text:
Christie's Revives the Market's Mood With a Strong $168 Million Impressionist and Modern Sale in London
The auction was led by a rare Monet that sold for $32.8 million.
Colin Gleadell, June 20, 2018
Claude Monet's La Gare Saint-Lazare, vue extérieure (1877). Image courtesy of Christie's Images Ltd.
The Impressionist and Modern market is back on track. Any gloom created by Sotheby's lackluster sale in London on Tuesday was lifted this evening by a very strong performance at Christie's. The house's Impressionist and Modern evening sale fetched £128.1 million ($168.3 million), toward the upper end of its £96.4 to £134.5 million pre-sale estimate. (Prices include buyer's premium; estimates do not.)
Heading into the sales, the two houses had almost identical pre-sale estimates—but the final results were very different. Sotheby's realized its lowest total since 2012, while Christie's had its second highest June sale in the category since 2012.
Christie's appeared to have gathered material for its sale without too much difficulty. In contrast to Sotheby's, which owed much of its final total to financial guarantees, Christie's auction carried only two guarantees, both of which were backed by third parties. The quality of the works on offer was also higher at Christie's, and the bidding was more spirited. Thirty of the 37 lots that sold fetched hammer prices within or above their estimates.
Pablo Picasso's Femme dans un fauteuil (Dora Maar) (1942). Image courtesy of Christie's Images, Ltd.
Like Sotheby's sale on Tuesday, Christie's auction was headlined by two big-ticket items: Monet's classic view of the Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris from 1877, with plumes of smoke billowing into the atmosphere—which carried a £22 million to £28 million estimate—and a slightly disturbing Picasso portrait of Dora Maar from 1942 with an unpublished £18 million to £25 million estimate.
Monet works from this series rarely come to market. Of the 12 train station paintings by Monet, nine are in museums. This work came from the estate of Texan collector Perry Bass (who donated many classic Impressionist paintings to the Kimbell Art Museum). It had not been on the market since the American collector bought it from Acquavella Galleries in 1985.
Despite its quality, the work only attracted limited bidding and sold near the low estimate for £25 million, including premium ($32.8 million). The unidentified buyer, who left immediately afterward, was sitting across the aisle from the dealer Bill Acquavella, who had sold the picture more than 30 years ago but did not appear to bid this time around (in spite of the auctioneer's constant attention).
The other top lot, Picasso's portrait of Dora Maar, was also relatively fresh to market, having been in the same collection for 28 years. It had been consigned by a European collector who bought it after it went unsold at auction in 1990 with a £3 million to £3.5 million estimate. The same fate might have befallen it again had it not been guaranteed. Xin Li, the deputy chairman of Christie's Asia, bought it for a client—though she has been known to take bids for non-Asian buyers—for £19.4 million ($25.4 million).
Asian bidding was more apparent on a lifetime cast of Rodin's Baiser, which sold to a client of Christie's vice president, director of Impressionist & Modern art for Asia, Elaine Holt, for £12.6 million ($16.6 million), well above its high estimate of £7 million, against competition from Oslo-based dealer Ben Frija.
Auguste Rodin's Baiser, moyen modèle dit "Taille de la Porte"–modèle avec base simplifiée (1885/1890). Image courtesy of Christie's Images, Ltd.
All told, it was a busy sale for Christie's Asian representatives, who also acquired works by Diego Giacometti, Egon Schiele, Monet, Renoir, and Camille Claudel on behalf of clients on the phone. Claudel, a lover of Rodin's, benefitted particularly from strong Asian interest. Of the six bronzes by Claudel in the sale, five sold to a client of Holt's. One, The Waltz, last sold in 2003 for $254,400; this time around, it fetched £1.1 million ($1.5 million).
Also riding a wave of Asian interest was Schiele, whose watercolor of a kneeling woman drew two Asian phone bidders into conflict until it ultimately sold to a Taiwanese representative of Christie's for £1.56 million ($2 million), more than double its high estimate. The American seller had paid £65,000 ($85,500) for it in 1985.
One of the sale's starkest contrasts with Sotheby's was the quality of its German art. While a group of mediocre-quality works failed to attract any interest last night, Christie's outstanding 1912 gouache of three horses by Franz Marc excited competition from numerous bidders, including London dealer Simon Theobald, before it sold to a phone bidder for a record £15.4 million ($20.3 million).
German Expressionism was also represented by a searing, vivid 1922 portrait by Conrad Felixmuller of his brother. The advisor Stephane Connery chased the work before it sold to an American phone bidder for £608,500 ($800,975), more than double its high estimate. A 1919 painting of a waterfall by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, meanwhile, sold near the top of its estimate for £1 million ($1.3 million) to Berlin dealer Michael Haas.
Kazimir Malevich's Landscape (1911). Image courtesy of Christie's Images Ltd.
Russian bidding was barely visible. One Russian phone bidder snapped up an early, figurative watercolor by Kazimir Malevich for £7.9 million ($10.4 million); while it came in below estimate, it still represented a record for a work on paper by the artist. Meanwhile, James Butterwick, a specialist dealer in Russian avant-garde art, stepped into the fray and bought works by Cézanne and Matisse.
The weakest section of the sale was a collection of works—four early Picassos and a nude by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot—that belonged to Max Bollag, a Swiss dealer who died in 2005. The Swiss newspaper Zri Woche once described Bollag's stock as "a mixture of a scrapyard and treasure chamber." This evening, the market seemed to think it leaned toward the former, as two of the works went unsold while the others struggled to find bids.
Such chinks, however, did not dent the revived sense of well-being and relief that permeated the crowd as it exited the salesroom.
Access the data behind the headlines with the artnet Price Database.
Impressionism & Modern
Colin Gleadell
Sotheby's Begins the Summer Season With a Limp $116 Million Impressionist and Modern Sale, Its Lowest Total Since 2012
By Colin Gleadell , Jun 19, 2018
Led by a $157 Million Modigliani, Sotheby's Otherwise Tepid Impressionist Sale Makes $318 Million
By Eileen Kinsella , May 14, 2018
How Impressionism Became Expressionism: A New Exhibition Traces Claude Monet's Influence on the New York School
By Javier Pes , Apr 13, 2018
Art Guides
Must-See Art Guide: San Francisco
By , Jun 21, 2018
Grow Up, 'Fearless Girl': New York City Wants to Create Monuments Honoring Its Fearless Women, Too


text:
Q: Exchange Error on Calendar item update :- At least one recipient isn't valid This is the code for accessing my outlook calendar items, change their subjects, add some extended property and update it self. But I am getting an error as

At least one recipient isn't valid

when I'm trying to update the item. I believe that there are no any invalid recipient in the item. Why am I getting this error and how am I overcome this. Please advice me. Thank you.
Here is the code :
public void AccessCalendarItems()
{
    // Specify a view that returns up to 1000 items.
    ItemView view = new ItemView(1000);

    // Specify a calendar view for returning instances between matching dates.
    DateTime startDate = new DateTime(2015, 5, 1);
    DateTime endDate = new DateTime(2015, 9, 1);
    CalendarView calView = new CalendarView(startDate, endDate);

    //string querystring = "Subject:'Doctor'";

    try
    {
        // Find all the appointments in the calendar based on the dates set in the CalendarView. - Currently Disabled
        // Find all the appointments in the calendar based on the sunject content (get first 1000 items)
        int i = 123123;
        SearchFilter subjectFilter = new SearchFilter.ContainsSubstring(AppointmentSchema.Subject, "Doctor");
        FindItemsResults<Item> instanceResults = service.FindItems(WellKnownFolderName.Calendar, subjectFilter, view);

        foreach (Item item in instanceResults.Items)
        {
            Appointment appointment = item as Appointment;
            MessageBox.Show(appointment.Subject);
            appointment.Subject = appointment.Subject + " - KR";
            ExtendedPropertyDefinition extendedPropertyDefinition = new ExtendedPropertyDefinition(DefaultExtendedPropertySet.PublicStrings, "BookingKey", MapiPropertyType.String);
            appointment.SetExtendedProperty(extendedPropertyDefinition, i);
            appointment.Update(ConflictResolutionMode.AutoResolve);
            i++;
        }
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Error: " + ex.Message);
    }
}

Thanks for helping, Kushan Randima.

A: Try using the overload version of Update that supports passing the SendInvitationsOrCancellationsMode enum, and pass SendInvitationsOrCancellationsMode.SendToNone. This will ensure that the server doesn't try to send meeting updates to attendees.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Identify laptop display vs external monitor programmatically in C++ I'm IT for my company and multiple of our user know very little of computers. We have multiple drop-in stations with docks and external monitors. So users experience display issues when moving to a different station. Monitors resize, duplicate or change frequencies.
I made this easy to use one click tool to resize their monitors in a console C++ exe. The issue I run into is identifying whether the display is a laptop display or an external monitor. This is important because all of our external monitors are 1920 x 1080 but some of our laptops are 1920 x 1200.
main.cpp:
#include <Windows.h>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
int main()
{

    DEVMODE devmode;

    SetDisplayConfig(0, NULL, 0, NULL, SDC_TOPOLOGY_EXTEND | SDC_APPLY);

    //long result = ChangeDisplaySettings(&devmode, 0);

    DISPLAY_DEVICE displayDevice;
    displayDevice.cb = sizeof(displayDevice);
    int deviceIndex = 0;
    while (EnumDisplayDevices(0, deviceIndex, &displayDevice, 0))
    {
        std::wstring deviceName = displayDevice.DeviceName;
        int monitorIndex = 0;

        while (EnumDisplayDevices(deviceName.c_str(), monitorIndex, &displayDevice, 0))
        {
            devmode.dmPelsWidth = 1920;
            devmode.dmPelsHeight = 1080;
            devmode.dmDisplayFrequency = 60;
            devmode.dmFields = DM_PELSWIDTH | DM_PELSHEIGHT | DM_DISPLAYFREQUENCY;
            devmode.dmSize = sizeof(DEVMODE);

            long result = ChangeDisplaySettingsEx(deviceName.c_str(), &devmode, NULL, NULL, 0);
            ++monitorIndex;
        }
        ++deviceIndex;
    }
    return 0;
}

A: Perhaps you are looking for the DISPLAY_DEVICE_REMOVABLE flag in the displayDevice.StateFlags field?

