harper that might fit the bill.
Costing just $199, these are about as affordable as you'll find.
These are urban-ready bicycles with good looks and excellent reviews. Are they feature packed? No. But they perform admirably, and that's the most important thing.
The whole frame is designed to give the rider an upright stance and good visibility for city riding. It's not aggressive at all, very comfortable, laid back, and versatile.
The steel construction of the frame itself is basic and machine-welded, but strong. Paint is decent for such a budget-friendly price tag.
Wide, BMX-style bars offer control, and give the whole ride a 'city' look.
Critical Cycles has outfitted this bike with basic but well-made equipment. The fixie wheelset features a flip-flop rear (16t) with a freewheel cog attached. The wheels are double-walled, alloy, and moderately deep V (colourful too!)
I would've loved to see two sets of brakes on this bike, but it just comes with a rear. It's a dual calliper Promax that does the job. The front fork is drilled to allow install of a second brake.
The Protek crankset is basic (46t), but provides a good gearing for flats and mild hills.
With a nearly unbeatable price tag and a dazzling array of colours, this capable little fixed gear bike is one of the best and cheapest options at just $200.
The Breakdown
The Good: Great price, good looks, upright stance for city riding
The Bad: Only one brake (rear), forgettable components
4) State Bicycle Co. Cardinal: Gorgeous, affordable fixie bike below $500
I mentioned aesthetics before. It's important, and a brand that recognizes it better than most is State Bicycle Co., who have produced a shockingly beautiful line of fixed gear bicycles for a comparatively cheap price tag.
Not only are these some of the best fixed gear bikes below the $500 price tag, they're just stunning. I've chosen to highlight the Cardinal today, but their fixie line is essentially identical.
With gorgeous paint and super deep V 43mm wheelset, you'll definitely get some stares while riding this thing.
Under that paint, the frame and fork are constructed using 4130 chromoly; that's a high-end steel alloy, strong and vibration resistant.
The crankset is forged aluminum (State brand) paired to a sealed bottom bracket.
This particular model features bullhorn bars, but I believe you can also find the Cardinal with risers and drops, if you prefer.
The wheelset has a flip-flop hub, with both a fixed and a freewheel cog installed. It does come with brakes (they just removed them for the photos), and you'll have stopping power front and back with included Radius alloys. I love seeing the dual brakes.
It's a cool fixed gear bike with excellent reviews and a real following. Definitely recommended.
The Breakdown
The Good: Awesome light frame, fantastic paint, dual brakes
The Bad: Expensive compared to others on this list
5) BAMF Piledriver: A top quality fixed gear bicycle with a disc brake
Stopping power is often a problem on fixed gear bicycles, especially on single brake setups. BAMF has adroitly sidestepped this problem by adding more stopping power to that one brake!
The Piledriver is a great looking fixed gear bike for around $500. It's extremely well-built, ready to tear up the streets.
The bike has a high tensile steel frame that's actually quite light as steel goes. The frame geometry is built for urban adventure, and a city rider will simply love the quick way it handles.
Riser bars with BMX style grips are ultra comfortable, with a nice wide grip. The wheels and tires are beefier than 'track' inspired fixies, perfect for navigating potholes and streetcar tracks. This bike is tough, and it can take a beating!
The Bengal mechanical disc brake on the front is a good performer, especially in mud and rain. The Tektro lever gives you excellent leverage and stopping power, despite being a single brake setup.
At 46mm, these deep V wheels are wider than most and strong. They come paired with 700cx 40 Kenda tires with rain tread.
Flat, platform pedals, a Truvativ bottom bracket and a KMC chain round out this top-quality fixed gear bike. At just $500, it's easily underpriced.
*For a drop-bar version, check out the BAMF Assassin, another great offering
The Breakdown
The Good: Beefy frame, wide tires, disc brake, built for city riding
The Bad: Among the priciest listed here.
6) Nashbar Cyclocross: A single speed road bike with classic good looks
The fixed gear is a historic design, and many riders prefer a more classic and vintage style. Nashbar listened, and they've come up with their single speed cyclocross, a gorgeous, minimalist single speed bike.
It's perfect for city fun, bike polo or even SSCX racing, and it's one of the best single speed / fixed gear bikes under $500 for that reason.
The frame is stunning in a minimalist, vintage-inspired way. A slick paint job complements its classic lines. The sturdy steel frame makes a fantastic base for any customization you want to do.
The visible components are all done in classic chrome / silver, and the resulting combination is simultaneously throwback and modern. The crankset, brakes, seat post and stem are all matched chrome and brushed silver.
The wheels, unlike most of the reviews done so far, are not deep V. Nashbar instead opted for low profile alloy rims. They're wider, and the tires have beefier tread. The rear is a Formula alloy hub, but there's no fixed cog. It comes set up as a single speed with a 17T freewheel.
At 17t / 46t, the gearing is really good for a high speed ride. Hills will require some stamina, but you'll fly on the flats.
The nameless bike comes equipped with classic drop handlebars wide enough to be used like straight bars in a pinch. Brake levers are hooked up to front and rear Tektro alloy brakes that stop nicely.
For a vintage-inspired ride, the Nashbar Cyclocross is a good single-speed bike for well under $400.
The Breakdown
The Good: Cool, classic looks, great gearing for flats, cyclocross tires
The Bad: Doesn't come with a fixed cog
7) Retrospec Mantra: A beautiful, well-made fixed gear bike under $300
Based out of Los Angeles, Retrospec has dedicated their energy towards fixie culture. They make wheelsets, accessories, and (of course) bicycles. The Retrospec Mantra V2 is one of my favourite fixed gear bikes under the $500 mark.
The frame is spartan and gorgeous. It's made from high tensile steel and it's durable and relatively lightweight. It's a modern design with enough classic elements to appeal to just about everyone.
One thing I like about Retrospec is the care with which they assemble their parts. The components fit together nicely, function well and last a long time. A good example is the sealed bottom bracket that they now incorporate on all fixies.
The Mantra comes with a single front brake, a dual calliper Promax. I'd prefer to see two brakes, but it does the trick.
The wheels are dual wall alloy with uber deep V rims. The rear is paired to a flip-flop hub with 16t freewheel and fixed cogs. Both wheels feature sealed cartridge bearings, another indicator of quality. They spin for a long time.
Other things I like: the riser bars give a slightly BMX silhouette, and lots of control. The platform pedals are large enough to keep you planted.
Available in a wide array of colours, the Mantra V2 is one of the best cheap fixed gear bicycles for under $300 no matter how or where you want to ride.
The Breakdown
The Good: Great quality components, lots of colours
The Bad: Only one brake
8) Takara Sugiyama: Proof that a cheap fixed gear bicycle can still be fun to ride
Of all the fixed gear bikes I've reviewed here, this is the only sub-$200 offering. It's rare that I'd recommend something that inexpensive, to be honest, but the Takara Sugiyama is a surprising bike in more than one way.
First, the looks are atypical. It has an odd blend of colours and a very upright frame. The whole ensemble almost reminds me of a mountain bike.
Secondly, it's incredibly affordable. It's almost impossible to find a good fixie bike for less than $200, but here we are.
As you'd expect at this price point, the Sugiyama has a steel frame and fork. It's durable and strong, though not the lightest.
Unexpectedly, it comes with both a front and a rear brake. They're basic, but they do the job when properly tuned (though admittedly it would be the first part I'd upgrade).
The wheelset is alloy and the rear wheel comes with a flip-flop hub and both a fixed and free cog. The tires are wide at 700 x 32, making this a capable bike for city riding. I'd expect to change the tubes pretty soon after the purchase, they're not very good quality.
Most of the components are very basic, and you should be aware of that going in.
The colour combination isn't for everyone. The non-matching tires and the use of black, white and blue make this a very 'loud' bike, but it's one of the best cheap fixed gear bicycles you'll find for such a low price, and the customer reviews are very positive. Personally, I think it looks great!
The Breakdown
The Good: Super cheap fixed gear bike, durable frame, funky good looks
The Bad: Cheap components, particularly the brakes
What else is out there?
You'll find a dizzying array of single speed bikes nowadays. They're no longer a niche market and literally every major outfit I know of has jumped on board.
Big brands
Frankly, the bigger brands will charge a significant premium for basically the same materials and componentry. That's not necessarily bad; they'll come with robust warranties and standardized parts, so fit and finish will be premium.
Where I find they fall short is in aesthetics and risk. The latter, in particular, is something they're allergic to. It's up to you whether that's a tradeoff worth taking.
What to avoid. Seriously
Don't make the mistake of opting for no name bikes. Honestly, would you buy a car from a dealership selling Toyondas?
This is different from purchasing a tablet or something. A bike is a machine that can end your life. In my work as a bike mechanic, I have seen cheapo bicycles come in with the frames literally split in half. Imagine if that happened while you were flying down a hill.
If you have any questions, feel free to post them below. Thanks for reading!


