text:
This is required for tax purposes.
We will email you an invoice immediately with instructions on how to pay. This domain will not be secured until we receive payment.
This domain name could be well suited to a programming or technical recruitment brand.
CodeSpread has 10 letters and three syllables. Leading companies using three syllable names include Sainsbury's, Grammarly and Mastercard.
This domain was first registered in November 2012. Older domains have an advantage when ranking in search engines.
Codespread.com is a dot-com domain. Dot com domains are the most prestigious domain extension in the world, used by famous websites like youtube.com. Once you own a dot-com, it will be much easier to rank for your own name in Google.
Considering using the brand name "CodeSpread"?
Oren A
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text:
Henry Miller - Tropic of Cancer
A Flamingo Modern Classic 1993
First published in Great Britain by John Calder (Publishers) Limited 1963
Copyright © Obelisk Press, Paris 1934
Autobiographical novel by Henry Miller, published in France in 1934 and, because of censorship, not published in the United States until 1961. Written in the tradition of Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau, it is a monologue about Miller's picaresque life as an impoverished expatriate in France in the early 1930s. The book benefited from favorable early critical response and gained popular notoriety later as a result of obscenity trials. Containing little plot on narrative, Tropic of Cancer is made up of anecdotes, philosophizing, and rambling celebrations of life. Despite his poverty, Miller extols his manner of living, unfettered as it is by moral and social conventions. He lives largely off the resources of his friends. In exuberant and sometimes preposterous passages of unusual sexual frankness, he chronicles numerous encounters with women, including his mysterious wife Mona, as he pursues a fascination with female sexuality. Tropic of Cancer was the first of an autobiographical trilogy, followed by Black Spring (1936) and Tropic of Capricorn (1939).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A pearl is born....
Far below the surface of the sea, nearly half a world away, a miraculous event is taking place—the birth of a cultured pearl. Born from the womb of mother oysters, cultured pearls are truly a gift of nature. Unlike other precious gemstones which are cut and polished to release their inner beauty, cultured pearls come into the world naturally radiant. They emerge miraculously with a shimmering iridescence, lustre, and soft inner glow which is unlike any other jewel on earth.
A natural pearl occurs when a foreign object, such as a parasite or a bit of broken shell, accidently lodges itself in the soft inner body of an oyster, where it cannot be expelled. The oyster attempts to protect itself by secreting a smoooth, hard crystalline substance around the irritant. This substance is often referred to as "nacre." For as long as the irritant remains, the oyster will continue to secrete layer upon layer of nacre around it. After a few years, the irritant has become totally encased. The result is a lovely and lustrous pearl.
Nacre is composed of microscopic crystals, aligned perfectly, so that light passing along the axis of one is reflected and refracted by another to produce a warm and inviting glow of slight and subtle color. The nacre found in cultured pearls is formed by oysters in a nearly identical manner. The only difference is man surgically implants the irritant—a small, rounded bead of polished shell, or in the case of a freshwater pearl, a small piece of body tissue from another mussel. Then it's up to the host oyster and Mother Nature to create their miracle.
Information provided by the
Cultured Pearl Association of America, Inc.
Quality Considerations....
Pearls should be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
Lustre - the combination of surface brilliance and a deep, almost three-dimensional glow, the lustre of a good-quality pearl should be bright and not dull. You should be able to see your reflection on the surface of a pearl. Any pearl that appears too chalky or dull indicates low quality.
Surface - cleanness of the pearl's surface refers to the absense of organic spots, bumps or indentations. A pearl that has a cleaner surface generally will be more valuable than a pearl with a blemished surface.
Shape - since cultured pearls are grown by oysters and subject to the whims of Mother Nature, it is rare to find a pearl that is perfectly round. While round pearls command the highest prices, asymmetrical, or baroque pearls have a unique charm at a more moderate price.
Color - cultured pearls occur in colors from white to black, and just about every color in between. Usually color is not a true indicator of pearl quality, though some colors command premium prices.
Size - generally the larger the pearl the more valuable it will be. Sizes of cultured pearls range from 1mm for a very tiny Keshi pearl to as large as 24mm for a baroque South Sea cultured pearl.


