So I hit upon the idea of choosing just 26 items, sorted alphabetically, to represent by means of metonymy the countless people and things for which I am grateful.
It's been an interesting year. The Pirate Queen began a new job, which she enjoys, and where she is appreciated and fulfilled. I landed one of my most daunting voiceover projects this summer, survived a hectic busy season with my largest client, and checked a box off my career bucket list by booking a gig for one of the most recognizable companies on the planet. We traveled a bit, as we are wont to do.
The Daughter hit a pair of milestones: she, like the Pirate Queen, began a new job — one that she's been chasing hard for a few years — and she and her beloved (formerly The Boyfriend, now The Fiance) got engaged. They'll be married next May, prompting yet another nomenclatural change. The Daughter is thrilled to begin these new chapters in her life, and I am thrilled — with a father's wistful trepidation — for her. She wishes her mother was here to share her joy. I wish that too. But as the old saying goes, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. So walk on, we shall.
2017 will be forever remembered in the North Bay as the Year of the Firestorm. If you live hereabouts, you know — and perhaps lived through — the devastating wildfires that destroyed thousands of structures across Sonoma and Napa counties. The Daughter and her Grandma were evacuated from their home for a week. Many longtime friends and acquaintances don't have homes to which to return. The city of Santa Rosa and the other hard-hit communities will rebuild, but the lives that were lost will never be restored, and the precious possessions of thousands of people will never truly be replaced. I can't put into words the sadness I feel for those I know — and so many others I don't know — whose lives were irrevocably altered, even as I also can't express my relief that my precious Daughter's life was spared.
Walk on, we shall, indeed.
But enough preamble. Here's the fourteenth installment of my annual Thanksgiving list. Next year, should we all live to see it, I'll have to add a whole new table in the Word document where I keep track of each year's offerings. (The chart is seven columns wide, and this will fill out the second chart.) For now, here's what I'm grateful for… among so much else.
Almond butter. The Pirate Queen brought a jar home the other day from Trader Joe's. In a world awhirl with chaos, the simple pleasure of an almond butter and blackberry jelly sandwich is an amazing comfort.
Blue Öyster Cult. This year on LearnedLeague (the world's toughest online trivia league, and why haven't you asked me for a referral yet?), I was privileged to write a quiz about a band whose music I've grokked since my high school days. (Yes, we had music then, you young punk. With electric guitars and everything.) I've still got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell.
Cabo San Lucas. Neither the Pirate Queen nor I had ever been to Cabo before our weeklong vacation there in February. We enjoyed our stay immensely. It's not Hawaii — this was the first year in the last five that we didn't visit my childhood home — but it's lovely nonetheless. We'll return, no doubt.
Draymond Green. He may be the third or fourth best player on the Warriors. He might also be the most irreplaceable. No one plays defense at a more intense level than Money 23. The Daughter has a picture of herself with him from a photo op before he rose to NBA All-Stardom.
Firefighters and First Responders. They couldn't save every home and storefront in the North Bay, but they worked tirelessly and valiantly to save as many as they could, and to rescue and help as many people as possible. The community will never forget their efforts and dedication.
Gal Gadot. As a lifelong fan of Diana of Themyscira, I wasn't fully convinced when the little-known Israeli actress landed the role. I'm convinced now. I'm glad Gal is our Wonder Woman. Change our minds, and change the world.
Hamilton. We had the opportunity to see the smash hit musical in San Francisco this summer. We did not throw away our shot. Few popular entertainments live up to their hype, but Lin-Manuel Miranda's masterpiece gets as close as you'd imagine.
Ice hockey. I know, I know. I'm the guy who refers to hockey as "soccer on ice with sticks." But thanks to the largesse of a good friend who's a San Jose Sharks season ticketholder, we saw our first in-person game last season. It really is a heck of a sport to watch in person, in ways that don't translate well on television. I'm a believer.
Jetways. I'm old enough to remember… okay, slow down; not the Wright brothers — but the days when you actually had to walk out onto the tarmac and climb a mobile staircase in order to board a plane at many airports. Give me the stretchable hallway any day.
Kilimanjaro. She rises like Olympus above the Serengeti.
Linseed oil. Also called flaxseed oil, it's the stuff that keeps the insides of my cast iron skillets silky smooth and nonstick. Liquid gold, it is.
Monet and Munch. We toured a pair of spectacular art exhibitions this year: Claude Monet: The Early Years at the Legion of Honor, and Edvard Munch: Between the Clock and the Bed at SFMOMA. In general, I'm not especially partial to Expressionist art, but seeing the work of these two great masters up close was powerfully impactful. I'm already looking forward to the next Monet exhibition here in two years.
NextDraft. Every day, I check in with several news sites and aggregators to keeptrack of what's going on in this crazy world. Dave Pell's NextDraft stands as one of the best curated aggregators I've come across. Dave skillfully mixes links to the day's hard news with items that are merely fascinating. Always topical, always informative.
Patek Philippe. I narrated the first-ever full-scale North American exhibition by the world-renowned Swiss watchmaker this summer. In the process, I learned a ton about the craftspeople who design and build these incredible (and incredibly expensive) timepieces that can not only tell time, but in some instances play symphonies, display lunar cycles, and calculate dates hundreds of years into the future — all using mechanical, analog functionality. No microchip, no battery, just precision clockworks.
Quesadillas. Because hot, melty, delicious cheese.
Red Special, the one-of a kind guitar built by Brian May in his garage when he was a teenager, and which has lent its unique tone to Queen albums and concerts for more than four decades. I recently saw Brian wield his legendary axe in person for the first time in 35 years, and both guitar and guitarist amaze me still as much today as they did back then. If Brian and the Red Special had never given the world anything besides "Fat Bottomed Girls," it would have been gift enough.
My Steel Will 1505, a.k.a. the Gekko, has featured as my everyday carry pocket knife for most of the past year. Solid, sturdy, and wicked sharp, with its maroon Micarta handle scales and black D2 steel blade, it's both a workhorse and a creature of quiet beauty.
Thumbtack. The online service offers access to all kinds of local professionals, from electricians to mobile disc jockeys to personal trainers. Plus, they keep the Pirate Queen gainfully employed, for which we are enormously thankful.
Vision. Last night, I stood on a BART train next to a blind man accompanied by his golden retriever guide dog. Even with my acute myopia and astigmatism — easily remedied by contact lenses — I am blessed that, unlike that unfortunate gentleman, I can open my eyes and see the world. Today, I'm not taking that for granted.
Women — and I have some wonderful ones in my life: the Pirate Queen, The Daughter, her Grandma, and more treasured friends and colleagues than I can list, along with the memory of KJ and the three decades we shared together. Our culture is currently awash with a tsunami of women finally feeling emboldened to speak out against the abuse, harassment, and disrespect they've experienced, and I applaud and support them. Be heard, sisters. Your voices matter.
XTC. Quirky, edgy, and impossible to categorize, Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, and company formed one of the most underrated bands in the history of pop music. "Generals and Majors," "Senses Working Overtime," "The Mayor of Simpleton," and the controversial "Dear God" — even if you didn't understand all of the ideas (or didn't agree with them), you had to admire the style.
Yeast — fueling bakeries and breweries for thousands of years. Except during Passover.
Zapper — that's what I call my racket-shaped electric wand that strikes fear into the hearts of flying pests that dare disturb the sanctity of my abode. I'm perfectly content to let buzzing bugs buzz outdoors in their own environment, as long as they don't attack me. But if you come into my airspace, critter, I've got some voltage waiting for you.
And as always, friend reader, I'm grateful for you, and the time you take to peruse my rambling prose. May you and yours find much for which to be appreciative on this Thanksgiving Day.
Categories: Aimless Riffing, Celebritiana, Cinemania, Food Glorious Food, Hawaii, Hero of the Day, I'm a Warriors Worrier, LearnedLeague, My Home Town, Ripped From the Headlines, Sharp Objects, Soundtrack of My Life, SwanStuff, Thanksgiving, That's Cool!, The Swan Tunes In, Trivial Pursuits, What's In My Pocket?
One of the things I enjoy most about attending comics conventions is connecting in person with the people who create comics, and more specifically, who create the original comic art that I collect. It's easy to forget, when commissioning a piece of art via email and the Internet, that there's a real live human being putting the pencil, pen and/or ink brush to paper to bring these images into existence.
At a con, you can look into the eyes of an artist and see the passion for his or her work; hear the thoughtfulness in her or his voice as they talk about drawing, favorite characters, and the business of comics; and watch the deft skillfulness of their hands guiding the instrument across the once-blank surface as something appears from nothingness.
I was reminded of this during the pre-Labor Day weekend, as I attended the second annual San Francisco Comic Con. Over the three days of the convention, I had several opportunities to connect personally with artists whose works have graced my collection for many years.
Among the first pieces I ever bought when I started collecting in 2004 was a pinup of Spider-Man drawn by longtime Spidey artist Alex Saviuk, who penciled a phenomenal seven-year run on the Web of Spider-Man series beginning in 1988. At the time of the purchase, Alex and I corresponded briefly via email, and he also included a lovely handwritten note — which I've kept with the art to this day — when he shipped the piece to me. I recall my surprise when I opened the package and discovered that Alex had hand-colored the drawing (which had been a plain ink sketch when I bought it) before sending it.
Now, thirteen years later, I finally had the chance to thank Alex in person for his kindness. Better still, I got to chat with him about comics and media — we had fun discussing the relative merits of the Spider-Man feature films, as well as the Marvel/Netflix series — and commission a new entry into my Common Elements theme. (More about the latter in an upcoming Comic Art Friday.) I was thrilled to finally put a face and voice to the note Alex had written to me back in the day.
In addition to some lively conversation, Rags also took time to create a dynamic new drawing for my Taarna gallery. Again, I'll talk more about this artwork in a later post.
When I checked my records after the show, I was surprised to see that it had been 10 years since I've added a new commission by the artist known as Buzz. At WonderCon 2005, Buzz drew the very first piece I ever commissioned in person at a convention — a striking image of Vixen that remains a favorite of mine. Over the next couple of years, I became a regular at Buzz's table when he attended both WonderCon and Super-Con (which later morphed into Big Wow ComicFest). After WonderCon moved south, though, I'd lost track of Buzz until this year's SFCC.
Amazingly, not only did Buzz remember my name (first and last!) after all this time, but he also recalled several of the pieces he'd drawn for me — the Taarna I got at WonderCon 2007 in particular. I was pleased at how beautifully his newest creation — this drawing of Mantis, whom I don't believe Buzz had ever drawn before — turned out. She'll be in excellent company alongside the other Buzz masterpieces in my gallery.
Alas, I don't have a novel story to share about Mike Perkins, whom I'd never met or communicated with before this show. Knowing, however, that Mike had done splendid work on the Captain America series some years back, I knew that he'd be a perfect choice for this Cap-connected Common Elements pairing of the U.S. Agent and Golden Girl. And of course, Mike rocked it.
About San Francisco Comic Con: This event, the first of its kind in San Francisco proper since WonderCon abandoned us for southern California a few years back, is still finding its footing, but seems well on its way to carving out a niche as an outlet for Bay Area fans to get their con on.
If I have a quibble, it's that I'd like to see the organizers doing more to court the local comic artist community. Most of SFCC's artist guests come from outside northern California, while few of the sizable number of comics creators who live and work here have a presence at this show. One of the factors that made WonderCon and our other late, lamented local convention, Big Wow, so much fun was that most of the Bay Area-based name comic artists turned out for these shows. SFCC (which is owned by a company based in the eastern U.S.) doesn't yet have that homegrown feel, and I miss it.
Categories: Celebritiana, Comic Art Friday, Hero of the Day, My Home Town, SwanStuff, That's Cool!
As much as I enjoy concocting convoluted connections between otherwise unrelated characters for my Common Elements commission series, quite often the simpler and more obvious matchups produce equally fine results.
Case in point: this pairing of long-time X-Men nemesis Mystique (real name: Raven Darkhölme) and Raven from the Teen Titans, drawn by veteran comic artist Ron Randall.
The later films in Fox's X-Men series cast Mystique as a member of the heroic superteam, which in my opinion doesn't serve the character well. I'm perfectly cool with versions of comics characters in live-action media diverging somewhat from their comic-book counterparts — I think Marvel Studios has, for the most part, done a decent job of tweaking characters to fit the needs of its big-budget blockbuster movies — but I just don't think Mystique works as a heroine. She's much more compelling as a villain.
In addition to switching sides mid-series, the movie Mystique also lost one of the key distinctions that made her backstory unique. In the comics, the ancient and ageless Mystique is the birth mother of the X-Man Nightcrawler, and the foster mother of another X-Man, Rogue. Because Mystique begins the cinematic narrative as a young girl, she doesn't have these familial connections. Again, I understand why the changes happened, but I think the comics character's history is much more interesting.
Speaking of interesting histories, Raven comes equipped with one — she's the spawn of the dimension-hopping demon Trigon and a human woman named Angela Roth, who later calls herself Arella. As a teenager, Raven joins the Teen Titans to combat her father and ultimately defeat him. Her hybrid parentage endows Raven with a variety of superhuman powers, ranging from empathic sensitivity to the ability to cast a "soul-self" — a sort of astral projection — that usually takes the form of a (wait for it…) raven.
Today's artist, Ron Randall, has been drawing comics for the major publishers for more than 35 years. Beginning his career with a healthy run on DC's classic war comic Sgt. Rock in the early 1980s, Ron has illustrated significant stints on such series as The Warlord, Arak, Son of Thunder, Dragonlance, and both Justice League International and Justice League Europe for DC, Star Trek Unlimited and Venom for Marvel, and his own creation Trekker (no relation). Most recently, Ron's work appears alongside that of other outstanding artists — among them Steve Rude and Evan "Doc" Shaner — in DC's entertaining Future Quest, which weaves together the adventures of several Hanna-Barbera animated heroes from the 1960s, including Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, and the Herculoids.
Back to Ravens for a moment. Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven has been one of my favorite poems as long as I can remember. It's a flawless blend of atmosphere, wordplay, and desperation. These days, I frequently read it aloud as a warmup when I have character voice work — particularly narration — on my work agenda for the day. Every time I perform it, I find new twists and nuances in the words and rhythms. Well done, Mr. Poe.
Categories: Celebritiana, Cinemania, Comic Art Friday, Hero of the Day, SwanStuff, That's Cool!


