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Quantitative Finance and Economics, 2017, 1(3): 288-299. doi: 10.3934/QFE.2017.3.288
Research article Special Issues
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Portfolio Effects of VIX Futures Index
Department of Finance and Economics, Rider University, 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
Received: , Accepted: , Published:
Special Issues: Volatility of Prices of Financial Assets
1. Baur D, Lucey B (2010) Is Gold a Hedge or a Safe Haven? An Analysis of Stocks, Bonds and Gold. Financ Rev 45: 217–229.
2. Eun C, Lee J (2010) Mean-variance convergence around the world. J Bank Financ 34: 856–870.
3. Forbes K, Rigobon R (2002) No contagion, only interdependence. J Financ 57: 2223–2261.
4. Markwat T, Kole E, Van Dijk D (2009) Contagion as a domino effect in global stock markets. J Bank Financ 33: 1996–2012.
5. Brenner M, Galai D (1989) New Financial Instruments for Hedging Changes in Volatility. Financ Anal J 45: 61–65.
6. Whaley R (1993) Derivatives on Market Volatility: Hedging Tools Long Overdue. J Deriv 1: 71–84.
7. Whaley R (2009) Understanding the VIX. J Portf Manag 35: 98–105.
8. Daigler R, Rossi L (2006) A Portfolio of Stocks and Volatility. J Invest 15: 99–106.
9. Moran M, Dash S (2007) VIX Futures and Options: Pricing and Using Volatility Products to Manage Downside Risk and Improve Efficiency in Equity Portfolios. J Trading 2: 965–105.
10. Szado E (2009) VIX Futures and Options-A Case Study of Portfolio Diversification During the 2008 Financial Crisis. J Altern Invest 12: 68–85.
11. Chen H, Chung S, Ho K (2011) The diversification effects of volatility-related assets. J Bank Financ 35: 1179–1189.
12. Warren G (2012) Can Investing in Volatility Help Meet Your Portfolio Objectives? J Portf Manag 38: 82–98.
13. Deng G, McCann C, Wang O (2012) Are VIX futures ETPs effective hedges? J Index Invest 3: 35–48.
14. Goltz F, Stoyanov S (2013) The risks of volatility ETNs: a recent incident and underlying issues. J Index Invest 4: 73–81.
15. Hill J (2013) The Different Faces of Volatility Exposure in Portfolio Management. J Altern Invest 15: 9–31.
16. Whaley R (2013) Trading volatility: At what cost? J Portf Manag 40: 95–108.
17. Alexander C, Korovilas D (2012) Understanding ETNs on VIX Futures. SSRN research paper: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2043061.
18. Campasano J, Linn M (2017) Understanding and Trading the Term Structure of Volatility. SSRN research paper: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2871616.
19. Johnson T (2017) Risk Premia and the VIX Term Structure. J Financ Quant Anal, forthcom.
20. Bahaji H, Aberkane S (2016) How rational could VIX investing be? Econ Model 58: 556–568.
21. Jung Y (2016) A portfolio insurance strategy for volatility index (VIX) futures. Q Rev Econ Financ 60: 189–200.
22. Alexander C, Korovilas D, Kapraun J (2016) Diversification with volatility products. J Int Money Financ 65: 213–235.
23. Bordonado C, Molnár P, Samdal S (2017) VIX Exchange Traded Products: Price Discovery, Hedging, and Trading Strategy. J Futures Mark 37:164–183.
24. Eraker B, Wu Y (2017) Explaining the negative returns to volatility claims: An equilibrium approach. J Financ Econ 125: 72–98.
25. Engle R (2002) Dynamic Conditional Correlation - A Simple Class of Multivariate GARCH. J Bus Econ Stat 20: 339–50.
26. Glosten L, Jagannathan R, Runkle D (1993) On the Relation between the Expected Value and the Volatility of the Nominal Excess Return on Stocks. J Financ 48: 1779–1801.
Copyright Info: © 2017, Mitchell Ratner, et al., licensee AIMS Press. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licese (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)


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Find Opticians in Midhurst on the Midhurst and Petworth Observer directory. Get reviews and contact details for each business including phone number, postcode, opening hours and photos.
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subset: commoncrawl


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The holidays are coming….and if you're heading up to visit a winery in the Spring Mountain District, we thought we'd compile some other ideas for visiting up Valley.
Stop by The Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, next to St. Helena's Library, at 1490 Library Lane: https://stevensonmuseum.org/
The City of St. Helena this year has organized "Jingle All The Way," an ice rink flanked by food trucks, Santa appearances and much more: it will take place December 1 – 28 at Lyman Park, on Main Street, across from the Post Office. More here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/st-helena-jingle-all-the-way-skating-in-lyman-park-tickets-48938182421
Why not take a stroll in our local state park? That would be Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Another idea is a visit to The Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, a water-powered mill built in 1846. More: http://napavalleystateparks.org/
Another option would be taking the Wine Train, whether around Thanksgiving or during December for "The Santa Train".
Or…of course….come visit a winery on Spring Mountain! Please call or email ahead to arrange your visit.


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An Interactive Session on 'The World of Corporate Intelligence: Fact and Fiction', 18 July 2014 – Mumba
On 18 July, Amcham Mumbai in partnership with FTI Consulting, organised a presentation followed by an interactive session on 'The World of Corporate Intelligence: Fact and Fiction'. There were presentations by Mr. Stuart Witchell, Senior Managing Director and Co-Leader, Global Risk and Investigations practice & Mr. Anuj Bugga, Managing Director, Global Risk and Investigations practice of FTI Consulting, India. They also shared some insightful case studies from India and overseas.
The event concluded with closing remarks and vote of thanks by Mr. Sanjog Adke, Investigation Head, Asia Pacific Region, NCR Corporation India Pvt. Ltd.
Some key takeaways were :
• Corporate Intelligence is not merely just a background check
• When you hire a Corporate Intelligence team make sure they are an extension of your team and not just hired professionals to complete the job.
• Why firms need CI – to gain a competitive edge and also the growing need for corporate governance.
• Litigation is time consuming & costly in India, so you might want to avail of Corporate intelligence rather than the former option
• Many American firms have their own in-house Corporate Intelligence teams
• INVESTMENT banks, Private Equity firms and MNCs are frequent users of Corporate intelligence more often than other sectors.
• Corporate Intelligence is highly confidential and they hired specialists are sometimes also asked to share their findings for a case filled in the International Court.


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Tenancy and housing
Renting a place to live
What this chapter covers
If you're renting your home, you have some minimum legal protections, the same as you do with a job. Your legal rights don't just depend on whatever agreement you have with your landlord, whether written or unwritten.
Your minimum rights cover things like how often the landlord can increase the rent, when they can come inside your place, and how many months' notice they have to give you if they want you to move out.
These minimum protections are in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 – the main piece of law that deals with tenants and landlords. This chapter tells you about those protections, and it also tells you what your legal obligations are. It includes information about:
- when you're covered by the minimum protections for tenants and when you're not
- signing an agreement with a landlord, and what has to be in the agreement
- bond, rent and other payments you might have to make
- the ongoing rights and responsibilities you and your landlord have while you're living in your place
- when and how tenancies can be ended
- resolving problems with your landlord, including by going to mediation or the Tenancy Tribunal
- getting access to social housing, and your rights as a social housing tenant.
Note: If you have no home to sleep in, and you want a home, there are a few agencies that can help you. You also have some rights to sleep outside if you choose to. See the chapter "Neighbourhood life / Begging, busking and sleeping rough" for more information on homelessness and sleeping outside.
Who's who
- Tenant – The "tenant" is you – the person renting the place from the landlord.
- Landlord – The landlord is the person or organisation you rent your place from – they're the owner. A landlord can be an individual person, or it can be a private company, a trust, a government organisation like Housing New Zealand, or a local city council. But sometimes you might deal with an agent who works for the landlord, rather than with the landlord personally – for example, the landlord might employ a property management business to deal with tenants.
- Flatmate – This isn't a legal term, but it's the word sometimes used to describe someone who's not a tenant of the property but who shares a place and shares the rent with the tenant. For more details, see "Tenants and flatmates: Who's covered when you're sharing the rent".
- Tenancy Services – This is the government agency that deals with tenants and landlords; it's part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). You can get information from Tenancy Services about your rights as a tenant – phone them on 0800 TENANCY (0800 83 62 62).


