text:
lightspeed venture partners
Calm raises $27M to McConaughey you to sleep
Posted by Mansour Wakim | Apps, calm, Education, Entertainment, funding, Fundings & Exits, Health, lightspeed venture partners, meditation, Mobile, Recent Funding, sleep, sleep aid, Startups, TC | No Comments
Meditation app unicorn Calm wants you to doze off to the dulcet tones of actor Matthew McConaughey's southern drawl or writer Stephen Fry's English accent. Calm's Sleep Stories feature that launched last year is a hit, with more than 150 million listens from its 2 million paid subscribers and 50 million downloads. While lots of people want to meditate, they need to sleep. The seven-year-old app has finally found its must-have feature that makes it a habit rather than an aspiration.
Keen to capitalize on solving the insomnia problems plaguing people around the world, Lightspeed tells TechCrunch it has just invested $27 million into a Series B extension round in Calm alongside some celebrity angels at a $1 billion valuation. The cash will help the $70 per year subscription app further expand from guided meditations into more self-help masterclasses, stretching routines, relaxing music, breathing exercises, stories for children and celebrity readings that lull you to sleep.
The funding adds to Calm's $88 million Series B led by TPG that was announced in February that was also at a $1 billion valuation, bringing the full B round to $115 million and Calm's total funding to about $141 million. Lightspeed partner Nicole Quinn confirms the fund started talks with Calm around the same time as TPG, but took longer to finish due diligence, which is why the valuation didn't grow despite Calm's progress since February.
"Nicole and Lightspeed are valuable partners as we continue to double down on entertainment through our content," Calm's head of communications Alexia Marchetti tells me. The startup plans to announce more celebrity content tie-ins later this summer.
Broadening its appeal is critical for Calm amidst a crowded meditation app market that includes Headspace, Simple Habit and Insight Timer, plus newer entrants like Peloton's mindfulness sessions and Journey's live group classes. It's become easy to find guided meditations online for free, so Calm needs to become a holistic mental wellness hub.
While it risks diluting its message by doing so much, Calm's plethora of services could make it a gateway to more of your personal health spend, including therapy, meditation retreats and health merchandise from airy clothing to yoga mats. But subscription fees alone are powering a big business. Calm quadrupled revenue in 2018 to reach $150 million in ARR and hit profitability.
Calm is poised to keep up its rapid revenue growth. After the launch of Sleep Stories, "it was incredible to see the engagement spike up and also the retention," says Quinn. Users can choose from having McConaughey describe the wonders of the cosmos, John McEnroe walk them through the rules of tennis, fairy tales like The Little Mermaid and more.
Quinn tells me "Sleep Stories is now a huge percentage of the business, and also the length of time people spend on the app has gone up dramatically." She tells me that so many startups are "trying to invent a problem where there isn't one." But difficulty snoozing is so widespread and detrimental that users are eager to pay for an app instead of a sleeping pill. Having the Interstellar actor talk about the universe until I pass out sounds alright, alright, alright.
Where top VCs are investing in media, entertainment & gaming
Posted by Mansour Wakim | Apple, BetaWorks, charles hudson, Electronic Arts, Entertainment, epic games, Eric Hippeau, esports, Facebook, fortnite, founders fund, funding, Fundings & Exits, Gaming, Google, GV, HQ Trivia, instagram, interactive media, lerer hippeau ventures, lightspeed venture partners, Luminary Media, matt hartman, Media, mg siegler, Netflix, new media, precursor ventures, Roblox, scooter braun, sequoia capital, Sports, Spotify, starbucks, Startups, sweet capital, TC, Twitch, Venture Capital, Video, Virtual reality | No Comments
Most of the strategy discussions and news coverage in the media and entertainment industry is concerned with the unfolding corporate mega-mergers and the political implications of social media platforms.
These are important conversations, but they're largely a story of twentieth-century media (and broader society) finally responding to the dominance Web 2.0 companies have achieved.
To entrepreneurs and VCs, the more pressing focus is on what the next generation of companies to transform entertainment will look like. Like other sectors, the underlying force is advances in artificial intelligence and computing power.
In this context, that results in a merging of gaming and linear storytelling into new interactive media. To highlight the opportunities here, I asked nine top VCs to share where they are putting their money.
Here are the media investment theses of: Cyan Banister (Founders Fund), Alex Taussig (Lightspeed), Matt Hartman (betaworks), Stephanie Zhan (Sequoia), Jordan Fudge (Sinai), Christian Dorffer (Sweet Capital), Charles Hudson (Precursor), MG Siegler (GV), and Eric Hippeau (Lerer Hippeau).
Cyan Banister, Partner at Founders Fund
"In 2018 I was obsessed with the idea of how you can bring AI and entertainment together. Having made early investments in Brud, A.I. Foundation, Artie and Fable, it became clear that the missing piece behind most AR experiences was a lack of memory.
Mutiny at HQ Trivia fails to oust CEO
Posted by Mansour Wakim | Apps, Colin Kroll, founders fund, funding, HQ Trivia, Jeremy Liew, lightspeed venture partners, Mobile, Rus Yusupov, Scott Rogowsky, Social, Startups, TC, trivia, Video | No Comments
This week's banishment of host Scott Rogowsky was merely a symptom of the ongoing struggle to decide who will lead HQ Trivia. According to multiple sources, over half of the startup's staff signed an internal petition to depose CEO Rus Yusupov who they saw as mismanaging the company. But Yusupov then fired some core supporters of the mutiny, leading to a downward spiral of morale that mirrors HQ's plummeting App Store rank.
TechCrunch spoke to multiple sources familiar with HQ Trivia's internal troubles to piece together how the live video mobile game went from blockbuster to nearly bust. Two sources said HQ recently only had around $6 million in the bank but was burning over $1 million per month, meaning its runway could be dwindling. But its early investors are reluctant to hand Yusupov any more cash. "
Employees petitioned to remove HQ Trivia's CEO Rus Yusupov
HQ reimagined gaming and mobile entertainment with the launch of its 12-question trivia game in August 2017 where players all competed live in twice-daily shows with anyone who got all the answers right split a cash jackpot. The games felt urgent since you could only participate at designated times, fun to play against friends or strangers, and winning carried a significance no single-player or non-stop online game could match.
When TechCrunch wrote the first coverage of HQ Trivia in October 2017, it had just 3500 concurrent players. But by January it had climbed to the #3 game and #6 overall app in the App Store, and grown to 2.38 million players by March. Quickly, copycats from China and Facebook entered the market. But they all lacked HQ's secret weapon — its plucky host comedian Scott Rogowsky. Affectionately awarded nicknames like Quiz Daddy, Quiz Khalifa, Host Malone, and Trap Trebek from the "HQties" who played daily, he was the de facto face of the startup.
Yet HQ had some shaky foundations. Co-founder Colin Kroll, who'd also started Vine with Yusupov and sold it to Twitter, had been fired from Twitter after 18 months for being a bad manager, Recode reported. He'd also picked up a reputation of being creepy around female employees, as well as Vine stars, TechCrunch has learned. Rapid growth and an investigation by early HQ investor Jeremy Liew that found no egregious misconduct by Kroll paved the way for a $15 million investment. The round was led by Founders Fund's Cyan Bannister, and it valued HQ at over $100 million.
Yusupov failed to translate that cash into sustained growth and product innovation. His public behavior had already raised flags. He yelled at a Daily Beast reporter after the outlet's Taylor Lorenz interviewed Rogowsky without Yusupov's approval, threatening to fire the host. "You're putting Scott's job in jeopardy. Is that what you want? . . . Please read me your story word for word," Yusupov said. When he learned Rogowsky had expressed his preference for salad restaurant chain Sweetgreen, Yusupov shouted "He cannot say that! We do not have a brand deal with Sweetgreen! Under no circumstances can he say that." The next day, Yusupov falsely claimed he'd never threatened Rogowsky's job.
With HQ's bank account full, sources say Yusupov was extremely slow to make decisions, allowing HQ to stagnate. The novelty of playing trivia for money via phone has begun to wear off, and people increasingly ignored HQ's push notifications to join its next game. But beyond bringing in some guest hosts and the option to buy a second chance after a wrong answer, HQ ceased to evolve. HQ fell to the #196 game on iOS and the #585 overall app as concurrent players waned.
That's when things started to get a bit Game Of Thrones.
Pawns In A CEO War
Liew pushed for HQ to swap Kroll into the CEO spot in September 2018 while moving Yusupov to Chief Creative Officer, which was confirmed despite an HR complaint against Kroll for aggressive management. However, three sources tell TechCrunch that Yusupov pushed that HQ employee to file the complaint against Kroll. As the WSJ reported after Kroll's death, that employee later left the startup because they felt that they'd been exploited. "There was definitely what felt like manipulation there, and that's also why that employee resigned from the company." one source said. Another source said that staffer "believed Rus used their unhappiness about work to use them as a pawn in his CEO war and not because Rus actually cared about resolving things."
Cyan of Founders Fund stepped down from HQ's board after the decision to swap out Yusupov due to her firm's reputation of keeping founders in control, Recode's Kurt Wagner reported. Sources say that despite Kroll's reputation, the staff believed in him. "Colin loved HQ and was dedicated to all the employees more than Rus. Rus cares about Rus. Colin cared about the content" a source tells me.
Three sources say that in a desperate ploy to retain power and prevent Kroll's rise, Yusupov suggested Rogowsky, a comedian with no tech or management experience, be made CEO of HQ Trivia. He even suggested the company film a reality show about Rogowsky taking over. That idea was quickly shot down as preposterous.
"It was a very personal desperation tactic not to have Colin be CEO. It was not a professionally thought-out idea" a source tells me, though another said it was always hard to tell if Yusupov's crazy ideas were jokes. Both Yusupov and HQ Trivia declined to respond to multiple requests for comment, but we'll update if we hear back.
HQ Trivia co-founder Colin Kroll passed away in December
Then tragedy struck in December. Kroll, then CEO, was found dead in his apartment from a drug overdose. Employees were distraught over what would happen next. "Colin's plan was to ship fast, and get new things out there" a source says, noting that Kroll had pushed for the release of HQ's first new game type HQ Words modeled after Wheel Of Fortune. "He wasn't perfect but in the time he was in charge, the ship started to turn, but when Rus took over again it was like the 9 months where we did nothing."
Coup d'éHQ
By February 2019, HQ's staff was fed up. Two sources confirm that 20 of the roughly 35 employees signed a letter asking the board to remove Yusupov and establish a new CEO. With HQ's download rate continuing to sink, they feared he'd run the startup into the ground. One source suggested Yusupov might rather have seen the whole startup come crashing down with the blame placed on the product than have it come to light that he played a large hand in the fall. The tone of the letter, which was never formally delivered but sources believe the board knew of, wasn't accusatory but a plea for transparency about the company's future and the staff's job security.
At a hastily convened all-hands meeting in late February, HQ investor Liew told the company his fund Lightspeed would support a search for a new CEO to replace Yusupov, and provide that new CEO with funding for 18 more months of runway. Liew told the staff he would step down from the board once that CEO was found, but the search continues and so Liew remains on HQ's board.
"Mostly everyone was on Jeremy's side as no one wanted to work under Rus. Jeremy wasn't trying to screw him over the way Rus would screw other people over. He just wanted to do what was right, getting behind what everyone wanted" a source said of Liew.
Instead, HQ's board moved forward with instituting a new executive decision-making committee composed of Yusupov, HQ's head of production Nick Gallo, and VP of engineering Ben Sheats. Yusupov would remain interim CEO, and he continued to cling to power and there's been little transparency about the CEO replacement process. Until a new CEO is found, HQ must subsist on its existing funds. The staff is "always worried about running out of runway" and are given vague answers when they ask leadership about how much money is left.
On March 1st, the committee emerged from a meeting and fired three employees — two who had spearheaded the petition and been vocal about Yusupov's failings.
One who wasn't fired was Rogowsky, despite sources saying at one point he'd tried to organize the staff to go on strike. Other employees had been cautious about standing up to Yusupov. "Everyone was terrified of retaliation. Their fears have totally been validated" a source explains. Engineers and other staffers with strong employment prospects began to drain out of the company. Those left were just trying to hold onto their jobs. Without inspiring leadership or a strategy to reverse user shrinkage, recruiting replacements would prove difficult.
Yusupov remains on the board, along with Tinder CEO Elie Seidman who Yusupov appointed to his additional common seat. Liew retains his seat until the new CEO is found and given that seat. And Kroll's seat appears to have gone to Lightspeed partner Merci Victoria Grace. Lightspeed and Cyan of Founders Fund declined to respond to requests for comment.
[Update: Seidman tells TechCrunch that the he sees the internal struggle for the CEO role as over now that Yusupov has accepted that a new CEO will be installed. That search is moving along, and the CEO chosen will report to the board but otherwise be given full autonomy to run the company as they choose. That includes having hiring and firing power over Yusupov. He did not dispute any other claims from this article. Seidman rightly believes HQ has contributed important ideas to the mobile gaming ecosystem, and now it's the startup's responsibility to turn those ideas into a steady business.]
Losing Face
Tensions at HQ and a desire to diversify his prospects led Rogowsky to pick up a side gig hosting baseball talk show ChangeUp on the DAZN network, TMZ reported this week. He'd hoped to continue hosting HQ during its big weekend contests. But tensions with Yusupov and the CEO's desire for the host to remain exclusively at HQ led negotiations to sour causing Rogowsky to leave the startup entirely. TechCrunch was first to report that he's been replaced by former HQ guest host Matt Richards, who Yusupov bluntly told me Friday had polled higher than Rogowsky in a SurveyMonkey survey of HQ's top players.
In tweets, Rogowsky revealed that that "Sadly, it won't be possible for me to continue hosting HQ concurrently as I had hoped" noting, "I wasn't given the courtesy of a farewell show." Finding a way to preserve Rogowsky's ties to HQ likely would have been best for the startup. TechCrunch had raised the concern a year ago that unless Rogowsky was properly locked in with an adequate equity vesting schedule at HQ, he could leave. Or worse, he could be poached by Facebook, Snapchat, or YouTube to host an HQ competitor.
"Rus is a visionary but not a good leader. He is extremely manipulative in an unproductive way. He's a dude who just cares a lot about his reputation" a source noted. "A lot of the negative sentiment amongst staff is the belief that he cares more about his reputation than the company itself."
HQ's next attempt to revive growth appears to be HQ Editor's Picks, is described as "a new live show on your phone where our host shows funny viral videos and you decide on who gets paid." Finally it seems willing to embrace the potential of interactive live video entertainment outside of trivia and puzzles. HQ Editor's Picks will face an uphill battle, since HQ dropped out of the top 1500 iOS apps last month, according to App Annie. Sensor Tower estimates that HQ saw just 8 percent as many downloads in March 2019 as March 2018.
After the loss of its spirit animal Rogowsky, the employees' chosen leader Kroll, the supervision of veteran investor Cyan, and its product momentum, tough questions are what remain for HQ Trivia. The company's struggles have paralyzed its progress towards finding a new viral mechanic or game format that attracts users. While HQ Words is fun, it's too similar to its trivia competition to change the startup's trajectory. And all of the in-fighting could scare off any talent hoping to turn HQ around. Unfortunately, securing an extra life for the game will take a more than a $3.99 in-app purchase.
The Epic Games Store is now live
Posted by Mansour Wakim | Android, epic games, first person shooters, fortnite, Gaming, Google, Google Play Store, Kleiner Perkins, lightspeed venture partners, unreal engine, Unreal Tournament | No Comments
It's a busy week for Epic Games . Fresh from pushing out a major season 7 update for Fortnite, so the gaming giant has taken the wraps off its own games store.
First announced earlier this week, the Epic Games Store is targeted squarely at Steam — the giant in the digital game commerce space — and it quietly went live today.
Right now there's a small cluster of games available, including Hades, a new title from Supergiant Games that is in "early access" for $19.99, and Epic's own Fortnite and Unreal Tournament, both of which are free. But Epic is saying that's there's a lot more to come. In particular, the store will offer a free game every two weeks, starting with Subnautica from December 14-17 and Super Meat Boy from December 28 until January 10.
What is most interesting about the store is the revenue split, which is just 12 percent. That has set off a change at Valve, the firm behind Steam, as we reported earlier this week:
While Valve will continue to take an App Store-like 30 percent from sales of game makers with less than 10 million in revenue, that figure drops to 25 percent until they hit 50 million revenue, from which point the slice drops to 20 percent.
All in all, the store is very early-stage, but you can imagine that Epic is working to add more flesh to the bones. It makes absolute sense that the company is aiming to capitalize on the phenomenal success of Fortnite — which was estimated to be grossing as much as $2 million per day in the summer — by building a destination for gamers. Indeed, a big clue came from its decision to bypass the Google Play Store and offer its Android app directly from its website — that's a move that is estimated to cost Google around $50 million in lost earnings in 2018.
"As a developer ourselves, we have always wanted a platform with great economics that connects us directly with our players," Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney told TechCrunch in an emailed statement sent earlier this week. "Thanks to the success of Fortnite, we now have this and are ready to share it with other developers."
The Epic Games Store is part of a wider vision that prompted a range of investors to pump $1.25 billion into the company in October. That round has participation from the likes of KKR, Kleiner Perkins and Lightspeed Venture Partners and it is said to value the Epic Games business — which also includes Unreal Engine for game development — at more than $15 billion.
Epic is the only gaming firm to go after Valve this year. Discord introduced a game store in August — just months earlier, Valve appeared to go after Discord with the rollout of its own gamer chat system.
So everyone is going after everyone, but Epic's big advantage continues to be Fortnite.


