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Big boys' toys, trips & tips
Boys on tour: a travel guide for gentlemen
Country Life March 18, 2016
Land of Hope and Glory: British Country Life
For a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, a gentleman-only trip–strictly no wives and girlfriends allowed–is sometimes the best way to go.
By Adrian Dangar
A gentleman-only holiday is a pink ticket to overindulge in those manly pursuits that are so often constrained by domesticity, among them a host of iconic sporting events and opportunities that most responsible men can only dream of enjoying to the full.
With WAGs left behind, the trappings of civilised life can be temporarily abandoned in favour of shameless hedonism shared by all members of the party—and, among close friends, there will be no need to suppress or disguise a uniquely male and somewhat unhealthy obsession with your chosen activity.
Such opportunities are rare for modern man, but a milestone birthday has become the classic excuse for such outrageous self-indulgence. Whatever you decide upon, the trip must work—after all, it may be 10 years before there's another chance—and that means only the best will do: the most comfortable and perfectly located places to stay, the world's greatest rivers, shoots and sporting events and, when relevant, the top guides to guarantee success.
Matching such high expectations with reality doesn't come cheap, but here's our selection of boy's own trips that won't disappoint.
A week's salmon fishing in Russia
A boys-only fishing trip is always an event to be savoured, but a week on the Atlantic Salmon Reserve in Russia's Kola Peninsula ticks every box. The reserve is home to some of the biggest salmon in Russia and the Rynda an absolute jewel of a river, on which guests fish in pairs under the expert direction of a superb Russian guide.
Access to the remote but fabulously comfortable fishing lodge is by helicopter from Murmansk, but, for many, the highlight of an extraordinary week will be 24 exclusive hours on the tiny, but beguiling Zolotaya, with just your fishing buddy and guide for company—an experience that few WAGs could ever understand. Book direct through Justin McCarthy at the Atlantic Salmon Reserve (justin@kharlovka.com; www.kharlovka.com)
First Murmansk Open Fly Fishing Cup at 28, 29th June 2008: Songui Kola River Kola Peninsula Russian Arctic
A riding safari in Kenya
Join legendary guide Tristan Voorspuy on a Wilbur Smithesque week-long riding adventure within a private concession of the game-rich Masai plains in Kenya. You will need to be fit enough to ride for up to eight hours a day on well-schooled Thoroughbreds and can expect exciting encounters with lions, buffaloes and elephants along the way, not to mention dodging crocodiles and hippos when crossing the iconic Mara River.
Nights are spent at exquisite and carefully selected campsites in which every comfort awaits (there's no need to tell your wife this), such as ice for your favourite cocktail, bush showers and delicious food cooked over an open fire. To arrange a trip with Mr Voorspuy, contact Charlotte Outram (charlotte@offbeatsafaris.com) at Offbeat Safaris
(00 254 704 909 355; www.offbeatsafaris.com)
Zebra in Amboseli Nationalpark, Kenya
Ireland for the RBS 6 Nations 2016
Fly into Dublin on Friday morning and transfer to the Castle Golf Club for brunch and a round before checking into the city's famous Shelbourne hotel (www.marriott.com), which is also temporary home to the Irish rugby team. The celebrated contest for the Championship Trophy will be hotting up by the time Ireland play Scotland on March 19 next year at the Aviva Stadium, where you'll have reserved seats on the premium level for what also promises to be a thrilling contest for the Centenary Quaich.
It's party time once the game is over and time to repair to the Café en Seine to soak up the atmosphere and Guinness in equal measure a stone's throw from your hotel—and you have the whole of Sunday
to recover.
For the tournament schedule, visit www.rbs6nations.com
Brian O'Driscoll gets to grips with Stuart Hogg, Scotland v Ireland, RBS 6 Nations Championship
A week at a Highland lodge
The huge advantage of a boys-only trip to the Highlands is that there will be no tedious complaints about midges, bathwater, the colour of whisky or long days on the hill. Booking a pretty cook for your week-long stay in a private lodge allows more time for the important business of procuring
the elusive Macnab—a brace of grouse, a stag and a salmon all on the same day. It's a lot harder to achieve than it sounds, but there is a handful of Highland estates that offer a realistic chance given the right conditions.
Even if no one succeeds in outwitting all three emblematic species in a single day, you'll have a wonderful time trying. For a wide range of lodge-based stalking, shooting and fishing
trips, contact CKD Galbraith's sporting department in Perth.
(01738 451600; www.sportinglets.co.uk)
Lochassynt lodge, near Loch Assynt, and Quinag massif of Torridonian sandstone, Sutherland, Highland region, Scotland, Europe
A weekend in Le Mans for the 24-hour motor race
Fly by private charter to Le Mans in France for the greatest motor race in the world (June 18–19, 2016) and book into the Maison Blanche campsite (www.campingfrance.com) for an experience that has become as much of a tradition as the race itself. Arrive in time to soak up the carnival atmosphere of Mad Friday and the driver's parade that evening in the old part of town. The 24-hour-long race kicks off at 3pm the following afternoon and continues throughout the night at speeds in excess of 200mph.
Refreshments are available from numerous Champagne bars but, better still, be wined and dined in a team's private hospitality tent—invitation only. Sadly, there are still some things money cannot buy. For the race schedule, visit www.24h-lemans.com
Sunrise at Mulsanne, 24 Hueres Du Mans 2006
Dove shooting in Argentina
The ultimate boys' own trip for the shooting man starts with a direct British Airways flight to the fabulous city of Buenos Aires. After a night on the town, fly up to Cordoba and shoot more than 100 wild doves flighting to and from their feeding grounds (there are some 100 million at large in the province) before enjoying an alfresco lunch in the sunshine—Argentine beef asado washed down with cold beer and Malbec.
The post-siesta shoot continues into dusk, after which it's time to repair to a sumptuous colonial estancía for a hot bath and further sustenance; repeat for the next four days. For the keen shot, there is no better way to celebrate a milestone birthday with close friends.
Book through Wild & Exotic (01439 748401; www.wildandexotic.co.uk)
Cordoba Cathedral at night, Cordoba, Argentina, South America
French-partridge shooting in Spain
Extend your shooting season up until the end of March with a visit to the steep hills and rolling plains of Salamanca province. Your quarry is the red-legged partridge and your party will stay for the duration of a three-day shoot at the superbly appointed Las Ahijaderas Lodge as guests of the Sanchez-Fabres family. Produced over deep valleys and rocky gullies, the birds are both challenging and numerous and the accuracy of each gun will be recorded for posterity by his personal secretario.
After a full day in the field—broken by a delicious lunch served by liveried butlers—there may still be time for a tour of the family's bull-breeding ranch a short distance away.
To book a trip, contact Frontiers (0845 299 6212; www.frontierstrvl.co.uk)
The steep hills and rolling plains of the Salamanca province
Heli-skiing in the Alps
A long weekend heli-skiing is about as exciting as it gets on two legs—and, with ladies out of the equation, the sky's the limit for adrenaline junkies wanting to ski down as many mountains in as short a time as possible. Top mountain guide and Englishman in exile Anthony Franklin will leave instructions at Geneva airport for you to drive to the Swiss or Italian Alps depending on the latest snowfalls.
He will also organise the best hotels for your stay and guide your group down mountains so high and remote that few without wings ever contemplate a visit. Above all, he'll keep you safe and in snow throughout a thrilling alpine adventure.
Contact anthony@franklinalpine.com
Heli skiing from top of Rothorn, Zermatt, Switzerland
Lisbon, Portugal cityscape in the Alfama District. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Lisbon: Year-round sun, seven hills teeming with culture and the world's best custard tarts
Credit: The Game Fair
The world's largest-ever show garden is coming to The Game Fair this year
Credit: Macpherson Property
12 absolutely beautiful character properties for sale at under £400,000


We will meet you at your home to discuss the possibility of selling your home to land developers that are interested in your area. We're happy to provide a complimentary Property and Market Assessment as part of this process so that you know what value you can expect to get from your home.
We have a network of land developers in the Vancouver area who are always looking for land to develop into exciting projects. After you've decided to list with us, we will gather the information we need from you in order to advertise your property with our network of land developers. This process usually involves taking some photos of your home and the land it sits on, as well as hearing the property's history.
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Listing your home with us begins with a comprehensive free property assessment. We will assess the value of your home and the land development opportunities that are moving into the area. We have your best interests in mind and you will always have a choice every step of the way.
If you do decide to list your home with us – congratulations! You've just placed your home in good hands. Our team will begin the process of listing your home to attract the best possible value. This includes developing any necessary online marketing materials, print materials, signage and exposure for your home to our industry affiliations and networks.


