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United Nations
As Security Council Hotly Debates New Report on Salisbury Nerve Agent Attack, Some Members Call for Action to Identify, Apprehend Perpetrators
A technical team deployed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack in the United Kingdom had identified toxic agents consistent with that Government's initial investigation, said the United Nations top disarmament official in a briefing to the Security Council today.
Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, summarized new information about the 4 March incident in the city of Salisbury, which she had received from OPCW. Blood samples taken from the victims — including the Russian nationals Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia — and environmental samples from the site had confirmed the United Kingdom's findings regarding the identity of the toxic chemicals. Adding that they had been found to be of "high purity", she said the OPCW team's blood sample tests, as well as its on-site sampling, had been conducted under full chain of custody.
Council members speaking after the short briefing universally condemned the use of chemical agents in targeted attacks. However, opinions diverged widely on the implications of the OPCW report with regard to the identity of the Salisbury incident's perpetrators. Several delegates said the "high purity" finding meant that only a State-sponsored laboratory could have produced it, with some pointing to the Russian Federation as likely being involved. Others emphasized that OPCW had assigned no responsibility for the incident and cautioned against casting blame without concrete evidence.
The representative of the United Kingdom said the report had supported her Government's own findings that a nerve agent had been identified, with the highest concentration located on the front door of Mr. Skripal's home. While the United Kingdom had used the term "Novichok" to describe the nerve agent — which differed from the term used by the Russian Federation and OPCW — it was clear they were all talking about the same substance. The report had not identified the country nor the laboratory of origin, but only the Russian Federation had the means, technical experience and the motive to target the Skripals, she said.
Rejecting those allegations as "completely baseless", the Russian Federation's delegate emphasized that the OPCW report revealed that the toxic substances could have been produced in the Russian Federation, United States or a host of other countries. The United Kingdom had continued to use such words as "suspected", "possible" and "may have" in all its statements about the Salisbury incident, he said, outlining various inconsistencies in its position. Describing today's findings as a "red herring", he said: "We will not step away from this."
Joining other speakers in welcoming the transparent handling of the Salisbury incident, Sweden's representative echoed the assessment that the Russian Federation was likely responsible for the attack. Expressing full confidence in the OPCW findings, he called on the Russian Federation to urgently answer all relevant questions the United Kingdom had posed.
Raising concerns that no perpetrators had been identified, Kazakhstan's delegate said chemical weapons were rapidly becoming the Council's Achilles heel. It was also becoming increasingly difficult to discuss the issue due to escalating tensions, divisions and even hateful rhetoric. Expressing regret that those weapons had not yet been eliminated completely, he urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid taking action before establishing concrete proof of events on the ground. Moreover, the Council should not allow divergent positions on the issue of weapons of mass destruction to escalate any further.
Also speaking were the representatives of Bolivia, United States, France, China, Poland, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Netherlands, Kuwait and Peru.
The meeting began at 3:05 p.m. and ended at 4:39 p.m.
IZUMI NAKAMITSU, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, briefed the Council on new information about the 4 March incident in Salisbury, United Kingdom, which she had received from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Recalling that the Council had met following the hospitalization of three individuals who had allegedly been exposed to a toxic nerve agent, she said the United Kingdom had requested technical assistance from the OPCW technical secretariat under article 8 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and of Their Destruction, known as the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Summarizing an OPCW technical assistance visit to the United Kingdom from 21 to 23 March, she said the team had received information on the medical conditions of the affected individuals and collected blood samples from them, under full chain of custody, for delivery to the OPCW laboratory for analysis. The team also had conducted on-site sampling of environmental samples, under full chain of custody, and received splits of samples taken by United Kingdom authorities for comparative purposes. The team had been briefed on the toxic chemical that had been identified by the United Kingdom and had reviewed analytical results and data from chemical analysis of biomedical samples collected by local authorities from affected individuals and environmental samples collected on site.
Since then, she said, OPCW had said results of its biomedical samples analysis had demonstrated exposure to toxic chemicals and environmental samples had also shown the presence of the toxic chemicals. Those results confirmed the United Kingdom's findings regarding the identity of the toxic chemicals, and found that they had been of "high purity". Based on the analyses' results, the OPCW technical secretariat had prepared a report containing and elaborating on the information she had just shared and had been given to the United Kingdom on 12 April.
She said that, at a meeting today of the OPCW Executive Council, the Director-General had underscored the designated laboratories' reliability and technical capabilities and their work's credibility and integrity. Noting that the Secretary-General had expressed a deep concern over the assessment that a nerve agent had been employed in a targeted manner, she said he had also welcomed the United Kingdom's request to independently verify the toxic chemical that had been used in the incident.
KAREN PIERCE (United Kingdom) said the OPCW report had supported findings that a military-grade nerve agent had been identified, with the highest concentration located on the handle of the front door of Sergei Skripal, one of the victims. Even though the United Kingdom had used the term "Novichok" to describe the nerve agent, which differed from the one used by the Russian Federation and OPCW, it was clear they were all talking about the same substance. The "high purity" of the substance identified by OPCW suggested that the nerve agent had been produced at a highly sophisticated laboratory, namely a State laboratory.
While the OPCW report did not identify the country nor the laboratory of origin, she said only the Russian Federation had the means, technical experience and the motive to target Mr. Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. The Soviet Union had developed Novichok agents in the 1980s and the Russian Federation had, in last decade, continued to produce and stockpile small quantities of it. In the mid‑2000s, President Vladimir Putin had been closely involved in the production of chemical weapons, she said, doubting that another former Soviet State, or a non‑State actor, had the capabilities to produce such a nerve agent. Findings of a 2016 investigation into the death of Aleksandr Litvinenko had shown the use of a nerve agent, likely with the knowledge of the Russian Federation.
In the situation under discussion today, she said Mr. Skripal was a former intelligence officer convicted of espionage in 2006, likely making him a target of the Russian Federation, with evidence showing that the Skripals had been under Russian surveillance for some time. None of the chemical weapons that had been used in the incident had been declared to OPCW, therefore making it likely that the Russian Federation had violated the Chemical Weapons Convention.
While the Russian Federation had offered to provide consular services to Yulia Skripal, she had declined, she continued. An update from the Salisbury Hospital medical director said the Skripals had received treatment and around‑the‑clock care. Outlining the course of treatment and specialized decontamination techniques, she said both patients had responded well, but were at different stages of recovery. Regarding the decontamination of affected sites, she said nine sites had been identified as requiring special decontamination, a process that would soon begin and take several months to complete.
She then addressed several allegations that had been levied against the United Kingdom and its investigation, including one suggesting that Ms. Skripal had not been attacked with a nerve agent, but had first been drugged, put into a coma and finally injected with the toxic substances by the United Kingdom. That sort of thing might happen in the Russian Federation, but it did not and will not happen in the United Kingdom, she said. Voicing alarm that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had alluded to the presence of a substance known as "BZ" in the Salisbury samples, she said no such information had been published in OPCW reports and the Organisation's Director-General had said it was present only in a separate "control" sample, sent alongside those taken from the victims in order to ensure their accuracy. No presence of BZ had been identified in the Salisbury samples, she said, wondering what Mr. Lavrov's motive might be for such an obfuscation.
Questioning the Russian Federation's credibility was like "an arsonist investigating his own fire", she said, recalling that the United Kingdom had directly asked that country if the incident had resulted from a rogue attack by one of its agents, and if so, requested its help to investigate it. However, the Russian Federation had refused to cooperate or even taken that possibility seriously, she said, emphasizing that many of her Government's questions still remained unanswered.
JUAN MARCELO ZAMBRANA TORRELIO (Bolivia) said the use of chemical weapons by any actor, under any circumstance, was a heinous act that undermined international peace and security. As a multilateral instrument, the Chemical Weapons Convention must maintain its integrity and independence. The instrument's credibility must also be maintained in all investigations on the use of chemical weapons or agents, he said, calling for a broad, impartial and objective investigation of the Salisbury attack. More generally, countries concerned must use corresponding diplomatic channels to resolve the matter through as much dialogue as possible, with a view to strengthening the non-proliferation regime.
NIKKI R. HALEY (United States) said the international community was rapidly confronting a frightening new reality. If such weapons could appear in a small British town, she wondered where else they could be used. The OPCW report had confirmed the United Kingdom's lab analysis. The United States agreed with the United Kingdom that the Russian Federation was responsible for that act, whether deliberately or by the loss of control of such chemicals, which were weapons of terror that had no place in the civilized world. The Council must condemn the use of a nerve agent in a Member State. If the international community did not take a firm, unequivocal stance, the next attack would come. The issue was a matter of basic morality and the Council could not, in good conscience, allow such acts to continue.
