Welcome. We are a blues & country infused rock band based in NY. Take a look around, check out our music and come see a show!
We came together in 2014 and have released three albums of original music: "Out of the Sunshine" (2014); "Everything Is Glass" (2015); and "River Talk" (2017). In Aug 2018, we released a new single: "I Stand With You". Find them at CDBaby, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and YouTube.
Our music has been played by numerous radio stations, including NY's 107.1 FM The Peak, 90.7 FM WFUV, and 100.7 FM WHUD, as well as Ireland's "The Independent Music Show".
Thanks to our fans for your support and packing our shows. You always make it a party! For an inside look, check out this video.
Plus you're doing good while feeling good... we donate a portion of our album sales and gig proceeds to non-profits improving children's lives with music & education, including Education Through Music, and also those working to end gun violence, including March for Our Lives.


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UT News
Alumni group confirms that University of Texas president was asked to resign
KVUE.com
Jul 6, 2014 | 5:59 pm
Regents confirmed that Bill Powers has been asked to resign.
Bill Powers Facebook
UPDATE: A correction has been made to this story to denote that members of the alumni group confirmed that Powers was asked to resign. The story previously stated that two Regents had confirmed the information.
KVUE — Two members of the Board of Directors of the University of Texas's official alumni group, Texas Exes, say reports that university President Bill Powers has been asked to resign are true.
KVUE has obtained that letter.
Dear Texas Ex,
We apologize for interrupting your Fourth of July weekend, but we have urgent news of the university to share with you.
Multiple news outlets are reporting that UT-Austin President Bill Powers has been given an ultimatum to resign or be fired at this week's meeting of the Board of Regents. We can confirm for you that this news is accurate, and that President Powers has declined to resign, instead asking to work together on a timeline for change.
A forced resignation or firing would be a travesty for UT. It would cause further tension with legislators regarding UT System, would compound unrest among faculty, students, and alumni, and invoke serious harm to the institution's reputation in the national spotlight. President Powers has advanced the university through many tremendous accomplishments, and has been a great leader; he deserves better than this. This is about our university; it is a treasure that alumni need to protect and we need to stand up and fight for its stature. The University of Texas at Austin deserves better than this.
This latest news came from an unfortunate leak to the media which has caused a premature impression of an ongoing and unresolved personnel decision, and has inflamed the controversy. If the individual who leaked the details of the conversation between the chancellor and the president of UT-Austin to the media is in a fiduciary role over the university, this person has breached that duty and has not acted honorably nor in the best interests of the university. Despite this, the chancellor and the president should be able to work together on a mutual decision that provides leadership and a succession plan for the university. That is the way this kind of change is responsibly made.
For more information on this matter and resources for alumni to take action, please see this overview on our Texas Exes website, www.texasexes.org
Thank you for your loyalty to our great alma mater.
Kay Bailey Hutchison, President of the Board
Charles Matthews, Chairman of the Board
The board of regents is expected to meet Thursday. An online petition was started by students and faculty at UT to support President Bill Powers.
Read the full story on KVUE.com.
Local drive-in theater loses "80 percent" of its equipment after downtown Austin theft
Here are the top 5 things to do in Austin this weekend
How long Austin buyers need to save for a home, plus more top stories
That's showbiz
Austin reels in top Texas spot among best big cities to be a filmmaker
Hannah J. Frías
Photo by Johannes Blenke on Unsplash
San Antonio ranked No. 22 in a list of the 25 top cities to live and work as a moviemaker.
Good news for cinephiles and aspiring directors: Austin has landed a prestigious spot among the 25 best big cities to live and work as a moviemaker. Landing at No. 12 on MovieMaker Magazine's annual list, Austin joins four other Texas cities in the top 25: Dallas (No. 20), Houston (No. 21), San Antonio (No. 22), and Fort Worth (No. 25).
MovieMaker compiles its annual list based on surveys, production spending, tax incentives, additional research, and personal visits whenever possible — with the notable exclusions of Los Angeles and New York:
"We don't believe people should have to be rich or well-connected to make movies," writes MovieMaker Editor Tim Molloy. "And we know plenty of people who moved to L.A. or New York with filmmaking dreams and ended up working industry-barely-adjacent jobs just to pay the bills. We think the best place to live is one you can afford — a place where you can be happy, inspired, and financially free to pursue your art."
These criteria are themes throughout the ranking: Atlanta, Georgia, took the top spot overall, followed by Vancouver, British Columbia (No. 2), and New Orleans, Louisiana (No. 3). The five Texas cities on the list all boast more affordability than Los Angeles or New York, and each one features a deeply supportive film community and various local incentives.
Austin topped all the Texas cities at No. 12, celebrated for its venues and surrounding cultural traditions. It received special honors for tacos and barbecue, along with its general proclivity for "staying weird" while beating the major coastal cities on affordability despite rising costs. The capital city also represented a fantastic playground for festivals like South by Southwest (SXSW), and many successful industry leaders over the years.
"Also welcoming: the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, administered by the Texas Film Commission, a cash grant based on in-state spending by feature film, television and commercial projects that offers up to 22.5 percent back to qualifying productions," writes Molloy. "And no city on this list submitted such an impressive list of filmmaker residents, from Richard Linklater to Robert Rodriguez to Terrence Malick. Its film culture also includes the Austin Film Society, founded by Linklater in 1985, and the original Alamo Drafthouse Cinema that started it all."
In 2022, Linklater (Dazed and Confused) released an animated project, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood, set in Houston but which premiered in Austin at SXSW; Fear the Walking Dead, filmed in Austin, aired its Season 7 finale; and Queer Eye captured hearts all over the world via its cast of real-life Austin heroes.
Elsewhere in Texas:
Dallas earned the No. 20 spot for its easy access to both coasts, diversity, experienced crew base, easily obtainable permits, hotel deals, and more. Houston placed right behind Dallas at No. 21, with MovieMaker touting its diversity and low cost of living.
San Antonio came in at No. 22, selected for its plethora of permitting options, reinstatement of local film incentives, and growing educational opportunities such as the University of Texas at San Antonio's new Bachelor of Fine Arts Film & Media Studies program.
And last but not least, the No. 25 ranking went to Fort Worth, where Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone spinoff 1883: The Bass Reeves Story is currently shooting — and looking for talent.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Man beats AI drone in first race of its kind
aliexpress — December 10, 2019 0 comment
One of the world's top drone pilots has beaten nine computer-piloted drones in a race around an obstacle course.
Swiss pilot Gabriel Kocher wore first-person-view goggles to pilot his drone through the course in six seconds.
The fastest automated drone, completing the unseen course in 12 seconds without the use of GPS or any human intervention, won a $1m (£0.76m) prize.
Organisers the Drone Racing League predicts AI-powered drones will dominate the competition by 2023.
Its first artificial-intelligence robotic racing contest was the result of a collaboration between aerospace giant Lockheed Martin and crowd-sourced problem-solving platform HeroX.
"Our team worked really hard throughout each stage to bring a robust and (most importantly) fast solution to the table," said the prize-winning MVLab team.
"We are proud to have won despite the remarkable competitors that we had to face."
Avionics expert Dr Steve Wright believes drones will soon come out on top
Dr Steve Wright, senior research fellow in avionics and aircraft systems, at University of the West of England told BBC News: "Ten years ago if you needed a processor that could solve those sort of problems – how to fly a drone through a course – it would have been the size of a dinner plate and would have guzzled energy and got so hot you could fry an egg on it.
"Now, it's the size of a playing card and doesn't get all that hot – suddenly, it fits in a drone."
Huawei: What is 5G's core and why protect it?
Government plans new laws for smart gadgets sold in UK