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Because I liked the freedom it gave me last year, I'm sticking with the same "Best of…" format for 2018. That's right: two playlists that no longer conform to the length of a compact disc, because who in the hell listens to CDs anymore anyway?! (Incidentally, I have a boom box and a huge CD collection at home, so I guess I've answered my own question.)
So, again, rather than creating two CD-length mixes, I've curated two long-play Spotify playlists representing the best "fast" and "slow" tracks of 2018. There is no intentional transition from song to song; rather, they're simply alphabetized. (I should once again note that they are alphabetized by an artists for name, because Spotify is Spotify. Therefore, artists like Kristin Hersh are alphabetized by "K.") I did, however, make sure to include no more than a single song by an artist on each playlist.
In general, I'm not sure how I would classify the music I most enjoyed in 2018. I listened to so many songs by so many bands that I couldn't keep it straight at times. A lot of records just sort of blended into the next. And while there were some albums that I loved instantly, many didn't hit me quite as hard after a single listen. Slow burns, I suppose.
Also, the best record I heard in 2018? It was released in 2017. Fuck. But I'll get to that…
Album Cover of the Year:
Heart Bones – "Little Dancer" (single)
Record I Think I Like Despite Having No Idea What to Make of It Because It's Raucous as All Hell:
The Armed – Only Love (Throat Ruiner)
Top 20 Records of 2018:
20. Doe – Grow Into It (Topshelf Records)
19. Pllush – Stranger to the Pain (Father/Daughter Records)
18. Say Sue Me – Where We Were Together (Damnably)
17. Camp Cope – How to Socialise & Make Friends (Run for Cover)
16. Superchunk – What a Tine to Be Alive (Merge)
15. The Beths – Future Me Hates Me (Carpark)
14. Mitski – Be the Cowboy (Dead Oceans)
13. Hop Along – Bark Your Head Off, Dog (Saddle Creek)
12. Weakened Friends – Common Blah (Don Giovanni)
11. The Breeders – All Nerve (4AD)
10. Forth Wanderers – Forth Wanderers (Sub Pop)
9. Remember Sports – Slow Buzz (Father/Daughter Records)
8. Frankie Cosmos – Vessel (Sub Pop)
7. Swearin' – Fall into the Sun (Merge)
6. gobbinjr – ocala wick (Topshelf Records)
5. Car Seat Headrest – Twin Fantasy (Matador)
4. Connections – Foreign Affairs (Trouble In Mind Records)
3. Slothrust – The Pact (Dangerbird Records)
2. Kal Marks – Universal Care (Exploding In Sound Records)
1. En Attendant Ana – Lost and Found (Trouble In Mind Records)
I listened to Lost and Found over and over and over again. I simply couldn't get enough of it. A perfect, beautiful album from a Parisian band. Every listen felt fresh and new. Before 2018, I had never even heard of En Attendant Ana, and now I couldn't imagine not gobbling up everything they put out. This 10-song collection is pretty much perfect, from its opening track (fittingly titled "Intro") to album closer "I Don't Even Know Your Name." In the middle of the record stands what is arguably my favorite song of the year (if not for Connections' "Cynthia Ann"), "Why Is Your Body So Hard to Carry?" The back-and-forth male/female vocals over a steady guitar riff and the cymbal crash at the two-minute mark is both sweet and exciting all at once. Maybe it makes the most sense of all that my favorite record of 2018 was released by a non-American band, and it stands as a reminder of what a shitshow this country has become, while beauty thrives elsewhere.
Album that Would Have Been "Album of the Year," Hands Down, Had It Been Released in 2018 (Rather Than 2017):
Surrounder – Surrpiounder (Crash Ride Records)
Surrpiounder was, by far, the best record I listened to this year. (Shout out to Steven from Heartbreaking Bravery for drawing this band to my attention.) I interacted with them several times via Facebook to extend my praise, only to (sadly) discover that they have since broken up. What a goddamn shame. They ripped it up but good. Political, smart, catchy, fun. This record has everything.
Again, there are no CDs (hard copies) this year. Your best bets are to a) listen to the Spotify playlist, or b) curate the playlists yourself in iTunes, Spotify, or some other type of music app. There are entirely too many songs below for me to link to all of them, so do yourselves a favor and listen to the playlists. Put the work in yourselves.
With that, I give you the 148 songs (yes, 148 songs!) that comprise my 2018 playlists…
Sober (The Best "Slow" Tracks of 2018):
1. Adrian Teacher and the Subs – "Anxious Love" (Anxious Love)
2. Bent Denim – "Downtown el Fenix" (Town & Country)
3. Bodies Be Rivers – "You Couldn't Tell" (Things I'll Tell You When You're Older)
4. Bonny Doon – "A Lotta Things" (Longwave)
5. Born Ruffians – "Forget Me" (Uncle, Duck & The Chief)
6. The Breeders – "Blues at the Acropolis" (All Nerve)
7. Camp Cope – "The Opener" (How to Socialise & Make Friends)
8. Car Seat Headrest – "Stop Smoking (We Love You)" (Twin Fantasy)
9. Connections – "Something Else" (Foreign Affairs)
10. Cool American – "Happy You Said It" (Better Luck Next Year, Vol 3 EP)
11. Courtney Barnett – "Need a Little Time" (Tell Me How You Really Feel)
12. Dear Nora – "Creature of Habit" (Skulls Example)
13. didi – "moon jelly" (Like Memory Foam)
14. Dilly Dally – "Sober Motel" (Heaven)
15. Doe – "Even Fiction" (Grow Into It)
16. Dr. Dog – "Critical Equation" (Critical Equation)
17. Dusk – "Leaf" (Dusk)
18. Dusted – "Dead Eyes" (Blackout Summer)
19. Eleanor Friedberger – "Rule of Action" (Rebound)
20. En Attendant Ana – "The Violence Inside" (Lost and Found)
21. Ex-Vöid – "Boyfriend" (Ex-Vöid single)
22. Fenne Lily – "On Hold" (On Hold)
23. Fog Lake – "Dinosaur" (Captain)
24. Forth Wanderers – "Temporary" (Forth Wanderers)
25. Frankie Cosmos – "Vessel" (Vessel)
26. Fucked Up – "Normal People" (Dose Your Dreams)
27. Gabby's World – "Eyes for You" (Beast on Beast)
28. Girlpool – "Hire" (Hire)
29. gobbinjr – "Sorry Charlie" (ocala wick)
30. Grandaddy – "Bison on the Plains" (Bison on the Plains single)
31. Haley Heynderickx – "Jo" (I Need to Start a Garden)
32. Heart Bones – "Disappearer" (Disappearer single)
33. Holy Motors – "Silently for Me" (Slow Sundown)
34. Hop Along – "How Simple" (Bark Your Head Off, Dog)
35. Hovvdy – "Petal" (Cranberry)
36. Illuminati Hotties – "For Cheez (My Friend, Not the Food)" (Kiss Yr Frenemies)
37. Interbellum – "Another Day" (Dead Pets, Old Griefs)
38. Jogging House – "Eyes" (Would)
39. Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridges, Lucy Dacus* – "Bite the Hand" (boygenius EP)
40. Kal Marks – "Today I Walked Down to the Tree, Read a Book, and When I Was Done, I Went Back Inside" (Universal Care)
41. Katie Ellen – "Still Life" (Still Life EP)
42. Kississippi – "Once Good" (Sunset Blush)
43. Long Neck – "Matriarch" (Will This Do?)
44. Lucy Dacus – "Nonbeliever" (Historian)
45. Mitski – "Old Friend" (Be the Cowboy)
46. Momma – "Belong on the Bed" (Interloper)
47. Mount Eerie – "Tintin in Tibet" (Now Only EP)
48. Mutual Benefit – "No Dominion" (Thunder Follows the Light)
49. Nap Eyes – "I'm Bad" (I'm Bad Now)
50. Neko Case – "Winnie" (Hell-On)
51. Nothing – "Zero Day" (Dance on the Blacktop)
52. The Ophelias – "Fog" (Almost)
53. Options – "Wash" (Vivid Trace)
54. Ovlov – "Spright" (TRU)
55. Palehound – "YMCA Pool" (YMCA Pool single)
56. Peach Kelli Pop – "Honey" (Gentle Leader)
57. Pedro the Lion – "Yellow Bike" (Yellow Bike single)
58. Pipsy – "Geek" (Users)
59. Pllush – "Elliot" (Stranger to the Pain)
60. Puppy Problems – "Comfortable" (Sunday Feeling)
61. Remember Sports – "Unwell" (Slow Buzz)
62. Sam Evian – "Now I Feel It" (You, Forever)
63. Say Sue Me – "Let It Begin" (Where We Were Together)
64. Slothrust – "Birthday Cake" (The Pact)
65. Snail Mail – "Stick" (Lush)
66. So Stressed – "Onion Paper" (Pale Lemon)
67. Soccer Mommy – "Last Girl" (Clean)
68. Special Explosion – "Fire" (To Infinity)
69. Squirrel Flower – "Not Your Prey" (Contact Sports)
70. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – "Middle America" (Sparkle Hard)
71. Superchunk – "Erasure" (What a Time to Be Alive)
72. Surrounder – "Spent" (Lawn Chairs // Surrounder split)
73. Swearin' – "Treading" (Fall into the Sun)
74. They Might Be Giants – "The Greatest" (I Like Fun)
75. Tomberlin – "Untitled 1" (At Weddings)
76. Trace Mountains – "A Partner to Lean On" (A Partner to Lean On)
77. Weakened Friends – "Not Doing Good" (Common Blah)
78. Yo La Tengo – "You Are Here" (There's a Riot Going On)
79. Yowler – "Petals" (Black Dog in My Path)
Drunk (The Best "Fast" Tracks of 2018):
1. Adrian Teacher and the Subs – "Pop Medicine" (Anxious Love)
2. The Armed – "Witness" (Only Love)
3. The Beths – "Great No One" (Future Me Hates Me)
4. Born Ruffians – "Miss You" (Uncle, Duck & The Chief)
6. The Breeders – "Wait in the Car" (All Nerve)
7. Camp Cope – "How to Socialise & Make Friends" (How to Socialise & Make Friends)
8. Car Seat Headrest – "Bodys" (Twin Fantasy)
9. Connections – "Cynthia Ann" (Foreign Affairs)
10. Cool American – "Every Little Favor" (Better Luck Next Year, Vol 3 EP)
11. Courtney Barnett – "Crippling Self Doubt and a General Lack of Self Confidence" (Tell Me How You Really Feel)
12. didi – "haru" (Like Memory Foam)
13. The Dodos – "Forum" (Certainly Waves)
14. Doe – "Labour Like I Do" (Grow Into It)
15. Dream Wife – "Somebody" (Dream Wife)
16. Dusted – "Five Hundred and Four" (Blackout Summer)
17. Eleanor Friedberger – "Make Me a Song" (Rebound)
18. En Attendant Ana – "Why Is Your Body So Hard to Carry?" (Lost and Found)
19. Ex-Vöid – "(Angry at You) Baby" (Ex-Vöid single)
20. Forth Wanderers – "Not for Me" (Forth Wanderers)
21. Frankie Cosmos – "Being Alive" (Vessel)
22. Fucked Up – "None of Your Business Man" (Dose Your Dreams)
23. GRLwood – "Wet" (Daddy)
24. Gulfer – "Secret Stuff" (Dog Bless)
25. HAVVK – "Always the Same" (Always the Same)
26. Heart Bones – "Little Dancer" (Little Dancersingle)
27. Hit Bargain – "Capitulate" (Potential Maximizer)
28. Hop Along – "What the Writer Meant" (Bark Your Head Off, Dog)
29. Hot Snakes – "I Need a Doctor" (Jericho Sirens)
30. Illuminati Hotties – "Shape of My Hands" (Kiss Yr Frenemies)
31. Jeff Rosenstock – "Yr Throat" (Post-)
32. Kal Marks – "Universal Care" (Universal Care)
33. Katie Ellen – "Adaptation of Para Todos" (Still Life EP)
34. Kississippi – "Rinse, Repeat" (Sunset Blush)
35. Liza Anne – "Small Talks" (Fine But Dying)
36. Lonely Parade – "Not Nice" (The Pits)
37. Long Neck – "Mine/Yours" (Will This Do?)
38. LOOSE – "Bruce" (Haircut EP)
39. Mike Krol – "An Ambulance" (An Ambulance/Never Know single)
40. Mitski – "A Pearl" (Be the Cowboy)
41. Mourn – "Epilogue" (Sorpresa Familia)
42. Muncie Girls – "Jeremy" (Fixed Ideals EP)
43. No Age – "Tidal" (Snares Like a Haircut)
44. Nothing – "You Wind Me Up" (Dance on the Blacktop)
45. Options – "Knocked" (Vivid Trace)
46. Ovlov – "Stick" (TRU)
47. Palehound – "Sea of Blood" (YMCA Pool single)
48. Parquet Courts – "Almost Had to Start a Fight/In and Out of Patience" (Wide Awake!)
49. Peach Kelli Pop – "Black Magic" (Gentle Leader)
50. Pipsy – "Whatever (If It's Going to Come to This)" (Users)
51. Pllush – "Big Train" (Stranger to the Pain)
52. Remember Sports – "Up From Below" (Slow Buzz)
53. Retirement Party – "Are You My Mother?" (Somewhat Literate)
54. Ruler – "Keep Moving" (Winning Star Champion)
55. Salad Boys – "Psych Slasher" (This Is Glue)
56. Say Sue Me – "I Just Wanna Dance" (Where We Were Together)
57. Slothrust – "Planetarium" (The Pact)
58. So Stressed – "Very Long Cloth" (Pale Lemon)
59. Spider Bags – "Burning Sand" (Someday Everything Will Be Fine)
60. Stef Chura – "Degrees" (Degreessingle)
61. Superchunk – "What a Time to Be Alive" (What a Time to Be Alive)
62. Surrounder – "Immediation" (Lawn Chairs // Surrounder split)
63. Swearin' – "Grow into a Ghost" (Fall into the Sun)
64. They Might Be Giants – "Let's Get This Over With" (I Like Fun)
65. THICK – "Lyfe" (Would You Rather?EP)
66. Washer – "Super Pop" (Bethlehem Steel/Washersplit)
67. Weakened Friends – "Waste" (Common Blah)
68. Yo La Tengo – "Shades of Blue" (There's a Riot Going On)
69. YOWL – "Warm (in the Soft White Fire of Modern Living)" (Warm (in the Soft White Fire of Modern Living)single)
If you're looking for a CliffNotes version, I opted to make a third playlist comprising only 20 songs, selecting 1 song from each of my top 20 records. The songs act as a countdown of sorts, in that the first track comes from Doe's Grow Into It, while the last track comes from En Attendant Ana's Lost and Found. Make sense? Super.
Well, that'll do it for 2018. With that, I now ask that you do the following four things:
- In the comments section, let me know your picks for the best songs, records, and anything else music of 2018. What did I miss? What do you violently disagree with? What are you wholeheartedly in agreement with? What the hell else?
- Should you choose to (or if you have already) put together a Best of 2018 playlist of your own, by all means send me a copy, or at the very least a track listing. I'll do my best to post them on my blog.
- If you're feeling nostalgic, go back and check out my Best of… mixes from years' past. There's a shit-ton of them.
- You've got Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and 7 billion other social media outlets at your disposal. Share this with the world, even if you only have two Twitter followers (and one of them is me).
Until the Best of 2019, have at it, you vultures!