text:
package main

import (
	"crypto/rand"
	"crypto/rsa"
	"crypto/x509"
	"crypto/x509/pkix"
	"encoding/pem"
	"flag"
	"fmt"
	"log"
	"math/big"
	"os"
	"path/filepath"
	"time"
)

var dirName = flag.String("d", "", "dir name to generate files in")

func main() {
	flag.Parse()
	if *dirName == "" {
		log.Fatalf("the non-empty -d parameter is required")
	}
	caCert, caKey, err := generateCACert(*dirName)
	// caCert, err := makeCerts(nil, *dirName, "development_ca")
	if err != nil {
		log.Fatalf("unable to make CA certificates: %s", err)
	}
	err = generateLeafCert(*dirName, caCert, caKey)
	// _, err = makeCerts(caCert, *dirName, "development")
	if err != nil {
		log.Fatalf("unable to make leaf certificates: %s", err)
	}
}

func generateCACert(dir string) (*x509.Certificate, *rsa.PrivateKey, error) {
	ca := &x509.Certificate{
		SerialNumber: big.NewInt(1653),
		Subject: pkix.Name{
			Organization:  []string{"ORGANIZATION_NAME"},
			Country:       []string{"COUNTRY_CODE"},
			Province:      []string{"PROVINCE"},
			Locality:      []string{"CITY"},
			StreetAddress: []string{"ADDRESS"},
			PostalCode:    []string{"POSTAL_CODE"},
		},
		NotBefore:             time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Minute),
		NotAfter:              time.Now().Add(5 * 365 * 24 * time.Hour),
		IsCA:                  true,
		ExtKeyUsage:           []x509.ExtKeyUsage{x509.ExtKeyUsageClientAuth, x509.ExtKeyUsageServerAuth},
		KeyUsage:              x509.KeyUsageDigitalSignature | x509.KeyUsageCertSign,
		BasicConstraintsValid: true,
	}

	priv, err := rsa.GenerateKey(rand.Reader, 2048)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, nil, err
	}

	pub := &priv.PublicKey
	caBytes, err := x509.CreateCertificate(rand.Reader, ca, ca, pub, priv)
	if err != nil {
		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("create ca failed: %s", err)
	}

	certOut, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(dir, "development_ca_cert.pem"))
	pem.Encode(certOut, &pem.Block{Type: "CERTIFICATE", Bytes: caBytes})
	certOut.Close()
	log.Println("written development_ca_cert.pem")

	keyOut, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "development_ca_key.pem"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC, 0600)
	pem.Encode(keyOut, &pem.Block{Type: "RSA PRIVATE KEY", Bytes: x509.MarshalPKCS1PrivateKey(priv)})
	keyOut.Close()
	log.Println("written development_ca_key.pem")