FRANÇOIS DELATTRE (France) renewed its solidarity with the United Kingdom, welcoming its desire for transparency in line with the provision of the Chemical Weapon Convention, which called for States to conduct an investigation of attacks occurred on its soil. The results of OPCW spoke for themselves, he said, adding that only a State actor possessed the knowledge to create such a nerve agent. Noting that the Russian Federation had not responded to United Kingdom questions for more than a month, he called on it to respond. Those who violated their obligations and deliberately distorted the facts assumed the responsibility of the normalization of the use of chemical weapons and undermined the non-proliferation regime. France would never tolerate the use of chemical weapons. Given the threat on the world's collective security, there could be no room for impunity.
MA ZHAOXU (China) said the Salisbury issue should be addressed in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. His Government was firmly opposed to the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances. The OPCW technical secretariat had yet to reach conclusions acceptable to all and further comprehensive and impartial investigations were needed to draw conclusions that could withstand the test of time and history. With the international community facing numerous challenges, parties must reject a cold war mentality and join hands to maintain global peace and stability. Indeed, Council members must remain united to jointly fulfil their duties in maintaining international peace and stability.
PAWEL RADOMSKI (Poland) said the OPCW's report had revealed that the international community's support for the United Kingdom's initial investigation had been appropriate. The European Council had also agreed that the Russian Federation was likely responsible for the incident, he said, reiterating his call on that country to respond and provide immediate, full disclosure to OPCW of any programme relevant to the case. Perpetrators of such violations of international law must be held accountable, he said, adding that "no such act can be left unanswered" as it would lead to the erosion of the global non-proliferation and disarmament regimes and put the world's people at risk.
THÉODORE DAH (Côte d'Ivoire) expressed full support for the United Kingdom's follow-up investigation, which should now proceed, and called on all parties to exercise restraint. Côte d'Ivoire condemned the use of any chemical weapons by any party, and supported the attempts to set up an investigative mechanism to identify perpetrators of all such incidents.
KAIRAT UMAROV (Kazakhstan), noting that no perpetrators had yet been identified in the case of the chemical agents found in Salisbury by OPCW, expressed concern that such weapons were rapidly becoming the Council's Achilles heel. It was also becoming increasingly difficult to discuss the issue due to escalating tensions, divisions and even hateful rhetoric. Leading countries could reach a compromise to establish a mechanism charged with investigating allegations of chemical weapons use, he said, expressing regret that those weapons had not yet been eliminated completely. All parties should exercise restraint and avoid taking action before establishing concrete proof of events on the ground, he said, adding that the Council should not allow divergent positions on the issue of weapons of mass destruction to escalate any further.
CARL ORRENIUS SKAU (Sweden), voicing support for the common European Union position and the assessment that Russian Federation was likely responsible for the incident, welcomed the transparent manner in which the United Kingdom had handled the investigation. Expressing full confidence in OPCW findings, he said "this is a matter of utmost concern", calling on the Russian Federation to urgently answer all relevant questions the United Kingdom had posed.
ANATOLIO NDONG MBA (Equatorial Guinea) condemned the use of chemical weapons, calling for a way to identify and hold accountable the "authors" of the use of such nerve agents. Conclusive proof was needed to confirm the chemical agent to which the victims were exposed. At the same time, he congratulated OPCW for its professionalism. He requested Governments to use moderation and find a way of managing the situation through direct dialogue and expressed hope that the diplomatic crisis would come to an end. In conclusion, he underlined the need for a transparent mechanism to monitor and identify the perpetrators.
DAWIT YIRGA WOLDEGERIMA (Ethiopia) said OPCW was the appropriate body to deal with the incident and should use its Executive Council meetings to clarify relevant points. Indeed, the issue was so sensitive that it was crucial to preserve the credibility of the international regime addressing chemical weapons. Noting that the report had not identified the country responsible for using the nerve agent, he called for a thorough investigation to get to the truth and bring those responsible to justice. He warned that the use of chemical weapons was being normalized, which should be worrying to all. Consequently, the challenge presented by the use of chemical weapons could only be addressed with cooperation and transparency.
LISE GREGOIRE VAN HAAREN (Netherlands), reaffirming her Government's solidarity with the United Kingdom, noted that, at the United Kingdom's request, the OPCW report had been shared with Member States on 12 April. Expressing appreciation for their transparency in that process, she said the United Kingdom had acted in full accordance with OPCW procedures. The OPCW report had made it more evident that it was highly likely that the Russian Federation was responsible for the Salisbury attack. It was not helpful that the Russian Federation continued to present alternate theories on the attack. In that vein, she urged that country to cooperate fully with the investigation and provide all information to the United Kingdom in order to bring those responsible to justice. Any use of chemical weapons was unacceptable, she said, calling for full accountability.
MANSOUR AYYAD SH. A. ALOTAIBI (Kuwait) wished the victims of the Salisbury attack a speedy recovery. He condemned the use of chemical weapons and expressed solidarity with the United Kingdom before calling on all parties concerned to cooperate with OPCW investigations.
VASSILY A. NEBENZIA (Russian Federation) expressed concern that his Western colleagues were uninterested in the truth, either in the current issue or a number of others before the Council. The United Kingdom had repeated the same lie and its allies had obstinately followed, echoing the same baseless allegations, which were now allegedly underpinned by the OPCW report despite the fact that nothing in those findings had pointed to the Russian Federation's involvement. Instead, the OPCW report had shown that the identified toxic substances could have been produced in the Russian Federation, United States or a host of other countries, he said, citing the existence of more than 140 United States-issued patents related to the nerve agent Novichok.
Meanwhile, he said, London's investigation and subsequent conduct had been far from transparent. Allegations that the Russian Federation had a history of State-sponsored assassinations were completely baseless, including the use of such words as "suspected", "possible" and "may have" in all its statements about the Salisbury incident and the OPCW report. Indeed, the United Kingdom also continued to conceal any and all information that could help piece together a holistic picture of the Salisbury events, including by classifying information and including significant findings only in the "confidential" part of the report, rather than in the public section.
Describing those actions as blatant attempts to distract from the fact that zero evidence of the Russian Federation's involvement had been found, he also questioned how the toxic chemical — highly unstable in a liquid form — could be discovered in high concentrations nearly three weeks after the incident. Citing several other inconsistent elements of the findings, he said it was likely that the substance had been injected into the blood of the victims after they had entered an artificial coma.
Urging the United Kingdom to share with the world the information identified in its "self-protective" investigation, he expressed regret that it continued to spread information based only on its subjective interpretation of the OPCW report. The situation must be settled in line with article 9 of the Chemical Weapons Convention, he said, noting that the Russian Federation's repeated requests for information had been ignored. In that regard, he said OPCW should introduce, at its next Executive Council meeting, a draft resolution providing amendments to the chemicals annexed to its list.
"The rules of international law are being flouted," he said, adding that basic diplomacy and courtesies were also being undermined. London did not even attempt to refute the inconsistencies that continued to surface. "We see the red herring," he said, noting that a list of 47 questions posed by his delegation to the United Kingdom had also gone unanswered.
"We will not step away from this," he said, warning that the United Kingdom continued to attempt to destroy evidence in Salisbury in an effort to prevent a full investigation and smear the Russian Federation. His country would never accept the results of any national or international investigation without first familiarizing itself with the full body of information, exercising its consular right to its citizens and ensuring the full participation of its own experts. Today, the United Kingdom had directly and baselessly alleged that President Putin had been involved in a chemical weapons programme, he said. "You have crossed the threshold of what is acceptable", as well as all basic decency, he added. He agreed with only one statement by the United Kingdom — that there would be no impunity for the Salisbury incident and that those responsible would be held accountable.
GUSTAVO MEZA-CUADRA (Peru), thanking the United Kingdom for the information it had provided, condemned all use of chemical weapons, which was a threat to international security and a flagrant violation of the non-proliferation regime. As the Chemical Weapons Convention banned the use of any chemical substance, he called on all parties to cooperate with investigations, with a view to holding perpetrators accountable.
Ms. PIERCE (United Kingdom), taking the floor for a second time, emphasized that the investigation had been conducted independently from her Government and that the United Kingdom was a party in good standing of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Porton Down research centre had provided technical support to her Government with respect to protection from chemical weapons and was subject to regular OPCW inspections. Concerning the 16 questions her Government had received from the Russian Federation, she reminded the Russian Federation that the Chemical Weapons Convention made it clear that the United Kingdom had 10 days to respond and that, indeed, it would provide a response within that timeframe. Referring to the case of Litvinenko, she reaffirmed that the polonium trail had led back to the Russian Federation. Although it was not yet Christmas, she would buy them a subscription to the English book club, because what was happening now was an updated version of George Orwell's novel 1984, with modern-day Russian tactics.


