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Category Archives: Mike Pompeo
When you hear that we barely avoided a new war …
June 24, 2019 By domani spero in Foreign Policy, Hotspots, Iran, Mike Pompeo, Pompeo, State Department, Trends, Trump, War Tags: diplocats, drones, Iran, John Bolton, memes, Mike Pompeo, war
Miles With Mike: Child Soldiers, CENTCOM Visit, Silliness, Plus Some Word Salad With That Chardonnay
June 19, 2019 By domani spero in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Hotspots, Iran, Mike Pompeo, Pompeo, Secretary of State, Spectacular, State Department, Trends, Trump Tags: Child Soldiers, Iran, Miles With Mike, Saudi Arabia, USCENTCOM, Yemen
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has blocked the inclusion of Saudi Arabia on a U.S. list of countries that recruit child soldiers, dismissing his experts' findings that a Saudi-led coalition has been using under-age fighters in Yemen's civil war https://t.co/F5JVpXJ5QE
— Matt Duss (@mattduss) June 18, 2019
New from me: Pompeo visits CENTCOM amid mixed messages from US on Iran.
w/ @JackDetsch_ALM https://t.co/ZBSlIvKwQL
— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) June 18, 2019
Update: DoD can't say whether Secretary of State Pompeo is traveling to CENTCOM with any members of the military chain of command, refers the question back to State. Meanwhile, a State spox can't find records of previous secretaries' visits to CENTCOM. This is all… very unusual pic.twitter.com/SKpXz5ixVR
— Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) June 17, 2019
Billy Goat with Washington piece of silliness
"A Washington piece of silliness"
"Don't play ticky-tack"
"Don't make this a political football"
"Senator, I find that question bizarre"
"Don't say silly things"
"Insulting and ridiculous and frankly ludicrous"
How Pompeo avoids accounting for Trumphttps://t.co/fUwyIXnMv4
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) June 17, 2019
Some word salad to go with that Chardonnay:
I asked @realDonaldTrump why Americans should trust his administration's pronouncements on Iran. He had absolutely nothing to say and it was unclear if he understood what I was asking. pic.twitter.com/vzlh1lJnev
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) June 18, 2019
When you hear about the Arctic's "great economic opportunities" ….
June 19, 2019 By domani spero in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Hotspots, Mike Pompeo, Trends Tags: diplocats, memes
Pompeo: "I wanted, too, to reaffirm the value of diplomatic expertise" … #batsignal
June 17, 2019 By domani spero in Diplomacy, Foreign Service, FSI, Huh? News, Mike Pompeo, Political Appointees, Realities of the FS, Secretary of State, Staffing the FS, State Department, Trends Tags: career ambassadors, diplomatic expertise, Mike Pompeo
"I wanted, too, to reaffirm the value of diplomatic expertise. So at my recommendation, President Trump and the Senate recognized four individuals Career Ambassadors: David Hale, Phil Goldberg, Michele Sison, and Dan Smith, who is now running FSI. The rest of our team now knows these are senior leaders that they can truly look up to." – Secretary Mike Pompeo
Remarks at the Department of State Foreign Affairs Day
Proud to congratulate Ambassadors Philip Goldberg, David Hale, Michele Sison & Dan Smith, confirmed and conferred the rank of Career Ambassador—the highest in the Foreign Service. Thank you, Ambassadors, for your dedicated service on behalf of the American people. pic.twitter.com/TCyCqgfMEx
— Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) September 13, 2018
The class of Career Ambassador was first established by an Act of Congress on Aug 5, 1955, as an amendment to the Foreign Service act of 1946 (P.L. 84-250; 69 Stat. 537). Under the 1980 Foreign Service Act (P.L. 96-465; 94 Stat. 2084), which repealed the 1946 Act as amended, the President is empowered with the advice and consent of the Senate to confer the personal rank of Career Ambassador upon a career member of the Senior Foreign Service in recognition of especially distinguished service over a sustained period. It is the equivalent of Four-star rank (O-10) in the military.
Ambassador David Hale , former U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan, Lebanon and Jordan is Under Secretary for Political Affairs. He is the highest ranking career appointee in the State Department. He reports directly to the Deputy Secretary of State and the Secretary of State.
[Holy guacamole, why is the State Department's biographies of senior officials alphabetized by first names?]
Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg previously U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, Bolivia, and Chief of Mission in Kosovo, and most recently, Cuba, was also a former Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (INR). He is now Resident Senior Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. Until these four nominations, there was Ambassador Steve Mull, the one remaining career ambassador in active service in mid 2018 prior to being brought back briefly as Acting P before his retirement. By coincidence, Ambassador Goldberg is now a Resident Senior Fellow at Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, Ambassador Mull's assignment shortly before his brief appointment as Acting P and retirement.
Ambassador Michele Sison was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Haiti on February 12, 2018. She previously served as U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations (2014-2018), U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives (2012-2014), U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon (2008-2010), and U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (2004-2008).
Ambassador Daniel B. Smith, previously Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (INR) and former U.S. Ambassador to Greece is now the Director of the Foreign Service Institute. They gave him a nice title of "Chief Learning Officer for the Department of State and the federal foreign affairs community." According to the FAM, the Director of FSI is equivalent in rank to an Assistant Secretary and serves as the Department's Chief Training Officer. This is not a Senate confirmed position. FSI is one of 14 bureaus and offices under the Under Secretary for Management umbrella. Ambassador Smith does not report directly to the Secretary of State. One could argue that training is crucial and that this assignment is similar to United States Army Training and Doctrine Command which is headed by one of the Army's twelve four-star generals. Okay. Fine. Except that TRADOC is one of the four Army Commands, and oversees 32 Army schools organized under eight Centers of Excellence, each focused on a separate area of expertise within the Army (such as Maneuver and Signal). These centers train over 500,000 soldiers and service members each year. The Foreign Service on the other hand has 13,770 officers and specialists. Even if FSI trains all Foreign Service, Civil Service (10,023), EFMs (2,302) and local staff (51,148) every year (it doesn't), the number of trainees would only amount to 77,243 (PDF).
Of the four career ambassadors, one is in Foggy Bottom, one handles training (away from Foggy Bottom), one is a resident fellow at a university (away from Foggy Bottom), and one is overseas (away from Foggy Bottom). Perhaps, that's where they all want to be?
We're also curious — how many career diplomats have been appointed to lead the geographic bureaus or the functional bureaus of the State Department?
According to AFSA, among senior official appointments in the State Department, only 5 or 9.1% appointees are career folks. Political appointees make up 90.9% or 50 appointments in real numbers.
Of the 151 ambassador appointments, 80 or 53.0% are career appointees, and 71 or 47.0% are political appointees.
Holy swagger guacamole! Is this what reaffirmation of diplomatic expertise looks like?
When you hear that climate change has been going on a looong time…
June 17, 2019 By domani spero in Diplomatic Life, Foreign Policy, Huh? News, Mike Pompeo Tags: Climate change, memes
So @StateDept's guidance is do whatever you want. EXCEPT fly the Pride Flag on the pole #PrideMonth
June 12, 2019 By domani spero in Controversies, Foreign Service, Media, Mike Pompeo, Org Life, Pompeo, Realities of the FS, Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State, Social Media, State Department, Top Ranks, Trends, U.S. Missions Tags: Brian Bulatao, Flag Act, LGBT Pride Month, LGBTI Pride Month, Michael Richard Pompeo, State/DRL, State/M, U.S. flag, Under Secretary for Management, VPOTUS Pence
