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Thai Cooking Basics
Vegetarian Cooking Basics
What Is Jackfruit?
Buying, Cooking, and Recipes
Darlene Schmidt
Darlene Schmidt is a cookbook author and culinary teacher who specializes in Thai cuisine.
The Spruce Eats / Lindsay Kreighbaum
Jackfruit vs. Durian
Jackfruit is a large, prickly fruit that grows on a tropical tree that can reach a height of 80 feet. The fruit grows in tropical Asian regions and is most common in Asian cuisines. It's often used in curries, especially in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries where it's plentiful in the markets. Worldwide, jackfruit is increasingly being used as a vegetarian substitute for meat in some surprising recipes, including American-style barbecue and sandwiches.
Jackfruit is enormous and prickly on the outside. It is oblong, green, and looks somewhat like durian, though jackfruit can be even larger. In fact, the jackfruit is the largest fruit that comes from a tree, sometimes reaching 80 pounds and 36 inches long. The fruit is popular in Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, among other Southeast Asian countries, and is considered the national fruit of Bangladesh. While it may be reasonably priced in its native countries, jackfruit for sale in the rest of the world is expensive.
Jackfruit is not the easiest fruit to prepare. When cut open, you'll see large, pale yellow pods (or bulbs) that contain seeds and are connected to the fruit's core. Ripe jackfruit can be eaten fresh or added to desserts such as ice cream. It's the unripe, green jackfruit that's the most interesting and useful. It has a texture very similar to chicken or pulled pork, which makes it an excellent "vegetarian meat" for curries, salads, and noodles.
How to Cook With Jackfruit
Preparing a green jackfruit takes a little doing, but it yields a lot of food. The extras can be frozen for future use, just like you would with extra fresh meat. Jackfruit contains natural latex, so if you have a latex allergy, wear gloves. If working bare-handed, slather oil over your hands and a sharp serrated knife so they don't get too sticky. Take extra caution when doing so and work carefully so the knife doesn't slip.
A common way to prepare jackfruit is by boiling or using a pressure cooker. It's best to lay down newspaper over a wide working surface, then slice the jackfruit into two halves. Keep slicing until you have large chunks of fruit (leaving the skin on). Boil the jackfruit chunks for 45 minutes or until the inner flesh is soft and a bit stringy, like chicken. If you have a pressure cooker, 10 minutes is usually enough.
When the jackfruit is cooked, peel off the skin to reveal the seeds and pods surrounding the seeds. The seed pods can be eaten, as well as the stringy fleshy sections between the pods and skin. Dig all of this out, separating the seeds. Cook with the "flesh" or bag and freeze it.
Many people choose to discard jackfruit seeds but they are edible as long as they're cooked. The raw seeds pose a potential risk to people who take certain medications, including common over-the-counter pain relievers and prescription blood thinners. Roasting, much like roasted pumpkin seeds, is a popular way to finish cooking the seeds. They can be added as a salad topping or smoothie ingredient, pureed into hummus, ground into flour, or eaten as a snack.
Nacivet / Getty Images
Andrey Dyachenko / EyeEm / Getty Images
Westend61 / Getty Images
Lauri Patterson / Getty Images
Ripe jackfruit has a tropical fruit sweetness often likened to mango or pineapple. When still green, jackfruit has a more neutral flavor, similar to a potato, and will absorb the flavor of other foods it's cooked with. The seeds are similar to chestnuts after boiling or roasting.
Jackfruit Recipes
Use your jackfruit to make vegetarian curry; it can be a substitute for ingredients like tofu or chickpeas. Or add it to stir-fries, salads, or any recipe in which chicken or pork would be used.
Thai Jackfruit Curry
Copycat 'McRib' Sandwich (jackfruit is a vegetarian option)
Mango Habanero Grilled Cheese (use jackfruit instead of pulled pork)
Where to Buy Jackfruit
Fresh jackfruit can be purchased at Asian food markets and specialty stores. It's typically sold by the pound, with the average market jackfruit weighing between 10 and 25 pounds. The smell of a whole jackfruit will usually indicate its ripeness: The stronger the smell, the riper the fruit. Due to the fruit's size, many stores offer precut jackfruit as well. Whether raw or ripe, make sure to avoid fruit with black or dark spots.
Jackfruit can also be purchased frozen, dried, or canned. The canned variety will be packed in brine (preferred for curry and other savory dishes) or syrup, which is ripe and sweet and not as universally useful. Additionally, look for canned jackfruit that's labeled "green," "young," or "tender" if you want to use it as a meat substitute.
Whole jackfruit will ripen as it rests. If you intend to enjoy it while green, process and freeze it as soon as possible. Cut, ripened jackfruit can be stored in plastic in the refrigerator for about one week or the freezer for up to one month.
The Spruce Eats / Madelyn Goodnight
Jackfruit looks like an oversized durian, though durian is spiky where jackfruit has a more pebblelike skin. The biggest difference is that durian has an intense flavor and smell, which is noticeable even while the fruit is still whole. Once open, you'll notice that durian's flesh is divided into distinct segments by the thick husk, not the tightly packed pods found inside jackfruit. Additionally, durian is generally reserved for sweets and doesn't have the savory dish potential of green jackfruit.
There are many varieties of jackfruit. They range from small 2-pound fruits to the largest 40- to 80-pound cultivars. The flesh can vary slightly as well, from yellow to deep orange, with more or less sweetness. Most have a firm texture, though some can be rather soft.
6 Southeast Asian Fruits to Love
What Is An Apricot?
What Is Star Anise?
What Is Durian and How Is It Used?
What Are Lemon Squash?
Vegan Jackfruit Tacos
Jackfruit Curry With Bell Peppers, Cashews, and Lime Leaf
What Are Calamansi Limes?
What Is Lychee Fruit?
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How to Peel and Eat Lychee
What Are Pomelos?
What Are Fairytale Pumpkins?
The 8 Best Meat Substitutes and Plant-Based Alternatives in 2022
What Are Figs?
What Is Kabocha Squash?


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https://apnews.com/article/shootings-north-america-ap-top-news-bills-politics-c7b5f58c479d41f5bfb1e7dd0cb2e0f7
CT State Wire
TX State Wire
NV State Wire
Elizabeth Esty
Las Vegas mass shooting
The Latest: GOP-led House passes NRA-backed gun bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on legislation intended to make it easier for gun owners to legally carry concealed weapons across state lines (all times local):
The House has approved a Republican bill making it easier for gun owners to legally carry concealed weapons across state lines. The bill is the first gun legislation in Congress since mass shootings in Nevada and Texas killed more than 80 people.
The House approved the bill Wednesday, 231-198.
The bill is a top priority of the National Rifle Association, which calls it an important step to allow gun owners to travel freely between states without worrying about conflicting state laws or civil suits.
Opponents, mostly Democrats, say the bill could endanger public safety by overriding state laws that place strict limits on guns.
Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty of Connecticut called it "unspeakable" that Congress would expand gun owners' rights after the recent shootings and other deadly attacks.
A Maryland police chief is calling on Congress to pass legislation that prohibits the use of devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to fire at dramatically faster rates.
J. Thomas Manger, the police chief in Montgomery County, Maryland, says during congressional testimony the devices known as bump stocks have no legitimate sporting or hunting purpose.
He says, "A device that results in a military attack, equivalent to full automatic firing, must be stopped."
Manger says the gunman who carried out the mass shooting in Las Vegas two months ago used bump stocks and was able to fire more than a-thousand rounds in a matter of minutes. Fifty nine people were killed and hundreds more were injured in the October shooting.
Manger also is president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
A woman who survived the mass shooting in Las Vegas is describing in wrenching detail of how she remained by the side of one of the victims as he died.
Heather Gooze tells the Senate Judiciary Committee that she didn't know 23-year-old Jordan McIldoon. But she didn't want him to be a "John Doe." Gooze held his hand as he lay on a makeshift stretcher.
She says, "Then Jordan's fingers stopped holding mine." She recalled telling McIldoon's girlfriend and his mother that he didn't make it.
Gooze says she was a bartender at the country music festival in Las Vegas when a gunman opened fire.
Gooze says she doesn't know why she didn't run, even though she had opportunities. She says, "I am not that strong. I am not that special."
The acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says his agency anticipates being able to exercise regulatory control over devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to fire faster.
Thomas Brandon told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that the ATF and the Justice Department wouldn't have initiated a review of whether bump stocks should be banned "if that wasn't a possibility at the end."
The Justice Department announced Tuesday a review of bump stocks to determine whether weapons using them should be considered illegal machine guns under federal law. They are currently legal and widely available.
The review comes after a Las Vegas gunman used the device during an October rampage that killed 58 people and wounded hundreds more.
Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty says Republicans are catering to gun industry lobbyists by combining a bill on background checks with one making it easier to carry concealed guns across state lines.
Esty, who represents Newtown, Connecticut, calls the GOP maneuver "an insult to the folks in Sandy Hook," a Newtown village where 20 school children and six adults were killed in 2012.
Esty says the background check measure would help ensure mental health and criminal records are loaded into a federal database. She says "that will be a good thing to do."
But she blasted Republicans for including the measure in a "horrible bill" that she said will overturn tough gun laws in states such as Connecticut and ensure that "the lowest common denominator would reign for the entire country."
The Republican-controlled House is taking up a bill to make it easier for gun owners to legally carry concealed weapons across state lines.
It is the first gun legislation in Congress since mass shootings in Nevada and Texas killed more than 80 people.
Republicans said the bill would allow gun owners to travel freely without worrying about conflicting state laws.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi accused Republicans of doing the bidding of the National Rifle Association, which calls the concealed-carry law its top legislative priority. Pelosi said Republicans were "brazenly moving to hand the NRA the biggest item on its Christmas wish list."
The House vote comes as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on reporting criminal history information to the FBI.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
OPENTELEMETRY_BEGIN_NAMESPACE
namespace exporter
{
namespace zipkin
{
using ZipkinSpan = nlohmann::json;