text:
Rudolf Jussel (* 10. April 1959 in Schlins) ist ein österreichischer Politiker (FPÖ) und Raumausstatter. Jussel war von 2009 bis 2014 Abgeordneter zum Vorarlberger Landtag.

Ausbildung und Beruf
Rudolf Jussel wurde am 10. April 1959 in der Vorarlberger Walgaugemeinde Schlins als Sohn von Ernst und Gertrud Jussel geboren und wuchs dort auch auf. In Schlins besuchte er die Volksschule, in der Nachbargemeinde Nenzing die Hauptschule. Schließlich absolvierte Jussel in den Jahren 1974 bis 1977 im elterlichen Betrieb eine Raumausstatter-Lehre, die er 1977 mit der Gesellenprüfung abschloss. Von 1977 bis 1984 war Rudolf Jussel dann als Geselle im elterlichen Raumausstatterunternehmen tätig, ehe er im Jahr 1984 mit dem Ablegen der Meisterprüfung ein eigenes Unternehmen als selbständiger Raumausstatter eröffnete.

Politischer Werdegang
Im Jahr 1996 wurde Rudolf Jussel Parteimitglied der Freiheitlichen Partei Österreichs. 2005 übernahm er erstmals ein politisches Amt, als er bei der Gemeindevertretungswahl für die FPÖ in Schlins kandidierte und zum Ersatzmitglied der Gemeindevertretung gewählt wurde. Bereits bei der darauffolgenden Gemeindevertretungswahl im Jahr 2010 wurde Jussel zum Mitglied der Schlinser Gemeindevertretung gewählt. Seit 2015 ist er darüber hinaus als Gemeinderat auch Mitglied des Gemeindevorstands der Gemeinde Schlins. Innerparteilich ist er außerdem seit November 2009 Ortsparteiobmann der FPÖ Schlins.

Bei der Landtagswahl in Vorarlberg 2009 kandidierte Rudolf Jussel auf der Liste der Vorarlberger Freiheitlichen im Wahlbezirk Feldkirch erstmals für den Vorarlberger Landtag. Jussel konnte ein Mandat im Wahlbezirk Feldkirch erreichen und wurde daraufhin am 14. Oktober 2009 als Abgeordneter im Vorarlberger Landtag angelobt. Für die FPÖ-Landtagsfraktion war Rudolf Jussel im Landtag der 29. Legislaturperiode Bereichssprecher für Wohnbau, Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft, Wasser und Katastrophenschutz. Er war Mitglied im Energiepolitischen und im Landwirtschaftlichen Ausschuss sowie im Umweltausschuss des Landtags.

Nach der Landtagswahl in Vorarlberg 2014 schied Jussel wieder aus dem Landtag aus.

Privatleben
Jussel ist beruflich als selbständiger Raumausstatter tätig. Er ist seit 1988 verheiratet, Vater zweier Kinder und lebt in Schlins.

Weblinks
 Biografie von Rudolf Jussel auf der Website des Vorarlberger Landtags.

Landtagsabgeordneter (Vorarlberg)
Politiker (Schlins)
FPÖ-Mitglied
Österreicher
Geboren 1959
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Among the «dragons» of the Chinese electromobility industry, one more name should be remembered —
Yes, back to the «dragon». Yet in China there is not a hypothetical mother of dragons Daenerys Targaryen, but a very real person, a politician, under whose rule an electric car boom became possible, this is of course the President of the PRC Xi Jinping.
Three years went into research and development, and at the end of 2018, the brand's first model, the EX5 electric crossover, was launched. EX5 has been awarded a 5-star safety rating according to the Chinese C-NCAP testing standard. More than 30,000 EX5 vehicles have been assembled and sold since production began. Nobody knows how big the numbers are, but the startup needed to prove that they can produce a quality car that is being sold. They did it, which made it possible to increase the volume of investments required to expand production and build new assembly facilities. And it was done.
At the end of 2016, #wm motor began construction of the first plant in Wenzhou, which was built around the Industry 4.0 production concept. The Wenzhou plant has a production capacity of up to
First, the base is the platform and the battery pack.
The two crossover models currently in production are built on a patented skateboard platform called
EX5-Z is a comfortable, five-seater modern electric # crossover, cost, in terms of rubles,
This is practically the same EX5-Z, only with an increased body volume and a higher level of technical saturation of comfort elements. The seating formula in this car is 2x2x2. Due to the slightly larger size, and therefore the weight, the range of this model
WM Motor, working in partnership with Baidu and #qualcomm, unveiled the upcoming Maven electric car this fall. This car can already be called the face of the company. Classic and almost faceless crossovers are not good for this status. And Maven is really peculiarly beautiful.
The next-generation WM Motor digital platform in Maven will be powered by the third-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon computer chip, providing CPU and GPU computing power 3 times the industry average, as well as working on 5G networks.
But for a modern electric car, the main thing is its range. And here he will be at an excellent level —
Maven is just as interesting inside as it is outside. Projection screen, multi-wheel steering wheel, naturally a large central touchscreen display. I believe that this model will take its rightful place in its class.
Summing up, we can confidently say that WM Motor is on an upward vector, and the company has excellent prospects. Only last month, the company successfully closed another round of financing, having managed to attract
According to the head of the company, these funds will be used, including for the implementation of the plan.
The new Audi E-Tron GT is ready to compete with Tesla both on the track and at the charging station.
Decobaltization of batteries for Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles.
Leap Motor Signs Agreement with Hefei City Government to Build New Automobile Plant
Rivian will create its own branded network of charging stations
Elon Musk gave a hint what will be announced at Tesla Battery Day
Starlink kit unboxing and first satellite internet test results from users
Reevo Hubless electric miracle bike without hubs and spokes has found recognition and investors
Nissan Unveils Ariya EV Electric Crossover at 16th Auto China 2020 International Auto Show
The Association for the Development of Sports Electric Transport (ASET) has been established in Russia.
Second life of electric vehicles Renault electric cars in river boats
BMW has completed a large-scale modernization of its Munich plant.
Chinese battery manufacturer CATL buys stake in Canadian company Neo Lithium
The geography of access to the Starlink network is expanding — the Philippines, Great Britain …
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Highlights Seven Key Pillars of the Country's Future Energy Strategy
JCB presented a ruler of fully electrical construction and special E-Tech technology
EVRAZ decarbonizes a metallurgical plant in the USA.
Who is now «missile bakes like sausages», Roscosmos or Spacex?
Lucid Motors will build its second plant in the Arabian Peninsula with the assistance of the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund
Lucid Motors Factory — commissioned to produce some of the best electric vehicles in the world

