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ORDER A COPY: To Walk the Night
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publishing Date: January 3, 2012
Paperback: 300 pages
Rating: 4 Stars
Even a vampire has to face her inner demons…
Kat Redding is the very thing she hunts: a vampire, thirsting for blood, capable of killing any creature unlucky enough to get in her path. The difference is, Kat kills her own kind in order to protect human Purebloods. She's good at what she does. Good enough to earn the nickname Lady Death—and the enmity of every bloodthirsty being around. But now a vampire Count is intent on merging his House with a werewolf cult to create a force of terrifying power.
Kat can't allow that to happen. Even if it means taking on a den of weres and a vampire more ruthless than any she's encountered before. She has the weapons, the skill, and a few allies. But that may not be enough to eliminate the Count before her own dark nature rises to the surface—and costs her whatever is left of her humanity…
Kat Redding is a vampire that hunts vampires. This is the time after the Uprising, when vampires and werewolves made their presence known and declared themselves rulers of the night and the humans (Purebloods) began to hide in their homes after dark. Kat has made it her mission to destroy the Vampire Houses who prey on those foolish or desperate enough to be out after dark.
Now the Luna Cult, worshipers of werewolves, want Kat's help to destroy the power hungry House Tremaine and free their leader being held by the vampire House. Although there is nothing Kat enjoys more than taking down the vampires, she is concerned if she can really trust a monster to guard her back.
In this new Urban Fantasy, E.S. Moore shows us a world where children aren't the only ones who should be afraid of the dark. Unlike many of the stories where supernaturals exist quietly protecting humans from other supernatural threats, in this world Vampire Houses dominate the night, using werewolves as their guard dogs, and any Purebloods (a/k/a humans) found wandering the night are fair game, kept as slaves and used for blood and sex.
Like most first books in a series, it was a little slowing going in the beginning as we set up the background of our heroine and the city around her, but once we got into the story it really picked up.
There are more than enough dangling story lines to keep me interested in reading the next book which comes out in July 2012.
Received ARC courtesy of Kensington Books. Thank you.
Favorite Scene:
Jonathan stood and walked around his desk. He stopped all of five feet away from me and I still couldn't see his face. "I should probably explain something to you first," he said. "The more you know going in, the more likely you are to understand why I came to you. There are certain things you should know, things best shown to you rather than told."
"Sounds like a plan," I said. Something about Jonathan's tone had me on edge, but I managed to keep my cool. So far, aside from Pablo's attitude and Nathan's angry demeanor, no one had really shown me much in the way of hostility.
Jonathan glanced over to his two associates and nodded ever so slightly. Both Nathan and Gregory sat down, though Nathan did so much slower, as if he wasn't sure it was the right thing to do. The tension level in the room rose tenfold, and I desperately wanted to know what was going on before I accidently shot someone.
"Would you care to take a seat?" Jonathan asked, motioning toward one of the recliners. It was black and leather and looked really comfortable.
"No thanks," I said. "I'm fine just where I am."
Jonathan bowed his head in acquiescence before speaking. "I though you might say that. I take it some of the rumors about you are true. It's probably why I haven't seen Joshua since he was sent to deliver my message." His tone hardened. "I assume he is dead."
My hand slowly fell to my waist. I didn't draw, but I wanted to be ready. I didn't like where the conversation was heading.
Nathan started to rise, but Jonathan waved him back down. The big man hesitated, his frown deepening, before settling back down on the couch.
"He broke in to my house."
Jonathan leaned back against his desk and sighed. "I should have expected it, really. Joshua is an impulsive man. He was to deliver the note and leave before anyone knew he was there. I should have realized he would want to see you himself."
I glanced at Nathan before answering. The big man was glowering, but he didn't seem like he was getting ready to fight. Yet.
"I didn't want to do it," I said. "But I don't like people knowing where I live, which brings me back to my question. How did you know where to find me?"
"It wasn't easy, honestly. Even though I knew who you were, you had moved to a new location before I could act on my knowledge. It made tracking you down that much more difficult."
I clenched my fist. How long had this guy known about me? "How?" It was all I could think to say.
"You made a mistake," Jonathan said. "It happened a long time ago, back before you were as well equipped as you are now Back before you had made a name for yourself."
I stared at him, unsure what to make of the statement. What kind of mistake had I made, other than getting myself captured once? I was always careful, even back when I was young and stupid.
Jonathan stood silent for a long moment before speaking again. "I was your mistake," he said. His hands slowly rose to the hood concealing his face and slide it slowly back from his head. There was a shimmer, as if the air around his head was disturbed by some unfelt wave of heat; then his features came into focus.


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Views: 192
All over the world, the name of God is profaned on a daily basis. So why must it be Nigeria? I think you preachers should shift from condemnation to salvation. God is love.
Then we all should watch and pray.
Williams said:
I Know But the Time to destroy the World is Near, God is Coming Soon!!!

subset: commoncrawl


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|Back To Press Releases
Profoto Introduces New Umbrella XL Product Line
posted Friday, December 2, 2011 at 2:54 PM EDT
Press Release
New Light Shaping Tools ideal for portrait and fashion photography
Elmsford, NY (December 1, 2011) – Profoto, the world's leading manufacturer of professional photography lighting and Light Shaping Tools, is proud to introduce the new Umbrella XL product line.
"The new Profoto Umbrella XL products were created with professional portrait and fashion photographers in mind," said Mark Rezzonico, VP Product Group. "These new light shaping tools create a smooth yet distinctive light, allowing photographers to perfectly illuminate a single person or even small groups with just a single light source."
Available in three versions – white, silver and translucent – the new Profoto Umbrella XL features a diameter of 65" with a slightly parabolic shape that allows photographers to change the light distribution by simply sliding the umbrella shaft inside the flash head. In addition, the light spread can also be adjusted by moving the Zoom Reflector back or forth, creating an even more versatile look.
The Profoto Umbrella XL.
Photo provided by MAC Group.
The Profoto Umbrella XL fits on all Profoto flash heads and monolights. It can also be mounted on Profoto's Cine Reflector, and thereby can be used with the new line of continuous light sources – ProDaylight 800 Air and ProTungsten 1000 Air.
There is also an optional front diffuser available to soften the light and reduce the intensity by 1.5 f/stops, practically converting the white and silver models into a fully functioning Octabox. An optional stand adapter allows photographers to mount the umbrella on a light stand, or for use with other flash brands.
All three versions come in a rugged transport bag. They are available now at local photo retailers throughout the U.S. starting at around $300.


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Catch Up On North Texas' Remarkable Football Season With Nine Episodes of Beyond The Green.
Losing is no longer acceptable at the University of North Texas. Or so go the words that are reiterated, week after week, by the school's head football coach, Dan McCarney.
McCarney, who's in his third season with North Texas, has worked hard to change the culture surrounding the football program and is finally moving on from a recent history of losing streaks, low pride and low attendance at football games. This season, the North Texas Mean Green are finally in the position that the university, its students and its alumni have been for so long clamoring: With a 7-3 record on the season and a current five-game win streak, the Mean Green are in line to pull off the program's best season since 2003, when the team went 9-3 and won the Sun Belt Conference title.
This year's success may have taken most everyone outside the locker room by surprise — but the athletic department and McCarney knew that this would be the breakout season for their football program. With that in mind, the athletic department created a behind-the-scenes series titled Beyond The Green, inspired by HBO's sports documentary Hard Knocks that follows a select NFL team through training camp. The series has been documenting the UNT season since early August.
So far, the show has premiered nine episodes, the most recent of which features North Texas' conference win over Rice University on Halloween. A typical episode features a player or a coach, and documents his impact on the team, as well as the team's preparation for the week's game. The whole premise is to give fans — and, no doubt, potential recruits — an inside-look at team practices and travels. But by far the most captivating aspect of the show is coach McCarney's interaction with his team.
Each onscreen appearance from the head coach demonstrates his intensity and the enthusiasm he's hell bent on ingraining on the North Texas program. Whether it's during a practice, a pre-game meal, a pre-game speech or at halftime, McCarney stresses the importance of playing as a family, playing tough, being more prepared than any other team and not accepting losses. It's all quite inspiring.
This Saturday, as North Texas plays its final home game of the season at Apogee Stadium against University of Texas at San Antonio, the team looks to lock up an undefeated season at home, while setting itself up in prime position for a chance to play in the Conference USA championship game.
It's a new era for Mean Green football. That much is certain.
So, if you haven't been keeping up this season, catch up now with the first nine episodes of Beyond The Green. They're well worth the watch.
Episode 1: North Texas vs. Idaho.
This season is North Texas' inaugural season in the Conference USA. Episode 1 focuses on North Texas' step up to the new conference, and what it means for the university and program. Safety Marcus Trice makes it clear that, in August, the team believed this would be their breakout year.
Episode 2: North Texas vs. Ohio.
After its season-opening victory, the team reflects how important it was to start their season off right and how vital that win was to changing the culture of the program. Also featured is defensive back Freddie Warner's struggle with injuries in his three years at North Texas. Warner has suffered two ACL tears to the same knee, but has made full recoveries from both. Unfortunately, before the start of this season, Warner broke his forearm, forcing him to sit out yet another season.
Episode 3: North Texas vs. Ball State.
McCarney stresses his point that losing is not acceptable after the team's loss to Ohio. The Mean Green bounced back against Ball State, though, overcoming a 17-point deficit and showing a resiliency that hadn't yet been seen from the team.
Episode 4: North Texas vs. Georgia.
North Texas faces its most difficult opponent of the season in the No. 10-ranked Georgia. The episode showcases the confidence McCarney has in his team.
Episode 5: North Texas vs. Tulane.
Senior linebacker and team leader Zach Orr is featured as he visits his home in DeSoto during a bye week. The rest of the team prepares for its game against Tulane in New Orleans, where UNT played in four straight bowl games from 2001 to 2004.
Episode 6: North Texas vs. Middle Tennessee.
Coach McCarney looks back on overcoming a stroke and heart surgery in recent years, but never wavers in his intensity with his team.
Episode 7: North Texas vs. Louisiana Tech.
For the first time in 9 years and 101 games, North Texas wins back-to-back games and kicks off the team's current winning streak. The team's "championship defense" is featured for its tough, turnover-forcing play.
Episode 8: North Texas vs. Southern Miss.
Three-year starter, team leader and academic standout offensive lineman Cyril Lemon is featured for his impact on the team. Nicknamed "The Rev," Lemon serves as a role model and the spiritual anchor for the team.
Episode 9: North Texas vs. Rice.
"Hit Six" has been one of the many rally cries for North Texas this year. Why? Six wins earns the team bowl eligibility. During the Rice game, North Texas completes an eight-play goal-line stand to seal the victory and earn bowl-eligibility. It's now known as "The Stand," and is being viewed as the turning point for the new North Texas era.


