'Environmental, social and governance': the label covers a huge amount of ground. It is no surprise then that there are considerable differences in its interpretation and its application to any given investment. McDonalds, for example, has made huge efforts in beef sustainability and is a leader in recycling. Nonetheless it remains a significant contributor to environmental problems and obesity. One man's meat is another man's poison.
Even putting aside individual (or institutional) preferences, the relativist approach taken by some ESG funds means that a company needn't be 'good' per se to make the grade; it simply needs to be better than its sectoral competitors. This has led to the inclusion of oil majors, tobacco companies and defence contractors within a number of ESG-labelled funds.
It is clear that the label given to a particular ESG fund should be treated with caution. The due diligence required to validate the ESG credentials of a fund is typically beyond most investors, whether in terms of resource or inclination.
One report* claimed that 74% of respondents "would be shocked if a fund claiming to be 'ethical' turned out to be investing in companies that negatively impact people and the environment." But given the flexibility of interpretation in this area, it would be surprising if there were not significant gaps between investor expectations and reality.
Inevitably there are concerns that this gap between expectation and reality (in some cases, a brazen attempt to 'greenwash') could presage a set-back for the industry. A more likely outcome is that increased awareness and publicity will drive gradual qualitative improvements.
Overall, this development can be viewed as a positive - the importance of ESG investing is by and large no longer in question; instead the debate is focusing on the quality of those investments. It will be interesting to see where this leads. More widespread adoption of a small number of tried and trusted methodologies? Standardisation driven by regulatory oversight? An increased role for trusted and independent third party intermediaries to assess ESG credentials?
*Castlefield Consumer Survey, October 2015.
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It wasn't too long ago that cash and checks were used daily to pay for things like groceries and new clothing. People carried around thick wallets filled with paper bills and coins. And while this practice is far from dead, it has become less common as technology continues advancing the payments industry.
The nearly universal adoption of smartphones has led to the emergence of peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and digital wallets like PayPal. These apps make it simple to send money to friends or make retail purchases with just a few clicks.
Today's young adults grew up with a heavy technological presence, shaping their buying habits. This reliance on e-commerce and the immediacy of the internet has led to a host of new payment methods that are gaining popularity over cash. In fact, most Americans believe that digital payments will surpass traditional payment methods in the near future.
Consumers want faster, more convenient ways to pay — without giving up security. In line with those expectations, many new payment methods have been developed over the past decade or so.
Mobile Point of Sale (POS) Options: Over $4 billion worth of purchases are currently made from mobile phones each year, a number that is predicted to grow. This trend caused mobile POS options to boom, including near field communication (NFC) and in-store payment apps. These options make it easy to pay using a smartphone, often by swiping a barcode or QR code on a smartphone screen in front of a scanner.
Digital Wallets: Storing funds in a digital account allows consumers to make purchases and transfer money to friends. It's a quick, easy payment option that's been growing in popularity.
Social Media Payments: Some social networks are beginning to offer payment options, like transferring money to another user or paying within the app. Five out of six millennials connect to companies through social media, which makes paying through these networks a logical next step.
Biometrics: You might already use your thumb to unlock your smartphone. Facial recognition and other biometrics — like fingerprinting and iris scanning — are being developed as security of the future. These techniques could soon be used to authorize payments on devices and even in stores.
Where Does Cash Fit In?
It's clear that digital methods of payments are on the rise, with new options being developed each year. Yet, plenty of people still use cash around the world. The demand for banknotes and coins remains strong in most countries.
It isn't such a surprise either. Cash doesn't require a bank or mobile device, and can be stashed away for use during an emergency.
Odilon Almeida, president of Western Union's global money transfer division, believes that cash will remain a common form of payment for the next 50 years. Meanwhile, digital payments will continue to gain in popularity.
While cash remains a contender, checks are going extinct. Checks made up 60% of non-cash payments in America in 2000, and dropped to only 13% by 2015. Most Americans believe that checks will be a thing of the past within the next 20 years.
Your checkbook might be in a drawer collecting dust, but you can expect cash to remain an important asset for a while. However, it's a good idea to open yourself up to the idea of new payment methods like the ones mentioned above. More and more companies are likely to accept payment through apps and digital wallets in the near future, and you should be ready to embrace these developing technologies.


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Your Canvas
A winning design...
An exceptional builder...
Your backyard oasis...
Begins here!
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Thank you for considering us for your pool or spa construction project. We have been constructing and remodeling pools, spas and water features in the Los Angeles and Ventura Counties for over 40 years. We are licensed bonded and insured. We feel that building your backyard paradise is an investment that should provide many years of happiness and pleasure for you.
Our reputation and experience in the pool business has earned us membership in the Master Pools Guild – a hand chosen network of over 100 custom residential and commercial pool builders across the globe.
Give us a call! We would love to turn your dreams into reality!
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"The Symphony team did an excellent job on my extensive remodel. When I get to do another pool project, I'll go with Symphony Pools!"...Read More
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Abstract Thoughts has been updated with Obsessive about Certain Stories - which is all about my comfort books.
I'm in love with my husband's Kindle. I've used it a couple times now to read novels for evaluation and/or blurbing reasons when I only had a text or PDF version. It allowed me to get away from the computer and curl up in my favorite chair to read. For that alone, it is a pretty keen device. The ability to buy and immediately read a book without leaving your home is another super keen feature.
However, it revealed to me another one of my quirks. I have many of them. It seems that I have a thing about certain stories. I didn't realize it until I was considering getting myself a Kindle and thought, "Of course, my favorite books would have to be on it." Then I realized what a list that was and all of the times I have done this before.
"The Stand" by Stephen King. I have this book in book form, MP3 form, made for TV mini-series form and now am collecting it in comic book form.
"The Dark Tower" series by Stephen King. I have this series in book form, CD form, MP3 and now am collecting it in comic book form.
"Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman. I have this book in book form, CD form, MP3 form and made for TV mini-series form. If they make a movie true to the story, I will buy that, too.
"Dune" by Frank Herbert. I have this book in book form (x3), MP3 form, the David Lynch movie (Director's cut) form, and made for TV mini-series form.
If I bought a Kindle, all of these books would be required to go on it… just because. They are comfort books and if I have the Kindle with me for traveling or at a coffee shop, I would want these books on them just in case I felt a need to read them.
What's worse? I've thought about it and I have more books creeping into my "Must have in all forms" obsession. Frankly, I'd also want to have the following on a Kindle as well.
"On Writing" by Stephen King. I have this in book form, CD form and MP3 form.
The entire "Siblings of the Shroud" set of books by Steve Perry. These are "The 97th Step," "The Man Who Never Missed," the "Matador" trilogy, "The Albino Knife," "The Omega Cage," "Brother Death," and "Black Steel." I only have them in book form but I've looked for them in CD form.
So, yes. I guess I am a bit obsessive about certain stories. At least my husband knows exactly what I like if he gets stuck for an appropriate gift for a holiday, birthday or anniversary. Sometimes, I think I should worry about my quirks. But you know, no one cares when the voices say, "Plant a rose garden." They only care when the voices say, "Nourish your rose garden with human blood." This quirk is only harmful to my pocketbook. Thus, I really shouldn't worry about it.
But it does make me hope that, someday, someone will be obsessive like this about my books.


Oral sessions on the third day of the main conference event was probably among the least interesting ones, at least for me and my area of work. The "light banquet" in the evening is probably the main attraction of the day, excellently staged at a great venue, and includes an interesting Catalonian castell, or human tower performance.
I wasn't particularly interested in most of the oral sessions today. Sessions were on optimization methods, geometric computer vision, scene understanding and image restoration — topics which are somewhat supplementary or complementary to other core computer vision problem (maybe for the exception of some geometric-based problems such as stereopsis and visual SLAM which are still very trendy). The posters were probably much more interesting (covers wider range of areas), and I could usually get my questions answered almost directly by the authors themselves.
While most people expect a "gala dinner" or "grand banquet" of some sort in a conference of such prestige and not a "light banquet", it was surprisingly sumptuous (free flow tapas, and very delicious ones too) and very well-organized. Banquet venue was at Llotja de Mar, a cool neo-classical mansion-like building of noble grandeur, situated near the Barcelonetta harbour front. And we were also treated to a cocktail reception, a four-piece jazz band, and a strange human tower performance called a castell (basically, piling people skywards as high as possible), something which is typically found in festivals within Catalonia region.


