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Jaye Watts (pronouns: they/them) is the newest member to the Forte School of Music team of teachers. Jaye is from Victoria, BC and has been classically trained in piano and theory through the Royal Conservatory of Music. Jaye teaches piano, songwriting, guitar, and recording and production.
Jaye's musical training:
Jaye is classically trained through the RCM in both piano and music theory. They are also formally trained in recording and production techniques, holding a Diploma of Professional Recording Arts from the Art Institute of Vancouver. Jaye plays the guitar as well and is entirely self-taught.
In their teaching:
Jaye takes a two step approach when teaching music: the first step is to lay a strong, solid foundation of theory and proper technique. The next step involves delving into music that excites the student—whether that is Beethoven, learning to improvise, playing your favourite pop songs, or writing and recording your very own creations! Jaye will take you through these steps in each lesson, helping you build your skill while having a whole lot of fun at the same time.
A little known musical fact about Jaye:
Jaye has been part of putting together the Bicycle Music Festival in Victoria over the last two years. Jaye was the sound tech, running the (pedal powered!) sound stage for the musicians who took part. The event also involved a group bike ride, and this year they had a mobile performer singing and playing an accordion through the streets of Fernwood!
Complete our inquiry form to register for lessons with Jaye.


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Jo Alcorn shows us that changing the look of your bedroom can be as simple as changing your bedside tables!
We just love to see a gorgeous headboard and luxurious bedding! The neutral colour and classic feel of this set up suits so many different styles. For instance, if your taste is TRADITIONAL...These white side tables are ideal. They have tons of storage and the pull out shelf for extra counter space always comes in handy!There are few things more luxurious than being served breakfast in bed! A side table with a removable tray is the ultimate in double-duty furnishing. A steel and glass table such as this one is perfect for a modern space. Adjust the height and you can swing it over to use as a tray in bed!
Where To Get It
Jo Alcorn http://www.whitewashco.ca/
Field piece shot on location at The Gladstone Hotel in Toronto,
Canada Headboard, all bedding: West Elm
White bedside tables: Pier One
Adjustable tables: Casa Life
Tray tables: Structube
Table lamps: all HomeSense
Until next time,
w&c designer girl!

subset: commoncrawl


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Elizabeth Banks has signed on to star in a pair of upcoming indie films. First up, THR reports that Banks has joined the cast of director Bill Pohlad's biopic of The Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson, titled Love & Mercy. Banks will play Melinda Ledbetter, a former model who met Wilson in the 1980s and subsequently became his wife. The pic will cover several decades of Wilson's life as he struggles with mental illness and his relationship with Melinda. Paul Dano and John Cusack are poised to play Wilson at different points in his life, and Paul Giamatti is also part of the cast.
Additionally, Banks has also been tapped to lead the indie Little Accidents. Written and directed by Sara Colangelo, the film centers on the fallout in a small American coal town after a mining accident kills 12 men. The pic is based on Colangelo's short film of the same name, and Banks is now set to play the film's lead opposite Boyd Holbrook. The actress has been keeping plenty busy as of late, as she returns in this November's The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and she toplines the comedy Walk of Shame, which opens next March.


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Went over the catchers, 1st basemen, 2nd basemen and shortstops and top 20 3rd basemen for 2011. Guess what's next! No, not pitchers. Read the title, man. In 2010, there were only 5 outfielders that hit 30 homers, this year there were 9. It isn't exactly like a bleached Sammy Sosa is sticking players with needles, but at least the rich got a little richer — yay, capitalism! Steals were still in abundance, and that doesn't seem like it's going anywhere any time soon. There were 14 outfielders who stole 30 bases with Michael Bourn still eating the baby out of the king cake. Since outfield is a deep position, I'm going to turn this one to 40. Anyway, here's the top 20 outfielders for 2011 fantasy baseball and how they compare to where I originally ranked them:
1. Matt Kemp – In the preseason, I ranked him 12th overall for all players. Find another 'pert who ranked him that high last year. You're wasting your time, you won't find them. I ranked him as the 2nd outfielder overall. Just off Ryan Braun. He was drafted on average 26th overall and some 'perts had him in the 40's. He wasn't an obvious pick. 2010 was not a good year, but he dropped his ball and anchor — or is it whips and chains? — and asked you to say his name. In the preseason, I said, "A total off year in 2010. That's clear. He still hit 28 home runs and stole 19 bases. Sure, he hit .249, but he's a career .285 hitter and his BABIP shows he was horribly unlucky last year. Yes, his Ks went up, but what happens when someone is unlucky? They press and start swinging at more pitches outside the strike zone. At 26 years old for the majority of 2011, now is not the time to give up on Kemp." You can't make that shizz up. Okay, you can, but it would be pretty easy to double-check it. Preseason Rank #2, 2011 Projections: 100/30/105/.285/22, Final Numbers: 115/39/126/.324/40
2. Jacoby Ellsbury – And as right as I was on Kemp, I didn't see any of this Ellsbury season coming. About a month into the season I even compared Ellsbury to Gardner. While Gardner didn't have a bad season, Ellsbury came out of nowhere with power that made him way more valuable. But the whole "came out of nowhere" thing makes me think we're looking at a career year for Ellsbury. Preseason Rank #21, 2011 Projections: 90/7/70/.290/45, Final Numbers: 119/32/105/.321/39
3. Ryan Braun – In honor of The Hebrew Hammer, I wrote this about three weeks ago on Yom Kippur so I'll make this fast. Zing! BTW, what's the only thing you're allowed to eat during Yom Kippur? Atone-mints. Zadow! The fact that Braun wasn't the number one outfielder with the year he had is more an (old) testament to the guys above him. Preseason Rank #1, 2011 Projections: 105/32/120/.295/15, Final Numbers: 109/33/111/.332/33
4. Curtis Granderson – It sure was fun while it was going on, but now that Grandy's 2011 is over it's time to get real, I mean, was he for real? God, no. Will depend on where he gets drafted next year, but off the top of my head I'll say he will be overrated next year. Preseason Rank #27, 2011 Projections: 70/25/80/.260/15, Final Numbers: 136/41/119/.262/25
5. Jose Bautista – Went over him in the top 20 3rd basemen post.
6. Justin Upton – There's guys that will repeat 2011 for a few years if they can avoid injury like Braun and there's guys like Grandy and Melky. Upton's not a Melky or Grandy. He's a Braun. Though Upton's a lot more the Upton we saw this year than Braun was the Braun that we saw this year. And that sentence wasn't half as confusing in my head. Preseason Rank #7, 2011 Projections: 85/26/95/.270/20, Final Numbers: 105/31/88/.289/21
7. Michael Bourn – There's a few Razzball concepts that just work perfectly, if I can be so immodest. SAGNOF is one. It becomes apparent when you see ESPN rank someone like Bourn 7th overall. Imagine on April 15th you were to trade Bourn straight up for Justin Upton then grab someone off waivers like Coco Crisp. Your league would've had a conniption. People would've immediately started sending notarized letters to your commissioner, using synonyms for unfair that they found in the thesaurus. Preseason Rank #40 1/2, 2011 Projections: 80/3/40/.265/45, Final Numbers: 94/2/50/.294/61
8. Melky Cabrera – First player to come out of nowhere, but I don't think he was the 8th ranked outfielder. (I know it seems like I recap the players according to the ESPN Player Rater then disagree with it every step of the way, but c'est la vie, as Francouer would say.) Melky's stats made him a great third outfielder, solid across the board production. As for where this season from Melky came from, he's being seriously aided by plate appearances. 706 PA's last year for 18 homers and 20 steals? If his PA's fall into the 550 range as they had most years prior to 2011, his stats are gonna look like Mike Aviles. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 102/18/87/.305/20
9. Alex Gordon – I recapped Alex Gordon's season already. I wrote that while stuffing a duck's gullet for some foie gras. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 101/23/87/.303/17
10. Carlos Gonzalez – I knew CarGo wasn't repeating his 2010, gave you preseason projections that were almost perfect and told you he was overrated. Yet, I feel like he didn't disappoint as much as he could have. How dare you overperform your underperformance! Preseason Rank #5, 2011 Projections: 90/24/95/.285/20, Final Numbers: 92/26/92/.295/20
11. Hunter Pence – Here's a guy that is cast in the Braun/Upton mold. You can set your watch to a decent year from Pence. Give or take some power, some speed, some average… Well, his stats are always there…thereabouts. Preseason Rank #10, 2011 Projections: 90/25/90/.290/15, Final Numbers: 84/22/97/.314/8
12. Lance Berkman – Went over him in the top 20 1st basemen post.
13. Jeff Francoeur – Imagine if the peasant Royals would've actually had some pitching in 2011. They would've easily made the postseason only to be bounced by the Rangers. The Royals had more runs scored than the Phillies, Brewers and Rays. As for fantasy, guys that surprise by overproducing are terrific. But — and unless you're an alien, there's always a but — how many fantasy owners actually got these seasons in their entirety? In deep leagues? Sure. You draft a guy like Frenchy and pray, then thank your deity of choice when he pans out. But in shallow leagues, you look at a guy like Frenchy and maybe pick him up after he does some hitting, then maybe drop him when he stops for a few weeks then maybe you grab him again, but you don't have these players for the whole season. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 77/20/87/.285/22
14. Michael Morse – Went over him in the top 20 1st basemen post.
15. Josh Hamilton – Ellsbury threw me for a loop, Grandy exceeded my expectations by a shizzton and Melky did what no one thought he could with a bunch of plate appearances, but Hamilton once again did exactly what I thought he would. Good while healthy with "while healthy" having its own solar system. Preseason Rank #6, 2011 Projections: 85/27/100/.305/7, Final Numbers: 80/25/94/.298/8
16. B.J. Upton – People seem to hate B.J. I think it's the low average bias that permeates fantasy. It's odd that there's such a bias when average is the hardest thing to predict. Hate on low power or low speed, but low average? It's a horn bet. Preseason Rank #19, 2011 Projections: 95/17/75/.250/40, Final Numbers: 82/23/81/.243/36
17. Ben Zobrist – Went over him in the top 20 2nd basemen post.
18. Andrew McCutchen – Last year we found out that The Dread Pirate wasn't quite ready to take the next step like I thought he would. He didn't come up that short, but short enough as they say at dwarf bowling. I really try to focus on making these blurbs about what the players did last year rather than looking ahead, but that's easier said than done. The Dread Pirate is gonna be my 2012 Matt Kemp. There's no one more exciting to me for next year that had a slightly down year. Preseason Rank #2, 2011 Projections: 100/18/60/.290/38, Final Numbers: 87/23/89/.259/23
19. Coco Crisp – At 31 years old, he had his best season. Coco Crisp must've been eating his Lucky Charms. All of these steals came from a Billy Beane-GM'd team. I guess there's market efficiencies with steals now. You're probably not asking yourself what I thought of Moneyball, but I'll tell you anyway. SPOILER ALERT (but the movie has been out for over a month, you really have that much to do?) I was kinda disappointed. To go all EW on you, I'd give it a B, but I was hoping for an A. Damn you, expectations. I know Michael Lewis glossed over the fact Zito, Mulder, Hudson and the steroid-fueled Chavez and Tejada were actually a big part of the A's success so I figured the movie would do the same. It did. They want a fairy tale about how some unknowns carried the team to glory. Yay, Scott Hatteberg is undervalued and he uses a bat carved from a tree that lightning struck! Not really, but whatever. I was more disappointed because I was bored during stretches and I didn't like Jonah Hill at all. Hey, let's get the Jew to find value where others are missing it! Finally, I wanted some unintentional comedy with Royce Clayton playing Tejada. "Hey, Miggy, do you have diabetes?" Cut to: Tejada holding a syringe. Tejada, "Yes. Blood sugar low." Though that song the daughter sings is hella (do the kids still say this?) catchy. Should've changed the lyrics though: I'm just a GM stuck in Oakland… I'm kind of sick of being so broke and having my team get to the playoffs only to choke. Slow it down, make it stop… Miguel Tejada's arms look like their gonna pop… BTW, if you wanna read movie reviews, my friend has a movie review blog. Preseason Rank #62, 2011 Projections: 50/6/35/.260/22, Final Numbers: 69/8/54/.264/49
20. Emilio Bonifacio – Went over him in the top 20 3rd basemen post.