Value
Meaning

DISPLAY_DEVICE_REMOVABLE
The device is removable; it cannot be the primary display.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/wingdi/ns-wingdi-display_devicea


I have fought tooth and nail against my disabilities for as long as I can remember. My brain seems to want me to die, but I'll be damned if I'm going to let it win. And my fight has gotten so much easier since I got my dog. She's in training to be a service dog, and she's already my lifeline. Dulce is the greatest gift I could ever have been given. The rest of the world's response to her… is not.
Here are six things I wish you knew before seeing my service dog.
1. Dulce is super cute. I know it, you know it,she knows it (I tell her every chance I get). She also has an important job: keeping me safe. Making kissy faces at her, petting her, calling out to her, or otherwise distracting her puts me in serious danger.
2. Even though she doesn't look like a typical service dog, Dulce isn't a fake. Service dogs can be any breed as long as they are physically able to perform their individual tasks, healthy, and have the right temperament. They're not just golden retrievers and labs! Service dogs also aren't required to have any identifying gear in the U.S., so a dog without a vest can still be a service dog.
3. I know I don't "look disabled," but service dogs are for invisible illnesses as well. Her "In Training" patches don't mean I'm training her for someone else. I'm not "faking" so I can bring Dulce out with me. My service dog in training assists me with PTSD, anxiety, depression, and migraines. You can't see my conditions, but they are there, they are disabling, and they are infinitely more manageable with Dulce there to help me.
4. My dog is not unhappy because she is a working dog! If she didn't have the desire to work, I wouldn't work her. It wouldn't be fair to me to have a subpar service dog and it wouldn't be fair to Dulce to force her to work. She gets plenty of off time to "just be a dog".
5. Having Dulce with me is not an invitation to ask me about my medical history. Sorry, random stranger at the supermarket, but I don't want to tell you my personal information. Sometimes I'm happy to talk to people and educate about service dogs, but most of the time I want to buy milk and go home. I try to be polite and accommodating, but it's hard being stopped every five feet. Especially if I'm having a bad day with my illnesses and don't have the energy to answer questions.
6. Most importantly: No, healthy person, you don't want a service dog. You want to be able to take your pet everywhere with you. I understand. I love dogs, too. But service dogs aren't pets, they are highly trained to assist someone with a disability. Saying you wish you had a service dog is tantamount to saying you wish you had a disability. Would you go up to someone on oxygen and say, "Gosh, I wish I needed assistance breathing. That must be so great!" Please don't tell me you envy my need for medical equipment to function on a basic human level. I love Dulce. I am incredibly grateful for her and I'm so happy she is part of my life, but I would rather not need her.
My name is Aven and I have several chronic illnesses. My service dog saves my life every day. I hope my story helps you understand the struggle of others or feel less alone in your own struggle.


text:
Koodo Mobile is a Canadian mobile flanker brand started by Telus in 2008 and mostly oriented toward younger customers. Koodo differs from its parent Telus by not requiring a fixed term contract. Koodo currently provides postpaid, prepaid, and wireless home phone services. Being a subsidiary of Telus, Koodo has been able to offer extensive coverage and a strong presence in mobile retailers. This allowed Koodo to gain a presence nationwide.

The brand name is a variation of the Ancient Greek word "κῦδος" (the ascendant to the English word "kudos"), meaning "praise, renown, glory" and more recently "acclaim for something well done".

History

Amp'd Mobile (2007)
Telus Mobility's competitor, Bell Mobility, had an MVNO partnership with Virgin Group to create Virgin Mobile Canada. This brand was in operation since 2005, and it mainly targeted high school, college and university students. In response, Telus Mobility had a similar but much shorter partnership with the American Amp'd Mobile in 2007 to create a Canadian MVNO. It was ended because the Amp'd Mobile operations in the United States suffered from poor customer service and bankruptcy. This meant that unlike Bell, Telus no longer had a mobile brand targeting students.

Koodo Mobile launches (2008-2009)
Nearly a year after the launch day of Amp'd Mobile in Canada, Telus launched Koodo Mobile on March 17, 2008, in Canada. This mobile brand provided services at a lower cost than most other companies.

BlackBerry and transition to HSPA+ (2010)
Many customers at Koodo requested the addition of full QWERTY keyboard devices to facilitate text input for SMS and Internet-based tasks such as email and social networking services. On May 25, 2010, Koodo launched their first smartphone, the BlackBerry Curve 8530.  The following month, Koodo released the Nokia 3710 as their first HSPA+ device on June 28, 2010. After this date, the company gradually started to discontinue sales of CDMA devices.

HSPA+ smartphones and Canada-wide monthly plans (2011)
Half a dozen of HSPA+ smartphones were released in 2011. The first was the LG Optimus One, launched on March 2. Later that month, the BlackBerry Curve 9300 was available starting March 23. The Nexus S was added to Koodo's lineup on April 12, 2011. In order to prepare for the back-to-school season, Koodo discontinued sales of all CDMA devices near the end of June 2011, less than a year after the carrier launched their first HSPA device. Shortly thereafter, they were replaced by the iPhone 4 and two low-cost Android devices.

In addition to revamping their device lineup, Koodo also improved their monthly plans throughout the year. The "City Koodo" plan, which is nearly identical to the CityFido plan offered by Fido, was introduced on March 14, 2011, in select cities. On July 21, 2011, Koodo eliminated all their previous plans, except for City Koodo which is still available in certain cities. Five new Canada-wide plans were launched instead, featuring no long distance charges when a Koodo customer located in Canada calls another standard Canadian landline or mobile phone number.

Plan refreshes, Windows Phone and prepaid service (2012)
Koodo's postpaid plans were refreshed on February 3, 2012. The prices for all plans other than City Koodo were increased by $5/month, and both the caller ID and voice mail features are now included. Customers activating these plans, however, would now be billed per minute instead of per second.

The Nokia Lumia 610, launched by Koodo on July 6, 2012, was the carrier's first Windows Phone smartphone. On August 22, 2012, for the back-to-school season, Koodo introduced Koodo Prepaid at its own stores and Walmart. The service requires the customer to pay for a prepaid monthly plan, contrary to most other carriers offering a prepaid plan with no fixed monthly fee. All plans include unlimited SMS and MMS messaging, and all but the lowest priced one also include a period of unlimited local talk time. Two categories of nationwide add-ons, marketed as "boosters", can be used to add à la carte talk time or mobile broadband. Koodo Prepaid is Canada's first, and currently the only, provider to offer non-expiring add-ons as long as the monthly fee is paid. Thus, a customer can purchase an add-on in one month but use it over the course of multiple months.

On Black Friday in 2012, Koodo again revamped its postpaid plan lineup. The amount of anytime minutes was reduced in non-unlimited plans, although unlimited weekends was added for the first time to the lowest priced plan. Like its competitor Fido, unlimited text, picture and video messaging was now included in all new plans instead of a 50 sent messages limit. For non-BlackBerry devices, Data Saver is also included with these plans, with charges occurring if any mobile broadband is used.

Networks
Mobile services provided by Koodo use Telus Mobility's HSPA+ and LTE networks. CDMA devices, however, have been discontinued January 31, 2017. Koodo Mobile's HSPA networks uses the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz frequencies, their LTE network uses 1700/2100 MHz (AWS), and their LTE-a network uses 2600 MHz and 700 MHz.

Products
Koodo's product lineup mainly consists of smartphones but also includes a few feature phones. Smartphones are currently sold with one of two operating systems preloaded: Android or iOS. Koodo currently carries phones from Alcatel, Apple, Blackberry, Essential, Google, Huawei, LG, and Samsung.

All devices carried by Koodo are, or at least previously were, also available at Telus Mobility.

Services
As an incumbent flanker brand, Koodo's plans tend to cost less per month than the incumbent brands but more than new entrants. Plan features can only be used within Canada in locations served by Koodo. The Data Saver add-on is designed to simplify the purchase of mobile Internet services. Initially, the Koodo Tab allowed customers to receive a subsidized phone, by applying a portion of the monthly bill to the customer's Tab. In 2015, Koodo discontinued this, and on top of the monthly plan they started charging an additional Tab charge for 24 months; the amount of this Tab charge varies according to the phone chosen by the customer.

Voice plans
Koodo is a discount wireless brand, offering budget plans since its launch.

On September 21, 2011, Koodo has revamped and simplified their plans. Long distance charges for calls made from Canada to a Canadian number, or any call received in Canada. All the plans include unlimited nights and weekends.

While they now feature the caller ID and voicemail calling features, per-second billing was replaced with per-minute billing.

Prepaid monthly plans were introduced on August 22, 2012, for the back-to-school season. All plans include unlimited text, and all except the lowest priced one also include a period of unlimited provincial talk time. Two categories of nationwide add-ons, marketed as "boosters", can be used to add à la carte minutes or mobile broadband.

All current prepaid and postpaid plans include the caller ID, call waiting, conference call and voicemail calling features. Postpaid customers also have the "Family Calling" feature, which allows unlimited Canada-wide calls to other people on the same account, with up to a total of five people per account.

On April 12, 2018, Koodo and its parent company Telus introduced a $30 connection fee (See system access fee).

Data services
Various data services are available at Koodo. These include fixed monthly data allowances, smartphone plans with Internet access included, and exclusively to Koodo, Shock-Free Data, in which Koodo will notify you after using 50%, 90% and 100% of your data and pausing your data usage at 100% with a prompt asking if you would like to purchase more.

With Shock-Free Data, you can purchase 300MB for $12 or 1GB for $22. As well, you can use your plans' pay-per-use rate which currently sits at 100MB for $7 but older plans may have different rates.

Koodo's Canada-Wide Data monthly plan is a smartphone plan that includes 1 GB of usage for any phone. This plan succeeds the discontinued "Stay Social Combo" monthly plan, which included BlackBerry Social features for a BlackBerry or a 100 MB allowance for all other phones. Some older customers may have a grandfathered version of this plan, but they will lose it if they switch to a newer plan.

Koodo started offering eSIM on its plans on January 9, 2020. Customers with the eSIM enabled devices and smartphones can purchase the eSIM voucher online and connect to the network.