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The nose has crabs, diesel oil, tar, creosote - yet balances these with light notes of heather and lavender. Divine. The mouthfeel is thin with no cling. The body has more of the levander and the oily notes from the nose, alongside lemon and menthol with some aniseed hints. The finish has lavender, creosote and aniseed.
Water brings out thin, rapidly expanding whorling that dissipates incredibly quickly - the whisky is visibly sucking up the water! The nose gains menthol and loses some of the crab and creosote. The body gains more menthol and some hints of orange oil, and loses a little lavender (but it's still there!). The finish gains more aniseed.


Saskia de Vries was born in the Netherlands. While studying at highschool "Martinus College" (Grootebroek) she started taking dance classes at "The Dance Factory" (Grootebroek). Here she gained stage experience in various dance projects.
At seventeen she had private lessons for about a year from Claire Philippart (a former soloist of the Dutch National Ballet) to improve her technique.
After graduating, she entered the 'Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst' in Frankfurt am Main in 2014. Here she got in touch with improvisation techniques like contact improvisation and Forsythe improvisation techniques and worked on repertoire from Balanchine, Forsythe and Kylian. Over the years she has been working with choreographers as Regina van Berkel, Cameron McMillan, Roberto Castello, Ivan Perez, Dieter Heitkamp, Kristel van Issum and Marc Spradling.
"Not only do I love dance, I also like other art forms such as constellations, writing, photography and painting, and therefore I am highly interested in the connection between dance and other art forms."


text:
BRING Universal Music News
Universal Music launches ad agency and puts artists in the creative director's seat
By Rebecca Stewart | Trends Editor
February 9, 2016 | 3 min read
Universal Music has launched its own advertising consultancy, co-founded in conjunction with London and Sydney-based agencies One Green Bean and Host.
The partnerships and activations offering released a promo video to trail its launch, describing itself as having "one foot in entertainment and two in brand land... like a startup minded supergroup".
"We don't draw our inspiration from traditional ad school," says the voiceover.
"We sample real-world entertainment; how influence comes from everything from dancehall and Drake, to ballet and Banksy, to Goonies and Gaga, to Super Mario and Soccer and maybe even Kanye and Kim..." it adds.
Universal boasts an impressive portfolio of artists, including some of the biggest names in the game like Adele, Jay Z and Lady Gaga – and Music Business reports that musicians will get the chance to collaborate with the agency on campaigns directly via a 'Creative In Residence' program.
First up in the creative director's chair will be South African-born Australian singer Troye Sivian who said he was "excited to be working with Bring to create truly collaborative partnerships with brands in the entertainment space."
Future stars set to take part in CIR opportunities include Ellie Goulding, Mike Tyson and Kevin Hart.
In a statement, Universal Music Group APAC president George Ash said: "We are privileged to work closely with the world's greatest talent who truly define popular culture.
"They create the content people are choosing to engage with, and generate audiences bigger than any media platform on the planet.
"Working with the best partners, we believe Bring can help brands unlock the unrivalled passion to hit their own goals as well as providing expanded creative opportunities for our artists. It's going to be heaps of fun," he added.
More from BRING


Although Dr. Erwin Runkle wrote this history of Penn State during the 1930s, only now is it widely available through The Nittany Valley Society's first-time publication. His meticulous reconstruction of the University's birth and growth—from the revolution in American education that sparked its founding to its establishment as Pennsylvania's land-grant college—brings the Penn State story to life with a rare blending of keen attention to detail and uncommon warmth. Runkle's opinionated, but affectionate narration offers a revealing vision of the Nittany Valley's rich past. Virtually every page holds a new treasure for any heart that truly loves the name of Dear Old State.
Captured directly from Runkle's type-written manuscript and presented for a contemporary audience with an original introduction by former University trustee and renowned collector of Penn State historical artifacts George Henning, The Pennsylvania State College 1853-1932: Interpretation and Record will make a rare and special addition to the library of any Penn Stater.
Proceeds are donated to the Penn State Libraries.


Candidates running for public office usually make promises they fail to keep once their successful campaigns are complete, but Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard seems different following his first six months in office.
Not only has he made good on his pledge to be accessible to Ohio County residents by attending functions and hosting question-and-answer sessions on local talk radio, but he's also provided proof that his "kids first" initiative is a top priority by retaining a presence inside local schools despite his department's ongoing battles with drug trafficking and all of the associated criminal activity.
"It's truly all connected the way I see it," said Howard, a former prevention resource officer at Triadelphia Middle School while serving more than two decades with the Wheeling Police Department. "I believe education and prevention play big roles with the drug issues because if we talk to the children now about the drugs and the effects they have, it just might help in the future because they will already know to stay away from the stuff.
Howard, in fact, plans to increase that school presence with an influx in the amount of deputies inside the county's public schools. One of his chief deputies, John Schultz, has applied for state and federal grants to fund the presence of prevention resource officers in elementary schools.
This poster is an example of how Sheriff Tom Howard has attempted to be more interactive with the residents of Ohio County.
"I very much enjoyed my time as a prevention resource officer because of the mentoring involved with the students," Howard said. "When you are in that position, you have the opportunity to work with the children constantly, and that means you build relationships with them. I have had some students come up to me five, six years later to talk about their memories and what they learned from our discussions.
He's been faced with replacing aging cruisers for his deputies as well as updating the office's technology in preparation for a new website that will launch in the near future, but Howard's biggest challenge by far during his first six month has involved the opioid epidemic that has crippled communities across the nation. All the deputies in Ohio County carry with them Narcan, the antidote for opioid overdose, but not always do they arrive in time.
In the past two weeks, the sheriff reported, deputies have responded to three overdoses in three different areas of Ohio County.
"The issues with the drug abuse and the drug trafficking has been a huge challenge for us since I took office in January, and unfortunately I think it will be a problem we'll have to contend with for a long time," Howard said. "That's why we have to keep going at it, and the people of this county should know I will never give up on it. It's exactly why we will soon add two more K-9 units to the department.
Ohio County Magistrate Joe Roxby recently offered Howard and his deputies a complete history lesson on the Ohio County Sheriff's Office.
More than ever, though, Howard has seen the public in Ohio County willing to help by providing eyewitness accounts of the criminal activity they have seen. Those calls combined with the teamwork within the office allow him to believe the office is on a positive track.
"We have a great bunch of deputies, and we all work very well with each other because it's about protecting the people of the county," Howard said. "The morale is good because the guys are happy, and they love what they get to do for a living. If they didn't love it, they wouldn't be in this line of work.
Fighting crime in Ohio County is only half of Howard's mandated responsibilities; collecting property taxes represents the rest of the job description.
Sheriff Howard (far left) has been recognized several times for his work as a prevention resource officer while serving more than two decades with the Wheeling Police Department.
"And we are very lucky here in Ohio County because of the employees we have in our tax office. They do a great job, and they are very helpful because several of them have worked for many years," the sheriff said. "There have been occasions when I have answered questions concerning the tax office, and those who have asked have been very appreciative that I reached out to them to provide answers.
Howard consistently insists to Ohio County residents that he enjoys conversing with his constituents even if the discussions involve nothing about taxes or crime. That's because he, Shultz, Chief Deputy Drage Flick, and the other 30-plus deputies firmly believe a healthy relationship with the residents they serve and protect leads to an improved quality of life for all involved.
"I really believe that the public needs to know what's going on, so that's why we are as transparent as possible and talking about what we can talk about," Howard explained. "There are cases that we can't talk about until investigations are completed, and I believe most people understand that. But yes, we are very accessible because I'm a big believer that the public needs to know what they want to know.


