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First Manifesto
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This Is Love-A Second Manifesto of the Museum of Everyday Life
Toothbrush Meditation
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Meditation on Locks & Keys
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Draw the Line and Make Your Point: The Pencil and the 21st Century
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Locofocos, Lucifers and Phillumeny: A Celebration of the Match
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Locks & Keys
May 2018 -May 2019
or a series of stones piled up in a particular way to prevent other humans or animals from accessing caches of hidden food. These simple rock piles were subsequently replaced by more complex booby traps, woven tree branches, and ingeniously interlocking pieces of carved wood. By 3000 BC Egyptians were making wooden locks with moving parts. Metal smiths in China and Persia devised portable iron padlocks and combination locks. Romans fashioned metal keys to locked treasure chests into rings they wore on their fingers. 18
and 19
century inventors created an ever more complex series of locks with intricate combinations of wards, tumblers, pins, springs and screws. And this work continues today, as keypads, magnetic strips, advanced electronic and biomedical locks and keys continue to grow in sophistication, all for the purpose of stymying the tireless efforts of those who make it their business to outsmart locksmiths and break in. Thus the long history of locks and keys seems to testify to a basic truth about the human condition: that we inevitably find it necessary to hide and protect ourselves and our belongings from one another, and to contain and control what we deem to be ours. We
shut things
– robbers, the weather, the scrutiny of others; and we
hold things in
, like prisoners, valuables, and secrets. In this light, locks and keys might seem to be witness to our failure to live in harmony, be a
truly social animal,
to share.
But there's more to locks and keys than this dark imperative of ownership. The lock affords more than just hording goods and private property. Locks also serve to define the inside and outside of things, to help us set up useful delineations of private and public. Privacy, for the social animal, means the right to control our own bodies, and allows for the protection of the most interior landscape of our thoughts. And containment is more than just restraint of that which tends to wander, like livestock or children. Containment also conjures the idea of
holding something close
, cherishing, which is all about the human capacity for reverence and adoration. Think of a lockbox of love letters and photographs, a cedar chest full of family heirlooms, a child's diary. When we give someone "the key" to our hearts it is the most profound of gifts.
Of course we cannot forget that the act of locking means limiting or preventing movement. What and who we imprison remains one of the most important questions facing contemporary societies. But just as lock and key have long been strong icons, symbolic of imprisonment and absolute power, the key when standing alone is a signifier of imprisonment's opposite: the promise of escape, the soaring hope of freedom. In the end, locks and keys are those most human of inventions – exquisitely expressing our most oppressive, least noble tendencies as well as our most visionary and enduring aspirations.
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(This entry is written mostly for my non-cryptographer friends who wonder why I am always criticizing Estonian e-voting scheme, but it may also be interesting for cryptographers all around the globe. All opinions are my own.)
Many people probably already know that Estonia has had Internet voting since 2005. Over the years, the number of voters has increased. In the parliamentary elections this week, more than 10% of the whole population (which means even larger percentage of the population who can vote – and probably quite a large percentage of the people who actually go to vote) used Internet voting.
I paper voted.
Why? First of all, as a cryptographer, it is my job not to support insecure systems. Given the current situation in Estonia, paper-voting is the only thing that I can do, but I hope things will improve rapidly.
Here's a short description of Estonian Internet voting protocol:
One vote attempt:
You as a voter either use an ActiveX control (or a downloadable application if you use a wrong browser/…) to log in to a secure webpage. To authenticate yourself you use an ID card (those have been obligatory in Estonia for quite a few years). After logging in, you use the GUI to select the candidate. After that, the voter computer encrypts your vote by using RSA and the key of a tallier. The result is also signed by using your private key (which is again stored in your ID card). Your computer now sends the signed & encrypted vote to the vote collector server.
You can always revote by using exactly the same procedure. The VCS only stores the latest vote by every voter. (This step was introduced to combat vote coercion/family voting — note that if everything else fails, you can go to the voting station and revoke your electronic vote by paper-voting.)
Vote counting:
After the election period ends, the VCS will take the latest encrypted votes of all voters and send them to the second server that is behind a firewall. The second server removes all the signatures. It then 'burns' all the unsigned encrypted votes to a CD. Now, a number of trusted people (including observers) take this CD and bring it to a separate room, which is well guarded. That room contains the third server, the tallier who is *not* connected to Internet at all. The CD is input to the tallier. The tallier reads all encrypted votes. Since it knows the decryption keys, it can decrypt all votes. After that it outputs the number of votes given for every candidate.
This whole process also contains a number of organizational steps (like transfer of the CD to the tallier, or general auditing), but cryptographically that's it.
So what's wrong with it? For a cryptographer it's a rhetoric question but let me reiterate some points. Basically, an e-voting system can be attacked by attacking voter computers, Internet connection or voting servers. Signing/encryption mostly takes care of fraudulent Internet (they do not obviously protect you against DDOS attacks and the like).
Voter computers are an obvious problem: most of the people are computer illiterate, and are not able to check if their computers are not infected. Even if they have the newest antivirus (which we can't be sure of), that antivirus itself might not be able to detect a piece of new malware that has been written specifically for *that* election and is unleashed just before it. (Note: in Estonia e-voting lasts for 3 days.) That malware could do a lot of damage, like hijack the connection between you and the ID card (basically letting the ID card to sign wrong votes), between the GUI and what actually happens inside the computer, etc. I would *not* be surprised if such a piece of software was written by a high-school kid.
Vote servers are another problem: they can attacked by a hostile (but yet invisible) takeover, or by an insider (software provider, hardware provider, they guy with a gun meant to protect the servers, cleaning lady…). To be completely certain nothing like that happens, one should use either 100% trusted providers etc, etc (which is somewhat unlikely if an interested foreign powers invests a few million euros to bribe everybody), or one should use cryptography. But first, why does it matter? Can't we trust the election office? Rhetorically I could ask: do we trust politicians in general? Do we? Less rhetorically, there are so many potential threats here.
Given all this, when Internet voting process started in Norway, the government officials clearly stated they want strong cryptography, and probable security in general. In particular, they do not want to only avoid attacks. They want to be able to prove that no attacks happened. Moreover, they want to be able to prove that the e-voting system is so secure that no attacks are possible at all. (Or at least, the number of possible attacks is strongly limited.) If the e-voting system satisfies that property, they can in particular prove that they did *not* cheat. That means, at least some kittens in Norway will have a good night sleep. And people's trust in the governance will increase.
We can imagine all kind of attacks (and motivations behind those attacks) against Internet voting. A party would like to gain a few more votes. A script kiddie is angry at a politician whose daughter doesn't like him. A foreign power wants their favorite party to gain a few more votes. A foreign power attacks e-voting process just so that it will be clear that somebody attacked and thus the results can't be trusted. Etc. Etc. Script kiddie might spend a few days to write a virus that works on user computers. A foreign power might spend $10M to develop Stuxnet+.
How can we protect Internet voting then? Fortunately, there *are* very well-known (at least in the cryptographic community) protocols for that. It is known how to get security in the case when a minority of voting servers is malicious. Under some conditions, it just suffices to have one uncorrupted voting server. Developing such protocols means that there is a need for additional computing power (and time, to implement the cryptographic protocols). Deploying such protocols is invisible to the voters.
Protecting against corrupted voter computers is more difficult. There are quite many ways to do it, but most of the ways requires the voters to perform some additional operations. As an example, Norway will use a scheme where every voter receives (by post) a codesheet that has the names of all candidates and corresponding check codes. (The codes are unique for every voter.) Voting proceeds as usual, by using computer and your favorite GUI, but afterwards you will receive by SMS a single code. The voter can now just verify if this is the same code that was written on the codesheet under his or her favorite candidate. If it is not, he can revote electronically (or go and paper-vote).
There are a number of good things about the Norwegian system. First of all, receiving the codesheet and checking your codes is not obligatory — you just have to do it when you are paranoid or just security-conscious (or just geeky). Thus, Internet voting still rules in the sense of convenience. On the other hand, interested voters can verify that their votes were counted for by following a relatively small number of steps.
Another thing that I like about the Norwegian solution is that by using their own words, the underlying math is simple enough to be understood by high school students — and they plan to start teaching the protocol at high schools. (See the slides here.) Which is nice, since cryptography is not everything — for complete trust there have to be enough people to understand the system. And it's always nice to teach people new math. 🙂
The Norwegian system is not ideal, but it can be improved upon. There are also many other, somewhat similar (or completely different) techniques to protect Internet voting schemes against corrupted user computers. Unfortunately, dwelling into them would take quite a lot of time and this margin here is too short.