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Government must invest in the workforce to improve waiting times for cancer referral
Royal College of Nursing / News and Events / News /
The NHS in England is headed for its worst year in a decade for the number of patients waiting more than two weeks between seeing a GP and consultant oncologist.
New figures reveal a worrying increase in patients waiting more than two weeks between seeing a GP and their first consultant appointment after an urgent cancer referral.
The NHS Combined Performance Summary shows between April and November 2018, 124,133 people from 1,497,657 referrals were outside the target two week wait from GP urgent referral to first consultant appointment. This represents a 60.3% increase in breaches of the target and a 14.8% increase in referrals compared to the same months of the previous year.
Patricia Marquis, Director of the RCN in England, said: "Improving cancer survival rates is a core aim of the NHS long term plan so the sharp increase in breaches of the two-week target is very worrying.
"Tens of thousands of patients and their families are enduring agonising waits, all too aware that a small delay could have a serious impact.
"This further highlights the need for a fully funded workforce strategy with staffing levels enshrined in law to ensure we have the right number of staff with the right skills to deliver the long term plan. This is the challenge we put to the Government."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Great Ships of 2013: Shuttle Tanker RIO 2016 for TEN page: 45
RIO 2016 is the first vessel in a series of two shuttle tanker in Brazilian water operation, designed by Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering for Tsakos Energy Navigation Ltd., two companies with a long and good historic relationship. This vessel was chartered to Petroleo Brasileiro SA. The s
Ship Power: Out of the Past Comes Wärtsilä's Engine of the Future page: 30
Although the well-known Finnish company Wärtsilä has a very long history, it was founded in 1834, the diesel engine era begins when the company signs a license agreement with Friedrich Krupp Germania Werft AG in Germany. The first diesel engine sees the light of day in Turku in November 1942. From t
New Crane from Liebherr for Harbors, Offshore page: 28
Liebherr has developed a new model: the TCC 14000-400 D Litronic Meeting clients' requests for cranes with lifting capacities far above the average lifting capacity of conventional mobile harbor cranes, Liebherr has developed a new model: the TCC 14000-400 D Litronic. This combined offshore and mob
India's Maritime Growth Fueled by Foreign Companies page: 26
Foreign players continue to dominate several segments of the Indian maritime industry: from salvage to dredging, chartering to ship management and ship manning, to name but a few. And the list of foreign firms setting up shop in India is growing as the country is hurriedly putting in place the requi
LED Lighting: Reduced Costs, Enhanced Safety page: 24
No industry has escaped the economic changes of the last decade, and the marine industry is certainly no exception. But with every economic struggle emerges new solution providers, poised to help fill new needs. St. James Stevedoring Partners LLC is among these innovators in the marine industry.
Finding the Ideal Biodegradable Marine Lubricant page: 50
US EPA Approved EALs: Anhydrous Water Soluble Polyalkylene Glycols (PAGs) In December 2013, the EPA through its Vessel General Permit (VGP) will introduce the mandatory use of "Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants" or EALs. These products include the lubricating oils that are directly used in appl
Marine Manufacturers find ... "There's an APP for that" page: 48
Marine product providers turn to high tech tools to enhance service, information and – yes – their bottom lines. There's an APP for that. You've heard it before and in many contexts. Increasingly, the global waterfront is getting into the act, too. Typically available for iPhones and/or any kind of
Marine Infrastructure Challenges Demand Engineering Solutions page: 44
Infrastructure renewal and engineering combine to provide an obscure, often under-appreciated, but nevertheless critically important aspect of marine operations. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, the waterway abundant geography provides engineering and specialized moving company Omega Morgan wi
Charting Paperless Navigation in U.S. Waters page: 40
Pasha Hawaii, SeaRiver Maritime Inc., and perhaps ConocoPhillips will soon share the practice of paperless navigation in U.S. domestic trades. Each of these three ship owner/operators is managing a transition to paperless navigation at distinctly significant stages. Their progress opens a window int
Non-tank Vessel Response Rules – Their Impact Examined page: 36
Long awaited, much hyped, the new rules require compliance in January. Will industry and more importantly, the response community, be ready? In September, the U.S. Coast Guard published the long awaited Non-tank Vessel Response Plan (NTVRP) and Other Response Plan regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard
Innovation Spotlight: U.S.-Built Security Vessels page: 30
Building patrol boats is big business, especially for foreign defense needs. U.S. yards compete on a global stage in the all-important maritime security workboat arena. Patrol boats have continued to enhance bottom lines at many U.S. vessel builders this year through sales that are usually governm
Naval Architecture Students Target Safety and Innovation page: 26
Marine Engineering and naval architecture students provide a fresh perspective on design, safety and innovation, too. When most of us board a passenger ferry, thinking about the safety and stability of the vessel will rarely cross our minds. Typically, those thoughts are obscured by other "more im
A Closer Look at Dynamic Navigation for High Speed Craft page: 22
FRC International launched the innovative 'DYNAV' dynamic navigation system for high speed craft at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden in October. The DYNAV launch event enabled attendees from Scandinavia and Europe to come together with the objective of improving seafarer safet
Finding New Ways to Finance Jones Act Vessel Builds page: 18
Sustaining the ongoing boatbuilding boom can involve the lawful use of foreign finance streams. James Kearns takes a closer look at the practice. The citizenship requirements for vessels engaged in the U.S. coastwise trade are generally well-known. Such a vessel needs to be built in the United Stat
Spill Response Discussion with SCAA President Scott Metzger page: 14
Scott Metzger has been with Clean Harbors Environmental Services for more than 22 years. He is the Senior Vice President, Emergency Services and holds an oversight role for the Clean Harbors National Strike Team that manages environmental incidents. When not deployed on an event, Scott is focused on
Bourbon and CGG Partner for Seismic Survey Success page: 44
Announced in June 2011, Bourbon and CGG entered a five-year charter agreement for a series of six custom newbuild seismic support vessels. Now more than two years later, the third ship in the series, Bourbon Gannet, is due to enter service in the early part of 2014, following the launch of the first
Damen PSV 3300: A Diamond in the Rough page: 43
The platform supply vessel World Diamond was delivered by Damen Shipyards, Galati, on June 28, 2013, to World Wide Supply. The PSV was built to a completely new and distinctive design from Damen, and World Diamond is the first of six PSVs for the Norwegian owner. The vessel is capable of worldwide o
New Bulk Carrier from Imabari Offers Unique Advantages page: 42
Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. completed the 95,000 DWT bulk carrier, Raga at its Marugame Shipyard. The bulk carrier is unique in that it has adopted a next-generation superstructure called the Aero-Citadel, which according to the shipyard offers significant advantages in both air resistance and an
Maersk's Mammoth Containerships Making History page: 40
Photographs of Maersk Line's 18,000 TEU ships are flooding in from ports around the world as the carrier phases its giant new vessels phase into the AE10 string between Asia and North Europe. It's a "Where's Waldo" with maritime characteristics. Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Hong Kong, Tanjung Pelepas
A Closer Look at the Effects of ECAs page: 8
It's a fact: Emission Control Areas (ECA) clean up the air that we breathe. It's also a good bet that someday, ECAs might be the primary cause of dirtier water. That's because the physical act of switching from fuel oil to cleaner burning distillates on oceangoing craft is anything but a routine eve
Alan Johnstone (9)
Claudio Paschoa (14)
Nicole Ventimiglia (35)
Patricia Keefe (5)
Tom Peters (5)
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Search Result for "Mongkol Bangprapa" Showing 1 - 10 of 1,927 results
New 'smart' river piers to open this year
News, Mongkol Bangprapa, Published on 31/01/2023
» Three new "smart" piers on the Chao Phraya River will be opened this year, deputy government spokeswoman Tipanan Sirichana said on Monday.
PM quick to take credit for water management success
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday laid claim to water resources management, saying although Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has been given a remit,...
Early House dissolution 'unlikely'
» The House of Representatives is unlikely to be dissolved before the Election Commission (EC) finishes redrawing electoral boundaries for the 400 constituency...
High-speed rail linking 3 airports opens 'in 2029'
» Construction of the Don Mueang-Suvarnabhumi-U-Tapao high-speed railway (HSR), officially known as the High-Speed Rail Linking Three Airports, is underway. The...
5th Thai-Lao bridge opens next year
» The fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge is set to open early next year which should help boost Bueng Kan's economic prospects, says the government.
Smile, Anwar's here
» Anwar Ibrahim's rise to power as Malaysia's prime minister and his upcoming visit to the kingdom has rekindled hope for a return of peace to the far South, according...
Start seen on trains linking airports
» The construction of a high-speed rail link between the capital's airports and U-Tapao airport in Rayong and Eastern Airport City is expected to start early this...
Amnesty bill bids must wait
» Parties may propose a bill seeking to grant amnesty to convicts in politically related cases, but talks on the matter can only take place after the formation...
Nasa to assist with climate change aims
» A House committee met with a US official from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) to discuss space-related programmes that can assist Thailand's...
'Soft power' policy to entice tourists
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has issued a new soft power policy for tourism agencies to promote Thai culture as part of efforts to attract international visitors....


