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Mass Effect: Andromeda Shown on PS4 Pro
Rejoice, Mass Effect fans! Andromeda footage exists!
After a significant drought of information about the upcoming sci-fi RPG from BioWare, we finally got to see footage—gameplay footage, at that, even though it was pre-alpha footage—from Mass Effect: Andromeda. It was included as part of Sony's September 7 PlayStation event and used to showcase the power of the PlayStation 4 Pro.
Whether or not you're interested in the PS4 pro itself and its 4K tech, it's wonderful to finally get a look at the next game in the Mass Effect series.
While it isn't a long video, it does show a beautiful (if ominous) alien location as well as some of the enemies you'll face in the Andromeda galaxy, the main character using a jetpack, and an exciting cutscene.
Four characters are present in the scene. This could mean Andromeda will allow you to have four people in your party at once, unlike the previous three Mass Effect games which had three-person parties. However, it's possible one character is merely accompanying a three-person party. Future footage should make that clearer.
Interestingly, this further supports the old leak about Andromeda. Many details from the leak already proved true, and the new video mentions both the Helius Cluster and Vaults, which were part of the leaked information. (At this point, the leak appears valid enough that you should approach it with caution, since its details could contain spoilers for Mass Effect: Andromeda.)
Fan reactions so far seem mixed. Many people reacted to the news with excitement, while others felt the footage had too much of a Dragon Age: Inquisition vibe. Still others noticed similarities to Halo 4, which may stem from the lead writer (Chris Schlerf) being the same for both games.
More information about Mass Effect: Andromeda, along with a new trailer, will be released on November 7, or N7 Day. While we wait for November to arrive, let us know what you thought about the Andromeda footage. Were you impressed by the technical showcase of the PlayStation 4 Pro? Intrigued by the cutscene from Mass Effect: Andromeda?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
Mass EffectMass Effect AndromedaPlayStation 4PS4PS4 Pro
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Home Sports Professional Nneka, Toliver, Sparks Prevail Over Fever in Return to Staples
Nneka, Toliver, Sparks Prevail Over Fever in Return to Staples
Brianne Ingram
Photo by Brianne Ingram
Los Angeles, CA- Nneka Ogwumike finished with an exclamation point in her return from a left knee sprain by scoring a buzzer beater layup at the Staples Center on Sunday evening.
Photo by Jevone Moore
Brittney Sykes threw a cross court pass in transition to Ogwumike. She scored to seal the deal as the LA Sparks (7-13) prevailed over the Indiana Fever (4-17) 75-70 in return to their home floor at Staples Center, and their first game back from the Olympic break.
The Staples Center crowd went berserk after the sound of the final buzzer.
"To be honest I knew it was like the end of the game, but I just wanted to finish the game," said Ogwumike. "So, I'm just really glad that Slim passed that to me because I would have looked really stupid if she didn't. For me it's just kind of symbolic of me finishing things out. Just wanting to savor every moment. So, I'm glad that she passed it to me because I just wanted to put my stamp on that game with the energy that hopefully my team felt."
Sykes commented on her assist to Ogwumike.
"We joked about it in the cold tub, and I knew that if I didn't throw it, it would have been a whole other story to talk about after the game. I saw the time … and I was like let me just lob it up enough where she can catch it, lay it up, and she got it. I was happy. That's like a perfect way to end the game. Nneka and KT's first game back. She deserved that layup."
The 2016 WNBA MVP Ogwumike scored 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Ogwumike expressed how she felt in her return from injury that kept her sidelined for most of the first half of the season.
"It feels great to be back. It always feels so good to be back in Staples Center. I just kind of entered this game with a mindset of wanting to have fun. I wanted to be able to do what I can for my team. I haven't played in a long time. I'm just glad that I was able to help my team win."
Kristi Toliver drives the lane.
Two-time WNBA Champion Kristi Toliver also made her return from an eye injury that she suffered against the Washington Mystics on June 24th. She had four points and six assists.
"We are a completely different team with those two on the court," said Amanda Zahui B. "It's a beautiful thing. It creates for everyone else. They just read the game and their IQ is really high. I'm just really happy."
The LA Sparks were in control for most of the game with their biggest lead being 12 points.
There were six lead changes and seven ties, but the LA Sparks never allowed the game to get away from them.
Sykes led all Sparks scorers with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and she reached her 1500 point career milestone.
"Cheers to 1500," said Sykes. "I'm truly grateful."
The LA Sparks returned to Staples for the first time since September 15, 2019, and won their 16th consecutive regular season game on their home floor.
The Sparks fans lit up with excitement as the WNBA resumed the second half of their season.
"For these people to come out and support us tonight and bring energy and bring noise, I do think our players felt and appreciated the fans tonight," said Head Coach Derek Fisher. "And just being in this building. It's a different kind of stage. I think you feel more like you're in the big time when you're in this building. We're fortunate to get this win."
The LA Sparks take on the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, August 17th at 7:30 pm.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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From Lira to Euro. Italy's History in Coins – Part 5: South Italy and the Mafia
written by Aila de la Rive, by courtesy of the MoneyMuseum
November, 25. 2021
The origins of Sicily's mafia date back to the 19th century and are closely connected to the unification and democratisation of Italy. Source: Schreibwerkzeug / CC BY-SA 4.0
With the unification of Italy, a new phenomenon emerged in rural Sicily: the mafia. In the 18th century, noble landowners in South Italy had started to move to their comfortable residences in the cities. This triggered a significant change in traditional structures: the absent families gradually lost control over their huge estates in the country – the latifundia. The new lords of the estates were the "gabellotti", tenants who sublet the land to peasant families at horrendous prices, got paid in money or in kind, and gave part of the proceeds to the actual land owners.
These gabellotti did not only exploit the peasantry but also put pressure on landowners: they offered lords, barons or counts protection from robbers, rustlers and rebellious peasants. In case the noble lords did not want this protection, the gabellotti gave substance to their offer: by cutting olive trees, vines and killing cattle.
Kingdom of Italy. Umberto I. 20 lire 1891. From Künker auction 324 (2019), 3190.
To make sure the estates were actually protected, the gabellotti needed helpers. Piece by piece, a criminal network emerged revolving around the core business of extortion.
With the gradual expansion of voting rights, the mafia also penetrated the political world. Immediately after the founding of the state, census suffrage only allowed half a million man to give their vote: the electoral census amounted to 40 lire – a fortune that only the mostly aristocratic and conservative upper class was able to hold. However, by 1913, suffrage was extended to almost all adult male Italians. This meant that many conservative deputies in Rome feared losing their mandate to a social revolutionary opponent. This was remedied by the mafia: there were enough people who voted conservative deputies among Sicily's rural population – because voting the right people equalled protection from reprisals. By the way, the relationship between "cliens" and "patronus" in ancient Rome, which was based on protection and duties, worked quite similar: the "cliens", a Roman citizen who was free by law but economically and socially dependent, accepted protection from a "patronus". The patronus represented him in dealing with the state, in return, the cliens must perform certain services for the patronus and support him with his vote in the magistrate elections. The political life of ancient Rome was decisively determined by these relationships.
In such a way, the mafia extended its control over Sicily's rural population. In return, the deputies that were elected thanks to the help of the mafia prevented anti-mafia laws from being adopted by parliament. Thus, the connection between Roman politics and the mafia grew stronger and stronger until the influence of the Honoured Society was no longer limited to the south of the country. As a result, the economic and social modernisation of Italy was severely hampered by crime interfering with politics.
Especially South Italy was extremely poor in the 19th century. Many people made their living from agriculture – and lived from hand to mouth. Photo: Giorgio Sommer, between 1895 and 1905.
We can hardly understand what a census of 40 lire meant at the time. Even at the end of the 19th century, most Italians could only dream of such an amount of money. Many families lived off agriculture and led a life in extreme poverty. Compared to Great Britain, France or Germany, Italy's industrialisation had only just begun – and was limited to northern Italy. In the north there was electricity as well as transportation and sales opportunities – an infrastructure that did not exist in the south. But even agriculture itself was hardly mechanized, and many families could barely live on the land they sat on. In addition, there was a huge crowd of landless seasonal workers who toiled for a pittance on the large latifundia in the south. Moreover, Italians were the most heavily taxed people of Europe in around 1880. The war cost the young state a lot of money and the colonial expansion policy also swallowed up vast sums.
Kingdom of Italy. Umberto I. 50 centesimi 1889. From Künker auction eLive 65 (2021), No. 7550.
In 1898, a poor harvest led to a massive increase in the price of bread: it rose from 50 to 60 centesimi per kilo, in some places even up to 75 centesimi. This triggered a wave of revolutionary unrest that spread rapidly from South Italy to the rest of the country and culminated in a full-blown uprising in Lombardy. After bloody battles, the army was able to put down the revolutionaries. The assassination of Umberto I (1878-1900) in 1900 was the last echo of these bitter domestic struggles.
In the next episode, we will see how inflation drives up the cost of living to incredible heights and puts one man at the top of the country after World War One: Benito Mussolini.
Here you can find all parts of the series "From Lira to Euro. Italy's History in Coins".
Italy (Modern Period)
From Lira to Euro. Italy's History in Coins – Part 4:...
August, 26. 2021
After the unification, Italy had a lot of problems. And the politicians loved to distract from them. A reliable means: showing strength and winning colonies. The Italians plunged into the power adventures in Africa – and got a bloody nose.