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Customizable Materials
These informational materials can be customized for use at individual lupus clinical trial sites.
This project was supported by Grant Numbers 1 CPIMP171138 and 1 CPIMP181166 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services office of Minority Health (HHS, OMH). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the HHS, OMH.


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The Iceberg
The Iceberg
On Sept. 12, nearly two years to the day after Murphy first outlined his IT vision for Project Leapfrogand halfway into the project, with some of its changes just starting to pay off in the millionsthe bottom fell out. That day, Murphy found himself called into a very different kind of meeting.
It was the morning after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, and Murphy and five other executives, including the CFO and the chief HR officer, were assembled by Fain to talk about how much the world had changedand to take action. Hundreds of people were phoning travel agents across the country to cancel fall and winter cruises, and more calls were flooding in by the second. Dozens of ports were closed, and thousands of people were stranded on ships all over the globe: One ship stranded off Vancouver would have to wait five days to disembark its rattled vacationers.
Fain's news then was hardly surprising: It was likely to be a very bad quarterand suddenly, the future beyond December didn't look too great, either. Fain asked all six executives at the meeting to quickly calculate what it would mean if each of their units were to cut their operating budgets by 25 percent. Two days later, with bookings now down 50 percent from the same week the year before, Murphy presented the group with three IT options: slow down Leapfrog, cut parts of it or stop it dead in the water. To Murphy's surprise, Fain, Leapfrog's champion, opted for a dead stop. More than $300 million had to be cut from the company's operating costs immediately, and most of that would have to come out of the future. That meant Leapfrog. "Nobody in IT thought that they'd shut down Leapfrog altogether," Murphy says. "The company treasurer was the only one who counted that day." Fain would later tell the SEC that the financial impact to RC for the week following Sept. 11 was $25 million.
Over the next two weeks, some 400 people lost their jobs, 112 in IT alone, and nearly every part of Leapfrog was mothballed for better, less uncertain times (see "Leapfrog, Grounded.") Murphy's annual IT budget was slashed, from $83 million in 2000 to about $42 million in Octoberroughly the same amount he had to work with when he first came on board. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do," Murphy said, "and unlike anything I've ever been through in my life."
Yet no sooner did he complete the layoffs and reorganize his staff around a "holding pattern" of basic IT services than new crosswinds began buffeting Murphy's department. On Nov. 20, RC announced plans to merge with P&O Princess Cruises PLC, kicking up whole new waves of uncertainty. RC executives told Wall Street analysts at the time that the IT departments of the two companies would likely be combinedsignaling more streamlining ahead, and perhaps just one CIO running both shops.
Murphy wasn't in the loop this time. He and the other top executives were told of the merger two days before the public announcement. Now Murphy isn't sure what his future holds: On Dec. 17, No. 1 Carnival Corp. made a hostile takeover bid for No. 3 Princess. If regulators reject both deals, RC would remain No. 2. But if regulators don't object, Princess shareholders, during a meeting set for Feb 14, could vote to opt for Carnival and leave RC at sea.
This article was originally published on 01-01-2002


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The "let's turn theme park rides into movies" trend continues. Following four Pirates of the Caribbean films and a planned Yeti-infused feature adaptation of the Matterhorn ride, Disney is prepping yet another theme park ride for a big screen iteration. Deadline reports that Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is in development as a feature film that will blend live-action and CGI elements. The ride itself, which opened at Disneyland in 1955, is based on the classic Kenneth Grahame collection of children's stories called The Wind in the Willows. The titular Mr. Toad is portrayed as a spoiled and impulsive amphibian with a penchant for dangerous driving (you know, for the kids).
Commercials director Pete Candeland is set to take the helm, which is actually an exciting choice. Candeland has helmed a number of videos for the animated band Gorillaz including "Melancholoy Hill", and he co-directed the video for "Stylo" starring Bruce Willis. Additionally, he directed the opening for The Beatles Rock Band. Disney is currently looking for writers to develop Mr. Toad, but if Candeland is intricately involved we may be in for a visual treat. Hit the jump to sample some of his work.


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Every state has its fair share of tourist hot spots, common vacation destinations filled to the brim with shops, restaurants, and fun attractions, and those places can be fun in their own right. However, sometimes when you're looking for a weekend getaway, you're just trying to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life and uncover a hidden gem. Check out some of these unknown road trips in Texas for a vacation off the beaten path.
Medina River: While still a popular vacation spot for kayak enthusiasts, the Medina River has managed to avoid attracting partiers, making it more serene and relaxing than other fun rivers. There are also no rapids, making it excellent for beginners who want something tame and mild.
Enchanted Rock: A host of Native American legends about mystery and magic surround this rock, located in Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. The rock tends to make strange groaning noises at night, though modern science says this is due to the rock cooling and contracting when not exposed to the sun.
Mason County: Want to hunt for natural topaz? Several ranches in Mason County will help guide you through the steps of mining the ravines and streambeds of the area for Texas's state gem.
Marfa: The mystery lights of Marfa, Texas have puzzled visitors and residents alike for generations. They've been around since 1883, hovering just above the horizon on clear nights.
Hopefully these unknown road trips will satisfy your desire for adventure. What are you waiting for?


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Garden Cottage
Follow the winding paved garden paths to reach these delightful cottages, tucked away behind lush greenery of the heritage garden. The Garden Cottages offer quiet intimate spaces surrounded by nature, with private green frontage terraces. If you're lucky, you might find passion fruits ripe for picking or colorful orchids and hibiscus flowers.
12 units, 23m2; to 28m2
Garden Cottage Amenities
- Terrace with Private Garden Frontage
Canopy Queen Bed with Mosquito Netting
- Ensuite Bathroom with Rain Shower
- Complimentary Bathroom Amenities
- A/C & Ceiling Fan
- Complimentary Wifi
- In-Room Safe
- Complimentary Drinking Water
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea
- Mini Bar
- Hair Dryer
"Awesome service and great and quiet room"
Chris BLAKE, Guest from New Zealand
"The small patio in front of the room was my favourite place for reading"
John WOSNY, Guest from Germany


