text:
It's ON! Between Duterte and America
I've written a couple pieces of the smoking hot issue in Pivotland, Philippine president Duterte's swerve toward a pro-PRC foreign policy, and what the U.S. and pro-American sector of the Manila elite are going to do about it.
The first piece, Reports of death of US-Philippine alliance may be exaggerated, addresses the fact that Duterte's freedom of movement is constrained by the need to keep the Philippine military happy, and notes that ex-prez and retired general Fidel Ramos, who facilitated Duterte's entrance on the national political stage, is signaling dissatisfaction with Duterte.
The second piece, Duterte Plays the 'Mamasapano' Card, covers a Duterte counter-attack: a threat to relitigate the death of 44 Philippine National Police commandos at Mamasapano in Mindanao, a 2014 special ops fiasco conducted under the aegis of the United States which a) exposes ex-president Aquino to serious legal jeopardy b) posits that the US alliance is doing a better job of killing Filipinos than the PRC can ever hope to do.
The US seems to be embedded in a colonial mindset when it comes to the Philippines, something along the lines of "we've been selflessly looking after the Philippines for a century, and that thug Duterte won't be allowed to screw that up during his brief (maybe curtailed) presidency."
It takes a pretty superficial view of Philippine history, one that accepts the US self-definition as the Philippines' security savior while ignoring the distortions and shortcomings of the colonial and neo-colonial relationship.
For me this tunnel vision was typified by the US media crowing over the formal delivery of a refurbished C-130 transport to the Philippine government by outgoing ambo Philip Goldberg. Message: here's the US making provisions for Philippine defense at the same time Duterte's selling out the country to China.
To me, the inadvertent message was 1) here's the US blindly stroking the pivot fetish while Duterte tries to solve the Mindanao insurgency that has cost at least 400,000 lives over the last century, win his drug war, and find a place for the Philippines in Asia that doesn't give primacy to the US preoccupation with confronting the PRC and 2) the U.S., in my opinion, pretty much has a policy of keeping the Philippines flat on its behind as an independent military force by trickling out second-hand gear to the Philippine military while the sweet stuff is dangled in front of it during US joint military maneuvers and port calls.
But the United States is trying to find political leverage wherever it can and the Western media will, I'm sure, put its shoulder to the wheel to help out.
Philip Goldberg sat down for a 45-minute exit interview with Rappler. As befitting Rappler's origins in the Soros/Omidyar network of pro-US globalization advocacy, the interview was a stream of softballs about what to do about Duterte's disregard of the awesomeness of the American relationship, an awesomeness that is acknowledged by virtually all Filipinos who inexplicably (and, if the US has anything to do about it, temporarily) at the same time give Duterte approval ratings of over 80%.
It's worth watching if you have the patience. Goldberg is a smooth cat, and the Rappler tonguebath gives you no inkling of the fact that he intimately familiar with the wet work of end-arounding national governments to cultivate secessionist movements, you know, like what he did in Bolivia (declared persona non grata as a result) and Kosovo, and like that thing in Duterte's home province of Mindanao, which in my opinion probably the main reason why Duterte wanted him out of the Philippines.
Goldberg also discretely plays the economic threat card, concern-trolling that anti-US attitudes will dismay "foreign investors".
It will be interesting to see how this plays out in subsequent weeks. As far as I can tell, the biggest U.S. factor in the domestic Philippine economy is the call-center industry. I doubt US corporations are interested in actually pulling their operations out and subjecting them to the English-language mercies of India, but certainly a call from the State Department or White House would convince them of the wisdom of at least making the threat.
And I also wonder if expected President Hillary Clinton will find it necessary to drop the hammer on Duterte, in order to demonstrate to a rather dubious Asia that there is no alternative to loyalty to the pivot.
I expect the next few months, in other words, to be very interesting.
Posted by China Hand at 1:33 PM 4 comments: Tweet
Labels: Duterte, Philip Goldberg, Philippines
Trump: We Wish the Problem Was Fascism…
…But It's Really Racism
I find the spectacle of liberals heroically mounting the barricades against Trump-fascism rather amusing.
For one thing, liberals don't crush fascism.
Liberals appease fascism, then they exploit fascism.
In between there's a great big war, where communists crush fascism.
That's pretty much the lesson of WWII.
Second thing is, Trump isn't fascist.
In my opinion, Trump's an old-fashioned white American nativist, which is pretty much indistinguishable from old-fashioned racist when considering the subjugation of native Americans and African-Americans and Asian immigrants, but requires that touch of "nativist" nuance when considering indigenous bigotry against Irish, Italian, and Jewish immigrants and citizens.
Tagging him as "fascist" allows his critics to put an alien, non-American gloss on a set of attitudes and policies that have been mainstreamed in American politics for at least 150 years and predate the formulation of fascism by several decades if not a century. Those nasty vetting/exclusion things he's proposing are as American as apple pie. For those interested in boning up on the Know Nothings and the Chinese Exclusion Act, I have this piece for you.
And for anybody who doesn't believe the US government does not already engage in intensive "extreme" vetting and targeting of all Muslims immigrants, especially those from targeted countries, not only to identify potential security risks but to groom potential intelligence assets, I got the Brooklyn Bridge to sell you right here:
Real fascism, in theory, is a rather interesting and nasty beast. In my opinion, it turns bolshevism on its head by using race or ethnic identity instead of class identity as the supreme, mobilizing force in national life.
In both fascism and bolshevism, democratic outcomes lack inherent legitimacy. National legitimacy resides in the party, which embodies the essence of a threatened race or class in a way that Hegel might appreciate but Marx probably wouldn't. Subversion of democracy and seizure of state power are not only permissible; they are imperatives.
The need to seize state power and hold it while a fascist or bolshevik agenda is implemented dictates the need for a military force loyal to and subservient to the party and its leadership, not the state.
The purest fascism movement I know of exists in Ukraine. I wrote about it here, and it's a piece I think is well worth reading to understand what a political movement organized on fascist principles really looks like.
And Trump ain't no fascist.
He's a nativist running a rather incompetent campaign.
It's a little premature to throw dirt on the grave of the Trump candidacy, perhaps (I'll check back in on November 9 [November 10: hah!]), but it looks like he spent too much time glorying in the adulation of his white male nativist base and too little time, effort, and money trying to deliver a plausible message that would allow other demographics to shrug off the "deplorable" tag and vote for him. I don't blame/credit the media too much for burying Trump, a prejudice of mine perhaps. I blame Trump's inability to construct an effective phalanx of pro-Trump messengers, a failure that's probably rooted in the fact that Trump spent the primary and general campaign at war with the GOP establishment.
The only capital crime in politics is disunity, and the GOP and Trump are guilty on multiple counts.
The most interesting application of the "fascist" analysis, rather surprisingly, applies to the Clinton campaign, not the Trump campaign, when considering the cultivation of a nexus between big business and *ahem* racially inflected politics.
It should be remembered that fascism does not succeed in the real world as a crusade by race-obsessed lumpen. It succeeds when fascists are co-opted by capitalists, as was unambiguously the case in Nazi Germany and Italy. And big business supported fascism because it feared the alternatives: socialism and communism.
That's because there is no more effective counter to class consciousness than race consciousness.
That's one reason why, in my opinion, socialism hasn't done a better job of catching on in the United States. The contradictions between black and white labor formed a ready-made wedge. The North's abhorrence at the spread of slavery into the American West before the Civil War had more to do a desire to preserve these new realms for "free" labor—"free" in one context, from the competition of slave labor—than egalitarian principle.
White labor originally had legal recourse to beating back the challenge/threat of African-American labor instead of accommodating it as a "class" ally; it subsequently relied on institutional and customary advantages.
If anyone harbors illusions concerning the kumbaya solidarity between white and black labor in the post-World War II era, I think the article The Problem of Race in American Labor History by Herbert Hill (a freebie on JSTOR) is a good place to start.
The most reliable wedge against working class solidarity and a socialist narrative in American politics used to be white privilege which, when it was reliably backed by US business and political muscle, was a doctrine of de facto white supremacy.
However, in this campaign, the race wedge has cut the other way in a most interesting fashion. White conservatives are appalled, and minority liberals energized, by the fact that the white guy, despite winning the majority white male vote, lost to a black guy not once but twice, giving a White Twilight/Black Dawn (TM) vibe to the national debate.
The perception of marginalized white clout is reinforced by the nomination of Hillary Clinton and her campaign emphasis on the empowerment of previously marginalized but now demographically more important groups.
The Clinton campaign has been all about race and its doppelganger—actually, the overarching and more ear-friendly term that encompasses racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual loyalties—"identity politics."
The most calculated and systematic employment of racial politics was employed by the Hillary Clinton campaign in the Democratic primary to undercut the socialist-lite populist appeal of Bernie Sanders.
My personal disdain for the Clinton campaign was born on the day that John Lewis intoned "I never saw him" in order to dismiss the civil rights credentials of Bernie Sanders while announcing the Black Congressional Caucus endorsement of Hillary Clinton. Bear in mind that during the 1960s, Sanders had affiliated his student group at the University of Chicago with Lewis' SNCC, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee; during the same era, Hillary Clinton was at Wellesley condemning "the snicks" for their excessively confrontational tactics.
Ah, politics.
To understand the significance of this event, one should read Fracture by the guru of woke Clintonism, Joy Reid. Or read my piece on the subject. Or simply understand that after Hillary Clinton lost Lewis's endorsement, the black vote, and the southern Democratic primaries to Barack Obama in 2008, she was determined above all to secure and exploit monolithic black support in the primaries and, later on, the general in 2016.
So, in order to prevent Sanders from splitting the black vote to her disadvantage on ideological/class lines, Clinton played the race card. Or, as we put it today when discussing the championing of historically disadvantaged a.k.a. non white male heterosexual groups, celebrated "identity politics".
In the primary, this translated into an attack on Sanders and the apparently mythical "Bernie bro" as racist swine threatening the legacy of the first black president, venerated by the African American electorate, Barack Obama.
In the general, well, Donald Trump and his supporters provided acres more genuine grist for the identity warrior mill.
Trump's populism draws its heat from American nativism, not "soak the rich" populism of the Sandernista stripe, and it was easily submerged in the "identity politics" narrative.
Trump's ambitions to gain traction for a favorable American/populist/outsider narrative for his campaign have been frustrated by determined efforts to frame him as anti-Semitic, racist against blacks and Hispanics, sexist, and bigoted against the disabled—and ready to hold the door while Pepe the Frog feeds his opponents, including a large contingent of conservative and liberal Jewish journalists subjected to unimaginable invective by the Alt-Right-- into the ovens.
As an indication of the fungible & opportunistic character of the "identity politics" approach, as far as I can tell from a recent visit to a swing state, as the Clinton campaign pivoted to the general, the theme of Trump's anti-black racism has been retired in favor of pushing his offenses against women and the disabled. Perhaps this reflects the fact that Clinton has a well-advertised lock on the African-American vote and doesn't need to cater to it; also, racism being what it is, playing the black card is not the best way to lure Republicans and indies to the Clinton camp.
The high water mark of the Clinton African-American tilt was perhaps the abortive campaign to turn gun control into a referendum on the domination of Congress by white male conservatives. It happened a few months ago, so who remembers? But John Lewis led a sit-in occupation of the Senate floor in the wake of the Orlando shootings to highlight how America's future was being held hostage to the whims of Trump-inclined white pols.
That campaign pretty much went by the wayside (as did Black Lives Matter, a racial justice initiative partially funded by core Clinton backer George Soros; interesting, no?) as a) black nationalists started shooting policemen and b) Clinton kicked off a charm campaign to help wedge the black-wary GOP establishment away from Trump.
There is more to Clintonism, I think, than simply playing the "identity politics" card to screw Bernie Sanders or discombobulate the Trump campaign. "Identity politics" is near the core of the Clintonian agenda as a bulwark against any class/populist upheaval that might threaten her brand of billionaire-friendly liberalism.
In my view, a key tell is Clinton's enduring and grotesque loyalty to her family's charitable foundation, an operation that in my opinion has no place on the resume of a public servant, as a font of prestige, conduit for influence, and model for billionaire-backed global engagement.
By placing the focus of the campaign on identity politics and Trump's actual and putative crimes against various identity groups, the Clinton campaign has successfully obscured what I consider to be its fundamental identity as a vehicle for neoliberal globalists keen to preserve and employ the United States as a welcoming environment and supreme vehicle for supra-sovereign business interests.
Clintonism's core identity is not, in other words, as a crusade for groups suffering from the legacy and future threat of oppression by Trump's white male followers. It is a full-court press to keep the wheels on the neoliberal sh*twagon as it careens down the road of globalization, and it recognizes the importance in American democracy of slicing and dicing the electorate by identity politics and co-opting useful demographics as the key to maintaining power.
In my view, the Trump and Clinton campaigns are both protofascist.
Trump has cornered the somewhat less entitled and increasingly threatened white ethnic group, some of whom are poised to make the jump to white nationalism with or without him.
Clinton has cornered the increasingly entitled and assertive global billionaire group, which adores the class-busting anti-socialist identity-based politics she practices.
But the bottom line is race.
U.S. racism has stacked up 400 years of tinder that might take a few hundred more years, if ever, to burn off. And until it does, every politician in the country is going to see his or her political future in flicking matches at it.
And that's what we're seeing in the current campaign.
Not fascism.
Posted by China Hand at 2:09 PM 10 comments: Tweet
Labels: fascism, Trump
Bangladesh: How the East Was Lost
My current piece at Asia Times, Is Balochistan Today's Bangladesh?, looks at the 1971 establishment of Bangladesh in context of Balochi independence advocates' imploring Modi to do Balochistan a solid like Indira Gandhi did for East Pakistan.
Here's a video of an independence advocate ringing the bell on Indian TV:
Long story short, there aren't a lot of useful parallels between East Pakistan and Balochistan. But that's not going to stop Modi from messing with Pakistan in Balochistan if he really wants to. For that matter, Pakistan has learned a few tricks since 1971 and I expect that things will not go well for Balochis, already enduring a nasty security operation cum occupation and demographic attack at the hands of Islamabad.
The important takeaway, I think, is don't assume the PRC will stand idly by just because that's what happened in the case of Bangladesh. This proposition is becoming something of a perennial among India's China hawks, along the lines of "Pakistan is so f'ed up, China will just sit back and let India fix it".
I think this is moonshine.
The PRC, I expect, is not a starry-eyed lover of Pakistan and sees problems with the terrorism-sponsoring sh*tshow at the core of Pakistan's security policy. I also expect ISI probably also discretely brandishes the threat of unleashing the local Islamists—who are viscerally anti-PRC thanks to the Chinese role in the storming of the Lal Masjid Mosque that birthed the TTP--to engage in anti-China mischief if circumstances dictate.
But the PRC has levers to use on Pakistan as a major economic & security interlocutor. It has about zero levers to use on India.
The PRC simply does not have enough love for India—a strategic competitor edging towards a de facto alliance with the United States and nibbling away at the PRC's position in Vietnam, Southeast Asia, and the SCS—to cede the Muslim reaches of South Asia including Afghanistan as India's sphere of influence and trust that India's going to do a better and more enthusiastic job of suppressing Islamist militancy that threatens Xinjiang and the path of the OBOR through the stans than Pakistan.
So, all things being equal, a dysfunctional but allied Pakistan is a safer home for China's AfPak portfolio than an adversarial India.
I don't think the hawks seriously believe what they're selling themselves. But it's a talking point to enable another turn of the escalatory crank against Pakistan by saying, Don't worry about China. We'll be fine!
As for Bangladesh, like many Americans I daresay, my main exposure is via the George Harrison song. Here it is!
But the loss of the East is a core issue of Pakistan identity and anxiety and now, thanks to Modi putting Balochistan into play, something that should perhaps be understood more fully as a precedent, a warning, and perhaps a good predictor of how South Asia and the world could blow up if and when the PRC and India come to blows over the issue of Pakistan's territorial integrity and, indeed, its survival.
Perhaps the most significant takeaway is that early on in the crisis the elites of West Pakistan had perforce written off East Pakistan because of its distance and vulnerability, and because it was understood that the PRC would not intervene militarily to force Indian restraint.
The failure of Pakistan in the matter of East Pakistan a.k.a. Bangladesh in 1971 was complete and on many levels, and obscured by the desire of all actors, winners as well as losers, to dodge implication in the bloodiest aspects of the debacle. I try to sort out the strands in this lengthy piece.
In particular, I propose that Pakistan's plans for suppression of rebellion in the East may have involved a crime against humanity: an attempt to ethnically cleanse East Pakistan of Hindus in 1971.
I go into the strategic, geostrategic, political, and economic dead ends that Pakistan wandered into during the year that it tried to prevent the separation of East Pakistan.
Unsurprisingly, a disaster this total has spawned a conspiracy theory: that Zulfikar Ali Bhutto connived at the loss of East Pakistan so he could be ascendant in the West. There's something to it.
Bhutto had little incentive to work for Pakistani unity and stood to benefit if the East was lost. It looks he gave the tottering edifice of Pakistani rule a helpful push in a crucial meeting at his family hunting lodge in Larkana.
Once that was done, Bhutto didn't have to do a lot except get out of the way and make sure he profited from the aftermath.
For background, in 1970, Pakistan was separated into East and West Wings. The East Wing, today's Bangladesh, was more populous and had a burgeoning localist movement. In order to transition from military to civilian rule, the President, General Yahya Khan, set elections for December 1970.
Bhutto's PPP did well in the West but not as well as the Awami League, under autonomy/independence minded Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the East.
If the electoral outcome was respected, the Awami League would control the national legislature, select the Prime Minister, and had the votes to impose its vision of autonomy on the nation.
After several months of negotiations, General Yahya decided Awami League demands were unacceptable and ordered a military crackdown in the East. India intervened, Pakistan was defeated, and by the end of 1971 East Pakistan was gone and Bangladesh had been born…and Bhutto had attained absolute power as President and Martial Law Administrator in the West.
The complete piece is below the fold. It's in four parts:
Strategy: Hindu Genocide
Geostrategy: The China Non-Factor
Politics: The Larkana Conspiracy
Economics: The Ahmed Plan…or, What's Jute Got to Do with It?
Labels: 1971 War, Bangladesh, jute, Larkana Conspiracy, Maulana Bhashani, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto


June 2018: Samir Patham and Sauraj Jhingan, the Pune based mountaineers who led the Force Motors Everest Expedition 2018, were felicitated today at the company's Akurdi factory in Pune. The duo had reached the world's tallest peak on May 18, 2018 and shared their experience aided by videos of the expedition. They handed over the Force Motors flag taken to the summit to MD Prasan Firodia, and autographed a photograph that commemorated their climb to the summit.
The expedition was flagged off on March 22, 2018 from the company's headquarters at Akurdi. After acclimatising for a few weeks and testing their technical skills by climbing neighboring mountains, they proceeded to Everest base camp from where they made several trips to the higher camps. This was to stock up essentials like tents, food and oxygen for the final summit attempt.
Assured by favourable weather conditions, the team left Camp 4 (above 8000m) on the evening of 17th May. After a 10 hour grueling climb in the death zone, they reached the summit at 6.20 amthe next day. They spent about 40 minutes on the top before descending.
Firodia, complimenting Sauraj and Samir on their outstanding feat, stated, "Their perseverance and determination would certainly inspire others to strive towards their personal and professional goals".
Samir and Sauraj said they were grateful for the company's support. The duo's first attempt in 2015 was abandoned because of the earthquake in Nepal that almost wiped out base camp. The second attempt in 2017 was called off 800m from the summit because of strong jet stream winds higher than 160km/hr. Force Motors gave their dream a new lease of life.
"Climbing to the Summit of Everest was a dream come true for us. On May 18, 2018 we achieved this dream and spent 45 mins on the top of the world. After 2 unsuccessful attempts in 2015 and 2017, the year 2018 was all the more challenging for us and we sincerely thank Force motors for their support and encouragement, and for believing in us", smiled Sauraj.
"Two months spent on this climbing expedition, sleeping in tents on a freezing glacier, in sub zero conditions, aspiring to climb in altitudes where oxygen is a luxury, teaches you to appreciate the basic necessities of life. Standing on the Summit of Everest rather than being a conquest, was a humbling experience. I will always be grateful not just to my family, friends and Force Motors for the encouragement and support, in making this expedition happen, but also 'Sagarmatha'(Everest) for granting us the opportunity to stand on the 'Top of the World', summed up Samir.