subset: commoncrawl


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Forceps Delivery
A variety of different medical tools and devices can be employed during the delivery of a baby. Although every medical team's goal is to safely delivery babies into the world, medical devices or tools are sometimes used too forcefully or negligently. Birth injuries that occur as a result of overly forceful use of forceps can be devastating for mothers and babies. Difficult or particularly long labors can sometimes result in doctors stepping in to take measures to ensure the safety of both mom and baby, however, it's never okay to initiate unnecessary and dangerous or forceful medical interventions that can endanger patients. After any type of birth injury resulting from the use of forceps, it's critical to determine whether or not the decision to use forceps was appropriate and that the tool was used in a safe manner for mother and baby.Meeting Forceps Delivery Criteria
Forceps, when used appropriately and safely, are a very important tool in certain cases. In fact, when properly used, they can save lives. That being stated, it's also important to note that they can be misused and unnecessarily employed, which can endanger babies and their mothers. After any kind of injury resulting from a forceps delivery, it will be necessary to determine if an appropriate criterion was met in order to warrant the use of forceps. Forceps shouldn't be used as a first result. In some cases, it is safer to provide alternate types of interventions. A decision to use forceps in a delivery is one that no doctor should jump to or make lightly. Because excessive force can cause irreparable damage to mothers and babies, forceps must be used with great care and only when absolutely necessary.Risks to Mother's Health Associated With Forceps Delivery
- Internal bleeding
- Uterine rupture
- Urinary tract damage
- Fecal or urinary incontinence
- Pain
- Bladder injury
- Infection
- Damage to urethra, vagina and genital area
- Anemia
- Perineum injury
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Death
In addition to using forceps only when it's absolutely necessary and safe to do so, and using those forceps carefully and without excessive force, post-delivery monitoring is critically important after this type of birth. In some cases, especially where injuries present with subtle symptoms, it's important to monitor mother and baby after a forceps delivery. Close post-delivery monitoring can mean the difference between catching a birth injury and treating it immediately and letting a child go home without the care the he or she desperately needs. Doctors and medical teams need to be on the lookout for any type of injury that could have occurred as a result of the forceps delivery. Listed below are some potential birth injuries that are commonly associated with negligent forceps deliveries.Potential Birth Injuries Associated With Forceps Delivery
- Facial deformities
- Skull fractures
- Damage to the face and head
- Facial palsy
- Paralysis
- Bleeding in the skull
- Damage to spinal cord
- Damage to eyes and vision
- Internal bleeding
- Seizures
- Neurological damage
- Cerebral palsy
- Brain damage
- Death
Negligence in the delivery room puts mothers and babies at risk for injury causing or potentially fatal circumstances. Pregnancy, birth, labor and delivery all carry risks of certain types of complications and difficulties. Expecting mothers and families are counting on doctors and medical teams to act in a manner that is safe and to provide appropriate and necessary care when it's needed. Unnecessary procedures that put mothers and babies in danger are negligent and dangerous. In some cases, negligence in the delivery room might not be immediately apparent to new mothers and families. If you have a suspicion that negligence or dangerous misconduct led to your baby's birth injury or to your injuries during labor and delivery, you need to contact a personal injury attorney with birth injury case experience as soon as possible to get the ball rolling on your claim.Birth Injury Lawyer in Jackson
Birth injuries can be devastating for babies and their families. An error in the delivery room can completely change the course of life for a newborn baby. When potentially harmful medical devices are used, it's absolutely important to make sure they were employed safely and necessarily. After any type of birth injury, it's a good idea to speak with a lawyer about your unique circumstances. A lawyer can be your advocate and protect your rights as you focus on the important job, taking care of your family.
If you are suffering from injuries related to a forces delivery or if your child suffered a birth injury during a forceps delivery in or around the Jackson Metro Area, contact the skilled and proven Personal Injury team at Coxwell & Associates, PLLC at (877) 231-1600 for a free case consultation today.


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Rave Restaurant Group, parent to the Pizza Inn buffet chain and fast-casual Pie Five Pizza Co., has promoted Bob Bafundo, left, to the new position of president, the company said Tuesday.
Dallas-based Rave said Bafundo joined the company in 2016 as president of the Pizza Inn brand. In his new role, he will oversee day-to-day operations for all Rave brands, including the newer non-traditional Pizza Inn Express, or PIE, brand.
"Bob has done a fantastic job of re-energizing the guest experience and franchise base at Pizza Inn," Rave CEO Scott Crane said in a statement. "He positioned the brand for new growth through systemwide remodels, adding new franchise partners and revitalizing the current franchise system."
Crane said Bafundo also spearheaded new platforms such as online ordering, point-of-sale systems, catering, all-day buffet and a rewards program.
In addition to the Bafundo promotion, Rave said Tuesday that Andrea Allen, left, had been promoted to chief accounting and administrative officer.
Allen joined Rave in 2017 as controller and vice president of accounting. Prior to Rave, Allen served as vice president of procurement and information systems and controller at Bar Louie and was a financial consultant for TGI Fridays.
"Andrea has made a tremendous impact on our financial processes," Crane said. "All of our brands have seen improvements in budgeting, analysis and decreased time in monthly and quarterly reporting."
Rave owns, operates and franchises about 300 Pie Five Pizza, Pizza Inn and PIE restaurants domestically and internationally.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless


text:
United States Department of Defense
News Release
|New Release
|No. 820-04
|August 24, 2004
First Military Commission Convened at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - The first U.S. military commission in more than 50 years was convened here today in the case of U.S. vs. Salim Achmed Hamdan who is accused of conspiracy to commit violations of the law of war.
Military commissions have historically been used to try violations of the law of war, and this is the first of four preliminary hearings scheduled this week for enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay.
The commission was ordered into session at 10:04 a.m. shortly after the arrival of Hamdan who was escorted into the courtroom with his detailed defense counsel, Navy Lieutenant Commander Charles Swift and an interpreter. Presiding Officer Colonel Peter Brownback and four other members of the commissions panel plus one alternate member then entered the courtroom.
Brownback's first act was to swear the members of the commissions panel as to their duties before the commission.
Swift next conducted voir dire of the commission panel beginning with Brownback and in the absence of the panel members who were excused at Swift's request. Voir dire is an opportunity afforded at the presiding officer's discretion to both the prosecution and defense to determine whether a commission panel member is qualified to impartially try the case.
At the conclusion of the voir dire of Brownback, Swift requested a brief recess to confer with his client, which Brownback granted. Following that, the court reconvened for a short time until Brownback recessed for lunch.
When the court resumed, Swift continued his voir dire of the remaining commission panel members, which consist of two U.S. Marine Corps colonels, an Air Force colonel and an Air Force lieutenant colonel.
This process continued into the afternoon with occasional recesses and a period where court was closed due to the presentation of classified information.
Court continued well into the evening as Swift finished his voir dire of the commission members and began introducing motions. Brownback granted Swift's request for a continuance, meaning the motions will be dealt with at a later time. In the final major event of the day, Brownback asked for a plea from Hamdan who exercised his right not to enter a plea at that time.
Observing the commission were members of U.S. and international media who are reporting on the commissions process this week. Additionally, representatives of five international organizations were in the courtroom along with members of the Office of Military Commissions.
Military commissions are a tool of justice implemented under President Bush's November 2001 order that established the basic guidelines for trying individuals accused of violations of the law of war. Enemy combatants at Guantanamo were captured during Operation Enduring Freedom. The Department of Defense is committed to ensure each accused receives a full and fair trial.
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text:
Nigerians weren't happy when they heard their "African Giant" lost the Grammy award to Beninese legend, Angelique Kidjo.
However, a Facebook user could have irked the Afro-fusion act's fans after she revealed, she didn't want Burna Boy to win the award.
Oyinkansola Alabi expressed his love for his hard work and creativity but was not disappointed when he did not clinch award claiming it would ruin his life should he have won.
Tags: entertainment


text:
KENT All Purpose LONG Bottle Cutter Machine Set With Diamond File and Core Drill Bits
Create Functional art while recycling glass bottles and jars.
12 pieces Set Includes:
1 - LONG Bottle Cutter with Durable metal construction and Carbide Cutting Wheels
1 - Super Fine Diamond Coated Hand File
1 - 10pcs Set Assorted DIAMOND COATED CORE DRILL BITS With Jagged Edge, 3mm to 12mm (3/8" to 1/2")
LONG Bottle Cutter machine with Durable metal construction and Carbide Cutting Wheels, easy to use
1- Add a very small drop of oil on the carbide cutting wheel axis(machine oil or kitchen oil is ok)
2- Adjust screws and move parts so the bottle can rest properly on machine
3- Adjust depth of machine so the cutting wheel is at the desired location on the bottle.
4- Once the bottle is resting on the machine, apply pressure with your hands; make ONE complete circle only against the cutting wheel
5- Take the bottle off the machine, dip it in very hot water for around 2 minutes, score mark must be below water level
6- Dip Bottle immediately after in iced water
7- Snap apart the 2 parts of the bottle and use a sanding paper or a diamond file to smooth out the glass edges
© 2009-2022 Kent Services & Distribution Inc


