Fight for your Faction! Control the Galaxy!
Galaxy Warfare is a grid-based space exploration and combat game. It is simple to play, but difficult to master. Players each control a ship and are free to explore a X,Y based galaxy, with planets, resources and mysteries. Players also engage in combat, form fleets, enhance their ship and systems and fight to control the galaxy.
Humans and Terai have long been at war. Out of the ruin of Earth came the Earth Empire, a force struggling to maintain control of the Galaxy and it's resources. The Terai, a brutal alien race continue to expand their power. Between the two arose the Vile Rogues, a faction of those who are disobedient and careless of the ways of the other races. An ancient civilization known as the Tularians hold the key to unlocking the secret of a great energy source, but which faction will find and control this energy and win the war?
Galaxy Warfare is made up of a large, active, passionate community of gamers from all over the world. We are extremely proud of the community of players we have and actively seek their feedback and guidance as the game evolves. Galaxy Warfare receives updates just about every week as well and we try to run community events monthly or more.
HBunny here, and I'm eggcited as anything to unveil this year's Egg Hunt. Similar to previous years, this open-community contest is based on the concept of players searching aggressively for Easter Eggs hidden in the Galaxy with the goal of finding the Golden Egg, with Prize incentives. However, this year I've switched things up a little bit. So, let's dive into the mechanics of the event.
There are 6 eggs hidden in the FIRST QUADRANT. By condensing the playing field, competition will be much more intense. Each Egg contains an "Eggshell Fragment" clue to the next, as well as some Egg Whites. An additional Golden Egg is hidden somewhere off-grid. The clue to find this Egg is hidden within the clues found in the 6 initial Eggs. Combine all Eggshell Fragments with other items and the items found in the Golden Egg to make your own EGG SUPREME, which will grant some nice Credits and EXP.
This year, an additional BONUS EGG is hidden in an undisclosed location. NO hints will be provided as to this area, at least to start. If you find the BONUS EGG you can combine its items with an EGG SUPREME as well as other undisclosed items to create an EGG SUPREMEST. This "upgraded egg" can be deconstructed for some really, really nice items.
ONE: The first person to find the Golden Egg is entitled to three nice items stored within the egg.
FOUR: Anyone who collects all 6 Eggshell Fragments and sends me a screenshot of them will receive an Egg Hunter award, unless you have it from previous years.
Be on the watch for other Event happenings! HAL has turned into RABBIT 9000. Ugh. Also, expect a huge EXP buff on Easter Sunday!
Oh, and one thing to keep in mind: If you're certain you're near the location of a clue, don't give up. Eggs are near, but not EXACTLY, at the locations of their listing. This is especially applicable for the Golden and Bonus eggs.
A lot has happened around here recently.
Anyway... I've been encouraged by the rapidly increasing activity levels (and somewhat player retention as well) possibly due to the re-launch of the GW Android app. I have decided to hold a competition, of sorts. The competitors are the collective Players of GW versus its Activity count and Cohort Analysis (indicative of player retention).
If GW can reach BOTH 180 active players and 30% retention, I will add one semi-major feature to the game of the community's choosing, and as such, increment it to 4.1.1.
As a reference point, we currently have 134 active players and 20.54% retention.
The good thing is, you all can't lose! This contest will run indefinitely, or at least until we hit that milestone. A forum post made by myself will be made following the victory to discuss what should be added. Good luck, get out there and tell your friends!
This is not an endorsement of alter accounts. Same-IP / email / device / location accounts are being monitored more closely than ever.
Christmas is over! Sorry it took me this long to get the totals & post up.
Congrats to Angamaite for taking the cake on this one!
The redemption rate for Ornaments will be 1000 per fragment, unless the requested Fragment(s) are of your own faction, in which case they'll be exchanged at 2,500 per. If you're listed above, please message me with your desired Fragments within a week. All leftover Ornaments will be converted to Credits deposited into your account at a rate of 4,000 per.
Edit: If you have less than 1000 Ornaments, you can redeem 500 for a Photon Sphere and Credit Megasphere combo.
Once again, let's give Angamaite a hearty congrats. Since they won both categories, as stated in the original post, the Ornaments category prize falls to the second place winner; Garadexx! I will give out the Multiplexic Techs with the Fragment redemption upon PM.
Remember to send me those messages! Ornaments will be gone in ONE WEEK. That's Saturday, the 19th.
How did Gara win second place?
Shouldn't zaspie claim second for planets claimed?
Note that the virus targets the Faction and players with the most planets the hardest! It will also strike proportionally to the amount of players online at any given time, but will only spread if 6 or more people are online. Also, you will take damage from landing on viral Christmas Tree-planets, so be careful! Ornaments give 1 Credit and 1 Fuel, but drains 1 Health on use. Use it in bulk, or save it for the end of the event for trade-ins!
+ HAL is Santa again. Uh oh.
+ We put up some decorations. Enjoy them while they last! You may need to do a full (cache) refresh on Desktop to see everything.
+ 1.25 EXP running until the event's conclusion. 2.5 EXP on Christmas day!
+ Watch out for Santa and/or his Reindeer!
+ January Voting is live!
At long last, I have totaled the Halloween event and decided a path moving forward.
I think Zaspie has a little too much time on-hand.
Since things didn't work out as planned, I've had to retroactively adjust what would be considered appropriate prizes. Candy Corn will be redeemable at 2000 per Fragment, HOWEVER: if the Fragment(s) of choosing is/are that of your own faction, it will be a deductible of 5000, rather than 2000. Zaspie will also be the lucky recipient of the promised Multiplexic technology. If you're listed above, please message me with your desired Fragments within a week. All leftover Candy Corn will be converted to Credits deposited into your account at a rate of 5,000 per.
Obviously, this is the more difficult scoring to handle. For some, it worked half the time. For others, key binds were the solution. Mobile players were entirely unable to revive planets. I apologize sincerely for this. It caused many days of consternation on my part, and I was only able to find the root of the problem thanks to some insight from Skitzo. As a result of all the mediocrity and disparity on the playing field, I cannot award any prizes for scores in this regard. Sorry! However, here's the totals for lolz.
Once again, let's give Zaspie a round of applause. Goodness gracious!
Remember to send me those messages! Candy Corn will be gone in ONE WEEK. That's Thursday, the 6th.
The Planetary Plague has hit the Galaxy! Every minute, planets everywhere are being targeted seemingly at random by an Infection that turns them into giant Jack-o-Lanterns! You can acquire loads of Candy Corn from these Infected planets, or Revive them to claim them and turn them back to normal. At the conclusion of the event, in a week or so, two winners will be selected as follows: the person with the most Candy Corn, and the person who has Reanimated/Revived the most Planets. Winners will receive a Multiplexic Technology for each category won. Also, you'll be able to exchange 2000 Candy Corn for a Fragment of your choice at the conclusion of the event.
Note that the Infection targets the Faction and players with the most planets the hardest! It will also strike proportionally to the amount of players online at any given time, but will only spread if 6 or more people are online. Also, you will take damage from landing on Infected Planets / Jack-o-Lanters, so be careful! Candy Corn gives 1 Credit and 1 Fuel, but drains 1 Health on use. Use it in bulk, or save it for the end of the event for trade-ins!
Well, thankfully, we're not going back to that.
However, I will be steadily introducing a few more bots to the grid. The main goal here is to provide more combat opportunities, especially for newcomers.
The amount of bots and the quality of their loot will be a bit of a work in progress. They will initially be stocked with items but those loot pools may be adjusted as we go. Please feel free to provide constructive feedback on them—as the process rolls along, I'm happy to adjust things as needed. A thread titled "New Bots" has been created in the Feedback forum. Please post any feedback there.
Good to see you back, and if you're new, Welcome!
A lot has been added, removed, and drastically changed in this update. Everything from quests, to missions, to bots, to items, to the grid itself has been remade, all by hand. While a lot of work went into this update, it was also done under a time constraint- because of the nature of its release, I did not have time to properly evaluate how all of the new data will influence the game. As a result, you all will be the lucky few who get to witness first hand GW in its second coming, and participate in molding it into what it'll become in the following years, as GW2 is developed in the shadows behind the scenes (potentially releasing in Alpha as early as the first quarter of 2019). In your role as stewards of a reborn game, you're endowed with much responsibility. I need your support in providing feedback that will suit not your own needs, but the needs of the game as a whole. I also need your patience as we release balances, updates, patches, and other things from this release. Right off the bat, I need you to be aware of a few large changes we have made. Whether some of these will be permanent or not remains to be seen.
+ EVERYONE has been reset to square one. Only your Awards remain.
+ Umir Gate / Queen / Technology has been removed. Umir Tech is now Multiplexic Tech. Swarm still exists.
+ Subscription Status has been removed for everyone until I get a list of who is still actually paying. Thank you for your patience!
I'm sure I missed something here, and even if I listed everything I could remember, it would take me a few days to write and equally as long for you to read. Seriously, a LOT changed. I'll try to add any major things that I remember.
There's also a few things I had wanted to do in this release, but haven't gotten to quite yet. I WILL accomplish these, but not until 4.1.0, whenever that will be.
I have created a Forum for discussing V4.0.0 changes and such. Please stay civil and provide constructive criticism only. Thank you.
Also... We will not have any Weekly or Monthly missions until Sunday and Next Wednesday, respectively. On that same note, August Governors will be volunteer Staff members. Voting will resume as normal in mid-August.
I would like to give a massive Thank-You not only to the playerbase for your overwhelming support and patience, but to a few select people who I couldn't have done this without. SlightlySkitzo, SomerandomStickboy, Benanater15, Mahvl, Thermo, and the rest of Staff- you have all been more helpful and supportive than I could have ever wished for. Thank you. I really can't thank you enough. I'd also like to give a shoutout to an IRL friend who I'll simply call "Classycoder" for staying up with me until 3 AM one night entering item values. Without these people, you wouldn't be able to play for at least another week.
Here's to a game reborn, and its awesome future! Now go get claimin'!