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Oracle Interview Questions – Part 8
delete from table_name where rowid not in (select max(rowid) from table group by duplicate_values_field_name); or delete duplicate_values_field_name dv from table_name ta where rowid <(select min(rowid) from table_name tb where ta.dv=tb.dv);
Q.How do you find the numbert of rows in a Table?
A bad answer is count them (SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_name)
A good answer is :-
'By generating SQL to ANALYZE TABLE table_name COUNT STATISTICS by querying Oracle System Catalogues (e.g. USER_TABLES or ALL_TABLES).
The best answer is to refer to the utility which Oracle released which makes it unnecessary to do ANALYZE TABLE for each Table individually.
Q.Difference between database triggers and form triggers?
-Data base trigger(DBT) fires when a DML operation is performed on a data base table. Form trigger(FT) Fires when user presses a key or navigates between fields on the screen
-Can be row level or statement level No distinction between row level and statement level.
-Can manipulate data stored in Oracle tables via SQL Can manipulate data in Oracle tables as well as variables in forms.
-Can be fired from any session executing the triggering DML statements. Can be fired only from the form that define the trigger.
-Can cause other database triggers to fire. Can cause other database triggers to fire, but not other form triggers.
Q.How will you a activate/deactivate integrity constraints?
The integrity constraints can be enabled or disabled by ALTER TABLE ENABLE constraint/DISABLE constraint.
Q.What is a view ?
A view is stored procedure based on one or more tables, it's a virtual table.
Q.What is difference between UNIQUE and PRIMARY KEY constraints?
A table can have only one PRIMARY KEY whereas there can be any number of UNIQUE keys. The columns that compose PK are automatically define NOT NULL, whereas a column that compose a UNIQUE is not automatically defined to be mandatory must also specify the column is NOT NULL.
Q.What is syntax for dropping a procedure and a function .Are these operations possible?
Drop Procedure procedure_name
Drop Function function_name
Q.What is use of a cursor variable? How it is defined?
A cursor variable is associated with different statements at run time, which can hold different values at run time. Static cursors can only be associated with one run time query. A cursor variable is reference type (like a pointer in C).
Declaring a cursor variable:
TYPE type_name IS REF CURSOR RETURN return_type type_name is the name of the reference type,return_type is a record type indicating the types of the select list that will eventually be returned by the cursor variable.
Q.What is the maximum buffer size that can be specified using the DBMS_OUTPUT.ENABLE function?
Q.What is the Subquery?
Sub query is a query whose return values are used in filtering conditions of the main query.
Q.What are cursor attributes?
Q.There is a % sign in one field of a column. What will be the query to find it?
" Should be used before '%'.
Q.What is a cursor for loop?
Cursor For Loop is a loop where oracle implicitly declares a loop variable, the loop index that of the same record type as the cursor's record.
Q.How you will avoid duplicating records in a query?
By using DISTINCT
Q.What is the fastest way of accessing a row in a table ?
Using ROWID.CONSTRAINTS
Q.What is a join ? Explain the different types of joins?
Join is a query which retrieves related columns or rows from multiple tables.Self Join – Joining the table with itself.Equi Join – Joining two tables by equating two common columns.Non-Equi Join – Joining two tables by equating two common columns.Outer Join – Joining two tables in such a way that query can also retrieve rows that do not have corresponding join value in the other table.
Q.What is difference between TRUNCATE & DELETE?
TRUNCATE commits after deleting entire table i.e., can not be rolled back. Database triggers do not fire on TRUNCATEDELETE allows the filtered deletion. Deleted records can be rolled back or committed. Database triggers fire on DELETE.
Q.What is a transaction?
Transaction is logical unit between two commits and commit and rollback.
Q.What are the advantages of VIEW?
To protect some of the columns of a table from other users.To hide complexity of a query.To hide complexity of calculations.
Q.Where the integrity constraints are stored in Data Dictionary?
The integrity constraints are stored in USER_CONSTRAINTS.
Q.What is ON DELETE CASCADE?
When ON DELETE CASCADE is specified ORACLE maintains referential integrity by automatically removing dependent foreign key values if a referenced primary or unique key value is removed.
Q.What is an Integrity Constraint?
Integrity constraint is a rule that restricts values to a column in a table.
Q.How to access the current value and next value from a sequence ? Is it possible to access the current value in a session before accessing next value?
Sequence name CURRVAL, Sequence name NEXTVAL.It is not possible. Only if you access next value in the session, current value can be accessed.
Q.What are the usage of SAVEPOINTS ?value in a session before accessing next value?
SAVEPOINTS are used to subdivide a transaction into smaller parts. It enables rolling back part of a transaction. Maximum of five save points are allowed.
Q.Explain Connect by Prior ?in a session before accessing next value?
Retrieves rows in hierarchical order.e.g. select empno, ename from emp where.
Q.How many LONG columns are allowed in a table ? Is it possible to use LONG columns in WHERE clause or ORDER BY?
Only one LONG columns is allowed. It is not possible to use LONG column in WHERE or ORDER BY clause.
Q.What is Referential Integrity?
Maintaining data integrity through a set of rules that restrict the values of one or more columns of the tables based on the values of primary key or unique key of the referenced table.
Q.If an unique key constraint on DATE column is created, will it validate the rows that are inserted with SYSDATE?
It won't, Because SYSDATE format contains time attached with it.
Q.What is ROWID ?in a session before accessing next value?
ROWID is a pseudo column attached to each row of a table. It is 18 character long, blockno, rownumber are the components of ROWID.
Q.How does one stop and start the OMS? (for DBA)
Use the following command sequence to stop and start the OMS (Oracle Management Server):
oemctl start oms
oemctl status oms sysman/oem_temp
oemctl stop oms sysman/oem_temp
Windows NT/2000 users can just stop and start the required services. The default OEM administrator is "sysman" with a password of "oem_temp".
NOTE: Use command oemctrl instead of oemctl for Oracle 8i and below.


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This article is for users who will use Hire to interview and evaluate candidates. You'll need to be assigned the correct system role to complete these tasks.
How should I use Hire?
Hire is easy to use and streamlines recruiting from end to end. As an Interviewer, you can use Hire to:
- Review job descriptions
- Review candidate profiles
- Post and view interview feedback
How can I get started?
Easy! Explore this help center to learn how to setup your account and navigate Hire. Ready to jump right in? Head to http://hire.withgoogle.com to get started.


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Cedar's warm midrange overtones and quick response make it a coveted top wood among fingerstylists and other players with a lighter touch. On this mahogany/cedar cutaway Grand Auditorium, V-Class bracing lifts those sonic virtues to new heights, serving up an even more powerful all-around response with billowing sustain. Add to that the bundle of sonic refinements that V-Class brings, including more powerful notes all the way up the fretboard and greater in-tuneness between the notes (thanks to a more orderly response from the top), and you've got a guitar that can cover a lot of ground. Mahogany's naturally dry, focused voice emphasizes the midrange, lending a warm, clear punch that strummers, blues players will especially appreciate. Appointments include faux tortoise shell binding and pickguard, a faux tortoise/ivoroid rosette, and our striking Century fretboard inlay scheme in grained ivoroid with a new peghead inlay to complement the motif. With onboard Taylor ES2 electronics, you can count on natural-sounding amplified acoustic tone whenever you need it. The guitar also features a Venetian cutaway for upper-fretboard access, and ships in a deluxe hardshell case.
Taylor's signature shape embodies the ultimate all-purpose acoustic.
A true performer for those with a lighter touch, cedar tops yield extra warmth and pair nicely with mahogany and rosewood.
A midrange powerhouse. Mahogany is prized for balance and articulation, making it one of the best all-around tonewoods there is.
The Expression System® 2 captures more of a guitar's dynamic properties using a breakthrough behind-the-saddle design.
The Venetian cutaway is known for its soft, round lines. The sloping peak of the cutaway will vary depending on the shape of the guitar.
A revolutionary design that balances the flexibility and stability of the top, V-Class bracing produces unmatched sustain, volume, and intonation.
Scale Length: 25-1/2″
Nut & Saddle: Black Graphite, Micarta saddle
Bracing: V-Class with Relief Rout
Truss Rod Cover: Black Plastic
Pickguard: Tortoise
Number of Frets: 20
Tuners: Taylor Nickel
Case: Taylor Deluxe Hardshell Brown
Brand of Strings: Elixir Phosphor Bronze Light
Body Length: 20″


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Come and join our friendly group on Friday mornings, drawing, sketching and painting in the fabulous grounds of
Villa Bologna in Attard.
I set up the theme for the morning and then help everyone work in their own way. Just bring yourself and your materials and get away from it all for a morning!
Classes run from 10am til 12.30pm. I supply chairs, boards, water pots, tea, coffee and biscuits.
23 euro for a one-off session, 20 euros if you book for more than one.
Please contact me to book
27th September at 10 am til 12.30 pm. We will continue to concentrate on good drawing skills, but also work with colour this autumn. I like to mix media and explore new ways of making pictures, so expect some fun!
Classes are held in my studio in ManikataSingle classes are 20 euro or 5 classes (to be taken before December 13th) 85 euro
Again, please contact me to book
I would like to run this course for adults later but I need to find a suitable venue first.
Again, more details coming soon, but please let me know if you are interested, and whether evening or daytime classes are what you are looking for. I will start by running my popular course of basic drawing and watercolour techniques, which helps everyone to start seeing differently and to begin or continue their Art adventure with added confidence and joy. I will add other courses later.
I find that it is always beneficial to work in a group as well as practice on your own. It's always good to see how other people tackle the same or similar subjects. Creativity grows and expands by sharing ideas and inspiration. Always working alone can be stifling and our work may become dull and repetetive.The more candles we light from our own flame the brighter the whole world becomes!
I am really looking forward to cooler weather and to meeting you at my autumn classes.


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UK LEADERS BACK APPRENTICESHIPS FOR ALL AGESCONTRIBUTOR: Petra Wilton | Published: 4 MARCH 2018
Amid concerns Government will miss 2020 targets. 88 percent of managers support the Apprenticeship Levy being spent on training for workers of all ages.
More than two-thirds (69 percent) would like to have a management and leadership apprentice in their team. Majority of managers (63 percent) agree the Apprenticeship Levy is needed to increase employer investment in skills. Almost half (47 percent) of managers believe the Government will not hit its target of three million apprentices by 2020. The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) calls for greater cooperation to ensure apprenticeships improve employability and works for business.
Managers back apprenticeships for workers of all ages as a way to overturn the long-term employer underinvestment in skills, according to a new survey of 1,640 managers by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Of those surveyed, 88 percent believe the Apprenticeship Levy should be spent on apprenticeships for all ages. Seven in 10 (69 percent) say that they would like to have a management and leadership apprentice in their team. As National Apprenticeship Week brings the Levy into focus, CMI's research reveals broad support for the initiative. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of those surveyed agreed that the Apprenticeship Levy is needed to increase employer investment in skills.
Despite strong support, almost half (47 percent) of all managers expressed doubt that the Government will hit its 2015 target of creating three million apprentices by 2020. This is paired with concerns from more than half of respondents (51 percent) that the country will need greater investment in skills post-Brexit. Indeed, the biggest ask to drive up numbers, backed by 81 percent of managers, was for access to the digital apprenticeships service to be extended to small businesses. This was followed by 80 percent of employers wanting more freedom to spend the Levy on small businesses in their supply chain.
As employers slowly get to grips with the new breed of apprenticeships, almost half (48 percent) of managers across the country expect to see a rise in the number of new starts in the next 12 months. The picture varies from region to region, with 60 percent of managers in the South East predicting a rise in the number of new apprentices, compared to just 40 percent of managers in the North West.*
Key reasons for the slow take-up in numbers are the time-lag in adjusting to the new system (28 percent) and waiting on relevant standards to be approved (22 percent). Indeed, over 900 new apprentices have been eagerly waiting to start their Senior Leaders Masters' Apprenticeship, with funding only finally approved last week (27 February), despite the Standard being approved back in August.
The research clearly suggests that managers are seeing the value in apprenticeships. There was strong agreement with the following benefits of new management apprenticeships include increasing productivity (73 percent); employee retention (72 percent), engagement and motivation (76 percent), expanding the talent pool (85 percent) and creating a learning culture (84 percent). CMI calls on businesses and the Government to work more closely to make apprenticeships more easily available for all at a time when the UK needs to prepare for a post-Brexit future.
Petra Wilton, director of strategy for the Chartered Management Institute, said: "For those managers and apprentices now using the Levy, they're clearly already advocates and starting to reap the business benefits. But too many businesses are still missing out. As we kick off National Apprenticeship Week, far more needs to be done to showcase successes, widen access to smaller businesses, and to raise awareness of how apprentices can work for all.
The Apprenticeship Levy should be seen as a "skills investment plan", and the funds can be used to invest in programmes for school leavers and existing employees. Businesses may not even be aware that they can use the levy to train managers and leaders at every level. We now need more collaboration to ensure that this support from managers for apprenticeships translates into a new way of training and upskilling the workforce.
The broad scope of these new apprenticeships means that we'll see school leavers all the way to executives embark on apprenticeships that will advance their careers and benefit their employers. The likes of the Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship programme is now producing its first graduates, managers with world-class skills needed to meet the business challenges of the 21st century."
The Department for Education has announced a review of the effectiveness of the current funding bands of the Apprenticeship Levy, yet CMI recommends employers and providers should be encouraged to make the current funding structures work as stability is needed for the system to function. Mike Thompson, Director, Early Careers, Barclays, said: "The introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy should be seen as a huge opportunity and not a cause for concern to businesses. Establishing your own apprenticeship scheme can seem daunting, but there is huge support out there to help any company interested in setting one up and there are countless benefits that come with bringing apprentices on board.
"Eighty percent of companies that have run an apprenticeship programme report a significant increase in employee retention and 76 percent have reported an increase in workplace productivity. Providing an apprenticeship programme can also be good for business, with 81 percent of consumers favouring a company that takes on apprentices. It's a chance to invest in the long-term health of your business and your workforce; and hiring apprentices is a very good way of bringing in a rich, broad, diverse talent set to your business.