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90 tracks.
That's an enormous number for a game, even with 6 composers on the team — Yasunori Mitsuda, Yoko Shimomura, Manami Kiyota, and the three-person team ACE+, which consisted of Chico, Tomori, and Kenji Hiramatsu. Tetsuya Takahashi, director of Xenoblade, was well aware of the scale his game would reach, and he tried to reflect sheer size of the world not only through visuals, but also through music. One of his tactics was to use instruments in ways they ordinarily wouldn't be used. For example, sticking an electric instrument in amidst strings flowing in the background.
Takahashi also aimed to purposely run counter to certain traditional elements of RPGs, though. Battle scenes distinct from the rest of the game are practically inevitable in all RPGs; however, Takahashi requested for a piece that players wouldn't usually attribute to battle music — one that would "destroy the atmosphere of the battle a bit."
Variety was inevitable with the sheer number of composers on the team, and this was another way he tried to exemplify the scale of the world. Each person had his or her own style, and Takahashi was determined to make everyone's shine through. In the beginning, he would often request songs by playing sample songs that he felt were similar in mood to what he imagined for a certain scene; after all, no matter how much he described the atmosphere of the piece he wanted in words, every person's interpretation of it would be different. The easiest way would be to show them using existing songs.
This seemed like a good idea at first, but before long, he found that the composers were too caught up on his samples. The songs didn't have that "spark" that defined an individual composer. And so, he would say, "This isn't quite it," and send the song back along with an email telling the person responsible to redo it.
It was revealed during the Iwata Asks interview that the email actually had to go through a third party to "soften it down." This was a case of tough love, at its purest. He knew that he needed to be severe so that he would end up with the best of the best, but he was also afraid that his words would be too harsh and discourage the composers at this early stage. (Although, a request from the composers to see the original mail was eventually met with embarrassment by Takahashi)
Still, he got the message across. Kiyota started to liken the emails to those dreaded mails you would get that told whether you had passed an exam or not. She said that when she was complimented, she felt like she was on the top of the world … although criticisms were far more common. The emails were sent as many times as necessary until Takahashi felt that he had received the perfect piece.
This system of back-and-forth emails also had the effect of allowing the composers to discover abilities they never knew they had. As Kiyota said, "Wow, I didn't know I could compose like this before." She had composed "Anxiety" tracks for the first time at Takahashi's behest, and by the end, she had several pieces – "Anxiety 1," "Anxiety 2," and so on. As Takahashi put it, there were situations with lots of anxiety, situations with only a little, situations where a guy was anxious (as opposed to a girl) etc., and as he ordered more and more, they just kept rolling in.
This doesn't mean that the tracks of Xenoblade's soundtrack are all disparate. In fact, one of the composers, Chico of ACE+, said that one of Takahashi's warnings were, "We can't have the world in pieces. A feeling of unity is important!" It took approximately half the production time before the number of "redo" emails started dwindling as the team got used to each other's style.
In another attempt to unify the songs, Kiyota and Chico each invited the other to her house. There, they saw each other's workspaces, even taking in such details such as whether or not the sound that came out of their speakers was the same. Kiyota even changed the computer program she used to match Chico's in order to try and take care of all possible control variables.
Meanwhile, out of all of this, Mitsuda, a 15-year-long acquaintance and colleague of Takahashi's, was admired as the one who understood Takahashi best. He would usually understand the instructions he was given and be able to compose what Takahashi wanted simply through experience, so he earned himself the position of an idol among the composers who'd never worked with the director before. Mitsuda himself, however, was unaware of this development.
Mitsuda was in charge of the epilogue's music, and he put all his effort into composing something that could provide a fitting conclusion that would match up of everyone's hard work through the whole game.
The goal for Xenoblade was to create a world that was enormous, yet felt seamless. We can safely assume Takahashi eventually achieved his goal of creating this image through music or he'd still be sending emails right now.
Images sourced from the Nintendo website.

