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The Battle Subway (and why its rules should be changed)
May 21, 2012 by Kappy
After making my Pokémon Black team for ACen and not using it, I decided to do the next best thing: enter it into the Battle Subway, which I apparently had not ever done except with friends. This is because I abhor the Battle Frontier/Subway for a few reasons: you can only use 3 Pokémon in singles and 4 Pokémon in doubles, the Species Clause is in effect, and the Item Clause is in effect. For those not familiar with the terms, they're term used in competitive Pokémon; Item Clause prevents any two Pokémon from holding the same item, Species Clause prevents the same type of Pokémon (two Pikachu, for example) from being entered, and all Pokémon are set to level 50.
I think those four limits should be lifted in light of teams of x (where x can be 1-6 in singles and 2-6 in doubles) number of Pokémon being entered, no Item Clause and Species Clause in effect, and Pokémon are the level of the highest of your team. Why? I think it would make the Battle Subway more accessible and more fun to partake in, plus it gears itself toward competitive players, which the games have slowly been aiming towards since Generation 3 (Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald) with the introduction of the Battle Frontier in Emerald.
The limit on Pokémon being removed and replaced with a system where your opponent's number of Pokémon equal yours would be an awesome idea – who wouldn't want to take their prized Pokémon and see how far they last in singles, or take their favorite team and see how far they last in doubles? Battles would be quick and fast, where on the flip side going for higher numbers of Pokémon means the battles would be slower, but you get to use your whole team, which, in my mind, is way more rewarding to win with a limited number of your team, especially if you're a competitive player and your team needs its other teammates to perform well. And if your team is 3 Pokémon, then more power to you – go and use those three in the Battle Subway. I would very much prefer to use my team of six.
I lost to a Dragonite the 30th battle of the Super Single Train because it 2 Hit KO'd (2HKO'd) my Slowbro, One Hit KO'd (OHKO'd) my Blissey, and then OHKO'd my Espeon with Outrage. If I had my Hippowdon and Aron/Sigilyph on my team, I could've easily dealt with Dragonite either with Hippowdon or Aron/Sigilyph, and it's frustrating that I know my team would be able to take him and lose because I was limited to 3 Pokémon. Once I lost, I tried again and went up against a Mixed Sweeping Poliwrath whom I couldn't take down after 3 Work Ups because I had no fast, hard-hitting Pokémon (I had chosen Slowbro, Blissey, and Tyranitar). I was swept by him, knowing I could've beaten him with Espeon or Aron/Sigilyph. It's worse that I couldn't put Leftovers on my Slowbro, so let's talk about the Item Clause.
Let me put this out there – I HATE the Item Clause. Whoever thought of the Item Clause is dumb, because they probably thought people were going to use 6 Bright Powder or Leftovers, and while I understand Bright Powder, in competitive play an item like Bright Powder and moves like Double Team are banned, but that's not the point; the point is that Bright Powder and Leftovers aren't that good. You can't just slap Bright Powder or Leftovers on a Pokémon and they suddenly become godlike. Yeah, you'll miss a couple more moves against a Pokémon with Bright Powder, but that shouldn't warrant the Item Clause, because I think anyone who slaps 6 Bright Powder onto their team is bad and will probably lose within the 20th battle anyway. A more stylized and thought-out item spread will do better. It should be any Pokémon can use any item they want, and if it happens to be 6 Leftovers or 6 Bright Powder, then so be it!
And for those who would argue that the Item Clause "forces you to be creative with items", it also forces you to lose because some Pokémon work well with a certain item, and another may also work well with that item, and when two of your team uses the same item and the rest use different ones, I would hardly call that being uncreative. It's a stupid rule and I don't think it should even exist within any kind of battling in the games or in competitive play.
Speaking of Clauses, let's talk about the Species Clause. I don't know why the Species Clause is in effect, but I know I'd love to go into the Battle Subway with 6 Pikachu and see how far I get! That'd be fun to try, but I'll never get to because the Species Clause is in effect. I also have a fun team that I call "The Ice Cream Team", which is composed of Abomasnow, Heatran, and 4 Vanilluxe. It's a really fun team to play with even though it's really bad, but I bet I could make it to at least 40 battles in Super Singles. This isn't really that big of a deal to me, but I'd definitely be playing Pokémon more if I could do this on the Battle Subway. It'd be fun to do! Most competitive scenes have the Species Clause in effect anyway, I'd just like to try out my fun teams sometimes and a Battle Subway without the SPecies Clause would allow me to do that.
The last thing I think needs to be changed are the forced levels. No matter what, all Pokémon are forced to be at level 50. I understand the logic behind this – there shouldn't be any Pokémon at a different level because it would provide a disadvantage to the player. For those, like me, who use weird strategies (I use a level 1 Aron), however, I need that level cap to be gone, so there should be three options – one where every Pokémon is set to 50, one where every Pokémon is set to 100, or one where the level of the opponent's Pokémon is that of the highest-leveled Pokémon on your team (so if your highest is 85, every Pokémon on the opponent's team would be 85, and your Pokémon would all be at their respective levels, whatever they may be). This allows for level 50 play, level 100 play, and play where someone (like me) who uses a weird strategy that employs low-level Pokémon can utilize that strategy.
The Battle Subway is actually pretty limited in terms of what you can do with your teams when playing. If these four limitations were lifted then I think a lot more players would find themselves enjoying the Battle Subway more. It'd be more competitive, more fun, and I know I'd find myself coming back again and again to play it.
As a side note, the Infrared battles should also have those three level options, too, because it also sets every Pokémon to 50.
Posted in Gaming.	Tagged and, Battle Subway, Be, Black, changed, Double Team, Dragonite, Gameplay of Pokémon, its, Just sayin', Kappy, List of Pokémon (52–101), need, Nintendo DS, Pokémon, Pokémon Black, Pokémon Black and White, rules, should, thekapz, to, White, why
Be Kappy LoL
February 13, 2012 by Kappy
Once upon a time, there was a boy named Kappy. A rather peculiar soul, he seemed to influence a certain kind of hellish laughter upon many by ending all of his sentences with the acronym 'LOL'. LOL. After years of of LOL'ing amongst his friends and acquaintances, a certain air for trolling and being-well, bad, to put it bluntly-began to swirl and hover about his person. OK, so this isn't really about Kappy. It's about what he thought about a certain LoL-that is, League of Legends. You see, boys and girls, Kappy thought LoL was a bad game. He hadn't really played the game, but he had seen it being played and thought it was ridiculous that so many in the Smash community hopped on as time went by and played it competitively.
OK, it's not really about him thinking it was bad. It's about him being convinced to download it last fall when school started and not touching it until two weeks later and finding out that it's actually pretty damn fun. That's right, after months of bashing League of Legends, I picked it up a couple weeks ago, and now that I've gotten to play it a little more, I'm starting to really enjoy it.
It's not even that I enjoy it as a game. I think the teamwork aspect and playing amongst my friends is really what's fun to me. I had heard so much about the horrible community it had, and since I'm not really a fan of elitist pricks (which is what I heard many were), so even after downloading the game, I didn't touch it.
Finally, I spent a night talking to two of my friends and they helped me explain the game, and I said, "Hell, why not?" I had already finished my work for the day, so I made an account quick-like, sat down, and began playing.
Honestly, it's fun. Really fun. But it's definitely NOT fun unless I'm playing with my friends, and I think that's important to note. A lot of my feedback came from people playing pick-me-up style games with random teammates. There was no synergy, and if you didn't follow someone's specific style you weren't received warmly by them.
But when I started playing against real people with my friends, there was an air of knowing what was going on. Lots of talking back and forth without a lot of silence, like a real team would during a match of Halo at MLG. I'm not saying the games stack up competitively, but I think the similarity of constant talking is what's important, here. Most newcomers (like myself) look at a game like LoL and think, "how can this be fun? It's long, it looks boring, and it looks really confusing."
I remember specifically myself watching a game and asking, "what are you doing?" My friend said he was farming for gold, and I replied with, "farming? How can you enjoy this game? Why don't you go kill someone?"
He told me that people farmed before they went and attacked, and that that can take around 10 minutes. Really? Talk about slow-paced.
Then I played a real game, and I died within the first minute. Yes, I was stomped on and my friends LOL'd at me, and I asked, "isn't there an unwritten rule for farming?" They explained that it depends on the characters and what lane you're in, and I began to really understand how the game worked on a social level. THere's a lot that goes into when you should push or fall back.
As I got better (which isn't that much, by the way LOL), I got to the point where I did farm, and here's where I became hooked. If you're with a teammate you're constantly talking to them (and your other teammates) about what's going on. Who needs help, when you're going back and buying an item, what items to buy, when you get your ult and have it; really, there's a lot to talk about, and I think that's why I find this game so attractive. There's a real sense of team that I never saw until I had a chance to play it myself.
There's a little lesson to be learned here. While word of mouth and watching can be two excellent methods of computing content within a game and deciding whether or not you, personally, want to play it, it's a good idea to get a little hands-on with it in different ways, especially if it's multiplayer.
I'll always advise offline multiplayer first over online (unless it's a fighting game, but that's for another blog entry) because playing with your friends is generally a better experience (unless you're playing with a friend online LOL).
Just sayin' LOL
Posted in Gaming.	Tagged Be, Eastern Time Zone, Games, Halo, Just, Just sayin', Kappy, League of Legends, LOL, Major League Gaming, MLG, Recreation, Sayin', Smash, SSBB, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Video Games


