For those units which possessed large calibre guns with long ranges, how many forward observers would there have been?
How would they have been structured?
How would they communicate with their guns?
And how were they transported?
Difficult and complex question. I haven't found the time to attempt to look into this. I am not sure I have access to the needed sources. Something that is usually not well covered in books. Remember we are still trying to pin down infantry and armor organization.
According to the Nafziger books, an Artillery Battalion has an HQ Battery that includes a Platoon with a Signals Section, a Calibration Section and a Observation Section, as well as Staff Section and a Reserve Section. In addition the Battery has two Observation Platoons each with a Signals Detachment and an Observation Detachment. This if for 1937.
My understanding is, based on most other armies of the time, they all functioned in a similar manner.
The Staff Section would be told the fire mission for that day from the divisional commander. The Staff Section would then order the various batteries to their locations to support individual infantry regiments and battalions, working out with the Calibration Section where the guns needed to be in order to be in range for indirect fire. The Signals Section would then be tasked with setting up the relevent telephone communications. IF they were lucky, they would get some radio teams from the divisional signals units to improve communications. The Calibration Section would have teams that accompany the guns, to make sure they know on the map where they are, which is kind of important for indirect fire purposes.
Then, an Observation Section, or more likely, a team from an Observation Section, would be tasked to go to the infantry CHQ or Bttn HQ or Regiment HQ and use those signals elements to advise on fire missions that that CHQ/Bttn HQ/RHQ wanted during the course of the day's action, from the batteries allocated. This team would consist of an artillery officer/NCO, a signaller and perhaps a batman/driver. They would accompany the HQ they were supporting as they moved about the battlefield.
Thus, the role of the Observation Team was to facilitate the fire request that the infantry HQ wanted. This is important, as it is very different from a British/German/American FOO as most in the west seem to understand it, where FOOs were sufficiently trained and experienced to order fire, especially in the British army post August 1942.
I'll try and give a fictional example.
Let's say the 2nd Bttn 61st infantry regiment is due to advance next day, and overnight is assigned two batteries of 75/27 M06 in support. The Bttn commander allocates one battery to it's lead 1st company, and allocates the other to his control. An Observation Team accompanies each infantry HQ.
The 1st company advances and comes under MG fire, forcing them to a halt. The Observation Section have been reeling signals wire out behind with the CHQ signals section. Having identified the source of fire 900m away on a hill, the 1st company commander wants artillery fire on that hill. The Observation Team then tells him how to do it, allowing for things like wind, range, bearings, intervening terrain. Using the telephone or radio the commander then himself requests the fire, or gets the artillery team to do it. The request then goes through to the battery and they then fire or not fire, depending on whether they are in range, the telephone wire hasn't been cut, the batteries are working, the map reading is correct, the guns are actually available (have they been overrun, on the move, airstriked or counter-batteried already??). The Battalion commander then adds in his battery to the fire.
if they are not pressed for time, ranging shots would be requested first, this then gives the Observation team the chance to make the fire more accurate, then all guns in the battery are requested to fire, usually a number of shells.
In practice this is not the best use of the artillery, and it is more likely that the assigned fire support would consist of a pre-planned barrage in support of the advance. The attackers then have to guess where the enemy might be, or know from good overnight recce patrols, and plan a barrage accordingly. In this case example above, the 2nd Bttn 61st regiment has a fire plan given to it, the regimental commander having liaised with the artillery regiment commander the night before, and the batteries of 8x 75mm guns fire together a 20 minute barrage on terrain features in front of the 2nd Bttn, perhaps on that hill 900m. The fire plan might involve laying smoke, or barrages further inland on guessed enemy reinforcement points or known troop concentrations.
The third way of using the guns is of course, in the direct fire role, where the 75mm batteries actually move forward to the front lines and deploy to fire over open sights once the infantry they are supporting come under fire. Whilst more immediate response, and more accurate than indirect fire, it negates the range advantage of field artillery, and makes them very vulnerable to enemy fire. Even though the supporting ammo and staff trucks might be deployed 50m away from the gun line, in the open desert the battery could be knocked out with long range MG fire or mortar fire targeted on the trucks, leaving the guns immobile and virtually ammo-less.
This of course, is only my understanding of how it works, and if anyone can show difference please do.
This doesn't answer the original poster's question, about how observation teams are organised, nor how many they have, and whether the bigger guns were any different (105/28, 152/37, 149mm various, etc).
The following is not specific to A.S., but is the norm for Italian artillery.
Pattuglie d'artiglieria di osservazione e di collegamento (Forward observers and liaison). The pattuglie O.C. normally consists of 1) an observation/ fire control team, a telephone team, a visual signaling team (the term used in nucleo ottico, so heliograph, signal lamps, and possibly flags), and radio operators. A pattuglie O.C. is 15 men. The number of patrols varies, but the standard appears to be two pattuglie O.C. per gruppo and one pattuglie O.C. per battery. The artillery gruppo has 10 R.F. 2 radios (main artillery control radios). A gruppo has 6 tipo 1931 telephones and 4 lineman telephones with 30km of wire. A batteria also has 6 tipo 1931 telephones and 4 lineman telephones with 20km of wire. How many men in each team likely varies based on the means of communication and how many observation points are to be established.
It appears that the pattuglie O.C. can set-up a central post that is then connected to the observers. The observers use telephone to communicate with the central post, which then transits by radio or telephone to the battery/gruppo. This post is tied into the supported unit's telephone system for unit call for fires, and/or is co-located with the supported unit's command post.
Do you know if the pattuglie O.C. had wheeled transport, or if they were on foot?
Sultanbev. Thanks for the lengthy reply. Sadly, from what I have read over the years, your fictional scenario is just that. As they actually put the observers with the small calibre guns to assist with direct fire. But as it's not a well documented topic, the majority may be wrong. I'll keep an open mind.
No information is given, but I assume transport appropriate for the type of division/unit. If the artillery is motorized, then likely wheeled. If horse or pack, then likely the same. I have this on my search list, but not sure when I will find more. The various artillery manuals I have perused don't discuss the organization/equipment.
Does Nafziger provide a TO&E or this written? Does he cite a source?
Note that Nafzger's source is from a German document, likely an army return. T78 are Oberkommando des Heeres documents. Italian documents are T821. This doesn't necessarily make the info incorrect, but it might not be definitive. Unfortunately this roll doesn't appear to be freely available from any source.
I decided to buy copies of Nafziger's books just to see what he offers. Better to know exactly what is out there, if if it is not a best source.


text:
HomeSoftware
Google Updates Docs in Bid to Take On Microsoft
By David Needle
Google is upping the ante on its enterprise play, introducing a major upgrade of its Docs & Spreadsheets productivity suite.
The cloud-based offering, based on JavaScript instead of HTML, promises to one-up Microsoft Office with its collaboration features, though the company says the new version has more of the "feel" of desktop applications.
But one of the significant features of recent iterations of Google Docs — offline mode — isn't yet available in the new version, though Google says it's working to address that in short order.
Datamation has the story on the new version of Google's cloud-based Docs & Spreadsheet offering.
Google has released a new version of its cloud-based Google Docs & Spreadsheet that's moved from an HTML model to JavaScript for snappier Web performance and more collaborative features. A new standalone drawing editor is also included in the release.
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) said the new apps will "feel" more like a desktop app in terms of responsiveness thanks to speed improvements.
"This is a brand new technical foundation. We've rebuilt the architecture from the ground up," Anil Sabharwal, enterprise product manager for Google Docs, told InternetNews.com. "When you're using these Web apps they're going to feel even faster than desktop apps in some cases."