Help Fund the Blog Diplopundit 2019 — 60-Day Campaign from June 5, 2019 – August 5, 2019
On May 17, 2018, Secretary Pompeo just three weeks into his tenure as secretary of state issued a statement on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. This year, the State Department statement marking IDAHOT was noticeably missing.
We understand from a source on background that there was guidance circulated within the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) this past May saying that there will be no IDAHOT/Pride cable this year. The directive reportedly came from the 7th floor although it apparently also said, there is no change in policy, including on display of the Pride flag. "The best we can do is rely on last year's cable and the statement that policy has not changed."
The directive last year would have been sent by an Acting Under Secretary for Management as there was no confirmed "M" at the State Department since U/S Kennedy departed his position in January 2017.
On June 7, NBC News reported that the U.S. embassies in Israel, Germany, Brazil and Latvia have requested permission from the State Department to fly the rainbow pride flag on their flagpoles and have been denied, citing three unnamed U.S. diplomats.
On June 10, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told NBCNews that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "respects the dignity of every individual" but did not believe other flags should fly alongside the American flag at U.S. embassies.
In an interview with NBC News, VPOTUS said that the Trump administration had "put no restrictions" on the pride flag or other flags flying elsewhere at U.S. embassies. When pressed, he also said, "We both feel that way very passionately, but when it comes to the American flagpole, and American embassies, and capitals around the world, one American flag flies."
Another official who is LGBT speaking on background told this blog that flying the Pride flag on the flag pole with the U.S. flag has always been controversial. This same official told us that while he/she personally does not believe that they should fly the Pride flag on the flag pole, there are others who have cited the Flag Act to justify flying the pride flag:
4 U.S. Code § 7 – Position and manner of display
(f) When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag's right.
This same source indicated to us that his/her understanding was that the Under Secretary for Management Brian Bulatao has not approved flying the Pride Flag on the same staff as the U.S. flag at State Department federal buildings within the United States and overseas (Mr. Bulatao was officially sworn into office in late May). We were told that this process is usually done via a decision memo and that this year, there was no cable in or out; which confirmed the circulated guidance reportedly from DRL in May. This official also told us that his/her understanding is that posts are free to display the pride flag everywhere and anywhere, or to light up embassies in the pride colors, or do anything else they want to mark Pride month. EXCEPT fly the Pride Flag on the pole.
We should note that in previous years, some posts, not all, have marked Pride Month with a rainbow flag on the flagpole or hanging the rainbow flag on the side of the embassy building. Others participated in local pride parades, or lighting up the embassy in rainbow colors. Social media indicates that our overseas posts are marking Pride month in a similar manner (poles excepted) this year, but they have not/not been prevented from marking or celebrating the event (if post is preventing you from marking Pride Month, holler, please).
Also typically, on June 1st or within the first week of June, the Secretary of State also releases a statement marking LGBTI Pride Month. Pompeo did that last year on June 1st. The year before that, his predecessor Rex Tillerson released a similar statement on June 7, 2018. This year, we're still waiting for a similar statement from Secretary Pompeo; 18 days to go before the days of June runs out. Write faster, folks!
Here is the official spox addressing the "except on the pole" issue:
WATCH: After @NBCNews report on State Dept. barring US embassies from flying #pride flag on flagpoles, a spokesperson says:
"The secretary has the position that, as it relates to the flagpole, that only the American flag should be flown there."https://t.co/Wf7NH7EGjq pic.twitter.com/QmvYvv3pOB
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 10, 2019
Tillerson Joins U.S. Embassies in Marking #LGBTI Pride Month .
SCOTUS Rules Same-Sex Marriage Is a Right, See Round-Up of US Embassies on LGBT Pride Month .
USCG Osaka-Kobe, Japan: Consul General Patrick Linehan – It Gets Better .
@StateDept Apologizes For Past Discrimination Against #LGBTI Employees/Applicants .
LGBT Ambassadors: We've Come This Far But … Still Pale and Male .
Quote of the Day: "I want it on my desk in one week, or I'm going to the Washington Post"
AFSA Foreign Service Furlough Stories: 10 Days to Get to a Plane for a Medical Evacuation!
June 10, 2019 By domani spero in Americans Abroad, Foreign Service, Leadership and Management, Mike Pompeo, Org Life, Realities of the FS, Shutdown, State Department, Trends, U.S. Missions, USAID Tags: AFSA, federal shutdown, FSJ, Furlough, Kenneth Kero-Mentz, Trump Shutdown
Excerpt via AFSA/StateVP Kenneth Kero-Mentz:
For many of us, the shutdown caused real financial trouble, and even with careful planning, paying bills became a stretch. Some members had already tapped into their "rainy day fund" after being forced to leave Mission Russia last year. Others had to juggle funds to pay tuition expenses or mortgages due in January. Unemployment benefits were not available to many members serving overseas. Single parents and tandem couples were hit particularly hard with the delay of first one paycheck, and then two.
We heard stories of how the shutdown affected our members' work. For instance, at the National Defense University and other war colleges, Department of State students were locked out of lectures and prohibited from participating in seminars during the shutdown. USAID war college students were designated "excepted," so they could continue attending class. Students from State should have been "excepted" as well. There's no reason why the U.S. government's investment in a yearlong master's degree program for its future senior leadership cadre should be torn apart midstream.
A mid-level officer at a small post in Africa reported that she was busier than ever, covering for her furloughed colleagues, planning events only to cancel later as the shutdown dragged on. As days turned into weeks, and then surpassed a month, morale plummeted. After all, as she said, who wants to work for an organization that consistently understaffs and overworks its team? She wonders if her enthusiasm for what is increasingly becoming a thankless job will ever rebound.
At one large mission in Asia, all State Department employees were required to report to work regardless of pay status. These people could not do any public-facing work and could not contact their counterparts at other posts or the department (since they were all furloughed), but were required to report to work in a non-pay status. It did not make sense. As many members noted, furlough decisions should be made in a central and transparent manner. Though none of us expected the shutdown to last so long, better contingency planning could have helped.
The hardships went well beyond juggling work requirements and paying bills. One second-tour specialist was hospitalized and needed to medevac to the United States immediately. The shutdown delayed the processing of the medevac funding request; due to the shutdown and short staffing, it took 10 days to get the person on a plane.
@StateDept to Establish a "Commission on Unalienable Rights"
June 7, 2019 By domani spero in Foreign Policy, Huh? News, Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State, State Department, Trends Tags: advisory committee, commission, Commission on Unalienable Rights, Human Rights, Kiron K. Skinner, Policy Planning
The @StateDept plans to establish a "Commission on Unalienable Rights."
What the hell is that? @bechamilton got her hands on the draft charter: https://t.co/Nxw7EoQAy2
— Kate Brannen (@K8brannen) June 5, 2019
The Trump administration plans to launch a new panel to offer "fresh thinking" on international human rights called the Commission on Unalienable Rights and will advise Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. https://t.co/AXArjtGlxl
— POLITICO Press (@POLITICOPress) May 31, 2019