text:
Jane Seymour, Beau Bridges and Peter Weller to Guest Star on TNT's Hit Series "Franklin & Bash"
Seymour will play Colleen Bash, "the freewheeling, indecisive Earth Mom of Mark Paul Gosselaar's Peter Bash."
[via press release from TNT]
Award-winning actors Jane Seymour, Beau Bridges and Peter Weller are set to guest-star on TNT's hit series Franklin & Bash.
In the episode entitled Viper, Seymour will play Colleen Bash, the freewheeling, indecisive Earth Mom of Mark Paul Gosselaar's Peter Bash. Seymour played the title role on the hit series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman for six seasons, earning a Golden Globe(R) for her performance. She previously earned a Golden Globe for her performance in the television adaptation of East of Eden and an Emmy(R) for the television movie Onassis: The Richest Man in the World.
In the episode "For Those About to Rock," Bridges will reprise his role as Leonard Franklin, the estranged father of Breckin Meyer's Jared Franklin. The pair will go up against each other in court. Bridges is a 14-time Emmy nominee, winning the award three times for his work in The Second Civil War, The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom and Without Warning: The James Brady Story, the latter two also winning him Golden Globes.
The same episode will also feature Weller as Bert Mazzani, a reclusive rock star whose estranged son is being evicted from the Hollywood music club he created. Weller is known for his big-screen work in the blockbuster RoboCop and the indie film Naked Lunch. He was recently nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award as a member of the cast of Dexter. In 1994, he earned an Oscar(R) nomination as director of the short film Partners.
TNT's buddy lawyer series Franklin & Bash stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Breckin Meyer as two young, fly-by-the-seat-of-their-pants street lawyers who cause a seismic culture clash when they join a legendary, button-down law firm. The series also stars Dana Davis, Kumail Nanjiani, Reed Diamond and Garcelle Beauvais, with Malcolm McDowell as Stanton Infeld, the patriarch of the law firm.
Franklin & Bash averaged more than 3.9 million viewers in its first season, ranking among basic cable's Top 10 new series of the summer. The show is produced by Four Sycamore Productions, Left Coast Productions and FanFare Productions in association Sony Pictures Television. Franklin & Bash is executive-produced by Jamie Tarses, Kevin Falls, Bill Chais and Jason Ensler.
· FRANKLIN & BASH (TNT)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
package io.confluent.kafka.schemaregistry;

import io.confluent.kafka.schemaregistry.client.rest.RestService;
import org.eclipse.jetty.server.Server;

import java.util.Properties;

import io.confluent.kafka.schemaregistry.avro.AvroCompatibilityLevel;
import io.confluent.kafka.schemaregistry.rest.SchemaRegistryConfig;
import io.confluent.kafka.schemaregistry.rest.SchemaRegistryRestApplication;
import io.confluent.kafka.schemaregistry.exceptions.SchemaRegistryException;
import io.confluent.kafka.schemaregistry.storage.SchemaRegistry;
import io.confluent.kafka.schemaregistry.zookeeper.SchemaRegistryIdentity;

public class RestApp {

  public final Properties prop;
  public RestService restClient;
  public SchemaRegistryRestApplication restApp;
  public Server restServer;
  public String restConnect;

  public RestApp(int port, String zkConnect, String kafkaTopic) {
    this(port, zkConnect, kafkaTopic, AvroCompatibilityLevel.NONE.name);
  }

  public RestApp(int port, String zkConnect, String kafkaTopic, String compatibilityType) {
    this(port, zkConnect, kafkaTopic, compatibilityType, true);
  }

  public RestApp(int port, String zkConnect, String kafkaTopic,
                 String compatibilityType, boolean masterEligibility) {
    prop = new Properties();
    prop.setProperty(SchemaRegistryConfig.PORT_CONFIG, ((Integer) port).toString());
    prop.setProperty(SchemaRegistryConfig.KAFKASTORE_CONNECTION_URL_CONFIG, zkConnect);
    prop.put(SchemaRegistryConfig.KAFKASTORE_TOPIC_CONFIG, kafkaTopic);
    prop.put(SchemaRegistryConfig.COMPATIBILITY_CONFIG, compatibilityType);
    prop.put(SchemaRegistryConfig.MASTER_ELIGIBILITY, masterEligibility);
  }

  public void start() throws Exception {
    restApp = new SchemaRegistryRestApplication(prop);
    restServer = restApp.createServer();
    restServer.start();
    restConnect = restServer.getURI().toString();
    if (restConnect.endsWith("/"))
      restConnect = restConnect.substring(0, restConnect.length()-1);
    restClient = new RestService(restConnect);
  }

  public void stop() throws Exception {
    restClient = null;
    if (restServer != null) {
      restServer.stop();
      restServer.join();
    }
  }

  public boolean isMaster() {
    return restApp.schemaRegistry().isMaster();
  }

  public void setMaster(SchemaRegistryIdentity schemaRegistryIdentity)
      throws SchemaRegistryException {
    restApp.schemaRegistry().setMaster(schemaRegistryIdentity);
  }

  public SchemaRegistryIdentity myIdentity() {
    return restApp.schemaRegistry().myIdentity();
  }

  public SchemaRegistryIdentity masterIdentity() {
    return restApp.schemaRegistry().masterIdentity();
  }

  public SchemaRegistry schemaRegistry() {
    return restApp.schemaRegistry();
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


ww2dbase1. France cedes to Thailand the district of Paklay, which is mentioned in Article II of the Convention between France and Siam of February 13, 1904, and the region lying to the north of the boundary line between the Province of Battambang and Pursat and the region lying on the right bank of the Mekong River bounded on south by the line running northward along the Longitude from the point touching Grand Lac and the southernmost end of the boundary line between the Provinces of Siem Reap and Battambang to the crossing point of that Longitude and the line of the 15th degree G of the Latitude and then eastward along that line of the Latitude of the Mekong River. However, a small area lying opposite to Stung Treng is reserved to French Indo-China.
2. All of the above-mentioned ceded territories are to be made demilitarized zones, and French nationals and the people of French Indo-China are to enjoy an absolutely equal treatment with nationals of Thailand through these areas with respect to entry, domicile and occupations and their pursuit.
3. The Government of Thailand will respect the mausolea of the Luang Prabang Royal House situated in the triangular zone lying opposite to Luang Prabang, and afford facilities for its preservation and worship, etc.
4. The Mekong frontier will be fixed in accordance with the principle of the deep-water channel, but the two islands, namely Khong and Khone, will, under the sovereignty of Thailand, be jointly administered by France and Thailand, and the existing French establishments on the islands shall belong to France.