Summer Promotions, IWCI, and MSI teams, oh my! An eventful week in this edition of This Week in eSports!
Continue reading for the results of the NA/EU LCS Summer Promotion tournaments, International Wildcard Invitational results, info on the Mid-Season Invitational teams, and more!
As always, we're going to take a look at the results from the various regional leagues! The brackets and standings below are up to date as of Sunday, April 26th and as always, VODs can be found here.
The 2015 Summer Promotion Tournament of the NA LCS concluded this weekend!
TDK beat Winterfox with a record of 3 - 1, claiming a spot in the NA LCS, meaning Winterfox has been relegated.
Team Dignitas beat Team Fusion with a record of 3 - 2, keeping their spot in the NA LCS.
The 2015 Summer Promotion Tournament of the EU LCS also concluded this weekend.
ROCCAT beat CWA with a record of 3 - 0, keeping their spot in the EU LCS!
Giants Gaming beat Reason Gaming with a record of 3 - 1, also keeping their spot in the EU LCS!
The LCK Spring Playoffs are still in progress. Earlier this week, SKT T1 took out CJ Entus and will be facing GE Tigers on Saturday, May 2nd in the Finals!
The winner of the Final stage will also be invited to the Mid-Season Invitational in early May.
VODs for SKT T1 vs CJ Entus can be found here. As per the league's rules, game game five was a Blind Pick!
The LPL Spring Playoffs Finals concluded this week when EDward Gaming beat LDG Gaming with a record of 3 - 2.
For placing first, EDward Gaming will go on to the 2015 Mid-Season Invitational in early May.
The International Wild Card Invitational took place this last week, with Turkey's Beşiktaş e-Sports Club taking first and qualifying for the Mid-Season Invitational!
Days 1-3 consisted of the Group Stage in a Round Robin format. After 21 Best of One games, the top four teams moved on to the Bracket Stage.
Day 4, Semifinals were held on featuring the top four teams, Bangkok Titans, Hard Random, INTZ e-Sports, and Beşiktaş e-Sports Club.
Day 5 consisted of Finals between Beşiktaş e-Sports Club and INTZ e-Sports. BJK came out on top with a record of 3-1, earning themselves an invite to MSI in early May.
The 2015 Mid-Season Invitational is coming up soon! The event will be held from May 7th-10th in Tallahassee, Florida. Thus far only FIVE teams that have already been qualified for MSI by placing first in their respective regions/placing first in the IWCI.
The only team that has yet to qualify will be the first place seed in South Korea. The LCK Finals are happening this coming week between SKT T1 and GE Tigers.
Remember that Riot will be offering limited-time deals to celebrate MSI 2015! This includes Summoner Icons, Skin/Champion Bundles, 2 for 1 Rune Pages (IP & RP), Boost sales, and Summoner name change sales!
Cloud9's mid laner Hai will be stepping down effective immediately for various reasons.
Although Hai will not be on the player roster, "Hai will continue to play a significant role in the Cloud9 organization and stay heavily focused on the League of Legends space along with all the other growing eSports scenes."
Gambit Gaming has decided to terminate the contract with their Head Coach, Jordan "Leviathan" Thwaites following their performance in the playoffs. The team has begun searching for a new Head Coach, making it their goal primary during the mid-season.
Fnatic has once again partnered with Twitch, meaning players will now be streaming on the platform.
"With Twitch, Fnatic is promising our fans and spectators world-wide a lot of exciting stream content and an opportunity to watch and support our players beyond the tournaments."
Riot Nick Allen has provided a rundown on important policies that will impact the upcoming Mid-Season Invitational, including prizing information, substitute rules, and much more. The complete and official rule set can be found here.
Riot Nick Allen also commented on a situation with players having their phones during the finals of the IWCI and apologized for lack of distinct ruleset being made public for the event.


Out with the tinsel and in with the metal garlands. This festive season, be more daring and embrace the darker months with darker tones in your Christmas decor. The most magical time of the year calls for our stunning antique metal accessories and candles. Fill your home with a sense of dark enchantment using multiple flickering tealight candles and winter berry scents, then reintroduce a little seasonal sparkle with black and metallic sequin baskets to store all of your special gifts. You'll not want to leave your yuletide lair until the New Year.


POLL: Who or what are your rooting for in the MLS Cup?
I think FC Dallas is the clear favorite against Colorado in Sunday's MLS Cup in Toronto, especially after beating Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles en route to the final. But what do you want to see?
Are you rooting for a specific team? Do you just want to see a good game? Let me know what interests you heading into this matchup — if anything.


Financial smurfing is a colloquial term used by government officials for money laundering in which a person initiates a series of financial transactions under the reporting threshold of $10,000 to transport offshore, to another bank, or to a criminal in the form of "clean money" to avoid reporting requirements and law enforcement.
Money laundering begins with "dirty money." Income that is not reported to the IRS is considered "dirty," even if it was gained through legal, but under-the-table, employment. Money can also be "dirty" through illegal means, such as drug sales, smuggling, prostitution, gambling, bribery, extortion, or human trafficking.
Smurfing is often done by people involved in drugs, extortion, illegal real estate purchases, currency manipulation, or gambling. In the drug world, money obtained illegally through drug manufacturing is then laundered through a network of smurfs who convert the currency into "clean" money. The smurfs seek to separate the money from its original source by moving electronic funds to different or overseas bank accounts, investing in advanced financial options, or purchasing money orders and cashier's checks. Finally, the money is returned to the original source through a property transaction or high-end sales of art, jewelry, or automobiles.
Why is financial smurfing illegal?
Most structuring cases stem from the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, a law stipulating that banks must report any deposits, withdrawals, or transfers exceeding $10,000. The goal was to shed light on criminal activity.
Hide personal property and wealth from tax collectors, divorce courts, and authorities.
Convert cash into money orders, cashier's checks, gold, stamps, or property for illegal activities.
What is the difference between financial structuring and smurfing?
Sometimes "smurfing" activity involves no smurfs at all and can be done by an individual – in which case it may be referred to as "financial structuring." It can be a fine line for some people and businesses. For instance, if you're a bartender or waiter who earns $2,000-$2,500 a week in tips and makes monthly deposits less than $10,000 – this isn't in itself isn't illegal, but if you are doing so because you don't want your bank to report the money to the government, it is.
If you're a business owner just getting started, you might make a series of deposits under $10,000, but once your enterprise grows you may find the teller reported you to the federal government – something that you may not feel comfortable with, even if you've done nothing wrong.
Often, financial structuring is sometimes done by individuals who wish to protect themselves from government intrusion. Technically, if you had $10,000 to deposit into a bank account and chose to only put in $9,999 to avoid reporting, you're guilty of structuring.
Call Jeff King if you're facing money laundering charges in Texas!
Have you been charged with financial structuring, smurfing, or money laundering? Money laundering is punishable by a fine and up to five years in federal prison. To make matters worse, the assets seized often become government property, further compounding an individual's loss.
Sometimes good people make mistakes. Sometimes law enforcement gets it wrong. Either way, you may need a lawyer to clear your good name.
Texas Attorney Jeff King has over 14 years of legal experience on both sides of the aisle. Over the years, he has developed a sterling reputation in the criminal defense arena. His passion is in defending the rights of the accused. Through an in-depth understanding of financial law and diligent preparation of every case as if it's going to trial, Texas money laundering defense attorney Jeffrey King gives you a distinct advantage and the strong, aggressive defense you expect from a former marine.


The settlement conference set for Sept. 25 will mark the first time Elizabeth Banks and the caretaker, Regina Rice, have come together since controversy erupted over Banks' will in the wake of his January death of a heart attack at 83.
If no agreement is reached in the closed-door meeting with Cook County probate Judge James Riley, the case could be headed toward a protracted and expensive legal battle that would potentially drain Banks' estate of whatever assets are left.
"It's going to cost a ton of dough to move it forward," Riley said Thursday during a status hearing in his Daley Center courtroom.
Elizabeth Banks, who lives in California and was estranged from the Cubs great at the time of his death, alleged in a recent court filing that her husband had been diagnosed with moderate to severe dementia days before Rice arranged for him to sign a will in October at a suburban attorney's office. The will cut out his family of his estate and left everything to Rice.
Despite the accusations being lobbed by both sides, attorneys for Rice told the judge Thursday they wanted to move forward with a settlement conference because of the limited assets in the estate. It was in everyone's best interest to resolve it in "a peaceful manner," one attorney said.
Earlier this year, Rice filed an inventory of Banks' personal property with the court that consisted mostly of items from Banks' rented Trump Tower condo as well as storage containers in Chicago and California.
Other assets of Banks' are part of a private trust set up in Rice's name under the terms of the will and so far have not been made public. Linda Chatman, Rice's lead attorney, said Thursday everything would "be on the table" in the talks.
Absent from the legal proceedings have been Banks' twin sons, Joey and Jerry, who publicly accused Rice of taking advantage of their father's frail health and vowed to fight her in court when the will first came to light.
Riley said the deadline for them to file the paperwork to be participants in the case is Friday. But if the case is settled first, the sons would not be able to participate in any talks or object to whatever award they were given.
Also Thursday, Riley approved a spousal award of $20,000 for Elizabeth Banks, the minimum amount allowed under the state's probate law. Rice's attorneys objected to the award, saying she had not shown that she relied on Banks for financial support at the time of his death. But the judge said the law was clear.
"I'll tell you exactly what the appeals court would say if I denied it," the judge said. "They'd say, 'Hey, what's wrong with Riley?' "


