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Exclusive Interview #001 – Cindy Siegel, Chairwoman of the Harris County Republican Party -- by Aubrey R. Taylor
Exclusive Interview #001 – Cindy Siegel, Chairwoman of the Harris County Republican Party
For those of you who might not know, a couple weeks ago the newly appointed Harris County Republican Party Chairwoman Cindy Siegel got mugged and shaken up a little. "When this incident occurred, I was attending a routine monthly young Republicans event, surrounded by young men and women," she recently revealed. "I also have two daughters of my own that have grown up their entire lives in the Houston area. As a mother, I believe our children deserve better than the frightening circumstances I was faced with last night. Unfortunately, crime in Houston has risen to levels beyond Chicago, and County Judge Lina Hidalgo and District Attorney Kim Ogg have proven that public safety is not a priority for them," she says.
A FEW TOP PRIORITIES
After getting a better understanding of what happened to Harris County Republican Party Chair Cindy Siegel a few weeks ago, I now totally understand why doing something about crime is one of her top priorities. I furthermore believe that she now has the unique ability to see issues related to the recent rise in crime from a totally different perspective -- as a crime victim. "As County Chair, I will ensure we elect leaders that make fighting crime a top priority. I vow to do whatever it takes to clean up our streets, reverse dangerous policies that protect criminals instead of victims, and make sure our law enforcement has all of the tools and resources needed to keep us safe and make Houston a good place to live, work, and raise a family again. Public safety is not a partisan issue. I hope all mothers, fathers, business owners, students, and residents of Harris County will stand with me to enact change and build a stronger, safer community now and in the future."
"Back in the 2018 Midterm Elections, Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper© published this beautiful bi-partisan (72) seventy-two page full color "ELECTION GUIDE" and strategically distributed it to homes and businesses throughout Harris County, Texas. Now, in case you don't remember, back in 2018 we had (33) thirty-three Democrats running for office who advertised in our newspaper, and (26) Republican candidates who found value in asking our readership for their vote. So, for the record, in the upcoming 2022 Midterm Election, by bringing on "BI-PARTISAN SPONSORS" from all walks of life, and political party affiliations we will now be able to exponentially increase our reach and expand our readership into historically untapped territories of Harris County, Texas where most other print publications wouldn't even dare to go."
"I would like to take this moment to thank Cindy Siegel, Chair of the Harris County Republican Party for taking the time out of her very business schedule to answer the 10 questions listed below."
The lady on the left is Harris County Democratic Party Chair Lillie Schechter. According to several sources, Schechter is expected to step down at some point between now and the Tuesday, March 1, 2022, Democratic Party Primary Election. The lady on the right is Harris County Republican Party Chair Cindy Siegel. She has her work cut out for her, but Chairwoman Siegel appears to be up to the challenge she facing -- onward to the 2022 Midterms!!!
ONE-ON-ONE WITH HARRIS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL
(EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW)
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: I heard about what happened to you a few weeks ago. How are you doing?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "I'm doing fine. It happened so fast and was frightening at the time. I had a lot better result than most since the restaurant employee and customer were able to tackle the guy (although he got away) and get my purse back. No one was hurt - which was a blessing."
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: How does it feel to be the new Harris County Republican Party Chair?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "Exciting and at times a little overwhelming with the amount of work that needs to be done at all levels. But people are fired up after the November 2020 election and contacting the party to see how they can help with our effort to flip Harris County red."
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Tell me a little about your outlook for the 2022 Midterm Election cycle whereas Harris County is concerned?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "We most definitely have our work cut out for us. However, when you dig into the November 2020 election results locally, you see with the right candidate who works hard and has a good message - we can still win races. But we need a strong local party that is there to support their efforts. That is what I'm focused on - building a strong team of precinct chairs and volunteers, working to recruit and cultivate good candidates, and expanding the base into communities that we haven't reached before. With what President Biden is doing at a national level and how it is impacting Houston and Texas as it relates to jobs and the economy - I think that will help us bring new voters into our party. Then when you factor locally the rising crime rate across the City and County due in large part to Democrat leadership and policies, that should help us also increase our base."
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: How is recruiting for the 2022 Midterm Election cycle going?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "I think people have been hesitant to throw their hat into the ring until they knew the local leadership was stable, there was a local party infrastructure that can support them, and a strategic plan to win. That said, our Candidates and Local committees are working hard identifying and supporting candidates starting with local elections this year."
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Back in 2012, the gap between former President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney was only 971 votes in Harris County, Texas. How did the gap get so wide between Democrats and Republicans in such a short period of time?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "As a party, we have been complacent. Texas has been red for a long time. Meanwhile, the Democrats have been out there consistently working to bring new voters into their party. We've only in the last year or so really focused locally and across the state on getting out and registering new voters."
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: How important is outreach to ethnic groups outside of the traditional Republican Party voter base?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "Very important. If we're going to overcome the big vote differential between the two parties, we have got to reach out to the diverse communities that make up Harris County. What has been viewed as ethnic minority groups, like the Latino community, are the fastest-growing part of our County. I believe that many of the various ethnic groups are Republican - they just don't know it. They want a good life and for their families to be able to live and work in safe neighborhoods and their children to have the opportunity to have a great education. Just like every Republican. That is why we need to be sharing our party's message of hope and opportunity with them. We can no longer as a local party just rely upon our base to get out the vote and think we can win."
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Do you believe cheating is taking place in local elections? If so, what do you think can be done to stop the cheating?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "Yes, given the affidavits that our election judges, clerks, and poll workers turned in about election law violations they saw during early voting and on Election Day in November. In a perfect world, we would scrap the voter registration files and start over with everyone re-registering. But realistically, that is not going to occur. So, our focus is on helping get legislation passed this session that will strengthen the controls over the election process and impose harsher penalties for violations. We're focusing on recruiting more election judges, clerks, and poll watchers to fill early voting and Election Day polls. We're increasing the training provided by the party to ensure our election worker volunteers understand what legal recourse they have if they see a violation. Additionally, we are raising money for future legal challenges re: incidents of the more egregious election fraud. But we also need to work to have Republicans running for judge in all spots on the ballot and help them win. We need Republican judges who understand election law and won't pass on hearing or addressing legal challenges as it relates to election fraud - which is what the Democrat judges have done."
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Do think the gap between the Democratic nominees and the Republican nominees can be closed in the 2022 Midterm Election cycle?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "If you're asking whether we can ensure that we have someone running in every position on the ballot - yes. If you're asking about the gap between who wins and loses the races in 2022, it will take hard work - a strong message, good candidates who are willing to knock on doors, and a great ground game focusing on working each precinct to win votes."
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: Why do you think crime is so bad in Houston right now?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "We have a social activist Democrat DA and social activist Democrat judges who have created a revolving door where they release violent criminals with no or little bond immediately back into the city. Democrat social justice policies and the De-fund police movement have created an environment where the criminals are emboldened. Our police are demoralized by what is going on locally and nationally. So, it is no wonder that crime has gone up. Democrats claim it is due to COVID. If it was solely due to COVID - why have we bypassed Chicago in violent crimes? Chicago has experienced COVID, too."
AUBREY R. TAYLOR: "What do Freedom and Liberty mean to you?
HCRP CHAIR CINDY SIEGEL: "They are two of the most beautiful words in the dictionary. It means that I have the personal freedom to make decisions on how I am going to live my life. They mean that I and my daughters have the opportunity to make our lives into whatever we want with hard work. However, along with freedom and liberty goes personal responsibility. That means working to ensure that we continue to have freedom and liberty now and for future generations because without America standing for freedom and liberty - where do people go?"
"I'm the President/CEO of Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, the publisher of Houston Business Connections Newspaper©. In case you don't know, I have 30-years of experience in marketing, branding, investigative reporting, public relations, opposition research, and political consulting. I've assisted in branding Republican and Democratic candidates in statewide elections and local municipalities throughout the State of Texas. So, trust me when I tell you that we are at a pivotal moment in American history right now. And that being said, we must make it our business to get the 2022 Midterm Election right. To accomplish this, we must elect duly-qualified candidates who value our vote."
I am deeply saddened that the Harris County Democratic Party Chairwoman (Lillie Schechter) hasn't responded to my cry for help as of today, Saturday, February 6, 2021 – what a shame. However, that being said, I am hopefully optimistic that whether HCDP Chair Lillie Schechter agrees or disagrees with the work being done by my legal and investigative team, that she will at some point during upcoming 2022 Midterm Election cycle show me, a little respect. But even if she doesn't decide to do so, I am grateful and honored that HCRP Chair Cindy Siegel, has assured me that she values, respect, and fully understands that "EVERY VOTE MATTERS" in Harris County, Texas.
I want each and everyone reading this report to know that, it was a distinct pleasure to speak with HCRP Chairwoman Cindy Siegel, and in my opinion, she appears to be uniquely qualified and prepared to deal with many of the issues that have bogged down and slowed the progress of the Harris County Republican Party in the past. Now, that being said, HCRP Chairwoman Cindy Siegel is going to have her work cut out for her in the upcoming 2022 Midterm Election cycle in Harris County, Texas, but from speaking to her directly, I truly feel like the Harris County Republican Party is in good hands going forward into 2022 and beyond.
Meet Charles Marler a former FBI investigative specialist. In case you don't know him, he's one of the best in the business. So, if you need a private investigator, I strongly encourage you to call Chuck at (281)687-5015 today. Charles worked for the FBI for 16 years learning all facets of the Bureau's complex operations from evidence collection, radio communications, aviation surveillance, and Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR). Charles was an Investigative Specialist for 12 years as a member of the Special Surveillance Group and conducted, organized and completed thousands of surveillances on Drug (as FLIR operator), Intelligence and Terrorism targets. He participated in joint training operations with the DIA, DEA, JCTA and CIA. Charles was an instructor and evaluator numerous times for the FBI's surveillance training programs.
An Attorney at Law for 25 years, Paula holds a B.S. from Texas Southern University in Public Health Administration, and a Law Degree from The University of Houston Class of 1995. Paula decided to become an attorney after serving as a Congressional Intern in Washington DC. "I am so thankful that I had that internship as a college student. From 6 years of age, I was being groomed to run for public office. My experiences on the Hill led me to the area of support. I found that my happiness was in supporting quality and highly responsible individuals who sought to be the candidate," she says. She loves her behind the scenes political work.
Meet Gerry Wayne Monroe, better known as "THE 5 STAR GENERAL" in these parts. In case you don't know, '5 STAR' is a lifelong resident of Houston, Texas. He was born and raised in the historic 3rd Ward in Houston, Texas. He graduated from high school back in 1986, from Jack Yates Sr. High School. For those of you who don't know, '5 STAR' is also a member of the 1985 Jack Yates Championship Football team. And get this, after a by chance meeting with investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino, or what media mogul Oprah Winfrey calls an "AHAH MOMENT" he started Monroe Consultations. His firm specializes in Education advocacy and political consulting. And for the past 8 years Monroe has taken on well over 195 assignments, and (according to him) has solved every issue that he's touched.
PROUD AMERICANS CELEBRATING FREEDOM TOGETHER SERIES
Americans from all walks of life and political affiliations will be afforded the opportunity to openly share their thoughts on "WHAT FREEDOM MEANS TO THEM" with Aubrey R. Taylor, publisher of Houston Business Connection Newspaper© as part of our mission to give our readers "UNFILTERED ACCESS" into the minds of powerful "OPEN-MINDED" elected officials, community stakeholders, and faith leaders as our way of embracing and exercising our God-given and inspired "CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS" related to freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and our ability to "PEACEABLY ASSEMBLE" and petition our Government for a redress of our grievances. So, to this end I would like to publicly thank Dr. Steven F Hotze, M.D., one of the "TITLE SPONSORS" of "PART ONE" our "Proud Americans Celebrating Freedom Together" series for his financial support, and for finding value in our mission to protect our "CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS" related to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. I would also like to thank Dr. Hotze for assisting us in our quest to educate, and empower our readership to make informed decisions at the ballot box in the 2022 Midterms.
Posted by Aubrey R. Taylor at 8:01 PM
Labels: 2022 Midterm Election, Aubrey R Taylor Interviews, Cindy Siegel, Harris County Republican Party Chair, HCRP, Republicans in Harris County
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It is our pleasure at Skin Cancer Symposiums to bring you Professor Cliff Rosendahl from the University of Queensland, Australia and Professor Amanda Oakley from the University of Auckland, New Zealand to Melbourne.
You will be able to apply these algorithms the very next day in your practice with your complimentary dermatoscope worth $415 as a limited time offer (MedOptima MoleScope II *) until 31st March 2019 as well as a 12-month whole practice (3 users) subscription to Dermengine ($981 value). Cliff's teaching will be complemented by experienced GP Skin Cancer specialists who will provide you with lots of practical tips, tricks and ensure the teaching is highly practical to general practice.
SUPER Early Bird registrations before 31st of March 2019 will also offer complimentary Saturday evening's entertainment at Rod Laver Arena (Category II seats) for the evening's matches at the Australian Open with complimentary food and drinks.
Limited tickets for the Australian Open entertainment are available on a first-in basis only.
Complimentary dermatoscope – so you can start doing dermatoscopy the very next day at your rooms. (Limited time offer).
Fully accredited – by the Royal College of General Practitioners UK, Royal College of Physicians (London), Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Royal NZ College of General Practitioners. RACGP Category I CME points and ACRRM PRPD points pending.
Thank you so much for your interest in coming to our 2020 Skin Cancer Symposiums course.
We would like to apologise for any confusion regarding the dates of the 2020 Symposium. We initially advertised the course on the 17/18th of January 2020 in our fax. This was based on the official website of the Australian Open. Unfortunately, this date was subsequently moved to the 25/26th of January 2020 to coincide with the middle weekend of the Australian Open.
We can now confirm the dates of our symposium will be for the 25th and 26th of January 2020 with complimentary Rod Laver Stadium tickets for Saturday the 25th of January 2020.
Thank you for your understanding regarding this change and we are looking forward to meeting you all.
P.S The limited complimentary tennis tickets are selling fast!