Koodo announced they will be launching the VoLTE and WiFi calling to their customer, enabling more features of their products to their customer.

Telus announced on February 16, 2022, that new Koodo Mobile subscribers and those who change plans to a new 4G plan will now have a speed cap of 100 Mbps, while consumers on the company's older 4G LTE plans do not have a speed limit. The announcement happened the same day Telus announced similar data speed caps on their plans.

Koodo Tab
Instead of a fixed term contract, Koodo Mobile uses a system called the Tab. A credit check is necessary prior to activation. For a new customer, a small tab takes up to $240 off the price of a new cell phone, a medium takes up to $360, and a large covers up to $504. Said amount is then applied as an interest-free loan to the customer's account. Customers will be billed the dollar amount on the tab over a 24-month period interest-free, unless they cancel their service with Koodo Mobile. Anyone using the Tab can pay off the remaining amount and keep the phone if they decide to leave.

Reception

The success Koodo received in its first year of operation, with its simple plan lineup and lack of carrier-charged system access and 911 fees, prompted competitors Rogers Wireless and Bell Mobility to mimic Koodo's monthly plans via their mobile brands: Fido Solutions for Rogers, and Virgin Mobile for Bell Mobility. These changes happened on November 4, 2008, for Fido. Following Bell's complete acquisition of Virgin Mobile Canada in May 2009, the Virgin brand mimicked several of Koodo's monthly plans in 2010.

Similarly, when Koodo launched its new Canada-wide plans on July 21, 2011, they were once again mimicked by other mobile brands. Virgin initially offered long distance as a $10 add-on on September 7, 2011, but reduced this fee to $5 about a week later on September 16, and removed it altogether on October 4.  This only applies for Virgin's talk and text plans.

Controversy

Discontinuation of per-second billing

Numerous current and prospective Koodo customers became disappointed and frustrated with the removal of per-second billing on Koodo Mobile's February 2012 monthly voice plans. Customers were given no advance warnings of these changes, although a third-party blog did provide a leaked brochure of the new per-minute plans. These plans cost $5/month more than their previous counterpart and include the caller ID and voicemail features, but are billed per minute instead of per second. One of the five plans was also lowered to 100 minutes instead of the 150 previously included, but the backlash to this change prompted the company to reverse this decision. Customers on Koodo's Facebook profile and the operator's Get Satisfaction Internet forum criticized the removal of per-second billing, perceiving it as "one step forward, two steps back". Existing customers with old plans are grandfathered with per-second billing, but will receive per-minute billing if they change their plan. There are currently over 100 frustrated customers voicing their support for per-second billing, some threatening to leave the operator. An April Fools' Day spoof joking about Koodo billing per hour has also been posted by the thread's creator.

Advertising
Koodo Mobile currently has Toronto-based Camp Jefferson (formerly DARE Toronto) as its  advertising agency. This team launched Koodo Mobile's "Choose Happy" campaign on April 20, 2015. The brand uses bright and punchy colours with vivid imagery and playful animations.
Previously, advertising efforts were handled by Taxi 2 in Toronto. This team developed the El Tabador character, starting March 2010, to promote the Koodo Tab. The character is a masked male lucha libre wrestler, who has been featured in billboards and also on animated TV ads.

The character was discontinued as part of a brand refresh that occurred in 2015, as part of the provider's new campaign "Choose Happy".

Retail presence
Koodo Mobile has its own corporate retail boutiques and also allows third parties to become exclusive dealers. Best Buy, Loblaw Companies, Walmart, and London Drugs stores in Canada provide Koodo products and services.

Former retailers

Zellers previously sold Koodo Mobile products. They simply consisted of CDMA feature phones at regular retail price. Activations had to be done online or by phone with Koodo, because Zellers did not provide cellular activations in store. Koodo was later removed from Zellers' product lineup, although unsold stock remained available at stores that did not return the devices to the operator.

Target Canada used to sell Koodo until they exited from Canada.

See also
 List of Canadian mobile phone companies

References

External links
 Koodo Mobile

Canadian brands
Mobile phone companies of Canada
Telecommunications companies of Canada
Telus
Telecommunications companies established in 2008

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Dicosmoecus är ett släkte av nattsländor. Dicosmoecus ingår i familjen husmasknattsländor.

Kladogram enligt Catalogue of Life:

Källor

Husmasknattsländor
Dicosmoecus


text:
This Week in Washington IP: Fraudulent Trademarks, Facial Recognition Technology and Implementing MOBILE NOW for 5G Wireless Spectrum
This week in Washington, D.C., the Senate Subcommittee on Intellectual Property holds a hearing to look at ways to reduce the number of fraudulent trademark application filings that have been making their way to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Other Senate committee hearings will focus on legislative proposals to protect consumer data privacy and promote the availability of wireless spectrum for 5G networks. Over in the House of Representatives, the Artificial Intelligence Task Force will convene a hearing to look into concerns related to the use of artificial intelligence technologies in the financial services industry. Elsewhere in D.C., both The Brookings Institution and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation will host events discussing the use of facial recognition technology in the public and private sectors.
Senate Subcommittee on Intellectual Property
Fraudulent Trademarks: How They Undermine the Trademark System and Harm American Consumers and Businesses
At 3:00 PM on Tuesday in 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
The issue of fraudulent trademarks making their way onto the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Principal Register has been a growing concern to D.C. lawmakers in recent months. One day before Thanksgiving, Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA), Chair of the House Intellectual Property Subcommittee, announced that he was looking into legislative proposals which could, in part, accelerate challenges to potentially fraudulent trademarks. The witness panel for this hearing has yet to be announced.
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Examining Legislative Proposals to Protect Consumer Data Privacy
At 10:00 AM on Wednesday in 216 Hart Senate Office Building.
On November 26, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, introduced legislation along with other committee Democrats that seeks to enhance protection of consumer data privacy. The bill would codify rights of individuals to pursue claims against tech companies that violate data privacy rights. The witness panel for this hearing will include the Honorable Julie Brill, Former Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Microsoft; the Honorable Maureen Ohlhausen, Former Acting-Chair of the Federal Trade Commission, and Co-Chair, 21st Century Privacy Coalition; Laura Moy, Executive Director and Associate Professor of Law, Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology; Nuala O'Connor, Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Digital Citizenship at Walmart; and Michelle Richardson, Director of Privacy and Data, Center for Democracy and Technology.
New America
Spotlight on Transparency
At 12:00 PM on Wednesday at New America, 740 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.
This event, presented by New America's Open Technology Institute, explores issues related to transparency reports issued by companies to highlight government requests for user data and content moderation efforts, among other things. This event, which has been funded by Uber, will feature a discussion with a panel including Rana Kortam, Global Women's Safety Policy Manager, Uber; David Lieber, Senior Privacy Policy Counsel, Google; Spandi Singh, Policy Analyst, Open Technology Institute at New America; Allen Kachalia, Senior Vice President of Patient Safety and Quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine; and moderated by Tonya Riley, Technology and Cybersecurity Policy Research, The Washington Post.
How to Build Guardrails for Facial Recognition Technology
At 8:45 AM on Thursday at the Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036.
Recently, the Facial Recognition Technology Warrant Act was introduced into the Senate. If enacted, the bill would establish procedural safeguards regarding the use of facial recognition tech by law enforcement officials. The event will feature remarks by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Mike Lee (R-UT), the co-sponsors of the Senate act. After those remarks, the two Senators will join a discussion moderated by Darrell West, Vice President and Director, Governance Studies, and Founding Director, Center for Technology Innovation; and Nicol Turner Lee, Fellow, Governance Studies, Center for Technology Innovation.
Senate Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet
The Evolution of Next-Generation Technologies: Implementing MOBILE NOW
At 10:00 AM on Thursday in 216 Hart.
This hearing will explore the potential impacts of the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act, a bill that aims to reduce barriers to wireless infrastructure buildout and promote the availability of 5G wireless spectrum. The witness panel for this hearing will include the Honorable Paul TenHaken, Mayor, City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Johnathan Adelstein, President and CEO, Wireless Infrastructure Association; Scott Bergmann, Senior Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, CTIA – The Wireless Association; Mary Brown, Senior Director, Technology and Spectrum Policy, Cisco; and Sarah Morris, Director, Open Technology Institute, New America.
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Emerging Uses of Facial Recognition Technology in the Private Sector
At 3:30 PM on Thursday at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, 700 K St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20001.
Facial recognition technologies are having a wide-reaching impact in the private sector and have been employed by businesses as diverse as airlines, real estate rentals, and hotel and hospitality. While this has benefitted customer service in these industries, policymakers have questioned whether there should be any regulatory checks to ensure that these technologies are adopted responsibly. This event will feature a discussion with a panel including Jamie Boone, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Consumer Technology Association; Matt Furlow, Director of Policy, C_TEC, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Jake Parker, Senior Director of Government Relations, Security Industry Association; David Ray, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel, Rank One Computing Corporation; Mel Schantz, Supervisor, Engineering, Panasonic; and moderated by Daniel Castro, Vice President, ITIF, and Director, Center for Data Innovation.
House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence
Robots on Wall Street: The Impact of AI on Capital Markets and Jobs in the Financial Services Industry
At 9:30 AM on Friday in 2128 Rayburn House Office Building.
Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are poised to make a big impact on the financial services industry in the years to come. A 2017 survey by PricewaterhouseCooper found that more than half of the study's respondents in the financial services industry were making substantial investments into AI tech that can impact tax planning, wealth management and financial crime prevention. The witness panel for this hearing has yet to be announced.
Tags:5G, artificial intelligence, Capitol Hill, Congress, data privacy, Facial REcognition, House of Representatives, innovation, intellectual property, MOBILE NOW, patent, patent office, patents, Rep. Hank Johnson, Senate IP Subcommittee, technology, This Week in Washington IP, trademark, trademarks, USPTO
Posted In:Business, Capitol Hill, Government, Inventors Information, IP News, IPWatchdog Articles, Legislation, Patents, Technology & Innovation, Trademark, USPTO
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I LOST my parents while still a child, and grew up in my elder brother's home. At twelve I learnt to write, and within the year I was well advanced in history and composition. At fifteen, I learnt sword exercise; at sixteen, to repeat the Odes and the Book of History 220,000 words in all. At nineteen, I studied the tactics of Sun Wu, the accoutrements of battle array, and the use of the gong and drum, also 220,000 words in all, making a grand total of 440,000 words. I also carefully laid to heart the sayings of the bold Tzu Lu.
I am now twenty-two years of age. I am nine feet three inches in height. My eyes are like swinging pearls, my teeth like a row of shells. I am as brave as Meng Fen, as prompt as Ch'ing Chi, as pure as Pao Shu, and as devoted as Wei Sheng. I consider myself fit to be a high officer of State; and with my life in my hand, I await your Majesty's reply.