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This skirt is very similar to the Pixie Skirt. In fact, the Petal Skirt and Pixie Skirt are so similar, I'm only posting one tutorial. Skip to the bottom for dimensions for the Pixie. Why the difference? Well, the Petal Skirt is for older girls and the Pixie Skirt is for younger girls. Simple.
This is the Petal Skirt. The longer length and fewer petals make it perfect for older girls. You'll want to pick two or three different cotton fabrics and have about 3/4 of a yard of each. (You can make the underside of the petals in a solid color if you like. Or you can make each petal different if you're daring.)
First, you're going to make your petal pattern. So, grab your graph paper (or whatever paper you make your patterns on), your straight ruler, your curve ruler (if you have one- if you don't, you can eyeball it), your pen, and your paper scissors (never to be confused with your fabric scissors!).
Mark a line on the top of your paper 7″ across. Put a little mark at the halfway (3.5″) point.
Draw a line down the center mark 10″ down. The bottom of the 10″ mark is the bottom of your petal.
Fold the paper in half along the center line. Also, note how I marked the bottom of the 10″ line. Once your paper is folded, it can be hard to see where the end of the line is.
Grab your curve ruler and draw a curved line from the end of your 7″ line to the end of your 10″ line. If you don't have a curve ruler, you can just eyeball this part. You are only marking one side of your folded paper.
Keeping your paper folded, cut along the curved line.
Unfold your petal. This is your pattern piece. (Ignore the "Pixie" written on the petals. These are Petal petals, not Pixie petals, but my pregnant brain had a slight malfunction in the labeling department.) Write all the necessary stuff on you pattern piece. I usually include the dimensions of the pattern piece and the dimensions of the pieces that are to go with it. Also, not the two pattern pieces above. Your pattern is your own. It may be more pointy or round than mine. In fact, you can make triangles and make a Pennant Skirt if you like. (That would be super cute in the summer for baseball season.) If you don't like the shape when you unfold it, try again. For my skirt, I used the left pattern. I liked the rounded look of it.
Now, you are going to cut out all your skirt pieces. You will need to cut out 12 petals (front and back will make 6 completed petals). You'll need 2 rectangles for the skirt body 20″ wide and 14″ long. You'll also need 2 skinny rectangles for the waistband 19″ wide and 3″ long. (Note my pretty new scissors that The Pastor bought me for my birthday! He knows the way to my heart is not jewelry, but sewing accessories!)
First, we're going to work on the petals. Take two of your petal cut outs and place them right sides together.
Sew around the edges, leaving the top open. Since these seams will be completely enclosed, there is no need to finish them. Clip the curves all the way around your petal so that when you flip it right side out, it lays nice and flat.
Repeat for the other 5 petals. Flip them right side out and iron them flat. If you want, you can topstitch once you've ironed them flat. I didn't on this skirt, but have on others. It is really just for looks, so do whichever you prefer at the moment.
Set your cute little petals aside and let's work on this underskirt. With the right sides together, sew the short sides of the two rectangles together, making a tube.
Go ahead and finish the side seams of your skirt. I serged mine. You can finish them however you like!
You are also going to go ahead and finish the bottom of the underskirt. You can do a double fold hem if you like. I serge mine, then flip that under and sew it down. I use a zig-zag stitch just because I like how it looks.
Pin your petals to the outside of the underskirt. I like mine to overlap a little bit. You arrange them how you want. There will probably be about 1/2″ more underskirt than there are petals. You are going to box pleat the center front and back underskirt. The size of the box pleat depends on how you want your petals arranged.
This is the best picture I have of the pleat. I like the pleat, because it adds just a bit of volume to the skirt. However, if you don't like the pleat, take about an inch off the width of the underskirt. I usually don't do the pleat for the Pixie Skirt, since it is smaller and shorter and naturally holds a little more volume.
Sew the petals to the underskirt. Make sure you sew close to the top edge.
Sew the short sides of the waistband together (with right sides together). I go ahead and serge what will be the top of my waistband. You can do it now or later, it really doesn't matter. With the right side of the waistband facing the right side of the skirt, sew the waistband to the skirt.
Fold the waistband over and sew it closed, leaving a small hole to feed the elastic through. It may be easier if you press the waistband fold before you sew. You do whatever works for you. I didn't want to walk across the room to the iron, so I just flipped it and eyeballed it.
Here is the hole I left for the elastic.
My elastic is now ready to thread through the waistband! The length of elastic you cut will depend on two things. The first is the girl who will wear the skirt. Clearly, skinner means shorter elastic. Wider means longer elastic. The maximum waist on the skirt is about 37″. The second factor is what kind of elastic you are using. I use a gentler elastic that doesn't dig in or squeeze as tight. I find it more comfortable to wear. Your elastic may squeeze tighter, therefore you'll want it a bit wider than I make mine. Eyeball it.
Thread the elastic through the waistband. Sew the elastic closed. When sewing elastic closed, you want to sew along the length with a stretch stitch (or a zig-zag). I always sew about an inch, that way there is very little chance of an overly zealous dresser snapping it.
Sew the hole closed and YOU ARE DONE!
Pixie Skirt. I added a matching hem band on the bottom of this one.
To make a Pixie Skirt, rather than a Petal Skirt, follow the directions above and just change the dimensions. (Also, don't pleat the underskirt.)
For the petals: Make a pattern with a 7 and 3/4″ top and 8″ long. You are going to cut 16 petals for the Pixie Skirt, since you are making 8 full petals. I also make my Pixie petals a bit more pointy. It just seems right to me.
For the underskirt: Cut two 26.5″ x 11″ rectangles.
For the waistband: Cut two 26.5″ x 3″ rectangles. (If you want a more narrow waistband, try making them 2″ wide instead of 3″.)
Follow the directions for the Petal Skirt.
As always, this tutorial is free for you to use in any way you like. Make them to keep, sell, gift, whatever. Just don't take credit for the pattern because that just isn't cool. Share the free and link back here.


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Manogue to hold vigil for Michael Yenick
Bishop Manogue High School will host a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the one-year anniversary of the passing of Michael "Bub" Yenick, who starred for the Miners before playing for the Nevada Wolf Pack football team.
Yenick, whose death led to a federal drug investigation that resulted in nine arrests last May, died as a result of an oxycodone overdose last year at 33. The candlelight vigil is scheduled for Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.
"We are honored to be able to work with the Yenick family to host this event as they remember their beloved son," Bishop Manogue principal Brianne Thoreson said in a news release. "Not only was he a stellar athlete and dedicated to Campus Ministry in his time at Bishop Manogue, but he was an all-around good guy."
Family links son's death to federal oxycodone drug bust in Reno
The Yenick family has worked with Bishop Manogue to create a scholarship in his memory, the "Michael 'Bub' Yenick Memorial Scholarship," that will help provide funds to students in financial need.
Yenick was born in Ely and grew up in McGill before his family moved to Reno in 1988. He attended Little Flower grade school and Bishop Manogue, where he helped the Miners to state titles in football and basketball as a senior in 1999, before lettering for the Wolf Pack football team in 2000 and 2001. He was forced to retire due to injuries.
Yenick's cause of death was listed as alcohol and oxycodone intoxication, according to the Washoe County Medical Examiner, and his family has filed a civil suit against Reno doctor Robert Rand and accused him of over-prescribing the pain medication oxycodone and failing to monitor. A affidavit claims Rand is under investigation for approximately 60 other deaths.
Yenick's death led to an investigation into an alleged pain pill ring operating out of the Jones West Ford dealership and culminated with nine arrests, including those of Rand and Richard "Richie" West II. Both, as well as seven others, are awaiting trial.
The candlelight vigil is open to the public and will take place on the Bishop Manogue campus in the Christ the Teacher Chapel. After a memorial service, those in attendance will participate in a candlelight procession to the football field in memory of Yenick.
WHAT: Michael "Bub" Yenick Memorial Candlelight Vigil
WHO: Open to community
WHEN: October 3, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Bishop Manogue campus, Christ the Teacher Chapel (110 Bishop Manogue Dr.)