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Sunbeam Centre, and it's satellite Departments, are Dedicated to Excellence. As such, accepting feedback from consumers and the general public; and the presence of a process to respond to complaints; supports continuous quality improvement in service delivery.
Feedback – Definition & Process
Feedback is positive or negative commentary normally related to, the services/supports provided by (or accessed through) Sunbeam Centre, to its clients or to the general public. It may be solicited, or unsolicited. Feedback may come from a client, a person representing a client, an agency or authority, or the general public. Feedback does not necessarily require a response from Sunbeam.
A staff member at Sunbeam receiving Feedback, shall record same on a Complaint/Feedback Log, and discuss the Feedback with their immediate Supervisor; who will determine if a response is required. Any such response will be made within five business days, in a format that understandable to the author.
A Feedback / Complaint Submission Form, found at the bottom of this page, facilitates the submission of Feedback. Date of receipt of all Forms are recorded on the 'Complaint/Feedback Log'. Annually, all Feedback will be reviewed by the Executive Director. All Forms and Logs will be retained, as an administrative document by the Executive Director.
Feedback will be solicited annually, from a sample of clients, through the use of a Feedback/Questionnaire, with all returns reviewed and retained by the Director.
Complaint – Definition & Process
A Complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction normally related to the services/supports provided by (or accessed through) Sunbeam Centre to its clients or to the general public. A Complaint may be expressed formally or informally. A Complaint may come from a client, a person representing a client, an agency or authority, or the general public. A Complaint normally requires a Sunbeam response, except that no attempt will be made to resolve a Complaint determined by Sunbeam to be frivolous or vexatious.
A Complaint regarding services and supports delivered formally or informally, shall attempt to be resolved in hierarchical steps, starting with the Staff receiving the Complaint. If unresolved, the Complaint then goes in turn to the Staff's immediate Supervisor, then to the Director, and if still unresolved, to the Executive Director. If an attempt to resolve the Complaint by the Executive Director fails, the complainant is invited to submit the Complaint in writing to the Board of Directors. Resolution may be achieved at any step.
The Staff/Supervisor/Director/Executive Director shall review the Complaint, and determine the nature of a further response. At any step, wherever possible, a verbal response shall be returned to the complainant within three business days. If a written response is deemed to be required, at any hierarchical step, it shall be returned to the complainant, wherever possible, within five business days.
If a Complaint initially comes directly to the Executive Director of Sunbeam Centre, the Executive Director may delegate/ appoint a delegate to manage the Complaint resolution process.
A staff member at Sunbeam Centre who receives a Complaint, will record same on a Feedback/Complaint Log, discuss the Complaint with their immediate Supervisor, and determine the response. The Log accompanies the hierarchy step resolution process. The Log will eventually be forwarded to the Executive Director. The Executive Director will retain all Logs, as administrative documents in a Feedback/Complaint File in the Office of the Executive Director.
A Feedback / Complaint Submission Form, found at the bottom of this page facilitates the submission of a Complaint. Date of receipt of all Forms are recorded on the Complaint/Feedback Log.
Annually, all Complaints will be reviewed by the Executive Director. All Forms and Logs will be retained, as an administrative document by the Executive Director.
Excerpted from AD-ge-117
Sunbeam is 'Dedicated to Excellence', and seeking feedback or responding to complaints from consumers and the general public, supports continuous quality improvement in service delivery. We invite you to use this form to submit feedback or complaint.


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Let's look at man's concept of God. But in order to do that, we must first look at man, himself. Mankind lives and dies. He is born, grows, and with that growth, eventually ages and dies. All matter has this same progression of existence. Over time, matter is formed and eventually ceases to exist. Because of this passage from one stage to the next, mankind can measure how long it takes to go from beginning to end, from start to finish. That measuring stick we call "Time".
If we could find a box large enough, all matter could be placed in that box. Stars, planets, moons, sun, people, every material thing could be placed in there. Since all matter has a beginning and an end and that box holds all matter, we can call that box "Time", our measuring stick. Everything in this box is dependent on time. We judge how long it takes for earth to make one complete revolution on its own axis, and we call it a day. We split the day into segments and we call them hours. And so the progression proceeds. We notice also, that the earth while spinning on its' own axis, is also orbiting around the Sun. As it progresses through that orbit we notice that seasons change. All of this is measured by Time.
Well, what is not in this box of Time? Does anything exist outside this box? If the box contains all material things, then only non-material things could be outside the box. Non-material!?!? What exists, and doesn't have matter associated with it? We inside the box, only experience the material things. Whatever is outside this box of time, had to be the …person? Entity? that created the box, in the first place. That person cannot be in the box and the creator of that box, at the same time. That force, that entity, we simply call God. God is outside the restrictions of time.
Since that box contains created matter, and since God is not in the box and therefore non-material, He must be the Initiator, the Starter, the Creator of that box of things. And so we have the concept of God, the Creator.
In order to understand a little about the Creator, we had to first start with His creations, those things that we see, and can touch. So maybe in order to continue our admiration of our God, we must, once again, look at His creations. This would be very much like looking at a series of paintings by a painter, to understand the driving force of the painter, himself. All matter, as we said, is in this box of time. We can see majestic mountains, birds flying in the sky, all manner of fish in the deep blue oceans. We see animals of all sorts walking the lands of our earth. And we see…MAN. The best that the animals in the air, or sea, or on the land can do is to live by the natural instincts within them. Only man, however, can think. Only man can make decisions and choose one way or another. These are not instinctual choices, they are reasoned. Man utilizes his thinking, as well as his instincts, his fears, and all of his other emotions to settle on a course of action, to make a choice. He can freely do this or that, seeking no one's permission, but his own choice. Man is truly different from every other animal on this planet.
Why is this so? Why would the Creator make this creature so different from all the rest? The short answer is LOVE. The Creator, being All-Good, loves us with total abandon. He wanted man to be able to make a free choice to love Him back. What good would a forced response of love back to the Creator be? It would be like a child exclaiming, "Look mom, I made the robot do what I wanted it to do". No, a free will would be bestowed on a rational creation. This was how God wanted man to be. The love back to his God would be knowing, and willing, as well as loving.
The 5 Posts directly below, blend with this theme. They continue the thought. Thanks for coming:
1) Mankind And God, Body And Soul
2) Memories
3) Who Or What Is God
4) Come Back To Me
5) The Love Of Creation


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Timandra Garden has within its depths the art gallery cum studio of Alison Aplin's Art. This is a mixture of pure abstract combined with contemporary Still Life paintings. All paintings use quality canvas boards, with some framed; quality non-fading paints, both acrylic and oil, and a variety of textural mediums to add to the very modern finished product. The gallery cum studio is a rustic affair, totally in sync with the natural, earthy feel of Timandra Garden by the Sea.
The whole presentation of the garden and art gallery/studio is about sustainability and earthiness. Both are of interest to a niche group of people who are looking for a quality tourism destination with quality additions.
Contemporary art is becoming increasingly popular. Alison's art is on a variety of canvas sizes from medium to very large. And it is these large pieces that are gaining popularity, especially for large homes with big, vacant walls, crying out for a noteworthy piece of abstract art! And considering the size and uniqueness, Alison's art work is extremely well priced. Alison's work is like no others' abstract work – every piece is entirely different.
Alison recently had an exhibition in the Centre for Creative Health and Wellness at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia where she sold post the exhibition. A letter of thanks following the exhibition can be seen here – Dear Alison
Alison Aplin displays some of her work on her website www.alisonaplinart.com.au
The abstract works of Alison are much different when viewed in real life. Because her works go to the edge of the paintings, it is difficult to get good representation in photos. And large pieces also are difficult to photograph so that the actual painting is clear to the viewer. If you would like to view Alison's work, it is recommended that you make an appointment to meet with Alison in Timandra. There is no fee for this other than the garden entry. M: 0418 825 625 or E: firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
A key framework for securing native mobile applications and API calls using secure identity access tokens Monday took what likely is its last step toward becoming a standard.
OAuth 2.0 was submitted for publication to the Internet Engineering Task Force's steering group, which has authority to deem it an official standard.
The Web Authorization Protocol (OAuth) working group made the submission and the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) put OAuth 2.0 into "In Last Call" status. It is now open for comments until Feb. 6.
"This is a serious step forward," said Stephen Farrell, IETF security area director. "Basically, it means that the OAuth working group considers the documents to be done, and now we're going to see if the rest of the IETF agrees with that."
In addition, the IETF also announced that an Internet-Draft for a specific OAuth token type - called a Bearer Token - has been sent to the IESG for final comments
OAuth 2.0 is an authentication/authorization mechanism, more a framework than a protocol, that lets many different client types securely access RESTful APIs.
Those types of API calls are popular in the cloud for applications to communicate with one another or for clients to talk to apps.
OAuth 2.0 is viewed as an important development for securing mobile computing, including single sign-on for native mobile applications. Users don't exchange username and password data, they use access tokens produced by an authorization server.
The OAuth exchange of secure access tokens can take place between a client-side end-user platform and an application or between applications or services.
Earlier this month, AT&T announced support for OAuth 2.0 in its AT&T API Platform for developers of HTML5 mobile web and native applications accessed via smartphones, e-readers or game systems. The company said OAuth 2.0 is key to protecting its user's privacy when interfacing with non-AT&T apps.
Last week, IBM explained its support for OAuth to secure its social applications. Those two join the likes of Google, Facebook and Salesforce.com who are already using OAuth 2.0 (disclosure: my employer Ping Identity supports OAuth 2.0 in its products).
It is no secret that APIs are becoming an increasingly important way to get at data no matter where it lives. Companies such as Salesforce.com say they now handle more API calls than they do native client calls.
"We've seen significant interest in finishing and using OAuth and also in extending it after these documents are done," said Farrell.
It is not certain when the final OAuth 2.0 approval will come. The next IETF meeting is at the end of March, but Farrell says that might be too soon. He thinks final approval may come this summer.
"It can be hard to predict the timing, but for an important and relatively complex problem like this one I would expect that we'll get a good bit of review and so there will probably at least be some editorial changes to be done," said Farrell.
OAuth has been in development for nearly two years.
The IETF is also working on standards to join OAuth 2.0 and the Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) that is popular today in enterprise identity management installations and single sign-on between enterprises and software-as-a-service and other applications.


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Last time I went down to San Jose for an ethnic festival in a church parking lot, it was to the annual Greek festival in the Rosegarden. This time it was to an Assyrian festival in Willow Glen. Assyrian, I knew, is the designation that most of the small Christian community in the upper Mesopotamian area (and its diaspora, of course) has for itself, though whether they actually have a better claim of descending from the ancient Assyrians than any other folks in that area, I have no idea. Judging from their t-shirts and the art for sale at the festival, they do eagerly claim those ancient kings with the pleated beards as part of their ethnic heritage, and they have a cool alphabet which they write some latter-day form of Aramaic in.
I go to these ethnic festivals mostly for the food, so how was it? Some of it was general Middle Eastern - kabobs and hummus and tabouli - and some of it was Greek - dolmas - and some of it was shared with Slavic - piroshki and baklava. This last is less strange than it sounds, because the piroshki has filtered into Central Asia so long as the Russians have been there, and the Russians actually got baklava from the Turks in the first place.
The best thing I tried, however, had no precedence that I know of, and no meat, either. It was a thick soup of beans and spinach with noodles. With a little sour cream on top it was just right. And I brought home a small container - and "small" was enough - of a yellowish rice pudding that, when you put a spoonful in your mouth, causes your brain to scream, "Saffron!!!" (And not the one from Firefly.) Well, it is yellowish for a reason.
All this while, the music was loudly playing, and it may have been in Aramaic, but it sounded indistinguishable from Arabic pop to me.
I browsed the few sales booths, which at least weren't the same folks you see at all the art and wine festivals. But I didn't buy anything. The trinket boxes in intricate real-world shapes looked well-made, but a little gaudy. The earrings were more drop-hanging than B. would like. And while a t-shirt in Aramaic might have been cool, I'd have no idea what it said, and if I'd asked, I'm not sure whether I'd a) be confident in its accuracy, or b) remember it.
Uh, unless it was "He who is valiant and pure of spirit may find the Holy Grail in the Castle of ..." That I'd have bought. He must have died while printing it.