The charter of the ominously peculiar new "Commission on Unalienable Rights" at the State Department is now available online
⬇https://t.co/IGJgsdqfFQ
(Source: @just_security) pic.twitter.com/Cz2t0wXtLM
— Ryan Kaminski (@rykaminski) June 5, 2019
The Havana Syndrome in the News, and Some Questions For Foggy Bottom's New "M"
June 3, 2019 By domani spero in Diplomatic Attacks, Foreign Service, MEDical, Mike Pompeo, Questions, Realities of the FS, Rex Tillerson, Secretary of State, Security, Spectacular, State Department Tags: Canadian Foreign Service, China, Cuba, Havana Syndrome
The Havana Syndrome remains a mystery and a subject of interest. But the latest report via Buzzfeed suggests that "much of the early research into the mystery may have been botched or biased."
The initial investigation was confined to two competing sets of researchers, both eager to publish studies on their own work, and whose findings have been at odds with each other. In one case, researchers were also seeking to promote their own newly approved medical device as a diagnostic tool. And until now, the effort has lacked broader oversight by an institution capable of cross-disciplinary research.
"The fundamental problem is you can't trust anybody here," said medical ethicist Sergio Litewka of the University of Miami, who has written about the political cloud of secrecy and distrust surrounding the diplomats' injuries. "Not the US State Department and not the Cuban government." (BuzzFeed has filed a lawsuit with the State Department requesting its communications related to the medical research into the injuries, after the agency denied a request for them on medical privacy and ongoing investigation grounds.)
Can somebody please ask the new "M" Brian Bulatao what's his plan about this matter going forward? Can an "America First" policy over everything afford to have this medical mystery just go unsolved? What happened to the Accountability Review Board reportedly convened by the former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The ARB process doesn't stop when the secretary of state is fired via tweet, does it? What happens to those affected? What happens to those affected who were not employed by the U.S. government (spouses and children)? What happens if those affected leave their jobs voluntarily or involuntarily? What arrangements are made in terms of medical care? What's the plan if a similar incident were to happen at another part of the globe?
Emails Show Why The "Sonic Attack" Mystery In Cuba May Never Be Solved https://t.co/NPj66DB0qv via @dvergano pic.twitter.com/l5DkXhLljW
— BuzzFeed News Art Dept (@BuzzFeedNewsArt) May 29, 2019
"Was It an Invisible Attack on U.S. Diplomats, or Something Stranger?" https://t.co/Kga9RmgAKQ (@Get_Smarter, @NYTmag) pic.twitter.com/oUuI3PXVRr
— Longform (@longform) May 21, 2019
We missed this 4-part report from Canada:
This series on Canadian diplos affected by "Havana syndrome" demonstrates how confused reporting is on this issue. Reports constellation of symptoms not matching U.S. cases, yet asserts all same syndrome.
How would microwave weapons could cause this?https://t.co/EVt4c48qkb
— Sharon Weinberger (@weinbergersa) February 26, 2019
Second part of my series on nightmare some former Canadian diplomats in Cuba are now facing. Havana Syndrome, Part 2: How a dog's brain may help solve the mystery of Canadian diplomats' Cuban nightmare https://t.co/U1ZMC2LqMA
— Elizabeth Payne (@egpayne) February 26, 2019
The Havana Syndrome, Part 3: Insiders say ordeal has 'struck a nerve' in Canada's diplomatic community
The Havana Syndrome, Part 4: What it could be and how experts will try to crack the case
Secretary Pompeo Swears-In Brian Bulatao as Foggy Bottom's New "M"
May 28, 2019 By domani spero in Appointments, Functional Bureaus, Mike Pompeo, Pompeo, Secretary of State, State Department, Trends Tags: Brian Bulatao, Deputy Under Secretary of State for Management, Mike Pompeo, State/M, swearing-in, T. Ulrich Brechbühl, Ulrich Brechbuhl, West Point
U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo swears in Brian Bulatao as the new Under Secretary of State for Management with T. Ulrich Brechbühl, State Department Counselor in attendance at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., on May 17, 2019. [State Department photo by Michael Gross/ Public Domain]
Now that the new under secretary for management has been confirmed, it's a good time to revisit Mr. Bulatao's testimony before the U.S. Senate (see excerpt below).
The culture of empowerment created greater organizational agility and a workforce that was unleashed to take on problem sets in new ways. I certainly didn't come up with every idea, instead I empowered our team to consider how we could do it better, fail faster, and take smarter risks. Across the board, we embraced a spirit of innovation in order to boost the speed and precision of a large organization operating in a dangerous and competitive environment.
If confirmed as the Under Secretary for Management, this is the same approach I intend to bring to the U.S. Department of State. The Department's hard-working, patriotic, and dedicated teams deserve to have an organization that optimally utilizes their talents. And the American people must have confidence that the State Department makes the best use of their resources and provides the best practical support for our diplomatic initiatives that rely on the strength of our alliances, partnerships, and engagement.
If confirmed, I appreciate the broad management responsibility I will have for the Department's more than 76,000 personnel – Civil Service, Foreign Service, and Locally Employed Staff – and my direct supervision over 12 bureaus and offices. These women and men serve our country in some of the most challenging places around the world, and risk their lives daily, whether serving in war zones, amidst criminal violence and disease outbreaks, and with the threat of terrorist attack. They work long hours, often separated from their families, to advance our nation's foreign policy and support the work of diplomacy.
There is no question that the safety and security of our personnel and their families must be the highest priority. I know Secretary Pompeo cares deeply about and works hard to protect his people.
I will ensure that the Bureau of Diplomatic Security has the resources, tools, and technology and is fully integrated into Department decision-making, to most effectively perform this critical task.
I will work hard to ensure our people have secure new buildings where required, that are completed on time, on budget, and incorporate cutting-edge IT infrastructure to support the critical missions they execute globally.
If confirmed, I will seek more creative ways to staff the Department to meet today's mission and be well positioned to meet the challenges of the future. This will include hiring the full range of expertise, from our diplomats and subject-matter experts, to our specialists in the field like medical services and facilities management, to our security personnel. Hiring the best of the best with diverse backgrounds and experiences is critical to our global mission and will be a top priority for me.
I am committed to advocating for a budget that fully funds the Department's requirements and putting in place the appropriate oversight and metrics to ensure the Department meets its obligation to use taxpayer dollars wisely and effectively. I will support Secretary Pompeo in requesting funding that serves the national interest and will implement the appropriations law as passed by Congress.
Finally, if confirmed, I will help bring Department operations into the 21st century by modernizing its systems and programs. With so many challenges facing the United States around the world, our diplomacy demands every logistical, technological, and informational advantage we can muster. We must be aggressive in protecting our security, generating prosperity, and advancing our values. Having a State Department team that is empowered and equipped with the right tools to achieve the mission is an integral part of making that happen.
The full testimony is available to read in PDF here.
Senate Confirms Brian Bulatao as Under Secretary of State For Management .
@StateDept Gets Closer to Getting an Under Secretary for Management, Vacant Since January 2017
Pompeo Appoints West Point Pal, Ulrich Brechbuhl as @StateDept Counselor .
Trump Shutdown Day#27: @StateDept, Also a National Security Agency, Now Says, We Just Found Some Money, Come Back to Work .
Wait – @StateDept Has a Deputy "M" Again, a Position Discontinued by Congress in 1978 .
Trump to Nominate Top GOP Budget Aide Eric Ueland to be Under Secretary for Management #StateDept