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A 33-year-old civilian employee of Canada's Defence Department has been has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and breach of trust.
Andrew Heggaton worked for the Canadian Forces Cryto Support Unit began stealing computer parts in June 2011, and continued until March 2015.
By that time it is estimated he stole about a million dollars worth of computer equipment. He had been ordering motherboards, hardrives, graphics cards and processors and apparently had been selling them on an internet classified advertisement public sales website.
The scheme began to fall apart in September 2014 when superiors started going through invoices and noticed graphics cards, an item they don't normally purchase. Other invoices for processors and hard drives would normally have been part of larger orders.
Two invoices, each for tens of thousands showed items had been shipped directly to Heggaton.
Although he knew he was under suspicion in early 2015, Heggaton continued to order parts. He was later found to be carrying valuable processors and hard drives off the military base.
Further investigation showed that the value of all the items purchased was close to a million dollars.
In court, no explanation was offered by Heggaton's lawyer for his client's actions.
This is far from the first time that the Defence Department dealt with fraud and theft
In 2012 a female DND employee tried to scam tens of thousands of dollars from a foreign exchange outlet claiming the money was for urgent foreign aid missions. She also billed over $6,000 in car rentals fees to the DND. Because the scam was so unsophisticated, and she also repaid the car rental, she was given a sentence of probation.
In 2007 another employee pleaded guilty to a fraud scheme of about $100 million dollars. Originally fired from his job as a contracts manager in 2003 after billing irregularities, he was arrested three years later for fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering.
The scheme involved some $159 million paid by DND to Hewlett-Packard for computer management services. That company said it was told to pay subcontractors for the work which had to be kept secret from it. The government believes that no work was done.
In 2016, four people were charged with fraud of $1.3 million during a four year period connected to the heating plant at Canadian Forces Base Halifax.
Another case occurred in Ontario in 2010, and a woman was sentenced to 20 months for stealing almost $200,000 from a Canadian Forces Armoury.
At another base in Wainwright Alberta , a 38-year-old woman was charged after $80,000 was reported missing.
Additional information – sources


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"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works," Hebrews 10:24.
Watching the news and even scrolling through your social media can be directly adverse to the directive in this verse in Hebrews. I mean seriously, the news will tell you the sky is falling and your newsfeed page is filled with everyone preaching to the choir. Somehow we don't grasp that our pontificating on social media really only reaches our friends, who, more than likely already share the same political, social, and religious views as you do. Scripture tells us life and death, are in the power of the tongue. Our words and actions, particularly toward our brothers and sisters in Christ, should stir us to "love and good works". Our portion and treasure is Christ regardless of who, or what is trending on any given day. When our focus is on the immeasurable worth of knowing Him, being in fellowship with Him, walking in the rhythm of his grace every day, we can be stirred in our spirit to walk in the "one anothers". We can see beyond the words of death to the words of life in Him. We can speak life and encouragement, juxtaposed to society's rhetoric because we rest in Him who knows the end from the beginning!
Lest we be dragged down into the mire of doom, gloom, the dreaded woe is me syndrome, and the yeah ain't it awful club, let's take a look at this list of "one anothers" ………..
1 John 4:11 love one another
Romans 15:7 Welcome one another
1 Corinthians 12:25 care for one another
1 Peter 4:10 serve one another
Ephesians 5:21 Submit to one another
1 Thessalonians 5:15 do good to one another
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another
Hebrews 10:25 encouraging one another
Hebrews 10:24 stir up one another to love and good works
Hebrews 3:13 Exhort one another
Colossians 3:16 admonishing one another
Ephesians 5:19 Address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
Romans 15:5 live in. harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 13:11 Comfort one another
Romans 15:14 instruct one another
Romans 12:10 Outdo one another in showing honor
Colossians 3:13 Bear with one another
Colossians 3:13 Forgive each other
James 5:16 Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another
1 Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another
Will your words, actions and posts today be encouraging, will they help to stir up love and good works? Will they help others to persevere in the faith? Will they stir up adoration and doxology? Will they bring peace in the midst of the storm, hope for the future, and trust in His unchanging hand?
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14
-Pat Reed (A beloved of Jesus. A wife, a mother & grandmother. A worshiper. A cancer survivor. Passionate about seeing the lost come to Christ.)


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Friday, February 05, 2010
Coats Inside Out
Culture and customs can manifest themselves in the simplest every day actions. A westerner was visiting out here recently and I offered to take their coat. As they passed it to me they folded the coat by grabbing the shoulders and folding it. I took the coat and without even thinking about it refolded it the other way. My guest raised their eyebrow just slightly at my reflex action. Locals out here fold their coat so that the inside is facing out. They value keeping the outer part of the coat clean. I have had so many Uyghur guests through my home, and taken so many local peoples coats for them, that I now routinely fold them inside out. It is such a small thing, but it does reflect the little customs that are unique to different places and different peoples.
Labels: Clothing, Coal Dust, Uyghur Culture
1 comment:
Welcome back to real-time Internet! That's interesting - to me it makes sense that the outside part of the coat is the dirty part. But I suppose that for regular clothes we think the outside should stay clean...so why not with coats too...hmm.
I'm curious about the new picture you're using as your header!
- 4:29 pm
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Page 1 of 2
It is proved that the automorphism group of a countable structure cannot be a free uncountable group. The idea is that instead of proving that every countable set of equations of a certain form has a solution, it is proved that this holds for a co-meagre family of appropriate countable sets of equations.
-entropy theoretical solution is given to an analytic function-theoretical version of the 13th problem formulated by D. Hilbert.
It is proved that in groups with all subgroups subnormal every nilpotent subgroup is contained in a normal nilpotent subgroup.
For each finitely presented group
, a short exact sequence
$1 \rightarrow N \rightarrow G \rightarrow Q \rightarrow 1$
is produced, such that
is residually finite and
is finitely generated.
This paper provides a unified and elementary proof of four Thompson–Wielandt-like theorems.
By means of a simplification in a significant step of Zelmanov's solution of the restricted Burnside problem, the known bounds for the order of finite
-generator groups of exponent
are improved.
A relationship is established between the factorization of
$24 n + 1$
and the 5-divisibility of
, where
is the number of partitions of
into distinct parts. As an application, an abundance of infinite families of congruences for
modulo powers of 5 are explicitly exhibited.
This paper studies the spectrum that results when all height one polynomials are evaluated at a Pisot number. This continues the research theme initiated by Erdős, Joó and Komornik in 1990. Of particular interest is the minimal non-zero value of this spectrum. Formally, this value is denoted as
, and this definition is extended to all height
polynomials as
l^m(q):= \inf(\vert y\vert: y = \epsilon_0 + \epsilon_1 q^1 + \cdots + \epsilon_n q^n,\,
\epsilon_i \in {\bb Z},\, \vert\epsilon_i\vert \leqslant m,\, y \ne 0).
A recent result in 2000, of Komornik, Loreti and Pedicini gives a complete description of
is the Golden ratio. This paper extends this result to include all unit quadratic Pisot numbers. A main theorem is as follows.
THEOREM. Let
be a quadratic Pisot number that satisfies a polynomial of the form
$p(x) = x^2 - ax \pm 1$
, with conjugate
. Let
have convergents
and let
be the maximal integer such that
\vert D_k r - C_k\vert \leqslant m \frac{1}{1-\vert r\vert};
l^m (q) = \vert D_k q - C_k \vert.
A value related to
, the minimal non-zero value when all
polynomials are evaluated at
. Formally, this is
a(q) := \inf(\vert y\vert: y = \epsilon_0 + \epsilon_1 q^2 + \cdots + \epsilon_n q^n,\,
\epsilon_i = {\pm} 1,\, y \ne 0).
An open question concerning how often
$a(q) = l(q)$
is also answered in this paper.
The authors study the algebra of uniformly continuous holomorphic symmetric functions on the ball of
${\cal L}_p$
, investigating in particular the spectrum of such algebras. To do so, they examine the algebra of symmetric polynomials on
${\cal L}_p$
-spaces, as well as finitely generated symmetric algebras of holomorphic functions. Such symmetric polynomials determine the points in
${\cal L}_p$
up to a permutation.
Akemann and Anderson made a conjecture about 'paving' projections in finite-dimensional matrix algebras which, if true, would settle the well-known Kadison–Singer problem. Their conjecture is falsified in this paper by an explicit sequence of counterexamples.
The behaviour of the Ricci curvature along rays in a complete open manifold is examined.
be affine nonsingular real algebraic varieties. A general problem in real algebraic geometry is to try to decide when a continuous map
$f : X \rightarrow Y$
can be approximated by regular maps in the space of
${\cal C}_0$
mappings from
, equipped with the
${\cal C}_0$
topology. This paper solves this problem when
is the connected component containing the origin of the real part of a complex Abelian variety and
is the standard 2-dimensional sphere.
A homoclinic class of a vector field is the closure of the transverse homoclinic orbits associated to a hyperbolic periodic orbit. An attractor is a transitive set to which every positive nearby orbit converges; likewise, every negative nearby orbit converges to a repeller. It is shown in this paper that a generic
vector field on a closed
-manifold has either infinitely many homoclinic classes, or a finite collection of attractors (or, respectively, repellers) with basins that form an open-dense set. This result gives an approach to use in proving a conjecture by Palis. A proof is also given of the existence of a locally residual subset of
vector fields on a 5-manifold having finitely many attractors and repellers, but infinitely many homoclinic classes.
This paper deals with better-than-uniform approximation by superharmonic functions on non-compact sets. An application of the main result improves recent work of GowriSankaran and Nersessian concerning approximation with an error bound that decays arbitrarily quickly at infinity.
be meromorphic of finite order in the plane, such that the second derivative
has finitely many zeros. Then
has finitely many poles. This result was conjectured by the author in 1996, and an example shows that the theorem is sharp.
This paper gives a necessary criterion in terms of Hodge theory for representability by quaternion algebras of certain 2-torsion classes in the unramified Brauer group of a complex function field. This criterion is used to give examples of threefolds with unramified Brauer group elements which are the classes of biquaternion division algebras.
A quantum deformation of the classical conjugation action of
${\rm GL}(N,{\bb C})$
on the space of
$N\times N$
$M(N,{\bb C})$
is defined via a coaction of the quantum general linear group
${\cal O}({\rm GL}_q(N,{\bb C}))$
on the algebra of quantum matrices
${\cal O}(M_q(N,{\bb C}))$
. The coinvariants of this coaction are calculated. In particular, interesting commutative subalgebras of
${\cal O}(M_q(N,{\bb C}))$
generated by (weighted) sums of principal quantum minors are obtained. For general Hopf algebras, co-commutative elements are characterized as coinvariants with respect to a version of the adjoint coaction.
$G^{\ast} = G^{{\cal L}{\cal U}{\cal C}}\setminus G$
$G^{{\cal L}{\cal U}{\cal C}}$
is the largest semigroup compactification of the locally compact group
. Then the set of points of
which are right cancellable in
$G^{{\cal L}{\cal U}{\cal C}}$
is large; in fact it has an interior in
which is dense in
. Corollaries are given about the number of left ideals in
$G^{{\cal L}{\cal U}{\cal C}}$
and the size of right ideals in the algebra
${{\cal L}{\cal U}{\cal C}}(G)^{\ast}$