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Iran blasts "unrestrained" Western weapons delivery for further complicating Ukraine's situation
TEHRAN, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign minister said Thursday that the "unrestrained" delivery of American and European weapons to Ukraine has further complicated the situation in the country.
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a phone call with his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto, in which the two sides also discussed bilateral relations and the latest developments in Iran.
The Iranian top diplomat also voiced Iran's opposition to the continuation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Pointing to the Tehran visit by the Finnish foreign minister earlier in February, Amir-Abdollahian said the relations between the two countries are on the right track.
The Iranian minister also briefed Haavisto on the latest developments in the talks on the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
For his part, Haavisto expressed his country's support for the restoration of JCPOA, while thanking his Iranian counterpart for informing him of the latest developments in the talks.
Ukraine and Western countries have recently accused Iran of exporting suicide drones to Russia for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Iran has repeatedly rejected the allegations as "baseless," saying it has sent no weapon to any of the warring parties. ■

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Astro Pandas Slot Game
A new game is designed and released by Booming Games called Astro Pandas. With the cute graphics theme of Panda bears wearing space suits, the makes certainly look interesting enough. As the Pandas are walking on the Red Planet, there are various features in the slot that will give you rewards.
So, here is a true review of the game interface and gameplay. Together with the Astro Pandas, you will go on an exciting journey to other galaxies. So, let's take a look inside the game.
Astro Pandas Theme
The players seeking the best online slot games will find this slot amazing. The game combines two most appealing elements in the world, i.e. ursine charm and an interstellar rocketry experience. The people who love panda will automatically get attracted to the game. And the players who relish the space adventure won't be able to resist as well. so, basically, Booming Games have combined two tremendous elements in a slot game.
All the action of the Astro Pandas Slot is set on the red surface of a foreign world. You can't even fathom whether you are in the same galaxy or not. Surely the planets in the galaxy look similar to our world, but the planets are distant and at another corner of the galaxy. There is no way to know where you are in this universe. With the background music, the chills on your body will get stronger.
The game features four pandas and all of them looking too cute wearing the space helmet. They also have the playing cards value on them from Aces to Tens. Their value ranges according to the playing card value on them. It is the rocket symbol which acts as Wild in the game substituting for other symbols to finally form a winning combination.
Another important thing in the slot is a symbol bearing the game's title. This symbol acts as the scatter which is used to trigger the Astro Pandas free spins feature. It is activated when there are three or more scatters on the reels.
Betting Options and Functions
There are 20 fixed paylines which pays from left to right.
Bet size is decided any amount in between 0.20 to 200 times of the betting currency.
For the faster gaming tempo, a quick spin feature is available.
There is also an Autoplay feature which can be used for up to 100 spins.
As three scatter symbols appear on the reel, the player gets ten free spins.
All wins receive a double win multiplier during the free spins.
The free spin feature can never be re-triggered.
There is a Mystery Jackpot which occurs randomly. This function is available on any spin in the base play.
When you win 20x, 50x, or 500x of your bet size, the amount will be awarded instantly.
The Mystery Jackpot Feature is not available during the free spins.
With the minimum betting amount, you will be wagering a maximum of 10 per line. So, you can win a good sum of money even when you spend as little as 0.20 dollars. If you take a look at the winning combinations that can be formed during the game, you will be able to calculate that the slot has the potential to give you around 2000x of the stake. This means that you have a chance to win almost 400,000 from a single free spin. We must agree that these are pretty incredible odds.
You can also win the Astro Pandas Bonus with the three Mystery Jackpots. It can help you win at most $100,000.
Astro Pandas Special Features
Most players look for the games which can boost their earnings. And the bonus feature of Astro Panda is designed just to do that. In this section, you will end up with most of the winnings. The special Astro Panda Bonus features are:
Free Spins Bonus: This feature gets activated when you land 3 scatter symbols on the reel. You get a reward of 10 free spins and all your winnings during the free spins bonus get doubled automatically. But when the feature is active, you can change the amount of bet and you won't be able to retrigger the bonus during the other bonus games.
3 Mystery Jackpots: This is a random bonus feature which is awarded to the players during the gameplay. As a win, the players get 20x, 50x, or 500x of the value of the total bet with each spin. The only thing players have to do is to look out for the Mystery Jackpot symbol on the board.
Both the features will give you huge winnings. So, make sure that you know how to use them. The Mystery Jackpot feature adds an element of super excitement in the slot. As it has a large potential of winnings, you will have to play carefully to look out for this feature.
We certainly enjoyed the features of the Astro Pandas. Overall, the game is not bad. But with the payouts, you can definitely say that it is one of the Best Slot Games. As you get a decent amount of payout with so many multipliers, the potential to win 2000 times of the bet from one round is remarkable.
In general, Astro Pandas turns out to be a rather simple slot game. The pleasant soundtrack, beautiful animation, and mesmerizing galaxy will keep you focused on the game. The RTP information about this game is quite not available yet but one thing which is known is that this slot is getting a uniformly positive response. So, consider traveling the outer space with your new panda family and have with the slot.
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New French Novel, Translated Into English, About Freemasons
A new book is on the way from two French authors, translated into English, one of whom is a French Freemason.
From PRWeb.com:
In France, Giacometti and Ravenne, said together in one breath, is synonymous with adrenaline-pumping Freemason thrillers/police procedurals that spend months on the top of the charts every time they come out. The authors Eric Giacometti and Jacques Ravenne have written nine to date, sold over 2 million copies of the series in seventeen different languages, and, rumor has it, are currently holed up somewhere in the French countryside working on the next one.
They recently made their debut on the US market with a very successful title called Shadow Ritual, published by Le French Book. Number 1 bestselling author Douglas Preston called the book, "Phenomenal." Kirkus Reviews says the series has "abundant visceral appeal." Reading Reality gave it "Escape Rating A," while Shelf Awareness specifies, "The plot and pacing of a thriller, but the meticulous attention to historical detail sets it apart."
The series focuses on a Paris police detective named Antoine Marcas. This character stemmed from long arguments the two authors, friends since they were teenagers, kept having. Eric Giacometti, a reporter, had investigated corruption scandals linked to Freemasons on the French Riviera, while Jacques Ravenne, as a master mason, couldn't understand why the media was so fierce in its attacks against freemasonry. He felt it was unfair and simplistic. From these often-heated discussions, they created a Freemason cop who is proud of his ideals and values, but aware of the pitfalls of the brotherhood.
The novels give readers an inside view of the brotherhood's real codes and rituals, and these are genuine and accurate because Jacques Ravenne is a Freemason. He is also a historian. In Shadow Ritual, the plot was inspired by an incredible, yet true story: that of the French Freemason archives stolen by the Nazis in 1940. In 1945, the Russians recovered them in Germany and sent them to KGB headquarters in Moscow, where they remained until 2000, when they were finally returned to France.
The books are called "esoteric mysteries" for fans of Dan Brown, but they are also for fans of, among others, early Robert Ludlum thrillers, and anyone interested in a good story and history. In Shadow Ritual, readers won't find a single Templar shield, an Illuminati hood, or a descendant of Jesus. Rather, readers discover the esoteric side of Nazism, and the persecutions against Freemasons in Occupied France, by both Nazis and the Vichy government.
There's a lot of fact mixed in with the fiction, and as a bonus the authors provide exclusive content here, revealing Freemason secrets and more.
Encouraged by the initial sales of Shadow Ritual, Le French Book is busy working on translating another book in the series, which is scheduled to come out in English in early 2016. It holds stories of alchemy and information from unpublished documents about the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower that the authors uncovered in the Freemason Library at the Grand Orient of France headquarters in Paris.
Posted by Christopher Hodapp at Tuesday, April 21, 2015
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is soon to change its name to Kentish Bus & Coach and vehicles are already being repainted in the new livery of cream and maroon stripes. Coaches used on Green Line work will retain the Green Line name.
• Folkingham, Lincolnshire-based R Kime has added a Scania K92CR with Plaxton Pararmount 3200 bodywork to its fleet. The 53-seat single-decker is powered by a 180kW Scania 8.5 litre turbocharged engine coupled to a tenspeed splitter with computer-assisted gearselection (CAG). The new K92 will be used mainly on tour work, and joins Kimes 23-strong fleet of coaches and buses.
• Southend Transport is now running six Cardiff Transport Leyland Olympians on long term hire. The double-deckers have coach seats and have been repainted in Southend's yellow and blue livery. They are used on the Southend-London express services, and also on the Culturebus roundLondon sightseeing operation recently acquired from Ensign of Purfleet.
• London Regional Transport has accepted a subsidy from private industry to run a new bus service from Chelsea to Earl's Court. The service, to be known as the Chelsea Harbour Hoppa, will run from the new Thames development, Chelsea Harbour village.


