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710 Freeway expansion: What $12 billion will…
710 Freeway expansion: What $12 billion will pay for … maybe some day
Cars and trucks fill the lanes of the 710 freeway in Compton on Sept. 6.
Cars enter the 710 freeway at Alondra Boulevard in Compton Sept. 6.
Cars and trucks travel north on the 710 freeway in Compton on Sept. 6.
A trucks enters the southbound lanes of the 710 freeway in Compton on Sept. 6.
By Rachel Uranga | ruranga@scng.com | Daily Breeze
PUBLISHED: September 10, 2017 at 7:23 p.m. | UPDATED: September 13, 2017 at 12:05 p.m.
By some estimates, it will cost the same as the 2,000-mile wall President Donald Trump wants to build along the Mexican border.
Nearly two decades in the making, it's the proposed expansion of the 710 Freeway by adding lanes from Long Beach to East Los Angeles.
The projected cost: $6 billion to $12 billion, depending on which features are included the final plan.
Does it have a better chance to be formulated, funded and finished than the president's bountiful barrier?
Fear of traffic, pollution and even possible displacement is stirring lots of anxiety among residents living in the 19-mile corridor's path. But planners say the sky-high price tag means they won't have anything to worry about for a long, long time.
"We simply don't have these funds," said Ernesto Chaves, project manager for Metro.
So far, the agency, along with the California Department of Transportation, estimate about $1.3 billion is available — over 30 years.
Breaking ground likely couldn't happen until five years from now at the earliest. The project already is more than a decade behind schedule.
And about $60 million already has been spent on contractors, designers and technical staff.
The project will face its biggest bureaucratic hurdle early next year when the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board considers environmental documents laying out two project options.
The chances of completion don't rest with the wishes of motorists who dream of a speedier commute. Inevitably, it's a battle between commerce and residents' quality of life — and planners' methodical efforts to accommodate both.
Corridor of cargo
Billions of dollars fly up and down the 710.
The freeway connects the mammoth twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to the Inland Empire's burgeoning warehouses and deployment centers, along with rail yards and warehouses around the southeast Los Angeles. Thousands of big rigs travel this key trade corridor daily.
It's almost always busy. Anyone who's pulled onto the 710 and found themselves trapped between towering trucks would use less polite words, such as "clogged" or "gridlocked."
Some stretches of the interstate report some of the highest rates of truck-involved crashes in the region.
With so many diesel-burning cargo haulers jamming the corridor, nearby communities breathe some of the dirtiest air in the region.
Planners say the expansion is needed because of the expected increase goods trekking in via the ports, which plan millions of dollars in improvements to handle the upswing, including the expected arrival of supersized megaships.
Traffic is expected to skyrocket, from 55,000 truck trips to and from the ports daily to more than 110,000 — many bound for an ever-increasing number of logistics centers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
"Goods movements is so critical to Southern California" said Hasan Ikhrata, executive director of the Southern California Association of Governments. "There is no question for the need to improve the 710."
But like so many high-profile projects, he said, community opposition could ultimately tie up the project. It already has.
Fear for the air
"We are saying yes, let's do it, but let's do it right. We need to build a consensus project," said Susanne Browne, an attorney for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles who sits on the Coalition for Environmental Health and Justice.
The coalition — a group of environmental justice groups, community organizers and nonprofit lawyers — has been fighting on behalf of residents along the 710 corridor.
Their efforts to prevent displacing residents and rising pollution levels slowed the process way down as designers huddled, responded and adjusted their plans.
CEHAJ persuaded transportation agencies to overturn earlier proposals — including one that sought to make the 710 freeway a 10-lane megahighway.
Organizers pushed for an alternative plan that included a suite of clean-air initiatives and the vow that no homes or businesses would be razed. The Metro board backed those efforts in 2015.
In July, Metro and Caltrans offered their compromise. Emissions-reductions efforts were included, Chaves said — but added that no plan, regardless of cost, could promise that no residents would be forced out.
Revised proposals
Planners came up with two options:
• "Alternative 5c" would expand the current freeway from Ocean Boulevard to East Los Angeles.
The $6 billion plan would add an extra lane to the corridor between the 405 and 60 freeways to increase capacity and provide for truck-passing lanes. It also would include funds for the purchase of about 4,000 zero- or near-zero-emission trucks.
This variation would force 436 residents from their homes or businesses.
• "Alternative 7," at a cost of $12 billion, would add a separate lane for zero- and near-zero-emissions trucks and offer incentives for buying 18,350 of those vehicles.
This plan would push 512 people from their homes.
Both clean truck programs could stand on their own and be funded up to any amount, making the plan unique in the world of infrastructure projects.
"If we don't do this kind of investment, we are going to be sorry and we are going to fall behind in this global economy," Ikhrata said. "Every country in the world is investing in rail and highways."
Ikhrata said he is optimistic that the project will happen — though his tone is tinged with skepticism.
"There is tremendous opposition to expansion projects in the state of California," he said, pointing to the north side of the 710, where community opposition ultimately blocked its growth earlier this year after decades of legal and political skirmishes.
The freeway extension in the San Gabriel Valley — proposed alternately as surface roads, a tunnel or other ideas — was rejected in May by a 12-0 vote of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Similar community concerns have snarled the southern expansion project, he said, driving up costs and burning up time. And there's still the chance, he said, that the effort will end up in court.
CEHAJ has already declared that neither of the revised plans meet its expectations and is calling for more revisions to ensure no homes will be in the freeway's path.
Chaves said those demands simply aren't realistic.
"That's something that remains a point of disagreement," he said.
Moreover, the group is still demanding zero emissions — not just low emissions — along the freight corridor. And it wants assurances that construction will provide jobs for residents who line the corridor.
But he said, "even if we don't build the project, the Metro and Caltrans and decision-makers in our region are going to have to make a decision how they are going to want to fund this program."
Saray Almodovar, 17, lives with her family near the 710, just off Washington Boulevard.
She sums up the feelings of many of her neighbors when she says saving her family's house is more important than assuring smoother future commerce.
"We are worried they want to knock down our homes," she said. "It's really unfair to even bring this up. Some homes around here are already paid for.
Rachel Uranga | reporter
Rachel Uranga covers the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach for the Southern California News Group.
ruranga@scng.com
Follow Rachel Uranga @racheluranga


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BAE Systems to demonstrate new RFCM system for P-8A Poseidon
The US Navy has awarded a rapid response contract to BAE Systems to demonstrate a new radio frequency countermeasure (RFCM) system for the next-generation P-8A Poseidon military aircraft.
A large P-8A Poseidon aircraft attached with a fibre-optic towed decoy. Credit: BAE Systems.
Under the contract, the RFCM system will be designed, built, integrated, and shipped in about five months.
After the integration, the self-protection system will undergo two months of flight testing on the P-8A platform.
The RFCM system is a pod-mounted, advanced lightweight, high-power system designed to deliver a new self-protection capability to the aircraft.
The system features a factor jammer, a high-powered amplifier, and the AN/ALE-55 fibre-optic towed decoy.
According to BAE Systems, partnerships among small focus teams have developed an 'innovative approach' to the design and fabrication of mechanical parts of the RFCM system.
BAE Systems Advanced Compact Electronic Warfare Solutions product line director Don Davidson said: "The ability to meet this unprecedented response time underscores our agility, focus on meeting customer needs, and our ultimate goal of protecting our warfighters.
"A process that used to take 18 to 24 months has been scaled to five or six months, which is remarkable, as is deploying this new self-protection capability."
Work will be performed at BAE Systems' facility in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Last month, BAE Systems secured a $184m Lot I full-rate production (FRP) contract from the US Marine Corps for 36 amphibious combat vehicles.
Marine Fenders International
Foam-Filled Marine Fenders
Polyamp
Degaussing Systems, Magnetic and Acoustic Sweep System
INDAL Naval Handling Systems
Elbit Systems to supply Albatross CMS for Swedish Spårö Class MCM vessels
Philippines confirms BrahMos cruise missiles deal with India