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Surviving Pluto Retrograde in Capricorn 2015
Not another one! Yes, it's that time again when Pluto reverses its direction and seems to stay forever on whatever sensitive life nerve it is presently hitting. If you have any planets or major points in the Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn) from between 10 degrees to 18 degrees, you are going to feel the effects of what is best described as INTENSITY. That's the key word to use when Pluto walks through the halls of your life. Everything gets more intense. Before I elaborate on that theme, let's review the logistics.
Pluto usually has a retrograde period once per year for up to six months in duration. That is why it barely inches along in the sign it is passing through for more than three degrees per year. This year it turned retrograde on April 16th at 15+ degrees of Capricorn and moves slowly backwards until September 24/25 when it will station and turn direct, once again, at 12+degrees of Capricorn. That means that for the next five months those degrees are strongly 'hit' by a force that can not be avoided. The force is one of evolutionary change which is generally irrevocable. In other words, a new form is being created out of the ashes of the old whether we like it or not. That's the real nature of Pluto. It is transformative. So longing for the 'good ole' days isn't going to cut it.
Yes, it's true that Pluto will bring up elements of the past into our lives, but that is usually so that something can be completed and then we can move on. Yes, Pluto rules elements of archeology where artifacts from the past are unearthed to be studied and reflected upon, but Pluto doesn't necessarily restore them to what they were way back when they were a part of a living system. That time is gone. With Pluto we must evolve. It seems to be a part of how the universe works. Some things leave forever. Even our own Sun/star will eventually be gone. This death theme is often hard to take. It truly means we have to let go. For some mysterious reason, once we're willing to let go something else generally emerges and that is the re-birth part of Pluto. Out of the ashes something truly does rise up with new life and energy. Please don't forget that as you move through the dying or death part of the journey. In this vastly mysterious universe of which we are a part, stars are being constantly born as old stars die.
So now we find ourselves with Pluto reaching the apex of the sign of Capricorn even though it has a ways to go before leaving this sign of structures and organized systems that seem so impervious to change. After all, everything in Capricorn tends to take a long time to get built and thus resists with collective might the revolutionary changes that something like Uranus tries to bring. We've been living through that one! But Pluto in Capricorn is slow and insidious in its efforts to destroy outmoded structures and institutions. Now at the turning point of 15+ degrees something is peaking and getting ready to probably decline or even implode. We are witnessing these evolutionary changes on a global scale, but I'm not going to write about that in this article.
What about you and your life? What old structures in your life need to change into something more appropriate for where you have now evolved? This retrograde period is a good time to help that process along. What will that possibly feel like? There's that word again: intense! Birthing is an intense process.
If you are giving birth it's extremely intense for awhile. I mean you feel like a telephone pole is trying to push through your body!! If you are being born, it's got to also feel intense trying to squeeze through that impossibly small hole!! In both cases you've got to surrender to the force and if you are giving birth, BREATHE!!!
If being born, you get to finally breathe on your own once you're out of that impossibly small space. Pluto passages are like that. Whether coming or going it's a feeling that you could die in the process because you really don't have any control at that point. Letting go of control is a requirement with Pluto rights of passage. The force of it all is greater than anything our small egos can muster. Pluto is so dense out there at the edge of our solar system. It really does represent some sort of doorway into the unknown of the vastness of space and the ever-evolving universal. We may try to hold fast to the known, but it is the clinging and resistance that causes us pain.
With some of these principles in mind, let's look at how the signs are impacted by Pluto in Capricorn at this pivotal juncture:
Capricorn: If you have Sun, Moon, Ascendant, as well as other personal planets/angles, in this sign it is a direct hit. Pluto is now merging with your energies and intensifying everything so that you will be transformed. This force is relentless in its demands to change you.
Aries: Planets or Angles in this sign get the pressure of Pluto in Capricorn to change and to let go of anything that prevents those Aries energies from moving on forward into new life and possibilities.
Cancer: Planets or Angles in this sign get heightened awareness through major relationships with others that it is time to allow for death/re-birth to occur. Often the Cancer type person has to be willing to let go of security needs for a while and surrender to the forces of those more Plutonian types who are the instruments of powerful evolution in their lives.
Libra: Planets or Angles here get the powerful urging of Pluto in Capricorn to move forward with change and take action. Get off the fence Libra! This is an all or nothing time when becoming pro-active really does matter. Life moves ahead because of such intensity.
Earth signs, Virgo and Taurus get the benefit of Pluto now in an earth sign to change and evolve without becoming stuck in earth-bound ruts. Pluto urges Virgo planets/angles to move ahead with greater plans and structures that are consistent with evolutionary urges, while Taurus planets/angles get the push from behind to let go of stubbornly staying in one place and to realize that change can be actually good!
Water signs Pisces and Scorpio also get the benefit of Pluto in Capricorn earth with Pisces planets/angles realizing that letting go can actually be easier right now as they go with the flow of ever-evolving life and Scorpio planets/angles get the opportunity to grow towards purposeful new heights in realizing their goals of transformation. After all, their ruling planet is now beckoning them to build rather than tear down something—a nice change!
It's the other Yang signs that are challenged by this relentless long-term contraction of earth-reality-inevitability that Pluto in Capricorn brings.
The Fire signs of Leo and Sagittarius are impacted with Leo decidedly needing to adjust to the physical realities of this very collective pressure. You see this in an entire generation of those born with Pluto in Leo, for example. What? You mean I can't just indulge in my own pursuits of pleasure without considering the whole? You mean I can't party on forever? The aging process is certainly one theme here. Yes, even Pluto in Leo mortals will eventually die. Yes, your bodies do grow old even if plastic surgeries give the illusion of eternal youth. Nonetheless, we see planets/angles in Leo pushing the envelope and striving towards those mountain tops of eternal youth! ☺ Sagittarians, and people with planets/angles in Sagittarius, on the other hand are finally free of the ole devil who was riding them hard from 1996 to 2008. This is now a 'New Moon' phase for them where they need to trust their instincts in forging ahead into the evolving structures they must become participant with.
The Air signs of Aquarius and Gemini are also impacted in rather strange ways. Aquarians, and those with planets/angles in Aquarius, may feel the creeping intensity rising in ways they can't completely 'see' and that may feel disconcerting from the perspective of always wanting to see 'the big picture' and know what lies ahead. Who really knows? It's difficult to be a visionary when so much is rapidly changing in all forms/structures and on all levels! 'The future is not ours to see' is pretty apt right now which is not easy for the futurists amongst us. And Geminis! Oh dear. There are a lot of psychological adjustments that this sign must continuously maneuver through to keep bouncing and bounding along. It's not necessarily a light and breezy form of energy for Gemini planets/angles to handle.
Perhaps these brief descriptions help those of you reading this to understand some of the forces at work in your own life. I won't deal with the houses in this article. Donna Cunningham wrote a marvelous article in The Mountain Astrologer Aug/Sept 2009 issue describing transiting Pluto in the career sectors of the chart which would be the 2nd, 6th, and 10th houses, plus the MC. If you have Capricorn governing any of those sectors in your chart I highly recommend reading this article.
Remember, we still have a LONG ways to go. Pluto doesn't leave Capricorn until November 21, 2024. That's another 9+ years.
With this retrograde period, review where you need to restructure your life and evolve towards handling your life in a more sustainable, organized, and solid way. Capricorn isn't for sissies! It's a sign that demands responsible action. It's a sign that wants us to be disciplined in our approach and to set high standards for excellence in our need to achieve. Let's try to evolve towards some of those worthy goals.
April 25, 2015 30 Comments
Categories: Astrology | Tags: Pluto in Capricorn, Pluto Retrograde, Pluto Retrograde in Capricorn
30 comments
- 1 Vanessa { 04.27.15 at 3:45 pm }
In reading your article, I just realized that when Pluto reaches 19 degrees of Capricorn (which seems ages away!), it will tr. my natal Uranus. Guess we shall see then! But in the midst of having tr. Neptune having a beach party in my chart, I feel removed from Pluto in Capricorn. But then in talking my Capricorn friends, I see the how Pluto is guttering out the kitchen to be rebuilt. I thought that once it hits 15 degrees (and passes it finally) that's when one can rebuild their gutted kitchen (that's the image I use to explain Pluto's transits).
I guess I'm grateful I'm not having Pluto dancing back and forth in a sensitive section of my chart. Small graces. 🙂
- 3 Lisa Nigro { 04.27.15 at 5:48 pm }
Thank you Genevieve & WOW! Love you dearly, Lisa
- 5 Vanessa { 04.28.15 at 1:08 pm }
Genevieve – for the slower transits I can go as far as 8 degrees, only because I feel it's like the weather pattern… first comes the wind…then the clouds… and you know the rest. But normally, I too feel that 5 degrees already informs quite a bit.
Perhaps I've been so worried about Neptune, that I haven't been too concerned about Pluto in my chart.
- 7 Best Astrology consultancy { 04.28.15 at 11:49 pm }
How you can measure the transitions of planet.. and how it is relates to our destiny plz tell me its occurrence in life prediction..
- 9 Allison { 04.29.15 at 8:46 pm }
Oh Genevieve I wish I had read your article sooner then I wouldn't have been so surprised by the kick in the ascendent ass! 🙂 Thanks always!
- 11 Ani { 05.04.15 at 1:35 pm }
Oh. My. I have four planets in Capricorn and my husband has an ascendant in Capricorn. We were wondering what the hell has been happening, ha.
- 13 P { 06.07.15 at 2:07 am }
Didn't the ancient civilizations actually know about Pluto (and the other generational planets) before it was discovered in the 1930s? Did you know that it's stated that the Assyrians knew the rings on Saturn way before they were seen by European telescopes in the early 17th century.
wonder if they had the concept of retrograde in astrology as well…
- 15 P { 06.07.15 at 11:23 pm }
I also have to add the Saturn worship by (possibly Egyptian) Roman/Greek/ and Arab cults; its symbol was the black cube. When satellites captured pictures of the northern pole of Saturn, you can see a giant hexagon of swirling winds. A hexagon that abstractly resembles the said cube when viewed at a certain vantage point.
- 17 P { 06.07.15 at 11:35 pm }
* BTW: Those titles sound fascinating
Thank You
- 18 Anonymous { 06.10.15 at 11:56 pm }
The cube is an imposing object as can be Saturn.
I'm not certain on this, but I think the shape does not exist anywhere in the natural world- explicitly or implicitly…
The hexagon is a feature in a lot occult symbolism.
- 19 P { 06.11.15 at 12:07 am }
Oh, and your son's works are eerily brilliant.
I may be purchasing some…
- 21 sreenivas { 08.03.15 at 6:29 am }
scary has it sounds the trouble started in 2008. how many long years before I feel my self again.
- 23 Sarah { 08.09.15 at 10:59 am }
Oh I love this article! And P, what a lovely painting from your son! Could you ask him how he came to imagine Chronos like "a firebird"? Children's imagination is often of a more divine nature than our adult "mental processing"… 🙂 After seeing 'firebird', it reminded me of the mythological symbol of the phoenix! I am currently also looking into the cube and the hexagon, as Saturn's weight is heavy as lead sometimes, so I need to figure this old friend out!
- 25 Paula { 09.10.15 at 4:29 pm }
great article, and the gal in the pic giving birth needs to get out of her jeans, stat!
- 26 stephanie { 09.21.15 at 7:41 am }
I am a Cap 27*, ris Sag5*, & Moon in Aquarius18*…..Pluto is at 2* in Libra Hse 10 like my Mc. Chiron & Mars in Aries hHse 5….. What a dilemma of a choice! . I know I am strong with special powers but the guild of past lives stop me right now. I know change is on its way! Lets Pray.
- 28 Charity { 10.18.15 at 12:46 pm }
I have my natal sun at 16 degree cap, husband at 15 degree cancer, Aquarius north node, mc Leo trine natal Pluto in Virgo.. So many around me have been passing away, along with a very large sacred place destroyed by fire. Is it going to stay at this intensity?
- 30 Lakeisha { 10.24.15 at 4:42 am }
I love how you broke it down. Now I have the understanding of the natal. Thank you
Leave a Comment