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Erigeron denalii  is a North American species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae known by the common name Denali fleabane. It is found in Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, and Northwest Territories.

Erigeron denalii  is a very short perennial herb rarely more than 5 cm (2 inches) tall. Each stem generally has only one flower head, with 30–55 white or lavender ray florets surrounding numerous yellow disc florets.

The species is named for Denali, the tallest mountain in North America.

References

denalii
Flora of Alaska
Flora of Western Canada
Plants described in 1945
Taxa named by Aven Nelson
Flora without expected TNC conservation status

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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FROM openjdk:8-jre-alpine

ENV SPRING_OUTPUT_ANSI_ENABLED=ALWAYS \
    SLEEP=0 \
    JAVA_OPTS=""

# add directly the jar
COPY jobadservice.jar /jobadservice.jar

EXPOSE 8086 5701/udp
CMD echo "The application will start in ${SLEEP}s..." && \
    sleep ${SLEEP} && \
    java ${JAVA_OPTS} -Djava.security.egd=file:/dev/./urandom -jar /jobadservice.jar

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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About Inigo Montoya
Thieve's Forest, Florin
10 observations after the 2019 season
Inigo Montoya replied to Inigo Montoya's topic in The Stadium Wall
Thanks! Waddle was signed on a one year deal and he's a free agent right now. He signed with the Bills for $1.5MM on a one year prove it kind of deal and never made it out of the preseason before tearing his quad.
Inigo Montoya posted a topic in The Stadium Wall
1. This could be points 1, 2 and 3 because in my mind it was clearly the most important question going into the new season; Will Josh Allen continue to develop into a franchise quarterback? I think any objective observer over the course of the season would have to say that he has clearly become a better QB in 2019. I can list all the end of season stats such as completion percentages, QBR, TD/INT and the like, but those numbers, while improved across the board, don't come close to telling the whole story. The only two areas that concerned me this year has been his regression in deep ball accuracy, and ball security when he is running the ball. I'm not sure what happened to his deep ball which was solid last year. If they are going to continue to use him in the running game then he has to protect the ball better. Does he still make a head scratching decision throwing the ball sometimes? Yep, and so does every other QB in the league. There is no question though that he is making less of those Hero Ball throws compared to last season. He has improved dramatically in his short and intermediate throws, is now moving the offense in and out of plays at the line of scrimmage in response to what the defense is giving him. That means that he is able to read defenses at the line which is huge for a young QB. He has clearly shown that he has the clutch gene when the chips are down at the end of the game. Down a score in the 4th quarter, I expect the Bills will win more of those games than they lose. The kid is a gamer and will fight on a 4th and 1 like no one I've ever seen. He leads by example and has the entire locker room in his corner. I fully expect him to continue to improve and I think the Bills have finally found their franchise QB. 2. I was really impressed with the Bills brand of tough but disciplined football this year. With the exception of pre-snap penalties by a certain back up tight end, I don't remember too many times this season where undisciplined play cost the Bills. In years past, every time the Bills made a big play I automatically looked for the yellow flag to bring it all back. That doesn't happen much anymore and that's a credit to the coaching staff. The Bills don't beat themselves on a regular basis like they used to. 3. Beane's off season O-Line rebuild was spot on. I think Ford might be best at guard and Nsekhe can be a solid stop-gap RT. I wouldn't be upset to see them go after a RT in free agency or the draft this off season. I think the rest of the line looked good. Dawkins was back in form this year, Spain, Morse, and Feliciano were ballers. They have some depth there too with Long and Bates in the wings. They might be able to bring Waddle back on the cheap too if his torn quad rehabs well. 4. Our defense is elite. It looks like we should be able to bring back the majority of the defense next year too. We have the cap space and we need to resign our own players where we can and lock down the nucleus of this squad for the next few years. If our defense continues to play at this level and we can continue to get modest improvement on the offensive side of the ball, we should be contending. I hope no one makes a run at Frazier this off season. He and McDermott have got something special brewing here. 5. The division should be wide open next year and I would think the Bills have to be considered at least even money with the Pats to win it. This year saw a huge drop off in New England. Whether Brady is back or not, I think their long, horrible, amazing run of dominance is finally over. If we don't at least split with the Pats next year I'd be shocked. Brady did give us a parting gift by forcing Garoppolo out of New England against Belichick's wishes. It was the least he could do. I hope they wander in the QB wilderness for a long time... 6. Tre'Davious White is the real deal. Next year he will be entering the 4th year of his 5 year rookie contract. At some point we need to pony up the money to lock him down through his prime years. Having a shut down corner is critical the way the game is evolving. The sooner we sign him, the cheaper the contract will be over the long run. I would be shocked if he gets close to the 5th year of his contract without Beane locking him up. 7. The Bills hit on Ed Oliver. He had five sacks this year on limited playing time. That stat doesn't tell the whole story though. He was a beast and constantly needed to be doubled and was still getting into the backfield to disrupt the pocket. He was stout in run defense all year. The highest percentage of snaps Oliver played in a game this season was 69%, and that was against the Jets in Week 16 when we were resting guys. By contrast, Aaron Donald only had two games all season where he played less than 69% of the snaps. I know Frazier and McDermott like to rotate their DTs, but I think they need to look at getting Oliver on the field more. I think he is going to be a difference maker. 8. Hauschka had a rocky stretch but ended the season strong and was money against the Texans on Saturday. I really think he would have hit that 54 yarder to win the game in OT if the refs hadn't made that f**** up, ridiculous, horrendous, preposterously bad call on Ford for the "crack back" block to knock us out of field goal range. I wish we could find another Justin Tucker out there who can hammer 58 yard FGs all day, but looking around the league at the kicking woes on many teams, I'm fine rolling with HouseMoney for another season. 9. McDermott and Beane are building this team the right way. They are building a tight knit group of guys who put the team first, check their egos at the door, and play hard for one another. We have a roster of smart, high character guys who can play ball. I don't think we will have any trouble bringing in free agent talent this year. I think McDermott has earned the trust and respect of the locker room and this year we have finally seen the results of the "Process". I think both of them we're inspired hires by the Pegulas and I think they have the ability to build a Super Bowl team here in Buffalo. 9a. On a related note, we were remarkably healthy as a team this year. I don't remember another year where injuries didn't cripple us for a significant stretch of the season. Maybe it was just luck (an some of it certainly is) but I'd like to think that the Bills' focus on cutting edge sports medicine and a state of the art player's facility really paid dividends this year. Kudos to the front office for spending the money where it can make a difference. 10. Losing to Houston sucked. The way we lost was even worse. The logical part of my mind knew we did not have a championship team this year, but I really thought we would be able to win this Wild Card game and then hope for a little bit of magic down the road. That bitter taste is still there with how things ended, but when you look at the season as a whole, we finished with 10 wins, while mailing in week 17 of the season to rest our starters. We will have a tougher schedule next year but a diminished New England to play and another off season of Beane restocking the cupboards with more talent. Our young QB looks legit. In just three years we have moved from miraculously breaking the 17 year Drought, to not only expecting to be a playoff team, but now expecting to make some noise in the playoffs. When it's all said and done, I don't know how you can look at 2019 and not see it as the best season this franchise has had in 20 years. Only 247 more days until the opening kickoff!!!
Loved Belichick being Belichicked!
With just about 5 minutes left in the game Vrabel started playing games with the game clock, deliberately taking Delay of Game and False Start penalties to bleed time off the clock on 4th down before he punted the ball back to the Patriots. The entire time Belichick is running over to the refs, red faced and screaming with a vein bulging on his forehead about to burst. Bill seems to have a short memory. Belichick was laughing when he did the exact same thing to the Jets at the end of their game a few weeks ago. Patriots knocked out by the Titans in Foxboro in front of their insufferable fans. Belichick got Belichicked by Vrabel. Karma is a b**** New England...
Late Ford personal foul call a joke
Just leave. You are clearly not a Bills fans. Go pull the wings off some flies somewhere or set some ants on fire with magnifying glass for fun instead.
Didn't see any crack back block on that call. Took us out of field goal range and a chance to win right there. Tic Tac b.s. call. Frustrated....
Bill Polian and two Sirius colleagues did not vote Lamar Jackson All-Pro
Inigo Montoya replied to wppete's topic in The Stadium Wall
It's just sour grapes on Polian's part. Jackson clearly had the best season of any QB in the AFC this year. Polian is still lambasted for saying that Jackson should be a WR and is doubling down to try and save face even though it just makes him look more foolish. It's the same narrative with some in the national media (PFF) who won't acknowledge they might have been wrong about Josh Allen coming out of college. They are just doubling down to try and save face despite the evidence piling up in front of their face that they were wrong.
Baker Arguing with Bengal Fans. "Come down and say it to my face. Wow
Inigo Montoya replied to JerseyBills's topic in The Stadium Wall
Hell, Cleveland needs to cut Mayfield and sign the cop who tackled him. He could be a linebacker. Hits him square, drives through the tackle, wraps up nicely. Textbook...
Mitch Morse injury?
I agree Feliciano blocks as well as Morse but I'm not sure if he is as good as Morse at helping Josh make the pre-snap blocking calls. I agree with your second point 100%. What we need is Nsekhe back at right tackle. Ford has potential but Nsekhe is already there.
Guys we are legit
Inigo Montoya replied to 78thealltimegreat's topic in The Stadium Wall
We needed to feed Singletary this game and have Josh dink and dunk to offset the constant blitzes. There shouldn't have been 3 passes longer than 10 yards all day from Josh with the pressure he was under. Just don't understand the offensive game plan today. The world isn't ending with this loss, but it's frustrating to watch the Bills lose a game at home that they could have won.
Josh's running style more injury prone than Lamar's
A QB can get hurt on any play, in the pocket, out of the pocket, or even slipping on a rubber floor mat on the sidelines... anytime. Having said that, it seems to me that Allen is at a lot more risk of injury when he runs compared to Jackson. Josh is a big tank of a guy at 6'5", 237 lbs and would seem more durable if he has to tuck the ball and run with it compared to Lamar Jackson who is 6'2" and 212 lbs. The problem is Josh's violent running style. He is much more likely to lower his head and try to pick up a few extra yards at the end of a run and take a hit in the process. Conversely, Lamar rarely ever takes a big hit, or any hit at all, because he is so fast and shifty. He is so incredibly athletic that DBs and LBs can never seem to get a solid hit on him. He dodges or is out of bounds before he can get hammered. I think Allen's ability to tuck the ball and take off is a vital part of his game and I don't want to see him not run, I just hope that he looks at what has happened to Cam's career and learns to slide more, head out of bonds more, and not continue to scrap for every single yard. I love Josh's competitiveness and desire to win on every play, but if he is going to be our franchise QB he needs to be on the field. He needs to stay healthy. As the Pats showed earlier this year, an opposing defense won't hesitate to try and knock him out of a game if he gives them any chance to do so. This franchise's playoff run comes to a grinding halt if Allen isn't under center. I hope he doesn't feel the pressure to keep up with Lamar this weekend and plays to win but also plays smart to protect his body. He needs to think about the big picture.
Front office incompetence is going to ruin Darnold just like Rosen
https://forums.theganggreen.com/threads/2019-is-over-stick-a-fork-in-us.93232/page-4 "A HR to me this offseason would be improving the OL first and then the secondary. This isn't going to be a quick fix. I expect it to take a couple of years before the Jets can be a Super Bowl contender. Fix the OL and that will help Darnold and Bell which will help us become more competitive. Like everyone else I am tired of 4-12, 5-11 type of seasons. If the Bills can turn it around then why can't the Jets." Saw this post on Gang Green, the Jets version of TBD, after the Jets were beat down by the winless Bengals. This sounds familiar. The Bills were in the same boat last off season with sub-par O-line play. Fortunately, Beane made it a priority to address it during the off season and he has turned a team weakness into a strength and that has allowed Allen to continue to develop. Darnold has not been as lucky. He is getting hammered in the pocket and running for his life seemingly every snap. He's going to end up just like Josh Rosen. From a selfish Bills point of view I hope the Jet's management continues to bring in the shiny toys like Le'veon Bell this off season and continues to neglect the O-line. It's amazing to me that ordinary fans like the Jet's poster above has more insight on how to build a successful football team than the "experts" in the front office of these football franchises. A flashy RB is nice but the O-Line is the engine of any offense. If you have no O-line, nothing else really matters. Investing in a "franchise QB" like Darnold and then not making any moves to shore up the bad O-line in front of him is football GM malpractice. Looking at these Jets fans in purgatory reminds me how lucky we are to finally have a front office that seems to get it, that has a plan, and is systematically working the plan.
Beane free agent WR signings
All fair points BillsVet. I'm not here to argue that OBJ isn't a more talented receiver. My larger point is about how you build a competitive team. I don't know if you do need a bunch of elite players to win a championship. I think there is also something to be said for building a roster top to bottom with solid, team oriented players. I'd argue that the only elite talent on the Patriots is their head coach and Stephon Gilmore, but they are still winning. I think Brady is more of a game manager right now. Brown and Beasley are both on team friendly deals as well so if their play declines Beane and Co. can move on without hamstringing the franchise going forward. I think next year we will only be a piece or two away from contending for a Super Bowl. We have $90mm in cap space to go out and find those pieces and I trust Beane to find them. I don't think there will be as much hesitation from free agents to come to Buffalo either after this season.
The Odell Beckham trade by the Browns got all the publicity and love this off season. The Cole Beasley and John Brown signings were also ran signings that flew completely under the radar. Look at the contracts and stats of those three players twelve weeks into the season with the Bills heading towards the playoffs and the Browns all but eliminated from the post season. Odell Beckham Jr compensation; 2019 $17,000,000 2020 $14,250,000 2021 $15,750,000 2022 $15,000,000 2023 $ 15,000,000 OBJ 2019 production through 12 games; 57 catches 805 yards 2 TDs Cole Beasley compensation; 2019 $11,400,000 2020 $5,600,000 2021 $5,900,000 2022 $6,100,000 Beasley 2019 production through 12 games; 55 catches 635 yards 5 TDs John Brown compensation; 2019 $10,700,000 2020 $8,150,000 2021 $8,150,000 John Brown 2019 production through 12 games; 61 catches 882 yards 5 TDs OBJ has the big name and the pedigree and there is no mistaking his elite receiving skills, but I think Beane and McDermott have it right when it comes to team building. It's not about collecting a bunch of talented individual players, it's about bringing together a group of players who are willing to play team football. I think the 2019 Bills are greater than the sum of their parts and teams like the Browns and the Cowboys simply are not. Look how far this Buffalo Bills franchise has come in the last two years. It's getting hard to argue against the position that Beane and McDermott are a top 5 GM/Coach combo in the league right now.
Do the "look at me" actions of Shaq and Oliver bother you?
Inigo Montoya replied to PUNT750's topic in The Stadium Wall
This. It might be a generational thing too. I think older people might see it as bad sportmanship whereas younger fans see it as just a part of the overall entertainment and have no problem with it. Give me the classy cats like Jerry Rice who dominated his opponents on the field and casually handed the ball to the ref in the end zone, like catching that 35 yard bomb between two defenders in the corner of the endzone and somehow getting that second big toe down one inch before going out of bounds, is the most common thing in the world to him and nothing worthy of a "look at me" show...
This is why Josh Allen is a franchise QB
This is why Josh Allen is a franchise QB.