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Three card poker is, without the doubt, the cheapest types of poker you'll discover at each casinos. Contrary to other versions of the sport, three card is faster paced, and the video games resolve themselves rather a lot quicker and subsequently three card strategy reflects this. You can win cash quite a bit quicker at this recreation, but you can even lose quite a bit quick. It is very crucial basic strategies with a purpose to decrease your chances of losing.This is a game of relative luck,but one should find a strategy of poker tha will favour the style of playing.
In 3 card strategy there are two critical areas for winning.First manner acquire a better hand than the dealer. The second means through obtainig least a pair. If you're just beginning out at poker, then this model of the sport will be the perfect.
Nonetheless, with a purpose to play an excellent hand you usually need good cards. It's essential to know when to remain in hand fold or not fold. For those who constantly cling on to standard playing cards then you definitely won't be able to come back out on top. Poker is about picking the battles you suppose you could win. Many gamers keep in hand as a result of their egos getting in the best way or considering that their luck will flip unbelievably against all the odds. It's worthwhile to keep a transparent head and all the time play in line with the playing cards that you have in your hand.
Depending on your hand, you will need to decide whether or not you need to fold or whether you wish to play one or each option. The cardboard rankings in 3-card poker usually are not the same as most other versions of poker.
Often a flush in poker is ranked higher than a straight. However, the chances of touchdown three playing cards in a row in 3 card poker are less than getting three cards of the same suit. This is comprised many variations of three card poker. About the cardboard rankings then this is the same as all other poker video games, with Ace being the highest and Two being the lowest. If you're a Texas Maintain'em or Omaha player, for example, then it is advisable to keep in mind that three card poker strategy requires an entirely different mindset.
The casino has a 3% advantage. Although the dealer needs a minimum of a Queen to qualify, there isn't any purpose so that you can be on the hand if you don't assume then you have at the least a good likelihood of winning. If you are dealt anything decrease than Queen, Six, Three then it's best to fold your hand. The chances of you profitable this side are too small to treat it. If nevertheless, you are dealt Queen, Six, Four or higher then it is best to stay within the hand as a result of the chances are in your favor for no less than a 1:1 payout.


The Mini-Temperature Sensor is part of the Sensible Living family of wireless sensors. It works just like the original but is ¼ the size, half the price and operates for a year on a single coin cell battery.
Like the rest of the Sensible Living sensors, it requires the Desktop Application and Receiver (sold separately). The Mini-Temperature Sensor module typically stands on a shelf or table or can be attached to a wall (using the included adhesive Velcro pad) in a room where you want to monitor the temperature. The module measures the temperature once per hour and sends it to the receiver. The Mini-Temperature sensor will operate for more than a year on a single coin cell battery and can report either Fahrenheit or Celsius, simply select your preference when you place your order.
Like the rest of the Sensible Living sensor family it is designed as a low power, battery operated, sensor that sleeps most of the time and wakes up once per hour (default setting) and updates its status.
The Sensible Living Receiver and Desktop application (sold separately) are designed to work with the Mini-Temperature Sensor. The Desktop App can then be configured to send you a message if the room is ever too warm or cold. Using the Chart display you can also see the temperature of your room over time.
I wanted to monitor and log the temperature in parts of my home to see if the central air was balanced properly. The master bedroom always seemed colder than the rest of the house. All of these were built to address specific needs around my home and for my family.
If you are interested in playing with wireless sensors this is an inexpensive and easy way to get started. These sensors are ATTIny85 based. They are a little more difficult to program than their bigger brothers (no monitor or boot loader) but still simple once you get the hang of it. I use the USBTinyISP from AdaFruit to program them and the ATTINY85 (External 8MHZ clock) board package in the Arduino IDE. Contact me for schematics and sketches or for more information.


Last year, we had a pretty great social meetup for homeschoolers/homelearners going on Thursdays at the False Creek Community Centre on Granville Island. It was a bit inactive over the summer as everyone had different travel plans, but we're getting started again now that September's here!
We meet in the games room at the community centre around 11:30am and tend to stay until about 2:30 or 3 - come anytime and stay as long as you like! It's generally been boys around 7-12 but we'd love to expand! Bring some games if you'd like. See you this Thursday!


Is anyone else as excited as I am about the Lilly Pulitzer launch at Target? It launches between 1 and 3 a.m. EST online and in stores at 8 a.m. tomorrow! Holy Cow! I can't wait! Target really hit it on the nail with this collaboration! I'm in love with everything from the collection. You can view the entire collection here! You can also save your favorite items for an easier shopping experience! Below are some items that I'm really loving and some that have made it on my wishlist!
As great as this collection is I am sure that it will sell out fast! Some of the items are exclusive to online only so I am planning on doing my shopping from home as soon as it launches! I'm hoping to get everything on my favorites list or at least the majority of it. Hopefully you will too! Happy shopping Lilly Lovers!


Are you considering becoming an advocate for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but aren't sure how to get started? Maybe you don't know what advocacy looks like, but you want to contribute to the larger IBD conversation.
HealthCentral spoke with some of the leading advocates in the IBD world to share more about their stories and get their tips on how to become an advocate.
Who she is: Alicia Aiello is the current president of Girls With Guts. Alicia has been an IBD advocate for eight years and served on the Board of Directors for GWG for the past 5 years.
In 2004, Alicia was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), and then she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 2012 after experiencing complications with her J-pouch.
How she became an advocate: Alicia didn't set out with the intention of becoming an IBD advocate.
There was interest at school about why she was "out sick," so Alicia decided to be transparent. She would show other students her ostomy bag and talk about her experiences. "Those years of high school primed me for advocacy," she says.
Her advocacy goals: Her goals now are to continue to increase awareness and connect women with IBD.
Her advice on becoming advocate: Be open about your experience with Crohn's or UC. Write blog posts, share on social media, or even start a vlog channel on YouTube.
"I often receive private messages with women asking me questions, and I try and turn something negative that happened to me into a chance to potentially prevent them from having the same experience," Alicia says.
But it's important to remember yourself, too. People depend on Alicia for information, strength, and guidance all the time, but she also has to make time for her own needs.
"Living with IBD is challenging on its own, so you have to find a balance between caring for yourself and others," she says.
Who he is: Brian Greenberg is the founder of Intense Intestines and Chronically Better You. He's also a writer and social ambassador for HealthCentral. Brian has been an IBD advocate for seven years.
Why he became an advocate: Brian was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in 1993 when he was only 11 years old. After major flares and multiple surgeries, he knew he had a story that could help others.
His advocacy goals: Right now, Brian is focusing on inspiring others to do more than they think they can with IBD, and he wants to raise awareness that IBD isn't just a bathroom disease.
His advice on becoming an advocate: Try to find your niche and have fun supporting those people. For example, Brian found a passion for helping patients with their medical bills in the IBD community. He also helps people with IBD realize their dreams.
Who she is: Andrea Meyer, who was diagnosed with Crohn's in 2000, is the co-founder of The Great Bowel Movement. She has been an IBD advocate for more than 10 years.
Why she became an advocate: Andrea's advocacy journey began after her first surgery in the spring of 2008. Her experience inspired her to find a way to help others in a way that hadn't been available for her.
She started The Great Bowel Movement alongside Megan Starshak to give people an easy way to start the conversation about IBD.
"I didn't pointedly start out as an advocate. I was just passionate about sharing my story and helping others share theirs," she says. Since then, she's spoken at conferences all around the United States and has worked alongside the pharmaceutical industry for short projects for patients.
For Andrea, the most rewarding thing about being an IBD advocate is being able to give a sense of hope to someone who might need it at that moment. In her advocacy, she hopes to continue to help others in a way that's mutually beneficial.
She also echoes Alicia's sentiments on avoiding "burnout" when you're advocating. When you're chronically ill, Andrea says, helping others can quite easily overtake your life, so schedule some you time to avoid the burnout.
All in all, advocacy can be a great way to help share your story and inspire others. IBD can be a debilitating disease, and many patients need their voices heard.
But you don't have to become the president of a non-profit or create your own company to be an advocate. Simply speaking out about your story and sharing it with others is a powerful way to get started.