This gift bag is designed to hold a standard 750mL bottle of wine. It could also hold a bottle of gourmet extra virgin olive oil or a medium-sized bottle of liquor or champagne. Just drop the gift in the bag and you're ready to go!


text:
Has Germany hit the jackpot of recycling? The jury's still out
At a drinks retailer on the outskirts of Hamburg, a father holds up his three-year-old son to help him push an empty plastic water bottle into a hole on a large grey machine. With a whirring sound, the apparatus pulls the bottle out of the child's hand, juggles it on an assembly line to scan the barcode, then sucks the container even deeper into its belly and eventually shreds it with a satisfying crunch. "Jackpot!" says the boy, beaming with glee as the machine spits back a 25-cent voucher. Next in line, a man carrying a bin bag brimming with plastic bottles cannot quite feel a similar joy in recycling. "To be honest, I think it's a slog," says Şükrü Çal, 41. "Somehow the supermarkets have found a way of making us clear up after them." With its reputation as a recycling world champion, Germany is seen by many as the inspiration behind Britain's new deposit return scheme (DRS) for bottles and cans, which was announced this week. However, 15 years after its introduction, views still vary on whether the scheme is a case of bottle half-empty or bottle half-full.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/30/has-germany-hit-the-jackpot-of-recycling-the-jurys-still-out
Posted by admin on Apr 1 2018. Filed under News Worldwide. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry


The anniversary of a family members death is today. For the last 3 weeks, I have had strong feelings of sadness and in the last 2 weeks, I have had occurrences in my home. Occurrence #1 happened 2 weeks ago on a Saturday night. I fell asleep in the recliner inside our home office watching tv. When I awoke, I looked at the clock, 2:30 am. Then I flipped through the tv channels for a few and finally started watching a show. At this time, it's nearly 3 am. I hear footsteps coming down our hardwood floor hallway. The steps sound like hard bottom shoes are being worn, like dress shoes. I am not at home alone, my son and husband are home and I assume it is one of them but thought it weird for them to be wearing dress shoes or any shoes at 3 am. The footsteps got louder as they walked by my door and faded as they went on past. I jumped up, opened the door and found nothing and no one. Son and husband were fast asleep.
So one week later (3 days ago, on a Saturday night) I take the dog out before bed. As we come back in, I turn off the two outside light switches and go to bed. As I snuggle in the blankets, I see a light shining through my bedroom blinds, it's the outside light. I thought I hadn't turned it off after all. I walk back to the front door. I can see them shining through the front door windows and the big bay window beside the front door. But the switches were in the off position! All at once, all the outdoor lights turned off, without the switch being on in the first place! How had they stayed on for at least a minute, that it took me to get in bed the first time, realize they were on and get up to get back to the door? They could have turned off at any time but no, it wasn't until I got up, went to the door to investigate. It's like something wants me to know something else is going on here besides potential electrical issues? Something wants me to know something, not sure what yet.
Side note: I lived alone for almost a decade in my 20's and in a different home than I am currently in. I dealt with electrical issues all the time, lights turning off and on, TV turning off while I am watching it, waking up at 3:00 am on the dot every night for literally years.
So my husband and I have been married for 7 years and the only thing that ever happened up until recently was the TV turned off once. That was right after I moved in and then nothing for years. Now the activity is happening again. I just want to know if it has something to do with my recently deceased family member? Who literally passed 1 year ago today. Or maybe something else? The old energy from my old house. But who or what is it?
Either way, my family chooses not to believe me and my son actually makes light of my stories. I would like to know why this is not happening to anyone in my home but me? This is enough to make me feel crazy but I know what I saw, I know what I heard. Frustrating.
The Women In My Family Have "visions"
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© The psychic medium story A Sign From A Family Member Passed On is copyrighted to julesrubies. Edited by psychic-experiences.com.


text:
Syria Elections Result: Bashar al-Assad Wins 4th Term As Syrian President
Damascus, May 28: Syrian President Bashar Assad was re-elected in a landslide, officials said Thursday, ushering in a fourth seven-year term in the war-torn country following an election described as illegitimate and a sham by the West and his opposition.
Assad's win was not in doubt, in an election where officials said 18 million were eligible to vote. But in the country ravaged by the 10-year-old conflict, areas controlled by rebels or Kurdish-led troops did not hold the vote. Operation Spring Shield Against Bashar al-Assad Regime Successfully Carried Out in Syria, Announces Turkey.
At least 8 million, mostly displaced, live in those areas in northwest and northeast Syria. Over 5 million refugees — mostly living in neighbouring countries — have largely refrained from casting their ballots.
US and European officials have also questioned the legitimacy of the election, saying it violates UN resolutions in place to resolve the conflict, lacks any international monitoring, and is unrepresentative of all Syrians.
Syria's parliament speaker, Hammoud Sabbagh, announced the final results from Wednesday's vote. He said Assad garnered 95.1 per cent of the votes. He said turnout stood at 78.6 per cent of the voters, in an election that lasted for 17 hours on Wednesday with no independent monitors.
Assad was facing symbolic competition from two candidates— a former minister and a former opposition figure. Assad's victory comes as the country is still devastated by the conflict. Fighting has subsided but the war is not over.
An economic crisis is getting worse in a country where over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line and the local currency is in a free fall. Assad, close associates and government officials are facing widening Western sanctions, added to already existing ones that have escalated as the war unfolded. European and US governments blame Assad and his aides most of the war's atrocities.
Damascus erupted in celebrations, with gunfire and fireworks lighting the night sky. Thousands gathered in major squares in Damascus, and the coastal city of Tartus, dancing while waving flags and pictures of Assad. They chanted: "With our soul, blood, we defend you Bashar," and "We only choose three: God, Syria and Bashar."
A large stage was set in the capital's Omayyad Square, with speakers blaring national songs. One singer appeared on a stage set up in a Tartus square, dressed in the flag of Syria. Almost no one was wearing a face mask, though Syria is facing a surge of coronavirus cases.
The election is likely to offer little change to conditions in Syria. While Assad and his allies, Russia and Iran, may be seeking a new seal of legitimacy for the president in office since 2000, his re-election is likely to deepen the rift with the West, driving him closer to Russian and Iranian backers as well as China.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, Scoop Buddy Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
India GDP: Covid-19 toll on Indian economy deepens, jobs crisis to worsen: Poll | India Business News
International Masturbation Day 2021: From Date to Significance, Know Everything About The Day That Intends to Protect and Celebrate The Right to Masturbate
Everyone is building AR headsets and Google doesn't plan on being left behind
Honda's Shine becomes the first 125cc motorcycle brand to achieve 1…


I remember the first time I had a client book me without meeting me first; it felt a little bit awkward to show up at their synagogue portrait session knowing next to nothing about them. Although it happens more and more frequently these days, I still feel that same pull of anxiety beforehand. I shouldn't have been nervous at all about meeting Rachel and her family. I knew from emails with Rachel that she was funny and warm and a straight shooter and meeting her in person was exactly what I expected. What I didn't expect was just how polite and well-mannered her boys were. I have a thirteen-year-old son. I know that despite the best parenting they can still be...well, thirteen-year-old boys. Both Max and his younger brother, Ben, were kind and helpful and mature beyond their years. I'm thinking of sending my son to live with Rachel over the summer.
Max's reception was at Temple Rodef Shalom. The baseball theme was carried out beautifully by Carin and her team from Events Extraordinaire. The guests danced and laughed and hugged and the kids were on the dance floor all night. It's always hit or miss with bar mitzvahs: some of the boys love to dance and others just want to sit at the table and play games on their phones. Max's friends were lively and funny and stayed in the zone all night.
Thank you, Rachel, Max and Ben for allowing me to capture this special evening for you; enjoy your sneak peek!


