How Do I Create A RocketBar?
The bar consists of two main components – the first is the jQuery code that powers it, adding the floating class and attributes to the bar that make it appear 'detached' when the user scrolls up and down the page. The second element (which is completely optional) are the CSS3 buttons you find along the bar. We're first going to take a look at the jQuery for the bar and then talk about the CSS3.
To begin, let's define the HTML for our persistent navigation. This is simply a div container with a standard list which hosts a number of button elements used for our menu items. There are two styles available in the style.css file included with this project – the 'default' class (blue theme) is used for elements which have pages of their own (eg. Links, Blog, Store) and the standard CSS applied to buttons (brown theme) is used for the menu item of the page you are currently on.
Using the useful $(window).scroll() function it's possible to perform actions on the page when a user scrolls up or down it. To utilize this, RocketBar defines two points of interest in the current window – the first is the top of the page relative to the position of the bar (see $top1) and the second is the middle of the current window ($mid1). When a user scrolls past $top1, we add the class floater to it which causes it to appear detached. This makes use of classic CSS fixed positioning to maintain the bar in position.
If however the bar is not past the top of the page (ie. when a user is either at the top of the page or scrolls back up) the class is removed and the menu goes back to its default state. Similarly, if you pass the middle of the page ($mid1) the scroll-down button turns into a scroll-up button and the graphics change. This is all fairly simple.
The CSS3 buttons used in RocketBar are based on a variation of the Aristo theme, inspired by previous work from Ryan Miglavs. I wanted to use these buttons as an example of just how far aesthetically clean and crisp form elements can be these days using CSS3 without needing to use any graphics at all. For anyone wanting to design their own Aristo/MetaLabs style buttons from scratch, here's a break-down of the various CSS features required for them. You start off with a solid-color button with rounded edges and a simple border (remember to use border-radius cases for both Webkit and FireFox).
Next work on the typography to your button – I often personally opt for use of letter-spacing and bold common fonts such as Arial and Georgia as these are pretty much present on any platform these days (Helvetica is preferred if you're just using flat graphics). After this we focus on the letter-press effect – this is made possible using an intelligently positioned text-shadow element placed behind the primary button text.
Once this is done work on the background gradients for your button (-webkit-gradient and -moz-linear-gradient will allow you to blend from one specified color to another). Finally, there's the inner-shadow feature at the top of the button. This white line is what adds that extra 'crisp' feel to these buttons and can be achieved using the inset option of the CSS box-shadow property.
There's a lot more that goes into the hover and pressed-state cases but if you check out the style.css file in the release pack they should all be in there.


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Home > Products > Le Franc Tireur No. 6
12.2001 Le Franc Tireur No. 6
Le Franc Tireur (2001)
92-page magazine, 10 color scenarios on cardstock (plus a reprint scenario), Spanish Civil War play aid, overlay (FT2)
With tLe Franc Tireur No. 6 (LFT6), it is possible to track the exact moment its editorial staff began taking steroids, as this issue ballooned in size, approaching 100 pages in length, and the number of included scenarios doubled that of the previous issue.
The theme of LFT6 was the Spanish Civil War. Accompanying articles (all in French) include a look at AFVs in that conflict, an overview of Spanish Civil War wargames (including but not limited to ASL scenarios), and a historical overview. It also includes photographs, including some in color, of some of the areas of fighting.
Other article content included a host of announcements and reviews of recent ASL-related products, an overview of an effort to translate the 2nd Edition ASL rules into French (which apparently was never completed), tournament reports, an overview of upcoming ASL products (some of which, like Ortona, still have yet to see publication, more than a decade later), a lengthy and interesting guide to rafts and assault boats, an ASL crossword puzzle (for people who have WAY too much time on their hands), an ASL poem, an analysis of strength factors in ASL, an overview of JASL (Lars Thuring's attempt to create a virtual version of ASL with a computer player), and an interview with François Boudrenghien.
All ten scenarios (in English) feature the Spanish Civil War; there is also a reprint of an old Spanish Civil War themed scenario that originally appeared in the French wargaming magazine Casus Belli. Except for the reprint, all of the scenarios are in English. Le Franc Tireur does a good job of representing all the different forces that fought in the conflict, even without adding any counters. There is a good range of sizes, with an essentially equal mix of small, medium, and large scenarios.
LFT6's scenarios use Soviet counters for the Republicans and the International Brigades, Partisans for the Militias, and Chinese for the Anarchists. They use British counters for the Nationalists, Axis Minor counters for the Carlists and the Falange and, of course, Italians for the Italians.
Of the scenarios, several are quite interesting. In one, FT19 (A Leches En Larache), the Nationalist player wins if he kills or captures the mayor of the town of Larache. Another, FT21 (Hill of Death) uses the geomorphic mapboards included in the Heat of Battle module High Ground!. FT22 (El Alcazar de Toledo), features an overlay of a massive stone building, El Alcazar. FT24 (¿Cuàndo Te Vas?) is an interesting tin can battle between Italians and Republicans armed with Soviet tanks. It is the most-played scenario of the bunch. FT27 (East of Tortosa) features a contested river crossing.
FT18 Oviedo 34 / Oviedo '34. Spain 1934 (Asturian workers vs. Spanish Legion)
FT19 A Leches En Larache / A Melee in Larache. Spain 1936 (Republicans vs. Nationalists)
FT20 ¡Vìva La Repùblica! / Long Live the Republic! Spain 1936 (Republicans/Anarchists vs. Nationalists)
FT21 Hill of Death. Spain 1938 (International Brigade vs. Nationalists) uses boards HOBI and HOBII
FT22 El Alcazar De Toledo / The Citadel of Toledo. Spain 1936 (Anarchists/Militia vs. Nationalists)
FT23 Not One Inch. Spain 1937 (International Brigade vs. Nationalists)
FT24 ¿Cuàndo Te Vas? / When Do You Leave? Spain 1937 (Republicans vs. Italians)
FT25 21 Nations at La Cañada. Spain 1937 (International Brigade vs. Nationalists/Falangists
FT26 Vertice Mocha/ The Apex of Mocha. Spain 1937 (International Brigade vs. Nationalists/Falangists
FT27 East of Tortosa. Spain 1938 (Republicans vs. Nationalists)
There are a lot of interesting scenario situations here and perhaps this product deserves a bit more attention than it has so far received.
Tagged: French Language, Magazine, Misc Conflicts 1930-1939, Spanish Civil War, Third Party Overlay(s), Uses High Ground geoboard(s)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This was the first of what we hope will be an annual event, set in the stunning scenery of the North Pennines. We took the B GT to help out with marshalling.
The first section we marshalled was 5a and we headed straight to the hill and signed on. This was a fairly easy section and we drove the GT to the section end to observe there.
Needless to say that as our road car made it easily, everybody else cleared the section.
From there it was off to the lunch stop where we were treated to free coffee & food. We found out that if we had gone to the start instead of straight to the section, we would have got bacon butties there.
Not everybody made it through the morning without damage. Some of the sections were considerably tougher than 5a.
After a pleasant break, it was off to section 10. This was an autotest on some quite rough ground.
From here it was back to the start, where a hot meal awaited us. We were still fairly stuffed from lunchtime so we settled for a cuppa. This was great from a marshal's point of view as a lot of the time you barely get thanks for the time we put in. To have free food all day was amazing. Other clubs please note!!
All in all it was a great day and it went well considering it was the first time. The weather gods smiled on us. We found out later that all had enjoyed the day.