A 10-year-old Shih Tzu named "Tiny" was found extremely neglected and wandering through the streets of Victoria. Police have located its owners and animal cruelty charges are pending.
Photograph by: Submitted Photo , SPCAA tiny dog that was picked up a week ago by a good Samaratan while wandering on Prior Street in Victoria and taken to the SPCA is now in foster care fighting for its life and suffering from years of neglect.
The shih tzu nicknamed "Tiny," because she is unusually small for the breed, has open sores on her feet and body, the result of heavy matting. She was treated at Elk Lake Veterinary Hospital and is now under 24-hour care at a foster home.
"You couldn't even see her paws, they were encased in matting," said B.C. SPCA constable Erika Paul of Tiny's condition when she was picked up on Aug. 2.
A similar open sore near the base of her tail was full of maggots as well, said Paul.
The dog also has severe dental neglect and severe dehydration has led to organ failure. Her toenails were severely overgrown.
"This little girl has been in a lot of pain for a long time," said Paul on Wednesday.
Leaving a dog in this condition is "dispicable," she added. The SPCA has located the dog's owner and is recommending charges of neglect and cruelty.
"It is heartbreaking because this poor sweet dog is fighting for her life from conditions that were completely preventable," Paul said.
Anyone convicted of animal cruelty faces up to five years in jail, a fine of up to $75,000 and a ban on owning animals.


I was a regular Physics teacher in a junior college in Singapore for 13 years. For the past 1.5 years, I have been with the Educational Technology Division in MOE, working on the system development, implementation and professional development of the Singapore Student Learning Space.
I happen to be married to another Physics teacher. We have 2 lovely kids (aged 7 and 5) with whom we spend most of our free time.
I manage this website in my personal capacity, not as a representative or as part of my duties in school. This website is paid for and owned by me but I invite other teachers (Singaporean or not) to contribute to the resources if you would like to do so.
PS: The content, images and videos in this website are either self-generated or reproduced with permission. Please feel free to use them for non-profit educational purposes. Do contact me if you would like to use them for all other purposes.


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Q: Finite polynomial rings and degree of polynomial Suppose we have a ring of polynomials over a field $\mathbb{Z}_5 = {0,1,2,3,4}$. Both addition and multiplication are subject to modular arithmetic.
If we want to calculate $P\odot Q$ with $P=-x ^3$ and $Q=3x^2$, do I need to make sure that both coefficients and exponents shouldn't be grater than 4 (i.e. the result would be 2 because $x^5$ is congruent to $x^0$ and $-3 \mod 5 = 2$), or is it ok if I say that the result is $2x^5$ (i.e exponents don't need to be from $\mathbb{Z}_5$).

A: Be careful, only the coefficients have operations subject to modular arithmetic, $x^nx^m = x^{n+m}$, no mod 5 reduction! The indeterminate $x$ is free, meaning it satisfies no algebraic relation (for example $x^5 \ne x^0$, as pointed out in the comments). What can happen is that $x^n = x^m$ for $n\neq m$ when you evaluate $x$ at all elements of $\Bbb Z_5$, for example, every $a \in \Bbb Z_5$ satisfies $a^5 = a$, in this case, when viewed as functions $\Bbb Z_5 \to \Bbb Z_5$, the polynomials $x^5$ and $x$ are equal, but as polynomials they are different. This is important, for example, once in the future we will extend the ring $\Bbb Z_5$ to a bigger ring where the relation $a^5 = a$ will not hold always.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Earth Change
Mangroves move inland as seas rise
Adapting to the damaging effects of climate change, plants are gradually moving to where temperatures are cooler, rainfall is greater, f...
Browse » Home » Drought » Drought closes world's biggest cattle ranch in Australia
Drought closes world's biggest cattle ranch in Australia
Image: Drovers muster cattle at Anna Creek Station, South Australia
Story: Anna Creek station, which is bigger than Israel, encompasses 9,267 square miles of scrub, sand dunes and savannah in the Outback of South Australia.
It is normally capable of supporting 16,000 cattle but the "Big Dry" – the worst drought in a century – has exhausted the land, forcing the herd to be whittled down to less than 2,000.
Half the cattle were sold for slaughter, while the rest were moved to other properties owned by S Kidman & Co, one of Australia's best known pastoral companies.
Article Continues
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Here at Builder Boost, we've been busy creating relationships with new home expert builders and communities to make your life as a New Home Expert easier. We have a vast network of agents who get to benefit from our partnerships and who experience great success in their real estate business as a result.
But for agents who are not sure how to break into the new build market, or aren't sure why they should, we have created a home expert resource list for you. This resource list is going to be broken into a 5 part series to provide an in-depth look at all the ways the new build market can benefit you and your clients.
We'll also include a few actionable steps that agents can take today to become new home experts in the Builder Boost network.
1. Give your buyers what they want.
Some buyers will only buy new, and there has been a massive shift in the local market. New homes are no longer seen as "too expensive" or "out of reach" for the traditional homebuyer. Now, most buyers prefer new homes! Why alienate yourself from a large pool of new home buyers?
2. No more bidding wars.
paying well over market price just because your clients are desperate for a home!
3. Avoid expensive renovation projects or insane asking prices.
Your clients don't need to worry about paying over market value for a home that needs a ton of work. With new builds, there is no plumbing, mechanical, electrical, structural, or anything other issues in the home. Everything is brand new and usually at a cost much lower than resales in the area.
4. There are huge incentives for buyers.
From lender subsidies, builder credits, upgrades, closing cost assistance, and more, these incentives are client-friendly! They are especially helpful for first time home buyers who don't have equity (and can't win resale home bids because of it).
5. Did we mention the commission for you?
Because new home builders have the process so streamlined, you – the Real Estate Agent – are doing much less legwork for a great commission. There are also bonus opportunities for agents who bring new homebuyers in!
Add a new home community to your newest client's showing schedule.
Introduce the builder to your client and get your client registered. On-site registration helps the sales process by ensuring the builder's follow-up with you and your client. It also ensures that YOU get your commission, as it makes it clear to the builders that your clients are represented.
If you're feeling motivated and are ready to join the growing number of Home Experts, check the Part 2 of our New Home Expert Resource Series! Also, be sure to join the Builder Boost Network to keep you connected to the new home industry.


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Year Of The Rat Records
Memorist release new single Kijo
The band released a new video through Rock Sound and Dreambound
Download assets for this release
UK, London, 7th October 2021
MEMORIST – so named due to frontman Jon's inability to forget – are a six-piece alternative metal outfit that craft powerful emotional journeys for the listener, through Jon's personal experiences and perceived injustices. Layered in satisfying atmospheric textures and driving choruses, MEMORIST are experts in creating tension only to explode into a salvo of memorable melodies and lyrics to identify with. Influenced by the likes of Deftones, Northlane and Hans Zimmer, and having already garnered a wealth of recognition from fans, industry and contemporaries alike, MEMORIST have enjoyed the position of "Featured Artist of the Week" on Alex Baker's Fresh Blood show on Kerrang! Radio along with numerous plays of their six initial singles by the presenter. The band have featured on live streams from Tesseract's Dan Tompkins and Fit For a King's Ryan Kirby and have over 1.7 million combined YouTube views across their five music videos, and approximately 2 million streams on Spotify alone (with a monthly listenership of over 100,000 active fans). The band have recently also joined Echelon Talent for UK/EU bookings, joining As Everything Unfolds, Death Blooms and many more.
MEMORIST recently announced signing to upcoming UK based label Year Of The Rat Records and released the singles 'The Empiric', 'Second Sequence' and 'Slither'. The band have since landed coverage with the likes of Rock Sound, Rolling Stone, Metal Injection, BBC, Kerrang TV, Kerrang Radio, Sirius XM Octane, Lambgoat, Dreambound, Heavy Mag, KnotFest, Idobi Radio, Total Rock Radio, Distortion Radio, Loudwire, and many other respected publications. The band have also landed a plethora of official playlisting with Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, Tidal and more over the cycle so far. 'Kijo' is the final single the band will release on the 8th October, ahead of the EP release 'ONI//KIJO' on the 12th November 2021. Pre-orders for the EP are linked below.
Speaking about 'Kijo' vocalist Jon says – "Kijo" is probably the most similar in style to our original three singles as you can get on the EP, "ONI//KIJO". It is a chorus-driven song, with soaring vocals and open instrumentals. Another song that was started purely as a "band" song, "Kijo" received a late injection of electronic elements from Crayg (synths) which really brought the finished piece together. There are elements of 80s influence in this song, as well as post-rock and ambient electronica, and it is another song that surprised us all immensely once it was finished. The video for this song is also a bit of a nostalgic nod to our original three singles, as it was filmed in the same place as our very first photo shoot and was entirely DIY, just like our original two videos. Lyrically, it plots the final point on a journey through the EP which explores some challenging themes throughout a relationship breakdown and the resulting emotional wreckage; it ponders "what happens next" after all this has been experienced and dealt with, and leaves a stepping off point at the very end for the next cycle of songs."
Memorist – Kijo (Video) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOHWJcuD4JI
Memorist – Kijo – Pre-save – https://lnk.to/MemoristKijo
ONI // KIJO pre orders and Merch – https://memorist.co.uk/
In the ever-changing music industry YOTR Records offers artists fair royalty splits in return for label services, expertise, press, radio, networking, and marketing, to help take its artists to the next level.
View Year Of The Rat Records's profile james@yotrrecs.com
More from Year Of The Rat Records
Midgar release 'Behind The Music feature'
The video shows lead singer Andy Wilson-Taylor discussing the creative process of the EP 'Warrens'
Midgar release new EP 'Warrens'
The EP follows up the band's album 'Unity' which was out in June 2021
Memorist release new single 'Slither' and announce EP release details
The band's EP ONI//KIJO is out on the 12th November 2021
MEMORIST release 2nd single 'Second Sequence' on Year Of The Rat Records
The band release a new visualiser ahead of Friday on Dreambound and Metal Injection
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The live video was premiered with the Youtube channel Dreambound and is now available to watch back
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"The Empiric" will be released on July 9, with the band having signed to Year Of The Rat in June