If your dog was recently bred, you're likely hoping for puppies, but detecting early pregnancy is challenging. The average canine gestation period is about 63 days after conception, but in the initial weeks there are few outward signs to prove pregnancy. Until early home pregnancy tests for dogs are invented, you'll have to rely on traditional methods to detect pregnancy. Palpating the uterus is one method to confirm puppies are on the way.
Palpating a dog's uterus is not as easy as thought.
Puppies can be detected by abdominal palpation about 28 to 35 days after breeding. Around this time frame, the puppies are about the size of walnuts and can be detected by touch. Palpating after this time frame is not recommended as the embryos rapidly enlarge and are no longer identifiable as distinct, individual swellings; however, the puppies can be directly palpated after day 50.
With the dog standing, use one hand to palpate the abdomen by gently slipping the uterus between the tips of the thumb and forefinger and feeling for spherical swellings. The developing embryos are evenly distributed along mother's dog uterus within the gestational sacs. Have your vet palpate the first time and show you how to master this technique. Rough handling may harm the delicate embryos and even cause a miscarriage.


text:
La Ligue des champions 2004-2005 est la  de la Ligue des champions, compétition de handball qui met aux prises les meilleures équipes européennes.

Résultats

Phase finale

Vainqueur et effectif

Effectif des vainqueurs :

(Line Hovgaard, Stina Madsen et Lene Möller ne jouent pas la finale)

Meilleures buteuses
Les meilleures buteuses sont :

Notes et références

Annexes

Articles connexes
 Ligue des champions féminine de l'EHF
 Saison 2004-2005
 Coupe des Coupes (C2)
 Coupe de l'EHF (C3)
 Coupe Challenge (C4)
 Ligue des champions masculine (C1)

