Peter draws a skinny little boy named Tony and puts him in a cell.
Tony is more like his Mother than his Father.
Tony is more like his Mother than his self.
A doll's eye fades to black.
Tony's cell is really a nice little house in a forest of pink trees.
A garden of morning glories never opens.
A dead bee stabs the sole of your foot.
all the months of August in a row.
The patients' job in intensive psychotherapy is to ask why.
Why do I seek out women who are devoid of the capacity for love?
Why do I veer from an extreme identification with the middle class to an extreme identification with the poor?
Why do I force myself to fail economically just as I get closest to winning?
Why do I sometimes behave as if I hate myself?
I first grappled with the problem of internalized stigma during the early days of the AIDS epidemic when I wondered if the AIDS was God's judgment.
None of the intellectual and political constructions that served me as gay activist in the 1970's could defeat the internalized homophobia unleashed by AIDS.
I watched men die from grief, self-hatred, and fear and I was nearly one of them.
This was when I realized the true function of any 'ism' is to convince the target to self-destruct.
This was why any novel written about gays before Stonewall usually ended with suicide or the impoverished death of the gay character.
AIDS was the greatest tragic ending, infused with the dissonant myth of a loving, yet vengeful God.
Internalized homophobia was the least of my problems.
AIDS was trauma on trauma.
I didn't know I had a dissociative disorder.
for someone with Dissociative Identity Disorder.
flyer at the local crisis clinics.
The shrinks eventually gave me a prescription for Xanax.
The only thing I knew about Xanax was it made the fear go away.
The pharmaceutical industry reported Xanax had an anti-depressant effect.
By 1986 I was on a prescribed dose of eight milligrams a day.
A seizure when I decided to stop the drug was how I learned Xanax is addictive.
My DID allows parts of me to form attachments while protecting the parts that are fragile and afraid.
One goal of my treatment is for me to learn to trust a woman.
This process of building trust with a woman who wants what's best for me and who acts in my interests is a path to becoming whole.
A digitally altered snapshot of one of my childhood homes.
When I entered treatment in October of 2011, I felt like a helpless child.
It is now October 2018.
My Mother wasn't allowed to have a mental illness.
knew she was beating me.
The crime of moral exclusion is essentially a crime by consensus.
but they keep voting for perps who are fine with it.
"All life is sacred" until you say ain't don't work for me.
no life is sacred and what you really want is control.
Pro-life gives all kids an equal chance to grow up to be their best.
Marching children into lives of pain and ignorance is child abuse.
For all the joy I've had, I'm sorry I was born.
This is no bid for sympathy.
This is no statement of intent.
This is the sadness of a man whose had a profound confrontation with evil.
People who sacrifice children to ideology are evil.
I will never understand how my Mother's family decided to let to suffer.
How I do I forgive this?
In a sense, turning my blog into an account of my life as a person with DID carries the same risk as confessional poetry.
One's life is open to inspection, misinterpretation, censorship and the out right demand by some people to shut-up.
I saw a guy on Valencia Street last Friday.
leave locked psych units without a nurse to open the door.
A trained physician sent a gravely disabled man to fend for himself on the streets of the Mission.
I am sick with a past I can't remember in a present as abusive as the past.
"All of life is made up of stories and tales.
I must press the cluster of grapes and pour its essence, spoon by spoon, down the dry throat of this old shadow. Because at this moment all my restless thoughts belong to here and now, it is difficult to know where to begin. My thoughts do not recognize any hour, minute or history.
For me, something that happened yesterday might be more ancient, or less effectual, than an event that took place a thousand years ago.
—rabble with two b's. These stages apply to the rabble because, like the seasons of the year, their lives have recognized divisions and limits and because they live in the temperate zone of life.
My life, on the other hand, my entire life, has had one season and one state. Even though a constant flame burns in the center of my body and, like a candle, melts me away, my life is in a cold zone, in eternal darkness.
I try to apply the corrective lens of reason to everything I think and feel.
Is something or someone good or bad?
It is relentless fear and confusion.
It is a longing for respite.
It is a cry of despair in a world that normalizes abuse.


Boric acid, also called hydrogen borate and boracic acid, is a weak, monobasic Lewis acid of boron, which is often used as an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, neutron absorber, or precursor to other chemical compounds. It has the chemical formula H3BO3 and exists in the form of white powder that dissolves in water.
Boric acid has been used to control a wide variety of pests. It has also been used as a fungicide for citrus, a herbicide along rights-of-way, a fire retardant and a wood preservative. When used as a herbicide, it causes desiccation and disrupts photosynthesis in plants.
Boric acid is also used in industry, with its main use being in the manufacturing of textile fibreglass. It is used to reinforce plastics in various products, such as boats, computer circuit boards and pipes.


Volunteer medical personnel from the New Mexico Heart Institute, a cardiovascular medicine and surgery organization headquartered in Albuquerque, were in Silver City on Saturday August 14 to provide free cardiovascular health screenings for the student-athletes of Western New Mexico University. The athletic teams that were evaluated included the football team, as well as the volleyball and softball teams. In all, 127 students were evaluated.


Do you ever think that you could come up with a smart idea that will make you millions of dollars? That's the premise behind Shark Tank, the hit six-year-old reality TV show that offers budding entrepreneurs a make-or-break opportunity. They pitch their young businesses to a panel of six "Sharks," all self-made millionaires or billionaires such as real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. The sharks criticize and cajole, wheel and deal, as they decide whether to invest their own money in exchange for equity in these young companies.
Lesson 1: The best businesses offer simple, affordable solutions to real-world problems rather than complex, expensive solutions.
Success story: Are you constantly losing or dropping your eyeglasses? A simple solution won an investment on Shark Tank. Rick Hopper's $9.99 product ReadeRest uses small, high-powered magnets that clip to your shirt and provide a secure, convenient place to hang eyeglasses. Lori Greiner, a Shark known as the Queen of QVC because of her popular program Clever & Unique Creations on that shopping network, agreed to invest $150,000—but she demanded an unusually big 65% controlling share in the business. Greiner, who had already sold tens of millions of dollars of other eyeglass products on QVC, offered something more valuable than money—marketing expertise and nationwide exposure.
Since the episode aired: ReadeRest chalked up $8 million in sales on QVC, and Greiner helped Hopper get the product into stores such as Walmart.
Shark Tank loser: Ionic Ear offered a complex solution to address the problem of audio earbuds that never fit right—a Bluetooth device that had to be surgically implanted in your ear canal. The Sharks were dumbfounded. One wanted to know whether additional surgery was required for upgrades.
Lesson 2: Pick an effective name. Make the name catchy but tasteful…easy to remember…and a reflection of your product and/or service. Although there are plenty of businesses that break these rules and thrive, sticking with the rule gives you a better chance of succeeding.
Success story: Raven Thomas, a stay-at-home mom in Arizona, launched a business selling chocolate-covered pretzels. She gave it a gourmet twist using elegant packaging and a memorable name that followed all the rules—The Painted Pretzel. By the time she went on Shark Tank, she had gotten her dessert pretzels into some department stores, but she had to turn down a $2 million order from Sam's Club because she didn't have the resources to fill it. Cuban offered Thomas $100,000 for 25% of the business and agreed to sell her pretzels in a national chain of movie theaters he owns.
Since the episode aired: The Painted Pretzel now comes in more than 100 varieties and sells in major retail outlets including Neiman Marcus and Sam's Club.
Shark Tank loser: PartiePoche is a cell-phone/credit card holder that women can wear around the thigh under a dress. It was designed to be a stylish replacement for a purse or handbag. Not only was the name confusing and difficult to say (it's pronounced Party Posh), but there was a rival company that had a simpler name, Porta Pocket.
Lesson 3: Play up your "secret sauce." What do you offer that differentiates your business from the competition and gives you an advantage over those who have a similar idea or who could simply replicate what you're doing?
Success story: New Jersey entrepreneur Aaron Krause hated cleaning dishes and pots after dinner, in part because he needed to use sponges, scrub brushes and/or scouring pads, depending on what he was cleaning. So he invented a round yellow sponge made of urethane foam that was distinct enough to get a patent. The sponge changed textures at different temperatures—soft in warm water but rigid in cold water to clean off hardened debris. Lori Greiner struck a deal offering $200,000 for 20% equity.
Since the episode aired: Scrub Daddy has become the single most successful product in Shark Tank history, selling more than 10 million sponges in stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Target.
Shark Tank loser: Throx was a business based entirely on selling packs of three socks, so you would have an extra if you lost one. But there was little to distinguish the actual socks from those of major competitors that could easily put out their own three-sock packages and crush Throx's business.
Lesson 4: Perfect your elevator pitch. When you get in an elevator with someone, you have a captive audience for 60 seconds, more or less. That's about how much time an entrepreneur gets to make an impression on investors or retail-store executives deciding whether to carry a product. You need to make them feel that they're in danger of losing out on a huge opportunity. First, pique their interest with an inspirational story. Then prove that you have a solid grasp of your business's financials and have thought through how to make the company profitable.
Success story: Alabama entrepreneur Travis Perry's product, Chord Buddy, didn't look like a big winner at first. It was a device that fit on the neck of a guitar and had color-coded buttons that help teach basic chords. But his pitch, which promised that anyone could "play the guitar instantly," was so impressive that he had four Sharks bidding.
Perry designed Chord Buddy for Bradi, his eight-year-old daughter, after watching her give up in frustration on playing guitar, which nearly three-quarters of people who start conventional guitar lessons do. Within weeks, Bradi was playing with the help of Chord Buddy. The Sharks were intrigued but grilled Perry about potential sales. He told them that he had already sold half a million dollars' worth of the device and was able to charge $49.95 for each Chord Buddy because he sold it as part of a kit that included an instructional DVD and a two-month lesson plan.
Canadian technology magnate Robert Herjavec beat out the other Sharks, investing $175,000 for 20% of the business.
Since the episode aired: Travis Perry signed up country music star John Rich as a spokesperson, and the business now generates $1.5 million in annual sales.
Shark Tank loser: Inventor Mark Sullivan pitched a plan to install 100-foot-tall generators in the ocean and use the earth's rotation and seawater to create electricity. The by-products were clean drinking water and billions of dollars in gold. His pitch was so unrealistic that it led one Shark to inquire how long Sullivan would be visiting this planet.
Lesson 5: Find an untapped niche in the market. Many new business owners are so hungry for customers that they will spend time pursuing just about anyone willing to buy their product or service. But it's hard to compete head-on against well-established companies. Focusing on a particular audience whose needs are not being met can work much better.
Success story: Sabin Lomac had grown up in Maine and often went with his family to restaurants for lobster. When he moved to Los Angeles, he found that the only places to get decent lobster were fancy seafood restaurants charging eye-popping prices. He realized that there were a huge number of diners who loved lobster but wanted more affordable prices and creative food experiences in more casual settings. Lomac and his cousin started Cousins Maine Lobster, the only food truck in LA serving items such as lobster tacos and lobster mac-and-cheese. The most expensive item on the menu was just $12.75, but the cousins were able to make a healthy profit because overhead was far lower than with a restaurant and the truck could go wherever business proved most lucrative. Corcoran agreed to pay $55,000 for 12% of the company.
Since the episode aired: The company has rolled out lobster truck franchises in 11 US cities and generated revenues of $7 million last year.
Shark Tank loser: In founding Cougar Limited, Ryan Custer offered a zero-calorie energy drink that tried to appeal to single, middle-aged women who want to feel younger and date younger men. Not only is that market small—most energy drinks are bought by males in their teens and 20s—but several big competitors such as Monster Energy and Red Bull were already pursuing this niche.