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Over the years Rosemary has had many different experiences. She has written many stories that will make you laugh, cry and think a little bit differently about your life. Enjoy!
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Remembering School Dances and the Uncertainty of Adolescence
Junior High ~ Punk Dance
I loved getting ready for school dances. My best friend, C, and I would try on outfits, style each other's hair, and apply make-up. This was unusual for us since we were jocks. Our normal school attire consisted of jeans, sweatshirts, runners, and barrettes or ponytails. Playing dress-up was fun, even if we did burn our ears with the curling iron, use a coat hanger to zip our Jordache jeans, and backcomb our hair until we defied Newton and his laws. All the while we'd giggle and be ourselves for the last time that Friday night.
Once we'd arrived at the gym, we'd join other girls and dance in a large circle. The boys lined the walls, leaning, joking, watching. I did the side-to-side shuffle with my feet, never sure what to do with my arms. I'd watch other girls and would try to mimic them, certain that they were dancing the right way. I seemed to hover above the circle, observing everyone, judging myself. How could someone so comfortable in that same gym with her basketball body not own it when she was dancing in the dark?
Eventually, the DJ would play a slow song, maybe Against All Odds, maybe Every Rose Has Its Thorn. C would find her boyfriend. She always had one. I never did. I'd pause momentarily near the court's centerline, checking for any movement approaching. Inevitably, there was none. I'd follow the sheep into the fluorescent-lit hallway. I'd slurp water from the fountain and reenter the noisy darkness, searching for any girl I knew. I'd stand beside her and would watch the couples dancing: the straight-armed nervous ones, shuffling heavily in a repetitive side step; and the couply-couples draping their bodies over each other, hands roaming, feet anchored.
When the next ballad followed, there was both hope and terror as boys walked nearby.
Please ask me to dance.
Please don't ask me to dance.
Sometimes I did get asked to dance, often by a boy a head shorter than me, a boy whose sleepy eyes were level with my breasts.
Don't look at them.
Don't look at my eyes either.
Sometimes a boy much older would ask me to dance. A boy whose wiry body knew what he wanted.
Please let Stairway To Heaven end.
Please let Stairway To Heaven go on.
The uncertainty of adolescence teetered amidst those two pleas.
What are your memories of school dances?
Filed Under: Un-Ironic Moments, Wild Gen X Tales Tagged With: 1980s, Ironic Mom, Junior High, Leanne Shirtliffe, memoir, Middle School, school dances
mairedubhtx says
Yes, we had school dances in the 1960s and they were similar to your experience. I went to an all girls school and the only chance we really had to interact with boys was at the dances. Boyes were less shy about asking girls to dance since no one knew each other. I met several boyfriends at these dances. They were an important part of high school.
Leanne Shirtliffe says
The cloak of anonymity. Good point.
Renée A. Schuls-Jacobson says
Leanne, you captured it perfectly! I am writing about prom – and this is is. The push-pull of it. They pieces are different yet similar. Mine isn't quite ready to go, but it's close. We are always about that close. You're just faster. And, per usual, you say it more succinctly. Beautiful. And really different from your other stuff. I see you are, perhaps, branching out a la Kristen Lamb? 😉 Good things, my friend.
Yes! It's push-pull. That's exactly what it is, what adolescence is. I only have two styles of writing: funny and this. I have a memoir brewing…
educlaytion says
Great post. You know I like these stories 🙂
Yup, that I do.
Dana Dominey Campbell says
This is a great post. I never missed a jr. high dance. (7th – 9th grade – we had three year high school.) Anyway, Stairway to Heaven was ALWAYS the final song. If you didn't get asked to dance by someone, or you had the sense that icky dude was about to come your way we would dash out into the hall and hide out in the girl's bathroom. Better that then have to be all sweaty with some lamo guy.
One time I was slow dancing and I had my arms under his arms instead of on his shoulders and I kind of froze. I didn't re-position them, so he was right against my chest. Ewe. I didn't know what to do, so I endured with all of his buddies leering and all of my friends doing funny OMG faces… He asked me to 'go with him' the 80's term for 'going steady. We lasted through the weekend. Ewe!
~ Dana
Great image, Dana. Well, awful-great, but you describe it well. I can smell the guy.
Bellymonster says
How effortlessly you've captured it all! I can smell the hairspray from here!
Boys never asked me to dance so I remember watching that couple, you know the one: her hair feathered perfectly, her mum let her wear eyeliner and frosted pink lipstick and she let her boyfriend tuck his hand into the back pocket of her jeans.
Ah, you've launched me back. What a delightful post!
Thanks, Belly. And the hand in the back pocket! Yes. Great detail.
Wendy Lawrence says
Stairway to Heaven. You didn't need to say anything else. In my case, there must have been something powerful about the song because, after going our separate ways for many years, that guy I first looked at across the 7th grade cafeteria, I just looked at again as he packed the goodwill boxes in his car and kissed me and the boys goodbye. 🙂
How beautiful is that, Wendy! I love that story. You tell it so well.
Lloyd Rang says
I went to Christian schools and we never had dances. But i feel like i just did.
Gorgeous writing.
Thanks, eh? Means a lot coming from you.
The Good Greatsby says
I always suspected girls were thinking "Please don't ask me to dance" and your confirmation makes me so relieved I always stood off to the side with my guy friends and never asked any girls to dance.
Glad I could take an ounce of guilt away…
Dances even in the 50's were the same. The one dance every year was my favorite: Sadie Hawkins Day Dance. Role-reversal reigned during those – but the emotions ran the same. How odd. "Marryin' Sam" got a load of business that night.
The other dances were full of self-doubt and abject terror of being rejected when asking for a dance. So, it seems, that both sides of the fence had things to be nervous about. It's a wonder any progress was made at all. But, of course, we know it was made.
Yes, the terror boys must feel when asking girls to dance. I can hardly imagine.
BigLittleWolf says
I dreaded school dances. Went to very few. (Geeky girls didn't get asked to dance.)
It has been interesting watching my boys go through the "school dance" phase – each one different in his approach – and the (previously more shy) kid, seeming to enjoy it more.
God, adolescence can suck. Remember?
I remember. I relive a bit of it every day when I teach 14 and 15 year olds. Interesting that your child who's more shy enjoyed it more.
What a lovely post. Well done, my friend.
Thanks, T.
thoughtsappear says
All of the middle school dances I went to, I just hung out with the girls. High school was mostly the same until my senior year. That's when guys actually started to "like" me as more than a friend. Such a late bloomer.
I agree. It was in Grade 12 that boys started to seem like friends you could joke with…
jedwardswright says
My cousin told me about the time when our grandmother was staying at their house, and she was ready to head out the door to a Grade 7 & 8 dance, when Grandma objected to her going to a dance in jeans, and insisted that my cousin put on a dress. My cousin was mortified at the very idea. Everyone wore jeans to school dances, so she would be a laughingstock if she showed up in a skirt.
She appealed to her mother (my aunt) and begged her to explain to our grandmother and allow her to wear the jeans. My lovely, kind aunt, who was nevertheless always a people pleaser, instead asked her to go and put a dress on.
My cousin burst into tears, and never went to that dance. I felt so badly for her, especially when her mother didn't stand up for her.
Peer pressure can be a horrifying thing, and but so can families!
What a story, Jodi. And you're right: pressure from family and not getting the whole middle school thing and how "times have changed." I cringed for her!
Meet the Buttrams says
This is adolescence perfection. What is it about brightly lit hallways and water fountains that told the boys, "We're too busy to dance, so don't even bother asking, even though I know you weren't gonna."
Except our first slow song was The Eagles' "Desperado". Every time.
Love the attitude in your dialogue.
And Desperado. I still like that song. Sigh.
Let's do the Time Warp Again.
It's just a jump to the left…
Now that song is stuck in my head!
Judy von Wahl says
You hit the nail right on the head. It is funny that a former class mate just posted his class picture of grade 9 on facebook. That picture & your blog has brought back ohhh so many memories, some good others not.
And the odd thing is that I actually enjoyed my teen years. Well, the sports part of them.
Diana Trautwein says
I have loved coming over here for a giggle. You write so very well when you're being funny – and now I see this other, lovely glimpse of your spirit. Well done – really, really well done. You've got it – all that inner angst, those warring emotions, that uncertainty mixed with curiosity — just wait until Thing 1 and Thing 2 are at that point. I really, really, really loved it when my kids got to that tweener/early adolescence stage! But it also stirs all kind of memories, very much like the ones you've so beautifully captured here. Thank you.
Thanks, Diana, for the really kind words. Someday I hope to write a coming-of-age memoir, but I have yet to reconcile my funny voice with my not-funny voice. Thank you so much.
inuk39 says
Nothing and I mean nothing would ever make me want to be a teenager ever again~ it was torture
And you hid your dancing nerves well Leanne you held that gym just as well at dances as you did at the basketball games.
That's a nice way to think of it. I can own a dance floor now because I don't give a crap…Amazing how much that makes a difference.
Keenie Beanie says
This took me so perfectly back to adolescence I actually shuddered – not a great time for me. Your writing is so evocative.
Thanks, KB. The post didn't start out this way…
paigekellerman says
Try being home schooled. Do you think anyone asked me to dance, even once?
Although, the UPS guy winked at me one day….does that count?
UPS guy definitely counts. Especially now. 😉
Being regected by all the girls at a dance. The only good one was when I asked the most popular girl to a dance and she said yes. Then I was herassed for months. I hated high school glad I'm done and won't look back
Ode to popular girls saying yes. And to guys who have the courage to ask even when rejection is a strong possibility.
Marianne says
My favorite part of dances was the end of stairway to heaven where it picks up significantly and you can no longer dance slowly in a circle and you end up just standing there trying to think of something to say
I know *exactly* the part you're referring to!
The Sweetest says
Ok, first? Your Jr. High legs were gorgeous. Just sayin'. As for the school dances… I both loved and hated them. The "fast songs" were fun, since I was such an awesome dancer *cough* The slow songs were torture. Boys NEVER asked me to dance. It was such an uncomfortable feeling, not knowing whether to stand there and watch the couples or retreat to the corner and pretend I didn't care.
You are "The Sweetest" if you say that.I had short little terrycloth volleyball shorts on underneath. I had put masking tape over the side Adidas' stripes so you wouldn't see them through my father's dress shirt.
And you capture it well: trying to pretend you don't care. Yes.
accidentalstepmom says
Middle school: moving from my town of 18,000 to a real city with a couple million people when my parents got divorced, one dance at the end of the year and I wore a pretty dress and everyone made fun of me because they thought I worshipped satan, and clearly, satanists weren't supposed to wear dresses. (Glad that's over)
I fared better in high school with dances at church (god church, not satan church) with the youth group and they were exactly like you described. I once feigned a breakup with a boy because the false ending of that Night Ranger song had me leaving the dance floor before the song was really over.
What an adjustment year that must have been.
And I laughed at your "god church" line. (And I loved Night Ranger – It was Sister Christian, right? The part where they sing "Motoring"?). Take me back!
Hi, I'm Natalie. says
Ditto – for MY school's dances, anyway. I also joined friends at Every Single One of their school's dances – and they were the theatre group, so there was ALWAYS someone fun to dance with…
You really have to love artsy kids. I teach some. I do.
I wish I could have gone to dances in the 80s!!! I didn't hit school dance age until the early 90s!!! *jealous* 😉
… and I wish there was a seperate "I like this a lot!" button!!!! lol
Thanks, Kim. I wish you were there too!
Oh man, you brought it all back. The awkwardness, the indecisiveness, all of it. Gross.
Yes, awkwardness. Sigh.
Vinay Antony Payyapilly says
Growing up in the middle east, we didnt have dances to go to. But there was this one time when we had the end of the summer activities in our church with a party where there was dancing.
A girl I actually liked asked me to dance, well I guess she got bored waiting for me to ask or decided that if she waited for me to ask hell would freeze over, and like an idiot, I told her I had hurt my foot. I spent the rest of the party limping around.
Needless to say, we never became great friends.
A hurt foot! Ingenious, really.
When I taught Grade 11 and 12 IB in Bahrain, the students had dances in a big tent with Arabic music. No slow dances, obviously. It seemed WAY more fun.
Kimberly Krey says
This was totally hilarious! Every Rose Has Its Thorn indeed, and my Jr High dances were filled with them. Girls bawling because the boy they liked was asking other girls to dance and ignoring them even though they'd decided in advance that they were each others dates even though the school didn't actually allow 'dates' to the dance. Mascara-drenched tears, peach-colored dresses, and 80s music. Gotta love it!
Nothing like a little Poison to bring back Junior High memories! And I remember tears. Not my own, thankfully, but those of others.
julie gardner says
Oh lord. I played the piano (I say that because since I had kids…well…I don't play much) and I also sang (which I did after kids, but years of "Twinkle Twinkle Traffic Light" takes the edge off the pipes)…
I can recall thousands of private or semi-private (due to well-intentioned friends willing to suffer) performances of "Against All Odds."
I'm pretty sure if I close my eyes, I can still feel the sincerity oozing from me.
(or is it Noxema?)
"When I stand here taking every breath with you……ooh ooh. You're the only one who really knew me at all…"
And DAMN did I mean it.
Also, "Faithfully," by Journey. Because really, what teenager isn't ready to make the lifetime commitment promised in that song?
Oh. Oh, the earnestness. The fear. The excitement.
You captured it all. Love this, Leanne. Thanks for the memory.
You sing? Wow. And we liked the same music. And I could play Open Arms on the organ. How sad is that!
David N. Walker says
I remember those days – 1950s for me – very well. I was always afraid to ask a girl to dance, because she might turn me down, so I spent most of my time sitting in a corner or joking with other guys.
Sandra S. says
Dead on Leanne! I vividly remember the gangly teenage boys who wallpapered the edge of the gym, too self-conscious to dance but too interested in the goings on to leave. So we girls did the only thing we could do and danced with other girls.
I'm now 48 and still dance at social events with other women whose husbands — like mine — hate to dance. But I'm doing something about it for the next generation. I've had my eight year old son in dance lessons for four years. I've told him in a few years he'll "clean up" on the dance floor with the beautiful girls while the legions of boys who had only hockey lessons will continue wallpapering the gym walls. Some things never change.
writerwoman61 says
I loved this post, Leanne…those boys weren't very bright! You were (and still are) gorgeous!
I went to all the dances in middle school (Grade 7 and 8 in Ontario)…I was also the girl who rarely got asked to dance. However, I didn't let that stop me…I just asked the boys to dance, for fast songs, at least!
It was the mid-70's. Some of the songs that remind me of those dances were: "Takin' Care of Business", "American Pie", "Smoke on the Water", "Crocodile Rock", and "Locomotion". One of the waltzes I remember watching jealously was "You Are So Beautiful."
I still love to dance to fast songs, but haven't done it for a long time (except to embarrass the children)…
Smoke says
I know this is year later, but just tonight I heard the song and I asked myself WHY Stairway to Heaven was ALWAYS the last song at dances through my middle and high school years (in Richmond Hill – 1973-81). 'Still don't know why, but your post was deliciously evocative of those years: if only I'd known then what I know now…who'm I kidding; I'd still be a geek! Loved the post though.