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This past Saturday I turned 32. I know, I know 32 is not really old, but still I feel ancient sometimes. Like I can't believe I lived this long. Really, though I do not feel 32 or at least how I expected to feel at 32. When you are younger you have an idea of how you'd like your life to play out, but it never does. At least, I've never met a person who successfully obtained their ideal childhood dream life to a "T".
Anyway, I planned on writing this big post about my Birthday and post a bunch of pictures but, the more I thought about it, I felt it was more important to focus on how life transitions unexpectedly. Life is all about experiences, whether they are good or bad, each molds us into who we are today and continues to do this for the rest of our lives.
We all tend to focus on the negative aspects of aging. Our bodies aren't as strong, we have unexplained aches and pains, and the worst of all, wrinkles. We try our hardest to avoid the realty that everything is going to change some day and by doing this we start to take people and things for granted. It is important to remind ourselves of the possibility that our lives may change in an instant and the most rewarding part of life is that we get to experience it.
I struggle with accepting change. Specifically, I have had so many people come in and out of my life that have changed me for the better. I get all nostalgic when thinking of them and wish that they were still apart of my life. Some have passed on, others have moved into a new chapter of their lives, and there are a few that I still speak to sporadically because we swore we'd keep in touch.
While I am saddened by the loss of some of them I am still very thankful. I am even thankful of those who were a part of negative chapters of my life.
Someone told me a saying that has stuck with me for years; "it is what it is." Meaning, you just have to accept things for what they are worth. This is the most important thing I've learned in the past 32 years.
As Robert Frost said, "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."
And, ending on a not so serious note, here are a few pictures from my Birthday weekend.
Husband said the magic word, "kitties!"
The BEST chocolate peanut butter cake.
$70 shoes from DSW for $15. Yay for Birthday coupons!
And yes, I did get my purse!


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Reducing Black Carbon Soot Would Slash Arctic Warming Two-Thirds by 2030, Cut Temp Rise by 0.5C
In addition to burning fossil fuels and cookstoves, industrial processes such as brick production are also important sources of black carbon emissions. Photo: jerseyshowaa/Creative Commons.
A new UNEP report highlights what a growing body of research shows is an overlooked and powerful contributor to global warming: black carbon soot. Emitted by burning fossil fuels, in industrial processes, and when wood and other biomass is burned, often in smoky cookstoves in poorer nations, black carbon not only warms the air but when it falls on glaciers accelerates melting. The good news is that it's very short-lived in the atmosphere and the ways to stop it are far less complex (if not exactly simple) than stopping carbon, methane and other greenhouse gas emissions. And as the report notes, the effects of cutting black carbon could be dramatic.As The Guardian notes,
Preventing 'black carbon'...from polluting the air would help to cut global warming by as much as 0.5°C and reduce warming in the Arctic by about two thirds by 2030.
What's more, if the recommendations in the UNEP report are fully implemented, 2.4 million premature deaths could be avoided each year--that's due to anoother effect of soot, creating all sorts of respiratory problems when people breathe it in regularly.
There's a population growth connection in that: There's a correlation between life expectancy of children and having more of them. If you're pretty sure that, barring accident, your children are going to live to adulthood families tend to have fewer of them.
Not only that by a reduction of black carbon could boost wheat, rice and soybean yields 1-4% annually--another population benefit.
TreeHugger has covered the issue of black carbon pretty extensively, so check out the links below and in the archive if the importance of this is lost on you.
Here's the report summary of decision makers itself: Integrated Assessment of Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone
More on Black Carbon:
Black Carbon Pollution From Fossil Fuels Causes Twice the Warming As Burning Biomass
90% of Himalayan Glacier Melting Caused by Aerosols & Black Carbon


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Praise for Derek Raymond's Factory Series
"Unrelenting existentialist noir—as if the most brutal of crime fictions had been recast by Sartre, Camus, or Ionesco while retaining something of the intimate wise-guy tone of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett."
—Joyce Carol Oates, The New York Review of Books
"It's one of the darkest and most surrealistically hard-boiled things I've ever read. The detective is at least as scary as the murderers he's chasing."
—William Gibson, bestselling author of Neuromancer
"No one claiming interest in literature truly written from the edge of human experience, no one wondering at the limits of the crime novel and of literature itself, can overlook these extraordinary books."
—James Sallis, author of Drive
"The Factory novels are certainly the most viscerally imagined of their kind that I've ever read, or reread multiple times. Derek Raymond wrote in a supposedly escapist genre in a manner that precluded any hope of escape."
—Scott Phillips, bestselling author of The Ice Harvest
"There remains no finer writing – crime or otherwise – about the state of Britain."
—David Peace, author of "The Red Riding Quartet."
"Carve Derek Raymond's name into the literary pantheon. He is one of the rare authors who seek to understand evil, ferret out the darkness in human nature, and blast Noir fiction out of the genre ghetto and into Literature. His nameless detective's quest through the bleak streets gets under your skin. Amazing, painful and brilliant."
—Cara Black, bestselling author of Murder at the Lanterne Rouge
"I Was Dora Suarez blew me away – beyond hard boiled."
—Patton Oswalt
"More Chandleresque than Chandler… [Raymond] could write beautifully…and, more importantly, what he is writing about in this novel are nothing less than the important subjects any writer can deal with: mortality and death."
—Will Self
"Pungently evokes the British underworld. As forceful as ever." —Publishers Weekly
"A bizarre mixture of Chandleresque elegance. . . and naked brutality"
—Dally Telegraph
"Hellishly bleak and moving"
—New Statesman
"Raw-edged, strong and disturbing stuff"
—The Scotsman
"For fans of Raymond's dark and compelling mystery fiction, this one is a must-read."


