Many people set goals at the beginning of the new year only to stop working towards them in mid-January. One of the reasons this happens is because people set goals that are unrealistic or difficult to work towards. Then it becomes too difficult to hold themselves accountable to the goals or provide a way to measure if they are reaching the goals. How you set goals matters.
The first step is to consider the area you most need to work on. What is important to you? Where are you struggling? For women who have borderline personality disorder (BPD), the following are common areas of difficulty that you might consider.
Do any of those areas stick out to you? What do you need to work on most?
Once you know the general area of life you want to work on, one effective means of setting goals is to use the SMART method. SMART is an acronym that stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. This acronym helps people set and meet objective goals.[i] Consider each part of the acronym as you set your goals for the new year.
Specific – Make sure your goals are not too general. Instead of resolving to "maintain friendships" in 2018, you might resolve to "call my friend Jen once a week," with the purpose of keeping up with that specific friendship. Specific goals are better than general goals.
Relevant – Ensuring that a goal is relevant goes back to picking the area of life you would like to work on. Make sure it is an area that is most in need of work.
A friend can be a great accountability partner, but another option is to find accountability in the context of counseling. Women who have BPD often require dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) or another form of mental health counseling to manage their symptoms and live a healthy life. Oftentimes, an essential part of counseling for BPD is setting goals, maintaining accountability, and tracking progress. Borderline personality disorder treatment for women is a great place to consider what you want in life and how you will get there.
What goals do you have for the new year? What steps will you take to meet them? If you have goals you want to meet, but know you will need regular accountability, call us today to ask how we can help.
[i] Lawlor, K. B. & Hornyak, M. J. (2012). Smart goals: How the application of smart goals can contribute to achievement of student learning outcomes. Developments in Business Simulation and Experiential Learning, 39, 259-267.


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Home POLITICS GOP senators decry 'Jim Crow hearing' over Ga. voting rights law
GOP senators decry 'Jim Crow hearing' over Ga. voting rights law
Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on voting rights on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, April 20, 2021. (Bill Clark/Pool via AP)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 10:35 AM PT – Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Lawmakers in the nation's capitol are clashing over how to move forward with future elections. On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the recently passed voting rights laws in Georgia.
The hearing was dubbed by Democrats as "Jim Crow 2021: The Latest Assault on the Right to Vote." Senate Republicans thought the name was misleading.
"The lack of judgment in this instance not only belittles those who endured such dehumanization and indignity through the Jim Crow-era, it also remind us, reminds all of us or certainly should, of what Jim Crow was and how and when that happened," stated Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).
Democrats, including failed candidate for Georgia governor Stacey Abrams, decried the Peach State's action while claiming the law will hinder minority voices. They painted several provisions as suppressive, including requiring ID's, cutting down early voting in rural and urban communities as well as securing absentee ballot counting.
However, Americans who were around during the Jim Crow-era, such as like Rep. Burgess Owens (R-Utah), believe these claims are greatly exaggerated.
"I grew up in the era of actual legalized institutional racism, I grew up in the deep south of Florida in the 1960s during the days of KKK, Jim Crow and segregation," he explained.
Owens went on to describe the life of minorities in the "Jim Crow south." He explained how he was excluded from movie theaters, how his schools didn't receive their own text books and how lawmakers took action to suppress black voters.
"In addition, Jim Crow laws like poll taxes, property tests, literacy tests, and violence and intimidation at the polls made it nearly impossible for black Americans to vote," he stated. "The section of the Georgia law that has brought some much outrage from the left is simply requiring any person applying for an absentee ballot to include evidence of a government issued ID their application."
The hearing comes amid Democrat attempts to pass H.R.1, or the For the People Act, which attempts to nationalize U.S. elections. Republicans in both chambers argue the bill is unconstitutional by taking away the power to administer elections from state legislatures.
In the meantime, GOP lawmakers in 47 states are proposing more than 350 laws to address election irregularities seen in 2020.
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Below are 2 Stampin' Up videos showcasing Stampin' Up's Monthly Paper Pumpkin Kit. The first video shows you how to assemble the July 2013 Paper Pumpkin Kit; I'm going to laminate my banners so I can reuse them and not get icing on them! The second video shows you how to assemble the June 2013 Kit.
I haven't talked much about Stampin' Up's monthly Paper Pumpkin Kit because most of my customers are experienced stampers and these Kits were designed for beginner stampers or stampers who don't have time to stamp. But I have to tell you that Stampin' Up has really done an awesome job coming up with these quick project kits! These Kits are perfect for the nieces and nephews or grandchildren that you want to craft with, but don't have a long attention span! And they're perfect for stamping with your friend who is always too busy to stamp, but needs a creative break!
After being at Convention last week, I started thinking about how precious time is and how important it is for us to connect with family and friends. I have a new appreciation for this monthly Kit and I realize that it can help us connect with special people in our lives. You can get together and assemble the cards or projects in these Kits in about an hour and have some quality hands-on time with someone. Who isn't proud after they've made something by hand; it helps us grow and heal in so many different ways!
So, just think about signing up and if you do, I would really APPRECIATE it if you chose me (Maria Matonti) as your Demonstrator! You can go to www.mypaperpumpkin.com to register and take advantage of the GREAT Promotion below; I know you'll love getting your monthly project box in the mail! Once you register, the first month's Kit will be the "Welcome Kit"; it will include 4 cards and envelops, stamps and ink, and an Acrylic Block to use for that month and future months of Kits. And the good thing is that you can cancel at any time; there is no commitment period. Have a great week and thanks for stopping by.