text:
ANCIENT BARDS – Soulless Child
Band:ANCIENT BARDS
Title:Soulless Child
Genre:Symphonic Power Metal
Label:Limb Music Products
Tags: 2011, ANCIENT BARDS, Limb Music Products, Power Metal
Tuesday, December 20, 2011 : 1 Comment
Last year, a new Symphonic Power Metal band rose from the underground. For the fans of RHAPSODY (OF FIRE) and similar, the Italian female-fronted formation ANCIENT BARDS was a blessing, as their forefathers (so to speak) had moved away from the style that made them loved around the globe. So ANCIENT BARDS decided to fill that hole. Their debut album, "The Alliance Of The Kings", was hailed by many – and also despised by others, which is the case with many bands, albums and other things in life. You can read my review here.
More than a year and a half later, the band has finished part 2 of "The Black Crystal Sword Saga", titled "Soulless Child", which came out on the 18th November. As you might expect, I, together with many others, have been looking out anxiously for this release, especially since I very much liked "The Alliance Of The Kings". Not that much changed, though the band seemed to have put more emphasis on choir parts. Plus, they have a new drummer, Federico Gatti. He replaced Alessandro Carichini, who left the band due to private reasons. Nevertheless, that didn't disturb the writing or recording process and it seemed Federico quickly learned the songs to ensure a smooth studio time.
Like on the debut album, "Soulless Child" begins with an orchestral intro ("Struggle For Life") with spoken introduction. It's got very very nice melodies, which do sound quite touching. The whole rises to a climax that bursts out with the choirs and bombast of "To The Master Of Darkness". And that's one extremely vital element on this album: choirs! What follows is your typical double-bass pounding Power Metal with symphonic leads. And it's pure awesomeness! Of course, the band has two skilled guitarists, which means it would be a shame if they would only focus on rhythmic playing. So obviously they also contribute to the melodic side of the song. Sara's clean vocals sound very good, perhaps better than before. The aforementioned choir part is very catchy and precedes the majestic chorus, which is nothing short of pure delight, pure divinity. The harmonies, the singing… I'm speechless. There are indeed similarities with the previous album and the song "Daltor The Dragonhunter", but I certainly don't mind. Neither do I mind the comparisons with RHAPSODY or even LUCA TURILLI (the solo albums of RHAPSODY OF FIRE's ex-axeman and co-mastermind). Last but not least there's is the solo portion (featuring guitar first, then bass, then keyboards) of the song, which is preceded by a bombastic instrumental piece. This all connects smoothly with a racing bridge to then dive into the pre-chorus and chorus again.
Then comes another highlight and one of my favourites, "Gates Of Noland". The obligatory classical intro appears first, which features strings and harpsichord playing the main melody. Add the Metal blocks to that and you get a wonderful bombastic Power Metal song. Classic, indeed, but oh so tasty!! The verses are strong and thus need to be sung with more power and passion. Sara accomplishes it with ease. The symphonics linger in the back then, mostly in charge of atmosphere. The choir makes its entry in the pre-chorus before the tempo decreases a bit for the midtempo chorus, which sounds like it could have come off LUCA TURILLI's "King Of The Nordic Twilight" album, for example. Or one of the older RHAPSODY releases. In other words: eargasm! And what a contrast with the verses. The guitar solo is again well done and in a way that makes it an ANCIENT BARDS trademark. And so the song carries on. Pure quality!
"Broken Illusion" is a song where the guitars take the lead this time, while the drums provide that typical double bass pounding. The orchestral input serves as guide for Sara's vocal lines, which are again sung very strongly. The roles are also clear: the Metal aspect delivers the power, while the orchestrations take care of the melodic side. The harmonies are again well worked out, it's just… or almost… flawless. Sara's high-pitched singing may not please all, though. The chorus is once again the harbour of the choir and the combination with the music comes out really well. In terms of solos, it's nice to hear a violin one, next to the one for the bass, the keyboards and guitar. I cannot stress it enough, Daniele and co. delivered the goods!
Time for a ballad then, since we're halfway the tracklist, a perfect moment to build in a resting point. In "All That Is True" the piano and symphonic elements dominate and work well together, in a beautiful way. And it gets really awesome when the choirs fall in in the pre-chorus, while Sara takes over vocal command in the chorus. A very touching moment. Later a speed increase kicks in, but not before the orchestral compositions and guitar solo have played their part. I'm out of words regarding this song. It's simply splendid. Carrying on then with business as usual with "Valiant Ride", with galloping verses. The song also reminded me in a way of the Belgian Folk/Power Metal band ANGELI DI PIETRA and since Sara sings a bit lower here, she made me think of ADP's vocalist Sjoera. The chorus is where all the power comes out and more volume can be found thanks to the vocals and orchestrations. A breathtaking moment! The choir is also present, in vein of how NIGHTWISH dealt with this in the past (Tarja era). Solos come from guitar and bass.
"Dinanzi Al Flagello" is an interlude consisting of orchestrations and a (big sounding) choir in vein of LUCA TURILLI's efforts on his second solo album, "Prophet Of The Last Eclipse" (2002). But it's very well done! Then "Soulless Child" comes bursting in with Sara's loud voice (did they handle the mix here differently?). She sings in a somewhat vicious way. Musically a lot happens in this song: building by means of symphonic elements and Metal instrumentation, with an important role for the drums. All this before the song really takes off with – indeed – Power Metal!! Bombast is key here, and my impression is that the fast verses are to express the anger and frustration (lyrical context). The tempo drops a bit in the pre-chorus, where the choir resides (a magical part), to then increase again in chorus itself (with more fierceful vocal input by Sara). A contrast pops up with the piano solo and the following orchestral break. After the obligatory solos, the symphonic piece (incl. choir) reminded me of EPICA (at the time of e.g. "The Phantom Agony" or "Consign To Oblivion"). This very varied mix of compositions makes this song nothing but brilliant!
Two more songs then and not the least either. "Through My Veins" is song of bombast and power. There are rough guest vocals, but I have no idea who it is. One of the guitarists? The keyboards fill the holes with melody and for the better, as the song would sound a bit empty with just the guitars and drums. The aforementioned guest vocals (screams/shouts) can be heard in the pre-chorus, followed by the choir in the chorus, creating a majestic moment. One word: wow! There's a dark and gloomy atmosphere after the guitar solo. After that it's back to business as usual. "Through My Veins" is one of the more powerful and energetic tracks here. The album closes with the long "Hope Dies Last". A soft intro to begin with, delivered by the piano and symphonic elements (incl. the flute, which makes it sound similar to NIGHTWISH's "Walking In The Air" from the "Oceanborn" album). Then the music grows in volume through the orchestra (think of the "Lord Of The Rings" films, for example). Something is about to give and indeed the power breaks loose, albeit in power ballad verses. The chorus provides a bit more power with the choir, again well done. The choir, as I said in the beginning, is one of the key aspects on "Soulless Child" and it's no different here. More action is coming up as the Metal starts gallopping halfway. The level of bombast rises, as all cards are put on the table: guitars (incl. solos), drums, strings, brass. The choir piece that follows sounds rather happy, more energetic as well. Sara's singing follows suit. An emotional piece (solo and symphonic backing) connects neatly. The orchestra takes on the outro and Sara and her male companion indicate the story is far from over. A lengthy track with lots of room for change in rhythm and melodies. And a clear confirmation of the quality on this album.
In my review of "The Alliance Of The Kings" I considered this album a serious contender for my Best Of 2010 list and indeed, I put it third. See here. When "Soulless Child", the follow-up, came out, I was a little sceptic, but on the other hand I hoped the album would be as good as the first one. Like before I gave the album several spins and it has been like that many days in a row, even in my car and each time it put a smile on my face, but also – I dare admit – made me shed some tears. Simply because the band managed to create another masterpiece that will surely (!) find a place in my Best Of 2011 list. I can add words like magnificant, splendid, wonderful, excellent, but I'd rather end with a few quotes (I found on the Web) to describe the beauty of this creation called "Soulless Child":
"Its language is a language which the soul alone understands, but which the soul can never translate." ~Arnold Bennett
"Music is the art which is most nigh to tears and memory." ~Oscar Wilde
"Music expresses feeling and thought, without language; it was below and before speech, and it is above and beyond all words." ~Robert G. Ingersoll
Struggle For Life
To The Master Of Darkness
Gates Of Noland
Broken Illusion
All That Is True
Valiant Ride
Dinanzi Al Flagello
Soulless Child
Through My Veins
Hope Dies Last
Sara Squadrani – vocals
Fabio Balducci – guitar
Claudio Pietronik – guitar
Daniele Mazza – keyboards
Martino Garattoni – bass
Federico Gatti – drums
More info at http://www.ancientbards.com/
ANCIENT BARDS - A New Dawn Ending
JACK STARR'S BURNING STARR - Land Of The Dead
SANDSTONE - Cultural Dissonance
LAST KINGDOM - Chronicles Of The North
Looking back at 2011 – Thoughts Of Metal says:
Friday, June 1, 2012 at 20:57
[…] I did add EPs, for example. Here goes… Stood out:Ancient Bards – Soulless Child (review)Amon Amarth – Surtur RisingSymphony X – IconoclastDevin Townsend Project – […]


OUR picture gallery focuses on the celebrities and pioneers who helped put Scotland on the map.
DESPITE being such a small nation, Scotland has been the birthplace of countless stars.
With every passing decade, another famous Scot has emerged as an icon in their chosen field of work.
Be it Sean Connery's acting heroics as James Bond, Sir Alex Ferguson's reign at the top of British football with Aberdeen and Manchester United, or Alexander Graham Bell's groundbreaking invention of the telephone, Scotland has always been at the forefront of greatness.
Now you can enjoy our gallery of some of the greatest ever Scots who helped define Scotland as a nation.