If you have bought or offered a home, you may have experienced an independent home inspection. This sort of home inspection is created to supply both buyers and also sellers with essential details regarding the health of the home's systems – heating and cooling, electric, plumbing, water rigidity, roofing system problem, and security. This kind of inspection is particular and also gives a wealth of info on the home. While this kind of control is not called for, it could assist buyers to stay clear of a "money pit" and also could support vendors to recognize precisely what things may transform purchasers away.
A good friend wrote me lately to state that they got home and also had anticipated the home examiner to search for termites. After they moved in, they determined to renovate. They uncovered that termites had entirely eaten the wood structure in 3 wall surfaces.
I informed them that a person of things home assessors do refrain is inspected for bugs, considering that they are not certified to recognize them. Insect control specialists are certified to discover pest invasions, and ought to be called in before the purchase. The majority of the time your real estate agent will undoubtedly suggest just what inspections you should be getting to shield on your own.
This obtained me considering home inspection misconceptions. Right here are the leading six myths.
Home inspectors check for termites. Myth! For the pair above that thought this, repair services were very costly.
You ought to not go to the inspection on the home you are acquiring because it will disturb the examiner. Inspectors value their customers attending the review as well as recognize they could fully interact the problems with them.
The seller is liable for dealing with everything the inspector finds incorrect. Misconception!
Brand-new building and construction need an independent home inspection to obtain the Certificate of Occupancy. Myth! Brand-new construction does call for dynamic examinations by the municipal building inspector for safety and also code enforcement. If you are moving into a newly created home, I directly would suggest an independent home inspection also, as it will undoubtedly catch many loosened ends.
If the home's appraisal is exceptional, there cannot be anything incorrect with the house, and also you don't need another inspection. Myth! A home's assessment is based upon numerous variables, including market conditions, place, as well as materials (HardiePlank and granite counter tops, for instance) but does not check for systems functioning or architectural honesty.
A home inspection will take around Thirty Minutes. Misconception! A thorough home inspection should take from 2-5 hrs relying on the size and also the complexity of the home. There are numerous inspection factors on a home inspection, consisting of walking the roof covering and also creeping the crawlspace.
Now that you are the home inspection expert, you can try these questions on your good friends and also see exactly how they do.
Lisa is an aerospace designer and also building specialist staying in Richmond Virginina.
Before her engineering placement, Lisa checked residences for home buyers, sellers, owners, as well as home mortgage companies.
If you have gotten or offered a home, you might have experienced an independent home inspection. If you are relocating to a recently constructed home, I would advise an independent home inspection also, as it will catch several loosened ends.
If the home's appraisal is superb, there cannot be anything incorrect with the house, and also you do not need one more inspection. An extensive home inspection ought to take from 2-5 hrs depending after the dimension and intricacy of the home. There are hundreds of inspection factors on a home inspection, including walking the roofing system and crawling the crawlspace.