text:
Obama offers advice to Trump on being president in final '60 Minutes' interview
Posted 5:12 AM, January 16, 2017, by CNN Wire
As President Barack Obama prepares to turn the White House over to President-elect Donald Trump, he's offering some advice to his successor.
"One thing I've said to him directly, and I would advise my Republican friends in Congress and supporters around the country, is just make sure that as we go forward certain norms, certain institutional traditions, don't get eroded, because there's a reason they're in place," Obama told CBS News' Steve Kroft in a taped interview for "60 Minutes."
In a transition period that found the President-elect often commenting on presidential matters, Obama admitted it's been an "unusual" time.
"I suspect the President-elect would agree with that," Obama said. "Look, he's an unconventional candidate."
Obama noted that Trump "ran sort of an improvisational campaign" but cautioned him against running an "improvisational presidency," saying it will be a test to see if Trump can build an organization and execute the vision he laid out during the campaign.
"I think everybody has to acknowledge, don't underestimate the guy, because he, he's going to be 45th president of the United States in about in about two weeks," Obama said of his successor.
The outgoing President said partisanship that became even more evident during the 2016 campaign was something that surprised him during his time in office.
"I will confess that — I didn't fully appreciate the ways in which individual senators or members of Congress now are pushed to the extremes by their voter bases," Obama said. "I did not expect, particularly in the midst of crisis, just how severe that partisanship would be."
One thing Obama said he will miss about the job is living in the White House and working with his staff. But, he said living within the hallowed halls is not exactly like people typically imagine.
"You know, it's not free," Obama said of the presidential lifestyle. "I've got a grocery bill at the end of every month. Our toothpaste, our orange juice, that all gets paid. But it is true that I don't carry my wallet that often. So I'm going to have some catching up to do in terms of how day-to-day things operate."
Obama told Kroft that he is looking forward to his next life phase and the tasks he aims to accomplish, such as writing a book and working on a foundation.
The Obama family will stay in Washington and aren't moving far from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, to a rental home in the Kalorama neighborhood. They plan on staying at least until their youngest daughter, Sasha, graduates from high school.
But first, before settling into his new lifestyle, Obama says he's going on a vacation.
"I'm not setting my alarm," he said. "I'm going to spend time with Michelle. And — you know, we got some catching up to do. We've both been busy."
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The CEUE (Cercle Equestre de l'Union Européenne) is an association of EU Agents operating under the umbrella of the EU Institutions.
The mission of our club is to promote and organize all kind of equestrian activities. In that respect, we have partnerships with several equestrian centres in Brussels, Luxemburg and Alicante. We also organize various equestrian activities ranging from horse trekking, to seminars, clinics, visits to equestrian events, etc... We try also to support our members in their equestrian projects.
We also have a partnership with the European School to promote the equestrian sports for the children.
Our Statutes are available. Please go to the "Miscellaneous section".
The new Committee has been elected by the last General Assembly which took place on 5th of March 2009.
The membership is reserved to the staff members (and their family members) working for the European Institutions, associated organizations and Representations of Member States.


This wonderful 12 1/2 inch by 18 inch accent throw pillow features a white owl perched upon a branch, against a dark orange background. The pillow has solid black fabric on the back, and is stuffed with polyfill. Made in the USA of polyester and cotton, it makes a great gift.