text:
The sun has finally returned and with it, it's brought these glorious new images for the SR Juniors website. Featuring a selection of images from our pastel inspired photo-shoot at East Coast Production's Location MNT181.
Junior Models: Ella, James, George, Thomas, Lola, Jemima, Harry and Betty.
Models: Tamsyn, Rebecca, George, Olivia, Trevena and Xiaoxia
Photography: Matt Keal (assisted by Emma Chapman)
Filmography: Rod Edwards
Hair & Make-up: Katie Barnes and Christa Ellis
Styling: Tessa and Tamsyn at Norfolk Production
For more information on our juniors, families, or production services please contact our dedicated team on firstname.lastname@example.com or 0207 3875858


text:
falling off the rock that I live under
The covers are pulled over my head and the light of the day to come has not yet come at all.
The rocks still moist with the midnight dew twinkle like thousands of little stars on the ground. The locust sing their songs and fly from tree to tree. Still...the moon has somehow masked their whereabouts.
A fan gently breathes over my soft sheets reminding me of the cool breeze of fall.
In the empty silence of night there will always be sound that no one will hear. They are the creatures that cannot be seen by mans eyes alone. They rustle in the somber state of night. Leaves fall and splinter the silence into a million pieces. The screams of meager little ants fill the earth's floor as they cheer each other on like chain gangs singing their prison songs.
The God of us all, kisses my eyelids and grants sweet hallucinations of rain forests and butterflies.
The lightly glazed over eyes of an animal in the distance shine like stained glass in a fallen church window. They glisten as though nothing has touched them in years. And yet they move. They move as though they are entranced by the sent of my fears and beliefs alike. Following my every move.
Still I am motionless in a slight somber sleep. It's eyes burn through my subconscious and eats away at my flesh dreamt into my minds reality.
And the leaves and grass and creatures all live together in perfect balance as I awake to face it all in ignorance.
The imagery in this poem is visibly stunning! Voted up!
Awesome job of painting the scene with your words. Voting up.
This IS my favorite ,it is absolutely beautiful , i voted up ! Great write! :)
Lovely. Voted up.
In the moment: this is what poetry is about. You brought me there and back and provided beautiful pics to boot...beautiful...:)
Makes me not want to come back to reality..smile
Awesome imagery, Mikie! Voted up and awesome!
this was beautiful. I love how you intertwined nature and the outdoors with your bed and falling asleep. It was a seamless transition. Nicely done! :)


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Woohoo! We are in September now! So that means we can dive headfirst into Fall recipes right!
I hope so because that is my plan. Get ready for tons of comfort food, soups, stews, and more coming to the blog! I have the crock pots shined and ready for Fall recipes.
Ok, I must admit the crock pots have been out all summer and I use them all the time but there is just something about the Fall that makes me ready to whip up comfort foods.
Crock Pot German Style Brats Recipe
4 pounds bratwurst
5 bottles of German Beer, 12oz each
2 pounds sauerkraut, drained
6 apples cored and thinly sliced
1 white onion, sliced
Black Pepper
1. Combine brats, beer, sauerkraut, apples, onion and black pepper in crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high 3-4 hours.
We use either the Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker, 6-Quart or Crock-Pot 5-Quart Slow Cooker for all of our crock pot recipes
Do you love recipes? Check out our copy cat recipes, dessert recipes, and our Crock Pot Recipes.
Follow Tammilee Tips's board Tammilee Tips Recipes on Pinterest.
Crock Pot German Style Brats RecipePrint Rate
- 4 pounds bratwurst
- 5 bottles of German Beer 12oz each
- 2 pounds sauerkraut drained
- 6 apples cored and thinly sliced
- 1 white onion sliced
- Black Pepper
- Combine brats, beer, sauerkraut, apples, onion and black pepper in crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high 3-4 hours.


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Thoughts on Scream Fortress VIII
This is going to be a short article. Why? Because Scream Fortress VIII (8 for those who can't read Roman numerals) is short. There's not a lot going on with it. It's a continuation from last year. There is actually very little to talk about. Actually, to show just how little there is to talk about, the biggest criticism about Scream Fortress VIII so far has absolutely nothing to do with Scream Fortress, but with competitive matchmaking. Badlands and Granary were both removed from the competitive pool, and replaced with Turbine and Badwater, two maps that simply aren't friendly with… [Continue Reading]Read more


text: The High-Protein Vegetarian Dinners E-cookbook include 42 recipes that are easy, delicious, and high in protein. All of the recipes include simple, whole food ingredients as well as macro calculations per serving. Each recipe includes at least 12 grams of protein per serving, and the majority of them can be easily altered to fit a vegan diet. With this bunch of recipes, you'll have all the dinner inspiration you need!


text:
This position is responsible for the sale of the company's Walchem product line in the geographic region of Asia, South East Asia, and China. The ideal location to be based in China / Hong Kong. (The person can be located in Singapore as well.)
The primary activities are:
- Development of large OEM customers.
- Motivation, training and managing the distribution network with a focus on sales and market share growth.
Essential Functions:
- Determine sales strategies and goals for the region and for distributors.
- Identify, select and develop distributors and sales representatives
- Provide diligent support, follow-up and ongoing dialogue with distributors and sales representatives.
- Develop and implement strong customer relationships.
- Prospect and identify new business opportunities
- Lead sales campaigns from identifying opportunities, to structuring the deal, negotiating and closing
- Manage and coordinate sales efforts with Direct Accounts and through Distribution
- Maintain up-to-date understanding of industry trends and technical developments that effect target markets
- Develop and deliver sales presentations
- Manage sales and product training programs
- Participate in sales forecasting and planning
- Ability to travel overnight 35 to 50% of the time within the territory
- 5+ years of experience in the industrial process industry in a sales or business development capacity.
- Ability to communicate within the territory in Chinese as well as having a fluency in communication in English.
- BS in a technical field or Business/Marketing with proven technical competence. A strong chemical and water treatment background is a plus.
- Knowledge of process controls and metering pumps and their applications
- Familiar with the markets, competitive pricing, industrial sales channels, distributors, sales representatives
- Demonstrated competencies: development and identification of major customers, sales planning, goal development, management of market and product specific sales channels, product pricing and quotation techniques
- Excellent oral and written communication skills including formal presentation skills before both small and large groups
- Demonstrated ability in problem solving and negotiation with special emphasis on closing the sale
- History of successful relationship building
- Must be self-starter, high energy, customer oriented and a team player
- Has recognizable integrity, earns the respect of others.
- Possesses a sense of humor and enjoyment about work.