text:
Kentico Web Development Company
Rigel Networks has 16+ years of experience in delivering conversion-oriented web development solutions. Combining correct blend of Kentico technology and designs, we create and manage high performing websites and online stores. We have highly skilled team of 12 Kentico certified developers who has expertise in Kentico development and integration. Our Kentico web development solutions help clients reduce operational costs, enhance customer interaction and boost ROI
Kentico Development Services
We create customized Kentico solutions based on customer's unique business need. We have expertise in developing Kentico based simple websites to multi-functional ecommerce stores. Our portfolio covers online stores, ecommerce applications, creative websites, intranet portals etc.
Why choose Kentico for Website Development Services?
Kentico is an all-in-one CMS, E-commerce, and Online Marketing platform that drives business results for companies of all sizes both on-premise or in the cloud. It gives customers and partners powerful, comprehensive tools and customer-centric solutions to create stunning websites and manage customer experiences easily in a dynamic business environment. The Kentico Web Content Management Solution's rich selection of out-of-the-box web parts, easy customizations, and open API, quickly gets websites up and running. When combined with the full set of integrated solutions, including Online Marketing, E-commerce, and Intranet and Collaboration, Kentico fully optimizes the digital customer experience across multiple channels.
- Easy-to-use editor
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And if Snowden was in the Booz Allen job for just months and began copying documents "weeks" ago, did he take that job w/ a purpose?
— Joy Reid (@TheReidReport) June 10, 2013
A reader writes:
With this dramatic reveal of the identity of Greenwald's source, Edward Snowden, it was also revealed that Snowden has been working with the firm Booz Allen since March. So, this off-hand tweet from Greenwald struck me as particularly odd: "@TheStalwart The reality is that Laura Poitras and I have been working with him since February, long before anyone spoke to Bart Gellman"
If Greenwald has been working with his source since February, a month before Edward Snowden began working for Booz Allen, why is that not included in the Guardian story? That seems like a bit of a sticking point.
Here are the problems I have with Ed Snowden and his choice to leak NSA information to news organizations.
The DoD and classified programs have a variation of the Ethics Hotlines that most corporations have to support employees who have concerns about bad behavior. Snowden could have worked his concerns with this hotline. Barring that, he could have worked his concerns with the members of Congress briefed on the program. He could have even gone to a member of Congress who wasn't briefed and gotten him or her involved. There were numerous responsible ways to deal with the conflicts he was wrestling with. Instead, he chose to go to the Guardian and the WaPo and data-dump our capabilities to the world. I heard his interview on television and he seems to be painting himself both as a (quite paranoid) martyr and as a latter-day Assange. For somebody who was entrusted with the nation's most delicate secrets, such behavior is appalling.
Edward Snowden is not a hero. He was a weak man who took an oath to protect the nation's secrets, found something he felt was contrary to our ideals, and decided to resolve the issue in an irresponsible manner by making the biggest, loudest bang he could. He failed the country he claims to want to save.


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Excellence in Scholarship and Learning
What type of index?
How well a book is indexed is very important in terms of the reception it receives in journals and academic reviews. If a book is poorly indexed, the reader will find it difficult to locate the specific information they seek.
An efficient index will allow readers to:
(a) find out whether a book discusses a topic of particular interest;
(b) take the reader to that topic quickly;
(c) find topics they have already read about and perhaps wish to refresh in their minds;
(d) indicate to reviewers and possible buyers the range and depth of the book.
It is therefore important to consider what kind of reader will be most interested in the book before beginning to compile an index. Bear in mind that an index might be used only very occasionally – looking for a single specific entry, for example – or it can be used as an effective research tool, allowing students and researchers to scan a broad range of topics across the subject of the book. Will your readers want access to a large database of entries? What kind of entries will they be searching for – names and places? Or ideas and theories? Or both? This issue is dealt with in detail below.
If the author is also the indexer, the index can also represent the opportunity to educate the reader further, by making comparisons or juxtapositions that do not occur in the text.
Compiling an index
The Publisher is often asked to explain the best way forward in compiling an index. The Press values well prepared indexes highly and wishes to make two observations: (1) Do consider engaging a freelance indexer, for which the Press will obtain a cost estimate at your request; (2) If you are time constrained, especially at the time when proofs are due to arrive, it is a good idea to prepare a list of index entries in advance of the proofs – this means considering the principal items to index, main subject areas of the book, etc.
Before compiling an index, it is extremely worthwhile looking at indexes to books on similar subjects to your own. It is also worth looking up indexes to books that you recalled were helpful, and working out what was useful about them. It is vital that you keep in mind the readership level of your readers when in the process of compiling an index. Are they undergraduates, professionals, postgraduates? Specialists in a particular industry or subject? The complexity and level (e.g., number of sub-entries) of the index will be dictated by your readers' needs. The focus of the book will also dictate the focus of the index.
Index style
There are two important aspects of index style that should be noted. First, ordinary type should be used for all page references, with bold an optional extra for principal page references. Second, italic should be used for the words "see", "see unde", "see also", "compare" and "passim" in an index.
The index should follow the (US or UK) style adopted in the text. If US style, capitalize all main entries; if UK style, keep main entries lower case except for names and proper nouns. You will also need to decide whether the index style should be "run on" or "set out". These and other style pointers are detailed in the two exemplar books detailed below.
There are two important provisos in submitting an index to the press: (1) include a comma between the index entry and the first page number – thus,
Miracles, 9, 13-16, 27, 134-7, 150-1
And (2), follow number concatenation as it is used in the main text. Press House Style of numbering is as the entry above.
How many entries?
An index should amount to between 3–5% of the length of the completed text. The agreed-upon page extent for the book will impose some kind of limit – although not definitive – on the length of the index you can have for your title. However, if you stick to the 3–5% rule you should end up with a decent length for the index. The Press editor will inform you if the index seems too sparse or overlong.
Which works to consult on index preparation?
Authors are advised to consult two works which have excellent sections on how to compile an index:
Indexes, pp. 183–201, from Judith Butcher, Copy-Editing: The Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Authors and Publishers, third edition (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992)
Indexes, pp. 701–60, from The Chicago Manual of Style, fourteenth edition (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1993)
Both books are usually to be found in all university and public libraries.
If you experience any difficulty in compiling the index, please contact your Press editor, who will be more than willing to assist you.