He who tasted the real oriental dish with slices of meat, rice and spices called Uzbek pilaf (or Uzbek plov, palov), he will not forget its taste and aroma ever.
Lamb pilaf is a king of the Uzbek national cuisine. Uzbek plov, the cooking method of which was invented in ancient times, can also be called a culinary masterpiece.
A newborn or the deceased is met or paid last tribute with traditional Uzbek pilaf. National Uzbek dish pilaf is prepared for a wedding, meeting the guest of honor, anniversary, and just for the family for dinner.
The real Uzbek plov as a dish is an amalgam of two ingredients: the so-called "zirvak" and part of the cereal.
Here are some useful advices of how to cook Uzbek pilaf.
Rice is washed completely and sometimes soaked in water. In the hot cauldron the fat of sheep's tail or vegetable oil is much warmed up, until a white fume; and then cooking of zirvak - bases of Uzbek pilaf rice recipe starts. First, in the boiling fat onion is fried, then pieces of meat are put. For Uzbek pilaf, depending on the recipe options, one can use mutton and goat meat, and beef. Meat is fried, stirring with a skimmer, until browned, then the carrots is laid, it is lightly fried, then water is poured into the cauldron and zirvak is stewed on low heat. Ready zirvak, seasoned with salt, red pepper or chilli, zira seeds (local relish) and dried berries of barberry, should be clearly and give a sense of the whole gamut of taste of fried mixture of onion, meat and carrots.
Finally, a decisive moment in cooking the real Uzbek plov – laying of rice, comes.
The best rice for Uzbek pilaf is devzira - ancient local variety of rice, created by centuries of folk selection. From historical records it is known that in the X - XI centuries, in the era of the Samanids in the court feasts pilaf from devzira rice was used. This rice is cultivated in the Fergana Valley, mainly on private land of farmers, since it is considered to be unproductive fodder and unfit for cultivation on large plantations. However, low yields of devzira offset by choice quality of Uzbek pilaf. Its oblong ribbed grains of pink color have high water-absorbing properties. They contain less starch, but superior to other varieties in the number of vitamin B2 and choline.
Also another local breed of rice - kbugdayguruch is good for cooking Uzbek pilaf. Before laying in pilaf, these large white beans with pearl shade should be soaked in warm salt water.
Rice is laid on meat and carrot and is filled with water so that the level of water is at the height of "the first joint of the index finger" of pilaff cook.
In real Uzbek pilav rice should be crumbly, its grains should be soft and do not stick to each other. To bring pilaff to readiness, rice is knobbed in the middle of the cauldron and the cauldron is covered with a special ceramic lid or large deep dish and fire is minimally reduced. The experienced chef determines the readiness of pilaff, hitting the skimmer on the boiler wall. If the moisture of the rice is not fully evaporated he hears hissing, when the dish is ready - there is a dull sound. Uzbek palov is served on the table in lagans - large ceramic or porcelain dishes. Pieces of meat are laid on rice, and all is sprinkled with fresh chopped herbs. In ancient times, on weddings Uzbek pilaf was served to each guest separately on cakes (Uzbek flat bread).
So, we looked at different options of cooking Uzbek plov for every taste.
Uzbek pilaff recipe, although arose empirically, but it is very rational dish, because it combines the substances indispensable for the normal functioning of the human body: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water, minerals and vitamins. It is important for a balanced diet. Such nutrition involves a combination of a sufficient number of high-grade in quality food components. It ensures the supply of plastic, energy and regulatory substances. All of them are necessary for normal human activity. Use of nutrients by the body that is the digestibility of food depends on their combination.
In the old days pilau was considered a curative nutrition. Indeed, the lamb and rice pilaf is a high calorie, easily digestible food. It can be well used for anemia, tuberculosis and general exhaustion.
Uzbek pilaf, cooked from rice with high coefficient of water absorption, has especially good digestibility. The higher it is, the more rise is swollen; it is better and faster digested in the gastrointestinal tract.
Designing and feeding of ready Uzbek pilaf on the table are indicative of the specific characteristics of the national cuisine. Uzbek pilaf is usually served in one dish, combining portions of two, four, six or more persons. Utensils are round, large, flat with low sides of porcelain, earthenware, pottery dishes. Uzbek pilav can be served as individual portions in the plates, large soup bowls-kasa or non-metallic bowls. In ancient times, on weddings Uzbek pilav was served to each guest individually on Uzbek cakes. Occasionally, this custom is still used today. For this purpose, round cup-shaped cakes with thin means and lush boards were specially baked. This form of bread preserved to this day.
Vinegar, sliced radishes, garden radish, pomegranate seeds, strawberry, blackberry, fresh salads from tomatoes, cucumbers and onions are served separately with pilaff. After eating pilaff one is served thickly made green tea and in Tashkent it is black.
The Uzbek pilaf in Tashkent, Samarkand, Fergana, Kashkadarya, Bukhara and Khorezm is different; and the experienced connoisseur of the Uzbek ethnic cuisine with closed eyes will determine what type of Uzbek pilaf is. In addition, there are different Uzbek plov recipes by appointment: wedding pilaff is considered to be the most luxurious, festive pilaff is a little less grand, and simple pilaff is served at the table in a very ordinary day. These Uzbek pilafs differ not only in cooking technology, but also ingredients.
After years of collecting material on the Uzbek cuisine it was able to establish dozens of options for cooking Uzbek pilav. Methods of preparation of some forgotten recipes were restored and included in the list of separate newly created Uzbek pilaf recipes. Talks with the old and hereditary masters of national cuisine of the most diverse cities and villages of Uzbekistan helped in it.
Written sources of varieties of Uzbek pilaf have not yet been detected. However, according to oral reports of our interlocutors, the range of this honorary dish exceeds a hundred. Each area of ancient rice cultivation, each city had its own, unique to this area, preparation methods, each cook of pilaff had his secrets in the recipe and technology. Thirty-five years of intensive searches made possible to establish 60 varieties of pilaff: meat and chicken with peas and potatoes, steamed and with mutton sheep's tail fat, with quince and garlic ... Vintage Uzbek plov recipes with partridges or raisins preserved invariably from the X - XII centuries, and some methods of cooking "classic" rice pilaf number thousands of years.
Uzbek pilaf is the pride of the Uzbek people, which became a symbol and a distinctive hallmark of Uzbekistan. But how did this dish, which now is a global brand, appear? In this regard there are several legends.
Initially pilaff appeared in the kitchen of the shepherds and nomads of Central Asia, who were engaged in cattle breeding and meat trading on rice cereal.
One of the most romantic legends tells that the son of the Bukharian ruler fell madly in love with beautiful woman from a poor family. He was a prince, and she was just a daughter of a handcrafter, and according to the edict of that time they could not be together. The prince, tormented of unrequited love, began to fade quickly; he lost appetite and sleep, and refused food.
Near relations concerned about the condition of the young man and brought him to Abu Ali Ibn Sina. Inquiries about the causes of the disease yielded no results: the prince did not wish to reveal his heartfelt feelings, realizing the despair of his anguish. Then Ibn Sina began to define the cause of the sickness on the pulse. He could definitely identify any disease on the patient's pulse. The heartbeat of the young man pointed to love flour.
Ibn Sina told to bring to him the man who knew the names of all the city's neighborhoods. When they brought such a man to him, Ibn Sina began to monitor the pulse of the prince, and the expert of the city began loudly to call names of quarters. In the utterance of one of them the pulse of the prince quickened. Then a man who knew the names of all the tenants was founded. He was ordered to pronounce the names of the heads of families who lived in this quarter. Ibn Sina continued to control the pulse of the patient. When the name of one skilled craftsman was uttered, the excitement of the prince became noticeable. The artisan was led and asked to call the names of his children. When he uttered his daughter's name, the heart of the prince began to beaten often, often.
The mystery revealed: the prince was in love with the daughter of an artisan. With this knowledge, Ibn Sina appointed treatment: to give emaciated boy "pilaff osh" once a week as long as not recuperate, and then get married. And indeed, the young man soon recovered, he married his beloved and spent a happy long life.
The Uzbek pilaf recipe included 7 ingredients: piyoz (onion), ayoz (carrots), lahm (meat), olie (fat), vet (salt), ob (water) and shaly (rice).
The dish was nameless, and to give it a name, people decided to just call it with the first letters of 7 ingredients. And so the dish "plov" or "pilaf" appeared.
No wonder even Amir Temur included Uzbek pilaff lamb in the main menu of his soldiers. One day, developing a campaign plan for Ankara, he attended to an important issue: how to combine numerous army, long road, speed, surprise attack, and thus dispense with huge carts with food. Here the wise Mullah told him the recipe of this unusually tasty, wholesome, and nutritious meal. His words sounded like this: "You have to take a large cast iron pot. In this boiler you should put the meat of not old, but not so young lambs, rice, swelling with pride, which will be eaten by bold warriors, young carrots and onions, stinging like a sword of the esteemed Emir. All this is necessary to cook on the fire as long as the smell of cooked food will not reach Allah, and the cook will not fall down in exhaustion, because he will taste the divine dish". From one cup of food the soldiers gained strength for a few days, and Tamerlane's army won a victory without difficulty. Since then, Uzbek pilaf became the main meal of Amir Temur's loyal army, and perhaps one of the main secrets of his victorious campaigns.
Uzbek proverb says: "A poor man is eating plov, a rich man eats only plov".
Earlier in poor families Uzbek pilaf was really a very festive and expensive dish, and saying just emphasizes the great taste qualities of pilaw. In the representation of peasants a rich man could afford this dish every day. Secondly, the constant food of farmers in Uzbekistan was often limited to vegetables, legumes and sour milk, so it is not proper to attribute the constant use of this expensive dish.
Another Uzbek proverb says: "If one has to die - let it be from Uzbek pilav". This proverb once again confirms the fact that the Uzbeks and other nationalities are so fond of rice, that they are ready to eat it in large quantities. So it is loved and respected - a dish-king of Uzbek cuisine.
Peopletravel Company is eager to help you in accomplishing the trip round Uzbekistan, and emerging the wonderful atmosphere of Uzbekistan, as well as tasting the popular Uzbek pilaf.
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text:
HOW THE REFORMATION CHANGED THE WORLD
Reflections at the Beginning of the Reformation Year 2017
John A. Maxfield
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Concordia University of Edmonton
Google "Reformation 500" and links to multiple webpages appear, detailing local and global events focusing on the five hundredth anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation. The Lutheran World Federation, an international ecumenical federation and communion of many (but not all) Lutheran church bodies, has been gearing up for this anniversary jubilee for the past ten years. Five hundred years is a long time by almost any measure. Civilization, scholars generally agree, began about five thousand years ago in Mesopotamia and along the Nile in Egypt, so the past five hundred years marks a tenth of the span of human civilization. Christianity, the world's largest religion, has endured for just over two thousand years if one marks its beginning with the proclamation of the apostles that Jesus was crucified not just as a victim of Roman brutality but as a divinely given sacrifice for sinners, and that God raised Him from the dead to live and rule as Lord. So the Reformation marks the most recent quarter of the history of Christianity.
Today, and indeed for the past four hundred years, the beginning of the Protestant Reformation has been celebrated on the annual date of October 31st, the date (the eve of All Saints Day in the Church's marking of time) Martin Luther is said to have nailed to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany the Ninety-Five Theses, more properly titled Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences. Some skepticism has emerged in recent generations regarding the evidence for that event of nailing his theses to a church door, often portrayed (since nineteenth-century Romanticism) as the heroic if not rebellious action of a German monk, hammer in hand and with a crowd looking on with fascination. But there is no doubt that on October 31, 1517, Luther mailed ("posted" in a different sense) his disputation theses to the Archbishop of Mainz, that either that day or soon after Luther also sent his proposed debating points to his more immediate ecclesiastical supervisor, the bishop of Brandenburg, as well as to several friends and humanist scholars he thought might be willing to respond to the questions he was raising, by letter if not in an actual debate. There is also no doubt that the Archbishop, after finally receiving them in late November, sent Luther's disputation theses to the papal curia in Rome suggesting that perhaps there should be an investigation; that Luther's theses and the reactions to them soon created a curfuffle in the Church; and that within the next year formal heresy proceedings would be initiated against the Wittenberg friar and Doctor of Theology. Finally, it is a matter of fact that in the aftermath of this "Luther affair," which formally ended (as far as the Church's papal hierarchy was concerned) with his excommunication on January 3, 1521, Luther continued to be protected in his homeland while his ideas for the reform of Christianity slowly began to be implemented in many localities, first in German-speaking areas of Europe and then more broadly, all in the face of the Church's condemnation. With his genius for communicating in the German language, making use of the technology of printing, Luther became the most popular author of the century and the spread of Reformation ideas became the first mass-media event. By the end of the 1520s the Reformation was taking root, and usually a local church jurisdiction would celebrate the event annually on the date the reform was formally introduced in a given region. Beginning in 1617, such annual were generally held on October 31st, thus acknowledging Luther's raising questions about indulgences as the catalyst that began the Reformation.
But what of it? In a modern world that appears to continue on a path of secularization (at least in the West) that began with the French Revolution over two hundred years ago, what is the significance of the Reformation? Indeed, as historians seek to make sense of world history and engage in the abstraction of defining major movements and historical periods, the modern world with its values of freedom, equality, and tolerance is usually viewed as beginning with the eighteenth-century Enlightenment and not the sixteenth-century Reformation. The period in West European history once celebrated as the Renaissance and Reformation now usually goes by the rather bland name "early modern." Even if the era is recognized as a period of significant transition, among historians of European culture (wherein the Christian religion played such a significant role) the Reformation is often viewed not primarily as a time of progress and flourishing but as a time of tragic conflict and division. That hardly seems worthy of celebration, much less ten years and more of marking the occasion.
History, that is, the narrative (or narratives) of the past, is most often written more-or-less chronologically, with the passage of time marking various developments, usually analyzing relationships of cause and effect. But the questions posed by historians are generally posed from the opposite direction, looking backwards. Historians frequently are seeking to answer questions that betray their opinion of the present—roughly either "How did we get to this wonderful time in which we live?" or "How ever did we get into this mess?" While historians mostly scorn the "Whig interpretation" of history that once fashionably traced the (wonderful) development of the British system of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, historians of various ideological convictions still (one might say with increasing fervency) raise questions about the conditions that caused the rise of (intolerant) monarchical absolutism; or the liberation of modern, Western women from the shackles of patriarchy; or the emergence of tolerance from the bigotries of the past; or the rise of international terrorism inspired not just by political aspirations or oppression but by religious as well as political fanaticism. Views of the Reformation among historians today include viewing it as a cause (ironically via a religious revolution) of modern secularism, as a movement of rationalization or "disenchantment" of the world (though only partial—Protestants still believed in a God who intervened in human history but rejected the Roman Catholic traditions of the saints doing so), as the first major (failed) revolution of the Common Man against social hierarchy and economic injustice, as both the permanent division of the Western (Latin) Catholic Church and the long-awaited reform and further Christianization of that same Church.
If we view the Reformation along the lines of the goal of historical narrative according to one of its most outstanding practitioners from the past, Leopold von Ranke ((1795–1886), that is, not to judge its outcomes "for the instruction of future ages" but "merely to show how it essentially was," we still can recognize in the sixteenth century an epoch of significant change, indeed one of the major transitions in the history of Western civilization and indeed the world. As his opponents pressed him in the aftermath of his theses on indulgences, Martin Luther eventually came to seek not just to reform the Church but to change Christianity. The Reformation did so, as large areas of European Christianity came to reject the papal governance that had ruled the Catholic Church for nearly a thousand years. That meant new structures of political authority and ecclesiastical authority, and for good or ill this meant changes in society and politics throughout Europe. And as European culture encountered the world in an age of discovery, it encountered that world in the form of a Catholicism invigorated in many ways by the challenges of its Reformation division, and in various forms of Protestantism, and all these manifestations of a changed European culture in turn shaped both the old world and the new.