class Recordable final : public sdk::trace::Recordable
{
public:
  const ZipkinSpan &span() const noexcept { return span_; }

  const std::string &GetServiceName() const noexcept { return service_name_; }

  void SetIdentity(const opentelemetry::trace::SpanContext &span_context,
                   opentelemetry::trace::SpanId parent_span_id) noexcept override;

  void SetAttribute(nostd::string_view key,
                    const opentelemetry::common::AttributeValue &value) noexcept override;

  void AddEvent(nostd::string_view name,
                common::SystemTimestamp timestamp,
                const common::KeyValueIterable &attributes) noexcept override;

  void AddLink(const opentelemetry::trace::SpanContext &span_context,
               const common::KeyValueIterable &attributes) noexcept override;

  void SetStatus(opentelemetry::trace::StatusCode code,
                 nostd::string_view description) noexcept override;

  void SetName(nostd::string_view name) noexcept override;

  void SetStartTime(opentelemetry::common::SystemTimestamp start_time) noexcept override;

  void SetSpanKind(opentelemetry::trace::SpanKind span_kind) noexcept override;

  void SetResource(const opentelemetry::sdk::resource::Resource &resource) noexcept override;

  void SetDuration(std::chrono::nanoseconds duration) noexcept override;

  void SetInstrumentationScope(const opentelemetry::sdk::instrumentationscope::InstrumentationScope
                                   &instrumentation_scope) noexcept override;

private:
  ZipkinSpan span_;
  std::string service_name_;
};
}  // namespace zipkin
}  // namespace exporter
OPENTELEMETRY_END_NAMESPACE

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) Director Susanna Wong Soi Man said on Thursday that the city's tap water supply would be fully restored in one or two days.
A Macao Water spokesperson told The Macau Post Daily that the utility's water treatment equipment damaged by Typhoon Hato was still being repaired.
Wong said if the [repair] and treatment process went smoothly, the tap water supply would be restored right away.
Many households, offices and shops were still without electricity and tap water last night, following Typhoon Hato's onslaught on Wednesday.
Wong made the remarks after a press conference held by the government about the typhoon response disaster.
Many residents have complained about the government's insufficient warning about the approaching typhoon and the authorities' inefficient response to the catastrophe.
Wong said that according to a "conservative" estimate, the restoration of the water supply to the whole city – including Taipa, Cotai and Coloane – could be achieved in one or two days, i.e. Friday and Saturday.
Almost all of Macau's tap water is imported from the mainland.
A spokesperson for Macao Water told The Macau Post Daily that 60 percent of the water supply in the city had already been restored, adding that Macao Water staff members were putting a great deal of effort into repairing the equipment.
A total of eight temporary water supply points have been set up for residents, according to a statement by Macao Water.
The statement also said two temporary water supply vehicles would provide water to residents in circular routes in various locations.
According to a CEM statement, 20,000 households were still without electricity. It also said CEM had restored power to over 90 percent of its customers at midnight. The power utility has about 250,000 customers.
Meanwhile, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said that of the city's 64 three- to five-star hotels, 36 had already got their power and water supply back.
The Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) announced that 30 building were severely damaged by Typhoon Hato, requiring immediate remedial action.


text:
PERMITS/LICENSES
FUNDING/FINANCING
SALARY/PAYROLL
DOCUMENTS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
PERMITS/ LICENSES
Do You Need a Landscaper's License in Texas?
By: Will Gish
Karl Weatherly/Photodisc/Getty Images
How to Get a Commercial License for Landscaping
Every state maintains its own set of rules and regulations regarding professional licensing. The question of whether a landscaper needs a license in Texas ultimately comes down to the type of services performed by the individual in question. Texas controls some landscapers strictly while allowing others to operate at will if they abide by state laws. Contact the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation with any questions you have about landscape licensing.
General Landscape Work
General landscape work requires no licensure in Texas. Services qualifying as general landscape work in Texas include planting, maintaining, trimming, transplanting, relocating and spraying any plant, including bushes and trees. Other services include identifying, preventing or curing plant diseases and performing general lawn care like mowing and watering. All Texas landscapers performing such services must charge sales and use tax and obey all laws for businesses in the state. As of the publication date, self-employed landscapers with gross receipts of less than $5000 in four consecutive years need not charge taxes on any services.
Texas controls the term "landscape architect" and requires that anyone practicing under this title hold a license from the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. Landscape architecture constitutes the design of outdoor spaces that includes more extensive modification to the natural environment than the planting and maintenance classified as general landscape work. Landscape architects plan the location of buildings, sidewalks, water features and gardens in a pre-determined physical space. This process sometimes involves making changes to the physical environment, such as diverting water flow or changing the gradient of slopes.
Landscape Architect License
Landscape architects in Texas can achieve licensure by exam or by reciprocity. "By exam" entails passing an exam administered by the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners. In order to take this exam, landscape architects must obtain a degree from an accredited landscape architecture program and gain at least two years of experience through an internship in the field. Achieving licensure through reciprocity entails transferring a license from another state either through the Texas Board of Architectural Examiners or the Council of Landscape Architectural Registration Board, a national nonprofit organization.
Texas licensing resources mention landscape design as a profession but make no explicit provisions regarding the licensing of these individuals. A landscape designer plans outdoor spaces much like a landscape architect, though on a much smaller scale, using only elements such as trees, bushes and other plants as well as lanterns, ponds and furniture. In this regard, the occupation entails something of a combination of general landscaping and landscape architecture. Landscape designers may operate in Texas without charging use or sales tax.
2016 Salary Information for Landscape Architects
Landscape architects earned a median annual salary of $63,480 in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, landscape architects earned a 25th percentile salary of $48,990, meaning 75 percent earned more than this amount. The 75th percentile salary is $83,530, meaning 25 percent earn more. In 2016, 24,700 people were employed in the U.S. as landscape architects.
Texas Window on the State Government: Landscaping and Lawn Care Services
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Landscape Architects
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Landscape Architects
Career Trend: Landscape Architects
Will Gish slipped into itinerancy and writing in 2005. His work can be found on various websites. He is the primary entertainment writer for "College Gentleman" magazine and contributes content to various other music and film websites. Gish has a Bachelor of Arts in art history from University of Massachusetts, Amherst.


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A magnesium sulfur battery is a rechargeable battery that uses magnesium ion as its charge carrier, magnesium metal as anode and sulfur as cathode. To increase the electronic conductivity of cathode, sulfur is usually mixed with carbon to form a cathode composite. Magnesium sulfur battery is an emerging energy storage technology and now is still in the stage of research. It is of great interest since in theory the Mg/S chemistry can provide 1722 Wh/kg energy density with a voltage at ~1.7 V.

Magnesium is abundant, non-toxic and doesn't degrade in air. Most importantly, magnesium does not form dendrites during deposition/stripping process, which is attributed to be the main cause for the safety issue in lithium ion battery and rechargeable lithium battery. A first review on Mg-S batteries has been published in MRS Communications

Research

Toyota
In 2011 Toyota Motor announced a research project in this area, and in the same year they reported a new electrolyte that is chemically compatible with sulfur.
The electrolyte was prepared as a Lewis acid-base complex from the Hauser base (HMDS)MgCl, where HMDS = hexamethyldisilazide, introduced by C. Liebenow et al. in 2000 and AlCl3, conceptionally similar to Aurbach´s binuclear electrolyte complex from 2001.
Although the complex had to be refined by recrystallization and only THF could be used as solvent, a discharge voltage of 1 V was obtained over two cycles, demonstrating the principle feasibility.

Currently, efforts on rechargeable magnesium battery research are known to be underway at Apple, Toyota, and Pellion Technologies, as well as in several universities.

Helmholtz-Institute Ulm and KIT
In 2013 researchers announced a new electrolyte and accompanying magnesium-based batteries. The electrolyte is more stable and works well with various solvents and at high concentrations. It supports sulfur cathodes. Two commercial chemicals, a magnesium amide and aluminum chloride were mixed in a solvent, the product can then be used directly as an electrolyte.

In 2015 a Mg rechargeable battery was presented built with a graphene–sulfur nanocomposite cathode, a Mg–carbon composite anode and a non-nucleophilic Mg-based complex in tetraglyme solvent as the electrolyte. The graphene–sulfur nanocomposites were prepared with a combination of thermal and chemical precipitation. The Mg/S cell delivers 448 mA h g−1 and 236 mA h g−1 after 50 cycles. The graphene–sulfur composite cathode, with a high surface area, porous morphology and oxygen functional groups, along with a non-nucleophilic Mg electrolyte, gives improved performance.

Recently, a new class of sulfur-compatible and Cl-free electrolytes was introduced. It is based on a weakly coordinated Mg salt with big anions (fluorinated alkoxyborate) which can be prepared by a simple reaction and used in-situ.

University of Maryland
In 2015, a team at University of Maryland discovered that Li ion additive can enhance the reversibility of the electrochemical reaction in a Mg/S battery. The Mg/S cell delivers ~1000 mAh/g capacity for 30 cycles with two discharge plateau at 1.75V and 1.0V. The obtainable energy density of the cell at material level is 874 Wh/kg, about half of its theoretical value.

In 2017, the same team successfully increases the cycling stability of a Mg/S cell to 110 cycles, by suppressing the dissolution of polysulfide with a concentrated electrolyte, a major reason for the loss of active material and capacity fading in Mg/S batteries. They also demonstrate that the MgTFSI2-MgCl2-DME electrolyte is compatible with sulfur cathode. Unlike the complex electrolytes made through Lewis acid-base reaction or the electrolytes using Mg salts with big anions, this electrolyte can be  simply made by blending dried MgTFSI2, MgCl2 with DME. This facile synthesis procedure enables this electrolyte to be a convenient platform for the community to further study the Mg/S chemistry.