subset: commoncrawl


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Have a good weekend eveyone!
Friday, 18 November 2011
My High Visibility Coat!
Have a good weekend eveyone!
8 comments:
Frank, you actually glow in the dark! You look so handsome and will be safe, too. Your mom is so smart to get you that coat.ReplyDelete
Mack and I HATE rain. We also have to be bribed to go out, he he he.
Drools and licks,
Minnie and sometimes Mack
That coat is perfect, Frank! I wonder if there is a dog on the planet that actually likes the rain? It's yucky! I hope you have a great weekend too, and you get to go on one of your fabulous countryside walks!ReplyDelete
Frank, absolutely perfect. Precisely what a stud like you deserves!ReplyDelete
Oh yes, Frank. You look very handsome in your new coat. Stylish but also safe! Boy oh boy we are not showing Mom this post. She believes that we won't walk in the rain and might get ideas!ReplyDelete
Hi Frank,ReplyDelete
I like your snazzy rain slicker. Glad it will keep you safe when walking at night. I love the rain, it's great for being lazy & lounging. But at the same time, I don't like going outside & getting my feet wet, no thank you.
PS - stay warm, toastie and dry.
Hi TankReplyDelete
I think your mum is so smart to get you that rain coat! Gosh- you will be the talk of the town. Everyone will want their doggy to be safe like you- wearing that coat.
Your so handsome,,,, and I know it will be more fun to jump over the rain puddles wearing that coat!
nitey nite
Hi Frank, me Winston heres. Oh boy Mum is super busy. The good news is only 3 and a half weeks left of schools! YEAH YEAH! Oh I likes your coat. Very reflectives which is goods in these dark long nights.ReplyDelete
Winston WIlburs
That coat IS a good idea! super cute :)ReplyDelete
Maddy and Owen


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- 05 Feb, 2016 1 commit
- 04 Feb, 2016 1 commit
It was checking the count of database rows (which would always have been 1), not the count of free addresses.
- 03 Feb, 2016 8 commits
deleted. I guess we should not allow users to do this, eh?
I'm way to frustrated at this point. Back to using master ...
When creating a pre-reserve, new -n option to specify a name for the reservation, defaults to "default". All other operations require an -n option to avoid messing with the wrong reservation. You are not allowed to reuse a reservation name in a project, of course. Priorities are probably more important now, we might want to change the default from 0 to some thing higher, and change all the current priorities. For bookkeeping, the nodes table now has a reservation_name slot that is set with the reserved_pid. This allows us to revoke the nodes associated with a specific reservation. Bonus feature is that when setting the reserved_pid via the web interface, we leave the reservation_name null, so those won't ever be revoked by the prereserve command line tool. New feature; when revoking a pre-reserve, we now look to see if nodes being revoked are free and can be assigned to other pre-reserves. We used to not do anything, and so had to wait until that node was allocated and released later, to see if it could move into a pre-reserve. Also a change required by node specific reservations; when we free a node, need to make sure we actually use that node, so have to cycle through all reservations in priority order until it can used. We did not need to do this before.
statewait) are not killed by the stateful firewall.
- 02 Feb, 2016 5 commits
accounts/passwords). Thanks to Mike Blodgett for cluing us in to this and providing the configuration he was using. This will run from cron a couple of times a day. The setup is not quite fully automated yet, need to create /usr/local/etc/medusa/{wordlist.txt,userlist.txt} by hand, as well as the crontab entry. We are scanning all local nodes (including VMs) as well as any allocated IP addresses in address pools.
Minor tweaks so that ipfw/dummynet sets up properly. Allow dynamic config (delay_setup) to accept a BW value up to 1Gb (was 100Mb). Somewhat dubious: if the incoming interface speed matches the desired shaping BW, set the BW to unlimited on the pipe (since the interface is already throttling for us). BEWARE! The fidelity of shaping at over 1Gb (e.g., adding delay to a 10Gb link) is awful. Even a 10Gb pipe with no delay or loss only achieved about 7Gb/sec max. The delay node code needs serious work!
- 01 Feb, 2016 6 commits
Really big mess for the pc3000s nowadays.
fullname field in the DB.
Robert Ricci authored
Allowing oversubscription can push the current_load of a pnode over its max_load, which causes us to try to take the square root of a negative number. So, add an explicit check for that case.
- 31 Jan, 2016 3 commits
Consists of just a command line option right now!
Currently this is done using the -E (erase) option to zapdisk to erase a partition or the entire disk. We run zapdisk before starting a frisbee load. Ultimately, I want TRIM support in frisbee proper (to erase rather than skip or zero free blocks), but erasing the entire disk might be a better option anyway (frisbee itself will benefit from the TRIMed disk). Notes: We only trim the disk when a node is in reloading. Didn't want to take a chance on having a user reload a partition on their disk and wind up getting the entire disk erased. That should not happen, but I didn't want to think through all the possibilities right now. Only works on FreeBSD right now. Linux MFS will still need to be modified. Just didn't want to track down how Linux does block erase right now. The clientside here is different than what is used on the Moonshots. On the Linux-based Moonshot MFS, we TRIM in slicefix by running fstrim on the root FS we just layed down. This used to be a good alternative back when the root FS occupied the entire disk, but now it won't work as well as we will only trim blocks from the first 6GB. Need to switch this over to the zapdisk (or frisbee) based TRIM. The server infrastructure on the Moonshots is the same: tmcc passes a TRIM=1 flags in "loadinfo" when the disk should be trimmed. So when to TRIM is based on the time since the last TRIM, and can now be specified site-wide, per-nodetype, or per-node. Currently, slicefix (x86 or ARM) doesn't do anything to the FS layed down to ensure that TRIM is done during the lifetime of the FS. Both FreeBSD and Linux have such options that can be set when the FS is created or added with tunefs. We need to think about this for mkextrafs and local blockstores as well.
Make the interval between TRIM operations a per nodetype (or per node) attribute instead of a global site variable. The sitevar will still be used to turn TRIM on or off globally.
- 30 Jan, 2016 1 commit
- 29 Jan, 2016 12 commits
The latter causes on/off/cycle operations to return a generic error (though the operations do work!)
boss> wap perl prereserve lbsbox pcxxx pcyyy ... Overall pre-reserve handling is unchanged; if there is a another higher priority type pre-reserve, it will be filled first. Moral, be sure to think about the priority argument, which you had to do anyway.
- 28 Jan, 2016 3 commits
need node_reservations for, well, node_reservations.
is in the Cloudlab or aptguest projects.