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How to Know When to Replace a HEPA Vacuum Filter
A vacuum cleaner with a high efficiency particle air filter grabs allergy-inducing particles from floors and surfaces, but a clogged, overused filter makes little impact on in-home pollutants. Machines with inadequate filters do little more than stir up pet dander, dust and pollen. Examining and changing a HEPA filter regularly keeps vacuums working efficiently. Running a vacuum with a clogged filter can damage your machine. Protect this healthy investment by cleaning it and administering regular maintenance.
Remind yourself to change the filters at regular intervals by marking your home calendar when you first bring the vacuum home. Machines that get heavy usage need a filter change once a month. Machines used less than once a week need to be changed once a season.
Put on a breathing mask and rubber gloves before opening the vacuum. Make sure the vacuum is unplugged from the power source. Open the filter canister. Take the filter outdoors to examine it in bright light.
Clean the filter by shaking it. This removes dirt and the particles collected. Look for tears or holes in the filter, especially along the edges. If you see any tears or holes, replace the filter. Hold the filter towards the sunlight. Replace the filter if you cannot see any light through it. A black, dirty filter needs changing.
Wipe the filter with a damp, not wet, paper towel. Return the filter to the machine or place torn filters in a garbage bag for collection.
Things Needed
- Breathing mask
- Rubber gloves
- Paper towels
- Never wash or soak a HEPA filter. Placing a wet filter in an vacuum will give you a shock. A wet filter may also produce mold.
- Some vacuum cleaners have two filters. Read your product manual to verify filter locations.
Photo Credits
- John Howard/Lifesize/Getty Images


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|Q1: How long have you been vegan and does your entire family eat a vegan diet?
|I've been a vegan for 3 years. Even though my husband and sons aren't vegans, they enjoy a lot of vegan meals. In the beginning, I wanted the whole family to transition, but soon realized it takes time. My children weren't born into this lifestyle, so they still remember a lot of our previous bad habits.
I will say my family's taste buds are starting to change. They're so accustomed to eating vegan meals (since I do most of the cooking), I notice they reach for healthier choices when we're at a BBQ or dining out.Even if my kids never make the full transition, I'm still happy to set a solid foundation of vegan options for them while they're still young. My husband has made a lot of progress and I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to become a vegan.
|Q2: How challenging is it to make sure you and your family get a balanced meal? So many kids hate veggies. How do you get yours to eat them?A2: I have to say it was very difficult in the beginning to get my sons to eat more vegetables. I have three boys and my middle son didn't want anything but hotdogs and chicken nuggets. I stay consistent with serving the vegetables, make sure the vegetables are flavorful and find creative ways to serve them plant-based meals. I'm happy to say that my boys enjoy vegetables more than they did in the past. I even started a series on my YouTube channel to show the vegan meals we eat as a family.
|An easy and yummy vegan recipe (Click photo):
|Q3: How do you find the time to stay active and keep your self fit while you are so busy?A3: I stay active by going on long walks with the boys and by playing basketball with them. It's a great way for us to spend time together and for me to sweat a little.
|How can we find you?
Instagram www.instagram.com/brownvegan
YouTube: youtube.com/mokobrownvegan


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Worcester Public Schools Transition Program
The Worcester Public Schools (WPS) Transition program provides necessary training to 18-22-year-old students with a wide range of challenges (including but not limited to: Autism spectrum, Developmental delays, Intellectual challenges, Behavior and Emotional challenges, Cognitive challenges, Medical challenges, etc.).
The goal of the program is to encourage and promote the empowerment of people with these significant challenges so that each may pursue their highest possible degree of personal well-being and independence. WPS Programs encourage and prepare students to be life-long learners, promote self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, and enhance personal choice. Goals also include preparation for employment in the community.
We are grateful to our 33 community partners who provide the settings for the young adults in our program to learn the necessary skills to be engaged citizens in their community. We also hope that the sites and other businesses in the community see the potential of these young adults and consider them as potential employees!


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South Africa is likely this week to provide a platform for a Chinese-led fightback against Donald Trump's protectionist agenda as it hosts counterparts of the so-called Brics group of nations.
The annual summit of the coterie of emerging economic powers, first identified by former Goldman Sachs Asset Management Chairman Jim O'Neill, is the 10th since its leaders started meeting, and the first since the prospect of a full-blown global trade war became a real threat. The BRICS group encompasses Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has already used his visit to the country to forge friendships and consolidate influence with multi-billion dollar investments in Africa, including South Africa, which counts China as its biggest trading partner.
Xi's country has the most at stake in a potential trade conflict, accounting for the bulk of the combined gross domestic product of about $17trn that BRICS represents.
"I expect to see a bold, sweeping statement led by the Chinese side that will condemn protectionism and de-globalization with an intent to keep the global trading regime intact and predictable," Martyn Davies, managing director for emerging markets and Africa at Deloitte, said by phone. "Access to the global economy through trade has underpinned China's economic success over the past 2 1/2 decades."
O'Neill coined the Bric term in 2001 to describe the four emerging powers he estimated would equal the US in joint economic output by 2020. Brazil, Russia, India and China invited South Africa to join the group in December 2010. The five countries' GDP is now more than 90% the size of US output. While they have combined foreign-exchange reserves of $4trn, the group's currencies, stocks and bonds took a hit from the trade war and Fed policy tightening.
Xi's counterparts from Russia, Brazil and India will join him at the summit, as will Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and African leaders such as Angola's Joao Lourenco and Zambia's Edgar Lungu.
"China is the most important trade country in this coalition, and is likely to offset the negative impact from greater US protectionism through increased domestic stimulus," Madhur Jha, head of thematic research at Standard Chartered Bank, said in response to emailed questions.
The BRICS nations would "reiterate their own domestic agendas at this meeting as well as commit to more trade and investment among these countries," she said.
On Tuesday, China pledged to invest $14.7bn in South Africa and grant loans to its state power utility and logistics company. The rand gained on the back of the announcement, and traded a further 0.2% stronger at R13.25/$ at 08:55 on Wednesday.
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Microphone and Pop Filter Setup is a quick vocal recording tip. This video lesson is an excerpt from the Vocal Recording Master Class tutorial. In this quick tutorial with Ken Lewis, he shows beginners how to set up their microphone and pop filter, as well as how far back to keep the vocalist from the microphone. Ken has recorded vocals for Ariana Grande, Usher, Beyonce, Kanye, Pharrell, Diana Ross and countless others.
If you like what you see here, please be sure to check out the full tutorial where Ken Lewis shows you step by step, his entire process of preparing for a vocal session.Vocal recording and production is an art that few truly possess. Ken has decades of experience mastering the craft, working with the biggest artists in the world across many genres. Learn how to capture a beautiful vocal on the first take.
Ken will teach you how to record vocals, from mic pre basics to the in depth stuff you've never thought of. Create the vibe and comfort zone for the vocalist. Everything Ken does in recording sessions with artists like Kanye West, Beyonce, and Usher is explained here in easy to understand detail.


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General availability: Lucene query syntax in Azure Search
公開日: 2月 12, 2016
The Lucene query syntax is now generally available as part of the 2015-02-28 version of the Azure Search REST API. The public preview of the feature was recently announced in this blog post: Lucene query language in Azure Search. You can find the full documentation on MSDN: Lucene query syntax in Azure Search.