text:
Articles from Academic Databases
SCOPUS 1983-2021
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://ir.swu.ac.th/jspui/handle/123456789/11867
Title: Er:YAG laser for snoring: a systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Neruntarat C.
Khuancharee K.
Shoowit P.
Keywords: apnea hypopnea index
dry throat
foreign body reaction
meta analysis
priority journal
respiratory disturbance index
upper respiratory tract
adverse device effect
sleep disordered breathing
Lasers, Solid-State
Publication Bias
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
Abstract: A new outpatient non-surgical method using Er:YAG laser for snoring has been demonstrated. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effects of this treatment on snoring. Relevant 1548 articles were searched from various databases from 1 January 2000 to September 2018 including PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus and reference lists. Meta-analysis was performed with RevMan software. Cochran's Q and I2 statistics were used to assess heterogeneity. The overall effect was evaluated using z-tests. Seven studies and two hundred forty-seven participants treated with two to three sessions of Er:YAG 2940 nm laser (long pulse mode, 10 Hz, fluence 1.6 J/cm2) were included. There was a statistically significant reduction of pooled snoring VAS (mean difference (MD) (95% CI), − 6.89 (− 7.62, − 6.15)). Patient satisfaction rate after laser treatment was 80% (95% CI, 70.69, 89.05) of cases. A widening of the upper airway dimension was revealed; however, changes in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and respiratory disturbance index (RDI) were not significantly different. Mean follow-up period was 3 to 36 months. Patients tolerated the procedure well without anesthesia. There were minimal side effects without serious adverse effects. Er:YAG laser is shown to be effective in a way to reduce snoring without significant AHI or RDI changes. However, randomized controlled trials, objective data, multicenter cooperation, and long-term outcomes are needed to confirm the benefits of this laser for snoring. © 2020, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.
URI: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85081027496&doi=10.1007%2fs10103-020-02987-3&partnerID=40&md5=9fb1a07327a4ebfed49676b8f2c4370d
http://ir.swu.ac.th/jspui/handle/123456789/11867
ISSN: 2688921
Appears in Collections: SCOPUS 1983-2021
Items in SWU repository are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


People who receive vagus nerve stimulation for depression experience significant improvements in quality of life, even when their symptoms don't completely subside, researchers report.
A new study involved nearly 600 patients with depression that taking four or more antidepressants, taken either separately or in combination could not be alleviated. Researchers evaluated vagus nerve stimulators, which send regular, mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain via the vagus nerve. The nerve originates in the brain, passes through the neck and travels down into the chest and abdomen.
The FDA approved vagus nerve stimulation for treatment-resistant depression in 2005, but there has been a recognition more recently that evaluating just a patient's antidepressant response to stimulation doesn't adequately assess the quality of life, which is the purpose of the current study.
"When evaluating patients with treatment-resistant depression, we need to focus more on their overall well-being," says principal investigator Charles R. Conway, professor of psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis.
"A lot of patients are on as many as three, four, or five antidepressant medications, and they are just barely getting by. But when you add a vagus nerve stimulator, it really can make a big difference in people's everyday lives," he says.
As many as two-thirds of the 14 million Americans with clinical depression don't respond to the first antidepressant drug they take, and up to one-third don't respond to subsequent attempts with other such drugs.
The researchers compared patients who received vagus nerve stimulation with others who received what the study referred to as "treatment as usual," which could include antidepressant drugs, psychotherapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, or some combination.
The researchers followed 328 patients implanted with vagus nerve stimulators, many of whom also took medication. They compared those patients with 271 similarly resistant depressed patients receiving only treatment as usual.
In assessing the quality of life, researchers evaluated 14 categories, including physical health, family relationships, ability to work, and overall well-being.
"On about 10 of the 14 measures, those with vagus nerve stimulators did better," Conway says. "For a person to be considered to have responded to a depression therapy, he or she needs to experience a 50 percent decline in his or her standard depression score.
A vagus nerve stimulator is surgically implanted under the skin in the neck or chest. Stimulation of the vagus nerve originally was tested in epilepsy patients who didn't respond to other treatments. The FDA approved the device for epilepsy in 1997, but while testing the therapy, researchers noticed that some epilepsy patients who also had depression experienced fairly rapid improvements in their depression symptoms.
In the new study, which appears in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, patients with stimulators had significant gains in quality-of-life measures such as mood, ability to work, social relationships, family relationships, and leisure activities, compared with those who received only treatment as usual.
Study participant Charles Donovan says he never felt much better when he took antidepressant drugs. He was hospitalized for depression several times before he had a stimulator implanted.
"Slowly but surely, my mood brightened," he recalls. "I went from being basically catatonic to feeling little or no depression. I've had my stimulator for 17 years now, and I still get sad when bad things happen—like deaths, recessions, job loss—so it doesn't make you bulletproof from life's normal ups and downs, but for me, vagus nerve stimulation has been a game-changer.


Looking for work?JobsInMaine.com, Craigslist, Monster.com, Indeed.com, and SimplyHired have many listings for the Belfast area. The State of Maine has a webpage devoted entirely to helping people find work in Maine, and another that provides lots of relevant info for families who are relocating. You may find Jim Wheelock's excellent Career Transition Guide to be a useful planning tool.
For a real treasure trove of information on what makes Belfast so vibrant, visit the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce's website.
Regional School Unit #20 is our local public system. Nearby private schools include Cornerspring Montessori School, Ashwood Waldorf School, the Belfast Area Children's Center, the UMaine Hutchinson Center, and the Sweetser School.
Belfast Co-op (above) and Chase's Daily (below).
Colburn's (below) is the oldest shoe store in America!
BelfastMaine.com is loaded with tons of useful links.
The City of Belfast's official site is a wonderful resource for municipal info of all sorts.
The Colonial is a beautifully restored independent cinema, and perhaps the only movie theater in existence with an elephant on the roof! The Belfast Free Library (recently renovated, and now with free WIFI) often hosts lectures and presentations. Waterfall Arts, a nonprofit arts center, also hosts artists' talks and open mic nights. The Belfast Maskers stage locally-produced plays. There are numerous art galleries: Working Art, Neal Parent, High Street, Northern Lights, Indigo, and many more. Much of the year they host a Friday Night Art Walk and receptions, at which you'll find an amazing range of high-quality local artists. Flying Shoes hosts monthly contradances. There's the annual Maine Celtic Celebration, held on the waterfront, and New Year's by the Bay, featuring a wide range of performances and activities for the whole family. During the summer months, you'll find countless church fairs, grange hall get-togethers and special events throughout the region. For an overview of just about everything that's happening in the local arts & music scene, visit the Belfast Creative Coalition online.
From the Belfast Common (on the waterfront) to the Belfast Dog Park, you'll find no fewer than ten parks within the city limits. All are described in the some detail on the Friends of Belfast Parks website. The nicely-equipped and very active Waldo County YMCA is located about a mile down the road, and offers a wide range of programs for all ages. Enjoy tooling around on two wheels? The Belfast Bicycle Club does too! Prefer walking? The Coastal Mountains Land Trust maintains a number of trails and preserves in the Belfast environs. If your tastes run more to digging in the dirt, the Belfast Garden Club might be your cup of tea. And Come Boating! provides opportunities for seafarers of all ages and abilities to get out on the waters of beautiful Belfast Harbor. The wildly popular Belfast Harbor Walk winds along the water's edge from the walking bridge through the beating heart of the very busy and very impressive Front Street Shipyard all the way to the boathouse on the south end of the waterfront.
Besides the usual assortment of national franchises and mom & pop eateries, there are a number of great places to eat. Chase's Daily is an elegant farm-to-table vegetarian place, and Darby's is an artsy pub with great food. Delvino's offers upscale Italian fare, as well as some Japanese-inspired dishes. The café in the Belfast Co-op serves good, wholesome stick-to-your-ribs food and is a hub of town life. Bay Wrap makes huge, delicious, creative wraps, and Bell The Cat is well-known for their fabulous sandwiches. There's the somewhat-swanky but unpretentious Three Tides Waterfront Bar overlooking the harbor (serving beer brewed next door at the Marshall Wharf Brewing Company), a decent Thai place (Thai Bhurapar), and a working lobster pound (Young's Lobster Pound) where you can bring your own beer or wine and dine picnic-style out on the deck. Next door in Lincolnville, Salt Water Farm (overlooking Penobscot Bay) offers guests the opportunity to create local, seasonal dishes with cooking classes and feasts. Primo (Rockland) is a world-class restaurant sitting inside a restored Victorian home, where the freshest possible ingredients are put to imaginative use in dazzling recipes.
Coastal Maine towns are renowned for combining trendy shops with well-established traditional businesses, and Belfast is no exception. On the old-time Main Street that runs from the post office down to the harbor, you'll find Colburn's Shoe (established in 1832 and still run by the same family) next door to The Green Store (a general store for the 21st century). All About Games has been called the best toy store in Maine, while Coyote Moon offers stylish clothing and accessories. The Good Table is the place to go for kitchen tools. Just off main street, The Belfast Co-op is a must-see. The oldest and largest food co-op in the state, it will give you a sense of how much beautiful, locally-grown produce one can get here, even in the off-season. Perusing the Co-op also gives you a good read on the general vibe and culture of Belfast. And who woulda' thunk it — we've even got our own soda company! The Belfast Soda Company sells "soda syrups as they were meant to be" for do-it-yourselfers (just add seltzer).
Waldo County is home to many farms and small resource-based businesses like Duck River Fish Farm and Good Karma Farm. At the Keene Dairy on Shephard Road in Belfast, fifth generation farmers offer raw milk in glass bottles to local patrons. Larger businesses such as Bank of America, Robbins Lumber, and Athena Health are key players in the local economy. The Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, hosts of the wildly popular Common Ground Country Fair, is one of the country's largest and most active organic gardening associations. Unity College (America's Environmental College) is also located in Waldo County. Just up the road in Searsport, the Penobscot Marine Museum (on the National Register of Historic Places) provides a glimpse into Maine's maritime past. In the other direction, the Camden/Rockport area is home to Maine's Windjammer fleet, and the Camden Snow Bowl offers biking, hiking and skiing with ocean views.