Are you planning out future of your estate and do not want it to go through probate? Are you interested in reaping the financial benefits associated with protecting your assets in certain ways during your lifetime? Have you been thinking about gifting money, property or other assets to your loved ones with certain conditions attached? Please consider connecting with a Folsom, CA living trust lawyer to discuss your legal options. A host of estate planning tools designed for use during an individual's lifetime and for use by beneficiaries after an individual's death may help you to maximize the value and use of your property.
Many people choose to use a legally enforceable will as their primary estate planning tool. However, wills only serve to address property distribution after death and do not benefit either the estate holder or beneficiaries during an individual's lifetime. For this reason, more and more Americans are turning to trust agreements, in lieu of, or in addition to their traditional wills. Creating trusts is a complex business, partially because there are several kinds of trusts an individual can choose from. Consulting with an experienced living trust lawyer in Folsom, CA can help you to weigh any options appropriate to your unique needs and priorities.
A trust is a document in which assets are held by a named party for the benefit of another. If you were to create a trust, you would be responsible for naming a "trustee" who would be granted the duty of holding and managing the assets for all of the beneficiaries named in the trust.
In general, trusts can be divided into two different categories: testamentary trusts and living trusts.
Testamentary Trust – A trust that activates only after the trust creator dies. A testamentary trust can be generally be revoked until that individual's death. At this time, the trust becomes irrevocable.
Living Trust – Living trusts may be set up to benefit a trust creator and/or the trust creator's beneficiaries during that individual's lifetime. There are numerous financial benefits to managing property, income and other assets in this way. Please consider speaking with a Folsom, CA living trust attorney about your options. When considering a living trust, please note that these financial tools can be separated into revocable and irrevocable trusts.
Revocable – A revocable trust can be modified, amended, or revoked anytime by the trust creator, and for whatever reason.
Irrevocable – The trust cannot be modified, amended, or revoked at any time.
You are unsure about what type of trust you need.
You are creating a living trust and want to ensure it will succeed.
You were appointed to be the trustee of a living trust.
You are administering a trust.
You would like to challenge a living trust.
As you can see, trust planning can be complex and very detailed. If you would like to learn more about estate planning generally or trusts in particular, please consider scheduling a consultation with Yee Law Group, PC. We look forward to speaking with you.