	return ca, priv, nil
}

func generateLeafCert(dir string, caCert *x509.Certificate, caKey *rsa.PrivateKey) error {
	// Prepare certificate
	cert := &x509.Certificate{
		SerialNumber: big.NewInt(1658),
		Subject: pkix.Name{
			Organization:  []string{"ORGANIZATION_NAME"},
			Country:       []string{"COUNTRY_CODE"},
			Province:      []string{"PROVINCE"},
			Locality:      []string{"CITY"},
			StreetAddress: []string{"ADDRESS"},
			PostalCode:    []string{"POSTAL_CODE"},
		},
		DNSNames:     []string{"localhost"},
		NotBefore:    time.Now().Add(-1 * time.Minute),
		NotAfter:     time.Now().Add(365 * 24 * time.Hour),
		SubjectKeyId: []byte{1, 2, 3, 4, 6},
		ExtKeyUsage:  []x509.ExtKeyUsage{x509.ExtKeyUsageClientAuth, x509.ExtKeyUsageServerAuth},
		KeyUsage:     x509.KeyUsageDigitalSignature,
	}
	priv, err := rsa.GenerateKey(rand.Reader, 2048)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}

	pub := &priv.PublicKey

	cert_b, err := x509.CreateCertificate(rand.Reader, cert, caCert, pub, caKey)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}

	certOut, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(dir, "development_cert.pem"))
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}

	pem.Encode(certOut, &pem.Block{Type: "CERTIFICATE", Bytes: cert_b})
	certOut.Close()
	log.Println("written development_cert.pem")

	keyOut, err := os.OpenFile(filepath.Join(dir, "development_key.pem"), os.O_WRONLY|os.O_CREATE|os.O_TRUNC, 0600)
	if err != nil {
		return err
	}
	pem.Encode(keyOut, &pem.Block{Type: "RSA PRIVATE KEY", Bytes: x509.MarshalPKCS1PrivateKey(priv)})
	log.Println("written development_key.pem")
	return keyOut.Close()
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in shade 15 makeup review is here. I bought this concealer, even though honestly I didn't need it at all. I have a few concealers that I am using and loving for everyday use. My MUA concealer, Sleek Makeup concealer, Hard Candy Glamoflauge concealer and my Maybelline Fit Me concealer. I will be writing a review for my MUA academy concealer this week so do stay tune and check back soon. The Maybelline Fit me concealer is claimed to cover spots, blemishes and dark circles. It has the same technology as the foundation to cover imperfections seamlessly. The concealers come in six complimenting shades. I got #15 just to avoid buying a shade to light for my skin and to get a more natural finish.
I would like to mention all the Maybelline Fit Me concealer Shades for this makeup review; #15 – fair, #10 – light, #25 – medium, #20 – sand, #35 – deep and #30 – café. Shade #10 – light is much lighter than shade #15 – fair. I got shade #15 because it has more of a light salmon to pink undertone what is ideal for dark circles. This shade is ideal for light to medium skin tones. Not only will it cover your dark circles but for medium skin it will also behave as a highlighter. Sadly for light skin it will only be good as a concealer and to even out with your skin tone but it will not behave as a highlighter since it's quite light but not as light as Shade #10. If you have pink or neutral undertone then shade #15 is ideal for you, but it's also a good concealer for warmer undertones.
The Maybelline Fit me concealer comes in a 6,8 ml tune with a doe-foot applicator. The packaging is sleek and very simple, what I love. The number of the concealer is located on the top of the tube and the product expires six months after you open it. The best thing about this concealer is that it does not contain any oils, waxes or nonsense and it's non-comedogenic, dermatologist-tested, fragrance-free and ophthalmologist-tested. Maybelline Fit Me concealer in shade 15 gives me a very nice natural coverage that does not crease and dries semi-matte. The concealer coverage power is medium to full; it conceals dark circles and even redness, acne and acne scars quite well to my surprise. I love mixing it with my lighter foundations to give it some extra help. This concealer is my current everyday concealer and I will be demonstrating how I use it in my quick everyday makeup routine video.
To conclude my makeup review of Maybelline fit me concealer in shade 15, I would like to say that I do recommend it to everyone that wants a very good drugstore concealer. The lasting power, almost forgot to mention that, would be up to 6 hours, what to my surprise was much better than some of my other concealers. You can set the concealer with a clear setting powder, or any powder to be honest, to make it last longer. I always set my concealers since in that way I get an extra hour or two. Well this complete the makeup review and please leave a comment with your favorite concealer and have you used this Maybelline Fit me concealer.
Mogla bih ga probati, ali trenutno radije hodam sa podočnjacima jer mi je koža ispod oka jako suha, a koristim samo maske za oko očiju. Trenutno Merz i Sisley.
Dvoumim se izmedju ovog i age rewind. Navodno se nijedan ne uvlaci u borice ispod oka.


This is a list of our after school programming classes for kids. Click on any class name for details.
Grades K-1. Now, even our youngest students can enjoy video game programming with Scratch Jr., a special version of Scratch. We start each class with a kinetic exercise to help kids learn about programming blocks – then we grab our iPads and start writing! (Yes, as always we provide all necessary equipment for use during class). A super fun introduction to programming for kids.
Grades 6-8. Limited to private classes or camp settings. It's fun to learn programming, especially when you can use your programs to control everyday electronic devices! We'll learn how to breadboard real electronic components, and write commands in Python to control LEDs, draw pixels on an LED matrix, read position data from an accelerometer and more. Projects include: a piano that plays when you step on pads, a classic game of Simon, and a remote control and display for a Space Invaders game!


text:
NFL Mock Draft 2018: Todd McShay 1.0 released
Todd McShay has released his first 2018 NFL Mock Draft, and it has the Bengals grabbing arguably the best lineman in this class, but not without issue.
By Jason Marcum@marcum89 Dec 13, 2017, 11:15am EST
Share All sharing options for: NFL Mock Draft 2018: Todd McShay 1.0 released
NFL Draft season is upon us.
The Cincinnati Bengals have three games left before their season ends. While it would be nice to see them win some of those games and allow their young players to play more, the focus of many Bengals fans is now turning toward the 2018 NFL Draft.
At ESPN, draft guru Todd McShay just released his first 2018 mock draft. McShay actually has arguably the best offensive line prospect landing with the Bengals at pick No. 10.
It comes in the form of Texas Longhorns offensive tackle Connor Williams:
Connor Williams, OT, Texas
The Bengals have had a disappointing season, and the offensive line is a big reason for that. Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher (out for the season with an irregular heartbeat) haven't played up to their draft potential, and Cincinnati is in the bottom third in sacks allowed (33) after giving up 41 last season. Guard Quenton Nelson could help here, but Williams is the best offensive lineman and is a better value proposition at No. 10.
This would be a homerun pick for the Bengals, as Williams is probably the best offensive tackle in this draft, which is easily the biggest position of need for them going into the offseason. Though, Williams missed a large portion of the season while battling a knee injured and already announced he won't play in Texas' bowl game. That said, he is currently healthy and did play in Texas' final few games of the year.
Cedric Ogbuehi has been a disaster, and Jake Fisher hasn't been much better. Eric Winston is the only other tackle on the roster, so it's a pretty easy call to take Williams if he's on the board when the Bengals are picking.
Who would you like to see the Bengals take in the first round?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Very spacious South facing town house in an excellent location, in the quiet residential area of El Palmeral, only 50m to the beach and all amenities.
Ground floor 49.78m2, first floor 37.33m2, basement 32.2m2, entrance terrace 32.2m2 and back terrace 15.9m2.
You have an entrance terrace with BBQ leading into the lounge-diner, cloakroom, large separate fully fitted kitchen, from the lounge you have patio doors leading to the second terrace which has direct access to the beautifully landscaped communal garden and swimming pool.
3 double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes (one with an ensuite shower room), further family bathroom.
Internal access via the staircase in the lounge to the basement/garage with 2 rooms and a bathroom. Ideal for extra accommodation, storage or garage.
There is air conditioning and heating in the lounge and 3 bedrooms, double glazing throughout and comes fully furnished and equipped.
Ideal for a family holiday home, winter use as has all day sunshine, or all year round residence. Excellent rental property for those interested in earning an extra income.
2 minute walk to the beach, all the amenities of Mojacar and Garrucha are a few minutes drive and the local bus stop close by takes you to Mojacar, Garrucha and Vera.
Almeria 45 minutes drive, Murcia 1 hour 20 minutes and Alicante 2 hours.


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Home Car News Crashed Lamborghini Urus could sell for approx. Rs 83 L at auction
Crashed Lamborghini Urus could sell for approx. Rs 83 L at auction
There is a crashed 2019 Lamborghini Urus up for sale. Copart, a site that lists auction for wrecked cars is selling this crashed Lamborghini Urus and at the last bidding, price went up to $117,000 (Rs 83 lakhs). In India, price of a new Urus starts from Rs 3 crores.
The crashed Urus is a 2019 model, and has a speedometer reading of 752 miles (1,210 kms). This implies that the original owner had spent very little time on the wheel before the luxury SUV met with an accident.
Having clearly been involved in a serious accident did not deter buyers. In fact, the damaged 2019 Lamborghini Urus is gaining a lot of attention. No details of how the Lamborghini Urus met this end are available, but photos show of its destroyed passenger side which appears to have taken the most impact.
The body work is a crumpled mess while the upper rail is also exposed leaving on a small portion of the fender on the driver's side still intact. The engine of the 2019 Lamborghini Urus is also a total write-off following the crash.
There is nothing left of the passenger side radiator unit. Parts are dented, but the block remains which is why buyers are trampling over each other to bid for Lambo. Photos also reveal that one of the front wheel has detached. However, it is not certain if this was the result of the crash or whether it has been removed for some other purpose. Damaged parts also include the windscreen while airbags have also deployed.
We wonder what the final auction price would go up to, but after that the costs will escalate even further to do up the vehicle to its former glory. No indications on who its buyer is likely to be, but we guess it could either be picked up for its parts or by a tuning company about to use the damaged Urus as its new project.
Lamborghini Urus is one of the most powerful SUV in the world. It is powered by a 4.0 liter, V8 twin turbo engine offering 641 bhp power at 6,500 rpm and 850 Nm torque. Transmission is via 8 speed automatic gearbox. Acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph is possible in 3.6 seconds while top speed is at 305 kmph. Carboceramic Disc Brakes delivers deceleration from 100 kmph to 0 kmph in 33.7 meters. The Urus gets driving modes of Strada, Corsa and Ego along with a 4WD system with extra modes of Terra for dirt, Sabbia for sand and Neve for snow.


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Грузинсько-абхазький конфлікт — етнополітичний конфлікт між грузинами та абхазами в Абхазії, де-факто незалежної, частково визнаної Республіка Абхазія. У ширшому сенсі грузинсько-абхазький конфлікт можна розглядати як частину геополітичного конфлікту в Кавказькому регіоні, який посилився наприкінці XX століття з розпадом Радянського Союзу в 1991 році.