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The Hobbit The Desolation of Smaug
At the beginning of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings" there is a conversation between Gandalf and Frodo where Frodo comments how Bagginses had never done anything unexpected or gone on any adventures until Gandalf came along. Gandalf replies, "If you're referring to the incident with the Dragon, I was barely involved." The dragon of which he speaks is Smaug and as you may imagine he is featured pretty heavily in the new movie, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" which opens today, December 13, in South Florida and across the world. This is the movie LOTR fans have truly been waiting to arrive!
"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" takes place right after the first movie ended. Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), the band of 13 dwarfs led by Thorin (Richard Armitage) and Gandalf (Ian McKellen) are on trek towards the Misty Mountains. In their way is a pact of Orcs hunting them, the Woodland Elves and finally, Smaug the Dragon himself.
For those who found "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" to be a disappointment, you will not feel the same this time out. The action sequences in this movie are executed much better and are exciting to watch. The movie starts off big and rarely lets go! Bilbo and the dwarves face off against many obstacles and opponents and Peter Jackson reaches back to his Lord of the Rings roots and reminds us on why we fell in love with the first three movies he made over a decade ago. When Smaug finally enters the picture, not only do we get to see and hear him in all his glory, the sequences are truly edge of your seat stuff.
If you are deciding if it is worth seeing "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" in IMAX 3D or at least in 3D, the answer is a resounding yes! Peter Jackson shot the movies using the Epic Red cameras. This information is probably lost on most people, but they are probably the best 3D cameras out there! Jackson also shot the movie at a 48 per second frame rate, the usual film rate is 24 frames per second. The result is a more crisper picture than you usually see in cinemas. That, along with the great three-dimensional affects, makes this movie one of the best 3D events of the year.
One of the staples of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy was not just the fantastic action sequences, but the interactions between the characters as well. There are some really nice moments in this movie too that was largely missing from the first. Some of the best character scenes in the movie are between the dwarf Kili (Aidan Turner) and the She-Elf, Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly). You would think these two characters would have nothing in common, but the two have a great connection on screen. Orlando Bloom returns as Legolas and he too, has some good moments with Lilly. Keep an eye out for her in future movies as it looks like this is one actress ready to break out.
The first movie really did feel long, but the two and a half hours of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" goes by pretty quickly. It is still a little elongated to help make a movie series that was only supposed to be two movies, but are now three. However, the movie flows much better now and don't be surprised if, when the movie does end, you want to see the third movie right away and not one year from now. That is a sign of a really good movie. It is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of intense fantasy action violence and fighting
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Jackson, Miss– The City of Jackson's public transportation system, JTRAN, will reduce bus services beginning Monday due to a worker shortage.
This service reduction will allow JTRAN to maintain reliable service on fixed route and paratransit systems. Service will be restored as soon as worker availability improves.
Please take note of the following updated times and route schedules.
JTRAN, beginning Monday, Jan. 17, will operate on a Saturday schedule from Monday through Saturday. The service will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for fixed routes and paratransit. The new schedule will be in effect until at least Feb. 12.
Residents who use JTRAN are advised to check "rider alert" notifications for updates on available bus routes.
Updated information on routes can be found at the following link: https://www.jacksonms.gov/rideralerts/.
Residents are advised to seek alternative means of transportation if needed or possible.
For additional information, please contact JTRAN's customer service line at 601-952-1000. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.