The right air purifier can make a dramatic improvement in your home's air quality. But choosing an air purifier shouldn't make your head spin. That's why we've put together some buying guides that will start by explaining the basics, and will then lead you to the air purifier that's right for you.
What do air purifiers do?
What air purifiers don't do.
What can air purifiers remove?
Should I choose HEPA, Ionic, or something else?
$50 vs $500 Air Purifiers: What's the difference?
Will a cheap air purifier work?
We're glad you asked! After being introduced to air purifier technology you might wonder, "This is great, but what does my air purifier actually do?" It's a great question; understanding what air purifiers do is important for picking the right one.
Think of it this way: your allergy medication helps to relieve your symptoms by working with your body. An air purifier helps to relieve those same symptoms by working to prevent your body from exposure to the triggers. It's a small but important distinction.
Not all air purifiers are created equally. There are plenty of air purifiers on the market that use technology that simply doesn't work. Here at Air Purifiers America we don't stock ineffective products. We offer only proven and tested units that actually deliver pure air.
Air purifiers aren't a cure-all. We wish they were, and though we have thousands of customers that swear by their air purifiers, the reality is that air purifiers can bring relief, but they won't cure your asthma or allergies.
Air purifiers won't clean your house for you. Trust us, we would love to give up dusting (and vacuuming and laundry), too, but air purifiers are limited to cleaning the air that is circulating in your home. They help lessen the long-term accumulation of dust, but they can't pick up any pollutants that have already settled out of the air, or dirt that's been tracked in by your puppy. So even though you may notice that you don't have to dust or sweep as frequently, we can't promise you perpetually clean floors and furniture.
That said, the list of "can do's" is far great than the list of "can't do's".
View our selection of top-rated multi-purpose units to get an idea of the selection of "can do" units that address many concerns.
Ok, I get what air purifiers do (and don't do). But are they effective?
A really common follow up question that we get is "I get what these things do, but do air purifiers work?"
The answer is an unqualified and enthusiastic "Yes"!
Air purifiers work to relieve many breathing related concerns—allergies, asthma or odors, for example—by dealing with a major source of these problems and replacing your pollutant-filled air with the pure air.
Without an air purifier, your lungs are the air purifier.
In fact, a well-designed and well-built air purifier can be used to effectively trap over 99% of the pollutants in your indoor air: pollutants that would otherwise end up in your nasal passages, throat and lungs. Use of a good air purifier will have a significant impact on your indoor air quality.
Can you tell me about some of the concerns that air purifiers help with?
Absolutely. We've compiled the list for you to the most common concerns where air purifiers are able to help.
Allergies, asthma, COPD and other respiratory concerns. The air purifiers you'll find on Air Purifiers America do a particularly good job with this category of concerns since HEPA technology thoroughly removes the airborne pollutants that trigger breathing issues.
Pets and Dust. We commonly talk to customers who are looking to simply have cleaner air or to relieve the dander and odor concerns that come along with the joys of pet ownership. Many of our air purifiers with HEPA filters will address these concerns effectively, but we may also recommend a purifier with active carbon to deal with odor.
Mold and Germs. Many people are quite sensitive to mold, or concerned with other microbes that are in their air. We sell units that both effectively trap mold and germs, along with some units that go one step further and utilize technology that will kill mold spores or germs.
Odor, Smoke and Chemicals. This category of concerns usually requires a different approach, since a HEPA filter doesn't address them directly. However, we carry a good number of units that use activated carbon and other additives that have been tailored to removed odors or neutralize chemicals. Some of these units have been built to deal with very specific concerns (e.g. formaldehyde); in that case, you would do well to talk to one of our product specialists who can get you to the specific unit you need.
Other. As we mentioned above, the list of specific concerns that air purifiers can help with goes on and on including MCS, Pulmonary Fibrosis and many others. But don't take our word for it! Spend a few moments on our customer reviews page and you'll see story after story of how the high quality air purifiers that we stock have positively impacted the lives of people with a wide variety of backgrounds and circumstances.
The bottom line: Proper use of a quality air purifier can relieve a wide variety of concerns. We encourage you to give one of our top rated allergy units a try in your bedroom and see how your breathing and sleep might be improved.
How do I use my air purifier for the best results?
This is a really, really key question that not enough people ask.
First, remember how air purifiers work.
The purifier's fan circulates air around a room, pulling the air and airborne allergens towards the unit. The fan ultimately pulls the air directly through the unit where the filter captures the allergens. The resulting stream of pure air is returned into the room.
Air purifiers are built to clean the air in a certain size room and are most effective when they are used in rooms that match their coverage area.
Buying more coverage than you need is a good thing in the air purifying world, so don't hesitate to go for a higher coverage area unit if you are in doubt.
Also, keep in mind that coverage areas are affected by the speed that you operate your purifier at; the maximum coverage area requires running the unit at the highest possible speed.
We always recommend to start with putting an air purifier in your bedroom. You spend a lot of time in your bedroom and clean air is a great way to improve your sleep. Some people report that the noise from the fan in their unit also lulls them to sleep, but if you need a quieter experience, we can point you to units that work well at a whisper or below.
Be smart about where you put your unit. Watch the inlet and exit vents and make sure that the unit can adequately circulate air in and out of the unit.
That's right, don't think about it, just run it! Air purifiers are most effective when they are in constant use. And if you are worried about energy consumption, see our page on Energy Star rated units. Air is always moving. Our testing has shown that a clean room can go back to being full of pollutants in as little as an hour! The coverage area rating for each unit is also calculated with this idea in mind, so keep it on and you'll get the best possible results!
We're confident that we can answer your questions and help you find the perfect unit for your needs and your budget. And we can probably point you in the right direction faster than you can dig through all these buying guides.
By Chat: Chat with one of our experts right now. -OR- By Phone: Call (800)-334-1494 to talk an expert directly over the phone.


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Q: MongoDB replica set in Azure, where do I point the firewall? I have a mongoDB replica set in azure
I have:
server1 Primary
server2 secondary
server3 Arbiter
I have a dev environment on my local machine that I want to point to this mongoDB instance
What do I open on my Azure Firewall to make sure this configuration is setup with best practices.
Do I create a load balanced endpoint to the Primary and Secondary or do I create a single endpoint to the arbiter, or perhaps even something else?
thanks!

A: MongoDB will not play well with a load-balanced endpoint (as you might end up sending traffic to a secondary, and you'd have no control over this unless you implemented a custom probe for each VM, and then you'd need to update the probe's status based on the replicaset node's health, for each node). The MongoDB client-side driver is designed to work with a replicaset's topology to make the correct decision on which node to communicate with. Each replicaset node should have a discrete addressable ip:port. If you have all your instances in a single cloud service (e.g. myservice.cloudapp.net) then you'll need one port per instance (since they'd all share a single ip address). If each instance is in a different cloud service, then you can have the same port for each, with different dns name / ip address for each.

A: The best solution with an iptables is to open the third with an ip rule. It's open in the twice configuration and secure. This solution is the best architecture for your code.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Improving your body is something which one needs to have a look at. That is if one needs to feel certain about ones' life all of the time. There are some things that make a person feel uncomfortable about their body. Considering that there are people who are skinny and thin, masculine and brusque in the society that we live in, it is possible for one to have a low self-esteem or lose self-confidence.
Look in the mirror at yourself and say affirmations that are positive to you. You may get more information on the internet about positive affirmations. In preparing a sheet of paper on affirmations, will assist someone. This is going to be a tricky thing to do for the men and women who have poor body image. Time goals will be useful when looking in the mirror at yourself.
You ought to be smiling, while looking in the mirror. When a person smiles happiness hormones are released by the brain in bulk. Read much more from books or magazines that explain the effects of a smile. When you will be looking at yourself while smiling, the hormones will be rushing around to you. This is going to make your mind to begin connecting the picture of you having a joyful feeling. The mind will have the ability to calculate how great you are. Read this from articles that offer explanations on how the brain functions.
It's a good idea to be listening to affirmations that are positive. A person could try to brainwash their selves if they find it difficult to check at their selves in the mirror. One can write the affirmations on your own. You are able to see helpful hints if you want inspiration from online searches.
You should meditate yourself into feeling beautiful. This can be achieved by sitting comfortably and feeling amazing. More tips can be accessed from sites that deal with beautiful feelings. You can imagine you are an actor or actress who is acting as a person. This is a practice that helps in bringing the feeling that a person wants to feel. This may come to a person who attempts to get the feeling into him or her in a natural way.
Search for the parts of your body that you like. After this try to find the reasons why you like the body parts. Give thanks to each of the body parts that support you. Give yourself a massage. You can read this from tips on how to give yourself a massage. This will show your body that you love it, care about it and appreciate it. This enhance the image of their human body and is going to make someone feel good.


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Ultra-Luxury 5 Day Gorilla Trekking Safari
5 Days Trip
A taste of things to come
Embark on an exciting 5 day adventure in Uganda which takes you through the misty Bwindi National Park for the Gorilla Trekking activity, followed with an exploration of Queen Elizabeth National Park to enjoy a great game viewing experience in the Ishasha sector as well as a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. Finally, immerse yourself in the Kalinzu Forest for an amazing Chimpanzee trekking experience.
Kampala to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Our guide will pick you up at your hotel in Kampala (or Entebbe) at 7:00 am. You will later be driven in a comfortable and secure touring vehicle to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the South-West which will take around 9 hours of drive. Lunch will be provided en-route at Mbarara.
You will arrive at your accommodation in Bwindi in the evening.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorilla Trekking) to Ishasha
Start the day with an early breakfast at 6:30 am and head to the park headquarters to join other trackers in a briefing about the gorilla trekking rules at 7:30 am. You will trek through thick creepers and undergrowth with your guides to find the Gorillas, which can take you 1-8 hours.
The steeply forested landscape is incredibly dense but crisscrossed by numerous animal trails allowing access by tourists. Transfer back to to Ishasha Sector for accommodation.
Ishasha Sector (Game drive) to Queen Elizabeth National Park, North
Start the day early and head to Ishasha, famous for the tree climbing lions lounging in the tree branches while keeping a close eye on herds of Uganda kob, their favorite prey, you could have a chance to spot some tree climbing lions.
Enjoy a picnic lunch before continuing with a magical Game drive, before heading to Queen Elizabeth National Park, North where your next stay is located.
Queen Elizabeth National Park (Game Drives and Boat Cruise at Kazinga Channel)
Head off for a game drive at the break of dawn to spot Africa's highly famed Big 5, Bush Bucks, Giant Hogs, Antelopes, Waterbucks and plenty of birds.Enjoy a scrumptious lunch on your return. After your lunch you will go for a two-hour Boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel which connects Lakes George and Lake Edward. Enjoy watching giant hippos, elephants and crocodiles among others. This area is also renowned for its fantastic bird life which you'll enjoy viewing.
Kalinzu Forest (Chimp Tracking) to Kampala
At sunrise, head to Kalinzu Forest Reserve for a 3-4 hours chimpanzee trekking with a tracker and guide. The Forest Reserve is home to 6 groups of chimps, comprising over 300 individuals and tracking currently enjoys more than 80% success rate.


Slavery Unveiled is a video series project birthed from our desire to ignite empathy by exploring slavery's impact on today's culture. For nearly a year, our family has been traveling around the United States, following and recording historical journeys to more deeply understand and appreciate the struggles and successes of the generations before us. We are currently visiting significant historical sites around the United States to unearth the difficult truths of American slavery.
After only a few stops on our American Slavery tour, our lives have been dramatically touched. Maya Angelou said, "History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again." We are seeing, hearing, and touching history that is rarely, if ever, taught in schools. It is imperative that we share the whole of our nation's history with this generation so that we can learn, heal, and avoid the mistakes of the past.
But these life-changing treasures are too important to keep to ourselves. In order to effectively share what we believe is sure to be a powerful video series, we need to raise $70,000. Funds will cover our production costs, institutional fees, equipment, advertising, and marketing expenses. Funds raised will be used immediately to enhance the educational experience and produce the highest quality videos possible.
Your contribution will allow us the time and resources to share these important historical truths with families, churches, educational organizations and schools around the world through our YouTube channel, Doing Life Deliberately (click HERE to visit Doing Life Deliberately). We knew this particular journey would be powerful, but we did not anticipate our experience to enlighten us to the state of racial tensions in today's culture. With your help, we can unveil slavery's enduring impact on our country and help move forward the process of racial reconciliation by sharing our learning journey with others.