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Nanoparticle delivery maximizes drug defense against bioterrorism agent
Tunde Akinloye for CNSI<br>Left to right: Daniel Clemens, Bai-Yu Lee, Marcus Horwitz, Jeffrey Zink, Barbara Jane Dillon and Zilu Li.
Shaun Mason
Scientists from the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA have developed a nanoparticle delivery system for the antibiotic moxifloxacin that vastly improves the drug's effectiveness against pneumonic tularemia, a type of pneumonia caused by inhalation of the bacterium Francisella tularensis.
The study, which appears in the journal ACS Nano, shows how the nanoparticle system targets the precise cells infected by the bacteria and maximizes the amount of drug delivered to those cells.
Jeffrey Zink, distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry and a senior author on the study, developed the mesoporous silica nanoparticles used for drug delivery. Zink and his research team conducted an exhaustive process to find the best particle for the job.
"The nanoparticles are full of deep empty pores," Zink said. "We place the particles in drug solution overnight, filling the pores with drug molecules. We then block the pore openings on the nanoparticle's surface with molecules called nanovalves, sealing the drug inside the nanoparticle."
When the drug-bearing nanoparticles are injected into the infected animal, in this case a mouse, the drug stays in the nanoparticles until they reach their target: white blood cells called macrophages. Macrophages ingest nanoparticles into compartments that have an acidic environment. The nanovalves, which are designed to open in response to the more acidic surroundings, then release the drug.
"We tested several different particles and nanovalves until we found the ones that would carry the maximum amount of drug and release it at just the right pH value," Zink said.
The F. tularensis bacterium is highly infectious and has been designated a top-tier bioterrorism agent by the Centers for Disease control, meaning that it is considered to pose a high risk to national security and public health.
"F. tularensis survives and multiplies within macrophages, especially those in the liver, spleen and lung," said Marcus Horwitz, a distinguished professor of medicine and microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics and the study's other senior author. "Macrophages readily devour mesoporous silica nanoparticles, making these particles ideal for treating these types of infections."
Moxifloxacin is a powerful treatment for tularemia, but it has side effects when administered as a free drug in the bloodstream. The UCLA researchers worked to maximize the efficacy of the treatment while reducing side effects.
"When you give a drug freely in the blood, only 1 or 2 percent of it gets to where you want it to go," Horwitz said. "With this system, the drug is contained inside the nanoparticles until they are inside macrophages, delivering a much larger amount of the drug directly to the site of infection."
Horwitz added that freely flowing drugs are metabolized and excreted from the moment they are administered, whereas nanoparticles protect drug molecules from metabolism and excretion until after their release in the target cells, making nanotherapeutics potentially very potent.
The study compared the efficacy of freely injected moxifloxacin with that delivered by the controlled-release nanoparticles. In mice given a highly lethal dose of Francisella tularensis, the nanoparticle-delivered moxifloxacin caused few side effects and was more effective at reducing the number of bacteria in the lungs than a dose of freely injected moxifloxacin two to four times greater.
The nanoparticle delivery system has the potential to maximize antibiotic effectiveness and reduce side effects in other infectious diseases including tuberculosis, Q fever and Legionnaires' disease.
The study's other authors were Zilu Li, a graduate student in the Zink lab; and Daniel Clemens, an adjunct associate professor of medicine; Bai-Yu Lee, an associate researcher; and Barbara Jane Dillon, a staff research associate, all of whom are in the Horwitz lab.
Confocal microscopy was provided by the Advanced Light Microscopy Technology Center of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA.
This research was supported by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency of the Department of Defense.
Shaun Mason, CNSI

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It's a quote that keeps on giving. I was standing inside a Seoul, South Korea, subway station waiting for a train with Kim Gyeng Chul, when he said something that's stuck with me ever since. Kim is the former head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, current president of the Korea Transport Institute, and one of the principal architects of the city's subway and overall transit system reorganization that occurred in the mid-2000s.
Before I tell you what he said, let me first tell you about the Seoul subway system. It is quite simply the best I have ever seen. The first line opened in 1974. Now, it has more than 10 lines and more than 350 stations. The subway has helped Seoul develop into a world-class city of 8 million and a metropolis of 20 million. Almost anywhere you want to go, it seems, you can go by subway. The total passenger ridership ranks second in the world, above New York City's.
The system is clean, well laid out and easy to negotiate, even for a non-Korean-speaking foreigner such as myself. To enter the system, you can simply hold your smartphone over the turnstile "card reader" and the gates open, while automatically deducting approximately $1 from your account. You can also hold a credit card or a little medallion that you put transit money on over the turnstile. This works on the hundreds of different bus lines and on the train to the airport too.
Most of Seoul's subway lines have "platform screening doors," or vertical glass walls that separate the platforms from the tracks and protect the waiting passengers from the screeching, potentially deadly trains. There's Wi-Fi everywhere, even in the trains.
Given how smoothly the system runs, it would be natural to conclude that it is the product of a streamlined, hierarchical government. But this is not the case. Two private, for-profit companies and two nonprofit state companies run most of the subway lines. Hundreds of different private, for-profit operators, that are subsidized at different levels by the state, run the bus lines.
These institutions are products of different moments in Korea's messy political history, which includes a shift from a dictatorship to a democracy in the past four decades. Despite the different institutions, the lines mesh seamlessly. The system is a product of rebuilding, re-management and readjusting. The city certainly didn't get it perfect the first time, but it kept tinkering.
What Kim and colleagues did in the mid-2000s, under the leadership of Mayor Lee Myung-bak, is put all these organizations under a common fare system, as well as integrate them in other ways. The reorganization of the bus system was particularly impressive. Kim and others reorganized the routes, putting into place a more comprehensible system of trunk, feeder, commuter and express lines, identifiable by color. In addition, they unified the fare system, the system of public subsidies and how fares were charged.
Imagine a similar reorganization here. It would be like establishing a common fare system for the state of California's Caltrain, the Bay Area's BART and the San Francisco bus system. In Seoul, you travel between trains and buses -- some run by the city, some by the state; some by private organizations and some public; some by for profit and some not-for-profit -- and scarcely notice the difference.
What he said resonated and percolated. Were the people (i.e., the passengers) going to exist for the benefit of the four different transit companies and multiple bus companies and so on; or were those organizations going to exist -- and thus change -- to serve its users, the citizens of the country? In South Korea, that choice was made.
Back here in the U.S., citizens have to navigate through multiple bureaucracies when doing one task because the systems were set up that way and no one has bothered to change them. It's not just transportation. It's all sorts of government services and missions.
Thankfully, there is at least some talk of change. In the New York City region, heads of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak have been discussing ways to trade and share trains, tracks and drivers at peak periods. This would be a revolution.
Who is to be tasked with leading such change? It's the job of the elected leaders. After all, city and state agencies and public authorities are accountable to someone.
In Seoul, reorganization of the transit system was part of a broader urban design overhaul that included tearing down a highway and replacing it with a delightful linear park. The city, recognizing that cars were too dominant, has narrowed its streets and widened sidewalks, something New York City and other American cities are just starting to do. The success of these projects helped get Kim's boss, Lee, elected president of the country. Imagine if that were to happen here, if the mayor of Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles or New York did such a good job that they had the political capital to run for president?


text:
Starling data shows users in lockdown are playing video games and shopping online
By Aisling Finn on Monday 20 April 2020
Average customer spends have increased across every region of the UK, with the figure more than doubling in London.
Image source: Anne Boden/Starling
Starling's customers are clearly heeding government advice to stay home, as evidenced in the digital bank's user data.
For instance, Starling customer's 7-day spend on PlayStation and Nintendo increased by a massive 300 per cent between the week ending 15 March 2020 up until 5 April 2020.
Average transaction values for Starling customers have risen dramatically, with the highest jump being in London where the amount more than doubled from £53.57 on the week ending 22 March 2020 to £107.72 the next week—an increase of 101 per cent.
More evidence for customers staying at home is the huge decrease in money spent on transport—TfL dropped by 93.3 per cent from 15 March to 5 April and Uber saw an 84.3 per cent drop in the average amount spent.
Despite being an essential business as a provider of medicine, Boots saw a huge drop in transactions from Starling customers of nearly 70 per cent between the same dates.
Online shopping for Starling customers is up at record-breaking levels as online transactions now regularly equate to over 50 per cent of the total transactions, with only one day (11 April 2020) seeing in-person transactions exceed those made online.
As a result, Amazon has seen a 39 per cent increase in transactions from Starling customers as have Argos (49 per cent), ASOS (12 per cent), John Lewis (13 per cent) and Apple (35 per cent) between 15 March 2020 to 5 April.
Another surprising figure for the customer data is that Deliveroo's sales to Starling's customers remained flat compared to pre-lockdown figures, with the total transactions actually dropping by 1 per cent over the period.
Starling has recently introduced a number of measures to help its customers who are feeling the pinch of the coronavirus pandemic, such as three-month interest holidays for customers who have lost income and the Connected Card to help those in self-isolation still receive essential items.