Read the full story at Datamation:
Google Overhauls Docs & Spreadsheets
David Needle
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
from . import tqdm as _tqdm  # _tqdm is the module
from ._cache_assets import cached_assets_path
from ._cache_manager import (
    CachedFileInfo,
    CachedRepoInfo,
    CachedRevisionInfo,
    CacheNotFound,
    CorruptedCacheException,
    DeleteCacheStrategy,
    HFCacheInfo,
    scan_cache_dir,
)
from ._chunk_utils import chunk_iterable
from ._datetime import parse_datetime
from ._errors import (
    BadRequestError,
    EntryNotFoundError,
    GatedRepoError,
    HfHubHTTPError,
    LocalEntryNotFoundError,
    RepositoryNotFoundError,
    RevisionNotFoundError,
    hf_raise_for_status,
)
from ._fixes import yaml_dump
from ._git_credential import (
    erase_from_credential_store,
    list_credential_helpers,
    read_from_credential_store,
    set_git_credential,
    unset_git_credential,
    write_to_credential_store,
)
from ._headers import build_hf_headers, get_token_to_send
from ._hf_folder import HfFolder
from ._http import http_backoff
from ._paths import filter_repo_objects
from ._runtime import (
    dump_environment_info,
    get_fastai_version,
    get_fastcore_version,
    get_graphviz_version,
    get_hf_hub_version,
    get_jinja_version,
    get_pydot_version,
    get_python_version,
    get_tf_version,
    get_torch_version,
    is_fastai_available,
    is_fastcore_available,
    is_google_colab,
    is_graphviz_available,
    is_jinja_available,
    is_notebook,
    is_pydot_available,
    is_tf_available,
    is_torch_available,
)
from ._subprocess import run_interactive_subprocess, run_subprocess
from ._validators import (
    HFValidationError,
    smoothly_deprecate_use_auth_token,
    validate_hf_hub_args,
    validate_repo_id,
)
from .tqdm import (
    are_progress_bars_disabled,
    disable_progress_bars,
    enable_progress_bars,
    tqdm,
)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Ward 5 seat set for special election
Dylan Bryant, Reporter
Following the death of City Council member Jeffrey Tkac, the residents of Bakersfield's Ward 5 will have the opportunity to make their voices heard in a special election to fill the seat. Tkac took his own life on Jan. 5, a few weeks into his term.
The Bakersfield City Council began their first meeting of the year by honoring Tkac, whom was remembered as a loving father and member of the community.
Considering the length of the term left to serve, the city council passed a resolution on Jan. 25 authorizing a special election to take place June 6.
The news came as a victory to groups who had been collecting petition signatures in the ward to hold that special election.
Joey Williams, director at Faith in the Valley Kern, was involved in the coalition gathering signatures, made up of community organizations and labor unions.
He says his main motivation for facilitating that process was the right of citizens to choose their own representative. "[We need] a City Council to implement priorities for our families," says Williams. He feels the council's decision was influenced by the coalition's efforts.
Anyone living in Ward 5 is eligible to run to fill the seat. Local construction professional Ryan Nance, who came in third place in the November election, has already announced his intent to seek the seat again.
The necessary paperwork must be filed at the City Clerk's office by March 10.
bakersfield city council
city council member
Jeffrey Tkac
Update on COVID-19 at BC
Aubrianna Martinez, News Editor
December 4, 2021 • No Comments
After the Thanksgiving break, the Director of Student Health at Bakersfield College, Dr. Charles Collom answered a series of inquiries about the current numbers of positive...
Mask mandate compliance concerns on campus December 2, 2021
$6 million awarded to BC for their healthcare program December 1, 2021
Bakersfield College mourns the loss of Jack Hernandez November 22, 2021
The future of California Community Colleges
Jaylene Collins, Features Editor
December 10, 2021 • No Comments
The California Community Colleges (CCC) held their first student media teleconference for the 2021-2022 school year on Dec. 7 via Zoom. Eloy Ortiz Oakley, the CCC chancellor,...
Bakersfield College's Ceramic Sale
The Bakersfield College Veterans Resource Center hosted a "Stock the Locker" event on campus
Renegades destroy Taft College in dominant performance
Justin White, Reporter
The Bakersfield College women's basketball team annihilated Taft College 89-44 on Nov. 20. The game was close for about a quarter until the Renegades exploded for 31...
Renegades win home opener 91-83
BC women's basketball defeats Riverside College
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Mask mandate compliance concerns on campus
$6 million awarded to BC for their healthcare program
Bakersfield College mourns the loss of Jack Hernandez
BC Football forced to forfeit three wins due to eligibility violation
BC is donated $2 Million by the Valley Strong Credit Union
BC Academic Senate discuss changing the academic calendar
Bakersfield College expands bachelor's program in Industrial Automation.
First peace garden opens on the BC campus
BC enrollment numbers down
All The Renegade Rip Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest
Leave a Reply to Kevin Reed Cancel reply
Kevin Reed	• Feb 6, 2017 at 5:23 pm
Ryan Nance is the Union candidate that got last place in the General election. Ward 5 voters rejected him when he ran – I don't see this time being any different.
https://www.therip.com/news/2017/02/01/ward-5-seat-set-for-special-election/#comment-1116072


text:
Doria Roberts & Calavino Donati
Red Martini provided passed sushi to guests
John Kennebrew & Hannah Adams
Shannon King & Chelsea Bohannon
Jason Dickerson, Lindsey Epperly, Jeremy Sulek & Tim Smith
Brittany Sicard, Kim Finley & Brittany Autry
Rachel Singha & Angela Tyler
Elizabeth Novak Stephenson, Chelsea Patricia & Marissa Crowe
Lauren Blight & Hayley Magill
Trailblazing 10
Produced by Allison Mitchell | July 21, 2015 | Articles
Phipps Plaza's award-winning GM is leading the overhaul of a shopping icon.
For most, the mall is an escape to shopping paradise; for Dewayne Herbert, it's what he calls the office. "As a teenager I thought malls were pretty cool," recalls the Lafayette, Ind., native. "I grew up in a community where the mall was the central hub of all things—what you should be doing, what you should be wearing, a lot of different pop-culture [norms]." And thus the 34-year-old began a lifelong love affair with the retail industry.
The Brookhaven resident got his start as an intern at Tippecanoe Mall in Lafayette while studying at Purdue University back in 2002. Tack on five more gigs with the Simon brand spanning Indiana to Florida, and Herbert was a bona fide mall rat when he joined Atlanta's Lenox Square team in 2004, serving as the area director of marketing over both Lenox and Phipps Plaza.
Now, as the award-winning general manager of Phipps, Herbert is taking on his biggest challenge yet—helming the overhaul of Phipps' exterior and interior. Recent improvements include ugraded LED lighting, supple luxury seating, lounging areas with Wi-Fi connectivity, outlet charging stations and more. What's more is Herbert's answer to Phipps' Peachtree-facing exterior, where he aims to upgrade shoppers' dining and retail experiences with whimsical faux storefronts of beloved boutiques Jeffrey, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Armani and Versace, to name a few, plus more alfresco patio areas. "We're giving [the shops] an opportunity to design storefronts with their own look so it creates that streetscape identity that a lot of luxury brands really enjoy," he reveals.
And for those who just can't bear to leave the luxury wings of Phipps, you'll soon be able to shop staycation-style—or move in next door. Phipps' residential project on Wieuca Road, dubbed Domain at Phipps Plaza, will boast 319 mid-rise, urban-style apartments for rent. Meanwhile, millennial visitors to A-Town will lust over the new AC Hotel by Marriott. "The hotel will have 160 rooms and be W-like in experience," says Herbert. "I think it's going to be a big hit right off the bat." Prep for a grand-slam opening next spring.
While this retail royal is itching to continue his streak in project development, he's also reveling in bringing the city's see-and-be-seen fashion event to Phipps on Aug. 31. "We're [excited to be] hosting Jeffrey Fashion Cares," says Herbert, who's been instrumental in bringing the event to a retail environment. "We love Jeffrey. It's something I've always wanted to do and it's great to finally find the right [time] to make it happen." Expect bites and cocktails from Phipps restos; a live auction; and top fashions from Dior, Valentino, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent and more, all benefiting Susan G. Komen and the Atlanta AIDS Fund. "We're working to [bring in] some of our brands as well and really make it fun," adds Herbert. "If you like fashion, you probably love Phipps. I'm lucky that I get to work in a lively atmosphere and interact with a lot of awesome people." We'd say he's hit the jackpot. @shopphippsplaza –Allison Mitchell
KEEPING IT CLEAN
Georgia Tech grad Jasmine Burton is revolutionizing global hygiene.
During her freshman year at Georgia Tech, Jasmine Burton attended a women's leadership conference with no idea it would lead her to her life's calling. After learning about the lack of sanitation in developing countries, the Dunwoody native set out to put an end to this worldwide problem. "A lot of countries don't have restrooms in their schools," says Burton. "So most girls end up dropping out of school when they hit puberty, which keeps women from becoming fully educated."
Fast-forward to 2013. The industrial design major and her team invented the SafiChoo toilet—a mobile sanitation solution designed to decrease the spread of disease related to unsanitary water and poor hygiene in an inexpensive and sustainable way—and entered it in Georgia Tech's acclaimed InVenture Prize, the largest undergraduate invention competition in the U.S. In addition to winning the People's Choice Award, the all-female group took home the top prize, earning them a total of $25,000 and a U.S. patent.