SEVIER COUNTY — Unsafe ice conditions have forced the Division of Wildlife Resources to cancel one of Utah's most popular fishing events.
Even though the tournament has been canceled, anglers can still win a prize by catching a tagged yellow perch between Feb. 3 and Aug. 31, 2018.
The Fish Lake Perch Tournament, scheduled to begin on Feb. 24, will not be held this year.
"Safety is our top priority," says Richard Hepworth, Southern Region aquatic manager for the DWR. "Unfortunately, the ice isn't safe enough to hold a large event at Fish Lake this year. And, based on the long-term weather forecast, we don't think the ice conditions will improve much between now and Feb. 24."
Even though the tournament has been canceled, you still have a chance to win a prize. DWR biologists have placed tags on 1,000 yellow perch in the lake. If you catch a tagged fish between Feb. 3 and Aug. 31, take it to the Fish Lake Resort Store, or the Bowery Haven Resort, for a chance to win a firearm donated by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. The prize drawing will be held Sept. 1.
"The more tagged fish you catch," Hepworth says, "the more chances you have to win."
Even though the ice at Fish Lake can't support a large tournament event — almost 2,000 people have attended the event every year it's been held — there are still spots that are safe for individual anglers and small groups.
"We encourage people to take advantage of these conditions and go fishing," Hepworth says. "Just be safe, and check ice conditions before venturing too far from shore."
See an infographic that shows the amount of ice needed before you should venture onto it.
You can get the latest ice conditions for Fish Lake by calling Fish Lake Resort at 435-638-1000. Weekly updates are available on our website.


Osceola County officials on Monday arrested a second relative of an escaped inmate — the man's grandmother — while jail officials are still trying to figure out how he broke out of maximum security and scaled two fences without anyone noticing.
Detectives arrested 79-year-old Regenia Ralph at her home less than five miles from the Osceola County Jail where her grandson Michael Rigby escaped on Friday.
Ralph is charged with hiding and giving money to the 21-year-old gang leader, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
Rigby, known as "Ghost," remains at large and investigators said they no longer believe he is in Florida.
Meanwhile, jail officials didn't know until Monday evening at what hour Rigby made his escape, despite more than six months of secret security upgrades at the facility. Those upgrades came in the wake of a failed escape attempt in June by another maximum-security inmate, Angel Santiago, who successfully smuggled a gun behind bars with the help of a jail guard.
While jail administrators last said Rigby escaped about 5:40 a.m. Friday, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office discovered the street gang leader broke out at least four hours before guards noticed he was gone, court records show.
"Sometimes we don't have the same information you have," county Corrections Chief Gregory Futch told the Orlando Sentinel, acknowledging that the jail's executive staff had not known Rigby escaped around midnight until informed by the newspaper.
Sheriff's detectives confirmed that information for Futch, who said the jail's staff has not been privy to the sheriff's investigation but will be briefed tomorrow.
The jail is conducting its own investigation of the escape.
"I'm at a loss to even figure out what they used and how they got the tools there," Futch said, speculating that other inmates helped Rigby burrow through a wall. "We simply want to find out."
Details of the escape were disclosed in a warrant signed by Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. for the first arrest of one of Rigby's relatives. Rigby's father, 51-year-old car salesman Brian Rigby, was arrested Sunday. He remains held without bail on charges of helping his son flee the state.
After breaking out of the jail sometime Thursday night, Michael Rigby stripped off his jail uniform on a lawn outside a fence topped with razor wire and headed for downtown Kissimmee. Rigby apparently ran about five miles to reach his grandmother's home on Stonehenge Loop, according to the warrant.
The escape happened while Rigby and two other members of a Poinciana gang were on trial for attempted first-degree murder in the July shooting of a young woman at a birthday party.
By the time a street-by-street search began Friday morning around the jail on Simpson Road, the report shows, the escapee was well on his way to Georgia.
"I gotta go," Rigby told an Orlando woman after showing up at her home at 2:30 a.m. Friday, three hours before the earliest estimate of his escape, records state. "I have to keep moving."
While a nationwide search for Rigby continued Monday, county commissioners said they remained supportive of the jail staff.
"Action is being taken to address the situation," county manager Michael Freilinger said after giving commissioners a series of private, one-on-one briefings at a monthly workshop. He would not disclose what led to the jail's latest security lapse.
Five months ago, after Santiago obtained a loaded 9 mm pistol, Futch told the commission that security problems at the jail had been addressed. The county agreed to hire more than 100 new corrections officers to correct chronic understaffing.
About half that number have been hired so far, Freilinger said.
County Commission chairman Fred Hawkins told the Sentinel that his briefing by Freilinger led him to believe that "policies and procedures will have to be more stringent after this incident."
When asked about his level of confidence in Futch now, Hawkins didn't answer directly.
"I have to trust that the county manager and his staff will implement the necessary changes," he said.
Court records state Rigby's escape from Florida got underway at grandma's house.
"Brian [Rigby] received a phone call from his mother [Regina Ralph] on February 19, 2010 at about 0130 hours. Regina told Brian that Michael was at her residence and he did not have any clothes on — just boxers," the warrant states. "Regenia gave Michael some clothes and food to eat."
The Rigbys then drove to Orlando to the home of Delores Thomas, who works in Kissimmee for the elder Rigby at Start-to-Finish Plus Auto Sales and Service on East Park Street. When they arrived there, Brian Rigby used his cell phone to call Thomas and asked her to let him in the house, the report states.
"I've got Michael with me," the father said, after pushing his way through the door.
"Delores was very concerned due to she knew Michael was supposed to be in jail," the report states. "Once they were inside the residence Brian asked Delores to take Michael to Jacksonville but Delores refused to take Michael anywhere."
Thomas told detectives she agreed to drive back to Kissimmee with her boss so he could pick up a red, 4-door Mitsubishi Mirage with black rims, tinted windows and possibly a Tennessee tag, 4H12521, the report states. Upon returning to Orlando, Brian Rigby gave his son $20 for gas and told Thomas to give him her cell phone and charger, the report states.
The Sheriff's Office released pictures late Monday of a red Mitsubishi Mirage that he used in his escape.
Detectives used a court order to retrieve information on the locations of both cell phones to confirm Thomas' story that the elder Rigby had called her from just outside her Orlando home. The father and son left her house about 3:45 a.m., the report states.
"The next time she saw Brian was . . . at approximately 0730 hours," the report states. "Brian advised her that Michael should be in Jacksonville by now."