The Leadership Development Committee (LDC) promotes mentoring and leadership advocacy through participative leadership training in PNCWA.
We support the members of PNCWA and others in the water profession by conducting leadership training including workshops and webinars, increasing mentoring opportunities, and supporting current PNCWA leaders in succession planning and other matters. We have also developed the new PNCWA Leadership Certificate Program.
We meet by teleconference once a month and have an in-person meeting at the Annual Conference.
Discover your Leadership Potential! Whether you're an aspiring leader or one who's been there, join us for an exploration of leaders at their best. This workshop is based on the 5 leadership principals outlined in the book "The Leadership Challenge" by Kouzes and Posner. The workshop includes breakouts and table discussions to encourage shared learning. Participation in this workshop will help operators, supervisors, and managers perform their duties better by helping them work together better. With a firm understanding of the five practices of exemplary leadership participants will be better employees, supervisors, and managers, understanding what it takes to help lead truly outstanding performance. Watch for more info!


Annually, the California Funeral Directors Association takes the opportunity to recognize those individuals in the Association who go above and beyond in their commitment to the ideals of the organization. Selected from numerous nominations, one candidate is selected in each category and honored for his or her contributions to the funeral industry.
Caption for attached photo: Astral sales representative, Emanuel Thomas (left), receives his award from CFDA Board of Directors member Homer Alba.


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How to Wash Your Face
A clean slate.
Writer Aileen Lalor
Like lots of things in the beauty world, cleansing has become increasingly complicated—how often we do it, what we use, and even how we wash our faces. According to dermatologist Dr. Shannon Humphrey, it's all gone a bit too far. "In modern society, it's made out to be more complicated than it is. Oftentimes, it can cause more problems than it's worth," she says.
Cleansing, she says, has three purposes: removing whatever is on the skin—makeup, skin-care products, debris, and pollution; reducing oil and sebum, which can be important for people with oily or acne-prone skin; and exfoliating, which accelerates the natural sloughing off of dead skin cells. "It's highly individual, but for most people, it can be a very straightforward, minimalist process," she says. "Water is the universal solvent, meaning it will dissolve a majority of things. Skin—most skin—has evolved to be cleaned with water."
Tepid water is better than hot, which can strip moisture from skin, and after cleansing, skin should feel comfortable, not dry, tight, or tingly. Overcleansing can damage the moisture barrier, which can mean persistent dryness and irritation.
If you use skin-care products and cosmetics, you probably will need a cleanser, but most people don't need to double cleanse unless they wear a particularly heavy foundation. It's also rarely necessary to wash your face more than twice a day. Post workout, a quick rinse to remove the sweat will do. And in winter, when skin is more susceptible to dryness, you may even be able to skip the morning cleanser, since you don't need to take off makeup or sun protection, which are usually the hardest beauty products to remove.
Cleansing devices like the Foreo and Clarisonic provide extra exfoliation, but they aren't necessary.
In terms of products and ingredients: sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) get a bad rap, but Dr. Humphrey says they are not inherently harmful. She loves simple products such CeraVe, Cetaphil, and Dove Sensitive Skin.
Cleansers can have an important place in your self-care ritual, and that's where the newest launches shine, offering interesting textures, a luxurious feel, and a pampering experience, as well as fresh, clean skin. Here, seven indulgent cleansers that will make cleansing feel like a pleasure, not a chore.
An-hydra Microbiome Cleanser
This powder cleanser contains enzymes for cleansing, clay for oil absorption, vitamin C for brightening, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and probiotics to rebalance skin. Its waterless formulation makes it better for the environment, and it's versatile, too. Mix a dime-sized amount with water to make a regular cleanser, make a paste, and apply to a zit to dry it overnight, or combine with yogurt to create a soothing mask (find more recipes here).
Glow Recipe Papaya Sorbet Cleansing Balm
Take a loonie-sized amount of this rich balm and massage it onto skin for a minute or so—it transforms to a silky oil. On adding water, it changes to a milky consistency, and when you rinse it away, it will take with it all traces of makeup (even full-coverage foundation), thanks to a combination of natural enzymes from papaya.
Laneige Cream Skin Milk Oil Cleanser
This oil cleanser removes dirt and makeup, leaves no greasy residue, and suits all skin types, including sensitive ones. It contains white-tea-leaf extract, which is rich in antioxidants and amino acids that moisturize and soothe skin.
Marcelle Micellar Water
A staple from the Canadian brand, this now takes off even waterproof makeup, including eye makeup. Soak a cotton pad with micellar water and start by cleansing the eyelids, lashes, and lips, then use a clean pad to cleanse the rest of the face.
Okoko Beauté Majestique Gel-to-Milk Cleanser
It feels like a creamy balm and promises to remove dirt, makeup, and excess oil. Massage it onto skin, add warm water till it reaches a milky consistency, then rinse and follow up with serum. It can also be used as a moisturizing mask—rub onto dry skin and leave on for up to 45 minutes.
Tatcha The Rice Wash
Rice water (the leftover water from rinsing rice before cooking) has been used in Japanese beauty rituals for generations because it's rich in vitamins and moisturizing proteins. It's a main ingredient in this foaming cleanser, plus algae that are said to boost moisture levels. To use, rub an almond-sized amount between wet palms to create foam and then apply to your damp face, massaging all over before rinsing.
ZERO Face Wash
A non-foaming face wash with a light gel texture, this is vegan, made from all-natural ingredients, comes in sustainable-sourced packaging, and is fully recyclable. Apply a quarter-sized amount to damp skin, massage, and rinse off with warm water.
Never miss a story. Sign up for NUVO's weekly newsletter, here.
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BeautyWinter 2019
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Trump Signs $1.3 Trillion Spending Bill, Averting A Government Shutdown
By Domenico Montanaro • Mar 23, 2018
President Trump speaks about the $1.3 trillion spending bill that he signed, despite an earlier veto threat.
Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images
Originally published on March 24, 2018 12:55 am
President Trump signed a massive spending bill Friday, hours after threatening a veto that would have triggered a government shutdown.
The $1.3 trillion omnibus legislation passed both chambers of Congress after lengthy negotiations between leaders of both parties. The Senate passed it late Thursday, and most lawmakers had left Washington by Friday morning.
Trump tweeted just before 9 a.m. ET that he was "considering a VETO" because the bill does not fully address his immigration priorities. Hours later, the president relented and signed the measure, just as his aides had promised all along.
The eleventh-hour veto threat added suspense to what otherwise would have been a perfunctory signing ceremony and guaranteed a rapt audience for the president's midday TV appearance.
"I looked very seriously at the veto," Trump said. "I was thinking about doing the veto. But because of the incredible gains that we've been able to make for the military, that overrode any of our thinking."
Aides had been insisting Trump would sign the measure because it authorizes tens of billions of dollars in additional military spending.
"My highest duty is to keep America safe," Trump said.
The president complained that he was forced to go along with higher spending on domestic programs in order to win Democratic support for the bill but insisted he would not do so in the future.
"I say to Congress I will never sign another bill like this again," Trump said.
He urged lawmakers to grant him authority to veto individual line items in future spending bills. He also called for scrapping the requirement of 60 votes to pass a bill in the Senate — a threshold that demands bipartisan compromise. Neither of those moves appears likely. The Supreme Court ruled the line-item veto unconstitutional 20 years ago. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has rejected the idea of discarding the filibuster.
A day earlier, Vice President Pence told an audience in New Hampshire that one reason Trump would sign the omnibus was because it included some money for a border wall.
"With $1.6 billion included in the spending bill that arrives on President Trump's desk tomorrow, we're going to start to build that wall," Pence said to applause. "We're doing it."
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney also cited the bill's increases in spending on the opioid crisis, school safety and workforce development.
"Is it perfect?" Mulvaney asked, rhetorically. "No. Is it exactly what we asked for in the budget? No. Were we ever going to get that? No. That's not how the process works."
Mulvaney acknowledged the bill does not go as far as Trump wanted on immigration.
"Let's make it clear," Mulvaney said. "The president wanted a DACA fix as part of this deal. He had offered a large package with a complete DACA fix in exchange for the entire wall. "
There is more to the story, though: In exchange for a DACA fix — to protect young immigrants brought to the country as children from deportation — Trump demanded not only funding for the border wall but also big changes in the nation's legal immigration system.
Trump has rejected proposed bipartisan DACA fixes that would swap a permanent fix for money to build a border wall. The White House demanded broader changes to legal immigration that Democrats wouldn't support.
Conservatives in Congress opposed the spending bill because it would add to the deficit. Many, like House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows, R-N.C., say they were dismayed that the legislation includes spending increases sought by Democrats and fails to fulfill Republican campaign promises to cut the overall size of government.
Republican leaders could have crafted a spending bill that met conservative demands, but it would fail in the Senate, where Democrats have enough votes to block legislation.
The omnibus spending package has been in the works for several months and was crafted with input from both the White House and Congress. It was written to fill out a budget outline that Congress passed, and Trump signed, in February.
McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday that the spending legislation was a true compromise.
"Months of in-depth, bicameral, bipartisan negotiations and committee work have led up to this point," McConnell said. "The result is legislation that neither side sees as perfect — but which contains a host of significant victories and important achievements on behalf of the American people."
NPR's Scott Detrow and Kelsey Snell contributed to this report.
AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:
President Trump has signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill, but he made a point of saying he wasn't happy about it. And that signature only came after the president set up a reality television-style cliffhanger. NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith reports.
TAMARA KEITH, BYLINE: There wasn't supposed to be any suspense. The Senate passed the spending bill known as the Omnibus on a bipartisan basis in the wee hours of the morning. It had already passed the House. All that was needed to avoid a government shutdown was a presidential signature, something that just the day before had been assured by White House budget director Mick Mulvaney.
MICK MULVANEY: Let's cut right to the chase. Is the president going to sign the bill? The answer is yes. Why? Because it funds his priorities.
KEITH: But over on "Fox & Friends..."
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "FOX & FRIENDS")
PETE HEGSETH: This is a swamp budget.
KEITH: ...Host Pete Hegseth wasn't so thrilled with the bill.
HEGSETH: You know, there's no DREAMers in there. There's some pro-life stuff in there.
STEVE DOOCY: There's no wall.
HEGSETH: There's no insurance (unintelligible). But there's no wall. I mean, if you can't - ultimately, the Democrats controlled this process in the Senate.
KEITH: This is a show President Trump is known to watch, and at 8:55 a.m., Trump threw in a dramatic plot twist.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Moments ago, the president did something that I don't think anyone saw coming when he threatened to veto this huge $1.3 trillion spending bill.
KEITH: It came via a tweet. Quote, "I am considering a veto of the Omnibus Spending Bill." His reason - because it didn't deal with immigration and didn't have enough money for his border wall. This sent shock waves over on Capitol Hill where most members of Congress were long gone, having recessed for spring break. Suddenly, no one knew what the president was going to do. The silence was broken by another tweet. Trump announced he would be making a statement, which of course would be carried live on TV. Would he sign it or wouldn't he? Trump started off talking about trade with South Korea.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I might ask Secretary Ross to just say a few words about that, and then we're going to get on to this ridiculous situation that took place over the last week.
KEITH: That ridiculous situation, it seems, was the government funding bill, which three minutes into his remarks and 4 1/2 hours after that veto threat tweet, Trump announced he had already signed.
TRUMP: Therefore, as a matter of national security, I've signed this Omnibus budget bill. There are a lot of things that I'm unhappy about in this bill.
KEITH: And he added...
TRUMP: But I say to Congress, I will never sign another bill like this again. I'm not going to do it again.
KEITH: Even before today's suspense, it had been a White House week made for TV. First, Trump added a new lawyer to his legal team dealing with the special counsel investigation who was a regular on Fox News. Then, late yesterday, Trump announced via tweet that he was replacing his national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, with former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. and more recently Fox News contributor John Bolton, who shortly after the announcement was interviewed on Fox.
MARTHA MACCALLUM: Your reaction to your new job.
JOHN BOLTON: Well, I think I still am a Fox News contributor.
MACCALLUM: (Laughter) No, you're not, apparently (laughter).
BOLTON: I didn't - well, I haven't started there yet, so that demonstrates, I think, the sort of limbo that I'm in because I didn't really expect an announcement this afternoon. But it's obviously a great honor. It's always an honor to serve our country.
KEITH: This came less than two weeks after Trump announced he would replace his top economic adviser with CNBC contributor Larry Kudlow. Oh, and one of the people rumored to be up for the job of V.A. secretary - if the president decides to make a change - is none other than Pete Hegseth, the Fox News personality who quite possibly prompted Trump's morning veto threat. Roll the credits. Tune in next week. Tamara Keith, NPR News, the White House. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
Congress Passes $1.3 Trillion Government Funding Bill, Averts Shutdown
By Kelsey Snell • Mar 21, 2018
Updated at 12:55 a.m. ET Friday
The Senate voted early Friday to pass a roughly $1.3 trillion spending bill to fund the government through Sept. 3. The move avoided a government shutdown.
Congress Unveils Massive Spending Bill To Fund Government
By Ailsa Chang • Dec 16, 2015
Spending Bill Caught In Partisan Fight Ahead Of Friday Deadline
Congressional negotiators delayed the release of a $1.3 trillion spending bill Tuesday as the clock ticked closer to a Friday shutdown deadline amid battles over more than a dozen unresolved policy matters.
Leaders originally planned to release the details of the bill over the weekend but the spending talks remain mired in fights over immigration, gun control and health care.
Sherrod Brown Says GOP Leaders Bear Responsiblity For Ballooning Deficit
By Nick Evans • Feb 14, 2018
Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown backed a two-year budget deal that could push federal deficit spending past a trillion dollars by next year. But Brown argues GOP lawmakers are responsible for a fair share of the red ink.
Congress continues funding for Great Lakes
By Elizabeth Miller • Mar 22, 2018
Key federal funding for the Great Lakes has survived again thanks to Congress.
This is the second time President Trump proposed a big cut to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. And Congress restored it full: $300 million for the 2019 budget year.