Following the big win, Burton traveled to Kakuma in Kenya with the CDC and the Norwegian Refugee council, in collaboration with ATL-based Sanivation, to research sanitation issues in refugee camps firsthand, as well as how to make her sanitation systems fit Kenyan culture. "No matter how hard we try to make something right, we're still American and don't know their experiences," says Burton. "How can we work with their beliefs and still make something, from a public health perspective, that's sustainable?" she asks. Burton spent her summer working on an answer. She found that the toilet needed to be narrow to allow for squatting; that the waste could be separated via funnels and treated via Sanivation's solar waste treatment techonlogy; and that a manual bidet is necessary, because the majority of refugees are accustomed to washing.
Following her trip to Africa, Burton is looking forward to a bright future for the SafiChoo. The Midtown resident started her own social-impact organization, Wish for WASH, with the goal of providing sanitation innovation through research, design and education to cultures spanning the globe. With more and more organizations looking into the SafiChoo system, Wish for WASH has begun manufacturing products locally and hopes to expand into mass production within the next year. Up next, the 23-year-old is moving to Zambia for a year to pursue a job as a design specialist in the Society for Family Health through a Global Health Corps fellowship, all while working to bring restrooms to more schools. "Yes, I'm an American, and I'm biracial and all these things, but I consider myself a global citizen," says Burton. "And I want to help as many people of the world as I can." @wishforwash –Jess Charmoli
SOLDIERING ON
When it comes to special-needs education, Lindsey Turner is breaking down the walls one biz at a time.
Hugh Hefner's birthday party—that's where Special Needs Certified founder Lindsey Turner's life changed. "I remember I saw a celebrity who looked absolutely miserable," says the 35-year-old Roswell native who now calls the Kennesaw area home. "It made me question whether or not fame and money were really all that they were cracked up to be. I began thinking about how I could have a greater impact on people and the world during my life."
And that was the beginning of the former software and music industry vet's work with the special-needs community. A Kennesaw State grad, Turner got his feet wet in the world of nonprofits by majoring in health and human services in college. So, founding The Golden Soldiers, a nonprofit that hosts events for children and families with special needs, was a natural first step. Then, after about seven years of listening to the families he worked with tell him about how they were mistreated in day-to-day life, Turner decided he needed to do more. "One morning, I was sitting at a coffee shop, and it came to me: I could educate people on how to treat those with special needs better," he says. "Special Needs Certified is the only social enterprise that trains businesses, cities and organizations on how to better treat individuals with special needs and disabilities."
Since the biz launched in October 2014, employees at Moe's, State Farm, and even the cities of Alpharetta and Decatur have been trained by Turner, learning everything from how to interact with people in wheel chairs to what not to say when talking to people with special needs. There's also an online component to the service that allows folks with special needs to find certified organizations and share feedback with others—think Yelp for people with special needs.
So what's up next for Turner and his nonprofit know-how? His goal is to certify all cities in the state of Georgia by the end of 2015 and to have Special Needs Certified businesses based in all 50 states. "It's so satisfying when a mom asks to meet with me, and she just hugs me and starts crying and saying, 'Thank you,'" he says. "Knowing I'm making other people's lives more enjoyable and educating people about how to treat everyone with love and acceptance is pretty awesome." @sncertified –Amelia Pavlik
With $500 million in luxury real estate sales already under her Hermès belt, this powerhouse is gearing up for her biggest sale yet.
Over her 12-year real estate career, Atlantan Karen Rodriguez has sold nearly half a billion dollars in luxury condominiums, earning her the most regal of titles from Realtor magazine. In fact, this top-selling Dorsey Alston associate broker is preparing to sell the highest-priced condo in Atlanta history: a 9,000-square-foot, two-story Buckhead penthouse for approximately $8 million.
"I own the luxury high-rise niche in Atlanta," the 30-something Alabama native says confidently. "No one has more projects. No one sells more. That's why I started Group Kora," she notes of the all-female company she formed in June.
Poised and perfected in her sleek Buckhead office, right down to her shining mani-pedi, Rodriguez recounts her big break at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, where her team sold every unit for a grand total of $100 million in just two and a half years—and during a housing crisis, to boot! "Everyone told me it was crazy, that no one was buying million-dollar condos in Atlanta anymore." She was readying for a much-needed vacay when the owner of the Mandarin Oriental approached with an offer she couldn't refuse.
"They gave me complete creative control. I was involved from the ground up… every decision, branding, marketing, floor plans, finishes," she explains. Not against mixing glam and gritty, she's even known to don her Manolos and Jimmy Choos on construction sites.
And by digging in her heels, Rodriguez helped revive a property that sat virtually dormant for five years prior. The nearly 40 high-design units she commissioned, starting at a cool $2 million each, have proved irresistible to modernists—especially those from NYC, L.A., Europe and beyond. Media mentions (think HGTV, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times) consistently confirm Rodriguez's clout, while her tightly controlled branding and communication continue to clinch deal after deal.
"It's important to be 'on' 24/7," says the self-admitted Type A with a sharp snap of her fingers. "I can't be half in, half out; I always have to do that one little extra thing."
Big on presentation, Rodriguez has groomed and mentored her six-member team on all the tricks of her trade. Gen Y-ers, all, they understand social media and trends but still boast the polish to impress elite older buyers. And although real estate represents a mid-50s fallback field for most, Rodriguez and the empowered women she employs are fast changing that. "We're the new breed of real estate agents," she notes. "We chose this career right from the beginning." And with that, they're knocking the old boys' club from the top. @group_kora_ –Kate Abney
Sports aficionados Kevin McGuire and Michael Perrett tackle the football industry head-on.
It's like Jerry Maguire meets the A—minus the whole angsty "who's coming with me" thing. Enter Kevin McGuire and Michael Perrett, supersuccessful 30-somethings who branched out from their posts as established A-Town SportsTrust Advisors to co-create NFL agency Element Sports Group last July.
Hardly rookies, the go-getters opened the playing field with 18 athletes—including gridiron-greats Marcus Lattimore (49ers), Geno Atkins (Bengals) and Gwinnett County boys Cameron Heyward (Steelers) and Bradley Roby (Broncos)—moving agency from STA. "They felt our passion, our drive, and knew we had the experience—[25 years combined]—to get the job done," says McGuire.
Both partners earned degrees in finance, "in case the sports thing didn't work out," says McGuire, who graduated from the University of Florida and also has a J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law. Southern California boy Perrett's sheepskin is from UGA. They met in 2005, when McGuire landed an STA internship with an agent he knew from law school—an internship that, he admits, "did not yet exist" and his acquaintance was not authorized to create. Perrett had come to STA three years before that, after an intern-to-hire stint at powerhouse IMG, where he worked for super-agent Tom Condon (now at CAA Sports—hey, Peyton Manning!).
With a shared entrepreneurial spirit—"Both our fathers are entrepreneurs, so we [always] had the itch to start our own thing," says McGuire—the pair has negotiated their way, literally, from the bottom to the top of the field. "We walked away from an established agency and bet on ourselves," says McGuire. "In our industry, agents change companies all the time, but they rarely start their own thing—they usually opt for the safer bet and just join another established agency."
Exploding to 27 clients, with huge success in the 2015 draft (dealing players to the Broncos, Steelers, Jaguars, Panthers and more), their drive is already paying off. "In addition to the [initial] 18, we signed seven for the 2015 NFL draft [six are SEC!] and have signed a few other veterans," says Perrett.
The formula? "Being an agent at Element is not a typical 9-to-5 job," says Perrett. "We travel a lot; we live on our cellphones; we work days, nights, weekends and holidays. It's definitely a lifestyle around here, not a job."
So what's the future look like for these primetime players? "Stay tuned," says McGuire. But, spoiler alert: "The best is yet to come for us and our clients," adds Perrett. "We've only scratched the surface." @element_sports –Melissa Howsam
SONG TO TABLE
Musician and resto owner Doria Roberts makes it big by giving back.
"I'm definitely a worker bee," says Doria Roberts. "I like to have my hands in as much as possible." As an award-winning musician, restaurant owner, event producer and advocate, she seems to have everything covered.
Born and raised in Trenton, N.J., Roberts, now 43, attended the University of Pennsylvania. As the first in her family to go to college, "there was a lot of pressure on me [to succeed]," she says. "I was doing East Asian studies with a concentration in Japanese language and culture," but that career path didn't seem right to her, so she turned to music. That's when everything clicked.
Strumming in her dorm room turned into a gig at her school's spring fling, which caught the ear of someone at the college radio station, who then played her songs, which were heard by a venue booker, and before she knew it, she had landed her first show. "Songwriting is a way for me to communicate," Roberts says. "When I looked at an audience, I loved that I had that kind of reach—even if it was just 50 people, it felt universal."
After college, Roberts came to ATL to help a family member who'd just had a baby, and when she won $1,000 at Eddie's Attic's open-mic competition, she decided to stay. Here, she met chef Calavino Donati. They fell in love hard and fast, and got married in 2007.