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Man jumps in water to save a huge drowning black bear
By Rebbekah Wiltons, May 8, 2018
How far would you go to protect an animal? Maybe you once rescued and released a trapped bee from the house, or helped a somewhat larger animal cross a busy road. These small acts of kindness can separate the animal lovers of the world from those who couldn't care less. However, how far would you really go? You may like to think that you would do anything for an animal in need, but sometimes it could involve putting our own life at risk.
Bears roam all across North America, with black bears being the most common of all three species. They're known for their incredible climbing and swimming, in addition to their speed on land. However, they're also wild animals that sometimes wander into towns in search of food. So what would you do if you saw one of them in danger? One man knew he couldn't stand back and watch as a bear found itself in a life-or-death situation.
The bear was searching for food
Before the black bear got into the water, it was just a typical day. But then, some of the residents came outside to discover they had a visitor. One of the black bears had wandered into the town in search of some food.
However, this animal was beginning to make themselves at home. No longer were they just going through the trash cans outside. Now they were starting to go into people's yards! This bear had started to become too comfortable being around people. The neighbors had to do something.
He had to get out of the woods
The food available in trash cans, as well as campers leaving food in the woods, means that bears are getting more and more brave as the years go on. No longer are they creatures that hide in the woods all day.
Now, bears will wander into local cities to fend for themselves. Alligator Point in Florida is one of the many towns across the nation that regularly has a visit from the local bear population. Sadly, they were beginning to get too close for comfort…
Panicked call
What would you do if you looked out your window to find a black bear roaming around your yard? Panic? Invite them in for hot cocoa and a donut? These residents opted for the safest option – they called animal control.
It wasn't long before they had a specially trained team of staff on their way to take care of the bear. No one wanted to see the animal get hurt, but they couldn't risk the black bear injuring one of the people in the neighborhood.
It wasn't long before the team arrived at the door. However, there was an issue. Even when they are on all fours, they can be up to three feet tall. When black bears stand on their back legs, they can easily reach staggering heights between five and seven feet tall.
The team knew it was going to take all of their strength and cunning to outwit the bear. They knew they had to find a way to take them down but was there a way to move them on safely without anyone getting hurt?
Dart practice
There are many ways to capture wild animals. It could be a trap with food, a giant cage, or the simple stick and box technique. These are all great ideas, but might not be the best if you need to take down an animal that weighs hundreds of pounds.
The team only had one option: they needed to tranquilize the bear. The animals would be in no harm. Instead, the bear would fall asleep so the team could take them somewhere safe. The plan sounded simple enough.
The team lined up the dart gun with the bear. Deep breaths. Stay calm. One wrong move and it could be over. They pulled the trigger and hoped it had worked. They were in luck!
The dart flew out of the gun and went straight into the back of the black bear. All they needed now was for the tranquilizer to work. Only their problems were just about to start. Instead of falling asleep, this bear began to run. No one knew how far they were about to go…
Headed for water
The bear began to panic. One minute they are innocently looking for food and the next they are being shot at with a tranquilizer dart. Now, they were surrounded by humans.
The bear knew they needed to get away and started to run. Only, this bear had nowhere left to go. They ran until they met the water, but couldn't stop. They were getting tired. If they gave into the sleep then who knew what the humans might do? They had to keep going.
Unfolding event
Adam Warwick was one of the many on the team working to save the bear. Adam worked as a biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission so was used to seeing animals of all shapes and sizes.
The bear rescue should have been no different. That was until the creature began to run. Adam was one of the many that were left in awe as the 375-pound bear started to head to the water. Now, they were beginning to paddle out into the Gulf of Mexico!
Adam couldn't stand back and watch as the bear swam into the water. The tranquilizer was starting to work and it wouldn't be long before the bear could no longer fight the effects.
Adam kicked off his shoes and threw off his shirt. He had no idea what he was going to do, but it wasn't going to be sitting back and watching the bear get into difficulty. As quickly as the bear had run into the water, Adam was now swimming after the animal.
Thinking up a plan
Now Adam was in the water, what was he going to do to stop the bear? The animal was already about 75 feet from the shore and showed no signs of slowing down.
The further out they got, the more dangerous it was becoming, the current was starting to get stronger, and both Adam and the bear were growing tired. Adam had to think on his feet. He knew the only way he stood a chance of stopping the creature was to get in front of the bear, would he make it?
The bear had swam into part of the harbor that was four miles across. If Adam wasn't quick, they could lose the animal forever. Thankfully, he managed to get in front of the bear and started to splash around. It was the only way he could think to get the animal to turn around.
However, there was another issue. Adam was struggling to reach the floor. The bear had no problem. The creature didn't like Adam's performance and reared up on its hind legs. Now, Adam was stood underneath a seven-foot wild animal.
Staggering around
The bear may have been tall, but the dart was beginning to make it drowsy. Almost as soon as it stood up over Adam, the bear tumbled backward. It couldn't fight the effects any longer.
Sadly, the bear fell over and went under the water. Although only a few seconds had passed, the animal still had come back up to the surface. Adam began to panic and knew it was his time to step in and help. Where had the bear gone?
Other worries
As well as the bear being under the water, Adam had other worries on his hands. The waters were infested with stingrays and the biologist was concerned he could be stung by one of the passing creatures.
After all, he was now invading their territory. To top it all off, the bear had managed to cut Adam's foot in the struggle. He was now fighting to stay above the water, struggling to find the bear, and bleeding out. Time was of the essence.
Getting hold
Adam dove under the water and amazingly managed to find the bear! Would he be able to drag it back to safety? The biologist hooked one arm underneath the animal and grabbed onto the scruff of its neck with the other.
Now, it was time to try and get out of the water. Sadly, the bear was heavy and Adam was losing strength. The hardest part of the task was about to begin. Adam had to keep going if he stood a chance of making it out the water.
Getting to safety
Adam pulled and swam his way through the harbor. No one could believe the bravery of the biologist, but they didn't know how to help. Eventually, Adam made it to the shallower water to where he could use the buoyancy of the bear to help float it to safety.
However, they were still in four-foot-deep waters, so Adam had to hold the bear's head above the surface if he was going to keep them safe. The shore was in sight. Could he make it?
At long last Adam made it to the shore. Unfortunately, he still had to walk across broken concrete and barnacles as he tried to drag the bear onto the land. All the uneven ground meant his feet were cut to shreds.
Amazingly, this and the cut from the bear were the only injuries the biologist sustained throughout the whole adventure. It looked as though everyone was going to make it safely out the other side. Now, they just had to figure out what to do with the snoozing bear.
Many of the residents had come to see what was causing all the commotion. After all, it's not every day you look outside to see a bear swimming into the sea with a man in hot pursuit. No one could believe their eyes.
However, the residents were so stunned they had no idea how to jump in and help. Wendy Chandler, one of the local neighbors, said that watching Adam pull the bear out of the water was like watching a lifeguard pull a human to shore.
Adam and the team worked to get the bear onto the back of the truck. Finally, they were able to put their original plan into motion. Now, the bear was on their way to the Osceola National Forest in Florida.
Although the bear would now be living nearly 200 miles away, the animal can now live out of harm's way. As for Adam, he has reported that he was doing what any animal lover would do if they saw a creature in need.
Many of us may have had to deal with raccoons or possums that decide to dig through our trash or yard when we are sleeping. They may be annoying, but it can be easy to look past their mayhem and let the creatures be.
However, some of us live in bear territory. Here, the problem no longer stands just one foot off the floor. Instead, these creatures can tower over the average human as they come in search of food. Bears can cause a major inconvenience for everyone in the area, as well as be a huge threat if they feel in danger. They may have cubs to look after and aren't willing to risk their lives.
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Q: Selection not populating to email generation I'm helping a friend with a site.  They have their customers select a product to reserve.  When the end user selects the product, the field is populated to them.  They submit the form and an email is sent to the business.  All fields seem to pick up on the email, except for the product selected.  In the php file to create the email, the products are listed like this:
<?php

 if ($_POST['equipment'] == "001")     $equipment = "Seat1";

 if ($_POST['equipment'] == "002")     $equipment = "Seat2";

 if ($_POST['equipment'] == "003")     $equipment = "Seat3";

 if ($_POST['equipment'] == "004")     $equipment = "Seat4";

Then in the generate email section it says:
$message .="
Seat Number	".$equipment."
";

Other fields such as name, phone, email and amount all list correctly on the email, just not this option. I have very little experience in PHP.


The Payroll Edge, a People 2.0 company, is a North American professional employer organization (PEO) offering employer of record payroll services, PEO HR solutions, and employment compliance services. We offer the back-office support and employment solutions companies in Canada, the United States, and around the globe need to build a presence in Canada or the US and employ workers in these countries remotely.
We have in-depth expertise in Canadian and US employment laws. Our HR, payroll, and compliance specialists are trained and certified with years of experience to deal with any and all employment complexities and legalities. When you partner with The Payroll Edge, you partner with a team of experts ready to meet your administrative employment needs, so you can focus on your core business and expansion efforts.
As one of the top professional employer organizations in North America, The Payroll Edge not only has the experience and qualifications necessary to help you build an international workforce, but we also take an active interest in coaching clients about the ever-evolving legislative rules in Canada and the US.
Our support is the human kind--you can ask questions and get real answers. When you work with us, you get a true partner.
The Payroll Edge is a People 2.0 company.
The Payroll Edge team consists of HR management, payroll, and compliance experts who provide valued counsel and professional services to help drive your business expansion into Canada or the US.