text:
Parcela de frasin comun (în ) este un monument al naturii de tip botanic de importanță locală din raionul Adâncata, regiunea Cernăuți (Ucraina), situat la est de satul Tureatca. Este administrat de "Silvicultura Cernăuți".

Suprafața ariei protejate constituie 5,7 hectare, fiind creată în anul 2001 prin decizia comitetului executiv regional. Statutul a fost acordat pentru protejarea unei porțiuni a pădurii cu plantații valoroase de frasin comun cu vechimea de la 180 la 330 de ani.

Referințe

Monumente ale naturii din Ucraina
Arii protejate din raionul Adâncata
Fondări în 2001

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


DEAD CITY RUINS release their video for new single 'Bones', taken from their upcoming new album 'Never Say Die' due for release 13th April.
Finland's Thaurorod release their new album 'Coast Of Gold' on 16th February via Drakkar Entertainment.
Ektomorf release their new album 'Fury' on 16th February via AFM Records.
VOODOO CIRCLE release their new album 'Raised On Rock' on February 9th on AFM Records.
STORMBRINGER release their new third album 'Born A Dying Breed' on Novmember 3rd.
Johannes Luley (Moth Vellum/Perfect Beings) releases stunning new album QITARA.


text:
Q: I can not deploy google cloud functions in any project I used to deploy google cloud functions in the previous days. They were successful. But now I can not deploy cloud functions in any project. An unknown error is coming, See the below image.

A: Try deleting cache from browser, or use another browser. Try also in icognito mode, and if it doesnt work, then contact support!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We are looking for professional guest writers and bloggers to write informative articles for our blog. We are looking for guest bloggers to write and share some excellent content that would help our clients.
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You dirty rat, you killed my dryer!
So today was interesting. One of those average, hum-drum vacation weekends at a beautiful mountain cabin (yes we know, stolidly dull) turned wholly exciting come laundry time this afternoon. Let's just say the heat setting we chose on the dryer had an extra dose we were not expecting.
The cabin belongs to my employer and she graciously allows us to use it from time to time to get away. After the last few frazzled weeks spent in pre-production and production, we looked forward to a very even-tempered, non-life-threatening escape from "normal" life. But hey, we can't all live our lives without the onset of fiery tragedies, can we?
Liz had just started the first items drying in the dryer about noon today. I dropped off a few clothing items to add to the wash and went back upstairs. But when I looked out the windows and saw plumes of smoke billowing from the side of the house, I thought: "that's a little heavy for dryer steam." I bolted onto the deck, peered over the railing, and sure enough – it was not the pleasant aroma of dryer sheets that met my nostrils. At first I thought maybe it was the air conditioner, because I had just notched the thermostat down a degree. So I raced inside and turned it off. I raced back out. Smoke continued to billow. I rushed around to the side and clambered under the deck. Smoke was definitely flowing from the dryer vent. Panic set in and I flew downstairs, where Liz was still setting up the wash, oblivious to the danger. I opened the dryer, yanked out the clothing and saw flames–yes flames–licking up behind the small grate in the back of the dryer. Terror! "We have a fire!, we have a fire!" I yelled. And all I saw in my head was this beautiful cabin igniting in flames.
Nothing. It was empty. Gaahh!
I couldn't see past the smoke clouds, so I blew them away, which only made the flames shoot up again! I blasted out the back door and raced to the garage again, hyperventilating, legs rubbery with fear. I grabbed the next fire extinguisher, pulled the pin!–Nada. I grabbed the third with a prayer, pulled the pin… and Yes! I flew back to the basement, smoke choking the air, alarms blaring everywhere. I stuck the nozzle into the drum and blasted the flames. It was out. We then rushed outside and blasted the vent under the porch.
The house phone rang, with the fire department on the other end. I had to bustle outside again to hear over the shrill beeping of the alarms, cordless phone signal crackling out of range. I told them we had the fire out, but it was best to send a truck just to be sure. Things had mostly calmed by now and the next several moments were comprised of missed calls, dropped calls, the owner calling the neighbor after getting the alerts on her phone (while in Texas!), the neighbor and I hauling the dryer to the porch, and finally the arrival of the Fire Department – three trucks and the captain, no less! They checked for heat in the walls and began airing out the basement. Aside from the horrible smell, reports all looked good. We had averted a major crisis. That only left the dryer. We were still unsure if it was something we had caused.
The fire department unscrewed the back, pulled off the venting and what you see in Exhibit A spilled out onto the cement. A massive clump of charred dog food. The Captain said it was likely a rat, from somewhere in the house: "an inside job," if you will. The little scoundrel had been stowing away for a big winter. For the record, Natural Choice brand dog food burns fast and burns smelly!
There's no telling how long this situation existed. I'm almost certain the last folks to use the dryer did have a small fire in there (the smelly towels) and it simply subsided when the load was done, thankfully contained in metal housing. Still, those flames could have easily ignited something else. If I'm not mistaken, the dog food was practically sitting on the heat coils.
After some further investigation, we found the supply in question across the hall in the basement pantry. A rather ambitious little varmint for sure, making his way up over (or under) the house from one side to the other, crawling into the dryer and hiding his secret stash. But that's what you get living out in the woods, as we can attest to back home. Nature has a way of foiling your best attempts at peaceful living.
Ask us about the possum carcass underneath our porch two weeks ago, cooking up in the 95 degree summer weather. mmm.
Yikes! Glad it was just the food that fried, and not the cabin!


If you were to ask me what the hardest part of home decor is, for ME, I would tell you window treatments, hands down. I'm NEVER happy with mine. I'm always agitated with local selections, and I never can get things quite right when I order them, either. One of the few fights my husband and I have had that I can clearly remember was over window treatments. And we've been in our current home for 8 months now, and I STILL have windows that aren't dressed.
When it comes to choosing fabric for your curtains, there are a few things you should consider. Fabric is an essential part of commercial drapery, dictating how well your curtains function and hold up over time. With so many fabrics, patterns and styles to choose from, it can take time to find the right curtains for your space. Follow these simple tips and tricks to select the right fabric for your new curtains.
Having the same kind of curtains in every room can leave a lot of creative potential unfulfilled. The type of curtain fabric you use in each room depends on the purpose of the room, and how much daily sunlight the room receives. Some rooms need light and airy curtains, while others might need a heavier fabric. For this reason, there is no 'one-size fits all' policy available for curtains, and it is important to carefully consider and design each curtain with appropriate fabric in mind.
Colour: Colour is the most obvious influence on curtain fabric choice. The safe way to select a curtain colour is to choose a colour that is one tone from either side of your wall colour. In this way, you will make the room and the curtains feel harmonious. If possible, always borrow a returnable sample of the fabric or, buy a yard of the fabric to see it in the light of your own home. The color can change dramatically depending on light levels in each room.
Most people seem to think I have it all together. This is hilarious to me, because I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT. Not even a little! I think that's one reason why I never allow myself to stop and take a break, because there's always something I can see that needs to be accomplished!
I have learned something, though. Even though I can look around and see things that need to be accomplished, it's okay to not get everything completed at the same time! Easy does it! So I just thought I'd do a post today to encourage those who feel overwhelmed with all there is to do around their homes. It's okay! You don't have to do it all at once! Easy does it! Just go little by little! Let me show you what I mean: here are three things I did in three different rooms of my house that made a difference…and were cost-effective and EASY!
How to Hang Curtains – A Step-by-Step Guide – A Guest Post!
I never really gave too much thought to hanging curtains, to be perfectly honest. But I started noticing a few trends as I visited various blogs and pins. So when Matt Zajechowski from Digital Third Coast Internet Marketing contacted me regarding a guest post on hanging curtains, I couldn't wait to read it! And when he shared this graphic with me, I got even more excited!