Liens externes
 Archives officielles

Ligue des champions féminine de l'EHF
Europe F1
Handball F1

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
A Loner with the Trash Skill 'Abnormal Status Doubling' – Chapter 01
"We have been waiting for you. Various saviors."
"..?!" "..?!" "..?!"
─But all of a sudden, the classmates were surprised by a majestic voice, and forgot about the silence that once filled the room.
Just who was this old man…?!
A large door that was previously closed had opened an inside an old man wearing a crown was sitting down on a throne while waiting.
"I thought this was a kidnapping but what's happening…?"
"Hey, that guy looks kinda like a king, doesn't he?"
"This…must be a joke…"
"It can't be."
"Yeah, it's not."
"Still, wouldn't it be impossible to make this big of a door…?"
Catching their breath, everyone did not move as if they were sewn in place, and then crown-wearing person turned around to a subordinate who was also flustered.
"Why are you lingering around? One of you hurry and introduce yourselves."
"Hey…come on."
"You can go."
"…Why aren't you going?"
"I don't want to go…you're going."
"I still…want to live…"
"You won't die…probably."
While facing the king with eyes of fear, they each spoke in frightened tones.
The king, seeing the students and comprehending how frightened they were, did not want the situation to worsen, and hurried to manage those that said they wanted to live.
"Wait wait…It's not like I brought you here to eat you up."
However, Karin was the first to be on alert with those words.
"You kidnapped us…and yet you're saying such things? If you're going to make us commit shameful acts then we will firmly refuse with complete opposition."
As Karin said that, almost everyone was in agreement except Shun.
After Karin was her friend, Asakura Yuuna,
"I have a problem with your guys' condescending attitude, where all of you are thinking about how you were brought here suddenly without warning…If they were actually kidnappers, then I would understand that kind of behavior, but these people don't look like one, and I can't imagine they would be."
Everyone also agreed with what Yuuna said.
Even if some claimed it was a kidnapping, there's people wearing helmets and armor, there's people wearing white robes and holding staffs, not to mention the presence of a red mantle-wearing person with a crown.
They obviously stand out, and if they had enough money to do such extravagant cosplay, then they wouldn't be doing kidnappings.
While everyone had a puzzled expression, Yuuma continued.
"So what's going on? I've never heard of someone keeping a victim's hands and feet unrestrained when they leave the room. It would be common for a kidnapper to do something like that if they don't want their victims running away, right?"
Upon Yuuna saying that, everyone tilted their head slightly.
Indeed…they did not understand why they left 30 people in a large room unsupervised while not restraining them.
"You all…I know kidnapping is a disgraceful act."
"So what are you getting at?"
When Karin asked that, the king stood up, accompanied by ten knights, and bowed his head, leaving the thirty people dumbfounded.
"Knowing that you all have been brought here without grasping the situation, I can understand your crude behavior. I truly apologize."
Raising his lowered head, the king continued,
"I know this is insufficient for an apology, so after this, let me show you something─Well then, let's get to the first order of business. First, I'll talk about the details of why you're all here. As I mentioned before, you were all summoned to within my kingdom. The reason being is that I want you to search for seven specific swords. Just one of the seven swords, depending on the kind, has the power to easily lay ruin to a small country…they are the swords of legend. When trying to find the swords, you'll become enemies with the powerful Demon Lord army who are searching high and low for them. If a strong noble from the Demon Lord army grabs a hold of one, we will no longer be any match for them. So before that happens, find them before they enact their scheme, that is why I summoned you."
"Huh? Hold up. Demon Lord army? What's that? You're talking about a game, right? Why are you bringing this up right now? There's no way any of that can be real."
一One man laughed scornfully at the cryptic words of the king.
Everyone had the same bewildered expression, thinking 'What is this guy saying?'
一While the man was sneering and the majority were puzzled, the king ordered a nearby knight, saying "Bring the item to me."
The knight quickly took off, and after a few dozens of seconds came back holding in his hand an object covered with red cloth and presented it to the king.
"…I'm going to show you recollections of the war with the Demon Lord army…I will advise with caution, the contents are extreme and involve acts of cruelty. It's okay to avert your eyes…but this is the truth of the situation."
The king removed the red cloth, and lifted a normal-looking mirror towards the ceiling.
Then a light which came straight from the mirror hit the ceiling, and at that moment some footage came up thinly.
Everyone who witnessed were all unanimously marveled.
When the picture eventually became more apparent, everyone caught their breath at the footage.
─Pictured was a cow-person boasting a five meter tall physique, using his large mouth to bite off the arms of tearful knights who were desperately trying to undo their restraints, all while it was basking in a blissful expression with blood on its face─that was what it projected.
The footage stopped there, and the light that ran from the mirror to the ceiling disappeared.
Everyone was quiet for a bit, a silence loomed over the room.
With just one minute of video, the "truth of the situation" that the king talked about was carved into everyone's mind.
"…How is that? Do you believe me?"
Nobody was able to refute the king's words.
However, one of the classmates slowly raised their hand and asked a question,
"…So why us?"
Everyone held the same thought and there were some people nodding.
However, Shun, hearing the story, thought differently.
That footage was disgusting, but…at any rate, he could fight against a Demon Lord! Well~he wouldn't know if he'd be able to live through it~. He personally wanted to fight, he wanted to grasp the swords of legend and see what it feels like, he also felt that he was not giving priority to everyone else's opinion, but…there's no choice but to fight anyways~♪.
His eyes were sparkling as he thought about it.
Not noticing Shun, the king continued,
"You all have a high potential for power within yourselves…that power can match the former hero's, no, it can be much larger than that, every time you all fight you will get even stronger. I beg of you all, who hold such power, to gather up your strength. Your success rate is also remarkably high, and you'll be safe above all."
"Why do you have to drag us into your own problems? You say you're at war with the Demon Lord army, but to begin with, I think that it's not a matter of which side is evil, but a a matter of war itself being evil…And now you try to roll us up into this when we had nothing to do with it before. I wonder how many uninvolved people you've dragged into your own circumstances."
Karin calmly replies to the king's words. Though her tone of voice was calm, a cold anger could be felt from it.
"Hmmm…what you say is true…but this war was inevitable, even we were reluctant to do it."
The king had a troubled face, closed his eyes, and lightly shook his head sideways.
"…? What do you mean?"
For the first time here, Shun let out his voice.
Everyone was surprised at Shun, who speaks out very little, as this was not something anyone would usually see. The king was not aware of this and spoke in an uninterested manner.
"There were demons in this world, then all of the sudden, a Demon Lord began rising in power and governed an organization, the Demon Lord army, consisting of such magic beings. When the Demon Lord army was organized, they indiscriminately slaughtered the nearby countries one after another, uttering that they need to recognized as the superior country. I wanted to peacefully resolve things at first, but the repeated slaughters by the Demon Lord army were certainly an obstacle, and then half-way in, the Demon Lord army finally declared war."
With those words the king gazed at Karin, who was comparing what he said before with what he said just now, and was worried.
It was…inevitable…? She had thought that war was not acceptable, but if they just accepted the Demon Lord army's unreasonable demands, then things might have gotten worse…It's was a safe bet to assume the Demon Lord army were in fact doing repeated slaughters.
"I apologize…I retract the remarks I made a while ago, I was a bit mistaken."
However, if it was not commonplace to hold back from waging war, then is it also impossible to withdraw from it?
"No, your remarks had truth to them. Though I know your ideologies are right, it's true that I had recently forgotten them. Thank you for reminding me about them…So, what will you do? I don't want to cause any more casualties. If you obtain the swords of legend, we are certain not to lose…but if we lose then humankind is most likely going to be wiped out. Please…could you please lend us your power..?."
Everyone who voiced opposition before, after hearing the series of speeches of the king, felt a jolt in their shoulders with his words.
Shun similarly felt a jolt in his shoulders too, squinting while putting strength into his fists.
The silence continued.
───Then someone was the first to break the silence.
"Everyone, let's do it."
It was Yuuma.
Everyone focused on Yuuma.
"We're already very far from the world we came from."
Karin, Shun, and everyone widened their eyes to Yuuma's gallant, dignified figure.
"Did the previous world really need us…? I think not. In my case, I just came to the school's classroom each day, took some boring class, fell down on my desk to sleep, and took some more classes after the bell rang…That was all to it. Of course, for all of you, you could talk with your friends. But was it really fun to do only that? Do you really want that kind of world, where you just waste away half of your life?"
Everyone averted their eyes with that question.
"…But this world needs us and we can unanimously start anew. This world has chosen us as the ones it needs…and I for one, will demonstrate my purpose for existing by being here…Did any of you have a purpose to serve in the previous world…? Do any of you want to go back to the boring days…?"
I'm not passing up on this chance…I want to experience an adventure like in an RPG! Hey, Shun! Isn't it the same for you?!
While thinking so, Yuuma let out a fearless smile towards Shun.
"…! ─Pfft…"
Understanding Yuuma's intentions, Shun let out a similar fearless smile while facing a bit towards him.
Mutually understanding each other, Yuuma then raised his voice,
"───Perhaps I'm alone in this…but I intend to stay in this world. What about everyone else?"
"…?!" "…?!" "…?!"
Everyone was surprised at that statement.
But everyone racked their brains.
What Yuuma said activated everyone's deeply buried desire of being liberated from their daily life.
Everyday, everyone secretly thought about the boredom, about being freed from it.
Everyone's re-surging child-like thoughts could not stop.
"Asano, I'll also stay!"
Karin raised her hand.
"…Hmm, if two people are doing it, then me too!"
One boy raised his hand.
───Everyone else in the class raised their hands a result of those two people.
"Oh, Me too!"
"Me as well!"
────….
Then everyone raised their hands one by one, until everyone had done so.
"Oh, ooh…! You're going to help us?! How promising of you all!"
Along with the king, the knights and nobles around him were also cheering.
"Thank for all of your support! You have my gratitude!"
"N, no problem…"
Alright…! How's that, Shun?
While Yuuma was happily nodding his head with that thought, the king said "Now, with post haste…bring that object to me," and had a military officer fetch the aforementioned object.
"This item will let you know about your abilities, it checks your status. The process is simple. Just put your hand on this crystal. So, to start with, how about you all line up?"
"───How nice it must be for you…Yuuma."
As expected, Yuuma was a protagonist.
一Shun, who watched the series of events play out from the beginning, made such a grumble and lined up for the crystal after the king finished speaking.
───Once Yuuma tried to line up, he received a barrage of questions from everyone, turning the end of the line into a commotion.
"Yuuma…what's with you?! I got surprised when you suddenly said that!"
"Seriously! You had quite the splendid speech there, huh!"
"Yuuma! You're showing off, aren't you! C'mon!"
"As you expect of an ikemen. You definitely will hold some terrific power! Hurry up and measure it!"
"…You really poked at us. Asano. But, we were able to cast aside our doubts thanks to you!"
"Asano…I'll follow where you go!"
A storm of praise swept onto Yuuma.
As a large number of people gathered around Yuuma, Shun said "Jeez…I'm envious… Actually, thinking about it, it's probably not envy I'm feeling," and looked at the people who were in awe with a bitter smile, sympathizing with them.
"Kondou!"
After Shun responded to Karin with "What is it?" while tilting his head, she rushed over to him while pushing through the crowd.
"Need something? Minesaki?"
"No, I called your name because it's your turn now."
"O, oh! I see. I'll be right back."
"O, OK."
No, wait a minute. Wasn't this a chance to see Minesaki's stats?
"Yuuma, you go first."
"Huh? I don't particularly mind but…"
So, he handed over his spot for Yuuki, who was lined up a bit behind him.
"Come to think of it, what's your status, Minesaki?"
For a moment, Shun turned towards Minesaki, who he had faced away from, and asked that question.
"It's written on this paper, but…would you like to see it?"
"I, I'd to see it!"
"Hmmm, OK. Here."
Karin obliged and gave the sheet of paper with a smile.
So, Shun read Karin's status while feeling a giddy sensation.
------------------------------
Minesaki Karin
Magic 220
Endurance 50
Innate Skills
Goddess' Healing (Lower Rank)
・Completely heal another person and cure their status abnormalities
・After using this skill, Automatic Recovery (Large) is attached to them
-----------------------------
How powerful! It can provide recovery from hardships…What's more, it's only at a lower rank, imagine what it would turn into when it reaches a high rank.
"How's that, Kondou?"
"You're a goddess."
"…O, oh! Sorry! Yeah, it's very powerful! Um, I gotta go! See ya."
"Wha, Kondou?!"
Shun's face turned red as he went to check his status.
Upon which…
"W, what is this?!"
Marielle Clarac's Engagement – Main Story – Chapter 04
A Loner with the Trash Skill 'Abnormal Status Doubling' – Prologue