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Upland Meadows Farm Bed and Breakfast
Cummington, Massachusetts ~ A "Pets Welcome" Inn
About Your Stay at Upland Meadows
Local Attractions, Outdoor Activities, Restaurants and Entertainment
Upland Meadows Farm is a working farm with over 200 acres of fields and woods to explore. Tromp in our backyard the forest or cross-country ski across our fields in the winter. And if our land isn't enough to keep you occupied . . .
Dine, Drink, and Dance
Old Creamery Co-op – Just down the hill, the Creamery has everything you may need during your stay – Groceries, Beer and Wine, a full service deli and bakery serving coffee, breakfast, sandwiches and soups, ice cream in season, and prepared take-home foods made from scratch. The Coop also stocks a rotating selection of fresh local bread, and has a sustainability library. It's a wonderful local place to sit and stay a while, meet friends, and grab a bite. Open until 7:30 every day.
Ashfield Lakehouse – A great casual dining spot about 20 minutes away, the Lakehouse has seasonal outdoor seating overlooking the water, a bar, pool table, and occasional live music. Look for great locally sourced foods in their specials! Open for lunch and dinner, every day but Tuesdays.
Listons Bar and Grill – A great local dive that serves food as well. Go here to catch a game on TV and meet some locals. Kitchen is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week, and the bar stays open late! Just 10 minutes away in Worthington.
Elmers Store – Open for breakfast and dinner only, this unique restaurant used to be a grocery and inn, and has been part of the history in Ashfield for over 100 years. It now is a sit down restaurant with a bar, and if famous for its amazing breakfast! Open every day but Tuesdays.
The View at Ridge 113 – Located at the Worthington Country Club and Golf Course about 10 minutes away, this gem closes for the winter but offers spectacular views and american fare. Open for lunch and dinner seasonally, closed Mondays.
Brewmasters Tavern – Located in Williamsburg, less than 30 minutes away. Originally a hotel, then a tavern, livery, store, and restaurant, the building boasts a 200 year history in the town. Open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week, with brunch on Sundays. The bar has an expansive brew list that can be viewed online.
Bread Euphoria – Located in Haydenville, this local bakery offers up amazing fresh bread, plus breakfast, sandwiches and salads, plus pizza with sourdough crust made from scratch. Look for occasional community events and live music every saturday night.
The Quarters – A bit further away on Rt 9 in Hadley, this place is worth a mention because it is such a unique spot. It is on the bike trail, is open for lunch and dinner, and has over 20 vintage arcade games to play. It's a great way to spend an afternoon with kids, and the scene becomes more adult late at night. Let your inner kid come out to play!
Northampton Restaurants – In Northampton you'll find some of the best restaurants in the Pioneer Valley. Northampton offers a restaurant or cafe for every budget and taste. A very progressive community, many restaurants actively support the community by taking advantage of local produce from farms like ours. Paul and Elizabeths for vegetarian fare, Jakes Restaurant or Sylvesters for breakfast, Sierra Grille, Bistro Les Gras, Local Burger, or Eastside Grill for dinner, The Dirty Truth, Tunnel Bar and more for drinks!
Shelburne Falls Restaurants – Shelburne Falls also has an amazing food scene. Check out Blue Rock Restaurant, The Gypsy Apple, The West End Pub, Buckland Pizza, McKuskers Market, or Hearty Eats!
Tanglewood – The world famous summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tanglewood also hosts excellent concerts year-round.
Iron Horse Music Hall – Since around 1980, the Iron Horse on Center Street in Northampton has brought some of the best names in music to its small, intimate club setting due to the phenomenal acoustics in the space.
Sevenars – Located in South Worthington, the Sevenars has been hosting fine musical performances since 1968. Developed around the Schrade family of classical musicians, they continue to bring fine solo and small group performances to their hall.
Other Northampton Live Music – The Calvin Theatre features big name acts in an old-style theatre. The Pearl Street Nightclub also has shows and The Basement or Platform Sports Bar is the place to go for dancing.
Mass MoCa – Museum of contemporary art; Theatre and dance performances; music concerts, and rotating exhibits in a sprawling former mill complex.
Sterling and Francine Clark Art Museum – Located in Williamstown Massachusetts, the Clark Art Museum not only has a world-class permanent collection, but hosts traveling shows as well.
Chesterwood – The country home of sculptor Daniel Chester French – the artist responsible for some of the most iconic works in America like the statue in the Lincoln memorial – is located in Stockbridge, MA. The grounds of Chesterwood contain models and studies of many well-known works – miniatures of their more famous full-size counterparts.
Norman Rockwell Museum – Many of Norman Rockwell's most famous paintings include as subjects residents of his hometown of Stockbridge.
The Berkshire Museum is home to fine art, cultural and natural history displays. It's located just south of the common on Rt. 7 in Pittsfield.
Heritage Park – This Massachusetts state park in North Adams is themed around the railroad and specifically the Hoosac Tunnel.
Springfield Museums – A complex of museums that, along with a church and the main branch of the Springfield Library, includes two art museums, a natural history museum and an museum dedicated to the history of the Pioneer Valley. The Quadrangle has recently been transformed into a sculpture garden with life-size bronze castings of some of Dr. Seuss' most famous characters who called Springfield his hometown.
Eric Carle Museum – This refreshing museum dedicated to picture book art is located on Bay Road in Amherst, between Hampshire College and Atkins Farm.
National Yiddish Book Center – This is a relatively new facility built to help insure the survival of the Yiddish culture. Like the Eric Carle Museum, it's located very near Hampshire College in Amherst.
The Emily Dickinson Museum – The Emily Dickinson Museum is a historic house museum consisting of two houses: the Dickinson Homestead and the Evergreens. The Dickinson Homestead was the birthplace and home from 1855–1886 of 19th-century American poet, whose poems were discovered in her bedroom there after her death.
Kingman Tavern Museum, – Right here in Cummington, the Kingman Tavern Museum houses over 5000 artifacts depicting Cummington history from the late 1700s to the mid-1900s. It collectively presents over 200 years of farm, industrial and domestic life and includes a replica of a well-stocked general store, a kitchen, parlor rooms and bedrooms, as well as rooms dedicated to textiles, military history, light industry, millinery and clothing. The large two-story barn has an exceptional collection of hand and farm tools, and the 1840's Cider Mill with its wooden gears is in working condition except for the press. The Carriage Shed has an ox-shoeing frame, a snow roller for roads, a school bus on runners for winter use, an ice cutter, and a butter and egg wagon.
Academy of Music – This movie theatre is a must-see with its Victorian interior, and huge screen complete with red velvet curtains.
The Amherst Cinema – The core of programming at Amherst Cinema is first-run independent film and classic repertory.
You can catch mainstream films 10 minutes east of Northampton on Route 9 in The Hadley Theatre.
The Chester Theatre has been producing high quality theatrical productions in the Chester Massachusetts town hall for about thirty years.
North Hall – Housed in a historic one-room schoolhouse, this quaint performance space is home to theatrical and music performances from late May through September.
Jacob's Pillow Center for Dance – International center for dance in Becket, presenting dance in all it's forms from all over the world.
Shakespeare & Company – World-class performances of Shakespeare and other playwrights, children's activities, both indoor and outdoor theatres in Lenox, MA.
Hiking and Skiing
Mt. Tom State Reservation, Mt. Sugarloaf, Skinner State Parks all have great hiking trails, but you can find trails almost anywhere that are sure to have beautiful sights. We even have plenty of trails right here on our property. Mt. Greylock State Reservation is the highest peak in Massachusetts at about 3600 feet above sea level, and is accessible from either Lanesboro or North Adams.
Daughters of the American Revolution State Forest – Enjoy Swimming, Canoeing and Hiking around two beautiful lakes. About 10 minutes away in Goshen.
Notchview Reservation – Prime cross-country skiing or hiking on miles of trails in a 3000 acre reservation. a Trustees property in Windsor, MA – just 7 miles away. Notchview offers instructions, rental equipment, and they have a small lodge where food and hot drinks are available for purchase. There is both skate and track skiing at this reservation. Snowshoers are also welcome and there is a separate trail for those with dogs. For more information on events and daily ski conditions call 413-684-0148.
There are three downhill ski areas within an easy drive. Berkshire East in Charlemont, Jiminy Peak in Hancock, and Bousquet in Pittsfield.
Windsor Jambs is in the center of the Windsor State Forest, and is a series of falls and cascades that drop through a narrow chasm. The falls are accessible by trail and boardwalk along the rim.
Glendale Falls is in Middlefield along River Rd. and is one of the tallest waterfalls in Massachusetts.
The Chesterfield Gorge is a beautiful geologic formation on the East Branch of the Westfield River. The gorge is a Trustees of Reservations property and is accessible from Ireland Street, just 5 minutes away.
William Cullen Bryant Homestead – Another Trustees of Reservations property, and our next-door neighbor, this beautiful house and farm was the boyhood home of poet and long-time New York Post editor William Cullen Bryant. The hills and streams around the house shaped much of Bryant's poetry. take tours of the historic homestead, use the walking trails and go to special events.
The Calvin Coolidge Room at Forbes Library in Northampton is a room dedicated to Calvin Coolidge that houses memorabilia from his political career. The room also serves as his presidential library.
Historic Deerfield Village – During the Colonial era, the village of Deerfield Massachusetts was on the wild frontier of English settlement. Most of the houses in the village were faithfully restored to their 18th century state by architect William Gass. The village includes a museum in Heritage Hall which contains artifacts from the massacre that occurred there during the First French & Indian War, as well as an extensive library of local historical documents.
Hancock Shaker Village – Located on Rt. 20, west of Pittsfield, this village is a preserved Shaker community, and is run as a living museum. They host regular classes and demonstrations of Shaker crafts and farming methods, or you can simply visit and walk the grounds.
Shopping – It's easy to shop and park in Northampton. Many of the city's most interesting stores are located in its pedestrian friendly downtown. Thornes Marketplace, Faces, Turn it Up Music, Roz's Place, and Kestrel are our favorites.
The Northampton/Amherst area is also home to locally-produced wines and microbrews, as well as numerous organic farms. Amherst Winery, Amherst Brewing Co at The Hanger, and Progression Brewing Company are all great.
Colleges and Universities – Five of the nation's most prestigious liberal art schools are within minutes of each other and just a short drive away. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Smith College and Mount Holyoke College, known collectively as New England's "Knowledge Corridor" and "The 5-College Area" are located in Amherst, Northampton and South Hadley respectively.
Shelburne Falls Bridge of Flowers and Glacial Potholes – Shelburne Falls is a quaint, artsy community Located on Deerfield river, the scenic and historic Mohawk Trail (Route 2) in the Berkshire foothills. Shelburne Falls and the surrounding area is rich with natural beauty, talented artisans, dining, and all four season recreation. Lovingly maintained by the active local gardening club, the Bridge of Flowers is a pedestrian bridge/flower garden – it has been the model for numerous similar bridges around the country. The Glacial Potholes are an amazing sight, with over 50 "kettles" at the base of Salmon Falls, this is one of the largest collection of glacial potholes in the world, and the site of the largest on record.
Snow Farm is a special place where students can come for solace and rejuvenation while learning a craft from master craftspeople. Snow Farm is located in Williamsburg, Massachusetts in a complex centered around a 1700's era farmhouse.
Magic Wings Butterfly Gardens – See many species of live butterflies up close in beautiful outdoor gardens and indoor conservatories year round. (30 >minutes away)
Zoar Outdoors – New England's leader in outdoor adventure – Offering rafting, kayaking and canoeing trips and instruction.
Dinosaur Footprints – Open April through November in Holyoke, MA – you can see over 150 prints, the first ever scientifically described, here at this Trustees property.
Prakasa Yoga and Wellness – Offers regular classes, plus special events and workshops, and is just 15 minutes down Rt 9.
East Heavan – Offers hot tubs, spa treatments, and massage therapy in Northampton, MA.
338 West Cummington Road
Cummington MA 01026
uplandmeadowsfarm@gmail.com
Proprietor: Judi Bogart
Innkeeper and Farmer: Brittany Terry
Upland Meadows Farm B&B
Elva Pawle
This is a beautiful, peaceful spot. The breakfast was delicious with farm fresh eggs, fresh fruit, and high quality coffee. The room was spotless, quiet, and well appointed. I highly recommend this B&B to people of all ages and interests!
Tal Baron
Quaint, cozy, and tastefully decorated, the Upland Meadows b&b offers a great getaway that is closer than you think and was the perfect spot for friends reunion (there were 10 of us). Brittany and her sidekick Ranger were great hosts and made us feel right at home. They showed us around the farm introducing us to sheep, a goat, and chickens whose eggs brought a whole new meaning to "farm to table" breakfast. There are fresh eggs you can buy too. Our room was comfortable and our private bathroom was clean. The living room was comfortable and had beautiful views of the farmland and beyond. I would highly recommend this affordable b&b to anyone looking for a peaceful getaway, a unique stay, or a group gathering.
E Slater
Country hospitality & quiet beauty. My husband and I treated ourselves to a stay in the Green Room. Brittany was a gracious host and made a wonderful breakfast. This farm property and the surrounding area is beautiful. Nearby must see/do: Notchview & The Old Creamery Co-op. It is a relaxing destination of its own while being a great central location for other attractions. 30 min to Pittsfield. 30 min to Northampton. 40 min to MASS MoCA. 45 min to Tanglewood. 50 min to Clark Art Institute.
Joni Light
Love, love, love this place. 💞
Ken Krumenacker
Upland Meadow farm is a sweet treasure. Judi,as owner/farmer is an extremely gracious host with a wealth of knowledge and serves the yummiest breakfast
© 2021 - Upland Meadows Farm Bed and Breakfast | site design by fontaholic.biz