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'Motor City West' Is Upbeat
Japanese Car Makers Offer Bright Outlook for U.S. Sales
Out in California these days, regular unleaded gas sells for about $2.19 a gallon. The air seems clearer, but the freeways no less clogged. And the automotive companies on the left side of the continent are sounding as upbeat as ever.
At Nissan Motor Corp.'s U.S. sales arm, "we're looking for double-digit" growth this year, says executive vice president Jed Connelly. How can Mr. Connelly say that when U.S. car and light truck sales are only up 4% so far this year? Because Nissan's sales are up 38% through the end...


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Join us on Sunday, March 4th, from 11 AM – 3 PM for good food, hot drinks, outdoor recreation and winter fun. Snow or no snow, we will have a winter festival complete with:
Free ski and snowshoe rentals (if there's snow), thanks to SKIRACK, Winooski Valley Park District, Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, and Catamount Trail Association
Free fat bike rentals from SKIRACK
A bonfire to keep warm
A chili-cook off! Email firstname.lastname@example.com to sign up!
Food for purchase from the Southern Smoke, Miss Weinerz Donuts, and more!
Hot chocolate tastings by Slow Food Vermont
Maple tastings and sugar on snow from Silloway Maple
Kids' activities and nature walks
And more to come!
Event partners: Skirack, Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, Intervale Community Farm, and Winooski Valley Park District
Many thanks to our event sponsors: SKIRACK, Synergy HomeCare , Northfield Savings Bank


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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties
Releases 2017 Fourth Quarter Connecticut Market Report
Wallingford, CT – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties has released its Fourth Quarter 2017 Connecticut Market Report, a valuable resource for anyone looking to buy or sell a home. The report examines the single family and condominium markets throughout Connecticut and is an in-depth analysis of sales and emerging trends in the market.
Connecticut sales were down by 1.99% in the fourth quarter, however, average price increased by 6.76% to $344,2018. Days on the market for both single family homes and condominiums increased by 9.41% and 2.13% respectively, during this fourth quarter. Condominium sales surged in Windham, Middlesex, Hartford and New Haven Counties with corresponding increases in pricing- showing demand for lower maintenance living across the state. Luxury home sales- those sold for over $2 million, saw continued increases with 7.84% more sales (115) in the fourth quarter, when compared to 2016. Over 90% of the luxury sales in Connecticut took place in Fairfield County during 2017.
New building permits continue to decrease, with 10.87% fewer permits issued as of November 2017, when compared to 2016; and new listings are down 4.72% year over year, making 2018 an opportunity for homeowners to list their homes.
The most significant issue sellers and buyers need to be aware of is the new tax bill. It is too early to tell how it is going to impact the state of Connecticut but it will be a variable for the housing market in 2018. Regardless of the implications, move-in ready homes and those within walking distance to shops and restaurants will remain front runners in the 2018 market.
To view the full market report, please visit: https://www.bhhsneproperties.com/connecticut-market-report
If you have any questions regarding this report or real estate questions in general, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties Realtors® are here to help you navigate the current market with expert knowledge and exceptional service.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England, New York and Westchester Properties is a leading real estate brokerage firm with over 1,800 REALTORS® in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. Share in our heritage and esteemed reputation as one of the most admired and respected companies in the world. By working with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England, New York and Westchester Properties, you align with a century of unparalleled financial strength, operational excellence and business ethics. For more information, visit www.bhhsNEproperties.com.