I have a lot of time to think as I drive between our Ohio home and Harrisonburg, Virginia where our daughter and her family live. This trip was no different.
Thanks to superhighways, the folded, old age mountain ridges and their accompanying deep gorges and valleys flipped by like shuffled decks of cards. The leaves of their mixed hardwoods already blushed tinges of autumn's arrival.
I thought about the lone, purple cottonwood leaf our six-year-old granddaughter plucked from a quiet mountain brook just a couple of days previous. She and I had spent an hour or more exploring, talking, questioning, and enjoying each other's company in the shallow of a peaceful braided stream.
I found Maren's inquisitiveness as inspiring as our rural, mystical surroundings. Our interactive discussion included but was not limited to geology, theology, erosion, evolution, earthquakes, gravity, rock formations, and bird migration.
I don't know who was more perplexed, me with Maren's significant, thoughtful questions or Maren with my confounding answers. Trooper that she is, Maren didn't seem deterred. In fact, one response only led to another question, and another and another.
I had the time of my life, sitting on these ancient limestone outcroppings, their striations complementing their angular positioning. Maren graciously accepted my academic explanation of how they came to be standing on edge after having once been the bottom of oceans eons ago.
She'd continue her inquiry while simultaneously balancing along the exposed rock layers like a ballerina on a precipice. Patches of the early evening sky filtered through the broken canopy of the maples, oaks, sycamores, and cottonwoods that lined the rocky banks of Capon Run. Despite the string of scorching days, the stream's clear, quiet waters were cold.
We watched water striders break the stillness of the mirrored surface as the spider-like insects foraged. Then came the leaf, a rich, royal burgundy that caught the quick girl's eye.
Maren snatched it from its slow journey downstream, held it up, and asked what kind of leaf it was. I found its parent tree upstream and pointed it out to her. She nodded and released the leaf back to the placid water.
I remember remarking to Maren how different that lone leaf was in color compared to the thousands of green ones that still quaked on the massive branches in the afternoon's warm breeze.
Maren liked that leaf, and so did I. I thought she'd keep it for its rarity. Instead, she let it go, enchanted with its slow twirling atop the crystal water, its impressive ability to avoid the creek bed's rocks and sticks.
I thought about that leaf, those moments with Maren again as I joined a congregate of others to celebrate and mourn the death of my wife's cousin. As loving words poured out for Pam, it hit me that she had a lot in common with that glorious leaf.
She, too, had lived a royal, purposeful life for her family, friends, and those whom she served as teacher, principal, and play director. For all who knew and loved her, Pam had fallen much too soon from the tree of life.
My wife and I are grateful for the creativity and joy our grandchildren bring to life. We are equally appreciative, like so many others, of Pam's leadership and devotion to family, faith, and community.
Just like Maren's mauve leaf, we had to let Pam go, too. Joyfully her journey ended more blissfully than that serene mountain stream setting.
My late friend, Perry Reese, Jr., knew a good thing when he saw it. Perry could read people like a newspaper. Best known as Coach, Perry scrutinized his surroundings similarly.
That fact was one of the main reasons the talented and demanding teacher and coach loved living here. It was not easy for a single, black, Catholic man to reside and work amid the world's largest Amish and Mennonite population. But he did for several successful years until his untimely death in 2000.
Perry thrived here as a winning coach and as an asset to the entire area. Why? He embraced the same core values as those revered by local folks. Work ethic, faith, community, and family together formed his life foundation.
Paramount to making Perry's basketball team, players had to demonstrate a strong work ethic. The same characteristic holds for area businesses, too. Honing that esteemed value keeps the local economy healthy and stable, better than state and national averages.
Perry was a very private person, including practicing his faith. But there was no question as to where Perry stood, and he impressed that on his players.
St. Genevieve Cemetery and Parish.
It's fair to say that local businesses attempt to model that approach with their products, services, employees and customers. The goal: actions match beliefs.
Perry loved the community, and for the most part, the community charitably returned the affection. He knew the importance of positive interactions and interpersonal relationships.
It takes determined effort to work together for the common good in a close-knit community. Though not perfect, this area shines in this regard.
Individuals, groups, clubs, churches and foundations regularly join forces with businesses to assist in time of need. Share-A-Christmas and the new county fairgrounds are two examples that come to mind. Add in the multitude of benefit auctions for individuals and service organizations, the commitment to community speaks for itself.
Despite his singleness, Perry placed enormous significance on the importance of family. In fact, he considered his players his family, and many considered him a father figure.
The fact that so many local businesses are family-owned and operated mirrors that concept. Family is everything here. Any and every good excuse is used to gather the family together any time of year.
Birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, even solemn holy days like Old Christmas and Ascension Day, families assemble to share and commune. That's not to say some good old-fashioned ribbing and recreation won't also ensue.
Gathering of family and friends.
In that same vein, businesses also reward their employees with family days like picnics, destination trips for the entire family, and financial bonuses. After all, a son or daughter might just be part of the next generation of employees.
All that said, it doesn't mean that businesses and owners set themselves on a higher plane than elsewhere. Nor does it mean mistakes don't happen. They do. But incorporating these four essential core values creates productive consistency in both corporate and individual lives.
Another admirable quality, humility, ties these four values together for individuals and businesses alike. Perry Reese, Jr. successfully used that important attribute to bind his teams together as one, just as businesses strive to keep their faithful employees.
These four fundamental principles have been time-honored traditions in Holmes Co., Ohio. In truth, they are revered universal values that transcend any and all geographical, social, political, gender, religious or cultural boundaries.
Friend to many, Perry Reese, Jr. was a gem of a guy, who humbly modeled the community's core values. To do so was simply smart business.
We had just turned out the lights for the night in anticipation of a really good night's sleep when we heard the sirens. With the windows open on this warm and wonderful August evening, the sirens grew louder as they quickly approached.
I headed to the dining room to look north out the windows. Above the stand of giant field corn an eerie dancing orange glow lit up the night sky. We had a big fire somewhere in the neighborhood.
I got dressed as quickly as I could, grabbed my cameras and headed to the garage. In the meantime, my wife had ventured out into the front yard. She reported back that it was either our friend's excavating business or the neighbor's barn that was burning.
Once the parade of responding fire vehicles passed by, I pulled my car onto the road and quickly saw that indeed it was our neighbor's barn. It was fully involved in flames. Only the sheet metal roof remained, held up by the century old timber frame, dark against the constantly changing fiery kaleidoscope that was quickly consuming its host.
With the barn that far gone, the firefighters executed their only logical option. They concentrated their hoses on protecting the other exposures situated around the old bank barn. Soon long streams of water played back and forth dousing the rooftops, cooling them from the ferocious temperatures generated by the destructive flames.
My first instinct was to see what I could do to help directly at the scene. Knowing I'd only be in the way, I instead pulled into my excavator friend's parking lot, focused my cameras and started snapping.
I wasn't alone. Scores of others joined me. Tractors, vans, cars, pickups and bicycles filled the parking lot. Most spectators, like me, were lined along the wire fence that separated a farm field from the parking lot a football field from the blaze.
I photographed the various stages of the fire. Just 11 minutes after I had taken the first picture, the roof succumbed to the inferno. Embers of burning debris cascaded high into the dark sky, carried aloft by a steady south wind.
With the barn completely collapsed, I walked down the road to console the owners and to talk with firefighters that I knew. I was amazed at both their numbers and their efficiency.
Normally, rural areas are hurting for volunteer firefighters. This night, so many men and women in turn out gear or auxiliary smocks had responded to the alarm that they had to take turns spraying water or offering food and drink. The response for this emergency was tremendous. It was an impressive display of community service.
In addition, a gallery of onlookers congregated close to the old farmhouse. Most were family, friends and neighbors who had come to see if they could help in any way. Many had arrived before the first fire engine.
In less than an hour, the bank barn was reduced to burning hay inside of charred basement walls.
I took a few more photographs and spoke with the owners. Everyone was fine. No animals had been harmed, and most of the equipment had been removed from the barn just that day. The only losses were the barn, its storehouse of hay, and personal cultivated memories. Amish church insurance would compensate for the material losses of the accidental fire. The origin of the fire was either from wet hay or sparks from an unattended burn pile several feet west of the barn.
I was sad for my neighbors, but heartened by the many people who came to help. A crisis can test the mettle of a community. This August night, its people showed their stuff.
The clean up began the next day amid the ruins of the smoldering barn.
I drove by this Amish produce farm on the way to and from the pharmacy.
I happened into the local pharmacy mid-morning to purchase a few items I needed. It turned out to be much more than a routine shopping trip into town.
The clerk at the checkout counter was a former student in one of the buildings where I had been principal. Normally, upbeat and cheery, I mentioned that she seemed a bit down about something. The young woman replied that the store had been robbed of drugs the previous evening, and that she was still a little jittery from the experience.
I expressed my regrets and sadness to her. I told her that my own parents and my wife's parents had each had been robbed. In the aftermath, they felt violated, insecure and wary. The young woman said she felt the same.
Just then another employee arrived and joined the conversation. She, too, had a school connection. She was an employee, and I had her son as a student.
The scene reflects the lifestyle in Amish country. Though crimes do occur from time to time, the perpetrators are usually caught and convicted.
The women told me that law enforcement officials had arrived quickly, and through the help of witnesses and their police dog, the alleged perpetrator had been caught.
Still, I could see the fear in their eyes and hear the quiver in their voices. At that point, another customer arrived at the checkout counter. Yes, she, too, was another former student.
I recognized her and her freckles, but had to ask her name. I told Heidi she hadn't changed, and she said I hadn't either. I told her to get her glasses checked, and we all laughed.
Given the circumstances and the setting, it was fun just to share a bit of laughter. The kibitzing we did back and forth helped them forget the robbery.
We are fortunate to live in a community where criminal acts are the exception and not the rule. Like my friends at the drug store, we are all connected one way or another.
I think this familiarity with one another develops a certain resiliency with folks. My neighbor's business was broken into. Another neighbor had a valuable deer stolen. Local banks have been robbed, and on and on it goes. Fortunately, these various incidences happened over a long period of time.
There are times when the thoughtless desperation of others interrupts our normal life. And yet, a new day dawns and we go on with our everyday business, trusting, hoping, and praying that all will go well.
Smiles are generally the rule in any Holmes Co. business.
When you live in a community where many people know one another through friendship, work, church, school, neighbors or are related, you tend to feel safe. You also feel connected.
A friend of mine, long since gone, once hosted her grandchildren who lived in a metropolitan area in another state. When it got dark, one of the grandchildren asked if she was going to close the drapes since people passing along the busy highway could see in.
Her reply to the simple question was a life lesson for her grandchild.
There are times when others will take advantage of us for such thinking. But if that happens, friends, neighbors, coworkers, relatives and former students will help us in our time of need.
Sometimes that help simply comes in the form of a little spontaneous laughter that helps keep us connected to one another. In the case of my friends at the pharmacy, the smiles and the laughs in the face of fear were treasures no robber could steal.
Tagged as community, connected, connecting, connections, fear, Holmes County Ohio, humor, relationships, robbery.
Benefit Saturday began with a beautiful sunrise.
This was to be benefit Saturday for my wife and I. I simply couldn't have projected just how beneficial it would end up being.
Before dawn a delightful aroma wafted across the landscape from the Amish farmstead behind our rural Millersburg, Ohio home. A congregation of people was barbequing chicken on portable grill wagons. A generator cast a harsh, artificial light upon the busy group, creating predawn silhouettes.
The benefit barbeque was for a couple that needed financial assistance due to extreme medical bills. She had cancer, twice. He had had surgery that kept him off of work for six months. To help out, we ordered six quarters of chicken to be picked up after 11 a.m.
That was but one of three different fundraisers in which we participated that day. The first began at 7 a.m. with sausage, ham and pancakes. My wife ate the meat. I ate the pancakes. The breakfast was held to raise money for a mission project in Mongolia. An authentic, completely furnished Mongolian ger, a felt lined hut, had been erected in the church fellowship hall for all to inspect.
As tasty as the food was, the fellowship that buzzed around our table was even better. We reminisced with old friends about how our lives had intersected during the ups and downs of life. Breakfast doesn't usually come with dessert, but that's what this conversation ended up being.
Though the chicken cooking was literally in our back yard, we had to pick up our order at a residence a mile up the road. For lunch, Neva and I each downed a quarter of the flavorful hinkel, as the Amish refer to it. We enjoyed the chicken so much I returned to buy more, only to be told that they only had enough to fill the presale orders.
Our Amish neighbors hosted the grilling of the barbequed chicken.
I drove back my neighbors' long graveled lane to where the chicken was being grilled. I got the same answer there, but discovered the full measure of devotion of this gracious act of charity.
More than 80 friends, family and extended family members gathered to do the chicken. A total of four tons or nearly 8,500 quarters of chicken had been barbequed to sell on behalf of this family in need. The charcoal was lit at 5 a.m. The grilling began at 6 a.m. and finished up at 2 p.m. It was an all day deal.
From the looks on the workers faces, they were both elated at the success of their selfless efforts and fatigued from their long hours of hanging around the smoky grill pits. A total of 36 Amish churches helped sell the chicken, and they indeed sold it all. They may have barbequed lots of chicken, but in the process they also cooked up a liberal batch of compassion.
The band, Honeytown, performed at a local coffee shop to help raise money for our church youth group.
In the evening, Neva and I headed into town for a concert by a renowned, local quartet. Honeytown sang and played as a fundraiser for our church youth group. The kids were raising funds to attend a church wide conference in Arizona this summer. Only Mennonites would hold a gathering in the desert in July.
Each of these three benefits had a specific purpose, and each achieved success. Love comes in many shapes, sizes, and means, pancakes, barbequed chicken, and inspirational song among them. Though independent of one another, a common purpose and generous acts of human kindness bound the benefits as one.
We had been thrice blessed. Beneath an umbrella of golden sun and cloudless coral sky, this benefit Saturday had truly been extraordinary.
Kids of all ages inspire me. I guess that had something to do with honing 30 years in public education.
It also motivates me to help award scholarships at the end of each school year for the Holmes County Education Foundation if I can. This year my schedule was free. Once again I found myself seated with several other presenters facing the 2012 graduating class of West Holmes High School, Millersburg, Ohio.
Like the others who announced scholarship winners, my job was a simple one. I merely had to read off the names of the recipients of two different memorial scholarships of two of my very best friends in life. Prior to their deaths, Paul Sauerbrey and Helen Youngs had established the scholarships so that youngsters from future generations would be encouraged to further their education beyond high school. Over the years, the financial assistance has helped dozens and dozens of area students attend college or trade school.
I'm always impressed with how well behaved the graduating seniors are. For them, high school is over. They could be off celebrating. But on a beautiful late spring evening, most of the 179 seniors were on hand to accept a simple certificate awarding them their grant. In some cases, students earned more than one scholarship.
Unlike the caricatures too often portrayed about teens in the mainstream media, these young people are polite, thankful and eager to move forward with their lives wherever that may be. Sure, some of them wear flip-flops while others clop to the stage in high heels.
More creative, free-spirited graduates don expressive attire. One kid once came dressed in pajamas. Nevertheless, the students understand the significance of the situation. In many cases, like my two friends, the money is given in the memory of someone. Several are memorial scholarships named for loved ones who died tragically or unexpectedly.
Prior to announcing the scholarship recipients, I take the opportunity to inform the students about Mr. Sauerbrey and Ms. Youngs. Perhaps this is my teacher instinct still coming out.
Mr. Sauerbrey and Ms. Youngs each were persons who made a huge difference in life, not just for me, but also for the entire the community. I wanted to put some flesh and bones and spirit with the names of the scholarships. The students listened attentively.
Both Mr. Sauerbrey and Ms. Youngs were instrumental in the daily activity of Killbuck, Ohio, the village in which they lived most of their lives. Mr. Sauerbrey taught at the elementary school for most of his 43-year teaching career.
Ms. Youngs worked at Killbuck Savings Bank for 55 years. She also served as the town treasurer for 43 years, and loved to play the organ and sing in the choir at Killbuck Church of Christ.
Previous scholarship recipients have made a difference through their chosen careers. Some have become teachers, doctors, lawyers, bankers and mechanics while others operate their own businesses. Given the grace, respect and appreciation the 2012 graduates showed in accepting their scholarship awards, I expect they will succeed as well.
What really caught my attention though was the support and geniality that the graduating students showed to each other. They truly seemed to care for one another.
If that positive attitude persists in life, these graduates will likely make a difference whatever they do and wherever they land. Mr. Sauerbrey and Ms. Youngs would be very pleased indeed.
It's no accident that buggies, pedestrians and bicyclists are easier to see when traveling the hilly and curvy roads of the area.
Pedestrians, like these Amish school children, are much more visible since they started wearing day glow vests.
The Amish Safety Committee, made up of three Amish men, has been working for 18 years to educate their constituency on road safety. The most recent focus has been on improving visibility.
Drivers who frequent the Amish areas of Holmes, Wayne and Tuscarawas counties can literally see the impact the committee has made. Recognizing the importance of being seen, lighting has been the biggest improvement. In addition to the required slow moving vehicle orange triangle on the rear of the buggy or cart, most horse-drawn vehicles are now well lighted.
"The biggest factor in most car/buggy accidents is speed," said Wayne Hochstetler, of rural Millersburg, and a member of the safety committee. "Drivers just can't judge how fast they come upon a dark colored buggy." Church rules stipulate that buggies be black in Ohio.
Amish buggies, like this one in Holmes Co., OH, are much easier to see thanks to improved marking and lighting.
"The biggest help has been the blinking amber light," Hochstetler said. The light is usually centered at the top of the back of the buggy. It operates on batteries, and some models even provide varying blinking patterns.
"The blinking light tells the driver that a buggy is ahead sooner than the triangle does," Hochstetler said. The committee has suggested other lighting for buggies as well.
"We encourage people to use taillights and running lights for both the front and back," Hochstetler said. Rear lights are imbedded in the body of the buggy, while running lights are on both sides of the buggy.
The rear lights are red, just as they would be on a motorized vehicle. The running lights serve as a form of headlight, although, according to Hochstetler, they are used more to be seen than afford light for the buggy operator to see.
Amish buggies are marked with Slow Moving Vehicle orange triangles, reflective tape, and lights. How they are marked is determined by the church district to which they belong, or which sect of Amish, like the Swartzentruber buggy with no SMV.
In addition, smaller lights are often used on the top front of the buggies, too. These are white, amber or sometimes blue, though law enforcement discourages the latter. Most of the new lighting is LED lamps, which create a brighter, easier to see light. Most buggies also have white reflective tape that outlines the back of the buggy.
The illumination improvements haven't been confined to horse-drawn vehicles either. Many pedestrians and bicyclists now wear reflective and lighted vests for easier visibility. Like the buggy lights, the lighted vests blink at night. Some walkers use LED lamps attached to their hats in order to be seen by oncoming traffic.
Bicycles also use red blinking taillights and bright white headlights. Reflective straps are also used around horses' ankles and on the shafts of the buggies to which they are hitched. This permits reflectivity from traffic approaching from the side.
Drivers of all kinds are reminded to drive safely in Amish country.
Besides Hochstetler, other committee members are Gid Yoder and Rueben Schlabach. Detective Joe Mullet, of the Holmes County Sheriff's Office, and Lt. Chad Enderby, of the Wooster Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, serve as ad hoc advisory members.
Hochstetler said that the grassroots efforts of the committee have been so well embraced by the Amish in Holmes, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties that they have been invited to help form other safety committees in other Ohio Amish communities.
"We have even been asked to share in other states like Indiana, Michigan and New York," Hochstetler said.
Mullet said that even the Swartzentruber Amish, the lowest order of the sect, are now using two lighted lanterns with front and rear lens. They formerly used only one.
Mullet said that he spends several days a year visiting Amish parochial schools to teach the students practical safety measures. They include the proper way to walk and ride bikes to and from school, and encouraging wearing the day glow vests.
Mullet said he often tells personal stories to make it more meaningful for the students. Mullet also has an advantage in keeping the students' attention since he can speak Pennsylvania Dutch with the students.
In addition to being proactive on safety, the Amish for several years have paid a self-imposed donation to the Ohio Department of Transportation to help improve area roadways. Hochstetler said each church district has a person designated to annually collect donations for each horse-drawn road vehicle owned by the household.
ODOT shares the money with county and township officials for local road improvement in areas where Amish live. The money is intended to be a monetary substitution for road improvements in lieu of paying gasoline taxes, which owners of motorized vehicles pay each time they buy fuel.
Donations by Amish families to the Ohio Dept. of Transportation help construct and maintain buggy lanes for safer traffic flow. This buggy was traveling near Mt. Hope, OH.