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Category: SciFi
Pixar Spark Shorts – "Smash and Grab" Awesome Things You Didn't Know Were on Disney+
Everyone had their own reasons for getting excited about the arrival of Disney+.
The old favorites released from the mysterious "vault" such as classic Princess movies like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White.
Fan-favorite Disney Channel shows That's So Raven, Lizzie McGuire, and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Can I admit that I watched all of the seasons of The Suite Life On Deck without seeing The Suite Life first?
New favorites such as the over-the-top successful Aladdin. I can confirm that the movie is at least as good the 6-7th time you see it as it the first time.
And then the pièce de ré·sis·tance, the first original live-action Star Wars series The Mandalorian. A show that has exceeded our expectations and is worth every bit of hype it was given.
There are a few gems on Disney+ that I wanted to spotlight for those looking for something that they may not have heard of before, but would definitely enjoy.
Spark Shorts: Smash and Grab
If you have not checked out Pixar's section of Spark Shorts, you must do so immediately. Pixar more than any other studio has taught us that compelling stories with deep messages can be told in less than 10 minutes but remain in our memories forever.
Smash and Grab : After years of toiling away inside the engine room of a towering locomotive, two antiquated robots will risk everything for freedom and for each other.
This short is one of the best shorts I have ever seen in my life.
In less than 10 minutes we are introduced to a beautiful and complex dystopian robot society where some robots live in freedom and luxury while others are enslaved.
A deep connection of love and brotherhood is made apparent between our two main characters. They have been enslaved together, and they will be free together, or they will die trying.
The personalities of these robots are communicated through simple eye-shape changes, robot sounds, gestures, and movement. You understand who these characters are, what motivates them, and what they mean to each other without a single word being spoken.
You fall in love so fast with these characters that you immediately feel the fear when they are put into peril by their decision to reach for freedom. The fear they feel for each other is worse than the fear they have for themselves.
Y'all, there have been dozens of movies that cost millions of dollars who couldn't accomplish in 2+ hours what this one short is able to accomplish in 7 minutes.
An entire world/society is clearly communicated, injustice is seen for what it is and a decision is made to do something about it. Two distinct personalities are established as well as their connection and meaning to each other. These characters step out of their comfort zone and all that they have known to reach for something better, no matter the cost. They have a complete and full character arc in 7 minutes time.
And all of this is communicated without a single word being spoken. The world, a problem, main characters, decisions, a battle, sacrifice, love, endurance, and the ending?
I'll let you watch the short to find out what happens. It's glorious.
Plus, just check out how gorgeous this world is. The colors, the textures, the lighting! The artistry is purely stunning and takes its place on the stage of excellence right alongside the storytelling and music.
Everyone involved in creating this short should be dang proud of themselves.
Check it out today on Disney+, Smash and Grab!
Author graciemobilePosted on January 22, 2020 Categories #disney, Character, dystopian, pixar, SciFi, Setting, StoryTags character development, characters, disneypixar, disneyplus, dystopian, family, family friendly, pixar, pixarshorts, robots, SciFi, shortfilms, smashandgrab, space fiction, sparkshorts, StoryLeave a comment on Pixar Spark Shorts – "Smash and Grab" Awesome Things You Didn't Know Were on Disney+
Fatherhood Feature: The Mandalorian
Fatherhood is such an important topic in today's culture.
It always has been. Thousands of children grow up every year without fathers, absent or neglectful fathers, and even abusive ones. Every single one of us has a need for a dad literally built into the way we develop and function.
When someone is faced with a lack of a good father it definitely creates many extra layers of struggle.
There are thousands of incredible single moms out there who are doing both the job of dad and mom, they deserve all the praise and recognition they can get, and I look forward to writing a series celebrating mothers as well.
We are also blessed with some pretty amazing kick-butt dads who remind us those good men do exist and we should be celebrating the guys who are giving it their all to be good dads.
Whenever I see an example of a great dad on screen I sit up straighter and take notice. I want to highlight a few of the best I have seen on the big and small screen.
Disney+'s The Mandalorian was already on track to become a success before the world ever knew that Baby Yoda existed.
Jon Favreau made a brilliant move when he chose to add a baby and an adoptive relationship to this series.
At first glance, it merely looked like a shiny shoot-em-up about a Mandalorian warrior. Cool, but not exactly deep.
What began as really cool became unbelievable overnight!
Baby Yoda has become the heart of the series, and his introduction turned the Mandalorian into a character with a full range of emotions and deeply personal motivations that we can all connect with.
What Makes the Mando a Great Dad?
The biggest thing of all…sacrifice.
He lost his complete freedom to go wherever he wanted and do whatever he wished.
He lost his career and Guild membership.
He became enemies with multiple dangerous groups of people.
He has committed to an entire life on the run. As was evidenced by Chapter 4, stopping and settling down with a family doesn't appear to be in the cards for Mando or his new son.
He has no idea what the lifespan of this child is or how long Baby will need him. 50 years old…still a baby who toddles and cannot yet speak. That's some serious commitment.
He takes on a responsibility to care for someone that could well cost him his life.
Parents sacrifice for their children in countless ways every single day.
To be a parent is to lay your life down daily for someone else who is smaller and more vulnerable, who may not ever be able to repay you.
It's a selfless, sacrificial kind of love.
It's a 24/7 job that never lets up, especially if you are a single parent and, oh yeah, people are trying to kill you AND your kid!
The Mando has shown this kind of selfless love for a child who isn't even his own blood. Not even his own species!
The Mandalorian is giving a beautiful place of honor to adoptive/foster relationships, fatherhood, and single parenting. And it's stinkin' awesome.
Mando on his own is really just another warrior with a bag of skills and shiny armor.
Mando as a father putting himself on the line for a tiny little Person?
That's about as macho and cool as it gets!
Fatherhood is one of the most masculine and awesome things in this world, and I could not be more pleased that Mr. Favreau chose to make the theme of fatherhood the beating heart of a show that is one of the most breathtaking things I have ever seen on screen.
For all of the horror, violence, and evil that is created and consumed by millions of people, it's really nice to enjoy a show that gives honor to that which is truly honorable.
Here's a shout-out to all of the awesome dads, step-dads, foster dads, adoptive dads, single-dads, grandpas, surrogate dads, teachers, mentors, coaches, pastors, big brothers, uncles, friends, and guys who are stepping up to the plate and raising the precious people that are our future. You guys are MVPs and we love you.
And I'd say you are in good company…
Author graciemobilePosted on December 10, 2019 Categories #disney, Character, Lists, SciFi, Setting, Star Wars, Story, TV Show Review, TV Shows, WesternTags #disney, adoption, babyyoda, beadadtoday, brycedallashoward, dads, Dave Filoni, deborahchow, disneyliveaction, disneyplus, disneystarwars, family, family friendly, fatherhood, jonfavreau, kathleenkennedy, mando, moviedads, pedropascal, singledads, singleparents, spacewestern, starwarsshow, themandalorian, themando, truth1 Comment on Fatherhood Feature: The Mandalorian
Black Widow…Too Little Too Late?
A trailer for the new Black Widow solo movie came out today.
It looks like a pretty good movie.
But in all honesty, friends?
I do not feel very excited about it.
Can you just hear the exclamations of shock from Hollywood?
What's wrong with you? Are you just not a fan?
It's cause she's a woman, isn't it? People these days are so unevolved.
It's a fantastic movie! You should love it!
You must just not love Black Widow.
First off, I sleep under a Captain America blanket every night. I protect that thing from harm like it was my baby. My Avengers leggings are my favorite leggings. I am a woman in her 20s who drinks out of a Marvel water bottle made for children. And I write a movie blog that often features Marvel content. Clearly, I am a fan.
Second, hello, I am a woman. Don't play the woman card with me. Also, Captain Marvel was a smashing success and that was only her introduction movie, she wasn't even an already a deeply beloved character. So, yeah, drop the woman card.
Like I said above, it looks like a good movie. I can see myself enjoying the action, the humor, and getting more of the backstory. The issue here is not actually with the movie itself.
"Maybe you just don't love Black Widow that much."
Wrong, the opposite is the truth. I loved Natasha Romanoff too much. That's why I am not very excited.
Why do I feel this way? Endgame, Endgame is to blame.
The further I get away from Endgame, the more I am disappointed.
I didn't want to be. I don't walk into movies full of skepticism like many movie-goers. I prefer to live with excitement about something and then deal with the disappointment rather than live as a cynic and only be surprised now and then when something good actually happens.
I went into Endgame with high hopes. And I enjoyed many moments in the movie.
But truthfully…
…Endgame fell far short of what Marvel had set us up to expect. And they failed heavily on the one thing that mattered the most.
Closure.
Thor gave up his entire 6 movie character arc to go hop around the galaxy and drink beer…and yet he gets another movie?
We were not given a chance to properly mourn Tony. A choice was made to cut a scene that was under 2 minutes and could have changed the whole scope of how both we and our onscreen heroes were allowed to mourn our beloved Tony Stark.
This would have given us a chance to gain some closure from as far back as Civil War. The fact that Clint Barton is the very first Avenger to drop to one knee would have been deeply healing to me.
Steve left for the past without a proper goodbye. He left his two best friends in the world behind. Bucky he had fought tooth and nail to bring back to the light, and Sam had fought alongside him without complaint. They deserved more. We deserved more. Steve means more to us than no proper goodbye.
Now Steve has made a choice that largely rearranges Marvel history and we are supposed to just be okay with that? The dancing scene with him and Peggy didn't even last long enough for us to get a full kiss.
With the exception of Rocket and Nebula, the Guardians were treated as a joke. It was entirely disrespectful of their beautiful character arcs and all of the progress they have made in their movies.
I have other complaints but I'll spare you the rant. The only Avenger done complete justice in Endgame was Scott Lang. And his reward is that he currently does not have any more movies on the docket.
Oh…but Nat. Nat.
Beautiful, warmhearted, undying spirit Nat. She was treated the worst.
Not only was her death incredibly unfair, but we were never given a chance to properly mourn her.
True, the heroes had to jump into the next thing immediately, I understand priorities. But we should have revisited her more beyond the few comments made by the people who loved her most. She deserved more. We, the fans, deserved more.
And Marvel let us down.
Natasha Romanoff absolutely 100% deserves her own movie. The issue is not with this movie itself, the issue is all about the timing. This movie is 2-3 years too late.
I do really appreciate that Marvel understands that a raw origin story movie for Natasha would not work. She's come too far since appearing in Iron Man 2 for us to actually enjoy watching her as a "devolved" character. We wouldn't even know her.
Marvel is smart with the place in the timeline they chose to feature Nat. Post-Civil War she's a highly complex and beautiful character who is finally strong enough to face her past and deal with it properly. We get to enjoy learning the backstory while taking that journey with the Nat we truly know and love.
But this movie should have been done 2-3 years ago. Much sooner after Civil War. Before we knew what happens. Before we knew how Nat's story ended. Before we had tasted the bitter flavor of disappointment and grief.
That's the danger of many Prequels, you know that eventually, Anakin must become Vader. And in this case, you know that Nat must die on a stupid planet in the middle of nowhere for a dumb stone and never be properly mourned.
Endgame created a ton of new gaps in our timeline, in our understanding of our characters, in our experience of this story. We are still walking around with those wounds, and now they want to go back and play with an old gap that should have been filled ages ago?
The world did need a Black Widow movie.
But my concern is that this may be too little too late. And that's a shame because Natasha Romanoff deserves better.
Marvel trained us to expect deeply human stories. Powerful emotions. Gut-wrenching redemption arcs and betrayals. Characters that gave us the courage to keep facing our lives and live them well. Marvel has taught us to laugh, to cry, to grow, to grieve, to heal, to fight!
It's not our fault that we feel the way we do, we responded to what they gave us. And in Endgame, Marvel let us down.
Yes, I love Natasha Romanoff. I love her so much that I do not feel as excited about this movie as I want to. And that makes me sad.
I have a dream, a shy hope, that maybe, just maybe, the end scene of Black Widow will feature a certain Star-Spangled best friend popping up on Vormir and returning a nasty little orange stone. And then a flash…
"…I told you I'd see you in a minute."
If that were to happen, my entire outlook on the future of Marvel would change.
I have struggled to put into words the disappointment and grief of things I have felt post-Endgame. I wrote a few articles on a few aspects of the movie I thought they did well.
The use of food in Endgame to connect characters and moments was really brilliant.
Sam Wilson really is the right heir-apparent for the shield, even though I do not like how he got it.
The amount of torn timelines, gaping holes, and unanswered questions post-Endgame is huge. Marvel cannot expect to just leave us hanging and grieving, can they?
Right now I look forward to Spider-Man's story continuing, his story is always well-done and Tom Holland is a pure delight. But beyond that? Beyond that, I do not know. I do not feel very excited.
Dear Marvel, you did me and my friends wrong, especially my girl Natasha here. You made this mess, so are you gonna fix it or what?
She deserves it.
I will likely see this movie. Whether I see it in theaters or not, I cannot say. But I fear that Black Widow may not make the splash it is expected to, and that has nothing to do with the character herself, or audiences, it has everything to do with the choices Marvel has made.
I hope that I see this movie and I enjoy it. I hope that I see this movie and find out my girl's story isn't over, in fact, it has just begun. I hope that Marvel has some secret-laid plans to untangle this mess and bring it back around.
That is my hope. I guess we'll have to wait until May to see if it's fulfilled or not.
Were you disappointed by Endgame?
What is something you would have changed about the Marvel storyline up until now if you could?
Are you looking forward to Black Widow?
Comment and let's discuss!
Author graciemobilePosted on December 3, 2019 Categories #disney, Character, marvel, Movies, SciFi, SuperheroTags #civilwar, antman, avengers, avengers4, avengersendgame, blackpanther, blackwidow, buckybarnes, captain america, captainamericashield, captainmarvel, cateshortland, endgame, hawkeye, infinitystones, infinitywar, ironman, kevinfeige, marvel, marvelcomics, marvelmovieblog, marvelstudios, natalieportman, phase4marvel, rachelweisz, russobrothers, samwilson, samwilsoncaptainamerica, scarlett johansson, teamcap, theavengers, thewintersoldier, thor, tony starkLeave a comment on Black Widow…Too Little Too Late?
The Flash: Villains Ranked
Season 6 premiere of the popular DC show The Flash airs Tuesday, October 8th on The CW at 8/7c.
Barry Allen is the definition of what it means to be a hero. He is selfless, brave, loving, and redemptive. Barry Allen strikes a beautiful balance of being an imperfect human who continues to save the day over and over again by doing what is right.
In storytelling, a good balance must be struck between the light and the dark. The Flash has had varied success in creating its Big Bads, and today I am going to rank them from Best Villain to Worst Villain.
The electrifying villain of Season 1 has continued to dominate in all of the following seasons as the monster who is always hiding under the bed, just waiting for a chance to come out and wreak havoc again!
As far as origin stories go, I personally find Eobard's "I could never be you so I became the reverse" a pretty lame excuse for villainy. Then again, whoever said villains had to come up with decent excuses to be legitimate? Because Thawne is without a doubt the most solid villain to ever sully Central City.
