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More questions raised in Maggie land deal
New developments have emerged involving the the purchase of a small piece of land in Maggie Valley by the town for a park.
Alderman Phil Aldridge made $6,500 in commission for acting as the town's real estate agent in the deal. In general, it is considered a conflict of interest for a public official to profit off a contract with the body they serve. A little-known exception applies to towns with a population under 15,000, which Aldridge was able to utilize.
But Aldridge may have crossed the line when he spoke in favor of buying the land during the town board's deliberations.
According to state law, a public official using the 15,000 loophole to do business with the body they serve cannot "deliberate or vote on the contract or attempt to influence any other person" involved in the vote or "participate in any way."
The town board held a special meeting to talk about whether to buy the land last October. According to the minutes from that meeting, Aldridge left the room when the rest of the board discussed whether the town could and should hire him to act as their real estate agent. When Aldridge came back in to the room, he shared his opinion about buying the property.
"Alderman Aldridge stated that he was reluctant to purchase the property at first because he had concerns about the effect it would have on the taxpayers and the improvements to the festival grounds. After further consideration, Alderman Aldridge realized that this could be the last time the Town has the opportunity to purchase land adjacent to Jonathan Creek for a public park," according to the minutes.
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The board had not yet voted, and it is unclear whether those statements qualify Aldridge as participating in the deliberations, which is barred by law.
Making use of the loophole
Some have questioned whether it was appropriate for Aldridge to take advantage of the 15,000 loophole in the first place. The small-town provision is intended for a scenario when an elected official owns the only business in town that provides a needed service, and it would pose a major inconvience for the town to seek that service from outside the area.
Every town west of Asheville could technically utilize the loophole, but most elected or appointed officials don't. Just recently, Sam McCrary, who serves on the Maggie ABC board, acted as the town's real estate agent in the purchase of land for a new ABC store. In that scenario, McCrary did not accept commission from the deal.
"No, absolutely not," McCrary said. McCrary said he did not take commission "because of a conflict of interest from serving on the ABC board."
In the town board's eyes, however, Aldridge was a logical choice. The town needed someone who could act quickly since another offer for the property was pending.
"Alderman (Mark) DeMeola felt that Alderman Aldridge could represent the Town if he is removed from all aspects of any action decided. Alderman (Saralyn) Price agreed, adding that it would be difficult to select a realtor from all the realtors within the Maggie Valley area," the minutes from the meeting read.
The board made a point of noting that Aldridge's commission would come out of the selling price, and wouldn't really cost the town anything extra. Wording to that effect was included in the town's resolution to buy the property.
But it's not exactly accurate, according to Joann Lyons, a Realtor with Maggie Valley Properties. If Aldridge had left his portion of the commission on the table, it would have reduced the selling price and saved the town money. Lyons said there are several Realtors in Maggie Valley who would have done the transaction for the town pro bono.
"Upon my brokers approval I would have been more than happy to have helped them and not charged the town anything," Lyons said. "Several of us would have been happy to do that for the town. We pay town taxes so we would have been happy to save the town the money."
How did the town find out?
Another recent development in the story comes from a would-be buyer of the same property who was preempted by the town with a slightly higher offer. Mike Gaddis, a developer from Maryville, said the sellers had verbally accepted his offer of $125,000. The paperwork had been faxed to the sellers and was expected to be returned within a couple of days, Gaddis said.
In the meantime, the Maggie town board found out the sellers were considering an offer of $125,000. They called a special meeting, hired Aldridge as their real estate agent and told him to make the sellers an offer of $130,000. The town had the property under contract the next day.
"I was very upset," Gaddis said. "It is kind of bizarre how they knew what I was offering for it. That is supposed to be confidential."
Tim Barth, the Maggie Valley town manager, said the town's timing was just a lucky coincidence on their part. Barth said the town learned through casual conversation that the sellers were considering an offer of $125,000 — much less than the initial asking price — and called a special meeting to discuss it.
"We decided if somebody had made an offer of $125,000 and it was seriously being considered that we might be interested," Barth said. "We didn't know if there was a sale pending or how close the sale was." Barth said he can't remember who told the town about the $125,000 offer on the table.
On another front, Gaddis said his intentions for the property were misunderstood. In a memo to the town board, Barth wrote: "If the town does not buy the property there is no guarantee what might get built on the property. There has been mention of a 27-foot-tall ice cream cone shaped structure being built on the property and that they would sell ice-cream out of it."
Gaddis said they had the wrong guy.
"I've never been in the ice-cream business and don't want to be in the ice-cream business," Gaddis said.
Gaddis said he planned to build a professional office on the property and had already had engineers look at it.
Apparently another potential buyer interested in the property several months earlier had broached the idea of an ice-cream stand, but never made a real offer and was unconnected with Gaddis.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Hey @Oberon, this is great work. I tired it out tponight and it actually looks pretty good.
My only comments are;
- channel logos - is there a way to get them in somehow?
- If watching livetv, its great to press the back button to get to the EPG and then see the EPG overlay the live TV.
- TV buffer. - we tried to watch a recorded TV program and the fast forward seemed to get messed up somehow - it was almost like some sort of ring buffer was eceeded and the program went back to the start. I haven't played around with this enough to comment properly.
- Channel font size - the channels fonts are nice and big but it would be great to select the number of channels per page.
the frame rate issues (which used to cause me so much grief with Kodi) are now resolved, so channels start within a few seconds of selecting which is great even on 576i!
Nice work @dvblogic!


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Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley Uses Twitter to Exhibit Insanity, Illiteracy
Barack Obama used his weekly YouTube address to announce his intention to address health-care reform in the coming months, an announcement that incited Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa to make a Herculean ass of himself by raging incoherently on Twitter.
Seriously, it looks as though these rants were composed by a third grader:
"Pres Obama you got nerve while u sightseeing in Paris to tell us 'time to deliver' on health care. We still on skedul/even workinWKEND."
Are you freaking kidding?! This guy is five term United States Senator who formerly chaired the Senate Finance Committee, and he lacks the intellectual capacity to compose a coherent message using 140 characters or less on Twitter.
We've long believed that one of the best things about Twitter is that it serves to illuminate the intelligence, or lack of intelligence, of the people in the public eye who choose to use it. Say what you want about it, but Twitter does take some base literary competence to convey concise thoughts in 140 characters or less. There really is an art to it, we think.
With that said, Chuck Grassley has proven himself to be an illiterate jackass.
Big thanks to Gawker commenter/liveblogger extraordinaire for tipping us to Grassley's tweets.


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Nigeria upset South Korea for rare World Cup winComments
Nigeria took their chances against the run of play on Wednesday to beat South Korea 2-0 for rare success at the women's World Cup to set themselves up to advance to the next stage of the tournament in France.
A first half own goal at the Stade des Alps and a breakaway attack, brilliantly finished by Asisat Oshoala, ensured the Africa champions only their fourth win in eight World Cup finals appearances and a chance to go to the second round for just a second time.
The Koreans, beaten 4-0 by hosts France in the tournament opener last Friday, are all but out of contention after a surprise setback in their second Group A game.
After weathering Korea's early attacks, Nigeria went ahead just before the half hour mark when defender Kim Do-yeon miscued an effort to try to clear a long ball through the middle and steered it past her goalkeeper Kim Min-jung, who had come rushing out of her goal and was stranded.
There was a lengthy Video Assistant Referee review to see whether Nigeria's captain Desire Oparanozie might have brushed the ball with her hand as she headed to the goal but there was no conclusive evidence to rule out the goal.
Korea were pulled back for offside when they found the net in the 58th minute before a Nigeran counter attack saw Oshoala, a three-time African women's Footballer of the Year, ran half the length of the field, brushed past a defender, rounded the goalkeeper and squeezed the ball home from an almost improbable angle.
She might have scored in similar fashion just two minutes after the 75th minute goal but a heavy first touch saw the opportunity slip away.
Nigeria lost their opening game 3-0 to Norway in Reims on Saturday.