text:
Italy Reportedly Sends Special Forces to Libya
By: Tom Kington August 11, 2016
SIRTE, LIBYA - OCTOBER 9: A Libyan flag is seen as black smoke rises from a university on October 9, 2011 in Sirte, Libya. National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters say this is the final assault on Muammar Gaddafi's home town as they capture the main hospital, University and the Ouagadougou conference centre in the city. (Photo by Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
ROME — Italy has used a new law to send special forces to fight the Islamic State group in Libya without informing Parliament, according to Italian reports.
A few dozen Italian special forces soldiers are currently taking part in operations to flush ISIS fighters out of the Libyan city of Sirte, media reports on Thursday claimed.
ISIS fighters based in the city, including many Tunisians and veterans of fighting in Syria, have controlled a long stretch of Libyan coast for months. But their grip on the city has weakened following US air raids in support of ground forces made up of militias loyal to a unity government backed by the United Nations.
Italy has already given the US permission to launch strikes from the Sigonella air base in Sicily, Italy, which is home to US aircraft.
Libya has collapsed into lawlessness in the last two years following a split in the government, which saw rival administrations set up in Tripoli and Tobruk.
The UN-backed government has won support from Tripoli but not from politicians in Tobruk, who are in turn supported by neighboring Egypt.
Italian special forces from the country's Army, Navy and Air Force have reportedly joined British special forces helping militias from the city of Misrata retake Sirte from ISIS.
In the wake of last year's terror attacks in Paris, the Italian government passed a law allowing for special forces to be deployed in anti-terror operations outside Italy under the control of Italy's secret services, rather than under military control.
That switch in the command structure meant the operations did not not require a parliamentary signoff, as would be the case with military operations.
"We do not have a military mission in Libya. If we did, Parliament would have been informed," Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni told Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Thursday.
Asked if that also applied to secret service activity, Gentiloni said: "By definition, I do not comment on operations of a classified nature."
Reports on Thursday of boots on the ground in Libya drew criticism from opposition parties in Italy, where support for an armed intervention in Libya is limited.
One report suggested the Italians were not engaged in combat with ISIS, but were helping anti-ISIS militias defuse the mines and booby traps left by ISIS as it retreated.
The Italian military has built up experience clearing mines thanks to the fact so many mines around the world are Italian-made.
Italian firm Valsella Meccanotecnica exported mines around the world in the 1980s before Italy introduced a moratorium on anti-personnel mine production in 1994 and a law banning their sale in 1997.
Stocks were retained by the Italian military to allow it to train on mine clearance.
The anarchy in Libya has allowed human traffickers to dispatch hundreds of thousands of African migrants from Libyan beaches in dinghies into the Mediterranean — headed for Italy.
With 100,000 arriving in Italy so far this year, and with France and Switzerland blocking their borders with Italy to stop migrants heading for northern Europe, a buildup of migrant numbers in Italy is underway.
This week, as authorities in the Italian city of Milan gave temporary shelter to 3,300 migrants, Italy's Ministry of Defence gave initial permission for the use of a disused Army barracks in the city as a dormitory.
Esper's Africa drawdown snags on Capitol Hill
What was Russia's Putin up to after the death of Iran's Soleimani?
Amid Western arms embargoes on Saudi Arabia, SAMI has a backup plan
Lebanon's Air Force to arm newly refurbished AB 212 helicopters
Israel is developing lasers to kill drones and rockets


text:
The Campaign Text Book of the Democratic Party of the United States, for the ...
Por Democratic National Committee (U.S.)
PREFACE,
CHAPTER 1-DEMOCRATIC DOCTRINES,
II—THE St. Louis CONVENTION,
III-NOTIFICATION OF CANDIDATES,
IV-SKETCH OF GROVER CLEVELAND,
V-ALLEN G. THURMAN,
VI-CLEVELAND ON THE TARIFF,
VII—CLEVELAND'S SPEECHES, LETTERS AND MESSAGES,
VIII-CLEVELAND ON CIVIL SERVICE REFORM,
IX-THE CONDITION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE,
X-THE CONTEST WITH THE SENATE,
XI-REPUBLICAN OPINIONS ON THE TARIFF,
XII-THE PRESIDENTS ON TIE TARIFF,
XIII-DEMOCRATIC SECRETARIES OF TBE TREASURY,
XIV—THE STATE DEPARTMENT,
XV–THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TREASURY,
XVI–THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE NAVY,
XVII—THE PUBLIC LAND POLICY,
XVIII-GUILFORD MILLER'S FARM,
XIX-THE INDIAN BUREAU,
XX-THE PATENT OFFICE,
XXI-THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
XXII–THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
XXIII–THE WAR DEPARTMENT,
XXIV-DEMOCRACY AND THE SOLDIER,
XXV–THE POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
XXVI–THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE,
XXVII–THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS,
XXVIII–MR. THURMAN'S PUBLIC RECORD,
XXIX—THE DEMOCRACY AND LABOR,
XXX-CLEVELAND AND CORPORATIONS,
XXXI-THE RESTRICTION OF CHINESE IMMIGRATION,
XXXII-HARRISON AND THE CHINESE,
XXXIII–MR. HARRISON's UGLY WORD "SUBSIDY,"
XXXIV–THE FREE WHISKEY POLICY,
XXXV-TAE RELIGIOUS REVOLT,
XXXVI-NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DEMOCRATIC CLUBS,
XXXVII–THE GETTYSBURG REUNION,
XXXVIII-A "FELLOW" LIKE MORTON,
XXXIX-PARTY PLATFORMS FOR 1888,
XL—THE HISTORY OF TARIFF CHANGES,
XLI-ENGLISH FEAR OF THE MILLS BILL,
XLII—"FAT" IN TIE TARIRF,
XLIII-REASONS IN FAVOR OF Tax REVISION,
XLIV_THE TAXES OF THE RIci,
XLV-WHAT THE MILLS BILL IS,
XLVI-"A CONDITION-Not A THEORY,"
XLVII-TAKING OFF BURDENS,
XLVIII-THE PROTECTION OF NATIONAL HONOR,
POLITICAL TABLES,
THE Index,
CHAPTER I.
DEMOCRATIC DOCTRINES.
THE PLATFORM OF 1888-ADOPTED BY THE
NATIONAL CONVENTION AT ST. LOUIS, JUNE 7.
The Democratic party of the United States, in national convention assembled, renews the pledge of its fidelity to Democratic faith and reaffirms the platform adopted by its representatives in the convention of 1884, and endorses the views expressed by President Cleveland in his last annual message to Congress, as the correct interpretation of that platform upon the question of tariff reduction; and also endorses the efforts of our Democratic representatives in Congress to secure a reduction of excessive taxation.
Chief among its principles of party faith, are the maintenance of an indisso. luble union of free and indestructible states, now about to enter upon its second century of unexampled progress and renown; devotion to a plan of government regulated by a written constitution, strictly specifying every granted power and expressly reserving to the States or people the entire ungranted residue of power; the encouragement of a jealous popular vigilance, directed to all who have been chosen for brief terms to enact and execute the laws and are charged with the duty of preserving peace, insuring equality and establishing justice.
The Democratic party welcome an exacting scrutiny of the administration of the executive power, which four years ago was committed to its trust in the election of Grover Cleveland President of the United States; and it challenges the most searching inquiry concerning its fidelity and devotion to the pledges which then invited the suffrages of the people.
During a most critical period of our financial affairs, resulting from over-taxa. tion, the anomalous condition of our currency, and a public debt unmatured, it has, by the adoption of a wise and conservative course, not only averted disaster, but greatly promoted the prosperity of the people.
It has reversed the improvident and unwise policy of the Republican party touching the public domain, and has reclaimed from corporations and syndicates, alien and domestic, and restored to the people nearly 100,000,000 of acres of valuable land, to be sacredly held as homesteads for our citizens.
While carefully guarding the interest of the taxpayers, and conforming strictly to the principles of justice and equity, it has paid out more for pensions and bounties to the soldiers and sailors of the republic than was ever paid before during an equal period.
By intelligent management and a judicious and economical expenditure of the public money, it has set on foot the reconstruction of the American navy upon a system which forbids the recurrence of scandal and insures successful results.
It has adopted and consistently pursued a firm and prudent foreign policy, preserving peace with all nations, while scrupulously maintaining all the rights and interests of our own government and people at home and abroad.
The exclusion from our shores of Chinese laborers has been effectually secured under the provisions of a treaty, the operation of which has been postponed by the action of a Republican majority in the Senate.
Honest reform in the civil service bas been inaugurated and maintained by President Cleveland, and he has brought the public service to the highest standard of efficiency, not only by rule and precept, but by the example of his own untiring and unselfish administration of public affairs.
In every branch and department of the Government under Democratic control the rights and the welfare of all the people have been guarded and defended ; every public interest has been protected, and the equality of all our citizens before the law, without regard to race or color, has been steadfastly maintained.
Upon its record thus exhibited and upon the pledge of a continuance to the peo. ple of the benefits of good government, the National Democracy invokes a renewal, of popular trust by the re-election of a Chief Magistrate who is faithful, able and prudent.
They invoke an addition to that trust by the transfer also to the Democracy of the entire legislative power.
The Republican party, controlling the Senate, and resisting in both houses of Congress a reformation of unjust and unequal tax laws, which have outlasted the necessities of war and are now undermining the abundance of a long peace, deny to the people equality before the law and the fairness and the justice which are their right. Thus the cry of American labor for a better share in the rewards of indus. try is stifled with false pretenses ; enterprise is fettered and bound down to home markets; capital is discouraged with doubt, and unequal, unjust laws ean neither be properly amended nor repealed.
The Democratic party will continue, with all the power confided to it, the struggle to reform these laws in accordance with the pledges of its last platform, endorsed at the ballot-box by the suffrages of the people.
Of all the industrious freemenof our land an immense majority, including every tiller of the soil, gain no advantage from the tax laws, but the price of nearly everything they buy is increased by the favoritism of an unequal system of tax legislation.
All unnecessary taxation is unjust taxation.
It is repugnant to the creed of Democracy that by such taxation the cost of the necessaries of life should be unjustifiably increased to all our people.
Judged by Democratic principles, the interests of the people are betrayed when by unnecessary taxation trusts and combinations are permitted and fostered, which, while unduly enriching the few that combine, rob the body of our citizens, by depriving them as purchasers,of the benefits of natural competition. Every Democratic rule of governmental action is violated when through unnecessary taxation a vast sum of money, far beyond the needs of an economical administration, is drawn from the people and the channels of trade and accumulated as a demoralizing sur. plus in the national treasury.
The money now lying idle in the federal treasury resulting from superfluous taxation, amounts to more than $125,000,000, and the surplus collected is reaching the sum of more than $60,000,000 annually.
Debauched by this immense temptation, the remedy of the Republican party is to meet and exhaust by extravagant appropriations and expenditures, whether constitutional or not, the accumulations of extravagant taxation.
The Democratic policy is to enforce frugality in public expense and abolish unnecessary taxation.
Our established domestic industries and enterprises should not, and need not, be endangered by a reduction and correction of the burdens of taxation. On the contrary, a fair and careful revision of our tax laws, with due allowance for the difference between the wages of American and foreign labor, must promote and encourage every branch of such industries and enterprises, by giving them assurance of an extended market and steady and continuous operation.
In the interest of American labor, which should in no event be neglected, the revision of our tax laws contemplated by the Democratic party, would promote the advantage of such labor, by cheapening the cost of the necessaries of life in the home of every working man, and at the same time securing to him steady and remunerative employment.
Upon this question of tariff reform, so closely concerning every phase of our national life, and upon every question involved in the problem of good govern. ment, the Democratic party submits its principles and professions to the intelligent suffrages of the American people.
Resolved, That this convention hereby indorses and recommends the early pass. age of the bill for the reduction of the revenue now pending in the House of Re. presentatives.
Resolved, That a just and liberal policy should be pursued in reference to the Territories ; that right of self-government is inherent in the people and guaranteed under the Constitution; that the Territories of Washington, Dakota, Montana, and New Mexico are by virtue of population and development entitled to admission into the Union as States, and we unqualifiedly condemn the course of the Republi. can Party in refusing Statehood and self-government to their people.
Resolced, That we express our cordial sympathy with the struggling people of all nations in their effort to secure for themselves the inestimable blessings of selfgovernment and civil and religious liberty, and we especially declare our sympathy with the efforts of those noble patriots who, led by Gladstone and Parnell, have conducted their grand and peaceful contest for home rule in Ireland.
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM ADOPTED AT CHICAGO, JULY 10, 1884,
AND REAFFIRMED AT ST. LOUIS, JUNE 7, 1888. The Democratic Party of the Union, through its representatives in National Convention assembled, recognizes that, as the nation grows older, new issues are born of time and progress, and old issues perish. But the fundamental principles of the Democracy, approved by the united voice of the people, remain, and will