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Sarah is a full time marketer and graphic designer by day and Flatiron student by night.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Sleep apnea is a potentially severe disorder that disrupts an individual's breathing while they sleep. There are three primary kinds of sleep apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) happens when your airway is blocked, usually by a soft tissue that falls in the back of your throat. This is the most common kind of sleep apnea.
Central Sleep Apnea (CSA) occurs when your brain doesn't properly signal the body to breathe. This is commonly caused by other medical conditions like arthritis, encephalitis, and Parkinson's disease.
Mixed Sleep Apnea includes a mix of issues found in OSA and CSA.
Avoid certain substances like alcohol, sleeping pills, and other sedatives that can relax the throat and constrict breathing.
Avoid sleeping on your back, which may cause soft tissues to disrupt your breathing. Try to sleep in a comfortable position that helps you remain asleep throughout the night.
Weight loss can relieve some stress on your neck and heart, causing less disturbances.
At Prosthodontics & Implant Dental Center we take the time to get to know each client and their individual needs. Since each person is different, it is important for us to create a trusting relationship to treat you as best as we can.
If you would like to request more information, or if you have any questions about our sleep apnea treatments, call us today (209) 383-9222.
Let us help you sleep through the night and wake up feeling refreshed.


Our favorite posts. For now.
Election day is actually Hiring Day - when we hire our elected officials. What should be on the job description for these important jobs?
The water crisis in Flint, Michigan is a tragedy. Government didn't hear the voices of the citizens damaged by its actions. But government is also best equipped to solve this. Where do we go from here?
I would like to get more effective [immigration] laws passed, ones that actually recognize that ours is a country of immigrants instead of treating them, treating us, as second-class citizens. Yo postularía para trabajar en nuestras normas de inmigración. Me gustaría conseguir que se pasaran leyes más eficaces, en las que realmente se reconozca que nuestro país es un país de inmigrantes, en lugar de tratarlos como ciudadanos de segunda clase.
Dreading Thanksgiving dinner table discussions about government? Or really anything? We have a plan for you.


Leno weave insures a more stable open weave than could be accomplished with a plain weave. It is made by pairs of warp yarns arranged crisscrossing the weft yarns, holding the weft yarns evenly apart.
It is also called doup weave, named for the doup attachment on a loom which manipulates the warp yarns. Somewhat erroneously, the weave is also called gauze weave. Gauze fabric can be in a leno weave, but is often plain weave.


Fredosaurus Rex – Won't you eat, my neighbor?
Mr. Rogers Neighborhood has gotten a surge of popularity these days thanks to the critically acclaimed, Won't You Be My Neighbor?. The documentary film chronicles the life of Fred Rogers whom many of us middle-agers remember as the soft-spoken guy routinely changing his shoes before taking us to "The Land of Make-Believe." Long before there were 24-hour kids' programming, PBS was about the only weekday respite from soap operas and game shows. Knowing we were a captive audience until the big networks' rolled out their Saturday morning cartoons, PBS used this as an opportunity to teach us a thing or two. My favorite episode was when Margaret Hamilton a.k.a. The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of West paid a visit. I was scared to death of her as a kid and her presence on the show eased my anxieties a lot. I also vividly remember when that Purple Panda showed up and, come to think of it, what the heck was that thing anyway? By now you're all probably wondering what any of this has to do with dinosaurs. Well, it seems that Fred's native Pittsburgh has a rather unique tribute to "Mr. Rogers" – one where he's reimagined as a Tyrannosaurus Rex.