Every villain is meant to be either a reflection or warped version of Barry Allen himself. Savitar was actually a time remnant of Barry Allen, which made his intention to murder the love of Barry's life (Iris) right in front of him seem even more twisted and horrific.
Season 1 has been my favorite season thus far but I have to say, Season 3 brought it when it came to terror! The entire Season felt like this horrible ticking clock that led to impending doom. Every episode bringing us a little closer to the edge of a cliff we could not escape from.
Savitar felt unbeatable, supernatural, and that made him an A+ villain in my opinion.
Season 3 really brought Barry full circle in the arc that he began with during Season 1, and it took someone as close as himself threatening to take away the person Barry holds most dear to reach that point. The character work of this season was phenomenal and heartbreaking.
FYI – I am to this day still not over losing HR.
Season 4 was not my favorite, but no one can deny that DeVoe was a force to be reckoned with. He challenged Barry and Team Flash in a way that no speedster ever could. He began as an almost likable person with his beautiful house and supposedly "happy" marriage to his wife – a strange comparison to the unity and strength of Iris and Barry's now marriage. Two couples going head to head, it was new take on the good vs. evil battle.
But as the season went on we saw just how rotten DeVoe was from the inside out. How meticulously he had planned everything. DeVoe was disgustingly arrogant and truly felt unbeatable! While his arrogance annoyed the heck out of me, it was nice to have a villain that was so hard to thwart (unlike the villain of Season 5).
I have to take issue with Barry's "no-kill" rule here (and a few other places). While I would not want to rush to flip the switch on anyone, Barry literally begged Ralph not to kill DeVoe when they had the upper hand for the first time all season! At that moment, it was the only way DeVoe would have been defeated. Considering that DeVoe intended to alter the world and had no issue killing or controlling anyone (killing pregnant women, drugging his wife, etc), I don't know, Barry, I think we have a Hitler situation here.
It was a great triumph to me that love, a petty emotion DeVoe had scoffed at, was the chief reason he was defeated. The mind is great, the heart is greater!
Zoom had a cool villain appeal. His very unpredictability made him a severely uncomfortable villain to have around. I don't know how Team Flash could sit and drink coffee when they knew this creep could just zip in and rip them to pieces at the drop of a hat.
And yet, he fell somewhat short of his potential. He felt more like a deranged toddler running around and causing chaos just because he wanted to. He could have done so much more damage. While this definitely qualifies as "villainish" behavior, in comparison to villains like DeVoe and The Reverse Flash whose plans have plans, Zoom did not make the grade.
True, he was going to destroy the multiverse, but it was merely so he could be the fastest man in the universe. A rather childish ambition to the villain who had never grown up. Understandable, but the success/fear factor was outdone by the Master Planners like DeVoe/Reverse Flash and terrifying monsters like Savitar.
Season 5 was intriguing with the new angle of Barry and Iris spending the entire season with their adult daughter. I am a sucker for a parent/child storyline, especially when the parents are almost the same age as their children. Barry has fatherhood potential written all over him, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the West-Allen family be together even if Nora could ruin a good thing in about five minutes.
But Cicada? Why was Cicada considered a strong enough Big Bad for an entire season of The Flash? The answer did not come until the true villain, The Reverse Flash, entered the picture. His scenes always upstaged Orlin or Grace Dwyers' scenes, he was the truly villainous force this season, Dwyer barely felt like a sideshow.
Cicada could have been removed from circulation so many times and Team Flash was "foiled" in the most ridiculous ways. I get that we are living in a pretend world where mind-control gorillas and professor sharks are a thing, but that does not mean the believability in writing needs to be sloppy. It was horribly sloppy this season, and Cicada failed to strike fear in me at all.
Without a doubt, the King of Flash Big Bads is The Reverse Flash and considering that he started us off on this journey, perhaps that is only fair.
Bloodwork aka Dr. Ramsey Rosso is the new Big Bad for Season 6.
First impressions?
He looks as if he has potential. He's not a speedster so clearly, the answer will not be just run faster. This is not just a mind or a speed game, it's a new game altogether.
He's a peer to Caitlin Snow (can this girl catch a break with anyone outside of Team Flash?), making him a known person to the team pre-villain years. Will he use this familiarity to his advantage?
His powers will be incredibly unique and gross.
He seems suave and self-assured without the opulent arrogance of DeVoe or the sneering attitude of Eobard Thawne. A calm villain is sometimes the most frightening.
I get a chilled feeling that he truly believes himself to be the hero of this story and those types always scare me the most. A villain with conviction who believes themselves to be the hero will go farther, justify more, and approach the battle in ways lesser villains will not. I fully anticipate all of that from Bloodwork.
So, I have ranked The Flash villains from best to worst. Do you agree with the rankings? What is your take on Bloodwork and the direction for Season 6? What will happen to Barry Allen during Crisis On Infinite Earths?
Author graciemobilePosted on October 6, 2019 Categories Character, DC, Lists, SciFi, Story, Superhero, TV ShowsTags #dccomics, #dcheroes, arrowverse, barryallen, caitlinsnow, candicepatton, carlosvaldes, centralcity, cicada, ciscoramone, crisisoninfiniteearths, daniellepanabaker, DCuniverse, dcvillains, devoe, elongatedman, eobardthawne, grantgustin, hunterzolomon, iriswestallen, joewest, killerfrost, ralphdibney, savitar, speedster, Superhero, teamflash, thecw, theflash, theflashseason6, thereverseflash, thethinker, tomcavanagh, vibe, villains, West-Allen, zoomLeave a comment on The Flash: Villains Ranked
Thor 4, Why I Don't Want It
Yesterday it was announced that Taika Wahiti (Thor: Ragnarok) would be directing the fourth installment of the Thor movies, starring Chris Hemsworth…
…wait, the fourth installment??? Did we actually ask for a Thor 4?
Without a doubt, there are going to be fans who are excited about this. Not all fans feel negative about the road Thor's character has taken. Those fans are having a really great day right now, and I do not begrudge them that.
(Y'all, if Captain America 4 were ever announced you would hear me give the squeal heard around the world, so I get it).
I, however, am not at all pleased with where Thor ended up when the credits rolled in Endgame.
Please, stop disrespecting Thor even more than you already have.
I was a fan of the first two Thor movies. His first film was actually my introduction into the MCU and I loved it, I loved him.
His transformation from Grade A royal jerk to a compassionate hero was lovely. I liked him and Jane together. I loved how powerful he was. I thoroughly enjoyed his involvement in both The Avengers and The Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Ragnarok was a deep disappointment to me. To drastically change the tone of Thor's storytelling and practically obliterate all ties to his earlier movies on the third installment of his series was awful to me. It felt like someone had accidentally picked up a Guardians of the Galaxy script and a "Thor" movie was made instead.
That being said, even I can admit that Ragnarok was a proper continuation of Thor's character arc. Ragnarok pushed Thor to a place that 4 previous movies hadn't been able to get him yet.
Thor became the king.
It was a nice arc and Ragnarok was a vital part of that.
Thor: He learns what truly makes a hero, he learns humility and kindness. He uses his might to protect rather than ravage. He begins to have an appreciation for humans. He learns what worthiness actually is as he becomes worthy of the hammer. It's glorious.
The Avengers: He grows beyond just an almost patronizing appreciation "I must protect these infants" for humans and learns to see them as comrades and equals. He joins a team rather than fighting alone. He chooses what is right over family loyalty.
Thor 2: Again, he chooses what is right over family loyalty. His father is an idiot, Thor goes against his father and commits treason because it is right. He chooses to love someone even though it may devastate him later on. And he chooses to be honest with his father about his lack of desire to be king.
Age of Ultron: Thor sees the beginning pieces of Thanos' plan as well as the future of Ragnarok. This sets him off on a journey of discovery across the cosmos and sets a lot of things in motion.
Ragnorok: Through the exposure of Loki's deception, Odin's death, and Hela's unleashing on Asgard, Thor has to finally step up to the plate to become who he was born to be.
He loses everything, his father, his hammer, and his dignity as he is reduced to being a gladiator for sport. It's a lot of hits at once. He feels very low but he refuses to give in to grief as his desire to take care of his people and do right by them is stronger. #hero
Against all odds, Thor makes it back to Asgard where has to fight his sister, the goddess of death, without his hammer. He is mighty but at this moment she is mightier. Until he ends up in a vision where his father reveals the truth, "Are you Thor, the god of hammers? The hammer was only to help you channel your power." And the final bit of encouragement that we have all known about Odin and Thor, "I'm not as strong as you." "No, you're stronger."
Next up is the most epic takedown and my favorite part of Ragnorok (THIS IS THOR) where the god of Thunder blasts his sister and her armies with his lightning because THAT'S who he is!
Ragnarok ends where Thor has to allow the destruction of Asgard in order to save the true heart of Asgard, his people.
He is down one eye but looks very regal and handsome as he is crowned king and takes his "throne" aboard a borrowed ship among the surviving Asgardians and a ragtag group of friends. His brother is at his side once more and we hear the same coronation music we began this journey with back in 2011. It was really, really nice.
Thor had to gain humility and perspective before he was ready to be king.
His knowledge of the greater universe enabled him to be exactly what Asgard needed when they needed him most. Odin could never have been what Thor is.
He forgave Loki and paved the way for them to rejoin as brothers and friends.
He brought Valkyrie back from her drunken despair and gave her purpose.
He saved Bruce and destroyed Hela.
He had to grow beyond the hammer and he did an awesome job. And it was THEN and only then, after all of this learning and connecting with other people that he became the king he was born to be.
Infinity War: Enter, Thanos. Thanos never played fair, so, I don't blame Thor for any of this mess. To me, the Thor of Infinity War was the most glorious Thor I have ever seen. He was the perfect combination of all that he had been and all that he was becoming. He WAS the god of Thunder, his arrival on the field of battle in Wakanda is one of my top 3 moments in that movie.
Thor still made mistakes (GO FOR THE HEAD) as did all of our heroes. And I knew Thor needed to have a meltdown at some point. You cannot lose literally everything and never break down.
Endgame: Thor tries to defeat Thanos, and while he does kill him, the damage done by that Purple Abomination cannot be undone. So Thor disappears into New Asgard and becomes a drunken pile of a depressed man.
Believe it or not, I was actually pleased with this. I needed Thor to be human enough to fall apart after all of the hellish things he'd been through. I felt that this was appropriate, all the more so for how handsome and grand he is. That beer belly didn't bother me, the tears in his eyes just made me ache more.
Thor is brought back into the action by his friends who still believe in him. He contributes what he can to the plan, and then he goes back in time with Rocket (love this pairing) to the day his mother died in order to retrieve the Reality Stone.
I loved this part. I felt like it restored some of the first two Thor movies to us.
Thor is totally falling apart, and Rocket has to be the one to save the day. #thisracoongetsitdone
Oh! But that scene with Thor's beautiful mother, Frigga! I loved, loved, LOVED that scene! I have always felt that she was an underused character, a rich well of untapped potential. Odin was a mostly rotten father, but Frigga? What a mother!
Thor needs his mama, that great and mighty god of Thunder who has fallen so low just needed his mama to look into his eyes and actually see him.
He needed her to gently brush back his matted hair as if he's still arrayed in royal robes and love him as only a mother can. She listened. She encouraged. She blessed him, and she told him with so much love and compassion to eat a salad. It was such a gift, that scene.
And that moment gave Thor the courage to face the final conflict against Thanos. He is still worthy, Mjolnir still comes to him. It's a beautiful moment of encouragement for anyone who has ever faced grief and depression.
He fights the battle well and we see once more, the god of Thunder is still with us.
Thor is among the victorious Avengers who are still standing when the dust settles *sobs* and he returns to his people in New Asgard to begin a new life as their king. He's been humbled and is raw, but he is still a worthy hero and he deserves a second chance, what a triumph…
…oh wait, no, he actually decides to become a homeless man and go traipsing around space with the Guardians?!?!
He leaves New Asgard in the hands of Valkyrie whom we have only known for a movie and a half? Didn't he already give up a chance to be king once before, only to take the throne in Ragnarok because he was finally ready???
You mean to tell me that I just went through 6+ movies of bringing Thor to this incredible place of a complete arc where he actually became his own kind of king despite every obstacle —only to have him be treated like some half-eaten leftovers that the filmmakers wanted to put in the freezer to reheat later???
Thor + Starlord for about 5 minutes = funny.
Thor + Starlord for a long time = disrespecting both characters.
Starlord was already given a raw deal in both Infinity War and Endgame. He was treated like a laughingstock and idiot. Is he sometimes an idiot? Absolutely. Has he been through horrible things and grown immensely as a character and made grown-up/mature/hard decisions on behalf of other people? YES! WATCH HIS DADGUM MOVIES! He's saved the Galaxy twice!
And Thor, Thor is funny, but he is NOT a laughingstock! Stop it!
Both of these characters deserve to be worth more than just a laugh.
And as for Thor 4?
If Thor had actually made the harder choice to go back to New Asgard, face his people in humility, and try again, I would actually be looking forward to Thor 4. I am curious about this New Asgard, how the Asgardians and the humans interact.
Thor has almost become a child of two realms, Earth and Asgard, he would make a neat king. Would he find someone new to love? Would some more of those "ancient enemies" that the Asgardians seem to have a cabinetful of show up and we could see an awesome alliance of Asgardians and Norwegian fisherman against Said Ancient Foes? What is living in New Asgard like in 2023?
Thor's choice in the final moments of Endgame was not only out of character for him, it pretty much stabbed in the back a beautiful character arc that has been in the works for 6+ movies.
I was so, so, so disappointed. Thor is one of the Big 3, both Steve and Tony had stunningly gorgeous arcs that ended appropriately for their characters. And Thor was left as a homeless man.
Dear Marvel, I don't know if you are trying to replicate the success of Ragnarok or what, but I sincerely doubt that's ever going to happen. Too many people are disappointed, too much has happened. Let a dead thing lie, don't try to stir it up again.
Marvel is more than welcome to prove me wrong, I wish nothing but the best for the people involved in this film. I'm not a crazed jerk who starts uttering death threats just because I don't want a movie.
I just cannot fathom why Thor 4 would be their first choice when we have so many other, fresher characters to work with. You think Thor (who is a strung-out character) is a good use of your resources when you are literally the top dog right now???
#yesijustwantedtousethisgif #youwouldtoo
I have to wait on another Ant-Man and the Wasp but you have time for Thor 4???
For the first time in my life, I don't want another Marvel movie.
So, are you #TeamThor4 or are you #NoMoreThor? What do you think the next installment will be about? Were you excited to hear about Thor potentially joining the Guardians? I'd love to hear any and all opinions.
Author graciemobilePosted on July 17, 2019 Categories #disney, Character, Fantasy, marvel, Movies, SciFi, Story, SuperheroTags ageofultron, anthonyhopkins, asguardiansofthegalaxy, avengers, avengers4, avengersendgame, brucebanner, chrishemsworth, chrispratt, comics, endgame, frigga, godofthunder, guardiansofthegalaxy, heimdell, humor, infinitystones, infinitywar, janefoster, loki, markruffalo, marvel, marvelcomics, mcu, natalieportman, norsemythology, odin, stanlee, starlord, Superhero, taikawahiti, tessathompson, thanos, theavengers, thor, thor4, thorragnarok, thorthedarkworld, tomhiddleston, valkyrie3 Comments on Thor 4, Why I Don't Want It