Gliwice Radio Station has become a part of the city landscape that cannot be overlooked. Especially at night, when it is illuminated by huge floodlights.
The Gliwice Radio Station has been drowning out the foreign radio stations (the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) most of all) since 1950.
Get to know the most interesting numbers about Radiostation Gliwice.
We provide comprehensive web projects and mobile applications. Let us invite you to the world of our company and our services. We can discuss your project in our offices in the heart of Katowice.
We will develop solution supporting your business. It speed-up workflow or put better management in place.


The above information about Mortgage Master, located at the address 497 E Broadway, Boston, MA, is accurate and has been gathered from open sources. To contact the company via phone and get all the necessary information, call (857) 401-9132. You may visit the website http://www.mortgagemaster.com/ to obtain additional information about the company.
Information about the company is also available by visiting on the following categories on this website: Brokers, Mortgage Brokers, Real Estate Consultants.
Near this company, there are 5 similar companies that may be of interest to you. The closest company is called J W Brokerage and is located at a distance of 0.0259 miles; 0.0417 kilometers. The company farthest away is called Thomas F. Walsh Insurance Agency Inc. and is located at a distance of 0.2030 miles; 0.3268 kilometers away.


I did my full-length training run for the Yorkshire Marathon three weeks before the race and shortly after came down with a cold, meaning I had to cut short my final long training run.
A week out from the race and I was still feeling rough. However, I decided I needed to get at least 30km in my legs, so having done Parkrun I set out to do 20km on the Sunday.
Despite feeling crap, it didn't hold back my pace. In fact, I was faster. My current PB is 1:52:24, which I set at the Canal Canter in March. I topped the distance up to a half marathon and ran a 1:45:25 – almost seven minutes faster than my PB and representing a pace of 4:58 per kilometre.
How? I don't know. Chris hypothesised that my body's natural pain management from the cold was still in effect. There may be something in that as it didn't hurt that much. It certainly will be interesting to see what I can do in a race.
On Saturday I ran the Leeds Liverpool Canal Canter, organised by It's Grim Up North Running.
I've set some big fitness goals for 2018, including running a sub-2 hour half marathon. It was looking like I would smash this really early as the Sir Titus Trot took place on the first Saturday of January. 6 days in and I could nail one of my goals. But, alas, I injured my foot and had to miss the race.
This was my next opportunity. Things didn't start well: there was a big queue for registration. I thought 45 minutes would be enough time to get registered and prepared for the start time, but it wasn't. So, I came to the line flustered and having forgotten my energy gels.
Armed with nothing but a handful of jelly babies from the water station, I set off. The start reminded me of Parkrun: hundreds of people trying to fit down a narrow canal towpath. I felt sorry for the cyclists coming the other way. But, as the race drew on, everything thinned out.
This is slightly below my watch's time of 1:52:36. This knocks the socks off my time of 2:03:42 from last year's Leeds half marathon. They are not directly comparable, though. The Leeds half is much hillier and takes place in May when the weather is a lot warmer. So, 11 minutes is a hefty chunk to take off, but I wouldn't be running the Leeds half as quick as I ran this.
Regardless, though, it is a new PB, strikes off a big fitness goal for the year and means that I beat Eliud Kipchoge to the sub-2 hour mark. Sure, he's doing the full marathon, but then he's a professional marathon runner from Keyna and I'm a computer programmer from England, so in terms of how hard it was to beat the 2-hour mark, I think it's similar (and I did it without cheating).
Post-race, there were was a huge selection of free cake to be had.
The custom medals are pretty cool, too.
Sometimes, I think it would be fun to run a marathon. Then there are other times. Times such as this, when I have just run a half marathon, and still remember just how painful it was. To do the easy half of a full one.
I completed my first half marathon last year and managed to complete it in 2:28:00. This year I had set myself a base target of 2:15:00 and a stretch target of 58 minutes. It's quite a range, but I thought if I really want to push myself, I might as well go for a world record.
The temperature was a lot kinder this year. Gone was the 25-degree heat. Sunday gave us 17 degrees and some cloud cover.
The other thing I changed this year was the amount of sustenance I took on. Last year I stopped at every water station (I stay stopped, you don't really slow down as you grab a bottle on the way past) and took on some food as well.
I don't take anything on on my training runs: I just go out and run for two hours. My training runs are always faster. I also skipped the water station in last year's Abbey Dash and set a personal best 10k time. So, this year, I avoided all food and skipped one of the water stations.
Drum roll, please… This year I managed it in 2:03:42. That's the official chip timing, I didn't get my GPS quite perfect.
Notice how it condescendingly marks the whole thing as a "walk" (I ran the whole thing).
I managed to take a good line: you always end up running further than the actual distance because you are dodging around people. So an extra 150m over 21.1km is pretty small.
Most importantly, I took 24 minutes off last year's time and beat my target by 11 minutes.
I should be chuffed. But, if I had that ability, I would probably spend far less time stressing and enjoy life a lot more. It was a great time: but if I could just found an extra 4 minutes, I could have broken 2.
I did try. My pace was pretty erratic because of how hilly the course is. However, I did enough to give myself a chance in the first half the race and spent the 3rd quarter chasing down the gap.
But, towards the end, I ran out of steam. For the last 4 km, I was running on empty. I didn't even notice the people cheering me on the finishing straight.
I have considered doing a half marathon on and off for a couple of years. There are lots of good reasons not to do it though: for example it's really hard, hurts a lot and requires a lot of training. And all you get out of it is the feeling that you have done, which isn't that amazing, because it's only half a full marathon.
However, with a less intense flag football season this year, being on a fitness drive, and this being my last chance before a tiny human started cutting into my free time, it seemed like a good year to go for it.
Half marathons are a whole new level from 10ks. 10k is pretty easy. If you run regularly, which I do, you don't really need to do that much training. When I'm going through a good period, a 5k and a 10k is my weekly programme. Half marathons are a step up. After 10k my knees start to go. I get back pain. Things start to chafe and bladder control is put to the test.
Being on the 8th of May, this meant I was doing most of my training in March and April. If you will remember, April was really cold. I did most of my training in the early morning or evening, in not much above freezing.
Roll on May, and a week before the marathon it suddenly becomes incredibly hot (for Britain) and everyone is scrabbling around for barbecues. Including me. On the day in question, it was 23 degrees. I had done all my training with my leggings on, to help support my knees, so I didn't want to change it for the day. Which made for a warm experience.
I had put my target time down as 2:15:00, but quickly had to re-evaluate this when I realised I had not factored in all the hills (I run up the canal in training, which is relatively flat). Then again when it suddenly hit 23 degrees. In the end, I ran a 2:28:00. I think I would have been disappointed to slip over 2:30:00, so this was fine. And sure, there were people who ran it in less than half of that time. But how many children did they high-five? I mean, anyone can win the slalom if they don't go round the flags.
I was so tired by the time I finished. I found a patch of ground in the shade and sat down to take a drink. After a few minutes I got up to go find Elina, only to realise I was going to have to sit down again and eat some snacks from the goodie bag before I was going to be in a position to walk anywhere.
Luckily, once I had regained the use of my legs, my beautiful support crew was there to greet me with more drinks and snacks. We took 17 photos, the one below was the best we could get.
The advantage of living in town is that I could go home, have a quick shower, and then go back out for lunch. As we walked out again I passed a number of other runners who were very confused by my combination of jeans and finisher's t-shirt. We ended up at Blackhouse, where I highly recommend the t-bone as recovery steak, and the ribeye if your pregnant wife needs a well-done piece of beef.
One thing I like about the Run For All series is how well organised they are. I've only run the Leeds 10 and Abbey Dash, so I don't have a huge range of comparisons, but Run For All seem to do a good job: clearly-marked pacers, easy to access water stations, start on time and you get your result within seconds of crossing the line.
Has this experience inspired me to run a full-length marathon? Dear god no.
We would like to say a big thank you to James Murray, who ran the Leeds Half Marathon earlier this month, in aid of us. He completed the 21km run in under two hours!