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sunday style
Don't get tiled and emotional: pick the best-looking grout for your floors and walls with the help of these expert tips.
Melbourne & VIC
Jeep is known for making some of the toughest car's on and off the road. And the brand's latest example blends two unlikely vehicle together with amazing results.
Brisbane House Rules home sells
The Brisbane home of House Rules runners up Ben and Danielle Edgeworth has fetched more than double what they paid for it.
You have not seen anything yet: Thunberg
Greta Thunberg has denounced a lack of government action to cut heat-trapping emissions at a huge protest ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The original Yellow Wiggle Greg Page is recovering in hospital after he went into cardiac arrest at a bushfire benefit concert in Sydney.
Smith and Marnus fire but India go big to level series
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne fell just shy of a century and 50 respectively as India piled on a huge total to set up a third ODI decider, but form of master and apprentice give Aussies cause for optimism.
Cody shares naked bathtub pic of Miley
Miley Cyrus has nearly bared all while posing for her boyfriend Cody Simpson, confirming that the couple are still a hot item.
Hook ups and Break ups
Warning as severe storms cross NSW
Residents in northern New South Wales have been warned to expect heavy rainfall and flash flooding this morning, as the state braces for a deluge.
Barack shares gushing post for Michelle
Former US President Barack Obama's sweet birthday post for his wife, Michelle, has gone viral as he calls the former first lady his star.
Russia's foreign minister says there were at least six US F-35 stealth fighters in the Iranian border area when Iran accidentally shot down an airliner.
'Rampant theft' in former luxury store
It's famous as being one of the world's most exclusive – and expensive – stores. But it's gone to the wall and the closing-down sale has led to wild scenes.
Yes Minister, Heartbeat star dead at 82
Tributes have poured in for Derek Fowlds, who starred in Yes Minister and Heartbeat, following his death in the UK at the age of 82.
Iran can fight beyond borders: Khamenei
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says missile strikes on US targets in Iraq this month delivered a "slap on the face" to the United States.
Yes Minister actor Derek Fowlds dies at 82
British actor Derek Fowlds, best known for his role in the television series Yes Minister, has died at the age of 82.
Worst locust plague in decades hits Africa
Swarms of desert locusts up to 60km long are damaging crops in east Africa, in the worst outbreak of the creatures in more than two decades.
Myanmar welcomes visit of China's Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a two-day visit to Myanmar, aiming to shore up massive infrastructure projects.
Britain's Treasury has designated the entire Hezbollah organisation as a terrorist group and as such its assets will be frozen.
A coastal stunner with the children front of mind
Want to get your kids away from the television, phone and tablet and into the world of imaginative outdoor play? This modern Henley Beach entertainer, on more than 1000sqm, might be just the place you've been looking for
Coffee man counts beans after fire fundraiser
Mathew Hatcher was facing an uncertain future with $40,000 worth of stock and no customers. Then all of Australia came to his rescue.
Geelong's cheapest suburb gets best growth
Geelong's cheapest suburb has emerged as the hottest property market with the strongest average growth of the decade. SEE HOW YOUR SUBURB PERFORMED.
Calling in professional stylists can ensure you create an unforgettable first impression when selling your home.
Never a dull moment at Point Piper penthouse
The view from this incredible Point Piper penthouse has to be seen to be believed.
Houses near light rail are city's least affordable
Sydney's new light rail network has spurred an unprecedented change in the city's southeast, which now leads a list of regions deemed "severely" unaffordable for local residents.
Sydney's severe property drought
There is a severe property drought in Sydney's northern beaches with the number of homes for sale down more than 50 per cent on last year, however the peninsula enjoys the strongest price growth in NSW.
Sydney & NSW
Wiggle in hospital after collapsing onstage
Yellow Wiggle Greg Page is recovering in hospital after collapsing at the end of the band's bushfire relief concert on Friday night, the band says.
'Best in the world' Barty stuns again
Ash Barty is well and truly on track to break a 42-year Australian Open drought, according to a former Grand Slam champion.
Megxit negotiations could take 'months'
A government insider has revealed the difficulty involved in the Megxit negotiations which could take months to finalise, while Meghan's sister has issued an ominous warning.
Safety fears after image goes viral
On the surface it looks just like a normal photo, but this woman now refuses to return home after the image sparked a viral response.
'Bloody nuts': Legend slams crazy ban
South African quick bowler Kagiso Rabada has been handed a one-Test ban for an act that Michael Vaughan called 'absolutely bonkers'.
Militants kill 14 civilians in Mali
An attack on a village in central Mali by armed militants has killed 14 people, including a child, the country's military says.
Ukraine PM offers to resign
Ukraine's Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk has submitted a letter of resignation which is being considered by President Volodymur Zelenskiy.
World shares up on China data
Chinese data suggesting the world's second-biggest economy is stabilising has helped propel world share to record highs..
business breaking news
Lynas says lawsuit filed in Malaysia
Australia's Lynas Corp says a court case has been filed in Malaysia challenging a local government decision to renew the rare earths miner's operating licence.
Star's shock T20 World Cup done deal
AB de Villiers return to international cricket is gathering steam with South Africa's captain weighing in on the news.
Pressed metal walls makes home a rare find
The search is on for a buyer to tackle a restoration project close to the hearts of the Baulkham Hills locals.
Car bomb in Syria kills Turkish soldiers
A car bomb at a checkpoint in northern Syria has killed three Turkish soldiers.
Amid a summer of bushfires higher temperatures, here's a look at the current state of play for water supplies across Australia.
Former 'hero' spared jail over fraud in WA
A West Australian man who made headlines last year for rescuing his neighbour from a burning house has been spared jail time for fraud.
WA prospector's body had multiple injuries
An inquest has heard a prospector whose body was found in a mineshaft had multiple injuries but his cause of death could not be determined.
Pakistan gives 55-year terms to Islamists
A Pakistani court has sentenced 86 radical Islamists to 55-year jail terms for violence committed over the acquittal of a Christian woman in a blasphemy case.
A man is recovering in hospital after he was attacked by a shark in the NSW Illawarra region.
Messiah Blight's bushfire gift
Dual Adelaide Crows premiership coach and football legend Malcolm Blight is auctioning off his Brownlow Medal memorabilia piece to raise funds for the Australian bushfire relief appeal.
Japanese suicides lowest in 40 years
Police in Japan say the number of suicides in the country has fallen to the lowest level in more than 40 years.
How spin could be Aussie T20 trump card
As Australia prepares to chase Twenty20 World Cup riches later in the year, the hosts could have an ace up their sleeve in the form of twin tweakers ready to cause havoc.
Man reported over Adelaide Hills blaze
A South Australian man will be summonsed to appear in court for allegedly starting a grass fire by using an angle grinder on his property.
Kate Middleton is reportedly "incredibly hurt" by the fractured relationship between Harry and Will, and is pushing for them to close the rift.
Philippine farmers save stock from volcano
A lull in volcanic activity has given evacuated residents who live under the Taal volcano in the Philippines a chance to save animals and retrieve belongings.
Contenders to become next Tassie premier
Treasurer Peter Gutwein and State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson will contest a Liberal partyroom ballot on Monday to replace outgoing Premier Will Hodgman.
'Crying koala' photo breaks hearts around the world
The world has reacted with renewed sorrow at yet another heart-rending viral image of South Australia's stricken wildlife in this year's devastating fire season.
KI losses continue to mount as fightback begins
The number of homes lost on Kangaroo Island has grown again but the state government has pledged to stand with survivors "every step of the way".
A second case of the new Chinese coronavirus has been found in Thailand, with a Chinese woman quarantined since her arrival this week.
Cricket coach accused of grooming in NSW
A 31-year-old cricket coach has been charged over alleged sexual acts and grooming of a teenage boy in the NSW Illawarra region.
Arrest warrant issued for $111m NFL star
Cleveland Browns' star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr is wanted in the US after an incident that was captured on social media.
Murderer spared hours before execution
A death-row inmate who murdered a convenience store worker has been granted clemency in a last-minute decision while awaiting lethal injection.
The Taliban has signalled it is ready to implement a 10-day ceasefire with US troops if an agreement with US negotiators is reached in Doha.
Some local shops on the NSW south coast have already gone bust after the bushfires and more could also be financially ruined if tourists do not return soon.
Recording Academy puts CEO on leave
The Recording Academy in the US has has placed its president and chief executive on administrative leave just days before the Grammy awards.
Equestrian accused of rape to stand trial
A Victorian equestrian accused of raping a fellow rider has been committed to stand trial.
No alcohol charges in Aurukun Qld riots
No one has been charged for alcohol related offences in the wake of riots in the remote Cape York community of Aurukun.
Awards clean sweep awaits Aussie golden boy
After enjoying the most prolific calendar year by an Aussie quick since Mitchell Johnson 10 years previously, Pat Cummins is all the rage to become Australia's latest ultiple AB Medal recipient.
Heartbreaking image from firey's funeral
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Climate activists have targeted Perth's fringe festival launch over its partnership with major oil and gas company Woodside Energy.
Colt to make return ahead of Time
Former top two-year-old colt Time To Reign will finally make his long-awaited return to the track at Flemington in the Kensington Stakes, but his autumn plans are still unclear.
Iran's top leader to lead Friday prayers
As Iran deals with the death of a top general and the mistaken downing of a jetliner, its supreme leader will lead Friday prayers for the first time since 2012.
China has reported a second death from a new coronavirus found in the central city of Wuhan and linked to a seafood market.
Man jumps dock, escapes NT court house.
An 18-year-old man has jumped the dock and escaped court in Alice Springs and police are on the hunt after he ran off along the dry Todd River.
Enormous cost of bushfires revealed
Australia's devastating and deadly bushfires crisis will come at an unprecedented cost, experts have revealed, dwarfing every other natural disaster.
Australian Economy
A 20/20 start to the New Year in Glenhaven
The real estate market has kicked off for the year in Glenhaven with a very appropriate $2.020m paid for a three bedroom home – believed to be suburb record.
Sydney's SiteMinder latest Aussie unicorn
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$20m committed to rebuild NSW schools
The NSW government has committed about $20 million to repair all 178 schools affected by the state's bushfire crisis.
The impeachment trial for Donald Trump is underway with the swearing in of the presiding judge, and the next few days will set rules for how it will proceed.
Stories from around the world overnight.
Public appeal after NSW woman's body found
Police are appealing for help from the public as they investigate the suspicious death of 50-year-old NSW Central Coast woman Joeanne Rodgers.
Fledgling bank claims $1 billion loaned
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Wildlife carers are doing all they can to help injured animals recover after the devastating bushfires on the NSW south coast.
Protests in France amid pension strikes
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Compensation sought for Iran crash victims
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Sydney woman 'forced into bleach bath'
A 40-year-old man allegedly held an 18-year-old woman prisoner and forced her to bathe in bleach, NSW Police say.
Charge after crash kills elderly WA man
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Rio's iron ore drops after cyclone, fire
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Sect carried out deadly rituals in Panama
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Aussies see bias, commercialism in news
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Elderly woman threatened in Melb robbery
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Taiwan confirms passage of US warship
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Man reported over grass fire at Clarendon
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China virus: SARS-like infection spreads to Japan from Wuhan


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HOME ABOUT US SURROUNDINGS HOW TO FIND US ROOMS CONTACT
Taormina & surroundings
Isola Bella The Piazza
B&B Surroundings:
Further info: www.taormina.it
Taormina Greek Theatre
Castiglione di Sicilia Forza D'Agrò
One hours drive north on the A18 motorway, Taormina is Sicily's most picturesque medieval town, perched high on a rocky hillside and offering stunning views of Southern Calabria, the Sicilian coastline and smoking volcano.
A favourite playground of the European Jet-set, it houses the Taormina International Film Festival in June, the Womad Music Festival in July and Arts Festival throughout July and August. These include open-air performances in the most dramatically located Greek theatre in the whole of Italy. Taormina is very expensive and busy in summer however, it still retains just enough of the hilltop village character, which seduced the likes of D.H. Lawrence and Goethe.
For a refreshing swim and sunbathe, you can take a short cable-car ride down the hillside to the WWF protected marine park of Isola Bella ('the beautiful island'), one of the most spectacular coastlines in Sicily. The water here is crystal clear and rich in sea life, so perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving.
In addition to the spectacular gorges of the nearby Alcantara Valley, the hills surrounding Taormina have preserved timeless, sleepy villages such as Castiglione di Sicilia from the ever-changing world. It was the particular charm of these villages that inspired Francis Ford Coppolato feature Savoca (with its eerie catacombs) and Forza D'Agro as locations for The Godfather films.
5balconi B&B


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This is the annual migration of Snow Geese from Wrangel Island, Russia to Delta, BC, Canada. They travel in flocks of hundreds and spend winter in BC and Washington before heading back to Russia in Spring.