Конфлікт, один із найкровопролитніших у пострадянський час, залишається неврегульованим. Уряд Грузії кілька разів пропонував Абхазії значну автономію. Однак і абхазький уряд, і опозиція в Абхазії відмовляються від будь-яких форм спілки з Грузією. Абхази вважають свою незалежність результатом визвольної війни від Грузії, а грузини вважають, що історично Абхазія завжди входила до складу Грузії. Грузини становили найбільшу етнічну групу в довоєнній Абхазії: станом на 1989 рік їхня чисельність становила 45,7%, але в 2014 році більшість грузинів, що залишилися в Абхазії, хочуть залишитися незалежними від Грузії. Під час війни абхазька сепаратистська сторона провела кампанію етнічних чисток, в результаті якої було вигнано до 250 000 осіб і вбито понад 5 000 етнічних грузин. Лісабонська, Будапештська конвенції Організації з безпеки та співробітництва в Європі (ОБСЄ) та Стамбул офіційно визнали що також згадується у резолюції GA/10708 Генеральної Асамблеї ООН. Рада Безпеки ООН ухвалила низку резолюцій, у яких закликає до припинення вогню.

Розгортання конфлікту
Напруженість у відносинах між грузинським урядом і абхазькою автономією виявлялася періодично ще в радянський період. Міграційна політика, що проводилася ще при Лаврентії Берії, привела до того, що абхази стали складати меншість від чисельності населення регіону (до початку 1990-х років їх було не більше 17% від всього населення Абхазії). Заселення  грузин на територію Абхазії (1937-1954 роки) відбувалося  шляхом підселення в абхазькі села, а також заселення грузинами грецьких сіл, що звільнилися після депортації греків з Абхазії в 1949 році. Абхазька мова (аж до 1950 року) була виключена з програми середньої школи і замінена обов'язковим вивченням грузинської мови.

Масові виступи і збурення серед абхазького населення з вимогою виведення Абхазії зі складу Грузинської РСР спалахували в квітні 1957 року, в квітні 1967 року і найбільші ‑ у травні і вересні 1978 року.

Загострення відносин між Грузією і Абхазією почалося 18 березня 1989 року. Цього дня в селі Лихни (стародавній столиці абхазьких князів) відбулися 30 тисячні Збори абхазького народу, на яких була висунута пропозиція про вихід Абхазії зі складу Грузії і відновлення її в статусі союзної республіки.

15-16 липня 1989 року в Сухумі відбулися зіткнення між грузинами і абхазами. В ході заворушень, за наявними повідомленнями, загинуло 16 чоловік і близько 140 було поранено. Для припинення безладів були застосовані війська. Керівництво республіки тоді зуміло врегулювати конфлікт і події залишилися без серйозних наслідків. Пізніше стабілізували ситуацію і значні поступки вимогам абхазького керівництва, зроблені в період перебування при владі в Тбілісі Звіада Гамсахурдія.

21 лютого 1992 року правляча Військова рада Грузії оголосила про скасування Конституції Грузинської РСР 1978 року і відновлення конституції Грузинської демократичної республіки 1921 року. Абхазьке керівництво сприйняло відміну радянської конституції Грузії як фактичну відміну автономного статусу Абхазії, і 23 липня 1992 року Верховна Рада республіки (при бойкоті сесії з боку депутатів‑грузин) відновила дію Конституції Абхазької Радянської республіки 1925 року, згідно з якою Абхазія є суверенною державою (це рішення Верховної Ради Абхазії не було визнане на міжнародному рівні). Верховна рада Абхазії розділилася на дві частини — абхазьку і грузинську.

Почалися масові звільнення грузин з силових структур автономії, а також створення «абхазької гвардії». Як заходи у відповідь в Тбілісі було ухвалено рішення про введення військ в автономію. Офіційною причиною була названа необхідність охорони залізниці, що використовувалася як єдиний маршрут транспортування вантажів з Росії до Вірменії, що вже перебувала у стані війни з Азербайджаном.

Війна 1992—1993 років

14 серпня 1992 року  між Грузією і Абхазією почалися військові дії, які переросли в справжню війну із застосуванням авіації, артилерії та інших видів зброї. Початок військової фази грузино-абхазького конфлікту поклало введення до Абхазії грузинських військ під приводом звільнення захопленого звіадистами віце-прем'єра Грузії Александра Кавсадзе, що утримувався на території Абхазії, охорони комунікацій, в т.ч. залізниці, і інших важливих об'єктів. Основна частина грузинських військ увійшла до Абхазії з півдня, на півночі (на кордоні РФ) був висаджений десант з моря. Цей крок викликав запеклий опір абхазів, а також інших етнічних громад Абхазії.

Метою грузинського уряду було встановлення контролю над частиною своєї території і збереження її цілісності. Метою абхазьких влад — розширення прав автономії і, зрештою, отримання незалежності. Політичну і матеріальну підтримку абхазькій стороні надавала Росія.

З боку центрального уряду Грузії виступали Національна Гвардія, парамілітарні формування і окремі добровольці, з боку абхазького керівництва — збройні формування негрузинського населення автономії і добровольці (з російських республік Північного Кавказу, з бунтівної Чечні, а також російські козаки).

3 вересня 1992 року в Москві в ході зустрічі Бориса Єльцина і Едуарда Шеварднадзе (що займали у той час пости президента РФ і голови Держради Грузії) був підписаний документ, що передбачав припинення вогню, виведення грузинських військ з Абхазії, повернення біженців. Оскільки конфліктуючі сторони не виконали жодного пункту угоди, військові дії продовжилися.

Підготовка
Уряд Абхазії на чолі з головою Верховної Ради Владиславом Ардзінба перебазувався в Гудаутський район. Введення грузинських військ привело до масової втечі абхазького і російськомовного населення, зокрема на територію Росії. Тут абхазькі загони отримали підтримку зброєю і численними добровольцями, зокрема з боку Конфедерації гірських народів Кавказу (КГНК), що заявила про готовність чеченців, кабардинців, інгушів, черкесів, адигейців разом з етнічно спорідненими їм абхазами виступити проти грузин. Створення, підготовка, озброєння і відправка до Абхазії ополченських формувань не могли залишатися непоміченими російською владою, проте російське керівництво воліло не втручатися. Заступником губернатора Краснодарського краю А.І.Травниковим з метою припинення втечі з Абхазії в Краснодарський край, і стабілізації обстановки з біженцями, був відданий наказ про закриття державного кордону Росії з Абхазією, а добровольцям (що мали досвід бойових дій) і козакам-кубанцям (похідний отаман ККВ А. Прихода) з Придністров'я було забезпечено перекидання до Абхазії.

Рішення про введення до Абхазії частин КГНК було ухвалене на з'їзді в Нальчику. Основу загонів КНК склали кабардинці і адигейці. Міністром оборони Абхазії був призначений кабардинець Солтан Сосналієв — полковник радянської армії, котрий брав участь в афганській війні. Начальником штабу — молодий адигеєць Амін Зехов. Командувачем флотом Абхазії став дагестанець Алі Алієв — офіцер радянського ВМФ. Трохи пізніше до Абхазії стали прибувати і чеченці. Чисельність їхнього загону ніколи не перевищувала 500 чоловік.

Взяття Гагри
До жовтня 1992 року, отримавши поповнення і велику кількість сучасного озброєння, абхази взялися до наступальних дій. Було відбито місто Гагра, в боях за який велику роль зіграв так званий «абхазький батальйон». Узявши Гагру, абхази встановили контроль над стратегічно важливою територією, прилеглою до російського кордону, налагодили лінії постачання з Конфедерацією гірських народів Північного Кавказу, що підтримувала їх, і стали готуватися до наступу на Сухумі. В ході штурму Гагри (у якому, за твердженням грузинської сторони, брали участь російські танки) абхази, як стверджується, отримали в своє розпорядження близько десяти бойових машин піхоти і бронетранспортерів. Згодом, у відповідь на звинувачення Грузії в тому, що Росія забезпечувала бунтівну автономію зброєю, абхазьке керівництво стверджувало, що в бойових діях використовувалася трофейна зброя.

При цьому в зоні конфлікту, на території, контрольованій абхазькими і грузинськими силами, опинилося кілька частин російських Збройних Сил, що перебували тут ще з радянських часів (авіабаза в Гудауті, військово-сейсмічна лабораторія в Нижніх Ешерах і батальйоні ПДВ в Сухумі). Формально вони зберігали нейтральний статус, займаючись охороною майна Міністерства оборони РФ і забезпеченням безпеки гуманітарних операцій (евакуація мирного населення і відпочиваючих, доставка продуктів в блоковане місто Ткварчелі). В той же час грузинська сторона звинувачувала російських військовослужбовців у виконанні розвідувальних операцій на користь абхазів.

Позиційна війна
До кінця 1992 року війна набула позиційного характеру, де жодна із сторін не могла отримати перемогу. 15 грудня 1992 року Грузія і Абхазія підписали декілька документів про припинення військових дій і виведення всіх важких озброєнь і військ з регіону військових дій. Наступив період відносного затишшя, але на початку 1993 року військові дії поновилися після абхазького наступу на Сухумі, зайнятого грузинськими військами.

27 липня 1993 року, після тривалих боїв, у Сочі було підписано Угоду про тимчасове припинення вогню, в якому Росія виступала в ролі гаранта.

«Битва за Сухумі»
Попри підписану угоду абхазька сторона, спираючись головно на найманців з північного Кавказу і російських військовиків, продовжила активні бойові дії.

16–27 вересня 1993 року розгорілася битва, що увійшла до історії конфлікту як «Битва за Сухумі». Абхази порушили перемир'я і відновили наступ. Для посилення свого угрупування грузини спробували перекидати війська в Сухумі на цивільних літаках. Абхази, розгорнувши справжнє полювання на цивільну авіацію, зуміли збити із зенітних установок на катерах декілька літаків, що заходили на посадку в аеропорту Сухумі (20 вересня — Ту-134, 21 вересня — Ту-134, 22 вересня — Ту-154, 23 вересня — Ту-134). Як стверджують учасники бойових дій (з абхазького боку), значну роль зіграло також отримання абхазами від Росії артилерії і мінометів, забезпечення їх необхідними боєприпасами і навчання бойових розрахунків.