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Home › Forums › Articles › Keep Your Most Important 2016 Video Game Releases in Mind with These Desktop Wallpapers (Part 2)
Tagged: Dishonored II, Doom 4, Dragon Quest XI, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Gears of war 4, Horizon, Nintendo NX, Wallpaper
- This topic has 2 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 1 month ago by Jacob Kellogg.
January 22, 2016 at 6:27 AM #1764Isiac DaGracaKeymaster
Keep Your Most Important 2016 Video Game Releases in Mind with These Desktop Wallpapers (Part 2)
This time around we have a few games (okay a lot) we can't be certain are coming out this year but we will damn well hope!
Regardless here's the best images I could find for you to torture yourself with, and if you missed part 1 some of the games you may not see here will be there! But we still have many more parts to go so keep an eye out for these!
Once again to save each image you can either click them then right-click and select "save image", or right-click the thumb and select "save link as". Enjoy.
Dishonored II (PC, PS4, XBO)
While there's very little info on this game, I found the design in the trailer exquisite. I'm always eager for more stylized character and environment designs, more so on the current gen of consoles. It's likely (okay maybe definitely) a futile dream to hope the game actually looks this good visually. But I'll be staring into the eye of this porcelain death robot hoping it does anyway.
Doom 4 (PC, PS4, XBO)
Revealed with a lot of hype, a lot of gore, and more cheering at said gore. Doom 4 is set to release at some point this year. So while you wait, here's some wall papers from hell to satiate your blood-lust. Or, more likely just make you more hungry now that I think about it. Aw well.
[gallery type="rectangular" size="full" link="file" ids="1538,1537,1539,1540,1541"]
Dragon Quest XI (PS4, XBO, NX, 3DS)
The number of Dragon Quest games is now reaching the high numbers of Final Fantasy with Dragon Quest XI due to come out some time this year in Japan. The most we've seen of this game is the screenshots below and this "gameplay demo" which just has them running around, "Weeee *cough*".
It appears to be a traditional RPG in all respects, with it visuals having a glorious mix of what appears to be a combinations of modern physically based shaders and hand painted textures. Color me interested.
Oh hey, turns out it was announced for that new Nintendo console too, hmmmmmm.
[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" size="full" ids="1543,1544,1545,1546"]
Final Fantasy VII Remake (PS4, XBO)
A game that's got every fan all excited, worried, in awe, and frustrated cause its potential is just so huge. This game wouldn't be on this list if not for its episodic releases. We don't exactly know how big each part is, or how many parts there will be. And it doesn't seem like a huge ambitious title like Final Fantasy XV considering it's not using Luminous Engine, and many aspects of the gameplay seem to be well in development. Though they are touting faithfulness to the source, scale and detail as the reason for the game needing to be in parts.
Yet after what we saw last year this game could come sooner than we expect, it to me seemed well on its way. All that said I could only find one quality image, but if you have more post them in the comments below. Meanwhile I'll dream of getting that first taste of a Sephiroth boss on current gen consoles, and futilely hope for a PC release on the off-chance I still don't have one.
Gears 4 (XBO, PC)
This one…I honestly didn't even know existed. It also doesn't seem to feature the previous games cast, not that I've played much of the previous games beyond the first one to really know. Before i make my self seem even more useless, OH HEY THERE'S A GAMEPLAY TRAILER TOO! WHAT?
The game is said to be set to launch Fall 2016, and GameSpot said there will be a trailer in spring for people who bought the Gears Ultimate Edition first. So chew on these till then.
[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" size="full" ids="1548,1549"]
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PS4, XBO, PC)
A game I respect for its style and apparent interest on getting rid of the gold filter that dominated the last game. We now have blue.
Joking aside, this game got a lot of attention they didn't ask for, from stupid people at its announcement over its use of a Modern History book. Or more specifically its use of the term Apartheid. Cause apparently video games aren't ready to have a story draw real world parallels to its lore.
That said, various people on the team stuck to their guns. And I should be talking about their game not this BS…uh…
The release date is set to be August 23rd this year. Enjoy some gorgeous concept art, and screenshots while you wait to experience cyborg segregation.
[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" size="full" ids="1550,1551,1552,1553,1554,1555"]
Hitman (PS4, XBO, PC)
Another game on this list releasing in parts, the first part coming out March 11th.
I've never played a Hitman game…I'm sorry for being useless.
Whether you get each episode or wait for the inevitable pack at a discount some time down the line. You can use these images below to help you think about the possibilities for your next assassination.
[gallery type="rectangular" link="file" size="full" ids="1556,1557"]
So prehistoric settings are a big thing this year but Horizon is a game already ahead of the curve on that mess. ROBOT DINOSAURS.
Like, WHY? HOW? But god does this game look plain glorious.
I really don't have much to say about this game, just salivate over these screens and ponder how the hell this happened. And maybe consider, do robot dinosaurs mate?
[gallery type="rectangular" size="full" link="file" ids="1558,1559,1560,1561,1562,1563,1564,1565,1566"]
See you next time in part 3.
[See the full post at: Keep Your Most Important 2016 Video Game Releases in Mind with These Desktop Wallpapers (Part 2)]
January 23, 2016 at 4:16 AM #1781Jacob KelloggKeymaster
Games are just too pretty now.. T_T
August 4, 2016 at 4:40 PM #3830Jacob KelloggKeymaster
We need another one of these as an article D:
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Seth Klarman To Roll Around In PG&E Winnings While Paul Singer, Others Fight Over Charred Scraps
The hedge fund shareholders and creditors of California utility and wildfire-starter PG&E are still fighting over how much they will lose or gain through the company's bankruptcy exit. It's not going terribly well, with the judge overseeing PG&E's Chapter 11 filing giving it control over the planning process for now, and in any event it will have to go badly for at least some of them, since some—creditor Paul Singer, for instance—arguing that others—shareholders like Abrams Capital Management and Knighthead Capital Management, who are pushing their own plan—should be wiped out. The fighting is likely to go one for some time longer, since no one knows how much PG&E actually owes the people whose houses and whatnot it burned to the ground, and likely won't for some time.
All of that? Yea, it's not Seth Klarman's problem. He decided to buy some dirt-ass-cheap insurance claims instead of stocks or bonds, and now whatever might happen amidst the messiness of Chapter 11 and the rest of it is of no moment to him.
Public records reviewed by The Wall Street Journal indicate Baupost stands to make hundreds of millions of dollars from its investment in insurance claims tied to the wildfires that pushed PG&E into chapter 11. Under a proposed settlement unveiled Friday, those insurance claims will be paid back at roughly 59 cents on the dollar, roughly twice what Baupost paid for some of them, records show…. A PG&E spokesperson said the new deal was an "agreement in principle" and the company would announce additional details when a full written settlement is reached.
Klarman's Baupost Poised to Cash In On PG&E Insurance Bet [WSJ]


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Student Support Services
Preparing for Graduate School
Defining Graduate School
Graduate School constitutes an advanced program of study focused on a particular academic discipline or profession. Traditionally, graduate school has been "academic" (centered on generating original research in a particular discipline), but it may be a "professional" (centered on developing skills and knowledge for a specific profession), or a combination of both (University of California-Berkley). >Watch a video
Graduate School vs. Undergraduate School
Graduate School
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- Higher expectations - if you receive less than a B, then you retake the class
- No one is checking on your grades, giving out midterm alerts, or contacting you regarding grades
- Collaborate with faculty
- Publication
- Thesis or Fieldwork
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- Comprehensive Exams
Undergraduate School
- Studies are more general in nature, less focused
- Less collaboration with faculty and other students
- Publication is rare and not expected
- Thesis or fieldwork can happen, but it is not expected in every discipline
- Finals come at the end of the semester, not at the end of the program
Readiness for Graduate School
Ask yourself: Am I ready?
- Some disciplines lend themselves to graduate school
- Example: Psychology and Sociology
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- Are you financially able to afford it?
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- Federal Student Aid (complete the FAFSA!)
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- What type of degree is needed
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- Usually, as a graduate student, you have more responsibilities (spouse, family, job)
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- Regional accreditation
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Professional organizations provide information on graduate studies, scholarships, career paths, licensure, and research opportunities
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Helpful Websites for Writing Personal Statements
Purdue University's OWL: Writing the Personal Statement
Harvard University Personal Statement