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This solution is based on AtLeap, see below.

Android AtLeap accelerator
==========================

[![Build Status](https://api.travis-ci.org/alex-schwartzman/android-atleap.png?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/alex-schwartzman/android-atleap)

#Features

##Universal Content Provider
Android AtLeap allows you configure ER-model using ORMLite POJOs and access SQLite database via
 ContentProvider as flexible as direct access to database.

 * Universal implementation of [`android.content.ContentProvider`](http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/providers/content-providers.html) with [SQLite](http://developer.android.com/training/basics/data-storage/databases.html).
 * Universal implementation of `android.content.ContentProvider` with [ORMLite](http://ormlite.com).
 * Flexible mapping  between ContentProvider Uri path and SQL. You can specify SQL for tables part only or specify raw SQL or even specify callback method which build SQL.
 * Integration with [RoboSpice ORMLite cache persister](https://github.com/octo-online/robospice).

##Navigation drawer

See [`android.support.v4.widget.DrawerLayout`](http://developer.android.com/training/implementing-navigation/nav-drawer.html)

##Account Authenticator helper classes

They are based on [`android.accounts.AbstractAccountAuthenticator`](http://developer.android.com/reference/android/accounts/AbstractAccountAuthenticator.html)

#Sample

[atleap-sample](https://github.com/alex-schwartzman/android-atleap/tree/master/atleap-sample)

It is good example of how to integrate RoboSpice, Retrofit, Picasso, ORMLite, AtLeap and some other libraries.
This sample show integration with GitHub Api. The authentication is made via oAuth 2.0.

Please do not forget to insert correct GitHub Api oAuth client id and secret into `/atleap-sample/src/main/res/values/settings.xml`
before running this sample.

#Tests

[atleap-core-test](https://github.com/alex-schwartzman/android-atleap/tree/master/atleap-core-test)

#Gradle

The releases of Android AtLeap are published in the MavenCentral. You can add dependency in the following way:

```
    compile 'com.blandware.android.atleap:core:+@aar'
```

If you would like to use snapshots, please add the following code into repositories statement:

```
    maven {
        url 'https://oss.sonatype.org/content/repositories/snapshots/'
    }
```

# Changelog

 See [changelog](https://github.com/alex-schwartzman/android-atleap/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md).

# License
 Android AtLeap licensed under [Apache 2.0 license](https://github.com/alex-schwartzman/android-atleap/blob/master/LICENSE).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Literature|Cinema|Culinary
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The Enigma of Arrival by V.S. Naipaul
Posted by dhruvkandhari on February 12, 2019 November 11, 2019
The Enigma of Arrival by Sir V.S. Naipaul is a novel in five sections published in 1987 based on real life events of the writer during his time in Wiltshire and his recollections of the past, during his emigration to New York from Trinidad. The late writer and Nobel Prize winner was in his 40's when he wrote this meta-fictional and meta-narrative novel. This is very crucial to unlocking and unwinding the mystery of the novel, because it is a genre less work. Most of the avid admirers of V.S. Naipaul, consider this work to be his masterpiece because it gives them a look at what a writer like Vidiadhar goes through while getting through a usual day.
I certainly don't have any contradictions to the claim made by many bibliophiles who regard The Enigma of Arrival to be his best work but what I do have certain qualms about is the identity of this work as a 'novel'. There is, even in its most fantastical plummets, nothing fictional about this work because it lacks the linearity of the novel form. It is what it is, an autobiographical work, which gathers pace and beauty from the psychosis of a man and his minute observations of life and decay rather than a sense of a story which has a beginning, middle and end. The book feels like a hypnotic evocation of a man's uprootedness from oneself, one's own family and one's sense of life.
The novel begins with a strange and vigorous observation of the pathways in the countryside where Naipaul lives. A tour de force of prose writing, where we see the narrator completely submerged into the exteriors of his surroundings, and the words begin to roll out with such dramatic tension and life, that the inner dilemmas and turpitudes colour the vision of his eye. Naipaul sees things with such clarity, that one is dismayed and shocked by the sheer flow of his bitterness; the bitterness which he seems to roll into the leaves, the roads, the willows, the bales of hay, the water meadows, the slopes uphill and downhill diving into the verges of the water and back to the houses lining the countryside, ancient and desolate by the loss of their colonial past.
Naipaul finds himself dispirited upon the realisation that this British world, this world of the 'other' is not the same as he had visualised in his childhood days, the drama of Dickens, the historical vistas of Edwardian England, were all missing. At first, Naipaul feels that this is a land unchanging, unmoving, and unfeeling but he slowly realises with the passage of time, that this world of his is constantly moving in a flux, transforming from one phase to another, its lives delicately moving, flowing and breaking apart.
Some of the most admirable moments of the novel come across when Naipaul is moving for the first time in an airplane from Trinidad. The far away view of his small island, where he had left behind his family, his home, his memories and his everything, everything he had possessed at that juncture of his life.
This book cannot and should not be recognised as a novel, it is a piece of wonderful literature and brilliant prose writing, but to call it a novel is restricting and shallow of those who have labelled it. It is a real life work, in which Naipaul is the man inside, ensorcelling the reader with his benumbing and painful observations recorded in a prose which is extraordinary. I would go to the extent of saying this, to call this work a novel, is devastatingly cruel and horrid as at that very specific metamorphosis of his life, Naipaul was living with his wife Patricia Ann Hale, his remarkably tolerant, brilliant and loving wife who copied his works for him, restarted a job just to secure Naipaul in his writings, and perhaps is the woman behind Naipaul's success. Sadly, in this remarkable book, there is not even a faint shadow of her hiding in the mist, and that is where the book becomes almost despairingly tragic and void. Throughout The Enigma of Arrival, it feels like half a book, and not a full one yet remarkably as all great works, it achieves its greatness from its emptiness, its lack of completion and lack of fullness.
I also feel a bit morally downtrodden as the secret behind 'her' absence portrays a darker truth, of Naipaul and the multiple painful verbosity he inflicted on his wife, and how he detested her and blamed her for his own faults and weaknesses as a human being. It is a fact, that Naipaul abused her verbally, painfully commenting on her sexual faculty and also he admitted in his later years, that he might have killed his wife, recorded majorly in the biography by Patrick French.
On a side note, if you wish to become a writer, this book is inevitable for aspiring writers as it reaches the reader how profound prose is composed and how observation gives way to endless fecundity in the form of words.
The work contains some of the best written sentences in Naipaul's literary body of works. It is more of a masterpiece because it showed the psychological mechanism of a genius behind A House for Mr. Biswas and A Bend in The River. Perhaps that is why this work is considered so prolific whereas without his masterpieces, it wouldn't have received much attention as a novel, therefore, the point is, this book is a labelled as a 'novel' because it carried the same writer's name who wrote such astonishing books, if that wouldn't have been the case, the reality would have been otherwise, befuddling, extraordinary yet bewildering.
The Enigma of Arrival is a deeply lonely and depraved book, a book which has scarcely any compassion, any colour or any reassurance. It is a solitary and dry book which brutally wounds the reader, profoundly diminishing with its lack of spring, all it has between its covers is the endless cycle of tension, loss, grief and mortality moving endlessly again and again until broken by death.
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Penang: The Department of Environment (DOE) and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) blame Penang government for the Tanjung Bungah landslide that left several people dead on Saturday, New Straits Times reported today.
In a statement, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said it had rejected the application from the developer of the Penang housing project, Taman Sri Bunga Sdn Bhd, on Jan 9, 2015 to build the apartments, because the development site was located right next to a granite quarry.
"After taking into account all the criteria, the DOE subsequently issued a letter of rejection on Jan 23, 2015," the statement said.
"The DOE did not support the developer's application to start the planning of the project because there are no sufficient buffer zones between the apartment project and the quarrying activities nearby, according to the Guidelines of Siting and Zoning of Industries and Residential Areas," it added.
The quarry activities, the ministry pointed out, was located only 162m away from the crushing site, and between 400m to 500m from the blasting site of the quarry. It is therefore not a safe and peaceful environment for people to live in.
"Furthermore, the development involves steep slopes and this requires a detailed engineering study which in turn may require Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval.
"Unfortunately, they decided to ignore our advice and went ahead with the construction with blatant disregard to the lives of their workers," said the ministry.
The ministry said it was very disappointed by the Penang government's lack of oversight on the project.
It noted that despite the DOE's objections to the project from the beginning, the developer started construction works without considering the consequences.
"What is perplexing is that there was no interference from the state government which raises more questions than answers.
"The ministry would like to strongly urge the Penang government to re-examine their plans to develop any hillside project.
The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) yesterday took the Penang Government to task, also reported New Straits Times today.
MNS said the construction site in Tanjung Bungah was likely caused by the quarry that exists near the place where the building project was being carried out.
MNS adviser D.Kanda Kumar said the Penang State Goverment was to blame for the incident which caused the death of many construction workers.
"If the State knew the quarry existed, it should not have approved the building project," he told New Straits Times.