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Smartcool Announces Multi-Location Rollout
National Restaurant Group Provides 16 Location Purchase Order
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 20, 2018) - Smartcool Systems Inc. (TSXV: SSC) (OTC Pink: SSCFF) (FSE: R3W) (the Company) is pleased to announce that its UK subsidiary has received a purchase order for installation of its proprietary optimization technology at 16 casual dining restaurants.
After an initial installation of Smartcool technology on 3 restaurant locations for a National restaurant group, the company has received a purchase order for 16 additional locations. The initial installation encompassed application of the Smartcool technology on both heat pumps (which provide heating and air conditioning) and refrigeration for the restaurants. Results of the initial installations exceeded the customers criteria yielding over 20% savings on the energy consumed by the equipment it was controlling.
Ted Konyi, CEO, commented "this follow on Purchase Order represents significant additional revenue for the UK subsidiary of the Company. We have worked diligently to bring this business forward and expect that this order should be followed by many more with this customer. The successful installation has already generated interest from others in this market vertical of restaurants and other prepared food establishments."
This National Restaurant Chain operates over 500 locations in the UK, represented by 8 different brands, primarily in the casual dining space. The Chain continues to grow organically through additional locations and by way of acquisition. The installation of Smartcool's technology is assisting this company and many others in achieving their goals of corporate social responsibility. In addition to the economic benefit, more of the Company's customers are looking to achieve green targets.
About Smartcool
Smartcool Systems Inc. provides cutting edge energy efficient and energy cost reduction solutions for businesses around the world. The ECO3, ESM and ECOHome are Smartcool's unique retrofit technologies that reduce the energy consumption of compressors in air conditioning, refrigeration and heat pump systems by up to 40%.
Total Energy Concepts (TEC) is a national leader in Power Protection, Energy Management, Power Quality, Facility Grounding, and Lighting Solutions that help companies improve their bottom line by reducing expenses that drastically cut into company profits. TEC focuses on a holistic approach to energy efficiency with proprietary technologies for power factor correction and third party technologies including LED, voltage conditioning and intelligent motor controls.
For more information please visit www: smartcool.net and www: totalenergyconcepts.com
Investor inquiries
Mike Kordysz
Vice President, Investor Relations
TEL +1 604 904 8632 EMAIL email@example.com
Legal Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward looking statements". Forward-looking statements are projections of financial performance or future events. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "estimate" and words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and they are subject to risks that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include those concerning the company's belief in the growth opportunities in the USA. These statements are subject to risks that may cause the actual results to be materially different in future periods from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Risks that may prevent or delay the forward looking statements from coming to fruition as anticipated include the availability of working capital, risks inherent in product development, as well as market factors that may increase costs or time to market. It is our policy not to update forward looking statements except to the extent required under applicable securities laws. Further information on the Company is available at www.sedar.com or at the Company's website, www.smartcool.net.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.


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PPP plundering takes its toll on love
Transurban eyes more roads in Sydney, Melbourne Once again, on this Valentine's weekend, we are reminded of the price of love. Each year, you see, Valentine's Day falls around the same time as the interim profit results for Transurban. Not only are these results a perennial reminder of how lucrative it is for corporations to … Continue reading PPP plundering takes its toll on love
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On July 3rd, Le$ and Cookin' Soul will release their collaborative project ACE. From the tape, we've heard "Come Up," which features Le$' frequent collaborator Curren$y, and now "Bout It" is here, starring fellow Jet Lifer Young Roddy.
Like the previous track, the song's artwork comes from the 2002 film Paid In Full, this time featuring Cam'ron and actor Wood Harris. Cookin' Soul's production is slightly less retro than usual, ending up sounding like it could've dropped alongside the film in question.
Le$ and Young Roddy show great chemistry and make this instantly recognizable as a Jet Life track-- stoned out, chill and awesome.
Quotable Lyrics:
I multiply what I'm making and build it up from the ground
Started off with them nickels and graduated to pounds
The reputation is solid, one of the trillest around
Can't throw no shade on the sun, you know I'm burning it down


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Main Street Marina is the perfect getaway location in Branson, Missouri. Main Street Marina offers cruise options, equipment rentals, delicious dining choices and much more. If you're searching for an unforgettable experience in the heart of the American Midwest, you don't need to look any further. From here, you can follow the links to find out more about the different things to do with Main Street Marina.
A 100 foot yacht, complete with a bar, luxury dining experiences, reception areas, and glass-enclosed decks, the Landing Princess offers one of the most memorable cruise experiences in Branson. This is an ideal venue option for weddings, Veterans events, family reunions, birthday parties and more. Find out all the details here.
Come on down and experience Branson's latest Axe Throwing attraction! The Branson Landing's latest attraction offers axe throwing that provides a ton of fun with a little bit of competition mixed in.
If you're looking for a real taste of American history and midwestern heritage, the Lake Queen has it all. A full replica of an old-fashioned paddle boat, climb aboard and cruise Lake Taneycomo while you learn about the rich history of Branson, Missouri. Just like the Landing Princess, this is a perfect option for weddings, meetings, parties and more. Learn more about the Lake Queen here.
Looking for live music? You'll find it with Main Street Marina! The Paddlewheel is a premier location in Branson, Missouri for performers and Branson-area talent every day of the week. You'll also find delicious food and drinks, along with amazing views. Read more about The Paddlewheel here.
Want to know what's happening at Main Street Marina? The Anchor is our frequently updated blog, where you can keep up with all the latest news. Visit the blog here.
At Main Street Marina we are navigating the waters towards a "new normal".
Ready to book your unforgettable experience at Main Street Marina? We're dedicated to making sure you leave Branson with memories that will last forever, from the great food and fun, to the beautiful scenery of Lake Taneycomo.
You can make your reservation by calling 417-239-3980, or 877-38-BOATS. You can also send us a direct message about Branson Landing bookings on our contact page. Speak to us today, or take a look around our website for more details about what we can offer you.


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- This event has passed.
The Pastry Tour
March 4 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
This sweet bicycle tour will take you through some Hollywood neighborhoods to get to what we consider to be some of the best Pastry spots on this side of town. We will ride bicycles to every location, that way you wont feel guilty about all the sweets you will consume. Besides having outstanding pastries, we will learn about the communities we visit by talking about it's history, culture and Art. You can expects lots of stops during this tour and lots of back street riding, as we make our way to four different places. We will have a variety of sweets during the tour and maybe some coffee. Come and taste and learn about our city with this tour that will show you a side of Los Angeles that visitors rarely get to see.


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Peace Card 1
"Peace Card 1" Mixed media on Artist Trading Card 2.5×3.5 inches. 2012. $4 The Peace Cards As of this writing, I'm a bit obsessed with making them wee cards and the set after the hearts was the Peace cards. I'm working on several pieces simultaneously and as I'm finishing up the main 5 by 7 … Continue reading
Three Hearts (Zentangle ATC/ACEO)
"Three Hearts." Mixed media, June 2012 Not too long ago, I was helping my aunt and grandparents clean out the garage a d there was a dictionary they wanted to throw out; but, I had other plans for it. After taking the dictionary, I unbound it and turned the pages of words into canvases for … Continue reading
Title: "Corazon." Date Created: 2012 Medium: ink on paper. Dimensions: 3.5×2.5″ (ATC/ACEO) Sorry that it's been a while since I've posted anything — it's certainly not for the lack of art, I've been still creating pieces — I'm traveling now and am a bit more focused on my another blog: Travel in ASL. I'm scheduling … Continue reading


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Sitting in 'upscale' diner in Hyde Park, waiting to go look at a shoebox in a retention pond at 10am.
A well-dressed woman is picking up a togo order at the counter...
Looking at her ticket she has a hissy fit that her 2 eggs and turkey sausage to go is $11.
WDW: "When I eat here Delores (another waitress I guess) always rings them up separately so its only $4.00."
Manager explains that although the other waitress was violating restaurant policy, he would make an exeception and ring her up that way, but moving forward they would have to go by SOP.
Woman continues to have a meltdown, customer is always right, such poor customer service, how can you possibly expect to stay in business...yadda yadda yadda.
The dude is a testament to diplomacy and tact- took the entire tirade in stride. Sorry you feel that way, and we do appreciate your business, have a nice day.
I'm wondering if Delores will be getting a talking-to... I know places where she'd be getting her walking papers.
I like to think I'd have voided her charge, grabbed her Styrofoam box and pitched it in the trash and bade her Good Day, Madam. I said Good Day!
But probably not...