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The NordicTrack Pro 3000 Treadmill has an amazing frame, designed elegantly to save space and also has a easy lift assistance for easy winding up after workout. This treadmill is driven by a 3.5 CHP durable motor that has a maximum speed of 22 km/h. It is loaded with 44 workout programs, including 4 custom programs. The 7" iFit Tablet screen, powered by android is one of the most attractive feature of this treadmill that allow users to enjoy interactive training programs with experts. Its google map enabled system allows users for experience a real time workout.
*Note: Most of the sites, stores or shopping portals listed above sell NordicTrack Pro 3000 Treadmill with discounts and other exciting offers. There is a possibility that the some of above websites are not selling NordicTrack Pro 3000 Treadmill now. Toughtrain.com is not liable for such cases or instances. Also we do not recommend any seller for NordicTrack Pro 3000 Treadmill and a buyer should buy from where he/she gets best deal with quality of products, service and on time delivery (shipment).


a charitable organization for its work in community service.
The Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Association for Justice will be handing out the award to Pittsburgh trial lawyer Paul Lagnese, who will accept the award on behalf of The Muriel's Breath of Life Foundation.
The foundation, which was established by Lagnese and his family, provides financial assistance grants to patients undergoing treatment at the Antonio J. & Janet Palumbo Cystic Fibrosis Center-Adult Program, which is affiliated with the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Lagnese will accept the award on April 24 during the quarterly meeting of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, which will take place at The Westin Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh.
"We are proud to honor the Muriel's Breath of Life Foundation for the vital assistance it provides to adults and children needing treatment for Cystic Fibrosis, and their families, in Western Pennsylvania," PAJ President Scott B. Cooper said in a statement.
Carol Ashby, senior major gift officer with the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation, said in her own statement that thanks to the "phenomenal generosity" of Muriel's Breath of Life, more than 400 grants have been given to families of children and adults suffering from Cystic Fibrosis.
"The foundation has had an immediate and profound impact," Ashby stated.
The foundation was created in honor of Muriel Lagnese, Paul Lagnese's sister-in-law, who was first diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis in her early 40s.
The rare genetic disease, which affects the respiratory system, is typically identified during childhood.
Muriel Lagnese lived with Cystic Fibrosis for six years until she succumbed to the disease in 2009.
The organization has donated $85,000 to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh since 2010, according to the PAJ.
Grant money helps patients and their families with medication, equipment, transportation, hospital living expenses and household expenses.
"The financial barrier could be the cost of a tank of gas or an unpaid bill," lawyer Paul Lagnese said in a statement.
Lagnese is a partner with the Pittsburgh firm Berger & Lagnese LLC.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Mila Kolomeitseva Bio, Age, Chef, Below Deck Mediterranean, Relationship, and Net Worth
Quick Facts of Mila Kolomeitseva
Full NameMila Kolomeitseva
ProfessionReality Star, Chef
EducationA Le Cordon Bleu
Mila Kolomeitseva is no new name to a regular audience of Bravo reality television series, Below Deck. She is the first female chef in Below Deck history.
Being in the spotlight, her audiences are curious about her personal life. Is she married? If so, who is her husband? What's her net worth and earnings from the Below Deck?
Who is Mila Kolomeitseva? Bio, Age, and Education
Born and raised in Siberia, Mila Kolomeitseva holds a Russian nationality. However, she has not revealed the exact date of birth. Hence her age is under review.
Her mother is a school teacher who has always been encouraged to learn from cultures around the world. It was that curiosity that inspired Kolomeitseva to attend Paris' prestigious Le Cordon Bleu cooking school where she promptly got her first job as a private chef working on a small boat.
Though she maintains her kitchen well-managed and clean, she has a short fuse in the galley, but it's that same passion that has also given her a love of the sea.
Mila Kolomeitseva Career: Chef and Below Deck Mediterranean
Initially working as a private chef on a small boat, Kolomeitseva got the celebrity recognization after appearing in the Season 4 of Bravo's reality series Below Deck Mediterranean. Primarily takes place in Paris, she was probably the perfect choice for a new yacht chef.
As for the new women on deck, she is the first female chef on the show. Whereas, Captain Sandy Yawn is back to lead the Sirocco on the popular Below Deck spin-off series which this time around, will be sailing throughout the French Riviera.
Below Deck Mediterranean Season 4 Cast
Similarly, Chief Stew Hannah Ferrier also returned to show to travel around the South of France, which she aptly described "as a playground for the wealthiest people in the world."
Most notably, Kolomeitseva's statement, "I don't want my son to see two men kissing each other." attracted a lot of attention and controversy too. It seems she still has some learning to do when it comes to the LGBTQ community.
However, she was fired from the show.
Also Read: Kate Chastain Bio, Age, Height, Net Worth, and Relationship
Is Mila Kolomeitseva Married? Know Her Relationship
When it comes to her personal life, Kolomeitseva is wholly confidential. She is yet to share her relationship status, husband or boyfriend to the public. Also, she remains inactive in social sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Chef Mila
With a limited piece of information regarding her personal life, she is possibly single and unmarried.
How Much Is Mila Kolomeitseva Net Worth In 2019?
Beyond getting to explore exotic locations, Below Deck cast make a good amount of coin. Kolomeitseva, as a chef in the series, reportedly earned anywhere from $70,000 to $100,000 and the bosun can expect between $48,000 to $60,000.
Though Kolomeitseva has not revealed the exact figure of her net worth, many online sources claimed her net worth around $0.2 million.
Besides, there is no information about real estate properties or cars owned by her.
Below Deck Mediterranean Bravo Chef Mila Kolomeitseva Russian Reality Star
Dominque Perry Wiki, Age, Height, Net Worth, Affairs, Boyfriend & Family
Loni Anderson Married To Bob Flick! Know about Their Married Life


Hey kids! Do you like brilliance? Wanna know how to plan for change so it doesn't kill yinz? This week we've got Ben Mosior, founder of Hired Thought, who was recommended to us by some of the smartest people we know. He's a "go-to" strategic thinker who practices Wardley Mapping, among other things – and since we didn't know what that was, we asked. It's a huge, wide-ranging discipline that studies and diagrams complex systems to understand them, so we only focused on a couple of aspects of it for this episode. Ben explains the relative value of mapping – which includes efficiency and savings you get from doing things in a strategic order of operations – and then helps Scot to understand the evolution of ideas from genesis to commodity.
Share the post "Pitcwerks #121 – Ben Mosior | Hired Thought"


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Geertruida Aleida Vereschildt
Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands
The Life of Geertruida Aleida
When Geertruida Aleida Vereschildt was born on 4 January 1888, in Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands, her father, Johannes Gerardus Vereschildt, was 30 and her mother, Geertruida Johanna Koetsier, was 27. She married John Cornelis Branger on 8 May 1912, in Arnhem, Gelderland, Netherlands. They were the parents of at least 6 sons. She immigrated to Minnesota, United States in 1940 and lived in Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States in 1920 and St. Anthony, Hennepin, Minnesota, United States for about 10 years. She died on 28 January 1971, in Columbia Heights, Anoka, Minnesota, United States, at the age of 83.
Learn about Geertruida Aleida's homeland.
Put your face in a costume from Geertruida Aleida's homelands.
Family Time Line
Spouse & Children
John Cornelis Branger
Marriage: 8 May 1912
john leonardus hubertus branger
anthony george "tony" branger
wilfred henry "willie" branger
albert henry "bob" branger
charles lindy branger
carl raymond branger
+1 More Child
Johannes Gerardus Vereschildt
Geertruida Johanna Koetsier
Female1860– • Female
Johanna Maria Geertruida ( Anna) Vereschildt
Wilhelmus Matheus Vereschildt
Wessel Martinuus ( Wessel) Vereschildt
+6 More Children
Death by suicide of van Gogh.
1890 · The Sherman Antitrust Act
This Act tried to prevent the raising of prices by restricting trade. The purpose of the Act was to preserve a competitive marketplace to protect consumers from abuse.
1910 · The BSA is Made
Being modeled after the Boy Scout Association in England, The Boy Scouts of America is a program for young teens to learn traits, life and social skills, and many other things to remind the public about the general act of service and kindness to others.
Vereschildt
Geertruida
Aleida
We don't have any information about this name.
Gertrude Branger in household of John Branger, "Canada, Prairie Provinces Census, 1916"
Gertrude Branger in household of John Branger, "United States Census, 1920"
Gertrude A Branger in household of John C Branger, "United States Census, 1930"


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Events listed in GREEN are online at mcldaz.org/now.
Los eventos enumerados en NEGRO son en persona en su biblioteca.
Los eventos enumerados en VERDE están en línea en mcldaz.org/now.
Indie Authors- Find Success in Self-Publishing!
Email a friend Notify me Print Download to calendar
Event Type: Adult
Age Group(s): Adults, Teens
Independent or self-publishing has become an easy and popular way to record and share the stories you want to tell. Our first celebration of independent authors will begin with a gathering of local award-winning independent authors sharing tips and strategies learned from their writing journeys. At 11, we'll participate in a digital nationwide Q&A panel with writers, agents and other industry leaders.
Our local author panel will feature:
*Diane Dweller, author of the forthcoming book "Mom, Mania, and Me".
*Liz Mays, author of "The Pressbooks Guide to Self-Publishing", "What's Your Magic Power", and "The Getahead Guide".
*Ann Lee Miller, author of the New Smyrna Beach series, including Reader's Choice Award Award Winner "Tattered Innocence" and the Reader's Choice Award finalist "Kicking Eternity".
*Natalie Wright, author of the Reader's Favorite award-winning H.A.L.F. series and multi-award-winning Akasha Chronicles.
*Dan Trumpis, author of the SELF-E select title and OneBookAZ award-winner "Welcome to Harmony", as well as "Gwen Gladstone" and "Bloodline.
50 seats will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Register for an e-mail reminder of this event.
Library: Queen Creek Branch Library location
Location: Mary Lou Fulton Story Time Room
Attendee MUST Give 24 HOUR Cancellation Notice to Allow Others on the Waiting List to Attend.


Background/Aims: Role functioning is an important part of recovery and psychiatric rehabilitation for people with schizophrenia. However, little is known about why some people and not others return to socially valued roles such as employment. While the demographic and clinical correlates of employment have been extensively studied, little is known about how employment interest forms and develops into actual employment activity. The aim was to compare demographic and clinical correlates of employment interest to correlates of actual employment participation. Methods: A community sample of 255 working-age adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were interviewed about their current employment status and current employment interest. Univariate logistic regression was used to examine the demographic and clinical correlates of both employment interest and participation. Findings: Age, employment history and severity of current hallucinations were associated with both employment interest and participation, while illness severity pattern, illness course, severity of disability, and severity of avolition were associated only with employment participation. Conclusions: Resilience of employment interest to the clinical symptoms of schizophrenia is a promising finding. Those with more severe illness patterns and more impaired functioning can remain good candidates for vocational rehabilitation, because interest and motivation for employment may be unaffected.