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Keyword: public health
The Second Health Systems Summer Institute Ends Strong
Posted by: Melissa Reed
The Program welcomed over 45 students from 10 countries
The Health Systems Program of the Department of International Health recently wrapped our 2017 Health Systems Summer Institute at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, a short-term program designed for part-time students or early- to mid-career professionals who want to further their career in public health. The Institute, directed by Health Systems senior scientist, Dr. George Pariyo, is designed to provide students an entire academic term's worth of instruction in a condensed period of time.
During the Summer Institute, participants have the opportunity to learn a variety of health systems skills and concepts that will help them measure the burden of disease and monitor and evaluate global health programs. Courses covered areas such as primary health care, gender analysis, technology innovation for global health, hospital and trauma surveillance, and summary measures of population health.
This year, the Institute increased the number of course offerings from seven to 11 in order to accommodate for the growing number of program areas. New courses included Introduction to Gender Analysis within Health Systems Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of Health Systems Strengthening, Designing Transformative Innovation for Global Health, and Managing District Health Systems. The majority of health systems courses focus on low- and middle-income countries, but the skills are universal.
The number of international students attending the Institute increased this year: as the Program amplifies its presence around the world, we hope to build a strong base of global students who can apply the principles of health systems in their home country. One such student, Khin Pa Pa Naing from the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Laos, chose to attend the Institute so she could gain skills and knowledge from the Monitoring and Evaluation course for her daily routine working with the MoH.
"It provided very in-depth thinking about the current situation of resource limitation, availability and allocation for the public health sector and medical care in developing countries, and how we as public health professionals could improve this situation," stated Khin Pa Pa. In addition to Ms. Naing, we welcomed students from Canada, Nigeria, South Africa, Japan, Kenya, Vietnam, Thailand and Bangladesh.
The Institute is also working to foster the growing number of part-time MPH students coming from all regions of the country, seeking to fulfill their 20% requirement of attending on-campus courses. We provided four lunchtime networking sessions, and hope to continue to expand our social offerings next year.
As we seek to enhance the Health Systems Summer Institute in future years to incorporate more students coming from all areas of the public health sector, we will continue to expand and diversify our course offerings. We thank all students who made the second year of our Summer Institute a great success!
Keywords: global health, health systems, international health, johns hopkins, public health, summary measures, summer institute
Welcome to the Health Systems Blog!
Posted by: Adnan Hyder
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Department of International Health's Health Systems Program inaugural blog. Our Program's goal is to enhance the capacity of communities to improve the health of their people, and we hope to share stories from around the world about our efforts. Our multidisciplinary faculty work in partnership with local governments, community leaders, ministries of health, community-based health and human service agencies, universities and research institutes to address health burdens that span a wide range of fields. From humanitarian relief, to mobile health technology, to addressing the burden of chronic conditions, to injury prevention, our intent is to promote sustainable and community-driven health care and health system interventions.
In light of many global changes, such as the transition from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals and the impending threat of global warming, we hope to join a very important conversation on the future of health systems and define what a cost-effective, equitable and resilient health system should look like. We will do this online, at conferences, and in person as we travel the globe.
I am excited about several items our Program has slated for this year: we launched our Facebook and Twitter accounts so that we can share with you and also hear what you have to say; we have released our first Annual Report for 2015; and most importantly, we welcomed our new Health Systems students into our MSPH, PhD and MHS in Health Economics degree programs. We look forward to sharing more exciting developments with you.
Adnan A. Hyder, MD, MPH, PhD
Director, Health Systems Program
Professor and Associate Chair, Department of International Health
Keywords: global health, health systems, public health
health systems (4)
international health (4)
chronic conditions (2)
african bioethics consortium (1)
berman institute of bioethics (1)
◄ Jul 2017 ►


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by Kimberley Freda OPB July 4, 2016 11:17 a.m.
A self-styled reporter sympathetic to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation is asking to be released from custody until his trial on a federal weapons charge.
Michael Emry, 54, was arrested at his camper trailer in Grant County in May.
He's charged with illegally possessing a machine gun that isn't registered to him and obliterating the serial number. Emry admitted that he had stolen the gun from his former employer, Jim Weaver, without his consent.
Emry pleaded not guilty to the charges shortly after his arrest, and a judge detained him because the judge determined he was a flight risk and a danger to the community. Emry's attorney, Eugene-based Mark Sabitt, argued in a motion filed Friday that his client should be released until his trial, as he is not a threat to the community and has established consistent employment in Crescent, Oregon.
Sabitt asserts that Emry, an Army and Navy veteran, was cooperative with FBI agents and told them where to find the M2 machine gun in his trailer, according to the court filing. Sabitt argues that the gun was not fully functional and lacked critical artillery for the gun to work properly.
The court filing also suggests the confidential witness who described Emry's intentions for the M2 is a person who is "a felon and a known liar." Sabitt argued that the government's evidence against Emry is based upon statements from that witness.
Investigators have also said that Emry could pose a threat to the witness if he were released, based on statements he made on a jail phone while in custody.
Sabitt argues in the filing that Emry's release doesn't pose a threat to the informant because he would be returning to his home in Crescent – approximately 150 miles away from the informant. Sabitt also suggests that if his client is released his conditions could prohibit him from traveling to Grant County or contacting the witness.
Emry moved to Oregon just prior to the occupation and created a pro-Bundy blog called "The Voice of Grant County." He regularly embedded with the self-styled patriot group III% of Idaho and was a constant during the 41-day occupation. Emry regularly described himself as a reporter.
A July 11 status hearing is set for Emry in federal court in Eugene.


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Discover the Chesapeake Field Guide Mammals Delmarva Fox Squirrel
Delmarva Fox Squirrel
Sciurus niger cinereus
Delmarva fox squirrels feed on nuts, seeds and acorns from gum, oak, pine, maple, walnut and hickory trees. Above, a Delmarva fox squirrel forages in Dorchester County, Md., on March 11, 2014. (Photo by Steve Droter/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Although Delmarva fox squirrels spend a considerable amount of time on the ground, they may also be found in trees, just like the more common gray squirrel. Above, a Delmarva fox squirrel is seen at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County, Md., on March 5, 2013. (Photo by Steve Droter/Chesapeake Bay Program)
Prefers quiet wooded areas, especially mature loblolly pine and hardwood forests with an open understory. Also found in woodlots near farm fields and groves of trees near water. Spends a considerable amount of time on the ground, rather than in trees like the common gray squirrel.
Found only in small isolated populations on the Delmarva Peninsula, mostly in Kent, Dorchester, Talbot and Queen Anne's counties in Maryland. Biologists have moved some squirrels to other parts of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia to help develop populations there. Historic range extended as far north as southern New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania.
Feeds on nuts, seeds and acorns; will also eat buds, flowers, fruit, fungi, insects and mature green pine cones
The Delmarva fox squirrel is a large, gray squirrel that lives in quiet forests on the Delmarva Peninsula.
The Delmarva fox squirrel has a steel or whitish gray body and a white belly. It has short, thick, rounded ears. Its full, fluffy tail has black edgings and can grow to 15 inches long. The fox squirrel can grow to 30 inches in length and weigh up to 3 pounds.
The Delmarva fox squirrel feeds on nuts, seeds and acorns from gum, oak, pine, maple, walnut and hickory trees. It will also eat buds, flowers, fruit, fungi, insects and mature green pine cones.
Field Guide: Delmarva Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) from Chesapeake Bay Program on Vimeo.
Humans are major predators that have caused habitat loss through development and logging. Red foxes, minks, weasels, raptors, and unleashed dogs and cats are natural predators. Raccoons, opossums and rat snakes may prey on young squirrels.
Delmarva fox squirrels will make a series of barks or chatters, similar to those of an Eastern grey squirrel, when alarmed. They also make loud chewing sounds when feeding and a series of whines or screams during courtship.
Mating occurs in late winter and early spring. The squirrel usually makes a den in a tree hollow but will also nest on a tree crotch, in tangles of vines on tree trunks or at the end of large tree branches. About 44 days later (usually in February to April) the female gives birth to a litter of 1 to 6 young. The female cares for her young until they are weaned. Young reach sexual maturity after one year. Delmarva fox squirrels can live to 6 years old.
The Delmarva fox squirrel is one of ten recognized subspecies of fox squirrels, which are the largest tree squirrels in the western hemisphere.
In 1967, these squirrels were listed as an endangered species because of habitat loss due to development and timber harvesting. However, after a rigorous recovery plan and range expansion, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service de-listed the squirrels in November 2015.
They can easily be distinguished from the common gray squirrel by their larger size, lighter color and shy, quiet behavior.
Rather than jumping from tree to tree, Delmarva fox squirrels will descend down a tree and travel on the ground to the next tree.
Species Profile: Delmarva Fox Squirrel – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Delmarva Fox Squirrel: Shore Lore & Legacy – Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Critter Corner: Delmarva Fox Squirrel – National Wildlife Refuge Association
Delmarva Fox Squirrel – Assateague Island National Seashore
Glaucomys volans
Gray Fox
Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Procyon lotor
More Land Mammals >>