Park Church is located in Shelton, the most ethnically diverse place in Stoke-on-Trent. Many international people find life in the UK difficult: there are language barriers, loneliness, cultural differences, and then there's the weather! We can't fix the weather, but we want to help with the other problems.
Global Café is a place to come and make new friends and practise your English with native English speakers.
We meet at Park Church in Shelton. Find us.
When does Global Café meet?
We also have special events and outings.
What happens at Global Café?
Why do you have a Bible Story?
We are a Christian church and we believe the Bible is the best story in the world because it tells us how much God loves us. Reading the Bible together has been used to teach English for hundreds of years.
Do I have to be a Christian to come to Global Café?
No, not at all! Global Café is for anyone – for all faiths or none. You will not be asked to pray or sing or do anything you feel uncomfortable with. We promise!
Global Café is completely free of charge. If you want to contribute towards costs, you can, but we will not ask you for money.
Who can come to Global Café?
Anyone who wants to make friends and practise their English.
Is Global Café just for students?
No. Global Café is for anyone, young or old, from any country.
What standard of English do I need to have?
From complete beginner to advanced.
Do you use an English language curriculum?
No, this is very informal learning. We are not certified or accredited to teach English. But we are all native English-speakers, so we have lots of practice!
Why do Park Church run Global Café?
We believe God made all people from every culture and language equal. We believe it is part of our Christian duty to love and help international people who live in our community. If you want to know more about our faith, we will gladly tell you.


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Grand ceremony marks Dien Bien Phu victory
A grand ceremony saluting the 60th anniversary of Viet Nam's victory at Dien Bien Phu, which ended French colonial rule in the country, was held in Dien Bien Phu city in the northwestern province of Dien Bien yesterday morning.
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh, State President Truong Tan Sang and former State President Tran Duc Luong were present at the celebration, among other distinguished guests.
President Truong Tan Sang delivers a speech at the grand ceremony saluting the 60th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory
Foreign guests included Lao Deputy Prime Minister Asang Laoly, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An and Mexican Labour Party National Coordinator Alberto Anaya Gutierrez. Representatives from diplomatic corps and international organisations in Viet Nam were also present.
Flower baskets were sent to the ceremony by former Party General Secretary Do Muoi, former State President Le Duc Anh, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.
In his speech, President Sang expressed gratitude to late President Ho Chi Minh and late General Vo Nguyen Giap, the first Commander-in-Chief of the Viet Nam People's Army, for their roles in the triumph at Dien Bien Phu. He also offered heartfelt thanks to the war heroes who sacrificed their lives for victory at Dien Bien Phu.
The President stated that the victory was an epic that had become part of the nation's glorious history due to the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President Ho Chi Minh and the aggregated strength of national unity and the people's and army's determination to fight for national independence and freedom.
He said that the campaign, which lasted for 56 days and nights, was launched after a decision by the Politburo, President Ho Chi Minh and the Party's Military Commission.
Sang said the triumph of the resistance war against the French demonstrated the nation's undaunted spirit, the Party's sound leadership, the nation's great unity and international support.
Sang said the Dien Bien Phu triumph was a victory for armies and peoples of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia. He said valuable assistance was also provided by the peoples from the former Soviet Union and China, socialist countries and oppressed nations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He said the victory was a triumph for oppressed nations around the world.
Sang said the spirit of the Dien Bien Phu victory could help Viet Nam achieve new successes in national development, defence and reform. He called for soldiers and citizens in and outside the country to work together to bring prosperity to the country.
A grand parade takes place in northern Dien Bien Phu City to celebrate the important historical event.
One of the thousands of soldiers and volunteers who served in the campaign, former Artillery Colonel Phung Van Khau, made a speech recalling the difficult struggle to defeat the French.
He bravely fought on till the end of the battle after all the other members of his battery were killed or seriously injured. He hoped that the past would be remembered by younger generations, who would in turn be inspired to make new achievements in national construction and defence.
The ceremony was followed by a military parade and ended with an artistic performance by 500 artists, featuring folk songs and dances from ethnic groups.
Meanwhile yesterday, a delegation of Vietnamese leaders led by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered incense to war heroes resting at the A1 Hill Cemetery in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien.