text:
Nekemte (Ge'ez: ነቀምት) est une ville d'Éthiopie, dans la région de l'Oromia. C'était la capitale de l'ancienne province de Welega. C'est là que se trouve le musée de la culture Wollega Oromo, l'université Wollega, ainsi que la sépulture d'Onesimos Nesib, premier traducteur (avec Aster Ganno) de la Bible en langue Oromo. Nekemte est le siège d'un vicariat apostolique.

Transport routier
La ville est desservie par un aéroport réservé aux lignes intérieures.

Nekemte se trouve au cœur du réseau routier du sud-ouest de l'Éthiopie. Les premières grandes routes, dont celle reliant Addis-Abeba à Addis-Alem,ont été tracées au début des années 1930. La route d'Addis-Alem n'était carrossable qu'en camion sur les 255 kilomètres séparant Addis-Alem de Nekemte. La route reliant Nekemte à Gimbi, distante de 110 kilomètres, constituait le premier tronçons de l'autoroute n°3 en 1963. Les postes sont en service depuis 1923, le téléphone depuis 1957. L'Ethiopian Electric Light and Power Authority a raccordé la ville au réseau électrique en 1960.

Notes

Ville dans la région Oromia
Vicariat apostolique


The University and the government offer a number of loans and scholarships that can help towards the cost of your postgraduate studies. Funding ranges from £600 to £10,906.
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If you are studying MA Social Work, you may be eligible for a Social Work Bursary through the NHS Bursary Unit. For more information about eligibility criteria, visit the NHS Business Services Authority website.
Bursaries of £500 are available across a number of subject areas. Please visit the Postgrad.com website to apply.
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The University offers a number of scholarships for recent graduates. The scholarships are automatically awarded if you meet the eligibility criteria.


May God Bless Us and Protect Us.
tinklebell, make sure you pay them for their help.
I would like to thank God, Mother Mary, St. Expidite, St. Jude, & Dr. Jose Gregorio Hernandez for their help in healing me. You guys I was in sooo much pain, I could barely walk. I had a huge abscess buried underneath my ceserean scar. The pain was unbearable. I placed the cards of St. Expidite, St. Jude, and Dr. Hernandez on my scar and I place Mother Mary on my table next to the bed. Shortly after that, the abscess burst and I felt 100% better! Thank you Lord for that!
Thank you Saint Michael, Holy protector and defender, for watching over me and my loved ones in times of trouble.
Thank you Saint Gabriel for showing me hope in even the darkest of times.
Thank you Saint Raphael for your compassionate healing and wisdom.
St. Expedite. thank you for blessing my family i pray you contenue to bless us,thank you saint michael for protecting us and thank you saint martha for keeping the hubby inline and whipping his head strate when he wasn't using the right one .i thank all of the saints for being there gideing us and helping us during tough times in our lives.
Thank you St. Expeditus for your help in my court case!
Thank you for your swiftness St. Expedite. I am in awe of you and thank you for all your work.
Thank you, Virgen Caridad Del Cobre and All Saints.
Thank you Saint Lazarus for all your help and I hope you continue to bring those blessings in your a wonderful saint and I am truly thankful for all your help.
Thanks Saint Lazarus for all your help. Thank you All Saints.
Always thanks to The Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Jude and St. Lucy.
Thank you Saint Anne/Saint Anaisa, Saint Alex, Saint Micheal Archangel and Saint Clare for everything you have done for me and my family. Past present and future. Thank you sooo much.
Kindly excuse my ignorance everyone! I wonder what is meant by offering gifts to the saints? Do you get a statue of the saint and put the gift in front of it? If so, how long do you leave it there for? And what do you do with it afterwards?
That's one way to leave a gift for a saint. Other people donate to charities associated with that saint or spread the word about their goodness and power. How long you leave a gift in front of a statue and what you do with it typically depends on which tradition you follow. If it's flowers or food, I usually leave them there until they start to look un-fresh, then I take them and leave them in nature. But people have their own ways. Read through this thread to learn more.
Thanks Sister Jean for the information!
Veneration of All Saints is a Catholic tradition that includes not only all of the popular saints associated with holidays and all of the patron saints associated with places, names, and occupations, but also the so-called "minor" saints favoured by those who feel a tie or link to some aspect of their lives, struggles, martyrdoms, and triumphs.
I just ordered all-saints oil couple days ago. Can't wait.
Can I use the oil for dressing candles for any saints? I'd like to get different oil for different saints but I can't afford it right now. Thanks much.
Yes you can use the All Saints oil to petition the pantheon of saints or any one in particular.