It's that time of year where every outlet and their mother is inundating your feeds with "best of" lists. So, I figured I'd add on to the stack. But instead of listing games and genres, here's some gaming related stuff that stuck with me this year. So, without further ado, here we go.
This is the trailer that convinced me to buy a Switch. In point of fact, I had written off the Switch as a Wii U part deux, until this trailer hit. The English language trailer does nothing for me, but the Japanese trailer grew hair on my chest and made me grow two inches...somewhere. Regardless, this trailer convinced me that the latest Zelda installment was going to have a masterful plot (LOL on me for that one), but at least the gameplay was top notch. Even if it took a while to get Link up to a point where a feather could kill him in one shot. Great stuff.
I could have listed the entire Persona 5 soundtrack here followed by Nier: Automata's, but this is the song that solidified Persona 5 as something more than just the next Persona installment. It grew hair on my chest, and caused me to lose two inches...somewhere. Regardless, if you listen to this track and your foot and/or head isn't moving, check your pulse. You probably have high cholesterol.
After completing Persona 5 and new game plussing it, it took a lot to get me back into playing a new game. I jumped off of Horizon: Zero Dawn and Super Mario Odyssey pretty quickly. Skyrim on the Switch kind of eased me back into playing in longer segments. But it wasn't until Origins that I started actively playing a game again in long chunks. It wasn't until I realized that Bayek's journey felt a lot like Geralt of Rivia's that I realized that Origins was just Wild Hunt, but in Egypt. Not that that's a bad thing, mind you.
The tissue box to the right of the television still gets me. Every. Single. Time. Move on. Nothing to see here.
I guess the other games on the SNES Classic are okay, but if you didn't buy a SNES Classic for this game, then what are you even doing? This game will grow hair on your chest and grow at least two inches to your shoe size. So what that the PS One version of this game can technically be played on HD televisions. I don't want to deal with those awful load times. That's why I replay Chrono Trigger on the 3DS instead of the PS One version. Load times aren't okay between battles, Sony! Geez!
If you hear otherwise, consider that just fake...nope. Can't say it. Just cue the strings and drop the curtain. It's been fun, folks. See you all next year. Now get off my lawn!