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Archive for 2019
(L to R) Trial Consultant Suann Ingle, Attorney Jesse Hoyer, Jury Consultant Max Bloom
Partner Jesse Hoyer took part in a panel at the American Bar Association's 2019 False Claims Act and Qui Tam Trial Institute at Fordham University on June 20th.
The False Claims Act mock trial gave attendees a rare look at a whistleblower trial from start to finish, including how jurors come to their verdict. Attorneys were able to observe jury deliberations, via video, and see how jurors responded to themes, evidence and arguments presented during the mock trial.
In addition to attending the mock trial, Jesse Hoyer sat on a panel titled "Bringing Your Trial to Life: Trial Graphics and Jury Consultants." Joining her on the panel were trial consultant Suann Ingle of Suann Ingle Associates in New York City and jury consultant Max Bloom from Holocene in San Francisco.
"The mock trial was a fascinating exercise to witness, and it was a special honor to present on the panel," Hoyer said.
IRE Speakers (l to r): Steve Becker, Andy Donahue, Nicole Hong, Angie Moreschi
Every year, the national Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) conference brings together many of the best investigative reporters in the United States and abroad. More than 2000 journalists attended IRE 2019 in Houston to learn investigative techniques and develop story ideas. High on the list: stories about fraud.
James Hoyer Investigator and Communications Director Angie Moreschi was invited to speak on a panel about detecting business fraud. For the presentation, she joined Wall Street Journal reporter Nicole Hong, Better Business Bureau International Investigations Specialist Steve Becker, and moderator Andy Donahue, editor of Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting.
"These are some of the smartest and best reporters in the world, so it's always an honor and privilege to speak at the IRE conference. I try to offer useful, practical tips on how to find fraud against the government and ideas to help reporters tell these important stories to public," Angie said.
The False Claims Act & Whistleblowers
Angie shared important information about how whistleblowers help to expose fraud against the government through the False Claims Act and how they help to recover money for taxpayers.
The False Claims Act is the law that makes it possible for private citizens to file suit on behalf of the government when they become aware of fraud at companies ripping off government agencies or programs. Through these whistleblower suits, the Department of Justice recovered $2.8 billion, last year alone.
There's a lot of fraud out there and it takes many forms, from improper patient admissions, over-billing, and up-coding at hospitals; kickbacks for referrals; selling unnecessary medical equipment; pharmaceutical companies pushing the sale of drugs off-label; defense contractor fraud; and financial aid fraud.
Fastest Growing Types of Fraud
Healthcare fraud is far and away the number one type of fraud against the government, with DOJ estimating some $100 billion lost to healthcare fraud, every year.
One of the fastest growing areas is Durable Medical Equipment fraud. This is where unscrupulous companies often target senior citizens on Medicare and harass them with multiple phone calls everyday, trying to get them to authorize shipments of medical equipment or products. The big problem is many patients don't need or want the items, but in several cases, the companies ship them anyway, and then fraudulently bill the government.
"It's something all taxpayers should care about, because we all pay for it," Angie said.
Presentation by Other Panelists
In addition to Angie's presentation, Wall Street Journal reporter Nicole Hong talked about some of the biggest fraud cases covered by the paper, this year; and BBB investigator Steve Becker looked at some of the top areas of consumer fraud, including online romance scams, puppy scams, and business email scams.
Picture courtesy of Connect Media
A Pittsburgh area cardiologist was found guilty of two counts of healthcare fraud, involving more than $13 million in falsified insurance billing. Dr. Samirkumar Shah submitted the fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicaid and several private insurance companies and received payments in excess of $3.5 million.
During an eight day trial, evidence was submitted to show that Dr. Shah, 56, offered External Counter Pulsation (ECP) treatments to patients in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Florida for a variety of ailments, including obesity, migraines and erectile dysfunction. He advertised the ECP treatments as "the Fountain of Youth" and claimed they made patients "younger and smarter," according to the Department of Justice.
ECP involves the use of a specialized bed equipped with pressure cuffs, which exert pressure upon patients' lower extremities as a means to increase blood flow to the heart. Insurers only reimburse for ECP treatments for patients who suffer from disabling angina—or chest pain caused by decreased blood flow to the heart—and only when a physician supervised the treatment.
FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones called healthcare fraud a serious problem that impacts every American. "It takes critical resources from our health care system and increases health care costs for everyone. Dr. Shah's disregard for safe patient care goes against the medical ethics he was to uphold," Jones said.
According to the DOJ, evidence showed that Shah instructed his employees to indicate that every patient had disabling angina on billing sheets that were used to support false insurance claims. In some cases, Shah never even met patients and never reviewed ultrasound imagery before approving new patients to begin ECP. In addition to billing for ECP treatments that were not medically necessary and were not provided under direct physician supervision, Shah also double-billed insurers.
Contrary to health insurance requirements, ECP treatments routinely occurred while neither Shah nor any other medical doctor was present at his various locations. On one occasion, a patient experienced an adverse event during his ECP treatment and had to be transported via ambulance to the hospital.
U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said, "Health care fraud threatens the safety and integrity of our entire health care system. Doctors and medical professionals like Dr. Shah who issue false diagnoses, order unnecessary testing and fraudulently bill Medicare and Medicaid in effect steal from the most vulnerable in our community."
Shah faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Click here to read more from the Department of Justice.
TN Attorney General sues opioid maker Endo Pharmaceuticals (photo courtesy Times News)
Endo Pharmaceuticals, the same company which was at the center of a $193 million settlement with one of James Hoyer's whistleblower clients, is now facing another major legal battle. The Tennessee Attorney General is suing Endo for making unlawful and false claims about the safety and benefits of its opioid products.
The AG's office says Endo violated the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and contributed to a devastating health crisis in Tennessee. Here are details from the news release by Attorney General Herbert Slatery's office:
Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III today sued Endo Pharmaceuticals and Endo Health Solutions Inc. (Endo) for making unlawful and false claims about the safety and benefits of its opioid products.
The State's lawsuit, filed in Knoxville, alleges Endo violated the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act and contributed to a devastating public health crisis in Tennessee.
"Our Office has conducted an extensive investigation into Endo's unlawful marketing practices which included targeting vulnerable populations like the elderly," said Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III. "Endo has repeatedly refused to take responsibility for its unconscionable conduct, which is why we are taking this action."
The allegations in the State's 180-page complaint detail how Endo deceptively marketed its opioid products as being less addictive and more effective than others on the market. It did this despite evidence to the contrary, including the FDA's explicit rejection of Endo's claim that Opana ER was resistant to abuse as well as overwhelming evidence that Opana ER was being abused throughout Tennessee.
The Complaint alleges that Endo also knew the dangers of its opioid products, including increased risks of respiratory depression and death in elderly patients, and failed to clearly disclose those risks while it specifically targeted patients in that age group.
The State also has reason to believe Endo used the recommendations and educational materials of third-party groups like the American Pain Foundation without disclosing that Endo was by far the biggest donor to the Foundation and provided more than half of its total funding. Endo provided significant funding to other third-party groups and subsequently relied on material generated by those groups without disclosing the financial relationship.
The Attorney General requested the complaint be filed under a temporary seal because Endo claims the information produced during the State's investigation is confidential. The order sealed by the judge allows the seal to expire in 10 days unless Endo acts to extend it.
The Attorney General believes the complaint should be made available to the public in its entirety and efforts to keep it confidential will only prolong and diminish Endo's accountability for its conduct.
Generic Drug Price Fixing
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong interviewed on 60 Minutes
If you ever wondered why the price of generic drugs is getting so expensive, 60 Minutes gave us an inside look at the problem on its Sunday broadcast. The CBS program profiled the on-going battle of Connecticut Attorney General William Tong to hold big pharma accountable.
Connecticut and more than 40 other states filed a sweeping lawsuit accusing the biggest generic drug makers of engaging in an "industry-wide conspiracy" to fix the prices of generic drugs. They allege there is a massive, systematic scheme to bilk consumers and the government out of billions of dollars.
Based on evidence like text messages, emails, phone records, and documents, the prosecutors say sudden, dramatic, price spikes can be tied to drug makers colluding to profiteer, not a shortage of drugs. In a word "greed."
The price hikes have affected 100's of different, everyday prescriptions, driving up the costs for health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid. With 90-percent of all prescriptions filled with generic drugs, the impact on everyday American lives has been overwhelming.
Drug makers deny any wrong-doing and insist they will fight the lawsuits vigorously. Click here to watch the 60 Minutes report.
California Assembly Bill 1270 was introduced on February 21, 2019. If it becomes law, it would amend the state's False Claims Act to remove the bar against tax-related false claims.
Former CEO of Hospital Chain to Pay $3.46 Million to Resolve False Billing and Kickback Allegations
Gary D. Newsome, former CEO of Health Management Associates LLC (HMA), a hospital chain that was headquartered in Naples, Florida, has agreed to pay the United States $3.46 million to settle allegations that he caused HMA to knowingly submit false claims to government health care programs by admitting patients who could have been treated on a less costly, outpatient basis, the Department of Justice announced. The settlement also resolves allegations that Newsome caused HMA to pay remuneration to Emergency Department (ED) physicians in return for referrals.
"Those who bill federal health care programs for unnecessary hospital stays will be held accountable for wasting federal dollars," said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice's Civil Division. "Patients deserve the unfettered, independent judgment of their health care professionals. We will pursue those who cause hospitals to offer financial incentives to physicians in return for improper patient referrals that undermine the integrity of our health care system."
"A physician's health care decisions should be driven by what is in the patient's best interest, not by what helps line a provider's pockets," said Barbara Bowens, the Acting U.S. Attorney for South Carolina for purposes of this case. "The U.S. Attorney's Office will not tolerate false claims based on unnecessary hospital admissions, which drive up health care costs and can harm patients."
"Providers are expected to closely follow rules and bill properly. Further, in this case, the government contended that Newsome directed illegal payments for referrals," said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Taxpayer money wasted is money stolen from vital government health programs."
Read the entire press release from the Department of Justice by clicking here.
Pharmaceutical Company To Pay $17.5M To Resolve Allegations Of Kickbacks
US WorldMeds LLC founder and CEO Breckenridge Jones
US WORLDMEDS LLC
The Justice Department announced today that US WorldMeds LLC (USWM) has agreed to pay $17.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 et seq., by paying kickbacks to patients and physicians to improperly induce prescriptions of its drugs, Apokyn® and Myobloc®. USWM is a pharmaceutical manufacturer headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
"The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that physicians' and patients' selection of medications is not influenced by improper financial considerations," said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice's Civil Division. "The nation's health care programs and taxpayers deserve health care companies that play by the rules, including the Anti-Kickback Statute."
When a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare Part D, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a copayment, coinsurance, or a deductible (collectively "copays"). Congress included copay requirements in the Medicare program, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs, including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can demand for their drugs. Under the Anti-Kickback Statute, a pharmaceutical company is prohibited from offering, directly or indirectly, any remuneration — which includes paying patients' copay obligations — to induce Medicare patients to purchase the company's drugs.
The fight for worker rights took another blow today. The Supreme Court ruled employees at a California company could not band together in an effort to get compensation from their employer for a breach of their data. The 5-4 decision put yet another limitation on the ability to use class arbitration and class actions against bigger, more powerful opponents.
Attorney Dave Scher, head of the James Hoyer Employment Law Division, says the decision is disappointing but "really not surprising, given the conservative shift on the Court." Recent rulings have chipped away at employee rights and, unfortunately, this will make it even more difficult for employees to tackle joint grievances in the workplace.
"It impacts any issue where employees band together to fight unfair circumstances in their workplace—not paying overtime, underpaying tips, break times, not getting benefits they're entitled to—things like that," Scher explained.
Forcing Individual Arbitration
The ruling helps allow companies to ban class action lawsuits and class arbitration proceedings to address disputes; instead, forcing employees to bring their cases on an individual basis. It essentially creates a divide and conquer scenario for companies to take away the "strength in numbers" individuals can get by working together.
Attorney Dave Scher
"It allows corporations to take advantage of low-income employees and prevents them from being held accountable for improper practices," Scher said. "They do what they want, because they know there's really nothing these employees can do about it."
It's cost prohibitive in most cases for employees to bring individual cases for claims that don't amount to large sums, even if the collective damage to all employees is large. Class actions and class arbitrations are supposed to help even the playing field for employees and consumers by spreading out the costs, but that gets harder now with this ruling.
"Companies can afford to fight, but an individual with a $1,000 or $5,000 claim can't afford it. They can't pay a lawyer to help them, and the way it's now structured, many lawyers can't afford to bring the case, because they won't recoup their costs."
According to the Economic Policy Institute, nearly 54-percent of non-union, private sector employers require mandatory arbitration clauses and 65-percent of large companies with more than 1,000 employees have them. These arbitration agreements require workers to give up their rights to have disputes settled in a court of law. They are often a take-it-or-leave-it deal, where if you don't sign, you don't get the job. Unfortunately, many don't even realize the rights they are giving up and that it puts them at a significant disadvantage should a dispute arise.
What can you do about it?