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Barack Obama and all pro-abortion members of Congress have the blood of these babies on their hands.
The War on Baby Girls: Part 1 – Undercover in Texas
Sign the petition NOW to stop the killing of girls, just because they are girls! http://www.ProtectOurGirls.com
Over 100 millions girls are missing today. These girls were victims of gendercide. The war on baby girls begins in the womb.
AUSTIN, May 29 — Today, Live Action released a new undercover video showing a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Austin, TX encouraging a woman to obtain a late-term abortion because she was purportedly carrying a girl and wanted to have a boy. The video is first in a new series titled "Gendercide: Sex-Selection in America," exposing the practice of sex-selective abortion in the United States and how Planned Parenthood and the rest of the abortion industry facilitate the selective elimination of baby girls in the womb.
"I see that you're saying that you want to terminate if it's a girl, so are you just wanting to continue the pregnancy in the meantime?" a counselor named "Rebecca" offers the woman, who is purportedly still in her first trimester and cannot be certain about the gender. "The abortion covers you up until 23 weeks," explains Rebecca, "and usually at 5 months is usually (sic) when they detect, you know, whether or not it's a boy or a girl." Doctors agree that the later in term a doctor performs an abortion, the greater the risk of complications.
The Planned Parenthood staffer suggests that the woman get on Medicaid in order to pay for an ultrasound to determine the gender of her baby, even though she plans to use the knowledge for an elective abortion. She also tells the woman to "just continue and try again" for the desired gender after aborting a girl, and adds, "Good luck, and I hope that you do get your boy."
"The search-and-destroy targeting of baby girls through prenatal testing and abortion is a pandemic that is spreading across the globe," notes Lila Rose, founder and president of Live Action. "Research proves that sex-selective abortion has now come to America. The abortion industry, led by Planned Parenthood, is a willing participant."
Six studies in the past four years indicate that there are thousands of "missing girls" in the U.S., many from sex-selective abortion. The U.K., India, Australia, and other countries ban sex-selective abortion, but the U.S., save for three states, does not. On Wednesday, Congress will debate the Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act (PRENDA), which would ban sex-selective abortions nationally.
"Planned Parenthood and their ruthless abortion-first mentality is the real 'war on women'," says Rose. "Sex-selective abortion is gender discrimination with lethal consequences for little girls."
The complete, unedited video and transcript can be viewed at http://www.ProtectOurGirls.com, a hub of research and information on sex-selective abortions.
Live Action is a youth led movement dedicated to building a culture of life and ending the human rights abuse of abortion. They use new media to educate the public about the humanity of the unborn and investigative journalism to expose threats against the vulnerable and defenseless.
For further information, please contact Dan Wilson or Jameson Cunningham with Shirley & Banister Public Affairs at (703) 739-5920 or (800) 536-5920 and email at email@example.com
More information at LiveAction.org.
Follow us, donate and help us stay on-line.


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Vol. LXI, No. 45
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Bouza-Shannon. Amy Bouza, daughter of Mary Lugos of Mount Pocono, Pa. and Danny Bouza of West Islip, N.Y., to Tom Shannon, son of Tom and Helen Shannon of Princeton.
The bride and groom are graduates of the University of Delaware.
The bride is a project administrator with the Novo Nordisk Corporation in Plainsboro. The groom is a sales executive with the SimCorp Corporation in Manhattan. An August 8, 2008 wedding is planned at the Nassau Inn in Princeton.
The couple will reside in Princeton.
Brouillat-Spiegel. Guillemette Brouillat, daughter of Jean Michel Brouillat and stepdaughter of Emmanuelle Brouillat of Andrézieux-Bouthéon, France, to Adam Spiegel, son of Phyllis Spiegel of Plainsboro and Stanley Spiegel of Scottsdale, Ariz.
Scott Gelfand, licensed by the state of California to perform weddings, officiated at the October 13 wedding at a private estate in Sonoma.
The bride's mother, Francoise Brouillat, nee Andre, is deceased.
The couple, both avid yacht racers, met during a race in Solomon's Island, Md. in July 2005.
The bride, 34, is an IT professional with Wells Fargo. She graduated summa cum laude and received a B.S. degree in physics and mathematics from Towson University in Baltimore.
The groom, 44, is a 1981 graduate of Princeton High School and earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA. He is chief financial officer of Vectrant Technologies, Inc., a venture-backed medical diagnostics company.
The bride's father is an architect; her stepmother is a cultural attache of Andrézieux-Bouthéon. The groom's mother is a public relations consultant and writer. His father is a retired menswear executive.
The Spiegels live, work, and sail in San Francisco.
Sisti-Wolanin. Karen Ellen Sisti, daughter of Janice Shannon of Manasquan, N.J. and G. Patrick Sisti of Indian Lakes, N.Y., to Peter Michael Wolanin, son of Barbara Wolanin of Bethesda, Md. and Thomas Wolanin of Arlington, Va., on Saturday, October 13. The ceremony and the reception were held at Prospect House on the campus of Princeton University. The Hon. Margaret Karcher officiated.
Kristin Haas, the bride's sister, served as her best woman. Andrew Wolanin, the groom's brother, was the best man. Madison Mazzola, the bride's daughter, served as bridesmaid. Tyler Haas and Shannon Haas, nephew and niece of the bride, played the cello and viola respectively before the ceremony.
The bride is a graduate of Thomas Edison State College with a B.A. in Social Sciences, and is currently a master's student at Rutgers University in the program in Educational Statistics. She works as the college administrator for the Rockefeller College at Princeton University.
The groom graduated cum laude as a member of the class of 1994 at Princeton University with an A.B. in physics, received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and was a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton University in the Department of Molecular Biology. He works as a senior scientist at Signum Biosciences in Monmouth Junction, and is a member of the Princeton Environmental Commission.
The couple live in Princeton Borough.
Town Topics® may be purchased on Wednesday mornings at the following locations: Princeton McCaffreys, Coxs, Kiosk (Palmer Square), Krauszers (State Road), Olives, Speedy Mart (State Road), Wawa (University Place); Hopewell Village Express; Rocky Hill Wawa (Route 518); Pennington Pennington Market.
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text:
It's Complicated: Marrying Someone with Adult Children
- Ron L. Deal smartstepfamilies.com
- 2013 15 Mar
Most people are very surprised to learn that adult stepfamilies, that is, those that are formed in the second-half of life and include adult stepchildren, have just as many transitions as stepfamilies with younger children. Some of the transitional issues are different, but many are the same.
Lorain, a reader of my monthly E-Magazine for stepfamilies, wrote asking how she might strengthen her relationship with her 19, 24, and 26 year-old stepchildren. "I was 49 when I married for the first time; my husband was 55. His first wife died a couple years before we met. My husband kept his children up to date about our relationship and things were pretty civil until we married. His oldest daughter cried loudly through the entire wedding ceremony. A few months later one of the children asked how my husband's will was structured implying that I shouldn't get anything. From there things have continued to go downhill at a rapid pace."
Lorain's experience is not uncommon, nor is her idealistic assumption that a marriage with adult children who no longer live in the home will not be impacted by the dynamics of loss and loyalty. Thankfully, adult children and stepparents do not have the same power battles that younger stepfamilies experience because the stepparent is not trying to get the children to pick up their socks or choose better friends. But adult stepchildren and older stepparents still have many emotional issues to work through, feel threatened by each other, and struggle with how the new marriage will impact familiar family relationships. Finding peace takes effort on both sides.
The New Couple
When Daniel's 35 year-old son told him that he "just wanted him to be happy" the widower assumed his son was giving him permission to remarry. He wasn't. What the son meant was, "I would hope that mom's memory will keep you happy enough." Daniel assumed he had his son's blessing and got married. His son's withdraw from contact alerted him to the problem at hand.
As an older parent and stepparent you must realize that adult stepchildren—despite their age—frequently feel:
- fearful of being abandoned or isolated from their only remaining parent. Unfortunately, they have already tasted grief in a very real way; your marriage may renew or intensify this sadness.
- loyal to their original family. Maintaining a strong family identity is important for adult children. Accepting a stepparent means the established family ties and special family holidays and celebrations must stretch to make room for newcomers. This isn't easy and frankly it hurts. Please don't take this personally—it's not really about you. It's about home no longer feeling like home.
- disloyal toward the divorced or deceased parent and guilty about letting the stepparent in.
- jealous and replaced by their parent's new partner. They may have been the "apple of their parent's eye" but now the stepparent holds the key to the parent's heart (and time and energy).
- concerned about the family finances. Money issues are common and must be addressed. Adult stepchildren have a right to know how their family inheritance is going to be managed (this is not "greed") and you should be proactive in addressing these matters with the children so their fears can be put to rest.
- resentful that their children, the grandchildren, may not receive as much time and energy from their parent as anticipated. Especially when one parent has died adult children may invest heavily in wanting their children to spend time with the grandparent. Your marriage threatens this and creates another loss for everyone.
As a new couple you must apply patience and understanding to these strong emotions. Do not be offended by them. When confronted with difficult responses from adult children, assume a humble position and listen to their fears and concerns. Accept them where they are and try to be responsive to their needs for information (especially about financial matters), emotional contact, and time as they adjust to yet another family transition they didn't seek out.
Adult Stepchildren
It is very important that you begin by acknowledging your own strong emotions about your parent's remarriage. The feelings mentioned above are very common; if you don't take ownership and responsibility of them, they may lead you into withdrawal, criticism, or hurtful behavior.
Without question, a parent's remarriage ripples through the generations of your family. It may take a great deal of time for you to open your heart to a stepparent and their extended family. Don't feel compelled to feel love for them, but strive to act in loving ways. Resist the urge to withdraw in anger or judgment. And finally, be sure to acknowledge that your parent has legitimate needs and desires that include pursuing a dating or marriage partner. Doing so does not diminish the important of your other parent, your family history, or their relationship with you.
New Beginnings
I strongly encourage both adult stepchildren and the new couple to educate themselves about stepfamily living. There is a labyrinth of emotion and practical transitions to work through and it takes understanding and effort by both generations. But it can be done. That's the beautiful thing about love—there's always room for one more!
This article originally appeared at SmartStepFamilies.com.
Ron L. Deal is president of Smart Stepfamilies™, director of blended family ministries for FamilyLife®, a popular conference speaker on marriage and family matters, and author/coauthor of a series of DVD's and books for stepfamilies including The Smart Stepfamily, The Remarriage Checkup (with David H. Olson), The Smart Stepmom (with Laura Petherbridge), The Smart Stepdad, and his latest Dating and the Single Parent. Learn more at www.smartstepfamilies.com.
Publication date: March 15, 2013