Roberts was working at Donati's restaurant, Calavino's Oakhurst, when the recession hit, and the spot shuttered. That's when they decided to take the leap into a new business by opening Urban Cannibals Bodega + Bites in the same space. Now, just a few years later, the resto-slash-grocery has sprung fresh opportunities, and the couple will open three new ventures this summer: Tipple + Rose Tea Parlor & Apothecary, Madre + Mason (a Latin-inspired Southern eatery) and an upgraded Urban Cannibals Bodega + Bites in Midtown (featuring an expanded menu). "The concept is a necessary one: making healthy food accessible and affordable," Roberts adds.
In the meantime, she's also spent years traveling the world and being recognized for using music to raise money and awareness for communities in need. Most notably, she created the grassroots tour Queerstock, which raised funds for LGBT youth; and Farm to Ear, a local music and food tour benefiting food banks and local economies.
With a slew of professional accomplishments, an album re-release in the works and no end to her creativity in sight, it's impossible not to be inspired by Roberts' drive. Her advice? "Listen to the voice telling you, you can do it," she says with conviction. "If it's something you're passionate about and you can't live without, there's no sacrifice too big or small to get it done." @doriaroberts –Caroline Cox
Watch out, Shark Tank! Atlanta Tech Village's founder David Cummings knows when to invest.
In the heart of the Buckhead financial district you may find the unassuming CEO and founder of Atlanta Tech Village David Cummings working among 800 members and 240 businesses that call ATV home. The Tallahassee-born and Duke-educated Atlanta resident spends his days fostering and watching new startups blossom and graduate in his vision. Cummings majored in economics in college and leveraged that knowledge into creating his first biz, Hannon Hill, a content management and strategy company, which took off with accolades, including a spot on Inc. magazine's fastest growing companies list. Cummings' second business, marketing automation software firm Pardot, which was acquired by ExactTarget for a cool $100 million, soon followed. So when the opportunity to purchase the ATV building arose, it was a no-brainer for this hardworking entrepreneur to throw the dice on his next big project. "I wanted to build a place where like-minded tech entrepreneurs could come together in a unique environment," says the 30-something. And with his vision, financial prowess and voice in the community, he made this dream a reality with ATV now recognized as the largest center of its kind in the Southeast and one of the top 10 in the nation.
Adding clout to Cummings' creation is ATV's recent renovation, which includes 10,000 square feet of meeting space, 63 private offices, 44 multiroom suites and space for up to 800 individuals, giving entrepreneurs immediate access to a network of peers and thought leaders dedicated to supporting and working with them. This amazing space displays open-air industrial design complete with five levels of glass offices, common kitchen areas fortified with unlimited Octane coffee, white board-lined walls and even vacation-themed nap areas, which gives more than 240 startups a place to thrive. In fact, there is a two-month-long wait to get into these digs. But moola is not the only requirement for renting space here. "Each business must be nice, dream big, pay it forward, work hard and play hard," explains the dapper owner.
As a member of the Buckhead Coalition and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and a full-time Atlanta Ventures investor, Cummings continues to collect feathers in his cap and aims to make ATV the city's centerpiece for all things tech. This self-taught programmer has already invested in 14 companies (including the booming apps Yik Yak and SalesLoft) and plans to invest in two more each year. "I am envisioning creating 10,000 jobs in the next 10 years by way of 100 companies graduating from Atlanta Tech Village," Cummings reveals. With a jam-packed résumé, we have no doubt he'll get there. @davidcummings –Elissa Rosen
AIR FORCE WON
Salute! Lawrence Ervin II is using his medical and military background to make a difference in the lives of veterans.
When Lawrence Ervin II sees an unmet need, he doesn't ignore it; he does something about it. That's why in February the 32-year-old, whose friends call him LC, founded Ari Home Wellness, which provides in-home care for seniors of Metro Atlanta, as well as free services for qualified veterans and their spouses.
"I really love Atlanta," he says. "And being from Clayton County, I know there's a lot of things that can be done. People need assistance."
Working hard comes naturally for the Jonesboro High School alum, who helped out as a janitor during his junior and senior years to earn some extra money. A football scholarship led him to Tuskegee University in Alabama, and from there Ervin completed his post-baccalaureate at The University of Georgia and earned his doctor of pharmacy from Auburn University before joining the Air Force.
Ervin found the inspiration for his business while serving as pharmacy and radiology director for the base in Columbus, Miss. "During my last years in the military, I started seeing a lot of elderly people coming in who needed help—not just with their medications, but with getting around and to appointments," he explains. "I thought: I really want to get into home care and help out where I can."
When his stint in the military was over, Ervin backpacked across Central and South America, volunteering at medical clinics and with an organization called Earthship to help build a children's music school on Easter Island. The experience only deepened his desire to make a difference back home.
"It made me think that if I can travel to these places to help people… what is it that I can do to develop and help my community? That's what really pushed me to come back and do all the philanthropic work I do now, in addition to my business," he says.
That work includes an upcoming role on the board at Jonesboro, where he will focus on the vocational program, speaking to veterans' organizations and at school career days, and visiting elderly care centers to train seniors how to be more interactive with their health care providers.
When this philanthropic go-getter isn't promoting his business, volunteering or working overnight as a pharmacist, he loves indulging in Sunday brunch at Republic Social House, salsa dancing at Fernbank Museum and hanging out at Piedmont Park. But giving back remains his true passion.
"There are so many things that I still want to accomplish," he says. "Everything I've done so far is great, but there's so much more that I want to be able to do—and just continue to grow and develop myself and the community around me." –Kelsie Allen
Lindsey Epperly is taking over the travel industry one trip at a time
As the owner of Epperly Travel, Lindsey Epperly creates luxe, personalized itineraries for her clients. But she didn't always have such a clear route for her career. "I wandered into a travel agency for a brochure and walked out with a job planning honeymoons," says the ubersuccessful 26-year-old. "I was a college student—not vying for a career path—but something bigger than I could've ever imagined was set into motion."
And though her original road map did not include a stop in the travel industry (she graduated from UGA with a B.A. in English), it didn't take long to discover that it was her dream destination.
"All it took to fall in love with travel consulting was to help my first honeymoon couple book a getaway that fit them perfectly," she gushes. "I will never forget that feeling; I still get it when clients return from a vacation that we've put together and thank us for an experience that they couldn't have achieved on their own."
Five years later, the honeymoon connoisseur has become Atlanta's go-to guide for 4- and 5-star luxury leisure trips across the globe. She set out on her own in 2011 to create Vacations by Lindsey, then rebranded her biz as Epperly Travel last year. As a national affiliate of Century Travel, her swanky empire is racking up awards and accolades from the likes of Forbes and Travel Agent, but Epperly is staying as grounded as ever.
"I started Epperly Travel because I saw a need for transparency in the industry," she says. "I was constantly faced with clients who were afraid of hidden fees and unethical practices—oftentimes rightfully founded. I built my business by doing the opposite of what I saw less ethical travel agencies doing, and that resonated with clients."
To help match those clients with their perfect destinations, Epperly has done her research. "I'm humbled by the travel opportunities I've received, from wine tasting in the vineyards of Tuscany to waking up to baboons jumping on the roof of my villa in South Africa."
The company recently partnered with New Story, an Atlanta-based organization dedicated to rebuilding homes in Haiti. "We've pledged to donate proceeds from every trip we book until we've built a home there. I can't wait to share with our clients what a difference their travels have made in the lives of others!"
Epperly has also expanded into new markets, including Nashville, Tenn., and her hometown of Columbus, Ga..
"I grew up having conversations at the dinner table about ethics and best practices that have firmly influenced the way I do business," she says. "My parents poured into me the values that I live by today, which, mixed with my own untamable drive, have made me who I am. There are days when being an entrepreneur and leader are the hardest roles, but I know I'm the best version of myself when I'm in them, focused on watching my team succeed and turning dream vacations into a reality." @lindsey_epperly –Alison Abbey
WHEEL ESTATE
Used car shopping shouldn't be such a pain. Ben Huston agrees.
In a world where the Internet has revitalized the way we get around town (seriously, when was the last time you booked a yellow cab over using your Uber app?), it was only a matter of time before the used car game went beyond Craigslist and Carmax.
If you haven't heard of Carvana already, you will soon. Here's how it works: Log on and poke around for your lovingly used set of dream wheels, whether it's a 2010 Camry or a 2014 Tesla. Once you've got the model selected, your ride will be home-delivered, or will be on standby at Carvana's "car vending machine" in West Midtown. The coolest part? You get seven days to drive before paying a dime. If you like it, buy it for less-than-Blue-Book value. If not, no hard feelings. No sales pitch, no pressure, no scouring the city. No need to even leave the couch.