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Visonic Technologies has released the Elpas2 High-Definition IR Reader, a supervised, fixed infrared locating device.
The Elpas2 High-Definition IR Reader is a supervised, fixed infrared locating device. The reader is designed to detect and relay sub-room data in real time from Elpas Active RFID IR-Enabled Asset, Personnel or Infant Protection Tags to host applications.
The reader can be integrated onto wired or wireless Ethernet/Wi-Fi networks to enable indoor, facility-wide sub-room monitoring and tracking of assets or personnel in real-time.


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There were several topics of note discussed at the Pontiac City Council meeting Monday night. Chief among them was the move to save the municipal government approximately $30,000 annually by upgrading its phone system.
The city council discussed and approved an upgrade of its phone systems courtesy Entre Solutions II, a computer consultancy in Bloomington. The company had presented a proposal for converting to a voice over internet system, one that City Administrator Bob Karls believed that the city's present CIRBN internet system had sufficient bandwidth to accommodate.
The first year's cost, including new equipment purchase, was to be $45,827 while the savings the same year would only be $41,705. However, the cost would drop down to $10,300 the second year and beyond with the saving remaining the same, creating a net annual savings of $31,405. Karls said that that figure might vary dependent upon how many sites were connected, noting additionally that Frontier lines were not factored in.
The council motioned to renew its $23,862 membership dues with the Greater Livingston County Economic Development Council. Council member Brian Gabor asked if the GLCEDC deserved credit for the growth of businesses, wondering as well if those developments would have happened on their own.
GLCEDC CEO Adam Dontz said that local businesses could appreciate the incentives packages drafted by his group. He also cited the lobbying efforts the GLCEDC have been involved in to make the business climate more amenable on the state policy level. The motion to renew was passed by all council members with the exception of Curt Myers and Gabor.
The city agreed to renew its contract with Pontiac Junior Baseball. The contract stipulates that the organization "agrees to pay the City of Pontiac, Parks and Recreation, for all tournament dates, a fee of $200 for the first day, and $100 for the second day," which are non-refundable unless work has not yet begun on fields in the case of rainouts.
It was also arranged that the city would collect a 2 percent fee of the gross, such as concessions, merchandise and other revenue generated by the league.
The council approved a bid from H.J. Eppel & Co. for its 2018 sanitary manhole replacement project. The winning bid was $54,824.08. Others who submitted bids were Robert Shay, Opperman Construction and Tobey's Construction with respective bids of $56,700, $78,497.50 and $107,639.
The name for the new restaurant to open where Lydia's Cup once served customers was also revealed at Monday night's meeting. Per a draft agreement as part of the city's facade improvement grant program, Jake Haag, owner of the new establishment, listed the business as "Acres Inn." The estimated facade cost was $13,104.09, and as part of the program, the city will reimburse Haag 50 percent of the cost.
The council also got an update on the city's Community Heart & Soul initiative. Council member Kelly Eckhoff said the initiative, founded by the Orton Family Foundation, was meant to "find a way to empower all residents to shape the future of their communities and uphold character of each place."
She added that along with herself and council member Jerry Causer, six other members of the public had created a leadership team to start implementing the program.
Upgrade to save city $30,000
There were several topics of note discussed at the Pontiac City Council meeting Monday night. Chief among them was the move to save the municipal government approximately $30,000 annually by upgrading its phone system.


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The Chronicles of San Diego Podcast - John Lococo of soccerloco
This show is all about San Diego and the various different individuals, institutions, events, civic and cultural issues that represent the spirit of America's Finest City.
On this episode I had the pleasure of speaking to John Lococo. John is the founder, President and CEO of soccerloco, San Diego's premier soccer-specific retailer. Full disclosure, I started working at soccerloco in 2014 and like so many of my coworkers, I'm properly crazy about this game. The company was founded in 1997 and in the years that I've been around, I've gotten pretty familiar with the day to day.
I wanted to spend some time learning more about John's personal background though, and even though I've heard a few his stories before, I always learn something new about the man who built this empire that now dominates the southwest corner of the United States.
In this conversation we talk about the origins of soccerloco, the progressive steps made over the years to stay relevant and ahead of the competition, the family philosophy that guides the decision making process and much more.
We talk about the growth of the game of soccer itself and how the presence of a Major League Soccer franchise in San Diego could further add to the sustainability of the business of soccer. We wrap up with a bit of speculation regarding the 2026 World Cup that will be hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Be sure to leave a rating, review and/or any feedback you have on iTunes, Stitcher, GooglePlay or wherever else you consume this podcast from.