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A review copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Sometimes the most enjoyable books are the ones that you stumble across. I've had great luck with that this year – the Grisha series, for example, and now this book, The Long Way.
Chi-Yen is a half-Chinese, half-"Barbarian" (probably British) girl, the get of a whore and a sailor trying to survive in Canton during the Second Opium War. The first part of the tail is a rather enjoyable story in its own right as we see how this young girl – no more than 12 trying to survive and avoid the fate of so many other slaves that were sold to "Old Mother." During these trails she runs across a disgraced monk and his apprentice. What happens next I don't necessarily want to spoil, though I will allude that Long means "Dragon."
This tail is a fantastic weaving of a historical sense of place and time – first Canton, then the Old West – and the more fantastical, though the author grounds the story in so much reality that the setting of the novel still very much feels like our world.
This novel is a great combination of old and new. The last 1/3 of the book does seem a bit rushed and I do wish the author had taken more time to really explore the places she went and the people she met.
Still, this is definitely something that felt genuinely unique and I think that anyone looking for something different and has an open mind is going to enjoy this. A sequel is due out in the second half of 2014, and I think it'll be worth keeping an eye out for.
Verdict: Buy It.


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When is Ask a Stupid Question Day? The answer is pretty stupid — either September 28, or the last school day of September (September 30 this year). This holiday is so stupid it doesn't even know which day to fall on.
But you know what ISN'T stupid? Questions about cars and tires that affect safety.
So in the spirit of National Ask a Stupid Question day (the purpose of which is to encourage students to ask more questions in the classroom), I'm answering three seemingly stupid car and tire questions that I've personally heard. Because nobody should hesitate to ask questions when their safety is at stake.
1. Do you have to replace tires?
I kid you not, someone I know asked this question.
I was out to dinner with a bunch of people, and one person was saying how she just couldn't believe how anyone can stand driving in the rain when it's so slippery.
We were all, "it's not that bad…" and it wasn't until someone asked her how old her tires were that she said, "I don't know, why, do they go bad?"
Yes, yes tires "go bad" in that they wear down and don't work anymore. And yes, worn tires were the reason she was terrified of driving in the rain.
We all had a good chuckle about it, and she bought new tires the very next day. (She still hates driving in the rain, but at least she's doing it much more safely.)
2. You inflate tires to the pressure shown on the tire, right?
No no no. You do not do this. But this is actually a very common misconception. It doesn't help that bicycle tires list the recommended pressure on the sidewall, making it reasonable that people would think the same about car tires.
But the correct tire pressure for your car tires isn't really about the tires themselves — it's all about the car! The car manufacturer determines the ideal tire pressure for the vehicle, and it's listed on your vehicle's tire placard (how to find the correct tire pressure).
So then what's the PSI number listed on the tire's sidewall? The tire's maximum inflation pressure. That means the tire isn't designed for pressure higher than that. You obviously never, ever want to exceed that maximum. But you also want to still stick to what's listed on your vehicle's tire placard.
3. What's that little exclamation point on my dashboard?
That little light is a TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) light. And if you see it, it means you have a flat tire. (If that's the case, read how to change a flat tire.)
If you see something that looks similar but not quite the same, or if the light is flashing, then a TPMS issue may be the cause.
These are three stupid questions about cars and tires that aren't really stupid at all — they're important. Because they're all about your driving safety. Perhaps the grand, overarching misconception is that cars and tires are two completely separate things. When in reality they are engineered together as a system. That's why this stuff matters so much.
Were any of these questions surprising to you? Learn anything new?


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I was travelling by Tipu Express train no 12613 from Mysore to Bangalore on19/8/2013by III class .my ticket no is47134872.
I wish to state the train took 4hours&15minutes to cover the distance. The notified time is 2hours30minutes.
The major grievance was that the train kept stopping at I scheduled halts. Finally the train came to a halt 2KM Short of theBangalore station and did not move for more than 1 hour. The passengers including me had no clue as to when the train would start. The train was stopped at a place where it was not easy to get down and go. The railway authorities ie the Driver or the guard or TTE did not bother to inform the passengers the cause of delay. Ultimately more than 75percent of the passengers managed to get down and walk on the adjacent railway track towards the road. Those who could not were stranded. This was also the same day a serious accident had happened where lot of passengers were killed in Bihar while crossing the track.
I wish to know what mechanism does the Railway have to keep the passengers intimated on the train schedules while on the move.what was the cause of such inordinate delay? What action has been taken to prevent such happenings in future?
The Railways have displayed total lack of concern, responsibility and absolute couldn't careless attitude.I am sure this is not an isolated case s I found from my fellow passengers. It appears the Railway authorities are just not bothered because passengers have no patience left after such James journey to raise complaints.their complaint books are generally blank!!
I would appreciate the Divisional Railway Manager take a serious look before some catostraphe strikes
Colonel B N Pundareek


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LAHORE/PESHAWAR: Desperate survivors appealed for food and blankets yesterday after a devastating earthquake killed more than 350 people in Pakistan, as harsh weather and rugged terrain hampered rescue efforts. Rescuers fear several hundred children sleeping outside on the Kalash Valley's freezing slopes may die from exposure if they do not reach them soon with food, blankets and emergency shelter. Mass burial ceremonies were conducted as officials warned that the death toll could spike as entire communities remain inaccessible amid freezing winter conditions.
Officials were unable to reach authorities in Kohistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for a second day to see how its population of nearly half a million people had fared. An estimated 500 children in Kalash Valley are among more than 5,000 villagers left homeless when their houses were destroyed in Monday's earthquake, rescuers said last night. They spent their second night without shelter last night as landslides and heavy snowfall blocked the main access road from Chitral and thwarted attempts to rescue them. Rescuers from religious charities expressed similar concerns for villagers in Ramboor, Booni, Garm Chashma and some parts of Fata and said it was critical that relief reaches them in the next six to eight hours.
Hafiz Abdur Rauf, who is leading Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation's 2,000 rescue volunteers, yesterday said the people of Kalash Valley were desperate for immediate relief, but faced another night exposed to the elements. The group had received a number of pleas for help from Kalash residents, but has not been able to reach them. "Roads are blocked and the temperature is freezing in Kalash areas. We fear the death toll could climb in the coming days," he said. "The Army is sending food and medicines in helicopters to the affectees, but they require help at a large level," he added. Rauf who worked in the area during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake said so far 300 people have been found critically injured in nearby hospitals in Bat Khel, Temergarah, Peshawar and Saidu Sharif, Mingora.
Their concerns were echoed by the Unicef which said it feared the children displaced from their homes and living without shelter were most at risk. "We are extremely concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the children who are already at the highest risk in any disaster are now in danger of succumbing to the elements as temperature plummets," said Unicef's regional director for South Asia, Karin Hulshof. Efforts to reach them in time, have, however, so far been slow. The Frontier Works Organisation had cleared large sections of the key Dir-Chitral and Gilgit-to-Shandur highways by yesterday morning, but had yet to make headway with the main entry road to the Kalash Valley.
The army has focused on clearing landslides from the main Karakoram Highway which has opened access to major cities, but remote areas off the main highway remain out of reach. "We are assessing damages, rehabilitating major roads and carrying out relief activities in affected areas. Two helicopters are flying each in Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa," Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt-Gen Asim Bajwa said yesterday.
Shaukat Awan, a meteorologist who has worked throughout the affected area, said only the army is equipped to conduct rescue operations in its extreme terrain and harsh weather conditions. "Army helicopters can operate in hilly areas even during rains and snowfall. Army men acquainted with the area can reach strangled people with food and relief goods. They can go on foot or transport goods on mules or donkeys," he said. Charity rescuers, however, said the army had not deployed sufficient resources to meet the scale of the need following the quake.
"The army is opening the roads, but the process is slow and affected areas are so vast. The people need immediate relief. The army itself is doing rescue work in the belt, but the need is higher," said a rescue worker from Al-Khidmat Foundation, the charitable wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. Some raised concerns for those hit by the earthquake close to the Fata-Afghanistan border where the army has been carrying out anti-terrorist operations. Kohistan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained cut off from rest of the province for second day. "There is no way to communicate with the officials in Kohistan, the communication lines have been disrupted and roads blocked so we cannot say anything about the damage there," a police official in Peshawar told AFP.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew to Shangla in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa - believed to be one of the worst-hit districts with 52 reported dead so far - where he pledged compensation for damaged homes. In Gandao village in Shangla the quake left homes completely flattened or riddled with cracks, forcing most of the population to camp out in the open amid freezing winter rain. People desperately appealed to the government for quilts, blankets, sweaters and food rations as snowy conditions set in. "We have nothing to eat and wear in the cold," resident Hakim Khan, 60, whose 12-year-old nephew was killed in the quake. "My family members are forced to wait for help under the open sky."
Authorities were struggling to ascertain the damage in Chitral, where a local official said the quake had damaged the water supply system. "Around 80,000 people don't have access to clean drinking water and it's our top priority to restore the water supply," he said. In other remote areas residents - including children and the elderly - were helping with relief work, many of them digging through piles of rubble for survivors.