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ASC:Law's Andrew Crossley is suspended, bankrupt, unemployed
Although, unfortunately, this feast of common sense does not take place here in the US, I hope that this sanctioning will send shivers down domestic trolls' spines, especially since Mr. Crossley's suspension was not the worst of his foes. In addition to that, he went bankrupt, and his reputation was completely destroyed. We do not see similar outcomes in the US at this time, because the speculative invoicing scam started in Great Britain much earlier, and giving the similarities between the British and the US judicial systems, the end of copyright trolling legal plague in the US is inevitable, in my opinion: we will get there sooner or later.
Meanwhile stay strong, educate yourself, and do not feed the trolls. Some settlements are inevitable: I understand that a teacher accused of downloading teen porn is risking too much even if he is innocent. Yet if you settle just out of irrational fear and do not make any effort to educate yourself and understand that trolls simply bluff, and that in 99% of cases they cannot do anything to you beyond harassment, settling is a bad service to society.
The news has been already widely covered, so I better stop here and let you read these reviews:
- Torrent Freak: ACS:Law Anti-Piracy Lawyer Suspended For 2 Years
- ISPreview: ACSLaw UK Boss Crossley Suspended for 2 Years by Disciplinary Tribunal
- ACS:Bore: ACS:LAWs Andrew Crossley suspended for TWO Years
- The Register: Crossley cops two-year suspension
- PC Pro: File-sharing ACS Law solicitor suspended
- thinkbroadband: ACS Law solicitor suspended for two years
- The Lawyer: SDT suspends ACS:Law founder for two years
- Law Society Gazette Crossley suspended for copyright infringement conduct
- theCMUwebsite.com: Sue the fans lawyer suspended for two years
- The Inquirer ACS:Law solicitor Andrew Crossley gets suspended
- Computer act!ve: Speculating on the demise of speculative invoicing
- v3.co.uk: ACS:Law's Andrew Crossley suspended for two years
- View From Planet Jamie: The Final Chapter Of Andrew Crossley? Suspended For 2 Years
- TeckWeek Europe: Andrew Crossley Suspended For Two Years
- Forbes: As SOPA Stutters, UK's "Speculative Invoice" Solicitor Suspended
Also, I'd like to use this opportunity to send regards to our British brothers-in-arms, who diligently covered and accelerated ASC:Law's downfall:
For the reference, here are the charges vs. Andrew Crossley brought by SDT:
- Allowed his independence to be compromised;
- Acted contrary to the best interests of his clients;
- Acted in a way that was likely to diminish the trust the public places in him or in the legal profession;
- Entered into arrangements to receive contingency fees for work done in prosecuting or defending contentious proceedings before the Courts of England and Wales except as permitted by statute or the common law;
- Acted where there was a conflict of interest in circumstances not permitted, in particular because there was a conflict with those of his clients;
- Used his position as a Solicitor to take or attempt to take unfair advantage of other persons being recipients of letters of claim either for his own benefit or for the benefit of his clients;
I do not believe that the UK and the US judicial systems are significantly different: at least some of these charges should be applicable to our domestic crooks (and some additional charges — not implausible at all). Pity we do not have a central authority like Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal here, though there are some authorities that oversight attorneys' conduct. Here is one for Illinois. I urge everyone to find similar organizations in states where trolls are licensed and overwhelm those organizations with complaints.
The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal's judgement is now published:


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Groups ponder overhaul of Tahoe snowmobile rules
For more information:
Contact the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit at 530-543-2600.
Can skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers and other interested groups work together to craft new over-snow vehicle boundaries and restrictions for National Forest land in the Lake Tahoe Basin?
The U.S. Forest Service wants them to try. But it is committed to reviewing existing boundaries and rules if they won't.
A number of groups met with a Forest Service facilitator Feb. 1 and were asked if they want to craft one of several alternatives that would undergo an environmental review and be considered for adoption. The groups must report back with their answer and possibly a framework to guide their efforts by early March.
"We're hopeful some of these people will come together and have an interest in developing a proposal we could analyze, basically a community-based proposal," said Cheva Heck, public affairs specialist for Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.
"The idea is that maybe we can end up with a proposal that comes closer to making everyone happy and improves recreation opportunities for everyone. But we will do a process regardless of what they decide."
The Forest Service has three options as part of its review of over-snow vehicle restrictions.
It could consider the community-based alternative, which would be one of several alternatives developed and considered; move forward with a full review without a community-based alternative; or simply republish the existing over-snow vehicle use map and not make any changes.
"We would prefer to see a proposal come in from the community," Heck said.
Open for discussion are the boundaries, rules and restrictions governing where snowmobiles are and are not allowed in the basin, and the adequacy of facilities such as parking areas and trailheads.
This promises to potentially be the first major review of over-snow vehicle use in Lake Tahoe Basin in more than two decades.
Snowmobiles are not allowed in designated wilderness areas. But they are allowed in about half of the remaining National Forest land in the basin — a percentage that some want increased and others want reduced.
Greg McKay, president of Tahoe Sierra Snowmobiling Club, said his group is interested in participating because of the chance for a long-term agreement. He praised the Forest Service for encouraging collaboration that could lead to a better outcome for everyone.
"We're willing to discuss this and sit down and see if some reasonable compromises can be achieved. I give it a 50-50 chance that it will produce good results," McKay said.
Bob Rowen, vice president of advocacy for Snowlands Network, an advocacy group for skiers and snowshoers, said a lot is at stake.
"User conflict, environmental issues, safety issues, sustainability issues, socioeconomic issues, but they're all relevant to one issue. To what extent should OSVs be restricted in the basin," Rowen said.
Restrictions could mean closing more of the National Forest off to snowmobiles, restricting them to roads or trails or prohibiting the oldest, most polluting models of snowmobiles, Rowen said.
Snowlands already is pushing for non-motorized designations for five square miles of land near Chickadee Ridge off Mount Rose Highway and the riparian meadows on either side of Blackwood Canyon.
"I think everybody recognizes the collaborative approach is a good way to get closer to the right and final result. Everybody's eager to participate, cautiously optimistic," Rowen said.
That feeling was shared by Amy Granat, managing director of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association.
"If we come to the table with the best of intentions, hopefully we can leave with the best of plans," Granat said.
"Do I believe we can find room and appropriate places for everyone? I have to go into the process thinking that we can. I am encouraged that the Forest Service is bringing the community together and saying, 'Find an alternative we can support.' Now it's on us."
The process would conclude with an environmental review of any alternatives that are developed. It is estimated to take about 18 months.
Discussions will include more than skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers who are looking to carve out big enough boundaries and adequate access and facilities for their own recreational interests and preferences.
It also will include the general public, businesses, local governments and other groups such as chambers of commerce and visitor's authorities — all of whom have a stake in the outcome.
"If a proposal comes to us, we want something with broad-based support," Heck said. "There will be a lot of interest in this. We're looking for a broad-based, diverse group to come up with a plan for where we should go."
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Einstein's 'God Letter' to Be Sold On Ebay
A letter written by famed physicist Albert Einstein, which contains in it his views on God and the Bible, is expected to fetch millions of dollars in an online auction later this month.
"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish. No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this," the letter states, according to an English translation by Joan Stambaugh as found on the auctioneer's Ebay page.
The original, handwritten letter is composed in German and is accompanied by the original envelope it was sent in. Einstein sent the letter, which is written on Princeton University letterhead, to Eric B. Gutkind on January 3, 1954 concerning Gutkind's book, Choose Life: The Biblical Call to Revolt.
In the letter, Einstein not only explains his views of God and the Bible but also his views on the spiritual position of the Jewish people.
"For me the Jewish religion like all other religions is an incarnation of the most childish superstitions," Eintstein wrote. "And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people. As far as my experience goes, they are also no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything 'chosen' about them."
Auction Cause, the agency managing the sale of the letter, says the letter has been stored in a temperature, light and humidity controlled environment since it was last purchased. It is currently being held in a museum, though it is not on display.
According to the website for Guinness World Records, the world record for the highest price paid for a single signed letter was set in 2009 when a letter written by George Washington to his nephew in 1787 was purchased for $3.2 million. The starting price on the Einstein letter is $3 million.
"For something that's so unique as this piece there are not a lot of comparables. And given the wide range of interest it's received, we expect it to do quite well as it touches on religious, scientific and cultural discussions," Eric Gazin, president of Auction Cause, told The Christian Post on Wednesday.
Gazin says his organization chose to sell the item on Ebay instead of at a traditional auction house because the Internet auction site has the "largest marketplace" and the "greatest potential to sell for the highest price." He has previously sold items to billionaires on Ebay, he says, and conducting the auction through the website allows bidders in other countries to participate in it as well.
While the current owner desires to remain anonymous, he or she apparently has a specific hope for where the letter will end up.
"It is the strong hope and desire of the current owner that the new owner will be in a position to publicly display it, perhaps at a university or a museum that has visitors who would be interested in seeing this up close and in person," said Gazin.
Those interested in purchasing the letter must go through a prequalification process to ensure they can afford it. According to Gazin, "numerous" prequalification applications have already been filed, although he did not give the official number. The auction will begin Oct. 8 and run through Oct. 18.