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By Teachers, For Teachers
Whether you have been teaching for decades or have only been teaching for a few years, planning out your lessons ahead of time is one of the most effective and efficient things that you can do. Mapping out your teaching strategies ahead of time allows you to be flexible and make any necessary changes that may be needed. Here are five more teaching strategies that you can use to transform your lesson plans.
While it's important and quite essential to understand the standards and curriculum, it doesn't mean that you have to stick to using the standard textbook when creating your lesson plans. Try going beyond the textbook to teach concepts through alternative methods that are engaging, like presentations, using technology, or group work activities. All of these things will help boost students' learning while still following the curriculum. Here are a few more resources to consider using as an alternative or even an extension of the textbook.
Many teachers chose to use the Goldilocks rule when planning their objectives for their lesson plans. This rule means that the objective should not be too broad or too specific, but it should be just right. For example, the objective, "Identify the details in the story" would be too general of a statement, while the objective, "Identify the characters in the book "Charlotte's Web"" would be too specific. An appropriate statement would be "Identify characters in a story." The goal is to create a simple objective that uses student-friendly language while defining a skill.
When looking to transform your lessons, you will want to make sure that you use a few visual learning strategies to help engage your students. Research shows that visual aids help arise students' interest, while helping teachers explain a concept more easily. Here are a few common visual learning aids that make a lesson easier for students to understand.
Effective teachers have found that student choice is a great motivator. So when planning your lessons, give students a few options. You can integrate student choice in a variety of ways: Give them a choice board where they choose a few tasks to complete out of a set of tasks, give students an assignment then give them the choice when to complete it during the week, or allow them to choose who they work with to complete a task. Implementing any of these ideas can influence students' motivation and help them to succeed in class.
When planning your lessons, try creating your assessment first, this way you can figure out what you want students to know at the end of the lesson. Then you can create the lesson based on that information. When you take this approach, you are not teaching to the test like many teachers feel they have to do. Instead, you are creating a test based on your standards and curriculum, then creating an effective lesson plan based off of that. Planning your assessment helps you make sure that students are hitting their checkpoints and grasping each skill or concept that you are teaching them.
If your goal is to create transformational lessons, then they should focus on enriching the lives of your students. You can do this by carefully crafting your objectives so they are not too broad or too specific, but just right. In addition to that, they should be engaging and go beyond the textbook, incorporate visuals, and give students the opportunity of choice. When you do this, along with planning your assessment first, then you have ultimately transformed your lessons so that your students will be engaged and motivated to learn.
How do you transform your lessons? Do you have any specific teaching strategies that you like to do? Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below, we would love to hear what you have to say.
Janelle Cox is an education writer who uses her experience and knowledge to provide creative and original writing in the field of education. Janelle holds Masters of Science in Education from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. She is a contributing writer to TeachHUB.com, TeachHUB Magazine, and Hey Teach. She was also the Elementary Education Expert for About.com for five years. You can follow her on Twitter @Empoweringk6ed, on Facebook at Empowering K6 Educators, or contact her at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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In the course of her career, she has been involved in the various HR disciplines including employee relations, labor law compliance, mandated leave administration, compensation, unemployment, safety, developing and administering employee recognition programs, facilitating policy and procedures, staffing, and training for both management and employees. Furthermore, Jeanette has conducted sexual harassment prevention training in compliance with AB 1825 since 2007.
Jeanette holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Webster University with advanced studies in Human Resources Management. She also acquired her certificate in HR Management from Loyola Marymount University.
She is a long time member of Professionals in Human Resources Association as well as the California Unemployment Insurance Council. Further, she has served in a volunteer capacity with the Los Angeles Zoo and Beach Cities Health District.
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M WAQAR..... "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary.Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death." --Albert Einstein !!! NEWS,ARTICLES,EDITORIALS,MUSIC... Ze chi pe mayeen yum da agha pukhtunistan de.....(Liberal,Progressive,Secular World.)''Secularism is not against religion; it is the message of humanity.'' تل ده وی پثتونستآن
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Michelle Obama Tweet Gives Lift to Effort to Free Nigerian Girls
In Nigeria, women say they are proud that U.S. first lady Michelle Obama is standing with them, a day after she tweeted a picture of herself holding up a #BringBackOurGirls sign. But some security analysts fear that U.S. involvement could do more harm than good in the effort to rescue nearly 300 kidnapped girls. Outside a busy conference room, Hauna Ali, a Nigerian journalist and mother, grins as she holds up her cell phone. Her new Blackberry avatar is a picture of Michelle Obama holding up a sign that says #BringBackOurGirls. "It's just wonderful," Ali said, near tears. "Michelle doing it, standing in the White House. It's just mind-boggling." Even after five years of the Boko Haram insurgency that has killed thousands of people, the kidnapping of nearly 300 girls nearly four weeks ago was a shock to Nigerians. Protests led by women broke out across the country and online activists rallied around Twitter hashtags like #BringBackOurGirls. Nigerians have never been louder in their demand for security, and Ali says Mrs. Obama's tweet proves they have finally been heard. "We now have this feeling that we are not alone in this fight," she said. "Women in Africa now have a voice and our voice is being heard. Not just in Nigeria but in the whole world." Foreign assistance offered In the past two days, the United States, Britain, France, Canada and China have offered assistance in finding the girls and Nigeria has accepted. But the girls are believed to be held in a remote region either controlled by or infested with well-armed militants who say they are holding the girls as slaves to be sold. Some security analysts fear that foreign involvement could do more harm than good. Ade Ogundeyin is the CEO of Proforce, a security company that builds armored cars and other military equipment. He says if the girls are rescued, it will only be with the help of local people, who will not work with Western forces. A Western presence in northern Nigeria could also aggravate the fighting. "We have to be very, very careful," he said. "This is a typical Nigerian situation. And if it is escalated, yeah, they could get the girls. But they may be all dead." Boko Haram means "Western education is sin" and Abubakar Shekau, the man who says he leads the group, regularly threatens to kill any Nigerian who associates with the West and Western leaders. Women's rights issue Damiola Awesu, a Nigerian human rights lawyer, says the missing girls are not just a security issue, but a women's rights issue. Even before the kidnapping, most girls in northeastern Nigeria didn't go to school. She says it will be years before education levels for girls in the region will rise again to even minimal standards. "We want our children free," she said. "We want them to come back home. It's their right to live their life. It's their right to go to school. And the government has the responsibility to protect their rights." Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has promised that the girls will be rescued and says they remain alive and healthy. But information is scarce and he hasn't said how he knows anything about their condition or when they will be saved.
Rahul Gandhi may face humiliating loss in long-held seat of family power
By Rajeev SharmaIt could be the mother of all upsets - top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi losing Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, the Lok Sabha constituency that has returned a Gandhi family member uninterruptedly since 1980. Such an electoral upset would be a bitter irony, as Rahul is the party's driving force who has been tirelessly and virtually single-handedly taking on a resurgent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. The BJP has got "encouraging" reports from Amethi suggesting that for the first time in over three decades a Gandhi family member is on a slippery wicket in this pocket borough and it has a decent chance to inflict a humiliating defeat to the Congress top leader who is deemed to be a prime ministerial candidate. For this reason the entire top brass of the BJP descended on Amethi on Sunday and Monday for carpet bombing Amethi with poll campaign in favor of their TV actor-turned-politician candidate Smriti Irani. Amethi went to polls on Wednesday. But none mattered more than Modi. Such has become the state of affairs with the BJP, a party that traditionally had a bunch of leaders at the top but now has a sole poster boy. Minutes before campaigning there ended on Monday evening, Modi addressed an election rally at Amethi. His sole mission objective was to tear into the entire Gandhi clan, living and dead. Like a Rambo, he fired indiscriminately at all the Gandhis, Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka. He did not even spare former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was killed by a suicide bomber in 1991. Modi campaigning in Amethi goes against an unspoken code wherein major political parties do not send their star campaigners to the constituencies of their top rivals. But this election is an unprecedentedly no-holds-barred contest for all parties, particularly the BJP and Congress, who are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters. The BJP's assessment of Amethi is not far off the mark. There is widespread disgruntlement and even disenchantment with Rahul for the people of Amethi. The constituency still does not have basic amenities like water and power even though India's first family has held the seat since 1980. Bridges half-completed for seven years, poor roads, electricity outages, water shortage, inadequate health and educational facilities are only some of the complaints that Rahul is facing from many of the 1.5 million Amethi voters. Another charge against Rahul from local voters is that he is hardly accessible and his visits to the constituency have been few and far between. The new anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which otherwise has become a fringe player in these elections, happens to be a powerful presence in Amethi. AAP candidate Kumar Vishwas has been camping in this constituency for months and has visited its remotest areas where Rahul has never been. Political observers feel that AAP will eat into a chunk of traditional Congress voter base, particularly the sizeable number of Muslims. Yet Congress ship in Amethi has been steadied by Rahul's sister Priyanka who has been camping in the constituency for weeks. In many ways BJP candidate Smriti Irani is more pitted against Priyanka than Rahul. Though the BJP smells a chance of defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, it remains to be seen whether the BJP can pull off such a sensational political coup. But one thing seems certain: Even if Rahul does win, it will be by embarrassingly less than the huge victory margin of over 364,000 votes he notched up in 2009, when all his rivals lost their deposit.
China: Public security bureau becomes main target of terrorist activities
The Report on the National Security of China (2014), China's first blue book on national security, was issued in Beijing on Monday. According to the report, against a backdrop where international terrorist activities are on an upward trend, terrorist incidents within China's territory in 2013 showed a range of new features. The report draws the conclusion that terrorist activities within China's territory are expanding across regions, with the government and the police as the main targets. The infiltration of religious extremists is posing a threat to the solidarity of socialist belief.
Terrorist activities within China's territory are expanding across regions.According to the report, with the gradual expansion of its overseas interests China is facing a growing international security risk. Terrorism in the era of globalization will also affect Chinese living abroad. Additionally, against a backdrop where international terrorist activities are on an upward trend, terrorist incidents within China's territory in 2013 were a freequent occurrence. According to official information, 10 violent terrorist attacks took place within China's territory in 2013. The report states that since some elements of the terrorist incidents are associated with international forces, they cannot be prevented by national power organs alone. The establishment of the National Security Council, the highest trans-department decision-making body and deliberation and coordination agency, is a strategic measure to ensure that national security is effectively safeguarded. The infiltration of religious extremism is posing a threat to the solidarity of socialist belief. Religious extremists manipulated by hostile western forces are both provocative and deceptive, employing more diverse and subtle measures and spread over a wider range. The infiltration of overseas forces has spread its influence into most areas of China, and this situation is intensifying, according to the report. All the terrorists involved in the attacks of 2013 were religious extremists, according to the report. They were brought together to watch videos advocating religious extremism and terrorism before they perpetrated their atrocities. "The infiltration of religious extremists is posing a serious threat to China's ideological security and China's national security. We must heighten our vigilance against this problem," the report pointed out. The National Security Council will coordinate security both domestically and internationally. According to the central conference and documents, the National Security Council is the highest decision-making body and deliberation and coordination agency for national security. The National Security Council will coordinate security both domestically and internationally and it has four main functions. Firstly, establish and implement national security strategies. Secondly, boost the national security network and structure. Thirdly, establish national security policies. Fourthly, analysze and resolve major issues concerning national security.
FASCIST SAUDI REGIME: Saudi blogger gets 10 years and 1,000 lashes
Badawi, also ordered to pay $266,000 fine, has been behind bars since 2012 and was originally charged with apostasy.A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a blogger and activist to 10 years imprisonment and 1,000 lashes for setting up a "liberal" network and insulting Islam. The sentence for Raef Badawi was handed down on Wednesday in a Jeddah court. Badawi was arrested last June and sentenced to seven years in jail and 600 lashes. But an appeals court overturned the ruling and ordered a retrial. In addition to a harsher sentence, the court on Wednesday also ordered Badawi to pay a $266,000 fine. The network that he co-founded with another activist, Suad al-Shammari, had declared May 7 2012 a "day of liberalism" and called for an end to the dominance of religion over public life in the kingdom. Shamari said the network's website had "criticised some clerics, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (religious police), in addition to religious fatwas (edicts) considered harmful to Islam. "Clerics have filed a lawsuit against him. The government tries to appease them, at our expense sometimes," AFP news agency reported her as saying. Shamari said the network was only active online, adding: "Our activities remain virtual." Amnesty International called Wednesday's ruling "outrageous". Phillip Luther, director of Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa Programme, said: "He [Badawi] is a prisoner of conscience who is guilty of nothing more than daring to create a public forum for discussion and peacefully exercising the right to freedom of expression. "Raif Badawi is the latest victim to fall prey to the ruthless campaign to silence peaceful activists in Saudi Arabia. "The authorities seem determined to crush all forms of dissent through every means at their disposal, including imposing harsh prison sentences and corporal punishment on activists."
Pakistan releases American identified as FBI agent
http://www.thehindu.com/Pakistan released an FBI agent on bail on Thursday after three days in custody, officials said, a move that is likely to prevent the situation from escalating into a diplomatic spat. The American man was detained after airport authorities found him carrying ammunition and three knives on Monday as he was about to board a flight for the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. The arrest threatened to open a new chapter in troubled relations between Pakistan and the U.S., which have been uneasy allies since the September 11 terror attacks. But the relatively fast release, if confirmed, suggested efforts to defuse any tensions. A law enforcement official in the U.S. has said the man was an FBI agent and said he was in Pakistan as part of a multi-agency, anti-corruption programme. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the diplomatic sensitivities of the case, said the agent appeared to have made a mistake and didn't mean to carry bullets aboard the plane. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed the detention on Wednesday and said the U.S. was coordinating with Pakistani authorities to resolve the matter. She did not identify the man. A Pakistani court directed the man to submit a surety bond of Pakistani Rs. 1 million ($9,800) for his bail, police officer Rao Anwaar said. The American arrived in Karachi on May 1 and was detained after officials found him with the ammunition, knives and electronic devices that were being examined. Other police officials said investigators were under immense pressure from the Interior Ministry and other government officials to release the American so the report was rushed. They found he had no criminal intention in carrying the bullets during domestic air travel, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity in exchange for release the details. Washington needs Pakistan's help fighting al-Qaeda and stabilising neighbouring Afghanistan, as NATO uses Pakistani roads to supply its troops. However, relations have strained over a series of incidents. CIA contractor Raymond Davis shot and killed two Pakistani men in Lahore in January 2011. The U.S. unilaterally killed Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad in May 2011 and American forces accidentally killed 24 Pakistani troops along the Afghan border the same year. U.S. drones strikes in the country also have angered Pakistanis.
Pakistan: No reduction in power outages despite PM Nawaz's order
http://dunyanews.tv/Widespread and prolonged power outages in most parts of the country continued on Thursday despite Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's order to reduce duration of loadshedding, Dunya News reported. Urban areas are facing 10 hours while rural are suffering 14-hour power cuts every day. On the other hand, Sui Norther Gas Pipeline (SNGPL) authorities have suspended gas supply to fertilizer plants to boost power generation. 50 million cubic feet of gas will be supplied to power plants from today evening whereas electricity generation will increase by 800MW, sources told. Resultantly, loadshedding will reduce by two hours. During hearing of case pertaining to electricity loadsheeding, the Chief Justice of Lahore High Court today remarked that uncontrolled power thefts highlight government's failure to tackle the crisis. He said government did not fulfill its responsibility to stop power theft, over-billing and conserve electricity. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said new project will be operational after four years but where is the solution for current scenario. He directed the federal government to present its policy regarding electricity loadshedding by June.
Asif Ali Zardari denounces assassination of Advocate Rashid Rehman as despicable act of barbarism and fanatcism
http://mediacellppp.wordpress.com/Co-Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party former President Asif Ali Zardari has denounced the assassination of human rights activist Advocate Supreme Court Rashid Rehman in Multan Wednesday as a 'despicable act of fanaticism and barbarity' and demanded probe in the light of apprehensions expressed by the martyred Advocate himself prior to his assassination. "What is needed now is a transparent probe, early arrest of the criminals and exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of the crime under the law", he said in a statement today. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari paid tributes to the Advocate Rashid Rehman as a martyr who laid down his life in the cause of human rights and in defending those accused of assorted crimes by fanatics and extremists in the name of religion. The former President said that the public statements by the assassinated lawyer of receiving threats of assassination because of his defence of a blasphemy accused should serve as the starting point of any honest and transparent investigations in the gruesome murder. It may be recalled that last month Advocate Rashid Rehman was reportedly threatened inside a court room in Multan to desist from defending a blasphemy accused or face extermination at the hands of fanatics. Reportedly he even made a verbal complaint about the threats to the Judge but no action seemed to have been taken. The human rights activist had also named his tormentors who had warned him that he will not be able come out alive of the court next time. The former President said that it is a matter of grave concern that the human rights activist was not only threatened inside a court room but within less than a month the threat was also actually carried out. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari said it was a matter of abiding shame and pain that people accused of religious crimes were being increasingly denied the right to a fair trial even after especially incorporating it in the 18th Constitutional Amendment. It is time that all stake holders worked together to ensure that blasphemy law is not misused in the manner it has been so grossly misused ever since the law was amended by Zia's military dictatorship, he said. Asif Zardarti also prayed to Allah to give eternal peace to the soul of Rashid Rehman and patience to the members of the bereaved family.
First Afghan Hindu appointed Afghanistan's special envoy
A Hindu Afghan was was for the first time appointed as the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Afghanistan embassy in Canada following a statement said the newly appointed ambassador Sham Lall Bathija, presented his Letters of Credence to His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, at a ceremony held in Rideau Hall, Ottawa. Mr. Bathija was called an extraordinary, plenipotentiary and special envoy of the Afghan Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Presidential Palace officials said Sham Lall Bathija is a senior Afghan diplomat who specializes in economy and has good knowledge of economic affairs in developing countries. Bathija was born in southern Kandahar province of Afghanistan and has completed his higher education in the field of economy and law in India, according to BBC Persian. He has worked in various international organizations including the United Nations and has resided in United States of America.
Viewpoint: India risks destabilising Afghanistan