What Are Types of Decomposers?
Fungi, worms, bacteria, snails and slugs are all types of decomposers. Decomposers get the nutrients they need by eating dead and decaying materials. These organisms keep ecosystems healthy by ensuring plants get the nutrients they need to survive.
Some decomposers are classified as scavengers. Scavengers eat dead animals and plants, breaking the dead material into smaller pieces as they eat. When scavengers finish eating, other decomposers feed on what is left of the dead organism. Clams, earthworms and freshwater shrimp are all classified as scavengers.
The activity level of decomposers depends on their environment. Decomposition occurs very rapidly in the rainforest because of all the moisture from precipitation. Decomposers are less-common in the desert because of the dry conditions. Some of the decomposers active in desert areas are millipedes, beetles and bacteria. Most of the decomposers found in water are bacterial organisms, but bodies of water are also home to clams, flatworms and other scavengers.
There are even some decomposers living in the Arctic, although only the hardiest organisms survive the harsh climate. Arctic ravens are classified as scavengers because they eat the carcasses of dead animals. Bacterial organisms are also able to survive the cold temperatures of the Arctic region.


Luca Curci talks with Chiara Cossu regarding her experience during Hidden Rooms in Venice.
Chiara Cossu, was born in Sassari in 1983. She won several awards in visual arts. Graduated in applied arts at the institute Philip Figari of Sassari, she finished her studies at Liberal Arts college. Her art is inspired by images of the real world. She likes to photograph people met by chance in the streets and feels a connection with them, differently from what happens in indoor shootings. Her studies on photography and video art are basically as a self-taught. She works as an independent photographer and video artist.
Luca Curci – Your work was exhibited during Hidden Rooms exhibition in Venice on November 2014: can you talk about your personal experience in Venice with International ArtExpo?
Chiara Cossu – It was a positive experience. The set of different cultures has been for me the most interesting experience and the subject of my study in those days in Venice.
L. C. – Can you talk about the artwork you presented in Venice? How is it linked with the festival's theme?
C. C. – The work presented in Venice "Fragments of a Birth" is an experimental video. The carachters in the video, assume a sensual attitude towards nature; nature and human beings are mixed toghether to the purpose of an ultimate goal: the birth, which is accomplished in contrast with the abandoned location in which it takes place […]. Filmed in two places very different from each other: the first abused and abandoned, the second pristine. Pure love in the course of time is contaminated by man as it happens in nature; often in fact it's man himself the ruin of his own territory, a higher natural force.
The sea, the soundtrack deliberately natural and disturbed, the storm underway, the crickets singing in contrast with the daytime images, symbolize the sun and the moon, the cycle of life. The cut images and the broken mirror at the beginning of the video, are related to the title "Fragments". A long breath throughout the video simbolizes life, death, birth, love, hate, the echo of a contemplated, loved, abused, destroyed and reborn land. I immediately saw an analogy with the theme of Venice HIDDEN ROOMS, because of the place where I shot the birth which is an abandoned mine, hidden and almost forgotten, but beautiful.
C. C. – Right now I'm working on a new video art project, but I'll not say nothing more at the moment.
C. C. – What for me is art? My child spirit, in which abstract reality I can have fun with my imagination, I could not help but it, every time I go away art comes over me like a wave.
C. C. – Yes, I think it could be a good starting point for many artists, to make them able to go on alone.


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Astragalus tataricus är en ärtväxtart som beskrevs av Adrien René Franchet. Astragalus tataricus ingår i släktet vedlar, och familjen ärtväxter. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Vedlar
tataricus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Woman wants judge to declare her, not NASA, as owner of moon dust
Says dust was gift from Neil Armstrong
By: James Leggate
CINCINNATI -- When a piece of the moon finds its way down to Earth, who owns it?
One former Cincinnati resident said in a lawsuit she should be allowed to own moon dust that was gifted to her by astronaut Neil Armstrong, but NASA has a history of claiming it owns all lunar material.
Now Laura Murray Cicco wants a court to declare her the rightful and legal owner of a vial of moon dust.
Murray Cicco's family moved in 1969 or '70 to Cincinnati, where her father, Tom, a World War II B-17 pilot, was friends with Armstrong, according to a lawsuit she filed in U.S. district court in Kansas last week. Armstrong taught at the University of Cincinnati during the '70s, after he left the space program.
Laura Murray Cicco's note from Neil Armstrong
According to the lawsuit, when Murray Cicco was about 10, her mother gave her the glass vial filled with light gray moon dust and one of her father's business cards with a message from Armstrong written on the back: "To Laura Ann Murray - Best of Luck - Neil Armstrong Apollo 11."
An expert has authenticated the signature as Armstrong's and lab testing determined the dust did come from the moon, according to the lawsuit.
However, NASA has in the past held a position "that private persons cannot own lunar material," according to the lawsuit. A NASA spokesperson did not immediately return a call for comment.
It's not specifically illegal to own material from the moon. But in past cases, NASA has equated possession of moon rocks to possession of stolen property because they never authorized it to be removed. In 2011, NASA investigators even organized a sting operation when the widow of a former engineer tried to sell a small piece of lunar material. She also said it was a gift from Armstrong.
"NASA has been aggressive over its position," said Christopher McHugh, Murray Cicco's attorney.
McHugh said Murray Cicco reached out to him because of another case he was involved with regarding a NASA lunar collection. They just want a judge to declare her the owner as a precaution.
In this case, McHugh said it's clear there was nothing wrong with Murray Cicco possessing the moon dust, since it came from Armstrong.
"He's not a thief," McHugh said. "He's an American hero."
McHugh believes there are still many other people out there who possess moon dust or rocks. He said courts need to reach a final decision on the issue.
"It's ripe for a resolution," he said.


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Design Calendar: August 1-15
A house in Ladd's Addition (photo by Brian Libby)
BY BRIAN LIBBY
Multicultural Portland Tour
While today Portland is known for having one of the smaller minority populations among major American cities, its multicultural and immigrant communities have a rich and storied history. This tour from Know Your City will uncover our multicultural past, and offer the opportunity to learn about the remarkably diverse Old Town/ Chinatown community in particular. The tour includes Portland's old and new Chinatowns, home to the second largest Chinese population in the US; the site of Portland's first African American community, including hotels, jazz clubs and barbershops prior to integration; and Nihonmachi, Portland's Japan Town, and its sudden disappearance after Japanese internment during World War II. Tour departs from the Know Your City kiosk, Ankeny Alley, 200 SW Ankeny Street. 3:30PM Friday, August 1. $17.
Dirty Side of Portland bus tour
Although the Portland area is recognized for its environmentally sustainable infrastructure, the Portland Harbor Superfund Site is an important reminder of our city and region's legacy of questionable environmental policy. More than a century of industrial use along the Willamette River has heavily contaminated the river bottom with many hazardous substances harmful to human health and to the environment. Limited regulation has resulted in polluted properties located throughout all Portland-metro neighborhoods, but are disproportionately concentrated in low-income areas and communities of color. This Know Your City bus tour will view important sites, orient participants to health and environmental impacts and show what citizens and policymakers can do to make our city safer. Along the way, attendees can meet with policymakers, activists and stakeholders to hear a variety of perspectives on environmental health and safety. Departs from Union Station, NW Sixth Avenue & Broadway. 11AM Saturday, August 2 and 1PM Sunday, August 3. $10-25 suggested.
Ladd's Addition Historic District walking tour
Enjoy a leisurely stroll through this leafy enclave of early 20th century homes, churches, and businesses in an Architectural Heritage Center tour. This National Register Historic District is Oregon's oldest planned community and in 2009 the American Planning Association honored it as one of America's Great Places. Unlike any other neighborhood in Portland, Ladd's Addition is laid out as a series of traffic circles filled with rose gardens, with the largest Ladd Circle in the middle and a series of smaller gardens to the north, south, east and west. The district is also home to one of Pietro Belluschi's acclaimed churches, St. Philip Neri catholic church. 10AM Saturday, August 2. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Pearl District walking tour: Preservation In the Midst of Change
Over the last 20 years, the Pearl District has been transformed from industrial enclave and rail yards into one of Portland's most popular residential, cultural and retail districts. A century ago, the area went through a similar transformation, from a working class housing area at the edge of a marsh to the city's biggest industrial and warehousing area. Many of Portland's best known architects of the period designed buildings for important local and national companies. Most of these buildings remain, with their exteriors intact, and new uses inside. But as the pending demolition of the Pacific Northwest College of Art's Feldman Building (a renovated old warehouse) reminds us, the current wave of development could threaten more hisotric buildings. 10AM Saturday, August 9. $20 ($12 for AHC members).
Buildings and Places: A Walking Tour of Portland's Architecture
Sample more than a 100 years of classical beauty, modern marvels, pioneering firsts and the newest in contemporary and sustainable design. This AIA/Portland-produced downtown walking tour highlights the most significant styles, architects and stories of the 20th & 21st centuries. Featuring individual works by Whidden & Lewis, AE Doyle, Pietro Belluschi, and Michael Graves, the tour also spotlights the modernist contributions of SOM, the contemporary designs of ZGF, TVA and SERA as well as special, less well-known gems. This two-hour tour starts at 11 AM at the Center For Architecture (NW 11th Avenue and Flanders Street) in the Pearl and ends near the Portland Building at SW Fifth Avenue and Main Street. 11AM Sunday, August 10. $20.
Posted by Brian Libby on July 31, 2014 | Permalink


Marysville Elks Lodge #1130 recently donated $1200 to the Plain City Police department. The monies were used by the department to purchase a bite suit. This suit will enable the police department staff to remain save while training their canine officer, Andor. The money came from a grant secured from the Ohio Elks Association in the form of a Community Service Grant as well as a contribution from the Lodge's Charitable Fund.
To date, through the Community Service Grants, Marysville Lodge #1130 has distributed nearly $7,000 back into Union County to assist various community agencies.
The Elks is a national fraternal order with nearly a million members and a 150-year history. A network of more than 2,000 lodges all over the country promotes community spirit and the principles of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. The Order donates more than $80 million every year for benevolent, educational and patriotic community-minded programs.