Carvana's witty co-founder and A-Town resident Ben Huston always liked a good idea when he saw one. As a Stanford University grad and a Harvard Law-educated attorney, the San Diego, Calif., native worked in corporate law for some brilliant upstarts before being bitten by the entrepreneurship bug himself. Before too long, he decided to get into the act. His contribution: to streamline the convoluted used car purchasing process.
"We asked ourselves, 'Why is the whole used car experience so unpleasant and confusing?'" says the 32-year-old. "We thought that an online platform would be a good way to fix a lot of those problems."
Carvana's meteoric rise has operated on a few basic principles: high-quality vehicles and extreme convenience, with a dash of novelty—necessary qualities when it comes to breaking ground in an industry that's long-cultivated skeptical consumers.
"There's this trifecta we're fighting," the COO laughs. "You're in used cars, which is an industry nobody trusts; we're online, which terrifies a lot of people who are about to make a purchase of this size; and we're a brand-new company that only a few people know about yet."
But execution is key, and the idea has taken root. Word of mouth is a powerful ally, but in the two years since Carvana went online, the accolades have been rolling in alongside the revenues: This year, Forbes tacked the upstart at fifth place on its "Most Promising Companies" list.
The goal now, Huston says, is careful, quick growth. Carvana has spread to five markets already, with more to come in the months ahead and is currently raising $300 million to make it happen. And then? Let's just say you may never need to visit a used car lot again. @carvana –Austin Holt
Photography assistant: Naomi Smith
Makeup assistant: Andrea Brooks, The Green Room Agency
Shot on location at W Atlanta – Buckhead, W Atlanta – Midtown, Whiskey Blue and Whiskey Park


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Lilith666 had the most liked content!
I have two main hobbies: I love music and love to read. I also like art galleries, drama, and playing with my iPod. Of course, theology and philosophy are big ones, since I'm on here.
I remember the saccharine Matt Redman-type stuff we had to sing. It did get uncomfortable, the over the top syrupiness and vaguely sexual lyrics. Even though we were supposed to "enjoy" worshipping god this was not encouraged in practice. Dancing to upbeat songs was frowned upon. I got the feeling we could never get it right, if we were too serious we weren't in touch with god but having fun was irreverent.
I take Christians' claims that they would be evil without god with many grains of salt. They tend to have this persistent self-abasing belief because the bible tells them so. They may claim it, but people say things without understanding what they really would do because they have never thought outside what the bible says. That claim probably shows a lack of self-knowledge.
How you can be a better ally to white people.
I was referring to the commands directed at white people in articles like the ones that were posted. I'm not claiming to be persecuted on the level that black people used to be. That doesn't make the current behavior okay. In case it isn't clear yet, the OP is criticizing the attitude in those articles.
The historical treatment of black Americans doesn't excuse the current treatment of white Americans.
What exactly in the post is bigoted? The point is that it would be correctly considered disgusting if it were aimed at black people, but that this sort of thing is directed at white people, by some black people. Condescending racism - yes, racism - is socially acceptable if the targets are Caucasian. Yet some, instead of considering the reality of what it's saying, would rather have a knee-jerk reaction and dismiss it as anti-black.
A fundy Christian complaining about women complaining about the patriarchy? LOL! I don't believe there is a patriarchy in the US, but I don't think Matt Walsh would be terribly concerned if there were. Also, I see his name and automatically gag.
I heard of a celebrity couple who named their daughter Sage Moonblood. Why they thought calling her something that sounds like a medieval term for menstruation was cute is beyond me.
You want to put the power in the hands of those you believe are manipulative. This makes no sense. I was trying to understand your point there, but you seem to say one thing and then another, so I don't think I'll get anywhere. Anyway, for your sake, I hope you change your misinformed view about women's nature. You're missing out on relationships with lovely people whom you dismiss based on their gender, and setting yourself up for loneliness. It's sad to see, but it is your decision.
If you're misogynistic, why the advocacy for female supremacy?
So you find women pretty. Of course you do; you're straight. That doesn't change your attitude. This is like a man-hating feminist claiming that because there are men she finds attractive, that she doesn't hate men. Don't make insulting generalizations about an entire group of people and then complain when some people in that group give it back to you.
Has anyone read this book on a-holes?
Huh. I've run into plenty of unsavory people; maybe I'll read this.
Your letter is powerful, TS.
I took on overtime so I had to bring three ham sandwiches, because I get a second lunch. I am eating my last sandwich. Pawn Stars is on the television. There is a guy trying to sell kewpie dolls.
Girl... I'm not gonna make love to you all night long.
Four minutes and wearing a shirt? Now that's just lazy.


Requirements: Must have completed the 'Twisted Paw' quest.
Note: These quests can be completed once per day.
Zhose Lycans are alvays causing ze Vampires trouble. You says vhat you is strongs enough to become one of us…so proves it! If you cans bring to me 5 Tails from ze Lycans everyday, zhen your hard vork will not go unnoticed!
1 tail…2 tails…5 tails! Ma-ha-haa! But zhose Lycans vill alvays bother us ze Vampires, so comes back to me tomorrow and I will has more vork for you.
If it iz not one vhing, it iz anothers. Ze head Lycan Knight…ze is known by Twisted Paw. You may thinks vhat you haz already killed him…but you are VRONG! Zhat Lycan…iz zomething else…zomething unnatural! Bring to me his Equipment so vat we ze Vampires may study ze power of Twisted Paw!
Vonderful. Ze more equipment from Twisted Paw I get ze more we can study ze unnatural power of zhose Lycan Knights!
'Ave you noticed all ze lycans roaming Darkovia? Yez? Ze pack is growing straonger every day…and zey must be stopped! If you vant to become a true Vampire, then you vill go forth and take care of zis issue! Bring to be every Lycan DNA from every canine breed in ze Darkovian Lands. Zis includes ze DNA from Dire Wolves, Chaos Lycans, Lycans, Twisted Paw, and ze Lycan Knight. Zis is a tough task, buy you vill be awarded greatly if you are successful.
Excellent, excellent. You vill a great Vampiric Hero one day, yez. Come back to me tomorrow once your woundz 'ave healed.
Thanks to Tendou no Mazo and Tokijin.


Welcome to the Back of the Net: FIFA Podcast, which is in partnership with Sweetpatch.TV. Episode 103 is here and we have some new FIFA 14 news regarding Teammate Intelligence plus we have special guest Boyle96HD. Hope you enjoy.


text:
Former Cambridge and Lincoln striker drops down the leagues
Adam Marriott has signed for Evo-Stik Premier Division side Royston Town, along with another former United player
Matt Storey
Former Cambridge United striker Adam Marriott who has signed for Royston Town (Image: Warren Gunn)
Royston Town have significantly boosted their attacking options ahead of their first Evo-Stik League Southern, Premier Division campaign by signing former Cambridge United players Adam Marriott and Sam Ives.
Marriott had turned down an offer of a new deal at Lincoln City.
The 26-year-old striker made 27 appearances and scored four goals for the Imps, helping the club clinch the National League title and become the first non-League club to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals for more than a century last season
Marriott made 59 appearances for the U's between 2009 and 2012 scoring 11 goals.
St Neots Town boss Matt Clements: Ex Cambridge United player Dylan Williams ticks all the boxes
He has previously played in the Southern League, enjoying a prolific spell with Cambridge City from 2012 and 2014 netting 57 goals in 69 appearances, including 45 in the 2013/14 season.
Marriott had recently played for Godmanchester Rovers in friendly, hitting a hat-trick in a 13-0 drubbing of Milton
Ives, 26, was part of the same youth team as Marriott and went on to make 42 appearances for the U's between 2009 and 2011, scoring two goals.
The midfielder, who can also play up front, has also had spells at Corby, Brackley, Biggleswade Town and Histon, as well as a very brief spell at St Ives.


A delegation of leading businessmen from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, led by the President of Kurdistan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dara Jalil Khayat, participated in a conference held at Spain's Chamber of Commerce geared toward fostering business ties between Spain and the Kurdistan Region.
The conference was organised by Leading Brands of Spain Forum who came up with the initiative as a platform to introduce key business persons from both countries. The delegation was made up of sixty leading businessmen from Kurdistan and Iraq who were in search of establishing areas of mutual collaboration with their Spanish counterparts. The companies that participated were from a variety of sectors including construction, oil & gas, building materials, real estate, tourism, & health.