Some of the most enduring kinds of cultural traditions have been interpretive in nature. My research has focused on the interaction of cognition and culture surrounding the Christian Bible, but in this series I am explore a broader general model of interpretive traditions. This is the fifth and final post in the series: interested readers may find the rest of the posts here.
In this post I would like to step back from an examination of the micro-processes of interpretation and consider instead the broad, long-term dynamics of interpretive traditions. I have suggested that interpretive traditions face a fundamental dilemma: in order to maintain a coherent social organization, there must be some limit on permissible interpretations; but too tight a limit on permissible interpretations results in stagnation, boredom, and irrelevance. The historical trajectory of interpretive traditions is thus akin to Odysseus' path between Scylla and Charybdis, Scylla representing the chaos that results from unconstrained production and consumption of representations and Charybdis representing the collapse of an organization when it has become so fixed that people lose interest. If one wishes to put it in information-theoretic terms: too much freedom of interpretation is the equivalent of a chaotic system, in which knowing one interpretation offers no value for understanding others; too little freedom of interpretation is the equivalent of a system with an extremely low information content.
In broad strokes, this dynamic may be seen in the evolution of Protestantism. The Anabaptists took the principle of sola scriptura—the idea that the Bible alone is authoritative—to its logical conclusion, and their communities underwent near constant schism in part because of the resulting interpretive chaos. Lutherans and Calvinists achieved relatively more stable communities in part by regarding the interpretations of particular individuals as authoritative, and thus constraining the interpretive freedom within their communities.
Another, and I think more common, way of striking this balance is to fix the representations that are regarded as formal doctrine or the text that is regarded as scripture, but to maintain flexibility in the ways in which the relevance of those doctrines or that scripture is established. Thus, in the church I studied ethnographically, the text of the Bible was mainly regarded as a fixed entity, but the application of the scriptural text was a site of constant innovation.
Institutions need both fixed representations and novel representations to remain organized and retain people's attention. Interpretive traditions, where the interpretand is fixed, face a special challenge in this regard. That they are able to resolve it successfully, most of the time, is a testament to the immense skill of our species as information managers.
It's been a while since I read any histories of early Christianity, but I recall several authors discussing a ratchet effect. Controversy, church members take sides, and one side wins. The church's position on X has just become more explicit, more constrained. Attention then shifts to a new controversy. Over time, beliefs, and rules, become ever stricter. You seem to be discussing the same effect, but saying that the ratchet effect can stop; that there's an equilibrium point at which there's just the right amount of interpretive play. I'm not so sure that the ratchet effect is easily stopped. It seems much more common for an organization to fracture rather than manage to paddle in place. Could this be applicable to the history of Judaism and the evolution of Judaic law? I'm not an expert, but I have the impression that over the millenia, rules have become ever stricter and more detailed. When some Jews felt that this made it impossible to adapt to modern life, they left Orthodoxy to form Conservative or Reform synagogues. Evolution of rules in various Hindu traditions might also be something to investigate. I have the impression that there has been a ratcheting of dietary rules, as Brahmins became ever more vigilant about purity. Vide the comparatively recent objections to onion and garlic, which are supposed to rouse the animal passions.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Today, October 5 would be the 24th year of the International Teachers Day ( a.k.a World Teacher's Day). Initially established in 1994, this day focuses on the appreciation of educators especially teachers and even university professors as well as their role played in the development of students; thus giving an immense contribution to society. Although in some countries it may be celebrated on different days, many nations have given importance and appreciation to the role of the teachers in the society.
With generations of teachers in the family, everyone strongly believes that education is beyond the blackboards and the books. During my high school days, I had chanced to read the "Letter to His Son's Teacher" , a letter Abraham Lincoln had allegedly wrote to his son's school teacher on the first day of class. Though the letter is every parent's wish that their children would learn, sources and citations are insufficient to claim that the letter was originally written by Abe Lincoln.
In spite of the query of authenticity, this letter holds additionally to subject or textbook learning what teachers and educators should make sure their students learn. For those of us, who haven't read it, the letter is as follows.
So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know, teaching him – but gently, if you can. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. He will have to know that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader.
Teach him to be gentle with people,tough with tough people. Steer him away from envy if you can and teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Teach him if you can – how to laugh when he is sad, teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success. Teach him to scoff at cynics.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is doing it. Teach him to listen to every one, but teach him also to filter all that he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind, in God.
Life as we all know isn't restricted to books alone or to the hard facts of knowledge. It is a blend of learning, thinking, emotional and social responsibilities with innate faith in God and oneself. To live a life of meaning will require us to look beyond the desk of assignments and grades alone. They are indeed essential in order to dream of aims, ambitions and to reach them as well. Yet there is a world out there beyond that, which every parent wishes their child would learn so as to eventually would carve a niche for themselves in it.


Rising to the top: Top Seiko Co., Ltd.
Rising to the topTop Seiko Co., Ltd.
Website: Top Seiko Co., Ltd.
A machining and manufacturing company based in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Top Seiko Co., Ltd. specializes in machining hard and dense materials. From the time of its foundation in 2001, CEO Yoichi Azai has had one goal: to make his company the top precision machining and manufacturing company in the world.
Top Seiko initially started out manufacturing components for electronics but during the recent economic downturn, client orders dried up and they lost over 100 million yen in total revenue. This led the company to diversify and actively seek new clients across industries, ranging from the energy sector to precision medical components. Top Seiko is willing to take on any manufacturing challenge for any customer, provided that the customer designed the components themselves or has the rights to produce the components-they don't produce copied or pirated components.
Top Seiko produces components designed by other companies, and many of these designs are for components that have never been made before or are to be used in environments where even microscopic flaws could be costly. As a result, they often need to develop new, sometimes single-application-specific tools and workflows. These tools are then produced by tool-manufacturing companies according to Top Seiko's specifications. For metals, the tools are made from tungsten carbide; for ceramics, they use diamonds. When paired with their automated, programmable machinery, they can produce components with an accuracy of within 1.5 microns. In their 13 years of operation, they haven't had a single major mistake, and the few errors they do make are always in the initial development phase of each job, when they deliberately push the limits to find out exactly where they lie.
Top Seiko's reliability and attention to detail has gained them customers throughout Japan as well as in Taiwan, Singapore, Europe and the U.S. They're actively seeking new customers in the States, where many industries require increasingly precise and intricately made components. These new developments often require Top Seiko to push their own limits and improve their abilities even further. International expansion has always been part of the company's business plan, and it has links to international student exchange programs and has even hired a graduate from one of those programs to work in its international sales department.
There are very few, if any, other companies that can drill a perfect 25 micron hole into some of the hardest substances on earth. As Top Seiko admits, very few customers need that kind of capability; however, the niche does exist and Top Seiko is determined to keep working toward their goal of being the top company in that niche. As the company continues to develop, refine and perfect its workflows, it constantly pushes the limits of what can be done with those substances. As human innovation develops even newer ceramics and composites to handle ever more extreme temperatures and pressures, Top Seiko aims to remain at the vanguard of turning those substances into cutting-edge components.


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Rent is more than 30% more expensive in five cities: why will it continue to rise in 2023?
The national price average rose 7.4%, with strong increases in Mediterranean municipalities with a large tourist weight. 17 capitals rose above 10%, including Barcelona, with 16.2%, and Madrid, with 12.5%.
The consequences of the hyperactive 2022 in the rental market are palpable in many details, such as the shortage of supply or the short time that ads for homes that are offered survive, but the one that has a more direct impact on the market. day by day of homes, due to its impact on the pocket, is the increase in the price of the square meter. In that period, the national average rose 7.4% to stand at 11.03 euros, according to data from the real estate portal Fotocasa, which confirms that it is the third year with the highest rise since 2007. To see the true dimension of the evolution of prices, it is convenient to transfer it to a specific case: To be able to rent a 75 square meter home a year ago you had to pay 770 euros per month; now, the disbursement reaches 827that is, 684 euros more per year.
But there are cases in which the increases are especially noteworthy: there are five municipalities in Spain that exceed the value of a year ago by more than 30%. They are Estepona (35.3%), Benidorm (34.7%), Mijas (33.9%), Santa Pola (33.2%) and Malaga (31.1%). The pattern in these cities is recognizable and, in fact, it is the same for the ten municipalities that have become more expensive since December 2021. All on the shores of the Mediterranean and all with a powerful tourism industry.. In them, the tension between high demand and low supply is greater than in the others, due to the resurgence of tourist housing. With the pandemic, many of these properties returned to the traditional rental market, but with tourism returning to normal, which will complete its recovery this year, all these homes have returned at great speed. The loss of rental housing stock, a common problem in most Spanish cities, is more pronounced in tourist cities. Hence, most of the cities where rent is more expensive are also tourist destinations: Barcelona tops this list, with 19.55 euros per square meter; Calvi, with 19.27; San Sebastian, with 18.16 and Ibiza, with 18.13.
See also Grupo Sol is betting to make Mobil the leading brand in Puerto Rico
It is also noticeable how the pressure on rental prices is greater in the capitals than in the rest of the municipalities. Ace, up to 17 capitals rose more than 10% over the previous year. Of course, the aforementioned Malaga heads the list and is followed by Alicante (27.5%), Palma de Mallorca (22.9%), Valencia (21.3%) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (17.8%). On the contrary, there is negative growth, but they are very specific cases: they are, specifically, León, 3.9% cheaper than a year ago; and Palencia, 1.5% more. Once again, in the capitals it is true that the highest increases are in tourist cities and the lowest in inland ones, except in the case of Vila, which with its increase of 15.1% was the seventh most expensive.
Despite the fact that the economic situation points to a worsening, with consequences in a job market whose good work is essential for real estate, it seems that this 2023 will also be up. "We consider that The economic context and the change in the mortgage cycle will put more pressure on the scarce rental offerso it is likely that we will continue setting price maximums in 2023″, predicts in this regard Mara Matos, director of Studies and spokesperson for Fotocasa.
Third largest increase since 2007
The evolution of the rental price since 2007 has been full of curves, braking and acceleration. Now, we are in one of the latter, since 2022 was the year with the third best rise since then. It should be noted, however, that the two years with the highest price increases were 2017 and 2018, when prices were still far from record highs and had a long way to go, the opposite of last year, when the price reached its record in several big cities. "All the autonomous communities, with the exception of Aragón and Castilla-La Mancha, have presented the highest rental prices during the past year", points out the Director of Studies at Fotocasa. There are several reasons that explain these increases and they have to do with supply and demand, but also with the purchase market: "The fury of the sale, the revival of tourist leasing and the rent limitation measures have led to the "supply is further reduced. Compared to the previous year, the 'stock' has contracted by 32%, causing the imbalance between supply and demand to increase and push the price up," says Matos.
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New York ends religious exemptions for vaccines, Gov. Cuomo signs bill into law
Bill to end religious exemptions for vaccinations passed both the State Senate and Assembly, signed by Governor Cuomo.
By: Ala Errebhi
New York is now requiring all schoolchildren to be vaccinated, even if parents have religious objections.
A bill to end religious exemptions for vaccinations passed both the State Senate and Assembly Thursday afternoon, and Governor Andrew Cuomo signed it into law.
Existing New York State law requires all children in the state to get immunizations, including measles, mumps and rubella.
Now the only exemption under the law is if a physician excuses a child if there's a medical reason to do so.
Assemblyman Pat Burke co-sponsored this bill, 7 EWN spoke to him back in February about exemptions.
"If someone has an auto-immune disease and just can't have it, or there are several reasons why someone can't be vaccinated, those are the exemptions," he said.
The United States is experiencing the worst outbreak of measles since the disease was eradicated in 2000.
Recent numbers from the CDC show reported measles cases are at 1,022.
Senator David Carlucci, who also co-sponsored the bill says this is a matter of public health.
"People say 'Well I'm healthy, it's my choice, I can do what I want to do. The reality is that why we ask you to get vaccinated is not necessarily just for yourself, it's to protect those that can't get vaccinated," he said.
Southtowns mother Marina Williams sued the state and the Orchard park school district, after they denied her daughters from attending school because they aren't vaccinated.
Williams said vaccines are against her family's religion, and are considered "foreign substance that is not naturally found in the body".
A State Supreme Court Judge ruled against her. Her two daughters now attend a different school which the family wishes not to disclose.
California does not allow parents to opt out of vaccinating their children because of religious or personal beliefs.