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Warehouse Management APAC
Logistics Tech
Logistics Tech Outlook Weekly Brief
Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from Logistics Tech Outlook
Home » Freight Management » CXO Insights
Mel Kirk, SVP & CIO, Ryder
Daniel Cavallin, CIO, Celistics
Alwin Brunner, SVP & CIO, Head of Knowledge Management, Heidrick & Struggles
Darren Cockrel, CIO, Coyote Logistics
Shaleen Devgun, EVP & CIO, Schneider (NYSE: SNDR)
Mel Kirk, SVP & CIO, Ryder System, Inc.
Eric Kierstead, CIO, BeavEx Incorporated
Andrew Dondlinger, VP, Connected Services, Navistar
Three Tips For Innovating At A 21st- Century Pace
By Alan Amling, VP Corporate Strategy, UPS
Alan Amling, VP Corporate Strategy, UPS
For more than a century, UPS has been innovating. We've pioneered and adapted technologies and forged partnerships that enabled us to create an unmatched global logistics network, to improve operational efficiencies, expand, save money and serve customers.
Technology enables us to grow. Sometimes we build it ourselves. Sometimes we find partners with established technology and networks that can take us where we need to go. From mapping software to artificial intelligence, we've learned a thing or two about the fine art of deploying technology on a large scale to accomplish business objectives. I'd like to share three tips now for managing the complexity:
• Own that which you believe differentiates your company
At UPS, we place a premium on our in-house experience and IT talent. After all, who knows our network and our business needs better than our own people?
Consider this: In-house IT experts developed UPS's On- Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation (ORION), which we've rolled out on nearly every UPS package delivery route in the United States. ORION uses expansive fleet telematics and advanced algorithms to gather and calculate vast amounts of data to provide UPS drivers with optimized routes. ORION saves UPS about 100 million miles, 10 million gallons of fuel and billions of dollars a year. It's a shining example of the kinds of innovations that underpin our business. And it is a differentiator.
"From mapping software to artificial intelligence, we've learned a thing or two about the fine art of deploying technology on a large scale to accomplish business objectives"
UPS IT professionals developed ORION and are planning further improvements that would enable dynamic route updates and other sophisticated functionality. And, again, we do this ourselves because we know our network and needs better than anyone.
However, when a technology is no longer a competitive differentiator but remains valuable, it's time to consider finding an outside partner to manage the updates. Our DIAD (Delivery Information Acquisition Device) illustrates this point. The DIAD is the digital clipboard UPS drivers carry. We created the DIAD, and it revolutionized our industry. Among other things, it scans bar codes and electronically captures and uploads delivery information and signatures. Today we are on our fifth generation of the DIAD with a new version on the
way. After 30 years, this project continues to earn its keep. So today we have a partner that helps us update the DIAD. And that frees up our internal talent to keep innovating technologies.
• Collaborate to improve speed and agility
As the external environment changes, companies that innovate must recognize when it makes better sense to find partners than to go it alone.
I'll give you an example. Powered by the rising middle class, China is the world's fastest growing logistics market. We've been building out the UPS network in China for a long time, but we weren't moving fast enough to capitalize on growing demand today. We solved this problem by entering into a joint venture with China's largest delivery company, SF Express.
The joint offerings combine the technology and strengths of SF's extensive Chinese network with UPS's globally integrated network. Together we're able to provide a depth and breadth of high-tech service that creates a competitive advantage for our customers.
• Threats can be opportunities in disguise
When you have a supply chain and logistics business that sprawls around the world like UPS does, you run into your fair share of competition–some of it from unexpected places and in surprising forms. Sometimes it's hard to know how a potential threat is going to affect your business. You just have a strong feeling that it will. If you're truly proactive, you can convert that threat into a game-changing opportunity.
Here's one example that's close to my heart. In the early days of 3D printing, when the primary use cases were design models and prototypes, many thought the technology was interesting but not necessarily a formidable one. But as printer and material quality improved, we saw its potential in manufacturing. We also realized that 3D printing could be a threat or an opportunity depending on the actions we take today.
UPS in not a manufacturer. So we invested in one, Fast Radius, and integrated its operations into ours. In Louisville near our Worldport air hub, we can now print until 1 a.m. and get the product anywhere in the United States by the next morning.
So why would UPS, a delivery company, invest in a partner that takes links out of supply chains? Isn't that our bread and butter? Yes, it is. But 3D printing was coming whether we took action or not. We got out in front and positioned UPS to benefit from this technology that we once considered a threat. Today, we view 3D printing as a logistics solution, another tool to help customers optimize their own logistics networks.
Obviously, there's no one clear route to successfully integrating technology into logistics. There are too many players and competing priorities for that. But, in a century of innovation at UPS, we've managed to establish a few crucial guideposts that have enabled us to innovate at a 21st-Century pace.
Freight Management 2020
FreightWeb: Opening a New Chapter in Shipping Partial Truckloads
Titan Solutions: Holistically Simplifying Freight Management
360data: Optimizing Transportation Spend
Emerge: Real-Time Freight Management
Empowering the Retail Paradigm
Jason Williams, VP of Engineering, DICK'S Sporting Goods
3PL's Changing Role in the Supply of Data: Supply Chain Planning and Engineering
David Broering, SVP, NFI Industries
Freight Audit & Payment Hardships & Solutions
Michael Owings, Vice President of Corporate Services and Support, Southeastern Freight Lines
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Mike Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Consolidated Chassis Management
Taking today's Technology to Tomorrow's Next Level with an Innovation Culture
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 Product Safety Professionals Meet at ICPHSO to Discuss Changes in 2014 | MET Laboratories, Inc.
This week, the nation's top product safety organization – ICPHSO – is meeting for the 21st time, at its 2014 Annual Meeting and Training Symposium in Orlando, FL. MET Labs is participating as an exhibitor and sponsor.
Sequestration is officially over. During the mandatory 5% cut, CPSC experienced a decrease in funding of $6M. CPSC's FY 2014 appropriation is $117M, equaling the agency's full request, a rare feat in Washington, D.C.
Ongoing CPSC rulemakings include fuel gels, rare earth magnets, and recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs).
The voluntary electrical equipment standards are concentrated on products that cause fires, including kitchen ranges, clothes dryers, space heaters, and power cords (the mechanical properties of insulation).
MET is expert in electrical/electronic product compliance and performance testing and certification. Contact us for a quick quote for an upcoming testing requirement, or attend one of our Compliance College seminars or webinars.


Does your man deserve a spa like shave right at home? YES!
SPECIAL!!! - Bowl, Brush, soap + free soap refill!
Enjoy your shaving ritual with this handmade shaving set. Set includes: hand turned fir shaving bowl, badger hair and fir brush, Jordan River Soapworks' Artisanal Shaving Soap.


PARIS – A little hit with his protégé Borna Coric on Court Philippe Chatrier Friday, just a few days before Novak Djokovic's 29th birthday.
Actually, threesies: Djoker, Coric and … Mickey.
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Pocono outdoors calendar, Sunday, July 19, 2020
Pocono Record
Virtual 4-H Day Camp: The 4-H program of Monroe County will be offering a four-week virtual 4-H Day Camp for youth, ages 8 to 12. Summer 4-H Science Fun will be held on August 5th; August 12th; August 19th from 10:00 - 11:30 AM. The last session will be held on August 26th from 6:00-7:30 PM. Participants will learn about the Basics of Gardening, Healthy Animals, Spotted Lanternfly and Stormwater Education. The Day Camp is free to current registered Monroe County 4-H members. Non 4-H members can also participate, by joining 4-H (must pay a $20.00 Educational Resources Fee, per child, per year). Registration required by July 20th. Once registered a supply kit will be available for pick-up. For complete workshop descriptions and registration information/flyer, call the Penn State Extension Office at 570-421-6430.
Stroud Kids Camp: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, through Aug. 7 at Dansbury Park, Day Street, East Stroudsburg. For children ages 6 to 12. Activities include outdoor recreation, arts and crafts, active and passive games, sports, water games, special guest speakers and events. The goal of StroudKids is to provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere built around age-appropriate activities that help children develop positive social and leisure skills. Information and registration: srosrc.org, info@srosrc.org or 570-426-1512.
Outdoor Yoga with Gee: Learn to connect movement with breath, integrating mind, body and soul. Three types of sessions: Gentle, Family and All Level Yoga. Bring a mat or blanket, and blocks if you have them. We cannot loan out equipment at this time due to sanitation standards.
— Gentle Yoga: 10 to 11 a.m. Sundays, except the first of the month. Perfect for beginners, seniors, and those who like relaxing and restorative yoga.
— Family Yoga: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. For parents and their children to learn and have fun together (ages 8 and up).
— All Level Yoga: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. For individuals who like just a little challenge with their yoga.
Meets at the gazebo in Jay Albertson Park, Avenue C and North Fifth Street (across Wallace Street from the pond). In the case of inclement weather, tickets will be transferred to an advance week of choice. Information: srosrc.org, info@srosrc.org or 570-426-1512.
Shawnee Community Concert Series: 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sept. 15 at The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, Grand Lawn, 100 Shawnee Inn Drive, Shawnee-on-Delaware. Concerts feature different performers every week, are free to attend and are family-friendly. Bring a chair/blanket and follow the recommended six-foot social distancing and enjoy these performances. Community Concerts are open to the public. Free; donations accepted for musicians. Information: info@shawneeinn.com or 800-742-9633.
Wednesday Walk: 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. Wednesdays, at Levee Loop Trailhead with Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation. This interpretive walks provide company, conversation, and nature knowledge. Relax, get some fresh air, and enjoy the views of the season. Free but must register in advance so that we have a head count. Preregistration required. Information: srosrc.org, info@srosrc.org or 570-426-1512.
Bridge the Gap, Pond Paddle: June 28 through Aug. 16, Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Join PEEC for a paddle around its ponds. Beginners are welcome. Dress appropriately – you may get wet. Call in advance to reserve a boat. Funding for this program is provided by the William Penn Foundation. This event takes places on select dates in June, July and August. Free. Information: peec@peec.org, 570-828-2319 or peec.org.
Frog Frolic: Aug. 9, Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Spend the afternoon at PEEC's ponds and streams. Learn about frog friends and gently catch and release the hopping amphibians. Wear boots and plan on getting wet and muddy. Cost: $5 per person. Information: peec@peec.org, 570-828-2319 or peec.org.
Bug Exploration: Aug. 2, Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Bugs are everywhere. Visit PEEC to discover some insects on the trails and learn about what makes them so unique. Cost: $5 per person. Information: peec@peec.org, 570-828-2319 or peec.org.
Saturday Strolls: 11 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month beginning Aug. 1 at Pinebrook Park (north lot) with Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation. Interpretive walks provide company, conversation, and nature knowledge. Relax, get some fresh air, and enjoy the views of the season. Information: srosrc.org, info@srosrc.org or 570-426-1512.
Geology Hike: 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 13, Pocono Environmental Education Center, 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry. Take a hike on the Fossil Trail with Paul Kovalski, aka. "Dr. Dinosaur" as he discusses the geology of the area and what makes the park unique. Cost: $5 per person, non-members; and free for PEEC members. Information: peec@peec.org, 570-828-2319 or peec.org.