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Macy's Presents Fashion's Front Row to kick off NYFW in September
Macy's New York Fashion Week spectacle Fashion's Front Row is making its return this September. The retailer announced this month that the fashion event show will kick off New York Fashion Week on Wednesday, September 7 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Macy's Presents Fashion's Front Row, the fall season's hottest fashion and music event returns to the Theater at Madison Square Garden with performances by Ariana Grande and Flo Rida, Wednesday, Sep. 7. American Express ticket pre-sale begins on Monday, Aug. 1.
Fashion's Front Row will hold runway presentations from Calvin Klein, I.N.C International Concepts, Rachel Rachel Roy, Tallia, Tommy Hilfiger, and William Rast as well as performances from artists Ariana Grande and Flo Rida. Macy's will also hold the world-exclusive debut of Betsey Johnson's collection inspired by DreamWorks Animation's film Trolls that will open in theaters on November 4.
Much like the 2015 iteration, Macy's will contribute 100% of the Fashion's Front Row ticket sales, minus Ticketmaster and facility fees, to the CFDA and Ronald McDonald House New York.
Macy's launched Fashion's Front Row in 2015 to close NYFW on September 17 with presentations from Heidi by Heidi Klum Intimates, Levi's, Ryan Seacrest Distinction and Tommy Hilfiger among others, as well as performances from Nate Ruess of the Grammy Award-winning band, fun. and Jason Derulo.
Tickets will be made available in August and will be priced at $55 and $80.
New York Fashion Week - Our 4 trends for summer 2022
Best of New York Fashion Week - our top 5
Levi Strauss to acquire athletic wear maker Beyond Yoga
Carolina Herrera's Wes Gordon to receive an award from FIT
Nicky Zimmermann on 'The Postcard' resort 2022; opening in Cannes and making it from Australia
New York Fashion Week gears up for physical come-back in September
Team Canada steps out in Tokyo in uniforms by Hudson's Bay
New York Men's Day to stage in-person shows again
Rent the Runway confidentially files for U.S. IPO
What's Up Fashion New York Fashion Week #2 - Autumn/ Winter 2021/22 Collections


Mineral based, metal offers a great variety of materials: steel, stainless steel, aluminium. They are resistant, stainless or not, and can conduct electricity, heat, sound… Metal can be repeatedly cut, shaped or weld. Its folding capacity allows metal to be used for any application field. Interior or exterior use, metal offers a great range of shapes from thin lines, pure bending or complex shapes. The adaptability of the material coupled with the variety of techniques has great creativity potential. The main goal of Étince!!e, contemporary metal projects company, is to develop the technical and esthetical characteristics of the metal.
Étince!!e is a young company located in the Grenoble region. It offers to private buyers,contractors, retailers, restaurants, bars…contemporary designed metal creations.
I followed a scientific and technical education centred on the study of metal work creation. The diversity of my professional experience (construction site position, workshop, design office, project affairs) allowed me to master the design, specification development and on site execution.
I am interested in the elaboration of contemporary metal innovation and creativity.
I conceive, build and install interior and exterior metal organization. I offer staircases, portals, door awnings, security fences, glass floors, glass walls, furniture…My creations are built from trims and sheet metal. I like to include wood, glass and resin in my creations…Also I work with a network of complementary craftsmen.
I identify the environmental and functional issues brought by projects. My study is based on the customer's desires. While my custom products are simple and original, they are high-quality standards. The harmony of creation within its environment is a priority. I guarantee a perfect custom installation and customer satisfaction.


Over 100 people filled the stands and the lobby at the Upper Pontiac Sports Complex in Chapeau. Pictured, the goalie from team Chartrand dives to sweep the puck away from an opposing forward.
Over 100 Pontiac residents packed the lobby and the cold stands at the Upper Pontiac Sports Complex in Chapeau last weekend for the 14th annual Family Hockey Tournament.


Our property management teams brings a combined 40 years experience in and around the Toowoomba districts. You can be assured that your property is in the best hands.
To view our application form click on the link below.
To view our repair request form, click on the link below.


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Q: Easiest way to script drop and create Azure SQL Data Sync group My sync group is out-of-date and currently not syncing correctly to the member database.
First, I would like to script out the existing definition if possible.
If not possible, then I want to create a PowerShell script to allow me to drop and re-create the group at any time.
This should be easy, as there is a ton of documentation out there.  I am using this knowledge resource:
https://learn.microsoft.com/bs-latn-ba/azure/sql-database/scripts/sql-database-sync-data-between-sql-databases
but I keep running into this error:
Unable to find type [AzureSqlSyncGroupSchemaTableModel]

When I run this line:
$newTableSchema = [AzureSqlSyncGroupSchemaTableModel]::new()

As far as I understand, this is a standard attribute of the namespace Microsoft.Azure.Commands.Sql.DataSync.Model so what am I missing?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Less than one kilometre from Sydney Airport, the new hotel offers business and leisure travellers the comfort of home away from home, with 123 serviced apartments across six storeys consisting of 51 studios, 66 one bedroom and 6 two bedroom units. The hotel offers an airport shuttle and is close to Mascot train station.
Each room has a fully equipped kitchen, as well as in-room laundry facilities and separate lounge and dining areas. An on-site gym is also available, in addition to 24 hour reception and onsite restaurant and bar, Home Bistro.
Guests also have the option of having groceries delivered to their rooms, making meal preparation even easier.
The hotel has two meeting rooms that can also be converted into a theatre style set up, with capacity to host up to 100 delegates.
Following the successful Adina Apartment Hotel Norwest, Adina Apartment Hotel Sydney Airport was a 14 month construction project, in a joint venture with Capital Construction.