References

Rechargeable batteries
Magnesium
Sulfur

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Come Be Trained by the 2015 NCAA Division II National Champion Coaching Staff!
Tony's Gk training is different from the rest. With his extensive GK and fitness background, you will learn the ins and outs of goalkeeping as well as improve athletically with his specialized training. All aspects of the game will be covered from technical to tactical application, with also an emphasis on improving athleticism and explosiveness.
Registration Please contact Tony Faticoni at tony.faticoni@pfeiffer.edu or at 732-236-2904.
Ages Ages 8+ for male and female.


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ASNE/NAVY SYMPOSIUM AND EXHIBITION 1986
Destroyer, Frigate and Cruiser Technology Biloxi, Miss., October 2-4 A symposium and exhibition jointly sponsored by the Pascagoula Section of the American Society of Naval Engineers and the Navy Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair-Pascagoula
American Society Of Naval Engineers Names Ivan Monk President
Ivan Monk, currently vice chairman of the board of directors of DeLaval Turbine Inc., assumed leadership of the American Society of Naval Engineers on June 30, 1978, as the 85th president of the Society. The presidential term of the Society is one year.
Southern California Sections Of American Society Of Naval Engineers To Hold Centennial Symposium
February 18-19, San Diego, California The purpose of the symposium is to provide government and industry personnel with a forum to ponder the challenges that will confront the naval engineering profession in the future. The aim is to stimulate
Admiral Synnot Compliments Todd Shipyards At Launching Of Frigate For Australian Navy
The HMAS Adelaide, the first of three guided missile frigates to be built for the A u s t r a l i a n Government, was recently launched at Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation Seattle (Wash.) Division. Five others of the same design are being built at Todd- Seattle for the United States Navy.
Overview Of Coast Guard's Fiscal Year 1991 Request
As tensions ease abroad, the U.S. Coast Guard's role in defense readiness increases in importance. In addition, the service has a central role in several of the most crucial topics facing the U.S. today—marine safety, oil spill prevention and drug smuggling.
Commodore Awards Bailey Contract For Chiller Pack For S/S Enchanted Seas
Miami-based Commodore Cruise Lines recently awarded a contract to Bailey Refrigeration Co., Inc. of Avenel, N.J., to design, build and deliver a 375-ton air conditioning chiller pack for their S/S Enchanted Seas. Replacing an obsolete centrifugal system,
Waugh To Supply TNF Joiner System For S.S. Azure Seas
The Waugh Co., Jacksonville, Fla., has obtained the contract to supply the Rockwool TNF Joiner System, consisting of floating floors, linings and partitions, continuous ceilings and doors, to be installed on board the Admiral Cruise Line's S.S.
Northrop (arumman Unloads Hair-built 1 roiect America ohip to JNLL
The saga of the now-defunct American Classic Voyages' U.S. Lines has seemingly come to a close with Northrop Grumman Corporation reaching an agreement on August 19 to sell all structures and material associated with the cruise vessel program at
Bath Iron Works Sold To New York Investor Group
Bath Iron Works Corporation (BIW) of Bath, Maine, one of the country's leading shipbuilders, has been purchased by private investors led by Gibbons, Green, van Amerongen, Ltd., a diversified investment banking firm based in New York. BIW was formerly owned by Congoleum Corporation,
cruise ship cruise ships currents customers department design development diesel drilling dry dock effective


In the House of Paul-Émile offers insight into the life and work of Paul Émile Borduas, as well as his impact both nationally and internationally.
Besides the beauty and originality of the design, which make the house a masterpiece of cultural heritage and national architecture, Borduas's house becomes one of the most important strategic centres of the intellectual and artistic avant-garde. The artist himself designed and built the house in his hometown of Saint Hilaire and settles there with his wife and their three children in the summer of 1945.
The house is considered one of his masterpieces, since Borduas aims to integrate all the details. It is also where Borduas wrote Refus global [Global Refusal], a manifesto drafted and signed by 15 innovative Quebec artists of that period.
One of the exhibit's objectives is to demystify the artist by following him in his daily life and to examine the influence that his living environment had on his art. We will follow Borduas through the milestones of his career, from his apprenticeship years to his death in Paris in 1960.
In the House of Paul-Émile is complemented by original documentary videos and includes the presentation of an art book entitled "Éternel present" [Eternal Present], which was compiled to mark the 50th anniversary of Refus global.


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Undiscovered Victoria city guide
Victoria's scenic Inner Harbour and Fisherman's Wharf in Canada (photo: Kathryn Burrington).
Looking for somewhere new to explore?
Canada's Garden City is gorgeous all round, from its world-class floral displays and historical landmarks to its picturesque harbours and dramatic setting on the Juan de Fuca Strait; this is our Undiscovered Victoria City Guide. By Adam Bisby.
Established in 1843 and named after the reigning British monarch, the British Columbian capital celebrates its UK roots like no other North American city.
You can take a double-decker bus or horse-drawn carriage to landmarks like Craigdarroch Castle, a Scottish Baronial mansion that's straight out of Vanity Fair.
It all feels right at home here on the on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, what with the temperate climate proving ideal for another favourite British pastime: gardening.
More than a million people visit the renowned Butchart Gardens each year, with more botanical marvels adorning the series of picturesque harbours around which Victoria is clustered.
The innermost of these is home to both the neo-baroque British Columbian Legislature and the elegantly vine-covered Fairmont Empress hotel.
Driving, biking or boating out of Victoria's core, however, will quickly reveal that you're nowhere near Britain.
The rainforest-clad mountains looming over the water, and those killer whales cutting across it, can attest to that.
What we overlook
The welcome signs at the edge of town call Victoria the Garden City, but it's also well known as Canada's retirement capital.
That said, visitors expecting a staid, sedate destination will be surprised by the energy of the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival, the edginess of the Rifflandia music fest, and the exotic flavours of Canada's oldest Chinatown, where the ornate Gate of Harmonious Interest leads visitors to the narrowest street in the land – and some delicious dim sum.
Don't leave without:
Strolling the Inner Harbour and Fisherman's Wharf
The nexus of Victoria's various casting-off points exudes stately elegance.
There's the aforementioned British Columbian Legislature and Fairmont Empress hotel, both with meticulously landscaped grounds, along with the more modern Royal BC Museum and Thunderbird Park, where 15 totem poles provide a more organic vibe.
The vibe gets increasingly casual around the corner at Fisherman's Wharf, where you can watch fishing boats unload their catch after coffee at Moka House or lunch at Barb's Fish & Chips.
Stopping to smell the roses (et cetera) at the Butchart Gardens
Extravagantly draped over the northern outskirts of Victoria, this 22-hectare botanical wonderland is home to much more than flower beds.
There are five main themed gardens – Italian, Japanese, Mediterranean and a rose and sunken garden – along with an ornate carousel, a Florentine piazza, totem poles, various dazzling water features including a bronze and granite dragon fountain weighing nearly three tonnes… again, there is much more than flower beds here.
Going whale-watching
With many three-hour tours casting off from downtown, spotting orcas, humpback, minke and grey whales, along with harbour seals, sea lions and bald eagles, is near-effortless.
There are almost as many tour types as there are whale species, with open-air Zodiacs and catamarans vying for customers with heated cabin cruisers and yachts.
Some tours even let you eavesdrop on whalesong with hydrophones, and include an up-close view of Race Rocks Ecological Reserve, a small island with a historic lighthouse and countless seals and seabirds.
Oh, those lucky Victoria commuters.
The Galloping Goose cycle path – named after a gas-powered passenger car that ran on the former rail line nearly a century ago – passes pretty suburbs, then hilly farms, and finally verdant forest as it approaches Leechtown, a former mining hub of which little remains.
Such is the trail's easygoing appeal that several quaint bed and breakfasts have spring up along its 60-kilometre length, catering not to commuters but to visitors who eschew bus tours and taxi rides.
The highlight? Crossing the rebuilt trestle bridge across the Selkirk Water, the bucolic continuation of Victoria's Inner Harbour.
There is a certain amount of local one-upmanship that goes on in regard to horticulture, which is why the private-garden outings offered by Victorian Garden Tours are so appealing.
What goes on behind closed gates? These customised expeditions provide a guided sneak peek.
The oceanside Beacon Hill Park packs an awful lot into its 75 hectares.
There are the usual trappings of a great park – walking trails, playgrounds and a splash pad, playing fields, a petting zoo, tennis courts, lakes and landscaped gardens – but what sets it apart are two features that positively scream "BC!"
The first is the world's fourth-tallest totem pole, a 38.8-metre work carved by Kwakwaka'wakw craftsman Mungo Martin and erected in 1956.
The second is a charming pebble bridge that's a tribute to renowned B.C. artist Emily Carr from her sister Alice.
It's also worth noting that "Mile 0" of the Trans-Canada Highway is set in the southwest corner of the park.
Fans of creepy-crawlies will be enthralled by the Victoria Bug Zoo.
From giant walking sticks and praying mantis to tarantulas and glow-in-the-dark scorpions, visitors can learn about and even touch nearly 50 fascinating species.
And don't worry, picnickers: Canada's largest ant colony is securely ensconced behind glass.
Get up close and personal with Victoria's lush foliage at Adrena LINE Zipline Adventure Tours, which offers two-hour treks through the coastal temperate rainforest southwest of town.
The route includes eight ziplines, two suspension bridges and an exhilarating ATV ride, with evening zip-lining also available once a month.
You can venture even further into the woods with one of the many hiking outfitters based in Victoria.
Overnight trips to serene preserves such as Goldstream Provincial Park, one of more than 60 provincial, regional and municipal parks in the Greater Victoria Area, let you commune with nature in comfort.
With three permanent galleries covering natural history, modern history, and local First Nations' history, the Royal BC Museum lets visitors delve deeper into their destination of choice.
The museum's collections comprise approximately six million objects, with interactive exhibits including a woolly mammoth displayed in its ice age surroundings to a tar-scented trip on the HMS Discovery.
Then you can stroll down the wood-cobbled street of recreated Old Town Victoria.
The high arts may be more highly regarded in Victoria than anywhere else in Canada, with Pacific Opera Victoria, the Victoria Operatic Society, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, the Canadian Pacific Ballet and Ballet Victoria staging more than a dozen productions each year at the Royal & McPherson Theatres.
Hip hoods
Away from the bustle of the waterfront, Fernwood Square radiates out from the intersection of Gladstone and Fernwood Roads, where the contemporary Belfry Theatre occupies a corner.
The intersection sets the relaxed, welcoming tone, with other neighbourhood highlights including into Stage Wine Bar – a must before a performance at the Belfry – and Picot, a meticulously curated collection of handcrafted gifts, toiletries and housewares.
Just east of Beacon Hill Park and running along its namesake thoroughfare, Cook Street Village is a tree-lined enclave of boutiques, coffee shops, yoga studios and restaurants.
Indeed, if you're looking for a relaxing, scenic stroll (with coffee and/or yoga mat in hand), there are few better options than heading south down Cook Street and turning in either direction when you reach the ocean.
What do you get when you cross a light display worthy of Santa's workshop with gardens straight out of Alice in Wonderland?
The answer lies at Butchart Gardens, which hosts a spectacular Twelve Days of Christmas lighting display, complete with outdoor skating rink, leading up to the holidays.
You haven't really experienced Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture until you've seen it performed at Victoria Symphony Splash, which in early August features fireworks over a floating stage in the Inner Harbour.
Take a detour
The stated goal of many hippies is to 'get back to the garden (of Eden)', which could be why so many of them stuck around on Salt Spring Island, the largest of the West Coast's Gulf Islands.
A scenic 35-minute ferry ride from the Swartz Bay terminal, Salt Spring is a haven for foodies and outdoorsy types alike, its organic wineries and farms supplying upscale restaurants and oceanside inns, while outfitters offer everything from sea kayaking and scuba diving to rainforest hiking and orca-watching.
Luxury: Fairmont Empress Hotel – This National Historic Site of Canada features manicured gardens, lavish ballrooms, and elegant eateries such as the Bengal Lounge and Kipling's, named after author (and frequent guest) Rudyard Kipling.
Family: Inn at Laurel Point – 2.4 hectares of parklike grounds, an indoor pool and a wide range of room configurations steps from the Inner Harbour.
Comfortable: The Oswego Hotel – A stylish boutique property ideally located between downtown and the Inner Harbor.
Budget: Quality Inn Waddling Dog – Come for the hilarious name, stay for the solid value, free wi-fi and complimentary breakfast.
Zambri's: In a new location in the curvy Atrium Building, features classic Italian cuisine and an award-winning wine list.
Bard & Banker: A lively downtown gastropub with an extensive whisky selection, dozens of beers and ciders on tap, and local live music.
The Butchart Gardens – The Dining Room: Located in the original Butchart family residence, diners indulge in sublime garden views and contemporary, locally sourced fare.
Can't get enough of Canada?
We've got an amazing amount of information on Canada, check out our guides below:
Newbies to Canada: Canada 101: A Beginner's Introduction
Need more inspiration? here's 100 Things to do in Canada Before You Die
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The world's best surf town isn't in Hawaii, Australia, Tahiti or America – it's in Canada, and it's wilder than all of them put together; gr...
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We discover the true heart of Canada in amongst some of its greatest snow spots. This morning a 'granola type' (as they call them around here) on...