(iii) permits or their equivalent issued at the time of access as evidence of the decision to grant prior informed consent and of the establishment of mutually agreed terms.
The following describes the preliminary steps that a Party needs to take in order to meet these obligations, and make the Protocol operational, as soon as possible.
Each Party needs to designate a national focal point on access and benefit-sharing to carry out the functions set out in Article 13 of the Protocol, which include liaising with the Secretariat.
Designation of the national focal point on access and benefit-sharing, including name and contact details, should be submitted through an official letter addressed to the Executive Secretary by fax to +1 514 288 6588 or by e-mail as a scanned attachment to secretariat@cbd.int.
2. How to make information on the competent national authority(ies) and other information available on the ABS Clearing-House.
Each Party is required to designate one or more competent national authorities on access and benefit-sharing. Information on the competent national authority(ies) designated by a Party, as well as other information relevant to the implementation of the Protocol, is to be made available directly by each Party to the ABS Clearing-House.
However, in order to make information available on the ABS Clearing-House, Parties first need to nominate a publishing authority who will register the information in the ABS Clearing-House and ensure that all information made available is complete, non-confidential, relevant and up-to-date.
The national focal point on access and benefit-sharing can login to the ABS Clearing-House and directly designate the publishing authority (PA) and one or more national authorized users (NAUs) through the user management page (https://absch.cbd.int/register).
It is also possible for the national focal point to use the offline process of sending the appropriate designation form to the Executive Secretary by fax to +1 514 288 6588 or by e-mail as an attachment to secretariat@cbd.int.
In addition, publishing authorities can designate one or more national authorized users, as needed, to assist in the preparation of draft national records. The designation of national authorized users can be done at the time of designation of the publishing authority and through the same form mentioned above or at any time by the national focal point on access and benefit-sharing or the publishing authority.
These designations may be sent to the Executive Secretary by fax to +1 514 288 6588 or by e-mail as an attachment to secretariat@cbd.int and must contain the complete contact details and the appropriate endorsements.
Upon receipt of the designation of the publishing authority and after the Secretariat has made the necessary arrangements, the publishing authority will receive an e-mail confirming that they can start publishing information on the ABS Clearing-House.
The publishing authority can, then, make the information on competent national authorities and other relevant information on access and benefit-sharing available on the ABS Clearing-House, by completing the appropriate forms found in the submit information section of the ABS Clearing-House (https://absch.cbd.int/).
The Secretariat can support Parties through various mechanisms to ensure that they can contribute effectively to the ABS Clearing-House, and fulfil their obligations under the Nagoya Protocol. More information is available on the "About the ABSCH" section of the ABS Clearing-House (https://absch.cbd.int/about). For any questions or assistance regarding the ABS Clearing-House please contact us at absch@cbd.int.


After Arizona's Appellate courts ruled in favor of the Libertarian's argument for prospective relief in rigged elections, Judge Kyle Bryson granted Pima County's Motion to Dismiss based on the grounds that the courts do not have jurisdiction in elections. Sound familiar?
The need for prospective relief was first brought up in a counter claim by the Libertarian Party as a means to help prevent Pima County from rigging future elections like what appears to be the case for the RTA election. The appellate courts already decided that Libertarian party may demonstrate through the courts once and for all that the 2006 Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) election was rigged. This is a necessary component for justifying prospective relief. The RTA ballots for this two billion dollar bond measure are being held under a court order to ensure restricted access to their location at the Iron Mountain storage facility.
Currently, Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry is using every legal means possible to stand in the way of a proper, independent forensic examination of the ballots. Huckelberry's legal team is blocking this proceeding despite his numerous claims that his elections division would be exonerated by a proper investigation.
Judge Bryson, who replaced Judge Charles Harrington after he erred in his previous ruling, seems to have cut-and-pasted Judge Harrington's earlier ruling granting the County's Motion to Dismiss.
A key element in this court proceeding was Attorney General Terry Goddard's investigation which is often referenced by the county, yet always proven to be woefully inadequate. So inadequate that it represents the failure of the executive branch to provide sufficient remedy in a rigged election and was part of the argument for winning the initial appeal for prospective relief from rigged elections.
The issue of jurisdiction and when such jurisdiction applies was discussed in the previous Appellate Court ruling ordering the courts to proceed with the hearing for prospective relief. Here the argument centered around the failure of the legislative branch, because of the impossible five-day window to challenge elections in the state of Arizona. The Appellate Court agreed with the Libertarian Party's argument that "the court abused its discretion by not exercising equity jurisdiction to consider the lawsuit." This same abuse is repeated by Judge Kyle Bryson.
Election integrity advocates had previous indications of Pima County Superior Courts' collusion with its administrators, especially with Harrington's "wash your hands" incident and the refusal of the courts to grant attorney's fees for previous court victories.
Add a recent move reminiscent of Pima County's past shenanigans. No copy of Bryson's ruling was sent to the attorneys working on behalf of prospective relief for elections. Although the County received their copy of the May 4th ruling, attorney Bill Risner (along with his co-counsel Ralph Ellington) were left to make the inadvertent discovery of the ruling 15 days later. Part of the mystery behind the ruling was not only how long it took to decide (snuck out in three months), but what on earth Judge Bryson might have been doing with his time during this period. It's difficult to make the assumption he was presiding over something more important and therefore could not include a rudimentary analysis involving the subject matter at hand.
Due to this oversight, the county may be looking at a whole new trial. A trial addressing additional remedies like immediate access to memory cards for election challenges, adjusting auditing procedures for county and bond races and improved chain of custody procedures to prevent further tampering.
Pima County's unique form of nepotism provides a living, breathing model of how monopolies work. It's a bureaucracy that might as well be one big corporate oligarchy with arms outstretched to its own judiciary, its own public defenders, its own prosecutors, its own elections division, its own treasurer's office, its own court vault and its own law enforcement. Heads of all these departments have their salaries set by Pima County Administrator, Chuck Huckelberry, the CEO or chief administrator deeply entrenched in this bureaucracy. A bureaucracy exclusively funded by taxpayers.
To soften the blow of public outrage for what is eventually becoming obvious in the 2006 RTA elections case (as well as a number of other conflicts), Pima County has engaged in building a P.R. machine by picking up employment slack from failing local newspaper outlets. For example, Gary Duffy, a reporter for the now defunct Tucson Citizen, co-wrote an award winning article shedding light on one of many RTA security breaches entitled, "Record of votes in '06 RTA election missing". Last month you might have spotted Duffy hanging out behind a booth promoting the RTA as part of his job for the county. Reliable sources include ten reporters making the jump to the county trough. What are the chances of accurate, critical coverage of Judge Bryson's ruling in the local news outlets?
Despite such adversity, in the decaying "methlab of democracy" known as Arizona, election integrity advocates continue to engage in this battle for clean elections.
1. Information acquired within the past six years includes specific ways to identify red flags in electronic records that are sufficient to challenge elections.
2. Testimony is on record from officials all over the country confirming that electronic voting machines and their software are insecure and unreliable.
3. Despite the stall tactics used by Pima County's giant bureaucracy, this litigation will set a precedent to help others throughout the country pursue and achieve election integrity.
4. Similarly flawed electronic voting machines and software are currently in use throughout the country.
5. Prospective relief through this precedent-setting court case could provide a tangible, timely means to improve election transparency nationwide.
Never expect the govt to dispence justice when the state is involved in the criminal act. That's why the call it the criminal justice system. It's an oxymoron, like military intelligence.
So this is the sort of justice and democracy that the US is killing literally millions of innocent people to impose around the planet.
When are you people going to realise you are despised and hated for your cruelty, violence and mass murder.
you should all be collectively marching on Washington to clean out the filth that infests it.