With foreign combat troops preparing to leave Afghanistan, India has agreed to supply the country with military equipment. Guest columnist Ahmed Rashid says the move risks raising tensions. India's decision last week to pay for arms and equipment from Russia to boost the strength of the Afghan National Army (ANA) could be a dramatic game-changer in the region - as well as a step fraught with escalation in regional rivalries. Pakistan is almost certain to look critically at the deal and accuse India, its rival, of trying to outflank it. For the last few years India has tactfully declined to say yes to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's repeated pleas for the Indian supply of heavy weapons for the ANA, such as long range artillery, tanks and aircraft. Spending billions of dollars in the past decade, the United States has rebuilt the ANA, but it has made sure that it remains a lightly armed force with defensive rather than offensive weapons. Both the US and India seemed to have been careful in not upsetting Pakistan, which has been critical of the size of the ANA and will most certainly react if the ANA receives offensive weapons. Until recently there have been high tensions between the Pakistan military and the ANA along their disputed, porous and unmarked border, with the Afghans repeatedly accusing Pakistan of wilfully allowing the Taliban to cross from their havens in Pakistan to fight the Americans and the ANA. Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have no control over large parts of their common border. India's refusal to accept Mr Karzai's requests has gone down well in Islamabad, and both India and Pakistan have been on their best gentlemanly behaviour when it comes to not making provocative or rash statements about their well-known mutual rivalry in Afghanistan. This relationship was tested after the Afghan Taliban's Haqqani network launched attacks several years ago on the Indian embassy and its personnel in Kabul. India and the US have repeatedly put the blame on Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has worked closely with the Haqqani network since the 1970s. Since those attacks ceased, both countries have kept the rhetoric down, despite constant needling by Mr Karzai, Afghan army generals, Russia and Iran, which have all argued that India needs to do more to support the ANA. India has declined, saying it does not want to get involved in the civil war in Afghanistan even though it has supported the government strongly. Now that the Americans are leaving by the end of this year, India seems to have changed its tune. So far the agreement with Russia implies that India will pay for Russian arms such as light artillery and mortars to be delivered to Afghanistan. However both countries say it could involve the delivery of heavy weapons in the future. According to Reuters, India is expected to help Afghanistan restart an old armaments factory near Kabul, refit old Soviet-era weapons, and step up training of Afghan officers and special forces - something it has already been doing in small numbers. Afghans have long fought with Russian or, previously, Soviet weapons and much prefer those to Western arms. Under US supervision and payment, the Russians recently supplied the tiny Afghan air force with Russian-made M-17 helicopters, which the forces of the Northern Alliance used for many years in the war against the Taliban. All this is likely to deeply annoy Pakistan, and escalate tensions with India and rivalry over their influence in Afghanistan. The Pakistan army has a low opinion of the ANA and does not trust it receiving offensive weapons which could be used on their common border. Now - just as Pakistan is giving the Afghan Taliban and its leader Mullah Mohammed Omar sanctuary on its soil - Afghanistan is allowing the Pakistani Taliban and its leader Mullah Fazlullah to shelter in Afghanistan. Both sides have denied providing official sanctuary to the Taliban. This tit-for-tat escalation has already led to fire-fights, exchanges of artillery fire and casualties between the two armies on the border. Islamabad also has suspicions that Indian trainers or advisers on the border could theoretically now replace US and Nato trainers. Moreover, the arms deal could lead to a replay of the bloody civil war in the 1990s, when Pakistan backed the Taliban, and India, Iran, Russia and the Central Asian republics backed the then Northern Alliance. Balancing act? However, one country could play a stabilising or balancing role and that is China. President Karzai has also asked China for military help but Beijing has been extremely reluctant to get involved on the ground in Afghanistan - just as China refuses to get involved in other conflict zones such as North Korea. Pakistan could now ask its closest ally, China, to get more involved in bolstering the ANA. That could balance Indian and Russian influence. One critical unanswered question remains: who is going to pay the $4bn a year that the ANA needs to continue functioning and paying salaries? The US and Nato have said they are willing to foot part of the bill but not for very long. There is no hint that India, Russia or China have offered money up front to support the ANA. Most experts conclude that the ANA will have to drastically reduce its size anyway by next year, because nobody will be willing to support more than 320,000 soldiers and policemen who constitute the present Afghan security forces. If outside countries pour in heavy weapons without the money to pay for sustaining the army, the danger of those weapons ending up with the Taliban becomes even greater. That is exactly what happened with the last lot of Soviet heavy weapons left behind in 1989 when Soviet forces left Afghanistan. The weapons were soon in the hands of warlords and the Taliban and the civil war started. Pakistan fears that any heavy weapons arriving in Afghanistan could end up in the hands of the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban. Afghanistan needs peace before it needs more weapons, and it needs bigger doses of diplomacy and political dialogue to get the Taliban to stop fighting. If that could happen, rather than flooding it with weapons once again, Afghanistan would be a happier place.
Explainer: Why Pakistan Is A Polio Breeding Ground
Frud BezhanDespite longstanding efforts to eradicate polio, the crippling disease has reemerged as an international health emergency following a dramatic spike in the number of cases over the past year. The majority of new cases have been detected in Pakistan, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has called "a powder keg that could ignite widespread polio transmission." There have been 74 confirmed polio cases worldwide, compared to just 24 at the same time last year. Fifty-nine of the new cases are in Pakistan. There are several reasons why polio has thrived in the volatile, deeply conservative country. Conspiracy Theories In Pakistan, militants have kidnapped, beaten, and assassinated dozens of vaccinators in a bid to stop local antipolio campaigns. Vaccinators have met the fiercest resistance in the restive province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in northwest Pakistan, where the presence of militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban (Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, or TTP) is strongest. Militant groups such as the TTP have opposed immunization partly because they see it as cover for foreign spying. Such beliefs gained credence following a Pakistani investigation that alleged that the CIA used a Pakistani doctor, Shakil Afridi, to uncover Osama bin Laden's hideout. Afridi was accused of confirming bin Laden's presence through DNA samples taken from his family under the guise of a hepatitis vaccination program. The Al-Qaeda leader was killed in May 2011 in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad. Pakistani Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarar blames the surge of polio cases in Pakistan mainly on "a reaction to the Afridi case." Bad Medicine Widespread public fears that the polio vaccine leads to infertility have contributed to the crippling and deadly disease's resurgence in Pakistan. Religious hard-liners have called vaccinations a Western plot to sterilize Muslim populations. Some Islamic clerics have even issued fatwas saying that any person who became paralyzed or died from polio would earn "martyr" status for refusing to be duped by a Western conspiracy. Pakistan recorded 91 cases of polio in 2013, according to WHO, up from 58 in 2012. Polio is a highly contagious disease that mainly affects children under five years of age. It cannot be cured, but it can be prevented with vaccination. One in 200 infections results in paralysis and between 5 and 10 percent of paralyzed patients die. 'Un-Islamic' Religious hard-liners and militants have claimed that polio vaccinations are "un-Islamic" and an attempt to thwart the will of God. Polio vaccines used in Pakistan are made in laboratories worldwide, including in the United States, making them a source of resentment. Militants and some religious clerics claim the vaccinations are made out of pig fat or have traces of alcohol, both of which are banned under Islam. Government health officials have met with religious leaders and clerics across the country in a bid to dispel misconceptions surrounding vaccinations. Some clerics have publicly declared that the immunization drive is acceptable under Islam and that it is, in fact, the militants' deadly campaign against polio workers that is "un-Islamic." But the word of hard-line clerics and militants continues to hold sway. Ripe Conditions In Pakistan, the majority of confirmed polio cases has been detected in the country's restive northwest. The city of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) along the border with Afghanistan are particularly vulnerable. Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, located in the southeastern Sindh Province, is also a polio hotbed. The impoverished, volatile northwest has borne the brunt of an insurgency. It is host to millions of Afghan refugees, creating the conditions for the disease to spread. And there is also poor sanitation and weak health infrastructure in the region. Health officials have called on the government to increase expenditures on public health care, to improve infrastructure, and to provide added security for polio vaccinators working in insecure areas. Dr. Zubair Mufti, the WHO polio department head for Pakistan, says the government needs to do more to gain access to high-risk areas. "The key to success in Pakistan is to obtain access to the nearly 250,000 children in North and South Waziristan tribal agencies [eds. in FATA]. Then you need to maintain consistent vaccination activities in the cities of Karachi and Peshawar. These are the three areas where Pakistan remains struck."
PAKISTAN: AHRC condemns the assassination of a prominent human rights defender and places the responsibility on the government of Punjab
Pakistan: Hunger Strike till Death, lives at Risk
Pakistan: Blast in Quetta kills two
A remote controlled bomb exploded at Double Road near NADRA office. Two people have died and six got injured amid the incident. Rescue teams reached the site and the injured were shifted to the hospital.
Eight security personnel martyred in North Waziristan roadside blast
http://dunyanews.tv/At least eight security personnel embraced martyrdom and several others got injured in a roadside blast in troubled North Waziristan tribal area bordering Afghanistan, Dunya News reported on Thursday. According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) had been planted by terrorists on Miranshah-Ghulamkhan road. The bomb exploded as a military convoy passed in the village of Ghulamkhan. Several security forces personnel were also critically injured in the explosion, ISPR reported. Local military officials confirmed the incident and said troops called in air support and launched a search operation in the area after the attack..
Malala Says Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls Are Her 'Sisters'
Hundreds of schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria have found a powerful ally — Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who survived a Taliban assassination attempt and became a global symbol of girl-power, equal rights and triumph over terror. "These girls are my sisters," the brave 16-year-old activist told NBC News' Bill Neely on Wednesday in Birmingham, England, where she has been living since being targeted for death in 2012 because of her tireless campaigning. "And I am feeling very sad." She offered a message to the abducted Nigerians: "Never lose hope because we are with you."
Yousafzai, a remarkable figure who was a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize and was invited to the White House, called on the world to speak out against the brutal Islamic extremist group Boko Haram, which bragged about abducting more than 200 girls and threatened to sell them. "We should all stand up together and we should speak," she said.
Although the Nigerian crisis is unfolding a world away from where she was ambushed on a school bus in the Swat region of Pakistan, Yousafzai saw disturbing parallels between the two situations. "It is what happened in Swat as well. In Swat we were suffering … girls were banned from going to school and banned from going to market, and the same is happening in Nigeria," she said. "They were in schools trying to study thinking about their future, and then suddenly some people came and abducted them." She added, "I think it is beyond our imagination and a very horrible situation, so it is like another kind of terrorism." Yousafzai was just 11 when she outraged the Taliban with a speech entitled, "How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?" Despite the danger, she continued to speak out about girls' right to schooling. She was on a bus on her way home from an exam when a gunman stormed on and shot her point-blank in the head. Even though her insistence on speaking out nearly cost Yousafzai her life, she feels she has no choice but to join the international chorus calling for increased pressure on the Boko Haram to release the Nigerian girls.
"It is my duty that I will speak even if no one is listening to me," she said. "I will continue … until people take action. "I have learned from my life when you are speaking from truth, when you are speaking from justice, then no one can defeat you. And this is what I believe in." Protesting against the abductions is the only hope of preventing more of them, she said: "The thing is, if you want to protect other girls as well, then we have to speak." Yousafzai runs a foundation in her name and she said its next project will be focused on secure education for girls in Nigeria. "I think this is just a small globe," she said.
Pakistan: Unblock YouTube
Several times during the last eleven months there were indications from the government that it was going to remove the ban on YouTube. But fearing strong reaction from its extremist sympathisers, each time the government developed cold feet and postponed the decision. The PML-N leadership needs to come to terms with the fact that we live in a global society where bans of the sort can only isolate the country. What is more they feed extremist tendencies. YouTube is a treasure trove of information and is an important part of the social media. With its numerous videos on myriads of subjects including the various branches of science, history, geography and even mathematics, it has been of immense use for the student community and the teachers. For music lovers, from soul music to classical, semi classical, folk and pop, everything is available at a few clicks. It has helped budding artists to learn drawing without the help of expensive tutors. The political parties had started to rely increasingly on YouTube to engage with their followers. To block it amounted to cutting off one's nose to spite one's face. The rationale behind blocking the YouTube is questionable. The site does not force the viewers to visit controversial uploads. Those who complain of injurious material should resist the temptation to access it. Bans are of no use as viewers keen to access banned sites can do so, albeit through a somewhat tedious process. YouTube was banned in Pakistan in September 2012 when a man with a diseased mind uploaded on it the trailer of a highly substandard movie called "Innocence of Muslims", which injured the feelings of the Muslim community all over the world. If no note was taken by the anti-blasphemy brigade, few would have ever known about the existence of the movie and even those who opened the site would have found it more repulsive than entertaining. Banning the YouTube is like closing down an entire library which happens to have just one objectionable book. On Tuesday, the National Assembly unanimously supported a resolution presented by a PPP MNA to unblock the YouTube. The government however continued to harp on the so called 'sensitivity' of the issue. Is Pakistan the only Muslim country where people have sensitivities? What about Saudi Arabia where viewers watch three times as much YouTube as their peers in the US? Turkey only banned it this year not on account of public sensitivities but for leaking recordings considered politically damaging by the administration. After the National Assembly has called for lifting the ban, the PML-N should pick up the courage and unblock the site. Appeasing the extremists has already done the country enough harm. It's time the government dropped the policy.
Pakistan: More travel bans
As if things could not get any worse for our image abroad, Pakistanis look set to face even more restrictions and bans when it comes to travelling abroad. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has implemented its threat to impose strict curbs on Pakistanis' travel to foreign lands. An emergency committee of the WHO made its recommendations and, on Monday, the announcement was made to stop the spread of the poliovirus by slapping travel bans on Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria where the disease was most reported. Out of the many recommendations, in all probability, it will be made mandatory for all international travellers to have a polio vaccination certificate verifying that the traveller has had polio drops administered at least four weeks prior to travel. If anyone is travelling urgently, then the vaccine should be taken by them at the earliest before departure. The Pakistan government has responded by saying that it will set up immunisation points at airports and all points of exit in the country. How they actually plan to do that — a mammoth undertaking — is a big question. Besides, will immunisation immediately prior to departure at airports be acceptable to other countries? The planning, coordination and organisation of our government authorities, especially in matters of social welfare, are abysmal. We have been unable to curb the spread of the disease in our own country where 59 cases have already sprung up in this year alone. Would it not have been better for those in charge to have taken responsibility and prevented this outcome where Pakistan is being ostracised internationally? Instead of having to go through what will no doubt be debilitating repercussions for all of Pakistan's citizens, should the government not have taken the spread of polio seriously? Should those in charge not have come down hard on the militants who were first spreading lies and propaganda about the vaccines and then resorting to murderous campaigns against health workers risking their lives to immunise children? Should we not have acted then? It is all very good that now we are thumping our chests and assuring the international community that we will set up check points and administer drops to all travellers but should we not have avoided this calamity? Even if we digress from talking about international travel, when will we consider the toll this is taking on our children who are being crippled by the spread of this disease? We are becoming a heartless nation for not helping them, and the world is now recognising that sad reality.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa acutely short of polio vaccine
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa faces acute shortage of oral polio vaccine and thus, struggling to implement the World Health Organisation recommendation for vaccination of all those traveling abroad from there, it is learnt. The provincial government is required to administer OPV to people approaching the Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar for international travel. "The government has decided to implement the WHO recommendations and administer anti-polio drops to all people traveling abroad from the province. However, it's not possible until the federal government supplies the required stock of vaccine," a relevant official told Dawn on Wednesday. On Monday, the WHO had recommended travel restrictions on Pakistanis traveling abroad to prevent polio transmission to the countries long declared free of the crippling disease. The recommendation is about vaccination of all those traveling aboard against polio irrespective of their ages. Until now, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has been administering OPV to children up to five years of age. The department had already anti-polio counter at the Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar, where children under five years of age are being provided OPV before traveling abroad. However, the province will need an additional 50,000 doses of the OPV to be able to provide to the about 2000 people traveling through the airport every day. Only this year, we have administered OPV to 479,000 children under five year at the Bacha Khan International Airport, officials said. The WHO declaration came after back-to-back polio cases from Fata, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi and emergence of positive environmental water sample from Lahore with a view to protect polio-free countries from re-infection. The province has enough human resources to implement the recommendations in letter and spirit but it requires around 600,000 additional doses per year. The provincial government has conveyed to the relevant authorities about the desired quantity of OPV. After the 18th Constitutional Amendment, it was the responsibility of the provinces to procure vaccine but the federal government had taken it upon itself to make sure that the provinces receive OPV. In this light, the health department is waiting the supply of vaccine before embarking on the implementation of the WHO recommendation. The province's existing stock is supposed to be given to the children to the under-five children during campaigns. Under the plan, the people planning to travel abroad within next forty days could get vaccination at the district headquarters hospitals and teaching hospitals and a certificate by the relevant medical superintendents, while those visiting foreign countries within few days could be given OPV on the counter at the airport. When contacted, provincial health minister Sharam Khan said travel restrictions were initially for three to six months and that the polio vaccine certificate would be valid for one year. "We are fully prepared to implement the WHO recommendation and continue our efforts to eradicate polio," he said. The minister said the government had made marked progress towards polio eradication due to the Sehat Ka Insaf programme and that efforts were underway to continue vaccination in other districts, too. "We have also requested the federal government to ensure vaccination of children in Fata and put brakes on the transportation of virus to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Similarly, request to Afghan government has also been sent through federal government to immunise children in areas located nearby Pak-Afghanistan border," he said. The minister said the Indian government had already made it mandatory for Pakistanis to get vaccinated against polio before traveling to its territories two months ago.
Pakistan: Rights advocate Rashid Rehman Khan gunned down in Multan
Human Rights Advocate Rashid Rehman Khan was gunned down by unidentified attackers in Multan, DawnNews reported late on Wednesday night. Initial reports suggest that Khan was targeted by two gunmen inside his office at Kachehri Chowk. Sources told Dawn.com that two clean-shaven young men barged into Advocate Khan's office and shot him dead. They also injured his two lawyer friends, identified as Nadeem Parwaz and Afzal. Injured were taken to Nishtar Medical Center where Parwaz is said to be in a critical condition. "Armed gunmen stormed the chamber of Rashid Rehman and started indiscriminate firing on Wednesday evening, injuring Rehman and two of his associates present there," senior police official Zulfiqar Ali told AFP. Advocate Rashid Rehman Khan was a coordinator for the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). The senior lawyer was defending a university lecturer accused of blasphemy and had complained that he had been receiving threats on his life. The HRCP had voiced serious concern over the threats extended to Khan. The Supreme Court advocate had submitted an application with the District Bar Association president Sher Zaman Qureshi last month, saying he was threatened by two lawyers and two other persons who asked him not to appear in the case he was representing. Rehman was representing Junaid Hafeez, a lecturer at Bahauddin Zakariya University. Hafeez was known for his liberal views at the university and the case of blasphemy was registered after pressure from right-wing student groups, said a student, who wished not to be named. Pakistan has strict laws against defaming Islam, including the death penalty for blasphemy, and rights campaigners say they are often used to settle personal disputes. A recent report from a US government advisory panel said Pakistan used blasphemy laws more than any other country in the world, listing 14 people on death row and 19 others serving life sentences for insulting Islam.
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SABLE is a trusted bootloader which uses a TPM chip to establish mutual trust between a user and his/her platform. SABLE can be thought of as a wrapper for a GRUB2 menuentry, which can be used to attest to the integrity of that specific GRUB2 menuentry. For example, if a trusted kernel is corrupted or replaced by a malicious entity, SABLE provides a mechanism to inform the user that the boot configuration has been corrupted. This can be done for the kernel, or any arbitrary file.
SABLE is a component of a bigger picture. In particular, the Distributed Attestation for Mobile, Multicast & Multiple Operator Networks (DAM3ON) project that CTI is working on. SABLE utilizes the TPM by storing system measurements in Platform Configuration Registers (PCR), which DAM3ON can then use for remote attestation - as well as anonymous remote attestation. An example flow of starting from layer 0, to remote attestation, is shown in the diagram below