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Six juveniles arrested for raping minor girl in Keonjhar
Edited By Devbrat Patnaik Published By Devbrat Patnaik On Jun 26, 2019 - 7:29 PM
Keonjhar: A day after a 12-year-old girl was gang raped in Joda police limits of Keonjhar district, the cops arrested six persons in connection with the case following simultaneous raids at different places. Shockingly, all the six accused are juveniles.
The accused minor boys were initially detained at the local police station for interrogation and during the course of investigation, police found their involvement in the rape.
"Yesterday we raided six different places and nabbed six minor boys. During interrogation, we found that all of them were involved in the rape case. All six have been forwarded to court," said Dilip Bag, Barbil SDPO.
Inter-State Criminal Kabul Khara In Police Net
Odisha Man Slaps Sub-Inspector Inside Police Station;…
The minor girl was reportedly gang raped after being allegedly abducted by the minor boys in Joda area Monday night.
A complaint registered in this regard mentioned that the girl was kidnapped while she was on way to her uncle's place along with one of her relatives. The accused intercepted the duo and later forcibly took the girl to an isolated place and gang raped her.
Later, her family members rushed to the spot after being informed by her relative, and they frantically searched the whole area to trace the girl. The girl was subsequently rescued in an unconscious state as she was raped and dumped on roadside by the miscreants.
The survivor is now battling for her life at the local hospital.