As you work with objects, it's important to understand references.
A reference is an address that indicates where an object's variables and methods are stored.
You aren't actually using objects when you assign an object to a variable or pass an object to a method as an argument. You aren't even using copies of the objects. Instead, you're using references to those objects.
To better illustrate the difference, Listing 3.4 shows how references work.
Line 5—Two Point variables are created.
Line 6—A new Point object is assigned to pt1.
Line 7—The value of pt1 is assigned to pt2.
Lines 9–12 are the tricky part. The x and y variables of pt1 are both set to 200, and then all variables of pt1 and pt2 are displayed onscreen.
You might expect pt1 and pt2 to have different values. However, the output shows this	is not the case. As you can see, the x and y variables of pt2 also were changed, even though nothing in the program explicitly changes them. This happens because line 7	creates a reference from pt2 to pt1, instead of creating pt2 as a new object copied	from pt1.
pt2 is a reference to the same object as pt1; this is shown in Figure 3.1. Either variable can be used to refer to the object or to change its variables.
FIGURE 3.1 References to objects.
References in Java become particularly important when arguments are passed to methods. You learn more about this later today.
There are no explicit pointers or pointer arithmetic in Java, as there are in C and C++. By using references and Java arrays, however, most pointer capabilities are duplicated without many of their drawbacks.


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Barack Obama Is Figuring This Whole Menswear Thing Out
The president's new style reminds us of a simpler time, when the height of dressing was cuffed pants and simple white sneakers.
By Cam Wolf
Barack Obama in Kuala Lumpur, December 12, 2019.Mohd Rasfan / Getty Images
Since exiting the Oval Office, Barack Obama has tried his hand at a number of post-presidency gigs—author, Richard Branson's hangout buddy, and Netflix producer among them. But a picture taken in Malaysia in mid-December that resurfaced over the weekend suggests something more exciting (for us) than all that. It seems Obama couldn't wait for his presidency to be over so he could really start dressing.
Obama was never going to be mistaken for a fashion plate. By his own admission, he simply didn't care. "You'll see I wear only gray or blue suits," he told Vanity Fair in 2012. And his non-suiting looks often featured dad jeans at their most dadliest—faded and ill-fitting and ready to embarrass you during a sleepover. But this most recent picture, taken some three years out of office, suggests that Obama is really starting to give a shit about his clothes.
Barack Obama watching a college basketball game in Durham, North Carolina, February 20, 2019.Lance King / Getty Images
The fit breakdown: Adidas Stan Smith sneakers, peekaboo ankles revealed by the rolled cuffs of his slim-fit military-green chinos, and a tucked white polo. He looks like a J.Crew catalogue exploded him on. This is the sort of image people might look back on 50 years from now the same way they now gaze at those dreamy pictures of John F. Kennedy on a sloop wearing, well, a polo, white sneakers, and pants cropped enough to occasionally reveal a bit of calf. This is the stuff presidential style icons are made of.
Barack Obama at the NBA Finals in Toronto, June 2, 2019. Joe Murphy / Getty Images
It's worth noting that Obama's style has really thrived in casual settings. He's not going to win any MVP awards for getting dressed, but he at least has to be in the conversation for Most Improved Player. Leather jackets, like the ones he wore to a D.C. museum or a Toronto Raptors game, have played an outsized role in these mellower Seinfeldian outfits. Obama also famously wore a bomber jacket embroidered with "44" from downtown New York brand Rag & Bone. After Zion Williamson went down in the game's opening seconds, the outfit quickly became the story of the night: a president looking this good and stylish felt like a cold glass of water as we careen through the wasteland of Trump fashion. And even during post-presidential speaking engagements that have called for suits, 44 has toyed with the dress code. In 2017, he turned up in Italy for the Seed & Chips Global Food Innovation Summit and did as the Romans do: unbuttoned his shirt to Fabio levels of undress.
Barack Obama leaving the National Gallery of Art in Washington, March 5, 2017.Jose Luis Magana / AP Images
You can almost see the former president grazing over the past decade in menswear—catching up on things now that he's got a little more free time. He discovered no-show socks and found a pair of slim-fit chinos that work for him. They are evidence of a 58-year-old can-we-call-him-retired? dad trying to look nice. If this were 2012, the outfit would be one double-breasted blazer away from the height of menswear.
The outfit brings us back to an era when going to the mall with your boys to check out the latest at Club Monaco and J.Crew was still a surefire way to find a great outfit. We've since moved on to churning through a more wild flavor of clothing—apparel that often purposefully defies the idea of good taste—to better reflect our current age of dysfunction. But, maybe, in Obama's head (or at least his closet), it's still the early '10s. There really is no more beautiful thought than that.
Barack Obama at a White House press briefing, August 28, 2014.Alex Wong / Getty Images
Related Stories for GQBarack Obama


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For NFCDCU, Financial Literacy day a celebration of ongoing effort
NEW YORK - For the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (NFCDCU) the October 18 celebration of Financial Literacy Day represented far more than a nod to a perennial credit union goal. It gave the Federation the opportunity to celebrate where it has been and to highlight many of...
By David Morrison | November 05, 2002 at 07:00 PM | The original version of this story was published on Credit Union Times Magazine
NEW YORK – For the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions (NFCDCU) the October 18 celebration of Financial Literacy Day represented far more than a nod to a perennial credit union goal. It gave the Federation the opportunity to celebrate where it has been and to highlight many of the innovative efforts community development credit unions have begun to make, according to Federation executive director Clifford Rosenthal. The location for the Federation's celebration, which the City of New York recognized with a declaration, embodied many of the themes the Federation wanted to highlight, Rosenthal said. Union Settlement FCU, the $8.1 million community development credit union (CDCU) that hosted the event, helped found the National Federation and has served the residents of East Harlem, a predominantly lower income area, since 1957. Originally founded as an association based credit union, Union Settlement originally served the association members of the Union Settlement Association, but has since broadened its field of membership to an area stretching from 90th street in the south to 125th street in the North. "This is a credit union with some very strong working class roots," Rosenthal said, pointing out that one of the credit union's founders in the early years had worked as a janitor in the settlement property when he wasn't helping to get the financial institution going. Union Settlement FCU is still located in the Union Settlement building on East 104th street, where it occupies about 500 square feet, Rosenthal estimated, and where it remains firmly linked to the organization's broad community development mission. During the course of the Financial Literacy day event, dignitaries and visitors, which included NCUA Board Member Deborah Matz, observed financial literacy classes that the credit union offers through its sponsoring organization's classrooms, as well as Head Start classes where many members of its field of membership send their toddlers. They also toured the community development gardens adjoining the Settlement buildings, gardens that used to be junkyards filled with old tires and rusting cars, Rosenthal said. The credit union's effort and involvement in ongoing community development effort provided the theme for the day, which saw speakers highlighting the role credit unions can play in helping these ongoing efforts. Joy Cousminer, CEO of the $9.6 million Bronx based Bethex Federal Credit Union, used the occasion to remind the audience that financial education and good financial practices are not just the province of the low income. "Middle-income people don't manage their money any better than low-income people," she said. "Most of them don't budget, have too many credit cards, don't know what they owe, don't balance their checkbook. I could go on and on," she added. To illustrate she asked her listeners a question: "How many of you here balance your checkbooks? Most people I ask say, `I just put in extra money, so I don't have to think about it.' The problem poor people have is they don't have enough money to put in extra. The increasing number of bankruptcies each year more often occurs among middle-class people with large numbers of credit cards," she said. Cousminer contended that these realities mean that financial literacy has to begin in kindergarten and to continue over the course of an educational career in order to make sure it becomes a routinely recognized skill. She also pointed out that credit unions are largely failing to meet their members' financial education needs. "Members . still can't, write a check or balance their checkbook," she noted. "Members frequently carry around an ATM card that they can't use. Many members can't read their statements and ask what happened to their money. Most members on the long line that reaches out into the street on the 1st and the 3rd of the month have ATM cards, and there is an ATM in the lobby. Most members who have checking accounts still buy money orders. Most members don't understand interest rates, and automatically say, `Wow! That's high,' no matter what rate you quote." "We don't want to wind up saying people are poor because they don't know how to manage their money," she cautioned. Part of the answer to the ongoing need for broad financial education that Cousminer outlined came in the form of the partnerships that the Federation has initiated with three other organizations, Rosenthal noted. The Federation has entered into a partnership with Community Food Resource Center (CFRC), a Manhattan based anti-poverty organization which has focused on helping more lower income people access the federal earned income tax credit for which, it contends, far too many fail to apply. In 2003, under the partnership, the Federation will bring representatives of member CDCUs to sites the CFRC will set up to help lower income people process their tax returns for the tax credit. Those who are not already credit union members can apply to become members and will be able to access loans based on their tax refunds at much lower cost than they could access them from tax professionals. "In many cases the big tax preparation places like H.R. Block often charge very high fees to people who are only getting their money two or three weeks in advance," Rosenthal noted. The Federation is also partnering with an organization called the One Economy Corporation. One Economy uses a comprehensive Web site to provide the most basic levels of financial education to users, a growing number of whom will be CDCU members, Rosenthal hoped. "We are talking the most basic levels of education," he said. "How to write a check, for example. How to read a checking account statement." Or course in order to access an education offered through the World Wide Web you have to have a computer and that is why the Federation has also agreed to help provide financing to people who wish to buy the computers offered by the Per Scholas organization. Based in the Bronx, Per Scholas takes computers donated by corporations that are widely considered to be "old technology" and refurbishes them so they can be sold to, and used by, lower-income people to help in their kids education or use the Internet. Many of the machines, which have Pentium II microprocessors, can cost as little as $300, Rosenthal noted. "Think of what a difference in access it is to be able to buy a computer you need for $300 rather than $1,500," Rosenthal noted. "Sure, it's not the cutting edge of technology but the machines work well and they are within reach of many people for whom they are currently impossible to have." The Federation will help its member CDCU's finance those machines for their members, he said. [email protected]


An interview with Monique Baptiste-Good, Project Director for Newark's Strong, Healthy Communities Initiative.
Today we feature an interview with Monique Baptiste-Good, Project Director for Newark's Strong, Healthy Communities Initiative. She discusses the need for enduring patience through constantly changing circumstances, the importance of strengthening relationships with partners and how to support communities through service leadership.
Watch her video below, and read the full report on the first three years of TII. You can also watch an interview from our partner in Detroit to learn more lessons from TII.