text:
interview | alex & roy
Jacket / Willy Chavarria
Turtleneck / Lacoste
Trousers / J. Lindeberg
Shoes / Saturdays NYC
Necklace / Model's own
Jacket & Trousers / Zegna
Turtleneck / Reiss
Sunglasses / Stylist's own
"Bearing witness to the baroque clusterfuckery of the world is no longer voluntary. We are all forced to watch. Every possible catastrophe vibrates in our pockets, demanding to be witnessed." That's how Alex Cameron himself presented his latest body of work, his second album 'Forced Witness'. Three years after his solo debut album 'Jumping the Shark', Cameron has traded the individual sleazy losers and creeps for plush creepy pop songs about the miscreants of our society. Composed of 10 tracks and with defiant storytelling as the main thread in a dark yet danceable array, the Sydney native honestly tackles hyper-masculinity and "randomized sexuality" in an acidulously earnest mode. Such topics may seem ominous, but Cameron manages to make them catchy and rhythmic, thanks greatly to his long-term accomplice's, Roy Molloy, magical fingers. Schön! caught up with the saxophonist to talk about his partnership with Cameron, the not-so-obscure references of the album and all things dance moves.
What about music is captivating for you; is it a means of escape or a way to address the issues that people are seeking forms of escapism for?
What's captivating about music as a medium is its potential to tell stories in a microscopic way. Escapism isn't really the goal here, in the writing process or in the outcome. The goal is engagement with a very stark reality. Escapism is available everywhere if you want it and I don't see any value in another record offering that.
Roy wears
Turtleneck / Zegna
Jacket / Michael Kors
Trousers / Andrew Marc
Alex wears
Jacket & trousers / Reiss
Turtleneck / Michael Kors
How did the dream team, Roy and Alex, come to fruition? And can you tell us a little bit about your relationship and the dynamic?
Al and I met when we were six or seven. I moved in next door to him. We began working together on this project in 2012 when Alex brought some demos into the pizza shop we were working at together. They were 'Jumping the Shark'. I told him I thought they were shit hot and he asked if I'd want to play on stage with him and I said 'yeah'. The dynamic? Very practical. If there's something to be done, we figure out who's best placed to do it and it gets done. If one of us needs help from the other it's there. It's a good business partnership.
Alongside the musical videos and lyrics, you also seem to be an admirer of busting out some dance moves and showing off your acting skills. Is this a way of telling another story alongside the lyrics to your songs?
I can't speak exactly for Al here, but I'll tell you what I know, and that is that his mum is a wonderful dancer and she taught him at a young age so as he'd be prepared for weddings, etc. I couldn't say for sure if it's a form of storytelling for him, more a sense a showmanship and diligence. The acting, the short bits online? Definitely, some kinda side story going on there.
The album 'Forced Witness', whether overtly or covertly, tackles the issue of patriarchal power and its effects on society. What do you think music can do with regards to this issue?
'Forced Witness' is a dossier of observed situations — mostly involving men either displaying or being confronted by their weaknesses. Patriarchal power isn't so much the topic or the target is male weakness.
Jacket & trousers / Andrew Marc
Shirt & shoes / J. Lindeberg
Jacket & trousers / Issey Miyake Men
Vest / Henes
Shoes / GH Bass Weejuns
Have you ever thought about story-telling in a more literary manner? Or perhaps creating a short movie?
We think about that a lot. I know 'Jumping the Shark' came about as a result of a series of short stories. We have a TV pilot in the works. We're both constantly writing, both fiction and non-fiction, and all in between. Most of it'll get scrapped, but the cream of the crop, hopefully, will make it to printing.
Shifting the topic to touring, what is it like? Do you ever improvise with your musical performances? Does it flow 'naturally' for you?
Touring's beautiful. It's the work of it, sure, but we ain't afraid a that. We're touring Europe right now. I write from Lausanne, Switzerland. I'd never have travelled here in a million years if it weren't for touring. The show is becoming more fluid and improvised as we settle into performing with a band. I can't describe the pleasure a playing with a bunch of quality musicians after however many years playing to a backing track. It's wonderful.
8. Many people are trying to decipher the story behind 'Stranger's Kiss', whether it be that the characters in the videos know each other or not, what their relationship is, and what the message is behind it all. Can you shed some light?
Going to have to leave that to Al…
What are you referring to in the lyric 'They made a meme out of my legacy, darling'? Are you saying something about Internet culture or is this referring to something else?
No idea. But people definitely get "meme'd". Can you imagine making a body of work and having your whole artistic impact be eclipsed by a meme of you being attacked by a bird or sitting on a bench looking sad or something? What a world.
Another riddle to solve, who is 'Candy May'? Is this song referring to someone you know or an archetype of a certain kind of woman?
Candy's an ex-girlfriend from Al's from back home. She was one of a kind, but in my experience, that's a pretty common type a woman also.
What is it about Marlon Brando that Alex connects with? How does one feel like 'Marlon Brando circa 1999', with 'these pingers' giving 'me shine'?
You missed a beat here. The song is from the point of view of some piece of shit guy at a pub, not Alex. If you're relating to anyone in this tune you got some self-reflecting to do. 'Pingers' are the Aussie word for ecstasy tablets and the shine's come about are the effects of them….
Where do you want to take your music in the near future? And of course, the big question is… will the dance moves stay?
For now, it's all about 'Forced Witness'. We're going to flog it to death out here on the road and in the meantime let the pot simmer on the next record. See what happens in 2018. Dancin' ain't going away.
Listen to Alex Cameron and Roy Molloy's latest album, 'Forced Witness', here.
This Schön! online exclusive was produced by
Photography / Helen Eriksson
Fashion / Lexyrose Boiardo
Models / Alex Cameron & Roy Molloy
Fashion Assistant / Jay Hussa & Ann-Kathrin Lietz
Photography Assistant / Hans Olson
Retouch / Amanda Sperry
Interview / Marianna Mukhametzyanova
Words / Sara Delgado
Discover the latest issue of Schön!.
Now available in print, as an ebook, online and on any mobile device.
by Schön! Magazine / December 2nd, 2017
Tags: Alex Cameron, Amanda Sperry, Andrew Marc, Ann-Kathrin Lietz, GH Bass Weejuns, Hans Olson, Helen Eriksson, Henes, Issey Miyake Men, J. Lindeberg, Jay Hussa, Lacoste, Lexyrose Boiardo, Michael Kors, Reiss, Roy Molloy, Saturdays NYC, Willy Chavarria, Zegna
let the kids play
Kids will be kids. In…
teddy boys
We're mixing the age of jukeboxes…
interview | corey fogelmanis
It's hard to watch the trailer…
Photographer Olga Ush welcomes us to…