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Our rankings were based on who has done the most to change the way we play the game, how we talk about the game and the culture of basketball. That's not always easy to predict, but let's take a look at some young players not currently in the top 100 who have a chance to emerge as game-changers over the course of their careers.
Lonzo Ball |Los Angeles Lakers| Age: 20
In many ways, it's LaVar Ball who's the real game-changer off the court. However, Lonzo's game is revolutionary in its own way.
Not since Jason Kidd have we seen a point guard so willing to throw the ball ahead in transition, empowering his teammates to make plays before the defense is set. Ball is also the rare modern point guard whose game isn't built primarily around operating out of the pick-and-roll. His difficulties shooting off the dribble or beating opponents to the hoop mean Ball must create opportunities for himself and teammates in different ways.
Anthony Davis | New Orleans Pelicans | Age: 25
In a league increasingly dominated offensively by ball handlers and 3-point shooters, Davis stands as an exception.
Per Basketball-Reference.com, his 28.3 points per game this season are the best by a player 6 feet 10 or taller since Shaquille O'Neal averaged 28.7 per game in 2000-01. And since teammate DeMarcus Cousins went down with a ruptured Achilles, Davis has averaged an incredible 31.2 PPG. No player 6 feet 10 or taller has topped 30 in a full season since Moses Malone in 1981-82.
DeMar DeRozan | Toronto Raptors | Age: 28
In the midst of his best NBA season, DeRozan advanced the discussion about mental health in the NBA. DeRozan's tweet quoting the Kevin Gates song "Tomorrow" opened the door for him to discuss his occasional battles with depression with Toronto Star beat reporter Doug Smith.
In turn, Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers credited DeRozan's comments for encouraging him to discuss panic attacks he'd suffered this season in a first-person article for The Players' Tribune. As the conversation about mental health in the NBA becomes more open and honest, DeRozan deserves credit for his game-changing candor.
Luka Doncic | Real Madrid | Age: 19
While game-changers Sarunas Marciulionis and Drazen Petrovic proved guards from Europe could successfully play in the NBA, with the exception of Tony Parker, the biggest stars Europe has produced remain primarily post players.
As perhaps the greatest European prospect in the modern era, the precocious Doncic has the chance to change that history. At age 19, Doncic is the best player in the EuroLeague, the second-best basketball competition in the world. That makes him a possible No. 1 overall pick in this year's NBA draft. No player has gone No. 1 without playing college basketball since Andrea Bargnani in 2006.
Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers | Age: 24
The self-proclaimed "Process" has proved a trustworthy contributor after getting back on the court following two seasons lost to a navicular fracture. At 7 feet and a listed 250 pounds, Embiid is a powerful force around the basket who also has attempted more than three 3-pointers per game the past two seasons and occasionally will blow by poor closeouts to drive from the perimeter and finish above the rim.
Still, Embiid's greater game-changing potential might be off the court. Before he played an NBA game, Embiid already was a star thanks to his comedic Twitter presence. He has somehow turned Instagram's location feature into a tool to troll opponents. Future stars should take lessons from how Embiid has made social media work for him.
Terrance Ferguson | Oklahoma City Thunder | Age: 19
Past prospects who skipped NCAA basketball to play overseas (Brandon Jennings, Jeremy Tyler,Emmanuel Mudiay) have failed to yield an anticipated copycat effect. It's possible the year Ferguson spent playing in the Australian NBL could have more lasting impact. With the NCAA eligibility of top players increasingly fraught in the wake of the FBI's investigation of amateur basketball, the NBL seeks to build on Ferguson's stint Down Under -- which saw him drafted 21st overall by the Thunder last June -- to bring other top prospects to Australia.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported earlier this month that the NBL plans to offer such players $100,000 Australian salaries (about $78,000 U.S.) funded by the league as part of its "Next Stars" program. It's possible the NBA lowering its age limit could undercut the NBL's efforts, but for now it looms as a more lucrative alternative to the NCAA -- thanks in part to Ferguson's example.
Nikola Jokic | Denver Nuggets | Age: 23
Typically, 6-foot-10 centers don't offer highlight-caliber passing and serve as their teams' de facto point guards.
Jokic is changing the game with his combination of court vision, creativity and willingness to attempt difficult passes others wouldn't throw. His 6.0 assists per game this season are the most by a full-time center since Wilt Chamberlain averaged 8.6 per game in 1967-68.
Kristaps Porzingis | New York Knicks | Age: 22
The nickname "Unicorn" no longer feels appropriate for Porzingis, who has proved a harbinger of the trend toward stretch 5s rather than one of a kind.
Consider that when Porzingis made his NBA debut, just eight players in league history had posted seasons with at least 100 3-pointers and 100 blocks. Six players, including the 7-foot-3 Porzingis, have done it in the past three seasons alone.
Ben Simmons | Philadelphia 76ers | Age: 21
There have been big point guards before, most notably Magic Johnson (No. 3 on the list of game-changers), and point forwards like LeBron James (No. 2). Before Simmons, however, there had never been a full-time point guard who stood 6 feet 10.
As a rookie, Simmons has rewarded 76ers coach Brett Brown's decision to use him in that role, racking up 10 triple-doubles and averaging an unprecedented 8.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game as perhaps the most versatile rookie we've ever seen.
Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | Age: 22
While Porzingis got tabbed the Unicorn, Towns' skill set might be harder to find because of how well he scores both inside and out.
So far this season, Towns leads all NBA players who have finished at least 125 post-up plays with a shot, trip to the free throw line or a turnover by averaging 1.04 points per play,according to Synergy Sports tracking on NBA Advanced Stats. Overplay Towns in the post and he'll simply step out to the perimeter, where he's shooting 42.8 percent on 3-pointers this season -- the best accuracy ever for a 7-footer with at least 150 attempts, per Basketball-Reference.com.
Trae Young | Oklahoma Sooners | Age: 19
As an undersized point guard with a penchant for shooting long 3s off the dribble, Young is a spiritual successor of two-time MVP Stephen Curry (No. 10 on the list of game-changers). Yet Young is traversing new ground for a player of his ilk as a dominant scorer from his first day on campus.
Young became the first player to lead Division I in both points and assists per game since the latter became an official NCAA statistic in 1983-84. If he can translate that success to the NBA, Young will prove Curry isn't one of a kind.
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MJ, LeBron head list of NBA game changers
All-time greats for their on-court abilities, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and others lead ESPN's list of most influential NBA players because of how they've affected the game off the court.