text:
Why I'm buying Carnival shares after their recent slump
Home Financial news Why I'm buying Carnival shares after their recent slump
Carnival (LSE: CCL) shares have been some of the worst-performing assets on the market this year. It's no mystery why the stock has slumped over the past few weeks. The company owns the Princess Cruise brand, which operates Grand Princess and Diamond Princess, the cruise ships at the centre of the global coronavirus outbreak.
As of yet, we don't know what impact this could have on Carnival shares in the long term. A week or two ago, management warned that if the company was forced to cancel all of its cruises across Asia, it could reduce earnings per share by more than 20%.
Unfortunately, it now looks as if the impact on the business could be much more significant. Reports suggest cruise bookings have fallen 50% over the past few weeks.
However, despite this uncertainty, Carnival shares could offer attractive returns for investors who are prepared to take a long-term view of the business.
Are Carnival shares worth buying?
It's now clear that the virus outbreak will have a significant impact on the cruise operator. There's a very high chance the operation will lose money this year, and there could be a hangover into 2021 as well.
This might force management to cut the company's dividend. The cash for the payout, which costs the group around $1.3bn per annum, could be put to better use elsewhere. These short-term pressures are unlikely to leave a significant impact on the business. What's more, it looks as if Carnival has plenty of financial firepower to weather the storm.
The most common reason why companies fail is debt. Indeed, businesses with a lot of debt look very intelligent in the good times but struggle in the bad. If the business falls out with its lenders, then it can quickly go under. This is the main reason why it looks as if Carnival can survive. The company's balance sheet is relatively stable compared to its peers.
READ ALSO Holiday shopping season was damp squib for US retailers
Net gearing — the ratio of debt minus cash to total shareholder equity — is less than 50%. What's more, the company has lots of assets it can borrow against to unlock cash. This financial flexibility should help the business remain afloat through these tough times.
Upside of 100%?
As the risk of the company going bust is low, now could be the time to buy Carnival shares. The stock is trading at a price-to-book (P/B) value of just 0.5. This suggests the shares offer a wide margin of safety at current levels.
Further, while it might not make much sense to rely on the company's dividend yield now, in the future, there's no reason why the business cannot reinstate the payout at its current level. That suggests investors could receive a 10% dividend yield in future.
Considering all of the above, it might now be an excellent time to buy Carnival shares.
The post Why I'm buying Carnival shares after their recent slump appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
Rupert Hargreaves owns shares in Carnival. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Carnival. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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A perfect combination of economy and ecology.
Consumption reduced, driving dynamics enhanced.
Mercedes-Benz Actros: maximum efficiency for long-distance transport in Europe.
Benefit for companies: outstanding economy.
Never before has a long-distance truck been as systematically designed for maximum efficiency as the Mercedes-Benz Actros. It stands for the ultimate in economy in the tough transport business. With the introduction of the second generation OM 471 heavy-duty engine, the already low fuel consumption is further reduced by up to three percent.
This is thanks to sophisticated engine technology such as the second generation of the unique X-Pulse injection system, a patented solution for exhaust gas recirculation and simultaneous control of the exhaust gas turbocharger, a highly precise turbocharger developed and produced in house, plus a wealth of other measures including a longer axle ratio.
Economy also means maximum robustness: several components can be omitted because the engine is systematically pilot-actuated. The motto for this is as simple as it is logical: if it's not installed, it can't wear out. In this way the outstanding reliability of the OM 471 is further enhanced.
Benefit for drivers: further enhanced dynamism.
For the driver of the Actros with the second generation OM 471, lower fuel consumption nevertheless means greater driving dynamics. A fast and steep increase in output ensures powerful starting and acceleration, even from the bottom of the rev range. Even from idle speed, the engines pull powerfully and almost reach their peak torque before the rev counter even hits 1000 rpm. Some 95 percent of the maximum torque is then available between around 1300 and 1400 rpm, and the rated speed is now 1600 rpm.
Despite nominally identical maximum output and torque data, the engines operate far more powerfully in the most frequently used engine speed range between 1000 and 1500 rpm. On the road this translates into outstanding drivability under all conceivable conditions across an extremely wide engine speed range of around 1000 rpm.
Benefit for society: maximum environmental compatibility.
In the case of heavy-duty commercial vehicles, maximum efficiency is automatically linked to the best possible environmental compatibility. The low fuel consumption achieved by the Mercedes-Benz Actros is not only good for the company's bank balance, it also preserves resources: assuming a typical mileage of 130.000 km per year, predominantly demanding routes and full capacity utilisation, the Actros with the second generation OM 471 saves around 1100 litres of fuel per year compared to its predecessor. This is equivalent to a reduction in CO2 emissions of around three tonnes for every single truck.
Extremely long maintenance intervals for engine oil service and cleaning of the particulate filter likewise help to protect the environment. The emissions of the Actros with Euro VI emissions standard are already at the limit of detection.
Up to three percent lower fuel consumption proven in precise tests.
The Mercedes-Benz test engineers have proven the outstanding economy of the Mercedes-Benz Actros with the second generation OM 471 in tough tests – rather than being theoretical, its lower fuel consumption is proven in practice.
Standard test routes include the motorway link from Stuttgart to Hamburg and back, which has been used by the testing department for around two decades. The 1520 km stretch is not only one of the most important main routes in Central Europe, it also offers a varied route profile: a mix of hilly stages, demanding mountain sections and flat stretches.
Daimler Trucks does not just compare its own trucks with each other, competitor models also take part in the tests. Thorough preparation is vital when it comes to making objective measurements. The trucks must be directly comparable in terms of engine power and torque, transmission, axle ratio, and control systems such as Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC). The cabs and the trailers, including the load and tyres, are likewise standardised. Further prerequisites for an in-house comparison test include painstaking checking of all components on an output dynamometer, wind-tunnel measurements for correctly installed and adjusted aerodynamic attachments plus calibration of the speedometer and fuel measuring system.
The vehicles are always driven under the same conditions as the reference vehicle, with as few driver interventions as possible. Additional test requirements include stable general conditions such as avoidance of heavy traffic and environmental influences such as strong winds or rain. Changing drivers and swapping trailers evens out any external influences.
Despite everything and even with the most painstaking of preparations, the fuel consumption differs by up to three percent per tour due to various influences such as the weather or traffic. These differences are evened out by performing several test drives in succession and conducting a detailed assessment.
Meticulous preparation for comparative tests.
Certain values show how important maximum neutrality is in comparative tests. A truck's fuel consumption falls by about two percent during its running-in phase from around 80.000 km. Tyre type and brand can influence fuel consumption by around five percent. Different tread depths can have the same effect. The difference between summer and winter diesel likewise affects fuel consumption by around five percent. Last but not least, having one tonne less weight on a 40 t articulated truck used for long-distance transport reduces fuel consumption by around 1.5 percent.
As well as being checked by incorruptible measuring equipment, the fuel consumption is also determined by precise refuelling. Important factors here include an always constant position at the identical fuel pump, precise refuelling up to a specified mark and measurement of the fuel temperature. Even a difference in fuel temperature of around ten degrees makes a difference of about one percent due to the different expansion of the fuel. In a tank holding 500 litres, this means a difference of five litres.
The test engineers have taken all these parameters and many others into account. The result is clear: on the road, the Mercedes-Benz Actros with the second generation OM 471 really does consume around three percent less fuel. And it has verifiably lower fuel consumption than its competitors. The Actros truly does represent maximum efficiency among the long-distance trucks in its class.
Four years on from the debut of the Mercedes-Benz OM 471 heavy-duty engine, the next evolution is here – and will allow the Mercedes-Benz Actros from Daimler Trucks to consolidate its lead in the efficiency stakes. Fuel consumption is reduced again by up to three percent whilst driving dynamics are enhanced. The series is spearheaded by a unit offering new top performance figures of 390 kW (530 hp) and 2600 Nm of torque. Last but not least, the engines are more robust than ever. In short, the second generation OM 471 once again sets the standards for heavy-duty engines.
OM 471 in-line six-cylinder engine: a new era in engine manufacturing.
A perfect blend of economy and ecology: in spring of 2011, Mercedes-Benz presented an all-new engine generation in anticipation of the Euro VI emission standard. The first member of the new engine family was the OM 471.
With its technical features and the resulting capabilities and qualities, the heavy-duty engine took engine manufacturing for heavy-duty commercial vehicles into a brand new era. The 12.8-litre in-line six-cylinder unit made its mark with a robust design and technical innovations with significant benefits for the customer. Key features included two overhead composite camshafts, the unique common-rail injection system with X-Pulse pressure booster, the asymmetric exhaust gas turbocharger, the powerful engine brake and emission control with SCR technology, exhaust gas recirculation and particulate filter to meet the requirements of the strict Euro VI emissions standard.
Four years on, the engine developers have further greatly enhanced the excellent characteristics of the OM 471. The main aim: engines that are systematically designed to ensure low running costs.
New: five output ratings up to 390 kW (530 hp).
The variants delivering 310, 330 and 350 kW are complemented by three "top torque" versions. With these engines, an extra 200 Nm of torque is placed on tap as required whenever the highest gear of the Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmission is engaged. This reduces the shift frequency and, in combination with a longer rear axle ratio, increases the transport speed without increasing fuel consumption.
New: the second generation of the X-Pulse injection system.
X-Pulse injection system – the unique common-rail system with pressure booster in the injector and unrestricted flexibility for modelling the injection system. Maximum rail pressure has been increased from 900 to 1160 bar, resulting in a maximum injection pressure of 2700 bar.
The injection nozzle is an eight-hole injector. Also new is the geometry of the piston bowl, a compression ratio increased from 17.3:1 to 18.3:1 and the reduced exhaust gas recirculation rate (EGR rate). All of this together adds up to a further improvement in efficiency across the entire range of the engine mapping. This in turn lowers fuel consumption significantly. Corresponding to the new torque curve, the best figures on the consumption map shift to lower engine speeds.
Systematically configuring the engine for low fuel consumption means that untreated NOx emissions rise in return. This is countered by SCR technology featuring an innovative and efficient SCR catalytic converter. AdBlue consumption is therefore on a par with earlier Euro V engines at around five percent of fuel consumption.
The costs work out: the drop in fuel consumption of up to three percent comes at the expense of nothing more than a slightly higher quantity of the far cheaper AdBlue needed for emission control. Assuming an annual mileage of 130.000 km in long-distance transport and a consumption of approx. 28.5 l/100 km on a demanding route covered at full load capacity, every single Mercedes-Benz Actros with the second generation OM 471 engine would save around 1100 litres of fuel a year and emit about three tonnes less CO2.
New: top-of-the-range engine with 390 kW (530 hp).
The second generation X-Pulse system with its far higher injection pressure is also a vital prerequisite for the new top-of-the-range version of the OM 471 engine. It generates an output of 390 kW (530 hp) while delivering an outstanding peak torque of 2600 Nm. Even just above its idle speed, the new engine produces a mighty 1600 Nm of torque. Special mention should be made of both the specific output of 30.5 kW (41.4 hp) per litre of displacement and the torque of 203 Nm per litre of displacement.
New: high torque even from the bottom of the rev range.
All of the OM 471 output variants benefit from the new injection system. Although the maximum output and peak torque figures remain nominally unchanged, the output and torque curves in the lowest rev range rise far more sharply, endowing the engines with quite different performance characteristics. The engines already muster up at least 2000 Nm of torque at just under 800 rpm. Depending on the output rating, close to peak torque is now already on tap between around 800 and 950 rpm.
The output curves of the new engines look just as favourable. Depending on the output variant, 95 percent of maximum output is already being generated at around 1300 to 1400 rpm. The rated speed is now 1600 rpm, yet even at the previous speed of 1800 rpm, output is just one percent below maximum.
What this means in practice is outstanding drivability under all conceivable conditions across an extremely wide usable engine speed range of about 1000 rpm. At low revs in particular, the already powerful engines now rank at least one output category higher than previously.
Mercedes-Benz uses these characteristics for a longer standard ratio on the rear axle. The ratio of i=2.533 reduces the engine speed level by three percent. With 315/70 R 22.5 tyres, this results in a speed of around just 1150 rpm at a speed of 85 km/h. At the same time, the engines have far higher reserves when driving uphill.
New: patented solution for exhaust gas recirculation.
The asymmetric turbocharger has been one of the special features of the OM 471 engine from the very start. To ensure fast build-up of the charge pressure, the exhaust gases from cylinders four to six are forwarded directly into the turbine without detour. A defined quantity of the exhaust gases from cylinders one to three, on the other hand, is used for exhaust gas recirculation to reduce NOx emissions.
This solution has been decisively enhanced. One new feature is an EGR flap moved a long way forward in the exhaust manifold, which allows infinitely adjustable and very precise control of the exhaust gas distribution between exhaust manifold and turbocharger across the entire range of the engine map. This results in effective thermal management and a lower EGR rate in general with advantages for fuel consumption.
Both the EGR rate and the exhaust gas flow to the turbocharger can now be controlled in accordance with the engine operating characteristics. The repositioning of the EGR flap furthermore opens up a whole new spectrum of asymmetry: the quantity of exhaust gases directed from the three donor cylinders to the combustion process can be varied exactly as required between zero and 100 percent – something which is unprecedented in engine manufacturing and therefore patented.
New: asymmetric injection optimises emissions quality.
The asymmetric injection is another new feature. During normal driving, the injectors for all six cylinders in the OM 471 engine are supplied with an identical quantity of fuel. If regeneration of the diesel particulate filter is required at low loads, a high EGR rate of up to around 50 percent is set in order to raise the exhaust temperature.
In order to prevent incomplete combustion in this situation, which would result in a higher proportion of soot particles in the exhaust gas, the fuel quantity is smoothly reduced in cylinders one to three as the EGR rate rises and increased in cylinders four to six. In extreme cases, the injection quantity for the first three cylinders can be zeroed, while the other three cylinders operate as if at full throttle. Consequently, the exhaust gas quality increases while particulate emissions are reduced.
New: supremely efficient turbocharger manufactured in-house.
A new asymmetric turbocharger is partly responsible for the swift and substantial increase in power delivery. It was developed by Mercedes-Benz and is manufactured at the Mannheim engine plant. An in-house turbocharger ensures customised adaptation to the requirements of the OM 471. The turbocharger impresses with its outstanding efficiency. Very tight production tolerances are a guarantee for supreme quality and durability.
As before, the asymmetric turbocharger features a fixed turbine geometry. From a technical standpoint, this variant is far less complex and thereby less prone to fail than a turbocharger with variable turbine geometry, for instance. It also does without a wastegate valve, further simplifying the design.
New: even more robust thanks to the omission of sensors and pilot-actuated operation.
Mercedes-Benz has also dispensed with boost pressure control, the EGR sensor and EGR control in the second generation of the OM 471. The thermodynamically thoroughly optimised engine is always operated in pilot-actuated mode and is therefore even more efficient. At the same time, the engine has become even more robust owing to the omission of numerous components and parts.
Fuel consumption cut by up to 13 percent in just four years.
The advances are remarkable: since 2011, following the introduction of the new Actros with Euro VI emissions rating, the Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC) cruise control system and the new engine generation, average consumption has dropped by up to 13 percent compared to the predecessor Actros model. By contrast, long-term improvements in consumption normally average out at around 1.0 to 1.5 percent per year in the commercial vehicle sector, which further underlines the expertise and innovative strength of Mercedes-Benz.
The second generation of engines combine supreme economy on the one hand with extraordinary performance capabilities on the other. It is a further high point in a fascinating development.
It is systematically designed for low operating costs like no other truck: as a result of an unrivalled complete package of technology and service, the Mercedes-Benz Actros sets standards with its outstanding efficiency. One instance where the Actros has proven its unparalleled economy is in the Fuel Duel - a fuel consumption comparison test in more than 1500 fleets all over Europe. The Fuel Duel is now entering its next round with the second generation of Mercedes-Benz OM 471 engines in the Actros.
In the Fuel Duel the Actros lines up against the best trucks in each fleet for the fuel consumption test. In just short of three years, it has now entered more than 1500 consumption contests, clocking up around 7.5 million kilometres in the process. The results are impressive: the Actros has won more than 90 percent of these duels. On average it consumes over ten percent less fuel than its competitors.
This is how the Fuel Duel works: the Mercedes-Benz Actros takes on the jobs of a competitor vehicle in a fleet and handles its loads and routes for two weeks. The driver receives detailed instruction in advance and, at the beginning, is accompanied by an expert. He then carries out his customary work with the Actros alone, supported by the Fleetboard telematics service.
This fuel consumption comparison test takes place in 22 countries, from Finland to Italy, from Spain to Romania. 90 Actros trucks are used, predominantly 1842 LS and 1845 LS tractor units. Anybody who wishes can follow the contest on the internet: the website www.fuelduel.com continuously updates the overall standings and the results in the individual countries in the language of those countries.
Now the Fuel Duel is entering its next round: Mercedes-Benz is this year providing the Actros with the second generation of OM 471 engines as a test vehicle for customer fleets.
The fuel consumption factor: 30 percent of overall costs.
The economy of the Mercedes-Benz Actros and its cost advantages are backed up by hard facts. Fuel consumption accounts for about 30 percent of the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), i.e. the total cost over the entire time a long-distance truck is owned. Maintenance and repairs account for a further ten percent of the TCO.
A vehicle manufacturer can have a direct influence on this 40 percent of the TCO. Other factors such as personnel costs (around a quarter of overall costs) plus fleet management, road tolls, road tax and insurance – together likewise around a quarter of overall costs – are outside of the manufacturer's scope of influence. Compared to these blocks of costs, the procurement costs for a truck are relatively secondary as they only account for about ten percent of the TCO.
A simple calculation example highlights the pivotal significance of the costs for fuel, maintenance and repairs in the overall reckoning: ten percent lower fuel costs increase a transport company's profit margin by three percent, ten percent lower maintenance and repair costs increase it by a further percentage point. This calculation also works the opposite way round: trucks with unnecessarily high costs for fuel, maintenance and repair ruin a transport company's profit margin.
Outstanding aerodynamics and economical auxiliary consumers.
Alongside safety, ease of use and comfort for the driver, the Mercedes-Benz Actros therefore focuses on economy. Its cab has spent 2600 hours being optimised in the wind tunnel, for instance. The result is an aerodynamically optimised basic body, immediately obvious on the StreamSpace cab especially. Visible evidence of the aerodynamic detailing includes the attachments on the cab from the front spoiler to the side flaps, low-edged door sections and a radiator shutter that opens or closes depending on the engine's cooling requirements. Even if it may seem a little unusual at first, the positioning of the air horn behind the trim alone reduces fuel consumption by 0.2 percent.
Like the engine, transmission and drive axle, the auxiliary consumers in the Actros are honed for maximum efficiency, one example of this being the two-stage air compressor, which is preferably operated in deceleration mode. Or the E-APU air control system with high reservoir pressure in the lines and air pressure production during braking. The list goes on. As a result, the amount of fuel consumed by the Actros Euro VI newly introduced in 2011 was up to five percent lower than that of its already economical predecessor.
by up to five percent.
The list of consumption-reducing measures has been growing continuously ever since. Another milestone was reached in autumn 2012 with the introduction of Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC). PPC links GPS information with three-dimensional map data. Together with the now perfectly used EcoRoll gliding function, this results in a driving style precisely adapted to the topography.
With PPC on board, the Actros accelerates, rolls and changes gear like a foresighted driver with excellent knowledge of the route. However, the technology suffers from neither lapses in fitness nor drowsiness and is familiar with almost all of the motorways and main roads in Europe. The result is yet another reduction in fuel consumption of up to five percent.
Overall economy beyond the powertrain.
Fuel consumption can be reduced by a further three percent thanks to the second generation Mercedes-Benz OM 471 engine, which is systematically designed for maximum efficiency like no other truck engine currently on the market.
Mercedes-Benz always looks at the whole picture when it comes to economy, however, and goes way beyond sophisticated fuel-saving technology. Because, when it comes to the tough transport business, one perceived truism is undeniable: a truck can only earn money when it's on the move. The second generation OM 471 is therefore even more robust than its famously reliable predecessor engines thanks to its purely pilot-actuated operation and the omission of certain components.
Furthermore, the Actros achieves extremely long maintenance intervals of up to 150,000 km. Its particulate filter does not need to be cleaned until reaching 450,000 km and subsequently every 300,000 km. The maintenance-friendly arrangement of the components minimises service downtime.
Unique network of services ensures high economy.
Apart from this, every Mercedes-Benz Actros can call upon a unique network of services. Starting with tailored financing concepts and also including sensible warranty and service packages as well as Europe's most extensive workshop network with customer-friendly opening hours. The FleetBoard telematics system supports companies with extensive and practical services, the MercedesServiceCard* allows straightforward transactions on the road, and Service 24h is available Europe-wide around the clock and 365 days a year should the worst come to the worst.
All in all the Mercedes-Benz Actros ensures pure economy for the operator – right up until its sale at TruckStore, Europe's number one for used trucks.
Mercedes-Benz OM 471 – the second generation.