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The Novel Map
The Novel Map
Focusing on Stendhal, Gérard de Nerval, George Sand, Émile Zola, and Marcel Proust, The Subject of Space: Mapping the Self in Nineteenth-Century French Fiction explores the ways that these writers represent and negotiate the relationship between the self and the world as a function of space in a novel turned map.With the rise of the novel and of autobiography, the literary and cultural contexts of nineteenth-century France reconfigured both the ways literature could represent subjects and the ways subjects related to space. In the first-person works of these authors, maps situate the narrator within the imaginary space of the novel. Yet the time inherent in the text's narrative unsettles the spatial self drawn by the maps and so creates a novel self, one which is both new and literary. The novel self transcends the rigid confines of a map. In this significant study, Patrick M. Bray charts a new direction in critical theory.
"For its originality, insights, and nuanced readings of monumental texts of nineteenth- and twentieth century French literature, The Novel Map marks a valuable contribution to French studies and will certainly inform debates about these works for many years to come." --H-France Review
"Bray's beautifully written and impeccably researched study of space and subjectivity in nineteenth- century fiction will be of keen interest to scholars of modern French literature and culture, critical theory and of the novel more generally." --French Forum


text: Most of us have smelled dog halitosis (bad breath) at one time or another. It is the result of the foul odor-producing bacteria buildup in a dog's mouth. Chronic halitosis in a dog can indicate that it needs better dental care or that dry mouth may be a problem. Dog Breath Causes The more common serious issues are gum (periodontal) or dental disease, and generally the smaller a dog is, the more vulnerable it is to tartar and plague. There are more serious issues that are possible, but less common, which include more extreme medical problems in the mouth, such as gum issues. Diagnosing Dog Breath One should normally bring his or her pet to the veterinarian to diagnose the reason behind the chronic bad breath. A vet can do a physical eam and laboratory work to pinpoint the problem. Come prepared with information on your dog's diet, exercise routine, and behavioral habits. When Should I Take My Dog To The Vet? As soon as your dog's breath has an unusual smell, bring it to the vet. Here are some symptoms: 1. Unusually fruity/sweet breath can signify diabetes, especially if the dog has been drinking fluids and urinating more than usual. 2. Dog breath that smells like urine can mean kidney disease. 3. Bad breath along with vomiting, lack of appetite, and yellow-tinged corneas and/or gums can signify a liver problem. Dog Breath Treatment Obviously, treatment depends on the cause of dog breath. If plaque is the cause, the dog may need a professional dental cleaning. If diet is the cause, then you should change what your dog is eating. If the cause of bad breath is related to other issues, the vet should know the best route to take. Prevent Dog Breath Just because a dog is older does not mean that it is normal to have bad breath. Always take action and provide the best care that you can for your pet, as a method of prevention. Here are some good things to do: 1. Bring the dog in for regular checkups at the vet to make sure it has no underlying medical issues. 2. Have the vet monitor the condition of the dog's teeth and breath. 3. Provide the dog with a high-quality and easily digestible diet. 4. Brush the dog's teeth everyday if possible--or as frequently as you can if you cannot everyday. Be sure to brush with a toothpaste made for dog's, since toothpaste for human's can cause digestive problems in canines. 5. Provide safe chew toys that encourage the natural process of chewing and teeth cleaning. 6. Research dog treats that help with breath odor. 7. Research dog oral health products to use at home and discuss them with your vet. Keep in mind that products designed to mask bad breath may not fix the cause of it. Also, most of these ideas discussed can also be used for cats.