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|Leonidas Fegaras
|Office Number:
|ERB 653 (Engineering Research Bldg)
|Email Address:
|Office Hours:
|Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-5:00pm
|Section Information:
|Time and Place of Class Meetings:
|TuTh 2:00-3:20pm at NH 229
Optional Reading: Although not required, you may find the following book useful for additional background and explanation:
A: score >= 90, B: 80 <= score < 90, C: 70 <= score < 80, D: 60 <= score < 70, F: score < 60,Sometimes, lower cutoff points are used for the final grades, depending on the overall performance of the class. Students are expected to keep track of their performance throughout the semester and seek guidance from available sources (including the instructor) if their performance drops below satisfactory levels
I pledge, on my honor, to uphold UT Arlington's tradition of academic integrity, a tradition that values hard work and honest effort in the pursuit of academic excellence.
I promise that I will submit only work that I personally create or contribute to group collaborations, and I will appropriately reference any work from other sources. I will follow the highest standards of integrity and uphold the spirit of the Honor Code.UT Arlington faculty members may employ the Honor Code as they see fit in their courses, including (but not limited to) having students acknowledge the honor code as part of an examination or requiring students to incorporate the honor code into any work submitted. Per UT System Regents' Rule 50101, §2.2, suspected violations of university's standards for academic integrity (including the Honor Code) will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. Violators will be disciplined in accordance with University policy, which may result in the student's suspension or expulsion from the University.
Last modified: 08/11/2019 by Leonidas Fegaras


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Prius owners receive free factory scheduled maintenance for the first 36k miles.
Dear Car Talk | Apr 01, 2004
Dear Tom and Ray:
You answered some questions recently about whether the 2004 Toyota Prius has to be serviced at the dealer, or can be serviced by an independent mechanic. I want to pass on some helpful information that was omitted from your article. Although you can take the Prius to an independent facility for maintenance, the factory-scheduled maintenance is covered at no charge by Toyota for the first 36,000 miles. Also, you suggested that the brakes may be done at an independent facility. That is also an item that should be taken care of by a certified Prius technician. The brakes are an integral part of the recharging system, and although it might be rare, we have seen cases where parts of the system were damaged by people who worked on the car but were not familiar with it. Just thought you would want to pass that information on to your readers who might be interested in the Prius and had questions about it after your article. It might be valuable information that saves them some added expenses of ownership. -- Steve Hudson, Toyota of Lake City, Seattle
TOM: Thanks for the info, Steve. The fact that maintenance is free at the dealer for 36,000 miles would certainly sway my decision. You add the free coffee in the waiting room, and you could actually come out ahead by a buck-fifty.
RAY: And I understand your warning about the regenerative braking system, Steve. But having replaced pads and rotors on the previous-generation Prius, I'm confident that any reasonably careful mechanic could do a basic brake job for a Prius owner without any problem -- and could probably save him a few bucks over going to the dealer.
TOM: Thanks for writing.


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Brownies is for girls aged from 7 to 10. Girls can join the pack in the term in which they are 7. The Brownies enjoy cooking, crafts, learning new skills and making new friends. The girls also enjoy getting out and about, having fun with other Brownie units, taking part in camp fires and also joining in with fun days out and sleepovers. The Brownies meet in the village hall in West Ashling on a Tuesday evening, term times, from 4.30pm till 6.00pm.For further information please contact: Jane Mottershead T: 01243 575480 M: 07790 362882 E: firstname.lastname@example.com
Funtington and West Stoke Brownies
2 Comments
hello, my little girl has just turned 7 years of age and i am wondering if there is a place available for her to join the brownies. how much will it be, and if you have any spaces, when can she start.
many thanks.
deneaze tyrrell
Hi, yes we have spaces, the cost is £28 per term. It is half term next Tuesday, but if you would like to come along the following week, Tuesday 6th June, to meet us all and see what we get up to in the Brownies, it would be nice to see you both!


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'Microcosmus', Julie Tsang, photograph, 2012
Julie Tsang is a Birmingham based photographer. Influenced by environments and artists such as Andreas Gursky and Candida Hofer, she places emphasis on the value that a building can have towards societal values and culture. Her most recent work titled "Microcosmus" explores the transition of previously inhabited spaces in Birmingham of which won her the 2012 Library of Birmingham award.


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Readers need not apply
Not every reader, that is.
Unless your novel is a public service announcement, then it is probably true that NOT everyone should read it.
You don't write for everybody. Do you?
There are many reasons that some people shouldn't read my debut novel: Josephine – Red Dirt & Whiskey. And, I try to be open and honest about those reasons:
1) Lots of cussing
2) Lots of sex
3) Lots of drinking
4) References suicide
5) Deals with "heavy" issues such as infidelity and hypocrisy
I tell readers that it is most certainly for a mature audience only.
Some other authors also say that if you like certain books/writers, then you will probably like their writing. This gives potential readers something to gauge their interest with.
A great example
Lorna Suzuki, author of the Imago Fantasy series, tells her Twitter followers "Please don't buy my novels until you read free sample chapters 1st! It's not the traditional epic fantasy, so it mite not b your cup of tea."
How's that for honest?
All readers who use Amazon and Smashwords can access samples of the book before downloading. And, of course, we know how important the back cover and first few pages of a book are for the readers to make up their minds.
These are great things, but why…
I want my readers to trust me. I want potential readers to trust me. I even want people who are not my readers to trust me (they could still be connected with me through social media: Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads and through this blog). And, if I'm honest and upfront in acknowledging that my books and my writing style may be offensive to some readers, then I don't feel like I've tricked anyone into buying a book.


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Is Term 80 A Smart Buy?
Brett heard about a term 80 insurance plan, and Dave warns Brett to beware.
QUESTION: Brett heard about a term 80 insurance plan. Is that something he should look at to meet his insurance needs? Dave wants him to beware of what he thinks this might be.
ANSWER: Life insurance is a smart thing. Term 80 means it goes until you are 80 years old, which means it's fairly expensive. Pure term insurance never has any savings built into it. I recommend 15 to 20-year term life insurance where the coverage and price stays the same for the life of the policy. Because the policy expires in 20 years, you need to get about the business of becoming debt-free and piling up money in your 401(k)s and wealth building.
Let's say that in 20 years, you are married, have a 20-year old child in college, you have a paid-for house, and you've been saving $500 a month into a 401(k) or Roth IRA. Then you'd have about $500,000. If you have $500,000, no debt, and no kids that aren't grown and gone, and you leave your wife with no insurance, you'd be okay. That's why I recommend 20-year because it'll take you through building wealth and getting out of debt so that you don't need insurance when you die. If you price 20-year term against the policy you're looking at, I suspect you'll find it to be quite a bit cheaper.


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Presenting Marketing Concepts for Tech Transfer Professionals at the AUTM Eastern Region Meeting
Karen Hiser and I had the pleasure of presenting Tech Transfer Marketing Concepts and Marketing Social Media Strategies at the AUTM Eastern Region Meeting in Atlanta on June 8. Both of our sessions were well attended and were extremely interactive, with the participants posing pertinent questions and sharing their personal experiences and challenges.
The Marketing Concepts session included:
- Overview of the Fuentek screening methodology for technology commercialization decisions
- Best practices and guidelines for marketing intellectual property (check out our many blog posts on this topic)
- Details on implementing an iterative process for marketing a technology portfolio
- Print and digital media tools for marketing technologies (check out these samples of such tools)
- Effective communication techniques with researchers and with prospective licensees (more on these topics to come)
The most enjoyable aspect of this conference was the interactions that both Karen and I had with participants throughout the conference on the challenges and opportunities facing higher education Technology Transfer Offices in 2010 and beyond.
Is your Technology Transfer Office facing challenges securing licensing agreements for your patent portfolio? Please contact us to learn how we can assist.
–By Jack Spain
Recent Posts
Fuentek Top Bloggers


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This makes the Hertie School more influential than a number of large universities, according to the FAZ.
The German national daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) placed the Hertie School's economists at 11 on their ranking of economics departments at German-speaking universities. With Kerstin Bernoth, Henrik Enderlein, Claudia Kemfert and Christian Traxler the School is regarded more influential than a number of far bigger universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
You can find the full story on the FAZ's website (in German).


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King City Vol. 1
"Book One: Cat Master"
Writer/Artist/Cover artist: Brandon Graham
Letters: Lucas Rivera
Editor: Rob Tokar
Publisher: Tokyopop
Price: $9.99 US/$12.50 CAN
Brandon Graham is hardly a newcomer in the comics industry, but King City is the first one of his projects I've encountered (unless my memory fails me, which is possible). I sought out this book thanks to a good buzz online, and I quickly discovered its good reputation is well deserved. Though a release from Tokyopop by a U.S. creator, I wouldn't call this a sample of Amerimanga. Though there are Japanese influences in the plot and characters, there's a much more European vibe at play, spiced up with American attitude (the good kind). Graham's peripheral elements read like something out of Warren Ellis's head, but he also brings a softer, more grounded quality to the characters and sci-fi society that's attractive and entertaining. King City is a surreal story that incorporates multiple genres while dedicating itself to none. The result is a surprisingly unique and fresh foray into comics storytelling.
It's been a while since Joe walked the streets of King City. He's been away, training as an urban, freelance spy. He's also learned the tricks of the trade of a cat master, as Joe has come into possession of a feline with amazing abilities, activated by injections of mysterious elixirs. Now, he's returned to his hometown, a place where he left behind the love of his life, Anna, whom he hopes to avoid. His reason for returning is a job — to create a copy of the Key to the City, a master key that will open any lock in the unusual metropolis. As Joe encounters an old friend and fellow underworld odd-job man, Anna struggles with an emotional conflict, her love for her new man, an ex-soldier injured during the infamous zombie war, and her fears about his growing drug addiction.
The influences at play in Graham's artwork are as varied as the genres he explores in this graphic novel. His art seems inspired in part by underground 1960s comic art, such as that of R. Crumb. Other elements, such as the cat, are distinctly Japanese in appearance. The two female characters are rendered in a style that reminds me of the styles of Argentinean artists Eduardo (100 Bullets) Risso and Leandro (Queen & Country) Fernandez, and the cityscapes and antagonists sometimes put one in mind of the European, sci-fi artwork that's common in Heavy Metal and the like. Brandon Graham — the United Nations of comics artists. Ultimately, the amalgam of such diverse elements makes for something different, something original. There's a sharp, urban sense of design at play as well that adds a hip quality and youthful energy to the book.
The more extreme elements of the story — from the impossibly versatile cat to cybernetic gangsters — are thoroughly entertaining and charming. Graham manages to blend edgy ideas with a certain level of cuteness that's unlike anything I've seen before. The way he throws out ideas, even just in passing references, is reminiscent of the sort of manic creativity one expects from Grant Morrison's writing. Graham boasts an unrestrained imagination that's tempered with a restrained degree of cynicism and grounded perspective.
King City isn't easy to sum up with just a simple description; the closest I could come up with is to liken it to Blade Runner and a Kevin Smith movie merged into one odd but engaging story. I have to give Tokyopop credit. The manga publisher is branching out beyond the market for which it is known and has offered Western creators another platform. I've never been a big fan of manga, and as a result, I paid little attention to Tokyopop's output. After reading fare such as King City and Eric Wight's My Dead Girlfriend, Tokyopop is now standing out as more than a purveyor of translated Japanese comics.
The over-the-top aspects of the story are amusing and even briefly thrilling on occasion, but the quieter moments are those that exhibit the greatest strength. The friendship between Joe and his masked friend Pete is simple and straightforward, and it's completely believable. The more intimate connections — between Pete and his mermaid charge, and Anna and Max — seem heartfelt, and they help to balance the surreal side of the book. Graham's vision of a wonderworld of the future is fascinating, but the strong, convincing characterization serves as the real heart of this topsy-turvy tale. 10/10


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There's this thing called Skinceuticals. It's a B5 Hydrating Gel and that is what I live for.
SkinCeuticals products. I have become obsessed! I'm using their face wash and C E Ferulic serum. Love it!" "Invest in prevention. Antioxidants wage war against wrinkle-causing free radicals, promote collagen production and ward off age spots… SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF.