Set on the French Riviera in the summer of 1915, Jean Renoir -- son of the Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste -- returns home to convalesce after being wounded in World War I. At his side is Andr?e, a young woman who rejuvenates, enchants, and inspires both father and son.
To recognize the past year?s achievements which MbM personally feels should be honoured, here are its own awards.
Touched to the depths of his being by the death of his child in a car accident nine years earlier, Jacques has lost his bearings. For this loss is all the more difficult to stand as Jacques was driving the car in which his son was killed. His relationship did not survive the tragedy and Jacques left, traveling far from the place where his and his wife's happiness was shattered. Now Jacques is back in France for the funeral of his father. In the meantime his wife has started a new life and has a new child.
An Arthouse Ambassador is someone who is passionate and discerning about the films they see and where they see them.


Mr. 2kay has released the video for the wave making song titled – "Who No Like Better Thing". Produced by The Jonsers, made up of Ayzed and Hans was shot in Lagos. The song is an exhibition of his flexibility and writing prowess. The Grafton records artiste is currently sitting on the Top 5 alternate music chart, with his current track on Beat Fm, Top Radio and other stations across the country.
Without ado, here is the much anticipated video, shot and directed by Adasa Cookey of Square balls media. One word for the song and video is CLASSIC!


a simple config file with the jar, same name or whatever, that has the plugin name or url.
some default names or whatever for plugins that don't require any config.
see how the two points argue with each other though.
require it though. Some plugin might simply be there to insert some custom code on startup.


AN: Hey! Stellamusa101/FinalAccount here! So, before wewe scroll down and read, I have something to tell you, they would be some Italian words in this article, well, as a spell au something (but if wewe don't understand it then guess what it means). BTW, if wewe watch Once Upon A Time, well, then this story is inspired kwa it. Thank you!
There was a storm. Musa can hear the sounds of thunder there. Stella can feel the ignorance of the rain there. Flora can feel the plants getting water from the rain. Though it was a good sign, they still feel something bad behind the presence of the rain.
"Huh? Daphne! Daphne!" Bloom ran to Lake Rocolucce.
Bloom, wewe are in great danger! wewe and the Winx are in big danger!
"What do wewe mean, Daphne?" Bloom asked. She did not see where Daphne was.
wewe and the Winx are in great danger! Save yourself, my sister!
Tecna: (annoyed) what do we have in common?
Valtor: well both of us have spent some time in the omega dimension.
Tecna: (slightly furious) yours was because of what wewe did; and I was only there when I sacrificed myself to close the portal and save all Andros/Tides which wewe open and caused it to malfunction.
Valtor: (looking away) oh now did I?
The crunching of leaves sounded off as the heavy boots made their way across the dead and battered terrain. The boots were leather, with steel plated toes; making the owner seem far zaidi intimidating. Yet, at first glance, the owner wouldn't seem intimidating at all. She looked as though she should only be seventeen years old, but her face was worn, her eyes tired and her body heavily tattooed in scars. Her red hair, which seemed like it had had better times, had been pampered and loved, was now tattered, and cut; now only being a short, roughly cut pixie-cut.
She walked briskly past the make-shift cabins that had been constructed in salama Haven, eventually making her way to the main cabin, kibanda which held their leaders and council members. She roughly pushed back the tarp and walked in, those who were speaking immediately silencing. The woman made her way to the large wooden meza, jedwali that stood in the middle of the room, throwing her gun down upon it along with a map.
The specialists had to sleep in the winx's dorm because it was taking so long for Autumn to wake up. Ike, Riven, Helia, and Flora never really slept. They just stayed up and talked every now and then.
"This is all my fault." Ike alisema into his hands.
"What? How could wewe possibly think that, Ike?!?"
"She used the rest of her magic to help heal me. If only she had just not done that, we wouldn't be in this situation right now." He said, his voice again muffled kwa his hands.
Helia put his hand on his best Marafiki shoulder. "Hey, don't think like that. It's not even close to your fault. Not one bit. Now stop worrying." He said, even though wewe can clearly see the worry in his midnight blue eyes. Flora and Riven nodded in agreement.
The inayofuata morning, everyone woke up at the same time, except for those who didn't sleep, and raced to autumns room. Ms. Faragonda was just walking out.
Layla: take this MORPHIX TIDAL WAVE!
Layla: (looking down at the dead body) One for good, zip for evil. There is one down, which means ten to go.
1. Has a perfect prince charming - well cute but also irritating.
2. Always gets the spotlight - i was irritated kwa this on how she always gets the spotlight that's why I was beyond over joyed on how Season 4 and 5 weren't always about her.
3. The most powerful - i gotta admit, it's kinda stupid on how Ignio Straffi has a rank for who's the most powerful. For me, they should have an equal amount.
4. Winx, Transform~! - okay, this is just ridiculous. On Season 3, i was glad that they mgawanyiko, baidisha up to find the Specialists cause Bloom didn't say you-know-what. But now in Season 4 and 5, oh gosh~ i thought the whole leader thing was going to end but alas i was wrong.
1. She's cute and pretty - some of wewe might think that she's ugly but she's really cute and beautiful. I know it's a pathetic reason but at least give credit to that face and it's my opinion.
Once they got to RF, the boys were talking. Ike just pushed past and stormed off to his room. Helia and Riven glanced at each other nervously and walked toward their room. Once they got in, they saw Ike standing there going through his stuff, obviously looking for something.
"Hey, what are wewe look-" Helia started, but was interrupted kwa the sound of explosions echoing though the halls, shaking the ground. Then a voice boomed through the loudspeaker.
"ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS. THERE IS AN ATTACK ON THE SCHOOL. EVERYONE GET YOUR WEAPONS AND GET OUTSIDE kwa THE GATE. WE HAVE CONTACTED ALFEA AND THEY WILL BE HERE ANY MINUTE!" Codatorta's voice spoke.
The boys got their weapons and met up outside, only to find many people fighting countless monsters and, in the sky, were none other than Dean, Valtor, and Darkar. The boys looked over and saw the Alfea students rushing over to Red Fountain.
"I'll be right back, I have some business to take care of." Dean smirked, teleporting away. They heard Valtor and Darkar talking.
Autumn ran through the forest, tears streaming down her face. 'How Could he say that?' She thought. 'I thought our relationship was better than this!' Once she found a clearing, she sat down kwa a lake and let her tears and sobs go. She eventually cried herself to sleep, not realizing that the others were looking everywhere for her.
"Autumn? AUTUMN?!?" Riven called. The others did the same.
"Riven, would wewe shut up? I found her, she's sleeping." Helia hissed.
Helia slowly and carefully picked her up and brought her back to the others. They decided to head back to Alfea, and once they got there, the guys decided to head back to RF.
I know she's minor, but I like her. One word: goth. We both are goth who wear the fashion style, but we don't have the personality of a goth. Mirta is a sweet and shy girl who would rather have vichimbakazi and witches all get along. Her personality is similar to Flora's, but unlike Flora who's WAY too caring, she has her own tough side.
I know lots of people don't like Stormy, but I do. She is very quick to anger and rage, out of the three sisters and is the master when it comes to things like grudges (the angry ones are my usual favorites). To the point of even disguising herself and enduring hours of pointless-ness just to make sure her revenge is met. She secretly believes she is the strongest, which kinda makes me laugh XD (even though she's not), but even then she is usually tormented kwa Icy whenever she gets the chance au just feels like harassing her younger sisters.
Sorry if the title gave anyone a fright. I have actually been seeing quite a bit of Winx hate on other sites lately so I just wanted to type a quick brief makala debating anti-fans' 3 main issues with the show. As another note, this is not a direct response to Dragonempress08's article, I've been meaning to type this for a while and she/he reminded me of it. I may make a sekunde part if I see any more.
Icy: Well isn't three of the six of our least inayopendelewa people in the entire magical dimension.
Musa: I hope wewe three are ready to go down.
OK, i have heard a lot of wewe fanpoppers have been saying that season 5 is rubbish, i hate it but... why?
I like it cause it doesn't focus on Bloom as much, the winx go to everybody's nyumbani planet, she may still get a lot of attention, but not as much now. The winx are going to go to Zenith in episode 22 and that is quite exciting, they are not going to Domino so that is a relief. The winx went to Solaria, Linphea, Melody, Zenith and Androis. But one thing got on my nerves, Flora. About 3 times this season she alisema "don't hurt the plant!" "Dont hurt it!" which really annoys me, When did she start caring about animals, she is the fairy of nature, not the fairy of animals!
Also this season, i started to like Stella a bit more, she made me laugh! And her inayopendelewa colour is my inayopendelewa colour!
This Season might be my least inayopendelewa season, but at least winx club, is continuing. Nick may onyesha winx club, but at least it is still airing.
My Thoughts on "The Perfect Date"
My first shabiki fiction is coming to a close, and before it does so I have written a preview of all the ideas I am thinking about. So the one that people want to know what happens inayofuata the most will be the inayofuata one I write.
She was my best friend first: This is a story about what happened before Winx Club was even at Alfea. It is told in the point of view of Diaspro, about her friendship with one of the Winx members, and what happened when she went to Alfea. Also it goes a little into both of their pasts showing, us that sometimes a friendship crumbles; but deep down that person will always be your best friend no matter how distance, wewe have become.
Everyone prepares for the biggest battle that might every happen to them. Also each Winx au specialist has an enemy they want destroyed based on what has happened in the past and each enemy feels the same way about their enemy. Who will win in each mini battle Flora au Eric, Musa au Darcy, Stella au Stormy, Bloom au Icy, Layla au Valtor, Tecna au Lord Darkar, Nabu au Tritannus, Helia au Anagan, Sky au Ogron, Brandon au Gantlos, Riven au Duman, and Timmy, Savannah and Aaron are helping who ever needs the most help at even aliyopewa time.
Savannah: (a harmonix similar to her sisters except turquoise where Flora's is pink and Silver where Flora's is green, Savannah has the power of the element wind) sis, I will help wewe if wewe need it; because I want to see if him go down as much as wewe do if not more.
Flora: I will need your help at some point but if others need help zaidi go help.
Eric: how sweet, the twins are working together to try to defeat the one who attempted to kill the younger twin Flora.
I like Roxy because she is kind and loves animals. I did find her quite annoying at the start of season 4 though, she was crying, screaming and it got on my nerves! Then further on in the season, I started to like her a bit more.
I heard some people hate Diaspro, WHY! She was supposed to marry Sky, but Bloom had to interfere and change Sky's mind! Diaspro had a right to put that potion on Sky in season 3, SHE HAS A REASON!
Yeah, so Diaspro is pretty and has a sweet voice in the Nick dub, and I'm happy she is in season 5.
I don't see why people don't like stormy. She is part of the Trix. I like her because she makes me laugh, calling Flora, "Flower fairy" and eating the jelly and mash together! Lol!
Musa is my 2nd favourite winx, she has a bit in common with me. She got her enchantix a fair way, she saved princess Galataya from the fire. Good and common way of getting enchantix. Her hair colour is not something wewe see everyday but it suites her.
Flora: how do wewe know my name?
Shadow 1: oh young Flora, I know all of your names. After all wewe Winx and specialists and I are enemies; but wewe did tarehe my son.
Brandon: who's your son and why has he gone out with my sister?
Shadow 1: my son is Eric, and I am his father Valtor.
Eric: it was easy to deal when she didn't transform to fight back and didn't attempt to use any spells.
Stella: wewe have other family? And wewe have friend?
Valtor: oh yes all of wewe should know who they are kwa now.
My thoughts on "The imba Whales" and "The Problems Of Love"
Gem of Mind is Tecna's special Believix power which she can use to make people believe in magic au overcome their weaknesses. She can use this to make people think correctly and put themselves on the first place. It is used twice in Season 4.
Season 4 Episode 10 - Used it to stop the fighting girls about a dress and put them in sekunde place.
Season 4 Episode 11 - Used it to make some thieves realize that what they are doing, is wrong.
Bright moyo is Musa's Believix power that can make people believe in magic. She can also make a person believe that they can indeed change.
Flora: it's good to see wewe too, but can wewe let go I can't breathe.
Helia: but wewe had me worried sick, please don't ever go into to the forest alone again.
Flora: I didn't, a hologram did it was all part of the plan we kept from you.
Flora: (turns around) a hologram, an identical copy but not really wewe because it is purely made of magic, wewe all are uigizaji like wewe never heard off one.
Helia: I agree with Stella on this one.
are you shocked to see her in black?
The inayofuata day: in a cave near Black mud swap, Eric is talking to the girl he has captured.
Eric: Do wewe like my little hideout, where no one will ever find you.
Eric: (laughs evilly) oh wewe always did hope for the best, when it will never happen.
Girl: (really mad and gives him a death stare) Good will always win no matter what the cost is.
Eric: not necessarily when evil has their dad to help and has what the other side desires most.
Girl: (nervous) who is your dad?
Girl: (gulps) wewe mean Valtor?
Eric: oh yes! Dad, come on out.
Valtor: (smirking) wewe thought wewe and your little Marafiki destroyed me didn't you?
Bloom: not really, but I guess were going to have to face it one way au another.
Ms. Faragonda: when the eleven of wewe get back we will talk; but for now try to look on the bright side and I will continue to update you.
Back at Alfea: Ms. Faragonda, Griselda, Professor Saladin, Cordatorta, Ms. Griffin, two police officers and a person in a black hoodie, jeans, and Converse sneakers are in Ms. Faragonda's office talking.
Ms. Faragonda: I believe they bought it.
Hooded figure: then the plan is set, and we just have to wait.
Professor Saladin: I think this was great creating a plan with all of them; and then make up a separate one that we are going through with.
Hooded figure: thanks; but I feel bad about lying to them.
Garrett (police officer): wewe did the right thing; wewe are protecting your life along with theirs; and once we find Eric everything will go back to the way it was before.
My thoughts on "The Devourer"
Desiryee is my favorite selkie.
It was quite nice to see some of the specialists for once, lately if they onyesha any of them it's Sky. Also we got to see the rulers of all the realms; but it would have been interesting to see Krystal there with her parents. While Bloom, Layla, (Aisha), and Stella were at the meeting; I loved that Flora, Musa, and Tecna were getting training from Cordatorta. My inayopendelewa part was when Flora alisema "it must be the mustache" and Musa alisema "she's delirious". At that point I was turning as bright red as a tomato. I do like they are learning different skills and techniques from the different teachers, in order to master Sirenix. It was nice to see Musa, Tecna, and Flora save the selkies from the monster and Bloom not hog the spotlight. Bloom is my least inayopendelewa and I loved it when Diaspro put her in her place. I cannot wait for inayofuata weeks episode.
The women clapped her hands together, "Well, now that we've got that out of the way, I believe wewe all are tired from your journey. Come we'll give wewe supper, and then we'll get wewe rooms." Suddenly they all realized just how hungry, and tired they were.
"Thank-you um. . . ." Bloom said.
"Please call me Andromeda." The women said.
"Why are all our names Greek?" Artemis asked.
"Oh, and for the first few days try to ignore any of Artemis's sarcastic au unlikeable maoni . . ." Andromeda said.
"They should, I'm the only one with good judgement around here." Artemis said.
"As I was saying the first days are always the worst, but after that she's just a little darling." Andromeda said.