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Queens of SyriaNovember 24, 2015
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As metropolitan as Hong Kong is, there is strange silence on the subject of strangers. ... read more
The Ming Afloat: From Zheng He to the Selden MapOctober 27, 2015
Dr. Timothy Brook, a specialist on the Ming period, will address this age of creativity and change... read more
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SFU David Lam Centre and University of Ottawa cohost the launch of the "Canada Chinatown Series"... read more
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The Social Life and Work of Chinese Scholars in Ancient TimesSeptember 16, 2015
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Filial Piety in ChinaTue, 07 Jul 2015 7:00 PM
In this lecture, Professor Lixia Zhu draws from the experiences of two prestigious families in... read more
SFU Students in Conversation with Maggie IpThu, 11 Jun 2015 10:30 AM
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Wielding the Phoenix Pen: Spirit-writing Altars in Hong Kong and VancouverMay 29, 2015
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Opening of Asian Heritage Month & explorASIAN 2015Sat, 02 May 2015
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道学与金丹 Lecture at Nankai UniversityWed, 01 Apr 2015 4:00 PM
Shared Paths to Perfection: Dao learning 道學 and the Golden Elixir 金丹 This presentation, based on an... read more
A Dialogue on Opportunities in Hong KongMarch 27, 2015
Join Secretary Ng Hak-kim from the Hong Kong Ministry of Education to explore opportunities for SFU... read more
Pacific Region Forum: Getting Beneath a Country-Level Understanding of Chinese Work ValuesWed, 11 Mar 2015 2:00 PM
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Japanese Ceramics: The World of Tanba PotteryFri, 20 Feb 2015 7:00 PM
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More like this ➡ here
Meet the OTSAW O-R3: an intelligent autonomous security robot with face recognition that can patrol streets, pathways, and open spaces, avoid dynamic obstacles, and return-to-base automatically. The robot uses laser scanning, HD cameras, and LiDAR for surveillance. The data gathered in real-time.
The robot has computer vision with machine learning surveillance tech to alert the guards of anomalies. The below video shows it in action:
*some of our articles have aff links. Please read our disclaimer on how we fund Exxponent.


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How do we book?
The first thing to do is contact me! Send me an email and we can arrange a time to chat about your day so I can explain my relaxed approach to capturing natural photos of your wedding. If you've already decided or live further away, I can email you a booking form. You can return the booking form with £100 deposit and you're all booked in!
Is there a pre-wedding meeting?
Yes! I will always meet you about a month before your wedding to go through timings, location for getting ready etc. You are welcome to come to my house and I'll put the kettle on. If I haven't been to your venue before, I always try to visit here too before the big day so if you're having a meeting with the venue, I can pop along afterwards.
Do I have to choose one of your packages or can you do a bespoke package?
To keep things simple, I mainly work around two packages (half day and full day). However we can 'meet in the middle' if you require something more bespoke. Please see the prices page for further information. I also do elopement weddings and smaller, midweek weddings at a special rate.
Can we have a second photographer?
If you feel that your wedding needs two photographers, for example if you'd like bride and groom prep in different locations, then I work with a photographer friend of mine, Jen, who I have known for many years. We have worked together before and have the same style and approach to shooting your wedding.
What equipment do you use?
I use full-frame Nikon SLR camera bodies, carry a selection of lenses and flashes and always carry spare batteries. The cameras have dual-slot memory cards so each of your images is recorded twice.
Are you insured?
Absolutely! Public Liability Insurance certificates are available on request.
What happens if it's raining on our wedding day?
I usually visit your venue beforehand if I haven't shot there before. I'll scout out a few spots for group and couple photos just in case it rains on the day. I've got 5 large white umbrellas that I bring along so that we can go outdoors if you wish to. Umbrellas make for some romantic couple portraits!
What happens if you are poorly?
Firstly, since I started in 2011 I haven't missed a wedding due to illness or anything else for that matter. I will do everything in my power to be there. If for some reason I really cannot be at your wedding, I know a wonderful network of qualified and experienced photographers throughout Devon who I can call on to cover your day.
We know you're a documentary style photographer but can we still get some group shots?
Yes you can, but try to limit your total number of shots. Within a few carefully orchestrated group photos I will provide a formal record of everyone who was at your wedding: bride and groom family groups photos that can be given to relatives; a bridal party group to show off your style and colour theme and a whole group photo to give you a record of everyone who attended. I'll do this as swiftly as possible so that you can get on with enjoying your drinks reception and chatting to your guests. Photographing the natural moments is what I do best!
We can't wait to see our photos! How long will it take to receive them?
After your wedding day I go into editing mode! Firstly, I back up all of your images onto an external hard drive and onto my computer hard drives. I am more than happy to give you a little preview of your photos on Facebook within a few days. Each image is edited giving you a mix of colour and black & white photographs. They will be presented to you in a beautiful online gallery for you to download and share with family and friends. My turn around time for getting all your photos to you is 2-3 weeks. The photos are usually waiting for you when you return from honeymoon!
Do you do albums?
There are so many options for your to show off your wedding photos that I prefer to leave that to you. I'm not about selling you a £1000 album when you can create one yourselves, just the way you want it. My couples often say that this is the fun bit after all the excitement of the wedding day has faded. It gives you a chance to re-live your day, select your favourite moments and create an album of your choice. There are lots of options online and your online gallery will have links to quality suppliers.


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- Articles: 2
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Jul 2017
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Articles by Roxi :
The end of my 20s
I don't know where I heard this story but I've always loved it. Soraya Esfandiary was a beautiful girl studying in Zurich when the Shah of Persia saw a picture…
A young Ecuadorian considers breaking traditional family bonds to choose a life of her own
As usual, I find myself near the cliff. When I approach it, I don't know if I should jump because, after the fall, I may get hurt and so too…


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Kay S. Pedrotti
Memories are like raindrops - you can ward them off for a while with the umbrella of today, but once they hit you, you can't stop them from sinking in and soaking you.
Vic Smith, columnist for several newspapers, wrote as Poke McHenry for the Florida-Times Union and others. Memories of his columns and lifetime brighten the lives of many, including local columnist Kay S. Pedrotti.
Memories will help brighten the present with the past
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One of the keys to performing at a high level is maintaining a consistent source of fuel for your body both in terms of calories and electrolytes. Our nutrition selection has nearly doubled with the new space giving you a wide variety of products and brands. But remember, never try anything new on race day - experiment and find what works best for you during training.
GELS: The ultimate fast food! Best when you need fast-acting, easy-to-digest source of energy on the move! Use it before and during exercise (every 30-45 minutes) to keep you going strong. Most packets are about 100 calories with some flavors having caffeine which helps metabolize fat during exercise, giving the body an additional fuel source. We offer several different brands:
GU is the original energy gel. It provides 100 calories of high-quality carbohydrates in the form of 70-80% maltodextrin and 30-20% fructose (ratio depends upon the flavor) along with a unique blend of amino acids and electrolytes to fight muscle fatigue, speed up the conversion of carbohydrates into usable energy, maintain focus and prevent cramping.
Hüma Gel: Huma gels provides the right 2:1 glucose to fructose blend using all natural ingredients that does not require a chemistry background to understand. These gels are packed with 9 essential amino acids from grounded Chia seeds that allow for easy digestion and energy for any physical activity.
Chews: When you need something to chew on... Sometimes gels just don't work. Either you can't tolerate the glob or they infuse too much good stuff at once in your stomach which can lead to cramping. These products are great because they taste like gummy bears and can be eaten individually over a period of time which keeps your fuel levels consistent and your mouth occupied.
Cliff Shot Bloks: At 33 calories a cube and their patented Fastpak packing, it's easy to carry and monitor your nutrient intake. The fruity-flavored Bloks feature organic brown rice syrup which is a minimally-refined source of carbohydrate with naturally occurring sodium, potassium and magnesium. No high fructose corn syrup!
Jelly Belly Sports Beans: These yummy beans look - and taste - like regular jelly belly jelly beans, but they do so much more! They are scientifically formulated to maximize sports performance using carbohydrates, electrolytes, vitamins B1, B2, & B3 and Vitamin C! They are naturally sweetened and use six real fruit juices. The Sport Beans come in a resalable pack so you won't have to cry over spilled beans in your pocket.
Drinks: Sometimes your body needs more than what H2O can provide. These sport drinks are low on sugar and high on electrolytes and energy.
Nuun: Want to stay hydrated without adding more calories to your diet? Nuun is a sugar-free electrolyte drink that recharges your depleted salts without the calories, mess or sticky-sweet taste found in other sport drinks. What is cool about Nuun is that it is a portable effervescent tablet that you add to your own water. It fizzes as it dissolves (no mixing or shaking needed) and then becomes flat so you can easily drink it down. Lots of crisp, refreshing flavors to choose from.