Unfortunately, churches have become an easy target for thefts and vandals because so many lack proper security to keep them safe from crime. The relative ease of breaking into church buildings to steal or perform acts of vandalism makes them extremely attractive to individuals bent on petty crime, but implementing a church watch program can help immensely in keeping your church facility safeguarded.
Security pitfalls can be the simplest things, from the lack of adequate lighting or improperly locking doors and windows to not trimming bushes around points of entry. These are the very things that invite criminal activity, and we at Beacon Insurance Agency of Pace, Inc. have partnered with GuideOne Insurance to offer our clients the very best church insurance policies as well as access to some of the very best resources for keeping their churches safe.
At Beacon, we want to illuminate the way to our clients' peace of mind, and keeping them safe and secure is crucial in achieving that goal. One of the ways that we advise our clients to increase the security of their church facilities is to begin an official church watch program, which essentially relies on volunteers from the church to keep watch over their sacred place of worship.
Fortunately, because of the nature of the plan, there is no cost to create or maintain a church program. The important thing is to follow guidelines that you have established so that everyone on the watch team knows the role they play and how to respond to certain situations, should the need arise.
The noticeable activity of the participants in your church watch program will be a substantial deterrent to potential thieves and vandals who might once have targeted your church. Your church's property and resources will become protected and your ministry can continue without interruption. The more active role your membership is taking in the overall safety and security of the ministry as a whole the more they will feel like they are part of one Body.
Call Beacon Insurance Agency of Pace, Inc. to learn more about GuideOne and how we can help you create a church watch program today!


Ours is an eminent name engaged in providing the best solutions for Aluminium Partition Work. We offer lucrative deals. Owing to our expertise in this arena, we can easily fulfil standard as well as personalized requirements of clients. We are operational from Delhi, India. For us, Aluminium Partition Work starts with analysing clients' requirements and ends with the attainment of complete client satisfaction. Further, we make use aluminium sheets of varying thickness for accomplishing the undertaken project. Our service charges are reasonable.


Wetlands International is dedicated to safeguarding and restoring wetlands for people and nature. We are driven by the knowledge that safeguarding and restoring wetlands is urgent and vital for water security, biodiversity, climate regulation, sustainable development and human health.
Our global not-for-profit network of 20 independent offices is governed by a Supervisory Council and a Board of the Association of 35 national government and non-governmental organization members.
We bring knowledge into policy and practice, connect local actions in 100 countries to make a global difference, we catalyse actions that support those that use or depend on wetlands, and we are passionate about the positive change we make for people and nature.
Wetlands International has been active in Ethiopia since 2010. Currently, Wetland International is implementing various projects (Climate Resilient Flyways (CRF), Partners for Resilience (PfR), Sustainable Water Fund (SWF), Sustainable Agricultural Water management (SAWM-SDC) and EU-Devco in the CVentral rift Valley and the Fafen Catchment in central and eastern Ethiopia.
These projects are implemented with a range of stakeholders, such as the Rift Valley Lakes Development Office (RVLDo), Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority (EWCA), Meki-Batu Small Holder Cooperatives Union, Joytech Fresh, Acacia Water, World Waternet, Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society (EWNHS), HoAREC, Red Cross, Cordaid and the relevant Kebele, Woreda and Regional government bodies.
work closely with the respective project staff.
Duration of initial contract: 1 years initially, including a probation period of 3 months, with a possibility of extension.
Knowledge of IT systems, Microsoft Office packages and/ or other accounting systems.
Names and contact details of three professional referees (Mandatory).
If you believe that your credentials meet the outlined profile, we invite you to apply by emailing your application to HREastAfrica@wetlands-africa.org no later than 27 April 2019.
The Title of the Position You Are Applying for Must Be Mentioned on the Subject of Your Motivation Letter.
Women candidates are highly encouraged to apply.