Gettin' Fresh began in 2014 as one of the first food truck operations in Grand Rapids and debuted in May, 2015 with a focus on fresh, local products and a menu that ranged from meat loving to vegan. While providing services for birthday celebrations, graduation open houses, wedding receptions, and employee appreciation lunches it became clear that the company could further assist clients in a number of ways to elevate their occasions and to help streamline the process. Offering buffet and family style catering as well as adding planning & design services was the next step in filling those gaps. Adding an Event Venue in 2018 has helped the company focus on connecting with community and continue to provide complete catering services for clients.
Owner, Abbie Sterling grew up in Mid Michigan and moved to Grand Rapids in the year 2000. She has witnessed Grand Rapids grow and watched it become a vibrant and terrific place to raise her son Morgan with her husband Scott. A Grand Valley State University Alumni and connoisseur of craft beer (East Coast Style Juicy IPA's these days) she finds herself the luckiest girl around who is surrounded by lovely friends and family! Owning a business had been a dream and taking the leap in 2014 was both intimidating and exhilarating. She looks forward to many years of growing and diversifying the business and providing stellar services to West Michiganders.


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PPolitics
Nationwide mandatory E-Verify bill headed to House floor
byFlorida Independent
A Wednesday vote by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee to approve the Legal Workforce Act, which would mandate the use of the immigration enforcement E-Verify program, has prompted mixed reactions among conservative and industry groups.
Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Pensacola (center) (Pic via Facebook)
The bill — sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and cosponsored by Florida GOP Reps. Jeff Miller, Dennis Ross, Allen West and C.W. Bill Young — would require all U.S. employers to use E-Verify, the electronic federal database, to verify if an employee is authorized to work in the U.S. It will now move to the House floor.
The International Business Times states that Smith's bill has "has set up a clash between two Republican doctrines: cracking down on illegal immigration versus opposing regulations that could dampen hiring and constrain small business owners."
The Packer — the "fresh fruit and vegetable industry's leading source for news, information and analysis" — quoted Monte Lake, a Washington-based agriculture lobbyist and attorney:
We are on the advent of potential mandatory E-Verify rules. Congress is incapable of getting ahead of difficult topics like immigration and apparently needed a train wreck to justify coming up with a solution to a difficult solution. That's what we have concluded because they have not really paid attention to us and mustered the political will to solve the problem.
In another article The Packer added that "any pretense that the Legal Workforce Act would accommodate the needs of agriculture was dissolved with the votes of the House Judiciary Committee Sept. 21."
The article continued:
"If the (Legal Workforce Act) should pass the House without a mitigation for agriculture, domestic agriculture is in serious trouble," said Frank Gasperini, executive vice president of the Washington, D.C.-based National Council of Agricultural Employers.
In a member alert, the Washington, D.C.-based United Fresh Produce Association said the Legal Workforce Act doesn't address the needs of agriculture.
"Without an ag worker program, this legislation threatens the viability of fruit and vegetable growers across the country, with significant impact on the entire fresh produce marketing chain," the United Fresh alert said.
The Wall Street Journal has said that E-Verify "doesn't appear very good at identifying illegal workers, would likely bar huge numbers of legal Americans from taking a job thanks to all the false positives the database throws out, and would just push undocumented workers into the informal economy where they'd pay fewer taxes."
Opponents of the Smith bill have pointed out that they do not propose eliminating an employee verification program, but say businesses need one that works well for employers — especially small companies — and workers.
Analysts and business organizations have argued that E-Verify alone would hurt Florida and the U.S. economy, but those same organizations say that a program that allows employers to verify a worker's immigration status must be part of federal immigration reform.
Numbers USA, which supports an "attrition through enforcement" immigration policy and wants "lower immigration levels," called Wednesday's vote a "victory."
I am Florida Independent. I love to blog about everything and anything that can help people live a better life. I live in Florida and my family is the most important thing in my life. I love to travel with my wife and three kids and blog about my knowledge and experiences. I collect coins and bullion and love watching, playing, and coaching football.
Pain clinics challenge Florida's pill mill bill in federal court
Scott signs new funding for sexual assault services
As polls open, Gingrich and Romney continue to trade barbs
Because of its diversity, the Sunshine State is often though of as a microcosm of the rest of the country — and from the I-4 corridor to Miami's Little Havana, all eyes are on voting booths today. Polls have officially opened and, despite polls showing a big lead for Mitt Romney, attacks on his opponent, Newt Gingrich, were relentless.
New GOP bill cuts comprehensive sex ed, funds abstinence-only programs
A newly proposed spending bill from U.S. House Republicans would dramatically cut funding for comprehensive sex education and increase spending on abstinence-only education programs.
VIDEO: 18 senators drop support for online piracy bill after Internet blackout protests
At least 75,000 websites participated in the Internet blackout Wednesday to protest congressional bills that supporters say would fight online piracy.
Tampa Tribune: Bullying stats all over the map
While some Florida school districts report few or no cases of bullying, other districts show a high number of cases two years after a law to protect Florida's students took effect. The law, also known as Jeffrey's Law, was named for Jeffrey Johnston — a Cape Coral student who committed suicide in 2005 after being the victim of bullying by a classmate.
Six in the morning: A six-pack of infobit you might have missed
Gov. Rick Scott has repeated his pledge to prioritize funding for the state's court system. Plus: five more important items!
Groups celebrate HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
People who live with HIV/AIDS and their supporters marked HIV Vaccine Awareness Day yesterday, with their hopes put in the research to find a vaccine to prevent HIV infection.
Minnesota DWI Lawyer – Leverson Budke
© Copyright 2019 Florida Independent. All rights reserved.


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Fatos Bećiraj (, ; * 5. Mai 1988 in Peć, SFR Jugoslawien) ist ein in Kosovo geborener montenegrinischer Fußballspieler. Er steht seit August 2020 bei Wisła Krakau in Polen unter Vertrag. Seit dem 8. Juni 2019 ist er montenegrinischer Rekordnationalspieler.

Karriere

Verein
Bećiraj begann seine Karriere beim KF Shqiponja, bevor er im Juli 2007 im Alter von 17 Jahren zum Stadtrivalen KF Besa wechselte. Seine guten Leistungen zur Saisonhälfte in der ersten kosovarischen Liga 2007/08 lockte die Vereine aus der Region an, und im Frühjahr 2008 wechselte er zum montenegrinischen Klub FK Budućnost Podgorica. Dort wurde er sofort Stammspieler und machte neun Tore in 15 Begegnungen in der zweiten Saisonhälfte. Er wurde mit der Mannschaft montenegrinischer Fußballmeister und erreichte das Finale des Montenegro-Pokals, das allerdings mit 5:6 nach Elfmeterschießen verloren ging. In den folgenden zwei Jahren erzielte Bećiraj 28 Liga-Tore in 62 Spielen für den Klub aus Podgorica und wurde Torschützenkönig in der Saison 2008/09 mit 18 Toren.

Am 30. August 2010 wechselte er zum kroatischen Meister Dinamo Zagreb. 2014 stand er für den chinesischen Erstligisten Changchun Yatai auf dem Feld, kehrte aber in der Winterpause 2014/15 zurück nach Europa. Nach einem Jahr bei FK Dinamo Minsk spielt er nun beim russischen Verein FK Dynamo Moskau. Im Januar 2018 wechselte er ablösefrei zum belgischen Erstligisten KV Mechelen.

Nationalmannschaft
Bećiraj wurde erstmals 2009 vom damaligen montenegrinischen U-21-Coach Dušan Vlaisavljević nominiert und gewann sein erstes Spiel am 7. Juni 2009 bei der Qualifikation zur U-21-Europameisterschaft 2011 gegen Kasachstan. Er machte fünf Länderspiele für die U-21, bevor er in der A-Nationalmannschaft für das Qualifikationsspiel gegen Italien nominiert wurde. Er wurde in der 70. Minute für Radomir Đalović eingewechselt.

Erfolge

Titel
 Montenegrinischer Meister: 2008
 Kroatischer Meister: 2011, 2012, 2013
 Kroatischer Pokalsieger: 2011, 2012

Auszeichnungen
 Torschützenkönig der Prva Crnogorska Liga: 2009
 HNL-Torschützenkönig: 2012