Stereotactic radiosurgery is an image-guided form of radiation therapy that uses tiny beams to deliver a single high dose of radiation. This therapy can target very small areas of the brain and neck. It kills cancer cells while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding, healthy tissue.
Doctors also recommend stereotactic radiosurgery to treat arteriovenous malformations, a tangling of blood vessels in the brain.
Despite its name, stereotactic radiosurgery is not surgery. It is an outpatient procedure that involves highly focused, highly precise radiation. You will wear a removable mask to keep your head still. You should tell your doctor if you are claustrophobic.
The procedure is typically a one-day procedure that lasts up to four hours. Patients can return to their normal daily activities the following day.
Because no two people respond to radiation therapy the same way, our radiation oncology team will discuss with you any potential side effects.


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PEAY 73
Austin Peay Overall (4-4)
AAMU 61
Alabama A&M Overall (0-8)
Austin Peay Governors OFF OFF OFF
Alabama A&M Bulldogs OFF OFF OFF
PEAY OFF OFF OFF
AAMU OFF OFF OFF
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Chris Porter-Bunton had 16 points as Austin Peay withstood a second half rally to beat Alabama A&M 73-61 on Saturday night.
Austin Peay (4-4) ran out to a 19-9 advantage midway through the first half and went into the break leading 40-23. The Bulldogs opened the second half on a 16-4 run, outscoring the Governors 24-14 in the first part of the second half to close to 54-47 at the midway point. The Governors held off Alabama A&M in the final minutes, making 10 free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
Jarrett Givens scored 12 points, and Steve Harris and Jabari McGhee added 10 apiece for the Governors, who won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
Jalen Reeder led the Bulldogs (0-8) with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Governors Overall
Governors Away
6:00 PM at Alabama A&M W 73-61
7:15 PM at Troy W 79-74 W (4.5) O (148.5)
1:00 PM at Ohio L 85-82 W (5) O (148)
1:30 PM at Campbell L 78-72 L (1.5) U (153)
10:30 AM at CCSU W 80-78 W (3.5) O (146.5)
6:00 PM at South Florida L 74-70 L (2) U (148.5)
6:30 PM at Mississippi State L 95-67 L (19) O (147.5)
7:00 PM Oakland City W 114-53
6:00 PM Austin Peay L 73-61
7:00 PM UAB L 67-57
1:00 PM at Fordham L 77-46
6:30 PM at Northwestern State L 70-66
5:00 PM at BYU L 91-60
7:00 PM at Rice L 73-59
2:00 PM at Houston L 101-54
6:00 PM at South Florida L 80-63
Chris Porter-Bunton (F) 21:00 6-6 100% 1-1 100% 3-9 33.3% 1 4 0 1 0 0 5 0 16
Jarrett Givens (G) 30:00 4-9 44.4% 2-6 33.3% 2-3 66.7% 1 3 2 1 0 2 0 0 12
Steve Harris (G-F) 23:00 2-7 28.6% 0-1 0% 6-6 100% 1 4 1 3 0 1 1 0 10
Jabari McGhee (F) 14:00 3-3 100% 0-0 0% 4-8 50% 3 5 0 1 0 1 3 0 10
Zach Glotta (G) 33:00 1-4 25% 0-3 0% 7-7 100% 1 1 2 3 0 1 1 0 9
Dayton Gumm (G) 29:00 1-5 20% 0-2 0% 4-6 66.7% 0 2 1 2 0 3 2 0 6
Terry Taylor (G-F) 27:00 2-8 25% 1-2 50% 0-0 0% 1 9 1 2 1 6 4 0 5
Ivan Cucak (C) 18:00 2-2 100% 0-0 0% 1-4 25% 2 4 2 0 1 3 2 0 5
Richard Henderson (F) 5:00 0-0 0% 0-0 0% 0-0 0% 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 0
Jalen Reeder (G-F) 33:00 7-14 50% 2-4 50% 2-3 66.7% 4 10 2 0 0 3 2 0 18
Arthur Johnson (G) 32:00 6-14 42.9% 1-4 25% 3-4 75% 1 6 0 0 0 5 6 0 16
Andre Kennedy (F) 30:00 5-7 71.4% 0-0 0% 3-6 50% 2 7 0 1 0 2 4 0 13
Evan Wiley (F) 21:00 3-5 60% 0-1 0% 0-0 0% 0 1 1 3 0 3 3 0 6
Brandon Miller (G) 28:00 1-3 33.3% 0-1 0% 2-2 100% 0 1 5 0 0 1 2 0 4
Gerron Scissum (G) 20:00 0-2 0% 0-0 0% 3-7 42.9% 1 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 3
Tre Todd (G) 20:00 0-3 0% 0-2 0% 1-3 33.3% 0 0 0 1 0 5 5 0 1
Walter Jones Jr. (G) 9:00 0-0 0% 0-0 0% 0-0 0% 0 0 0 2 0 2 3 0 0
Shaquille Seville (F) 3:00 0-0 0% 0-0 0% 0-0 0% 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0
Brandon Wright (G) 3:00 0-0 0% 0-0 0% 0-0 0% 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
Brandon Houston (F) 1:00 0-1 0% 0-1 0% 0-0 0% 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0


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Torah Portion: Shelach Lecha
On November 11, 1947, in the British House of Commons, Winston Churchill quoted an unknown predecessor when he stated, "Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all the other forms that have been tried from time to time. . ."
In this week's Torah portion, Moses selects a committee of twelve Israelite leaders to scout the Promised Land. Their mission is to "Go up there into the Negev and on into the hill country, and see what kind of country it is. Are the people who dwell in it strong or weak, few or many? Is the country in which they dwell good or bad? Are the towns they live in open or fortified? Is the soil rich or poor? Is it wooded or not?" (Num. 13: 17-20).
From the beginning, Moses knew this unseen Promised Land was better than Egypt in the same way freedom is preferred to slavery. In an effort to achieve "buy in" from a recalcitrant and complaining Israelite population, Moses sent this committee of tribal representatives to ostensibly bring support for his position. What he didn't count on was the possibility that a majority of appointed leaders would bring a negative report. In fact, only two (Joshua and Caleb) suggested the journey to the Promised Land go forward.
The Torah takes exception with the majority report-"And the Lord said to Moses. . .I will strike them with pestilence and disown them. ." (Num. 14:12) Over the centuries, countless scholars have joined in casting aspersion on the tribal leaders who denied the splendor of the Promised Land. Among the commentaries is at least one suggesting Moses' mistake was in sending twelve tribal representatives. He would have been better served selecting one or two of his closest allies to carry out the mission.
Let's not pretend ancient Israelite society was a democracy. We don't live in ancient Israel, but are blessed to live in a democratic nation based on representative government. In theory, democracy affords each citizen the responsibility of determining his or her individual and communal future. Through representative government, each person has a voice and a vote.
For the majority, democracy is always a blessing from God. For those in the minority, it may seem far less blessed. This is the lesson Moses learned and the lesson many of us learn each time we hold an election. Supporting a government of the people, for the people, and by the people even when we stand in disagreement is the price we pay to maintain the democratic rights and freedoms we hold so dear.
"At the bottom of all the tributes paid to democracy is the little man, walking into the little booth, with a little pencil, making a little cross on a little bit of paper-no amount of rhetoric and voluminous discussion can possibly diminish the overwhelming importance of that point." (Winston Churchill, House of Commons, October 31, 1944)


Authorities say police car crashed into a vehicle during a car chase in Tampa.
TAMPA, Fla. - Authorities say police car crashed into a vehicle during a car chase in Tampa, leaving a police officer and two people with minor injuries.
Police in Tampa say officers were chasing a stolen vehicle when their police car crashed into another vehicle.
Four passengers were in that car, and two had minor injuries. They were taken to Tampa General Hospital. Their conditions are unknown.
It's unknown why the crash occurred.
An officer also complained of lower back pain. The officer was treated and released from a hospital.