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Mars' Ocean May Have Descended Into the Mantle of the Planet
The water may not have been long for that world.
By John Wenz
Jon Wade and James Moore
Like a punk band or a mob informant, Mars' ancient water may have gone underground as the planet's climate rapidly changed.
In a study published today in Nature, researchers outlined the ultimate fate of Martian water. As Mars' atmosphere thinned out, much of the water evaporated and escaped with other gases. While some water froze on the surface, the rest, according to the study, slowly descended into the volcanic rock of the mantle of Mars about 2.5 billion years ago.
The majority of the water may have, in fact, moved up to 60 miles below the surface of Mars.
"This is around double that for Earth, and as a percentage of the planet, significantly higher," study author Jon Wade of the University of Oxford says.
Much of the water is now trapped in crystalline rocks, which is also common in Earth's mantle. The iron-rich chemistry of Mars acted a bit like a sponge, soaking up more water than materials in Earth's mantle, like ringwoodite, can absorb. The amount of iron-bearing rock was enough to swallow a two-mile deep ocean worth of water.
After the water seeped into the deep rock, it never returned to the surface due to the density of the amphibole rock that the water moved into. This geology, plus Mars' smaller size, have kept the water trapped beneath the surface for billions of years.
"On early Earth, hydrated crustal rocks would tend to be less dense than their anhydrous equivalents, meaning they would 'float' near the surface until they have lost their water. This provided a return path for surface water back to the surface of early Earth," says Wade. "On Mars it was the opposite story—hydrous, dense rocks would have tended to sink, locking the water away in the upper mantle."
Because Mars is cold and not terribly geologically active, it's unlikely, Wade says, that any aquifers of water persist in the upper mantle, though he is uncertain if liquid water might survive at deeper levels. It paints a bleak picture for early Mars, but one that may well answer where the oceans of the Red Planet disappeared to.
"We're suggesting, Mars, by virtue of its chemistry, was doomed from the start," Wade says.
More From Moon and Mars
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The Nuclear Energy That Gets Us Back to the Moon
Watch China Launch Its Lunar Sample Return Mission
Elon Musk: Glass Domes First, Then Terraform Mars
Astronomers Want to Put a Telescope on the Moon
SpaceX Says There Are No Laws on Mars
Molecular Water Found on the Moon
Musk's Mars City Will Have to Pass This Acid Test
How to Get a Perfect View of Mars This Week
Watch NASA Launch its New Space Toilet to the ISS
Moon and Mars
Saturn's Moon Dione May Have an Ocean, Too
Phoenix Lander May Have Found Ice on Mars. So What?
Scientists Found Meteorite Fragments in the Ocean
Mars May Have Had Rings, and They May Come Back
Curiosity May Try to Sample the Water on Mars
NASA's Mars 2020 Rover Will Carry a Piece of Mars


I will beat it to the morels.
I knit the top of the body of a snail today. This snail-to-be is dedicated to Christina Campbell, who gave me, The Song of a Wild Snail Eating, by Elisabeth Tova Bailey.
Even if you don't give a rip about snails, you're likely to develop a deeper appreciation for them after reading this author's account of living with her debilitating disease while serendipitously finding comfort through the companionship of a snail. Brought in to her recovery room on a houseplant, you'll learn fascinating facts about these creatures, and that they have personality, too.


Changes the default textures for Aerosim's DC10-30 cockpit to remove the "light" that they painted into the texture.
Scenery to add the most famous airbase that never was to FS2004. Includes Janet flights to/from nearby KLAS.
Reskin for the default Boeing 737 that comes with Flight Simulator.
Skin for Pacific Sun to be used with Marcel Kuhnt's BN-2. Registry is DQ-FCX.
FSFrance Concorde updated and enhanced for FS2004.
Korean Airlines HL8241 by special request. Textures for Overland's 737-800 payware model.
Skin for Air Pacific to be used with Overland Simmer's Sky Boeing 737-800.
This is a repaint for the Simmer's Sky / Overland A300 model. While the Pan Am A300's were not A300-600's, they were very similar. This skin repaints the A300 as Pan Am's Clipper Miami Reg N205PA.
New panel that corrects errors in the original file, and adds missing "Flight Mode Annunciator" to the VC and 2D panels. Also has working Backcourse button for AP and GPWS/GS warning lamps.


text:
Tag: mega man
Keiji Inafune announces Mighty No. 9, a crowdfunded spiritual successor to Mega Man
Capcom may not think there's a market for Mega Man games anymore, but that isn't stopping Mega Man's creator from creating his own brand new (and amazing looking) Mega Man-style platformer.
Capcom hit with layoffs, including American senior VP Christian Svensson
Capcom announced today that they have a laid off a number of their American employees as part of a restructuring initiative within the company. Among those laid off was Capcom USA senior VP Christian Svensson, who was well known in the gaming community for his candid …
Top 10 Characters Who Deserve To Be In The Next Smash Bros.
At E3, Nintendo revealed that Mega Man — Capcom's beloved but oft-neglected robot mascot — would be joining the cast of the next Super Smash Bros. game, which is being developed for both the Wii U and the 3DS. Mega Man's return was definitely a pleasant …
Sakurai explains why Mega Man, the Villager, and Wii Fit Trainer are in Smash Bros.
Super Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai has an article in the latest issue of Famitsu (translation via Polygon,) where he explains how Mega Man, Animal Crossing's Villager, and the Wii Fit Trainer ended up in Nintendo's latest melee.
New Smash Bros. Trailer Introduces Wii Fit Trainer to the Fight
The internet gave a collective "Woooo" in their best Ric Flair voice yesterday as Nintendo finally lifted the lid on the Namco Bandai co-developed Smash Bros. title set to release next year. They further cheered at the inclusion of the Blue Bomber himself, Mega Man, as …
Super Smash Bros. announced for 3DS and Wii U, features Mega Man
Nintendo finally lifted the veil off the latest Super Smash Bros. game this morning, and fans of classic games should have a lot to look forward to with Nintendo's latest cross-over brawler.
Retro Round Up: Final Fantasy, DuckTales, and the no win situation of retro re-releases
Retro Round Up is a regular feature that takes a look at what's new in the world of old games. This week I'll discuss the reception that Final Fantasy X HD and DuckTales HD have received since they were announced, and ask the question: what do …
Capcom was going to publish "Maverick Hunter," a gritty Mega Man FPS made by former Metroid Prime devs
It usually sucks to hear that a game in development has been cancelled: I'm still reeling over Starcraft Ghost's cancellation, and that happened over 7 years ago. Mega Man fans know that pain all too well, as Capcom pretty much cancelled all future Mega Man projects …
Storm Unity Hosts 24-Hour Mega Man Marathon for Charity this Weekend
If you're in the mood to make the world a better place, you should consider heading over to Storm Unity's official Twitch channel this weekend. Beginning Saturday, February 16 at 6:00pm ET, they will host a 24-hour Mega Man marathon in celebration of the blue bomber's …
Project X Zone, the Capcom vs Namco vs Sega crossover S-RPG, is finally coming to the US
When Project X Zone was first announced in Japan, few people thought that the massive crossover game would ever make it to the States: while Sega, Capcom, and Namco are pretty buddy-buddy in Japan, most people assumed that there'd be too much legal wrangling and rights …
Retro Round-Up: 25 Years of Mega Man
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the original Mega Man for the Famicom, and I thought I'd mark the occasion with a look back at some highlights (and low lights) from the Blue Bomber's history, ranging all the way from his 8 and …
Capcom announces free crossover game Street Fighter X Mega Man
Sometimes I hate Capcom, sometimes I love them, and today, I definitely love them: today Capcom announced Street Fighter X Mega Man, a brand new 8-bit style platformer that pits Mega Man against 8 of Street Fighter's most iconic world warriors.


The Internal Revenue Service is warning about yet another bogus e-mail that looks like it was sent by the agency. The scam offers recipients $80 for participating in an online survey. Along with customer satisfaction questions, the survey asks participants for their name, phone number and credit card data. (The one I received stated that I have $246.00 refund available and to receive it, click on the attached link.) The info will probably be used to call the participant later in an attempt to get other financial details, which could enable the scammers to withdraw funds from bank accounts, run up charges on credit cards or take out loans in the victim's name. The IRS says it never sends unsolicited e-mail.


If you are restoring an MS SQL database, it is possible that some database users will be orphaned. In order to provide the ability to access and use the database for these users, you need to repair them.
Go to Websites & Domains > Databases > database name.
If you see a warning saying that there are several orphaned users that should be repaired in order to function properly, you have orphaned users who need to be repaired.
To repair orphaned users, click the Repair now button corresponding to the users you want to repair.
Provide password for the users and click Repair.
If a user is supposed to be a system user without a password, leave the password field empty and click Repair.