Explore human behavior and understand its complex relationship with the surrounding world with this online psychology degree. In this program, students will be exposed to psychological theories and learn how they explain human behavior, professional and ethical practices, social and cultural diversity, and psychological research methods. This undergraduate degree incorporates career knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as opportunities for experiential learning, which will prepare students for lifelong learning and professional success.
Upon completing this program, students will be prepared to enter graduate school in a variety of psychology disciplines (counseling, clinical, industrial/organizational, etc.), or immediately enter the workforce in fields such as human resources, public affairs, and business. JWU Online offers two master's level psychology degrees, 100 percent online: MS – Organizational Psychology and MBA – Organizational Psychology.
Why Earn Your Psychology Degree with JWU?
Flexibility with electives provides students with an opportunity to double-major if they choose.
Want to explore careers in this field? Through EMSI's Career Coach tool, you can browse careers by degree program and get research-backed information on various industries. You can also take an in-depth assessment to determine career suggestions based on your personal interests. For more information about Psychology careers, click the Career Coach button below.


We are a licensed full service electrical contractor offering a complete line of electrical contracting for the petroleum industry including oil fields and gas plants. Our service fleet includes bucket trucks, boom trucks, digger trucks, 1-ton service trucks, trenchers, mini excavators, pole trailers, a backhoe, and skid loader.
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Our team can provide a service from a 200 Amp up to 3000 Amp; for offices, restaurants, warehouses, and also wiring for new construction and remodeling.
Entrust your RV site to the experienced team at 3R Electrical. You won't have to worry about any repairs or upkeep when our licensed crew can do it for you.
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3R offers pumps, motors, drives, and controls for use in a wide variety of agricultural needs. Call us today for a free estimate.
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Give us a call to see how 3R can improve on your new and existing business.
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We at 3R strive to building strong and long-lasting relationships with all our customers.


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Clinton 2020? Hillary Heading Election Fundraisers in Major Cities
by True Pundit Staff
Though there are plenty of voters on both sides of the ideological divide who've had more than enough of Hillary Clinton over the years, the failed presidential candidate simply refuses to fully fade away from the political scene.
In fact, NBC News just reported that the former secretary of state and 2016 Democrat nominee will be jumping "back into the fray" to help fundraise for the Democrat Party ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.
Clinton is reportedly scheduled to headline at least three events on behalf of the Democratic National Committee — to be held in Chicago, New York and San Francisco — events that are being billed as "intimate dinners with discussion," open for those willing to make a hefty donation to the party.
Sources close to Clinton also suggested that she is planning to hold fundraisers on behalf of certain female candidates. Clinton's political organization, Onward Together, has also been making contributions to Democrat congressional candidates challenging incumbent Republicans in districts Clinton won in 2016.
To be sure, the Democrats could certainly use some help on the fundraising front, as the latest reports indicate that the DNC is getting trounced in that respect by the Republican National Committee. – READ MORE
[divider][/divider]
Judicial Watching is calling for a re-opening of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails after finding more classified information on the former Secretary of State's non-"state.gov" email system.
On Thursday, the watchdog revealed that it had received two batches, 184 pages and 45 pages, of newly uncovered emails belonging to Hillary Clinton from the U.S. Department of State sent and received over her unsecured server.
The emails were uncovered by a FOIA lawsuit filed on May 6, 2015, after the State Department failed to respond to a March 4, 2015 FOIA request seeking all emails sent or received by Clinton in her official capacity as Secretary of State, as well as all emails by other State Department employees to Clinton regarding her non-"state.gov" email address.– READ MORE
[contentcards url="https://www.westernjournal.com/ct/clinton-2020-hillary-heading-election-fundraisers-major-cities/" target="_blank"]
WATCH: Bernie Supporter Brings US Flag Near Antifa, Gets Cracked Over Head for It
Michael Cohen's Dirty Clinton-Linked Attorney Lanny Davis Goes After President Trump
True Pundit Staff August 22, 2018

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Observation of separate vortex-melting and vortex-glass transitions in defect-enhanced YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals
T. K. Worthington, M. P.A. Fisher, D. A. Huse, John Toner, A. D. Marwick, T. Zabel, C. A. Feild, F. Holtzberg
We have observed two distinct phase transitions in a magnetic field, separating the normal and superconducting phases in single-crystal YBa2Cu3O7 samples with enhanced disorder, either naturally occurring or deliberately introduced by radiation damage using 3-MeV protons or 1-GeV Au ions. At low currents, the I-V data are linear on both sides of the upper transition, whereas the lower transition separates Ohmic behavior from nonlinear (i.e., superconducting) behavior. We interpret the upper transition as the remnant of the clean system's first-order vortex-lattice melting and the lower transition as the transition into a true superconducting phase, a vortex glass.
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.46.11854
10.1103/PhysRevB.46.11854
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Observation of separate vortex-melting and vortex-glass transitions in defect-enhanced YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
melting Physics & Astronomy
vortices Physics & Astronomy
single crystals Physics & Astronomy
glass Physics & Astronomy
defects Physics & Astronomy
low currents Physics & Astronomy
radiation damage Physics & Astronomy
disorders Physics & Astronomy
Worthington, T. K., Fisher, M. P. A., Huse, D. A., Toner, J., Marwick, A. D., Zabel, T., Feild, C. A., & Holtzberg, F. (1992). Observation of separate vortex-melting and vortex-glass transitions in defect-enhanced YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals. Physical Review B, 46(18), 11854-11861. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.46.11854
Worthington, T. K. ; Fisher, M. P.A. ; Huse, D. A. ; Toner, John ; Marwick, A. D. ; Zabel, T. ; Feild, C. A. ; Holtzberg, F. / Observation of separate vortex-melting and vortex-glass transitions in defect-enhanced YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals. In: Physical Review B. 1992 ; Vol. 46, No. 18. pp. 11854-11861.
@article{860afcf35b884a899270eff5ba58b54a,
title = "Observation of separate vortex-melting and vortex-glass transitions in defect-enhanced YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals",
abstract = "We have observed two distinct phase transitions in a magnetic field, separating the normal and superconducting phases in single-crystal YBa2Cu3O7 samples with enhanced disorder, either naturally occurring or deliberately introduced by radiation damage using 3-MeV protons or 1-GeV Au ions. At low currents, the I-V data are linear on both sides of the upper transition, whereas the lower transition separates Ohmic behavior from nonlinear (i.e., superconducting) behavior. We interpret the upper transition as the remnant of the clean system's first-order vortex-lattice melting and the lower transition as the transition into a true superconducting phase, a vortex glass.",
author = "Worthington, {T. K.} and Fisher, {M. P.A.} and Huse, {D. A.} and John Toner and Marwick, {A. D.} and T. Zabel and Feild, {C. A.} and F. Holtzberg",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevB.46.11854",
journal = "Physical Review B",
Worthington, TK, Fisher, MPA, Huse, DA, Toner, J, Marwick, AD, Zabel, T, Feild, CA & Holtzberg, F 1992, 'Observation of separate vortex-melting and vortex-glass transitions in defect-enhanced YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals', Physical Review B, vol. 46, no. 18, pp. 11854-11861. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.46.11854
Observation of separate vortex-melting and vortex-glass transitions in defect-enhanced YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals. / Worthington, T. K.; Fisher, M. P.A.; Huse, D. A.; Toner, John; Marwick, A. D.; Zabel, T.; Feild, C. A.; Holtzberg, F.
In: Physical Review B, Vol. 46, No. 18, 01.01.1992, p. 11854-11861.
T1 - Observation of separate vortex-melting and vortex-glass transitions in defect-enhanced YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals
AU - Worthington, T. K.
AU - Fisher, M. P.A.
AU - Huse, D. A.
AU - Toner, John
AU - Marwick, A. D.
AU - Zabel, T.
AU - Feild, C. A.
AU - Holtzberg, F.
N2 - We have observed two distinct phase transitions in a magnetic field, separating the normal and superconducting phases in single-crystal YBa2Cu3O7 samples with enhanced disorder, either naturally occurring or deliberately introduced by radiation damage using 3-MeV protons or 1-GeV Au ions. At low currents, the I-V data are linear on both sides of the upper transition, whereas the lower transition separates Ohmic behavior from nonlinear (i.e., superconducting) behavior. We interpret the upper transition as the remnant of the clean system's first-order vortex-lattice melting and the lower transition as the transition into a true superconducting phase, a vortex glass.
AB - We have observed two distinct phase transitions in a magnetic field, separating the normal and superconducting phases in single-crystal YBa2Cu3O7 samples with enhanced disorder, either naturally occurring or deliberately introduced by radiation damage using 3-MeV protons or 1-GeV Au ions. At low currents, the I-V data are linear on both sides of the upper transition, whereas the lower transition separates Ohmic behavior from nonlinear (i.e., superconducting) behavior. We interpret the upper transition as the remnant of the clean system's first-order vortex-lattice melting and the lower transition as the transition into a true superconducting phase, a vortex glass.
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevB.46.11854
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevB.46.11854
JO - Physical Review B
JF - Physical Review B
Worthington TK, Fisher MPA, Huse DA, Toner J, Marwick AD, Zabel T et al. Observation of separate vortex-melting and vortex-glass transitions in defect-enhanced YBa2Cu3O7 single crystals. Physical Review B. 1992 Jan 1;46(18):11854-11861. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.46.11854