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5 M, 4 W, 3 that can be any
Published by Pioneer Drama Service
You've heard the story of Cinderella, but did you know that her sassy Godmother also has a tale to tell? When a hardworking fairy named Carol stops by her goddaughter's cottage to borrow a cup of flour, a simple visit quickly turns into a complicated evening of chaos. Carol's plans to bake a batch of brownies are set into a tailspin when a bunch of silly strangers (including a door-to-door salesman, a repairwoman, a pizza delivery boy, and more) show up, hoping to have their wishes granted by the fairy. Making a wish come true should be easy with magic on her side, but an accidental encounter with a fire-breathing dragon renders Carol's wand useless. To top it off, a bunch of mischievous mice are on the loose. Will we ever make it to happily ever after? And will the brownie batter ever find its way into the oven? Audiences and performers will have a ball with this delightful fairy's tale.
A Family Reunion to Die For
Co-written with Matt Steele
4 M, 10 W, 3 that can be any
It's time for the Knotting Family Reunion, and newlywed Christine Franklin is eager to show off her husband Freddie to the family she hasn't seen in years. The joyful reunion quickly turns sour, though, when Aunt Gretchen, Cousin Rachel, and Cousin Stefan are all murdered. The members of the Knotting Family are dropping like flies, and Christine seems to be next in line to become a victim! To make matters worse, a terrible storm has trapped all of the guests inside. It's up to Freddie to catch the murderer and save his blushing bride. After all, he is a detective – well, a mall security guard turned wannabe detective, anyway. Who is trying to wipe out the Knotting family? Is it the pair of squirrel-hunting hillbilly sisters with their rifle? The former Vegas showgirl with a knack for knitting? The maid with a single digit IQ? The grouchy cook? The bitter journalist? The troupe of mimes? Gretchen, Rachel and Stefan return from the dead, and with the audience's help, teach Freddie what it takes to be a real detective. Complete with a hilarious chase scene, a chance for several of the characters to interact with the audience and a few surprising plot twists, this refreshingly fun, murder mystery comedy is the perfect play for high school ages and up.
Offed at the Bake-Off
Published by Eldridge Publishing
Flashback to 1955, the stormy evening before the 33rd annual Knotting Bake-Off, brought to you by J & J Toothpaste. The contestants have gathered at the Knotting Inn down at the Jersey Shore, each hoping that their perfectly crafted baked good will win the coveted blue ribbon. It seems someone's dessert is more deadly than tasty, though, when they discover an entire gaggle of bratty students have been poisoned during a press conference. It is clear that someone at the inn has a sweet tooth for murder. But who could the culprit be? The egotistical bake-off champion? The hard-of-hearing elderly man? The practical jokester nun? The silent fitness model? The clumsy reporter? The amnesiac woman? Or one of the other kooky bake-off contestants roaming around the inn? When a detective (whose name also happens to be Detective) arrives on the scene, he asks the audience to help him figure out whodunit. Flying accusations and flying pies are just a few of the fun ingredients that make this murder mystery a recipe for a hilarious night at the theatre.
An All You Can Murder Buffet
Co-written with Marissa DeYoung, Sabrina Salay, Hannah Singleton, and Matt Steele
7 M, 12 W, 3 that can be any, unlimited extras
Published by Brooklyn Publishers
The Knotting Community College Cheerleading Team is hosting a Protect the Whales fundraiser at IHOFF: The International House of Fried Foods, an all you can eat buffet. Despite a blizzard, the team hopes a large crowd of hungry diners will come out to support the cause. A major celebrity might even show up! But not everything goes quite as planned. When the cheerleaders are poisoned, it becomes clear that someone at the buffet is out for murder. But who could it be? The vivacious female impersonator? The tattooed bikers? The argumentative conjoined twins? The irritable cook? The artistic fashion designer? The love struck ventriloquist? Santa Claus? His elf? Or one of the other zany characters floating around the restaurant? Join psychic Madam Adelina as she attempts to unravel the mystery with some help from the audience. This is a fun show for anyone with an interest in mystery, fashion, cooking, mystery, cheerleading, ventriloquism, mystery, Christmas, tarot cards, mystery, manicures, motorcycles, mystery, and mystery.
Murderous Night at the Museum
Co-written with Kate Sparacio, Matt Steele, and Melissa Stumbaugh
It's time for the Knotting Museum to unveil its newest exhibit, The Tomb of Aepep and His Mistress, and several local celebrities have been invited to the big exhibition. Much to the pleasure of museum curator Darlene Kisser, the event seems to be running smoothly. Smoothly, that is, until the egotistical film starlet, Elizabeth Rose, and the washed-up singer, Joy Mond, are both murdered and panic ensues. Someone needs to figure out whodunit before another murder occurs, and it doesn't take long for each of the guests to begin playing detective. The only problem is that one of these detectives is actually the murderer. Is it the cold cut loving man from New York? His photo snapping wife? One of the bratty teenage twin sisters? The love struck magician? The forgetful chemist? The thief or her clumsy companion? When the museum's mummified exhibit comes to life, the audience has the chance to assist the guests in determining who murdered Elizabeth and Joy. With a slew of zany characters, absurd situations and a messy food fight, this audience participation murder mystery comedy is ideal for high school, college, and community theatre groups.
Till Death Do Them Part
Co-written with Tricia-Rae Parent, Caleb Riggins, and Matt Steele
6 M, 7 W, 8 that can be any, unlimited extras
Published by Big Dog Publishing
Anna and Michael hope their wedding will be the start of a beautiful life together – an occasion they will remember until the day they die. Unfortunately for Anna, that day is today. The bride and groom have invited their feuding families to watch them say, "I do," but when Anna and all of her guests are murdered during the ceremony, it's clear that someone in attendance does not wish to congratulate the happy couple. To make matters worse, an apocalypse has trapped all of the survivors inside. …And one of them is the murderer. It's a good thing the minister also happens to be an online certified private investigator, because someone has to figure out whodunit before the entire guest list is wiped clean. Could it be the love struck hippie? The wimpy bodybuilder? The green faced actor? The pushy Mavon Makeup peddler? The flirtatious politician? The roller skating clown? The sarcastic housekeeper? The silent butler? Or one of the other wacky invited (or uninvited) guests that have shown up to celebrate the occasion? Complete with audience interaction, a tumbling wedding cake, and a few earthquakes, this murder mystery comedy will have you laughing until the end of the world.
It's the familiar story of a secret romance between a royal prince and a royal housekeeper. When news breaks that Prince Derek and Gertrude the maid have been hiding a year-long fling, there's quite a commotion in the palace. King Leonard doesn't have much to say (he's too concerned with napping to worry about anything else), but the ever-opinionated Queen Ann is less than thrilled. That is, until she learns that Gertrude has the special ability to transform ordinary straw into gold. The only problem is it's all a big lie that's quickly spinning out of control. Gertrude finds herself fighting for her job and her love until she discovers that the palace is inhabited by a mischievous, magical little man who can provide just the help she needs…for a price. Based on the classic fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, this adaptation of Rumpelstiltskin will entertain both children and adults until happily ever after.


text:
Parcul Național Lacul Nelson (engl. Nelson Lakes National Park)) este situat pe insula de sud din Noua Zeelandă. Parcul se întinde pe o suprafață de 1020 km² fiind o regiune în nordul munților neozeelandezi (Southern Alps) neatinsă de mâna omului, care este amplasată la 120 km sud-vest de localitatea Nelson. Parcul național a luat naștere în anul 1956, fiind de atunci de câteva ori extinsă, azi cuprinzând și regiunile lacurilor Lake Rotoiti și Lake Rotoroa. În centrul parcului se află satul St Arnaud care este așezat pe malul de nord al lacului Rotoiti. Relieful parcului este pregnată de activitatea ghețarilor din ultima perioadă glaciară. Se mai pot vedea și azi urmele adânci pe munți lăsate în urmă de ghețari, formându-se pe alocuri lacuri glaciare. Piscurile munților depășesc frecvent altitudinea de 2.000 m. Pe versanții lor care uneori sunt prăpăstioși sau coboară în pante domoale, se poate observa vegtația diferită care se schimbă treptat în funcție de altitudine. Pădurile de foioase sau conifere oferă posibilitatea existenței unei flore și faune bogate. Cele mai reprezentante fiind păsările mici Acanthisitta, numite Rifleman sau Titipounamu, șoimii, bufnițele ca și păsările acvatice. În trecut în Noua Zeelandă, nu existau mamifere, însă azi în parc se pot vedea animale aduse de europeni ca: cerbi, câini, porci și șoarceci.
Parcul Nelson este un loc agreat de turiști, deoarece acesta oferă posibilități de drumeție, pescuit sau de a practica sportul de iarnă sau pe apă.

Legături externe
 Department of Conservation (engl.)
 natureandco.co.nz  (engl.)
 Skylark Productions photographic tour of Nelson Lakes National Park  (engl.)