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Ntsiki Mazwai divorces her family
Ntsiki Mazwai has taken to social media to announce she has officially cut off herself from her family.
The star said she has decided to distance herself from her family, to protect her mental health.
The poet does not even regret her decision, saying she is happy and at peace with it.
Ntsiki did not reveal the main reason why she cut them off but many of her fans wish her the best.
Ntsiki is known for being blunt and direct, and she does not mince her words. The poet is constantly dragging SA celebs on social media and only a few are on her good books.
Nstiki is the daughter of Dr Thami, who was an editor of The Sowetan, while her mother, Belede Vabaza, devoted her life to journalism.
Her sisters are Thandiswa and Nomsa Mazwai and they are popularly referred to as "The Mazwai Sisters."
Ntsiki recently announced that she would be hosting a Twitter space session for cutting family off. She also showed off her boyfriend and said she would be changing her surname soon.
Nota advises Cassper on his dating rumours with Kamo Mphela
Sir Trill announces "Ghost" album


The Lutheran West Longhorns fell to Oberlin 14-1 handing Oberlin their first win of the season. Missing sophomore pitcher Emily Mystic due to a concussion, freshman Aly Silberhorn had to step up, but had a tough night with very little defensive support.
Despite coming out strong and scoring one run in the first inning, West fell apart in the field and at the plate. With the defense making errors on routine plays, Oberlin was able to score 14 runs, ending the game in five innings.


According to Fort Bend Country Commissioner Andy Meyers, TxDOT has given a completion date for the section of Cane Island Parkway that will open between IH-10 and FM 1463.
The road will open to traffic on Friday, August 31st and this new, direct route between FM 1463 and IH-10 will bring much needed relief to the traffic congestion through the Firethorne and Woodcreek Reserve communities.
The contractor was on schedule to have this road open well before school started, but FM 1463 is a state-owned road and the intersection tie-in has been controlled by TxDOT's scheduling decisions.
On a related note, Phase 2 of Cane Island Parkway is already well underway, as they design the next expansion of roadway to a total of 4 lanes between FM 1463 and I-10. They are working aggressively to start the bid phase of the project in Spring 2019, and are already going through design comments with TxDOT. More progress on this road will begin in the coming months.
The new thoroughfare will make a dramatic improvement for Katy families.


Researcher - professor University of Pisa, Italy, since 1999.
Valerio Ascani, Italian art historian, educator.
Ascani, Valerio was born on August 21, 1962 in Lucca, Italy.
Fine Arts University Degree, University of Rome, 1982—1986. Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, University of Rome, 1993.


text:
High School Football: Smoot, Tolliver lead Springfield past Fairmont
By Jeff Gilbert
Jeff Tolliver returned to the Springfield sideline twice Friday night after breaking tackles on long touchdown runs. He knew who to thank.
"I told them on the sideline it was one of their best games and they've got to keep that up," Tolliver said. "We used to be on them all the time, so they felt love when a running back said how good the line's blocking."
RELATED: Week 5 scores, boxscores
»RELATED: Trotwood player 'conscious' after collapsing in 'full arrest'
High-scoring offenses thrive on good blocking, and Springfield's backs and receivers are making big plays. The Wildcats (4-1, 1-0) are averaging 37 points in their victories following Friday's 34-7 Greater Western Ohio Conference victory over winless Fairmont.
"That's the best football team we've seen and probably will see," Fairmont coach Dave Miller said. "They're destroying people, and there's no shame in losing to them."
Tolliver was the most difficult Wildcat to stop. He scored on runs of 46 and 26 yards and rushed 10 times for 122 yards. Once he got to the second level of the defense he made defenders miss, bounced off them and outran them.
"Just run, just run, that's all I'm thinking," Tolliver said. "Hit the hole as fast as you can, try to juke a defender."
Tolliver has speed and power and fellow senior Tay'Veon Smoot is a mountain to bring down at 5-foot-11 and 238 pounds. He had a modest 48 yards on 14 carries, but he leads the team in carries and has rushed for 382 yards. Tolliver has 466 and is averaging 10 yards a carry.
The passing game is led by sophomore quarterback Te'Sean Smoot and receivers Larry Stephens, Jalen Minney and James Wood. Smoot was 5 of 6 passing for 64 yards and three touchdowns. Halfway through the season he has thrown for 905 yards, nine touchdowns and only one interception. Stephens, who has committed to Toledo, caught touchdowns of nine and six yards and has 22 catches and seven touchdowns. Minney caught a 27-yard touchdown pass to start the scoring against Fairmont.
"We felt confident in our offense tonight to do some of the things we've been successful doing this season," Springfield coach Maurice Douglass said. "It allows you to be balanced because you've got guys at different positions."
Fairmont (0-5) was still determined to make it a close game just like the last three times these teams have met when the Firebirds won twice and Springfield won in the playoffs last year. They drove 74 yards in 17 running plays in 9 minutes and 16 seconds to cut the Wildcats' lead to 21-7 just before halftime on Trey Baker's two-yard run.
The Firebirds started the second half the same way, running inside and using the option to get outside, including converting a fourth down on a fake punt near midfield. But at the Springfield 25 the Firebirds fumbled and the Wildcats' Delian Bradley recovered. The Firebirds fumbled again a few minutes later and Springfield finished strong with two touchdowns.
"It could've gone that way," Miller said, referring to the recent tussles with Springfield. "If we make it 21-14, it's a knock-down, drag-out."
Douglass said the past three meetings with the Firebirds were cold and wet. He was thankful for the summer-like conditions this time.
"Having a dry surface — it's September, not November … do you remember," he said, almost breaking into song. "It's September and it's a different story on the scoreboard."
Jeff Gilbert


text:
/*
 * player.cpp
 *
 *  Created on: Jan 27, 2013
 *      Author: faye
 */
#include "include/player.h"
#include "SDL/SDL.h"

//The dimensions of the player
const int  Player::PLAYER_WIDTH = 28;
const int  Player::PLAYER_HEIGHT = 28;

const int Player::PLAYER_SPRITE_UP = 0;
const int Player::PLAYER_SPRITE_DOWN = 2;
const int Player::PLAYER_SPRITE_LEFT = 3;
const int Player::PLAYER_SPRITE_RIGHT = 1;

Player* Player::player;

Player::Player()
{
	this->width_ = PLAYER_WIDTH;
	this->height_ = PLAYER_HEIGHT;
    //Initialise the location and velocity
    this->x_ = 0;
    this->y_ = 0;
    this->xVel_ = 0;
    this->yVel_ = 0;
    this->clip_ = 0;
    this->multiMove_ = Configuration::GetInstance()->GetMultiMove();

    this->buttonLock_ = false;

    this->flagUp_ = false;
    this->flagDown_ = false;
    this->flagLeft_ = false;
    this->flagRight_ = false;

    SDL_Rect camera = { 0, 0, Configuration::GetInstance()->GetScreenWidth(), Configuration::GetInstance()->GetScreenHeight() };
    this->camera_ = camera;
}

Player::~Player()
{
}

void Player::handleInput(int type, int key)
{
	if(this->multiMove_)
	{
		this->multiMoveInput(type, key);
	}
	else
	{
		this->singleMoveInput(type, key);
	}
}

void Player::singleMoveInput(int type, int key)
{
	//If a key was pressed
	if(type == 0)
	{
		if(!this->buttonLock_)
		{
			//Adjust the velocity
			switch(key)
			{
				case SDLK_UP: this->yVel_ -= this->height_ / 2; this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_UP; this->flagUp_ = true; this->buttonLock_ = true; break;
				case SDLK_DOWN: this->yVel_ += this->height_ / 2; this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_DOWN; this->flagDown_ = true; this->buttonLock_ = true; break;
				case SDLK_LEFT: this->xVel_ -= this->width_ / 2; this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_LEFT; this->flagLeft_ = true; this->buttonLock_ = true; break;
				case SDLK_RIGHT: this->xVel_ += this->width_ / 2; this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_RIGHT; this->flagRight_ = true; this->buttonLock_ = true; break;
			}
		}
	}
	//If a key was released
	else if(type == 1)
	{
		//Adjust the velocity
		switch(key)
		{
			case SDLK_UP: if(this->flagUp_){this->yVel_ += this->height_ / 2; this->buttonLock_ = false; this->flagUp_ = false;} break;
			case SDLK_DOWN: if(this->flagDown_){this->yVel_ -= this->height_ / 2; this->buttonLock_ = false; this->flagDown_ = false;} break;
			case SDLK_LEFT: if(this->flagLeft_){this->xVel_ += this->width_ / 2; this->buttonLock_ = false; this->flagLeft_ = false;} break;
			case SDLK_RIGHT: if(this->flagRight_){this->xVel_ -= this->width_ / 2; this->buttonLock_ = false; this->flagRight_ = false;} break;
		}
	}
}

void Player::multiMoveInput(int type, int key)
{
	//If a key was pressed
	if(type == 0)
	{
		//Adjust the velocity
		switch(key)
		{
			case SDLK_UP: this->yVel_ -= this->height_ / 2; this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_UP; this->flagUp_ = true; break;
			case SDLK_DOWN: this->yVel_ += this->height_ / 2; this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_DOWN; this->flagDown_ = true; break;
			case SDLK_LEFT: this->xVel_ -= this->width_ / 2; this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_LEFT; this->flagLeft_ = true; break;
			case SDLK_RIGHT: this->xVel_ += this->width_ / 2; this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_RIGHT; this->flagRight_ = true; break;
		}
	}
	//If a key was released
	else if(type == 1)
	{
		//Adjust the velocity
		switch(key)
		{
			case SDLK_UP: this->yVel_ += this->height_ / 2; this->flagUp_ = false; break;
			case SDLK_DOWN: this->yVel_ -= this->height_ / 2; this->flagDown_ = false; break;
			case SDLK_LEFT: this->xVel_ += this->width_ / 2; this->flagLeft_ = false; break;
			case SDLK_RIGHT: this->xVel_ -= this->width_ / 2; this->flagRight_ = false; break;
		}

		this->spriteCheck();
	}
}

void Player::spriteCheck()
{
	if(this->flagUp_)
	{
		this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_UP;
	}
	else if(this->flagDown_)
	{
		this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_DOWN;
	}
	else if(this->flagLeft_)
	{
		this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_LEFT;
	}
	else if(this->flagRight_)
	{
		this->clip_ = PLAYER_SPRITE_RIGHT;
	}
}

void Player::move()
{
	/* TODO:: Stop grabbing this every time a player moves. */
	/* When the current level is set, pass across player boundries */
	Level* pLevel = WorldBuilder::GetInstance()->GetLevelById(Configuration::GetInstance()->GetCurrentLevel());