text:
title: Les employés d'abord, les clients ensuite - Vineet Nayar
date:  2016-01-18 19:21
layout: post
category: [livre]
tags: ["Vineet Nayar", "HCL Technologies"]
tagid: "employes d'abord"
isbn: 978-2354560317
illustration: /images/978-2354560317.jpg
---

Ce dirigeant d'une des plus grande entreprise indienne de service en informatique, HCL Technologies, détaille la métamorphose qu'il a fait prendre à l'entreprise qu'il dirige depuis 2005. Cette transformation passe par son obcession de donner la priorité du management de son entreprise aux employés et non aux clients.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Our work does not end after the demolition of a blighted property. The Cuyahoga Land Bank works diligently to find new land reuses for the vacant land. One of its most successful and popular programs includes the sale of those vacant properties as "side yards." Hundreds of Cuyahoga County home and business owners who live or do business next to a vacant lot owned by the Cuyahoga Land Bank have taken advantage of the Side Yard Program. Side Yard purchasers have utilized vacant land in resourceful and imaginative ways, including planting gardens, adding home additions, building a new driveway or garage, business expansion, or simple yard expansion for children and pets. Vacant lots are offered at a significant discount to eligible home or business owners.
Photo: Zanita Drake-Rogers purchased the vacant lot next to her home in Garfield Heights through the Cuyahoga Land Bank's Side Yard Program and transformed it into a beautifully landscaped space. "I feel like I have the best-looking house on the street now," says Drake-Rogers.


Simply fill out the Smart Loan Finder EZ-Loan form that matches your request. You are not required to enter your Social Security Number of any other sensitive information at this time.
Once you have submitted the EZ-Loan Request Form, our Loan bots will locate up to four lenders in our network who are a good match for you. Those four lenders will contact you usually within 24 hours, and based on their offer – you decide which lender gets your business.


, we all picks the top choices having ideal quality only for you, and this pictures is actually among graphics selections within our greatest images gallery regarding Fabulous Ball Gown Beach Wedding Dresses. Lets hope you might like it.
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text:
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// CSelectURLsDlg dialog

class CSelectURLsDlg : public CDialog
{
// Construction
public:
	void RecalcLayout(int cx,int cy);
	CSize m_Gap;
	CSize m_minSize;
	CStringList m_URLs;
	CSelectURLsDlg(CWnd* pParent = NULL);   // standard constructor

// Dialog Data
	//{{AFX_DATA(CSelectURLsDlg)
	enum { IDD = IDD_URLS };
	CButton	m_AdjustCtl;
	CButton	m_AdjustInnCtl;
	CButton	m_OkCtl;
	CButton	m_CancelCtl;
	CListBox	m_URLsCtl;
	BOOL	m_bAdjustInnermost;
	BOOL	m_bAdjust;
	//}}AFX_DATA

// Overrides
	// ClassWizard generated virtual function overrides
	//{{AFX_VIRTUAL(CSelectURLsDlg)
	protected:
	virtual void DoDataExchange(CDataExchange* pDX);    // DDX/DDV support
	//}}AFX_VIRTUAL

// Implementation
protected:

	// Generated message map functions
	//{{AFX_MSG(CSelectURLsDlg)
	virtual BOOL OnInitDialog();
	afx_msg void OnSize(UINT nType, int cx, int cy);
	afx_msg void OnGetMinMaxInfo(MINMAXINFO FAR* lpMMI);
	afx_msg void OnSelchangeUrls();
	virtual void OnOK();
	afx_msg BOOL OnHelpInfo(HELPINFO* pHelpInfo);
	//}}AFX_MSG
	DECLARE_MESSAGE_MAP()
};


Nancy Pelosi has a huge constituency of professional cocaine users in California – professionals who vote.
She needs to be recused along with her colleagues who represent states with high cocaine and heroin usage for a conflict of interest when called to participate in any form of legislation or action regarding the application of a physical structure designed to keep out illicit drugs and people coming from regions where drug cartels exist south of the USA border.
Politicians from high drug use states are no different from politicians from high drug producing and exporting countries. Money works the same way on both sides of the southern border to influence politicians, law enforcement and judges to look the other way or to vocally oppose those trying to stop the drug flow and the people coming to the USA to set up underground distribution points and supporting peripheral services.
Everybody knows how to hide money. Even a dog knows how to hide what they don't want you to see. When you see politicians tipping off their constituency to upcoming ICE raids, you know they're bought and/or expecting compensation.
When you see politicians fight tooth and nail against the building of a low-cost physical structure on the southern border as a deterrent to illegal immigration, you know they receive benefit, in some form, for appeasing and giving aid and comfort to the cartels operating within the USA.
It's a done deal. They are as corrupt as the politicians and police in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and any other country that benefits from the drug trade. They all benefit.
Many politicians openly use as an excuse for their inaction and their objection to a physical structure at the southern border that the cartels will just find another way to enter.
Yes. They will. And when they do, we'll be there.
The USA must show these cartels and their satellite organized crime syndicates, that are allowed to freely operate with impunity in our country by our own paid-off politicians and law enforcement, that we have the will to stop them at every point of entry.
The FBI needs to immediately start investigating those congresspeople who most vehemently opposed a construction process designed to slow the flow of hard drugs and drug cartel-related people as well as all the wannabe El Chapos into the USA. Those politicians who tip off offending parties to raids by ICE or any other law enforcement agency must be stripped of their title and prosecuted.
Those in congress who openly defy the president's desires and plans to protect this country from being ravaged by these cartels have been bought off and are running like little sissies screaming to the enemy that they're with them not the USA> Our own congresspeople have flipped.