After a recent spell of bullishness, cotton prices have started cooling down in Gujarat as the millers have gone slow on buying in the wake of piling up of cotton inventory. The prices for Shanker-6 variety of cotton had touched a peak of Rs 62,500 per candy (a candy = 356 kg) last week. However, it has now eased to Rs 60,500 to Rs 61,000 per candy.
The indefinite strike called by the textile processors has entered its fifth day here today, causing estimated losses of over Rs 600 crore.
Indian cotton yarn spinning industry has welcomed the Government's decision to lift the restrictions on exports of cotton yarn as of last Friday, April 01.
Welcoming the move, spinning mills has said that the decision would improve offtake in the market. However the garment manufactures said the move would trigger price rise and lead to non-availability of yarn in local market.
Representatives of the apparel industry today met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to press for withdrawal of the 10 per cent excise duty imposed on branded clothing and textile made ups.
"We have met the Minister and urged him to withdraw the duty as it would hurt the industry," Federation of Readymade Garments Hosiery Trade of India (FRGHTI) President Ramesh Ahuja said after the meeting.


Making choices are great though making many choices can sometimes be overwhelming. When you are going on a vacation or business trip, you would need to book a hotel. However, there are so many hotels that you can choose from and you may not know the importance of choosing the right hotel.
Whenever you are travelling, it is always important that you pick the right hotel at the right location that would be pleasing to you, your friends or family member. You probably may wonder why choosing the right hotel could be of importance to you. The importance of choosing the right hotel is endless, here are a few of them.
The main objective of every right hotel is to provide their guests with personalized services. Their staffs are well-trained to cater for the personal needs of the individual guest. If you book such a hotel that takes personalization to new levels, you would definitely enjoy a whole lot of personal attention. Examples of personalised hotel experiences include Boutique hotels in Hobart, Lakeview hotels in Alaska, B&B's in Torquay and many more.
Most hotels have extraordinary architecture and outstanding designs that create a perfect opportunity for you to take memorable photographs with your friends and family members.
One of the importance of choosing the right hotel is that if offers quests with adequate privacy. The right hotel should have an intimate setting that offers a sense of privacy that is required by the quests. It also offers communal spaces for guests who would like to mingle.
Some hotels have special door hangers to let staffs know when to not to disturb the quests or when to come knocking.
When you book the right hotel, you would enjoy hotel rooms that offer much more luxury. You can book a hotel with lush euro top mattresses or spa toiletries, etc. all these make the hotel much more luxurious.
Rooms in right hotels always have a combination of modern facilities, elegance, and style. All these will provide you with a comfortable stay. For instance, if you book the right hotel, you would enjoy satellite TV, free Wi-Fi, bathroom with bath or shower, and individual air conditioning.
Despite offering lots of exciting experiences, any right hotel would offer affordable prices. You wouldn't have to strain your pocket to stay in one.
Every right hotel should provide all its guests with high-quality service. You would enjoy the service of well-qualified, friendly, and attentive staff, operative check-in/check-out, taxi service, daily housekeeping and changing of towels, curtain and bedspreads, as well as other pleasant services. Choice of the right hotel also gives you the privilege of booking space for a memorable event such as birthdays, bar-mitzva's, weddings, etc in customised venues across various regions of Hobart, Detroit, Lagos, India, Mauritius, etc to start with a few. You name it!
Right hotels have several special and discount offers for their regular customers, tourist groups, corporate clients, and quests that make an early booking.
You would enjoy air ticketing service in the right hotel. So, when you lodge in the hotel, you can book for your next flight or buy train tickets to anywhere you wish to right from the hotel.
You can enjoy invigorating breakfasts, business lunches and or romantic dinners when you book the right hotels. These restaurants offer Russian, Caucasus, Mediterranean, Japanese, and European cuisine, pastry shops, and cosy cafes.
Most right hotels offer department stores, antique shops, bookstore, and other exhibitions for their quests.
Now that you have seen the importance of choosing the right hotel, I am sure that you would look out for the right hotel to choose when next you travel either on vacation or for a business trip. At least, everyone wants to enjoy the best experience from the hotel he or she books.
Should Every day Be Busy When Travelling?


text:
package macrolog

import macrolog.LogStringContextConversion._
import macrolog.auto.loggable
import org.scalatest.{MustMatchers, WordSpecLike}

/**
  * @author Maksim Ochenashko
  */
class LogStringContextSpec extends WordSpecLike with MustMatchers {

  "LogStringContext" must {

    "correctly build string using Loggable typeclass" in {

      @loggable
      case class A(value: String, @loggable.exclude value2: String)

      val arg1 = A("my value", "exclude value")
      val arg2 = "something interesting"
      val arg3 = 123
      def arg4() = 124L

      val result = log"String interpolation and macro: arg1: [$arg1, $arg2, $arg3, ${arg4()}]"

      val expected = "String interpolation and macro: arg1: [A(value = my value), something interesting, 123, 124]"

      result mustBe expected
    }

    "return string as is for empty arguments" in {
      val result = log"String without interpoliation"
      val expected = "String without interpoliation"

      result mustBe expected
    }

  }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Bootstrap print Alright, I use npm to install bootstrap. The website should be printable, so the basic bootstrap print style is nice. But I need the text colors. Sadly the default bootstrap removes all colors.
*,
*:before,
*:after {
    color: #000 !important; // Black prints faster: h5bp.com/s
}

I want to "revert" that color setting, but don't want to / can't change the bootstrap files as they are deployed and installed on rollout.
Has anyone an idea how to overwrite that setting with a custom css?

A: I had to add:
-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact;

to fix color problems with my style sheets...

A: You should be able to declare an identical selector to override it, presuming your custom CSS is loaded after Bootstrap's.
i.e.
*,
*:before,
*:after {
    color: /* some other color /*
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The first step is the easiest. Send us a query about your project. The work must be completed and the more info you have, the better. When you email us, we'll be looking for a reason why you think your work is publishable, and how it can be successful. It helps to bring up successful books that are similar to yours, or successful books in this genre.
If there is an interested in your work, we will ask you for sample chapters. Typically this is about three chapters (more or less) to get a feel of your book and your writing. It helps to have a synopsis at this point as well so we know where your book is going. One of our editors will decide if we need to see the rest of your work.
Congratulations! If you've reached this stage so we will request to see the rest of your book. Beta readers and/or editors will consider it and we will discuss with you options if your book is published with us. Note: not many writers get to this stage so if we are requesting to read your entire manuscript, we are serious to get you published. We will discuss different author services to get you published in as little as 3 months!
Are you ready? Submit your work today.


text:
Lawson doubles up in TRS at Highlands > View
Home » Offroad » Price: Dakar 2020 'hasn't been our year'
Price: Dakar 2020 'hasn't been our year'
Wednesday 15th January, 2020 - 12:15pm
Toby Price
Toby Price concedes that this year's Dakar has not gone his way after Ricky Brabec kept his lead above 20 minutes with three stages to go.
Price was slower than only Pablo Quintanilla on Stage 9 from Wadi Al Dawasir to Haradh and moved up to third in the overall classification, largely due to the woes of Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo.
However, Price is still 26:43s behind the pace-setting American and his hopes of holding on to the #1 plate appear slim.
"Ricky's riding really, really well, like he was last year as well," observed the Red Bull KTM rider.
"We always knew he was going to be a threat with the race this year and, so far, everything's going really well for him.
"It hasn't quite been our year with this race, but that's the way it is; you have your good ones and you have your bad ones and unfortunately 2020 hasn't quite been well for us but we'll still keep it to a good fight and see how we go."
The long, wide open stretches played into Brabec's favour, while Price was also still conscious of the tragic events of two days earlier when he was first to come across what proved a fatal accident for Paulo Goncalves.
"It's definitely a difficult time," said the Australian.
"Once you get on the bike, you've got to focus on what you've got ahead and be full gas, and that's what it was today, unfortunately.
"The first 60 to 90 kilometres was not so bad, pretty good and a little technical through there, but from pretty much the hundred kilometre mark, it's just been pretty much full gas and wide open.
"It's a little boring, you can't make time on anyone or do anything because it's pretty much point and shoot and full gas and wide open.
"So, it's difficult but, all in all, we're happy we've made (it through) another stage and we've got a couple more to go.
"There's still plenty of kilometres, but it's coming closer towards the end."
That a marathon stage is up next does enhance Price's prospects but Brabec has a simple strategy as he seeks to become the first American to win the Dakar Rally.
"We are another day closer to the American dream of winning the Dakar," said the Monster Energy Honda rider.
"There's three days left and tomorrow is the marathon. We have a lot of racing to do.
"The main goal now is to focus and stay positive after the incident that happened a few days ago.
"There's a 21-minute gap in the general. Tomorrow, Quintanilla and Toby start in front of me so the plan is to maybe catch them or maybe keep them in my sights. That way they will start in front of me for the next few days.
"I'm not really sure what is going to happen so we are just going to stay focused and not lose the 21 minutes."
Quintanilla, from the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team, is currently second overall.
Next Story WAU donate incredible package for bushfire relief auction Previous Story VIDEO: Dakar Stage 9 highlights