text:
Ron Cheng
Contributor|Tech
Now a partner at O'Melveny and a leader in the White Collar and Data Privacy practices, Ron Cheng spent 20 years as a federal prosecutor, serving in a number of roles at the Department of Justice including: Chief of...
Now a partner at O'Melveny and a leader in the White Collar and Data Privacy practices, Ron Cheng spent 20 years as a federal prosecutor, serving in a number of roles at the Department of Justice including: Chief of the Criminal Appeals Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California; resident legal advisor to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing; and acting Chief and Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. Most recently Ron has been a key member of the Cybercrime and Intellectual Property Crimes Section at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, where he has focused on criminal activity arising out of the Asia-Pacific region and handled significant multinational digital privacy cases.
Say the Secret Word: Court Allows Cellphone Search Despite Password Request before Miranda Warning
The pending FCPA case against former Hong Kong official Patrick Chi-Ping Ho presents a cutting-edge computer crime issue. When police question an individual without reading him his Miranda rights, and obtain the individual's cellphone password, should data found in the cellphone be suppressed?
Seizing Data Overseas from Foreign Internet Companies under the CLOUD Act
Congress recently enacted the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data Act (the CLOUD Act). The Act enables law enforcement to compel Internet service and email providers to hand over data—whether that data is "located within or outside the United States."
Open E-Commerce Data Flows in the New Non-US TPP
Some may have thought that the TPP was dead. But rumors around the TPP's demise were greatly exaggerated. Trans-Pacific Partnership—was one of the biggest undertakings in recent years in multilateral free trade. For now, United States involvement or no, the TPP is back in another form: the CPTPP
US Charges Against Former Hong Kong and Senegalese Officials Focus on Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
A federal court in Manhattan unsealed a complaint against a former Hong Kong Secretary for Home Affairs and a former Foreign Minister of Senegal for violating the U.S. FCPA and money laundering laws. thereby putting the focus back on U.S. extraterritorial jurisdiction
U.S. and China Department Heads Discuss Cybersecurity and Law Enforcement Cooperation
On October 4, 2017, the U.S. and China conducted the first bilateral Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Dialogue, one of the four dialogues that Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to in their meeting in Mar-a-Lago in April of this year.
Israel: The Next Key Player in the Cybersecurity Industry
Cybercrime in China: Online Fraud


text:
Q: Gaussian process regression problem I am trying to understand the practical implementation of the Gaussian process regression problem and some questions concerning a research paper.
A research paper, "Multi-View Stereo by Temporal Nonparametric Fusion" tries to solve the depth estimation of the input frames by temporally fusing the information from the previous frame by taking the output from the previous latent space encoding that is subjected to the Gaussian process.
Link to paper and code: https://aaltoml.github.io/GP-MVS/
Initially distance between the poses are calculated with the help of pose distance measure $D[P_i, P_j] = \sqrt(||t_i - t_j||^2+2/3(tr(I - R_i^TR_j))$. Poses are defined with translation vector $t$ and rotation vector $R$.
The distance D is used to construct the covariance funtion.
$k[P, P'] = \gamma^2(1+\frac{\sqrt(3)D(P,P')}{l})exp(\frac{-\sqrt{3}D[P,P']}{l})$
In order to share the temporal information between the frames indpendent GP priors to all values in $z_i$
$z_j(t) = GP(0,k(P[t],P[t']))$
$y_{j,i} = z_j(t_i)+\epsilon_{j,i}, \epsilon_{j,i} = N(0, \sigma^2) $
The model is trained in a batch of 4 in batch approach.
code
class GPlayer(nn.Module):

    def __init__(self):
        super(GPlayer, self).__init__()

        self.gamma2 = nn.Parameter(torch.randn(1), requires_grad=True).float()
        self.ell = nn.Parameter(torch.randn(1), requires_grad=True).float()
        self.sigma2 = nn.Parameter(torch.randn(1), requires_grad=True).float()

    def forward(self, D, Y):
        '''
        :param D: Distance matrix
        :param Y: Stacked outputs from encoder
        :return: Z: transformed latent space
        '''
        b,l,c,h,w = Y.size()
        Y = Y.view(b,l,-1).cpu().float()
        D = D.float()

        K = torch.exp(self.gamma2) * (1 + math.sqrt(3) * D / torch.exp(self.ell)) * torch.exp(-math.sqrt(3) * D / torch.exp(self.ell))
        I = torch.eye(l).expand(b, l, l).float()

        X = torch.linalg.solve(Y, K+torch.exp(self.sigma2)*I)

        Z = K.bmm(X)

        Z = F.relu(Z)

        return Z

My question is

*

*As stated in the paper (figure 2) to calculate the output $z_i$ it takes in a. output of encoder b. previous latent space encoding c. camera pose.
So my question is, by looking at the above implementation code, I can clearly understand the model takes in $D$ and $Y$, but how the information from previous encoding output $z_i$ is passed onto to calculate $z_{i+1}$. What I understood is that the information is passed onto the next frame encoder by taking the learned information stored in $gamma2, ell, sigma2$. Is my understanding is right?

*Framing of gaussian process as linear regression problem. In the implementation code the regression problem is framed as solving AX=B.
i.e  here A = Y (stacked output from encoder) and B =  K+torch.exp(self.sigma2)*I (kernel+variance). So, $X = BA^{-1}$. I am facing difficulty in understand how the Gaussian process regression is framed as solving AX = B. Also why did the author multiplied $K$ with $X$ i.e $K.bmm(X)$

A: *

*In order to calculate the output Z, we need to incorporate poses, encoder output, and previous Z value. Poses are incorporated in the kernel matrix and the previous Z value is defined by hyperparameter gamma2 and ell, which is learned and updated during the backward propagation by reducing the error. Finally, the encoder output is taken from the last layer of the encoder.

*Now the mean of the Gaussian process regression is defined by the formula

The posterior mean and variance are defined as per the definition from
Carl Edward Rasmussen and Christopher K. I. Williams.
Gaussian Processes for Machine Learning. MIT Press, 2006.
Now the definition of mean and variance can be calculated from the below equation
In the case mentioned in the research paper, the new test point is the input point itself, just that it is subjected to Gaussian regression. So K star transpose is nothing but the Kernel with respect to the input point itself. i.e $k_*^T = k(P,P') = C$
Now $ (C+\sigma^2I)^{-1} = (K+\sigma_n^2I)^{-1}$
$y = Y$
We need to calculate $(C+\sigma^2I)^{-1}Y$, which can be framed as solving AX=B, i.e $B = Y, A = (C+\sigma^2I)$
So, X = torch.linalg.solve(Y, K+torch.exp(self.sigma2)*I) will do the trick.
Once we get X, we can multiply with C, as per the formula, and get the mean which is nothing but Z.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Influencer marketing, is a form of marketing that has emerged from a variety of practices and studies, in which focus is placed on specific key individuals rather than the target market as a whole. It identifies the individuals that have influence over potential buyers, and orients marketing activities around these influencers.
As we've shifted towards a more social media focused landscape, consumers are looking at their peers to inform their shopping decisions more than ever. Rather than billboard advertisements, personalities and peers are directing decisions through their massive followings on YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, etc.
The rise of social media influencers is opening up a world of possibilities. There are now more channels for brands to connect with their audiences in a more organic and authentic way – at scale. Using branded content with influencers, brands can amplify their message while avoiding wasting spend on an ad blind audience.
An influencer recommendation is like a supercharged word of mouth mention as these stars of social have vast, engaged followers and subscribers hanging on their every word.
Affiliate marketing is a type of performance-based marketing in which a business rewards one or more 'affiliates' for each visitor or customer brought by the affiliate's own marketing efforts. The biggest differentiator between affiliate and influencer marketing is that with influencers, you typically pay a set fee for their promotion, whereas affiliates are compensated with a commission according to the direct results of their activities.
The affiliate model gives a bit of extra motivation for the affiliate to hustle and promote a little bit harder to ensure they get the maximum possible compensation. This isn't to say though that influencers can't be affiliates – with a mutually beneficial partnership they most certainly can.
How does this Integrate with Crowdfunding Campaigns?
For entrepreneurial campaigns, if your product has minimal market share or little in the way of existing exposure, working with affiliates and influencers is a great way to give your product visibility and, perhaps more importantly, viability. Word of mouth is going to be your best friend as you launch your product and your crowdfunding campaign, and there's nothing better than high-quality endorsements at this stage.
But how do you reliably attribute contributions and donations to the right affiliate? The logistics of tracking who's responsible for what contributions can be a little daunting with some of the platforms out there. The easiest way to do this while allowing the influencer's brand to shine through in tandem with yours is to use sub-campaigns on FundRazr.
First, find out who's relevant and talking about your space. If you're launching a fitness tracking tool, find out who's an influencer in your particular area, and who actually talks about fitness, and specifically fit-tech products in a positive light. Then make sure their audience is in the right region, and find out things like their Klout score and follower count.
Don't mistake posting frequency for posting quality. Look for signs of high quality posts with high engagement. The nice folks over at Wishpond have some great tips on finding your industry's leaders over here.
As always, the best partnerships are found in relationships, so take the time to get to know your affiliate influencer and find out what their motivations are so that you can both be successful.


text:
package org.sell2me.application.configuration;

import org.springframework.security.core.AuthenticationException;
import org.springframework.security.web.AuthenticationEntryPoint;
import org.springframework.stereotype.Component;

import javax.servlet.ServletException;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletResponse;
import java.io.IOException;

@Component(value = "authenticationEntryPoint")
public class EntryPointUnauthorizedHandler implements AuthenticationEntryPoint {