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In every generation, young people need to differentiate themselves from their parents. Like almost all human endeavors, this exercise is based on the fallacy that finding an alternative version of your parents' beliefs and proclaiming it different.
There was another version of this experience that happened on a broad scale. In France, in 1789, the overpopulated proletariat decided that their problem was not their own reckless breeding but their leadership. Thus they staged a mass protest and then executed enough smart people to drop the average IQ in France by ten points.
Ever since their, our history and personal behavior have followed these two archetypes. When individuals enter a new group, their first act is to differentiate themselves by doing something outrageous — but it must affirm the notions of the group. Similarly, whenever our politics become stagnant, we declare a "revolution" and destroy anyone intelligent, then settle for a dumbed-down version of what went before.
Thus instead of benevolent kings, the French got Napoleon. Instead of social stability, we get endless "novelty" that isn't all that novel and when viewed from a neutral distance, appears as embarrassingly simple-minded as it actually is. Where our forefathers wrote symphonies, we have to content ourselves with doing things in a broken way and calling it "innovation":
Sonic Youth have been praised for having "redefined what rock guitar could do", using a wide variety of unorthodox guitar tunings and preparing guitars with objects like drum sticks and screwdrivers to alter the instruments' timbre. The band is considered to be a pivotal influence on the alternative rock and indie rock movements.
That's up there with the contemporary art "mistaken" for trash at a famous gallery. The reason the word mistaken is in scare quotes is that it wasn't mistaken for trash; it was trash, or at least made of it. While the usual chattering classes would like you to argue on and on about whether this is "valid" or not, a more interesting question is whether or not it is ambitious or meaningful in any sense. Most of us find it trivial.
In fact the root of modern society is triviality. We specialize not in depth, which might divide us, but in minor changes in appearance that make the same old stuff seem new long enough to sell it to each other. Our politicians manipulate us with such tokens and then make incremental changes that do not affect the whole. They are aided by a legion of media commentators, academics and bureaucrats trying to sell us on the idea that these trivial changes are important and demand our immediate attention. And yet when they go all wrong, nothing happens; in the meantime, when we ignore the real issues we skip over to focus on the triviality, serious problems occur.
Rebelling against this process is useless however. Most rebellions end up like the indie band with garbage on their guitars claiming to be innovation. Even worse, most people expect rebellions to be this way: more triviality, in a new form. Thus even a powerful thinker who allows his work to slide toward revolutionary rhetoric will quickly be absorbed by a large group of people who demand the novel triviality be reborn. For this reason, the answer to modern society is not to follow its pattern of iconoclasm and overthrow, but to escape the appearances game entirely and focus on the non-trivial.
However, we still need a way for the youth of tomorrow to shock their parents. I suggest to these children that the quickest way to grow up is to tackle an actual grown-up issue instead of trivialities, thus I suggest to them that they take a truly radical path:
Refute the guillotine.
Acknowledge that the Revolution in France was a mistake that led to barbarism because it had no natural course to follow, since it was an ideology based on fear of power and not responsible use of power. Affirm that whole families — men, women and children — were sent to the gallows for no reason other than that they were more intelligent and noble than others. Reject the idea that blaming others for our problems as a society is a workable solution. Remind everyone that the true symbol of leftism — or liberalism, progressivism, greenism, whatever it has renamed itself today — is the guillotine.
Even following liberal movements cannot save you from the guillotine. When they ran out of enemies of the state to execute, they began pointing the finger at each other. Once the revolutionaries had murdered every noble they could find, they began killing each other for not being revolutionary enough. Eventually this culminated in dictatorship and Napoleon raging across Europe in the name of bringing the enlightened good news of liberalism to others.
Shock your parents. Don't aim for surface trivialities, where you can get into trouble with specifics. Aim for the heart of the beast. Refute the guillotine. Point out that liberalism is insane. Use the nihilism of modern society to say that there is no inherent morality of equality, and that chasing such a chimera will lead us down the path to the guillotine yet again. Liberalism is like a germ on the unwashed hands of a doctor, infecting and killing every patient he sees until finally he eats a sandwich at lunch and then it kills him too. The only true iconoclasm is washing our hands of liberalism entirely. And it is the only thing that truly makes those in power shake in their boots: the thought that they will soon have no way to manipulate us.
Tags: crowdism, revolution


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Dr. James Rowland is an obstetrician and gynecologist in Wexford, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Temple University School of Medicine in 1994 and has been in practice for 28 years.
Temple University School of Medicine, 1994
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- Bette Midler once joked, "No muff too tough! Ugly women have pussies, too." The mayor of Mount Isa, Australia has taken this sentiment to heart, welcoming "ugly ducklings" to the sausage-fest over which he presides. Oddly, Australian women aren't leaping at the opportunity.
- A KC city countil committee endorsed changes to the smoking ban today. Primary change? Restricting smoking in casinos to areas where only those 21 or older are allowed. Like bars. Where smoking is banned. Dumbfuckery.
- Lately it seems like you have a better chance of being a crime victim in Brookside than in some of the more unsavory areas of the city. Like the Plaza. Brookside Goodcents robbed at gunpoint. Resident walking dog robbed at gunpoint. Murder at 62nd & Troost.
- Dan Renzi's still around? Awesome? I worked with Dan a number of years ago on the board of a local gay-type organization. Nice enough guy, though falling firmly in the high-maintenance quadrant of the gay color wheel. So I guess I'm like two degrees from that crazy guy who yelled "Hello…Bitch? Helloooo?" in the phone to that nutjob Flora on The Real World that one time. So that's kinda cool, I guess.
September 18, 2008
Lord, make a way.
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Probiotic Vida
Probiotic Vida combines 13 different strains of bacteria with multiple sources of dietary fiber. Net…
Probiotic Vida combines 13 different strains of bacteria with multiple sources of dietary fiber. Net…
Have you ever heard the term open goods? If not, learn what it is and what products are related to it in the guide. You can also read about the advantages of matcha powder and moringa leaf powder.
Open goods are products that are sold in pharmacies, for example. However, not as mostly packaged goods, but as loose stock containers. These are then filled as needed for customers.
They can be powders, teas, chemicals such as citric acid, ethanol, gasoline and the like, but also ointments or creams and soaps. Tinctures and tablets are also offered as open goods.
Those who wish to buy open goods determine the quantity or volume themselves. Subsequently, the products are measured, filled into a container and billed on the basis of quantity.
Matcha powder is ground from Japanese green tea leaves. This produces an aromatic and stimulating drink that has been prepared and consumed for many centuries. Matcha powder is slightly thicker than conventional green tea. This is due to the fact that the powder is mixed directly with water. Therefore, matcha is not a tea infusion as you normally know it. Rather, it is an extract of fresh tea leaves. Consequently, the ingredients are much more concentrated. Organic matcha powder is available in high quality.
The organic matcha powder comes from the Japanese city of Aiya. It is a rare product based on a very high quality cultivation. The further processing also requires a high level of commitment. The cultivation is done in absolute organic quality. About a month before the plants are harvested, nets are placed over them. This ensures that the sunlight hardly hits them.
This ensures that the ingredients of the plants are even more concentrated, such as theanine or chlorophyll. In addition, the intensity of the green color can also be increased in this way. After the plants have been harvested, they are steamed for a short period. This stops the fermentation. This step is called tencha. Then, the leaf veins and stems are eliminated so that only the leaf pulp remains.
This is gently and carefully ground using traditional granite stone mills. Since the mills grind very slowly, there is no frictional heat. Therefore, this matcha powder is a product that can rightfully count itself among the best.
Approximately one percent of tea growers from Japan grow green tea of the quality of matcha. Therefore, there is only about 0.05 percent tea of this quality in the entire world. It is therefore an extremely rare type of tea. Due to the special processing and the unique ingredients, Matcha is also one of the superfoods. This is also ensured by the gentle and slow processing, which preserves the ingredients. Therefore, this matcha powder is of higher quality than normal green tea.
Genuine Matcha powder can be recognized by a special coating test. Exclusively original powder shows a soft and straight line when you stroke it with your finger. Conventional powder, which is industrially produced, only produces an interrupted, rather harder line. The color is gray, yellow or brown. Original matcha powder, on the other hand, presents a deep green hue. In addition, genuine matcha powder has an intense aroma. It also tastes pleasantly smooth and is not bitter.
The original Matcha powder comes from the Japanese city of Aiya and is produced in the traditional way. This results in a product of absolutely high quality, which comes from organic cultivation. The harvested plants are gently and slowly ground with stone mills. The finished powder can be consumed as tea or as a substitute for coffee. In addition, it enriches desserts or smoothies.
The Moringa tree grows in the tropics and is called a miracle tree. The reason is that almost all parts on it are edible, for example, the leaves, flowers, bark, fruit and root. The leaves contain numerous micronutrients, such as almost all vitamins or trace elements. Therefore, the moringa powder is considered a kind of multivitamin.
As soon as you consume Moringa powder, you will notice the taste quality, which is only possible with organic products.
The Moringa oleifera plant thrives in tropical areas. The harvest is done manually, which is an additional indication of the high quality. Subsequently, the leaves are transported to shaded areas that allow them to dry gently. It is important that the moisture content of the dried leaves is less than six percent before they are ground and prepared for shipment.
You should definitely make sure that you buy the best quality Moringa powder like this one. This is because there are products that contain too much moisture. Recently, it was even heard that certain powders contained salmonella. Of course, this should not be the case. This moringa leaf powder is permanently controlled, so there are no germs, fungi, bacteria or salmonella here.
This Moringa powder comes from organic cultivation and is processed particularly gently. Strict quality controls enable the high quality of the powder.
Discover Matcha or Moringa powder now. Find out about all the benefits of both products and choose which one is best for you. Possibly even both.
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Grasias me gusto como metrataron son muy amables sigan asi grasias.
This was the best experience, being able to see the baby so clearly. Staff is so wonderful and nice, wanting to come back on next pregnancy. Thank you for all the attention.
Awesome appointment! So glad we made the choice to get this done. The staff was wonderful!
Really happy with the personnel!!
Everyone is very nice and the Tech has a lot of ways to get great photos. She also has a terrific personality. *Thank you*
Extremely friendly and great experience.