Some employment attorneys are developing a head-on approach to tackle "class" bans by filing large numbers of arbitration cases, one by one.
"Creative employment lawyers are saying—'Fine, instead of having a class, I'll find a thousand workers who fit into this category, and I'll represent each of them. And I'll bring a separate arbitration claim for each of them, and you're going to have to pay for the cost of each of those arbitrations.' And that is having some degree of effect," Scher explained.
In other words, in the world of unintended consequences, class bans could end up backfiring on some employers.
"Essentially employers are coming back and saying, 'Well, wait a minute, that's completely inefficient. It's all the same issue'—which is the whole point of having a class action," Scher explained. "So ultimately, we can put them all together in a class or you can oppose class actions. Which do you want? You're making me do this."
If you find yourself facing an unfair workplace issue, click here to contact attorney Dave Scher for an evaluation.
Attorney Jesse Hoyer Fights Fraud, carrying on firm legacy
James Hoyer law firm Shareholder & Partner Jesse Hoyer
Attorney Jesse Hoyer is a partner and shareholder of the James Hoyer law firm. She carries on the legacy of her parents, former prosecutors who founded the firm. Watch the video below to learn more about her.
Attorney Jesse Hoyer explains how she helps clients.
Jesse's main area of practice is False Claims Act – Whistleblower litigation, which is essentially fighting fraud against the government. Her area of specialty is education fraud, specifically cases involving for-profit colleges that abuse government financial aid funding. She also handles cases involving healthcare, big pharma, and defense contractor fraud, among others.
If you are a potential whistleblower with information that your company is improperly billing the U.S. government, you can request a confidential evaluation here: http://www.jameshoyer.com/contact-us/
**Be sure to let us know that you learned more about Jesse and the firm by watching this video.
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All 35+ John le Carre Books in Order [Ultimate Guide]
By Anna Marie Carroll August 31, 2022 December 14, 2022 Books in Order, Thriller
John le Carre is a master of the modern spy novel. His books are also analytical and critical studies on the politics of the time. Reading all the John le Carre books in order will take you from the post-Cold War climate into the 21st-century with the depiction of tensions surrounding Brexit.
Le Carre not only had first-hand experience in the industry he was writing about, but he also visited the locations which made their way into his books. He committed the details he observed into his little pocket notebook and his stories have since become bestsellers.
John le Carre Books in Order
George Smiley Books
These are the books that began le Carre's illustrative career as an author, which makes them a great place to begin. As with many spy thrillers, most of these books follow a new case and investigation. Some of the George Smiley books even largely focus on different agents, with Smiley taking more of a supporting role.
The books, especially in following different service agents, could be read as standalones. However, there is a linear path to the novels as the books build upon another to culminate in a reflective conclusion. Therefore, it is highly recommended to read these John le Carre books in order.
Call For the Dead (1961)
A Murder of Quality (1962)
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963)
The Looking Glass War (1965)
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1974)
The Honourable Schoolboy (1977)
Smiley's People (1979)
The Secret Pilgrim (1990)
A Legacy of Spies (2017)
The Karla Trilogy Books
There is one large exception within the George Smiley books of following new protagonists and antagonists. That is the Karla Trilogy. While this trilogy takes place within the Smiley series, there is a distinct theme throughout the three books that forms its own arc.
All follow Smiley as he pursues his nemesis, Karla, a soviet master spy. Therefore, it is particularly important to read these books in order of publication to fully understand the nuance and progression.
But most of the novels John le Carre wrote were standalones. While these can obviously be read without the contextual support of previous books, there is still great benefit to reading these John le Carre books in order.
He often wrote in tandem with contemporary events, whether from the news or from his personal life. Therefore, in reading the books in publication order, you will get a glimpse into his mind at the time of writing. For example, The Naïve and Sentimental Lover contains influences from his own affair, and in more recent memory, Agent Running in the Field pertains to the modern-day politics of Brexit and global affairs.
A Small Town in Germany (1968)
The Naïve and Sentimental Lover (1971)
The Little Drummer Girl (1983)
A Perfect Spy (1986)
Our Game (1994)
The Tailor of Panama (1996)
Single & Single (1999)
The Constant Gardener (2001)
Absolute Friends (2003)
The Mission Song (2006)
A Most Wanted Man (2008)
Our Kind of Traitor (2010)
A Delicate Truth (2013)
Agent Running in the Field (2019)
Silverview (2021)
This short story was first published in The Saturday Evening Post in January 1967. It takes place during the Cold War and is about a grocer who must carry out his dying father's last wish to have his burial in West Germany. Koorp must risk everything to bring his father's body across the border.
Dare I Weep, Dare I Mourn? (2016)
John le Carre has also published one slim collection of short stories.
Sarratt and the Draper of Watford (1999) (Out of Print)
If you want to learn more about the man behind the famous spy novels, then these two books are perfect for you. Both are autobiographical works about his life; the second will be available this December.
The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life (2016)
A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré (Expected: December 6, 2022)
Finally, John le Carre also contributed to a handful of anthologies throughout the years, the titles of which are below.
Great Spy Stories (1978) (Out of Print)
Favourite Spy Stories (1981)
The Book of Spies: An Anthology of Literary Espionage (2003)
Not One More Death (2006)
Ox-Tales: Fire (2009) (Out of Print)
Finally, in 2016 there was a movie adaptation of Our Kind of Traitor starring Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgård.
All of these adaptations retained the same names as le Carre's novels. The only difference is that the 2011 adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy dropped the commas with its movie title.
Are there any John le Carre adaptations?
There are so many adaptations of John le Carre's books that it would perhaps be quicker to list his books which do not have any. He had tremendous success with the adaptations of his novels.
The first adaptation of his was the 1965 movie of his book The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. Very swiftly after was the adaptation of Call of the Dead in 1966 with the title The Deadly Affair, and then The Looking-Glass War in 1969.
In addition to the more recent adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy in 2011 starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy, there was also a TV series in 1970. Alec Guinness starred as George Smiley in the TV series. There was then a sequel adaptation of Smiley's People in 1982, also starring Guinness.
A 1984 movie adaptation of The Little Drummer Girl starred Diane Keaton. More recently, there was a TV series adaptation in 2018 starring Florence Pugh and Alexander Skarsgård.
Next, there was a 1990 movie adaptation of The Russia House starring Sean Connery and Michelle Pfeiffer. As well, The Tailor of Panama adaptation in 2001 stars Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Gleeson, and Daniel Radcliffe.
The Constant Gardener movie adaptation in 2005 was another star-studded affair with Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz in the leading roles. Following which was an adaptation of A Most Wanted Man in 2014. It stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel McAdams, and Willem Dafoe.
About John le Carre
Lending his books a realistic charm is the fact that John le Carré was a member of the British Foreign Service at various points between 1949 and 1964.
What readers may not know is that le Carre was a pseudonym. The English author was born David John Moore Cornwell in Poole, Dorset in 1931 and died in Truro, Cornwall on December 12, 2020. He left behind a remarkable legacy as well as a lasting impression on the genre of spy thrillers.
Le Carre attended the University of Berne from 1947 to 1948 studying German before he caught the attention of the Secret Intelligence Service and was recruited as an intelligence officer. Following this he began attending Oxford University studying modern languages, where he continued to work as an intelligence agent compiling dossiers on fellow students suspected of leftwing activity.
With a brief departure due to a bankruptcy scandal of his father's, le Carre was awarded a first from Oxford in 1956. He then taught at Eton College for two years, before returning to the employ of the SIS.
All of this practical experience bleeds into his writing, which secret service leaders from various countries found infuriating.
His debut publication came when he was still a British Secret Service member, but he was quiet and discreet about his service. Until the publication of a biography in 2015, he skirted around many questions about his time in the employ of the British Secret Service. However, he did send manuscripts to the SIS for pre-publication vetting until the 1980s.
Unlike another popular spies during the post-Cold War era, le Carre's characters weren't suave and action driven. His main character George Smiley is a good spy because of his analytical mind; he is far from a perfect character.
A Summary of John le Carre Books in Order
As previously mentioned, the George Smiley books are a great place to begin with John le Carre's bibliography if you have never read anything by him before. This series contains some of le Carre's most well-known work such as The Spy Who Came in From the Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
1. Call For the Dead
George Smiley had liked Samuel Fennan, and now Fennan was dead from an apparent suicide. But why?
Fennan, a Foreign Office man, had been under investigation for alleged Communist Party activities. But Smiley had made it clear that the investigation — little more than a routine security check — was over and that the file on Fennan could be closed.
The very next day, Fennan was found dead with a note by his body saying his career was finished and he couldn't go on. Smiley was puzzled…
2. A Murder of Quality
George Smiley was simply doing a favor for Miss Ailsa Brimley, and old friend and editor of a small newspaper. Miss Brimley had received a letter from a worried reader: "I'm not mad. And I know my husband is trying to kill me."
But the letter had arrived too late: Its scribe, the wife of an assistant master at the distinguished Carne School, was already dead.
So, George Smiley went to Carne to listen, ask questions, and think. And to uncover, layer by layer, the complex network of skeletons and hatreds that comprised that little English institution.
3. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
When the last agent under his command is killed and Alec Leamas is called back to London, he hopes to come in from the cold for good. His spymaster, Control, however, has other plans.
Determined to bring down the head of East German Intelligence and topple his organization, Control once more sends Leamas into the fray. This time to play the part of the dishonored spy and lure the enemy to his ultimate defeat.
4. The Looking Glass War
Once upon a time the distinction had been clear: The Circus handled all things political while the Department dealt with matters military. But over the years, power shifted and the Circus elbowed the Department out.
Now, suddenly, the Department has a job on its hands. Evidence suggests Soviet missiles are being positioned close to the German border. Vital film is missing and a courier is dead. Lacking active agents, but possessed of an outdated mandate to proceed, the Department has to find an old hand to prove its mettle.
Fred Leiser, German-speaking Pole turned Englishman — once a qualified radio operator, now involved in the motor trade — must be called back to the colors and sent East…
5. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
It is now beyond a doubt that a mole, implanted decades ago by Moscow Centre, has burrowed his way into the highest echelons of British Intelligence. His treachery has already blown some of its most vital operations and its best networks. It is clear that the double agent is one of its own kind.
But which one? George Smiley must identify him. And once identified, the traitor must be destroyed.
6. The Honourable Schoolboy
In the wake of a demoralizing infiltration by a Soviet double agent, Smiley has become the ringmaster of the Circus (aka the British Secret Service). Determined to restore the organization's health and reputation, and bent on revenge, Smiley thrusts his own handpicked operative into action.
Jerry Westerby, "The Honourable Schoolboy," is dispatched to the Far East.
A burial ground of French, British, and American colonial cultures, the region is a fabled testing ground of patriotic allegiances — and a new showdown is about to begin.
7. Smiley's People
In London in the dead of night, George Smiley, sometime acting Chief of the Circus (aka the British Secret Service), is summoned from his lonely bed by news of the murder of an ex-agent.
Lured back to active service, Smiley skillfully maneuvers his people — the no-men of no-man's land — into crisscrossing Paris, London, Germany, and Switzerland as he prepares for his own final, inevitable duel on the Berlin border with his Soviet counterpart and archenemy, Karla.
8. The Secret Pilgrim
Nothing is as it was. Old enemies embrace. The dark staging grounds of the Cold War — whose shadows barely obscure the endless games of espionage — are flooded with light. The rules are rewritten, the stakes changed, and the future unfathomable.
Ned has worked for the British Intelligence all of his life — a loyal, shrewd officer of the Cold War. Now approaching the end of his career, he revisits his own past. He invites us on a tour of three decades in the Circus, burrowing deep in the world of spies from every corner of the globe.
9. A Legacy of Spies
Peter Guillam, staunch colleague and disciple of George Smiley of the British Secret Service, otherwise known as the Circus, is living out his old age on the family farmstead on the south coast of Brittany when a letter from his old Service summons him to London.
The reason? His Cold War past has come back to claim him. Intelligence operations that were once the toast of secret London, with such characters as Alec Leamas, Jim Prideaux, George Smiley, and Peter Guillam himself, are under examination by a generation with no memory of the Cold War and no patience with its justifications.
John le Carre did alter the course of spy thrillers and leave a huge impact on the genre. He has become a classic within modern publishing and choosing to read the John le Carre books in order will reveal to you the brilliance of his writing.
While he was largely quiet about his own secret service work, his proclamations, opinions, and thoughts can be read between the lines of his books.
Looking for more books in order?
Check out this list of the James Bond books in order.
All 25+ Martina Cole Books in Order [Ultimate Guide]
All 50+ James Lee Burke Books in Order [Ultimate Guide]
2 thoughts on "All 35+ John le Carre Books in Order [Ultimate Guide]"
shirley a stirling says:
I don't come up with 35 books. Here is the chronological list:
1. Call for the Dead (1961)*
2. A Murder of Quality (1962)*
3. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963)*
4. The Looking Glass War (1965)*
5. A Small Town in Germany (1968)
6. The Naïve and Sentimental Lover (1971)
7. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974)*
8. The Honourable Schoolboy (1977)*
9. Smiley's People (1979)*
10. The Little Drummer Girl (1983)
11. A Perfect Spy (1986)
12. The Russia House (1989)
13. The Secret Pilgrim (1990)*
14. The Night Manager (1993)
15. Our Game (1994)
16. The Tailor of Panama (1996)
17. Single & Single (1999)
18. Sarratt and the Draper of Watford (1999) (Out of Print) (short stories)
19. The Constant Gardener (2001)
20. Absolute Friends (2003)
21. The Mission Song (2006)
22. A Most Wanted Man (2008)
23. Our Kind of Traitor (2010)
24. A Delicate Truth (2013)
25. The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life (2016) NF
26. A Legacy of Spies (2017)*
27. Agent Running in the Field (2019)
28. Silverview (2021)
29. A Private Spy: The Letters of John le Carré (2022) NF
T.L. Branson says:
Your list doesn't include the short story: Dare I Weep, Dare I Mourn, or any of the anthologies which each contain a unique short story written by John le Carre. Otherwise, this is a fantastic summary of all the John le Carre books together in publication order.