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25UM57 25" 2560x1080 IPS Gaming Super-Wide Widescreen LED Monitor - Black
- LED Backlit
- 2560x1080 Resolution
- 5000000:1 Contrast Ratio
- 250cd/m² Brightness
- 5ms Response Time
- 2x HDMI
- 2 Year RTB Warranty.
Stock Code: MO-135-LG
Manufacturer: LG
+44 (0)1782 44 44 55
25UM57 25" 2560x1080 IPS Gaming Super-Wide Widescreen LED Monitor - BlackRemember 34UM95? It opened up a whole new possibility that a wide-view display is not just as good as the other monitors, but even better. But what about for gaming? If the games have evolved to give you better feel of reality, monitor that fit such enhanced reality is and will continue to be 21:9 aspect large display.
UltraWide means immersion. And our UltraWide 21:9 means Ultra-immersive field of view. LG's 21:9 ratio is nothing like you've experienced before, especially compared to that of your past 16:9 monitor era. The wider screen does not just mean 'wider' screen space in gaming. It widens your choice of attack moves as this new 'standard' ratio will reveal more actions on the offensive line. You still play games with 16:9 monitor and hope for a win? Think again.
Enjoy your games with the package of the latest tech features - IPS, 21:9 UltraWide FOV, and over 99% sRGB colour space. Now has come the time to enhance immersion and performance altogether. LG's UM57 21:9 Wider FOV(Field of View) and IPS & Over 99% of sRGB colour Space means a sheer pleasure a superb vividness that panning satisfies your desire for viewing immersion and pleasure. Go and win in the reality presented through its dynamic and dazzling picture qualities, while others without it have neither such pleasure nor our kind of win rate, especially in graphic-heavy games.
Input lag often determines the winner, and rightly so. So, what has LG done about it? The Dynamic Action Sync mode in UM57 does away with such frustrations and allows you to instantly attack the opponent without delay especially while playing RTS games. What it ultimately offers is the synchronization of your senses with scenes- a must performance requisite for playing a fast-paced game.
21:9 UltraWide is definitely in for more and more game scenes, and for good. As popular demand for 21:9 UltraWide monitor is permanent trend nowadays, game companies are designing games to support the 21:9 aspect ratio. Just take a look this list of popular games that support 21:9 view. EVEN IF some of the games in your shelf do not support 21:9, no reason to make sad face. Flawless Widescreen will skillfully fit your once-16:9 games into 21:9 frame.
Black Stabilizer gives gamers full visibility, even in deep-dark scenes. It automatically senses the darkest side and makes it brighter so that you can find the enemies hiding and waiting to attack you in the dark and vice versa, by toning down flash bang attacks that can be menacing for FPS game players.
Game Mode that gives you the option of Gamer, FPS and RTS modes, provides customized gaming experience that vary depending on the specifics of each genre. With one simple tap on a joy stick within arm's reach, you can adjust and optimize the settings for the game of your taste. Since you can use this built-in joystick at the bottom of the monitor, you are ultimately increasing the odds of winning. Hey, others don't have know.
UM57 21:9 ratio display is now officially the favourite pick of people are into productivity. Game monitors, speedy in crunching frames they may be, but often cause people to look for other options for their work that involve multi-tasking and ample screen real estate to get the job done. And 25UM57 may be the best thing that has ever happened to you and your virtual work space. And we do not let you get lost in its vast space, either. Pragmatic and convenient features like 4-Screen Split mode gives you the best space allocation option, so you do not have to do that 'aligning' the edges of windows. But coolest feature of all is Dual Link and Dual Controller. Let us say you have to work with both Mac and PC. Imagine using just one mouse to transfer a file from Mac to PC by dragging that icon across the border of Dual Link screen split. Just take a look at the practical application of all these productivity features shown here. You can how the screen real estate is effectively utilized while a person is playing a game, while video-recording it and doing the edits that requires quite a width to view the frames and cuts.
LG noticed that some of the gamers who play on UM57 often found themselves spending much more time than before as UM57 breathed life into their virtual race and battles. As we recognized FlickerFree feature is crucial for protecting your eyes from long hours of monitor gazing, we made sure UM57 is rigorously tested to keep its Flicker elimination function in check and a hot click away. (LG's "Flicker Safe" is always on to reduce the flicker level to almost zero.) So, feel the relief- your eyes are safe from working, gaming, or watching movies.
- Screen size (inches): 25"
- Panel Type: IPS
- Aspect Ratio: 21:9
- Resolution: 2560*1080
- Brightness (cd/m2): 250
- Contrast Ratio: 50000000:1
- Viewing Angle (°): 178/178
- Colour Depth (Num of Colours): 16.7M (6-Bit + FRC)
- Pixel Pitch (mm): 0.2286 x 0.2286
- Colour Gamut: sRGB
- Surface Treatment: Hard Coating (3H), Anti-Glare
- Connectivity: 2x HDMI
- Warranty: 2yr (RTB with LG)
More links for "25UM57 25" 2560x1080 IPS Gaming Super-Wide Widescreen LED Monitor - Black"
Customer review
brilliant monitor
Such a nice change from my old 23" LG TN monitor. colours look really good. i worried that this would be small since i've never used or seen a 21:9 monitor before but it was just the right size, especially since if i had gotten the 29 inch version it would have a lower pixel density.
The ultrawide screen is far more immersive in games than 16:9 and movies look great with no black bars.


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"Shepard is masterly at setting up our heartbreak [and] is at his most brilliant in capturing the demented essence of junior high."–The New York Times Book Review
"An energetic and often wickedly funny story of alienation and revenge." –Minneapolis Star-Tribune
"Shepard obviously has a lock on the new American paranoia, and his voice should be essential reading. . . . Here is the effect of [Shepard's] books: A reader finishes them buzzing with awe, with respect, and yet, with a great deal of worry." –Chicago Tribune
"Jim Shepard brings to his depiction of these lost boys a striking insight and even humor. They're so real, they nearly jump off the page into the nearest schoolyard, which makes it all the more chilling." –The Boston Globe
ALA Alex Award WINNER
Booklist Editor's Choice for Young Adults WINNER
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age WINNER


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Live Webcam at Golden Beach, Thassos
Hey Sandra, yes it's quite nipply today on Thassos so whoever goes for a stroll along the beach should wear plenty of layers!
I love visiting a taverna this time of year and sitting next to a cozy fireplace whilst enjoying my favorite winter drink called Rakomelo... a very warm (and strong!) alcoholic drink consisting of local tsipouro and local honey. It's perfect for soothing one's sore throat or cough, and it tastes delicious!1
diana.muscalu Member (+) Posts: 6
Franz Member (+) Posts: 21
wow look at all that snow
Yeah Sandra, it's really wonderful from up close... and kids are loving it. We haven't seen this much snow in ages!
The forests are getting plenty of water which means the mountain springs and waterfalls will be filled with water come Spring. May/June 2018 will be amazing for walkers, hikers, and bicyclers!2
Ellie Member (+) Posts: 23The Hotel Angelica webcam is off too, but the Limenas Port webcam is still working. Doesn't show the best of the snow the way Golden Beach does though! Hope the power comes back soon Augie ... stay warm!0
Wow Augie, Hope you are all keeping warm xoxo
Oh bugger that's not good0
coling Member Posts: 7
Hi everyone!
Please be advised that the webcam will be unavailable temporarily. We needed to remove the webcam from the pole on which it was located because Villa Island View (the webcam's home) is undergoing an incredible outdoor renovation. It's going to look soooo amazing when complete! Guests are in for a real treat.
In the meantime, we're in the process of finding the next ideal spot for the webcam at Villa Island View. It's no easy feat because a lot of factors must be considered, such as the optical vantage point of the webcam's new position, security, privacy for guests, electricity and internet connections, engineering of a stable base that can survive the strongest of winds, among other things.
We promise to work as quickly as we can to bring you back your daily fix of Golden Beach, Thassos! Thank you for your understanding and especially for your support!2
grandma56 Hertfordshire Member (+) Posts: 41
Thanks Augie for all you are doing to keep the camera going - it is very much appreciated - If you're around when we're out there it would be an honour to share an ouzo with you ( or whatever is your tipple )0
Is there any progress with the webcam. I'm sure we're all missing you0
S_W Member (+) Posts: 4Hi Augie, thanks for letting us all know what's been happening with the golden beach camera, but do know when you are hopping to have the camera working, as myself and my wife enjoy watching golden beach coming alive0
Hi S_W,
We were hoping to have it working already but we've had delays on several fronts of the project. Please rest assured that the webcam will be up and running as soon as possible. We are just as anxious as you, if not a bit more.0
Hi Paste1971,
Great news! The pole for the camera has been installed and the electrical/networking work has been completed.
Now we're waiting for an electrical part we discovered is needed. Once we receive the new part, it will simply be a matter of hours till you have Golden Beach on your screen again.
Thanks for your patience and support!4


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In a continuation of the probe into how the Peoples Democratic Party allegedly bribed some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission before the 2015 presidential election, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested an oil tycoon, Mr. Laitan Adesanya, for his alleged role in the $115m (N23bn) bribe funds.
It was learnt on Sunday that Adesanya, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Lenoil Nigeria Limited, was arrested by the EFCC in Lagos on Friday.
The anti-graft agency had, last week, arrested the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Mr.
Nnamdi Okonkwo and the bank's Head of Operations, Mr. Martin Izuogbe.
Adesanya was alleged to have handed $1.85m to the bank based on the instruction of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Other companies, which allegedly handed over money to the bank MD, included Northern Belt Gas Company Limited ($60m); Auctus Integrated ($17.8m); and Midwestern Oil and Gas ($9.5m).
Diezani was also alleged to have given the bank MD $26m in cash which was ultimately disbursed to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2015 presidential election as bribes.
A reliable source at the EFCC said Adesanya was in the custody of the commission in Lagos and was being grilled as of Friday.
He said, "We are asking him about the $1.85m he dropped and what purpose it was supposed to serve."
According to the United Kingdom Financial Times, Adesanya is an international oil businessman, who has been in the business for decades. The newspaper states that Adesanya made huge profits during the military administrations of the 1980s and 1990s.