Issac Albeniz was an important Spanish composer and pianist (1860-1909) who is best known for his piano works and compositions based on folk tales. He was a piano genius at an early age. When he was 12, he ran away from home by stowing away on a ship bound for Buenos Aires. He travelled through many countries and by age 15, had given concerts worldwide.
Some of his best known compositions are the piano suite, Iberia, and the orchestral works. Spanish Rhapsody, and Catalonia. Many of his works have been transcribed for the guitar.


distortion and uses a large circular field of view with 2"" aperture inner diameter. The TruGlo TSX Pro sight is coated with Tru-Touch soft-feel technical coating. Other features include an adjustable 2nd and 3rd axis level with two vertical bars level is illuminated by luminescent tape. This Archery Sight is adjustable for left and right handed shooters. Like all TruGlo sights the large pin guard has a glow-in-the-dark ring for quick pin acquisition in low light.


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Gomesa bifolia (anteriormente Oncidium bifolium) es una especie de orquídea epifita. Es nativa de  Sudamérica, denominada comúnmente orquídea patito.

Descripción

Es una orquídea de pequeño tamaño que prefiere el clima fresco, crece epífita con pseudobulbos ovoides u ovoides-oblongos, profundamente surcados. lleva 1 o raramente 2 hojas apicales, ligeramente coriáceas, oblongo-lineares y agudas. Florece en una inflorescencia axilar, de 20 a 35 cm de largo, con 5 a 20 flores, racemosa o rara vez paniculada y con agudas brácteas florales triangulares. La floración se produce el verano.

Distribución y hábitat

Se encuentra en Bolivia, Brasil, Paraguay, Uruguay y Argentina en las cálidas tierras bajas en la sombra a lo largo de arroyos y en los más frescos bosques de montaña desde el nivel del mar hasta cerca de 2000 msnm. Su límite sur de distribución natural es el Partido de Magdalena en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, lo que probablemente la convierta en la orquídea epífita más austral del planeta.

Sinonimia
Coppensia bifolia (Sims) Dumort. (1835)
Oncidium maculosum Lindl. (1837)
Oncidium celsianum A. Rich. (1844)
Oncidium chrysothyrsus Rchb.f. ex R. Warner (1865)
Oncidium batemanianum Griseb. (1879)
Oncidium beyrodtianum Schltr. (1910)
Ampliglossum bifolium (Sims) Campacci (2006)

Enlaces externos

Imagen en Orchidspecies
Boletín de la Sociedad Argentina de Botánica Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. v.44 pag. 83

Cita Bibliográfica

Gomesa
Flora de Brasil

Flora de Sudamérica occidental
Flora del sur de Sudamérica
Flora de América del Sur continental


Pineapple chicken with honey mustard.
Preheat broiler to high. Drain pineapple; reserve 1/4 cup juice.
Combine reserved juice, honey, mustard, thyme, and cornstarch. Whisk well and set aside.
Place one chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet, pound chicken to 1/2-inch thickness. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts. Arrange chicken in shallow casserole dish. Brush chicken with half of glaze.
Broil for 3 minutes. Flip chicken over, arrange pineapple around chicken. Brush remaining glaze over chicken and pineapple. Broil 3 more minutes or until chicken is no longer pink in center. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.


Also referred to as Allura red. This liquid dye remains stable at various ph conditions and light. Recommended for melt and pour soap bases, bath gel, lotion making, bath salts, smelly jellies. Performance in cold process and hot process soap will need to be evaluated by customer. This dye may bleed in layered melt and pour soap. Not for use in oil based products or candles.
Also referred to as Brilliant blue. Recommended for melt and pour soap bases, bath gel, lotion making, bath salts, smelly jellies. Not for use in oil based products or candles. Blue #1 is not stable in high ph conditions, and will turn a purple color in cold/hot process soap.
Also referred to as tartrazine. This liquid dye remains stable at various ph conditions and light. Recommended for melt and pour soap bases, bath gel, lotion making, bath salts, smelly jellies. Performance in cold process and hot process soap will need to be evaluated by customer. Not for use in oil based products or candles.
I love these soap dyes, they're perfect for my melt and pour soaps!


Founding partners of the $1 billion blockchain fund backed by the government of the Chinese city of Hangzhou are planning to roll out a Japanese yen-pegged stablecoin.
Yao Yongjie, one of the founding partners of the Xiong'An (Grandshores) Blockchain Fund, said the work has already started on the project and that the team hopes to launch the stablecoin by the end of this year or early 2019, South China Morning Post reported on Tuesday.
Grandshores Technology – a different firm also chaired by Yao that recently got listed in Hong Kong via a reverse takeover of a Singapore construction firm called SHIS – is planning to raise HK$100 million ($12.7 million) to help finance the project, the report added.
The dedicated fund is now seeking contributions denominated in tether – the U.S.-dollar pegged cryptocurrency – from accredited investors outside China, Yao said.
Further, founding partners of the blockchain fund are already working with a mid-tier bank in Japan for the project, though they declined to disclose name of the institution. Yao added that, in future, stablecoins anchored to the Hong Kong and Australian dollars might also be developed.
The news comes just days after Grandshores Technology officially rebranded from the SHIS name, having purchased over 60 percent of the firm in May of this year.
As CoinDesk previously reported, Grandshores Blockchain Fund was launched by Tunlan Capital, a Hangzhou-based investment firm also headed by Yao, in partnership with the local government and Chinese bitcoin tycoon Li Xiaolai in April.