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Mount Tallac is a mountain peak southwest of Lake Tahoe, in El Dorado County, California. The peak lies within the Desolation Wilderness in the Eldorado National Forest. It is quite visible from State Routes 89 and 28, and U.S. Route 50.  A "cross of snow" is clearly visible on the mountain's face during the winter, spring, and early summer months.

The mountain is shown on maps of the Whitney Survey as Chrystal Peak. In 1877, the Wheeler Survey named the peak "Tallac", after the Washo word "daláʔak", meaning 'big mountain'.

An estimated 10,000 climb the peak each year via routes approaching the summit from Desolation Wilderness to the west, Fallen Leaf Lake to the East, and access roads from the north.  Wilderness permits are required to hike Mount Tallac. For day hikes, permits are free and self-issued at the trailhead. There is a quota for overnight hikes on Mount Tallac (and throughout Desolation Wilderness), but there is no quota for day hiking.

The opening sequence of the TV series Bonanza was filmed at the McFaul Creek Meadow, with Mount Tallac in the background.

Climate
Mount Tallac is located in an alpine climate zone. Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range.

References

External links

Alpine Ski Tours - Lake Tahoe: Southwest Topographic Map

Mountains of the Desolation Wilderness
Mountains of El Dorado County, California
Tourist attractions in El Dorado County, California
Mountains of Northern California