Parcuri naționale din Noua Zeelandă

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Kong: Skull Island will be available on Blu-ray Disc July 18th, and along with the standard (common) editions Best Buy, Target and Walmart will all issue exclusive retailer editions. We wanted to detail those for you here. But first, here's an overview of the standard editions and the extras included (that also come with the exclusive editions).
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will release Kong: Skull Island to Blu-ray, Ultra HD Blu-ray and 3D Blu-ray combo editions, each with two disc versions and a digital copy.
Video is presented at 16:9 (2.4:1) widescreen aspect ratio on all three Blu-ray formats. The 4k Blu-ray disc, of course, improves resolution from 1080p to 2160p and will feature High Dynamic Range (HDR) color enhancement. Audio is provided on all Blu-ray editions in Dolby Atmos backed by Dolby TrueHD 7.1 for systems that don't support Atmos.
Bonus features on Kong: Skull Island include the featurettes Creating a King (Part 1 & 2), Monarch Files 2.0 (Companion Archive), Tom Hiddleston: The Intrepid Traveler, deleted scenes and director's commentary.
Here's a breakdown of the exclusive retail editions of Kong: Skull Island.
If you want to buy all Blu-ray formats in one shot and get great package art along with it, Best Buy's exclusive edition of Kong: Skull Island is the way to go. The 3-disc combo edition is just what we've been looking for, with all formats including standard Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, and 4k Blu-ray. Like other Best Buy exclusives, Kong: Skull Island features Steelbook packaging with a great looking illustration of Kong. The edition is priced high though at $39.99, but does negate the need to buy a second disc if you want to experience 'Skull Island' in both 3D and 4k.
Target's exclusive edition of Kong: Skull Island features special Lenticular packaging, as well as the 12-minute bonus content "A Terrifying Paradise: Creating Skull Island" with cast and crew that takes viewers through the shooting locations and set-up of Skull Island. The edition is selling for $24.99 on Target.
We don't have much on Walmart's edition of Kong: Skull Island, only that it will come in exclusive Walmart Packaging. Pre-orders of the two-disc combo with DVD are selling for $24.96 (List$ 34.99). Walmart is also selling a 2-movie combo with Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla. The edition has a list price of $49.98 but pre-orders are currently selling for $29.96. We'll update this article with details once we have more information.


If I am a third-country national living in Thailand, can I apply for a nonimmigrant visa in Thailand?
Do APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders need to schedule an appointment online when applying for a visa?
Immigrant visa applicant did not receive a packet of documents in a sealed envelope to take along, on the plane to the United States. What should I do?
How to determine if visa was issued under the new paperless process?
Why are some people asked to hand-carry sealed envelope to the U.S. Port of Entry & some are not?
Q.5 If I am a third-country national living in Thailand, can I apply for a nonimmigrant visa in Thailand?
Applicants are generally advised to apply in their country of nationality or residence. Any person who is physically present in Thailand may apply for a visa in Thailand. However, applicants should decide where to apply based on more than just convenience or delay in getting an appointment in their home district. One thing to consider, for example, is in which consular district the applicant can demonstrate the strongest ties.
Q.18 I do not have an internet bank account. Can somebody else pay for me?
If you don't have internet account you can use another online bank account (For example, your relatives or friends) or you can go to the bank personally to pay in cash.
Q.19 Do APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders need to schedule an appointment online when applying for a visa?
Beginning April 1, 2018, applicants with APEC travel cards are not exempt from the online scheduling requirement. To schedule an appointment online, please visit our website here.
Q.20 Immigrant visa applicant did not receive a packet of documents in a sealed envelope to take along, on the plane to the United States. What should I do?
The Department of State has begun electronic processing of some immigrant visa applications. If either the National Visa Center or the embassy/consulate requires that you electronically submit your civil and financial supporting documents via the CEAC portal, then your visa was issued under the new electronic process.
Unless specifically informed by the embassy/consulate which interviewed you and issued the visa, you are NOT required to hand-carry a packet of documents in a sealed envelope to present at the U.S. port of entry. Be assured that your documents were transmitted electronically from the Department of State to the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP), the agency that inspects all immigrants entering into the country. When you arrive at Immigration Control at the U.S. port of entry, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will have access to all of the information required to process your entry into the United States. This new electronic process will streamline the processing of your immigrant visa application and entry to the United States.
Q.21 How to determine if visa was issued under the new paperless process?
Look at your visa. If you do not need a packet of papers, your visa will have an annotation by the bottom right corner of your picture that says "IV DOCS in CCD". This indicates that your immigrant visa was issued under the new paperless process.
Q.22 Why are some people asked to hand-carry sealed envelope to the U.S. Port of Entry & some are not?
No. A refusal, or ineligibility, under section 214(b) is for that specific application, so once a case is closed, the consular section cannot take any further action. There is no appeal process. If you feel there is additional information that should be considered related to the visa decision, or there are significant changes in your circumstances since your last application, you may reapply for a visa. To reapply, you must complete a new application form, pay the application fee, and schedule an appointment for a new interview. Review the website of the U.S. embassy where you plan to reapply to learn about any reapplication procedures.
You may not enter the United States until 10 days prior to your initial employment start date, as noted on your Form I-797.
What do I need to show to pick-up the passport at the courier location?
What happens to my passport if I'm not at home when the courier arrives?
Does my passport have to be delivered to my house?
What do I need to show to the courier when they deliver my passport?
Can someone besides me pick-up or receive delivery of my passport?
You will receive your passport at the courier location you selected at the time you scheduled your interview. If you want to change this location you may do so until 11.59 the day before your appointment. If you are planning urgent travel, choosing the Rong Muang Post Office location may result in a faster pick-up time. The cost of the courier service is included in the visa application fee.
Q.3 What do I need to show to pick-up the passport at the courier location?
Q.4 What happens to my passport if I'm not at home when the courier arrives?
The courier will attempt to deliver your passport only at the address you selected or provided when you scheduled your interview. If the courier is unable to deliver, for example, because no one is home, the courier will leave a notice indicating the attempted delivery. If you receive a notice like this, contact the courier immediately. If your passport is not delivered to you within 15 business days, it will be returned to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If this happens, contact the call center for assistance.
Q.5 Does my passport have to be delivered to my house?
No. Your passport can be delivered to your office or to a member of your family. If your passport is delivered to someone other than yourself, the recipient must present a government-issued photo ID for identification in order to accept delivery of your passport.
Q.6 What do I need to show to the courier when they deliver my passport?
Q.7 What types of ID are acceptable as proof-of-identity?
Q.8 Can someone besides me pick-up or receive delivery of my passport?
Q.9 Do I have to pay any fees for courier services?