text:
B.C. fugitive built child lair in Alberta cabin: family
Jon Woodward	ctvbc.ca Published Friday, September 9, 2011 6:42PM PDT
The family whose cabin was broken into and then turned into a warped child's playroom, allegedly by a B.C. fugitive, wants to know how a man with so many warning signs could have been released into the public before his trial.
Randall Hopley is charged with squatting for months last year in a cabin belonging to the Skapin family in Crowsnest Pass, filling the drawers with stolen children's clothing, chocolate bars and sex toys and building a room that could be locked from the outside.
Authorities charged Hopley in the case, but released him months later. Now, police believe he has abducted three-year-old Kienan Hebert. It's a situation the Alberta justice system should have prevented, said Laura Skapin, who lives in Calgary.
"When I heard about this case, I thought, 'Thank God Randall Hopley hasn't been released,' – and then I found out he had been," Skapin told CTV News.
"If this little boy is harmed because of that, there are a lot of questions that need to be answered."
Hopley has at least 11 assault and burglary convictions, and was also accused of attempting to abduct and molest a Sparwood boy in 2007 – a case that boy's mother says wasn't handled well either. He was convicted of sexual assault in 1985.
But Skapin believes the clearest indication of Hopley's plans was found in their cabin last year.
Skapin said that last May she, her brother, and her two adult children visited the cabin on Crowsnest Lake to scatter her mother's ashes. But they found the gate lock had been changed and a strange man was on the property.
"He looked like a druggie," recalled Skapin, adding that he was wearing women's pajama bottoms. "He was spewing all sorts of profanity."
The Skapins called the police, and the RCMP arrested Hopley while he was trying to escape in his truck. He was charged with 12 counts, including breaking and entering and possessing stolen property.
In amongst jerry cans, propane tanks, vehicle tires and generators that were stolen from Alberta Fish and Wildlife, there was a photo of a young child with dark hair, according to court documents.
There was stolen lotion, children's movies, sex toys and children's pajama pants that had been cut up to become a thong. A wall had been knocked down and replaced with a Dora the Explorer blanket.
"Police found a variety of things set up for a young child, like a baby: diapers, stuffed clothing and a variety of sexual paraphernalia," said Joni MacFarlane, a reporter from the Crowsnest Pass Promoter who covered the story at the time.
"There was no mistaking his intentions. It was horrible…. We [came to the cabin] and ruined his plans. He was very upset about that," said Skapin.
Hopley's trial is scheduled for Sept. 19. He was ordered released with several conditions, including to keep the peace, and have no contact with the Skapins and others. He was bound by a curfew to stay at his residence in Sparwood between 8:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
But as Skapin points out, the conditions don't keep him away from children, playgrounds, or schools.
"That makes me sick," she said.
The cabin had been in the family for five generations, but now Skapin hasn't been able to return. The family has since had it torn down.
"I couldn't go in there. I haven't been back since," she said.
She said she hopes that Hebert will soon be reunited with his family.
"I hope that little boy is okay," she said.
Randall Hopley is suspected in the abduction of three-year-old Kienan Hebert. May 16, 2010. (CTV)
This image provided by the RCMP shows Randall Peter Hopley, who is described as 46 years old with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Three-year-old Kienan Hebert disappeared from his home in Sparwood, B.C. on Sept. 7, 2011. (Handout)
Mother warned community about abduction suspect
Abduction suspect has long criminal record
Amber Alert extended for missing 3-year-old
Criminal suspected in abduction of B.C. 3-year-old
Downtown Eastside assault: Suspect charged with murder
SkyTrain update: Track issue resolved after hours of shuttle service on Expo Line
Duchess of Sussex visits Justice for Girls
SkyTrain problems cause chaotic commute
Ruling a blow to pipeline opponents
Man returns US$43K found in thrift store couch
Family out $10K after buying vacation souvenirs


text:
Bruno Bruni ist der Name folgender Personen:

* Bruno Bruni (Künstler) (* 1935), italienischer Maler, Grafiker und Bildhauer
 Bruno Bruni (Leichtathlet) (* 1955), italienischer Hochspringer
 Bruno Bruni junior (* 1979), belgisch-italienischer Schauspieler


Based in Wellington, South Africa, Bosman Family Vineyards is an 8th generation family-owned estate that has gone above and beyond to ensure its workers are respected and rewarded for their work.
In 2008, a landmark joint venture between Bosman Family Vineyards and the Adama Workers Trust saw the formation of the biggest Black Economic Empowerment deal in the wine industry to date. In 2009 a total of 260 permanent workers received a share of 430 hectares of vineyards.
Bosman continues to work closely with The Adama Foundation Trust, which was established to enact social and economic development and empowerment of all workers, their families and the community. In 2009, Bosman received Fairtrade certification under its De Bos label, with the premium raised most recently helping to fund a new health clinic in Bovlei and a transport bus for school children, just two initiatives that have helped to improve the lives of more than 1,000 people in the community. Over the last 18 months social investments spent by the Adama Foundation Trust have equated to 6.5% of Bosman's total sales, demonstrating the producer's ability and appetite for maintaining ethical business practices. Bosman is a shining example of the ethical standards that can be achieved within the wine industry, if all parties work together.
Described as a "business that really cares for its employees, community and environment", US-based Jackson Family Wines came in a close second impressing impressed judges with its commitment to ethical initiatives. In late 2015, at the height of California's drought, it released more than two million gallons of water from a vineyard reservoir into Green Valley Creek to increase stream flows to help protect the endangered Coho salmon. Throughout 2016, Jackson Family Wines, together with its employees, provided over 4,300 hours of support through its Rooted for Good program, which saw more than 800 employees take part in 26 volunteer events ranging from river cleanups to planting trees and preparing meals for the needy.
A special commendation was awarded to the UK's Toast Ale, a striking business founded on the principle of recycling, while drawing attention to the highly topical issue of food waste in the UK. Launched in January 2016, Toast Ale reduces waste by partnering with brewers and replacing barley with surplus bread. So far it has, worked with Hackney Brewery, Hambleton Brewery, Wiper & True and St Austell, with plans to launch in Iceland and the USA early next year.