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Try adding a good wine to a little gold, oil in portfolio
By Nikolaj Gammeltoft
Bloomberg News Service
NEW YORK For the ultimate in liquid investments, try top-quality wine, which has outperformed one benchmark U.S. stock index for 13 years and withstood two recessions.
That's the conclusion of Philippe Masset and Jean-Philippe Weisskopf, two Switzerland-based economists who compared wine prices with the Russell 3000 Index between January 1996 and January 2009. The researchers studied more than 400,000 prices on regularly traded wines from the 13-year period, which covers two bull markets and two bear markets for stocks, to construct a general wine index and a gauge of top vintages.
"My wine cellars have probably appreciated better than any other investment I have made personally," said Drew Nieporent, owner of Corton, Nobu and Tribeca Grill in New York. The third restaurant holds a 2009 Grand Award from Wine Spectator magazine. "Great wines are scarce," he said. "You can't get them everywhere."
Demand for alternative investments such as wine and artwork has grown in recent decades as investors seek refuge from inflation, and look for asset classes in which to store wealth beyond traditional methods such as stocks, bonds and gold, according to Peter Boockvar, an equity strategist at Miller Tabak & Co. in New York.
"It's the demand for hard assets, and it's the same reason why gold and oil are rallying," Boockvar said. Gold futures are advancing for a 10th straight year, and crude trades above $80 a barrel in New York, a level never exceeded before 2007.
Masset and Weisskopf took prices from 144 auctions with a combined value of $237 million to construct the index. They used vintages from 1981 to 2005.
"Our findings show that the inclusion of wine in a portfolio and, especially, more prestigious wines, increases the portfolio's returns while reducing its risk, particularly during the financial crisis," wrote Masset, a professor at the Lausanne Hotel School, and Weisskopf, a researcher at the University of Fribourg, in their study, "Raise Your Glass: Wine Investment and the Financial Crisis."
The general wine index beat the Russell 3000 over the period, largely because it held value over the most recent market downturn and did so with lower volatility than equities. Since mid-2008, the wine measure fell 17 percent, while the stocks gauge declined 47 percent.
The index of highest-quality wines, "first growth wines of top vintages only," in particular from 2005 onward, "hugely outperforms" the other two indexes, the authors said. The elite gauge has a more than fivefold return, while the regular wine index has more than doubled. The Russell 3000 gained about 50 percent.
The increase in prices coincided with an increase in consumption of the beverage. Americans drank a record 304 million cases in 2009 following a 3.2 percent average annual rise since 1996, according to the last year's edition of "The Global Drinks Market: Impact Databank Review & Forecast. (There are nine liters of wine in a case.) Global consumption has grown 0.6 percent a year on average to 2.65 billion cases during the same period.
The monthly Liv-ex 100 Fine Wine Index tracks the price movements of 100 of the most sought-after wines offered in the resale market. The index rose 11.7 percent during the first three months of 2010 and jumped 27.6 percent from a year earlier as of March 31, according to data compiled by Liv-ex.com.
Wine isn't an investment for the unprepared, said Peter Meltzer, auction correspondent for Wine Spectator magazine. The market is thinly traded compared with stocks. Bottles need to be handled carefully and stored properly to avoid breakage or spoiling. Collectors who aren't familiar with vintages, varietals and appellations could find themselves saddled with a product that's much less desirable than they'd expected.
Because wine doesn't generate dividends or interest like stocks or bonds often do, the only way to calculate its value is to guess how much people will be willing to pay for it in the future, making it a speculative instrument, said Glenn Tongue, a partner at T2 Partners LLC in New York.
"We get no cash from wine and we have no idea what we can sell it for down the road, so we're not going to invest in it," said Tongue, whose Tilson Focus Fund has almost doubled investors' money in the past year, beating 99 percent of peers. "It's speculation when you're buying wine or art. It's not an investment."
Top wine vintages have been the best performers since 1996 with wines costing more than $200 a bottle and particularly collectible bottles above $400 as much as quadrupling their value. That compares with a 170 percent increase in the price of wines selling below $100 and a 120 percent return for those between $100 and $199.
The Internet has made the market for collector's items more organized and transparent because it improves the distribution of information and lowers transaction costs, according to Jim Halperin, co-founder of Heritage Auction Galleries, the third- largest art and memorabilia auctioneer after New York-based Sotheby's and Christie's International Plc in London.
While wine has done better than assets such as stocks, real estate and gold, modern art was the most attractive investment, outperforming credit, equity and commodities between 1994 and 2008, according to data compiled by Birinyi Associates Inc.
Not all wines appreciate equally and while lesser-quality wines may increase in value, they will rarely show the same performance as choice Bordeaux like Ch[0xe2]teaux P trus, Ausone, and Cheval Blanc, or Burgundies from Domaine de la Roman e-Conti and Henri Jayer, said Meltzer of Wine Spectator.
"Collectibles have become a viable and serious tool for investment diversification," said Dallas-based Halperin. "I'm investing my own money in art and collectibles, right alongside public stocks, private equity, business loans and real estate."
Low interest rates and government stimulus measures have helped boost demand for wine, said Miller Tabak's Boockvar. The Federal Reserve cut its interest-rate benchmark to a record low near zero in December 2008 and has said it will keep it there for an "extended period." The U.S. government spent, lent or guaranteed more than $8 trillion to end the worst contraction since the Great Depression.
"In a world where interest rates are zero and money is being printed around the world, there's a demand for hard assets whether it is wine, comic books or baseball cards because they can protect the investor from that environment," Boockvar said.


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Khloe Kardashian was spotted earlier today in a leather skirt and checked shirt which she paired with black pigalle Christian Louboutin shoes as she headed to the L.A car showroom. She finished off her look with her purple aviator sunglasses.
I don't know about you, but I have never seen Kim's ass look as good as Khloe's ass looks in this photos. These are pictures taken by street photographers, so it is completely impossible for her ass to have been altered with photoshop or any other picture editor.
Credit: Dailymail
Keep refreshing 360nobs Style.