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Hackney MP slams government over missed Grenfell cladding target
Franki Berry
Published: 5:40 PM September 16, 2020 Updated: 10:52 AM October 14, 2020
Labour MP Meg Hillier in the House of Commons. Picture: PA Images - Credit: PA
A Hackney MP has slammed the government for "failing" in its goal to remove all dangerous Grenfell Tower cladding and "condemning" residents to "lives of stress and fear".
Hackney South and Shoreditch MP Meg Hillier made the comments following a report released today by the Public Accounts Committee, of which she is chair, about the Grenfell Tower disaster.
The 2017 tragedy was exacerbated by aluminium composite material (ACM) cladding, and resulted in the deaths of 72 people.
The Progress in Remediating Dangerous Cladding report said only a third -155 of 455 - of high-rise buildings wrapped in Grenfell-style flammable cladding have been redecorated.
READ MORE: NHS heroes stuck in cladding 'bureaucratic nightmare', Mayor tells MPsAn initial target for all ACM cladding to be replaced by June 2020 has been missed; the new target is by the end of 2021.
Ms Hillier said: "Thousands of residents in Hackney and across the UK have been condemned to lives of stress and fear in unsaleable homes with life-changing bills: for the works and for the fire-watch that is necessary to allow them to sleep at night until it is done."
The report says although £600 million has been made available for works on buildings above 18 metres, by April 2020 only £134 million of this had been paid out.
In March 2020, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced a further £1 billion to replace other forms of cladding on high-rises, but it estimates this will only meet about a third of the cost.
There are no plans to fund replacement cladding for buildings smaller than 18 metres.
The report says the government has "no knowledge" if any of the 40,000 care homes, sheltered housing and hospitals below 18 metres high are clad in unsafe material, despite those residents facing greater mobility issues during a fire.
Ms Hillier added: "The deadly legacy of a shoddy buildings regulation system has been devastating for the victims and survivors of Grenfell but is leaving a long tail of misery and uncertainty for those whose lives are in limbo.
"The government must take on board our recommendations and outline the specific steps and measures it will take to provide greater transparency for residents throughout the application and remediation process."


The report finds that rather than being new arrivals, most immigrants have lived in the United States for some time when they get their green cards, the official identification of a legal permanent resident.
Fewer than four in 10 (38%) legal permanent residents were new to the United States when they got their green cards and many had lived here illegally for at least some time. In the United States, about four in 10 (42%) first lived in the country illegally. This group was more evenly divided between those who crossed the border illegally (20%) or violated their visa terms (22%).
In the U.S. overall, immigrants who crossed the border illegally before becoming legal permanent residents were likely to be less educated and less proficient in English than recent permanent residents overall, but they were much more likely to be currently employed (72% vs. 56%). Immigrants who had violated the terms of their visas before becoming legal permanent residents were more educated, more likely to speak English well or very well, and also more likely to be currently employed than recent legal permanent residents overall (66% vs. 56%).
In the nation as a whole, the pathways that immigrants – whether legal or illegal – took to legal residency differed significantly according to their home countries. Those who came from Asia and the Pacific were more likely to be new arrivals to the U.S. (53%). Those who came from Latin America and the Caribbean were more likely to have crossed the border illegally (41%) than immigrants from other regions. Those who violated their visa terms at some point before getting green cards were more likely to have come from the Mideast/North Africa (31%) or Europe/Central Asia (27%).
You can click here to download the entire report in PDF format.
Nativist Talking Points from the 19th Century: Deja Vu Anyone?


text:
To Mike Pompeo: Stop Insulting Khashoggi!
Increasing Prison Sentences of Sheikh Safar al-Hawali's Imprisoned Sons Is Political Decision
Saudi prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Pro-Reform Law Professor over Social Media Use
Syrian Scholar Sheikh Saleh Al Shami Detained in Saudi Arabia
Will Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez Be Allowed to Break Saudi Rule of Law?
Saudi Political Prisoner Nasser Al-Omar in Real Danger
Cristiano Ronaldo: Another Saudi Attempt to Sportswashing Rights Abuses
Saudi Academic Given 30 Years in Prison for Tweets
Two Months since Enforced Disappearance of Mohammed Al-Qahtani
Torrential Rains Expose Saudi Sewage Scandal
Home/Reports/Saudi Arabia: Political Prisoners Face Harsh Prison Sentences
Saudi Arabia: Political Prisoners Face Harsh Prison Sentences
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Nearly two months have passed since US President Joe Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia, during which he proved that his pledges to defend human rights are nothing but false promises and empty slogans.
Human rights defenders have earlier warned that Biden's visit to the Kingdom will only provide a green light to commit more violations and tighten restrictions on opponents at home and abroad.
A few weeks after the visit, the Saudi authorities began to tighten and toughen prison sentences against the prisoners of conscience and opponents, both males and females.
Earlier this week, the Specialized Criminal Court of Appeals sentenced Abdullah Al-Hwaiti and Abdullah Al-Hwaiti to 50 years in prison, and imposed a travel ban for 50 years on both of them for showing solidarity with the Al-Hwaiti tribe who refused to leave their lands in favor of the NEOM project.
The Saudi writer and translator Osama Khaled was also sentenced to 32 years in prison.
The Court of Appeal also imposed a 25-year prison sentence against the academic Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Mahmoud, who has been detained since September 2021, for exposing corruption spread in the Kingdom.
The Specialized Criminal Court also sentenced the social media activist Mansour Al-Raqeeba to 18 years in prison, over his online activism.
A 15-year prison sentence was also imposed against Dr. Ibrahim Al-Dawish, who has been detained in April 2020.
The Specialized Criminal Court also issued a 8-year prison sentence against both Dr. Rashid Al-Alma'i and Dr. Qassem Al-Alma'i, and a 20-year prison sentence against Muhammad Kadwan Al-Alma'i. The three political detainees were all arrested in July 2021.
These harsh prison sentences came only a few days after the unfair court order against the Saudi researcher and doctoral student Salma Al-Shehab to 34 years in prison for spreading "rumors" and retweeting dissidents.
Salma's verdict was followed by a 45-year prison sentence against the female detainee Noura bint Saeed Al-Qahtani after being convicted of "using the internet to tear the (Saudi) social fabric."
Together for Justice renews its total rejection to such politically-motivated arbitrary court rulings which followed secret trials that violate international fair trial standards.
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Areej Al-Sadhan: They broke my brother's hand, saying, "This is the hand you tweet with"
Salman Al-Awdah: Five Years of Arbitrary Detention, No Family Contact for 3 Years
Dr Saleh Al Talib: The Imam of the Holy Mosque in Mecca who turned into a prisoner in Saudi cells
Abdullah Basfar: The Forgotten Professor in the Darkness of Saudi Prisons
How Saudi Arabia continues to torture its prisoners
Trial of Saudi scholar Salman al-Awdah postponed
Saudi women's rights activist wins French Freedom Prize
Bin Salman's opposition is expanding and his money fails to save him
Loujain Al-Hathloul at Risk of Receiving a Life Sentence
With these grave violations, Saudi Arabia bid farewell to 2020
Saudi detainees should not be used as a political tool
UK Report: Bin Salman's prisons- Ongoing violations and hunger strikes
Campaign launch to defend Huwaitat tribe from Neom
Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Dakhil Arbitrarily Detained for Tweeting against Corruption - Together For Justice
[…] Saudi detainees should not be used as a political...
Saudi Regime Must Release Dr. Mohamed Al-Khodary Immediately - Together For Justice
[…] The Saudi Regime Issues a Prison Sentence against...
After the Saudi-Qatar reconciliation: Bin Salman must take step to improve the human rights situation in the kingdom - Together For Justice
[…] The human rights file in Saudi Arabia is a test fo...
The Saudi Regime Issues a Prison Sentence against Activist Maya Al-Zahrani - Together For Justice
[…] A farcical court sentenced Loujain Al-Hathloul to...
The human rights file in Saudi Arabia is a test for Biden and humiliation for Bin Salman - Together For Justice
[…] Bin Salman's opposition is expanding and his...


We believe in providing a "total solution" to an organisation's IT needs. Whether your organization is a Small Office Home Office (SOHO), a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) or a Corporate Organisation, we have the expertise to design and provide the right IT solution for you. Use the graphics element below to depict "Solution" – artwork is in the Dropbox folder.


Winners were announced at AIA Wilmington's inaugural awards ceremony Thursday, October 11, 2012, at the Cameron Art Museum. LS3P took home three design awards, including the Design Excellence Award for Pitt County Memorial Hospital Chapel and design honor awards for the Wilmington Children's Museum and Wilmington Convention Center. The awards program recognizes outstanding architectural design by Wilmington architects.
The Spectator and Grand Bohemian are in the Spotlight in Travel and Leisure's Favorite American Cities!
The Vendue and French Quarter Inn named as some of the Best Hotels in Charleston by AFAR!


I was extremely nervous about having our third baby. Everyone kept telling me how hard #3 was and it made me terrified! Brooklyn was/is such a temperamental little girl and I wasn't sure how she would do with another baby here. Carson is only 3, which means I would have 3 kids ages 3 and under. Jason and I want our kids close together so we wouldn't want it any other way, but that doesn't make it any less challenging or stressful. With Jason being in school and working full time, it meant it I would mostly have to do it on my own. I was prepared for the worst.
We brought Morgan home and I just kept waiting for things to explode.....but it never did. The kids have been so excited to have her here and I actually adjusted fairly easy to 3. Granted there are HARD days, and times when I'm overwhelmed, but for the most part we are adjusting to 3 kiddos just fine.
One of the first days home from the hospital, Carson insisted that we make a birthday cake for Morgan. He wouldn't stop talking about it, so one night after dinner we made a cake. I let Carson pick out the decorations, so the cake is very boyish. Morgan slept through her entire "birthday" party.
Carson loves playing in the snow and one day with the girls were sleeping we took him outside and played. He loved it! The snow was too soft to make a snowman, but we made snow angels and ran around.
Jason took the kids to the Lowe's kids workshop to get them out of the house and do something fun with them. They built a Christmas train and got to decorate it with stickers. They always look so cute in their little aprons and they really enjoy building things there, especially Carson.
Brooklyn's hair is getting so long! She looked so cute one day that I had to take a picture.
So far our adjustment to 3 kids has been a good one. Morgan is a sweet baby and the kids love her to pieces. Hopefully it stays this way!
You are a very good mom! I would never let you guys do stuff like this because I didn't want all the mess! It's so good that you are letting them be creative. They will always remember that!