27 вересня Сухумі був узятий абхазькими і північнокавказькими загонами, у складі яких бойовий досвід отримали багато майбутніх чеченських лідерів, зокрема Шаміль Басаєв. Евакуацію комбатантів і цивільного населення здійснював російський Чорноморський флот, хоча великі маси біженців намагалися вибратися з Сухумі також на схід, через Кодорську ущелину, і уздовж узбережжя. Існує кілька суперечливих версій щодо того, яким чином вдалося вибратися з обложеного міста самому Едуарду Шеварднадзе, проте і абхази, і грузини сходяться на думках про те, що він покинув свої війська і мирне населення напризволяще.

Після взяття Сухумі були захоплені в полон і страчено 17 міністрів прогрузинського уряду Абхазії на чолі з Ж. Шартава.

З огляду на порушення угод Росія навіть ввела формальні санкції на торгівлю з Абхазією. Грузинські війська були вимушені повністю покинути Абхазію.

Підсумок збройного протистояння
Збройний конфлікт 1992‑1993 років, за обнародуваними даними сторін, забрав життя 4 тис. грузин (ще 1 тис. зникли безвісти) і 4 тис. абхазів. Втрати економіки автономії склали 10,7 млрд доларів. Близько 250 тисяч грузин (майже половина населення) були вимушені бігти з Абхазії.

Заморожений конфлікт
14 травня 1994 року в Москві між грузинською і абхазькою сторонами за посередництва Росії було підписано Угоду про припинення вогню і роз'єднанні сил. На основі цього документа і подальшого рішення Ради голів держав СНД в зоні конфлікту з червня 1994 року розміщені Колективні сили по підтримці миру СНД, в завдання яких входить підтримка режиму невідновлення вогню.

Колективні миротворчі сили, повністю укомплектовані російськими військовослужбовцями, контролюють 30 кілометрову зону безпеки в зоні грузино-абхазького конфлікту. У зоні конфлікту постійно перебувало близько трьох тисяч миротворців. Мандат терміну дії російських миротворців був визначений в шість місяців, після закінчення цього терміну Рада голів держав СНД мала приймати рішення про продовження терміну їхнього мандата.

2 квітня 2002 року був підписаний грузинсько-абхазький протокол, згідно з яким патрулювання верхньої частини Кодорської ущелини (територія Абхазької автономії, контрольована Грузією) було доручене російським миротворцям і військовим спостерігачам ООН.

Верхня Абхазія

25 липня 2006 підрозділи грузинських збройних сил і МВС (до 1,5 тис. чоловік) були введені в Кодорську ущелину для проведення спецоперації проти місцевих озброєних сванських формувань («ополчення», або батальйону «Монадіре») Емзара Квіциані, що відмовився підкорятися наказам міністра оборони Грузії Іраклія Окруашвілі скласти зброю. Квіциані був звинувачений в «зраді батьківщині».

Офіційні переговори між Сухумі і Тбілісі після цього були перервані. Як підкреслювала влада Абхазії, переговори між сторонами можуть поновитися тільки в тому випадку, якщо Грузія почне виконувати Резолюцію Ради Безпеки ООН, яка передбачає виведення військ з Кодорі.

27 вересня 2006 року, в день пам'яті і скорботи, указом президента Грузії Михайла Саакашвілі Кодорі був перейменований на Верхню Абхазію. У селі Чхалта на території ущелини був розміщений так званий «законний уряд Абхазії» у вигнанні. За декілька кілометрів від цього села дислоковались абхазькі військові формування, підконтрольні Сухумі. Абхазька влада не визнала «уряд у вигнанні» і виступила категорично проти його присутності в Кодорській ущелині.

18 жовтня 2006 року Народне зібрання Абхазії звернулося до російського керівництва з проханням визнати незалежність республіки і встановити між двома державами асоційовані відносини. Зі свого боку російське керівництво неодноразово заявляло про безумовне визнання територіальної цілісності Грузії, невід'ємною частиною якої є Абхазія.

Війна 2008 року

10 серпня 2008 Російсько-грузинська війна поширилася і на Абхазію, коли абхазькі сепаратисти в умовах російського вторгнення в Грузію зайнялися військовим вирішенням власних задач, і за підтримки російської авіації розгорнули широкомасштабний наступ на грузинські сили. За словами лідера абхазьких сепаратистів Сергія Багапша близько 1000 спеціальних загонів розгорнули «військову операцію» з метою витіснення грузинських військ з Кодорської ущелини, яку вони до того контролювали В результаті цієї атаки грузинські війська були змушені залишити свої позиції.

26 серпня 2008 року Росія офіційно визнала Абхазію (а також і Південну Осетію) незалежними державами.

У відповідь на визнання Росією Абхазії та Південної Осетії уряд Грузії оголосив, що країна розірвала всі дипломатичні відносини з Росією та вийшла зі Співдружності Незалежних Держав.

Після війни
Відносини між Грузією та Абхазією після війни залишалися напруженими. Грузія посилила ізоляцію Абхазії, ввівши морську блокаду Абхазії. Під час церемонії відкриття нової будівлі посольства Грузії в Києві (Україна) у листопаді 2009 року президент Грузії Михайло Саакашвілі заявив, що жителі Південної Осетії та Абхазії також можуть користуватися його об'єктами. «Хочу запевнити вас, мої дорогі друзі, що це також ваш дім, і тут ви завжди зможете знайти підтримку та розуміння», – сказав він.

9 липня 2012 року Парламентська асамблея ОБСЄ на своїй щорічній сесії в Монако прийняла резолюцію, яка підкреслила територіальну цілісність Грузії та назвала відокремлені Абхазію та Південну Осетію «окупованими територіями». Резолюція «закликає уряд і парламент Російської Федерації, а також фактичну владу Абхазії, Грузії та Південної Осетії, Грузія, дозволити Моніторинговій місії Європейського Союзу безперешкодний доступ на окуповані території». Також йдеться про те, що Парламентська асамблея ОБСЄ «занепокоєна гуманітарною ситуацією переміщених осіб як у Грузії, так і на окупованих територіях Абхазії, Грузії та Південної Осетії, Грузія, а також відмовою у праві на повернення на свої місця. життя».

Примітки

Література
 Г. М. Перепелиця. Грузинсько-абхазький конфлікт // Українська дипломатична енциклопедія: У 2-х т. /Редкол.:Л. В. Губерський (голова) та ін. — К: Знання України, 2004 — Т.1 — 760с. ISBN 966-316-039-X

Посилання
 Абхазский сепаратизм зародился в лабиринтах КГБ.— Международное историко-просветительское, благотворительное и правозащитное общество «Мемориал», Джерело: Expertclub, Грузія.— 28 грудня 2009
 Грузино‑абхазский конфликт: краткая история
 Грузинский сайт о войне в Абхазии. Списки убитых грузинских мирных жителей
 Брошюра с грузинского сайта «Абхазия: Мифы на крови. Попытка разоблачения»
 Предварительные результаты уголовных расследований по фактам массовых убийств — абхазская точка зрения на конфликт
 Досвід конфлікту Грузії й Абхазії та висновки для України  // UaModna, 18 вересня 2015
 Статья Е. Крутикова о событиях сентября 1993 г. в Сухуми
 Предыстория и причины конфликта, история конфликта, пути решения и новости
 Сборник документов, соглашений, договоров по грузино-абхазскому урегулированию

Абхазія
Російський державний тероризм
Новітня історія Грузії
Збройні конфлікти на пострадянському просторі

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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August 15, 2013 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. For other up-to-the-minute news, check out ITI's Twitter account: @ITINewsBreaks.
The Getty Offers Open Access Options
The J. Paul Getty Trust is making its digital images available to the masses. One of the aims of the Getty institution is to promote the visual arts to the public so they are easily understood and accessible. Now anyone who is interested in featuring Getty images in his or her work can use this designated online collection free of restrictions.
"[T]he Getty makes available, without charge, all available digital images to which the Getty holds all the rights or that are in the public domain to be used for any purpose," Jim Cuno, Getty president and CEO, wrote on The Iris. This includes 4,600 high-resolution images from the J. Paul Getty Museum that show paintings, drawings, manuscripts, photographs, antiquities, sculptures, and other decorative arts.
Previously, users were required to submit an official request and payment to use the images. Under these new provisions, users are asked to fill out a questionnaire from the site so the Getty knows how its images are being used. But use of the images is free.
The Getty will eventually offer more images as open access (OA), according to Cuno, who wants to make the rest of the institution's collections freely accessible. "The Getty's collections are greatly in demand for publications, research and a variety of personal uses, and … they will be readily available on a global basis to anyone with Internet access," says Timothy Potts, Getty museum director.
The Getty Research Institute is currently sifting through its collections to determine which should become the next OA option.
Source: The J. Paul Getty Trust
11/15/2004 Getty Images Expands Coverage and Partnerships
8/7/2006 Getty Images Announces "Rights-Ready" Licensing Model
3/19/2007 Getty Images Scoop(t)s Up Aggregator of User-Generated Content
3/16/2009 Flickr Collection Debuts on GettyImages.com
4/26/2010 Getty Ends Support for Bibliography of the History of Art, Offers Free Web Access
9/19/2013 ICAR Transitions to OA
1/30/2014 Getty Publications Offers Free Titles
8/26/2014 The Getty Continues to Expand Access to Vocabularies
11/18/2014 The Getty Foundation Houses Free, Online Catalogs
3/1/2016 New Getty Tool Encourages Collaborative Research
5/10/2016 The Getty's Catalogs Advance Its Open Access Strategy