The conference was inaugurated by Jose Luis Bonet, the President of Spain's Chamber of Commerce and his Kurdish counterpart, Dara Jalil Khayat. Both expressed their willingness to work together in order to promote economic opportunities and areas of collaboration between the Spanish and Kurdish private sectors.
The KRG Representative to Spain, Daban Shadala, was also at the event and praised the initiative aimed at establishing private sector ties between Spain and Kurdistan. The delegation have now left to Barcelona where they will participate in a conference of the same kind, followed by Valencia before heading back to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Upon the liberation of Kobane, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, congratulated Syrian Kurdish fighters and the Peshmerga, and all defenders of freedom around the world. He also expressed his gratitude to Turkey and other allies for their support and participation.
On the occasion of the liberation of the town of Kobane we offer our heartfelt congratulations to the Syrian Kurdish fighters, our Peshmerga, people of Kobane, and all the people of Kurdistan and those who support freedom around the world. We especially congratulate President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani who treated Kobane the same as Sinjar and other parts of Kurdistan. He tirelessly worked to ensure our allies would provide critical assistance and secure access for our Peshmerga forces.
I offer my gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu who were key to our Peshmerga securely reaching Kobane. Critical to the liberation of Kobane was the assistance of the United States and allies with air support and arms and ammunition. And I offer profound gratitude to the Government of Turkey for welcoming and helping thousands of refugees from Kobane.
Kobane became a strong symbol of resistance and defiance to ISIS terrorist organisation. All of Kurdistan's people including political parties were united in one voice to help Kobane. Today on the occasion of its liberation by young Syrian Kurdish men and women fighters as well as our Peshmerga, I congratulate all political parties in this part of Kurdistan and every single Kurdistani. I hope very soon all villages and towns of Kobane will also be liberated along with all Kurdistani lands occupied by ISIS terrorists.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, accompanied by Nadhim Zahawi, member of the British Parliament and a number of British businessmen.
Mr. Johnson expressed his pleasure for visiting the Kurdistan Region and witness personally the developments that have been achieved, and observe the progress made by the Kurdistan Peshmerga forces in their fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, known as ISIS. He considered that the terrorist organisation's threat goes beyond the Kurdistan borders, to the entire world.
He stressed London and Britain's desire to build strong relations with the Kurdistan Region, which would encourage cooperation with public sector and investment by British private companies in various economic sectors in the Kurdistan Region.
Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude to the mayor of London for his and his delegation's visit, which he described as a move that would help to observe closely the situation in the Kurdistan Region.
He also expressed his government's gratitude for the humanitarian and military aid that the British government has provided to the Region, recalling that the government and the people of Great Britain have helped the Kurdistan Region in the nineties of the last century.
While Prime Minister Barzani reiterated the desire of the Kurdistan Regional Government to develop relations with Britain and benefit from its expertise, he expressed his hope that the UK will provide further military aid and heavy weapon to the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces in their fight against terrorism.
The Mayor of London informed the Prime Minister about his meeting with British military personnel who are training the Kurdistan Regional Government Peshmerga forces, which he described as satisfactory.
The London meeting to counter the ISIS terrorist group is being held at a time when Kurdistan has been directing fighting this terrorist organization, and when our brave peshmerga, by sacrificing their lives, have inflicted heavy defeats on the ISIS terrorists.
Following the ISIS onslaught, the peshmerga have sacrificed their lives to protect hundreds of thousands of displaced people, including members of different ethnic and religious communities. They have liberated large swaths of territory regardless of the background of the people of these areas.
We were expecting everyone to show respect to the sacrifices made by the people of Kurdistan and its peshmerga by inviting a representative from Kurdistan to this event and similar such events. There is no doubt that the most effective force to be fighting global terrorism on the ground and in a direct way are the peshmerga.
We express the dissatisfaction of ourselves and our people with the organizers of this conference. It is disheartening for us to see the people of Kurdistan make sacrifices, while others to receive the credit. The people of Kurdistan deserve to have their representative at such international gatherings to convey the views of the people of Kurdistan and its brave peshmerga. The people of Kurdistan are bearing the brunt of the situation and no individual or side can represent it and speak on its stead in international gatherings.
The Committee is launching an inquiry into the UK Government's policy on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in the wider Iraqi and regional context.
How the FCO is organising its presence and resources in Iraq, in the light of the developing relationship between the Kurdistan Region and the rest of the country.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received in Erbil Archbishop Giorgio Lingua, Apostolic Nuncio in Iraq and his accompanying delegation.
Archbishop Giorgio Lingua said that the Vatican follows the situation in the Kurdistan Region very closely. He conveyed Vatican's gratitude to the Kurdistan Region for sheltering and assisting the internally displaced persons and refugees, particularly the Christians, who fled the violent repression of the Islamic State terrorist organization, known as ISIS.
Prime Minister Barzani stressed the commitment of the people and government of Kurdistan to peaceful coexistence and their culture of tolerance. He pointed out that all the displaced people and refugees receive equal assistance, without any distinction.
The envoy of His Holiness, Pope Francis, expressed the Vatican's gratitude and appreciation to the KRG Prime Minister for the speech he delivered on the Christmas Eve, which helped strengthening the spirit of peaceful coexistence.
Prime Minister Barzani conveyed the gratitude of the people and government of Kurdistan Region to His Holiness, the Pope, for Vatican's support to the Kurdistan Region.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday received Germany's Defence Minister, Ursula von der Leyen and her accompanying delegation in Erbil, which included a number of military and political officials, a number of members of the German Bundestag, German Ambassador to Iraq and the German Consul General to the Kurdistan Region.
The German Defence Minister reiterated that Germany views the Kurdistan Region Peshmerga forces with respect and appreciation as they continue to fight against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, ISIS, on behalf of the free world. She added that the Peshmerga forces fights against the terrorist organisation have been efficient and that they have proven that ISIS is not that force that cannot be defeated.
Minister Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Germany will continue to support and provide assistance to the Kurdistan Region. She also expressed her deep concern regarding the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris last week.
On his part, Prime Minister Barzani expressed his gratitude and delight to the German Defence Minister for her second visit to the Kurdistan Region, so that she can closely observe the situation on the ground and the latest developments.
Prime Minister Barzani expressed Kurdistan government and people's gratitude for the military and humanitarian assistance that Germany provides to Kurdistan Region. He pointed out that although further developed weaponry is needed, the military aid and training being provided to the Peshmerga forces by the German government have had a significant effect in changing the balance of power in favour of the Peshmerga forces and helped them marking significant victories in the fight against ISIS.
The two sides also discussed the latest political, security and military situation both in Iraq and in the wider region.
Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani today welcomed German defense minister Ursula von der Leyen in Salahaddin today to discuss German military aid to peshmerga forces.
In a meeting with President Barzani and the military leadership of the KRG, the German defense minister, who was accompanied by a number of security advisors and German members of parliament, reiterated her country's commitment to stand by the people of Kurdistan in the fight against ISIS terrorists and commended the role of the peshmerga forces in taking the fight to them. She added that Germany would continue to help the KRG by providing weapons and military training to the peshmerga forces.
President Barzani thanked the people and government of German for their decision to assist the KRG and said that the people of Kurdistan are deeply grateful for Germany for coming to their aid. He said that the military aid from Germany has been very effective in battles. He added that with the assistance provided by Germany and other countries, the peshmerga forces now have the upper hand and will continue to push back the ISIS terrorists. But he warned that this will be a drawn-out fight, and the peshmerga require more military assistance and more advanced weapons.
The attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in France today was a crime. It is unjustifiable and we condemn it strongly. On behalf of the Kurdistan Regional Government, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the families who had their loved ones stolen from them. We stand with the people of France against terrorism in whatever shape or form, just as they have stood with the people of the Kurdistan Region as we fight terror in our lands.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister, Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday visited the recently liberated town of Sinoun and Sheikh Sharaffadin Shrine on Sinjar Mountain.
Meeting members of the Kurdish Yezidi community in the area and commanders of the battlefront, fighting against the Islamic State terrorist organisation, known as ISIS, Prime Minister Barzani was briefed on the latest developments and the situation in the recently liberated areas, the process of the return of the displaced families to their homes and the provision of basic public services in the town. Prime Minister Barzani stressed that Kurdistan Regional Government will dispatch special teams to the area in order to assess its basic needs.
Prime Minister Barzani hailed the role of the commanders and the Yezidi Peshmerga forces for their resilience and confronting ISIS from the beginning of the attacks by this terrorist organisation.
Sheikh Ismaiel, Yezidi religious dignitary in Sheikh Sharaffadin Shrine, considered Prime Minister Barzani's visit to the shrine as visiting the homes of the entire Yezidi community.
He said that since the main route to the mountain has been freed, humanitarian relief starts to reach the displaced Yezidis.