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What Is Zimbabwean Music Today? Some Musings with Mudhara Danga – Part Two
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What Is Zimbabwean Music Today? Some Musings with Mudhara Danga
In this concluding article of a two-part series of articles, writer and scholar, Lennon Mhishi considers the past and future of Zimbabwean music with legendary African music promoter and musician, Wala Danga
[Part Two]
You already know that I was dancing to Jojo in the late 80s and early 90s. I am not sure if the late Leornard "Musorowenyoka" Dembo ever performed in the UK, but I have often heard and read of the legend of one of his songs, Chitekete, being played at a Miss World event. It seemed Zimbabwean music at this period was enjoying transnational acclaim, basking in the euphoria of a newly independent nation. I think of the 90s as better years, of course, to what I experienced of Zimbabwe post -2000, socio-economically and politically. Yet I also think of structural adjustment, what was called ESAP, and how we would get these ESAP branded pens in primary school. Because of space limitations, there was such a thing, as still exists I am sure, called hot-seating. One group would attend school in the morning till about midday, another from midday to late afternoon. This meant time sitting on the bonde, and listening to these artists that Mudhara Danga worked with on their tours in the UK.
Growing up later in Highfield, one of the earliest black townships in Harare, for me encounters with the "been tos", people who had travelled to the UK and elsewhere, were rare.
There must have been one girl, who I often heard people berating for having gone to the UK and brought back unacceptable dressing habits, of short skirts and tight trousers. I did not mind. A certain kind of music was also starting to emerge, appealing to a younger, urban based, post-independent Zimbabwean generation. Artists like Fortune Mparutsa, who was later to move to the UK, had hit songs such as Wangu Ndega, a song talking about what he would do to ensure a girl remains his alone. In a call to use protection, he used the word condom in the song, and I used to squirm and cringe because the word seemed an obscenity then.
Fortune also had a song called Kure Kwaunoenda, lamenting the departure of a loved one. Together with songs in the mould of Tombofara by Kelvin and Muzi, who were rumoured to either have returned at that time, or subsequently left for the "diaspora", there was a shift to a soul-like, R'n'B inspired music in Zimbabwe. There are obviously many other examples of musicians like Prince Tendai , Edwin Hama, Frontline Kids and many more.
Fred Zindi has said the Frontline Kids called their music "Afro-acid", a fusion of jiti and Western sounds. The Frontline Kids toured the UK in 1991. I struggle, from my memory alone, to remember prominent female artists in that period, nor can I name all those who paved the ground for what we eventually came to call "Urban Grooves" in Zimbabwean music today.
There certainly is a very important point to be made about how the music industry then leaned towards men, which was not peculiar to Zimbabwe, and which is something that merits a more sustained conversation around the development of female musicians and their appreciation in Zimbabwe.
Colonial morality and laws around mobility and the policing of women's bodies remained critical in shaping urban cultures, as well as post-colonial musical practices. I return to the "urban grooves" examples because they offer a poignant instance of how different musical experiences were certainly shaped by place as well as generational (historical) events and concerns. From the protest, to the celebratory, to the urban groves, which are neither mutually exclusive or linear in their development (that word again!).
Meanwhile, having established a name bringing Zimbabwean artists to the UK, and the popularity that the music had garnered, Mudhara Wala worked with the other people and groups in African music.
"With the popularity of these tours other African musicians wanted to work with me .We set up Limpopo club at the Africa Centre then at this period with a conscious effort of an African led promotion to push our music forward using a PAN African front. We ran the weekly club for over 25 years bringing different African bands from all over Africa and the Caribbean (of) these include launching and giving their debut performances in London, Angelique Kidjo,Baaba Maal,Misty in Roots,Chanderliers from Trinidad, Bembeya Jazz ,Les Amazones,Simba Wanyika,Them Mushrooms,Kokeb,Seeds of Creation,Dele Sosimi,ET Mensah,Nana Ampedu & African Brothers Band, Remmy Ongala,Kanda Bongoman,Sona Diabate, to name a few. It was the hub of African Music in London if not in Europe itself .(With)the demise of the Africa Centre brought with it less visibility of African music in London and less new talent being showcased, less stages for African bands to perform on. Increasingly we have been observing this lack of spaces for African Bands to perform in London, more and more places closing down."
Having been in London for only a year, I caught a glimpse of the remnants of an active Africa Centre before it folded and was packed onto the shelves of history as a place, a space that once catered to a people. I am sure the walls are stuck with memories, unseen, and the floors invisible footsteps of those who passed through it.
Maybe the pores of the building absorbed the sweat and tears of those who danced, cried, found love, fought, and made a home for music and art in the Africa Centre. It now only exists to people like me in the stories and memories of people like Mudhara Wala. Lament, or laud, or neither?
In a conversation with a friend, it was opined that there seems, just as there have been generational shifts with literature, music and all such, to have been a shift in the appreciation of Zimbabwean music, especially in the past decade as Zimbabwe-Britain relations became icy, and particular narratives gained traction in the UK, and in Zimbabwe. Who said music is not politics, and vice versa? This, similar to the historical relationship of women and music in Zimbabwe, and its diasporic communities, merits its own space.
Mudhara Wala, if for different reasons, does believe that there has been a shift in the appreciation of Zimbabwean music
" The music post 80s is not as popular as it was with the host nation audiences but has remained confined to the Zimbabwean community. Bands come and perform for Zimbabwe audiences in Leicester ,Coventry and London .There are a few Bands being formed here in the UK, of these include Heritage Survival, The Gentleman's Band, The New Green Arrows UZambezi, Royal Destiny, Obert Mazivisa, Jane Doka, these last three groups being Gospel. The audiences mostly refugees /migrant workers use the music as a therapy for reminiscing the good times they had when they were still in Zimbabwe. It appears that there is a polarization, the old and the young in their musical tastes with the growth of Zimbabwe Reggae dancehall styles and the Urban grooves the young seem to move away from the more traditional type of music Thomas Mapfumo and Oliver Mutukudzi styles now reserved for the middle aged and older folks in the community."
It seems obvious that there would be a generational connect, but it is not. Some young Zimbabweans I have encountered in London are making an effort to reconnect with musical genealogies they may have lost contact with due to the migratory journey, and growing up in a different context. Musical tastes have become eclectic, definitions of what is Zimbabwean music (more) multiple, and replete with fusions of different types of music. One discovers that musicians like Shingi Shonhiwa (formerly of the Noisettes), who may self-identify, or are appropriated as Zimbabwean, play music that does not fit into the mould of either world, or Zimbabwean music. If it is music, played or performed by someone identified as Zimbabwean, does it become Zimbabwean music?
Declines in economic fortune, and technological changes have also brought about a shift in the music, and Mudhara Wala feels it is important for young Zimbabwean artists to still promote traditional Zimbabwean music.
"With the recession it appears that there ares less groups being formed in comparison to the mid 80s; the content of the music and lyrics has changed. Most of the music being produced now is computer generated music. Artists or the technicians have found a cheaper way of producing music; this has resulted in the major recording companies closing down. The readily available technology has seen the growth of piracy, less remunerations to the musicians and slow decline in the growth of the music Industry. The lack of new Acts coming in to the UK has seen audience attendance going down; To move forward one would have to reverse these processes, encourage original recordings, play and record live music more… it sounds better than the computer generated music; bring back good sound recording companies that can record and produce high quality music. Encourage good musicianship, good creative lyrics, good workmanship, and take the music Industry as a viable Industry like any other on the part of the government invest in it. For the musicians there is a need to develop and compose of our indigenous Zimbabwean traditional music to the highest standards. For the audiences we need to support our local musicians and criticize if you must and be part of our new music renaissance. We have done[it] before, I am convinced we can do it again.
I regard myself as an eternal optimist, but my views concerning how many fortunes are tied to the politics and socio-economic condition of nations make it difficult for me to see a revival in the fortunes of artists, or recording companies, without the revival of the various sectors of the nations at large. Something about the whole being greater or something, I am not sure which hole I am digging myself into.
One cannot help being cynical and jaded. What is indigenous or traditional to a group of young Zimbabweans who have grown up in London, or even their counterparts in Harare, or Bulawayo?
I have watched Winky Dee send "Afropolitan" youths crazy with his lyrics in Shona from South Africa, to Australia, Canada and the UK.
Watched Lady Squanda sing about common social issues, in a language that reconnects to other places, and other times. One can make preferences in musical taste, and claims to aunthenticity, but one thing is for sure, Zimbabwean music will never be the same.
When I go to Youtube, and click on an urban grooves song, I think of how far Zimbabwe has come, of what I have missed and continue to miss out on in the lingo of urban Zimbabwe, in the resilience which sometimes seems a curse.
When I click on other older songs, I think of my grandparents, my parents, independence celebrations at Chakonda, at the "stadium" next to the council offices, where Gore the midget used to dance Jerusarema with the beautiful girls from Jiti High School. I think of my mother singing songs by the Bhundu Boys, or Clive Malunga, of my father, rarely, doing this dance we always laugh at him for doing.
I think of my red Caltex dungaree, bought from the cotton harvest, I think, in which I would dance to Jojo, before I knew about oil, and degradation, and the general fuckery of the world.
By the time Paul Lunga is done raising the sleeping beauty, blowing soft kisses, as if after intense love-making, I am in a trance. He finishes too early. I pride myself in not being awe struck, or a victim of celebrity worship, but I get a CD signed.
Lennon Mhishi is a Zimbabwean, who tries to pass as a writer and academic.
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On President Trump and Trumpism: A Roundtable Discussion at SUNY New Paltz
February 15, 2017 / Faheem Haider / 0 Comments
Last week, the Department of Political Science and International Relations at SUNY New Paltz convened a roundtable discussion on the state of the Trump presidency a little more than two weeks in. Clocking in at just over an hour, the panel discussion and ensuing conversation with the audience set the context for where we are and where we might be going. The take-away was that one possible solution to Trump and his ambiguities lies in an institutional response to Trumpism, and that audience members might best channel their energies to directed political organization and action, including running for office, as a means to confront and resist the politics of prevarication and anti-democratic calumny over the next 4 years.
Photo credit: KT Tobin
The panel, composed of Nancy Kassop, Stephen Pampinella, Daniel Lipson, and Gerald Benjamin, offered views grounded in the ethic of resistance and response, not reaction. The discussion was organized around questions posed by moderator Scott Minkoff. With particular attention to institutional dynamics, panelists offered their views on domestic government and politics, international relations, and environmental politics. The discussion focused in particular on two dimensions: Trump's political strengths and weaknesses, and the institutions and industrial and populist partisans that are now organizing in opposition to the president's inarticulate, inchoate arch-conservative, corporate-friendly policy agenda.
Starting out the conversation Nancy Kassop argued that Trump's transition team did not prepare for its tenure in the White House; the other panelists seemed to agree that this lack of preparation has been remarkably costly. Power is being centralized in the White House, but Trump's non-hierarchical "spokes-of-the –wheel" style of decision-making, staffed with people of uncertain expertise and allegiance, has produced a chaotic first few weeks in office.
Following Kassop, Stephen Pampinella argued that the process by which national security policy is implemented has broken down. This is a dangerous state of affairs at a time when the national interests of the United States have been cast as prior to international security. He also argued that the post-war liberal order, codified in the treaties and commitments that together frame and direct the political conduct and mutually advantageous trade among nations might well be threatened by Trumpism. Consider the astonishing fact that over the course of his first scheduled call with President Putin President Trump asked his advisors what the recently hammered out new START nuclear treaty was, and then immediately, and apparently without much consideration, denounced it. That, the past weekend's fiasco over North Korea's missile test, and the resignation of Michael Flynn, Trump's National Security Advisor, on Monday suggest that the new administration has a lot of work to do before it can even begin to roll out its "America First" strategy.
Gerald Benjamin took a rigorously institutionalist approach. He argued that we have let the presidency and its related offices become increasingly more powerful over the last two hundred years, and it has become possible that the constitutional arrangements that were designed to control the presidency are ill-suited for our contemporary moment. Though it may be unwise to restructure the national constitution "because the risk is too great," he said, "now we have this institution that is threatening the fundamentals of our [democratic] premises, and we're going to test these institutions. We're going to test federalism, separation of powers. We're going to test the constraints that a piece of paper, a document, can place upon people who control armies."
For Benjamin, the proper response to malfeasance is to re-direct those institutions to serve the public interest. Connecting federalism to resistance, both Benjamin and Lipson after him argued forcefully that Republicans across the country will push back on Trumpism in its most outrageous guises if only because some aspects of Trumpism might not suit the mainstream Republican brand. As Kassop noted, the resistance looks set to arrive in the form of lawsuits and legislation sponsored by states attorneys general alone, and in concert. Exactly that strategy recently proved successful: the 9th Circuit court unanimously refused to reinstate the Trump administration's "Muslim" travel ban.
Benjamin encouraged the young students in the audience to rise up and vote for their preferred candidates and their preferred policies. Do it, he said, and who knows, we might have a public-centered politics yet again. Do it, run for local office, he said, and use that as training to run for state office, and then state-wide office, and then use that training to seek national office.
Dan Lipson offered a left-populist analytical view on the weaknesses of the Trump administration. He argued that though Trump promised miners and industrial workers sustainable employment in industries like coal, and manufacturing, structural forces within the market – such as automation and the cheaper cost of gas – would delay or fundamentally block the administration's attempts to keep those promises. Jobs have been outsourced or outright cut not because of bad trade deals, but because of industrial transformation. Coal jobs simply aren't coming back. Moreover, Lipson argued that factions within Trump's coalition actually favor a direct response to our climate challenges. The Department of Defense, he said, considers environmental risks a major threat to our national security. The Koch Bros. and others on the right, he added, are now insisting the US needs to confront the reality of climate change.
Lipson added that Trump is much weaker than we think he is. The demographics are against him. His coalition is ripe for fracture, and it's possible that his presidency is the long-delayed last stand of Reaganism. Striking notes familiar to readers of Corey Robin's analysis in social media and in left-leaning publications, Lipson specified the content and context of the fight ahead.
The administration's rocky first days have opened up the space for Democratic and populist resistance. Vocal opponents of President Trump like Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand are already being mentioned as presidential candidates for the 2020 race. Still, these early days for the Trump administration foreshadow dangerous times for the nation and the world. This panel discussion foreshadowed that there is every promise of more to come.
Hudson Valley Politics, New York State politics, The Benjamin Center, Trump and Trumpism, Trumpism in New York
Corey RobinDan LipsonGerald BenjaminNancy KassopScott MinkoffStephen PampinellaTrumpism and CoalTrumpism and Foreign PolicyTrumpism and National Security
Introducing Mid-Hudson Currents
Three Proposals That Assure Independent Oversight by Elected County Comptrollers