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Biographies Russian Artists 20th Century Modern
Sub-categories: Soviet (231) Nonconformist (267) Émigré (73) New Objectivity (3) Surrealist (3) National Romantic (1) Post-Soviet (82) Folk Art (18)
Peer-categories: Avant-Garde Modern Turn of the Century
Total 673 itemsDisplaying 51 - 60 items 5 per page 10 per page 20 per page 30 per page 50 per page 100 per page 150 per page 200 per page Use Default Order Added -- Oldest first Added -- Most Recent first Modified - Most Recent first Title -- Alphabetical Title -- Alphabetical Reverse Author -- Alphabetical Author -- Alphabetical Reverse Popularity -- Most hits first Popularity -- Least hits first ID -- Highest First ID -- Lowest First Most Commented Best Rated Ordering in current category Page 6 of 68
Alexander Schadrin
Painter, graphic artist. Born in the family of Dmitry Schadrin in the village of Mstiora in Vladimir Region (1925). Studied varnished miniature painting at the Mstiora Professional and Technical Scho...
Lyudmila Kostakova
Painter, graphic artist. Born in the family of Ivan Kostakov (1949). Graduated from the Mstiora School of Art. Worked in the art of Mstiora varnished miniature painting (from 1970). Contributed to ex...
Tatyana Dmitriyeva-Shulpina
Applied artist, designer, teacher. Born in the family of icon-painter Mefody Shulpin and needlewoman E. F. Dmitriyeva in the village of Mstiora in Vladimir Province (1913). Studied white-satin stitch...
Pavel Ivakin
Painter, graphic artist, applied artist. Born in the family of a peasant called Ivan Ivakin in the village of Ivatino in Vladimir Province (1915). Abandoned by his family (1921) and wandered the coun...
Alexander Alexandrovich Glazunov
Painter, graphic artist, restorer, writer. Born in the family of a peasant called Alexander Glazunov in Moscow (1884). Grew up in the village of Terekhovo in Vladimir Province (late 1880s) and studie...
Pavel Bazhenov
Painter, graphic artist, theatrical designer, book illustrator, designer, decorator, applied artist. Born in the family of an icon-painter called Dmitry Bazhenov in the village of Podolino in Vladimi...
Boris Mikhailovich Yermolaev
Painter, graphic artist, theatrical designer, teacher. Born in the family of Mikhail Yermolaev in the village of Pustyn in Ivanovo Region (1934). Studied at the Palekh School of Art (1949–54). Worked...
Alexander Borunov
Painter, graphic artist, theatrical designer, book illustrator, teacher, restorer. Born in the family of Vasily Borunov in the village of Timofeyevka in Vladimir Province (1920). Studied at the Palek...
Tamara Zubkova
Painter, graphic artist, theatrical designer, applied artist, restorer. Born in the family of Ivan Zubkov (1883–1938), one of the founders of the Palekh school of varnished miniature painting, in the...
Raisa Smirnova
Varnished miniature painter, icon painter, theatrical designer, book designer. Born in the family of Alexei Smirnov in the village of Morshan-Lyadovka in Voronezh (now Tambov) Region (1935). Studied ...
Pyotr Ivanov
Engraver, illustrator. Studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts (from 1809). Worked as an engraver a...
Church of San Procolo
The Church of San Procolo stands on the corner of Via de' Giraldi and Via de' Pandolfini in the ver...
Maly Theatre
The Mikhailovsky Theatre enjoyed a happy fate in the twentieth century, occupying a special place i...
Ivan Bugayevsky-Blagodarny (Bogayevsky)
Painter, draughtsman, illustrator, caricaturist. Born in Kiev in the family of a merchant called Se...
Central part of a church, extending from the chancel to the narthex and flanked by a series of colu...


Default implementation of web commands.
Thread factory that creates threads that are named.
where threadNo is an integer starting from one.
Components for Jackson ObjectMapper and Play's Json.
Module that injects an object mapper to the JSON library on start and on stop.
This solves the issue of the ObjectMapper cache from holding references to the application class loader between reloads.


Cloud computing offers a huge opportunity to provide substantial returns, but only if your strategy is well executed and the ROI killers are addressed.
Companies who are successful at implementing their cloud strategies can produce impressive returns on their investments. As we outlined in our Cloud Economics blog post, there are many ways to achieve a sound ROI in the cloud.
To achieve these savings, a company must execute on its cloud strategy quickly and effectively. The longer it takes to move legacy applications to the cloud, the more the overall ROI erodes. Too often, cloud migration projects take much longer than estimated. When this happens, the cost of running IT actually goes up, because it takes longer to retire the existing infrastructure. At the same time, new, often poorly managed cloud resources start increasing the overall IT spend.
What are the main ROI killers?
Nothing gets in the way of progress more than good old company politics. This comes in many flavors. Sometimes there is disagreement within the ranks over the viability of cloud. Often, the person driving cloud adoption is in direct conflict with the person running the data center. When this occurs, it becomes extremely challenging to make progress, because cloud adoption requires collaboration among all areas of domain expertise.
Conflicts between security teams and development also create unnecessary friction. This leads to needless hurdles, which slow down adoption. Any time a large enterprise suffers a breach of any kind, the security fear mongers start squashing public cloud initiatives, even though most breaches have nothing to do with the cloud.
Vendor favoritism is another major blocker. I have seen vendor fanboys try to lead companies down a suboptimal path because of their loyalty to a legacy cloud vendor. These fanboys will make a host of misleading statements about the leading cloud vendors in order to push forward their agenda for false clouds. They also promote myths about public cloud in order to force leaders to continue to invest in data center and do-it-yourself clouds.
A responsible cloud advocate is needed to combat the politics that leads to misleading statements about cloud, misrepresentation of cloud business value and just plain anti-cloud myths that stall cloud initiatives.
The existence of cultural barriers is probably the number one factor slowing down cloud initiatives. For many enterprises, moving from traditional computing to cloud computing requires a major shift in thinking. To take full advantage of cloud computing, people need to start considering services and cloud native applications.
Traditionally, enterprises have been accustomed to building monolithic applications and deploying biannually or perhaps quarterly. The new model is to deliver small change sets and deploy bi-weekly, weekly or even daily. To accomplish this, the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC) must be reevaluated. Frequent deployments rely on full stack automation. Manual review gates give way to automated security, standard blueprints, automated patching and proactive monitoring.
This is a radical change from how applications used to be built, managed and governed. This is why DevOps is so critical. No, DevOps is not IT automation. It is bigger than that. DevOps is about the entire value stream, from project inception to running services in the cloud. Enterprises should evaluate their existing value stream for bottlenecks, and fix those bottlenecks before performing automation. Otherwise, they are simply automating waste. A major mistake most enterprises make is that they only focus on the technology aspects of DevOps and neglect to address the required people and process transformations.
Moving to the cloud indeed requires major transformations. This is why we recommend that companies leverage our cloud adoption methodology and create a strategic plan for change that paves the path for success with their cloud initiative.
Building solutions in the cloud can prevent a number of technical challenges, especially when the new cloud applications need to integrate with on-premises solutions. Integrating with non-cloud technologies creates complexity, and complexity creates chaos, which leads to slow progress.
I have been on many engagements where there is a requirement to backhaul all cloud related network traffic back to the existing on-premises data centers. Integrating with legacy network technologies and tools creates a significant amount of work and often leads to suboptimal solutions. It also creates issues like latency, which in turn leads to more unplanned work and often workarounds.
Lack of in-house skills and cloud native thinking often leads to suboptimal architectures. Too often, enterprises take a data center centric approach to the cloud, resulting in the cloud becoming nothing more than another data center, instead of a platform for agility and innovation.
Bringing your old tools to the cloud often creates suboptimal solutions and unnecessary work in order to force a square peg into a round hole. I have seen this play out way too many times. The business sits idle, waiting for new functionality, while the IT minions waste precious cycles mucking around with suboptimal tools and processes that add zero value to the business. Take this opportunity to evaluate replacing legacy tools with either modern SaaS solutions or newer cloud-native tooling.
Enterprises should take a big step back and consider these 7 ways to think differently about the cloud.
Even if you get the previous three issues right, you still have to manage this complex and transformational initiative effectively. The key here is to not take on too much too soon. We recommend a minimal viable cloud (MVC) approach. The MVC strategy targets a small set of workloads and allows an enterprise to iterate through building in the necessary security, controls and operations. This allows the company to quickly deploy services to the cloud that create business value, without having to spend many months or years trying to stand up the perfect cloud. With each new MVC, the customer bolts on additional functionality and over time builds a robust, world-class cloud.
Another project killer is the inability to run a true agile project. Many companies run what I call "wagile" efforts: waterfall projects with daily standups. Instead of iterating through sprints and acting on feedback loops, these project teams fall into the sequential path of doom, where they first document all of the potential requirements, go dark on the business while performing months of design, start constructing the cloud and then fall down when it comes time to deploy and run their cloud services.
Successful cloud implementations require a fail fast approach. A true agile approach is required. Teams should iterate through small sprints to learn and adjust along the way. How can anyone gather all of the requirements up front without first experimenting in the cloud?
Many enterprises go into their cloud journey with unrealistic expectations. I can't count how many companies I have come across who jump into the cloud with hybrid cloud aspirations. They start by performing huge evaluations on hybrid cloud solutions, cloud management platforms (CMP) and other advanced technologies, yet they have no clue on how to build a single application on the cloud.
Why not focus on getting good at one cloud endpoint before trying to implement multi-cloud? It will take 2-3 years minimally to become cloud competent on one cloud vendor. Start there and worry about hybrid later. Focus first on a goal that is obtainable. Build cloud competency internally before venturing into the complex world of hybrid cloud.
Too often, companies try to build the perfect cloud and spend months to years spending tons of money with little or nothing to show for it. Meanwhile, they are still paying for all the infrastructure in the data center. Your cloud ROI is only as good as your ability to execute on your cloud strategy.
We recommend you take a minimal viable cloud (MVC) approach to get to the cloud quickly, one workload at a time. The MVC approach focuses on smaller, manageable projects that show business value sooner, while allowing staff to learn and improve their cloud skills along the way.
There are many workload types that are good candidates for the cloud. Web applications, big data and analytics, third party applications, productivity tools and high performance computing are just a small subset of workload categories that are great candidates to migrate to the cloud. Building the perfect cloud to accommodate all these workload types at once is a recipe for failure. A better approach is to perform an application assessment to prioritize the workloads, using a combination of factors such as complexity, speed to market and business value.
Once the application portfolio roadmap is in place, a series of MVCs should be scheduled that focus on adding the appropriate level of security, automation and operations in place, to transition those workloads off the current data center and into the cloud. Remember, the sooner the applications can be shut down in the data center, the better the overall ROI should be.
Cloud computing offers a huge opportunity to provide substantial returns if your strategy is well executed. If the cloud strategy takes too long or the deliverables are suboptimal, the original ROI projections will not be achieved. If you are betting your career on the ROI that you pitched in front of the CEO and the board, you would be well-advised to address the ROI killers and take an MVC approach to delivering cloud services for your company.