We're targeting February for the Xbox One release, but that may slip to March. I'll post again when we have a firm date. There's still some optimization work to do, but otherwise I think we have all the major issues dealt with. This project has been a serious undertaking, but the fantastically talented Jazon Burnell is taking the lion's share of the effort. Wonderful to not be working alone anymore! What a concept, right?
In the spirit of giving, I'm happy to announce we are also planning to release the Lifeless Planet Premier Edition for PC and Mac, shortly after the Xbox One release. This new version will bring the improvements and additions from the Xbox version to the PC and Mac. I know PC users have been waiting for an update for a while now, but the last few months we've had to concentrate on the Xbox build. Part of that Xbox One work has meant moving the game to a newer version of the Unity game engine (the original version was built in Unity 3). This was a serious undertaking, but the benefit is that the update coming really is a major new release. There will also be very significant performance improvements which should make the game more playable on laptops and slower desktops.
We're still a very small team here, but I hope you see we're working hard to keep improving the game. There will be even bigger things to come in 2015 (the film project isn't dead, for one thing). Very big things... Thank you for sticking with me, sending the kind words about the game, and for all your patience when I'm not always able to respond quickly to your emails. I'm amazed at what we've been able to accomplish together!
Happy Holidays from Lifeless Planet!
Any news about the HD conversion for PC ?
Cant believe this game slipped under my radar initially. The trailer definitely feeds my gaming love of mystery and discovery. Day one Xbox purchase, cant wait. Any word on the release date?