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Brain Fluid Leak: That Could Be Causing A Runny Nose
For five years, Kendra Jackson from Omaha, Nebraska, had suffered from constant headaches and a runny nose. But the problem was far from being a long-lasting cold or a bad case of allergies.
"Everywhere I went I always had a box of Puffs, always stuffed in my pocket," Jackson said, adding that her runny nose was "like a waterfall, continuously, and then it would run to the back of my throat."
Her symptoms first began after a car accident in 2013 when she hit her head against the dashboard of the car. She went on to experience coughing, sneezing, trouble sleeping, and painful headaches. "I couldn't sleep, I was like a zombie," Jackson recalled, stating that many doctors could only diagnose her with allergy or winter congestion.
But after she was examined by an ENT specialist at Nebraska Medicine, it was found that her brain fluid had been leaking through her nose, causing the loss of nearly half a pint (8 ounces or 237 milliliters) of fluid every day. The condition is known as a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea and has been reported to be a result of nonsurgical trauma in 80 percent of cases.
CSF or the "brain fluid" resembles a clear liquid and flows under the outer covering (known as the dura) of both the brain and the spinal cord. It serves a number of important functions such as cushioning the brain, maintaining pressure within the eye, and clearing metabolic waste.
A leak can occur when the dura is damaged, according to Dr. Amber Luong, an otolaryngologist from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center. If such leaks are severe and left untreated, the person can risk developing a serious infection.
"The most common cause [of such leaks is] trauma, like a car accident," Dr. Luong said.
However, spontaneous leaks can occur due to increased pressure inside the skull, more likely to happen in the case of overweight people. Dr. Luong added that it is also more common among older people because "it takes some time for that pressure to ultimately erode the bone."
In the case of Jackson, Nebraska Medicine rhinologist Dr. Christie Barnes and neurosurgeon Dr. Dan Surdell used a relatively non-invasive method to operate and fix the source of the leak.
"We go through the nostrils, through the nose. We use angled cameras, angled instruments to get us up to where we need to go," Dr. Barnes explained. The doctors proceeded to use Jackson's own fatty tissue as a plug to seal the hole from which fluid was spilling out.
Jackson confirmed she felt better than ever after the procedure, stating that her sleep quality was finally back to normal and her head felt clear for the first time in years.
"I don't have to carry around the tissue anymore, and I'm getting some sleep," she said.