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Share Your Talents
Conquer Your Addictions
Take Stock of Your Life
Trust Your Fate to Higher Power
Assume Responsibility
Check Your Safety Net
Eat Right
Supplement Your Diet
Improve Your Environs
Participate in Community
Lend a Hand
Buddy-up
Written by J.J.
It's natural to feel discouraged, worried, fearful or overcome by change. When we experience changing circumstances in our personal lives while we try to cope with an outer world of change and transition seeing anything clearly can be difficult. Yet, one of the best ways to avoid the harmful stress often triggered by change is to look for the opportunities it brings. If you've just suffered a loss or trauma it may be too soon to see with objectivity yet a time may come when letting go of today's re-orientation will point to opportunities in tomorrow. Sourcing for opportunity is a skill anyone can develop. If you're ready for some techniques to strengthen your resilience and find opportunity please read on.
Technique #1) Get a pen and paper or open a word document and start a list of the changes or uncertainties in your life. Now, list as many positive and negative aspects of each item as you can. Don't limit yourself with only realistic ideas. By not limiting ourselves we often stretch our view of what's possible thereby triggering ideas that we hadn't considered.
Example: Here's an item on my coronovirus list: Not able to visit my mother who lives in assisted living. Positive aspect: could redirect that time to more hours at work or could read more. Take a vacation? Write a blog? Negative aspect: miss her and worry. How long will this last?
When you have your list completed consider the positive aspects you've identified and expand your thinking by wondering how those potentials could help you through change ie: Can you realize them and would they benefit your life? Zoom out to consider could this transition eventually strengthen you? Could this change prompt you to do something in a different way? Could it help you cultivate a greater tolerance for letting go? Could the door be open now to bring something or someone new into your life? Could you find time now to focus on something you've wanted to work on or learn? Listing both desirable and undesirable qualities can help us process the change and also see our transition more clearly possibly uncovering a new way forward.
Inna Kazan, health and performance Ph.D with Harvard Medical School tells us, "Even if you don't see yourself as an optimist, you can behave like one. By choosing to interpret the situation as a challenge, and believing that we have the resources to meet it, we can become healthier and more resilient."
2) Identify the basic choices that you still have. Even through the biggest changes and uncertainties there are choices that we still control, for instance, how we feel about change and what we say about change. What we say about a change impacts how other people see us as well as how we see ourselves. Other controls we probably have are what we eat and what we care for such as plants or animals. What else is in your control? Count the ways you still feel a sense of control. Those solid foundations will help you through chaos and afford you a more optimistic outlook.
Dr Frank Lipman writes, "On a psychological level, making the effort to embrace optimism enables you to become more resilient, engaged, connected, and just plain happier – all of which can help you navigate rough times more skillfully."
It's pretty hard to be optimistic or confident when you've had everything and lost it. Some of you may be in that situation. Executive Coach, Cam Taylor, was. In the TED talk below he reveals how he found opportunity. That dawning occurred to him by simply starting in the painful place he was. "In particularly," he relays, "I believe that when we can look at our adversity differently...as an opportunity not as an unwelcome interruption that transformation can happen in our lives."
3) Count your blessings. Some people find renewal by focusing on gratitude. Focus on gratitude is an exercise that gradually cultivates a grateful lifestyle. Yet, in times of crisis gratitude isn't always going to be easy to find. Blogger Elizabeth Su suggests four ways to cope with gratitude block. #1? Don't force it! In the quote below, Doctor Michael D. C. Fishman, notes that a lifestyle of gratitude is a 360 experience but one that's been impacted by Covid-19:
"We each express gratitude toward others in different ways. Before COVID, we could offer a handshake, a pat on the back, or a hug when socially appropriate, in addition to more common direct verbal or written forms of communication. Now in the COVID social-distancing era, there are different means of expressing appreciation: a shout out at a Zoom work meeting, a thumbs up or heart emoji, a retweet, a daily or weekly email to your team inclusive of wins and achievements, or a monthly award for star colleague who went above and beyond in their duties and/or patient care. Research demonstrates that these small gestures can result in tremendous impact in well-being (Emmons, 2007a, Emmons, 2007b, Emmons, 2010, Emmons & Shelton, 2002). While we can impact others by expressing gratitude directly, we can greatly enhance our own well-being by articulating gratitude in written or spoken form, even to ourselves, which allows us to focus in the moment on what we appreciate and brings us joy, happiness, or satisfaction."
Living in gratitude has been shown to boost the immune system and aid in managing stress. Could a gratitude practice help you through your transitions and open new paths? LMSW Julie Arnold at Holland Hospital blogs, "Remember, life will return to normal, even if it's a new kind of normal. Practicing gratitude can help you cope and boost your peace of mind."
4) Exercise daily. Exercise reduces stress and refreshes the mind. Leadership coach, Jeff Boss ranks exercise as the 4th most important habit for entrepreneurs and some of you are certainly business owners wondering if you can weather the pandemic or, perhaps, seeing that you can't. Writing in the Birmingham Business Journal Gayle Lantz reminds business owners to focus on what you can do not what you can't. She concludes with a quote from Peter Drucker, ""The best way to predict the future is to create it." In a related article at Real Leaders 66 CEO's share their strategy for weathering the virus. Christ Hurst recommends: Keep a Routine. Dr Vince Molinaro advises: Tackle Tough issues and Make Hard Decisions. Melissa Smith contributes, "Get and Give Support." Aaron Velkey states, "Leadership isn't a role. It's a decision." Exercising daily is a decision as well. Exercise helps with stress management. The well being it creates can boost optimism which, in turn, can open a new path forward and reveal surprising opportunities.
"More than education, more than experience, more than training, a person's level of resilience will determine who succeeds and who fails. That's true in the cancer ward, it's true in the Olympics, and it's true in the boardroom," writes Diane Coutu, Communication Director for Banyan Family Business Advisors.
5) Set a series of small goals. Mark significant steps and Celebrate progress. Finding opportunity in a crisis is tough and the only way to get there is to start moving in that direction. Allow yourself to set small goals. In fact, make it your first goal to establish a month of weekly goals. Consider investing in this by using a month to month planner. Maybe your week's goal is taking a walk twice, calling a friend, or taking a nap. It's okay if taking a nap is what you can manage. Perhaps you're up for writing a new resume or joining a group. Celebrate your accomplishments no matter how small. Building your focus on these weekly goals can gradually build resilience and confidence and lead you to personal growth or opportunity. In the video below Dr Mike Soloman explains that his diagnosis of stage 4 cancer has challenged him to be resilient and cancer had edged him closer to living in moment. "It's a difficult challenge to change a lifetime's pattern of thinking but it is possible," he explains. "It involves taking things one step at a time however short that step needs to be."
Members of the American Psychological Foundation note: Becoming more resilient not only helps you get through difficult circumstances, it also empowers you to grow and even improve your life along the way.
6) Help someone. There's nothing that helps us put our own life in context more than reaching out to help others. Organizational Psychologist Adam Grant tells businessmen, "The best way to succeed is to help others succeed." That's true as well when we volunteer and lend support to people in need. Being able to help others returns so many benefits-purpose, confidence and a sense of well being. Volunteering can satisfy the need for socialization and feeling useful. Volunteering puts us in contact with people we wouldn't otherwise have met and often opens new opportunities. in fact helping someone else can increase our happiness and also lower your blood pressure, manage pain, and look good on a resume.
"It is always OK to ask for help. It will always be beneficial to you when you can help others, too," writes Joseph Barber, associate director of career services at University of Pennsylvania.
7) Practice opening to opportunity including reaching out when you need help. Professor of Psychology Jamil Zaki notes that Covid-19, like other national crises, "can leave people feeling unsafe. That trauma can make it hard to get back to normal. Yet we have the opportunity now not for a return to "normal" but to create a stronger new normal." In the video below Dr Ron Johnson explains that Covid stresses are causing anxiety and difficulty with impulse control. He offers 7 factors of resilience and urges people to seek help if they need it. Readers, many people are needing help finding resilience in these troubled times you're not alone. Please take advantage of the opportunity to use mental health services in your community most offer phone consultations so you don't risk Covid exposure. Sometimes the routine of regularly working on personal growth opens new pathways and unexpected opportunity.
Whether you choose to seek help and guidance and/or work one of the techniques in this blog I hope you succeed in finding opportunity. Covid-19 has taken away many things in our lives but it can never prevent us from pursuing resilience.
Update October
This movie, about the mythology of Joseph Campbell, has a lot to say about finding opportunity in adversity.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned so as to have the life that's waiting for us," Joseph Campbell
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Early prototype images of the iPhone surfaced – showcases a 5″ x 7″ display
Julia Martin
A totally new and surprising iPhone prototype images have been leaked over the internet. This new iPhone Prototype does not seem to be a new device because believe it or not, it has a big screen size with dimensions 5" x 7".
We have seen a lot of iPhone prototype images in the past. The internet has always provided us with all the information that has ever been leaked regarding the iPhone. What we see now is totally out of the ordinary. The iPhone prototype images seem to be of the time before the first ever iPhone was released in the year 2007.
These photos are said to be from early 2005 when Apple was is in the process of making a new smart device that would take over the world. These images were given to Ars through a former Apple employee who has worked on various Apple hardware projects in the early years including the time when Apple was working on the first ever iPhone. It is clear that he had access and exposure to a lot of early iPhone work that was done in those years and must also know a lot about this prototype. He did not give out his name as it would create a lot of problems for him if Apple knew what he has done.
This early prototype has a considerably large display and a number of ports which were commonly used on computers at that time. These include USB ports, Ethernet port and a serial port as well. Of course, the company had no intentions of bringing to you a device that would have all these ports so you could use them on a regular basis. The reason why Apple put all these ports in there is because this was a prototype device and these ports make it easier and faster to work on the device and test it. But there 'might be' a chance that Apple actually wanted you to have these ports but we will never know if that is true.
A lot of hardware present on this prototype resembles or is related to the hardware present on the first iPhone. Of course, we are happy that the final product turned out to be much more compact and integrated but it was this prototype that started the story.
iPhone prototype Image Gallery


Stink' of 1858. The drainage system was connected to London's 'lost rivers', such as the Fleet and the Tybur, catering for a population of no more than 2 million. The system is now outdated and there are now major overflows of sewage into the River Thames on a weekly basis.
London is building a new £4.2 billion super sewer, which will keep waste out of the riverbank by directing it to other treatment plants.
Following a strategic study by Thames Tideway in 2000, the decision was to tackle the problem with a full-length tunnel solution. At 25 kilometres long, up to 65 metres deep, and more than seven metres in diameter, the Thames Tideway Tunnel will be the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the UK water industry.
It will generally follow the route of the River Thames to enable it to connect to the combined sewer overflows (CSOs) that are located along the riverbanks, passing underneath all other infrastructure in London and through a variety of different ground conditions. There are almost 25 different construction sites where the tunnelling and drilling will take place. S. Paul's Deptford is one of them and is the most high risk of all sites due to its historical significance as a Grade I listed building. From 2015 Thames Tideway are preparing this site for the main construction to begin in 2016. The preparatory or early works at Deptford Church Street involve utility diversions along Crossfield Street.
Construction at the Deptford site is due to begin in late 2016 and will take approximately 3.5 years.
Standard construction working hours will be 8 – 6 Monday to Friday and 8 – 1 Saturdays.
It is anticipated an average of 9 heavy goods vehicles will access the site per day for the majority of the construction. This will rise to 32 heavy goods vehicles per day for approximately 7 months during construction of the shaft.