text:
The Ecstasy of Defeat
by superuser
DISPARATE DESPARATION
Re: George Neumayr's Desperate for Defeat:
The Democrats would prefer to fight the War on American soil instead of Iraqi, Afghan, Syrian, and Iranian. They have forgotten about the over 3,000 dead American citizens. Power is what they covet more than anything.
— D. Doran
Why all the pussyfooting around, George? Simply state it as follows:
"The Democrats want a society based on a socialist/communist philosophy of equality of outcome and expect the U.S. military to follow those same beliefs. No winners. No losers. Being a loser may instill feelings of inadequacy. All are equal. Except Americans. Americans are to carry the mark of Cain. And be a scapegoat for any and every society's failure."
Sort of like an eleventh commandment. Except that calling it a commandment smacks too much of religion. Or mentioning the mark of Cain or scapegoating. That would violate the rules on separation of church and state.
— Wolf Terner
Fair Lawn, New Jersey
Mr. Neumayr offers an insightful assessment of the weird fetish for failure currently afflicting many liberals. That fetish is largely a function of poll-worship, at the expense of principle. I do disagree with Mr. Neumayr's idea that Democrats are inherently against America's superpower status. Should Democrats ever control all three branches of government, you can be sure unilateralism would no longer be a dirty word to them. Fortunately, the prospect of liberal ascension is several ice-ages away.
Aside from that, there is an important lesson here. The Democrats (with rare exception) have shown a willingness, if not a will, to see Iraq descend into a black hole from which democracy could never emerge, in order to damage Bush. They seemingly have made the political calculation that delivering a victory to Islamic fascism is preferable to Bush leading a successful effort in bringing democracy and human rights to millions in a tortured region. I won't go so far as to call their actions unpatriotic, but they certainly are stupid and disgraceful. Every time an elected representative tells the waiting cameras how wrong, how misled, how illegitimate, how futile America's effort is, he has just given heart to heartless killers. When common purpose and resolve is required, liberals instead offer defeatist gibberish. Talk about breeding terrorism.
The Democrats are now so heavily invested in their own left-wing disinformation campaign (i.e., Bush lied, Iraq is a quagmire, unwinnable, no WMD, the war is illegitimate, the world hates us, ad nauseam) that they have put themselves in the unenviable position of being advocates of failure. A successful outcome in Iraq will discredit the Bush-haters and vindicate Bush. This dilemma leaves the Democrats in a political no-man's-land, stuck between Iraq and a hard place.
— GnuCarSmell
Jacksonville, Texas
Your article sounds so much like 1968, when the Vietnam hawks were saying the same lame line. We don't win this type of war — we just put dictators back in office to do our whim. We are not afraid that America is winning, or might win. We are certain that we cannot win; that we were lied to about getting into the war; that we had no plan once we got there; that we have no plan to get out; and that we cannot justify staying there, letting our armed forces slowly die. Just as sure that you think we're going to win, we are certain that we will not win.
Arabs don't have a very good history of democracy. They tend to kill each other and others who don't agree with them. From these good people we received the word "assassin." Their religion and culture don't allow for democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, or women's rights, let alone freedom of religion.
Remember, these good people in Iraq might object to getting themselves blown up, but don't have a problem with Americans, Brits, French or Jews being slaughtered. Not a bit of a problem. So what… are we still doing there? Time to get out.
— Dan Robbins
Since Carter's administration, the Democrat party platform has consistently been "Peace through weakness." They should carry that banner throughout their conventions. The other banner for the Democrat/Socialists (as you so aptly identify) is "Play to tie not to win."
I have four of my young adults (they once were called my children) serving in the armed forces. Three of them are in Iraq. They play to win (and the numerous times they have beat me at chess confirms this).
— Fred Edwards
I agree completely. I think their fear in Iraq is not just that the U.S. might win, but that a conservative (at least semi-conservative) would lead the victory. It would be even worse if it leads to a radical restructuring of the Middle East.
That means when the liberals regain control, the U.S. will have an institutional memory of how to deal with terrorists AND WIN. So when (not if!) terrorists strike again most of the U.S. will expect the libs to take decisive Bush-like action. When the libs wuss out, voters will stage another 1994-type rout.
Libs know this. And fear it. Their worst nightmare: performance standards. Sort of like "No Child Left Behind," etc. They don't want the bar set so high they can't compete.
— Nick Osborn
Unfortunately for America, many or most in the Democratic Party today, in my opinion, have a hatred for President Bush that is far stronger than their love for America. It is not difficult for most to observe and conclude that the Democratic Party has hitched its wagon to failure of our mission in Iraq and indeed, the War on Terror as a means to get back in power. To those senators, and you and I know who you are, be very careful what you wish for. You just might get it. The next terrorist attack or battlefield just might be in a city in your own home state. And history will judge you harshly. Your fear of success in Iraq and the war on terrorism far exceeds your fear of terrorism. And personally, I find that very frightening, given the positions you hold in government.
We are a nation at war against terrorism and as such, we should be unified in that effort. It is okay to disagree with this president. It is not okay to call him names or send an ex-left wing liberal, commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States to an area (Dubai) that is very close to the war in Iraq and criticize that effort.
Also, just because you might have served in Vietnam, that does not give you the right to puff your chest feathers in a bunch like a rooster in a henhouse and call your opponent a coward because he got a deferment or served in the National Guard. Remember Mr. Clinton's stellar war record? Indeed, I would challenge you to strap on a fighter jet and fly it. Cowards do not fly fighter jets in peace or in war and live to tell about it.
Thank God for President Bush and thank God for the president's courage in the face of nuclear attack by the mainstream media and the left wing of the Democratic Party. The president is indeed a courageous and rock solid, steady leader and a true man of conviction. God Bless you sir and God Bless America and her men and women in the Armed Forces.
— Jim L
East Sandwich, Massachusetts
Democrats hold no American interest above their base pursuit of power. To them, America is the global fount of evil that only they can stanch. To that end, they use our media and schools to teach our children to hate our history, our institutions, and our place in the world. Democrats would collapse this Republic from within, if that would attain their ends. As such, they are fit only to betray, but not to rule. Their interests are counter to America's.
— David Govett
I think you are wrong.
The Democrats of the hard left most definitely want the U.S. to lose; they just can't come right out and say it because it will reveal to all what they really stand for; and this will dash all their hopes for re-election. So, this forces them to make totally absurd, logically inconsistent, incredibly stupid statements that defy all common sense.
When somebody assumes what the vast majority of folks would consider an indefensible position, the verbal and (il)logical gymnastics required to simultaneously defend and obscure this position are worthy of straight "10's" from all the Animal Farm judges.
Just like folks like Noam Chomsky can't admit publicly that he admires Pol Pot or Joe Stalin — because it would lose him all credibility and even worse, cut off the flow of money pouring into the (legal) tax-avoidance trust funds he has set up for his family, the hard left is compelled to distort and lie in their effort to defend and promote their views.
Further, the pseudo-religious zeal the hard left demonstrates in their efforts to (re)assume power subordinates all other concerns. A complete and total defeat of the U.S. in Iraq would be more than welcomed — though silently — by hard left Democrats, if it would provide them the keys to the White House and Capitol Hill. The ends justify the means as long as they get you where you want to go.
Most folks who vote Democrat are more or less moderate everyday folks. However, they are too busy trying to make a living to pay attention to the dirty politics of Washington D.C. The Democratic Party knows this, so they repeatedly lie in public statements and these distortions are repeated, without question by America's Pravda and Izvestia — the mainstream U.S. media — to be consumed by the public. The Republicans are too inept to adequately and forcefully counter the propaganda of the Democratic left.
The Democratic left have mastered the tactics of Joseph Goebbels and the double-speak skills of the "more equal than others" leadership committee of George Orwell's Animal Farm. Given the incompetence of the Republicans, the hard left Democrats are succeeding in their efforts to regain the White House.
— Alex Custin
Several years ago I recall reading a curious newspaper article about a youth soccer game in suburban Virginia. One team was trashing the other team badly, so the sensitive soccer moms decided to remove a player from the winning team to even things out. The game went on and the winning team continued to dominate so they removed another player� and so on. Time ran out and at the end of the game, as I recall, the winning team prevailed with half of its starting roster on the field.
Where on earth did this type of thinking come from? Our feel-good, fuzzy government school system?
I suspect the origin lies in the notion "�from each according to his ability�" blah, blah, blah. This new American concept of competition and fair play, where every kid gets a trophy, where there are no losers (including our enemies), has now emerged in the loony wing of the Democrat party. Let's hope this silly thinking dies out with the old hippies.
— Don Biddle
Mr. Neumayr's cogent article is exactly correct. I would add this to it. By constantly voicing the sentiment that the United States is wrong and ought to cut and run from Iraq and our other responsibilities, Democrats increase the fighting will of our enemies.
I have just finished a book by Vo Nguyen Giap. In it he said he was sure the war in Vietnam was lost until Ramsey Clark and Hanoi Jane Fonda came to Hanoi. Then he said he knew of the lack of courage of America's politicians and stepped up the killing on American soldiers without regard to his own casualties.
I was there and have always held those two people responsible for perhaps as many as 15,000 American soldiers' deaths.
Let us hope that these morally bankrupt, Democrat politicians will have more courage than did Ms. Fonda and Mr. Clark. Let us hope they will stand up, proudly, and say: "We don't care if hundreds of American soldiers die, winning in 2006 is more important to us." Because elections are the only business of Democrats.
— Jay W. Molyneaux
Wellington, Florida
Mr. Neumayr's analysis of the Democrats' position is, I believe, correct. But I think he is being too generous by saying their objective is a "tie." As I have listened to the socialist Democrats for the last month and more, I have become more and more convinced that only an American defeat, outright defeat, will satisfy them.
They and their MSM transcription service will do literally any and everything in their power, short of actually voting for defeat (good move, House Republicans), to achieve that. That includes creating an alternative universe constructed totally of lies, then using the tactic of The Big Lie, pushing it down the throats of the American public. When the history of this era is finally written, if it is in English and not Arabic it will be thanks to George W. Bush, not the socialist Democrats.
— John Jarrell
Look, they are traitors and they know it!!
Just look at Kerry last year during the campaign. Bush and Cheney were careful not to "question Kerry's patriotism" yet Kerry was defensively trying to get cover by saying not to question it.
They do want us to lose because they are not the ones in power.
Lastly, the outcome in Iraq is assured. We will win and are winning but the Democrats and their allies in the press will portray it as a defeat — witness Afghanistan. Remember all of the cheering for our victory there and the resultant democracy? Neither do I!!
— John Sorg
Thank you for this excellent article. You have truly cut right through all the rhetoric to the heart of the Democratic mind-set. But the Democrats faced openly with this observation would surely bluster, decry and deny such statements and would certainly attack with ferocity. That is always their response. I am realistic enough to question the total honesty of both parties, but obviously those Dems in power, will not and cannot, risk exposing their true beliefs to the American public. The elitist nature of many, who view the "masses" of probably not being ready for such enlightened thought and world view, must couch their remarks in rather obscure declarations. Shouldn't they have the courage of their convictions? I am discouraged as I once again see a group of congressmen declaring how they can fight a war better than our military all for political gain. Most of these career politicians need a reality check of facing what our wonderful soldiers and Marines must deal with so we have the freedoms we so take for granted.
I fear for our nation and its future, and I pray the American people are able to understand where policy decisions of the kind so embraced by the left will lead us. We must be vigilant and understand the freedoms we are blessed with must be constantly fought for. Freedom is not free and has always come with a price. Thankfully our military is willing to pay that price. Thank you again.
— Sharon
My high school senior and his classmates did a survey for their American Government class last week. Fifty percent of people who identified themselves as Democrats or Independents answered, "Not at all," to the question, "Do you consider yourself patriotic?" I don't understand why we allow people who don't appreciate how extraordinary an accomplishment our civilization is, to set the terms of the debate and undermine our ability to defend ourselves.
— Ann Blumenthal
Sir, I don't want your ego to become too large, but your "Desperate for Defeat" which ran today is nothing short of a brilliant piece of writing. Very nice.
— John Zupansic
INTER-NETWORK NEWS
Re: David Holman's Purposely Misleading:
The last sentence (the old standby), "Don't believe everything you read in the papers," should be changed to "Don't believe anything you read in the papers" to reflect the temper of this new age of "baby boomer journalism" which now cannot even match National Enquirer for integrity.
Thank God for the Spectator and NRO and other participants in the "new media," for without you guys, I dread to think what the state of our country would be like…
— Alex Pinsdorf
Lake Success, New York
The sad thing about the malicious reporting regarding VP Cheney's AEI speech is that it also infects the local reporting here in Detroit. I heard the WJR news reader say, "Cheney lashed out," then they played a recording of what he actually said. The two statements contradicted each other, but the premise (however faulty) had been set. The congressman who read the Marine letter about "staying the course" and "cowards don't run" on the House floor was similarly maligned. Even the dailies, which have more than enough time to read the transcripts of official hearings and events, have defaulted to the wire services reporting, and thus we consumers are at their mercy as well.
Laziness has set in many newsrooms with the convenient collective parroting of AP, the New York Times, Washington Post, Reuters, etc. The news media it seems, has taught a large contingent of Americans to "see" and not "listen" or read news. And a great many newsreaders and reporters have been "unofficially" kicked upstairs to the many editorial positions without public announcement. Thus, very little real news gets reported any more.
— P. Aaron Jones
Huntington Woods, Michigan
Thanks to DARPA for the Internet. Had the Democrats known of its power to circumvent their gatekeepers of information, they would have strangled it in its worldwide crib.
Which is the reason I do not read and listen to very much of what the MSM have to say. It is always leaning to the left and mostly distortions.
— Elaine Kyle
GNOME CHOMSKY
Re: Christopher Orlet's Best in Show:
I take issue with only one point in Mr. Orlet's essay on Noam Chomsky: his contention that 9/11 is what "more than anything else rescued him from obscurity." That just isn't the case.
While Chomsky's popularity has waxed and waned many times since he first emerged as a "public intellectual" in the 1960s, he has always maintained a large cult following. Even during the periods when the mainstream media completely ignored him, his ponderous tomes were never out of print and could be found in the current affairs section of all major book chains. Somebody was buying them and they couldn't all have been college kids assigned to read them by their professors.
Chomsky may have been operating below the radar but he was there. 9/11 may have given him a chance to reach a new generation, but he had a base to build on. For a certain segment of our society, Chomsky has never gone out of style.
— Sean Higgins
Noam Chomsky began his career as a chemist, but switched to linguistics because he reasoned that it would be easier to become famous in that relatively uncompetitive field. This is an intellectual?
MORE ABOUT THE MISSUS
Re: Ashby M. Foote III's Extreme Makeover — Gulf Coast Style:
This was a very good article to explain things to us that have mostly heard about New Orleans and not much about Mississippi.
HOLIDAY THANKS
Re: Ben Stein's As Thanksgiving Approaches:
Kudos to Ben Stein's thumping "As Thanksgiving Approaches" in the wake of the reprint of his October "Unshared Sacrifice." In the latter, however, Ben talks vaguely of the obligation of the rich to pay more taxes in support of an armed struggle defending a West that affords them the opportunity to be rich.
But I think it would be better, and more concretely to the point, for the rich (as well as the rest of us) to turn some share of their investments toward a generous and regular purchase of Patriot Bonds. When my family started doing so three years ago in support of the war effort, one of my sons looked hard at the bonds' schedule of maturity and suggested that the return on the investment is awfully modest. "Only financially," my wife and I responded.
We don't need more taxes. We need more seriousness. And it would sure help if the President would start making a continuously strong and specific public case for the war effort, with regular appeals for voluntary financial support, appeals of the sort that Americans saw in every theatre lobby in the country during World War II. Who cares about the rug-rats in Hollywood and the union bosses and the cheap politicos in Congress and the boutique expounders of treason-chic in academia? It's time to put aside the fawning nods to the nostrums of the pseudo-sophisticates. Support the war against Islamofascism! Buy U.S. Patriot Bonds!
— John R. Dunlap
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ben Stein for your very inspiring and encouraging article! My prayers are with you. May God continue to give you strength and courage and bless your work.
— Ernestine Clemons
Here is proof that Ben Stein is correct regarding a blood bath of the first order, should the Coalition Forces withdraw before the Iraqi government is strong enough to enforce domestic tranquility, much less to protect from an outside enemy. In Al Anbar Province, American forces were prematurely withdrawn from communities before local police were strong enough. On one day the mujahideen attacked and killed many of the police in those communities and several community leaders. Now with the return of U.S. forces to the area, no Iraqi understandably wants to be a policeman. Extrapolate these events to the whole country.
— SPC Snuffy Smith
It is no small feat, in these times of "far" lefts, rights, and betwixt, to have such a wonderfully well-spoken writer as Ben Stein presents his thoughts with intellect and integrity. I regret that I have only recently discovered Ben's on-line writings and he has become a sought after source of clarity in my weekly "expedition" for some honest op-ed/investigative journalism.
His reminder to be thankful for the sacrifices by our military and their families is well received in my family.
May God keep them from harm's way and give them the strength to persevere and see their duty clearly. Freedom comes dearly.
Thank you for making Ben available to those of us in the cheap seats…
— John Curtis
This is so right on. Please keep up the excellent work. Stinking Dems will do anything to win. They are shameless!!!! Unlike you, I cannot talk about them without swearing. If we brought our troops home just for one day, Thanksgiving, the country would see why they are there.
Our military should be top priority. Our money should be going to providing our troops with the latest and best weapons. Willie Peter works real nice. We should be using it. Shoot first, and let God sort them out. Put the antiwar loudmouths in jail for treason till the war is over. This is going to be a long war.
— Martin N. Tirrell
Lisbon, New Hampshire
What I like about Mr. Stein is his practical take on things. One of the things I notice about many on the left is a knee jerk reaction without any thought to the underlying problem they are addressing. Mr. Stein seems to think things through before writing about them. His practical nature makes him conservative as it does my husband and me. We have looked at every issue that comes to our attention and try to see all sides. Sometimes a more liberal way is better but most of the time the opposite is true.
We have come to the conclusion that many of the ills of the world come from record numbers of unemployed young males. If the world really has six billion people then about three billion of those are males. Almost every article written about them is to state that most are under 30. There is nothing more dangerous than an adolescent male with nothing to do. The "terrorists" are the ones using these males.
Scientific work on the human brain has shown that adolescents don't even use the practical part of their brains. This is not lost on bin Laden and his ilk. Promise a young man who does not have any outlet for frustrations that he will have all his desires met and you have a bomber on your rolls. We need to look at fighting this war in much different terms than any in the past. I think we need to stay the course. The ones who know are the soldiers. If they still believe in their mission so should we. So for all the wonderful things in this country I am thankful for I add Mr. Stein and your magazine.
— Nolan Clinard
WANDERING WITHOUT GOD
Re: George Neumayr's The Origin of Speciousness:
Reason tells us that if the universe had a beginning, the conditions that gave rise to intelligence through evolution must have existed prior to the space-time universe in some form. Reasonable people require evidence to the contrary before believing something to the contrary. But those opposed to intelligent design being taught in schools are not reasonable. They argue (irrationally) that intelligence is necessarily limited to the material universe of space and time; that intelligence doesn't exist if it didn't evolve in space and time. It is a dogmatic and intolerant philosophical position that can be arrived at only by ignoring the extreme improbability that mere chance produced the exacting conditions that make evolution possible. It is a philosophy that, to use Charles Krauthammer's words, "violates the most basic requirement of anything pretending to be science — that it be empirically disprovable." Clearly, opponents to intelligent design are either ignorant of what constitutes real science or have an antitheist agenda.
Contrary to what propagandists would have us believe, theistic evolution and intelligent design are not the same. Theistic evolution is untenable because it places God outside of nature and is inconsistent with the idea of his infinity. As a theory, "intelligent design" places God within nature. It implies that "God" is the name people give to the personality of the unity of infinity, which is an experiential and wholly subjective reality. It implies that God is the Reality in whom "we live, and move, and have our being." (Acts 17:28) Darwinists fear intelligent design because it puts the onus on them to empirically prove their assertion that unguided laws of physics can self-organize in a way that gives rise to something that is entirely absent in themselves. But if they're right, nothing — including all their ideas and opinions — is anything more than the product of mathematical probabilities, algorithms, particles, and whatnot. It makes them and everything work and stand for no more meaningful or significant than a rock.
Experts who say that Darwinism is an intrinsically atheistic theory may be good scientists, but they are lousy philosophers of religion. It is not a stretch to call them fools. One doesn't need to be a theologian or scientist to understand that an extremely large, complex, and highly automatic-appearing system naturally tends to conceal the intelligence behind it from any and all inhabiting intelligences very far below the originating intelligence. The concept of evolution, therefore, isn't "anti-God" at all, but only constrains what one can reasonably believe about God — and that's a good thing for religion. After all, "A doctrinal fetish will lead mortal man to betray himself into the clutches of bigotry, fanaticism, superstition, intolerance, and the most atrocious of barbarous cruelties." (The URANTIA Book, P.969 – section 5) Rather than challenging religion, science forces religion to rid itself of such thinking.
Strangely enough, materialistic scientism — the idea that energy and matter is all there is or at least the bottom line — is by nature dualistic despite its claims to the contrary. Religion, on the other hand, is typically monistic (The Zen master saying to the hotdog vendor, "Make me one with everything," comes immediately to mind.) despite its mostly dualistic ("God is love") language. Materialism, scientific and otherwise, is inherently dualistic because the observer cannot be the thing observed; evaluation demands some degree of transcendence of, or separation from, the thing which is evaluated. By itself, it makes man feel like an outcast in the universe. Materialism (secularism, dualism, existentialism, sentimentalism, nihilism, etc.) is therefore an ideal which, once having found a voice, feels it is justified to impose its values (or lack thereof) in order to attain its goals, goals which are — to put mildly — confused.
It's easy to prove this by simply pointing to where the absence of religion has taken us: Large numbers of people think homicide-bombers who target innocent children in the process of killing themselves and those who fight them are morally equivalent. It's thought that those who commit such atrocities aren't evil, but are "misled" or simply have a different point of view. There's a concerted effort to change the definition of marriage without regard for the majority opinion. Freedom of speech is regarded as a license to offend, but truth is banned if it's deemed offensive. Tenure gives instructors the right to propagandize. Lawsuits are a way to instant wealth. Accountability has vanished, so blame falls on the bartender or gun manufacturer. Double standards are the norm. Perverse lifestyles are celebrated. Self-discipline and decency are unfashionable. Civil rights are worth dying for, but those who fight for others are saps. The list goes on and on and on, but you get the idea. "Without God, without religion, �this secularistic human society, notwithstanding its unparalleled materialistic achievement, is slowly disintegrating." (The URANTIA Book, P.2082 – section 2)
Right or wrong, the pedestal upon which materialistic Darwinism stands will fall, but religion will never go away.
— Merlin Bird
I agree with Wilson and am puzzled by the article. Of course evolution is godless. The comfort both explanatory and psychic that religion provides is the "reason" that it persists. Atheism whether acknowledged or not is very widespread among educated Western elites. Get over it.
— Noah Praetorius
ELITE READERS
Re: TAS Online's Reader Mail:
You have some of the most insightful readers of any publication I've had the privilege to read. The sergeants Shoup and Miller; Elaine from East Texas and reliable Pete — plus recent writings by Joseph Baum, Brian, and that terrific letter from Winfield Sterling.
As Dubya and the disasters in the GOP threaten to become as demented as the Democrats, yeah, maybe there is room for some optimism. Maybe.
— Geoff Brandt
Quintana, Texas