£201,459 - Economic and Social Research Council (2003-2005). Researchers: Chris Hendry, Clive Holtham, Georges Selim, David Citron, Jim Brown, Jo Holden and Sally Woodward.
The aim of the project has been to develop a fuller picture of the 'intangible' processes underlying innovation, and ideas for the better measurement of these, in the belief that better measurement will increase the attention managers give to the drivers of innovation and will lead to more transparent and accurate valuation of companies.
The findings highlight key processes in innovation, and how these differ between manufacturing and services; how company reporting generally does not reflect these adequately; two broadly different approaches to managing and measuring innovation inside companies; and where the scope lies for improved reporting through the Operating and Financial Review (OFR).
(1.6million Euros) - European Commission, Information Society Technologies Programme (2001-2003). Researchers: Clive Holtham, Chris Hendry, Nigel Courtney, Jim Brown, Sally Woodward, Clark Eustace, and a consortium of eight European universities.
This project, led by Cass Business School, originated in January 2000, when a European High-Level Expert Group on the Intangible Economy (HLEG) was set up at the request of the European Commission. Chaired by CUBS Honorary Fellow Clark Eustace, with Clive Holtham as Vice-Chair, the report published in October 2000 presented new evidence on the influence of business intangibles on corporate performance and productivity, with an assessment of the implications for companies, financial markets, public institutions and regulators.