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We are now moving onto another section of the series on Optimizing Brain Fitness by The Great Courses. The instructor for this course is Richard Restak, M.D. from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The next several posts will be on the topic of memory. For some time now, I've been on the fence concerning this topic: To memorize, or not to memorize…
On one side, I recall some phrases attributed to one with a notable use of brain power- Albert Einstein. A common idea he expressed about memorization is recounted this way: "Never memorize what you can look up in books." He actually said, however, "[I do not] carry such information in my mind since it is readily available in books," when he was asked, but did not know the speed of sound as included in the Edison Test.
He also said, "…The value of a college education is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think."
How about this one: "Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so [#@#@] full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy."
Well, that seems to stack a case against memorization, at least of "useless" information.
On the other hand, however, there is an abundant wealth of research and opinions on the benefit to the brain through memorization.
Stick around for the next set of posts to explore this topic of memory further, and make your own conclusion.
I'm looking forward to examining the facts. How about you?


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to be or not to be: Maximilian Schell as Hamlet
Not to be.
I'm easing myself into my Hamlet marathoning since it's such a downer of a story — sheesh, what was with this Shakespeare dude, anyway? — so I'm starting with the only version of the tale of the crazy Danish prince to be sent up by the Mystery Science Theater 3000 guys: a 1961 version, Hamlet, Prinz von Dänemark, produced for German television. (It's in the Volume 4 DVD set of MST3K, and the episode itself dates from 1999.) As always, thank god for Mike and the bots, because this is a take on Hamlet that could otherwise be construed as cruel and unusual punishment. Only modern snarking could get anyone through this deadly dull interpretation.
Weirdly, whoever conceived this production thought it would be a good idea to translate the Bard's language into German… and then it's been translated back again for this dubbed version (Ricardo Montalban does the dubbed voice of Claudius! really!). Yet it still has an oddly Germanic posture to it, as if it were all about a planned Nazi invasion of Elsinore. And the Nazis weren't exactly known for their sensitivity in the realm of drama, never mind in the real world.
And so that must be why Maximilian Schell's Hamlet makes other Hamlets — well-conceived Hamlets, I mean — look positively happy-go-lucky. He shuffles around, moping and moaning and dishelved, looking a great deal like Ben Stiller in a humiliation comedy, after he's been shat on and spat on and kicked around:
We could call it Meet the New Parents, Worse Than the Old Parents. (At one point, one of the bots snarks, as Hamlet and Claudius appear onscreen together, "You're not my real dad!" *snort*)
Horatio looks like Norman Bates, and the Ghost looks like something out of Plan 9 From Outer Space:
But those are all just indications of this movie as a product of its time, and probably no more fairly made fun of than the hairdos of the day (not that that stops Mike and the bots). But what director in his right mind would have Hamlet deliver his to-be-or-not-to-be speech while staring facedown at a flight of stairs?
Alas, poor Yorick, bored to death by a brooding overgrown adolescent:
Boy, do I miss MST3K…
[part of my "summer of David Tennant and 'Hamlet'" series]
(Technorati tags: Hamlet, Maximilian Schell, Mystery Science Theater 3000, MST3K)
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Despite centuries of contact between the Ottoman Empire and the West, there are surprisingly few purely Turkish loanwords in English. Why would this be? It turns out that most of the words that came to us from Ottoman lands–kiosk, pilaf, sofa, sherbet, vizier, seraglio, tulip …–were were themselves borrowed into Turkish from Persian and Arabic by Turks. This is mainly because the literary and political tongue of the Ottoman Empire was Osmanlıca, which was essentially Turkic grammar, with Persian vocabulary, written in Arabic script. The story of Arabic and Persian loanwords would be a different story–there could be several posts just covering the dozens of Arabic loanwords in English.
But in the meantime, here are three the words in English I'm aware of that are unequivocally Turkish.
Yogurt is from the Turkish yoğurt, related to the Turkish verb yoğunlaşmak "to condense" and the adjective yoğun "intense." Yogurt was invented 4000 years ago by Central Asian nomadic trans-pastoralists, probably Turkic, who discovered that milk is more long-lasting, digestible, and nutritious when bacteria was added to it.
Many cultures probably independently discovered this food technology over the millenia, but yogurt is uniquely important in the Turkish diet–in Ottoman days, it was a staple like bread, and today it is a sauce, side dish, or beverage in almost every meal. Yogurt folk histories abound. A co-worker of mine claimed that his ancestor brought yogurt to Poland in powdered form and thereby single-handedly introduced the food to the Western world. Another friend shared a different theory, that Europeans first met the food during the siege of Vienna, where Ottoman armies were consuming it (suspiciously similar to the croissant origination theory).
According to the Ottoman History Podcast–a more reliable source–yogurt as a food source was unknown in the West until the early 20th century. At this time, the Ottoman Empire was splintering and former Ottoman citizens were scattering across the globe. In 1919, the Dannon company was started in Barcelona by a former Ottoman-Jewish doctor, while fleeing Armenians brought yogurt to the US to sell to fellow Armenians as well as to Syrians, Jews, Greeks, and other communities who had emigrated from the disintegrating Ottoman Empire. Although each community had different names for this very ancient food, the one shared term for it was the Turkish one, so this was how it was marketed. Hence, the world now knows this amazing dairy product by its Turkish name.
"The Mongol hordes are coming! Run for your lives!" While "horde" in English can mean a large group of anything, we often use word in relation to "barbarian" conquerors on horseback. This makes sense, since the word originally came from the Turkic/Mongolic word ordu meaning "camp," "tent," or "royal court," or in modern Turkish, "army."
From the times of Genghis Khan to the present day, Central Asian nomadic-pastoral peoples have organized themselves in "hordes," fiercely hierarchical and patriarchal groups often commanded by a strong emperor or leader. Genghis Khan's sons presided over the Blue Horde, White Horde, and Golden Horde, and there are still hordes in parts of modern-day Kazakhstan. "Horde" probably came to English via Polish, as terrified Slavic peoples constantly feared the wrath of nomadic warriors.
Odalisque is the French form of Turkish odalık, composed of oda "room" and -lık, a suffix expressing the function of a thing. An odalık was a chambermaid, maidservant, or female slave. In the Ottoman harem, the odalık was the lowest-ranking servant and she never offered her services to the sultan. Europeans, however, did not understand the intricacies of the Ottoman court stratification, and simply understood an odalık as a harem concubine. Orientalist interest in these "odalisques" peaked in Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries, as can be seen in famous paintings by Matisse, Renoir, and Ingres.
Turquoise, turkey
Actually, neither "turquoise" nor "turkey" are derived from a Turkish word per se, but both have the word "turk" in them because they refer to Turkey. As I've explained in length before, the bird known as "turkey" was introduced to Europe via trading through Ottoman-Turkish domains. Similarly, Venetian traders originally discovered and traded for the jewel turquoise in Turkish lands, so the greenish-blue stone gained the name in French pierre turquoise "Turkish stone," and a color word was subsequently coined based on the color of the jewel.


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Snapshots – Christmas in Rome and the Vatican
Posted by dan on December 20, 2010
Christmas is one of the biggest Christian celebrations and people from all over the world flock to Rome and the Vatican during the festive season. Following are images of the Eternal City preparing for Christmas.
Not everybody is as fortunate as most of us reading this blog – many people will spend this Christmas out on the street in every European city. According to every major religion it is a duty to help those in need. See blog post: Clochard – Homeless in Europe


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PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – The Prince George Cougars exploded for five goals in the third period on their way to a 7-2 win over the Spokane Chiefs on Tuesday night. The Chiefs remain eight points back of the Portland Winterhawks for the second and final wild card berth in the Western Conference playoff race.
Spokane got the scoring underway just 81 seconds into regulation as Jaret Anderson-Dolan beat starting goalie Nick McBride to the far post with a shot from the right circle on a 2-on-1 opportunity. The goal was Anderson-Dolan's 32nd of the season, putting him just one behind Travis Green for third in franchise history in goals scored by a 17-year-old.
The Cougars killed off a 5-on-3 power play by Spokane and were buzzing for the remainder of the first period, eventually taking advantage of a Chiefs turnover in front of netminder Dawson Weatherill to tie the game at 1-1. Jared Bethune found the loose puck inside the left circle and wristed it home for his career-high 17th goal.
Aaron Boyd picked off a Keanu Yamamoto pass late in the second period and took it the length of the ice for a shorthanded goal at the 15:33 mark to give Prince George a 2-1 lead.
Radovan Bondra fired a shot from the left wing early in the third period that deflected off Kody McDonald's stick and Weatherill's glove before slowly flipping into the Spokane net to give Prince George a 3-1 lead at the 3:28 mark. It was the 12th goal of the season for McDonald while the assist pushed Bondra's point streak to four games.
Jansen Harkins took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play with 11 minutes left in regulation to extend the Cougars' lead to three goals, turning quick shot on net from the right side for his second goal in as many games. McAuley fired in his 20th to make it 5-1 at the 14:26 mark, off assists from Harkins and Joel Lakusta. Brad Morrison added his 21st at 17:09 to push it to 6-1.
Ethan McIndoe chipped his 15th of the season into the net at the 18:15 mark for his fifth goal in six games, with assists going to linemates Eli Zummack and Hayden Ostir. Jackson Leppard capped the scoring for Prince George with 24 seconds remaining, beating Weatherill on a wrap-around shot just his second goal of the season.
Spokane finished 0-for-5 on the power play and 5-for-7 on the penalty kill. They were outshot 36-30.
Spokane looks to bounce back on Friday night in Kelowna as they'll face the Rockets at 7 p.m. Mike Boyle will have the call on 1510 KGA NW Sports Talk beginning with the pre-game show at 6:30.
Spokane returns home on February 25 for Mike's Hard Pink Lemonade Breast Cancer Awareness Night & Helmet Giveaway at the Arena as they host the Tri-City Americans. The Chiefs will wear special pink-accented jerseys to be auctioned off for charity. Tickets for the 25th and all Chiefs home games are available in-person at the Chiefs' Ticket Office, over-the-phone at 509-535-PUCK and online at ticketswest.com or spokanechiefs.com.