Transurban Group (TCL): Reported Average daily traffic (ADT) growth across the portfolio of 4%. Portfolio Performance: Sydney - ADT growth 3.4%, Toll Revenue Growth 9.2% and EBITDA growth 10.2.%. Melbourne ADT growth -1.0%, Toll Revenue Growth 4.1%, and EBITDA growth 5.3%. Brisbane - ADT growth 15%, Toll Revenue growth 22.9%, and EBITDA growth 97% including airport link. Greater Washington USA - ADT growth 12.8%, Toll Revenue Growth 23.7% and EBITDA growth 39.2% (calculated in USD). Free cash flow coverage in FY17 of 99.2% excluding NWRG capital release.
Outlook: FY18 distribution guidance of 56.0 cps, which is an 8.7% increase on the FY17 distribution.
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Outlook: FY18 FFO per unit guidance of 15.1 cpu, and FY18 Distribution per unit guidance of 13.7cpu.


text:
WWE Has A Weird Name Its Banned List (And It's A Famous One)
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Road Warrior Animal Responds to The Ascension
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*Spoilers* Jan. 2 "Smackdown"
On Tuesday, Dec. 30, WWE taped the first edition of "Smackdown" for 2015, the Jan. 2 showing of the program. The episode was taped in Norfolk, Virginia at the Norfolk...
Video: The Ascension Likely to Debut on Dec. 29 "Monday Night Raw"
On the Dec. 22 edition of "Monday Night Raw," another vignette for former NXT Tag Team Champions The Ascension was shown. Within the vignette, a hidden message was contained regarding when the...
Finn Balor Reportedly to Use Body Paint Going Forward
NXT Superstar Finn Balor set the wrestling world on fire Thursday night, when prior to his match alongside Hideo Itami with The Ascension, he debuted brand new body paint and...
Monday Night Raw Results – January 16, 2023


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text:
Q: Controlling an automation loop looking for suggestions for what pattern to use to avoid an infinite automation loop that involves custom flow/processes as well as some managed code
background:
sage hcm has functionality to push title updates from sage record to sfdc user.  now i want to handle the scenario where the naughty user updates their title in sfdc instead of in sage hcm, and write it back to sage.  this would cause a loop without some control structure.

*

*user updates title on user record

*title pushes to employment (flow)

*title pushed to team member (process)

*team member updates user title (sage hcm code)

*and...round and round we go

possible approaches
I can add something to the flow in step 2 that would then be evaluated in the process in step 3 - but what is the best approach?

*

*a checkbox needs to be unchecked after not firing, and that update might cause things to fire again

*a date/time field perhaps could work but its quite possible someone would edit their title twice in rapid succession to fix a minor error

any other suggestions?  am i missing something obvious?

A:
am i missing something obvious?

If I understand the problem correctly, yes. It should just be as simple as checking if the update is meaningful before actually triggering the update.
I'm not going to "draw" this out in the builder, but the flow should simply be:

*

*Fast Lookup existing user record (Fast Lookup).

*Check if title on user record matches incoming value, if so, skip to 5 (Decision).

*Assign the new title to the user record (Assignment).

*Perform update on the user record (Fast Update).

*Done.

The same can be said for the Process as well. You can check if a field has changed, and if so, then perform the update to Sage HCM.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Nugu alert: those twins just released a track that could be better than 90% of the crap songs from big name agencies… I have exactly 0 information about them. 1st single in April, no MV. That's it. But I'll keep digging. Good news, it's already on iTunes.


This Elstead traditional 19cm small picture light in dark bronze is a plain yet elegant iron fixture, manufactured in Britain by hand. It has an elegantly detailed back plate and wire bindings.
A stylish adjustable picture light finished in aged bronze with a square shaped wall mount. A fantastic match to the Gothic style wrought iron lights and an incredible feature that will create a wonderful warmth for a long hallway, alcove, or chimney breast.
A simple range of plain but elegant iron picture lights manufactured by hand. With elements like elegantly detailed back plates and wire bindings, these stylish two sizes of picture lights are offered in 5 finishes.
This classic light is supplied by Elstead Lighting, a British company that specialise in the manufacture and distribution of quality decorative lighting such as the traditional 19cm small picture light in dark bronze you see here.