text:
class CreateAchievementsUnlocks < ActiveRecord::Migration
  def change
    create_table :achievements_unlocks do |t|
      t.belongs_to :player, index: true
      t.belongs_to :achievement, index: true
      t.integer :progression
      t.integer :status

      t.timestamps null: false
    end
    add_foreign_key :achievements_unlocks, :players
    add_foreign_key :achievements_unlocks, :achievements
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
The New Dem Rules
As the Democratic j'accuse drones on during the impeachment trial, the words "cover up," "witnesses," and "documents" are used ad nauseum. The Dems understand that their sham accusations are very, very weak, and the introduction of additional witnesses and documents just might introduce information that could be spun into headlines that would hurt Donald Trump's election chances as well as the elections of a number of GOP senators—even after the inevitable happens, and Trump is acquitted.
It's amusing to listen to the Dems demand witnesses but absolutely, unequivocally, refuse to accept the two witness that are central to their accusations. After all, the Dems suggest that Trump wanted an investigation of Hunter Biden and his father, Joe Biden, for corruption in the Burisma case (the investigation never happened) and that Trump withheld foreign aid to the Ukraine for a few weeks to encourage them to investigate corruption (the aid was ultimately delivered).
But what if there was corruption? What if a presidential candidate, Joe Biden, while Vice President, involved himself in a Ukrainian investigation of Burisma* because his son was on their Board? Wouldn't that somehow be relevant to the Dems' accusation that Trump abused his power by asking that corrupt practices by the Bidens be investigated? Who better to hear from than the Bidens themselves?
Matt Margolis comments:
Democrats are so afraid of Hunter Biden testifying in the impeachment trial of Donald Trump that they would rather have no impeachment witnesses than risk the country hearing his testimony. During an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, [House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Jerry] Nadler said Democrats would not be willing to negotiate on witnesses for the Senate trial. In fact, he suggested that any attempts by the GOP to block or negotiate on witnesses were tantamount to a cover-up. [Ahhh, that word again]
"Is there any circumstance in which Democrats would consider, for reciprocity, having Hunter Biden come and testify?" asked CBS's Margaret Brennan.
"You know, the question of witnesses in any trial, in any trial, all relevant witnesses must be heard," replied Nadler. "Whether if—if you're accused of robbing a bank, testi—testimony that I saw him rob the bank or he was somewhere else, he couldn't have robbed the bank, is admissible. It's not negotiable whether you have witnesses. And this whole controversy about whether there should be witnesses is just—is really a question of does the Senate want to have a fair trial or do they—or are they part of the cover-up of the president? Any Republican senator who says there should be no witnesses or even that witnesses should be negotiated is part of the cover-up."
Nadler's incoherent response uses the word "cover-up" twice, but never seems to provide answers to CBS's question or to the questions I noted earlier in this post. To even suggest that a person central to an accusation of presidential abuse of power is somehow not relevant is ridiculous.
Even within the legal brief offered by the Democrat impeachment managers, there is an explicit attempt to protect the Bidens. Eric Felten writes:
... A careful reading of the report shows that its authors – not unlike those who wrote the Mueller report to suggest guilt they couldn't prove – are convinced that thin allegations can be bulked up if repeated often enough.
The repetitions that immediately stand out in the House report are the adjectives that dismiss the president's defense well before that defense is made. Assertions or questions involving Ukraine made by Trump or his attorney Rudy Giuliani are typically prefaced with the words "debunked" or "discredited," and usually followed by the characterization "conspiracy theory." "Debunked" appears 22 times in the report; "discredited" 15 times; "baseless" 16 times and "conspiracy" 56 times. A few of those uses are by Republicans – Giuliani is quoted as saying the impeachment inquiry is "baseless" – but the vast majority are by Democrats to dismiss Trump's claims.
For example, arguing that Trump had committed high crimes and misdemeanors, the report accuses the president of pushing a "discredited conspiracy theory alleging Ukrainian interference in the 2016 United States Presidential election."
Except that the allegations against the Bidens have NEVER been "debunked" or "discredited." Buried by the Obama administration ... yes. Ignored by the trained hamsters in the media ... yes. And shunted aside by deep state watchdog agencies... yes. But "debunked" or "discredited"—not a chance. Oh ... by the way, the democrat legal brief provides no evidence—none—that demonstrates that the corruption accusations against the Bidens are false. On the other hand, there is copious evidence in Biden's own words that he interfered with a Ukrainian investigation.*
Margolis continues:
What exactly is Nadler afraid of? Hunter Biden being questioned about his dealings in Ukraine, his father's knowledge of those dealings and the [Obama] White House access Burisma effectively bought by putting him on the board? Any shady dealings that could come up in testimony would undeniably prove that President Trump was justified in suggesting the Bidens deserved scrutiny. House managers would still be able to cross-examine Hunter Biden. But, Nadler is clearly worried that even if they cross-examine Hunter Biden the damage will have been done.
An honest and unbiased media would be asking the same questions I'm asking in this post, but the hamsters are both dishonest and terminally biased, so the Dems get to speak incoherently and make insane assertions. Those are the 'rules' and the GOP must play by them.
The editors of the Wall Street Journal take a look at the question of "witnesses" and comment:
... Democrats are demanding that the Senate also call former National Security Adviser John Bolton ; acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney ; Mulvaney adviser Robert Blair ; and White House budget official Michael Duffey.
This is more than a little disingenuous. House Democrats could have gone to court to challenge President Trump's assertion of executive privilege over testimony, and the House did sue initially to compel former Bolton deputy Charles Kupperman. But House Democrats abandoned their demands when litigation didn't fit their rushed political timeline. They declared instead that the existing evidence more than justified impeachment. Yet now their "overwhelming" evidence has become a GOP "coverup."
... Maybe Democrats hope witnesses will turn up something more damaging on Mr. Trump, but our guess is that the real game is political and geared to taking back the Senate. Democrats figure Republicans will vote down witnesses, and they can run from here to November claiming the trial was "rigged" and hid the truth.
And there's the truth of it. The Dems are perfectly willing to put our country through this travesty in a desperate attempt to gain some small political advantage in 2020 Senate races. After all, if they win a majority in the Senate, they'll be able to overturn the will of the voters (via a second impeachment) if Donald Trump wins a second term in office. They tried a coup once and it didn't work, but that doesn't mean they wont try it again. And the Dems argue that Trump is anti-Democratic! You might call their despicable strategy the 'New Dem Rules.'
* John Solomon reports:
It is irrefutable, and not a conspiracy theory [and certainly NOT debunked], that Joe Biden bragged in this 2018 speech to a foreign policy group that he threatened in March 2016 to withhold $1 billion in U.S. aid to Kiev if then-Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko didn't immediately fire [Prosecutor General Viktor] Shokin.
"I said, 'You're not getting the billion.' I'm going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: 'I'm leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you're not getting the money,'" Biden told the 2018 audience in recounting what he told Poroshenko.
"Well, son of a bitch, he got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time," Biden told the Council on Foreign Relations event.
The only problem is that among Shokin's investigatory targets was Burisma. Interesting that the Dem impeachment managers don't mention any of this, isn't it? But then again, that might just be interpreted as exculpatory for Trump.
Be Damned
A Post Truth World
Paying a Price
A White Swan Event
Flower Children
Brutal Form
Right Back Where They Started


https://stillwateratcrittenden.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/•-2018-stillwater-•3.jpg 1080 1080 jac http://stillwateratcrittenden.com.au//wp-content/uploads/2013/12/logo-1.png jac2018-10-04 05:26:542018-10-04 06:19:54Melbourne Cup Day 2018!
https://stillwateratcrittenden.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2015-01-16-12.48.47-8.jpg 1602 2400 jac http://stillwateratcrittenden.com.au//wp-content/uploads/2013/12/logo-1.png jac2015-02-02 00:51:322018-01-24 06:23:39Freshwater Catering!!