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Elegy of Ummat-e Marhooma
Reproduced below is a letter from Syed Shahabuddin, Editor of Muslim India. It speaks volumes about the state of our community today. We speak, rather scream, a lot but when it comes to action, to spend an hour or a rupee, we are seen nowhere. We spend tens of lakhs on marriages and walima ceremonies, buy or build houses worth tens of lakhs or even crores, send our children for education in most expensive schools and colleges, get medical attention in best medical facilities where even simple procedures cost a lakh or two… Yet we find it too much to donate even ten or twenty rupees for a milli cause or to buy a magazine striving to speak for us, the community.
Muslim India made and recorded history. It would still be around if it had only ten thousand paid subscriptions. But for all the name and fame of the magazine and its illustrious editor, it perhaps never had more than a thousand paying subscribers while it could easily have a million subscribers in a community of 160 million Muslims. The same applies to all our community initiatives. Look at the state of mosques, madrasas and even community-run schools, orphanages, charitable clinics… They speak volumes about an uncaring community.
These are not the traits of a living, conscious and responsible group. We keep breast-beating that the mainstream media ignores or even distorts our news but when attempts are made from within the community to address this problem, no support is seen or felt for such ventures. This is the fate of all our English-language publications including this newspaper (MG).
Let our community realise that if we have a media problem, it can be addressed only by sons of the community as shown by our brothers in Kerala. Other papers and media have either no interest in our affairs or have an agenda to distort our news and issues in order to marginalise our existence and stifle our voice about the country's policies and issues. If we do not realise this fact, our publications will keep disappearing and soon there will be no one ready to take a chance to speak for us.


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"We don't obey the law so He'll love us. He already does... We come before the King and say, 'I am Yours. I am Yours until I die or the world end.' That is what the law does. Then when we read the law we find out what it is that He would have us do." ~ Steve Brown, "Whoppers from the World: The Lie of Antinomianism"
I have been accused on occasion of being antinomian. (For those of you who do not know what that is, being antinomian means you teach that those who are saved can do whatever they want and violate the law because it does not matter.) I am really big on teaching grace and think that if you do not get accused of being antinomian from time-to-time then you are not really teaching grace (even the apostle Paul was accused of being antinomian). I agree completely with my friend Steve when he says, "The only people that get any better are those who know that if they don't get any better God will love them anyway." That kind of statement, however, can sound antinomian. It sounds like it does not matter what you do because God will love you anyway. It is not antinomian. The law of God is good (if you do not believe that read Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in the Bible and all about how great the law is) and it is something we should strive to obey. We do not, however, strive to obey it because we are afraid that God is going to punish or because we think we need to obey to make Him love us. God is not a policeman, He is our Father. When we love our parents and we know that they love us unconditionally, we do not strive to obey them because we are afraid of what they will do to us but because we are afraid of what our disobedience will do to them--how it will hurt them.
Steve tells a parable about a friend of his who was a pretty bad teenager. She hung around with the wrong crowd that was pretty sexually promiscuous. One day she was with these friends when her older sister walked by and saw who she was with. Her sister said to her, "If you get pregnant it will kill our father." That really shook up Steve's friend because, even though she was on the wrong track, she loved her father and knew he loved her. Later she was being pressured by her boyfriend to sleep with him and she kept refusing. Finally, he said, "You know the only reason you are rejecting me is because you are afraid of what your father will do to you." Steve's friend replied, "No, the reason I am rejecting you is because I am afraid of what me sleeping with you would do to my father."
The law is a great teacher for Christians. It tells us how God would have us live and what He expects of us. Jesus has already fulfilled it perfectly and that has been credited to our account. We are now in a safe place where we can strive to obey the law and know that even when we fail God loves us as much as He did before. The reason we strive to obey the law is not because of fear of what God might do to us if we disobey but because we are His and our disobedience will hurt Him, the one who loves us and whom we love.
By His Grace,


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Breaking Muscle
Muscle AU
Healthy Eating
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bodyweight exercises
5 Lunge Variations for Lower Body Strength (Video)
Step forward and learn how to perform this staple single-leg bodyweight exercise.
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Dips are the squat for the upper body. Include this exercise and grow stronger before you know it.
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For the Push Up Pros: Can You Do All These?
Think you know push ups? What about wrist push ups, one-arm push ups, and dive bombers? And can you do the variations of each of those?
Becca Borawski Jenkins
This Is Animal Flow (Video)
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee... and move like a badass!
Breaking Muscle HQ
3 Progressions for the L-Sit (Video)
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Al Kavadlo
3 Bodyweight Crawling Exercises (Video)
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Al Kavadlo
Frank Medrano - Superhuman Bodyweight Workout (Video)
Get ready to meet a wickedly skilled, strong calisthenics athlete - who is 100% vegan.
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Everything You Need to Know to Do a Perfect Pistol
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Greasing the Groove: How to Make It Work for You
This training method provides a great way to build the neurological skill to move heavy objects. Here's why it works and how to best use this approach.
Craig Marker
The No-Excuse Workout for Fire, LEO, and Military
In our lines of work, we are often faced with little equipment and little time to spare. This workout can be done fifteen minutes before your shift or during a break.
John Annillo
The Best Exercises, Workouts, and Warm Ups You Can Do
This week's picks are all about building you up, filling in the holes in the training, and creating a better, stronger, faster you.
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180 Free Bodyweight Workouts!
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Breaking Down the Headstand or Handstand Push Up, Part 2: Building the Push
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What's Underneath: Our Inner Desire to be Overcomers
Moving well enables you to embrace, conquer, and overcome life. It allows you to be capable. You were made to move.
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Ben Musholt - 5 Kneeling Get Up Variations (Video)
In this video, Ben demonstrates the basic kneeling get up along with five challenging variations: prisoner, weight plate, kettlebell, barbell, and dumbbells.
Ben Musholt
Breaking Down the Headstand or Handstand Push Up, Part 1: The Handstand
Here are several progressions that will help you on your way to a strict headstand push up.
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Regain and Build Your Original Strength Through Crawling
The movement of crawling is being touted as a rehabilitative, restorative, and even a performance-enhancing movement. It would even be hysterical, if it weren't for the fact that is completely true.
Tim Anderson


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Sharif barred for life
15 April, 2018, 12:00 am
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan's Supreme Court disqualified deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif from holding office for life on Friday, television news channels reported.
Sharif, 67, resigned in July after the Supreme Court disqualified him from holding office over an undeclared source of income, but the veteran leader maintains his grip on the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.
Friday's ruling addressed an ambiguity over Sharif's disqualification and whether he was barred from office for life or a specific period.