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him to develop trial software applications, which were distributed to consumers to encourage them to experience the difference between Microsoft and competing products. He launched a Web page called "Get the Facts," which compiled studies and reports, provided client case studies, and illustrated all the pros and cons of both Microsoft's product and Linux. For example, studies showed that Windows servers recovered 30% faster from security attacks than Linux servers, and survey respondents found a 100% improvement in Microsoft's security in the previous 12 months. Eventually, clients started to see the cost benefits that occur over time, and as more clients came on board the research companies felt encouraged.
Gooden first faced a learning curve. She was not familiar with writing proposals, developing the cost and submitting a bid for a desired contract—a major component of her new responsibilities. Her first hire was someone experienced and adept at writing bids. "We won our first two jobs with the Social Security Administration very easily," she boasts. But Gooden admits that her first major challenge could have ended it all. "As soon as we felt we understood the market and knew how to execute a successful bid, the one thing we had not counted on occurred—the market changed. Instead of writing a proposal and waiting for the customer to answer, we were required to give oral proposals," recalls Gooden. Her team was unprepared for the change. They lost their first oral proposal.
"I learned that you have to pay attention to the changes in legislation but also to changes in the market that you're working in," she explains. Gooden became more focused on internal, external, and customer changes throughout the entire industry. "We won our second oral proposal. And we learned a hard lesson," she adds. "Change is constant. In business the strategic advantage is usually fleeting and so you have to always adjust."
Of course if the business model is accepted by senior management, the result is often a new division or subsidiary. There are obvious benefits for the company—increased market share and increased revenues. But there are advantages for the employee as well. Monetary rewards may result in a salary increase or performance bonus—although not always, says Watson. "You're still considered part of the team and an employee of the company, so typically you receive normal pay," he explains. "This is considered part of your job." There is, however, a significant boost to an employee's career profile in the company and within the related industry. "You really are able to distinguish yourself mightily from other employees," says Watson. Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of intrapreneurship is the legacy that you leave behind even after you have left the company. "If it works we all know who did it," shares Sharon Hall, managing director of Spencer Stuart Atlanta, a high-level executive search firm. "And that
's really a source of pride, it's a resumé builder, it plays to the high visibility level and can catapult your career."
With all the benefits, however, there


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History >
The story of the Volga Germans as a distinct ethnic group begins in the mid-1760's when Western Europeans were actively recruited to become colonists in Russia. The goal of Catherine the Great's government was to entice skilled farmers and craftsmen to settle on their eastern frontier along the lower Volga River. Approximately 30,000 people would take advantage of her offer.
This website provides more information about where these people originated in Europe and why they decided to migrate to Russia. After little more than 100 years in Russia, some would decide to move again, this time to the America.
After briefly settling in the midwest, some Volga Germans were lured by promising stories about the Pacific Northwest. Many chose to make Portland, Oregon their new home where a close knit community was established in 1881.
The impacts of two world wars, the subsequent cold war, changing demographics, government policy decisions, and assimilation would ultimately dissolve this enclave, leaving few recognizable reminders.
Although most Portlanders know little about this ethnic group, the Volga Germans have become a successful and integral part of the community.
Last updated October 2, 2018.


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text: It is estimated that there are about 20% of dogs over one year that have osteoarthritis and will see their mobility and quality of life reduced. At Bioiberica Companion Animal Health we have been taking care of the joint health of companion animals for 20 years. Currently, we are leaders in chondroprotection and the largest manufacturer of the main chondroprotective molecules for osteoarthritis of dogs and cats; chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine and hyaluronic acid.