A theoretical evaluation of the collective excitation spectra of nucleus at large deformations is possible within the framework of the dinuclear system model, which treats the wave function of the fissioning nucleus as a superposition of a mononucleus configuration and two-cluster configurations in a dynamical way, permitting exchange of nucleons between clusters. In this work the method of calculation of the potential energy and the collective spectrum of fissioning nucleus at scission point is presented. Combining the DNS model calculations and the statistical model of fission we calculate the mass, total kinetic energy, and angular distribution of fission fragments for the neutron–induced fission of 239Pu.


Geas Fete A charm in the shape of an eye designed to ward off evil spirits.
Warder of Love is a Yovra NM, and can be popped from any place there is a Yovra.
This page was last modified on 3 April 2018, at 22:21.


text:
Naselje u Srbiji:
 Bajina Bašta, naselje u sastavu općine Bajina Bašta, Zlatiborski upravni okrug, Središnja Srbija

Općina u Srbiji:
 Bajina Bašta (općina), općina u Zlatiborskom upravnom okrugu, Središnja Srbija

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
William Morgan: In a N.H. town, an oasis of high artistic creativity
The MacDowell Colony, a 400-acre artists' retreat in the woods in Peterborough, N.H., represents one of the most notable gatherings of creative energy anywhere. It is a refuge, an oasis, a special place where writers, musicians, and all kinds of visual artists, come to create. It provides, its mission statement declares, "an inspiring environment" in which artists can produce "enduring works of the imagination." Despite its many famous alumni, MacDowell is successful because it is virtually inaccessible to the world beyond.
Artists, ranging in age from 25 to 80, are "here because they want to be," says the resident director, David Macy. Competition is fierce for a place to work alone all day in the silence of the forest, in sight of Mount Monadnock. One thousand applications are received for just the summer session. The reputation of MacDowell is such that a MacDowell residency bestows an immediate career boost. (MacDowell alumni have garnered 65 Pulitzer Prizes.) The sole criterion for acceptance is artistic excellence.
Since the colony's founding, in 1907, by composer Edward MacDowell and his pianist wife, Marian, over 8,000 artists have traveled far from New York lofts and ateliers around the globe (a tenth of the residents are from abroad) to make art there. Around 300 colonists come to MacDowell every year, and are blessed with housing, a place to work, good food, and the precious gift of time. Thirty-two studios provide working space from anywhere from two weeks to three months, but the average fellowship is for a month.
Edward MacDowell's composing cabin.
Thornton Wilder wrote Our Town, which some call the greatest American play, at the MacDowell. Peterborough was apparently a partial model for the town — called Grover's Corners in the play. Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland found the quiet to compose here, while MacDowell provided succor and sanctuary to such writers as Willa Cather, Toni Morrison and James Baldwin. Were their privacy not so carefully guarded, this demi-Eden might have become a magnet for celebrity watchers.
The colony welcomes the public only one day a year when its awards the MacDowell Medal. Medalists have included Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe, Norman Mailer, Isamu Noguchi, Merce Cunningham and Stephen Sondhiem, among others. In 1997, the colony itself was awarded the National Medal of the Arts, America's highest honor for an artist or an art patron.
One of the musician's cabins.
A stay at MacDowell can feel a bit like visiting your favorite grandmother on the family farm. This kind of idyll, however, is hard won. Running a community with 30-some residents at all times, an equal number of staff, and a spread out physical plant requires extraordinary management skills. Despite an endowment, millions of dollars need to be raised every year to keep the colony going. Director Macy, who dropped out of biomedical engineering to go to art school, has been the ideal colony shepherd for almost a quarter of a century.
This is a campus like few others. Colony Hall, the administrative hub and center of post-studio social life (residents have breakfast and dinner here, but lunch is delivered to the individual studios), was repurposed from a late 18th-century barn. Concord, N.H., architect Sheldon Pennoyer renovated the building a decade ago to comply with current building codes. Although reminiscent of the main hall at one's childhood summer camp, no attempt was made to hide the changes or make it overtly rustic. Pennoyer was also responsible for the recent renovation of a hundred-year-old music studio
Colony Hall.
That same frugal but playful spirit infused the other studios, most of which are scattered deep in the woods; some are in outbuildings and barns. The progenitor was small log retreat that Marian built for her ailing husband. After his death in 1908, she began building a series of non-pretentious workspaces. There are painting studios with high ceilings and lots of light, musicians have pianos, and suitable equipment is supplied for sculptors. The emphasis is decidedly woodsy, and the studios have fireplaces and rocking chairs. All display "tombstones," wooden tablets inscribed with the names and dates of everyone who has worked in that particular studio.
A tombstone in Alexander studio.
The MacDowells, who met while studying in Germany, had a favorite monastery in Switzerland that provided inspiration for most the most impressive studio. The widow of the noted American portrait painter John White Alexander built this stone "chapel" as a gallery. Although impractical as an exhibition hall, it is now a most sought-after studio, with tall ceilings, exposed beams, and a giant north window.
A major part of the work of running MacDowell is maintaining and updating the mostly early 20th-Century studios; they are in constant use, but they also needed to be made more energy- efficient.Ca
A few years ago MacDowell decided "to combine comfortable vernacular forms with architecturally sophisticated ones," remarks New York University architectural historian and colony board member, Carol Krinsky. Cambridge, Mass., architects Charles Rose and Maryann Thompson designed an interdisciplinary arts studio, but it awaits funding. Calderwood Studio, designed as a writer's haven by Burr and McCallum Architects, of Williamstown, Mass., is a contemporary tribute to its predecessors. Many of the early cottages were built for summer use and have had to be retrofitted for year-round use. So, Calderwood, a writer's was built, says Macy, "to be indestructible," with a two-story high living room and a long view across a meadow.
Calderwood Studio.
The 1926-28 stone library by the fashionable Boston architects Strickland, Blodget & Law is similar in its memories-of-medieval-Europe-style to the Alexander studio. Its single 1,000 square-foot, timber-trussed room outlived its role as repository for colony archives and residents' manuscripts, scores, and paintings. In 2013, a 3,000-square-foot addition by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects of New York, designers of the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia and the Obama Library in Chicago, provided a home for such valuables as a first edition of Willa Cather's Death Comes For the Archbishop, inscribed to Marian MacDowell. This gem of black Québec granite has been sensitively grafted to the meadow and woods by the equally exceptionable landscape architects, Reed Hilderbrand, of Cambridge, Mass.
Announcing its quiet presence is an outdoor fireplace that stands like an ancient stele, honoring the theme of the studio hearths. The selection committee liked that the design was "both harmonious and deferential to the older building," Professor Krinsky recalls. It was "beautiful, sturdy outside, calm, light, and expansive inside."
Outdoor fireplace, original library and new library.
View from the library.
Like the colony itself, the library wears the names of its famous designers lightly. This maybe one of the handsomest pieces of architecture in New England, but it is modestly tucked away, there to reinforce the MacDowell Colony's role as an incubator of genius.
William Morgan is a Providence-based architectural historian and essayist. He conducted an historic resources study of Peterboro in 1971-72, and is the author, among other books, of Monadnock Summer: The Architectural Legacy of Dublin, New Hampshire.
Tagged: MacDowell Colony, William Morgan, Monadnock Summer, David Macy, Peterboro, N, .H, Peterboro N.H., Peterboro N.H, Sheldon Pennoyer, John White Alexander, Carol Krinsky, Charles Rose, Maryann Thompson, Burr and McCallum Architects, Reed Hilderbrand
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text:
Q: Chromebook kiosk mode, disable switch to ChromeOS When kiosk app starts on Chromebook it shows message "Switch to ChromeOS by pressing "CTRL-ALT-S" keys.
I would like to disable posibility to switch to ChromeOS, I just want to run kiosk app on the `Chromebook.
Kiosk mode is set on Google Admin Console, app that starts automatically is specified and all works OK. However during ChromeOS bootup, there is for a 5 sec option to switch to ChromeOS by pressing CTRL-ALT-S" keys.
Is there a way to disable this option to switch to ChromeOS on Google Admin Console?
Thanks