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BlackBerry today struck a blow against one of its most bitter rivals: American Idol host Ryan Seacrest.
Only one day after BlackBerry severed ties with "global creative director" and singer-songwriter Alicia Keys, the smartphone maker says that a company founded by Seacrest infringed on its rights in making an iPhone case that copies BlackBerry's distinctive keyboard.
The patent lawsuit (PDF) is filed in US District Court in Northern California against Typo Products, co-founded by CEO Laurence Hallier and Ryan Seacrest, whose credentials include serving as chairman of The Ryan Seacrest Foundation and host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest. Seacrest and Hallier reportedly invested more than $1 million in Typo.
BlackBerry, which announced a quarterly operating loss of $4.4 billion last month, begins its lawsuit with a recitation of the innovations that helped it rise to former glory.
"BlackBerry revolutionized the mobile communications industry," BlackBerry wrote. "Its innovative, cutting-edge products changed the way millions of people around the world connect, converse, and share digital information."
More to the point, "BlackBerry's innovations in keyboard design have given rise to broad intellectual property rights, including design patents, utility patents, and trade dress protection."
Those designs were brazenly stolen by Seacrest and gang, BlackBerry alleged. The resulting product, the Typo Keyboard for iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S, was recently announced and can be pre-ordered for $99.
"[I]nstead of developing its own keyboard design, Typo chose to copy BlackBerry's iconic keyboard design as embodied in, among others, BlackBerry's Q10 smartphone, seeking to trade on BlackBerry's commercial recognition and Goodwill," BlackBerry alleged. "Indeed, Typo has acknowledged its copying of BlackBerry's iconic keyboard." The aggrieved mobile device manufacturer quoted an interview Seacrest gave to CNN:
Interviewer: So it's the best thing about a BlackBerry, within the iPhone.
Ryan Seacrest: That's kind of how this came to fruition.
BlackBerry further pointed to a spot on Typo's website where the company says "many of our friends and colleagues carried two phones: for typing and correspondence and an iPhone for virtually everything else. One night, we went out to dinner and both had our phones on the table. Two people, four phones!"
This, said BlackBerry, is evidence that "the co-founders of Typo, Laurence Hallier and Ryan Seacrest, created the Typo Keyboard specifically to replace their BlackBerry devices with a physical keyboard copied from a BlackBerry."
BlackBerry alleged infringement of patents for a "Hand-held electronic device with a keyboard optimized for use with the thumbs," a "Ramped-key keyboard for a handheld mobile communication device," and a design patent for a handheld electronic device.
The Typo Keyboard Case does indeed look similar to BlackBerry keyboards. Here's the Typo:
And here is the BlackBerry Q10:
BlackBerry said Typo should have to give BlackBerry "any and all profits earned as a result of their unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices," and asked for punitive damages.
"This is a blatant infringement against BlackBerry's iconic keyboard, and we will vigorously protect our intellectual property against any company that attempts to copy our unique design," BlackBerry Chief Legal Officer Steve Zipperstein said in an announcement on BlackBerry's website.
Typo Products issued a statement, saying that "Blackberry's claims against Typo lack merit and we intend to defend the case vigorously. We are excited about our innovative keyboard design, which is the culmination of years of development and research."
Seacrest, who was last seen kissing "Wrecking Ball" singer Miley Cyrus at midnight on Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2014, could not be reached for comment because he got rid of his BlackBerry, and we don't have the number for his Typo-equipped iPhone.


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Cisco has now officially closed one of its largest acquisitions ever. Back in March, Cisco announced a $5 billion bid to acquire video software vendor NDS. The acquisition is now a done deal, clearing all the required regulatory and shareholder approvals worldwide.
NDS is now going to be absorbed into the Video and Collaboration Group at Cisco that is led by Marthin De Beer. The former CEO of NDS Dr. Abe Peled, is now the senior vice president and chief strategist for Cisco's Video and Collaboration Group.
With the NDS technology in-hand Cisco now has a more robust end to end offering in the service provider video space.
"Simply put, almost everyone loves video," Jesper Anderson, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider Video Technology Group, said in a blog post. "The video entertainment industry is in the midst of a major market transition with consumers demanding high quality video experiences that are inherently more immersive, engaging, mobile, and social."
The NDS technology will complement Cisco's Videoscape TV services delivery platform. Cisco first announcedvideoscape back in January of 2011 at the Consumer Electronics Show.
While Cisco is pushing forward on video, the company hasn't had the best of success in other consumer oriented products in recent years. Cisco acquired the Flip camera business for $590 million and then ended up closing that business in 2011. Cisco has also failed with its Cius tablet, which also fell under the chopping block.
Other video focused efforts at Cisco however have pushed forward. On the enterprise side, Cisco acquired telepresence vendor Tandberg for $3.3 billion in 2010 and has been expanding that platform ever since. In March of this year Cisco rolled out new video capabilitiesthat leverage Tandberg technologies.
Cisco also continues to have a strong stake in the set top cable box business. Back in 2005, Cisco acquired set-top box maker Scientific Atlanta for $6.9 billion.
Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.