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Dogodki
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Smrti


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For Smith, there is at least the possibility that this could be his last Kansas City.


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When looking online for assistance with your school classes, there are several things to keep in mind. Knowing what to look for before you pay for services will help you to avoid a bad experience. It's also good to know, it isn't too difficult to locate a trustworthy source for assistance.
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To reactivate Nine Mile Road road through district lot 11155, south of the village of Fruitvale, in electoral area A of Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB).
In May 2018 the owners of district lot 11155 dumped boulders and dirt on a public road without permission from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI), the RDKB, any users of the road including holders of statutory rights of way through the now deactivated road. The road is over a hundred years old and until now used by the public. The province spent money to maintain the entire road for decades and still pays to upkeep parts of it today. According to the Transportation Act, section 42. a road is a public highway when it is travelled by the public and public money was spent on it. Nine Mile Road is a public road.
This action greatly affects one of neighbours, a senior, who lives on Nine Mile Road just south of district lot 11155. Since 1980 he, and others, have travelled into Fruitvale by this road. His health and life are at serious risk. Emergency services cannot access his home or the other properties to the south including registered addresses 1500 and 1325 Nine Mile Road, the Seven Mile Substation, Seven Mile Dam, and other public roads south of the deactivated section. With winter approaching the risks increase and action is needed. Others are similarly affected.
• reopen Nine Mile Road through district lot 11155.
Lindsay Kenny needs your help with "Claire Trevena Open Nine Mile Road". Join Lindsay and 570 supporters today.


RVB: 00:03.778 Hello, everyone. My name is Rik, Rik Van Bruggen from Neo Technology. And here I am again recording another graphic study podcast with one of my dear colleagues Malmö, Sweden. And it's not a Swede today. It's a Canadian who got lost along the way, Steven Baker. Hi, Steven.
RVB: 00:22.168 Hey. Good to have you on the Podcast. We have been talking about this for a long time, haven't we?
SB: 00:27.601 Yes. This has been in the making for several months but I hope that doesn't reflect on anybody's expectations [laughter].
RVB: 00:36.357 I'm sure we'll have a good conversation. But, Steven, would you mind introducing yourself a little bit to our audience. Who are you? What do you do? What's your relationship to Neo4j?
SB: 00:46.890 Sure. So I joined Neo about two years ago. I decided that it was time to try something new. I had been working a lot in Ruby and Ruby on Rails for a decade. I was building teams, working in FinTech, working with startups, helping company move to remote work. And I've decided that I'd had enough of the finance industry and I'd had enough of North America and it was time to try something entirely different and move to Europe. And so I found Neo4j by way of some people that I knew that had worked here already. And I had used Neo4j in a product-- or in a project that I was working on in FinTech, which was a social related project. And so I decided to join Neo and move my family to Malmö.
RVB: 01:43.235 Oh, that's a big jump. How is Malmö treating you?
SB: 01:47.379 It's fantastic. Living in Sweden is the best thing I could've done for my family. My kids are 15 and 9. They love going to school here. They are both fluent in Swedish, I am not. My wife is learning Swedish faster than I am. And it's been a great move.
RVB: 02:06.292 So I seem to remember that in your Ruby work prior to Neo, you had some kind of Internet fame, didn't you?
SB: 02:16.880 Yes. I was Internet famous for a few minutes. In 2005, I created a behavior-driven development framework called RSpec, which was far more interesting and popular than I ever intended it to be.
RVB: 02:33.982 What's behavior-driven development is [inaudible]?
SB: 02:36.907 So behavior-driven development is an idea which is an evolution of test-driven development. And for those that don't know, test-driven development is where you drive the design of your software by writing a failing test first, making the test pass. Behavior-driven development is an evolution of that idea where instead of writing a failing test and then making the test pass, you approach it from the perspective of you describe the behavior that your software will have using an executable DSL and then you execute the-- your execution of your DSL tells you whether your software meets the behavior that you specified or not. In practice, for those that practice TDD very well, they are actually practicing behavior-driven development because behavior-driven development is just the best practice of test-driven development but a lot of people, especially when they're learning, get hung up on the naming and the vocabulary. And that was my-- that's probably not why the idea was created but that was my introduction to it. I was teaching TDD at the time and people are getting hung up on the vocabulary and so I created a tool called RSpec, which took the test and verification-centric vocabulary out of the process and caused people to start thinking about the behavior that they expected their software to have. And my experience and my opinion is that that leads to better quality tests and better quality software.
RVB: 04:24.446 And that's been adopted in other-- outside of Ruby, as well, as I understand it, right? [inaudible] place as well?
RVB: 05:29.312 Very cool. And so, how did you then get involved in Neo? You moved to Canada-- you moved out of Canada to Sweden and then got involved in Neo. And what was the story there? Why did you start working for us, then?
SB: 05:45.298 Well, I decided that I wanted to work on something other than web-applications for a little while. I wanted to expand my horizons a bit and do something other than Ruby. I like trying new things and working different platforms and language and with different tools, so working on a database was one of those things that I thought was really interesting. And I had previous experience with Neo. I used Neo on a social networking application.
SB: 06:16.680 Yeah. It was a FinTech social networking application. I like to say it was social networking for sociopaths. And we were having a lot of trouble with the friend of a friend query. So, since you follow these people, you should follow those people as well. And those queries were taking minutes on our MySQL database which was untuned to be fair and so on. But it was the kind of query that was really hard to get right in MySQL with the amount of data we were dealing with. And so, I imported our database into Neo4j and those queries that took minutes in MySQL very quickly became seconds or, well less than a second actually, in Neo4j. And so, it was just a fantastic application of graph.
RVB: 07:04.989 So what art are you working on now in Neo? Or what have you been working on? What's your track record?
RVB: 08:12.873 Very Cool. So, your history is still haunting you, is it?
SB: 08:15.659 Yeah. I think testing is an important thing and it's hard to get right. And there are always-- and especially when you're dealing with network protocols and databases and low-level tools like that, it's especially important to get the details right. And it's difficult and there are some interesting problems in doing testing over a network, but more importantly, doing tests in a way that you can run the same set of tests across four different languages, or more different languages. Eventually, we would like for our driver developers in the community to be able to use our testing infrastructure so that they can make sure their drivers implement all the same features in the same way at our drivers do.
RVB: 08:59.963 Fantastic, yeah. So having worked on those types of things now, what does the future hold of you? Not just for you personally, but also where do you think our wonderful graph industry is going? Any perspectives on that?
RVB: 10:25.296 It's so easy, isn't it?
SB: 10:26.341 --and descriptive. It's beautiful. I've been looking lately, in the last couple of weeks, at some of the efforts to get GraphQL integrated to Neo4j, some of the community efforts for that. And that's interesting, but GraphQL has a different-- it's definitely a different flavor. it's great for pulling structured trees out of your database. But for the really complex queries and the things that are more interesting to me, come from really beautiful cipher queries that are very expressive and easy to look at and easy to read.
RVB: 11:04.480 Couldn't agree more. So, any other final perspective? Otherwise, as you know, I like to keep these podcasts quite short. So, anything else you wanted to add or should we wrap it up here?
SB: 11:16.740 No. I think that sounds excellent. If you have more questions, I'm happy to answer.
RVB: 11:21.686 No, I think we'll keep it at that. I will put some links in the transcription to all the wonderful things that you talked about and I look forward to meeting you gain in our fancy new office in [inaudible], alright?
SB: 11:34.643 Yes. It will be excellent to see you in the new office.
RVB: 11:37.638 Yep. Thank you, Stephen.
RVB: 11:40.390 Talk to you later. Bye.