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The Mad Miss Manton
The Mad Miss Manton resembles the screwball in type throughout the first scene or two. It's three a.m. in New York, Melsa Manton walks a batch of dogs past the doorman of her apartment building into the street. One of the dogs hurts its paw on the debris of a subway under construction. Melsa commiserates, saying it doesn't seem fair that the poor creature should suffer the inconvenience and then be barred from riding the subway when it's finished. The streets are deserted, yet a man wearing evening clothes emerges from a house and drives away hastily. "Ronnie," she calls to him in vain. She can't resist entering the door left open behind him, the house is dark, she uses her cigarette lighter to examine the interior, an older man lies dead on the hearth, shot through the temple. She runs out, shedding her cloak, to call the police. Her garment now consists of a short white frilly dress with a bow, something like Little Bo-Peep, Baby Snooks or Shirley Temple. She has come from a costume party, an artists' ball, where she had to resist a man's advances, he's dead, not the same man, etc. The police find no body, at the station her identity is discovered. Miss Manton and her friends once stole a traffic light in a scavenger hunt for charity, their pranks are notable, the lieutenant sends her home. The deep New York ennui of Sam Levene as the lieutenant is the proper screwball response, but the oddities of the scene propel the film into another type as the model of Roy Del Ruth's Topper Returns, and this is only the prologue.
Melsa's adventure, the madcap foolery of a wealthy debutante, appears in the newspaper with a photograph of her, next to an article headlined, "BANKERS URGED TO SEE SELVES AS PUBLIC SEES THEM". Melsa goes to see the editor in his office, and finds a reporter given additional duties for the same pay, who is presently expounding on sharp business practices. "Wall Street has hit a new low," he says, forming an editorial. The scene is practically repeated in Polanski's Chinatown, her process server hands him a summons, she is determined to prove her case in court with a libel suit for one million dollars. Isn't she afraid, the editor asks, of paying a higher tax rate? She'll give it to charity, she says, there was a body in that house.
Melsa and her debutante friends gather in her apartment to decide on a course of action, a knock on the door is her cloak and a knife with a warning note. The editor shows up, belittling her endeavors, the girls beset him, leave him bound and gagged, and press on to Ronnie's apartment. Nothing's amiss there, one of the girls dawdles to make a sandwich. Ronnie is in the refrigerator. The lieutenant hangs up on Melsa, and so the bedraggled editor gets the news from his own paper on the street, "FROZEN PLAYBOY MYSTERIOUSLY DEPOSITED IN NEWSPAPER OFFICE".
A jeweled brooch at the scene of the earlier crime had turned up in Ronnie's apartment, evidently by way of Melsa's cloak.
Ronnie's affair with Mrs. Lane, wife of the first victim, led to his murder. Lane had been blackmailed by his partner in the firm of Lane & Thomas, Brokers, because Mrs. Lane was formerly Mrs. Norris, the wife of a gangster. Norris has been released from prison and become a foreman on the subway construction. He was at a hockey game in Madison Square Garden when Lane was killed.
Melsa tries the experiment, ten minutes is not enough time to get from the Garden to the murder scene. "NORRIS ALIBI SUBSTANTIATED", followed by a report of new evidence from Melsa with a secondary article conveying, as always in this film, the real tenor of events, "MOVE TO BAN OFFICE MERGERS".
Melsa and the editor, who is quite smitten, are set as bait at the Las Pampas Club, a swank spot where the waiter is an undercover cop and smiling Sgt. Sullivan is in the orchestra with a Tommy gun at the ready. A pistol peeps through curtains, their champagne bottle gets it. A bit of tar paper is the only clue. Melsa remembers the construction site.
Down in the tunnel, the shadow of a gunman looms. It's the night watchman holding his pipe. The electric cart on the track zips along quite fast. She gives him a tip, "buy yourself a pipe that looks less like a gun."
Norris was jealous, thought Lane beat the wife, hated Ronnie, got a great deal of pleasure from killing, at first.
Hollywood lighting is used to advantage, the jokes are plentiful. Stanwyck and Fonda are unjustly compared with the altogether different roles in Preston Sturges' The Lady Eve. Hattie McDaniel is in rare form as the scowling maid who refers to the debutantes as "that mob" and tells a telephone operator in true New York abstraction, "I don't know no numbers 'cept policy numbers."
Carolina Blues
The essential genius of Kay Kyser, years on tour, weeks piled up entertaining the troops, home for a brief vacation but pressed into service instead for a defense plant gig, bond night at the Cosmopolitan, the wartime whirligig exhausting the band.
He is more than calm at the center of the storm, but the Bradford millionaire isn't all he's cracked up to be and has a dancing daughter.
Before Robert Hamer's Kind Hearts and Coronets, Victor Moore as the Carver family. Ann Miller, music from top to toe. Jeff Donnell as the publicity gal mad for Ish Kabibble. Georgia Carroll, who has a way with a song. Harlem steppers, Broadway shleppers, with the sublime songsters and Jason's typically original idea of a musical that fits all these circumstances, a very vivid dream. "Hello, yes, this is Kay Kyser. Oh, I'm sorry, um, who wants to speak with me? The mayor! Well, lift him up to the phone!"
"Will you stop worryin'? You're makin' me noivous. Kibitzer!" Question of a destroyer from his N.C. home town, the band plays pickup in a scene rivaling George Marshall's "A Knife, a Fork and a Spoon" number in Pot o' Gold with Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights.
A song of the rivers, "that sounds like a music cue."
Bosley Crowther of the New York Times, "it is likely to leave you depressed." TV Guide, "decent". Halliwell's Film Guide, "wispy comedy musical".
An oblique view of the battle from a forward gun mount on a destroyer, a complicated sequence of mainly conversational metaphors (cf. Coward & Lean's In Which We Serve and Milestone's A Walk in the Sun) that fortuitously drops the gloves before the "kamekatzes'" penultimate attack and throws in one of the occupied for good measure.
Therefore an extraordinary undertaking, a view also from the bridge, noted by Robert Montgomery in The Gallant Hours.
"I've gargled more salt water than you ever sailed on!"
The Secretary of the Navy looks on many a scene from his official photograph.
Tropical Fever: Its Cause and Treatment (cf. Henry King's Marie Galante).
Death of FDR, "one of the best friends I had."
The "divine wind" blows.
H.H.T. of the New York Times dutifully went for "dull glimpses... wartime dogmeat... a tired old rubber band... clichés... hand-me-down colloquialism... the most dismal war offering so far this year... marking time in Hollywood's Siberia," that is all.
The ships of the line on picket around the home island all have code names from the funny papers, this one is "Blondie".