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Ratneshwar ThakurFeb 13, 2018 19:34:34 IST
Silicon-based memory devices such as hard drives and flash drives are in high demand for gadgets that require storage. Conventional semiconductor material-based memory devices have limited scale-up ability to increase their storage capacity. Hence, there is a quest in developing new memory technologies with superior characteristics. In this direction, a group of Indian researchers has developed a new type of resistive random access memory (RRAM) device that can be controlled with magnetic fields.
Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad have demonstrated the control of resistive switching characteristics of titanium dioxide- based resistive random access memory device with magnetic field. The team has designed a memory device which is made up of silver, titanium dioxide and fluorine doped Tin oxide (FTO).
Nonvolatile memory devices such as flash memory and magnetic random access memory (MRAM) are key components in many technological devices like hard drives on a computer and memory cards in a phone. Non-volatile memory is typically used for storing information that would be retained even after power is switched off. Ideally, a good memory device should be able to operate with high speed, low power consumption and must possess high density.
Study suggests that the data transport properties (resistive switching behavior) in currently available RRAM based device are mainly controlled by voltage. It would help if resistance switching behavior can be controlled with magnetic field, light and temperature. Researchers say they are exploring magnetic fields because that would give an opportunity to control transport in a remote way.
According to researchers, RRAM devices were fabricated on FTO substrate to study the resistive switching behavior in newly designed device. To build this new device, titanium dioxide paste was used to prepare a thin film on FTO substrate which was followed by heating of film at very high temperature (400 degrees C). "We used silver as top electrode for good conduction as well as its anti-oxidation property whereas fluorine-doped tin oxide was used as bottom electrode," said researchers.
"As present memory technologies are approaching their scaling limits, we need intensive research to develop nonvolatile memory technologies. Among various NVM technologies, resistive random access memory (RRAM) also has attracted a great deal of scientific and technological interest owing to its easy fabrication, high density, and promising performance," said Dr. S. N. Jammalamadaka, who did the study along with Dwipak Prasad Sahu.
This finding may be helpful in future RRAM based storage devices which could be operated with magnetic fields. The study was recently published in journal Scientific Reports.
India Science Wire
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.


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Designer takes on iconic project
Kirby Schultz has been artistic as long as he can remember. While in junior high, he began churning out pictures of cartoons and elaborate faces while sitting in study hall.
Now, the 62-year-old graphic designer expresses his creativity as part owner of HenkinSchultz advertising, as well as any projects he lays his hands on.
One special collection of Schultz's style can be found at the Icon Lounge in downtown Sioux Falls. His large, colorful, highly stylized images of iconic people adorn brick walls.
Schultz was given the project to transform the over 100-year-old warehouse at 402 N. Main Ave. and design the space, which he described as "nasty."
It helps that Schultz has a firm grasp of the business side of things. And as a graphic designer, he likes to begin an assignment along with the parameters that come with it.
For this project, that meant limited money, 63 days to get it done and free rein to do whatever he wanted.
Still, the constraints made it more fun.
"I enjoy the process of what you can do with a limited budget," Schultz says. "It makes me think harder. I look for everyday things that are inexpensive and make them work in unusual ways. One of the video screens, for example, is nothing more than several layers of rolled up window screen."
"With a name like 'Icon,' the job seemed easy," Schultz says. "I visualized iconic images of people and things, and my mind started going."
Shultz describes the art he designed for the Icon as "a mixture of techniques ranging from sketchy to abstract realism."
Personal interests also played a role Schultz's plan. While growing up, Schultz love music and loved bands.
"My art is music-motivated," Schultz says.
Still, Schultz believes his art 'should stand on its own."
All 30 of Schultz's images create timeless feelings of pop culture in a graphic way. And all his images are accessible. People don't have to decipher the artwork and don't have to be "in the know" to get it. Everything is recognizable and will bring back memories. Subjects include Marilyn Monroe, JFK, Uncle Sam, Twiggy, Abe Lincoln, John Lennon and BB King.
Technically described, the 30 images ranged from photo mechanical to very sketchy techniques, printed on various substrates — types of canvas. The colorizing and texturizing was added by brush, water, paint thinner and even coffee. The images range in size from 30 inches to seven feet tall.
Besides the artwork at the Icon, Schultz used his creative license to design the bar, LED lighting, the furniture, video images, the chandelier and dangling curtains.
"I was pleased with the final product but never pleased all the way," Schultz says.
"It became my biggest and most personal project. It's more than an agency designing walls to market a business. It became more of an effort on my part to involve patrons with familiar art, great music and our country's history. Stuff that I love."
More recently, Schultz has been creating with a snack food.
"In November, I entered the Doritos Crash the Superbowl contest. In the commercial, I create a portrait of Jerry Garcia using Doritos. It is called "The Fine Art of the Munchies" piece. Winning entries receive $1 million."