text:
The SoapboxThe Soapbox
The Soapbox Homepage
Firmin DeBrabander/
Ingrates
Peter Thiel Has No Clue What Makes America Great
The tech billionaire and his GOP minions J.D. Vance and Blake Masters have America to thank for their riches. So why do they portray it as a stagnant, doomed hellhole?
Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Peter Thiel waves $100 bills at a Bitcoin conference in Miami on April 7.
Last month, it was revealed that the billionaire tech entrepreneur Peter Thiel is seeking Maltese citizenship—what would be his third passport, at least—even while he is "spending more than $30 million on more than a dozen right-wing congressional candidates who have decried globalization and pledged to put America first," according to The New York Times. Thiel and his favored candidates share a dark view of what he calls America's "deranged society," which was created by a "completely deranged government" run by "zombie retreads just busy rearranging the deck chairs." So he is making escape plans in the event his efforts to save America don't pan out.
If indeed Thiel flees our shores, he will find his relocation costs eased considerably by a strong U.S. dollar. That's because investors around the world, contrary to his assessment, see America as a model of stability and prosperity and thus are eager to take refuge in our currency. Impoverished and oppressed people around the world see us similarly, and want to take physical refuge here. We're a safe bet.
Thiel knows this all too well. He has our "deranged" country—including its government—to thank for the billions he's earned. So why is he spending tens of millions on tearing it down?
Thiel's outlook would be alarming enough if it were merely shared by a bunch of tech-bro libertarians who never outgrew Ayn Rand. But it's ascendant in the Republican Party, as seen in Senate candidates Blake Masters in Arizona and J.D. Vance in Ohio—whose campaigns are generously funded by Thiel and who made millions working in his investment firms. Masters has said that America is a "dystopian hell-world," and ending the country's "stagnation" may require a historic crisis. "I'll have the proverbial machete," he quipped. Vance thinks the current order is doomed to "inevitable collapse." Convinced that "we are in a late republican period," he has suggested facilitating the destruction of this government bloated with bureaucracy. "If we're going to push back against [the current order]," he said, "we're going to have to get pretty wild, and pretty far out there." By the logic of Vance's analogy, the United States today is like the end of the Roman Republic, when government crisis ushered in dictatorship. It seems Vance is prepared to welcome a Caesar who can set things straight—because things are so very bad.
Masters, Vance, and Thiel are aligned with what some have dubbed the New Right, an increasingly influential collection of tech entrepreneurs and countercultural luminaries who are—perhaps surprisingly—pessimistic about the influence of digital technology on our society. These figures of the New Right, James Pogue explains in Vanity Fair, share dreams of a simpler time when we were not corrupted by the consumerism of the digital economy, and thrived in communities and family units that provided organic moral guidance. They reserve special scorn for the bureaucracy that upholds and entrenches this supposed cultural nightmare. Curtis Yarvin, who some consider the guru of the New Right, has issued a nifty—and angry—acronym to sum up his agenda: "Retire All Government Employees," or RAGE. Our system is so corrupt and stagnant it must be replaced with a "monarchical regime run like a startup," according to Yarvin. The bureaucracy must give way to a "national CEO," he explains, "what's called a dictator."
The Claremont Institute, an increasingly influential think tank that has been called the "nerve center" of the New Right, shares this dire view of America. Its mission is "to restore the principles of the American Founding to their rightful, preeminent authority in our national life," which sounds innocuous enough—until you realize what such restoration would require. Some Claremonters believe the administrative state is so deeply and expansively entrenched, and we are so reliant on it, that only a cataclysm can save the country. The most explicit articulation of this vision appeared in Claremont fellow Michael Anton's popular 2016 essay "The Flight 93 Election" in 2016, which argued for electing Donald Trump—even though he was a brute who cared little for our freedoms and founding principles—because he would shatter the system. Like Flight 93, where passengers on 9/11 rushed the cockpit and crashed the plane, denying terrorists their ultimate target, so the Claremonters would destroy the government—to save us all. Naturally, Trump's reign was a boon to the organization. Anton became a deputy national security adviser in the White House, and legal scholar John Eastman played an instrumental role on January 6, 2021, urging Trump to halt congressional certification of the election.
The Claremont Institute and the New Right look at the world's oldest democracy, which is the envy and aspiration of many around the world, and see a smoldering trash heap. How could such supposedly smart people—intellectuals, savvy businessmen, tech luminaries alike—become so disconnected from reality?
America's government is remarkably stable and efficient. Inside our borders, it's easy to forget this, perhaps because our government works so well—and because we are treated to nonstop news of congressional dysfunction and greedy lobbies who have captured our representatives. Seen from outside, however, it's a different story. While Masters and Vance wail about America and aim to gut our system of government, the U.S. dollar surges in global markets and investors are lapping up our Treasury bills, as they always do in times of economic uncertainty.
This is an overwhelming vote of confidence in the U.S. government and the economy it sustains—still the most dynamic on earth. Investors don't sink their money into regimes that are short-lived, corrupt, or defective. Thanks to its reputation for stability and efficiency, our government secures global investment, enabling the vast ecosystem of corporate and consumer borrowing that underwrites the American way of life, the unparalleled comforts and conveniences that people all over the world covet. Who in their right mind thinks America is a "dystopian hell-world" deserving of revolution? Revolution, I might add, will definitely sink our reputation for stability, send investors scurrying, and impoverish the nation.
America's stability is due in no small part to our democratic system of government, which many Republican candidates have cast doubt upon and are prepared to undermine. Democracy ensures peaceful transitions of power. Chinese officials argue that autocracy is the key to their prosperity; they insist electoral democracy only mucks things up. But how do financiers feel about Chinese investments after their government decided to shake down its tech sector last year, for fear it was growing too powerful and independent? Through a mixture of stifling regulations and outright coercion, Beijing wiped out billions of dollars of equity in the blink of an eye. Consider too how China has tried—in vain—to make the yuan the global currency, supplanting the dollar. Investors aren't biting.
Alongside investors, we should consider the flood of immigrants desperate to reach these shores. Thanks again to our esteemed prosperity, and despite our tattered social safety net, abundant gun violence, and lack of national health insurance, the U.S. remains a tantalizing destination for millions around the world.
The U.S. has attracted Venezuelans fleeing a country crushed under tyranny, where government confiscates property; Central Americans have arrived escaping gruesome gang violence. People from the Pacific Rim and South Asia have flocked here in search of economic opportunity and social freedom. Refugees from the Middle East, all too familiar with the miseries of corruption and failed government, welcome our rule of law and commitment to fairness. For them, America remains the promised land.
Figures among the New Right and the Claremont Institute complain that our government is bloated. It has quashed our freedoms and hardly operates at all. It's a grotesque monstrosity that should be put out of its misery. Anyone who has traveled the world knows that's ludicrous. We should be in awe of our bureaucracy, all things considered. It makes our lives better in countless—and basic—ways that we hardly notice, and is a model of efficiency.
My wife tells an illuminating story about her uncle from Syria who came to the U.S. for a short time to take care of some bureaucratic business. Being a dual citizen, he had to get a driver's license and apply for social security benefits, both of which are reputed nightmares on these shores. My wife's uncle, however, was amazed that he could take care of both chores in a single day—within a few hours, no less. In Syria, this would have taken days if not weeks, and would have required considerable baksheesh (bribes), which necessarily accompanies every government task big and small. This is true not only in global south nations but in countries like Italy too.
In America, we can count on our government to monitor our foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products and rest assured that we won't get sick at their hands. Our roads are paved, people generally obey traffic laws, and big-box stores are stuffed with cheap clothes and electronics. The legal, economic, and physical infrastructure of this nation, which we have painstakingly shaped over two centuries, is easy to overlook, but it sustains our prosperity, comfort, and security—and allows America to do great things. Like tame a global pandemic in a year.
During Covid-19, our government proved it is remarkable indeed, rolling out the biggest and quickest vaccine in human history. We suffer inflation in part because our economy has roared back so ferociously—too ferociously—and because our government could afford to be generous to its struggling citizens. Americans received their first stimulus checks within a month of the pandemic lockdown in 2020.
Thiel and his allies fail to see it this way. He believes that "the broader education of the body politic has become a fool's errand," and he "no longer believe[s] that freedom and democracy are compatible." So he dreams of a libertarian utopia, where government recedes into the background, the animal spirits of capitalism are let loose, and people are liberated to soar—or crash, but there will be no oppressive bureaucratic safety net to save them. It's a suicidal vision.
Well, perhaps not for Peter Thiel. Thanks to his Maltese passport, and the luxury bunker he is constructing in New Zealand, he has options. He can simply sail away. We will be left to pick up the pieces, if any remain.
Firmin DeBrabander @Firdebrabander
Firmin DeBrabander, a professor of philosophy at the Maryland Institute College of Art, is the author of Life After Privacy and Do Guns Make Us Free?
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The Soapbox, Politics, Election 2022, Blake Masters, Peter Thiel, The Claremont Institute, The New Right, J.D. Vance, Donald Trump
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text:
Young girl Angira Dhar bags a Bollywood biggie
Published on Dec 4, 2020 12:00 am IST
It is been reported that Bollywood actor, Ajay Devgn is going to direct a film with Amitabh Bachchan. Titled Mayday, the film's shooting will kick-start in Hyderabad in December itself.
Now, the latest we hear is that young beauty Angira Dhar, who impressed with her acting in Netflix's original Love Per Square Foot is finalized for a key role. As per the Bollywood reports, she will be playing a lawyer in the movie.
Along with direction, Ajay Devgn will be acting and producing Mayday. The film also has Rakul Preet Singh essaying a co-pilot role.


text:
Plane did not originate from China nor Covid hot-spots
This story was posted 10 months ago
Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA), Point Salines, St George, Grenada
Friday night flight did not originate from China in recent travel history
Measures to combat Covid-19 transmission include an Importation Transmission Watch, travel restriction list of countries and strict enforcing of mandatory quarantine of persons entering Grenada from at-risk countries
Health Minister, Nickolas Steele, has explained that the passengers on the private aircraft that landed at Maurice Bishop International Airport on Friday night at 9 pm did not originate from China in recent travel history, nor were they coming from any of the other Covid-19 hot spots, flagged by the Grenada Airports Authority (GAA).
"A private plane landed. None of the individuals onboard have been to the hotspots or countries on our travel restriction list within the last 14 days," said Steele. He confirmed that all the passengers were screened by port health workers before they received the approval to enter Grenada by an immigration officer, as is done with other passengers from other aircraft.
He did not provide the original territories where the flight originated or transited, since, according to the minister, that information lies with the Grenada Airports Authority.
In a follow-up interview Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell, dismissed as categorically false and mischievous that he has anything to do with which planes land at the airport. Dr Mitchell stated that he has had no knowledge of this plane landing and this has nothing to do with him.
Dr Mitchell went on to state that he has been busy protecting the national front from this pandemic, trying to ensure that Grenadians stay safe and that the economy survives through this crisis. Stating that the jurisdiction for airports falls under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Prime Minister said that he is assured that the ministry and management of the airport are following strict protocols, even more so at this time when we are trying to ensure we manage well the global pandemic that is Covid-19.
As part of Grenada's preparedness, measures to combat transmission of Covid-19 include an Importation Transmission Watch, travel restriction list of countries and strict enforcing of mandatory quarantine of persons entering Grenada from at-risk countries.
In a national midday address on Friday, 13 March, Dr Mitchell announced that Grenada has entered a new phase in managing and preparing for the Covid-19 virus. As of Saturday, 14 March there was no confirmed cases on the island, but 2 persons who passed through Grenada for short periods were later tested and confirmed positive in other countries.
One of the persons is the first confirmed case in St Lucia. She is a UK citizen, and the second is a citizen of Canada, who was a cruise passenger.
To safeguard the population against the pandemic and contain this disease, Grenada will be closing all schools for 2 weeks in the first instance, adopting social distancing, and suspending visits to elderly nursing homes and prison visitations.
In providing justification for the measure, the Prime Minister explained in his address that social distancing is a new term in the fight against Covid-19. According to the experts, the virus is contracted from droplets when an infected person speaks, coughs or sneezes, and either drops on a surface or on a person within a 6-foot radius.
"We are, therefore, requesting that all public and other social gatherings, such as cultural, religious and sporting events, cinemas and other places that people gather, that cannot guarantee a minimum of 6 feet of social distancing, be suspended, until further notice," he said.
He further advised citizens that it is paramount that there is protection as much as possible for all citizens, particularly the elderly as they are most susceptible to die in this outbreak. "We are taking no chances and making no gambles on people lives. In this regard, therefore, effective immediately, all visits to elderly nursing homes will be suspended until further notice. Those who are receiving at-home care are to exercise extreme caution," he said.
Tags: coronaviruscovid-19grenada airports authoritylinda strakerpandemic
E-learning support for students displaced by adverse circumstances
In every lie lies the truth people are not stupid ok 1+1=2
Peter fernando says:
Does Cuba still practice communism?
Bugs Bunny says:
Go take a trip there and find out
GRENADA please stay calm cuba has the cure it just came out so there is no need to fear anything. Your God is with you trust in him he has never forsake you and he will protect you from all evil. I thank the brilliant minds of the Cuban doctors and all its people. God bless cuba and long live cuba.
Stop spreading FAKE news. It will be at least 6 months after a cure is found before it is released to the public!!
Stephanie H. Bleasdille says:
Covid-19 IS NOW ENTERING OIR BEAUTIFUL GRENADA ON PRIVATE JETS??? GAA… MR. STEEL… STOP MAKING THE GRENADIAN PEOPLE LOOK FOOLISH.. STOP EMBARRASSING OUR HONOURABLE LEADERSHIP.
Mr. STEEL COULD BE INVOLVED IN A PLAN TO ASSINATE OUR DEARLY BELOVED AND HONORABLE PRIME MINISTER AND, ERADICATING OF OUR PEOPLE. SINCE THIS PRIVATE JET LANDED WITH CHINESE NATIONALS, WITH TH APPROVAL OF GAA AND UNAWAEES TO OUR DEARLY BELOVED PRIME MINISTER
DR. MITCHELL PLEASE WATC YOUR BACK… WATCH N.S.
louise J.I Grant says:
Yap yap yap yap that's all some of you good for.