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Financial Management in Micro and Small Enterprises and Globalisation Risk Analysis
DYLEMATY TEORII I PRAKTYKI ZARZADZANIA: FINANSOWO -SPOLECZNE PROBLEMY ZARZADZANIA W MIKRO - I MAKROSKALI, M. Duczmal, T. Pokusa, ed., pp. 46-64, 2006
21 Pages Posted: 16 Aug 2007
Maximization of wealth of his owners is the basic financial aim in management of micro or small enterprise. Financial management which control globalisation risk contributes to realization this aim. Article presents accessible for micro and small enterprises methods which control risk in financial management decision making by micro and small firms.
Keywords: Demand for Liquidity, Liquidity balances, Risk, Uncertainty, Real Options, Option Value of Money, Long-Term Financial Management
JEL Classification: G39, G32, G11, M11, D81, O16, P33, P34
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
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Lest Darkness RiseBy Owen K. C. Stephens
The town of Night Falls is in the business of death, and a profitable business it is, too. The nearby Tomb Steppe, a protected graveyard built by a local hero of old, can keep the most restless dead at rest -- or can it? An ancient evil is about to be unleashed upon Night Falls. The wards within a protected tomb have somehow been compromised, and if they aren't restored before nightfall, the ghost within will be released to ravage the countryside. Can the PCs win their way to the tomb in time?
Drop the latest miniadventure for D&D v.3.5 by Owen K. C. Stephens into any spot in your campaign world that features a small town in a remote area. Suitable for four 7th-level characters.
Adventure Preview
Lest Darkness Rise
Long ago, a local priest created a warded graveyard on a remote hillside. As the years passed, it gained a reputation as a spot whose defenses were powerful enough to keep undead in and tomb robbers out. Adventurers began to bring the remains of any creatures they suspected might become restless in death to the Tomb Steppe for interment, and in time they also sought aid against such creatures from the friendly priest. After his death, a brief spate of undead activity commenced, then died away once again.
As the years passed, the tales of undead activity in the Tomb Steppe faded into legend, and colonists began to move into the lands nearby. The town of Night Falls was founded a short distance from the graveyard, and it grew quickly into a thriving trade center and farming community. Realizing that the Tomb Steppe was safe enough during the day, the citizens began burying their dead there rather than building new crypts on pristine farmland. Because this method of interment was cheap and easy, people from many surrounding communities brought their dead to the town as well. The business of burial brought new prosperity to Night Falls, and a guild called the Funerary House sprang up to control the trade.
But it seems that the threat from the Tomb Steppe has not entirely been laid to rest. The Great Mausoleum -- the largest and finest tomb in the steppe, has been unsealed, and an apparition has been seen within. Who will go to the Tomb Steppe by night and reseal the tomb?
About the Authors
Owen Kirker Clifford Stephens was born in 1970 in Norman, Oklahoma. He attended the TSR Writer's Workshop held at the Wizards of the Coast Game Center in 1997 and moved to the Seattle area in 2000, after accepting a job as a Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Fourteen months later, he returned to Oklahoma with his wife and three cats to pick up his freelance writer/developer career. His credits include author and coauthor credits on numerous Star Wars and EverQuest projects, as well as Bastards and Bloodlines from Green Ronin. He also has producer credits for various IDA products, including the Stand-Ins printable figures.


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For some reason, America & The World have a fascination of pitting pop stars against each other. Over the years there has been countless celebrity feuds amongst stars, actresses and the pop stars are no exception.
Debuted both around the same time in the late 90's, Britney & Christina were both the leading pop stars in the new wave of pop, both excelling in different area's. Britney, an albums artist, one who was pushing the envelope of sexy at just 16, and Christina, while also being sexualised was remarkable for her incredibly voice and string of hits.
Their differences didn't stop them being compared, despite uniting several times on stage and after growing up together on the Micky Mouse Club.
Their debut albums and singles have and STILL are pitted against each other and compared to this day. Their "growing up" era's (Slave/Dirrty) are still compared, pitted and copied to this very day.
Their iconic 2003 VMAs performance with madonna is still referenced to this day, and is very important to this article.
I believe, Christina got fed up with living under Britney's shadow of success. Britney clearly got enormous amounts of commercial success which I think made Christina feel jealous as she believed her talent and voice was more worthy of.
This side of Christina came out when she made this comment about their 2003 VMA performance together, AFTER she was laughed at for people forgetting she was even there, and again for Britney AGAIN stealing the show.
Christina said that Britney needed to kiss Madonna because she needed a gimmick for her show, and that she wasn't an artist. She was a performer. Fake and superficial.
Britney, maintained her cool and laughed it off saying " Hey, didn't she kiss her too?"
Britney only ever had nice things to say about Christina, like she was in awe of her voice and wished she could sing like that, While Christina had to keep shading Britney's career, image and marriage to K-Fed.
In fact, It's a well known fact that Britney never has anything bad to say about ANYONE.
It didn't help that the media always pitted the two against each other when they would release singles/albums near each other ect, which is still done to this day.
Deep down we love the rivalry don't we world?


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I was fortunate enough to find an Air BNB just three miles from the convention center for a very fair price. It is one room with shared living space with another room (I only have the one bedroom, another renter would be in the second room) I am willing to share the space with another female for less than half of the cost for Wednesday night through Sunday (I most likely won't arrive til late Wednesday night.) For the whole weekend it will only cost you $100
I don't mind sharing the bed but I am also willing to make a trip to buy an air mattress or some other accommodation.
If you have a car and you are willing to carpool to the Convention Center I am willing to take your share down to $85.
Edit: IDK if this post is too long or not but I thought I should tell you a little about me! My name is Jamie and I am 26 years old. I am going to most of the Critical Role events at Gen Con and Critical Role Live.
I am running some games so I expect to have some extra supplies with me. Nonetheless I am pretty chill with everybody.
I would also like to include that I have some caveats that seem common sense but I would prefer that you not have overnight guests and that you just let me know if you're going to be out post midnight. (I know there's events all through the night so just let me know. )