An emirate seeks to link East and West, whether at home or away.
as Al Khaimah, located near the northeast tip of the United Arab Emirates, once was known, like its fellow six emirates, as one of the Trucial States. Now it is making a name for itself as one of the crucial states — and oil has almost nothing to do with it.
Ports and manufacturing, however, have very much to do with it. That's why CEO Dr. Khater Massaad, who conveniently serves as CEO of both Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (RAKIA) and of ceramics and sanitaryware leader RAK Ceramics, was in the United States two weeks ago to drum up interest in inward investment into the emirate.
That same week, news broke of RAKIA's continuing outward investment in the Republic of Georgia's Black Sea port of Poti, a crucial east-west linkage point where RAKIA plans to invest nearly half a billion dollars over the next five years to establish a free industrial zone as well as a second port complex.
The Poti investment comes only two years after the port was briefly seized by Russia during its war over the breakaway territory of South Ossetia. The Wall Street Journal reports that prior to that war, "Georgia's economy grew 12.4 percent in 2007, fueled by $2 billion in foreign investment," and that the Georgian government predicts "a return to growth of 4.5 percent in 2010."
As it happens, Ras Al Khaimah itself saw 14-percent growth between 2007 and 2008, and looks to see its 2008 GDP of US$3.7 billion double over the next five to six years.
Having Massaad at the helm may be a good omen for all concerned. Since he founded RAK Ceramics in 1991, it has grown to become a billion-dollar conglomerate and the largest ceramics manufacturing firm in the world. He also knows a thing or two about large-scale industrial operations: While it has facilities worldwide — including plants in Belgium, Georgia, Australia, China, Sudan, Bangladesh, India and Iran — RAK Ceramics' 21-million-sq.-ft.-plus (2 million sq.-m.) complex in Ras Al Khaimah produces more than 2.4 million sq. ft. (227,000 sq. m.) of tiles per day and over 8,500 pieces of sanitaryware per day. And it continues to grow via joint ventures such as its 2007 alliance with Italy's Smaltochimica Group to make chemicals such as printing oils for the ceramics industry. According to the company, it's the first time such chemicals have been produced and exported anywhere in the Middle East.
Such milestones have earned Massaad and his company their fair share of honors, most recently the Visionary CEO and Best Brand Awards presented in late April at the first Middle East Business Leaders Summit and Awards in Dubai. Such scale has produced something even more valuable than figurines and plaques: Even amid the global slump in construction, the company in 2009 saw a 20.2-percent increase in net profit. It reduced its loans by [AED 354 million} and paid a 10-percent bonus share to shareholders as a result.
"The profit growth achieved by RAK Ceramics comes in the backdrop of the strategic initiatives implemented by the company from 2004-2009, during which it completed an ambitious expansion plan which allowed the company to position itself among the largest global ceramic manufacturers," said Massaad in April at the company's general assembly meeting. "The company has also made several investments in forward and backward integration of its value chain by strategically investing in joint ventures and projects and successfully spinning off cost centers into profit centers. Last year, RAK Ceramics was able to leverage its export relationships in over 150 countries in its core ceramic markets and continued to foster growth of investments made in related businesses."
Massaad was appointed advisor to The Crown Prince & Deputy Ruler of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, in 2003, and says it is the Crown Prince's vision that drives his work for RAKIA. (The Crown Prince also serves as Chairman of RAK Ceramics.) Since Massaad became CEO in 2005 as RAKIA was created, the investment authority has attracted more than $3 billion in industrial investments into Ras Al Khaimah and over 4,700 international company registrations (2,200 in its free zones and the rest offshore). Key industries include glass and tableware, float glass, cement, Blu-ray DVD media, renewable energy, hygienic products and automobile manufacturing, but services and tourism are also part of the mix.
"Despite the crisis last year, not a single facility closed," says Massaad. "Many of them are exporting, as it's very easy to export anywhere else in the world." He says particular sectors that look promising are food processing and automobile parts.
The emirate benefits from free trade agreements signed between the GCC region and Singapore, and between GCC and the European Free Trade Association (Lichtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland). New FTAs are currently under negotiation with the U.S., the EU, Turkey, Australia, Japan, South Korea, China and India. Meanwhile, goods produced in Ras Al Khaimah can be exported to 17 different Middle Eastern countries and the EU duty free. Within three hours' flying radius, one can reach 25 countries with a cumulative population of more than 1.8 billion.
Investors have come from 96 countries all over the world, with 36 percent from the Middle East, 35 percent from Asia and the Far East and 18 percent from Europe. Startlingly few of the major investors in the free zones are American (see table). Hence Massaad's visit earlier this month to the Land of the Free. But there's free and then there's free: Since implementing reforms in government and legal systems, the emirate has really simplified things, says Massaad.
"A business can come to RAKIA, fill out the application and have a license in one hour's time," he says. "If he wants to set up a factory, we show him the land, and he can start up construction tomorrow morning. There is absolute freedom, no corruption, and no regulation. And he can build any building he likes. There is complete, complete freedom."
As for infrastructure, Massaad says power is always an issue for heavy industrial users such as his company. "But we are very pleased to say that, first, the federal authorities have decided to give extra power plants, and RAK is going to get 300 megawatts," he says. "Moreover, for the industrial zones, the investment authority has set up two [gas-fired] plants, of 80 and 45 megawatts, and today there is excess power in the industrial zones. There is no shortage of anything. His Highness is very keen to make sure everything is available."
That includes expanded port facilities too, as the Port of Saqr now boasts container handling capability, as well as handling between 30 million and 40 million tons per year in bulk goods. Massaad says other ports are being established, all under UAE federal customs for security and control.
Earlier this week, a companion but separate agency from RAKIA, the Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone, announced it would invest some $1 billion over the next five years to improve its own logistics and infrastructure facilities. While the FTZ's benefits extend virtually anywhere in the emirate, the RAK FTZ's facilities include multiple locations in and around Ras Al Khaimah city. There is also a new RAK Educational FTZ, and a new re-export warehouse facility is being set up at the new Maritime City near the Port of Saqr. The FTZ's principal clients are small service providers, as well as warehousing, exporters and offshore clients. Many use a flexi-office service and are rarely in the emirate.
Oussama El Omari, CEO of the RAK FTZ, said the aim is to attract more manufacturing to the FTZ, and to be a hub for what is called the Seventh Corridor: "The best example is a company bringing its raw materials may be from Europe, manufacturing the product here and target markets in the CIS, Iran and Iraq," he told Emirates Business magazine. He also sees the zone acting as a bridge between Asia and Africa.
For RAKIA's part, the term infrastructure also applies to its financial acumen and influence. In addition to providing the facilities and real estate in the Al Hamra and Al Ghail areas, RAKIA also offers investment advisory services and equity participation on selected projects. Recently, RAKIA signed a memorandum of cooperation with banks in Ras Al Khaimah under which the banks will provide financing to firms for their projects in RAKIA industrial parks.
Massaad says RAKIA's selection process might be driven by investors who want RAKIA to be with them to feel confident, or "strategic projects where it is feasible to allow us to be with them," he says, citing partnerships in glass tableware and pharmaceutical glass, and one in the works in steel, where RAKIA might have between 10 and 50 percent.
RAK's economic diversification is notable first for its balance, with 25 percent of its licenses for commercial companies, 24 percent to service and consultancy firms, 23 percent to industrial firms and the balance to trading and media companies. It's also notable for its manufacturing component, which was nearly 9 percent of GDP in 2008.
"If is a fertile land for industry," says Massaad. "We think we understand industry very well, and investors will feel very free to do business."


text:
Q: How to add option to display @tags in Javadoc comments I have two own Annotations that I use for different fields and methods alongside the @Deprecated annotation. However, unlike the @Deprecated annotation, which can be displayed in the Javadoc comment itself with a description, is it not possible for me to do this with my own annotations.
Small example:
/**
 * Sends "bar".
 *
 * @deprecated Use {@link #sendFooBar()} instead.
 */
@Deprecated
@MyAnnotation // I want to add a description to this annotation in the comment above
public void sendBar(){
    System.out.prntln("bar");
}

So my question is what I have to do, in order to display the annotation in the comment itself and to provide comments on it.
I can't just add it into the comment as it would be seen as a "wrong tag".
To clarify: I don't want to just display the @ symbol in the comment. I know how to do this.
I want to have documentation (description) in the Javadoc comment similar to the one available for the @Deprecated annotation.
The annotations themself have the @Documented, @Retention(RetentionPolicy.RUNTIME) and the @Target({ElementType.METHOD, ElementType.FIELD}) annotations attached to them.