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Tieton has two main climbing areas: The Royal Columns and The Bend. Although there are a few bolted routes, it is primarily trad climbing.
the "Price Of Complacency" Column Fell on 4/28/17. Oak Creek Wildlife Area Is Currently Assessing Area for Danger.
From I-90, take Exit 110 for I-82/US-97 S towards Yakima. After 30 miles, take the exit for 31A-31B for US-12 W toward N 1st St/Naches. Stay right to take Exit 31A and Merge onto US-12 W. Follow US-12 for 17 miles, then take a right on Bethel Ridge Rd.. Park at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area.
This is a very popular climbing area. If you are listing a trip, please check the Tieton Internal Lottery Results document before listing your trip to be sure your course has priority for the field trip date(s) you are scheduling, or that there is no other course that already has priority in the internal climbing lottery for your date(s).
Please keep group sizes small to minimize our footprint at the crag.
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This trip will focus on building hanging anchor and practicing using them to swing leads.


The economy of northwest Indiana will be energized thanks to congressional authorization of $5 million to support a computer grid for the area, officials at Purdue and Notre Dame universities announced Wednesday (Nov. 1).
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration will award the funding for the Northwest Indiana Computational Grid, bringing federal investment in this project to $6.5 million. The grid links Purdue West Lafayette, Purdue Calumet and Notre Dame with high-speed, high-bandwidth fiberoptic connections and shared scientific resources such as a supercomputer, data storage and visualization tools. The grid also enables researchers at those universities to connect to the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. Businesses also will be able to tap into this resource through industrial partnerships.
Gerry McCartney, Purdue's interim Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, said "Grid computing allows the computation of scientific data to take place across many computers at different institutions and also allows researchers to gain access to resources at other institutions on the grid. Such grids are an important part of the national cyberinfrastructure."
"Cyberinfrastructure is a critical element of scientific research," McCartney said. "The Northwest Indiana Computational Grid creates new possibilities to address existing problems, especially the issues important to northwest Indiana, such as better use of energy and economic development."
The $5 million award is in addition to the $1.5 million awarded in 2005, bringing the total federal investment to $6.5 million for the grid. The appropriation effort was led in Congress by Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., who represents the 1st Congressional District in northwest Indiana. "Pete Visclosky is the critical component in this endeavor, and I am delighted to work with my friend and fellow Hoosier on this important initiative," Lugar said. "These funds will bring a supercomputer network to Indiana on par with very few others in the country due to the high speed at which it operates."
The federal award will be used to acquire new hardware for the grid, such as an SGI Altix supercomputer with 30 terabytes of storage, which will be housed at Purdue in West Lafayette; increased data storage at Notre Dame; access to grid videoconferencing connections at Notre Dame and Purdue Calumet; and new data visualization tools at Purdue Calumet. The funds also provide seed money for a high-performance computing teaching lab at Purdue West Lafayette and for research projects related to the mission of the Northwest Indiana Computational Grid.
Gordon Wishon, Notre Dame Associate Vice President, Associate Provost and CIO said, "This collaboration between researchers at two of the nation's leading research universities vividly demonstrates the value of investments in research infrastructure to the state of Indiana and to the country."
Purdue Calumet and Purdue West Lafayette connect on the grid via Indiana's I-Light fiberoptic network. Notre Dame will connect via the National Science Foundation-funded Starlight fiber network, which also connects the grid to the Argonne National Laboratory. "The interconnection of Notre Dame's Center for Research Computing and storage infrastructure with the Purdue campuses and Argonne represents a new wave of cooperative research," Wishon said.
The Northwest Indiana Computational Grid recently joined the national Open Science Grid, which will give researchers access to national resources.
"Without a robust cyberinfrastructure, Indiana cannot compete in tomorrow's economy," McCartney said. "The computational grid is a powerful partnership among Purdue, Notre Dame, the state of Indiana and the U.S. Department of Energy. We have created a leading regional network that will boost research and economic opportunities in the state. We appreciate that Congressman Visclosky and Senator Lugar have recognized this and have worked with the universities to make this grid possible."
Robert Kramer, director of the Energy Efficiency and Reliability Center at Purdue Calumet, is working to improve the delivery and reliability of electricity by applying 21st century computational approaches to help provide enhancements for conventional electrical transmission load calculations and the communications systems between electrical grids. Using the computational and simulation resources of the grid, Kramer said he hopes to help improve the capacity of current electrical grids and reduce expensive investments in new transmission and electricity generating infrastructure.
A biometrics research group at Notre Dame is the host for the largest open research database of biometric signatures in the world, which includes fingerprint processing, face and iris recognition, and infrared imaging. The storage and computational resources of the new grid will allow more organization, processing and delivery of these resources. The group is led by Kevin Bowyer, Notre Dame's Schubmehl-Prien Chair of Computer Science and Engineering, and Patrick Flynn, professor of computer science and engineering.
In 2006 a team at Purdue West Lafayette led by Christoph Hoffmann, a professor of computer science, used the computational resources of the grid to conduct a scientific simulation of the crash of a commercial airliner into the World Trade Center North Tower on Sept. 11, 2001. This simulation will allow engineers to better understand how the building's core structure responded to the impact.
Indiana state climatologist Dev Niyogi, an assistant professor of agronomy and earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue West Lafayette, plans to use a newly acquired supercomputer to conduct more detailed analysis of the climatology of severe weather and drought events. This will allow Indiana farmers to make more informed decisions that Niyogi estimates could save as much as $100 million per year.
Wishon said these projects illustrate the benefits of collaborative research. "While institutions of higher learning may compete for research dollars on some fronts, the northwest Indiana grid project is a refreshingly cooperative effort that we believe is a prime example of what is possible when researchers from different organizations work on complementary projects in the same virtual space," he said.
Plans also are in place to hold discussions with the businesses being incubated in the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana in Merrillville to assess their potential for participating in the grid for research and development projects and work force development.


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Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield serves the 29 counties of western Pennsylvania and 13 counties of northeastern Pennsylvania. Highmark Blue Shield serves the 21 counties of central Pennsylvania and also provides services in conjunction with a separate health plan in southeastern Pennsylvania. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia serves the state of West Virginia plus Washington County. Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware serves the state of Delaware. Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc., serves eight counties in Western New York under the trade name Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York and serves 13 counties in Northeastern New York under the trade name Highmark Blue Shield of Northeastern New York. Each of these companies is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Blue Cross, Blue Shield and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. All references to "Highmark" in this document are references to the Highmark company that is providing the member's health benefits or health benefit administration.


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Stadionul Otopeni este un stadion de fotbal din Otopeni care este folosit de echipa CS Otopeni.