text: simonbolivar Posted April 8, 2017 I just received this one from Mary and thought I would share a few pics. I was looking to diversify my collection, and add something a bit more dressy. Always loved The Overseas as it is a good looking watch that is understated, only recognizable by true enthusiasts. This one is from JJF factory, with Miyota 9015 movement. I was undecided on color but wound up going with the white face, as everything else in my watch box is black face. On to the pics: Good first impressions. Construction feels pretty solid, good finish. The face and printing is well done. Date font seems to match gen, and is well centered. Lume is an odd grayish color, and doesn't really match the hands well. But not bad enough to be a distraction. Indoor lighting Some shots of the case back, and deployant. Nicely finished, but some have mentioned that the ship is not as finely detailed as gen. Not really a concern for me. The clasp finish is nice, but feels kind of flimsy. Not sure how this will hold up over time. Rubber strap was a bit stiff, but boiled it for a few mins and seems more pliable now. Some general thoughts... good watch for those looking to dress up the collection, but whom tend to stick with more sporty watches. Wears a bit small on the wrist as it is lower profile than what I usually wear. Fairly accurate to gen from what I've seen (but only compared with pics). Good build quality, except for the clasp which feels delicate. Miyota 9015 has some rotor noise, but nothing like the AP15400 by JF, which is extremely loud IMO. All in all, a good addition to add some variety to the collection. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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4" Beef Marrow Bone - Made in USA
The perfect treat for medium-sized dogs, these meaty beef bones are irresistible to even the most aggressive chewer. They're made and sourced in the USA and have no additives, artificial colors, or preservatives. They are also free of any wheat, corn, and soy. Each highly nutritious treat is completely digestible and is carefully roasted to ensure optimal quality and flavor to provide your dog with a natural and healthy snack.


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Personalized Kahlo Bar Necklace
Personalized Kahlo Bar Necklace
Sizing Guide | Shipping + Production | Returns
The smallest of all our bars makes a dainty, minimal statement. Some of our favorite personalization options for this piece are names, dates, and initials.
All our work is custom made and hand stamped in our La Conner, WA studio.
When you add this piece to your cart, please leave us a note with the following details:
Letter style
Inscription (use photos 4-6 as a reference for bar & letter style choices)
the KAHLO bar is 3mm x 16mm
shown on the model at 15"
the bars have a smooth, satin finish
personalized by hand in a traditional method using metal punches
currently available in 14k Gold Fill, Rose Gold Fill, Sterling Silver, or 14K Solid Gold
Kahlo 3mm x 16mm (you are here)


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33 straight weeks of questions have all led to THIS…the 34th straight installment of The Nerd Blitz Question Of The Week!
Let's get to it, gang.
This week, in honor of B-Movie March, we want to know: What do you consider to be the greatest B-Movie of all time?
Leave your answer down in the comments or on Twitter with the hashtag #TNBQotW
Special thanks to @SteBoost for our QotW logo.


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M! Countdown is back with its weekly music show in China!
On today's episode of M! Countdown FIESTAR came back with Apple Pie! While Baek A Yeon takes the first place trophy of the week with her newest track So So! Congratulations!
Other artists of the night were FTISLAND, BTOB, Hyoseong, Cosmic Girls, VIXX Chris Lee, 蔡依林, T-ARA, JunJin, GFriend, SISTAR and The Legend.
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The feature by James A Pottinger about Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Co in the June 2018 issue of Sea Breezes was so interesting.
SS Fatshan II immediately caught my eye. My grandfather, Captain William Valentine, was shipmaster of the previous SS Fatshan and other steamers of Hong Kong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Co.
My grandfather and his friend, Captain Bob Bliss, both Montrose seafarers, arrived in Hong Kong in 1901, my grandfather joining Butterfield & Swire as a 2nd Mate. He went on the Canton River with Hong Kong, Canton & Macao Steamboat Co, one year later.
I enclose a selection of images taken during Captain Valentine's time on the Canton River 1902 – 1923.
A. Shows Fatshan at Canton with Hankow forward (Captain Bob Burse). Note Hankow's large paddles and beam engine.
B. Another view of Fathshan at Canton.
C. SS Pow-an.
D. Royal Navy gunboat.
E. SS San-Lun.
F. SS Lin-San.
G. Launch towing 32 boats. (pictures in our print edition -Ed.)
H. Paddlesteamer Honam.
Note beam engine. I understand some of these vessels were built in Scotland, others in Hong Kong, probably by Taikoo Dockyard & Engineering Co.
Laurencekirk, Scotland


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Happy Thanksgiving!
I love Thanksgiving! As an educator, it seems to come at just the right time and tries its best to fend off the appetite of consumerism. From my family to yours, I pray that you get the rest you need and return to work/school/family (whatever!) with a deeper gratitude for the blessings of everyday life.
This video is just too perfect not to share:


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DAVID OMAN (Poltergeist Agent/Producer/Creator/Co-Writer/) A native of Los Angeles, Oman has been intrigued by the paranormal from his early childhood and has been curious about the Spirit World ever since. In 1999 Oman started helping his father build 'the house' on Cielo Drive, down the drive from the infamous Sharon Tate Murders aka the Manson Murders – after 2 years in the house he created a story based upon his experiences with the activity, titled, "House at the End of the Drive". He shot it on location at his home and brought his story to life. The activity has been quite apparent so much so that the Oman house has been on seven paranormal reality shows, Ghost Hunters, Dead Famous Live, Searching for Satan, My Ghost Story, Haunted History, Paranormal Witness, Ghost Adventures and on Ghost Adventures After Shocks. He has also been featured on Larry King Live, EXTRA and TMZ and CBS News LA. His house has also been visited by Lisa Williams, Zak Bagans, James Van Pragh, Chris Fleming, Nick Groff and many other famous paranormal experts and they have had wild experiences here as well. Since then he has recorded a plethora of evidence of the paranormal activity here. He has his channel at www.youtube.com/davidoman to see the footage shot here at The Oman House.
Featured Video: "Absolution"