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San Gil is a town municipality in the Department of Santander in northeastern Colombia, located roughly 300 km (192 mi) from Bogotá and 95 km from the department's capital, Bucaramanga. As of 2020, San Gil had a population of roughly 46,000 people within the total municipal area, making it the third largest urban area in the department, after Bucaramanga and Barrancabermeja. Founded in 1689, San Gil is over 300 years old. It was officially named the tourist capital of the region in 2004, thanks to its outdoor activity opportunities such as rafting, caving, kayaking and hiking.
San Gil
Municipality and town
|Santander Department
|March 17, 1689[1]
|Founded by
|Don Gil Cabrera y Dávalos & Leonardo Correa De Betancurt [1]
|• Total
|150 km2 (60 sq mi)
(2020 estimate)[3]
|• Total
|• Density
|310/km2 (800/sq mi)
|Sangileño -a
|Time zone
|UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
San Gil's history goes back to pre-Columbian times, when it was inhabited by native indigenous people called the Guanes. Spanish conquest during the colonial period nearly eradicated the local tribes. The town was officially founded on March 17, 1689, by Don Gil Cabrera Dávalos and Leonardo Correa de Betancourt. According to official sources, San Gil played an important role during the Colombian independence period. "Comuneros" rebels came from nearby regions, united, traveled to the capital, Bogota, and fought for the nation's independence, a process which occurred during the early 1820s.[4]
San Gil's population, as of 2005, was 42,000, (including the rural area). The majority (36,748) reside in the urban area. The population as of 2020 was estimated to be 46'152,[3] an increase of roughly 1,500 people, but showing a tendency to decrease in rural areas, decreasing from 6,240 to a projected 5,601. Ninety-eight percent of houses have access to electricity, 90.3% to running water, and 84.1% to a sewage system.[5]
In 2004, San Gil was named the tourist capital of the region.[4][6] The area offers several outdoor activity opportunities, such as rafting (grade 1–5), kayaking, hiking, and caving.[7] Local companies offer rafting packages through various rivers depending on skill level. "Parque el Gallineral" is a popular destination with its characteristic moss-covered trees resembling beards. It has a small entrance fee. The park has a number of paths running through its 10-acre area and by the city's main river, "Rio Fonce".[8] The park's name comes from the 1867 characteristic "gallinero" trees planted throughout the whole area. San Gil's main square is called "Parque la Libertad" (Liberty Park), which is the most common meeting place in the town and a hub for night life. The town's main cathedral, built in 1791 and remodeled in 1965, is located in this area. "Parque Nacional del Chicamocha" (Chicamocha National Park or PANACHI) is another Eco-tourist park located roughly 1 hour away from San Gil, placed on a scenic spot in the Chicamocha Canyon. The park has a museum, hiking trails, rafting, paragliding and other outdoor activities. It also has a 6.3 km (3.91 mi) long cable car, one of the longest in the world in its category,[9] offering a ride across the canyon and into the plateau called "Mesa de los Santos". Barichara, a small colonial town roughly 20 minutes away from San Gil, is another popular destination. Situated at the rim of the Chicamocha Canyon, it offers a scenic view across the canyon and the Suarez River. It is known as "one of the prettiest towns in the whole nation" due to its well preserved colonial architecture and stone streets.[10]
Besides tourism, the region's economy relies heavily on agriculture. Products such as tobacco, sugar cane and coffee are commonly grown in farms nearby[11] which are mainly commercialized in the town's main market plaza. One of the region's most historically important entrepreneurs was José María Rueda Gómez, known as "Conde de Cuchicute", who, in spite of his eccentricity, pushed the development of coffee production, and helped establish the first bank and a hydroelectric power plant for the region.[12]
San Gil is very well connected to the rest of the country. By Air it is connected through "Los Pozos" a small regional airport for chartered flights and seasonal commercial flights
By land Berlinas del Fonce, Copetran, Omega, Reina and Cootrasangil among other companies ensure connectivity with Bogota and Bucaramanga.
Notable peopleEdit
- Margalida Castro (born 1943 in San Gil) a Colombian theatre and television actress
- Jorge Luis Pinto (born 1952 in San Gil) a Colombian football coach, and former manager of the Costa Rica national football team and Honduras national football team.
- Paola Rey (born 1979, in San Gil, Santander, Colombia) is a Colombian actress and model
- ^ a b "Historia de San Gil". Alcaldía de San Gil. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ "Municipalities of Colombia". Statoids. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Resultados y proyecciones (2005-2020) del censo 2005". Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- ^ a b San Gil Municipality Official Page. "Historia de San Gil (History of San Gil)".
- ^ Dane. "Boletín Censo General 2005" (PDF). Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ San Gil Tourism Secretary. "San Gil, Tierra de Aventura". Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ Moomazza. "Adventure Capital of Colombia...San GIl". Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ Caputo, Lorraine. "Parque Natural El Gallineral, City Park". Retrieved 12 April 2012.
- ^ Unknown. "Teleférico sobre el Cañón del Chicamocha. Impresionante obra en un bello lugar". Noticias Caracol (News Channel Official Page). Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ^ Colombia Link. "San Gil". Colombia Link. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ^ San Gil Municipality. "Economía del Municipio ( Municipality's Economy)". Retrieved 13 April 2012.
- ^ Rodríguez, Gómez, Juan Camilo. "Conde de Cuchicute". Biblioteca Virtual Luis Angel arango. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
External linksEdit
- (in Spanish) San Gil official website


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Pop quiz, gang. Did you notice anything missing from all those PS3 photos our roving reporter Eric snapped?
Anybody? Bueller?
Well, if we're going by the comments on the post, nobody picked up on the fact that Sony's new boomerang—sorry, PS3 controller—was MIA from CES.
The maligned PS3 concept controller was last seen at the 2005 Electronics Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. The concept controller received poor reviews with critics citing a "batarang" look that would not be comfortable to hold.
The absence of the controller points to signs that Sony is redeveloping the unit to be more aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and hands. Its Dual Shock 2 controller is regarded in the video game community as one of the best console controller designs.
After a marathon session of co-op Smash TV with Jonathan yesterday, we were pleasantly surprised at how there wasn't any hand or wrist strain from our hours of game play with the 360 controllers. Sony's looks like it would make one hell of a torture device; just sit folks down with it and a PS3 port of State of Emergency.


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So I have talked a little bit about my garden horticulture club at school and today I was asking Mike what we could do to be more successful…. We have been working with a young food corps helper who has started some kale, mustard greens, and other things just to see what happens. I think well there are a few tweaks that could increase our chances of success.
The students have had lots of fun just learning how to cook. So far we made carrot juice and a homemade pumpkin pie. Then we took a tour of the school garden which is about a 5-10 minute hike away but I was excited to see there are lots of raised beds built probably six-eight 8×10 beds.
The food corps employee is keeping a nice compost bin, so my goal is to start saving all the healthy nutritious scraps from lunch and breakfast as possible to create a large stockpile of compost for next spring. The beds are built but they are empty and void of any dirt. In order to fill them we could use all the compost we can save.
Of course it is a large ranching community there is a possibility we will be able to get manure but I don't know if it will be organic. Possibly as buying chemicals is probably not Last week we transplanted the plants at our last meeting.
Day Length Greenhouse Lights
For starters, we only have the plants under lights during the school day. I think this is the first thing that has to chance. When I told Mike should we leave them on all night then? He said no can't you set a timer. I said oh yeah duh?! Haha! He suggested they should have a minimum of 12 hours up to 16 hours a day of light.
Passive Solar Water Barrel Heaters
I said, I think we should put some straw bales around the outside as the plants are up on tables etc close to the lights so I think the straw bales would help insulate the building and keep it warmer. Then he suggested we use black barrels of water that could use passive solar energy to heat and also would make good compost tea water.
I think these are two great suggestions to get us going stronger.
Cold Frame Dreams
My goal for next year would be to put a cold frame up against this wall outside my classroom door. We walk by here 3-4 times a day and it is on a south facing wall that will block the wind and get morning directly until about 11 o'clock each morning I think. Eventually I would plant sunflowers or echinacea or something all around this fenced area where there are picnic tables although I never see them.