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Project Description
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The question always arises when my pacifist theology is exposed in front of others is, "what would you do if a man was attacking your wife, or a child?" Would you attack the man? How could you not act violently to them?"
To these questions I will refer heavily upon Leo Tolstoy words from the book, What Would You Do?
"There are actions which are morally impossible, just as other are physically impossible. As a man cannot lift a mountain, and a kindly man cannot kill an infant, so a man living the Christian life cannot take part in deeds of violence."
However, this is a statement many have a hard time agreeing with when the question arises about defending a child from a madman, or a woman from an attacker.
"It is generally assumed that the only possible reply is that one should kill the assailant to save the child [or the woman]. But this answer is given so quickly and decided only because we are all so accustomed to the use of violence—not only to save the child, but even to prevent a neighboring government altering its frontier at the expense of ours…"
"If the man be a Christian and consequently acknowledges God and sees the meaning of life in fulfilling his will, then however ferocious the assailant, however innocent and lovely the child, he has even less ground to abandon the God-given law and to do to the criminal as the criminal wishes to do to the child. He may plead with the assailant, may interpose his own body between the assailant and the victim; but there is one thing he cannot do—he cannot deliberately abandon the law he has received from God, the fulfillment of which alone gives meaning to life."
Furthermore Tolstoy inquires into how someone can judge who needs to be saved. For he argues that no man can see into the future to see what either of the two people will become. Moreover, what if one or both of them are not Christians? That means by ending their life you vanquish all possibilities for them to come to the saving knowledge of Christ.
"There is no moral law concerning which one might not devise a case in which it is difficult to decide which is more moral, to disobey the law or to obey it? But all such devises fail to prove that the laws, 'Thou shall not lie, steal or kill,' are invalid."
"Excuses can be made for every use of violence, and no infallible standard has ever been discovered by which to measure the worth of these excuses. Therefore Christ taught us to disbelieve in any excuse for violence and never to use violence."
Two wrongs do not make a right. And as Christians we have to believe that evil can be overcome with good. If we fail to believe this we have not only abound our Christian morals but our savior as well, who laid down his life, so that we may inherit life.
I don't suppose that this is easy to live nonviolently in the face of such evil. However, what is easy and what is right don't always go hand in hand.
Violence only begets violence. Violence will never lead to free peace. In a totalitarian state violence may help to keep its subjects under submission and fear, but in the absences of that power violence will flood forth and all former peace will be lost. Peaceful non-violent action is the only way to sustain peaceful nonviolent action. We have to believe in the power of Christ love, but not only believe but also live it out. Then and only then will lasting peace be possible.


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Flying low
This has been a difficult week for British Airways, with the debate still ongoing about what actually caused the crash of all their booking, baggage and customer contact operations last bank holiday weekend.
PR experts queued up to criticise the approach taken, instead of a confident, authentic and timely customer announcement, there was instead a delayed statement initially on YouTube before CEO Andy Cruz appeared live to speak to the media.
Meanwhile the media were interviewing would be honeymooners whose plans were dashed, and a tearful young lady who had saved for years for a holiday of a lifetime; no second chance for a first experience here, no refund of a flight will make things alright.
Images of exhausted passengers lying on thin blue yoga mats distributed by BA highlighted the misery even more; young, old, fit and infirm.
And yet disasters happen, unfortunately all too often and not just in the airline business. How an organisation communicates and deals with them can make all the difference between brands trashed or instead their actions causing trust to be slowly rebuilt.
Today's agile organisations learn from big outages - banking disasters when people can't access money or where fraud has happened, being some examples.
There has been loads of research to show that consumers will forgive, even if they can't forget, where organisations go all out to keep them abreast of what's happening and critically make it easy to get things right.
'I don't like what happened, but I understand what went wrong and you handled it well' – 'I'm confident that I will be treated fairly and that this won't happen again'.
The use of multi-channel communications comes into its own; a well thought out contingency plan involving proactively communicating as much as possible clearly can prevent a huge volume of calls to busy centres. Use of mobile technology to keep all employees as informed as possible will prevent them feeling disempowered and under siege.
The travel industry is at the sharp end of competition, with cost cutting becoming part of the DNA. There is so much that can go wrong; lots of it outside the control of an airline. This surely reinforces the need to embrace open customer support; let's face it we will only contact when the online experience doesn't work and/or like last weekend things go wrong - is that so bad?
It may not have the answers to the IT crash, but the adoption of latest CCA customer service guidelines, synthesised from 400 organisations across all sectors may help to anchor that critical customer first attitude, enterprise-wide particularly during cost cutting drives and times of change.
CCA Global Standard© helps organisations 'fly high' by instilling a sense of pride about what putting customers first actually means - internally to help employees feel empowered, and to reassure customers that the organisation they have placed their trust in cares about that relationship.
Nicky Campbell who chaired CCA Annual Convention a few years back put it well when he said 'Why on earth don't all organisations do this - it's common sense'?


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Staff Cartoons: The Dream Team
Art Inspiration: Staff Cartoons
I have been told in the past and in resent days, that I have been an inspiration to the children at school and to other people in general. I have always found this interesting because I feel that these people and the children inspire me to create art and images instead of the other way around.
One example is when I drew the staff at my school as cartoon characters. It started one year around Christmas when we have our Christmas concert and staff dinner. Always after the concert, we go out for dinner and we exchange gifts, such as a Chris Kringle. I wanted to liven things up and instead of giving Christmas cards, I decided to create my own with the staff members as a character from a movie. The staff members were surprised; to say the least and they loved it, with a couple of exceptions on some humorous levels.
The Dream Team: Ilsa Lund
The first character was modeled after the Ingrid Bergman character from 'Casablanca', Ilsa Lund. I choose this actress for this specific staff member because she reminded me of the classic beauty of Ingrid Bergman and the toughness of Ilsa Lund, two traits the staff possesses. I made her very cartoon like and less realistic to emphases that this is a caricature.
She and the staff loved the character and I hope enjoy it as well.
The Dream Team: Uhura
Another character was modeled after Nichelle Nichols portrait of Nyota Uhura from the original Star Trek in the 1960's. I choose this character for the staff member because Uhura is a strong, independent, beautiful woman surrounded by strong men, very similar to the staff member. She is also the communications officer and the one thing this staff member can do is communicate; with staff, parents and children alike.
One other aspect that she and others noticed is that I made her hair up almost like a beehive from the time period. The staff member likes to change-up her hairstyle and she asked if she should go with a hive next. I said it was up to her but something's are probably kept in the past.
She and the staff loved the character and I hope enjoy it as well.
Cher Horowitz
The next character is modeled after Alicia Silverstone and her portal of Cher Horowitz from the 1995 movie calledClueless. The character is a popular girl in high school but she is a little superficial, however the staff person is nothing like her. So why did I choose this character? Well the character reminded me of the eternal youth inside all of us and this characteristic is in abundance with the staff person. She is always smiling and wants the best for others and she has this youthful presence about her. She always reminded me of a high school student and so I drew her as such.
She and the other staff enjoyed this character and I hope you do too.
Gogo Yubari
The next character is modeled after Chiaki Kuriyama and her portal of Gogo Yubari from the 2003 movie called Kill Bill. The character is a sadistic 17-year-old Japanese girl who is an associate and body-guard of O-Ren Ishii. She is skilled at killing people and in the art of wushu using a ball and chain whip. She is the top assassin of O-Ren and has a memorable battle with Beatrix.
So why did I choose this character? Well the character is nothing like the staff person. She is Korean who is a quite, reserved, friendly person, the total opposite of the character I drew. That is one of the reasons why I did draw her as that character. I wanted to impart some power into the person that she is like the character. You see, Gogo Yubari looks like a quite, sweet little schoolgirl but watch out. You never know what strength of character she really has is until you get to know her. I told that this was a good thing that I see greatness within her.
The other reason has to do with her room partner. You will have to wait until next week to see her.
Well she enjoyed this character and the reasoning behind it. I hope you enjoy Gogo Yubari.
Beatrix Kiddo
The next character is modeled after Uma Thurman and her portrayal of Beatrix Kiddo from the 2003 movie called Kill Bill. The character was a member of the "Deadly Viper Assassination Squad". She was known as "Black Mamba", but also "The Bride". A trained assassin she wanted out when she got pregnant, however the rest of the squad tried their best to kill her. Yet nothing could stop this strong and spirited woman from getting her revenge on every member of the "Deadly Viper Assassination Squad".
This is precisely why I chose this character for the staff member. Not the assassin part, but the strong independent woman. Beatrix is a rare powerful female character in film and that is exactly what I wanted to convey with the staff member. She is strong, independent and if I dare say opinionated and willing to stand by her beliefs.
The other reason was because her room partner is the woman I drew as Gogo Yubari. If you have seen the movie you know that Gogo and Beatrix have a memorable battle. This is not the case with the staff members. They are great partners and good friends. It just seemed like these two are such an odd pair in the movie, total opposites. The two staff members are the same. They are opposites yet they work great together, finishing each other's sentences and knowing what the other person is thinking. The perfect team.
Well she enjoyed this character and she loved the reasoning/inspiration behind it. I hope you enjoy Beatrix Kiddo.
Xena Warrior Princess
The staff member is somewhat similar to the character I modeled her after. Not the infamous warrior but a warrior in her own right. Being a mother of girls it sometimes feels that you are fighting the good fight, righting the wrongs of the world. This staff member also reminded me of Xena. It does not hurt that she is a tall woman and she kind of looks like a warrior character.
The character is a very strong role model for girls and women. It illustrates that women can be strong and fierce individuals, but still have a feminine side. The staff member has all these traits and more. She is a great mother and strong woman to boot. If you ever want someone on your side she is the one you can count on.
She really enjoyed the caricature and the inspiration behind it, as did the staff and her family. I hope you enjoy Xena, Warrior Princess.
Miranda Priestly
The next character is modeled after Meryl Streep and her portrayal of Miranda Priestly from the 2006 film Devil Wears Prada. She is the formidable and feared editor-in-chief of a magazine call Runway. Everyone fears her at the magazine as in the fashion world. Her power is unmatched, where in a review of a designer's pre-viewing she forced him to redesign his entire collection with the pressing of her lips. She is the ultimate boss knowing everything about her business.
Well the boss or director at the centre is nothing like this character, but she is the boss. Therefore, I drew her as the ultimate boss, Miranda Priestly. She may be tough but she is fair and expects the best from everyone. Truthfully, what is wrong with that?
The director did not hate the character, but was curious about why I chose her. I told her what I mentioned above but I found out that it wasn't the character that she was upset about, but the fact that I used an older woman to model her after. Also, she asked why I did not draw her thinner than I did. I thought I did, but she wanted to be drawn thin like I did for Uma Thurman's character Beatrix Kiddo.
I did remind her that this is just a caricature of her not a realistic version. I did learn something that day. I always knew that you always drew women caricatures thinner than they are but I also learned that you have to draw them younger too.
Despite these little criticisms she did like the caricature, as did the rest of the staff. I hope you enjoy my caricature of the staff member as Miranda Priestly.
Robert "Rocky" Balboa
The next character is modeled after Sylvester Stallone and his portrayal of Robert "Rocky" Balboa from the movie Rocky released in 1976. An ordinary Joe, that works hard and peruses his dreams of being a boxer. He struggles and works hard and he achieves his goal and become Heavy Weight Champion of the World.
The staff member is somewhat similar to the character I modeled him after. For one thing he is Italian and I thought "The Italian Stallion" fits him perfectly. He is a fighter but fights for his family and friend. And this character of Rocky is trustworthy and loyal, just like the staff member.
He was my Chris Kringle that year and I put a bit more effort into the character. That is why I added the bigger chin like a boxer and if you look at the belt around his waist you will read "The Italian Stallion".
He really enjoyed the caricature, as did the staff. I hope you enjoy my caricature of the staff member as Robert "Rocky" Balboa.
Michael Corleone
The next character is modeled after Al Pacino and his portrayal of Michael Corleone from the Godfather movie, released in 1972. Born into a Sicilian family and fought in the Second World War, Michael is part of a family who is an important group or family in the Italian organized crime faction, aka Mafia, of the 1940s & 50s. Michael is the youngest of the three brothers. His father is the head of the organization but ever since his father got shot the power went to his older brother Sonny. However, because of his father failing health, Sonny's death and his other brother's inability to run the family, Michael takes over the family business. Upon the death of his father, Michael uses military precision to assassinate the other crime family's leaders, to reign supreme as the sole Don or Godfather.
If you haven't guessed it yet, this is me. I wanted to portray myself in the light of something I believe in. No not organized crime, but family. Michael and many of these people see that the ties of blood and family are eternal. My family, being Maltese (very similar to Sicilian), have these values in common, rang true to me. This was made more apparent to me that year because a beautiful miracle blessed me. I became an uncle for the first time to a beautiful niece. My sister and brother-in-law honored me when they asked if I could be the godfather. I was thrilled for such an honor and I decided to commemorate the moment with this caricature of myself as the most recognized Godfather.
The staff really enjoyed the caricature as part of the final image (you can see that soon). I hope you enjoy my caricature of me as Michael Corleone, The Godfather.
The Dream Team: Final Team Portrait
In the past few weeks I have shown you the different staff as a caricature I drew. Each got a Christmas card with their caricature, however I also gave them a large portrait with all the staff caricatures. This was my first such venture therefore, I wanted to make it simple and just show each staff member's caricature. I thought this way everyone would be able to have everyone else's caricature and my own.
When I presented this final portrait to everyone, their joy was brought to a climax. Their reaction gave me a tremendous feeling of delight. I had brought a little joy into everyone's life that night, with something as simple as a cartoon caricature. That was the best present I received that night.
I hope you have enjoyed my presentation of Art Inspiration: Staff Cartoons The Dream Team and the final portrait entitled, "The Dream Team".