FIREFIGHTERS thought they had extinguished the small blaze that triggered the Grenfell Tower tragedy before realising it had spread, it has emerged.
A crew were called to a flat on one of the lower floors when a faulty fridge caught fire, senior sources told the BBC's Panoroma.
They put out flames inside the flat but then spotted that more were shooting up the side of the building.
The fire should have been easily contained but flammable cladding on the exterior let it rage out of control, the fire chiefs said.
Had it not been for the cladding, official advice to residents to stay put would have been correct.


text:
ACCEPTED

#### According to
Index Fungorum

#### Published in
in Klebs, Abh. preuss. geol. Landesanst. 4: 10 + taf. 1, fig. 3 (1907)

#### Original name
Fungites hirtus Casp. & R. Klebs

### Remarks
null


I apologize. I made a mistake – Amy Schimler-Stafford was scheduled for Saturday, but I messed up on the date. Rather than wait until next Saturday, I thought I would schedule it for today.
Target, Crate and Barrel, Land of Nod, Papyrus, Simon and Schuster, Harper Collins, Oxford University Press, American Greetings, Hallmark, C.R. Gibson, Baby Gap, Graco, Eerdman's Books for Young Readers, Ladybird Books, Robert Kaufman fabrics, Oopsy Daisy, Scholastic, Unicef, Pottery Barn for Kids, Crocodile Creek, Highlights for Children, Cricket Magazine and more.
I featured Amy in 2016 on Illustrator Saturday and discovered how much she accomplished in less than three years since. You might want to click the link to see her first feature.
This is a spread from "Inky's Amazing Escape", the first page. Here is the final illustration (A) that appears in the book. I wanted it to feel like a big dark scary world out there for a tiny octopus setting out on its own with shadowy predators all around (but not too scary for a young child). I also wanted it to look like a rich comfy home and a place one would want to return to at the same time.
This is the original sketch for this spread, you can see it is close to but not exactly the same as the final illustration. In the sketch I try to convey the feeling of the final spread and show how I plan to approach complementing the text.
I began approaching the color by painting textures for the background texture. (D) and (E).
And then developing some individual elements and. I scan my textures into my computer and the painted elements as well and arrange them and refine them on my computer. I use a combination of painting (usually gouache and acrylics) and cut paper, some that I create and some that I buy and usually alter. I use all kinds of tools to create my textures – printing, paper, painting, crayons, ink pen, watercolor…. I used a lot of watercolor techniques in this particular book as it takes place in the water.
Ending up with the final illustration.
Couldn't resist including this picture of an early reader and fan of Amy's book, INKY'S AMAZING ESCAPE. Obviously, Amy's illustrations have captured those little eyes.
The longer I work as an illustrator, the more challenges I face but I think this is because I keep raising the expectations of what I'd like to accomplish. It brings up a good point that on this journey you hopefully keep growing. On that note, drawing animals feels easier than drawing people! That is an area I am trying to push further.
What artistic milestones have you reached other than illustrating children books?
I started painting a few years ago in oils and was excited to exhibit in two gallery shows. I am also taking a watercolor and gouache painting workshop right now.
Thinking back to all your artwork, do you have a favorite project?
Illustrating "Inky's Amazing Escape" was my favorite project to date for several reasons. I learned so much about story telling working with the author, editor, and art director on this project. Also the subject matter was my absolute favorite subject – the ocean. I grew up in Miami and spent most of my childhood at the beach, something I shared with my whole family. It felt like my passion showed up on the page….something that always surprises me and inspires me.
When did you start illustrating Hidden City? Were you working on it when I interviewed you in 2016 and I never asked?
Yes! I was. This was another project that I absolutely loved. I wanted each illustration to feel like a real place the reader could step into. That was super challenging.
Who created the book trailer for Hidden City?
Inky's Amazing Escape came out after Hidden City in 2018. Were you able to finish one before starting the next book?
Yes, I did them one after another. I haven't yet worked on two books at a time, outside of personal projects, but it would certainly be possible.
In addition to a hardcover book, I noticed that Inky's Amazing Escape is available in an e-book. How have sales been in that format.
I don't know too much about that yet.
How did you feel to have your Sunflower spread in Hidden City selected for the 2018 Society of Illustrator's Original Art Show?
That was so exciting. I went to the opening and got to meet so many people in the industry I have long admired. To be part of it was absolutely exhilarating.
How many illustrations can illustrators submit for consideration in the show?
You submit the actual book, so it is the book that gets accepted and you get to choose an illustration from the book for the show. You can submit multiple books, as long as they were published within the dates of the submission rules.
Have you gotten any other types of recognition for your artwork?
Yes, I have been submitting my artwork to the 3×3 illustration competition in recent years and received merit and honorable mention awards. Also my pattern design has been recognized in various publications and years ago I won a Wamsutta textile design competition.
Do you think illustrating Flood Warning at Harper Collins helped you get your next two books?
No, I was contacted for those books for different reasons. But before those three books, my agent did a mailing campaign and I had a huge response from that. I think that is what led to the three books.
Do you get your product work on your own or is Marietta involved in this end of the business?
That's a great question. Marietta represents me for children's books and other publication illustration projects. I don't have an agent for the licensing aspect of my business at the moment. I have been doing that on my own for the past 15 years plus.
When you worked on Endangered Animal Puzzle box, did you get involved in developing the box in addition to the artwork?
Yes, absolutely. That is always a fun thing to be able to do.
Well that is one of the few, if only licensing gigs I did do with an agent (I sell my textile designs with an agency and it was a contact of his).
I love the baby clothes and the Hippo Pajamas. How did you get involved in the clothing end of things? Did they just see your cute illustrations and contact you?
Many of the clothing and children's product designs on my website are sold through a textile design studio I work with. I traditionally do direct sales through the studio vs. licensing.
And the veggie socks are great! Where can people buy them?
Oh, I wish. Those were mocked-up by me! A dream project.
Are you still doing pop-up cards and holiday wrapping paper, etc. for Holiday Pop-up Card Papyrus?
I continuously show new work to Papyrus and other greeting card and stationery clients. Although most of my artwork has been geared towards children's books in the past several years.
When you design something like the fox print for Robert Kaufman Fabrics, do they come to you with a specific idea or do you just submit different art to them and hope they are interested?
More the latter, but once they agree to a design it usually becomes a collaborative project, depending on how many designs I already have to form a complete collection of related prints. There are usually between 5 to 8 designs in a collection.
In our 2016 interview, I didn't ask you how you met Marietta Zacker and how long you have been with her. I'd love to hear more about that?
I started looking for an agent in 2008, right after the crash so it was a difficult time. I reached out to several agencies, but most agencies were not taking on new people at the time. Marietta had just been brought on to grow the illustration side of Nancy Gallt's agency. So it was really good timing.
Have you illustrated anything for a children's magazine since 2016?
Yes, this past year I did an illustration for Cricket Media.
What is the best feedback you have gotten from a reader?
It is always special to see drawings a child has done inspired by your illustrations, but the best was an email from an 11 yo boy who wanted me to illustrate his story. That was hard to say no to.
What is the best feedback you have gotten from a publisher/art director/editor?
It is always nerve wracking to send in your final illustrations and await the feedback. Hearing the words, "you nailed it", is the best feeling in the world.
How has your work evolved over the last several years?
I think mostly it has changed in that it is more narrative and less decorative. I started out as a textile designer mostly focusing on color and layout. Now I feel I approach an illustration with a story in mind.
How do you envision your work will change in the next several years?
I am hoping to move that story telling aspect of my illustration style forward. I am also experimenting with new media. I have taken a couple of illustration workshops from artists I admire and it has added new vocabulary to what I have been doing.
I am developing several book dummies. I would really love to publish stories that I write and illustrate.
What career goals do you have at this time?
I am hoping to develop and sell illustrations as stand alone art, continue developing my oil paintings, and explore new media in my illustrations. And of course, illustrating children's books.
Any new technique or tips you can share with us?
Work relaxed, that is the biggest lesson I learned. Don't have strong pre-conceived ideas of where you are going. Leave yourself open to new ideas and happy accidents.
Do you have any new words of wisdom, since our last interview?
Keep pushing your artwork forward. You are never "there". Growth in your artwork continues and never stops. Stay curious and keep experimenting with new media and try to overcome your fear of doing things outside your comfort zone (easier said than done!). Also trust that when you change it up, miraculously it will still have your "hand" in it and it will be your style.
If you have a minute, please leave a comment for Amy. I am sure she'd love to hear from you and I enjoy reading them, too.
Beautiful work, Amy! You have a fantastic blend of intricacy and simplicity.
I love Amy's work! Thanks for a great interview, Kathy.
Lovely illustrations, beautiful colors, inspiring.
Very cute art. I love the bats and butterflies as well as the owl tree. Thanks for the post.
Thanks so much! I didn't see this until today, so sorry for my delay in thanking you. I appreciate your posting this interview with me… it was fun to think through all these questions. Thanks for the nice comments everyone.