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Director Fernando Meirelles imagines a meeting between the two popes, Benedict and Francis, before the German decided to resign the papacy. It arrives December 1 on Netflix.
Peruvian student of journalism and international relations at New York University. Interested in international politics and human rights.
Believers of all religions can agree on one thing: the Vatican is an unlikely place for a bromance.
The novelty of Fernando Meirelles' The Two Popes is right there in its title. There has only been one leader of the Roman Catholic Church going back centuries except in trying times of, you know, schism. But Meirelles' film, from a script by Anthony McCarten (Darkest Hour, The Theory of Everything) concerns a real moment in recent history during an unusual Vatican transition.
In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI, formerly Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (played by Anthony Hopkins in the film), resigned from the papacy, the first to do so since the 15th century. The Two Popes takes place just before this momentous decision, as Pope Benedict is mulling it over. In the film, he summons the Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), his eventual successor as Pope Francis, from Buenos Aires to Rome for a tête-à-tête, or, if you will, a pope-à-pope.
The whole scenario is a work of imagination. There are few institutions with more private inner workings than the Vatican. Usually, we get little more than a puff of white smoke. The Two Popes aims to go not just inside the Church but imagine a deep dialogue between the two pontiffs. It is a fantasy of impossible intimacy.
It's also a riveting two-hander paced by two fabulous actors in ping-ponging conversation. They are opposites: Pope Benedict is a conservative, a German and a loner who eats dinner in solitude. Bergoglio is a reformer, an Argentine, an avid soccer watcher and, gasp, an ABBA listener. When they meet at the papal summer retreat, their conversation quickly turns into a theological volley on matters of sacrament, homosexuality and footwear.
"We are no longer part of this world," Bergoglio says of the Church. "Change is compromise," retorts Benedict. "Nothing is static in nature," replies Bergoglio. "God is unchanging," says Benedict.
Meirelles, the Brazilian filmmaker of City of God and The Constant Gardner, captures their first meeting while walking the estate's grounds with amplified bird song all around them. They may disagree on nearly everything, but their dichotomy is a kind of harmony.
Their divisions, of course, reflect those nearly everywhere else today, between progress and retreat. And there is considerable comfort in exploring opposite perspectives not through Congressional or Parliamentary rivals but between two kindly old men in a garden. It's nice to think that such barriers can be broken down amicably — as they are in The Two Popes — over pizza and Fanta.
For that to happen, The Two Popes pushes some darker concerns to the side while magnifying others. Sexual abuse among the clergy is briefly discussed before it largely recedes, though you could argue the subject hovers just beneath their talks as the unspoken impetus for Benedict's retirement.
Who's side we should be on is never in doubt. All of the life force is with Bergoglio, an almost saintly figure in the film, as he is in many other representations, too. But it's the lively, stimulating interplay between Pryce (radiant) and Hopkins (exquisitely crafty) that gives The Two Popes its forward movement, propelling the film less by intellectual debate than by the thrall of an unfolding friendship.
As their conversation continues in the Sistine Chapel (recreated at Italy's Cinecitta Studios), The Two Popes turns into a movie not about a power struggle, at all, but a grappling of faith. Benedict and Bergoglio dispense with their divisions and turn inward in self-reflection, revealing their own wresting with doubt, fallibility and faith.
This section of soul searching includes a lengthy flashback to Bergoglio's potentially complicit inaction during the junta rule of late '70s, early '80s Argentina. The look backward adds greater dimension to Bergoglio's character, but it hampers the film's locked-in double act. Benedict's reflections — including an achingly tender confession he gives to Bergoglio — come without flashback and are all the more powerful because of it.
The Two Popes might promulgate an optimistic portrait of the Catholic Church and its leaders. But in these sweetly sincere scenes, you forget Benedict and Bergoglio are pontiff and pontiff-to-be. And the moment of respite from the world's arguments and divisions feels like a benediction.
* The Two Popes, a Netflix release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for thematic content and some disturbing violent images. Running time: 126 minutes.
by Jake Coyle, Associated Press
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An ecological mind mechanics resulting in the mechanism for empowering the will, revealing itself as an implicit life transforming agency.


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Crackpot's Corner: Philosophy is Futile
Like many young people with delusions of intellectualism, I once determined to devise a complete system of morality from first principles.Read More
Select Page
by Not Adahn | Jul 16, 2020 | Musings, Not So Easy Pieces, Opinion, Religion
Like many young people with delusions of intellectualism, I once determined to devise a complete system of morality from first principles.Read More
by mexican sharpshooter | Jan 4, 2020 | Beer, Food & Drink, Musings, Not So Easy Pieces, Opinion
"I may disapprove of what you do, but I will defend to the death your right to yiff"Read More
by dbleagle | Nov 2, 2019 | History, Not So Easy Pieces, Politics
Dbleagle takes us on a sobering walk.Read More
by Evan from Evansville | Oct 25, 2019 | Health Care, Not So Easy Pieces
What's going onRead More
by mexican sharpshooter | Jul 30, 2019 | Not So Easy Pieces, Poll
We didn't poll millennials. We polled somebody that matters: You.
By poll, we mean….Read More
by mexican sharpshooter | Mar 23, 2019 | Beer, First Amendment, Food & Drink, Not So Easy Pieces, Opinion
Jack is still full of s***Read More
by mexican sharpshooter | Mar 2, 2019 | Beer, Food & Drink, Not So Easy Pieces
Assuming one clicks the links, it might be best I keep this one short.Read More
by mexican sharpshooter | Jan 1, 2019 | First Amendment, Markets, Media, Not So Easy Pieces
Introduction Much has been made in social media and political class about potential biases within...Read More
by A Leap at the Wheel | Sep 10, 2018 | Advice, History, Musings, Not So Easy Pieces, Opinion, Society
In the second installment in the Problem with Aggregation, Leap complains about things.Read More
by Sensei | Jul 3, 2018 | Fun, Linguistics, Not So Easy Pieces
Let's get down to today's lesson from Sensei!Read More
by Q Continuum | Apr 19, 2018 | Libertarianism, Liberty, Musings, Not So Easy Pieces
Q Continuum tackles a tough issue.Read More
by Vinnie | Mar 8, 2018 | Libertarianism, Musings, Not So Easy Pieces, Opinion, Society
Vinnie – mulls over Anarcho-Capitalism and says…ask me!Read More
by PieInTheSky | Jan 3, 2018 | Fun, Linguistics, Not So Easy Pieces
I want to say I am not trying to make fun of straffinrun's post but this came to me as I was reading it, and I wrote it quickly (and glibly).Read More
by straffinrun | Dec 28, 2017 | Fun, Linguistics, Not So Easy Pieces
Wherein straffinrun tries to stretch our brains.Read More
by SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr | Dec 26, 2017 | Finance, Not So Easy Pieces, Technology
We're going to start here in Part 2 by talking generically about some of the hurdles that cryptocurrencies have had to overcome, then we'll define some terms, and finally we'll put all the pieces together into a basic model of how a blockchain-based cryptocurrency works.Read More
by SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr | Dec 19, 2017 | Economy, Finance, Markets, Not So Easy Pieces, Products You Need, Technology
Per requests from the commentariat, here is a core dump of everything I know about Bitcoin, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies from a technical aspect. I'm gonna try to keep this at a high school level, but it is going to require touching on some 300 and 400 level computer science concepts, which I hope to explain without losing the audience. However, this is going to end up quite long due to the amount of material to be covered.Read More
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Malnutrition in all its forms continues to be one of the greatest challenges faced by our generation.
While undernutrition persists in some countries, we are witnessing an unprecedented rise in obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries. There is a global call to transform our current food systems to provide the healthy diets needed for optimal health and wellbeing, address issues of inequality and inequity and put a halt to the degradation of natural resources.
2030: the challenges we will face
How to provide nutritious diets for optimal health that can be sustained for generations within planetary boundaries is a question that has high priority for policy-makers and the research community.
This is imminent considering the constraints that the global food system is facing regarding a rapidly increasing world population, rapid urbanization, changing diets, climate change and protracted crises in many parts of the world. According to recent research, the acceleration of the dietary transition in low- and middle-income countries is expected to increase the impact of the food system on the environment, if no major mitigation measures are taken.
There is an urgent need to apply effective governance to food systems that go beyond national boundaries; governance that spans all levels from global to local encompassing informal as well as formal organizations. Political commitment, leadership, accountability and policy coherence are essential elements for effective governance, in addition to data, knowledge and capacity development to take effective action.
FAO's contribution to the discourse on the future of food
FAO, an intergovernmental organization with the vision of a world free from hunger and malnutrition, is deeply engaged in the discourse around the future of food and food systems.
The FAO publication The Future of Food and Agriculture (2018) cautions that "business as usual" is no longer an option if we are to meet the targets set by the 2030 Agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals. Future food and agriculture must move towards the path of sustainability- achieving more with less and producing safe and nutritious food for all, while limiting the use of natural resources.