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In Chinese Prisons
Prisoner of Mao by Bao Ruo-wang (Jean Pasqualini) and Rudolph Chelminski
China Behind the Mask by Warren Phillips and Robert Keatley
A Chinese View of China by John Gittings
Prisoner of Mao by Bao Ruo-wang (Jean Pasqualini) and Rudolph Chelminski
China Behind the Mask by Warren Phillips and Robert Keatley
A Chinese View of China by John Gittings
St John of the Cross: His Life and Poetry by Gerald Brenan, with a translation of the poetry by Lynda Nicholson
From the Diary of a Snail by Günter Grass
Caspar David Friedrich, 1774-1840: Romantic Landscape Painting in Dresden by William Vaughan and Helmut Börsch-Supan and Hans Joachim Neidhardt
Robert Schumann: The Man and His Music edited by Alan Walker
Lesbian Nation by Jill Johnston
Combat in the Erogenous Zone by Ingrid Bengis
The Inevitability of Patriarchy by Steven Goldberg
The Manipulated Man by Esther Vilar
Not in God's Image by Julia O'Faolain and Lauro Martines
Male Chauvinism! by Michael Korda
Beyond God the Father: Toward a Philosophy of Women's Liberation by Mary Daly
As If By Magic by Angus Wilson
Temporary Kings by Anthony Powell
The Plot That Thickened by P.G. Wodehouse
The World of Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
All About Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
Asylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and Other Inmates by Erving Goffman
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life by Erving Goffman
Encounters: Two Studies in the Sociology of Interaction by Erving Goffman
Relations in Public: Micro Studies of the Public Order by Erving Goffman
Towards a Poor Theatre by Jerzy Grotowski
The Briar Patch: The People of the State of New York v. Lumumba Shakur Et Al by Murray Kempton
Neal Ascherson is the author of Black Sea, Stone Voices: The Search for Scotland and the novel Death of the Fronsac. He is an Honorary Professor at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London. (December 2019)
W.H. Auden (1907–1973) was an English poet, playwright, and essayist who lived and worked in the United States for much of the second half of his life. His work, from his early strictly metered verse, and plays written in collaboration with Christopher Isherwood, to his later dense poems and penetrating essays, represents one of the major achievements of twentieth-century literature.
Isaiah Berlin (1909–1997) was a philosopher and historian of ideas who held the Chichele Professorship of Social and Political Theory at Oxford. The final volume of his correspondence, Affirming: Letters 1975–1997, was published in December 2015.
John K. Fairbank (1907–1991) was an American sinologist. His final book was China: A New History.
Andrew Hacker teaches political science at Queens College. He is currently working on a book about the Republican Party. (September 2018)
Charles Rosen was a pianist and music critic. In 2011 he was awarded a National Humanities Medal.
Emma Rothschild is Director of the Joint Centre for History and Economics at King's College, Cambridge and Harvard, and Professor of History at Harvard. She is the author of Economic Sentiments: Adam Smith, Condorcet and the Enlightenment.
I.F. Stone (1907–1989) was an American journalist and publisher whose self-published newsletter, I.F. Stone's Weekly, challenged the conservatism of American journalism in the midcentury. A Noncomformist History of Our Times (1989) is a six-volume anthology of Stone's writings.
Michael Wood is Professor Emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at Princeton. His most recent book is On Empson.


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Greene County Habitat for Humanity
Greene County Habitat for Humanity was established in December 1996 by John Ludwig as a chartered affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, International. Habitat volunteers build new homes in partnership with future homeowners, with support and resources from the local community, in order to make safe, decent, and affordable housing available to low-income families.
The first Habitat house in Greene County was built in 1997 and sold to our first homeowner with a 20-year interest-free mortgage. With growing support from the community, through both monetary and in-kind donations and volunteer services, a total of 58 homes have been built. Typically, three-four homes are built each year.
Greene County Habitat for Humanity is the largest non-profit residential builder in the Lake Country area. It has attracted approximately 300 volunteers from throughout the area and has obtained support from numerous individuals, churches, businesses, and other organizations, all collaborating together to provide adequate and affordable housing for those in need.
All Are Welcome
Greene County Habitat for Humanity has an open-door policy. All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, or political views. Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion.
It's so easy to be stuck in poverty. Some people inherit money, some people inherit houses, some people inherit poverty. To think outside the scope of poverty is hard. So when you have a hand-up, what habitat offers, that hand-up turns out to be a different type of inheritance. You pass along hope.
Jose Tobar, son of a Habitat homeowner


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Speculation Over Back Door in Skype
According to reports, there may be a back door built into Skype, which allows connections to be bugged. The company has declined to expressly deny the allegations. At a meeting with representatives of ISPs and the Austrian regulator on lawful interception of IP based services held on 25th June, high-ranking officials at the Austrian interior ministry revealed that it is not a problem for them to listen in on Skype conversations.More here.
This has been confirmed to heise online by a number of the parties present at the meeting. Skype declined to give a detailed response to specific enquiries from heise online as to whether Skype contains a back door and whether specific clients allowing access to a system or a specific key for decrypting data streams exist. The response from the eBay subsidiary's press spokesman was brief, "Skype does not comment on media speculation. Skype has no further comment at this time." There have been rumours of the existence of a special listening device which Skype is reported to offer for sale to interested states.


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ENTp or INFj
April 4, 2012 Leave a comment
I have spent quite some time recently on various personality tests: Jung Myer Briggs DisC Insight Management Drives – you name it. Consider me over tested. I start hating them because I think the results put me in a straight jacket. 'Labelled'. And yes,even this remark is probably an expression of my personality: ENTp. (look it up)
Despite all that labelling phobia that I have, it somehow helps. Knowing how you react typically shows you where you need to be complemented. You can look for the right partner(s). Bingo. World in balance – you can stay in your comfort zone.No?
No. I am not only an ENTp but also a woman. I repeated the test today answering how I was behaving lately, and became an INFj. Do those tests consider that I view the world quite differently on one day versus the other (and also myself)? Does it take into account that I learn to change behaviour?
Bottom line I will say that I prefer tests that actually ask for what I 'love' to do rather than how I behave usually. Those get much closer to what drives me..: Create something new, influence people, and win.
And if I wasn't also a sceptic, I'd start believing in zodiacs. And that they are a 'self-fulfilling prophecy. Tell someone he is a lion, he will start act like a lion…..