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Regional treasury centers enable businesses to connect to customers and banking partners in foreign nations where unique cultures and complex regulations make it essential to employ local staff. While regional treasury centers offer many benefits, there are challenges to operating them too.
In the latest AFP Executive Guide, underwritten by Thomson Reuters, we review the factors that organizations need to consider when establishing and structuring a regional treasury center, as well as best practices to apply once the center is open. We also explore key regions that have emerged as hubs for regional and centralized treasury centers, and the opportunities and challenges they present.
There are many reasons why an organization will establish a regional treasury center (RTC), not the least of which is to gain more control and efficiency in its treasury processes.
Generating operational efficiency: By simplifying processing, rationalizing bank accounts and negotiating lower fees, companies can increase productivity and cost efficiency.
Managing risks: Companies can reduce their risk profile by standardizing processes and managing FX risk centrally.
Concentrating cash: Companies can increase working capital and optimize liquidity and yield through centralized liquidity management.
A re-invoicing center that undertakes all purchases and sales of goods on behalf of subsidiaries and affiliates.
Jimmy Quek, CFO of Singapore-based Anergy and formerly the finance director and APAC treasurer for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, has overseen four regional treasury centers—three in Singapore and one in Tokyo—managing teams ranging from two to 12 people. From the 1990s through the last decade, individuals on Quek's RTC teams primarily focused on core treasury functions—cash management, FX, compliance and banking relations.
However, each of Quek's treasurers has specific areas of expertise, which enables them to work cross-functionally as needed with other practitioners in the RTC. For example, the treasurer who covers India also is a regional FX specialist. If there is an FX issue in China, the India treasurer has the skills and knowledge to help the China treasurer to resolve the problem.
Download the AFP Guide to Operating Regional Treasury Centers here.


text:
<?php

/**
 * CChoiceFormat is a helper that chooses an appropriate message based on the specified number value.
 * The candidate messages are given as a string in the following format:
 *

 * 'expr1#message1|expr2#message2|expr3#message3'
 *

 * where each expression should be a valid PHP expression with 'n' as the only variable.
 * For example, 'n==1' and 'n%10==2 && n>10' are both valid expressions.
 * The variable 'n' will take the given number value, and if an expression evaluates true,
 * the corresponding message will be returned.
 *
 * For example, given the candidate messages 'n==1#one|n==2#two|n>2#others' and
 * the number value 2, the resulting message will be 'two'.
 *
 * For expressions like 'n==1', we can also use a shortcut '1'. So the above example
 * candidate messages can be simplified as '1#one|2#two|n>2#others'.
 *
 * In case the given number doesn't select any message, the last candidate message
 * will be returned.
 *
 * The PHP expressions will be evaluated using {@link evaluate}.
 *
 * @author Qiang Xue <qiang.xue@gmail.com>
 * @package system.i18n
 */
class CChoiceFormat
{
	/**
	 * Formats a message according to the specified number value.
	 * @param string $messages the candidate messages in the format of 'expr1#message1|expr2#message2|expr3#message3'.
	 * See {@link CChoiceFormat} for more details.
	 * @param mixed $number the number value
	 * @return string the selected message
	 */
	public static function format($messages, $number)
	{
		$n=preg_match_all('/\s*([^#]*)\s*#([^\|]*)\|/',$messages.'|',$matches);
		if($n===0)
			return $messages;
		for($i=0;$i<$n;++$i)
		{
			$expression=$matches[1][$i];
			$message=$matches[2][$i];
			if($expression===(string)(int)$expression)
			{
				if($expression==$number)
					return $message;
			}
			elseif(self::evaluate(str_replace('n','$n',$expression),$number))
				return $message;
		}
		return $message; // return the last choice
	}

	/**
	 * Evaluates a PHP expression with the given number value.
	 * @param string $expression the PHP expression
	 * @param mixed $n the number value
	 * @return boolean the expression result
	 */
	protected static function evaluate($expression,$n)
	{
		try
		{
			return @eval("return $expression;");
		}
		catch (ParseError $e)
		{
			return false;
		}
	}
}


Evangheline . KendraBiitch. AmandaBrowne. VixenMILF.
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CarlaBaileyxKatrinaTSxSherrynnexxSweetPrincessX .NaughtyDREAMGIRLMiaRiveraAnasttaccyaBeccaBoobzz .STYLUSSSVendyDanceCoryskinkycumErikaTaylor69 .Sherrynnetestperfagain2julietadiezincllSTYLUSSS .PaulinaFerrerFridenHallSinfulGracesxygy .xKatrinaTSxBeccaBoobzzSherrynneKorolKosmos .YasminaReedJadeCharmNaughtyDREAMGIRL01aAnabelle .FridenHallDirtyNasty4uxDirtyNasty4uxMeganOlsen .SexyGenryArianaMoorSexyGenrySlaveAlison .DenisseBlancaDivineAddineBrunoFoxxErikaTaylor69 .01PetiteCuteUrHottieBrunetteHerthaColeJadeCharm .


text:
MainAll NewsMiddle EastRussia: Britain staged chemical attack in Syria
Russia: Britain staged chemical attack in Syria
Russian Defense Ministry claims Britain staged a fake chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma.
Elad Benari, Canada, 13/04/18 21:54
Douma baby receives treatment after chemical attack
The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday claimed that Britain staged a fake chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma last weekend, The Associated Press reported.
The attack in Douma last Saturday involved Syrian government warplanes, and according to monitoring groups, included the use of sarin nerve gas.
As many as 150 people were reported dead with 1,000 more injured from the suspected chemical weapon attack.
But Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov claimed on Friday that images of victims of the purported attack were fakes staged with "Britain's direct involvement."
The Russian official did not provide evidence of his claims.
Konashenkov released statements by medics from Douma's hospital, who said a group of people toting video cameras entered the hospital, shouting that its patients were struck with chemical weapons, dousing them with water and causing panic. The medics, however, said none of the patients had any symptoms of chemical poisoning, according to the statements.
Konashenkov then claimed that "powerful pressure from London was exerted on representatives of the so-called White Helmets to quickly stage the premeditated provocation." He added that the Russian military has proof of British involvement, but didn't immediately present it.
Russia earlier this week vetoed a U.S.-drafted Security Council resolution that would have set up an investigation into chemical weapons use in Syria following an alleged toxic gas attack in rebel-held Douma.
It was the 12th time that Russia has used its veto power at the council to block action targeting its Syrian ally.
The Russian claims come amid speculation that the United States, France and Britain could strike in Syria in response to the chemical weapons attack.
On Thursday, British cabinet ministers agreed "on the need to take action" in Syria to "deter the further use of chemical weapons".
Since the attack, U.S. President Donald Trump has sharpened his rhetoric against Syria and its most powerful ally Russia and issued a threat via Twitter of a potential U.S. strike against the war-torn country.
On Thursday, however, Trump appeared to backtrack and said that a U.S. missile strike on Syria may not be imminent.
"Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all! In any event, the United States, under my Administration, has done a great job of ridding the region of ISIS. Where is our 'Thank you America?'" he tweeted.
(Arutz Sheva's North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)
Tags:Russia, Syria, Britain, Douma, Syrian chemical weapons


Olympic Pipeline | Our Pipelines | Pipelines | What we do | BP U.S.
For pipeline emergencies in the Washington and Oregon area only.
Olympic Pipeline is a 400-mile interstate pipeline system that includes 12-inch, 14-inch, 16-inch, and 20-inch pipelines. The pipeline runs along a 299-mile corridor from Blaine, Washington to Portland, Oregon. The system transports gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. This fuel originates at four Puget Sound refineries, two in Whatcom County and two in Skagit County, and is delivered to Seattle's Harbor Island, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Renton, Tacoma, Vancouver Washington, and Portland Oregon.