Reporting to the Chief Fisheries Officer.
· Assist the officer in-charge of fisheries at County level in overall management of fisheries resource at the Sub-County level.
· Undertake fisheries extension activities, maintenance of fish ponds at farms.
· Bachelor degree in any of the following fields: -Fisheries management, Aquatic science, Natural Resource Management, Food Science and Technology, Bio-chemistry, Zoology, Aquaculture and Aquatic science, Environmental Science and Biological Sciences or any other equivalent qualification from a recognized Institution.
· Analyze fisheries data and compile report.
· Assist the officer in-charge of fisheries at County level in overall management of fisheries resource at the Ward level.
· Assist in marketing of fish quality assurance and value addition.
· Bachelor degree in any of the following fields: – Fisheries management, Aquatic Science, Natural Resource Management, Food Science and Technology, Bio-chemistry, Zoology, Aquaculture and Aquatic Science, Environmental Science and Biological Sciences.
· Any relevant experience in fisheries will be an added advantage.
· A Diploma certificate in either Fisheries management, Natural resource management or equivalent and relevant qualification from a recognized institution in Kenya.
· Plotting out of effective effluent treatment plants for small scale tanneries.
· Any other duties as may be assigned by the Chief Officer.
· Be in possession of at least KCE Division II or a mean grade of C or its equivalent with credits in relevant subjects.
· Have a Diploma in Leather Science/Technology or Animal Health/Husbandry/Environmental Science with previous hides and skins training at Certificate level.
· Any relevant experience in leather development will be an added advantage.
Reporting to the Chief Officer, Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.
· Co-ordinate all activities in hides and skins leather development.
· Compile annual and monthly reports.
· Collect and promote dissemination of scientific knowledge in hides and skins.
· Provide advice to industries in leather production and processing.
· Have a Bachelor of Science degree course in leather technology.
· Academic and Professional Certificates and other testimonials.
· Certificate of Good conduct from the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D).
· A certificate from a recognized Credit Reference Bureau (C.R.B).
· Clearance from the Higher Education Loans Board (H.E.L.B).
· Clearance certificates from Ethics & Anti-Corruption Commission (E.A.CC).
· Tax compliance certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority (K.R.A).
The County Government of Nyeri is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified persons from any part of the country are encouraged to apply.


CURV3D is the project that Johan himself likes the most, it is also the project that have been the most popular on forums and social media.Johan started working on this at the same time as Cold Winter, it all started as a small side-project but quickly turned into something bigger and more time-consuming. The idea was to build something really small, with a unique shape that would fit into the living room.
Johan started out with two bent acrylic pieces that was put together, the rest you can see below. Johan also won several modding competitions with this small build.
Cut out aluminium front and backplate, painting them white.
Cut out hole for LCD, powerbutton and I/O-plate.
Cutting out a hole in the bottom for 2x 120mm fans.
Making a custom dustfilter and fangrill.
Sleeving everything white and blue.
In the first part Johan shows how he started building the case, adding fans and designed the frontplate.
In the second part Johan goes through how he finishes up the backplate, he testfits the system as well as makes a custom SSD-holder and installing the fans with dustfilters.
In the third part Johan creates custom-cables for the Nano-PSU and sleeves everything as well as painting the front and backplate, installing the LCD and polishes the acrylic.
In the fourth part Johan shows how the hardware was installed, how the AIO-edition ended up looking and how everything went at the modding contest at Dreamhack Winter 2016.
In 2013 Johan took CURV3D with him to compete in a swedish modding contest called Pimp my Rig at the LAN-event Birdie, he won both 1st place as well as People's Choice.
He won hardware from MSI as well as cases from Cooler Master and Lian Li.
In november 2016 Johan came in second place in the enthusiast class of the Cooler Master Dreamhack Casemod Championship with his AIO-edition of CURV3D. He won 7500SEK and some hardware from Cooler Master.
Johan got the opportunity to write a build-log article at Bit-Tech about CURV3D.
A interview with Johan about CURV3D was also published in the print magazine Custom PC.


Please let me win the Lotto! Isn't this home just stunning?? It's fresh, inviting, cosy and just my style. The home is currently on the market and is located in Alstonville – northern New South Wales.
The farmhouse interior combines luxurious organic textures with chic coastal touches that embody the laidback indoor/outdoor North Coast lifestyle. The owners along with a creative building and design team set out to create a warm family home 'where the country meets the shore'.
Nestled amongst rolling hills, a spring fed dam and a nearby creek, you can enjoy long walks across the picturesque countryside as well as splashing in the creek with the kids, trail riding on your horses or exploring the property on your motorbike or 4 wheeled all-terrain vehicle. Plus, not to forget gardening your very own organic produce. – Agent.
The home is being sold by First National Real Estate. All images are owned by the agency.


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Our insurance for fashion designers is tailored to meet your needs. We have partnered with A-Rated insurer Beazley to customise a product to fit you, creating cost savings that we pass on to you.
What insurance does a fashion designer need?
As a fashion designer, you can make mistakes that cost your client's money. You can insure this risk with professional indemnity insurance. We also offer public liability, business equipment and cyber liability insurance.
How much does fashion designer insurance cost?
Less than you think! From 25p a day we can provide professional indemnity insurance of £100,000 each claim. Our average fashion designer pays less than £18 per month.
Every customer has different needs. Our most popular limit for fashion designers is £1,000,000 professional indemnity, £1,000,000 public liability and £2,000 of business equipment.


As part of your 72 Hour Plan, it is an important step in communicating your whereabouts and safety to your family or group.
Communication is the linchpin in any group situation. All members of the group must understand the situation, the priorities, and the end goal. Keeping in touch can be challenging if you are not together when the plan must be put into action.
1. An out of state contact that everyone will call to report your status.
2. A designated meeting location. This is normally your home, but if you are on vacation or it is your home that is damaged by the event you need a set location to meet. Somewhere safe, out of the elements is a good choice. Choose a nearby neighbor and reciprocate as their meeting location too. This also helps reinforce the idea of community.
Take action today, put a communication card in your wallet, purse, school backpack, with the out of state contact and the meeting locations you have designated.


I can make a simple, affordable website for you. This way you can focus on whatever it is you love to do.
We can create a Facebook page and Twitter account for your business.
We can do this with the power of G Suite.
I grew up in Philippines.
I migrated to Canada and is now living in beautiful British Columbia.
I work full-time at Gumstix Research Canada Ltd.
I am a frustrated blogger, excited traveler, and money collector.
My favorite application is Swarm by Foursquare. I am a Level 5 Superuser.
I am a Google Certified Educator Level 1 and 2. I used to be a Google Certified Trainer.
I am a Level 7 Google Local Guide.
I love the Harry Potter universe and enjoys time traveling with Doctor Who (11th Doctor will always be my favorite).
I am married to an Android developer.
I want to catch 'em all with Pokemon GO!
Want to use G Suite?