Weblinks

Fußballnationalspieler (Montenegro)
Fußballspieler (KF Besa)
Fußballspieler (FK Budućnost Podgorica)
Fußballspieler (Dinamo Zagreb)
Fußballspieler (Changchun Yatai)
Fußballspieler (FK Dinamo Minsk)
Fußballspieler (FK Dynamo Moskau)
Fußballspieler (KV Mechelen)
Fußballspieler (Maccabi Netanja)
Fußballspieler (Wisła Krakau)
Kroatischer Meister (Fußball)
Montenegriner
Geboren 1988
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Christie Takes Action That Could Make It Easier To Legally Carry A Handgun In N.J.
TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie on Monday announced the adoption of a revised regulation that could increase the odds that local law enforcement will approve residents' applications for permission to carry a handgun.
Democratic lawmakers are vowing to fight it in court.
The governor's new regulations will allow a chief of police or the State Police superintendent to consider evidence of "serious threats" that are not directed specifically at an individual, but establish "more than mere generalized fears or concerns" when considering a gun permit application.
While this doesn't change the process for applying for a gun carry permit, it does loosen the criteria under which permit applications may be considered by local law enforcement.
These new changes, which come after a 60 day public comment period that ended last May, also clarify that a permit to carry a handgun may be issued based on a special danger to the applicant's life that cannot be avoided by other "reasonable" means.
For more than 45 years, New Jersey has had some of the toughest handgun carry permit regulations in the nation.
In 1971, the state Supreme Court found that gun carry permits may be issued only to those "who can establish an urgent necessity for carrying guns for self-protection" such as those "whose life is in real danger, as evidenced by serious threats or earlier attacks."
In 1990, the state Supreme Court clarified that that burden of "urgent necessity" included "specific threats or previous attacks demonstrating a special danger to the applicant's life that cannot be avoided by other means."
As a result, almost no one outside of retired law enforcement and those employed as armored car guards have been allowed to carry firearms legally.
The newly revised regulations add "serious threats" to circumstances that
could demonstrate that "special danger" to the applicant's life. That, at least in theory, it should expand the number of people who would qualify for a gun carry permit.
Scott Bach, the executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs, praised the measure as an "incremental but significant move in the right direction" for gun rights.
"The government has absolved itself of any legal duty to protect individual citizens, and says it is responsible only to protect the public as a whole," said Bach.
"In an emergency, you're on your own. And the same government that says you are shouldn't also be tying your hands behind your back and telling you you can't protect yourself."
Christie first undertook the revisions in April 2016. They will remain valid through May 12, 2022, barring any legal challenges, which even gun rights activists said they expected.
"We applaud Gov. Christie's attempt to loosen New Jersey's draconian and antiquated gun laws," wrote Alexander Roubian, the president of the New Jersey Second Amendment Society, in an email to NJ Advance Media on Monday. "But we expect the extremists in the Legislature to block any attempts."
On Monday evening, state Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) questioned whether the new regulations were legally binding, and promised to fight them.
"Houston, we have a problem," said Weinberg. "We will not allow the Christie administration to dictate changes to our laws. The Legislature found the regulations to be inconsistent with legislative intent, and voted to block them from taking effect. They cannot ignore that action."
The Legislate passed a concurrent resolution (SCR-117) on December 19, 2016 barring the governor's new gun permit regulations from taking effect.
On Monday, Weinberg called the new regulations an attempt to "vastly loosen" New Jersey's gun laws and promised a legal fight.
"The court has spoken on the Legislature's authority when it comes to exercising this process, which is outlined in the Constitution, and I am confident we are on firm legal footing," she said. "I can assure you that whatever legal options we have, we will take."
Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) agreed.
"They're overreaching," said Greenwald. "He cannot do this on his own."
Greenwald promised "significant push-back" adding: "We're in Trenton next week and we will meet on it quickly."


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Turkey and the Hague Abduction Convention
The United States' Annual Report on International Child Abduction 2020 states that:
Turkey and the United States have been treaty partners under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention) since August 1, 2000.
A parent or legal guardian may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for return to the United States of a child abducted to, or wrongfully retained in, Turkey. There are no fees for filing Hague applications with either the United States or Turkish central authorities. Attorney fees, if necessary, are the responsibility of the applicant parent. Additional costs may include airplane tickets for court appearances and for the return of the child, if so ordered.
Initial Inquiries: In 2019, the Department received two initial inquiries from parents regarding possible abductions to Turkey for which no completed applications were submitted to the Department.
Central Authority: While the United States and the Turkish Central Authorities have a cooperative relationship, delays in communication about actions to resolve Convention cases are an area of continuing concern.
Voluntary Resolution: The Convention states that central authorities "shall take all appropriate measures to secure the voluntary return of the child or to bring about an amicable resolution of the issues." In 2019, three abduction cases were resolved through voluntary means.
Location: In some cases, the competent authorities delayed taking appropriate steps to locate a child after a Convention application was filed. The average time to locate a child was six months and 10 days. As of December 31, 2019, there was one case where the Turkish authorities remained unable to locate a child.
Judicial Authorities: Delays by the Turkish judicial authorities at the appellate level impacted cases during 2019. Enforcement: While a court in Turkey ordered a return under the Convention, the Turkish authorities were not able to enforce this order.
Department Recommendations: The Department and the Turkish Central Authority will continue the effective processing and resolution of cases under the Convention.
Turkey: Family Law
Turkey's One-Parent Rule
Turkey: Civil Code Section 6: Custody


Designing for West Herts Golf Club was a privilege. As a 1st year student it was an excellent opportunity to be involved in a 'live brief'. One of the key areas that was focused on was the presentation of a prestigious golf club and selecting colour was crucial. By using a Gold & Blue it created a highly luxury up market feel, this final logo would be intentionally used for digital media, letter heads, scorecards and all paper work around the club. Other variations of the logo were produced but not used.


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Author Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co.
Contributors Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co.
Publisher Cincinnati, Ohio : Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine Co.
Physical Description v. : ill.
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It's always smart to prepare a home selling plan before you start making repairs or marking a date on your calendar for an open house. Prepare your property, making repairs if necessary. Interview real estate agents and be open to suggestions for a listing price.
Of course, you want the most money you can possibly get for the property, but that might not happen if you make costly home selling mistakes along the way.
What's Your Motivation for Selling?
Explore your reasons for selling. Maybe this isn't the ideal time for you to sell if you aren't really committed. Maybe the current market isn't ideal.
Try comparing the pros and cons—staying a while longer versus selling right now—in a written list to determine if you're making the right move. Talk to trusted professionals and gather opinions.
Interview real estate agents and talk to at least three neighborhood specialists. Ask each listing agent to present a comprehensive marketing plan that explains what he'll do to market your home. Ask the agents to prepare comparative market analyses for you so you have an idea of home values in your area.
Compare suggestions and consider accepting the most sound advice, but you'll generally want to remove any bulky, excess, or worn out furniture. Stick extra stuff in the garage or in a private storage unit, or just throw it out if it's in really bad shape. Give the place a good cleaning. Hire a professional if necessary.
Should You Make Repairs Before Selling?
Not all resale repairs will pay off, so calculate the potential return on your investment if you're tempted to spend money on just prettying things up. Kitchen and bathroom improvements tend to provide the best returns. Ask for professional guidance or you might spend more on things you really don't need to "fix."
Although you don't want to spend a lot of money making improvements, you do want to repair obvious maintenance issues.
You might consider investing a few hundred dollars in a home inspection before you list your home so you'll know upfront if your property has any structural, must-repair problems.
Staging is the art—yes, art—of presenting your home in such a way as to give potential buyers that warm, fuzzy, I-want-to-live-here feeling. You can hire a professional stager, ask your agent to help stage, or stage your place yourself, but you'll almost certainly get more for your home if you address this issue.
Move furniture—what's left after you got rid of the bulky stuff—to make rooms look larger or cozier. Add throw rugs, pillows, or artwork in colors that tend to elicit a positive psychological response. Get the lighting just right. And don't forget the exterior. Add a few potted plants, or lay down some fresh mulch so your house says, "Welcome! Come inside!"
Take pictures or hire a professional photographer to do it for you when everything is neat, clean, and attractive. She'll know the tricks of the trade to make rooms look larger and brighter, and quality photos of your home that are posted in the right places can go a long way toward bringing in buyers.
Don't select an agent based on the sales price she suggests. Some will try to overbid each other to get the listing. And do not overprice.
Homes that are overpriced often sell for less than market value...if they sell at all. Would you want to pay $25,000 more for a similar home in the same neighborhood?
Review those comparative market analyses you asked for, and look into other nearby homes that are on the market. You might even consider getting a professional appraisal so you have a firm, unbiased opinion as to what your home is really worth.
Many agents will prepare two net sheets for sellers, one with a low price and one with a high price. This way, sellers can be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. If the lowest net price will allow you to buy the new home you want, it's time to find financing and get preapproved.
First, call your existing lender to find out exactly how much you'll have to pay off. You should also order a beneficiary statement. Then check out new financing offers from lending institutions and credit unions.
Ask for an estimate of costs. Compare rates and fees. You might want to ask your agent for referrals to mortgage brokers because they often have more flexibility to discount rates. Mortgage brokers are more competitive.
Make sure you're comfortable with your loan officer and that she has plenty of experience. Get a loan preapproval letter so you know how much of a mortgage you qualify for. Keep in mind that you don't have to apply for the maximum mortgage you're approved for. A lower mortgage payment might make you more comfortable in the long run. Compare loan types and choose wisely.
You might be tempted to bounce around online looking at homes on the web as soon as your home goes on the market. The next thing you know, you're making appointments to view a few homes. Don't get carried away by virtual tours and beautiful photographs of your dream home. It's almost always more profitable to sell before buying.
Should You Make Repairs Before Sellingg?


Very few entrepreneurs in today's world tend to fathom the real importance of the trade fairs. They take trade fairs lightly because they think that trade fair does not bring positive changes in their business. They think that trade fairs demand a significant amount of money from them and the whole process do not pay them back. However, only the real businesspersons know the significance of trade fairs because they are aware of the fact that trade fairs do more than just increasing the sales of the product. The high rate of development and growth in all departments and the dense and intense competition taking place in the international market have changed the dynamics of the business. Now, reaching to the targeted audience is not a mere task for entrepreneurs instead it is the most challenging thing for them as they have to get through multiple obstacles and hurdles in this path.
However, the advance and upgraded exhibition stand design in Dubai is the center of attraction for the reputable and popular brands in the world. They know that taking part in the trade fairs will play a significant role in expanding their business. Undoubtedly, trade fairs increase the sales of products but the point is it does way more than this by creating the positive image of the brand and the whole organization. However, to inform people related to the business arena more about the benefits of advantages of benefits of trade fairs, we have made the topic of discussion to this specific point in this article.
One of the main goals of business fairs is to showcase the efficiency of an organization, the diligent services, and the proficiency of the team. However, we can say that trade show is more like a power show for an organization in which it shows all the strong and powerful products to the people. This plays a significant role in informing the people regarding a specific product. Therefore, if any organization wants to create a long lasting impression on people and other competitive organizations then, it should take part in business fairs.
Have you ever thought that why the efficient and highly educated people tend to visit business fairs? Certainly, they visit these business fair because they tend to look for the opportunity. To know more about the trade fair, read here. By and large, we can say like every leading organization all the big and small enterprises must make an effort to showcase their abilities and products in the annual business fair.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


It might be a bit surprising that in 10+ years of living in Budapest I'd never been to the island when it wasn't THE island. I guess I never thought of it as anything else than a loud, hot, beautiful chaos of people and sounds. So it was quite startling to see it as, well, not really just another park, but almost.
Every empty space here is somehow inhabited by a lovely ghost. Oh look, A38! I say looking at a patch of uneven grass ungraciously crossed by a sausage dog with tiny legs. Press area! That's an islet of yellowing trees shining through the thin fog. Main stage! Well the main stage is right now an incredibly big nothing blown by the light autumn breeze.
In nine months' time this will all be normal again- weird thing to say, since it's only one week of normal, and fifty one abnormal ones then, when the Danube trickles peacefully by and the trees wait quietly to be adorned with lights, beer cans and Dutch shoes. But it's a good wait. And worth it.