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For many Vancouverites in the city April is the last quiet month before the Summer tourist season begins, we are sure that many of you are busy planning your trips and it is likely that you maybe visiting us as via a stopover on your Alaskan Cruise.
The majority of the Cruise ships dock into Vancouver very early in the morning (usually docking at Canada Place around 7am) this means that the majority of the Cruise Ship guests have quite some time to kill due to Checking in time being 4pm. So what can you do to utilize your time until your room is ready? Below we will have some helpful tips and advice on how to organize your day efficiently.
There is no doubt that many of you will be lugging some heavy luggage with you, well worry not, after we have completed the Check In procedure – we will happily place your bags in secure and safe storage, if the room happens to be ready before you return to the hotel, we will do our very best to have your luggage in your room ready and waiting for you on your return.
Below we have some excellent suggestions on what you can do in the time between arrival and checking in to your room.
Its early, way to early for many, but here you are checking in at 7am – you are maybe tired and highly likely that you will be hungry too….so why not find yourself somewhere to go to satisfy your hunger…here are our recommendations for an excellent Breakfast.
The Elbow Room is quite an experience, not only does it have a huge Breakfast but you will be greeted with some Sassy Staff! What makes the Elbow Room a hit eatery in Vancouver, it isn't just the yummy food, it is its reputation for some very funny and very rude staff – and please do not be alarmed, this is exactly what it is known for. If you have a reputation for quick wit, humour and Sarcasm and love a good old fashioned cooked breakfast – then this IS the place for you. Get fed and enjoy the ride, its a very amusing experience – Good Luck!
With locations on Davie St and Denman Street – this breakfast joint is a huge hit in the city, with great food and great staff it has been delighting hungry patrons for many years, but get there early, it can be a very very busy restaurant and for good reason as it is an excellent well known institution of the West End.
A cute 1950s Diner on Bute and Davie, open from 8am till the early hours of the morning, it has an extensive Breakfast Menu, excellent comfort Canadiana style foods such as a variety of tasty Burgers, Sandwiches and good old fashioned meals such as Meatloaf, Fish and Chips and more…!
Big Bus is an excellent way of utilizing your time while you are waiting on the room. You can purchase your tickets at the Front Desk and better still, the stop is just a 30 second walk away around the corner on Thurlow St, where the next stop on the Tour is Granville Island.
Helpful Tip We recommend that you purchase a 2 DAY HOP ON HOP OFF pass as it will save you money, and we advise that you do a full round trip tour of the city in one trip and then on the second loop, use the HOP ON HOP OFF service that the ticket provides so you can see some major attractions such as Granville Island, Gastown and Chinatown.
If you are heading down to Granville Island, you can get there by taking the FALSE CREEK FERRIES, these are cute little boats that will transport you to the island and also to various destinations along False Creek such as The Maritime Museum, Science World and the Olympic Village.
False Creek Ferries also offer full sightseeing tours all along False Creek, we feel that this is a trip well worth doing so check it out!
If you have the energy and you are in the need to stretch the old legs, well just head South down the hill on Thurlow St and head down to the Sea Wall and Sunset Beach – head West towards English Bay, along the way you will experience stunning views of the ocean and Bowen Island in the distance and the Iconic Inukshuk!
Here you will be at the famous downtown Beach that is English Bay, you should reach this area in around 15 mintues or so, if you still want to carry on further – another 10 minutes farther along you will reach the beginnings of Stanley Park (nearby are the Tennis Courts and above them are the Nesting Herons) – stunning to see!
For further reading on Vancouver http://www.venturevancouver.com/
And Tourism Vancouver http://www.tourismvancouver.com/


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DES MOINES, Iowa — Most Iowa fans will spend Wednesday morning debating the ins and outs of the team's first NCAA tournament game in eight years.
Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery will be in an Iowa City hospital with his son.
The highlight of McCaffery's professional career at Iowa has coincided with a serious family health issue. McCaffery's 13-year-old son, Patrick, will have surgery to remove a thyroid tumor just hours before Iowa (20-12) and fellow No. 11 seed Tennessee (21-12) tip off in a First Four game in Dayton, Ohio.
McCaffery said Sunday that he planned to fly to Dayton with his team, return to Iowa City for Patrick's surgery and go back to Ohio in time to coach against the Volunteers.


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Hi gang! I'm back writing recipes, did you miss me? 🙂
To make up for my extended absence I asked you lovely lot on instagram, twitter and facebook to send me your recipe requests. I picked one at random, out of a bobble hat no less…and the request was for me to "make something veery interesting with Red Cabbage – lots of it!"
So, here goes, I hope it's exciting enough for you N'ham Youth Theatre x
Thanks so much to all of you who submitted ideas – I will be picking a recipe at random again soon so if you would like to put an idea forward please get in touch via facebook, instagram or twitter using the hashtag #askmim – you can also use it for any foodie questions or conundrums you need help with.
Happy cooking xxx
Red cabbage cobbler
Serves 4 – 6
1 tablespoon olive oil
20g butter
150g – 200g shallots, peeled and quartered
1 sweet potato or around 200g of diced sweet potato, pumpkin, butternut squash (or a combination)
1 tablespoon of plain flour
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon juniper berries
1 red cabbage, about 1 kg, finely shredded
300ml red wine
couple of sprigs of thyme and rosemary (if they're kicking about in the garden/on the window ledge/at the back of the fridge)
1 bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick
2 heaped teaspoons of cranberry sauce
2 heaped teaspoons of Dijon mustard
For the cobbles
50g butter
200g plain flour
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
50g pecan nuts, chopped
100ml milk
lemon juice
Optional extras
100g feta cheese or 6 chipolata sausages
Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds
Chopped parsley
1. Heat the oil and butter in a really large saucepan over a medium heat. Throw in the shallots and fry for 5 minutes so they're starting to soften. Next chuck in the sweet potato or squash, keep frying for another 5 minutes, then add the tablespoon of flour. Stir in the red cabbage, garlic, juniper berries, red wine and 300ml of water. Mix really well scraping the bottom of the pan to make sure the liquid lifts off all the flavour that's caught there.
2. Turn the heat down to low and tuck the cinnamon stick, bay leaf and herbs into the cabbage, cover with a lid and leave to simmer for 1 hour.
3. Shortly before the hour is up, make your cobbles: Rub the flour and butter together with your finger tips – you know, till it looks all lumpy like fresh breadcrumbs. Add the chopped pecans, bicarbonate of soda, tiny squeeze of lemon juice and season with salt and black pepper. Pour in the milk, stir then knead just enough to bring the dough together into a ball. On a floured surface press the dough flat (about 3cm thick) with your hands. Cut it into squares or triangles or if you're feeling super fancy use a cookie cutter to make circles, stars, anything you like. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
4. When the cabbage is ready either leave it in the pan (if your pan is oven safe) or transfer it to an oven proof dish. Pick out and discard the bay leaf and cinnamon stick then stir in the dijon mustard and cranberry sauce, taste and season with salt and pepper accordingly. Top the cabbage with the cobbles, brush them with milk or beaten egg and pop the whole thing in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until the cobbles are starting to brown on the top and are cooked through.
5. Serve! I had this just with some chopped parsley over the top but have also tried it with some feta cheese crumbled over in the last 5 – 10 minutes of cooking then scattered over some toasted seeds before dishing up, which was ace, but would also be smashing with a pile of cooked chipolatas. A green salad with a sharp vinaigrette goes really well with this too.


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text: Type All Blog posts Instagram Twitter Youtube AllBlog postsInstagramTwitterYoutube Themes All Places and spaces Community Camps The Big Lunch The Great Big Walk Art and Creativity Food Funding and enterprise Health and Wellbeing Inclusive communities AllPlaces and spacesCommunity CampsThe Big LunchThe Great Big WalkArt and CreativityFoodFunding and enterpriseHealth and WellbeingInclusive communities Categories All Opinion Insight Guest bloggers Events Taking action AllOpinionInsightGuest bloggersEventsTaking action Country All England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales AllEnglandNorthern IrelandScotlandWales 9 groups are using #TheBigLunch funding creatively in their community @BelfastLive: https://t.co/TO81GCMmCo @TheBigLunchNI @BelfastHarbour pic.twitter.com/nLFi0GxTyI — Eden Communities (@edencommunities) October 9, 2017 'Big lunch' strengthens community links https://t.co/7BsQfwbuwU — Derry News (@DerryNow) September 27, 2017 The latest Connected Communities! https://t.co/K41sXFHyCD Thanks to contributors @CommunityNI @SuppCommunities @NICVA #socialinnovation — #TheBigLunch NI (@TheBigLunch_NI) July 31, 2017 Check out how many steps and miles our #GreatBigWalk-ers have done so far! That's no small 'feet'! #fitness #everydaybrave pic.twitter.com/DnMZjy40Ip — The Great Big Walk (@edencommunities) June 16, 2017 Day 18 = NATURE #Cornwall cross @dartmoornpa; #London get green fingers @SCCommGarden; #Wales visit Taraggan Gardens; #TeamNI blow away! pic.twitter.com/j71ZBC4GvT — The Great Big Walk (@edencommunities) June 15, 2017 Day 18: Team NI pose for the local paper with @HISNewry Head Injury support before @goQradio join them for The #GreatBigWalk pic.twitter.com/Uh9A2tjMoP — The Great Big Walk (@edencommunities) June 15, 2017 Day 17 #Highlights | Macarena @IscaWheelChair > Chats @AddactionUK > Songs @fan_neath > Poems @ACPCarnegie > Bugs + DagenJAM @growcomm pic.twitter.com/ywBHYzcn7k — The Great Big Walk (@edencommunities) June 14, 2017 As at last night, after 16 days of walking, our walkers had clocked up nearly 3 million steps! Go teams go! #GreatBigWalk pic.twitter.com/vLuJ0PFzVY — The Great Big Walk (@edencommunities) June 14, 2017 Day 16 highlights from The #GreatBigWalk: a visit to @armaghmensshed, to @RealJunkFoodSA1 and to @JustRideCycing, plus a reunion in Glasgow pic.twitter.com/W0Bd9hvxcz — The Great Big Walk (@edencommunities) June 13, 2017 Noel @CullifordHouseA Johnston, in Team N.Ireland is joining The #GreatBigWalk as a way of reinforcing how wonderful human beings can be pic.twitter.com/59mLNBwKTM — The Great Big Walk (@edencommunities) June 13, 2017