Qasim Shesho, one of the Yezidi commanders who stayed in the mountain and fought against the ISIS terrorists, considered President Massoud Barzani and Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani's visit to the region as historical.
Prime Minister Barzani also met the military commanders and officers who stayed on the mountain from the early days of ISIS attacks and protected the mountain, the displaced Yezidi Kurds and the Shrine. He was briefed on the latest military developments and the Peshmerga forces military operations.


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text:
China from Above
Network: Nat Geo International
Through a combination of innovative aerial photography from helicopters and drones and on-the-ground human stories, this four-part documentary series showcases China, which is home to the world's highest mountains, arid deserts, bustling megacities, the ruins of ancient civilizations, and the source of Asia's biggest rivers. Plus, CHINA FROM ABOVE reveals the secrets and patterns of life in traditional and modern China in stunning ultra-high definition, portraying 40 locations across all four corners of the country. The series begins with a look at the religious traditions of the country, as well as its greatest man-made wonders. From the majestic 13,000-mile long Great Wall to the famous Hanging Temple of Shanxi Province and a generations-old horse race across the Zhaosu grasslands, viewers get a front-row seat to the country's rich history. The series goes on to reveal how modern China lives, eats, works and plays - best evidenced by the megacity of Shanghai. Surveying this enormous nation, CHINA FROM ABOVE offers a greater understanding of the country's rapid industrialization, how that very progress impacts the planet and the pursuit of ecofriendly solutions from giant wind farms to solar parks. CHINA FROM ABOVE had its U.S. premiere on Monday, November 12, 2018 at 8pm ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel.
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On Monday, December 3, 2018 at 8pm ET/PT, Smithsonian Channel premiered the finale of CHINA FROM ABOVE. The final installment, "Mountains and Rivers," reveals the mountains, rivers, and people that make up China's great interior. Visit celebrations at the center of the Buddhist world and on the edges of river cities, soar over the world's most famous peak 29,000 feet in the air, and dive into an ancient city submerged under a lake. China's heartland is a place where urban and rural communities embrace the challenges of a changing 21st century world.
Produced by	Beach House Pictures
Produced by	NHNZ


All of us are touched by the Divine but are often unaware of the same.
March in Delhi is the season for Flowers and the entire vista is magically draped in blooms. Recovering from a series of surgeries the flowers drew me to the magic of the Divine Artist providing the much required healing touch.
I return to the world of Blogging and the Enchanted Forests beckon again after a very long gap thanks to the "FLOWERS OF GOD". They are the first flowers which brushed my senses as they draped over a brick wall as I stepped out of the house after weeks.
This Gorgeous and Voluminous Bouquet of hues of Purple is called the Queens's Wreath, Purple Vine or Flower of God ( English).
"New telegram for Nikki – she must go to Ariana [Afghan Airways] for ticket! Went and saw a very unhelpful young bloke – ticket has to be blacklisted in Kabul before a new one issued! My ticket not here. Nikki decided to ring home that evening – felt better for it.
Also went to British Embassy to collect Nikki's money that father had arranged – very unhelpful – would give nothing, no money for travellers. They would only fly people home if destitute – if there was no one at home to pay; they would disown then repatriate! [This meant having your passport revoked] Any money leant had to be repaid before left the country!
"Had breakfast [in the YMCA] with Bali, the Sikh. Went to his room and Nikki tried on different fashions – very attractive and original designs. Took us to his "factory" – his own family house in side streets of Delhi. Lots of family help in the business. Went to room at top with nice patio – great view over street below and roof tops of Delhi. Nice white-washed walls.
Nikki tried on loads of clothes and I gave advice! Lots had to be altered slightly – brother, cousin and designer all there too! (I tried on nice maxi cheese-cloth dress for fun).
Afterwards we had tea on patio, then lunch below – sister-in-law made lovely meal of curd, curried cauliflower, curried tiny beans, chapatis and salad. Then Bali directed us to B.A from his house.
No news. Back to hotel – reading when phone went – B.A said tickets should be here tomorrow! Nikki has money at High Commission if necessary! Celebrated with sundaes at "Kwalitys"!
[Thanks to the help of the B.A staff, word was finally filtering back home that we were stranded in Delhi. But they feared that the reason I hadn't heard from my granny was that she had died. Worse still, they couldn't confirm if this was true. My grandmother, Sydney Easterbrook, had gone out to India from Scotland in 1923 to marry forester Bob Gorrie, and they had lived there until the Second World War. Granny was one of the inspirations behind my trip east. Now like the elderly enigmatic Mrs Moore in Passage to India (another inspiration for going to India), it was possible she was dead.
"Happy Birthday Ank! [youngest brother Angus] At breakfast a Sikh came to our table and asked us to model his clothes, so could guarantee right size – he sells to boutiques in Germany – we certainly meet all sorts in this place!!!
Went to B.A – nothing. Went to GPO – they're so used to us, today we were given sweet tea and chapatis wrapped round potato samosas (potato in batter)! Cheerful fella warmed chapatis over small electric fire! Must be the only tourists to have done this – probably the only ones to penetrate so far! Nice middle-aged man gave us address of Foreign P.O and told us to try there in case mail had been insured.
Off we went in a rickshaw for miles, racing with traffic far beyond the confines of Connaught Place! Hassled away with Indian and weren't understood very well – 2 blokes helping – said had no access unless we had registered number etc. Discovered this wasn't foreign mail! Went to building behind – same story.
Back to centre – cheered ourselves in record shop by listening to Tamla Motown L.P!! Then found really good Penguin bookshop and browsed in there for a while.
Back to B.A – telex for Nikki telling her to go and check GPO! Several for me – no reply from Granny. They in touch finally with parents. Dad sent cheque for ticket – then horrible news that Granny may be dead. No confirmation – felt very upset. Can't stop thinking of it – what can be happening at home? To be stuck in this place because of Asian Greyhound inefficiency and to have no news from home! Very anxious and miserable.
"We were joined at breakfast by one of the "witches"!! (Two bony women with scraped back black hair, pencilled eyebrows and tight-skinned, gaunt faces, who sit in garden too – Nikki calls them the witches). She was Aussie with cultivated English accent; loved London and the Arts (!) – a ballerina also feeling "the call of India". Runs her own company and has a theatre room in the Sydney Opera House! Very easy to talk to but we can imagine a Prima Dona.
Into B.A – Nikki got telegram – her parents in touch with Asian Greyhound – said sent ticket on 20th Dec! (Supposed to be in Kathmandu by 14th!) She sent another saying to buy ticket as desperate. Went to GPO – no tickets.
Read! Bored silly again. Went into B.A in evening. Nothing. (No shops open but had found chemist, so washed hair in afternoon for something to do!) Sale still on – succumbed to temptation and tried on half of garments! Had great time tossing clothes all over the place! (Bought 2 tops again).
"Into B.A in morning – no messages. Went to Delivery GPO – man at desk asked for intimation again but let us up this time. Nothing came – checked American Express mail too.
Read [Wuthering Heights] in garden most of day. Sale on in hall [at YMCA] – had pleasant half an hour going through tops and dresses – we bought 2 small tops!
"Big breakfast – cornflakes, poached eggs, toast and coffee. Phoned B.A to see if any telex – but no reply yet. Sat on veranda and wrote diary! Feel better staying in nicer place and not wandering the streets of Delhi.
Sat in small garden below and had coffee. Read all afternoon.
"Children of God" came and talked to us in lobby. Strange but cheerful. I still reserved opinion – don't like the St Paul approach having it [religion] rammed at me. Theirs is a new order they say – will have nothing to do with the old – I don't agree there because rejecting too many people out of hand. They don't believe they'll have a problem of age because Jesus is coming within the next 20 years. Their group was thrown out of Kathmandu for open preaching; in India they are taking over Mission Schools etc.
(Subsequently had 2 more of them pushing pamphlets at us in the streets).
eat, sip, travel, click, pen down poetry = Helps best reflect on life !


If you are thinking about Fl Bankruptcy Lawyer in Pahokee, Florida, after that those at our law workplace need to be your main candidates. At Port Regulation, we have years of experience and have aided many locals in the Boynton Coastline location with the procedure of bankruptcy. Although a personal bankruptcy attorney is not required for those who intend to file, lots of have actually located that working with a clever, experienced lawyer who excels in the personal bankruptcy procedure can be a gratifying experience.
Lot of times people are humiliated by the truth that they have to declare personal bankruptcy. But those collaborating with the insolvency lawyers in Boynton Coastline at the Legislation Office of Port, comprehend that bankruptcy is not a preconception. It is a method for people that discover that they are being hidden in the red to cost-free themselves from squashing expenses that they can not pay and bugging phone calls that disturb their lives. Bankruptcy is a legal process that allows you to begin fresh.