Enter User Information: All information fields in red are mandatory fields that must be filled in before a user can be added.
The first step when importing users is to format the spreadsheet correctly, with First Name, Last Name, Username, and Email Address all filled in.
Once the data is ready time import.
Select Import file. From here you will be brought to an Import Log Popup. This popup will show you exactly how many users were imported correct and how many imports failed. If for any reason your users failed to import the popup will let you know on which line in the import sheet they appear and the reasoning for the import fail.


He played a range of his hits, did a duet with Prince and reprised a song he performed with Janet Jackson, to mixed reviews.
What happens when the Man of the Woods becomes the headlining singer on the Super Bowl field?
Earlier in the day, the hashtag #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay was trending on Twitter in protest of the role JT played in Jackson's Super Bowl XXXVIII wardrobe malfunction. And a few days prior to the performance, critics including USA TODAY's Maeve McDermott slammed Timberlake's new album.
He may not have won over all of his critics Sunday night, but he created plenty of buzzy moments during his show.
Not exactly what you'd expect the Filthy singer to emerge with: fringed sleeves. He opened with the new single from Man of the Woods and a Coachella-ready outfit. Viewers, including comedians Aisha Tyler and Billy Eichner, took note. Timberlake later ditched the jacket and showed off a camouflage-print ensemble.
2. His second song was famously played at halftime before, with Janet Jackson.
Timberlake segued into Rock Your Body, and many viewers remembered that it was a tune they'd heard on the Super Bowl stage before. Back in 2004. When Timberlake exposed Jackson's breast.
Including "Rock Your Body" in this mix of songs is maybe a tiiiiiiny bit tone-deaf.
3. Prince was projected on a giant screen.
Prince was a Minneapolis native. So it made sense that JT would want to include the icon in his show — and make the lights purple for his song Until the End of Time and Prince's I Would Die 4 U. However, a posthumous duet with JT on piano earned mixed reviews on Twitter. Critics including Sinbadsaid it's not what Prince would have wanted.
Aside from the Prince projection, there were no special guests with Timberlake, as promised. That meant no 'N Sync, no Chris Stapleton and no Jackson.
4. JT took a Super Bowl selfie with a kid in the crowd.
Not since Ellen DeGeneres took a celebrity-filled selfie at the Oscars in 2014 has someone taken so public a social media picture. JT went into the audience and hammed it up for a young fan in the stands. In a meme-worthy moment, the boy appeared more distracted by his phone than he was by the singer in front of him.
5. There were dance breaks and a marching band.
JT's song with Jay-Z, Suit and Tie, got a new twist with the University of Minnesota's marching band. FutureSex/LoveSounds tune SexyBack and Justified classic Senorita had dance-filled numbers and a boomerang mike stand. 20/20 Experience's Mirrors had an elaborately staged showing with, yes, mirrors. And then Can't Stop the Feeling! had everyone — well, at least the hundreds of dancers gyrating on the field — grooving with rainbow colors.
Famous fans including Victoria Justice, Diana Ross, Shawn Mendes and Jenna Dewan Tatum sang JT's praises on Twitter.
Those mic tricks & that mic stand were sooooo on point 🙌🏼 what was your favorite part?
Wow. JT absolutely killed that.


Crawfordville holds the county seat for Wakulla County, and is the central focal point of government and business in this county. This historic town boasts a plethora of several businesses while still maintaining the "small town" feel that is much beloved by most. Within the town are many unique antique and gift shops, great restaurants, and friendly locally owned businesses.
In the downtown Crawfordville area is the historic Wakulla County courthouse that was built in 1894. This building was fabricated with solid heart pine with a cupola made with accents of cypress weathervane. This is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is one of three wooden courthouses that still exist in the state. Across the street stands the Old County Jail which houses a fully functional museum complete with displays, a shop, and a genealogy room.
Crawfordville is part of the Wakulla County school district which has 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, a charter school, and 1 high school. It also is home to a satellite campus of Tallahassee Community College and the Wakulla Environmental Institute. Just miles away are some of the state's famous universities such as Florida State University and Florida A&M University.
Residents and visitors alike have the opportunity to take part in the beautiful outdoors by way of the many great parks in the area. There is the Azalea, which is a walking park that is home to a famous colorful lion nearby the gazebo. This lion is painted monthly by volunteers to entertain all who look upon it. The nearby Hudson Park is the place where many of the county parades and celebrations take place. Nearby that is the Hickory Park which houses a playground, tennis courts, hiking trails, and picnic facilities. Nearby the area are many exciting attractions such as Wakulla Springs, St. Marks Trail, St. Marks Lighthouse, and many nearby beaches along the Florida coast. Please contact the Blue Water Realty Group to learn more about our real estate in Crawfordville, FL today!


Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was established in August 1961 under the provisions of the Road Transport Corporation Act 1950. Availability of adequate, safe and comfortable passenger Transport facility is a very important index of economic development of any Country. Public Transport provides the vital connectivity to far flung areas in a developing society.In this endeavor, the KSRTC has positioned itself with a name for reliability and safety. Till August 1997, KSRTC had a fleet of 10,400 buses, operating about 9500 schedules. In August 1997, KSRTC was divided and a new corporation by the name Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). In November 1997, another new road transport corporation called North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) was formed to cater to the transportation needs of North Western parts of Karnataka. Recently, the North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) was also formed with its corporate office in Gulbarga. The company runs a fleet of buses of all types like ordinary, semi-luxury, deluxe and air-conditioned Volvo "Airavat" buses. The KSRTC operates services within Karnataka as well as far flung destinations such as Trivandrum, Mumbai and Vijayawada among others. The KSRTC runs different type of buses to suit every section of the society. Their main mission is "Meeting Challenges with Innovation". Three corporations viz BMTC, Bangalore from 15-08-1997, NWKRTC, Hubli from 01-11-1997, NEKRTC, Gulburga from 01-10-2000 were carved out, on a regional basis.
KSRTC has one Corporate office in Bangalore. Divisional Offices: 12(including newly opened Puttur division ) Bus Depots 72 Divisions 15 Bus Stations: 128 Vehicles 7599 Effective Kms per day 24.91 lakhs Schedules 6881 Average traffic revenue per day 589.78 lakhs average passengers travelled per day 23.60 lakhs Staff 34019 Staff ratio per schedule 4.94 Bus Bodybuilding Workshops, 10 Printing Presses, 1 Driver and others Training Institutes, 3 Hospital, 2 Officers/Employees Quarters 782 Sports Complex.
Golden Peacock Innovative Product/Service Award-2010 for implementation of (AWATAR- Any Where Any Time Advance Reservation System) from Justice P.N.Bhagavathi, former chief Justice of India, Member United Nations Human Rights Commission and Chairman Golden Peacock Awards.
AWATAR won National Award for e-Governance 2009-2010 in Best usage of Information and Communication Technology by PSU's at 13 th National Conference on e-Governance organized by The Ministry if Personnel & Public Grievances (Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances) Government of India.
Apollo-CV Award -2010 as Best Public Bus fleet Operator of the Year.
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has bagged the 'National Telecom Award 2012' under the category of'Innovation in Public Service Applications'.
Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitian Transport Corporation (BMTC) bagged the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU) awardsinstituted by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.