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Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction is an ancient tradition of being fully present to another person as they explore their spiritual journey. Spiritual Directors are trained and experienced in listening deeply, viewing the encounter as Holy Listening. The focus is relationship with God in daily life, prayer and reflection, discernment of calling, spiritual growth, and obstacles or resistance to growth. Reflecting deeply on the experiences of daily life, you may begin to recognize God's presence and grace, and that God's Spirit is truly with you every day and everywhere, seeking a closer relationship with you.
By appointment. Contact the parish office: email@example.com, 367-2665


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paul dempsey and olympia complement each other perfectly
A star on the rise and an Australian rock superman was on show at a packed Triffid on Friday night. I haven't seen the crowd that excited for a long time.
Olympia hit the stage early and The Triffid crowd is already making it hard to maneuver and even harder to get a spot near all the action. The voice, the melodies and the look all come together perfectly tonight for Olympia. This act continues to provide enigmatic shows with songs appearing on the Australian music scene as instant classics. The last two tracks of the night 'Tourists' and 'Smoke Signals' leave everyone with Olympia firmly on their mind.
Paul Dempsey's voice has been in my ears since Something for Kate's Elsewhere for 8 Minutes . He has always had an edge above; his music is an escape. Every time I hear a Something for Kate track I am immediately transported back to a time of indulgence and excess i.e. university. I love the fact that music that was such a big part of my life continues can be refashioned and invites me into exploring how far Dempsey can push his talent.
As the man walks on stage everyone already knows this is going to be a great performance. He launches into a number of tracks off the new album with Idiot Oracle the stand out. Dempsey is extremely animated tonight and uses all of the stage throwing his guitar around and connecting with the other parts of the band.
The members of Olympia are back to help Paul onstage tonight and everything is tight, loud and awesome.
Other stand out tracks for the night include Morningless and The True Sea. The stage presence Dempsey has is outrageous. How can one man command so much of a packed room's attention?
The lyrics on the new album exemplify Dempsey's reputation as one of the greatest Australian songwriters. It is the emotional connection that you feel with the music that always gets me. I find myself listening to anything Dempsey touches when I need to take a break from what is going on around me and enter a different (hyper emotional) world of wonder.
"You know I always had a blind spot for you and I guess I still do. I guess I still do."
Tonight is one of those gigs where you go home ready for what the next week of real world will bring. Thanks to Olympia and Paul for an amazing show and good luck with the remainder of the tour.


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Volunteering at Kluge-Ruhe
Click here to apply to volunteer at Kluge-Ruhe.
Volunteers play an essential role in engaging our audiences and supporting staff by working behind-the-scenes. Volunteering your time enables you to share your passion and enthusiasm for art, while knowing that you are helping to enrich our community. No previous knowledge of Aboriginal art is necessary. Applications are accepted at all times.
Three volunteer roles:
- Docent: provides tours of the current exhibitions
- Gallery attendant: greets visitors and answers their questions, handles gift shop sales
- Event Assistant: helps with public events and programs
Qualified candidates for any of the roles above should:
- Possess an appreciation of art and a deep respect for other cultures
- Be 16 years old or older
- Commit to volunteer for at least one year
- Attend at one event during each artist residency
- Assist at least one Night at the Museum event per summer
All volunteers enjoy these special rewards:
- Invitations to meet and connect with visiting artists
- A free copy of Art From the Land: Dialogues with the Kluge-Ruhe Collection
- A 15% discount in the gift shop
- A sense of community with other inquisitive and vibrant ambassadors for our collection


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Made with hand-distressed, genuine leather, this iconic vintage case cover enhances the joy of reading by putting a real book spine in your hands. BookBook is as interesting as the stories inside your Kindle Paperwhite.
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Trisha Parker, Having a Good Day
As a young man I became very interested in biorhythms. With a hectic schedule as a grad student, college instructor, husband and father, it seemed I was sharper and more together on some days than others. When I investigated, I found that in some cultures, especially Swiss and Japanese, the scheduling of such jobs as airline pilots and even trolley conductors were regulated by biorhythm measurements.
Now, looking back as a retired senior, it seems that my entire life has been lived in cycles. This makes sense to me because everything else in the universe appears to have them. As human beings, it's much like the proverbial little girl, wherein the cycles can be very good or very, very bad.
For my wife Trisha and me, the first quarter of this year was bad with a capital B. As I've previously mentioned, earlier in the New Year I required surgery, then our dear friend and my former Air Force roommate passed away. He was literally a brother to me and I will never completely get over losing him. Things did not improve as Trisha developed a medical problem that required immediate surgery. All of these episodes can be defined as part of life, no different from anyone else. In this case, they occurred in rapid succession and created a great deal of stress for both of us.
Taking a break, once our doctors approved us for flight, we headed to Florida for some relaxation. While other factors did not permit us to completely relax, Trisha did finally get on a bit of a winning streak. She did not win the lottery, but had a couple of really good days.
First of all, being an avid shopper, she was thrilled to see the newly constructed Palm Beach Outlet Stores were open for business. Needing some new clothes for an upcoming trip, she could not wait to explore their wares. On a beautiful Florida day, we headed to Palm Beach where her first stop was Banana Republic.
Before I go further, I know some of my male readers may be saying, "You idiot, you actually took your wife shopping?" I plead guilty, but read on to find out why I didn't mind. For one, you should know Trisha is a shopping genius.
After a long time picking out several items, she headed to the dressing room to make her final decisions. She then took the items to the sales counter where they totaled her purchase. The bill came to $206.57. As I looked on, Trisha took out her coupons, reward points, etc. The sales clerk refigured the bill and said, "That will be $0.77." I'm not kidding; her total charge was 77 cents. She then went on to the Gap and bought $75 worth of clothing for $30. She was very pleased, I was happy, and we enjoyed a great dinner out that night. Yes, she did have an on-line coupon for the dinner.
The next day got even better for her. Before I share what happened, you need to know Trisha is a super sports fan. Football, baseball, NASCAR; it doesn't make a difference, she loves it all. She also has special affection for certain athletes. Perhaps highest on that list is Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath. She loves his personality and "his smile."
For faithfull readers, you may remember I met Broadway Joe last year in Florida. Trisha wasn't with me and was heartbroken she did not get to meet him. Well, the day after her successful shopping trip, we went into the same grocery store where I had met Joe. As we walked in, she turned and jokingly said, "If you see Joe, let me know." Obviously, the odds of that happening were not very good.
As we got to the back of the store, Trisha was pushing her cart down the main isle when I turned to get an item from another one. When I returned to catch up with her, I was stunned to find the man pushing a cart right behind her was none other than Joe himself. I almost busted. He then turned and headed up another isle as Trisha continued on quite unaware. I followed him hoping he would remember me and then said hello. He did remember me and we chatted for a moment or two. I then said, "Joe, you need to do something for me." "What's that," he asked. At that very moment, Trisha turned a corner and was walking directly toward us. I said, "Joe, I want you to meet my wife."
When she looked up and saw who I was talking to, she pushed her cart out of the way and ran directly toward Joe with her arms outstretched. Joe opened his arms and they embraced for quite a while. As her husband, it seemed really long. Not actually giving up the embrace completely, Joe then asked, "What's your name?" When she replied, "Trisha," I said, "You know Trisha, Joe doesn't always get their names." I was happy that for two days at least, she was into a really good cycle.
We all deserve a good cycle every now and then.


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I created a new page where I intend to post information about graduate degrees in mathematics education. I have been trying to do my own small part in helping the field attract more great candidates. If you are interested in a graduate degree in mathematics education and would like to learn more, please feel free to contact me.
Home >


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How to Roast Red Peppers in the Oven
It's cliche, I know: but once I learned how to roast my own red bell peppers under my oven's broiler, I've never gone back to store-bought. And I can pretty confidently say I never will.
The taste of roasted red peppers broiled, made under your oven's broiler, is beyond compare. Fresh, smoky, and rich, roasted red peppers are so easy to make. Just use the broil setting on your oven and you're set!
Here's how to do it.
How to Roast Red Peppers
Place whole red bell peppers on a rimmed baking sheet.
Place the sheet on the top rack of your oven, placed about 1/3 of the way down, and broil until each side is blackened, about five minutes per side.
Remove from the oven and cover the peppers with foil, paper towels, or a kitchen towel. This will "sweat" the peppers and eventually make the skin easier to peel off.
It's under there!
Peel off the skin and remove the seeds. Don't rinse; you'll rinse the flavor right off!
Place the peppers in a jar or lidded dish, and cover with olive oil.
Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 – 3 days. Enjoy mixed into pasta, pureed into soups, atop pizzas, in sandwiches and any other way you can dream up.
That's it! It's so easy to roast red peppers in the oven. I hope you try it soon!
How to Roast Red Peppers
The taste of red peppers roasted in your own oven is beyond compare. Fresh, smoky, and rich, roasted red peppers are so easy to make using your broiler setting right at home.
- Red bell peppers
- Olive oil
- Turn the oven on broil (high, if you have a high or low option). Position your oven rack about a third of the way from the top of the oven.
- Line a baking sheet, preferably with rims, with foil.
- Place the whole peppers on the baking sheet and put them in the oven.
- Check the peppers after about five minutes. Once the skin is black or partially black, turn the pepper one quarter, and continue roasting until that side blackens.
- Repeat the step two more times, until all four sides of the pepper are black or nearly black.
- Remove from the oven and allow the pan to cool a bit. Cover with a dish towel, paper towels, or foil. You cover the peppers to help "sweat" the skin, which will make it much easier to peel off.
- After the peppers have cooled enough to handle, uncover and head on over to your sink.
- Peel the skin off of the peppers and discard the skin. Remove the seeds, too, but resist rinsing the peppers with water, which washes away some of that delicious flavor.
- Place the peppers in a jar or lidded dish, and cover with olive oil.
- They keep, refrigerated, for a couple of days.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a portion of the proceeds. More about this here.