Otopeni
Otopeni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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More Humor
The Most Memorable Compliments
Future Lana Del Rey Albums
I Can Rationalize Anything!
The Aging Anarchist's Cookbook
From the Transition Team
By Bruce McCall
Dear Potential Obama Administration Cabinet Member:
Please complete this form, providing full and honest answers to all questions. N.B.: Why not call or text ten friends and have them submit this form, too?
PART I: BACKGROUND
Do you worry that someone might inform on you to Lou Dobbs about how many unregistered aliens are employed in your household(s)?
Circle any of the following activities that you have engaged in.
a. Entertained a kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan in your home.
b. Taken a sip from someone else's Coke/Diet Coke.
c. Been abducted by aliens and taken to Karl Rove's office.
d. Opened an e-mail with the subject line "Make her jaw drop."
Who would be most interested to learn that you have flown on Ron Burkle's private jet with Bill Clinton?
a. The R.N.C.
b. Hustler.
c. The U.S. Attorney General.
d. Hillary.
Have you ever socialized with:
a. A Baldwin brother?
b. A Serbian war criminal?
c. A Senate page?
d. Senator Joseph Lieberman?
Please provide the proper phonetic pronunciation of "Chicago." ________
PART II (CHURCHGOERS ONLY)
If your pastor has ever used such themes as "Most folks are nice," "Thank God for little puppy dogs," and "Strawberry socials are the glue holding American civilization together" as the topic of a sermon, please FedEx his or her name and address to the above address and charge it to the D.N.C.
PART III: RELIABILITY
My loyalty to President-elect Obama is so deep that I would:
a. Fill in for him at a private White House lunch with Al Gore.
b. Volunteer to paper-train his family's new puppy.
c. Break the news to Hillary if she is not named Secretary of State.
PART IV: THE ECONOMY
I would rather use the $700 billion in federal bailout funds to:
a. Bail out the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
b. Hire John McCain to try to double the money at the Vegas craps tables.
c. Finance an accelerated scientific program to clone Warren Buffett twelve times and create a new Supercouncil of Economic Advisers.
PART V: INITIATIVE
The First Lady's pet project during the President's first term should be:
a. Creating a network of Be Proud of America clubs in the public schools.
b. Raising math scores.
c. Outlawing Bloomin' Onions.
d. Leading a movement to name the first female Major League Baseball manager.
To renew a sense of hope in America, I would immediately:
a. Bleach ten thousand grizzly bears white and create the effect of a polar-bear population explosion by placing them in neighborhoods all over the Northern U.S.
b. Stage a nationwide contest to rename the White House and eliminate the inappropriate Anglo-Saxon ethnocentrism.
c. Rush a few thousand books to the George W. Bush Library before it opens.
P.S. We know who you are, "Ms. Haras Nilap," and there is no position open for you at this time. ♦
Published in the print edition of the December 1, 2008, issue.
Bruce McCall has contributed covers and humor pieces to The New Yorker since 1980.
More:BailoutsBarack ObamaBill ClintonChicago, IllinoisChurchDemocrats, Democratic PartyEconomyHillary ClintonMcCain, John (Sen.)Palin, Sarah (Gov.)PoliticsQuestionnairesReligionRove, KarlSecretary of State
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Ron DeSantis Battles the African American A.P. Course—and History
The state's intent seems to be to provide white Floridians, from a young age, with a version of history that they can be comfortable with, regardless of whether it's true.
By Jelani Cobb
George Santos Applies for a New Job
If my time in office taught me one thing, it's these two things: work hard, be honest, and refuse to ever admit you're wrong.
By Eli Grober
Annals of Education
Why Is Columbia Kicking Out a Beloved Preschool?
The Red Balloon is part of the university's progressive history, but it may not have a future.
By Jessica Winter
Kevin McCarthy's Hollow Victory Will Have Economic and Political Consequences
If the new House Speaker is to get anything done, he will need to retain the support of far-right extremists.
By John Cassidy


NewLeaf Travel – How Well Does It Compete With Others?
We reported earlier that NewLeaf Travel will begin commercial operations by February 2016 (News – January 7, 2016). Introductory fares start at CDN$89 to CDN$149 (tax included). In this insight, we will examine how competitive its product mix is against the incumbent airlines (Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter Airlines).


A study by Mayo Clinic shows that children living near traffic intersections at greater risk of developing asthma.
Mayo Clinic researchers recently released data showing children who lived near major highway or railroad intersections have a higher risk of developing asthma. The researchers used this study to show how neighborhood environment is a risk factor in understanding the development of pediatric asthma. The study was in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
The study was a retrospective, population-based birth cohort where researchers studied 3,970 people born between 1976 and 1979 in Rochester, Minnesota. Of the 1,947 subjects living in census tracts that faced intersections, 6.4 percent developed asthma, while 4.5 percent of those living in census tracts not facing intersections developed asthma. Dr. Juhn and his colleagues are currently conducting research that looks at the influence of neighborhood environment on other disease outcomes.


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By Hassan Abbas
Diverse Elders Coalition
Improving Alzheimer's awareness with innovative research on Arab Americans
Courtesy MCCFAD
Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer's Disease directors (left to right) Dr. Toni Antonucci, Dr. Kristine Ajrouch and Dr. Laura Zahodne.
The Michigan Center for Contextual Factors in Alzheimer's Disease (MCCFAD) is a newly formed Resource Center for Minority Aging Research, housed at the University of Michigan and funded by the National Institute on Aging. The center partners with Michigan State University, Wayne State University and Eastern Michigan University to address issues that surround Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). It shares what is known about ADRD to create awareness, share resources and ultimately promote good health and well-being. It especially engages with the Middle Eastern/Arab American communities in Metro Detroit and Latino communities in Grand Rapids.
As part of its outreach and awareness efforts, it holds educational events for Middle Eastern/Arab American and Latino communities in Metro Detroit and beyond. One such event was organized in Dearborn Heights at the Islamic Institute of America on February 15. The event was free and focused on managing stress and effective communication strategies in caring for a family member with ADRD.
The center practices an innovative approach to ADRD-related social and behavioral science research among Middle Eastern/Arab American communities, connecting factors such as social and economic disparities to its aims of improving caregiving, research on lowering risk factors and, more importantly, dispelling stigma regarding Alzheimer's disease. It also tries to develop a more diverse research workforce dedicated to healthy aging.
Harmful stigma
Stigma around the disease exists in part because of the lack of public awareness and understanding of the condition. Stigma may add to the burden of Alzheimer's disease as it can prevent individuals and their families from talking with a health-care provider when symptoms are present, receiving an early diagnosis or any diagnosis, benefiting from available treatments and developing a support system.
It can also prevent patients from living healthy fulfilling lives, ensuring plans are in place for financial matters, planning for future care - including plans for medical care, long-term care and end-of-life care - and participating in research such as clinical trials.
Part of MCCFAD's approach is to bring health economics and culturally sensitive care into its research framework, thereby making the center's core methodology quite relevant to Middle Eastern/Arab American communities.
"Health economics is meant to draw attention to costs associated with ADRD and their risk factors, especially for minority populations," MCCFAD Director Dr. Kristine Ajrouch told The Arab American News. "MCCFAD focuses on how social and economic disparities affect inequalities in health across the lifespan, specifically in aging, cognitive decline and dementia.
"Culturally-sensitive care emphasizes balancing informal and formal care to best meet family needs that are consistent with cultural values," Ajrouch added. "The caregiver role is associated with burden and adverse effects on psychological and physical health.
"Caregiving burden can vary according to the caregiver's cultural context because of different values, social support and coping styles. Among Middle Easter/Arab Americans, the combination of cultural expectations along with the demands of current roles including worker, parent and spouse, as well as general community roles, create tension within families."
Ajrouch is leading an effort, in partnership with the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) and the Alzheimer's Association, to adapt a program meant to support Middle Eastern/Arab American families as they care for members living with ADRD. This program will focus on providing information and strategies to help community members as they care of family members with ADRD.
MCCFAD monthly Community Coffee Times, which take place at different locations throughout the Metro Detroit area, offer accessible opportunities to help families understand ADRD and for overcoming the stigma around the disease. These community forums are organized to bring in experts, complete with Arabic translations, who provide the latest information on ADRD, followed by a Q&A. Further, the MCCFAD website will soon be available to community members, where they will be able to find information and resources related to ADRD, with some materials also translated into Arabic.
The Alzheimer's Association ( https://www.alz.org/ ) has a 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900, which includes an Arabic language option.
Editor's note: Many of the activities described in the article have been halted during the COVID-19 crisis.
Hassan Abbas is a writer for the Arab-American News in Dearborn, Mich. He wrote this article with the support of a journalism fellowship from the Gerontological Society of America, Journalists Network on Generations and the Retirement Research Foundation.
This article is part of an ongoing series about various demographic segments of the senior population.
Social Security: Policy, politics, fact and fiction
Analysis: Biden's rocky path to health care improvement and reform
Positive paradigms emerging for long term care living
December is Spiritual Literacy Month
Jack Roderick and one memorable convention