text:
Tips for Staying Safe
Psychedelics at Festivals
Psychedelic Support
Our mission is to provide support for people undergoing challenging drug-related psychological experiences, particularly in relation to psychedelic substances; and to provide education to reduce the harm associated with the use of such substances.
Our vision is a world where people understand and respect mental health and consciousness; where individuals can easily access the support they require to navigate challenging drug-related psychological experiences; and where such experiences can be viewed as opportunities for growth.
Mutual aid – We believe in a world centred around mutual aid, whereby individuals share responsibility to look out for, and take care of each other, to the best of their ability and means. In our view, the well-being of each individual is integral to the well-being of the whole.
Integrity – We are open and honest. We strive to be aware of how our own belief systems, values, needs, and limitations affect our work.
Inclusivity, equality and tolerance – We demonstrate unconditional positive regard and offer relentless kindness irrespective of a person's characteristics, background or beliefs. We turn no one away, and do our best to give what we can. We practice openness and respect towards people whose beliefs are in apparent contradiction to our own.
Safe space and consent – We create a safe space where closeness and touch are considered very carefully; our volunteers understand the importance of consent, especially when working with vulnerable people.
Growth and improvement – We are committed to improving and growing, both as an organisation and as individuals. We regularly reflect upon and review our practices, procedures and training. We are continually looking for ways to improve our service and actively seek the views of our stakeholders in order to do so.
Passionate and professional – Our team are passionate about and committed to what we do. We conduct ourselves in a way that is professional, and avoid unnecessary risks.
Non-judgmental, neutral and pragmatic – We offer non-judgemental services to everyone. We do not encourage the use of drugs or other risky behaviours, but we do recognise that some people will choose to use drugs and may experience problems as a result.
PsyCare UK provides a peaceful, friendly sanctuary in the midst of the sometimes hectic festival environment. We are always open to provide information and support to anyone that needs it. From crisis intervention for people who may be in profoundly disturbed mental states, to support for the lonely with a hot cuppa and a chat, PsyCare UK aims to consistently support the wellbeing of all festival goers.
Although most drug use at festivals is intended for enjoyment, some drug experiences can cause a person to be physically and mentally vulnerable; to experience feelings of fear, paranoia, delusion, discomfort and even psychosis; creating the potential for people to be a danger to themselves and others.
Difficult experiences arising from psychedelic drug use may require specialist intervention due to the mental crises and altered states of consciousness they can induce. People on a strong psychedelic "trip" can become volatile and feel a wide range of intense and heightened emotions, potentially lasting several hours. In these cases, conventional medical services may struggle to find an appropriate treatment and once in the care of medics and/or taken off the festival site, patrons might not be allowed to return to the event. If the police or security are involved, the situation may escalate and the individual may be arrested or sectioned. Being taken to hospital or handled by security or police whilst undergoing an intense and frightening psychedelic experience can be incredibly traumatic and increase the risk of long-term emotional and psychological harm. We work closely with medical personnel to address the needs of those in distress, while aiming to prevent sedation, hospitalisation or detention. Our work over the years has demonstrated that these individuals often only require the type of engaged, empathic care we provide, to move from a place of crisis to a calm, positive perspective.
We believe that the principle of 'set and setting' is key for psychedelic support. This approach recognises the impact that the user's mindset and their physical and social environment has on their drug experience. We provide a multidisciplinary approach, meaning that each volunteer will offer what they feel is appropriate for the individual they are supporting. This could be anything from massage or holding someone's hand, to simply providing a listening ear and a calm presence. PsyCare UK works on the principles of peer education; being comprised largely of individuals who themselves enjoy festivals, we aim to be approachable and familiar, and to project a sense of calm, compassion and competence. We are akin to sitters rather than guides, but our understanding of the experiences our service users may undergo often makes all the difference to the outcome. All our volunteers undergo basic training in ethical and caring work standards and follow the principles and guidelines set out in The Manual of Psychedelic Support.
After a successful, challenging, and rewarding time as a volunteer with KosmiCare at the Boom Festival in 2008, Karin Silenzi de Stagni recognised the need for similar services at festivals in the United Kingdom. With support from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Karin formed Kosmicare UK, using the framework for psychedelic emergency services that MAPS had developed with Diogo Ruivo, chief organiser of Boom Festival.
The organisation started as a call to action on social media, which was quickly answered by a small but determined group of people. Over the years the team grew steadily as like-minded individuals were attracted to the cause.
The early years were challenging. The team quickly came to understand the demands that would face the organisation: the harsh climate – often wet and cold even in the summer months, the logistics of attending a number of different festivals across the nation, finding dedicated volunteers and the lack of funding. In addition, many small events had a limited budget, where welfare was sometimes a luxury rather than a necessity. Despite this, the team remained optimistic and made every effort to attend as many festivals as possible.
We have been a member of the Nightlife Empowerment & Wellbeing Network (NEW Net) since 2014. NEW Net is a European network of community-based NGOs acting in the fields of health promotion and nightlife. Being a member of NEW Net enables us to share knowledge and best-practice with similar peer based organisations across Europe and to participate in multi-disciplinary conferences. 2016 saw us register as a charity; this was a major milestone which enhanced our professionalism and opened up new opportunities and potential sources of funding.
In 2017 we underwent rebranding and, after a brief stint as KosmicAid, the name PsyCare UK was chosen. The name clearly establishes our focus on care, welfare, and psychological harm reduction, while recognising the foundations and regional coverage of the organisation. We hope to increase the number of harm reduction charities and community groups utilising the PsyCare name, and build a global alliance of organisations with a similar ethos and way of working, the way Karin had always envisioned.
The core team has a decade of experience providing care services at numerous festivals across the UK including Boomtown Fair, Glade, Secret Garden Party, MoDem and Noisily Festival. Over the years we have forged productive relationships with other respected organisations on the festival scene such as Hardcore Medical and The Loop. We are proud to have participated in the writing of The Manual of Psychedelic Support which was published in 2015 and have been presenting at Breaking Convention, the biennial multidisciplinary conference on psychedelic consciousness, since 2013. PsyCare UK also enjoys the ongoing support of a diverse group of professionals whose guidance is invaluable and to whom we are very grateful.


The Longreach House Condominium will hold a continued annual meeting at the Longreach House Condominium Association Offices 8723 Hayshed Lane Unit 21 Columbia MD 21045. At the continued meeting the members present in person or by proxy will constitute a quorum. A majority of the members present in person or by proxy may approve or authorize the proposed action at the additional meeting and may take any action which could have been taken at the original meeting if a sufficient number of members had been present.


text:
The Who - Ultimate Music Guide
One-Size - In Stock
Product ID: UCUT30
June 5, 1965. In the Melody Maker, a radically stroppy band are being unveiled to a world beyond Shepherd's Bush. "A new name is being hurled around in hip circles – The Who," the piece begins. "Today, with one hit gone and another on the way, they are reckoned by the 'In Crowd' to be on the crest of a success wave that could make them the new rave – on a nationwide scale."
Over half a century later, the indefatigable Who endure, still successful on far more than a mere nationwide scale. To celebrate that remarkable career, Uncut are proud to unveil a deluxe remastered edition of our Ultimate Music Guide to The Who. As usual, there are deep reviews of every single Who album, plus a treasure trove of interviews that span 50 years and which showcase Pete Townshend, in particular, as one of the most complex, self-flagellating and quoteworthy figures the rock era has produced.
There are agonising meditations on age ("I often feel that I'm too old for rock'n'roll," he gripes – in 1973!); frank recollections of his addictions ("My theory about smack is 'Keep taking the tablets 'til the pain goes away'": 1993); repeated tussles with the weight, significance and meaning of Tommy, Quadrophenia and Lifehouse; and one last combative encounter from 2015, in which Townshend prepares for his 70th birthday by announcing, "There's a desire I have to do a show which is crap …'" Townshend's meaning, of course, is never quite straightforward. His appetite for stirring up trouble remains, however, unquenchable, and hopefully this Ultimate Music Guide is testament to that, and to the quixotic genius that The Who have manifested for so long. They have, it's fair to say, "become individualists…"
Soul - Ultimate Genre Guide
Punk - Ultimate Genre Guide
Bob Dylan & The Band - Ultimate Music Guide
Black Sabbath - Ultimate Music Guide
David Bowie - Ultimate Music Guide (Deluxe Edition)
Glam - Ultimate Genre Guide
Uncut Magazines
Elvis Costello - Ultimate Music Guide
Sex Pistols - Uncut Ultimate Music Guide
Bruce Springsteen - Bookazine
U2 - Bookazine
The Rolling Stones - Bookazine
Prince: An Artist's Life - Bookazine
More Items from Uncut


Prof. Kodandaram pays tributes to Prof. Jayashankar..
Prof. Kondandaram paid rich tributes to Telangana revolutionary Prof. Jayashankar, of the occasion of his death anniversary, at Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) office. Speaking on the occasion, Kodandaram said that it is not only important to put garlands to the statue but to follow in their footsteps. He said that TJAC is committed to put into action the ideals of Jayashankar.