A: It's not possible to use self-defined annotations in javadoc the way you think. This becomes more obvious if you write the annotations per specification. The javadoc @deprecated tag is written lowercase whereas the @Deprecated annotation of the Java Language is written capitalized.
This is due to the fact that the javadoc @deprecated tag comments on the deprecation of the underlying method and/or constructor rather than representing the Java @Deprecated annotation itself. You're therefore not able to use the annotation in javadoc the way you intended by default.
However, it IS possible to introduce custom tags to javadoc. How to do so is explained here. You might also consider mentioning the implications your annotation might have somewhere else in the javadoc comment. To safely escape your annotation's name, just use the {@code ...} construct.


text:
Q: VS 2013 preview - sqlConnection.Open() crashing This code works perfectly in VS 2010 and 2012.
Dim cmdText As String = "select * from master.dbo.sysdatabases where name=N'" & database & "'"
Dim bRet As Boolean = False
Using sqlConnection As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(connString)
    Try
        sqlConnection.Open()
        Using sqlCmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(cmdText, sqlConnection)
            Using reader As SqlDataReader = sqlCmd.ExecuteReader
                bRet = reader.FieldCount > 1
                reader.Close()
            End Using
        End Using
    Catch ex As SqlException
        MsgBox("Error Trying to Connect to database " & database & vbNewLine & ex.Message, MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
    Finally
        sqlConnection.Close()
    End Try
End Using

But when I run it in 2013 this is the error I get at the sqlConnection.Open() command: -

An unhandled exception of type 'System.ExecutionEngineException'
  occurred in System.Transactions.dll
If there is a handler for this exception, the program may be safely
  continued.

I have found and tried http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/791339/fatalexecutionengineerror
But to no avail
Has anyone any pointers?
I am stuck.


text:
Political Party Assignment
Categories: Electoral College Pros And ConsFree College Education
Assignment, Pages 5 (1096 words)
Two major parties, Democrat and Republican, are leading our country. We are facing a lot challenges which two parties in the U.S. are putting a lot of precautions to get those jobs done well. Specifically, our state, Texas, we are also concerning and coping with a lot of problems in our State. Two parties are working hard to provide a desired platform and bring it into effective action. Both platform of two parties have some points identical, however, there are a lot things in both platform are much different.
" Political Party Assignment "
Both platforms of Republican and Democrat are believed which are increasing our Texas on a lot of faces and possibly dealing with and even solving our problems. First of all, both parties, Democrat and Republican, mention the problem that many people are worrying recently, education, both parties support for every child in Texas should be provided opportunity to succeed. That means free public for children from pre-K to high school. However, there are something different in two platforms, which means Republican tend to charge student tuitions for their college level while Democrat provide free-college tuition for all students.
Sweet V
Proficient in: Electoral College Pros And Cons
" Ok, let me say I'm extremely satisfy with the result while it was a last minute thing. I really enjoy the effort put in. "
Additionally, Republican give the right to all parents that they have rights for school options, all parents should be empowered to select public school, or private school, or homeschool options for their children. Furthermore, Republican are tending to send more police officers and security with guns in school to protect students. Conversely, Democrats suppose that, ""school choice" is a deceptive marketing frame that purports to advocate something that already exists – school choice – but whose true purpose is to divert public school funds to vouchers on tax credit systems supporting private and sectarian schools", they do not support for school option because Democrats believe that is the way for evading the taxation or probably using that money granting illegally for private schools.
Also, Democrats will likely to prohibit guns at school because they suppose that school is the right place for carrying guns in.
Another problem is recently debating aggressively on Texas senate race and Texas Governor race, immigration. Both parties have same concept that Texas have to defend and secure our southern border. Both parties also support for equal housing opportunity and job opportunity for all immigrants. Both parties strengthen the fair treatment for all immigration regardless their race, gender, national origin, and other characteristic. Nevertheless, both parties have really much different in their view of immigration. As for Republican, they are willing to build the wall which means technology, concrete infrastructure, tall, and boost deeply in the ground to stop illegal immigrants from the south countries. Also, they will deport more than eleven million people who are identified undocumented people back to their country. Republican support firmly Senate Bill 4 – "show me your paper" law – for local enforcement agencies to stop anyone and request their legal driver license. In contrary, Democrat will likely to citizenship for illegal immigrants. They not only oppose Republican concepts above but also support for the passage of a clean Dreamer Act. Democrats believe that American economic are contributing and developing strongly by being relied strongly to immigrants who are working for top jobs which Americans refuse to get those jobs like construction, or public service. Democrats believe that building the wall and deport illegal immigrants will cost over a hundred millions dollar which are granted form a lot of people in Texas, which means money – consuming of State Government.
I believe both party platforms are driving our Texas to the new era in which more democracy. Moreover, both platforms are not perfect. As for Democrat platform, grating citizenship for illegal immigrations will be strongly opposed by Republican because that is unfair for people who have come here legally, which means they had wait in their line, they had followed the American rules. Republican can rely for granting citizenship for illegal immigrants about bringing drug, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana to Texas which will impact negatively to human being. Those can make people lazier, less creative for American, negative impact to young people, and possibly cause overdose to death . Also, Republican will attack Democrat about Taxes overhaul which Democrat will propose high taxes and high regulation to reduce or end a lot of small businesses which are really important to develop Texas' economy to hire more people in Government. Also, Medicare for all people will impact negatively and seriously to Democrats. They will have supports from illegal immigrants and most of elderly immigrants but for all Texans, Democrats will not get votes for people who are paying taxes and count it for Medicare when they retire in their future. That will bankrupt Medicare in Texas. But Republican platforms also have many things that Democrat can take advantages to get more people against Republican. Firstly, deportation of illegal immigrants and building the wall on the southern border will cost a lot of money. Gun ownership or we usually call NRA organization, will be oppose by a lot of Texans because it will break the safety in Texas, some people when they lost their temper or more importantly, students possibly hide the gun of their parents and bring it to school, it will be dangerous for school. What did happen in Santa Fe high school that was terrible and chaotic for the students. People do not want it happening again. Texans will consider carefully about NRA and gun ownership that will oppose Texas Republican.
In my conclusion, I believe both platforms of Republican and Democrat are overall good for Texas. Both parties built up their platforms on the same concepts but their manners in which they pick to achieve their purposes are much distinguished. The vast majority of differences which exist between the Democrat and Republican platforms surround their fundamental beliefs. The 2018 Republican platform is targeting to mostly white people, Christian families with Judeo – Christian belief. Minority rights are seem second to the party's theological belief. The Democrat platform is more open to minorities and offer concession to them which will benefit them, especially immigrants and homosexual. However, as for Republican, they will struggle with some questions about the consideration for all Americans, safety in Texas, or gun ownership and NRA. However, Democrat will be easy to be attacked by those question for their moral value. They break too much from tradition and regulations and grant reward for people who would break or fail our Constitution and laws.
"Democrat Political Party Platform." Texas Democrat, 23 June. 2018, https://www.txdemocrats.org/our-party/texas-democratic-party-platform/
"Republican Political Party Platform." Texas Republican, 21, June. 2018, https://www.texasgop.org/platform/
Political Party Assignment. (2022, May 23). Retrieved from http://studymoose.com/political-party-assignment-essay
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