Fl Bankruptcy Lawyer Pahokee, FL.
There are common reasons or circumstances that have actually been related to many insolvencies. Many individuals that locate themselves in such a scenario have actually had to take care of a major ailment in their family, have actually lately experienced a divorce, have shed their job, or locate that they have actually mounting costs related to a clinical procedure or an additional such unplanned event. More often than not personal bankruptcy has little to do with bad habits as well as a lot to do with some kind of financial distress triggered by unmanageable circumstances.
If you prepare to quit the collection calls, claims, garnishments, repossessions, or foreclosures you can call our workplace to talk with a person regarding scheduling a totally free examination.
With over 35 years of experience a plethora of successful bankruptcy cases we have actually come across a wide array of reality patterns and also lawful problems.
Your insolvency case progresses in actions, beginning with the initial day you enter our workplace. You will always be associated with the procedure so that you recognize precisely the standing of your instance. We are constantly right here to address any concerns you may have along the road.
Exactly how Much Does It Cost for Fl Bankruptcy Lawyer in Pahokee?
The subtext right here is, "Should I select a lawyer by how much she charges?" Unquestionably, this may be your primary problem. You've most likely been dealing with monetary problems for some time and don't have much left to spread out around.
Credit History Counseling Fee: The pre-filing credit report therapy session as well as post-filing financial administration program are supplied by independent organizations that charge a cost, typically in between $25 as well as $50. Your lawyer can usually offer you the names of services readily available in your location as well as online.
Lawyer's Fee: The charge your attorney will certainly charge is hard to identify as well as varies across the country. In my area, North Texas, attorneys charge a level cost that regarding $2,000 to $2,500 for a Chapter 7 straight personal bankruptcy instance as well as $3,500 for a Chapter 13 repayment plan situation. Some attorneys charge a bit much more when both spouses file one case, when there are great deals of lenders, or when there's service financial obligation involved.


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Bradley Family Child Care
17911 Topham St Encino, CA
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About Bradley Family Child Care
Bradley Family Child Care and its home-based setting can be the next launching pad for your little one on their learning adventure! Bradley Family Child Care hosts its child care and early education program in an in-home environment, which can give the best of those close, cozy confines of home alongside developed and supervised learning. In-home environments can be popular choices for families looking for close community and a potentially easier transition for children from the family home to a group learning setting. Bradley Family Child Care has a full-time schedule that promotes community for the students and families that attend. Students will have the opportunity to get to know the same peers and adults, every day, and learn together in a structured environment. With plenty of opportunities to explore, play, and try new activities, students will grow their cognitive and language skills as well as their sense of wonder at the world around them. Parents will see their children's social and behavioral development grow in leaps and bounds! Students at Bradley Family Child Care will also experience a nature-focused, outdoors-oriented learning approach that emphasizes an early and often connection to the environment and natural world. Learning approaches like this embrace the role that active, outside play can take in shaping independence, appropriate risk-taking, and creative self-expression for children. The outdoors can be a place of joy and wonder in childhood, and stimulating that wonder in children can have positive lifelong benefits and be a boon for physical and emotional health.
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Trf - Little Stars
Trf - Little Stars offers early childhood care and education in a center-based facility in Los Angeles. Students...
Los Angeles First Preschool Education Center
For the parents, families and students of Los Angeles, Los Angeles First Preschool Education Center offers cente...
Chamir Family Child Care
Chamir Family Child Care is an in-home early child care program in Los Angeles. With tight community, family-lik...
Chalk Of Tarzana
Chalk Of Tarzana proffers early care and education programs in a center setting in Los Angeles. As a center, Cha...


Margaret Roach Wheeler (Chickasaw/Choctaw) is one of my favorite artists to check in on at the Heard Indian Market. All of her garments are hand woven, and each year she brings a new style that she's been working on. You have to see her garments in person to appreciate the high-quality of the materials and her finely woven work is truly exceptional.
You can find her at all of the major Indian art markets, and she also teaches weaving workshops in various locations (last year she even went to England). She's also working on creating various Native fashion programs that she hopes to launch in either 2012 or 2013 (ah, the world of funding!). She's a delight to talk to, and it's clear that she's making her mark on the fashion and art worlds.


Knox and St. Jude's have joined forces to offer a week-long Vacation Bible School this summer. With the theme "To Mars and Beyond," this fun and inspiring VBS day camp is open to kids aged 5 to 11. It will run at St. Jude's Church August 12th to 16th, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Space is limited, so register soon! The week-long event costs $80 for one child, $50 for the first additional sibling, and $20 for each additional sibling after that. Please register on our EventBrite page. Registration closes on June 24th.


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3 convicted of plotting London suicide bombings
Defendants found guilty over planning attack on July 21, 2005. Jury deliberating on three co-defendants related to failed attack.
jp.services2. (photo credit: )
Three men were convicted Monday of plotting to bomb London's public transport system on July 21, 2005, two weeks after a coordinated suicide bombing attack on the network killed 52 commuters. Muktar Said Ibrahim, 29; Yassin Omar, 26; and Ramzi Mohammed, 25, were convicted of conspiracy to murder. The jury was still deliberating on three co-defendants. Judge Adrian Fulford told the jury of nine women and three men he would accept 10-2 majority verdicts on the other three defendants, Hussain Osman, 28; Manfo Kwaku Asiedu, 34; and Adel Yahya, 24. All six were accused of attempting to detonate explosives-laden backpacks on three subway trains and a bus in a mirror image of the July 7, 2005 attacks. The devices failed to explode, and no one was injured. The suspects denied the charges, saying the devices were duds and their actions a protest against the Iraq war. The verdicts followed a six-month trial at a London criminal court and came days after police uncovered a separate plot to detonate car bombs in London's entertainment district and two men rammed a flaming Jeep Cherokee into Glasgow International Airport. The gang convicted Monday had mixed together hydrogen peroxide - an easily available chemical commonly used as a hair dye - and chapati flour in a north London bomb factory to create a potentially lethal explosive. The explosives were packed in plastic tubs, with screws, bolts and other pieces of metal taped to the outside as shrapnel. The detonators contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), an explosive used by the July 7 bombers. Omar and Mohammed set off their devices aboard two subway trains; a couple of hours later, Ibrahim's device failed aboard a double-decker bus. Police said scientific tests on the devices proved they were all viable. They do not know why they did not work. During the trial, Asiedu turned on the others and claimed Ibrahim, the gang's self-proclaimed leader, had wanted the attacks "to be bigger and better" than the July 7 bombs. The botched plot rattled a city already shaken by the July 7 attacks, as London detectives launched the biggest manhunt in British history. A day after the failed attacks, police shot dead Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes aboard a Tube train after mistaking him for one of the bombers. Police said they were under enormous pressure to capture the men, uncertain over whether they would try again and anxious to avoid a repeat of the aftermath of the hunt for terrorists responsible for the 2004 Madrid train bombings. Then, suspects killed a police officer and themselves when they exploded booby traps as police stormed their hideout. Giving evidence in the trial, a specialist firearms officer, identified only as PC 7512, described how he almost shot Omar dead when he found him standing in a bathtub, fully clothed and wearing a backpack. "In all honesty, I still don't know to this day how I did not shoot him," said the officer, describing how his submachine gun was trained on Omar's head. Much of the prosecution's case was based on eyewitness testimony and closed circuit television footage from the targeted subway cars and bus. In one of the most chilling pieces of footage, Mohammed attempts to detonate his charge with his backpack facing a mother and young child. Moments, later passengers are seen running to the other side of a carriage, while an off-duty firefighter, Angus Campbell, remonstrates with Mohammed. Police believe the planning for the attack started after Ibrahim returned to Britain from a trip to Pakistan in March 2005. He was in the country at the same time as two of the July 7 bombers - Shezhad Tanweer and Mohammed Sidique Khan - but officials do not know if they ever met. They believe the transit system was not the original target, but was chosen following the successful attacks two weeks earlier. Their original target is unknown. Following the men's arrests, police acknowledged they had video evidence of Ibrahim at a training camp in the northern English countryside taken a year before the attacks. In November 2006, the former head of Britain's domestic intelligence agency, MI5, said agents knew of 30 terror plots and had 1,600 individuals under surveillance.
At least 23 people feared dead in Japan animation studio fire in Kyodo
Jewish communities give $700,000 to victims of New Zealand mosque attacks
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Argentina takes step closer to naming Hezbollah a terrorist group
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Massachusetts prosecutors drop Kevin Spacey's sexual assault charges