    @Override
    public void commence(HttpServletRequest request,
                         HttpServletResponse response,
                         AuthenticationException authException)
            throws IOException, ServletException
    {
        response.sendError(HttpServletResponse.SC_UNAUTHORIZED, "Access Denied 401. Please authorize!");
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Our Family Services' luncheon features civil rights leaders as keynote speaker
Article first appeared in the Arizona Daily Star on Monday, March 4, 2019.
By Loni Nannini Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Scott Koenig would like to foster dialogue in an era when understanding often seems to fall short.
"In today's climate, anyone with a differing view is evil or wrong, and through Our Family Services Center for Community Dialogue and Training, the whole practice of mediation tries to get down to emotions. It turns out we all have the same emotions and we can relate better when we understand what other people's emotions are," said Koenig, past president of the board of directors and the Volunteer of the Year for Our Family Services.
Koenig will be among those honored during the Voices of Home Luncheon 2019, which will feature keynote speaker the Rev. Bernard Lafayette Jr., at 11 a.m. March 14 at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.
Lafayette is a civil-rights pioneer and freedom rider who worked alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. A co-founder and leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and founding director of the Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies at the University of Rhode Island, Lafayette has led education and training programs on nonviolent social change at the state, national and international levels.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear a civil-rights hero who travels all over the world to lecture on peace and nonviolence. We are excited to see him explore the connections between poverty, nonviolence and the beloved community," said Sarah McNamara, development associate for Our Family Services, which is dedicated to eliminating homelessness and strengthening the community.
The product of consolidations and mergers between various nonprofit agencies over more than four decades, Our Family Services has built a reputation as a champion of homeless youth and families. Last year it served more than 5,600 clients and provided more than 104,000 "touches" to people who accessed community resources through Our Family Services Information and Referral online at 211Arizona.org or by calling 211-Arizona.
A cornerstone of the organization's approach is a scattered-site model for housing for the homeless as opposed to a typical shelter model. The scattered-site model allows participants to relocate to apartments and wraparound services in the neighborhood in which they are most comfortable.
Typically, eight or nine out of every 10 people who utilize this model will progress to permanent housing and financial stability versus the 30 to 40 percent statistic attributed to those with access to typical homeless shelters, according to McNamara.
"Instead of taking people from all parts of town and sending them to a shelter that might not be close to where they work or attend school, we work with them to figure out which part of town they can live in to ensure that they will be successful. For example, someone fleeing a domestic-violence situation might want to be far away from their abuser and live close to a possible support network, so we work with them to make that happen," she said.
Housing is initially leased through Our Family Services; those leases are transferred to families as they stabilize, enabling them to remain in their homes long-term.
Additionally, Our Family Services provides a range of programs to address the root causes of homelessness and enable families to attain self-sufficiency, including intensive case management along with education and job training; counseling and substance-abuse therapy; services for survivors of sex trafficking; resources and referrals to other local organizations; and more.
"We are not just putting roofs over people's heads. You have to look at the causes of why they didn't have roofs in place. We really try to meet people where they are and help remove barriers for them," McNamara said.
The Center for Community Dialogue and Training is central to that philosophy. On a mission to help Tucsonans engage in conversations about difficult topics in a skilled, respectful and productive manner, the center provides communication training, classes and mediation for groups, businesses, neighborhood associations, schools and families.
McNamara said it has facilitated communication and constructive dialogue with events ranging from a post-election community forum following the 2016 presidential election to mediation between family members regarding end-of-life issues and a forum for students at a local high school concerned about school safety.
"The center has always been a place that has taught nonviolent communication and provides free services to community members and family members," said Koenig. "It offers neutral third-party mediation and teaches skills in dialogue and communication that can help to resolve challenging situations. Those skills go a long way toward building a stronger community."
He credits the unique services at the center for providing him with communication and conflict-resolution skills that he has used throughout his career, including in his current position as executive director for Arizona's Center for Rural Leadership, which provides leadership-development training for adults in rural communities statewide.
Koenig is also a huge proponent of Our Family Services' Reunion House. The recently renovated facility in the midtown area offers emergency shelter for teens who have nowhere else to turn.
"Without the shelter and the generosity of the donors who have supported it, there would be a lot more kids on the streets. Once they start the cycle of homelessness, it is harder to break, so this is vital for early intervention," he said.
Overall, Koenig hopes his volunteerism with Our Family Services will help to educate the community about difficulties that homeless people face and provide outreach about ways to improve their lives and strengthen society.
"I think that it is difficult to understand homelessness until people have walked a mile in someone else's shoes, and that is where Our Family Services programs come in," he said.
Jessica Caraballo2019-03-11T14:01:27-07:00March 11th, 2019|Newsroom|


Change is inevitable, our personalities, our style, our beliefs evolve over time. For some, that includes a change of heart about their tattoos. Whether it's because of design or placement, or message, you can start anew!
Tattoos can be a beautiful human expression but as our lives change, tattoo regret takes over. Erase unwanted tattoos and pigment with PicoSure, the most advanced laser treatment available for safe and effective tattoo removal. PicoSure targets unwanted ink more effectively than ever before, successfully removing difficult ink colors, such as blue and green, as well as previously treated tattoos. Fewer treatments, improved recovery time, and faster results are achievable with PicoSure's groundbreaking picosecond technology.
PicoSure clears away unwanted tattoos more completely with faster and fewer treatments, significantly reducing removal times versus other systems. PicoSure® is the only 755 nm / 532 nm laser for tattoo removal of all colors. It is proven and trusted by leading providers and is the only device that treats all ink colors more effectively, shattering the ink into tiny microscopic particles that are more quickly absorbed and eliminated by your body- for faster results in fewer treatments.


Socially awkward, nerdy, super hyper punctual, but conventionally attractive boy meets super quirky, chronically late, free spirited, but ultra hot girl. Antic occurs. Misunderstandings abound. Hilarity ensues. Rinse and repeat.
The Rosie Project is a cute book that harkens back to the now-classic rom-coms of the 90s and early 2000s. Sweet and easy, but don't dig too deep.


Join Sarah at Mom On A Spiritual Journey to learn more about your journey, the spiritual practice of the Akashic Records, modern spirituality and much more! See how to book an Akashic Records Reading, listen to the Podcast, check out spiritual book and movie reviews and learn more about alternative health and modern spiritual practice. Sarah Lawrence has been giving Akashic Readings since 2010. Interested in creating success on your spiritual journey? Awaken your Akashic Records, develop your intuition, experience growth and abundance!
Visit the Client Portal to choose from general Akashic Records Readings, Soul Growth Readings, or to work with future projects and thrive!
If you have been curious about the Akashic Records for a while, then check this out.
Do you ever wonder where all of your energy goes even though you are sensitive and intuitive?
Do you feel tired and drained sometimes and wonder if someone is hijacking your energy?
Through the consciousness stream of the Akashic Records, learn how to call your chi back, create a strong internal framework and become the sensitive superhero that you know you really are!
Discover better ways to use your sensitivity and intuition today.
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So you're an empath – where do you start?
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Read More E3 (ECubed) and 9 more energy experiments – interesting!
Read More Hello gallbladder cleanse and helloooo emotions!
Read More We are in the Akashic Age – what is that, exactly?


text:
Lion Of Vienna Suite homepage Horizontal - White Lion Of Vienna Suite a Bolton Wanderers community
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My Own Personal Bolton Wanderers' Mount Rushmore
My four favourites
By Chris Manning@CManny99 Nov 30, 2019, 11:49pm GMT
Share All sharing options for: My Own Personal Bolton Wanderers' Mount Rushmore
Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images
Mount Rushmore. Found in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA.
Hewn into rock you'll find the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln in 60ft granite relief.
A tangible space, yet often used as a metaphorical cipher for brilliance, respect and prominence. Deeply, deeply impressive. A spectacle and a marvel of the modern world.
People speak about their own personal Mount Rushmore as being the sort of space that separates the legend from the ordinary. The icon from the figure. It's inspiring.
So, with that in mind, I've narrowed down my Bolton Wanderers' Mount Rushmore to the following four. You probably won't agree. I don't care about that.
Let's go:
1) Sam Allardyce
A divisive figure but one who was key to the most enjoyable time in my time supporting Bolton Wanderers. Yeah people will tell you that he's a wrongun but if you choose to only see that side of the man then to me you're missing the point.
His work at Bolton was revolutionary and to my mind speaks for the underlying modernity of English football today. Sports science, rehab, intelligence in the transfer market - all key tenets of Sam's time at Bolton.
Often copied, rarely bettered.
2) John McGinlay
For years my absolute favourite human being and footballer.
I loved SJM. He was my favourite Wanderer back when I was a nipper heading to the match before I knew what it was to be a football supporter.
To laugh at him joining the warm-up once the running was finished was to ignore what he had to bring to the table as a player. That oft-repeated goal against Arsenal in our sole Premier League season at Burnden Park speaks to a rare talent.
A short while ago I was lucky enough to speak to him as part of this site's podcast. It was a very special experience and one I'll never ever forget.
3) Ivan Campo
I remember exactly where I was when he joined us. I was at the bar at the (now defunct) University Tavern at UCLAN, Preston.
To think that Bolton had signed someone who had won the European Cup with Real Madrid not two seasons prior was beyond comprehension.
Campo was a wonderful player but more he was a wonderful person. An obviously committed soul, Ivan was a fan favourite at a time when we had a list of half a dozen who could easily have borne that title.
The nature of his departure still leaves a sour taste and I cannot wait for the day that he returns to the Reebok. My absolute man.
4) Kevin Davies
Yeah a massive FU to those who may think this overly sentimental but in the interest of full disclosure there isn't much that I particularly like about Bolton Wanderers in 2019.
I don't really like many of the players and I don't really like the manager, meaning that all I have is the past.
Davies was a player who arrived with barely any fanfare but was someone who sheer force of will ended up being, in my opinion, one of the best players we've had in many, many a year.
His commitment, desire and obvious love of the club and town was apparent from day one and I loved every one of his appearances and goals for the side. There can be few players in recent years who match SKD's desire and achievements whilst playing and captaining this club and I will love him forever as a result.
I don't often miss writing for this site these days, it's not quite the same place as the one I left behind and that's on me, I totally accept that - the new broom has its own style, but I was jealous when the lads got to interview Kev. I would've given my right arm to be there for that show. He came across as a top guy and I was so happy to hear his stories. I bet there are a thousand more to be told.
So there you go. My personal Mount Rushmore. I bet you don't agree.
I don't care. This is my list. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
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Bolton Wanderers News 24/7


text:
package jef.database.jmx;

import jef.database.DbClient;
import jef.database.jpa.JefEntityManagerFactory;
import jef.tools.StringUtils;

public class DbClientInfo implements DbClientInfoMBean {
	private DbClient db;
	private JefEntityManagerFactory emf=null;

	public DbClientInfo(DbClient db) {
		this.db=db;
	}

	public void setDbClientFactory(JefEntityManagerFactory emf) {
		this.emf = emf;
	}

	public String getEmfName() {
		return emf==null?"not available":emf.getName();
	}

	public boolean isRoutingDbClient() {
		return db.isRoutingDataSource();
	}

	public boolean isConnected() {
		return db.isOpen();
	}

	public String getDatasourceNames() {
		return StringUtils.join(db.getAllDatasourceNames(),',');
	}

	public String getInnerConnectionPoolInfo() {
		return db.getInnerPoolStatics();
	}

	public void checkNamedQueryUpdate() {
		db.checkNamedQueryUpdate();
	}

	public void clearGlobalCache() {
		db.flush();
	}
}


This lovely 2 story home is conveniently located and nicely updated throughout! Complete with 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, and almost 1300 square feet, this home is perfect for a first time homebuyer! Updates include updated full bath 2018, plumbing and electric 2015, roof 2008 plus the sellers are currently updating the kitchen , adding new carpet throughout, updating the sun room, and possibly a few other updates!
This home has a huge backyard for being in the city, perfect for the kids or pets to play! We also love the updated full bath and the wood-burning fireplace in the living room.