Taylor Kaye has the latest entertainment news making headlines this week.
President Obama said he should not have to speak personally with the leaders of Russia and China regarding self-professed NSA leaker Edward Snowden, and said he was "not going to be scrambling jets to get a 29-year-old hacker" during a press conference in Senegal on Thursday.
The president was on the first leg of a trip to Africa when he struck the seemingly dismissive tone regarding the former defense contractor who claimed to have leaked details of two top-secret government data-gathering programs before initiating an international manhunt that has grown to involve the governments of China, Ecuador, and Russia.
Snowden, 30, is believed to still be hiding at a Moscow airport awaiting a ruling on his request for asylum from the government of Ecuador. Snowden flew to Russia from Hong Kong over the weekend but has not been seen since his arrival. Russian officials told Reuters that he remains in a transit area at Sheremetyevo airport.
He was not aboard an Aeroflot flight that departed Moscow to Havana on Thursday, the first stop on an anticipated escape route to the South American country.
A man reads a newspaper with the Spanish headline "Snowden stuck at Moscow airport" in Quito, Ecuador, on Wednesday.
Snowden's case resolved "some pretty significant vulnerabilities" at the National Security Agency, Obama said. Snowden worked for defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton before being fired, and said in an interview with the South China Morning Post that he took the job to gain access to sensitive information. NBC News could not independently verify the report.
The U.S. is worried that Snowden might have other documents in his possession that he may "dribble out," Obama said.
Ecuador's communications minister said on Thursday that his country renounced hundreds of millions of dollars in trade tariff benefits, the Associated Press reported. Communications Minister Fernando Alvarez said the trade benefits being considered for renewal by U.S. lawmakers had become an "instrument of blackmail" as the country considered granting asylum to Snowden.
Ecuador "does not accept threats from anybody, and does not trade in principles, or submit to mercantile interests, as important as they may be," Alvarez said, according to the AP.
In Washington, the head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has threatened to lead the effort to remove preferential trade treatment for Ecuadorian goods if the country decides to offer asylum to Snowden.
Hours later, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman told reporters the administration had accepted an industry petition to consider revoking Ecuador's benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences program. That petition actually pre-dates current tension between the two countries over Snowden.
In 2012, Ecuador exported some $5.4 billion worth of oil, $166 million of cut flowers, $122 million of fruits and vegetables and $80 million of tuna to the United States.
Menendez said he would lead efforts to stop the renewal of Ecuador's duty-free access to America markets under the Generalized System of Preferences program, which expires on July 31. He also said he'd try and block renewal of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act, which also expires at the end of July.
The ongoing incident has also heightened tensions with China, as the country's defense minister said that the U.S. Internet monitoring program revealed in documents leaked by Snowden "has revealed the concerned country's true face and hypocritical behavior." Defense ministry spokesman Yang Yujun did not explicitly name the United States in his comments, Reuters reported.
NBC News' Ghazi Balkiz and Reuters contributed to this report.
A Maltese dog insured by Pets Best Insurance ate sand at the beach and landed at the Vet.
Tango, a German shorthaired pointer…chose to make a beach towel a summertime appetizer.
Pets Best Insurance, a leading nationwide pet insurance agency, has released its annual list of the top five bizarre and expensive insurance claims for the summer season. Since opening its doors in 2005, the Boise-based insurance company has experienced a steady stream of unusual summertime claims.
Zoie, an energetic Maltese, was living it up during a trip to the beach… until she swallowed some sand. When that followed with loss of appetite and vomiting, she ended up at the vet's office twice for close monitoring and treatment with intravenous fluids. Her total for both vet bills was $1,991, with Pets Best reimbursing $1,394.
For information about pet insurance plans offered by Pets Best Insurance, please visit http://www.petsbest.com.
Dr. Jack L. Stephens, president of Pets Best Insurance, founded pet insurance in the U.S. in 1981 with a mission to end euthanasia when pet owners couldn't afford veterinary treatment. Dr. Stephens went on to present the first U.S. pet insurance policy to famous television dog Lassie. Pets Best Insurance provides coverage for dogs and cats and is the only veterinarian founded and operated pet insurance company in the United States. Dr. Stephens leads the Pets Best Insurance team with his passion for quality pet care and his expert veterinary knowledge. He is always available to answer questions regarding veterinarian medicine, pet health and pet insurance. The Pets Best Insurance team is a group of pet lovers who strive to deliver quality customer service and value. Visit http://www.petsbest.com for more information.
Pet insurance plans offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance are underwritten by Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware Insurance company. Independence American Insurance Company is a member of The IHC Group, an insurance organization composed of Independence Holding Company, a public company traded on the New York Stock Exchange, and its operating subsidiaries. The IHC Group has been providing life, health and stop loss insurance solutions for nearly 30 years. For information on The IHC Group, visit: http://www.ihcgroup.com. In states in which Independence American Insurance Company's new policy form has not yet received regulatory approval, Aetna Insurance Company of Connecticut will underwrite policies. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own products. To determine the underwriter in your state, please call Pets Best at 1-866-929-3807.
Alotto Gelato, 931 N.W. 23rd Ave.
Salt Straw, 838 N.W. 23rd Ave.
Cool Moon Ice Cream, 1105 N.W. Johnson St.
Ben Jerry's, 301 N.W. 10th Ave. and 524 S.W. Yamhill St.
Ruby Jewel Scoops, 428 S.W. 12th Ave.
Cool Harry's Yogurt, 599 S.W. 10th Ave.
Lucky Spoon Frozen Yogurt, 780 S.W. Jefferson St.
If you're the wait-out-the-heat indoors type, check out the air-conditioned Portland Art Museum's Free Fourth Friday, this evening from 5 to 8 p.m., 1219 S.W. Park Ave. No admission, and in honor of the Cyclepedia exhibit, pedal-powered food carts, including tacos, ice cream and smoothies. On Saturday, the museum, in collaboration with Women on Wheels, Women on Bikes, and CycloFemme, is holding a series of talks and presentations (in the air conditioning) about the past, present and future of women and bicycles. It starts with "Past" at 12:30 p.m., goes to "Present" at 1:30 p.m., and ends with "Future" and 2:45 p.m.
If you're more the type to embrace the heat, tonight's Colored Pencils Cultural Night at Director Park, downtown at Southwest Park and Taylor, offers an evening of music, dance, food and art from 5:30 to 9 p.m. tonight. The event, co-hosted by the Somali American Council of Oregon, will end with the band "Three for Silver," which features a Brazilian drummer, Polish violinist, Russian clarinet player and Hungarian guitarist.
Music-wise we're flush this weekend. Wooden Indian Burial Ground — which Portland Monthly calls "officially one of Portland's best new bands" — will be rocking Star Theater, 13 N.W. Sixth Ave., on Saturday, with AND AND AND, Grandparents, and Summer Cannibals. Admission is $5.
And on Portland Monthly's recommendation: Jimmy Mak's, 221 N.W. 10th Ave., on Saturday is hosting a tribute to Etta James, the blues star who passed away last year. Some of the top lady singers in the Northwest will sing Etta James' hits. Admission is $10, with shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m.
Catch some comedy at Portland Center Stage's Ellyn Bye Studio, 128 N.W. 11th Ave., with "Lone Wolves," presented by Slingshot. The Mercury's recommendation wins me over: "Steven Humphrey is debuting his months-in-the-making statement about Taylor Swift. It involves 40 puppets." Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 — cash only — at the door.
On the theater front, "The Addams Family" musical opened this week at Keller Auditorium, 222 S.W. Clay St. The Oregonian's review says there's some repetition in the tunes, but "the show is awash with wry, dark humor, sentimental ballads and cheerful song-and-dance numbers, contrasting with the mock macabre sensibilities the cartoon family is known for." If anything, casting appears to be hilariously on point. Shows are 7:30 p.m. tonight, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $25 to $75.
And this is the last weekend for a few other shows: the lauded "The People's Republic of Portland" at Portland Center Stage, 128 N.W. 11th Ave.; the emotional "Ithaka" at Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 S.W. Morrison St.; and the mind warping "Somewhere in Time" at Gerding Theater, 128 N.W. 11th Ave.
New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) A new survey shows that changing lifestyle has exposed women to the risk of cardiovascular diseases, shattering the popular belief that oestrogen hormone protects them from such ailments.
The survey, "Visualising the Extent of Heart Disease in Indian Women", revealed that 65 percent doctors believe that oestrogen's deficiency due to changing lifestyle and other co-morbid conditions are among the top five reasons responsible for younger women developing cardiovascular diseases.
According to the survey, 55 percent of cardiologists observed 16-20 percent growth in cardiovascular diseases among women in the last five years, while 41 percent of the doctors claimed 10-15 percent growth in such diseases among women in the age group of 20-40 years — the category which was earlier considered protected from heart ailments.
"Quite contrary to conventional medical ideology that due to oestrogen hormone women, especially menstruating ones, are safe from heart diseases, lately, there has been a significant rise in number of female cardiovascular patients," said J.P.S. Sawhney, senior cardiologist at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here.
"The trend may be attributed to changing lifestyle, which is bringing such drastic hormonal changes that the heart protecting effect of oestrogen is getting nullified," Sawhney added.
The survey showed that due to changes in lifestyle, not only have the risk factors for the cardiovascular diseases like stress, smoking and drinking increased considerably, but co-morbid conditions like obesity, hypertension and diabetes have also gone up.
But despite the threat, 83 percent of the doctors believed that Indian women are ignorant about heart diseases, while 76 percent observed that women die of heart diseases as they do not seek medical assistance in time for their condition.
Sixty-six percent of doctors agreed that cardiovascular disease-related deaths among women are due to late diagnosis.