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Alaska - Tongass Nat. Forest
Seeing Alaska for the first time is a REAL adventure . You cannot come away from the trip and not appreciate how great God is and how HIs hand could create something so beautiful.
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One of the places that I have always wanted to visit is Hawaii. I've visited beaches from California to Florida and Mexico, and each of them I have found uniquely different from the other. I'd love to walk on the black volcanic sand and see the green cloaked mountains rising sharply from the sea, eat some local food, and enjoy the island life…if only for a short while.
Someday I will make it to Hawaii. But in the meantime, images of its beaches and sunsets have been the subject of a lot of my art. I'd love to climb into this scene and drift in the breeze in that hammock!
This piece was painted for a friend and brings the scenery of Hawaii to a Colorado home.


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BMW has released a free remote software update for 3.3 million vehicles.
BMW was one of the first manufacturers to deliver over-the-air upgrades in 2019 and has continued to do so ever since. Remote Software Upgrades are quickly
BMW was one of the first manufacturers to deliver over-the-air upgrades in 2019 and has continued to do so ever since. Remote Software Upgrades are quickly becoming the standard as its newer models get more and more connected. A free upgrade enabling additional functions is available for more than 3.3 million eligible automobiles worldwide beginning in mid-May.
It is compatible with over 30 models equipped with previous-generation infotainment as well as the most recent iDrive 8 fitted on newer BMWs. For example, the iX gets the QlockTwo widget, which displays the time (duh!) in writing every five minutes using a word matrix. Each matrix corner includes discretely lighted spots that signal further minutes. It is available in 16 different languages and automatically utilizes the language of the car's iDrive.
In the case of the i4, BMW IconicSounds Electric is created by Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer. Aside from that, the 8 Series has updated software to boost the Iconic Glow, a marketing phrase for the illuminated kidney grille.
This month's Remote Software Upgrade improves the Lane Keeping Assistant by detecting when the driver want to return to their lane after passing another vehicle. While doing so, the device will merely generate a haptic signal by vibrating the steering and will no longer adjust it. In that vein, the steering intervention is now smoother, since its severity is determined by how slowly or quickly the car exits the lane.
The May update to the My BMW app – which should take no more than 20 minutes to install – also includes a widget with a variety of capabilities for the home screen of iOS and Android devices. It will enable owners to execute various remote operations, such as unlocking the vehicle or turning on the temperature control, by merely pressing on the home screen.
BMW is the source.
The Boys Greatest Powers Is Love
It's no secret that, with a few notable exceptions, the supes in The Boys are a group of conceited, entitled, and egotistical individuals who will do everything to further their personal agendas. Their abilities come from Compound V, a mixture created to offer people the ability to achieve things that normal people cannot, but love is a more potent motivating factor that gives the story its core. The majority find their views anchored in love, or at least what they think to be love in some circumstances, whether it's from members of the eponymous group or the supes themselves. The series wouldn't have as much heart overall without this unadulterated feeling, and it would no longer rise above the level of being a demonstration of violence and evil schemes.
Our screens are immediately bombarded with messages about love. In the first episode, Hughie (Jack Quaid) is introduced with his devoted girlfriend Robin (Jess Salgueiro), but she is soon killed by an irresponsible A-Train (Jessie T. Usher). As he swears revenge for her passing and sets out on his mission to stop the supes, Hughie's love for Robin emerges as his motivation and the catalyst for his entire arc. Naturally, Hughie soon develops feelings for Starlight (Erin Moriarty), and this love feeds his fire to stop the evil Seven from causing destruction everywhere they go. Now, he wants to do everything he can to support her, keep her safe, and ultimately, save her. Hughie's love for her pushes him to go to depths he never dreamed he'd go, despite her persistent insistence that she doesn't need saving. He starts injecting V-24 so he can fight back against individuals who mistreat other people. On the surface, it appears that he uses it selfishly and rejects Starlight's warnings to quit putting himself in danger, but in his heart, he is acting in her best interests out of love.
In terms of selfishness, Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) is probably the most maniacal character on the show, ranking right up there with Homelander (Antony Starr), yet he has done everything for his wife, Becca, out of love for her (Shantel VanSanten). As payback for Homelander's sexual assault of Becca, which he believes caused her death, he initially starts looking for the supes. He makes every effort to locate her after learning that she is still alive, but sadly, their reunion is brief because she perishes as a result of Ryan's (Cameron Crovetti) deadly blast sent at Stormfront (Aya Cash). Butcher's troubles are far from over, as he now has a new task to complete. Ryan's safety was Becca's final request. This pledge is what ultimately leads to maybe the best illustration of love triumphing over all. In the Season 3 finale, Butcher is finally given the opportunity to eliminate Homelander with the aid of Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), but she refuses to do so in order to preserve Ryan. His ultimate objective has been to kill Homelander from the beginning, but the strength of love comes through as he defies it to carry out Becca's request. This deed demonstrates Billy Butcher's heart, despite the moments when it seemed like he only cared about himself.
The protagonists are occasionally motivated by platonic love or familial love rather than romantic love. Homelander is undoubtedly not the first person who springs to mind when considering love, as he frequently behaves selfishly. He has, on a few rare occasions, though, displayed a more tender side to his character. Ryan, Homelander's kid, is the object of his devotion in the most significant way. He hasn't always been an ideal father figure, as evidenced by the moment where he pushes Ryan over the roof, but there have been times when Antony Starr has successfully portrayed a caring father. For instance, in the most recent season finale, Homelander rushes to save Ryan when he is hurt by Soldier Boy, placing himself in danger without thinking twice. Given how narcissistic Homelander has always been, it is a little surprising to realize that he is also capable of love. Homelander has occasionally displayed emotional sensitivity, but his love for Ryan compels him to prevent his son from going through the same suffering he did as a child growing up without a father.
Mother's Milk (Laz Alonso), who is trying everything in his power to stop Soldier Boy, is another example of the extent to which a father can go in order to defend his family. After learning that Soldier Boy killed MM's family, MM is now determined to stop it from occurring to his new family, particularly his daughter. In addition to abhorring everything supes stand for, he is outraged that Todd (Matthew Gorman), a rabid supe enthusiast, is raising his daughter. MM frequently finds himself facing up against strong supers armed with weapons he knows are inadequate to stop his enemies while well conscious of the risky scenarios he is placing himself in.
Out of genuine love for his daughter, he nevertheless continues to take the threat head-on. This is one of the few instances where love isn't tainted by ego or used as a justification for moral relativism. This is demonstrated by the fact that Hughie and Butcher take V-24 without hesitation, but MM stands by his principles and declines to grant himself superhuman abilities. He is aware of the risks it poses, and he would rather fail while attempting to protect those he loves than give his daughter a negative example.
Even though the Boys universe is filled with gunfire, explosions, and bloodshed, if you look closely, you can see that love permeates everything. It appears in a variety of ways and is frequently combined with other feelings, but it dominates everything else and gives the series the heart it needs to stand out as a truly significant program.
Taika Waititi Would Return for Thor 5 on One Condition
Thor: Love and Thunder, the latest feature picture from Marvel Studios, is now in theaters! The sequel, directed by Chris Hemsworth, reunited numerous cast members from previous Thor films, including, but not limited to, Dr. Jane Foster, who discovers she can wield Thor's hammer Mjölnir, which provides her superpowers. Taika Waititi was back in charge as director. Thor's character was revitalized by the New Zealand filmmaker in 2017's Ragnarok.
If you watch Thor 4's end credits all the way through, you'll notice not only the conventional post-credit scene, but also a single but significant message: "Thor will return." Now, no new Thor solo film has been revealed, nor has Hemsworth been confirmed to appear in any upcoming MCU production. However, the actor has previously claimed that he is eager to reprise his role as the character.
What about Waititi, though? Will he return to direct the third installment of the Thor franchise?
Waititi Talks About a Possible Thor 5
Thor: Love and Thunder director Taika Waititi spoke to Insider about his reaction to the "Thor will return" message at the end of the film, stating that he was initially unaware of its inclusion.
"So, guess what? That surprised me as well. I'm not kidding. I saw it in the theater and thought, "Oh my god. Really?" "What?" Chris exclaimed. But, of course, he'll return. He's the most interesting character. I mean, I may be biased, but he's the most entertaining to watch."
Waititi also talked about what it would take for him to make another Thor picture. He added one specific requirement: Chris Hemsworth must also return.
I'm not sure what happens next. I would definitely participate, but only if Chris did. But it would have to be something unexpected and surprising for me to want to do it. What, for example, would be the new perspective? The fights and combat are good, but when it comes to the story, I'd want something unexpected. As if you were filming a $5 million film with no combat at all, just Thor on a road trip. Like "Nebraska,"
Thor sequel?
There are numerous ways in which the next Thor film might be unexpected and unforeseen. Taika Waititi, who does not appear to be one to rest on his laurels, would most likely want to continue pushing the boundaries of what Thor and his film franchise can be.
Prior to Thor: Ragnarok, the character was a stoic warrior with the occasional wisecrack or amusing quip. For Hemsworth, this attitude had become so monotonous that he was considering leaving the part. Waititi brought his signature wacky, irreverent comic flair to the franchise when he joined. Love and Thunder is very much in the same style, and may even have increased the comic factor.