text:
Tag: Geography
10-Year Strategy to End Homelessness
June 1, 2006 / By Daniel Flaming and Paul Tepper / The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority
A comprehensive strategy with 25 actions, accountable agencies, timelines, and performance benchmarks to prevent and end homelessness in Los Angeles County. From 2002 through 2004 the Economic Roundtable and the Institute for the Study of Homelessness and Poverty at the Weingart Center carried out research, listened to ideas from community stakeholders, and met with public officials in order to prepare this strategic plan for ending homelessness in Los Angeles County.
Running Out of Time: Voices of Parents Struggling to Move from Welfare to Work
July 1, 2002 / By Daniel Flaming, Patricia Kwon and Patrick Burns / Economic Roundtable
How do people change their lives? What kinds of help do working poor parents need to lift their families out of poverty? What obstacles do they face in trying to get a sustaining job? More than eight thousand people answered these questions through a survey undertaken to learn directly from working welfare parents and other poor families about the problems they face and the kinds of help they need to become self-sufficient.
The Cage of Poverty
September 1, 2000 / By Daniel Flaming, Mark Drayse and Peter Force / Economic Roundtable
In his 1963 letter from the Birmingham jail Martin Luther King, Jr. described the despair of people "smothering in an airtight cage of poverty in the midst of an affluent society." It is important to understand the extent to which this image of entrapment still describes the wage-earning lives of the working poor as they try to support their families.
On the Edge: A Progress Report on Welfare to Work in Los Angeles
January 1, 1999 / By Daniel Flaming, Mark Drayse and Peter Force / Economic Roundtable
The loss of a welfare safety net for most adults for most of their lives makes the quality of jobs available to the working poor and their success in finding and keeping jobs increasingly important. The economic and civic life of the Los Angeles region will be shaped by connections that are made, or fail to be made, between the growing ranks of working poor and opportunities for steady, sustaining, productive employment.
South Bay Economic Adjustment Strategy
November 1, 1998 / By Daniel Flaming, Mark Drayse, Michael Beltramo-Beltramo and Associates, Tom Jirovsky-Kosmont and Associates Inc, Frank Taplin-Kosmont and Associates, David Rigby-UCLA Department of Geography and John Wilson-USC Department of Geography / the County of Los Angeles South Bay Communities and Community Development Commission
The South Bay Economic Adjustment Strategy has been prepared to help elected officials, public sector staff, business leaders, and citizens take coordinated, effective action to recover jobs lost because of defense cutbacks. The strategy has been prepared under a grant from the Office of Economic Adjustment in the Department of Defense that was administered by Los Angeles County's Community Development Commission.
Long Beach Business: 1994 Long Beach Business Survey
April 27, 1995 / By Daniel Flaming / Economic Roundtable
SYNOPSIS Purpose The 1994 Business Survey was initiated by the City of Long Beach to guide and strengthen its business outreach and retention efforts. Technical guidance, data analysis, and report preparation was carried out by the Economic Roundtable. The purpose was to: Identify the concerns, needs and opportunities of businesses in order to strengthen City programs for supporting Long Beach's economic base.
Jobs and Air Quality: Analysis of Emissions Per Job by Industry in the South Coast Basin
January 8, 1993 / By Daniel Flaming, Elizabeth Reid and Mark Drayse / South Coast Air Quality Management District
Overview The Economic Roundtable merged site-specific 1990 employment and emission data to analyze emissions per job among industries in the South Coast Basin. One use of this analysis is to identify environmentally friendly industries that are potential targets for economic development. The analysis focused on manufacturing industries.
Los Angeles County Economic Adjustment Strategy for Defense Reductions
April 1, 1992 / By Daniel Flaming, Michael Beltramo-Beltramo and Associates, Odessa Dubinsky, Elizabeth Reid, Katherine Bulow-Bulow And Associates, David Hensley-UCLA Business Forcasting Project and Allen J. Scott-UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies / Los Angeles County Community Development Commission, United States Department of Commerce: Economic Development Administration
Background An interdisciplinary research team analyzed information about the labor market, economy, industries, and defense linkages of Los Angeles County. The report recommends an economic adjustment strategy to reduce severe job losses projected as a result of cutbacks in defense funding for Los Angeles County industries.


text:
Jesper Leerdam (born 17 April 1987 in Hook of Holland) is a Dutch footballer currently playing for Dayton Dutch Lions in the USL Professional Division. He plays now for Excelsior Maassluis.

Career

Netherlands
Leerdam played extensively at all levels of the Dutch football system, having played for VV Hoek van Holland, RKVV Westlandia, ADO Den Haag, Vitesse Delft, 's-Gravenzandse SV and vv Capelle.

United States
Leerdam moved to the United States in 2011 to play for the Dayton Dutch Lions in the USL Professional Division in 2011.

References

External links
 Dayton Dutch Lions profile

1987 births
Living people
Dutch footballers
Dayton Dutch Lions players
People from Hook of Holland
Excelsior Maassluis players
RKVV Westlandia players
VV Capelle players
ADO Den Haag players
Association football goalkeepers
Footballers from South Holland

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


All products available at the daruk-emelok.hu online store or shop are new, marketed in Hungary with an official product warranty and a service network in Hungary.
For the warranty and guarantee responsibility of daruk-emelok.hu the stipulations in Civil Code and Government Regulation number 117/1991. (IX.10.) shall prevail. Our products assume the statutory guarantee of 12 months. Any warranty or guarantee time different from this will be otherwise indicated and/or indicated on the invoice, and on the accompanying warranty documents.
Your warranty claim is only valid together with the detailed list of components on the original invoice, so please make certain you keep these documents. We are unable to replace lost warranty papers. Any subsequent correction, deletion or alteration, or writing false data on the warranty papers will result in its invalidation.


Scorpio: Capturing fragrances of jasmine, bay laurel and pimento berry. Scorpio grasps the power of transformation, transcendence, emotional release, rebirth and personal growth. Excellent application for listening to your Highest Self, understanding deeper passions and sensuality and understanding personal limitations.


Classic Breton cotton stripe top with scoop neck, slim 3/4 length sleeves and side pockets. Looks great with slim black or blue jeans and Neu Aura riding boots or cute flat pumps.
S is a UK8-10, M and UK10-12, and L a UK12-14.
Classic Breton cotton stripe top with scoop neck, slim 3/4 length sleeves and side pockets. Looks great with slim black or blue jeans and Neu Aura riding boots or cute flat pumps. S is a UK8-10, M and UK10-12, and L a UK12-14.


Stripping away the artifice and getting back to basics.
Door #8 in a series of 12 offerings.
I love your door images.
Thank you. It's turned into an interesting project.
Thank you–and I do like the "well-seen" expression. The building has long been deserted. I wonder if snow just piled up there and stayed for the season every year.


Unless you like to throw money around for no good reason, you've played Aqueduct 101 and you already know how good this game is. For precisely that reason, the amount of teaching in this full version is not just excessive but absurdly so. The first new idea is introduced on map 19. The first challenge, where you can do anything meaningful other than win, is a basic sliding puzzle on map 26. Buy the game anyway, and don't skip 101, but don't get too excited just yet about your new purchase. The fun starts sometime tomorrow.
Most levels are just too easy. Every once and awhile there is a challenging puzzle. Most of the time it feels like busy work, just moving pieces through warps or from one side to the other and not trying to find the solution.
Very fun. Lots of different, clever puzzles to solve. Worth the purchase.
The great thing about this logic puzzler is that after a few months you can reset it, and many of the puzzles will stump you once again.
This app is very entertaining without being too challenging. There have been a couple puzzles where I wish there had been hints but I was able to solve them without them. Great game -- not too easy, not too hard. Great for hours of entertainment.