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Rosie Huntington-Whiteley Hides Growing Baby Bump on Big Apple Outing
Robyn	 Apr 8, 2017
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and her fiance Jason Statham were spotted out and about in New York City, New York on Friday (April 7). The pregnant model hid her growing baby bump in and oversized knee-length coat, a black sweater and matching pants with heeled boots. Statham held her arm protectively as they left their hotel. In…
Camila Alves Spends The Day With Vida & Livingston
Robyn Good	 Nov 4, 2014
Camila Alves was photographed out and about with her children Vida & Livingston in New York City on Monday (Nov. 3). The model was dressed…
Liv Tyler & Milo Take a Big Apple Stroll
Robyn Good	 Jul 13, 2014
Liv Tyler and her son Milo Langdon were spotted out and about in New York City on Saturday (July 12). The Lord of the Rings actress was dressed in…
Peter Dinklage Strolls With His Little Girl
Peter Dinklage spotted out for a stroll with his daughter Zelig in New York City on Monday (June 23). The Game of Thrones actor was dressed casually in a…
Jaime King & Kyle Newman: Big Apple Doting
Robyn Good	 Jun 3, 2014
Jaime King and husband Kyle Newman spent a relaxing out with their son James in New York City on Monday (June 2). The Hart Of Dixie actress was dressed…
Leelee Sobieski's Big Apple Day With Her Mini-Me
Robyn Good	 Apr 24, 2014
Leelee Sobieski and her daughter Louisanna spotted out and about in New York City on Wednesday (April 23). The Last Film Festival actress was dressed in…
Claire Danes & Hugh Dancy Stroll With Cyrus
Claire Danes and her husband Hugh Dancy were photographed taking their son Cyrus for a stroll in New York City on Wednesday (April 23). The…
Elizabeth Berkley: Spring Day in the Big Apple With Family
Elizabeth Berkley and her husband Greg Lauren were photographed spending the day with their son Sky in New York City on Monday (April 14). The Saved By…
Elizabeth Berkley Strolls With Family in the Big Apple
Elizabeth Berkley and husband Greg Lauren took their son Sky out for a walk in New York City on Thursday (April 10). The Saved By the Bell alumni was dressed…
Kristin Cavallari's Bumpin' Night Out
Robyn Good	 Mar 19, 2014
Kristin Cavallari was seen enjoying a night out in New York City on Tuesday (March 18). The reality star wore a long black jacket over a little white…
Kristin Cavallari: Big Apple Bump
Kristin Cavallari was photographed leaving her hotel in New York City, New York on Thursday (March 14). The pregnant reality star wore a black maternity…
Eric Johnson Takes His Little Girl Out For a Day in the Big…
Robyn Good	 Dec 6, 2013
Jessica Simpson's fiance Eric Johnson was seen carrying their daughter Maxwell while stepping out in New York City on Thursday (Dec. 5). The former NFL…


Each year, the Green Arts Network produces an annual festival, which aims to meet the need for connection between artists and communities within the environmental movement to establish and strengthen relationships and exchange. The Green Arts Network believes community members across disciplines need in-person space to discover each other's work and develop future relationships in order to strengthen the sustainability movement and support each other's work. Through building a network online, the Green Arts Network brings communities together around sustainability and the arts face-to-face at each annual festival.
At MassArt, the student-led Artists of Color Union provides a safe and educational space for MassArt's students of color. ACU leads in invoking progressive changes to make MassArt an inclusive space for all students. CultureShock is a night produced by ACU celebrating and centering artists of color across all mediums.
VIEW EVENT SERIES - COMING SOON!


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Opinion: Claudia Hanson Thiem: Elevate…
Opinion: Claudia Hanson Thiem: Elevate libraries in austere times
By Claudia Hanson Thiem | thiem.claudia@gmail.com | For the Camera
PUBLISHED: April 28, 2020 at 1:09 p.m. | UPDATED: April 28, 2020 at 4:28 p.m.
Claudia Hanson Thiem, Columnist.
It's difficult to take a walk of any length from my North Boulder home without passing by two melancholy sites.
On the corner of Broadway and Yarmouth, there's the tiny NoBo Corner Library, with heartfelt messages for its beloved librarians taped to the now-locked door. Two blocks to the south lies a vacant lot, the future home of a full-service library branch — a project nearing approval, but now almost certainly delayed. Boulder's Public Library, of course, continues to provide essential services online. But as I stare down a long summer of children at home and ration our pile of hoarded books, I grieve for these places. For the life and potential they bring to our community. As municipal finances and our own social worlds contract, we stand to lose so much.
There are hard times ahead for public libraries, and Boulder's may suffer more than most. Funding cut in 2002 was never fully restored, even as usage and available services have increased. The 2018 Library Master Plan identified a $3.2 million gap between the annual operating budget and community-identified needs.
When library buildings closed on March 13, advocates were relaunching a campaign to create a regional library district with its own taxing authority. Their hope had been to free the library from its perennial status as a city budget also-ran. The effort — already delayed a year at the request of a reluctant Boulder City Council — now looks tragically prescient. Heavily dependent on cratering sales tax revenue, the library was among the hardest hit departments when Boulder announced staffing cuts two weeks ago. One hundred and eight employees — more than 70% of the department's workforce — are furloughed until the end of June.
I'll be honest: As my children transitioned into school and more structured activities, I gave up my status as a library super-user. And the sense of loss I feel now is partially regret. I should have visited more often.
But for many of our neighbors, library spaces and services are a vital social and economic resource. There are the families and caregivers who frequent story time, some seeking enrichment and others seeking respite. Adult learners come for literacy and language practice, while others get help with job applications and business development. Patrons without internet access visit the library to get online, while others come for meetings or work sessions, no purchase required. And for some of the most vulnerable members of our community, the library is simply a safe place to spend the day.
In "Palaces for the People," a book I've reached for multiple times when thinking about our shrunken public sphere, sociologist Eric Klinenberg describes libraries as an essential part of a community's social infrastructure. These are the physical spaces that foster the growth of relationships and interpersonal networks — the building blocks of empathy and resilience. Libraries' particular strength is in providing equitable access to cultural materials, and fostering interaction across group lines. They are places where people encounter each other. And in times of crisis, they often act as "second responders," filling holes in safety nets or responding creatively to other unmet needs.
In the absence of restrictions on gathering, Boulder's public libraries would surely offer refuge and support in this time of need. But even with those rules in place, remaining staff have pivoted quickly to provide what they can from a distance. Digital collections and streaming services (significant expenses in normal times) have been expanded, and staff are available to help people navigate unemployment claims and new aid programs — in addition to answering standard reference inquiries. Partnering with Boulder Valley School District, Boulder Housing Partners and other city departments, the library has distributed more than 300 internet hotspots to households in need. The popular summer reading program will be expanded in response to extended school closures. And equipment from the library's innovative BLDG 61 makerspace is being used to produce protective gear for the Boulder community. The buildings may be closed, but the library as an institution is very much alive, and focused on its mission.
Like all municipalities, Boulder will be making excruciating financial decisions in response to the COVID-19 crisis. City departments are already preparing for 10% mid-year budget cuts, and it's difficult to see these as anything less than the first of many blows. The economic situation is objectively dire, but decisions about what to let go and what to preserve will depend on our values as a community. What we define as essential, important or merely amenity.
In my tenure here, the Boulder Public Library has always found itself in the latter category — a taken-for-granted luxury in a town that never mustered the energy to do better. But demand for libraries has always been countercyclical, rising in times of crisis and austerity. They are a backstop to our many private slides. And they deserve a prominent place — in both our city and our hearts — in the post-pandemic world.
Let's not forget them.
Email: thiem.claudia@gmail.com.
Claudia Hanson Thiem
Claudia Hanson Thiem lives and parents in Boulder, and is a member of the Steering Committee of Boulder Progressives.
thiem.claudia@gmail.com
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Omicron hospital admission 90% less likely after booster - Javid
7 January 2022, 3:50 pm
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said the chances of being admitted to hospital with Omicron are almost 90% lower after a booster.
Tracey Emin: No 10 responds after artist demands work removed from Downing Street
Ms Emin says her artwork is for a party atmosphere and she really does 'not feel that Number 10 needs any encouragement on this level'
Robbie Williams to sell three Banksy artworks for up to £10m. Singer puts versions of Kissing Coppers, Girl with Balloon and Vandalised Oils (Choppers) up for auction
WELLINGTON/SYDNEY (Reuters) -Life-saving water supplies from a New Zealand navy ship were distributed across Tonga's main island on Friday, as other countries battled the logistics of delivering aid to one of the world's remotest communities. Six days after the South Pacific archipelago was devastated by a volcanic eruption and tsunami that deposited a blanket of ash and polluted its water sources, the HMNZS Aotearoa docked in the capital, Nuku'alofa. The ship carried 250,000 litres of water and desalination equipment able to produce 70,000 litres more per day, New Zealand's High Commission said.
Brianna Kupfer - latest: Covid backlog caused delay in trial of suspect Shawn Laval Smith on gun charge
Follow live updates on the search for Kupfer's killer
N. Korea slams US, hints at resuming nuclear, ICBM tests
Accusing the U.S. of hostility, North Korea said it will consider restarting "all temporally-suspended activities," in an apparent threat to resume testing nuclear devices and long-range missiles