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Nov 3, 2018 8:54pm PT
'Saturday Night Live' Returns With Commentary on the Migrant Caravan and a Dig at Alec Baldwin (Watch)
By Danielle Turchiano
Danielle Turchiano
Senior Features Editor, TV
danielletbd
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After taking its first hiatus of the 44th season, "Saturday Night Live" certainly had a stockpile of material it could have used for the first cold open back in three weeks. In the time away, cast member Pete Davidson ended his engagement to pop star Ariana Grande, this season's premiere musical guest Kanye West decided maybe he wasn't so pro-Trump after all, Trump himself appropriated a "Game of Thrones" meme that was denounced by HBO and "SNL's" Trump aka Alec Baldwin got arrested. With the midterm elections just days away, "SNL" decided to dedicate its cold open to discussion of the migrant caravan and voter suppression, as told through "The Ingraham Angle."
Kate McKinnon played Laura Ingraham and did get in a dig at Baldwin, calling him a "disgraced former actor" and showed an image of him from the "Canteen Boy" "SNL" sketch with Adam Sandler, which she claimed was an image of him "molesting a young boy scout."
McKinnon started the sketch with discussion of Trump himself, dispelling claims that he was racist by saying, "Except for his words and actions throughout his life, how is he racist?" She also lamented that certain words, such as "white nationalist" are now considered "bad," noting that whens he hears that term she just thinks "of a fun fourth of July barbecue — the one you don't have to call the cops on."
McKinnon was joined in the sketch by Cecily Strong who portrayed Judge Jeanine Pirro and came on "The Ingraham Angle" with footage of the caravan that she claimed was real-life and shot earlier today but was actually just news coverage of Black Friday shoppers flooding into a big box store and forming a swarm at the checkout lanes.
When asked who was in the caravan, Strong as Pirro said, "Everyone you've ever seen in your nightmares…Guatemalans, Mexicans, ISIS, the Menendez brothers, the 1990 Detroit Pistons…and several Babadooks."
Additionally, she said this caravan had "hella Aladdins" when asked about Middle Eastern participants. She claimed they claimed elephants as service animals on "very common" flights and then crossed into Mexico. The footage she showed to back this claim up was from "World War Z," and McKinnon as Ingraham asked if she saw Brad Pitt in there. Pirro admitted she did because he was dating one of the leaders.
Later in the sketch Kenan Thompson appeared as David Clarke, who pointed out that if immigrants walked at a "normal pace of 300 miles a day" they could arrive at the border just in time to vote on election day. Aerial footage he provided of the caravan was just a clip of crabs.
Starting a new segment for tips on voting, McKinnon as Ingraham claimed she was going to counteract voter suppression but offered minority populations advice that included "Never vote on Tuesdays" and "If you see 'R' next to a name, that means 'really a democrat.'"
Later in the episode, "SNL" reached across the aisle to parody how liberals have been reacting to political news of late, as well, first with a midterm voting ad that expressed concerns over the Democrats being able to win some key races and simply asked viewers to vote "please?" on Nov. 6, and then with a "political musical" ad that took aim at Caucasian theater actors who try to be woke by writing songs about border control, birth control and #MeToo.
Watch the Nov. 3 "SNL" cold open below:
Watch the "Midterm Ad" below:
Watch the "Political Musical" sketch below:
"Saturday Night Live" airs live coast-to-coast Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. PT on NBC.
Cecily Strong,
Kate McKinnon,
Kenan Thompson,
This Funky Spherical Manse in LA Is the Ultimate Creative Hideaway. Now It Can Be Yours for $1.7 Million.


On January 17th, 2009, elbow played a very special show to an invited audience at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios. Alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra, the band created an orchestral version of 'The Seldom Seen Kid', the album that had won them the Mercury Music Prize of 2008 and made them household names.
This version of the recording has been remastered from the digital source and cut to vinyl at half speed to ensure the best possible audio quality.