text:
AUGUST \ JULY 2009
AUGUST 31, 2009 ¡ CUIDADO !
I bought a "jump stick" the other day, a USB flash drive. It came in one of those impossible-to-open plastic blister packs. On the back was one of those lawyer-inspired CAUTION statements.
What's dangerous about a jump stick? Were they admonishing me not to plug it into an electrical outlet?
No, the warning concerned not the product but the packaging. "To open the package please use scissors. Do not use knives or cutters since they may cause injury."
There are hazards everywhere.
AUGUST 26, 2009 HA HA
The comedy series People's Choice aired on NBC-TV for three seasons beginning in 1955, when I was a little boy. Jackie Cooper starred as a city councilman.
There were frequent close-ups of his basset hound Cleo, whose wry comments were voiced in an annoyingly female way by Mary Jane Croft. Sometimes, in reaction to a startling statement, Cleo's floppy ears would fly straight up (presumably yanked by hidden wires), although her doleful eyes never widened. The audience would guffaw.
Many other sitcoms like I Love Lucy or the Danny Thomas show were filmed before a live studio audience. But I noticed that on this series, the actors never responded to the laughs, which all sounded the same (even during scenes outside the studio). Obviously there was no live audience.
If the laughter didn't come from people who were actually present, how were we hearing it? I knew each episode was shot on film like a movie, which gave me an idea. Perhaps after the film had been edited — but before it was televised — the producers showed it in a theater to a carefully-selected preview audience. Microphones captured their reactions, which were then mixed into the sound track before the episode aired on TV. It made sense to me. CLICK FOR UPDATE
Turns out that in most cases, the audience reactions were selected from prerecorded laughs and added in the appropriate places. Here's the full story.
AUGUST 21, 2009 DO NOT WANT
The other day, I was dining in a restaurant when a man with three young sons was shown to the table next to me. One of the boys was an infant dozing in a car seat; the other two were ambulatory.
The middle child considered himself too grownup for a highchair. His father helped him up onto a regular chair, but he warned the boy he'd have to sit still. Of course, he didn't. Within seconds he was trying to climb over the back. Then he fell off. He wasn't hurt, but he began crying for his mommy.
To my surprise, the father stood up, picked up the sleeping basket case, and led the other two boys back to the restaurant's entrance.
Now I've often heard parents in public places admonish their unruly kids, "If you don't behave, we're going home!" But this was the first time I'd seen the threat actually carried out. And so promptly, too! No second warning. No "this is is last time I'm going to tell you."
Alas, Dad didn't leave. He had just gone to fetch a highchair, as well as his wife, who apparently had been parking the SUV.
When the family reconvened at the table, the mother tried to insert the middle boy into the highchair. Predictably, he resisted. "No! Don't want to!"
You see, that's the problem with kids today. We try to make them happy by catering to their every whim. "What do you want to drink? Do you want orange juice? Apple juice? How about some chocolate milk?" The kids begin to feel entitled to have their desires always accommodated.
Why give them a choice? Can you always get what you want? You can't always get what you want.
Just tell them, "We're serving orange juice, and that's it, whether you like it or not. If you don't like it, you can just go thirsty. What's that? You don't want orange juice? You don't want to sit in a highchair? WHO CARES? Listen, kid, we're in charge of this family, not you."
End of rant from childless old codger.
AUGUST 18, 2009 DURWARD
It's time to continue the story of my mother's days at Byesville High.
In this installment, Byesville wins the 1930 county basketball tournament, and Ann Buckingham wins a boyfriend: class president Durward McKee (right), the "Biggest Sheik" in the whole school.
AUGUST 15, 2009 CANDLES IN THE RAIN
My apologies to Lord Bulwer-Lytton, but I've heard that it was a dark and stormy night in upstate New York on this date 40 years ago. Rain poured down as the hour of eleven p.m. approached.
But the rain did not chase away, could not chase away, the half million people sitting in Max Yasgur's pasture. They had come to join in "an Aquarian exposition: three days of peace and music" known as Woodstock.
Ravi Shankar had just finished his sitar performance. The Incredible String Band was scheduled next, but they didn't want to play in the rain. In their place, a relatively unknown performer agreed to go on: a hippie folk singer with her guitar.
Thomas Ryan wrote, "To walk onstage alone, in front of a city of people who don't know you but are paying rapt attention, can be a harrowing and humbling experience.
"She watched amazed as the hills slowly lit up with thousands upon thousands of candles."
And the singer sang.
Beautiful people!
You live in the same world as I do,
But somehow I never noticed you before today,
I'm ashamed to say.
You look like friends of mine,
And it's about time
That someone said it here and now:
I make a vow
That some time, somehow,
I'll have a meeting. Invite ev'ryone you know.
I'll pass out buttons to the ones who come, to show
Never have to be alone,
'Cause there'll always be someone
With the same button on as you.
Include him in ev'rything you do.
He may be sitting right next to you.
He may be beautiful people too.
And if you take care of him, maybe I'll take care of you.
Birthday of the Sun
If I were to hang my head
I'd miss all the rainbows
And I'd drown in raindrops instead
But I'm the one;
I found the birthday of the sun.
And all things change.
And now I'm sure it's the birthday of the rain.
I wrote about Melanie last year; click here for that piece. It includes a link to a song she wrote later "to capture the spirituality and magic of that moment," according to Ryan. "To convey a sense of the warm crowd, she envisioned hundreds of voices joining her on the chorus."
We were so close, there was no room...
We all sang the songs of peace.
Some came to sing, some came to pray,
Some came to keep the dark away.
From the movie Taking Woodstock, opening this month
So raise your candles high,
'Cause if you don't
we could stay black
against the night.
Oh, raise them higher again,
'Cause if you do
we could stay dry
against the rain!
[I wrote about Melanie again in 2015. Click here.]
AUGUST 11, 2009 ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED
Do dogs go to heaven?
In a story I wrote a couple of years ago, a little girl decides they do. But there's no real answer. We might as well inquire into the pay scale for elves at Santa's workshop, or ask about next year's enrollment at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Like heaven, the workshop and Hogwarts are fictional places. Therefore, no details that we dream up about them can be proven wrong.
Do born-again mass murderers go to heaven?
This has been a problem for Christianity ever since the very beginning. The Gospel proclaims that if we are born again, our sins are forgiven. "Now," asks Paul in chapter 6 of his letter to the Romans (J.B. Phillips translation), "what is our response to be? Shall we sin to our heart's content and see how far we can exploit the grace of God? What a ghastly thought! We, who have died to sin — how could we live in sin a moment longer?" Nevertheless, it's tempting to consider God's promise of forgiveness to be a blank check.
A week ago tonight, George Sodini shot up an exercise class in suburban Pittsburgh, killing three women before taking his own life. He had been told that Jesus would forgive any and all of his sins.
Found among his writings was a grievance against the non-denominational Tetelestai Church and its pastor, Rick Knapp. "Guilt and fear kept me there 13 long years until Nov 2006. I think his crap did the most damage. ... This guy teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder then still go to heaven. Ask him."
A reporter did ask Rev. Knapp. "That's not anything I have ever said. ... The message of the word I preach never reflected such a thing." (link)
But members of his church weren't so sure. Senior deacon Chuck Matone said of Sodini, "Is he in heaven? Only God and he know."
Another deacon, Jack Rickard, suggested that Sodini is in fact on his way to glory land, but he won't enjoy it there. Apparently God is grudgingly keeping His earlier promise to let Sodini pass through the pearly gates, but there's no way He's issuing him a harp. Rickard said that according to the Bible, "professing a faith in Jesus as savior means you will have complete eternal salvation. ... We believe in permanent security — once saved, always saved. ... He'll be in heaven, but he won't have any rewards because he did evil."
This is a new concept to me, a restricted associate membership in paradise. Because heaven is imaginary, I suppose we can imagine whatever rules we want.
AUGUST 6, 2009 TWO SHORT DEBATES
"I cannot believe the earth is billions of years old."
"Is there anything I could say to change your mind?"
"Impossible. My faith is firm."
"You're locked into your opinions, are you? I have these scientific studies...."
"I refuse to read them. They're the work of the devil."
"Then further discussion would be a waste of time. You've reached your conclusions without bothering to consider the facts. You're prejudiced, you're unyielding, and your mind is closed. Goodbye."
GOP diehards retreat toward Jackson Hole for last stand
"I cannot believe President Obama was born in this country."
"But there were birth announcements in two newspapers in Hawaii. And here's his Certification of Live Birth."
"That document could be faked. I demand to see the original Certificate from the hospital."
"And if you saw the original, you would be satisfied?"
"No, I wouldn't. The so-called original could also be a forgery."
"So no evidence would convince you that Obama is an American?"
"I don't really want evidence. I already know the truth. Obama is an illegitimate president. He's not like me. I want my country back! I want my country run by white conservatives, as it was in the beginning, should be now, and ever shall be! World soon will end, amen, amen."
"Then further discussion would be a waste of time. You're prejudiced, you're unyielding, and your mind is closed. You've earned the right to be ignored. Goodbye."
AUGUST 1, 2009 GRANDPA?
The other day, I happened to run across a picture of Benjamin N. Cardozo, who was an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court from 1932 to 1938.
Something about him reminded me of a more recent celebrity. Hmm.
JULY 27, 2009 TWO OUTS
Baseball fans often complain about how many runs their team has allowed. Sometimes, they lament that most of them came after there were two outs in the inning.
Is that unusual? I'm not so sure.
What are the Major League averages for runs scored with no outs, one out, and two outs? Are the runs evenly distributed at 33%, 33%, and 33%? I'd guess it might be more like 25%, 33%, and 42%, simply because as the inning progresses there are more likely to be runners on base. But I've never seen the actual numbers.
Before we could even consider calculating the numbers, we'd have to define what we mean by "a run scored with two outs." That's not as simple as you might think. Should we use definition B: there were two outs BEFORE the play began? Or should we use definition M: there were two outs at the MOMENT the runner crossed the plate?
Suppose there's a runner on 3rd base with one out. The batter hits a fly ball to the center fielder. Now there are two outs. The runner tags up and comes home to score on the sacrifice fly.
According to B, the scoring play happened with one out. According to M, the run actually scored after there were two outs.
Suppose there are runners on 1st and 3rd with nobody out. The batter grounds to the shortstop, who decides to concede a run in order to make a double play. He throws to 2nd base; now there is one out. Then the throw goes to 1st base for the second out, which occurs at almost the same time that the runner from 3rd base is crossing the plate.
According to B, the scoring play happened with no outs. According to M, the run scored after there were either one out or two outs, but it's hard to tell.
I suspect that the lament over "runs allowed after two outs" is actually a lament over missed opportunities. If we had only gotten one more out when we really needed it, we could have prevented those runs! (In this case, definition B is the relevant one.) This is similar to the lament over runners left on base. If we had only gotten one more hit when we really needed it, we could have scored those runners! And it may turn out to be just as meaningless.
JULY 24, 2009 FIRSTS
• What did I have in common with the late anchorman Walter Cronkite?
At the age of 20, both he and I were radio play-by-play announcers for college football.
In 1937, Cronkite became the first "voice" of the Oklahoma Sooners on WKY in Oklahoma City, as shown here.
In 1967, I was in the second of my three seasons as the "voice" of the Oberlin Yeomen on WOBC.
• Last weekend at a baseball telecast, there was a debate about an upcoming tournament we were supposed to promote. The event was billed as The First Annual Tournament.
This set off a buzzer in the minds of those of us who have peeked into the Associated Press Stylebook, a manual that warns journalists: "Do not use the term first annual. An event cannot be described as annual until it has been held in at least two successive years. Instead, note that the sponsors plan to hold an event annually."
But isn't that rather strained logic, to insist that there can't be a First until there's a Second?
First annual is perfectly understandable and gets its point across succinctly. Upon further review, I find nothing wrong with the phrase. And Washington State emeritus professor Paul Brians agrees with me.
JULY 22, 2009 CAMPUSTOPIA
This past week, Scott Adams (the creator of the comic strip Dilbert) has been blogging about an ideal city called Cheapatopia, built from scratch as "an absurdly cheap place to live with a ridiculously high quality of life."
From his entries for July 13, July 14, July 17, and July 20, here are some condensed excerpts.
The era of ridiculous consumption is over. The average household will have to learn how to make do with less. But there is no reason we can't be happier at the same time.
In Cheapatopia, no one would ever again hire a babysitter or put their dog in the kennel while they are on vacation. That sort of thing would all be done by neighbors, and you would know those neighbors well.
Cheapatopia puts a big emphasis on social interaction. Most of your meals are eaten at the city-run all-you-can-eat buffets located in each neighborhood. You'd always see your neighbors at meals, and you'd never need to shop or cook or clean. Prices would be lower than regular restaurants because these eateries would be operated at cost, and food would be purchased in bulk. The food quality and variety would be excellent, at least by family standards, because this is one area in which Cheapatopia would not skimp.
Residents could get further discounts on their buffet meal plans by agreeing to work shifts at the cafeteria. You might find it fun to work with your neighbors for a few hours every week.
Ride sharing would be made easy by an Internet system. But the only rides you would ever need would be to the nearest airport. There would be no cars within Cheapatopia.
The real purpose of this system is not just the convenience of getting stuff done, but the social interaction it causes. Most people make their friends from their organized activities, past or present. They find their spouses and lovers the same way. Cheapatopia increases your social involvement and therefore your social life.
Many of you believe Cheapatopia can't work because communes have been tried and failed. And besides, you wouldn't want to live in such a socialist place.
But Cheapatopia is designed with individual self-interest as the founding principle. Living in Cheapatopia is optional. Plain old capitalism will always surround it.
The only difference is that capitalism has inefficiencies that don't benefit anyone. As I write this, I'm looking out the window at seven parked cars, each of them requiring auto insurance, and none of them being used. And every home in my neighborhood has poor roof insulation because there was no market pressure on the developer to do better.
There would be lots of different reasons for wanting to live in Cheapatopia, if only for a few years.
The closest model is college dormitory living. In college, the meals are communal, the buildings are inexpensive, and the social life is organized and abundant.
Dorm living is only appropriate for a few years of your life, to accomplish a goal. Cheapatopia is similar in concept, but more high-end and designed for families.
So that's why I look back so fondly on college days! We lived in dorms, owned no cars, walked or biked everywhere, and ate at the dining hall. We knew that life outside, in what we called "the real world," would never be like this. For four years we were living in a Utopia.
JULY 16, 2009 YMMIT
"Hey, mirror! Mirror, on the wall! Why do you take all that you see and reverse it left to right?"
"I do no such thing. I take all that I see and reverse it front to back!"
That's the key point in my little article on Mirror Images, if you'd care to take a look.
Also, I've added a few new old photos to my Curtis Ridge article, for example on this page and on this one.
JULY 12, 2009 I SEE IN THE SUNDAY PAPER...
• Not that it necessarily affects their fitness for holding their jobs, but according to this story, 21% of the employees in Pittsburgh's Department of Public Works have faced criminal charges.
• Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover, before he was elected President, recommended that any tall buildings should have a flashing beacon light "so that aviators might recognize the city." So in 1928, when Pittsburgh's first skyscraper was erected, they put a red light on top that could be seen from airplanes a hundred miles away. Not wanting the city to be mistaken for Cleveland, the owners of the Grant Building programmed its beacon to flash Pittsburgh in Morse code.
Nowadays few people can decipher Morse dots and dashes, and pilots fortunately have better navigational aids. But, even though almost no one reads its message any more, the beacon is still flashing. The only problem, according to this article, is that it's developed a stammer or perhaps a bit of throat congestion. The Morse code now spells out Pitetsbkrrh.
• According to this map, I was born in "pop" country. So was my mother. But my father was born in "Coke" country, and I take after him. I don't feel comfortable saying either "pop" or "soda"; if forced to choose between them, I'd pick "soft drink."
JULY 10, 2009 MY MOTHER, THE SPORTSWRITER
In the story of her high school days, Byesville High, Ann Buckingham reports on an exciting 1929 basketball contest. After the game, she had an "uncouth feather" in her cap. She wasn't dressed that way when she left the house!
Aside from that one column she wrote, my mother's memoir has been ghostwritten by yours truly, 80 years after the fact. Click on the title or the picture to read the first installment.
JULY 4, 2009 DISOBEYING "THE POWERS THAT BE"
Fundamentalists claim that the United States is a Christian nation. That's true in one sense: more Americans identify themselves as Christians than as members of any other faith.
However, the United States is not a Christian political entity. Our Constitution never mentions God, and it prohibits the endorsement of any official religion. Most of the founding fathers were Deists, not Christians. They acknowledged "Nature's God," not Jesus. The Treaty with Tripoli, negotiated by George Washington's administration and approved unanimously by the Senate in 1797, reassured Muslims that "the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion."
Not only that, the very birth of our nation 233 years ago was a direct act of disobedience to Scripture.
In 1776, Americans rejected divinely established authority. They rebelled against George III, by the grace of God the King of Great Britain. They asserted that the people have the right to invent their own form of government — organizing it not according to God's plan but according to man's own ideas, "laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
This Declaration of Independence can be seen as a great sin against God. Author John J. Dunphy has collected numerous proofs from the Bible:
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the King, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 1 Peter 2:13-14
Submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. 1 Peter 2:18
Obey your earthly masters in everything. Colossians 3:22
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. Hebrews 13:17
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. 1 Samuel 15:23
In rebelling against the King and his royal governors, the Founding Fathers rebelled against God and against the authority He had established.
To explain themselves, they felt a need to publish a Declaration. Did they publish it out of respect to God, whose rules they were deliberately breaking? No, they published their Declaration out of respect to humanity, or as Jefferson put it, "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind."
Therefore, we are not a Christian nation. We are a humanist nation.
BACK TO TOP OF AUGUST \ JULY 2009