"Women often overlook symptoms and discomfort pertaining to heart diseases, and rarely consult an expert. Even if they opt for consultation, more often than not, they discontinue the treatment as soon as they get symptomatic relief. The compliance rate is comparatively poor among women," Sawhney said.
"Considering the fact that working women juggle home and work responsibilities, they are more likely to get exposed to stress and unhealthy lifestyle and, therefore, may be more prone to cardiovascular diseases as compared to non-working women," said Chandrakant S. Pandav, head of the department, Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
"Nevertheless, due to huge burden of household responsibilities and lack of self-care, non-working women cannot be considered to be at lesser risk," he added.
The survey covered about 600 cardiologists and general practitioners from both metro and non-metro cities and was based on subjective and objective questions.
"In India more than 400 million people have stress, which is one of the major reasons of all health problems, and change in lifestyles is a major reason causing cardio-vascular diseases, Pandav said.
"Cardio-vascular diseases in women in India, where a large percentage of the population is diabetic, are likely to increase by 17 percent in the coming 10 years, Kapil Yadav of the Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS said.
OAKVILLE, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – Jun 25, 2013) – Pethealth Inc. (PTZ.TO) ("Pethealth" or "the Company"), North America's leading provider of animal management software, microchip identification for companion animals, and pet health insurance, is pleased to announce that the total animals in the inventory of animal welfare organizations ("AWOs") utilizing the company's PetPoint data management system passed the 400,000 threshold on June 19, 2013. As a hosted application, the Company aggregates more data on both the animals in the care of AWOs as well as animals adopted to the public than any other company.
In surpassing the 400,000 plateau, the Company reported that it had 212,271 cats, 175,482 dogs and 12,257 other animals, including birds, rabbits, reptiles and other exotic animals in inventory. In 2012, total animals in inventory peaked at 373,012 on October 12, 2012. Animals in inventory of shelters generally peak in late 3rd quarter or early 4th quarter each year.
The Company's ability to aggregate data, including products purchased and used by AWOs in their day-to-day operations has allowed the Company to become a leading distributor for companion animal product manufacturers including Allflex USA Inc., Velcera, Inc. (now owned by Perrigo Company) and Mars Symbioscience.
The Company's position as the largest aggregator of shelter data has also made it the most trusted source within the Wall Street community for shelter data. On the third Monday of each month, the Company publishes its PetPoint Report which tracks all the significant trends in animal welfare. Reports can be viewed by visiting www.petpoint.com.
Increasingly banking analysts are focusing on trends in the animal welfare industry, including pet adoption, to better determine the valuations of those publicly traded companies they follow whose operations in whole or in part are focused on the companion animal marketplace. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, CL King Associates, Robert W. Baird Co., Nomura Equity Research, UBS Investment Research and Cleveland Research Company represent the growing number of financial institutions that now rely on the Company's monthly PetPoint Reports. It is estimated that 30% of new pet acquisitions are now completed via animal welfare organizations.
PetPoint also powers the Company's industry leading Petango.com network, including the only adoptable search website with live feeds of all animals posted as available for adoption. Updates to available animals and their profiles on Petango.com occur on average within 5 seconds of the change being effected in PetPoint. As a result of this unique capability the network has received an average of over 900,000 unique visitors per month in 2013, an increase of over 7% YoY. Petango.com was the second largest adoptable pet site in the world in terms of unique visitors in May 2013 according to comScore.
As the most accurate database of adoptable pets available, the site is trusted by many of North America's largest AWOs to power adoptable search on their own websites, including the Atlanta Humane Society, Kentucky Humane Society, the Washington Animal Rescue League, Sacramento SPCA and SPCA Serving Erie County, as well as over 900 other AWOs licensing the Company's PetPoint software. Licensed shelters therefore have the same live content on their own websites as found on Petango.com, thus making the search online for an adoptable dog or cat more robust and satisfying for visitors. No other adoptable search site provides the same degree of live content. Web traffic data compiled and transferred to PetPoint daily from these AWOs, for the period January 2013 to May 2013, totaled nearly 71M pages viewed, an increase of 52% YoY.
PetPoint was first introduced in March 2005. As a cloud based application, PetPoint not only helps shelters to better organize and manage their daily operations, but also to reduce, if not eliminate, IT-related infrastructure costs. Equally important, the application enhances operational reporting, allowing AWOs to better understand and use their data to reduce euthanizations and increase adoptions in the communities they serve. The Company previously reported that it had surpassed the 2,000th licensed AWO. As of today's date, 2,004 AWOs had licensed its application.
The success of PetPoint has made Pethealth the largest aggregator of data on animals entering AWOs. In 2012, over 2.3-million intakes were recorded through the software and over 980,000 adoptions. As of today's date, over 12.2-million animal intakes and over 4.7-million adoptions have been completed via the application since the product was first launched in 2005.
PetPoint, first introduced in 2005, is now licensed by over 2,000 animal welfare organizations in North America and has facilitated the adoption of over 4.7-million pets. As a cloud based application, animal welfare organizations can not only better organize and care for their homeless and abandoned animals, but can also reduce significantly, if not eliminate, their IT-related infrastructure costs. PetPoint is provided free to animal welfare organizations on the basis that these same organizations use the Company's 24PetWatch microchip and gift of insurance programs for all companion animals adopted, adoptable animals are then published on the Petango adoptable search platform. The 24PetWatch microchip program is the most widely used microchip and lost pet recovery service operating in both Canada and the United States.
Pethealth is North America's second largest provider of medical insurance for dogs and cats to pet owners, operating in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. In addition, the Company is the leading provider of management software to North American animal welfare organizations through its SaaS-based application and is the leading provider of pet related database management services to the North American companion animal industry. Pethealth offers a unique range of products and services for veterinarians, shelters and pet owners through a number of wholly owned subsidiaries using a range of brand names including PetCare, 24PetWatch, Pet Protect, Petpals Direct, PetPoint, Petango.com and ThePetangoStore.com.
last week while vacationing in Rome.
the sequel, according to director Roland Emmerich.
LOS ANGELES, June 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — HitFix (www.hitfix.com), the fastest growing provider of authentic entertainment news, today announced the launch of HeroFix, a new channel dedicated to sharing the latest and greatest from the superhero universe. A joint partnership with top comic site Comic Book Resources (CBR), HeroFix coverage will include comic book news and previews as well as general pop culture – film, TV and more – as it increasingly crosses into the world of superheroes. This strategic partnership goes beyond editorial to also see HitFix representing CBR in the advertising arena, creating a first to market opportunity for clients.
HeroFix is now available at www.hitfix.com/HeroFix.
CHICAGO, IL–(Marketwired – Jun 24, 2013) – For obese people with type 2 diabetes, a long-term intensive lifestyle intervention program, focused on weight loss, can improve physical quality of life, reduce microvascular complications, lower the risk of depression and lower medical costs by reducing the need for hospitalizations, outpatient care and medications, according to research presented today at the American Diabetes Association's 73rd Scientific Sessions®.
However, the intensive lifestyle intervention did not reduce the risk for heart attacks or strokes more than a comparison group given diabetes support and education, results from the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) clinical trial revealed. Look AHEAD is a two-armed randomized trial conducted in 16 centers across the United States with more than 5,000 overweight or obese adults aged 45-76 years diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Funded by the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the study assigned participants to one of two interventions: lifestyle (involving physical activity and weight loss), or diabetes support and education (involving three counseling sessions per year on nutrition, physical activity and social support).
"Participants were followed for up to 11.5 years, with a median follow-up of 9.6 years at the time the intervention ended. The primary goal was to determine whether the intensive intervention would reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity," said Rena Wing, PhD, chair of the Look AHEAD trial and professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, R.I.
Though participants in the intensive lifestyle intervention group initially lost 8.6 percent of body weight and maintained a loss of 6 percent of body weight at the end of intervention, which was better than researchers expected, the intensive lifestyle group did not reduce their risk of cardiovascular morbidity or mortality, or the level of LDL-cholesterol (the so-called "bad" cholesterol) compared to the group that received diabetes support and education. The support and education group lost 0.7 percent initially and 3.5 percent at the end of intervention.
Wing said there were numerous possible explanations for the unexpected results, including the greater use of medications to lower LDL cholesterol in the comparison condition, which may have minimized any difference between the groups. The study cannot rule out the possibility that greater weight losses might impact cardiovascular risk.
However, the intensive lifestyle intervention group did experience other benefits when compared to those in the comparison group, including reducing the risk of kidney disease, self-reported retinopathy and depressive symptoms. Other benefits included an improved physical quality of life, and reduced annual hospital rates and costs. Lifestyle intervention also produced greater reductions in A1C, and greater initial improvements in fitness and all CVD risk factors except LDL cholesterol.