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By Ashley Lopez
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
President Obama said in a speech at the White House last week that he would be open to the U.S. House's approach to voting on immigration bills one by one, which could either be immigration reform's savior or its demise. Rep. Mario Diaz Balart, R-Miami, who has been instrumental in getting immigration reform passed in the House, has been telling reporters that this change in tone is by no means a guarantee that reform will pass during this Congress.
A group of Republican House members are now working to get a series of bills together that most of their caucus would vote for. In order for the president to sign those bills, though, one of them would have to provide a path to citizenship for some of the million undocumented immigrants here in the U.S.
But the issue of legalization remains one of the most contentious issues in the House. It would even more contentious if a vote is taken close to the 2014 election.
And as The Miami Herald notes, the House's strategy of passing bills one-by-one might prolong the process well into the upcoming election, thus dooming immigration reform:
And while Obama called for the House to pass a large bill that could then be reconciled with the Senate version, House Republicans want to approach any changes in piecemeal fashion, a process that at best would push any significant progress into next year.
Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said Thursday that the House "will not consider any massive, Obamacare-style legislation that no one understands." He said the House is committed to a deliberate, "step-by-step approach."
"Obviously, there is no appetite for one big bill," Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart told a group of reporters Wednesday night. The Florida Republican, who had been a member of the unsuccessful bipartisan "gang of eight," is working with other Republicans on a set of bills that would allow undocumented immigrants to "get right with the law."
Diaz-Balart avoided using the word "legalization" because it has become so politically fraught.
Most recently, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, endorsed the House's strategy. For a while, he had been behind an effort to pass comprehensive reform. Rubio was part of a bipartisan group in the Senate that wrote and helped move a comprehensive immigration reform bill through to final passage.
However, Rubio's office now says he supports taking a piecemeal approach. Talking Points Memo reports:
The most prominent conservative supporter of sweeping immigration reform is calling on Congress to dial back the effort and instead focus on making incremental changes, delivering a significant blow to the prospects of reform.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) now opposes a bicameral conference committee to reach a final resolution to the Senate-passed bill, his spokesman said, which anxious pro-reform advocates believe is the only feasible way to salvage the comprehensive overhaul.
"The point is that at this time, the only approach that has a realistic chance of success is to focus on those aspects of reform on which there is consensus through a series of individual bills," Alex Conant, a top spokesman for Rubio, told TPM in an email. "Otherwise, this latest effort to make progress on immigration will meet the same fate as previous efforts: failure."
Rubio previously had not addressed the issue of conference on the Senate bill. But the senator's stance against it now is an ominous sign for reform because there is no bipartisan consensus on immigration reform without a path to citizenship for the 11 million people living in the country illegally. The House Republican majority opposes such a provision. Proponents had hoped the House would approve smaller, piecemeal bills and move to initiate a conference committee to reconcile the chambers' differences — the normal legislative process. Conservatives quickly saw the strategy as a ploy to enact "amnesty" and moved to close the door on conference.
Now, they have Rubio's support.
House leaders have insisted they won't vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill – like the one that came out of the U.S. Senate. Instead, House members have only been considering stand-alone bills that tackle one issue at a time.
For the past couple of months Obama had insisted he would only sign a comprehensive bill, which had all but killed the possibility of immigration reform during this Congress. However, according to The Los Angeles Times:
In remarks at the White House, Obama hinted that he was no longer tied to the Senate bill, the elaborate product of months of intense bipartisan negotiations, to achieve what he has called a major priority for his second term.
Obama instead signaled that he might consider a package of smaller bills, if necessary, as long as they provide a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million people in the country without legal status.
"If House Republicans have new and different additional ideas on how we should move forward, then we want to hear them. I'll be listening," Obama told several dozen pro-reform activists from labor, business and religious groups.
White House spokesman Jay Carney echoed the shift, telling reporters there are "a variety of ways that you can reach the ultimate goal" of a bill that Obama could sign into law.
"The House's approach will be up to the House," Carney said. "There is a comprehensive bill the House Democrats have put together that is similar to the Senate bill and reflects the president's principles. But the means by which we arrive at our destination is in some ways of course up to the lawmakers who control the houses of Congress."
In the meantime, advocates for immigration reform are still rallying and are hopeful immigration reform is still a possibility—even if comprehensive reform is not.


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Emotions can run high during real estate transactions, and overcoming difficult real estate client relationships takes finesse. Do some of your clients drive you crazy? Do you find yourself dealing with increasingly impossible-to-please, nagging, negative, or arrogant clients who are frustrating to work with? Sellers may be angry about falling home prices. Buyers may be unsatisfied with the negotiations process. Others may blame you for their financial shortfalls. In today's market, numerous sellers and buyers may be unhappy with a transaction, putting you in the middle.
Difficult real estate clients come in five categories. Read about each category below, and get advice on how to resolve conflicts with each specific type of real estate client.
The rant-and-rave client
These clients are pushy and loud because they are angry. They demand immediate action. For example, "Are you crazy? How can you suggest listing my house at such a low price?"
How do you handle a rant-and-rave client? Give them a minute to rant and rave. One minute is enough time to let off steam before beginning to cool down. After one minute, interrupt the client by name and summarize the rant, showing you listened, and give reassurances that you are on the same side. For example, "Helen, I hear you. Both of us care about getting the most for your home." Then, discuss the main rants with the client.
Offer your best solutions on their main points. Many troubled clients appreciate assertiveness with confidence that you can help solve their problems.
The arrogant real estate client
These clients think they know it all. They possess big egos. Suggest a listing price, and they will let you know what the price should be.
How do you handle an arrogant real estate client? Question their claims. Backing up their unfounded assertions takes the wind out of their sails. You do not have to be aggressive or confrontational. Just show curiosity and ask specific questions about their most outrageous allegations. Eventually, they will realize they may not know so much about what they are saying.
Beware of crushing or threatening their egos. Do not embarrass them. Make your point in a non-threatening manner, such as referring to documents as evidence. For example, "Have you read this article?"
The negative real estate client
These are pessimistic and discouraging real estate clients. They will find something wrong with everything you show them, or with your recommendations on how to sell their house.
How do you handle negative real estate clients? Get them out of their negative attitude. Draw a vertical line on a sheet of paper and ask them to list the negatives on one side and the positives on the other about the home they just viewed. Do the negatives first since that is what's on their mind. When completed, focus on the positives.
Letting them vent their negatives first allows you to refocus them on the positives. This list will also help when negotiating with an unreasonable seller regarding what the buyer does not like about the house as written by the buyer.
The people pleaser
These clients are keen to always agree but slow to deliver. They are always saying "Yes." People pleasing tendencies get in the way of giving you honest feedback, which obstructs moving forward with a purchase.
How do you handle people pleasers? Encourage them to provide negative feedback, assuring them it will not jeopardize your relationship. For example, "Mr. & Mrs. Buyer, it's alright to tell me if none of these homes works for you." Getting them accustomed to being open and honest with you may result in a client for life.
FREE GUIDE: Learn How to Leverage Changes in the Real Estate Industry
The do-nothing
These clients will not tell you much and provide no feedback. Their first response to your questions will usually be "I don't know."
How do you handle do-nothings? Guess how they may feel after a viewing and try to pry a response by offering statements. Such as, "Do you feel the master bedroom is large enough?" Use the positives/negatives list suggested above. Guess the pros and cons for the list instead of relying on them to tell you. For example, "I am guessing that the open kitchen is a positive for you, right?" You have a better chance of receiving feedback using this approach. Don't worry about guessing wrong, because the purpose of asking is to encourage them to open up in response.
Overcoming difficult real estate client relationships takes listening and responding in positive ways. Master these skills in order to overcome the negatives while focusing on the positives to build lasting relationships.
Ready to start your real estate career? Find out what it takes to get your real estate license in our quick video below.
About the author
Steven Rich, MBA has over three years of experience as a successful real estate agent. He was awarded the Top Condo Salesperson for two of those years by his real estate company. Steven has served as Associate Editor for a real estate magazine and is the author of a 104-page e-book on How to Buy, Develop, Lease, and Sell Real Estate.