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Luciana Berger - the nauseating face of the political class
Labour blow-in Luciana Berger has been in a spat with one of the local councillors in her Liverpool constituency ("They've found me a safe seat in Liverpool? Where's that? Wasn't that where the Beatles came from?") before she's even been able to remember the major street-names.
Berger of course is the poster-girl for the new breed of political class who are driving voters away from the Labour and Tory parties in droves. Like most of her contemporaries, she was privately educated (Haberdasher Aske's) and from a Labour political dynasty. And no, she's never had a proper job or done a single day's proper work in her life. It was student politics, then a bit of expenses-experience with a health quango before Parliament.
She was screwed into one of Labour's safe Liverpool seats for the 2010 election by the party's London HQ against local opposition. As Wiki records "In the run-up to the General Election, the Liverpool Echo tested Berger with a four-question quiz on Liverpool life and history. She scored two out of four, not knowing who performed Ferry Cross the Mersey and not recognising the name of former Liverpool F.C. manager, Bill Shankly."
It's Berger and her like that that are worth 10,000 votes each to UKIP and the alternative parties; the sickening and nauseating 'jobs for the boys and girls' nepotism by the dying private clubs of the main parties being truly out of favour with voters.
PRISM story tops the day
The story shared by the Washington Post and the Guardian of how the US security services enjoy unhindered access to the internet activity of the customers of the world's largest internet corporations should surprise no one. If you weren't already aware that every single word you type on that keyboard is known to some security official somewhere you should be. US security officials have responded by calling the reports 'irresponsible' - not untrue, note - and claiming that the US's security has been damaged by disclosure that the government is snooping on everyone's email.
It's not just the septics, of course. Our own MPs, both Tory and Labour, are pushing for even greater access to our private information under a new 'snooper's charter' but at the same time seeking to restrict radically our access to information on their own pay and expenses, and our ability (through Leveson) to share information on their badger-watching activities or to share photographs they have posted of themselves in their underwear or dressed in rubber or leather harness.
And at a time when we've lost not only Tom Sharpe but Oliver Bernard, the last and most human of the three brothers. I remember too fondly an afternoon session in the French back in the 90s with Dan Farson, Sandy Fawkes and both Bruce and Oliver - in reality the invective was poison - all of whom are now dead. I mention this only because they shared a common loathing and mistrust for anyone who presumed to know better than they what was good for them - including the presumptive and impertinent interference by the government in our private affairs. Still, the revelation that it is the US that is the world's first Police State fills me with hope; if there's a people anywhere in the world who will not stand for this, it's the Americans.
Labels: police state, stasi
Osborne a Moron - official
Whilst I'm waiting for the boy's latest genius wheeze to add a further 20% to the value of my home here in London, there's equal satisfaction to be had from the comments of Soc Gen's Albert Edwards;
"I don't think Andrew Bridgen at Fathom Consulting was strong enough when he described George Osborne's scheme as "reckless". I believe it truly is a moronic policy that stands head and shoulders above most of the stupid economic policies I have seen implemented during my 30 years in this business. It ranks above some of Alan Greenspan's very worst blunders. And when so many highly regarded commentators speak out against it, only to be totally ignored by George 'I know better' Osborne, he may really deserve to be called a moron."
Labels: george osborne, morons
So what do they think the EU is?
It's always good to see the beaker people over at the Grauniad running about like puppies every time they discover fire. Today it's Seumas Milne who is granted the rare flashes of insight;
But the real corruption that has eaten into the heart of British public life is the tightening corporate grip on government and public institutions – not just by lobbyists, but by the politicians, civil servants, bankers and corporate advisers who increasingly swap jobs, favours and insider information, and inevitably come to see their interests as mutual and interchangeable. The doors are no longer just revolving but spinning, and the people charged with protecting the public interest are bought and sold with barely a fig leaf of regulation.
It defies rationality to believe that the prospect of far better paid jobs in the private sector doesn't influence the decisions of ministers and officials – or isn't used by corporations to shape policy. Who can seriously doubt that politicians were encouraged to champion light touch regulation before the crash by the lure and lobbying of the banks, as well as by an overweening ideology?
Britain is now an increasingly corrupt country at its highest levels – not in the sense of directly bribing officials, of course, and it's almost entirely legal. But our public life and democracy is now profoundly compromised by its colonisation. Corporate and financial power have merged into the state.
And what of the European Commission and the European Parliament, where the merger has not only gone further but is increasingly more explicit? A Europe run for the huge corporations by the huge corporations, with national governments bought and sold and free market competition crushed?
Hey ho. Maybe they'll discover a use for the wheel next week.
Labels: corporatism
Just more bent politicians
Did anyone really imagine that after the mass-culling of bent MPs from the Rotten Parliament that Westminster would transform into an exemplar of probity? No, of course not. The game has changed - and not getting caught is now the name of the game. To make things fair, and to balance the list of Lobbyists, Levenson will no doubt now back an official register of undercover journalists, fake sheiks and investigative reporters and make it an offence to gull an MP.
And no one really imagines that if UKIP were at Westminster things would be much different. Already somewhere I'm sure a newly-elected UKIP Councillor is pocketing a fat brown envelope in return for believing that what his ward really needs are a few more bloody windmills built by Romanians.
And still there are out there strident voices urging us all to support them all the same; a bit like salesmen convincing us that blue asbestos is just the stuff from which to make children's play equipment. Oh yes, they aver, Labour and Tory sleaze, corruption and fraud is completely different. Labour mostly go for money, while for the Tories it's deviant sex. Or maybe LibDems. Just shuffle back into line you lot and support detached millionaire confection Dave for top fruitcake.
It's gone way past that of course. We'll all vote UKIP in 2014 to deliver such a kicking to Dave's curly icing that will be felt right through to his Angelica bits. And that's about as adult and responsible as it gets.
Labels: corruption, MPs, sleaze, westminster
▼ 2/6/13 - 9/6/13 (5)
Luciana Berger - the nauseating face of the politi...


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E-cigarettes help some to kick the habit
Now two weeks into the new year, resolutions are in full swing.
SMOKELESS SMOKES - Mary Coghill holds a Smoke NV Disposable while displaying a variety of the e-cigarettes at Puffin Awesome Smoke Shop.
Among the top most common New Year's resolutions is quitting smoking. However, as any smoker will tell you, it's not an easy one to stick to.
As such smokers turn to a number of anti-smoking aids to help them kick the habit and one tactic more and more smokers are using to help them quit is electronic cigarettes, commonly known as e-cigarettes.
Mary Coghill, owner of Puffin Awesome Smoke shop in Lacombe, said she knows of a few people who have successfully used e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking.
"I know some where it is working," said Coghill, adding that some users have combined e-cigarettes with nicotine patches to kick their habit. "The people that are using it only on occasion, they seem to be ok."
Not only are people using e-cigarettes as an antismoking aid, they are using them to keep from reverting back to smoking after quitting as well.
Coghill said she has customers who will purchase e-cigarettes so they have something to smoke when they know they will be around other smokers, like camping in the summer.
Another advantage to e-cigarettes is they allow you to smoke in places traditional cigarettes are not allowed. She said that she tried one herself when staying with her mother in an apartment that doesn't allow smoking and knows others people who have done the same.
"It's a really good alternative."
Coghill said she is of the opinion that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to smoking. She said that there is little to no heat involved with e-cigarettes and there is no smoke.
There is also no lingering cigarette smell or secondhand smoke when smoking the e-cigarettes, said Coghill.
"I do firmly believe it's way better for you," said Coghill.
Coghill added that smoking is dangerous not necessarily because of tobacco or nicotine, but because of the combination of them with all the other chemicals in cigarettes. She also reiterated that the heat of smoking traditional cigarettes is very harmful to the lungs.
While traditional cigarettes contain many chemicals and are not required to list their ingredients, the active ingredient in e-cigarettes is glycerol which Coghill said is already commonly found in many substances.
She added that there is little else in the e-cigarettes other than the "juice" that creates the vapour made from water and glycerol.
However, not everyone is convinced that e-cigarettes are a good idea.
According to Health Canada e-cigarettes may pose unknown health risks. Health Canada also recommends against the use of any kind of e-cigarette and has stated that further research is needed about the effects of smoking them.
Because glycerin is added to products she already uses, Coghill said she can't imagine how e-cigarettes could be as or more harmful than traditional smokes. However, she does agree that more research is needed into the effects of the product.
Coghill, who quit smoking in 2003, said she thinks it is worthwhile to learn more about e-cigarettes as they could be used to help people stop smoking.
However Coghill said that health agencies advocate for quitting smoking, but sometimes don't consider how difficult and expensive that can be for smokers.
"It's not that easy," said Coghill. "If it was that easy people would have quit."
Therefore, organizations like Health Canada should be looking into alternative ways to help people stop smoking or at least smoke safer.
"It makes sense for Health Canada to look into it."
E-cigarettes are battery operated devices that create a vapour that can be inhaled instead of smoke.
They can have rechargeable cartridges or be disposable and come in a number of fl avours.
Some e-cigarettes also contain nicotine. However, this variety of e-cigarette has not been authorized for sale in Canada.
As such, Puffin Awesome Smoke Shop does not stock the nicotine variety, but Coghill said she gets inquiries about them from customers every day. She said she is not sure if she likes the idea of nicotine being added to the devices or not and that more research needs to be done.
"I don't know that that's a lot better for you, I haven't checked that out," said Coghill.
"I still would have to do some research on that."
news@lacombeexpress.com
Central Alberta native chronicles experiences with MS


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Aktuelle Seite: Trilaterale Kommission Ashihara, Yoshishige
Ashihara, Yoshishige - from Japan
Organization: TTC
Was a Japanese businessman in the Shōwa period, president of Kansai Electric Power Company. At the end of July 2014 it became known that 1972 to 1990 bribes were paid by KEPCO to Japanese top politicians. Chimori Naito, former vice president of the company, explained this in an interview as follows: "According to 91-year-old Naito, seven different prime ministers received annual payments of 20 million yen (about 145,000 euros) from former Kepco president Yoshishige Ashihara. (...) In addition, other politicians were delighted with such payments. Kepco had spent several hundreds of millions of yen per year for these purposes".
https://atomkraftwerkeplag.wikia.org/de/wiki/KEPCO_(Japan) (Translate)
Member, Japan Group
(TTC) Inhalt
Vorstand,
Gruppenmitglieder,
Rockefeller Gefährten
(1973, 1980, 2017)


Sam Trickett narrowly missed out on another live title this weekend after losing heads-up in the WPT Venice Main Event.
After battling through a mixture of locals and travelling pros, Sam was able to start the final session second in chips and certainly made the brightest start to the day by eliminating former champion Alessio Isaia in fifth place.
Having bolstered his stack and taken out one of his biggest threats, Sam looked every bit the next title holder but by the time the field was down to two players it was all change.
Despite having more experience than Andrea Dato, Sam was unable to catch a break and gradually relinquished his chips as the match wore on. Indeed, with a 3:1 lead slipping from his grasp, Sam eventually committed his stack with 8d 5s on an 8s 4h 3c flop. Dato made the quick call with Jd 8c and as the board ran out 7h 3s the bulk of the tournament's chips were sent the Italian's way.
Just one hand later the match was over and by the time Dato had collected the final pot Sam had already exited stage left to collect his $91,683 consolation prize and drown his sorrows.
With the tournament over a beaming Dato posed for pictures with his WPT trophy and stack of cash worth $145,859.