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WataugaWatch
Up-to-date analysis of the local political landscape
John Blust Stands Up Again
Justin Burr
Republican John Blust has spent one term as an NC senator and nine consecutive terms in the NC House, and though he's a good Republican soldier, he's also perfectly capable of being mavricky and pissing into the wind on occasion. He warned his House colleagues in 2013 about hubris, not that they were listening. He also vehemently denounced Republican Senator Trudy Wade's attempt to gerrymander the Greensboro city council in 2015.
Friday John Blust, who's not running for reelection and so what the everlasting hell?, stood up in a committee meeting and asked why the Devil Republican legislative leaders were even discussing seizing another appointment power from the Governor -- the right to appoint district and special court judges to vacated seats? (Special judges handle complex business cases and more, and though the governor's appointments are subject to lawmakers' confirmation, Republicans want more.)
Rep. Justin Burr, a Stanly County Republican and chair of the House Special Committee on Judicial Redistricting, called the special meeting last Friday. Burr, an Albemarle bail bondsman, has been leading the effort to change election districts for judges across the state, and he'd also like to seize the power of appointing some judges. What could possibly be in it for a bail bondsman?
Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article210061849.html#storylink=cpy
John Blust, last Friday, on the subject of hubris:
"Why are we competent to make this kind of decision on appointing judges" Blust asked. "Why do we want to take on one more thing that may not be an area we have expertise when we claim we have limited time and we can't get to so many important subjects because of that limited time?"
Blust knows that only a few Republican leaders -- including presumably Justin Burr -- would actually be making those judicial appointments, if they're taken away from the governor. We know who "holds most of the cards," Blust said. Everybody knows it. Phil Berger, Tim Moore, and their boys.
According to reporter Anne Blythe, John Blust invoked the virtues of democracy itself: "The governor's one person, but he's elected statewide," Blust pointed out. Who elected us? Blust might have continued, in our gerrymandered districts? The people spoke. They wanted this governor to make those appointments, in keeping with the powers granted by the state constitution. Who are we to seize that power?
Anne Blythe: "The committee ... left on Friday without making any recommendations or scheduling any more meetings." Maybe because John Blust stood up?
"Republican legislators have seen more than a dozen of their unconstitutional laws overturned in court, so now they want to handpick their judges," Ford Porter, a spokesman for Cooper, said in a statement after the meeting. "Legislative Republicans should respect our state's Constitution instead of repeatedly working to inject partisan politics into our courts. "
Posted by J.W. Williamson at 4/30/2018 09:33:00 AM
Labels: John Blust, Justin Burr, North Carolina judicial system
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J.W. Williamson was the founding editor in 1972 of the Appalachian Journal: A Regional Studies Review, which he edited until July of 2000. He has taught college classes in Appalachian history, cultural politics, and literature, and he has lectured widely on the pop-culture history of "Appalachia" in the American consciousness. His books include Interviewing Appalachia, Southern Mountaineers in Silent Films, and Hillbillyland: What the Mountains Did to the Movies and What the Movies Did to the Mountains. He has won the Thomas Wolfe Award given by the Western North Carolina Historical Society, the Laurel Leaves Award given by the Appalachian Consortium, a special Weatherford Award given by Berea College, and the Cratis Williams-James Brown Award given by the Appalachian Studies Association.
The views expressed on WataugaWatch are solely those of J.W. Williamson or individual contributors and are not necessarily shared nor endorsed by the Watauga County Democratic Party nor by any other adults of sound mind in this or any other universe.
J.W. Williamson