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Suicide Prevention Goals for Tompkins
August 18, 2021 thesophiefund
The Sophie Fund on August 11 proposed five goals for consideration by the Tompkins County Suicide Prevention Coalition: implementation of the Zero Suicide Model for healthcare; lethal means reduction initiatives; and education and evidence-based clinical services for the youth/college-aged population, military veterans, and middle-aged men.
The goals are based on national data, available local data, anecdotal knowledge of Tompkins suicide trends, and goals put forth by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Project 2025, "1,700 Too Many: New York State's Suicide Prevention Plan 2016-2017," the U.S. "2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention," and the 2021 "Surgeon General's Call to Action to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention." Updated and more detailed local data, when available, may inform a need for additional goals.
Baseline Data (per the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention):
Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in U.S.
The suicide rate between 2000 and 2016 increased from 10.4 to 13.5 per 100,000 (CDC).
47,511 Americans died by suicide in 2019.
1.38 million Americans attempted suicide in 2019.
12 million Americans have serious thoughts of suicide.
Suicide rate is highest among white middle-aged men.
Firearms accounted for 50.39 percent of all suicide deaths in 2019.
Tompkins County data indicates 54 suicide deaths from 2017 to 2021; 87 percent of those who died by suicide were white and 20 percent were in the 20-29 age bracket (SPCNY).
GOALS TO CONSIDER
Implementing the Zero Suicide Model Across All Healthcare Levels
"Zero Suicide models what it takes to make a system-wide, organizational commitment to safer suicide care. Zero Suicide is based on the realization that people experiencing suicidal thoughts and urges often fall through the cracks in a sometimes fragmented and distracted health care system. Studies have shown the vast majority of people who died by suicide saw a health care provider in the year prior to their deaths. There is an opportunity for health care systems to make a real difference by transforming how patients are screened and the care they receive." — EDC
The Zero Suicide Model is a central strategy/goal of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, New York State's Suicide Prevention Plan, and the Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goal for Suicide Prevention (NPSG) 15.01.01; it has also been adopted by the Tompkins County Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Tompkins County Legislature.
Suicide Prevention through Lethal Means Reduction Initiatives
Firearms accounted for 50.39 percent of all suicide deaths in 2019. Poisoning (e.g. via drugs) accounted for 12.9 percent of all suicide deaths in 2018.
"Many suicide attempts take place during a short-term crisis, so it is important to consider a person's access to lethal means during these periods of increased risk. Access to lethal means is a risk factor for suicide. Reducing access to lethal means saves lives." —SPRC
Suicide Prevention for the Youth/College-Aged Population through Education Initiatives, Evidence-Based Clinical Services, and School-Community Collaboration
Per 2010 census data, nearly 50 percent of Tompkins County residents are between the ages of 10-34. The median age is 31. In addition, there are 34,066 students enrolled in local colleges the vast majority of which fall into the 18-30 age bracket (Cornell 23,620; Ithaca College 5,400; Tompkins Cortland Community College 5,046).
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10-34 in the U.S. and in New York State; suicide surpassed homicide and malignant neoplasms as the second leading cause of death in the 10-24 age population in 2011.
48.2 percent of college students surveyed reported that academics have been "traumatic or very difficult to handle," and 41.4 percent "felt so depressed that it was difficult to function," according to the 2018 National College Health Assessment; 11.3 percent seriously considered suicide in the last 12 months, and 1.9 percent had attempted suicide.
35.8 percent of surveyed college students seeking counseling in the 2017-18 academic year had "seriously considered attempting suicide" (up from 24 percent in the 2010-11 academic year), according to the Center for Collegiate Mental Health 2018 Annual Report; 10.3 percent of the students seeking counseling had actually made a suicide attempt.
"During the past decade, concerns about college student mental health have escalated nationwide. Surveys conducted at colleges and universities around the country show that students are experiencing greater distress, and demand for mental health services is increasing. Conservative estimates indicate that 20-35 percent of college students may face mental health challenges of varying severity during their years in college. The late teens and early twenties remain the critical age of onset for many mental health disorders. At the same time, more students are coming to Cornell with pre-existing mental health diagnoses, and there has been an increase in student distress related to local and national events, particularly for students of color. As stigma decreases, more students are seeking mental health care. In addition, generational research suggests that that the current college age population is more stressed and isolated, less likely to get enough sleep, and less independent—all factors that can impact their mental health." 2020 Mental Health Review (Cornell University)
Suicide Prevention for Military Veterans through Outreach and Education Initiatives and Evidence-Based Clinical Services
Census data from 2010 indicates there are 3,952 veterans in Tompkins County, representing 4 percent of the population.
An estimated 30,177 veterans nationwide have died by suicide since the 9/11 attacks in 2001 led to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Another estimated 7,057 died by suicide while deployed. Four times as many troops and vets have died by suicide as in combat, powerfully illustrating the seriousness of the problem.
Moreover, a 2021 report now says that "increasing rates of suicide for both veterans and active duty personnel are outpacing those of the general population ― an alarming shift, as suicide rates among service members have historically been lower than suicide rates among the general population."
Suicide Prevention for Middle-Aged Men through Education Initiatives and Evidence-Based Clinical ServicesThe suicide rate is highest among white middle-aged men. White males accounted for nearly 70 percent of all suicide deaths in 2019. Men died by suicide 3.63 times as often as women in 2019.
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Your Complete Guide to COVID-19 I-9 Policy
COVID-19 Business
Due to the precautionary measures that are being implemented by employers and employees in terms of physical proximity associated with the rapid spread of COVID-19, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that the requirements related to Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) would be made more flexible temporarily.
The USCIS would be exercising discretion in order to defer the physical presence requirements affiliated with Form I-9. Hence, it is now not compulsory for the employees to be physically present when their employment authorization documents are being reviewed.
Further details on how flexible the policy actually has been made, as well as complete guidelines on processing Form I-9 during COVID-19, have been covered in this article.
1. What is the Temporary I-9 Policy?
The remote I-9 policy was initially implemented in March 2020, easing the physical presence requirements related to the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). The temporary exceptions regarding Form I-9 requirements have recently been extended and are now announced to be in place until normal operations resume.
In order to ensure compliance with USCIS's guidelines during the current unprecedented circumstances, it is necessary for all employers to follow the recent Form I-9 updates closely when inspecting employment authorization and identity documents remotely, i.e. in the absence of the concerned employee.
2. E-Verify and Form I-9
Employers are now permitted to conduct I-9 document inspection electronically, which means they can E-Verify an employee's eligibility to work in the United States through an internet-based system that basically compares the information on the Form I-9 with government records.
Those employers who're utilizing E-Verify are required to complete the physical examination of the Form I-9 documents in the presence of the concerned employee within three business days of resumption of normal business operations.
Form I-9 samples related to the temporary COVID-19 policies have also been made available by USCIS in order to help employers with the complete documentation process, including:
A remote inspection that the employer would be conducting electronically (E-Verify)
A physical inspection that must be done immediately after normal business operations are resumed
List B policies related to COVID-19
But the physical proximity associated with COVID-19 isn't the only issue that employers are facing during the current pandemic. The List B documents that are used for the renewal of Form I-9 have also become an issue since some of the identification documents may be expired and there's no way to get them renewed during the COVID-19 crisis.
3. Temporary Policy for List B Identity Documents
DHS has relaxed the rules regarding expired documents as well, and those of the List B documents that expired on May 1, 2020, may be considered valid and acceptable for the verification of Form I-9, even if they haven't been renewed by the issuing authority.
This means, if a newly hired employee presents any set of expired documents, such as an expired state ID or a driver's license, the employer must check if it's acceptable under the temporary COVID-19 policies. Here's a complete list of all the Form I-9 List B documents that may be considered valid during the pandemic, even if expired:
ID cards issued by the state, federal, or local government authorities, including a photograph of the concerned employee, name, gender, date of birth, eye color, height, and address
A school ID card with a photograph
A voter registration card
A U.S. military card or draft card
Military dependent's ID card
U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariner document card
A driver's license
Native American tribal document
If an employee provides an expired List B document that's acceptable under the current circumstances, the employer can use it for identification purposes. In case of accepting an expired document, the employers are required to record the information in Section 2 of List B, as well as enter the word "COVID-19" in the Additional Information Field. The concerned employee would be required to submit a valid and unexpired document in place of what was initially submitted at the time of hiring within 90 days after the temporary COVID-19 policy has been terminated.
After a valid and unexpired document has been submitted by the employee, the employer must enter the required document information again in the Additional Information Field of Section 2. Plus, the date of change must be noted. In case an employee submits an expired List B document that has been extended by the issuing authority, the employer is required to enter the specific document's expiration date in Section 2. And, in the Additional Information Field, enter the words "COVID-19 EXT". Because of the temporary policies in effect due to COVID-19, certain H-2B requirements affecting non-immigrants have also been changed in order to reduce the economic impact of the Covid-19 national emergency on H-2B employers.
There have also been amendments in certain H-2A requirements affecting non-immigrants. This has been done to help the U.S. agricultural employers so that they can continue lawful agricultural-related employment without any disruptions caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
It is important to note that the Form I-9 requirement flexibility and the temporary COVID-19 policies only apply to those employers or companies that are operating remotely under the current circumstances.
4. A Brief Overview and What is Still the Same?
No changes have been made to the current requirements of Section 1, and it must be completed on the first day of employment. Secondly, for employees who're physically present at the workplace, there are no changes in the requirements of Section 2. Section 3 of the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) can be completed remotely as well.
5. The Responsibility of Employers After Normal Business Operations Resume
Once the COVID-19 public health emergency has been lifted and normal business operations resume, it's the duty of employees to report to their employer for in-person verification of their identity and employment eligibility documents.
All the employers are required to examine the employee's identity and complete the authorization documentation in his/her presence. After the documentation review has been completed, the employer must enter "COVID-19" in the Additional Information Field as the reason for the delay in the inspection. Also, enter the date of physical examination as well as the name of the person who conducted it.
You can check the original news release for more information regarding how to obtain and remotely inspect identity and employment eligibility documents in compliance with the recent guidelines announced by USCIS.
Additionally, you can also check out the COVID-19 FAQs that have been updated as well by USCIS.
Moreover, as an employer, it's recommended that you keep monitoring the DHS website to stay updated in case of any further announcements by USCIS in response to COVID-19.
How to Safely Manage a Nursing Home Facing a Surge in COVID-19 Cases
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Home > Opinion > Open Book
Dawnie Walton Writes a Rockin' Novel
By Louisa Ermelino |
Speaking about the experiences that inspired her debut novel, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Simon & Schuster, Apr. 2021), Dawnie Walton tells me, "I was a Black girl into rock music at a college prep school when it seemed all the bands were Black men. Black women were below the radar. I was developing my identity and it was difficult not to see myself reflected."
That changed when Walton went to Florida A&M University, the historically Black college in Tallahassee, where, she says, "suddenly I wasn't alone and was devouring all music." She adds that Miles Davis's autobiography—"his voice, his cadence"—was an influence for her novel about Opal, described in the opening pages of the book as "the ebony-skinned provocateur, the fashion rebel, the singer/screecher/Afro-punk ancestor, the unapologetically Black Feminist," and British singer-songwriter Nev Charles.
The two team up, but in the early 1970s, as they're on the cusp of success, Opal's protest over a rival band's Confederate flag at a concert leads to violence and repercussions. In 2015, when she's been off the scene for decades and is considering a reunion with Nev, music journalist S. Sunny Shelton, who has a complicated past with Opal, decides to edit an oral history of the duo.
The book is a propulsive read with "themes of racial justice and the music business that's relevant today," says Walton's agent, PJ Mark of Janklow & Nesbit. "I fell hard for Opal, and Dawnie's ability to juggle multiple voices and make them all distinguishable is seamless."
Walton came north after college with a journalism degree and worked in media, starting at the Washington Post. She was deputy managing editor at Essence in New York City in 2015 when she was accepted to the residency program at the MacDowell Colony and quit her job. "I was 'good' for so long," she says. "I was almost 40; I had my cushion." Though she admits to having an "oh shit" moment before making the move.
At MacDowell, Walton says, "I was knocked off my feet in the best possible way." She wrote 100 pages of Opal during her six-week stay.
Next was the Iowa Writers Workshop. Walton says her thesis advisor, Ayana Mathis, "was so helpful in specific ways." She took a break from Opal at one point and wrote stories but promised herself that she'd have a complete draft when she graduated.
In spring 2018, Walton graduated with a manuscript and moved back to New York. One of her classmates was De'Shawn Charles Winslow, a client of Mark who put the two in touch. Mark read the manuscript that May, and though Walton was meeting with other agents, she was receptive to his ideas.
"He was actually one of the agents I hadn't met," Walton says. "But he reached out to me and we had a good meeting. He understood what I wanted the book to be. And PJ used to be in a punk band." Walton signed with Janklow & Nesbit in August 2018.
Meanwhile, Dawn Davis at 37 Ink had heard about Opal "in the ether," she says. "I had news of this student with a great novel." She emailed Mathis, who told her she would love Walton. Davis reached out on Instagram, and Walton had Mark send the manuscript.
"I loved every page of Opal," Davis says. "And there were all these moments: Dawnie is born on my exact birthday; there's a song in the book that I loved ["To Sir with Love"]; Merry Clayton performs the Rolling Stones song "Gimme Shelter"; there's a Thanksgiving scene where the mother makes sweet potato pie. My mother makes the best sweet potato pie! I felt like the book was speaking to me personally and I had to be the custodian. Opal is so daring, a special Black character. She takes the hits and doesn't look back."
Davis adds that "Dawnie was that Black kid in a Southern town who was into music. She wrote a character that she had never seen in literature. It was so refreshing; took my breath away, so daring and interesting. And the characters are so real that people are googling them."
Walton tells me, "Dawn was the dream." But Opal went out on wide submission and Walton took meetings. "I was grateful," she says, "that the last one was with Dawn."
Davis brought her mother and her mother's sweet potato pie to the meeting. "We had so much in common," Walton recalls. "There was so much passion and excitement."
Walton says she was in Savannah with her fiancé looking for wedding venues when she got the message about the 37 Ink deal. Davis bought North American rights for "great money," according to Mark. The contract was signed in February 2019, and Opal sold in the U.K. at auction to Quercus.
Davis has since left 37 Ink for Bon Appétit, but she says she saw the book through galleys.
S&S editor-in-chief Marysue Rucci calls Walton "an electrifying writer" adding, "To play a small role in shepherding one of Dawn Davis's books across the finish line is truly an honor. Given the in-house buzz—Opal was one of five books chosen for the Simon Selects tour—I'd already read Opal and couldn't put it down."
The stars aligned for Walton. The wedding reception in Savannah was canceled because of Covid, but, she tells me, "we did get married". She holds up her hand to show me the ring via FaceTime. And that sweet potato pie of Davis's mother? Walton's praise is unequivocal: "It was as good as Dawn said it was."
A version of this article appeared in the 12/14/2020 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: A Rock 'n' Roll Story