TURN Gallery is pleased to present Josh Jefferson's first solo exhibit. Head First is a selection of Josh Jefferson's portraits which invite us to unlearn what we see in mirrors and examine the masks we create for ourselves. Whether a few loose strokes or intricate layers of paint, ink and splatter, Josh Jefferson's paintings elicit a raw sophistication. The layers in each painting cannot be viewed at once because no single layer dominates. They feed back on themselves in an intricate loop which fluctuates from viewing to viewing.
Josh Jefferson is a distinct draftsman, yet his skill lies in his ability to balance abandon and control. His tactile materials support each other and at the same time pull free with fierce independence. The exhibition includes his canvasses as well as works on paper.


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Covino & Rich Show Recap – Tuesday 5-28-19
May 28, 2019 by Spot The Producer recaps
Show Topics:
Are there a lot of comedians and actors who don't get the credit they are due in the industry? It seems like anyone can make it if they are willing to sell themselves out in a way, but the celebrities who stay true to their art don't see the same recognition. Why is it that stars like Chevy Chase and Steve Martin got so much comedic credit, but someone like Martin Short or Dana Carvey fell to the side? They were all popular at the same time, but some may of just had a bit more of a 'star presence'. Similarly today, why is it that songs like 'Old Town Road' seem to be getting all the airtime, and songs written by more established artists get little to none? Is it all just a popularity contest?
Rich was in Las Vegas this weekend, and made a lot of observations for the show. Is Fremont Street where all of the trash of the Earth go to meet up? Rich spent a few hours wandering around and noticed that the people who go there are all 'creatures'. That's where you'll find the street performers who really couldn't quite cut it at any of the hotels or casinos. In Vegas, there are two classy spots that seem to stand out above the rest; the Bellagio and the Cosmo. That's where everyone goes to get the appearance of the 'high life' and take Fancy photos that will look like they had a 'baller weekend'. In reality, the only reason to go to those places though is maybe for a nice drink where you dress up a bit, otherwise you can pay half the price anywhere else on the Strip.
While in Vegas Rich went to a Circ du Soleil show with some friends and was chosen as the audience participant in that night's performance. They brought Rich onto the stage and made him do a little dance, then locked him in a crate as if a part of a magic trick. Afterwards, the performer went down into the audience and pretended to have a nice drink with Sara, all while Rich watched hopelessly from the stage. Is it totally typical of Rich to get picked for something like this and not tell the guys?
A story came out over the weekend of a woman who was found after being lost in the jungles of Hawaii for over two weeks. Amanda Ellar went missing after deciding to take a hike alone without her cell phone. She ended up getting lost along the path, and wasn't able to find her way back to civilization. What makes the story even more shocking is that Covino was just in Hawaii and saw signs all over the place about this missing woman. The fact that she had the resilience to survive on nothing but moths and berries for over two weeks is amazing though.
Over the weekend Covino posted a photo of himself grilling for Memorial Day, and it's the weakest meal ever. Basically on the grill was two hot dogs, a piece of chicken, and four broccoli florets, which Covino says was because it was just him and Melody eating. Do guys take too much pride in grilling? It seems like it's the male equivalent of a girl doing a makeup tutorial.