A: I believe answer is found, this is apparently a Chrome feature request:
Issue 552451: FR: Ability to disable keyboard shortcuts for Single App Kiosk mode.
https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=552451

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


With gas at $4 a gallon, our lives have seemed to be revolving around gas, more so than at $3 a gallon.
People are changing their summer travel plans, changing where they live, how they get to work, and what they do for fun.
It seems there is nothing that hasn't changed because of high gas prices, except how we're going to pay for it. Not to be depressing, but even our attitudes have changed.
I know I am struggling to get by and it's definitely taking a toll. It almost makes you want to crawl under a rock and come out when gas prices go down to $3 a gallon (if there ever will be a time).
I don't know, but there is something disgusting about dropping $45 (and more) at the pump each week.
Our checks are literally going into our tanks, and it's quite unsettling.
Not only do we pay more at the tanks, but because of higher gas prices, we are paying more everywhere, especially the grocery store.
Because of high gas prices, people are choosing life alternatives. For example, people are taking public transit instead of their own cars to get to work. Well, now transit fees are going up because people are using it more.
A person just can't get around it.
Also, GM has just announced its 2009 vehicles prices will go up by 3.5 percent or, on average, $1,000 per vehicle, due to rising commodity costs.
The only thing that isn't going up is housing, which I guess is dirt cheap now. Unfortunately, no one can afford to buy a home because of rising costs everywhere else.
One just can't win or get ahead.
What I want to know, is there anyone getting richer, or are we all just getting poorer?
I think everyone is hoping once a new president gets into office, American's will finally catch a break. I'm just not sure how that is going to happen. I don't think the candidates know, either. They are both just trying to make us feel hopeful in a time of such vulnerability.
Will we ever catch a break? Gosh, I hope so.
What made the Great Depression a depression was the drought. At that time, everything revolved around farming and crops for families to make a living.
Well, this is quite comparable. The only difference is that gas is now our crop, and it unfortunately affects everything we do, as well as, what we don't do.


Attorney Erin Whelan Pennock is happy to speak with you about the Collaborative Law process as one of the several options available to you as you move forward in your divorce, child related dispute, modification and/or contempt. With a great deal of experience as a Family Law attorney and through her active involvement with other Collaborative Attorneys and organizations in the Massachusetts area, Attorney Erin Whelan Pennock has ability to guide and advise you through the Collaborative Process if you and your spouse decide this is the best approach for you. Please review the many resources available concerning Collaborative Law if you have any questions or are looking for more information on the subject.
Collaborative Law is a form of alternative dispute resolution in Massachusetts which assures more efficiency in arriving at agreements with the goal of a more peaceful transition moving forward. In the context of family law, it can be used to resolve disputes involving divorce, child custody and support, alimony, division of assets, paternity, and actions for modification. In the Collaborative practice model, you and your lawyer work together with your spouse and your spouse's lawyer to reach your individual and mutual goals and guide you through the process. A neutral communication coach is also an integral part of process and is trained to work with the parties to reduce emotional intensity and misunderstanding. Input from financial experts or experts concerning child custody and parenting plan may also be sought depending on the circumstances and/or the needs of the parties.
Why hire a Collaborative Law Attorney?
Collaborative Law attorneys complete extensive training in communication and conflict resolution to effectively assist couples who choose to handle their family law dispute through this method rather than fight needlessly in divorce court. Your attorney will be your advocate and advise you about your rights while providing you with the tools and resources to be fully informed as you move forward in the process. Further, the Collaborative Law Process is premised around the privacy of the parties and will not require you to discuss the often uncomfortable details of the breakdown of your marriage or your children as would be necessary if you were to bring these matters to Court through litigation. In the end, the Collaborative Method is also less expensive than going to trial as all of the time spent by your Attorney will be toward reaching an Agreement rather than time spent preparing or waiting at Court that can result in large legal bills.
How do we reach an Agreement through the Collaborative Law Process?
The Collaborative Law practice model utilizes a team approach with the goal of assisting you and your spouse to reach a realistic and lasting agreement moving forward. This is accomplished by the parties meeting together with their attorneys to discuss their mutual goals, needs, and expectations with the assistance of neutral communication coach who is trained to work with the parties to reduce emotional intensity and misunderstanding. The amount of meetings necessary to reach an Agreement depends on the complexity of the matter along with the cooperation of the parties and counsel however, once an Agreement is reached, the parties and their attorney will file the Agreement with the Court and present it to the Judge at an Uncontested Divorce hearing.
Even when there may be the best of intentions and the efforts to resolve marital and/or child related issues through conflict resolution and negotiation, some parties may find an agreement through collaborative divorce simply will not happen for them. If you go through the collaborative process and are still unable to reach a resolution, the divorce case will then go through the court system and the Collaborative Attorney will step aside.


text:
NASA And SpaceX To Build A New Launch Pad For Starship And Other Heavy Spacecrafts
NASA conducts an initial environmental assessment at SpaceX's proposed site.
By Gaurav Sonavane December 17, 2021
Earlier this month, SpaceX founder Elon Musk had taken to social media to share a tweet announcing his plan to build a new rocket launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, for Starship and other heavy spacecraft. While SpaceX had requested NASA to conduct an environmental assessment of its launch complex 49, the American space agency in its recent shared press release stated, "The 175-acre site, located north of Launch Complex 39B within the center's security perimeter, would support the launch and landing of the company's Starship and Super Heavy launch vehicle."
Construction of Starship orbital launch pad at the Cape has begun
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 3, 2021
With both, NASA and SpaceX moving forward with the initial environmental assessment before taking a final call, Kennedy's director of Center Planning and Development, Tom Engler said, "LC-49 has been a part of Kennedy's master plan for several years, whose availability was updated in 2014." While all development activities in the area are subjected to National Environmental Policy Act every construction work has to clear the environmental review.
SEE ALSO: Supermassive Black Hole In The Center Of The Milky Way Galaxy Has A Leak: NASA
The press release shared by NASA also had a statement from the Kennedy Environmental Planning Office's Technical lead Don Dankert, who added, "Every new construction project, whether government or commercial, goes through a comprehensive environmental review process. This ensures that we are able to identify potential environmental impacts and define any associated mitigations prior to project implementation."
While NASA is expected to share its proposed environmental assessment of launch complex 49 in early 2022, the space agency has also been focused on Boeing's Starliner. After several months of extensive research, they have finally solved the issue and are now expected to move up the launch date of Starliner's test flight.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, NASA recently extended their contract with SpaceX by awarding them three more commercial crew missions to International Space Station, as they were the only aerospace company to pass NASA's safety and cost-efficient assessments.
SEE ALSO: Scientists Discover 'Significant' Volume Of Water Hidden Under Mars' Grand Canyon
Cover Image: Shutterstock
Topics: Science, Elon Musk, NASA, SpaceX, Boeing CST-100 Starliner, NASA spacecrafts, Starship
Russian NASA Cosmonauts To Step Outside International Space Station For The First Spacewalk Of 2022
Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov will step out of ISS on Wednesday.
The asteroid that passed Earth recently was considered 'potentially hazardous'.
After Sun, China Makes 'Artificial Moon' To Conduct Gravitational Experiments On Earth
Located in the eastern city of Xuzhou, in Jiangsu province, the chamber would accelerate China's ongoing lunar missions on Earth.
Citizen Scientists Discover Giant Gaseous Jupiter-Sized Planet In NASA TESS Data
The team expects the planet to appear in February TESS report again.
'Potentially Hazardous' Asteroid Approaching Towards Earth; NASA Issues Warning
The space agency also expects three asteroids to pass Earth today.


Participants: 351 women age 45 to 55 years with 2 or more vasomotor symptoms per day; 52% of the women were in menopausal transition and 48% were postmenopausal.
Vasomotor symptoms per day, symptom intensity, Wiklund Vasomotor Symptom Subscale score did not differ between the herbal interventions and placebo at 3, 6, or 12 months or for the average over all the follow-up time points (P > 0.05 for all comparisons) with 1 exception: At 12 months, symptom intensity was significantly worse with the multibotanical plus soy intervention than with placebo (P = 0.016). The difference in vasomotor symptoms per day between placebo and any of the herbal treatments at any time point was less than 1 symptom per day; for the average over all the follow-up time points, the difference was less than 0.55 symptom per day. The difference for hormone therapy versus placebo was -4.06 vasomotor symptoms per day for the average over all the follow-up time points (95% CI, -5.93 to -2.19 symptoms per day; P < 0.001).