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Mekhi Phifer
Mekhi Phifer is an American actor. He portrayed Dr. Greg Pratt on NBC's long-running medical drama ER until 2008 and had a co-starring role opposite actor/rapper Eminem in the 2002 feature film 8 Mile. He was a recurring cast member on the Fox crime show Lie to Me in the role of Ben Reynolds before season 3, and also starred as CIA officer Rex Matheson in Torchwood: Miracle Day.


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International Guest Artist
Former Principal, San Francisco Ballet
Prize Winner, Prix de Lausanne 2002
Name: Maria Kochetkova
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Training: Bolshoi Ballet School
Prix de Lausanne: 2002 Scholarship Stage Professionnel
Previous companies/positions: Apprentice Royal Ballet, Soloist English National Ballet
Current company/position: Principal Dancer San Francisco Ballet
Favorite roles/choreographies: Giselle, Aurore, Juliet, George Balanchine, Jiri Kylian
Career highlight: World Ballet Festival in Tokyo 2009, Isadora Duncan dance award for the role of Giselle, working with Alla Osipenko on the role of Juliet.
Message to the Prix de Lausanne candidates: You have a great opportunity to take your talent to a new level, meet other dancers from different schools and backgrounds and work with some of the best teachers. I wish you the best of luck!
Message to the Prix de Lausanne organisation: The Prix de Lausanne has been an important turning point in many dancers' career. Thank you for giving me this great opportunity.
Link: www.mariakochetkova.com


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Lorelay Bove is a wonderful artist and illustrator who has worked with Disney and Pixar animation studios. Bove was born in Spain. Bove attended the famed California Art Institute and then worked for Pixar and Disney studios.
Bove had a great hint at how to improve your illustrations. Take a great work like Alice in Wonderland, and create your own scene. Bove also loves to paint whilst traveling. Her works in this style remind me a great deal of American travel poster artist David Klein, already profiled here.
Price range information: Prints range from $100 to $500. No pricing on originals.
The artist was in charge of developing important sequences in the modern comic movie titled "Wreck it Ralph." This was a great and successful movie about a video game character coming to life. In this clip Bove talks about this work:
As a huge fan of former Disney artist Mary Blair, I found Bove's work to be similar in creativity and childlike freedom.
Below another great interview which also shows some artwork at various stages of development:
Below a link to the blog of Lorelay Bove. Very up to date and unique perspectives animation:


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SHANGHAI — China's latest export is inflation. After falling for years, prices of Chinese goods sold in the United States have risen for the last eight months.
Soaring energy and raw material costs, a falling dollar and new business rules here are forcing Chinese factories to increase the prices of their exports, according to analysts and Western companies doing business here.
The rise was a modest 2.4 percent over the last year. But even that small amount, combined with higher energy and food costs that also reflect China's growing demands on global resources, contributed to a rise in inflation in the United States. Inflation in the United States was 4.1 percent in 2007, up from 2.5 percent in 2006.
Because of new cost pressures here, American consumers could see prices increase by as much as 10 percent this year on specific products — including toys, clothing, footwear and other consumer goods — just as the United States faces a possible recession.
In the longer term, higher costs in China could spell the end of an era of ultra-cheap goods, as well as the beginning of China's rise from the lowest rungs of global manufacturing.
Economists have been warning for months that this country's decade-long role of keeping a lid on global inflation was on the wane.
"China has been the world's factory and the anchor of the global disconnect between rising material prices and lower consumer prices," said Dong Tao, an economist for Credit Suisse. "But its heyday is over. We're going to see higher prices."
Chinese imports constitute 7.5 percent of spending by Americans on consumer goods, but they make up much bigger shares of several popular categories, including about 80 percent of toys, 85 percent of footwear, and 40 percent of clothing.
Even when the market share held by Chinese goods is relatively small, their low prices put pressure on other producers to keep costs down.
Whether Chinese factories will succeed in making wholesalers pay more for their goods and whether retailers will be able to pass much of their higher costs on to American consumers is unclear, analysts say.
But companies that operate in China or buy from here are already reeling from mounting cost pressures that they say will weaken their profits and could disrupt their supply chains.
Those supply lines were already called into question by large-scale recalls of Chinese exports last year, involving everything from toys to pet food to tires.
"This is what I call the perfect storm," said Alan G. Hassenfeld, the chairman of Hasbro, one of the world's largest toy makers, during a recent visit to China. "We've got higher labor costs and labor shortages, plastic prices have gone way up and we're doing more safety testing."
While no reliable figures exist on average Chinese wages, experts say that factory wages have risen 80 percent or more in many coastal areas in recent years, with the lowest wage about $125 a month.
Some of the current cost pressures are actually by design — Beijing's design.
After years of complaints from the United States and Europe about China's growing trade surplus, authorities here have removed incentives that once favored exporters of cheap goods.
Starting last June, for instance, China removed or reduced tax rebates on hundreds of items for export, including toys, apparel, leather, wood and other goods, effectively taxing those industries.
But the actions are also part of Beijing's desire to move China higher up the global manufacturing chain — away from the least- finished products, like plastic children's toys, toward more advanced exports that require skilled labor, like small electronics and even automobiles.
Whatever the government's motivation, many Chinese exporters say the timing of the rebate cut was disastrous. Their factories had been struggling to cope with problems that included power shortages, higher raw material costs, rising wages and inflation in other areas.
For instance, the cost of some types of plastic has risen more than 30 percent in the last few years because of higher oil or petroleum costs. Plastic is a major component in toys and other consumer goods.
Many Chinese factory owners say a tough new labor law, which went into effect on Jan. 1, complicates the hiring and firing process and threatens to raise labor costs even more, at a time when parts of the country are already plagued with labor shortages. Some factory owners say there have already been strikes and other turmoil over the interpretation of the new law and how it should be applied.
"We have seen lots of brawls between employees and employers," said Hong Jiasheng, vice president of the Taiwan Merchant Association, which represents investors in China. "We think the enactment of the new labor law is too hasty."
Analysts say Beijing is also stepping up its enforcement of environmental laws, putting added pressure on factories that had long skirted regulations. Adhering to those often ignored rules increases cost, too.
These changes take place against the backdrop of a dollar falling modestly against the Chinese currency. The dollar is down about 7.6 percent in the last year against the yuan and is expected to fall further this year.
The weaker the dollar, the more expensive Chinese and other goods become when their prices are converted to dollars.
All in all, toy producers are among the hardest hit by the changes in law and prices. They rely on large quantities of plastic. They face heightened regulatory scrutiny after the product safety scandals last year.
Indeed, some toy factories went bankrupt, squeezed between rising local costs and pressures from foreign customers to deliver a better product at an even lower price.
"I've been in the toy industry for almost 20 years, but these past two years have been the hardest time," said Guo Jinshen, manager of the Fenggang Fengyuan Plastic Toys Company.
"Costs are rising, there are recalls, stricter regulation, more complicated inspection — all these things make it difficult."
To reduce costs, some factory owners are considering moving to inland China, where wages are lower, or to other parts of Asia, like Vietnam and Indonesia.
Li & Fung, one of the biggest companies for supplying products worldwide, says its customers are already responding to Chinese inflation.
"There's a shift in sourcing driven by higher prices in China," says Bruce Rockowitz, president at Li & Fung. "We've already seen a big move in furniture to Indonesia."
But while relocating production to cheaper countries could keep prices low for Western consumer goods, moving factories and complex supply chains is difficult. Such changes can take years and cost millions of dollars.
In the meantime, makers of toys, apparel and footwear — highly labor-intensive industries — are being forced to consider raising prices even as growth in the United States slows, a rare confluence of events not seen in decades.
Companies that began outsourcing production to China in the 1990s mostly benefited from lower costs, which translated into both higher corporate profits and lower consumer prices. Now, many Western companies have to rethink pricing.
"Companies are now ordering for the spring of 2009," says Nate Herman, director of international trade at the American Apparel and Footwear Association, based in Arlington, Va., that represents some big clothing and footwear makers. "Factories are coming back and asking for 20, 30, 40, 50 percent price increases."
Will importers pass those costs on to consumers? "It's going to be hard to avoid some increase," he said.
* By DAVID BARBOZA (February 1, 2008)


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