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Appellate Court Upholds Contract Requirement For Arbitration of Disputes
Case Summaries, The Americas
Tagged with Oregon
Gemstone Builders, Inc. v. Stutz, 261 P.3d 64 (Or. Ct. App. 2011)
Contractor sued homeowners, who had hired contractor to build a home for them. Contractor sued for breach of contract, unjust enrichment and fraud. The parties disagreed regarding the interpretation of their contract as it pertained to arbitration. The contractor argued that the terms were irreconcilably contradictory, making the arbitration provisions unenforceable. The homeowner sought to compel arbitration. Addressing the issue, the trial court denied defendants' petition to compel arbitration and defendants appealed.
The appellate court's parsing of the contract language is instructive in terms of the care that needs to be taken when drafting dispute resolution clauses. Following discussion of the contract, the appellate court observed that the contract was "surely not a model of clarity" and that there was ambiguity regarding whether arbitration was binding. However, the court concluded that such ambiguity did not render the contract unenforceable and, in the absence of extrinsic evidence of the parties intent, turned to "appropriate maxims of construction" to ascertain the reasonable intention of the parties. Noting that "we are guided by policies that favor arbitration" and recognizing that "arbitration is intended to be an alternative to litigation," the appellate court determined the trial court had erred in denying defendants' petition to compel arbitration and reversed and remanded the case.
Recent Third Circuit Decision Provides Insight into Pennsylvania's Approach to CGL Coverage for Faulty Construction Claims
Standards Applicable to Construction Site Safety, Conditions and Injuries


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Michael S. Appel
Favorable settlement of pharmaceutical case
Susan Broh, a previously healthy 57 year-old woman, died in September 2001 of massive liver failure caused by Serzone, an anti-depressant manufactured and sold by Bristol-Myers Squibb, which she had begun taking less than three months earlier for mild depression, on the advice and prescription of a psychiatrist. Shortly after Susan began taking Serzone, BMS sent a letter to doctors in Canada, warning them about reports of severe liver injury associated with use of the drug, and recommending that a number of precautions be followed whenever it was prescribed. BMS provided similar warnings in other countries at the behest of local regulators, but failed to give the same information to doctors in the United States until several months after Susan's death, when the company was ordered by the FDA to place a "black-box" warning on the label for Serzone. Susan was unmarried at the time of her death, and had no children. Sugarman Rogers was retained to represent her estate, and brought suit against BMS in New York. In 2005, BMS entered into an agreement to settle Serzone cases nationwide, including this matter, which settled for $2.9 million.
617.227.3030 Email Michael
Defective Drugs & Medical Devices
Related Services: Defective Drugs & Medical Devices
appel@sugarmanrogers.com


The APT project is funded by the Higher education Authority (HEA) under the Programme for Access to Higher Education (Strand 1: Equity of access to teacher education). The project aims to increase the representation of those from lower socio-economic groups in initial teacher education (ITE) and is a joint NUI Galway and St. Angela's College, Sligo venture. The NUI Galway aspect of the project includes a number of research and student support aspects, including interviews with APT participants over their two-year PME programme, bursaries, and links to pupils from lower socio-economic groups at second-level through student teachers' year two practitioner research projects.
DITE is a national research project (Principal Investigators: Dr. Elaine Keane and Dr. Manuela Heinz) funded by the Irish Research Council (€96,290, RPG2013-1 (Starter RPG), 2013-2015 and continuing post-funding). It is administered through the Moore Institute, examines the socio-demographic backgrounds, career motivations and diversity experiences of applicants and entrants to undergraduate and postgraduate, primary and post-primary, ITE programmes in Ireland.
Andrea Higgins, doctoral research, University of Bath - Irish primary school teachers are facing a very different future, a defining feature of which is their ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and thereby develop their professional knowledge. It is in the area of provision of education for children with special educational needs (SEN) that this shift to teacher collaboration is most obvious. Within the legislatively mandated context of inclusive education, SEN teachers are now required to collaborate with their classroom colleagues in order to provide the most effective and inclusive teaching possible for students with SEN. Recognizing the challenges that this change brings, this study seeks to answer the question 'How does collaboration between SEN and other teachers in schools in Ireland build and sustain their professional knowledge? As the first in depth study of this kind in Ireland, the research seeks to provide original insights through the use of semi-structured interviews with 50 Irish primary school SEN teachers. The study investigates the nature of the collaboration taking place and its ability to develop professional knowledge using Little's (1990) continuum of teacher collaboration as an interpretative lens, the influence of organizational and social workplace factors on collaboration and teachers' views on how it can better be supported.
Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Employment Experiences of NUI Galway Access Students project (Principal Investigator: Dr. Elaine Keane), funded by Galway University Foundation, was a mixed-methods study and examined the university and employment experiences of students entering NUIG via an access programme since the inception of Access activities in 1997.
International Research on the Effectiveness of Widening Participation project, (Principal Investigator: Dr. Elaine Keane) funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and Office for Fair Access (OFFA), involving six countries USA, Australia, UK, Netherlands, Norway, and Ireland, and for which EK wrote the Ireland report.
International Quality Evaluation Resource for Education Leaders (iQerel). Develop and evaluate an online resource to support school leaders in leading school internal evaluation to lead to better equality outcomes. (Principal Investigator: Professor Gerry Mac Ruairc, Erasmus) The project is operating as International Quality Evaluation Resource for Education Leaders(iQerel). There are a number of publications linked to this project including some empirical work on the efficacy of the online platform.
Examining the role of Early Focus in supporting school engagement. A Longitudinal study of the impact of an Early Focus project on student outcomes in a severely disadvantaged inner city community. (Co-Applicant: Professor Gerry Mac Ruairc, St. James, Basin Lane, 2015). The research is a collaborative venture with Prof Noreen Hayes TCD (formerly DIT).
International collaborative project between UCD, the World Bank and The Ministry of Education in Iraq. (Co-Principal Investigator: Professor Gerry Mac Ruairc,). This funding was used to support capacity building in the field of teacher education in the context of post conflict Iraq. It has led to research on education systems in post conflict zones (World Bank report). Recent developments in Iraq have limited the implementation of the outcomes of this work.
Boys, Masculinities, Men Teachers, and Mentorship Project (Co-investigators Kevin Davison, NUI Galway, and Dr. Orla McCormack, University of Limerick, 2011). Arising out of recent scholarship about boys and academic underachievement, data was collected from pre-service teachers in Galway and Limerick to critically investigate the call for more role models for young men.
Citizenship and World Mindedness. International collaborative cross-disciplinary, research between: NUI Galway (K. Davison & E. Keane, School of Education and Su-ming Khoo, Department of Sociology); Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand (L. Meyer); California State University, Monterey Bay, USA (C. Sleeter); University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, (K. Zeichner); San Jose State University, USA, (Hyun-Sook Park); Wollongong University, Australia (G. Hoban); University of Nottingham, United Kingdom (P. Sorensen). This research involves surveying diverse undergraduate and postgraduate students to gauge their openness to be agents of social change. Data from the research is shared between the different research sites. Partial funding secured by Su-ming Khoo through NUI Galway Millennium Research Grant (2010-Present).
Bridging Understanding and Reaching Out: Digital Storytelling with Marginalized Young Men in Rural Ireland. (Principal Investigator, Kevin Davison, 2007) Funded by The National University of Ireland, Galway, Millennium Research Fund, €6504. This research examines substance abuse, suicide, and academic underachievement with young men in rural Ireland through digital storytelling.
Post-Colonial Masculinities and Schooling in the New Millennium. (Principal Investigator Professor Blye Frank, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Dr. Kevin Davison, Research Collaborator) (2002-2005) Funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) CDN$129,216. This project examined contemporary practices of masculinities in schools in relation to the colonial educational histories of Canada, Australia, and South Africa. There were three research sites: Halifax, Perth, and Durban.
Contradictions and Tensions in the Lives of Men: Exploring Masculinities in the Numerically Female Dominated Professions of Nursing and Elementary School Teaching. (Principal Investigator, Professor Joan Evans, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Research Collaborator, Dr. Kevin Davison) (2003-2006) Funded by Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) CDN$133650. This project examined the experiences of men nurses and men elementary school teachers in Canada. There were research sites in three Canadian cities: Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Halifax.