The director is certainly a fan of Thor, as indicated by his comments above. Saying "He's the best character" is excellent praise, especially considering how many other wonderful Marvel characters there are. Taika Waititi listing Hemsworth's participation as a supposedly hard and fast criteria for him to make another film says a lot. But the two get along well, and Waititi looks to know how to get the greatest performance out of the actor.
It should be noted that Waititi had previously been tight-lipped regarding his role in a possible sequel. He appears to have softened his tone after making those remarks.
As for the promise that the character will return, it's curious that Marvel would include that without first consulting with Waititi or Hemsworth, but as the former stated, "of course he'll be back." After all, as previously stated, Hemsworth has stated his willingness to reprise his role as the Asgardian god of thunder.
Why Taika Waititi Limited the Guardians in Thor 4
Following the theatrical release of Thor: Love and Thunder, reviews from fans and critics have been varied in terms of its comic tone and the disproportionate screentime given to its all-star cast. While some audience members wished for more of Natalie Portman's Mighty Thor and Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher, others felt that some characters, such as the Guardians of the Galaxy, were underutilized.
Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, first met the Guardians of the Galaxy in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, shortly after Thanos killed Heimdall and Loki.
The connection between Thor and the Guardians team was one of the film's best crossover moments, and Thor travels to Nidavellir alongside Rocket Raccoon (aka "Sweet Rabbit") and Groot in search of a Thanos-killing weapon.
When Thor chooses to join the Guardians at the end of Avengers: Endgame, many fans anticipated an As-guardians of the Galaxy project or more of this successful crossover before Thor: Love and Thunder. Unfortunately, that is not what occurred.
Reality vs. Expectation
The rest of this article includes Thor: Love and Thunder spoilers.
Fans were naturally pleased to learn that the Guardians of the Galaxy would play a role in Thor: Love and Thunder, given their interactions in both Infinity War and Endgame.
People had yet to see Thor or Star-Lord and company in Phase 4, and because early promotion for Love and Thunder emphasized Thor's hilarious encounters with Star-Lord, audiences expected these bits and exchanges to be only the tip of the comedic, cosmic iceberg.
However, the majority of what was revealed in the Thor 4 trailers and TV advertisements was the extent of the Guardians' role in the film.
Due to the casting of Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, and Russell Crowe in the project, few expected the Guardians to be a part of the entire film due to its already crowded call sheet. Few expected the funny ragtag group to be reduced to background characters with less to say than the unremarkable alien ruler who gave Thor his screaming goats.
Why Did Thor 4 Require More Star-Lord?
Before the Guardians parted ways with Thor, each member of the cast had a brief exchange of words, with only Star-Lord having a genuine chat with the film's star.
Even though Quill was essential in lowering Thor's emotional shields and choosing love over heartache, the situation of their own relationship lacked context.
Quill certainly feels the urge to compete with the God of Thunder in Infinity War. Their final scene in Endgame seems to lay the setting for a comedic power struggle about who is in charge of the crew.
However, in Love and Thunder, while Thor is still seeking for dominance, Quill appears to have surrendered himself to Thor's pranks and passively tolerates him.
Again, this is a 180-degree turn from Infinity War and Endgame, where Quill was starving for recognition. Clearly, their dynamic has shifted, but that shift is never articulated. It not only denies the audience that amusing relationship, but also the potential to relate back to previous MCU flicks.
Also, given Gorr's danger to all gods, it's strange that Quill wasn't brought in for that phase of the plot. Quill did give up his godlike abilities in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but given his heritage, he had a chance to contribute to the tale.
Why Did Thor 4 Require More Rockets?
Thor and Rocket formed a humorous, unusual team in Avengers: Infinity War. And, despite his own troubles, Rocket counseled Thor through Infinity War and Endgame, and even supplied the God of Thunder with a new eye.
But, other from a few quips in Love and Thunder, there was no catch-up between Thor and his "Sweet Rabbit," which was especially odd given their previous personal encounters. In fact, it would have made more sense for Rocket to be Thor's voice of reason rather than Star-Lord.
Why Did Thor 4 Need More Groot?
While Thor's armory has always been an important part of his saga, Love and Thunder established that both his hammer Mjolnir and his new ax Stormbreaker are sentient.
Given Stormbreaker's jealousy of Mjolnir in Thor 4, and the ax serving as a MacGuffin for the film's third act, it's remarkable that Groot was never reintroduced or even mentioned after sacrificing his arm to build Stormbreaker's handle.
And, while Rocket and Thor had the closest relationship in the most recent Avengers films, Groot was along for the trip. Plus, Thor is one of the only characters who understands Groot!
Why Did Taika Waititi Restrict the Guardians in Thor 4?
When asked if there was a version of Thor: Love and Thunder with more Guardians, director Taika Waititi admitted that there was.
The following is the director's statement:
"The plan was always to have one at the start and then move one. Because they have their own feature film. There was talk of having them return at the conclusion."
Waititi felt that returning as a source of reinforcements would have been too repetitive and preferred Jane instead, saying:
"The issue is, it happens in every film. No more. There will be no more cavalry at the end. So we put that notion on the back burner. We only wanted Jane to enter at the end."
Waititi has a valid point. Someone will swoop in at the last second to change the tide at a hero's darkest moment, when all hope is lost, according to a long-standing trope in cinema and television.
The issue here is that Waititi created the very cliche he stated he intended to avoid, and he also stated that the Guardians were substituted out because they wanted Jane.
Was the decision appropriate for the story being told?
Absolutely. However, by electing not to employ the Guardians at this point in the film, their brief appearance at the beginning of the film feels less significant and more like an obligation.
While the film confirmed that the Guardians would travel to other planets to assist them in their grief over the loss of their gods, the lack of the MCU's cosmic, comedic team appearing in any of that on-screen action – or even bothering to check in on their buddy Thor – makes their limited screentime all the more noticeable.
How Thor 4 Affects Infinity War, Endgame, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
The issue now is that Thor's team-up with the Guardians in Endgame will not have the same impact or enthusiasm as it had in Love and Thunder.
Because Thor's time with the crew barely moved the needle on his own voyage and finished as swiftly as it began, it will appear as an useless detour or hiatus rather than an exciting next chapter in the God of Thunder's adventure.
While Guardians director James Gunn has kept the script for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 under wraps, many expected Love and Thunder to handle some of the post-Endgame labor, allowing Vol. 3 to dive directly into its own tale.
Apart from Star-Lord mentioning his anguish for Gamora's death, there was no mention of his desire to find her Variant (which is something Endgame seemingly laid the groundwork for).
Not only will Vol. 3 need to revisit that story point, but so will Thor's departure from the Avengers and the Guardians' assistance to planets that lost their gods in Thor 4. It's almost as if they were assigned tasks to complete rather than adding to this story.
Overall, Marvel Studios granting creative flexibility to filmmakers and writers is a good thing for filmmaking, storytelling, and the Marvel brand. However, it can also be detrimental.
While the Marvel Cinematic Universe laid the scenario for the Guardians of the Galaxy to have an impact on Thor Odinson's saga, Taika clearly did not want that to happen. He preferred a Jane Foster story.
Looking at Thor: Love and Thunder through the lens of the Thor franchise, Taika's judgment is sound. The problem is that he's much bigger than that.
Thor is a prominent protagonist in the larger cinematic universe, and he was coupled with an ensemble cast whose characters played important roles in Thor's voyage in one of the biggest crossover blockbusters in cinema history.
Ignoring that, as well as the Guardians' only capability for humor and action in the cosmos, explains why their little roles in Love and Thunder were not only unsettling but also a waste.
If there's one thing Thor: The Dark World did better than Thor: Love and Thunder, it's that the first Thor sequel included events from both 2011's Thor and 2012's The Avengers into its plot.
Aside from a training montage and the presence of Stormbreaker, Thor 4 appears to have had no interest in continuing or resolving storylines introduced in Endgame.
Yes, Thor: Love and Thunder is a Thor film and a Taika Waititi film, but it has little interest in being an MCU feature, except from a few Easter eggs.
Thor: The Dark World is currently in theaters.
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text: Back All About Work-Related Asthma Occupational asthma is a lung disease in which the airways overreact to dust, vapors, gases, smoke or fumes that exist in the workplace. Occupational asthma is more likely to develop in someone who has a family history of allergies, especially to certain substances, latex, animals and flour, for example. Also, cigarette smoking increases the likelihood of developing asthma. A few of these irritants and allergens are: Chemical fumes. Workers in certain manufacturing and processing plants can be exposed to them. Animal dander, mites or airborne fungi. Veterinarians and those who work around animals are at risk. Soybeans. Farmers who grow soybeans and those who process soybeans are at risk. Flours. "Baker's asthma" can affect anyone working in a kitchen or food-processing job. Symptoms As with any form of asthma, the symptoms of occupational asthma include wheezing, a tight feeling in the chest, chronic coughing, and shortness of breath. Symptoms usually occur while the worker is exposed to a particular substance at work. In some cases, however, they may develop several hours after the person leaves work and then subside before he or she returns to the job the next day. In the early stages, symptoms usually decrease or disappear during weekends or vacations, only to recur when a person returns to work. Questions to ask If you get asthma as an adult, it's possible something in your workplace is the cause. If you answer yes to any of these questions, you may have work-related asthma and should see your doctor for diagnosis and proper treatment.: Do you get asthma attacks at work or when you're doing a certain job at your workplace? Do the attacks happen more often during the hours you're at work? Do you suffer fewer attacks when you're away from work or on vacation? Has your asthma gotten worse since you started a new job or moved to a new work area? Do you also develop allergy symptoms, such as runny or itchy nose, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing or itchy skin, when you're at work?