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November 21, 2018 Special Sections » Holiday Guide
Green Holiday Getaways
Tired of all the smoke and the bone-dry landscape? Here are some lush getaway spots for the holidays.
By Robert Gammon @RobertGammon
The island of Kauai is the opposite of the Bay Area this time of year.
By the time you read this, the smoke has perhaps cleared in the Bay Area and Northern California. Or, perhaps it hasn't. After all, the Camp fire that began on Nov. 8 was the most destructive and deadly wildfire in state history.
Typically, in our annual holiday getaway guide, we highlight vacation gems in Northern and Central California. But considering the unhealthy air we've been breathing recently, we've decided to focus on some getaway spots that are truly getaways — as in, out of the state.
Most of the locales on our list also offer a green alternative to our brown, dry Bay Area landscape. Of course, if you decide to get out of town this holiday season (or this winter), we strongly suggest that you first do all of your shopping locally. The East Bay is blessed with some of the best shops for gifts and artisan offerings in California (see the rest of this Holiday Guide). Also, we strongly urge you to donate to California fire relief causes (or other worthy charities we highlight on our Smash the Patriarchy for the Holidays story) . Lots of folks, unfortunately, have no place to call home this year, and they need our help.
When we said, "get away," we meant it. Kauai, in many ways, is the polar opposite of California this time of year (at least before the rains arrive in the Golden State). The Garden Island is deeply, lushly green, and feels as if it's worlds away.
If you go, you must spend time on the island's gorgeous North Shore. Hanging out in mellow Hanalei Town, on Hanalei Bay, or nearby Princeville, is guaranteed to melt away the stresses of life in the Bay Area. Stroll through the town's galleries and shops or just relax on some of the prettiest beaches in the world, including Lumahai and Ke'e.
We also believe wholeheartedly that spending time in nature is the best way to rejuvenate. And the North Shore is one of the best places to do it. We're talking about the Napali Coast — 17 miles of stunning coastline, 3,000-foot cliffs, and towering waterfalls. Go for a long hike, or if weather permits, rent kayaks and explore the sea caves (The Napali Coast is supposed to reopen in 2019 after closing last year due to mudslides).
Kauai's South Shore is also a relaxing spot to hang out — especially if it's raining on the wetter North Shore. Go snorkeling or surfing in Poipu Beach, or simply use the South Shore as a jumping off point for the rugged, mind-blowingly beautiful West Shore. A must see: the sprawling Waimea Canyon (known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific). Take a hike along the 3,600-foot-high rim or tromp through dense rainforests nearby — full of streams and waterfalls— that get hundreds of inches of rain a year.
Kauai is known as a hiker's paradise; you'll find out why on the West and North shores.
Vancouver is one of the greenest cities on the West Coast — it gets about 45 inches of rain a year — and it's one of its most picturesque. It's also an urbanist's dream: tall, densely built housing (it's about 2.5 times as densely populated as Oakland), surrounded by acres and acres of parks, plus walking and biking trails along miles of waterfront.
Of course, being a cosmopolitan city of 610,00, Vancouver features numerous great restaurants, museums, shops, and galleries. But we're all about the outdoors, which means spending quality time in Stanley Park, one of the best city parks anywhere. And greenest. At about 1,000 acres, it's roughly the same size as Golden Gate Park, plus it's full of hiking and biking trails and rimmed with beaches.
Also, don't miss Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, a Vancouver landmark featuring a wobbly 450-foot-long walking bridge, 250 feet above the Capilano River, or the Treetops Adventure and its seven walking bridges amid the giant Douglas Firs.
Just north of Vancouver are dozens of parks full of hiking trails amid forests, rivers, and lakes. One of our favorites is Blue Gentian Lake. And of course, Vancouver is the perfect launch pad for some of the best skiing and snowboarding on the West Coast — at Whistler, home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games' alpine events.
Ashland, Ore.
Ashland has made our annual getaway guide before — mainly because it's one of our favorite towns on the West Coast. Known best for the annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland is also a great destination spot for the holidays. Each year, the city hosts its Festival of Light Celebration in the historic downtown district.
Spend a weekend walking through 19th-century downtown, hanging out in cafes and shops, or sipping wine at restaurant along meandering Ashland Creek. A must see is the historic 1920s Ashland Springs Hotel. Or hike up Ashland Creek through wooded Lithia Park to Granite Street and Reeder reservoirs. Nearby, there's also skiing and snowboarding on 7,500-foot Mount Ashland.
If you drive, we also suggest stopping in historic Dunsmuir, near Mount Shasta, in Northern California. Near the headwaters of the Sacramento River, Dunsmuir is another 19th-century town full of antique shops and galleries. There also is skiing and snowboard on Mount Shasta, and close by is Castle Crags State Park, which features one of the top hikes in California — a 2,200-foot ascent to the massive granite spires on Castle Crags.
Nevada City, Calif.
This Gold Rush era town in the Sierra Nevada is a liberal enclave amid the ultra-conservative "state of Jefferson." It's home to bookstores, health food stores, antique and clothing shops, galleries, and excellent bars and restaurants. Just off Highway 49, Nevada City's 19th-century downtown is also a national historic landmark. And like Ashland, Nevada City really knows how to do the holidays with its Victorian Christmas, replete with horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers, and seemingly limitless libations.
And close by is the gorgeous South Yuba River, which features miles of riverside hiking trails and picnicking spots. About two and a half hours from the Bay Area, Nevada City is also an underrated getaway for skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge are only about 40 minutes away, which means you can spend the day playing in the snow and then come back to one of California's cutest towns for the evening.
Contact the author of this piece, send a letter to the editor, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
More Holiday Guide »
Tags: Holiday Guide, Holiday Guide 2018
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Barcelona Independence Riots Rock Spain, Over 50 Flights Canceled
Eben Diskin
After hundreds of pro-independence protesters marched in Catalonia this weekend, members of the Spanish opposition party are calling on Madrid to impose direct rule over the region to restore order. The demonstrations were in response to the jailing of those who organized Catalonia's independence referendum in 2017, but the Barcelona protests have gotten so out of control that at least 184 people have been arrested and 13 have been hospitalized with injuries, including four who were partially blinded by plastic bullets.
According to Spain's constitution, Madrid is allowed to intervene in autonomous communities considered to be acting against Spain's interests. Albert Rivera, the head of the center-right party, has called on the Spanish government to end the chaos by suspending Catalonia's autonomy and removing its president from office.
Despite a slight reduction in violence over the weekend, there seem to be no signs that the two sides are engaging in any kind of productive dialogue. Catalonia's president, Quim Torra, has reportedly tried to contact Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, but his calls have not been answered. In a possible explanation, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has demanded that "all political forces distance themselves from the violence," though that might not be the most efficient way to resolve the situation.
Sánchez's government has refused to revoke Catalonia's autonomy and impose order through force, insisting that it's handling the protests in a measured manner. In the meantime, however, travel to Barcelona is being heavily impacted by the violence, with over 50 flights to Barcelona already canceled.
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Figure 1: The Great Barred Galaxy NGC1365 as observed by the Very Large Telescope at the European Southern Observatory. This is a nice example of a SBb galaxy, a barred spiral with few although well developed spiral arms. | Credit: ESO.
NGC1365 is a beatiful galaxy. It is big and bright enough to be observed with a medium-sized amateur telescope. Sometimes mis-located at the southern constellation of Eridanus, it is indeed located in the smaller Fornax constellation and it is one of the most notable peers in a famous galaxy cluster. Being one third of the full Moon in size, its main counterback is that it is usually located too low in the sky when observed from northern mid-latitudes. But, if you are lucky enough to travel to lower latitudes and enjoy a dark sky, you will find an amazing spectacle when observing the also called Great Barred Galaxy.
However, this galaxy is not simply a nice view through an eyepiece. It is also a clue to understanding how the black holes behave. Bright and relatively close galaxies (we are 'only' 56 million light-years from NGC1365) give us the chance to observe in detail some aspects that would remain elusive otherwise. And rotation of the central black hole is arguably one of the most intriguing ones.
When you observe the inner region of an active galaxy at X-ray wavelengths, you find broad emission lines from neutral and partially ionized iron. Those emission lines have been usually assumed to be broadened by the extremely fast rotation of the inner accretion disk. The distorted shape of such emissions can be caused by relativistic effects in the neighbourhood of a rotating black hole. This implies that rotation really matters when you are close enough to a black hole. By detecting the X-ray emissions, we are sounding the innermost possible region in such a dangerous place, the so-called 'innermost stable orbit'. And how far this is from the black hole itself depends strongly on the spin rate of the supermassive object. The Big Bang Theory fans and theoretical-physics-heads should probably refer to the classic paper by Kerr 1.
Unfortunately, and as usual, devil is in the details. In fact, you normally cannot distinguish between fast rotation and absorption by other structures in the accretion disk. If you want to do so, you need more information than it is usually available. And here is where the paper recently published by Risaliti and collaborators comes to scene 2.
They used observations by the European Space Agency's X-Ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton) and the NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Nuclear Array (NuSTAR) telescope, both space-based missions. Those data provided the required temporal and spectral resolution to record the spectral variability of the inner accretion disk in the required few-hour timescales. By using data from both spacecrafts, they were able to extend their spectral coverage from 3 keV up to 79 keV.
I think that anybody involved in numerical modeling of natural events would appreciate the discussion presented by Risaliti. This is all about science: depending on how much information you have from a physical system you will have a number of opposing hypothesis clashing for explaining observations. However, as data grow they start showing deviations between models and, eventually, you will be lucky enough to discriminate. In their Nature paper, they show how models diverge as energy from iron emissions increases and so NuSTAR observations become the key to understand which of the two models is more likely (see Figure 2). The multiple absorber model has to be ruled out and relativistic reflection becomes the most plausible explanation for what we see.
Great. So how fast is the spin of the black hole? We could say that its surface is rotating almost luminically, about 84% of light speed. This is possibly the first time anybody is able to measure the fast rotation of a super-massive black hole 3. That sounds impressive, since mass and spin is everything you need to know about a black hole. But wait and read, there is more.
Figure 3: An artist's conception of the NGC1365 inner black hole, showing the accretion disk that feeds it and the innermost stable orbit. | Credit: NASA/JPL – Caltech.
How can anything in the Universe get so fast? It is commonly accepted that galactic black holes were once younger and slimmer. As they ate the material accumulated in the accretion disk they grew bigger and bigger. But whether or not this means faster and faster depends on how they were fed by the surrounding medium. If the material is accreted irregularly, then the angular momentum is not expected to be so huge. An 'ordered accretion', instead, at the approppriate rythm will provide enough spin to the black hole. This is at least what Risaliti proposes in the companion press release .
Finally, a story on almost-luminical black holes has ended as a history of galaxy evolution. The authors of the paper say they can go even farther, but we still have to wait until data are analyzed. So let's turn again to our telescopes to enjoy the view of sparkling galaxies that have so much to tell us.
Galaxies with no dark matter?


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