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The day has finally arrived!
I said goodbye to my colleagues on the Friday as the timing of my holiday couldn't have been better. My contract was ending where I was working for the past year and a few weeks before my holiday I was offered a great job, to start on my return! Now the stars don't align like that all the time do they?!
So after a well drowned leaving party (with my new favourite drink : vodka slimlight soda) and two intense days of last minute shopping and packing, I was ready to take off!
I am a nervous traveller generally. By nervous, I mean I stress that I will be late, have forgotten my passport or be stuck at security check for some random thing I have forgotten to take out of my bag. I check, double check and trebble check every thing…I fret nervously in the train going to airport and I panic if I don't see my gate straight away… Nothing ever happened but I can't help it…unless I travel in a group and then I let others stress themselves.
This trip was no exception, particularly because it was my first time going to the US and I had heard so many stories about going through customs over there which didn't make me all too relaxed.
Getting to the airport and through security was without incident…maybe all that stressing was for nothing or allowed me to have everything ready…
At my gate, I was waiting excitedly to embark when I noticed a guy sitting casually on the floor with his guitar (and about half a dozen bags!)…He looked familiar but I couldn't place him for a while. I kept looking back at him (hopefully discreetly enough) and then I had my "smack my forehead" moment…I was in the presence of a minor celebrity! I say minor as I don't think that many people know him (I commented about it on my Facebook status and only one of my friends knew who I was referring to); he actually might like it to be referred to being minor…anyway, this was the TV actor Ben Bass whom I knew from the TV show "Rookie Blues" (Canadian series) and I suddenly got even more excited. I am not big on celebrity spotting and I didn't actually go to him with the "OMG! You are Ben Bass, aren't you? I love your show, can I have your picture?"…I was quite happy to share the moment with my friends on Facebook (and now here) without making a fool of myself to the man, who probably wanted to travel quietly. Still I couldn't help but wonder what he had been doing in London and kept sneaking looks at him, grinning stupidly to myself!
Imagine how delighted I was when after boarding I discovered he was sitting in my aisle, one sit away from me!! Because of his million bags, he literally filled the bin above our seats so I got to speak to him and he helped me put my own bag in another locker. I was chuffed and feeling like a teenager. My delight was short lived when he got upgrade to premium eco seat to make room for a family so they could sit together. Still, as I said to the only friend who knows who he is "he touched my bag!!"…I know, I know he is hardly Brad Pitt but that made my day nonetheless!
Rest of the journey was quite uneventful. I watched a few movies, deciding that it wouldn't be a good thing to sleep. I landed at around 1pm in LAX and started getting nervous again…It was time to go through Customs and all the awful stories I had heard were coming back to me.
There was quite a queue for the non US passport holders so I bid my time. Apparently I was lucky it went quite quick as I only had to wait for 45 mins for my turn (a lot of the other members of what would be my Trek group had to wait over an hour). Still I was quite happy when my turn came, I was bored and starting to feel the lack of sleep. I had had time to see what was requested of people so I felt a little more confident stepping in front the custom officer….and then my day was made all over again! The officer was a short guy in his 50s at least with a good 70s moustache and he is first words to me as I stepped in front of him after having travelled about 10 hrs in an eco seat were "Hello, wow you are gorgeous. Are you a model?". Now there is no way you stay tired or grumpy after such a welcome! Of course, he probably says that to all the women under 50 he gets but that is not the point. Throughout our little chat, he kept staring at me and repeating how beautiful he thought I was and how I should definitely be a model…which obviously gave my ego a massive boost and gave a spring to my step when I left (about 10 mins later). This was the quickest "interview" I ever had and I couldn't understand why so many people had bad experience with the process. I obviously got lucky.
Getting to my hotel (the one used by TrekAmerica for their tour departure) was quite easy as it was located about 10 min drive from LAX and they had a regular shuttle bus picking up passengers. In less than 30 mins after I picked my suitcase I was checked in my room, had met my room mate Aisleen (who was going on another Trek) and in the shower!
Trek has a very well organise system in which you can get in touch with the people who are registered in the same tour as you before you set off so I had already been in contact with a few of my future travel buddies to check when people were getting in and we had all agreed to meet up in the lobby that evening to go for a drink and dinner.


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Oakland 2017 Economic Reader
The City of Oakland has argued that even though Local 21 members have a strong case for a larger raise, they claim that they can't afford to offer more.
The Oakland Economic Reader was given to City Council members to read over the summer. The documents dive deep into the City of Oakland's finances and disprove their position.
It includes 4 studies:
- The Beacon Economics City of Oakland Revenue Forecast, which predicts a positive economic picture for Oakland over the next 5 years.
- The Fairlie report on the State of the Economies in the Oakland Area, Greater Bay Area, and Alameda County, which examines the economic conditions in these areas and explores projections for the next few years.
- The Local 21 City of Oakland Financial Analysis, which shows a pattern of underestimation of revenue and overestimation of expenses.
- The Compensation Study commissioned by the City of Oakland, which finds that Local 21 members are underpaid by an average of almost 10% as compared with other Bay Area jurisdictions.
The data speaks for itself. This isn't about a lack of money. It's a lack of respect for us and our work.


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Aug 31, 2004 (CIDRAP News) – Influenza viruses in 18% of a group of Japanese children who were treated with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) developed resistance to the antiviral drug, which is viewed as one of the key defenses against pandemic influenza, according to a new report in The Lancet.
Oseltamivir and zanamivir block neuraminidase, an enzyme that enables the influenza virus to escape from an infected cell and spread to other cells. Previous clinical trials have shown low rates of viral resistance to the two drugs, called neuraminidase inhibitors. Because of this, and because they are effective against all strains of influenza, they are considered an important bulwark against new flu strains that could cause a pandemic. (Two older antiviral drugs used against influenza, amantadine and rimantadine, are effective only for influenza A and are associated with higher rates of viral resistance.)
The new study suggests that viral resistance to oseltamivir may be a greater problem than previously believed. "In our study, about a fifth of children developed resistance by day 4 or later during treatment with oseltamivir," says the report by Maki Kiso of the University of Tokyo and several Japanense and American colleagues. "Furthermore, just over a quarter of children who shed virus for 3 days or more had drug-resistant influenza viruses."
The researchers analyzed influenza A (H3N2) viruses collected from 50 children before and during treatment with oseltamivir in 2002 and 2003. The children ranged from 2 months to 15.8 years of age, but 80% were younger than 5 years; 29 of them were hospitalized for treatment.
The authors extracted viral RNA from patient specimens, used polymerase chain reaction to amplify the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes, and then analyzed the gene sequences. To identify neuraminidase mutations, viruses from samples taken during patients' first clinical visits were compared with those from samples obtained later. The investigators also isolated viruses from clinical samples, grew them in cell culture, and, after identifying those with particular mutations, tested them for sensitivity to oseltamivir.
Neuraminidase mutations were found in viruses from 9 (18%) of the 50 children, the report says. In eight cases the mutation was known to confer resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors. The mutation in the ninth case had not previously been shown to cause resistance, but sensitivity testing by the authors showed that it did. The testing showed that, depending on the particular mutation, mutant neuraminidase was anywhere from 300 to 100,000 times more resistant to oseltamivir than pretreatment neuraminidase was.
Drug resistance was most frequent in viruses from 1-year-old children (4 of 12 patients) and was less common in those younger than 1 year (1 of 9) and from 2 to 6 years old (4 of 22). No resistance was found in the seven children aged 7 years or older.
Resistance showed up in the viruses as early as 4 days after the beginning of treatment and persisted through day 7, according to the report. Children with resistant variants generally shed virus longer than the rest, but some of the patients with nonresistant virus were still infectious after 5 days of oseltamivir treatment. The study design did not allow the researchers to assess the relationship between drug resistance and the patients' clinical course.
The researchers write that the increased resistance they detected might be partly explained by their rigorous techniques. They also note that, depending on a patient's weight, oseltamivir dosages used in Japan may be lower than in other countries and may be suboptimal, which could contribute to viral resistance.
In an accompanying commentary, Dr. Anne Moscona of Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York City calls the study "a timely wake-up call." She writes that neuraminidase inhibitors have been shown to be effective against neuraminidase from the virus that caused the 1918 flu pandemic, the avian flu viruses that infected some humans in Hong Kong in 1997 and 1999, and this year's H5N1 avian flu strain.
"Stockpiles of these drugs are a key piece of preparedness and would be critical to an effective response," Moscona states.
The question now, she says, is whether oseltamivir-resistant viruses are transmissible and pathogenic. "If we are very lucky, they may have a growth disadvantage, or, for other reasons, be less virulent or transmissible." She adds that although there are no reports of transmission of oseltamivir-resistant viruses in humans, the Japanese findings suggest that it "is only a matter of time" until this happens.
Moscona concludes that the findings should be taken as "an energizing mandate to learn more about the incidence and mechanisms of resistance to the neuraminidase inhibitors, so that appropriate strategies can be developed for their use during the next pandemic."
Kiso M, Mitamura K, Sakai-Tagawa Y, et al. Resistant influenza A viruses in children treated with oseltamivir: descriptive study. Lancet 2004;364(9436):759-65 [Abstract—access requires free registration]
Moscana A. Oseltamivir-resistant influenza? (Commentary) Lancet 2004;364(9436):733-4 [Preview]
See also:
Aug 26 CIDRAP News story, "HHS releases plan for coping with pandemic flu"


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Style 32006 Aster
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Lazaro bridal gown - Ivory silk satin daisy embossed ball gown, sculpted V neckline with open back,fabric shoulder strap, bonded bodice, detachable bow sash at natural waist, circular skirt with side pockets, chapel train.
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Trunk shows are special sales events, generally two to three days long over the course of a weekend. During the trunk show, brides have an exclusive opportunity to view and try on bridal gowns that aren't usually available in that particular store.