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All posts tagged "earthquakes"
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WASHINGTON — Scientists have discovered a mash-up of two feared disasters — hurricanes and earthquakes — and they're calling them "stormquakes." The shaking of the sea...
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Inspired from the Sistine Chapel Madonna, an oil painting by the Italian artist Raphael Sanzio.
Inspired from the Sistine Chapel Madonna, an oil painting by the Italian artist Raphael Sanzio. The altarpiece was commissioned in 1512 by Pope Julius II for the church of San Sisto, Piacenza, and the image is one of the oldest amulets of protection from harm.
Antique Silver tone Angels with Grey Freshwater Pearls, Swarovski Crystal, and Sterling Silver Ear wires.


Passed in 2015, the rules became a target of the EPA a year after President Trump's election. The agency announced in late 2017 that it was reconsidering the minimum age requirements, opening the door to the possibility that it might lower the age limit or do away with it entirely.
But the EPA said recently that the effort to scale back those environmental and health regulations would not go forward, disappointing industry groups and pleasantly surprising environmental and farmworker advocacy groups.
In an undated letter sent last week to Sen. Thomas R. Carper of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said he was withdrawing proposals to change the rules.
Wheeler's letter did not offer an explanation for the reversal. It arrived just as the committee was preparing to vote on the nominations of three EPA officials, prompting speculation that the agency had agreed to leave the regulations in place in exchange for senators' support.
Wheeler is slated to appear before the committee next week for his own confirmation to lead the EPA on a permanent basis.
In a written statement, Carper said he had fought for the changes.
"Over the past few months, I have raised serious concerns regarding many of the administration's harmful environmental policies, and, as a result, EPA and [the president's Council on Environmental Quality] have made specific commitments to me with respect to some of the most egregious ones," he said.
Introduced during Scott Pruitt's tumultuous tenure as head of the EPA, the proposed changes also took aim at rules that give farmworkers the right to find out from employers what pesticides they had been exposed to. They can do this on their own or through a third party, such as a lawyer.
Another regulation sets limitations on where pesticides can be used, preventing workers' direct contact with toxic chemicals.
Paul Schlegel, the federation's managing director of public policy, said the group had hoped the EPA would repeal some of these rules. "We would have liked to have seen them go forward with that," he said.
The federation did not take a position on whether anyone under the age of 18 should be able to work with pesticides, he said. However, it would prefer that the question of age limits be left to states to decide.
Though some states have stronger protections for farmworkers than the EPA requires, Nicholson, of the farmworkers' union, said the regulations put in place under the Obama administration are important because they set the national standard.


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Navigating Between Worlds: The Peaceful Warriors of Standing Rock
December 16, 2016 by At Large
By Ariana Krieger
When you see the somber brown hills of the Dakota Borderlands for the first time, they don't look like the setting for a historic victory by a people armed only with the power of prayer and reverence for the land. Yet among these hills of Standing Rock has sprouted a camp, a human crossroads whose unique character has made the seemingly impossible happen.
Seven tribes lead this movement and among the tribal elders are men like Wanasa, a Lakota elder who greets everyone warmly during meal times in the main kitchen.
"The most important thing you can do is pray," he tells us, "What is happening on the front lines is secondary; the main purpose of this camp is to pray."
This comes as something of a shock to many newcomers who assumed that the direct actions were the most powerful way to participate in the movement. Wanasa, whose name means "they chase a buffalo" in the Lakota Language, encourages everyone to identify their spirit animal.
"Everyone wants their kids to be buffalos or bulls but not everyone is a warrior animal. Some are ants and they are just as important," he says.
At the front lines of Standing Rock, horses remain central to Lakota culture and resistance. Photo by Ariana Krieger
Wanasa recounts when horses were first introduced to the Lakota and how his people immediately connected to their spirits. He speaks of this historical event as if it could have happened yesterday and the newly arrived water protectors glimpse a world where the past still lives in the present, where people are not wholly individuals but part of a larger tribe.
Then Wanasa tells us of a dream that the Lakota elders had 20 years ago, that people of all four colors would come together to defend sacred land; he says it's being fulfilled now. There was a second part of that dream he adds, and the entire room waits in silence. "But we are not ready to share that yet."
Patricia Zapata great-great granddaughter of Emiliano Zapata says that it was his spirit that drove her to Standing Rock. Photo by Ariana Krieger
The stories of many of the people who have come to join the movement move easily through western and indigenous realities. Patricia Zapata, the great-great-grand daughter of Mexican Revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata, says that it was his spirit who sent her to the camp.
"I've been a chef for 32 years," she says, "So, I came here to serve my people by cooking."
She was working in the main kitchen but then decided to start her own kitchen where she feeds 50-60 people per day. Her love of cooking and thorough knowledge of traditional Yaqui cuisine allow her to both serve and educate the community.
Native Americans from all over the country have come together to stop construction of the "black snake" (Dakota Access Pipeline) and to contribute their own unique skills to the camp.
Miengun Pamp, a member of the Ojibwe tribe from Michigan, quit his job as a security guard and moved to Standing Rock in September. He is now a lead security guard at camp and plans to stay permanently until construction of the pipeline has been stopped.
"As soon as we heard of what was going on, I knew I had to come and so did my whole family," says Pamp up on Facebook hill, the high point of the camp where wireless signals reconnect water protectors to the larger world.
He is speaking to a group of new comers: "In American culture there is a lot of back and forth conversation. But in Native culture there is a lot of silence. My Dad used to wait twenty minutes before answering my questions. I didn't understand why when I was little."
The tradition of silence has deep roots in this culture, he explains. When Native American chiefs used to meet for political proposals, one would never answer the other immediately but would wait in silence for days before replying.
Phyllis Bald eagle, fire council leader. Photo by Ariana Krieger
Another unique facet of the movement is the prominent role of women. Phyllis Bald eagle, a member of the Cheyanne River Sioux tribe, holds a key leadership position in the Seven Council Fires.
"We want everyone at camp to stay calm," she says in the aftermath of the night when water protectors were attacked by police with water cannons. Phyllis was one of the women leading the water protectors in prayer during the actions, ensuring that the protests remained peaceful.
Jason Pinto, a Kumeyaay from Jamul India Village, California, was on the front lines the night that protesters were attacked. He saw many people who were peacefully marching attacked by water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas.
Jason Pinto (top left row) from the Kumeyaay nation standing with veterans of Wounded Knee; front row: the new generation of resisters. Photo by Ariana Krieger
"I arrived the night of the action and went straight out there," says Pinto, who works closely with the American Indian Movement. Like many who were there that night, he rejects the media stories that the protesters started a fire.
"The fire was started by one of the police canisters. It was used by medics to help people who had gone into hypothermia," he says.
The Lakota people's determination to regain control of their lands and stop the Dakota Access Pipeline has sparked a movement that has unified Native American tribes from all over the country. The recent victory, temporary as it may be, is still an amazing testament to the power of the movement which takes on the combined powers of corporate and militarized America.
"It is not about the pipeline anymore," says Lakota elder Wanasa. "The pipeline is just a tiny part of what is happening. It is about people of all four colors coming together and praying, telling the oil companies that they cannot ruin the earth anymore."
Ariana Krieger is an educator, activist and recent graduate of UC Riverside.
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bob dorn says
You mention the story told by Wanasa, a Lakota elder at the DAPL encampment, that "…when horses were first introduced to the Lakota… people immediately connected to their spirits." That sensing of the natural which leads to connection with it can only be achieved by listening and watching and letting the world enter and speak to us. The passage reminded me of another, this one from Primo Levy, telling of a young shepherd who "had a curious mimetic talent, and when he talked about cows, chickens, sheep and dogs he was transformed, imitating their way of looking, their movements and voices… and seeming to turn into an animal himself.." Fact is, I can better imagine what's going on in a dog's mind than I can Donald Trump's. Maybe we'll get back to a preference for reality after we get past the all-consuming noise we live in.
Ariana Krieger says
Yes! And what a great passage of Primo Levi. Wanasa also talked about the importance of connecting to ones spirit plant, which is different for each person and also requires that we let the natural world enter into us. His spirit plant is lavender cones, he says that they seem to sprout up to soothe him every where he goes. The natural world has so much to teach us all of us if we are willing to listen.


It's your most memorable day, filled with joy and wonder as you start your new life together. Captured in a glass globe, a Bride and Groom share a blissful embrace, mirroring just how you feel! This intricately designed snow globe, offers a whimsical feel with it's quality ivory resin base wrapped in a silver satin ribbon and "For You" gift tag. Your guests will love this beautiful memento of your perfect wedding day. Gorgeous for a winter wedding day or any season! Originally created by Artisano Designs.
Add your own personal touch by wrapping packaging or remove item from box to display for guests; which displays the ribbon, bow and "For You" gift tag.


Reports produced either entirely by CHE or in collaboration with other organizations.
The Mind, Disrupted Biomonitoring Project asks: What role might environmental toxins play in undermining healthy development of the brain and nervous system? How might certain environmental pollutants exacerbate the health conditions of those who already have a learning, developmental or behavioral disorder?
This report, developed in collaboration with the Commonweal Biomonitoring Project, the Environmental Health Fund and Alaska Community Action on Toxics, spotlights these pressing questions and inspires prompt actions to reduce exposures that may impair how we think—and, in the most basic ways, who we are.
Visit the Mind, Disrupted website.
held in January 2008. The scientific results of the workshop were published in Fertility and Sterility: Female reproductive disorders: the roles of endocrine disrupting compounds and developmental timing.
This report summarizes the key outcomes of the Women's Reproductive Health and the Environment Workshop held in January 2008.
This report summarizes the evidence connecting various types of radiation and cancer, with a call for public policy measures to mitigate unnecessary and involuntary exposures.