text:
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Start a Business
Prior to applying for a business license you must obtain zoning approval, register your business with the Clerk or Circuit Court or State Corporation Commission and obtain a Federal and State Identification Number. In addition, if you will be selling food or beverages you must obtain approval from the Gloucester County Health Department.
In accordance with the Virginia Code and Gloucester County Code all businesses must renew their license and remit payment on or before March 1st of each year.
Zoning Approval
All persons seeking to operate a business in Gloucester County, including home-based businesses, must obtain zoning approval from the Office of Planning and Zoning prior to applying for a business license.
For further information, please call 804-693-1224 or visit the Planning and Zoning department.
Your Business Plan should tell the story of your business. In short it is the who, what, when where, how and why of your business.
The following components should be part of your Business Plan:
Title Page
- Your company name, and Business Plan Date
Business Description & Vision
- Business goals and objectives
- Company vision
- History of business
- Key company principals
- Mission Statement
Target Market
- Describe how your business has a critical need in the current market
- Describe your business industry
- Identify your target market
- Who are your potential clients
Products & Services
- Describe your products and services
- Explain how you are competitive
- What do they sell for
- Describe your key managers
- Describe your legal structure
- Provide an organizational chart with an organizational description
- What types of permits do you operate on
- Who are your lenders
- Describe your sales strategy, including pricing and promotion
- How do you distribute your product
- Identify who your customers are and the demand for your product
Financial Management
New Businesses
- Estimate your start-up costs
- Provide projected balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements (1 year forward)
Existing Businesses
- Provide balance sheets and income statements (last 3 years
- Provide cash flow statements (last 12 months)
- All business equipment
- Company brochures
- Contract
- Demographics to support growth of industry
- Key employee resumes
- Lease
- Pictures of business and products
- Press articles and advertisements
Executive Summary
- Should be written last
- Should provide a snapshot of your business by explain who you are, what you do and why you do it, should be less than 2 pages.
Choose Your Business Structure
Sole Proprietor
A Sole Proprietorship is the simplest and most common structure. It is owned and run by only one individual. As the owner, you are entitled to all profits and are responsible for all your business's debts, losses and liabilities.
A Partnership exists between two or more persons who join together to carry on a trade or a business. Each individual contributes money, property, labor or skill and expects to share in the profits and losses of the business.
Corporations handle the responsibilities of the business. The corporate structure is more complex than other business structures. It requires complying with more regulations and tax requirements and usually requires more tax preparation services than either a sole proprietorship or partnership. Articles of Incorporation must be filed with the State Corporation Commission, and fees must be paid to register the corporation.
Limited Liability Companies (LLC)
Limited Liability Company owners, known as members, have "limited liability," meaning that, under most circumstances, they are not personally liable for the debts and liabilities of the LLC. To form an LLC, a member must file Articles of Organization with the State Corporation Commission.


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Hi all. I've been a bit absent from the land of language learning for a while. I've had several other projects on the go and have been generally busy.
Currently I'm working at a new job, where many of my coworkers are native Mandarin speakers. I'm hoping to revitalize my Mandarin skills over the next little while.
My first step is to do lots of listening, to revive the "natural" feeling. By this, I mean that I want the language to again feel really familiar, which is a vague feeling I get after having lots of exposure to it. I'm also hoping that lots of listening will reactivate some of the vocabulary that I've nearly forgotten.
Next is learning new vocabulary, or relearning words that are well on the way to being forgotten. For this, I'll be using a parallel text of Harry Potter. I can read through the Chinese half with mouseover translation for some of the words, and use the corresponding English paragraph to confirm that I have the right overall meaning for the sentences and paragraphs.
Since there are some really basic words that I've forgotten, I'll be delaying my speaking practice for another week or two, but then I hope to start saying more simple things. My coworkers are not used to speaking with non-native speakers, so when they hear that my accent and pronunciation are pretty decent then they just charge straight ahead with a highly technical conversation relating to work. I'm not really at the level where I can discuss embedded Linux devices and which MTD partition on the flash ROM contains the boot loader, in Chinese 😉
To that end, though, I bet there's a small subset of vocabulary that I could specifically study in order to catch on to more work-related concepts. I've found previously that a lot of these sorts of technical conversations can be mostly understood with only 20-30 new vocab words that get used all the time. Do you want to understand Economics conversations? Go learn just 30 new Economics vocab words, and I suspect you'll have most of what you need. These things follow the Pareto principle quite well, where 80% of the benefits can be had by doing only the first 20% of the work.
That's it for now. I'll try and update soon. Currently my work contract is only for 4 weeks, but I'm hoping it will be extended past that so I can continue being surrounded by Mandarin while getting paid to be there 🙂