    //Move the player sprite left or right
	this->x_ += this->xVel_;

    //If the player sprite went too far to the left or right
    if( ( this->x_ < 0 ) || ( this->x_ + this->width_ > pLevel->GetWidth()) )
    {
        //move back
    	this->x_ -= this->xVel_;
    }

    //Move the player sprite up or down
    this->y_ += this->yVel_;

    //If the player sprite went too far up or down
    if( ( this->y_ < 0 ) || ( this->y_ + this->height_ > pLevel->GetHeight() ) )
    {
        //move back
    	this->y_ -= this->yVel_;
    }
}

void Player::show()
{
    //Show the player sprite
	DrawManager::getInstance()->drawPlayer((this->x_ - this->camera_.x), (this->y_ - this->camera_.y), this->clip_);
}

void Player::set_camera()
{
	/*TODO:: Stop grabbing this every time a player moves.*/
	Level* pLevel = WorldBuilder::GetInstance()->GetLevelById(Configuration::GetInstance()->GetCurrentLevel());

    //Center the camera over the player
    this->camera_.x = (this->x_ + (this->width_ / 2)) - (Configuration::GetInstance()->GetScreenWidth() / 2);
    this->camera_.y = (this->y_ + (this->height_ / 2)) - (Configuration::GetInstance()->GetScreenHeight() / 2);

    //Keep the camera in bounds
    if( this->camera_.x < 0 )
    {
    	this->camera_.x = 0;
    }
    if( this->camera_.y < 0 )
    {
    	this->camera_.y = 0;
    }
    if( this->camera_.x > pLevel->GetWidth() - this->camera_.w )
    {
    	this->camera_.x = pLevel->GetWidth() - this->camera_.w;
    }
    if( this->camera_.y > pLevel->GetHeight() - this->camera_.h )
    {
    	this->camera_.y = pLevel->GetHeight() - this->camera_.h;
    }
}

SDL_Rect Player::get_camera()
{
	return this->camera_;
}


text:
Preventing Traffick: Human trafficking in your yard
WARNING: This story incorporates graphic content material associated to violence and abuse, and could also be disturbing to some readers. If you happen to or somebody you understand could also be a sufferer of human trafficking, you possibly can name the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010
"We misplaced two ladies by way of that place proper there," Megan Walker mentioned declaring a quick meals restaurant close to an exit to Freeway 401. "Two ladies lured from the money register."
Walker is the not too long ago retired Govt Director of the London Abused Girls's Centre. Over a decade in the past, she expanded the centre's focus from victims of home abuse, to advocating for and supporting victims of male-dominated violence, together with trafficking survivors.
Over the course of a number of weeks, Walker took the "VeraCity: Preventing Site visitors" crew for a tour of native trafficking sizzling spots – the therapeutic massage parlours, the resorts and the nieghbourhoods the place victims are sometimes pressured to work. She is aware of these roads as Walker has been driving them for years, looking for traffickers, johns and victims.
"Intercourse trafficking is the deliberate, manipulative, misleading means to lure ladies and ladies right into a scenario the place they're offering sexual providers in opposition to their will," Walker defined.
Concrete statistics aren't accessible, as a result of most victims don't go to the police and if they can go away, don't entry providers the place they are often counted.
Knowledge from Statistics Canada signifies that 95 per cent of police-reported incidents of trafficking in 2019 concerned ladies and ladies. The Centre to Finish Human Trafficking places that quantity nearer to 90 per cent, primarily based on knowledge from service suppliers and police. Most are Canadian, 86 per cent, and almost 90 per cent are underneath the age of 35, with 21 per cent underage.
Indigenous ladies and ladies are overrepresented on this group, and in keeping with the Centre to Finish Human Trafficking, usually tend to be trafficked after travelling to city centres from distant communities to start college or search out employment alternatives. The common age of a trafficking sufferer in Canada is barely 17, and might be as younger as 13.
"Many households have misplaced a daughter to a trafficker, Women who could have by no means even had intercourse earlier than," mentioned Walker.
She is surveying a very seedy resort – a sequence resort – situated proper off the 401, one of many busiest intercourse trafficking corridors in Canada. We watch as a lady exits the resort with a baby on her hip.
She brings the toddler to a person who has been sitting in a parked automobile, engine working, since we arrived. She isn't his first customer. She palms over the kid and walks again within the resort with a person that arrived within the lot a number of moments earlier.
"Traffickers are sometimes assembly notably younger ladies on-line, and that's how they're luring them and getting them concerned. By manipulation and deceit," Walker explains. "It's all on-line boards. Twitter, Fb, Instagram, all of them."
The lady comes again to the van. Her companion exited the resort a number of moments earlier. She takes again the kid and chats with the person within the automobile for a couple of minutes earlier than heading again inside with the child.
Intercourse trafficking is rampant. Statistics Canada reviews that in 2019 there have been 511 police-reported incidents of human trafficking – a 44 per cent improve over the yr earlier than – however, once more, most instances aren't reported to police.
The London Abused Girls's Centre noticed 1,220 distinctive human trafficking victims between January 2020 and June 30, 2021 in simply considered one of their packages. Throughout that very same time interval, London Police solely laid 28 trafficking prices.
The Centre to Finish Human Trafficking has tracked six key routes for traffickers – the 401 hall from Windsor by way of to Montreal, the West Coast circuit, the Trans-Canada freeway, Calgary/Fort McMurray, Northern Ontario-Winnipeg and Nova Scotia/New Brunswick. Most frequently victims are transported by automobile and are pushed by the trafficker.
Whereas films and mass media tradition could have primed folks to see trafficking victims as kidnapped off the road and compelled to service folks whereas chained to the mattress, that's not usually the case.
Whereas organized crime—biker gangs, road gangs – have a robust foothold within the trafficking world, the Romeo pimp is the commonest. An estimated 25 to 50 per cent of traffickers are boyfriends or girlfriends of the victims, who could or could not have gang ties.
"My trafficker was my boyfriend," Caroline Pugh-Roberts mentioned, her undercut shaved head tied again in an extended braid, donning a "Cease Human trafficking" shirt. "Eight years – up and down the 401."
Caroline was 35 years outdated when she began being trafficked. "These traffickers … have an innate and astute skill to sense and odor vulnerability."
In Pugh-Robert's case, it was grieving over the deaths of her husband and mom. In lots of different instances, it's prying on younger ladies's shallowness, physique picture points or socio-economic and household struggles.
"They suppose they're in love," Pugh-Roberts mentioned. "I had nothing and I got here to consider the one motive I used to be alive was due to my trafficker."
Pugh-Roberts mentioned it began small – her trafficker was out of labor and so they wanted cash for lease. He requested her to bounce at native strip bars so they might shortly earn some money. She hadn't finished it earlier than and didn't need to, however "thought I used to be doing for household. That is what household does."
It turned ugly – quick. She had quotas.
"I by no means had a quota [of] lower than $500 an evening, generally extra," mentioned Pugh-Roberts. She additionally shortly discovered that meant doing far more that simply taking off her garments. "Anyone who tells you that stuff shouldn't be occurring in strip bars both has by no means been or is mendacity. Every thing goes on in strip bars."
Pugh-Roberts takes us to a strip bar situated on a rural highway, surrounded by fields of crops, pastime farms and the occasional sound of horses and cows. It's in the course of nowhere. This was her dwelling base.
"If I didn't make sufficient cash contained in the membership, I must come to the car parking zone," including she would do no matter it took to ensure she introduced dwelling her quota. "I by no means went dwelling with out it."
"After I left, I wasn't me. I had PTSD, trauma. I don't need to say I used to be damaged, as a result of ladies don't break, we bend. However I used to be bent. Rather a lot."
When she tried to depart, her trafficker broke all her toes. "That's when he began bringing prospects, johns, no matter you need to name them, to the (motel) room. It simply bought worse."
She finally bought out, however not earlier than having a number of bones damaged, growing an dependancy, and having components of her physique amputated. "After I left, I wasn't me. I had PTSD, trauma. I don't need to say I used to be damaged, as a result of ladies don't break, we bend. However I used to be bent. Rather a lot."
Pugh-Roberts now works for the Salvation Military's Human Trafficking division, serving to trafficking victims escape, and supporting them after they're out.
A automobile journey with Caroline appears like a automobile journey with a 911 dispatcher. One in all her two telephones is at all times ringing. She usually makes it just a few blocks earlier than she wants to tug over on the facet of the highway to attempt to triage survivors' emergencies and wishes.
This might embody a secure mattress for the evening, entry to methadone to maintain them away from opiates, groceries, garments for a job interview, entry to disaster counselling, or assist getting dwelling from a hospital a whole lot of kilometers away.
"Many of the ladies and the lads which are being trafficked don't self-identify, as a result of the phrase trafficking was by no means in my vocabulary. I didn't find out about trafficking. If you happen to used the phrase trafficking to me, I might have like stared blankly," Pugh-Roberts explains on a uncommon break between calls. "I knew I wasn't joyful and I knew I used to be doing stuff that I didn't need to be doing."
A part of her job helps folks come to phrases with what's occurred to them. Pugh-Roberts says she is aware of some folks select intercourse work as a job, however most aren't there by alternative. Walker agrees.
"There are ladies, who're largely high-end escorts, who're making some huge cash," Walker begins. "However the proof helps that the overwhelming majority of ladies and ladies who're in prostitution aren't there by alternative. And the connection between prostitution and trafficking is pretty clear."
"Trafficking is simpler than smuggling weapons. With ladies you by no means run out – your provide doesn't value you something and they're in every single place," Walker mentioned.
"One lady can usher in 200 and fifty thousand to 3 hundred thousand {dollars} a yr for a trafficker. 200 and fifty thousand {dollars}. Take into consideration the variety of males which have paid to rape these women and girls."
Partly 2 of the Preventing Traffick collection, CityNews seems into the place human trafficking is occurring and why it's so tough for police to put prices.