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may, 2019
03mayAll Day05FeaturedWine, Waves & Beyond
Event Details
Our 10th annual Wine, Waves & Beyond will return May 3-5, 2019! Celebrate the best that Classic California has to offer. Enjoy three days of unforgettable events that embrace
Event Details
Our 10th annual Wine, Waves & Beyond will return May 3-5, 2019!
Celebrate the best that Classic California has to offer. Enjoy three days of unforgettable events that embrace the love of California's traditional surfing lifestyle and culture along with exceptional wine and food. Experience Central Coast wines, artisan brews, local California farm-fresh and seaport-inspired cuisine, as well as great music, art, and the amiable coastal community.
Event Schedule:
May 3: Surf Movie Night
The historic Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo kicks off this 3-day event with our Featured Film: TBD. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. All proceeds from this epic movie event will go to benefit StillFrothy!
May 4: 805 Surf Classic & SeaVenture Classic VW Show
Rise and shine on Saturday morning for the 805 Surf Classic presented by Still Frothy at the Pismo Beach Pier featuring an invitational team competition with teams comprised of male and female surfers from the 805, an adaptive heat, women's shortboard, and a local Winemakers & Brew Masters heat. Alongside the surf contest will be our SeaVenture Classic VW Show! Come down to the SeaVenture Beach Hotel and enjoy Buses, Bugs and More!
May 5: Rabobank's Barrel to Barrel
Held on the ocean front lawn at the Cliffs Resort, Rabobank presents a Barrel to Barrel event that can't be forgotten. With live music, over 40 visiting wineries and breweries, local cuisines, and an incredible silent auction, come down for a glass of wine, tastes from our best local restaurants and a sunset to remember.
Over the last seven years Wine, Waves & Beyond has raised over $170,000 for local non-profit organizations. Proceeds from this year's event will benefit GleanSLO. GleanSLO is a program of the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County that connects farmers and backyard growers with volunteers, who will harvest fruits and vegetables for local food banks that would otherwise go to waste. The Still Frothy Surf Festival, a major sponsor of WW&B, is a contest created to motivate California's youths to turn off their computers and video games and discover surfing.emember.
may 3 (Friday) - 5 (Sunday)


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"Let's just go," Maaya said to me, stress audible in her voice.
"We can't. He's outside. He'll see us. Just wait a second.."
The tension was tangible. It was do or die time. My heart was beating in my chest. We had to get out. And we had to do it now. Once we were outside the walls and on the other side of that electric gate, then I could be calm. But until then, I would be on edge.
It was the second day of our stay in Cannes and rather than making a film & meeting plan, as was standard at the Cannes Film Festival, we had spent our first night hatching an escape plan. And this was the moment when that plan had to come together.
Rewind twelve hours…
The trip so far hadn't gone well. Having had my life flash before my eyes during three or four solid minutes of extreme turbulence on the flight from Heathrow to Nice, I suppose I should have been grateful to be alive. But it can be amazing how quickly we recalibrate what we accept as normal.
The driver on the bus from Nice Airport to Cannes had told us that our stop was not our stop, which had incurred a completely unnecessary twenty-five minute walk to the spot on the map that was to be our accommodation. And as seems to be the way in France, the driver giving us wrong information is completely our problem and not his. As usual, I had booked accommodation on Booking.com. Though, not as usual, I had gone with a bed and breakfast that was a little out of the way; about one and a half miles away from the sea front.
After lugging our suitcases uphill, back up the road the bus driver had unnecessarily driven us down, we finally found the address.
"What? It's a house?" I said to Maaya, evidently surprised. In all honesty, I don't know what I had been expecting. We were in a very residential area and had been surrounded by houses for the last ten minutes.
And that's when we saw a man in the window. The electric gate between him and us began to open to reveal a car. I think it dawned on us both at the same time but Maaya was the one who said it out loud, "Oh my God! We're not staying WITH him, are we?"
As the next five or so minutes came to pass, it transpired that we were; that the advertised bed and breakfast on the Booking.com page was in fact this man's own bedroom. This bloke, who as it turned out didn't speak a word of English, had started the world's smallest hotel empire, by renting us a room in his house and trying to pass it off as a bed and breakfast. A bed and breakfast in which, at full capacity, we were the only guests.
Now, while not what we'd expected and not what we'd signed up for, I think we potentially might have let that slide, IF there hadn't been the other problem: there was no lock on our bedroom door. Which meant, in theory, that 'anybody' could enter the room at any time. I was to later discover that these were not ideal sleeping conditions as our first night in Cannes turned out to be a largely sleepless affair in which I spent most of the night clutching my selfie-stick (not a euphemism).
We had both been looking forward to a holiday after four months of solid work, so to say Maaya wasn't pleased is quite an understatement. And I really felt like I'd put my foot in it. I had booked this. And although I had clearly been misled, I still felt responsible for the situation.
My cash flow at the time was poor. I couldn't really afford to find alternative accommodation. Cannes is expensive during festival season. And yet, if I didn't, it wouldn't be much of a holiday for anybody.
What is a man to do?
The easiest thing to do would be to ask the man if there was a key to the bedroom door. But I don't remember learning how to do that in French class? Must have been ill that week. And without a fluent command of French, it seemed like a very awkward conversation to have with him, "Bonjour monsieur! Je voudrais le key to lock la porte!" In other words, I don't trust you and I want some privacy. That was probably not a workable solution. Plus, what if there wasn't a key? Then what?
The only other thing to do, if putting up with it was off the cards, was to find somewhere else and basically run away. It was fair to say that we had been led to believe that we would have our own space, which we really didn't feel was the case. And during the 14 or so hours we had been in his house, I don't think either of us had relaxed. So choosing to attempt a stealthy jailbreak the following morning with our suitcases was the only remaining option.
Even though we weren't doing anything 'wrong', it was still a surprisingly stressful thing to do. What is it about people that we will go to such extreme lengths to avoid offending another person? Is causing offence really so bad?
Once we were out, we ran down the street, pulling our suitcases behind us, as if we expected him to chase after us. The getaway car – an Uber – was making the 4 minute waiting time feel like 4 hours.
I began to wonder whether we had overreacted. The media seems to write thousands of column inches about gender inequality, though normally to paint a picture of discrimination against women. But I could not help but think that if the homeowner had not been a chubby man in his fifties and instead, an old lady or even a young woman, the lockless door would not have been such a massive problem. Yet for all we knew, this man was as harmless as an old woman would have been. So it was a very odd situation. It's fair to say that we didn't feel safe or comfortable in his house. And yet still felt quite guilty for leaving. He might have been a nice guy.
But we would never know. As we got into the Uber and cruised towards the seafront and along La Croisette, I knew the 'ordeal' was over.
Like the way I write? I do take commissions for content writing. Let's talk.
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