The country is also home to the Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata, the set of the subterranean Lars moisture farm on Tatooine where Luke Skywalker was raised by his uncle Owen and aunt Beru.
Another Tatooine filming location was on the other side of the world, in Death Valley, California. In A New Hope, these rocky canyons were frequented by Jawas and Sand People.
Possibly the most endearing creatures in the Star Wars universe, Ewoks live on the forest moon of Endor, which was filmed in Del Norte County, California.
When the Millennium Falcon lands at the Rebel base on the jungle moon of Yavin, it passes by the real-life Mayan ruins in Tikal, Guatemala.
The snowy peaks near Grindelwald, Switzerland, served as the backdrop to the doomed planet of Alderaan, Princess Leia Organa's home.
In the oft-criticized prequel trilogy, Anakin and Queen Padmé Amidala are married in a secret wedding on the planet of Naboo, filmed at the Villa del Balbianello overlooking Italy's Lake Como.
When the duo land on Naboo in Attack of the Clones, they walk along the real-life Plaza de España in Seville, Spain, which stands in for the plaza in front of the Theed Royal Palace, from which Queen Amidala briefly ruled.
The palace's interiors were filmed in Italy's Palace of Caserta.
In the recently released The Force Awakens, we meet heroine Rey on the desert planet of Jakku. These scenes were filmed in the Rub' al Khali desert in Abu Dhabi.
Rey encounters the evil Kylo Ren in the forests of planet Takodana, whose Earth substitute is Puzzlewood, pictured here, in the Forest of Dean located near Gloucestershire, England. But the shot of the Millennium Falcon landing on the planet was filmed in Derwentwater, Cumbria.
For the Rebel base on the planet of D'Qar, the filmmakers turned to the former airbase Greenham Common in Berkshire, England.
The Force Awakens headed to Iceland for filming. The area around the Krafla Volcano and the Myvatn Lakes serves as the battleground between the First Order and the Resistance.
Major spoiler for The Force Awakens!
Rey finally finds Luke Skywalker on the remote planet of Ahch-To, where he's settled on a rocky island. That island is none other than Skellig Michael in Ireland, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastic complex on the island dates back to the seventh century, and it plays a role in the movie. You'll have to see the film to learn more about its story in the Star Wars universe, though! If you're going to visit, know that there are only 13 vessels allowed to dock on the island, so make plans well in advance.
In Rogue One, the first franchise film set outside the main story line, we're introduced to protagonist Jyn Erso and her father, Galen Erso, on the planet Eadu, filmed at the black sand Myrdalssandur Beach on Iceland's southern coast.
The desert moon Jedha, a holy Jedi site, looks similar to the planets of Jakku and Tatooine. Filmmakers traveled to Jordan to capture the rocky plateaus.
The London Tube station at Canary Wharf makes an appearance in Rogue One as the Imperial Military Base on the planet Scarif. The imposing concrete architecture fits nicely into the Imperial aesthetic, no?
The planet Scarif is a tropical paradise—that is, until it becomes the site of a massive battle. As George Lucas was inspired by World War II for his battle scenes, Rogue One director Gareth Edwards turned to the war's Pacific theater for inspiration and filmed at Laamu Atoll in the Maldives.
While Skellig Michael is still the stand-in for Luke's island on Ahch-To, some of the scenes that take place there in The Last Jedi were actually filmed at Malin Head, Ireland, the northernmost point of the country. Others were filmed farther south at Ceann Sibeal. These parts of Ireland are expecting an increase in tourism following the film's release, so if you make the trek across Ireland, you'll likely meet some fellow Star Wars fans on the road.
Without giving away any major plot points, we can tell you that a new city is introduced in The Last Jedi: Canto Bight. It's a major gambling town with a Mediterranean-esque old-city feel (that appropriately has space-age technology). The majority of its scenes that weren't filmed on a soundstage were filmed in Dubrovnik, Croatia—which also serves as King's Landing in Game of Thrones.
If you've seen the trailer for The Last Jedi, there's a major battle scene that takes place on a white plain with a blood-red dust, which, in the Star Wars universe, is on the planet Crait. It's quite a dramatic sight, and you can actually take that sight in here on Earth (sans spacecraft) at the Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia, where the battle scenes were filmed. At 4,081 square miles, it's the world's largest salt flat, and it holds the majority of the planet's lithium reserves. While there isn't blood-red dust beneath the salt, you can find a blood-red saltwater lake named Laguna Colorada due south.


Abuja, Nigeria. January 10, 2013 – In a recently conducted New Year poll Nigerians have urged President Goodluck Jonathan to focus on addressing unemployment, electricity supply, insecurity and corruption in 2013. The poll which sampled over 500 Nigerians across the six geo-political zones also revealed that despite the heavy gridlocks experienced on major highways during the Christmas and New Year season, about 53% of the respondents were of the opinion that there has been slight improvement on the current state of the roads in the country compared to previous years. These were two of the key findings from the poll conducted by NOI Polls Limited, an Abuja-based opinion polling and research organisation.
Respondents to the poll were asked five questions to ascertain their experience during the Christmas and New Year season and the policy direction they will for 2013. The first question was: How was your Christmas and New Year holiday? To this question, a slim majority 32% said "it was ok", while 31% each said it was "enjoyable" and "very enjoyable" respectively. A meagre 5% and 1% said it was "not enjoyable" and "not enjoyable at all" respectively. Overall, the results show that at least 3 in 5 Nigerians (62%) seemed to enjoy their Christmas and New Year holiday.
Interestingly, when analysed further across geo-political zones, the results show that the South-South zone has by far the highest proportion of respondents that claim their holiday was very enjoyable (60%), and this may be explained by the series of carnivals, festivals and events organised and sponsored by state governments within the region such as the Calabar Carnival (1st – 31st Dec.), Port-harcourt Carnival, Carniriv (10th – 15th Dec.), and Ibom Christmas Carnival (22nd Dec.).
To the second question, Did you travel for the Christmas and New Year holiday?, the majority (62%) of respondents said they did not travel. However, almost 4 in 10 respondents (38%) said they travelled. To the respondents that travelled, the third question was a follow-on which asked: Compared to previous years, how would you describe the state of Nigerian roads while travelling for the holiday? In response, the vast majority of the respondents (54%) said the state of the roads "has improved a little", while 18% claimed there is "no difference at all". This is followed by 15% who said the roads have "improved very much" and 8% who said it is "very bad and has gone worse". However, only 6% claim that the roads "remain bad". Overall, 68% of respondents were of the opinion that the roads have either improved very much or improved a little, while only 14% thought that the roads have remained bad or gone worse.
Furthermore, when analysed across geo-political zones, it was revealed that the North-East (67%), followed closely by the North-Central (65%), South-East (53%) and South-South (52%) zones all had high proportion of respondents who thought that the roads had improved a little compared to previous years.
Moving forward, the fourth question sought to appraise the state of security in the country during the festive season. Respondents were asked: How would you describe the state of security where you spent the holiday? In response, an overwhelming majority of the respondents (70%) said it was peaceful and secure. This is followed by 21% who said it was peaceful but not secure. A meagre 5% said it was tense and insecure, while 1% gave other responses. Consequently, given the high proportion of respondents that thought their location was peaceful and secure during the Christmas and New Year holiday, it is worth commending the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies for their unflinching service and dedication towards ensuring peace and security.
Interestingly, when analysed across geo-political zones, the South-South had the highest proportion (80%) of respondents who thought their location was peaceful and secure; followed closely by South-East (75%), and South-West and North-Central (70% each). On the other hand, the North-West had the highest proportion of respondents (57%) who thought their location was peaceful but not necessarily secure; while only 33% in the North-East declined responding to the state of security in their location. Although there isn't a clear indication as to why respondents within these two regions feel this way; perhaps, it may be linked to the few reported Christmas Eve attacks in Kano, Yobe and Borno states.
Finally, the last question gave Nigerians an opportunity to chart a course for the policy agenda in 2013. Respondent were asked, What is the most important issue President Jonathan should focus his attention on this year 2013? From the results, the majority of respondents (24%) were of the opinion that the most important issue the President needs to focus on is addressing unemployment. This is followed by improving electricity supply (18%), tackling insecurity (17%) and eradicating corruption (10%). Furthermore, 8% talked about improving basic infrastructure, while 6% talked about improving education, and 5% mentioned the boosting of agriculture. A paltry 3% each mentioned the economy, health care and constitution; while 2% mentioned tackling poverty.
Furthermore, when compared with the responses gathered during the Special Democracy Day Poll in 2012, the four most important issues that Nigerians wanted the government to address at the time were – Insecurity (37%), Unemployment (20%), Electricity (12%), and Education (8%). Similarly, a subsequent Independence Poll conducted released in October 2012 revealed that the most important issues at that time were – Electricity (18%), unemployment (15%), corruption (15%) and insecurity (13%).
In conclusion, a common thread that runs across the three polls trended is the fact that the most salient issues that Nigerians want President Goodluck Jonathan's administration to address between now and 2015 are: Unemployment, Power and Security. The administration should also be seen tackling corruption institutionally at all levels.


When war broke out in 1939, only three true battlecruisers remained in the Royal Navy including HMS 'Hood', the world's largest and fastest capital ship for much of her life, which would be destroyed in action against the German battleship 'Bismarck'. Out of the remaining two battlecruisers ('Repulse' and 'Renown') one was sunk by Japanese aircraft off Singapore, whilst the other served with distinction until the end of the war. This book traces the pre-war development of these spectacular warships, then describes their wartime exploits, using this to demonstrate their operational and mechanical performance. It examines what life was like on these wartime battlecruisers when they sailed into action.