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|Company name
|Stamps.com Inc.
|Stock symbol
|Class period
|May 3, 2017 – February 21, 2019
|Central District of California
NEW YORK, March 1, 2019 – Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of all persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ: STMP) securities between May 3, 2017 and February 21, 2019 (the "Class Period"). Investors have until April 29, 2019 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.
The complaint alleges that throughout the class period defendants violated provisions of the Exchange Act by issuing false and misleading statements to investors, including in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, the complaint alleges that defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the company's financial results depended on the manipulation of a USPS program that cost USPS an estimated $235 million per year; and (ii) as a result, the company's business was unsustainable and its financial results were misleading.
If you purchased Stamps.com securities during the Class Period or continue to hold shares purchased before the Class Period, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Melissa Fortunato by email at email@example.com, or telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out the contact form below. There is no cost or obligation to you.


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Queensland Cricket has joined forces with Queensland-based sporting apparel supplier BLK for the 2016-17 season.
BLK will provide training apparel for the my FootDR Queensland Bulls, Konica Minolta Queensland Fire, Queensland Academy of Sport and Queensland Cricket Youth Pathway squads this summer as Queensland's official team performance clothing supplier.
BLK outfit nearly 10,000 teams world-wide including rugby union, AFL, touch football, cricket and netball.
The Bulls and Fire squads recently received their pre-season clothing order, with Bulls coach Phil Jaques reporting high satisfaction levels from the players for the performance values of the apparel.
"It goes a long way in making our players and staff feel valued by providing fitted apparel that looks sharp and feels great while they are going through a tough pre-season,'' he said. "We are all excited by the new partnership."
The Bulls, under new strength and conditioning mentor Paul Chapman, are in a three-week training and playing block which features practice matches against South Australia, Tasmania, NSW and Papua New Guinea.
The Fire have also commenced practice matches in their pre-season, playing South Australia and Tasmania last weekend.
BLK has had a long association with cricket especially in Australia.
It was a sponsor and supplier of the KFC T20 Big Bash League for its first three seasons and has been a sponsor of Cricket Tasmania, WACA, SACA and NT Cricket associations.
It is a sponsor and supplier for Cricket Australia's major domestic competitions such as the Sheffield Shield and Matador BBQs one-day Cup and Women's National Cricket League.
BLK is also the official apparel brand of the International Cricket Council providing it with global cricket exposure.
BLK Chief Executive Officer Tyron Brant said the company looked forward to its association with another home-grown success.
"Being Queensland based, it gives us all great pride to finally have Queensland Cricket training and playing in BLK,'' he said.
"We look forward to a long and successful journey and watching Queensland Cricket go #BeyondLimitsKnown."


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