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Saturday, January 13, 2001 -- Champion, PA
Mid-Atlantic Snowboard Series Giant Slalom
Story and photos by Don Parks
[Overall Results]
[Results by Class]
[Pic Set 1] [Pic Set 2] [Pic Set 3]
A recent break in the cold weather brought plenty of sun and
temperatures above freezing to the slopes. Starting with the slalom
races, the course was a long series of gates with a quick drop almost
right out of the start. If you survived the turns on top, where the
course became a little icy, you still had another headwall in the
second half of the run. Taking turns, from the Ruggie Boys (7-Under)
to the Legend Women (40-49), the course was fun for everyone.
Another Masters rider in Peter Rubincain (Burton, Scott Fate Clothing) set the second best single run time with a 40.27 on his second try. This was enough to capture second overall with a combined 82.99.
The best performance among the women was the consistent Holly
Kuhn (Sims, Spy, Raichle, One Ball Jay, ZooYork). The Junior (16-17)
racer had a combined time of 92.82 and finished in fifth overall.
Kuhn was again setting the pace for the women in GS. Her time of 87.51 gave her another good showing at sixth overall.
After all the racing wrapped up on the slopes, it was time for awards in the lodge. With medals for all the top class finishers, points were also scored toward the Mid-Atlantic Snowboard Series South Region championships (see (SnowboardSeries.com for more information.) Then there was a nice set of prizes, and they were awarded at random. So, the only way to win was to go out and run with the dogs. And, the only way to certainly lose was to stay on the porch.


text: ESPN College Gameday Glorifies Guns By Eric at the Gunmart Blog on November 4, 2017 Anti-gun liberal hypocrites at their finest. Here is a screen grab from ESPN College Gameday this Saturday morning. They are in Oklahoma State and they are clearing 'glorifying gun violence'… Oh the horror! Share this:Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Related Post navigation PREVIOUS POST: 7 Years Blogging… NEXT POST: Eric R Poole: Glock Hates Guns & Ammo Magazine


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A sermon based on Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 by Nathan Nettleton
When we gather here each week to worship God, there is an obvious assumption that we consider God to be someone worth worshipping. But how do we know God is worth worshipping? If the story we heard earlier from the book of Job told us everything there was to know about God, then I don't think I'd be devoting any time to the worship of such a God. That looked like a God who could have authorised the tsunami in Sulawesi as part of a bargain with the devil. A God who would do that wouldn't deserve worship. So how do we know? What can we really know of what God is like?
It is often said that worship is a dialogue – that when we gather to worship, God is communicating Godself to us and we are communicating ourselves to God. Now if that is true, then one of the ways we ought to be able to find out more about what God is like is by participating in worship. We should be able to leave this worship service each week knowing God a little better than when we arrived. And the one who enables this to happen is Jesus because it is, first and foremost, him we turn to in worship and him we encounter in worship, and if we want to get a good look at God, we will get it in Jesus.
Our reading from the letter to the Hebrews said that we can see all the glory of God mirrored in Jesus – he is an exact likeness. God's essential nature is imprinted on him perfectly. There might be things you can find out about God from elsewhere, but the most you can know is to be found in Jesus. So what is God like? And is God worth worshipping?
Well, one of the things that struck me from that same reading in Hebrews, and which we see clearly here in worship too, is that Jesus suffers. So if Jesus is an exact reflection of God, then God suffers. The letter said that before Jesus was crowned with glory and honour at the right hand of God he went through suffering all the way to death. And it prefaces that by saying that he became one of us, that he started out on the exact same foot that we do. It goes on to say that from that common starting point he become the pioneer of our salvation – the trail blazer who leads the way and thus enables us to find the way through suffering and death and beyond.
Daniel, Danielle and Lydia witnessed a horrific accident this week in which a woman was hit and killed by a truck. And Danielle, who usually sees more deeply and immediately into the heart of the spiritual reality than most of us, said afterwards that it was like seeing the face of God crushed into the road. She's right. That's exactly what she witnessed. That woman was made in the image of God and, as Danielle saw, her dying too bore the image of God, the God who suffers in all that we suffer, in life and in the horror of death.
The Hebrews reading even goes so far as to say that Jesus had to become "perfect" through sufferings. Now I may be wrong here, but I'm not convinced that suffering necessarily makes anyone a better person. Sometimes it just seems to make people bitter and broken. Suffering is never, in itself a good thing. It can't be because God has promised us that there will come a day when there is no more suffering, and if it was good, God wouldn't be getting rid of it.
But there is something that suffering is necessary for. The experience of suffering is necessary if you want to be taken seriously by others who are suffering. How often have you tried to reach out to someone who was in desperate trouble and they say, "Well thanks, but you just wouldn't understand." And sometimes you know they're right, and because you don't understand, you have virtually nothing to offer.
If Jesus wanted to be the pioneer of our salvation, the one who meets us in our fear and suffering and identifies with us and leads us out to the place of freedom and healing, then to be made perfect for that task he had to suffer. There was no other way.
He had to experience the worst that human beings can experience. He had to know what it feels like to be betrayed, to be abused, to be falsely accused, to be grief stricken, to be terrified, to be exhausted, to be abandoned by everybody – even God, to be tortured, to die humiliated. If he hadn't we'd have never taken him seriously when he said that there was hope and he could lead the way. We'd have said, "What would you know?"
So if we want to get a good look at God, we can begin by looking at the suffering of Jesus. We can begin by contemplating the breaking of bread and the pouring of wine. We enter into this experience every week. We see the body of Christ broken in our midst. We see mirrored there the brokenness of our own spirits, the brokenness of our relationships, the brokenness of the hungry and homeless, the brokenness of the poisoned earth. We see mirrored there the brokenness of the suffering God. And we can say, "You, O God, are worthy of our worship because you have suffered with us, been broken with us, and in your brokenness you have offered us wholeness."
We can also know of God that God is forgiving, that God is merciful and will take direct action to ensure that our sins are forgiven, that we don't have to live weighed down and crippled by guilt for past wrongs. In the letter to the Hebrews it said of Jesus that he "made purification for sins."
That phrase draws on the image of the priest who in the Temple had to perform the required rite, the sacrifices and prayers, in order to cleanse the people of the impurity of sin. If you like, he decontaminated them. So when it says that Jesus "made purification for sins" it is saying that he did whatever needed to be done to decontaminate us, to set us free from the guilt and fear that lingers and debilitates us when we know we have betrayed someone.
It is quite different from someone who just says, "O, it doesn't matter," but who hasn't really done anything to help you. Jesus is not just dismissing your sin as nothing, he is taking action. He's taking action if it costs him his life. Jesus will do whatever it takes and cop whatever hostility comes from those who find it convenient to keep people locked in their guilt and fear because they can be more easily manipulated that way.
So if we want to get a good look at God, we can begin by looking at the active forgiveness-making of Jesus. We can begin by contemplating a cross lifted up and words of love and mercy pronounced. We hear those words every week. We acknowledge our own brokenness and failure and we see the cross lifted up, the ultimate sign of God's love and the ultimate measure of just how far God's love will go to set us free, to purify us.
And in that cross and in those words of forgiveness, we see mirrored there the exact likeness of God, the God who will do whatever it takes to decontaminate us and heal us and make us whole. And we can say, "You, O God, are worthy of our worship because you stop at nothing to set us free from sin and guilt and fear."
We can also know of God that God is making us like God and setting out to crown us with the glory and honour that are God's. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews quoted the scriptures – he couldn't remember where from but we can help him out, it was Psalm 8 – as saying that human beings seem insignificant in the scheme of things, but in fact God has created them only a rung lower than the angels themselves.
And then he says something quite extraordinary: he says that Jesus was also made a rung lower than the angels but that now having suffered death and acted for the forgiveness of sins, he has been promoted to number one. He has been crowned with glory and honour and seated at the right hand of God. But that's not all. It is right after that that the writer talks about Jesus being our pioneer, our trail blazer. Where Jesus has gone, we get to go. His path is the path we are called to follow on. It is not an easy path – it may take us through all that he went through – but it is a path that leads to the right hand of God, to being crowned with glory and honour, and to being declared to be the sisters and brothers of Jesus himself.
So if we want to get a good look at God, we can begin by looking at the generous sharing of Jesus. We can begin by observing his desire, not to make us subservient underlings, but to lift us up all the way to where he is, to the right hand of God. We can begin by contemplating his invitation to us to become his body.
We enter into this experience every week. We hear Jesus calling us to receive what we are and to become what we receive – the body of Christ. We see that God is not just giving us a bit of Godself, but is drawing us right into the inner being of God so that we can become one with the love and joy and peace that are made perfect in the divine community that is the Trinity. We see mirrored there the extravagant self-giving generosity of God.
And we can say, "You, O God, are worthy of our worship because you have blazed the trail on which to gather us and all your children into your own glory. You have made us your own beloved children – brothers and sisters of Jesus himself."
What can we know of what God is like? Even in just what we see, hear and experience here around this table, there is more than enough for us to know God sufficiently to know that God is worth all our worship and all our lives.


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Ukraine earns extra $300 mln during OPAL pipeline's standstill
18:20, 24 October 2017Economy
140 0
Ukraine has additionally earned $300 million due to an increase in transit supplies of Russian gas to the EU via the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS) in 2017 after the OPAL gas pipeline suspended its operation, according to CEO of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolev.
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