Pink Letter Boards and Yellow Letterboards have been added to our vast lineup of changeable letter board frames and displays. And you have 16 popular sizes to choose from. Each open face changeable letterboard is designed and bordered with a popular silver trim frame 3/4" wide.
Have more fun with these bright sunny, lemon yellow and lively pink letter message boards when you create your messages, quotes and sayings.
Pink and Yellow letter boards are open face letter boards made for indoor applications; for both Home or Business display. Besides home use, the letterboards' bright colors in the right indoor setting or environment can create a more visibly engaging and eye-catching message board for your office or business.
As an example; a clothing retail store or shoe store can promote a sale with a message that announces a spring or summer sale next to clothing or accessories items. Hang the framed letter board on the wall or lean it on a shelf. A Salon or Spa can announce a special product offer, upcoming event, or discount and easily change and update the message. Another great example is The Museum of Ice Cream in Inglewood CA using it as a message board display.
Yellow and Pink letter boards are offered in 12 popular framed sizes. Small letter board sizes include Pink letterboard 10x10, Lemon Yellow letterboard 16x20. Large letter board sizes include 12x18 Pink letterboard and 20x24 Yellow letter board. Extra large sizes include 24x36 letter boards.
Once you determine the size of your silver trimmed letter board and the felt color of the grooved message board, you have the option to buy different size plastic changeable letters sets in 1/2", 3/4" 1", 2" and 3" letter heights. Both Gothic Style in Helvetica font and Roman Style letters are available in Sprue and boxed letter sets.
With these changeable plastic letters styles and character sizes you can mix and match the design of your letter message board to emphasize specific words or numbers.
All Yellow and Pink Felt Letter Boards come with hanging hardware. Mounted to the wall or leaning against a wall or placed on a shelf, changeable letterboards are an economical display marketing tool to promote your business, service, organization or just have fun with your home decor.


The Black Panther actress was named this year's rising star, and her speech contained a moving message about overcoming depression.
What a year Letitia Wright has had.
The 25-year-old from Tottenham starred in two of 2018's biggest movies: Black Panther and Ready Player One. She was the breakout star of the former as Shuri, T'Challa's smart, savvy little sister always ready to cut him down to size, superhero or not.
And now, fresh from a critically-acclaimed turn in the Young Vic's The Convert, penned by her Black Panther co-star Danai Gurira, Wright was named the 2019 BAFTA Rising Star.
Accepting the award, Wright thanked her faith and BAFTA for helping her though the toughest time in her career.
For Wright, success isn't the work of a moment. It's a longterm project that she will continue ti work on for the rest of her career.
Wright also took the chance to thank BAFTA for nominating her in a category alongside Lakeith Stanfield, Cynthia Erivo, Barry Keoghan and Jessie Buckley.
If you thought 2018 was a big year for the actress, just wait till you hear about her upcoming slate of projects.
Wright will return to the world of Wakanda in Avengers: Endgame and is rumoured to be leading Guava Island, the forthcoming top-secret movie project from Donald Glover and Rihanna. After that, she'll be onscreen with her drama school pal John Boyega in Hold Back The Stars, a sci-fi romance epic.
The future is now. And for Wright it looks very bright indeed.
Our favourite wisecracking science genius is set to take centre stage.


Let's say you have to take a minor in natural science, or you believe it would look good in your resume that you also possess knowledge in that field, too. It would show you have a "well-rounded education". Basically, you just want to get it over with. If you take one of these 7 easiest natural science classes to take in college, you'll have no problems achieving that.
For one reason or the other, you wish to pass a natural science class. Otherwise, you would've gladly opted for one of 10 easiest liberal arts classes to take, or 10 easiest humanities classes to take in college. This is usually what students choose when they wish to increase their average grade. After all, studying about Twilight seems more relaxed than studying chemical reactions, doesn't it? But fear not. The list contains some of the easiest exams possible. Actually, one of them is so famous for being easy that it seems inevitable to take it. There's hardly a student on the campus who hasn't taken it, and passed it with exceptional grades. You'll find out which course it is in the article.
Also, a hint: one of the exams is probably something Ross from "Friends" used to have at college. Perhaps he was later teaching it, too.
In order to determine which subject is the least demanding, Insider Monkey first ruled out the most demanding ones: chemistry and biology. Apparently, GPAs are the lowest here, and we highly doubt that the situation is improving. As for the rest of natural science fields, they did research into the curriculums of various universities and found the classes which fit the description, i.e. were recommended by the most as easy to pass. There's one at Harvard, though, which is highly praised for being super easy. However, it's still neurology, so it didn't make the cut.
Interestingly enough, all the universities have similar natural science classes. It's just that their names are different. An introduction to family law is still just that, whatever someone may call it. For this reason, there is one place on the list with two names. They're practically the same thing, only with slight variations.
We must warn you about one thing, though. There are high chances you'll love these exams, and perhaps even change your majors. The thing is, once you start studying something which doesn't immediately require too much of your time or efforts, you start giving your best to do it. Once the pressure is off, everything is much more enjoyable. Wouldn't you agree?
Therefore, get ready for surprises, and don't forget to enjoy yourself! Believe it or not, but that's possible when you're studying these 7 easiest natural science classes to take in college. Who doesn't like studying for an exam he/she is bound to excel in? Truth be told, having a rest would be nicer, but in the meantime, do your best to achieve your tasks before the final goal.


text:
(-) Mice
Organ-on-chip
Djurskyddet Sverige
Doctors Against Animal Experiments
Menschen für Tierrechte
Despite the clear objective of the Animals in Science Directive to replace and reduce the number of animals used in science, 2020 reports of the European Commission revealed that more than 23 million animals were impacted by scientific practices in the EU in 2017.
Accelerating the transition to innovation without the use of animals in research, regulatory testing and education - time for action!
New petition to call on the World Health Organization, national governments, and scientific community worldwide to prioritize and support research into COVID-19 which uses advanced non-animal scientific methods, relevant to humans.
Join the call to cut Animal Tests to tackle COVID-19!
Following calls from EU authorities for cosmetics ingredients to be tested on animals, Europe's leading animal protection groups have sent a joint statement to MEPs urging them to uphold the groundbreaking cosmetics testing and marketing bans.
Leading Animal Protection groups join forces for animal testing bans
Most animals used in biomedical experiments are not accounted for in published papers, a first-of-its-kind study suggests. The analysis found that only one-quarter of more than 5500 lab animals used over a 2-year period at one university in the Netherlands ended up being mentioned in a scientific paper afterward. The researchers believe the pattern could be similar at institutions around the world, resulting in potentially millions of animals disappearing from scientific studies.
Millions of animals may be missing from scientific studies
Together with 13 supporter organisations, the two EfA members Menschen für Tierrechte and Doctors Against Animal Experiments are running a joint campaign demanding the development and execution of a structured exit strategy, leaving animal experimentation behind in favour of modern, human relevant, cruelty free research and testing.
Joint campaign in Germany towards humane science
Today, September 22nd, marks the 10th Anniversary of the adoption of the EU Directive on Animals in Science. Unfortunately, latest reports reveal that in practice, almost nothing has changed and the number of animals used for scientific purposes remains high. Eurogroup for Animals and its member organisations, together with other organisations, are therefore joining forces today - the European Day for Humane Science.
Join the movement for Humane Science
I've become increasingly convinced that the animal model of the future will live not in a cage but in a computer chip. By simulating biological systems rather than experimenting with them, we can make drug development and biomedical research safer, more efficient, and more effective.
In the future, lab mice will live in computer chips, not cages
Almost three quarters say replacing animal tests with non-animal methods should be an EU priority
New Poll reveals that 72% of EU citizens want a phase-out plan for animal tests
A Home Office report published today reveals a further welcome decrease in the number of lab animals experiencing 'severe' suffering - but the RSPCA is highlighting the need for more to be done to reduce animal use and suffering.
The RSPCA is calling for a government plan to phase out animal experiments
Dozens of groups of scientists are racing to develop animal "models" in an attempt to develop COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, without success.
From mice to monkeys, scientists still haven't found an animal that mimics COVID-19 symptoms in humans
There is no doubt that animal testing has played a role in scientific and biomedical progress. However, without mentioning ethical issues, the animal 'model' does not fully meet the needs of scientific progress. It fails in terms of cost, speed and relevance to humans, says Thomas Hartung, director of the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing. Today, we have a wide range of evidence showing that it is no longer justifiable to continue using animals in certain scientific fields.
The use of animals for scientific purposes
Scientists at King's College London have become the first university in the world to formally end 'cruel' mouse swimming tests, following campaigns by animal rights charities.
King's College is first university to end 'cruel' mouse swimming tests


Meg's article at O'Reilly should be read and re-read by every UI designer and contract consultant working on the web. I've experienced the same sorts of client/interface request problems in 1997 that I do in 2002, and aside from constantly defending my decisions, Meg presents ways to prevent them from ever happening in the first place.
Next Post Some photos from the backyard.


A child's first experience of the love of God happens long before he or she enters the doorway of a church: It happens in the first moments he is held in his mother's arms and in his father's first whispers of reassurance and welcome. Children can best imagine the security of God's love and grace when they first experience Him within their own family. That is why we believe that the best way to nurture a child's faith in God and the love of Jesus is to partner with parents to provide a consistent message of faith in church and at home.
Please check back soon for additional information, articles and resources for parents and families interested in enhancing family life and faith at home.