text:
"Intellectual Cowardice" – George Orwell
Ernesto S., Patty J., Manolo G., you wanted an elaboration on the February 12 post´s definition of urinalism, particularly point 6: The claim to journalism unsupported by a willingness to take risks.
You are right: implied in that definition is that Emilio Palacio is not a journalist. When the going got tough, Palacio got going all the way to Miami, where he is presently requesting political asylum. He left it to others back home to carry his dirty water for him. The same reality applies to the three publishers of El Universo, Palacio's newspaper, who also left Ecuador.
Since Palacio is no longer employed by El Universo, makes you wonder who is putting his hamburgers on the table. I spent a year in Coconut Grove, outside Miami. I can assure you, Dear Reader, you may do many things in life; living on no money in South Florida is not one of them.
I must note that President Correa recently dropped all charges against Palacio and the Universo owners. Over 70% of Ecuadorians support his decision.
Ernesto and Manolo, you want to know what gives me the right to talk about such things as journalism, urinalism and a willingness to take risks. Excellent question, especially in light of where you live.
Let's look closer at the willingness to take risks.
Seven journalists have been killed in Syria since the recent violence began. It has been my experience that the general public regards them as either super courageous or incredibly foolish. Taking journalists as a group, I suspect the truth is neither.
In 1988-89 I was travelling in Latin America writing articles for the El Paso Times. First stop: Mexico, where a dubious presidential election had taken place.
The defrauded candidate, Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, and three researchers, José Barberán, Adriana Lopez Monjardín, and Jorge Zavala, wrote a pioneering study, Radiografía del fraude (Editorial Nuestro Tiempo, Mexico, 1988). I interviewed three of the authors, including Cárdenas. When I informed him I had looked all over town for Radiografia, he laughed -- "and you couldn't find it anywhere." He called the publisher who set aside a copy. It is an absorbing study; I read it in one sitting.
The atmosphere in Mexico City was -- to put it mildly -- tense. While I was there, one of Cárdenas' political advisors was murdered. In those days, the danger came not from drug cartels but the government, in particular its terrifying servicio secreto apparatus which, among other things, had murdered countless students during the 1968 disturbances. The SS was later disbanded, however, it hooked up with other military personnel, and formed the Zeta cartel.
The proverbial knock on the door, the car filled with plainclothesmen pulling up beside you and telling you to get in: what goes through your head in such circumstances?
Going to and coming from the interviews, I never looked in the rearview mirror. The reason is that even if they were following me, there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. Same goes for phone taps in the hotel. I never checked my baggage in the room to see if it had been searched or if somebody with dark glasses was waiting in the lobby.
You are alert, but not afraid. Again, that state of mind -- very unique -- has nothing to do with courage or foolishness.
The simple fact of the matter is, if they are going to kill you, torture you or throw you in prison, you cannot stop them. So, you go ahead and do your work as if they did not exist; you don't let them determine a damn thing. You do it anyway because you believe the story is worthwhile. And you believe it is worthwhile because you sense -- it is more a matter of intuition than thinking -- the truth is involved; it is a feeling and you either have it or you don't.
I can tell you right now, Palacio and El Universo owners don't have it. Down deep, when they turn off the lights, they didn't believe what they said -- that President Correa ordered the troops to fire on a hospital. Otherwise, they would not have fled Ecuador. Even more condemning, they would not have offered to print an apology IF the president would do something in return. Sorry, gentlemen, your silly quid pro quo betrayed you; any journalist involved in the truth will tell you that no "deals" are possible -- ever. But, gentlemen, you can settle the matter easily, simply: submit to a lie detector test.
If you are a journalist, the truth is your job; taking risks is part of it. Same goes for miners, firemen. Nothing heroic or stupid involved. It is comparable to taking out the trash, somebody has to do it.
There is another problem with El Universo´s and Palacio's claim to journalism. As indicated in the definition, journalists -- unlike the people aping them -- are not content with one side of the story. Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas is on the left. As for the right, in 1989 I also interviewed Manuel Clouthier, head of the conservative PAN party, who was holding a hunger strike. He died not long thereafter in a mysterious car accident. (I suspect somebody thought he was getting too close to victory. Indeed, Clouthier's successor, Vicente Fox, became president of Mexico.)
I asked for an interview with the president, but was turned down.
I should note that from Mexico I went to Nicaragua where the Sandinistas were in power. I interviewed Violeta Chamorro, head of La Prensa, a large opposition newspaper, as well as her son, head of La Barricada, the Sandinista newspaper. Violeta Chamorro, who subsequently was elected president, told me in her office, "They know you are here." We did the only thing you can do in such a situation: laugh.
As for El Universo and Emilio Palacio, let's look at another part of the urinalist definition: 4. Negative media stories that offer no fair opportunity for rebuttal. Gentlemen, did you offer a chance for the people you attacked to respond? President Correa noted of Palacio´s newly-minted American friends in the American press that not one, ever, tried to contact him and get his version of the controversy.
In 1989, Fraude author José Barberán wrote me that the truth "will eventually come out" about the Mexican presidential election. It did. Today, nobody -- not even the PRI party that committed the fraud -- disputes that Cárdenas was robbed.
Given the decrepit state of American scholarship and journalism -- both are limited cultural maximizers*-- George W. Bush need not fear the same outcome for the 2000 Florida election. For the same reason, neither should Palacio or El Universo fear that their actions will be seriously analyzed, much less criticized, by U.S. media.
But is limited the right word?
George Orwell, author of 1984 and fearless foe of totalitarianism, wrote that the "chief danger to freedom of thought and speech" does not come from "any official body":
"If publishers and editors exert themselves to keep certain topics out of print, it is not because they are frightened of prosecution but because they are frightened of public opinion…intellectual cowardice is the worst enemy a writer or journalists has to face…Unpopular ideas can be silenced, and inconvenient facts kept dark, without the need for any official ban." (George Orwell, "The Freedom of The Press." (http.//orwellru/library/novels/animal_farm/English/efp_go)
The above excerpt is from Orwell's "Proposed Preface to Animal Farm." Proposed because it was not published until 1972 in the Times Literary Supplement. True to form, the original publisher had… suppressed it.
Also true to form…
As mentioned, after our interview I gave Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas a copy of what I had written. When I returned to the United States, I read what the El Paso Times had printed. So did José Barberán and the other authors of Radiografia; he expressed their dismay at how "little respect" the Times had displayed toward my work; the editors had made serious, ah, "alterations."
As for the Nicaragua interviews, the El Paso Times did no publish them. Furious, I did the unprecedented: I called them and asked why. Must have been too much advertising that week was their answer. My response: "If I update the interviews, will you print them?" Yes.
I resubmitted them. Again, nothing happened.
The reason is simple: Violeta Chamorro´s newspaper La Prensa did not fit the American totalitarian model in which no opposition press exists. (The American government had characterized the Sandinistas as totalitarian and was arming Contra military forces opposing them.)
After seeing what the El Paso Times had done and did not do, I could only wonder what I was doing working with them. Hegel defined a perfect world as one in which intentions = consequences. Such is decidedly not the case in our imperfect world where journalism can morph -- unnoticed, undetected and quickly -- into urinalism.
I came to certain conclusions, dropped the El Paso Times and stop being a journalist.
No point looking further. In two words George Orwell summed up the secret inner essence of the American media: Intellectual cowardice. They censor more in two months than all governments put together censor in twenty years.
Ernesto S., Patty J. and Manolo G., I hope that answers your questions.
Our post of February 12 concluded of the Washington Post:
"The Post is a tool of the American government. Obama, Bush, JFK, Pol Pot, Hitler, Hoover, Lenin, Reagan, Elvis: it makes no difference who is in power, the Post does his bidding in exchange for…well, what, exactly? Money? Hot tips? Free Redskins tickets? Gotcha' sex rumors and phony confidences? Dinner with 200 other attendees? A Rose Garden interview with softball questions? An invitation to the White House Christmas party?"
A month later, we got an answer: hot tips.
Post columnist David Ignatius wrote on March 16 that bin Laden wanted to kill Obama and General Petraeus:
"The scheme is described in one of the documents taken from bin Laden's compound by U.S. forces on May 2, the night he was killed. I was given an exclusive look at some of these remarkable documents by a senior administration official."
Exclusive look. Senior administration official: Boy, are we impressed! Let´s see now: U.S. forces break into bin Laden`s compound, kill him and take papers. Question: those papers are now in the hands of what government agency? If you have trouble with this one, ask the nearest seventh grader; he or she will be happy to set you straight.
In case a teenager isn`t handy, we´ll go ahead and phrase the matter this way: don´t look now, Ignatius and Post, but your C.I.A. minders are showing.
We have dealt with Ignatius before. The Source of Terrorism: Middle Class Rebellion noted that, in America, the Official Explanation of terrorism is that Islam is the source of terrorism. Patently absurd, it must be kept off camera, implied, insinuated, denied if mentioned directly. Unable to sustain their position with facts -- there aren´t any -- adherents of The Official Expanation are doomed to become erstwhile practitioners of the Blivet Trick, i.e., try to shove 10 pounds of horse shit into a 5 pound bag. Ignatius is a textbook case. The Source of Terrorism concluded of another Ignatius article in which, Blivet-like, he confirmed The Official Explanation by denying it:
"The Official Explanation, reasserts itself in spite of Ignatius' direct claim to the contrary: if the painful transition to modernism and not the grievances of Islam is the source of terrorism, we need to ask: transition from what? Ignatius declares ´it is certainly true that Islam has yet to find an easy co-existence with the freedom and secularism of modern [sic] societies.´ Islam it is, then. Ultimately, Islam is the source of terrorism." (p. 24)
Ignatius, in short, is a cultural maximizer par excellence. He doesn´t just play ball with the system; he is the system. As for the quality of the hot tip, you don`t have to have read The Source of Terrorism to know a "bin Laden wanted to kill Obama" story is not newsworthy. Or, in the peripatetic phrasing of a seventh grader who looked over Ignatius´ scoop: "No shit, Sherlock. Where did you find the clue?"
In the end, the Washington Post got what the bird left on the limb. Which leaves us with this question. Washington Post, what, exactly, did you trade off for exactly nothing in return?
*"All great cultures, and those moving in the direction of greatness, have an elite which might be called the cultural maximizers whose function is to maintain or push further the culture's greatness and integration…The functions of a cultural maximizer include organization (i.e., maintaining the level of integration of the culture as it is) and contributing certain qualitative features necessary to the continuance of the cultural life. His function is never to alter the culture radically. He may help to give more intense expression to features that already exist, but he never wants to bring about a fundamental change. Thus, those who have the capacity to maximize culture in this sense are among the elite in all highly developed civilizations." Jules Henry, Culture Against Man, Random House, 1963, p. 31.


As one of the few locally owned and managed banks in the Chicago area, we understand the importance of giving back to the people and businesses we serve. Our success depends on the strength of our community, which is why so many FNBC Bank & Trust employees contribute to community causes, from serving on local governing boards to volunteering their time.
We also provide financial support to local not-for-profit community and religious organizations, such as Pillars, Aging Care Connections, The LeaderShop, and Helping Hand. We've even sponsored the kids' t-shirts at LaGrange Little League fields. We pledge to continue to support the organizations that make our community an ideal place to live, work, and grow.


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Abu Sayeed (bengali : আবু সাইয়ীদ) est un réalisateur, producteur et scénariste bangladais.

Biographie

Abu Sayeed est l'un des pionniers du cinéma indépendant au Bangladesh. En tant que cinéaste, il a réalisé six longs métrages et deux courts métrages. Ses films ont remporté six prix nationaux et quatre prix internationaux.

Filmographie partielle

Au cinéma

 2000 : Kittonkhola
 2005 : Shankhonad
 2006 : Nirontor
 2007 : Banshi
 2008 : Rupantor

Récompenses et distinctions

Notes et références

Liens externes

Réalisateur bangladais
Producteur bangladais de cinéma
Scénariste bangladais de cinéma
Date de naissance non renseignée (XXe siècle)
Lieu de naissance inconnu