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Suitable for dry, very dry and sensitive skin.


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Home News Sponsored
This Lens Tells Stories: SmugMug's New Campaign Sheds Light on the Passion, the "Why," and Impact of Photographers
by Illya Ovchar June 21, 2022 0 Comments Sponsored
SmugMug, known for its photography management and sales platform, is launching a new marketing campaign titled "This Lens." Aimed at celebrating the power of photographers to change perspectives and the world, "This Lens" aims to tell stories of real-life photographers and their pursuits.
Inspired by the timeless images of a true icon of folk music, Woody Guthrie, whose guitar was emblazoned with the message "This machine kills fascists," this campaign acknowledges that this inspired generations to come. Translated to photography, SmugMug knows very well that photographers hold the same power to change minds and inspire generations. In the right hands, the camera is among some of the most powerful tools that can influence millions.
"In the hands of a passionate photographer, the camera has the power to change the way people think," says SmugMug VP of Marketing Scott Kinzie. "We believe a powerful photograph can change public opinion, expose hidden stories, start a movement, or show the humanity of everyday life. A passionate photographer has the power to challenge how we see the world and each other."
Five photographers, each working in a different genre, are presenting their own authentic stories on how photography was a transformative tool for them. Photojournalist Jay Ford shares his perspective on covering protests. Nomad Andy Best explores his lifestyle chasing landscapes. Rock climber and adventure photographer Tara Kerzhner talks about how she pursues perfect light. Michal Perchardo aims to preserve his family legacy with portraiture. Lastly, Sapna Reddy recounts how nature photography acts as a nice counterweight to her career as a physician.
SmugMug puts the broadening of perspectives center stage in this campaign. Shedding light on the unique passions of photographers — astro, fine art, landscape macro, portrait, street, and so on — SmugMug hopes to inspire on why and how creatives achieve success and fulfillment in their genres.
"This Lens" gives us an insider's perspective on what drives a photographer to focus on a particular subject or story," says Kinzie. "SmugMug believes in the emotional power of these stories, and by sharing them, we hope we can inspire others to pick up a camera and tell their stories, too."
In order to read the inspiring stories and spotlights, as well as find opportunities to share your own authentic experiences, follow this link.
About Illya Ovchar Follow
illyaovchar.com
Illya Ovchar is a fashion photographer based in Europe. In his work, Illya aims to tell stories with clothes and light. Illya's work can be seen in magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire, and InStyle.
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Sounds of Summer ends Friday
Kloecker competing in IFYR
Home / Lagerstroemia - Official State Shrub of Texas
Lagerstroemia - Official State Shrub of Texas
Deborah Richardson Photograph Image/jpg Courtesy Photo By Lienyuan Lee (cc By 3.0)
Courtesy photo by lienyuan lee (CC BY 3.0) Crapemyrtle flowers are white to pink to deep purple to dark red with ruffley, delicate blooms that are on the tree even when it's young. Round buds can be seen.
Courtesy photo by Nadiatalent (CC BY-SA 3.0) Crapemyrtle fruit is a capsule that changes from green to dark brown. It resembles the flower bud which is softer. Inside are small seeds.
Courtesy photo by Mbzt (CC BY-SA 4.0) Crapemyrtle often has multiple trunks that are smooth once the bark has peeled away.
Lagerstroemia spp., crape myrtle, crepe myrtle or crapemyrtle are beautiful trees found in the warm climates of the southern U.S. It's a relatively small graceful tree with attractive exfoliating bark in colors from pinkish gray to cinnamon. It often has multiple trunks that are smooth once the bark has peeled away.
It has white to pink to deep purple to dark red ruffly, delicate blooms clustered in panicles. In Grimes County the trees are usually from 8 to 30 feet. The opposite leaves are about 2 to 8 inches long and may change color in autumn. The fruit is a capsule that changes from green to dark brown. Seeds are small. Crapemyrtle flower buds and seed pods look similar but the flower bud is softer.
There are more than 50 species of Lagerstroemia. L. speciosa and L. indica are common in our area of Texas. The genus is named for the Swedish merchant Magnus von Lagerström who, in the 18th century, supplied Carl Linnaeus the plants used in his studies. Linnaeus created our modern system of naming organisms by genus and species called binomial nomenclature.
There were two accepted spellings for the common name, crepe myrtle and crape myrtle. Crepe was named for the crinkly crepe paper that the flowers resemble. Crape represents the English pronunciation. Because the plant resembles "real" myrtles, in the Myrtus genus, it got the species name myrtle. But people thought crepe or crape myrtle was a type of "real" myrtle. So, plants in the Lagerstroemia genus were changed to crapemyrtle, one word. Many sources have all three versions. In some countries banaba is the common name of some species of Lagerstroemia.
There is an article at the National Agricultural Library, pubag.nal.usda.gov, with an interesting, if long, title, "Lagerstroemia speciosa fruit-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles and its application as filler in agar based nano-composite films for antimicrobial food packaging."
The leaves of some species are eaten as a vegetable and prepared as a tea. Traditional medicine systems use crapemyrtle leaves and fruit as an anti-inflammatory, for kidney problems, allergies, to reduce blood glucose, etc. Some Lagerstroemia species are in the Food and Drug Administration Poisonous Plant Database at fda.gov. Below are a few titles from the National Institutes of Health, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:
• "Management of Diabetes and Its Complications with Banaba (Lagerstroemia speciosa L.) and Corosolic Acid."
• "Antidiabetes and Anti-obesity Activity of Lagerstroemia speciosa."
• "A Blend of Phellodendron and Crape Myrtle Improves Glucose Tolerance in Exercise-Trained Men."
In 1997 L. indica became the official state shrub of Texas. The resolution at capitol.texas.gov reads in part, "The crape myrtle has been a distinctive part of the Texas landscape for more than 100 years, and this striking shrub never fails to add a touch of class and beauty to its surroundings… Be it resolved that the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby formally recognize the valuable addition of the crape myrtle to our native flora and declare the crape myrtle the Official State Shrub of Texas."


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Evan Rachel Wood, Rumer Willis & Kelley Jakle Star In 'For The Record'
Check out the full video interview HERE with Evan Rachel Wood, Rumer Willis and Kelley Jakle on our FOX 11 YouTube Channel.
"For the Record" is a modern-day take on the works of acclaimed director John Hughes, by reliving his 1980's teen films including "Sixteen Candles," "The Breakfast Club," "Weird Science," "Pretty In Pink," "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
Wood had her breakout role in 2003 with Catherine Hardwicke's controversial independent film "Thirteen" for which she earned Golden Globe and SAG nominations for Best Actress in a Drama.
Willis began acting as a child starring with her mother Demi Moore in films such as "Striptease" and "Now and Then."
Jakle has appeared in "Pitch Perfect," "Workaholics," "Scorpion" and more.
Performances run through April 4 with shows every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. Ticket prices range from $39 to $59 and can be purchased at dbahollywood.com.
Connect | @evanrachelwood, @TheRue and @kelleyjakle
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