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Middletown to Hyderabad is one of the busiest United States-India routes. Both Middletown and Hyderabad are world-class cities having mutual interests in various niches. A fair percentage of visitors to Hyderabad come from Middletown, US. The annual number of travelers from Middletown is expected to rise for cheap flights to Hyderabad. You can get the best Middletown to Hyderabad itinerary with cheapest flight tickets at Indian Eagle.
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Sunday, September 04, 2011
Fannie Mae: 2001 Geo Bush Tried to Do Something...
Here's video showing that George Bush tried to do something as far back as 2001.
Thanks Linda.
Thanks Linda.
Posted by Rich Vail at 17:13
Labels: Economic Collapse, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, housing market
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Thoroughly agree with the last reviewer - a Spectrum game I come back to time and time again.
Every event was perfectly replicated within the confines of our beloved black beermat; the sound was spot-on and the graphics some of the finest in any sports game of the era. 'Joffa' Smith wrote some classics, but this is pretty much top of the list. Easiest 5/5 you'll see on this website!
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Certain allegations have emerged about abuse within Mission De Vie which is under the auspice of the Maronite Church in Lebanon. We are in no position to know the truth of any of those allegations and can't comment on them. However, experiences from around the world have demonstrated how sinister abuse in institutions can be. In many parts of the world the Catholic Church is still dealing with the devastation amongst many of the religious orders and institutions in which these crimes have been committed. There have been a number of important lessons that have been learnt from situations in other countries which have uncovered institutional abuse against children and others forms of abuse around the world that we think are useful to be reminded about now.
- As a Church we must demand the highest standards of ourselves, especially when it comes to child protection. We must take complaints seriously and ensure the highest regulations of ourselves. We must also submit to the independent regulations which have been put in place for the protection of children in the civil societies we live in. Abuse does happen in the Church and it is unacceptable
- Voices calling out abuse must be supported, and we must demand they be heard. Natural justice, investigation and transparency are essential to uncovering the truth. Political interference in the judicial process and trial by media must be avoided. The media in particular must be careful in reporting witness testimony before it has been given in court and before investigations are concluded so as not to taint evidence or cause the victim further pain. We must remember that everyone deserves the right to due process and natural justice, including those accused. That is fundamental to uncovering the truth and protecting victims, and potential victims. Due process also requires that the judiciary is free from political and other influences and corruption. We accept that things become difficult when the allegations involve people of high profile and when the media and others are ready to decide cases even before the law has. Legislators must refrain from interfering with any process before investigations are concluded.
- What matters is the truth and it matters beyond reputations, including the reputation of the Church. Investigations of institutionalised abuse have revealed that so often the abuse continued because victims, especially children were not heard, because those that knew about the abuse remained silent, because those who reported it were not believed or because complaints were never investigated. Even more often, it was because people in power were more concerned about their own reputation and the reputation of the institution or the Church, than concerned with doing what was right and protecting children or victims.
- Abuse, especially at the hands of those in positions in power is nothing new and is not confined to the walls of the Church. Institutions are susceptible to it for all sorts of reasons which we are now learning about. It is made even worse in those developing countries that lack regulations or where there is lack of enforcement or where institutions are closely aligned to the political or judicial system and can influence it. It is also shocking, for some beyond belief and it challenges everything they have ever trusted. For the faithful, it is a huge betrayal and it takes time to process. Education is key.
- We must avoid defensiveness and the rhetoric of defensiveness. To the amazement of many, sometimes even ourselves, we stay in our Church, even when we are surrounded by the stench that is overwhelming us. We believe the Church and our spiritual lives transcend beyond the stench and beyond the actions of individuals. The collateral damage is the people who leave the Church because of the deep sense of disgust and betrayal they feel and we don't judge them for that. But for those of us that remain in the Church, this is no time to remain silent. Avoid seeing things as an attack or a persecution of the Church. Rather anything that reveals the truth in fairness and in process must be welcomed. We must demand it before anyone, because that is what Christ demands of us – to protect those who cannot protect themselves and be a voice for those who are not heard and are hurt or marginalised.
- Today we pray for all those who have experienced sexual abuse, especially by those in positions of power in our own Church. We pray for all those who have to endure the consequences of it in fear and we pray, in this season of the Birth of Our Lord, we pray that the infant babe will protect all children.
We understand that some readers may themselves have experienced sexual assault.
Be careful about disclosing your experience on social media. Others may not understand the issue causing you further distress. If this article causes you distress seek help from a rape or abuse service provider in your area.


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The Foundations program is appropriate for all followers of Jesus, and will teach you the Bible's content and beliefs. We encourage you begin with "Life is a Journey" and continue through all the core classes. The Leadership classes will prepare you for leading small groups or worship.
Foundations: Core
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Examine what it means to be a follower of Christ.
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Dr. Bill Mounce
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A life-changing discussion of what forgiveness is, and is not, and how to proceed.
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How can the church serve people with disabilities, and how it be served by them as well.
The Academy program is university-level classes to give you an intermediate understanding of the Bible and challenge you to know what you believe and how to grow spiritually. The Leadership classes will prepare lay leaders such as elders and deacons.
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5th Award Distribution Ceremony
DHA Suffa University held its 5th Award Distribution Ceremony on March 31, 2018, to honor the academic and extra-curricular accomplishments of high achievers. Students who secured positions on Dean's and VC's Honor Lists in Fall 2017 semester as well as students who secured positions at inter-university national and international competitions were awarded certificates of appreciation during the ceremony. The Chief Guest of the ceremony, Lt Gen Shahid Baig Mirza, HI(M), Chancellor DSU and Commander 5 Corps, lauded the efforts of award winners and urged them to continue their quest for excellence in the same manner. Administrator DHA, Brig Shahid Hassan Ali, was also present on the occasion.


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For reliable appraisals you can trust in the City of Coos Bay and Coos County, count on Cross Appraisal Service
For years, mortgage lenders and consumers have depended on our expertise to provide high-quality valuations on all types of homes in Coos County. By continuously keeping up with local real estate trends in Coos County and refreshing our knowledge regarding valuation techniques through accredited courses, we've been consistently able to generate reliable home valuations for our clients.
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Hallelujah Hou Fishing
United States
PO Box 732 Kaunakakai HI 96748
Широта: 21.088078
Долгота: -157.023081
Captain Clayton Ching
(808) 336-1870
Язык общения
Hallelujah Hou Fishing with Captain Clay provides guided light tackle charter fishing and sport fishing adventures operating on Molokai, Hawaii. We provide fishing charters for experienced anglers, visitors, families, and locals, and specializing in fly fishing the flats for Bonefish on a flats skiff. Deep sea fishing and light tackle bottom fishing charters are also available options on a larger 24 foot custom, twin engined, power catamaran.
A unique fishing experience is in store for you. No smelly diesel fumes to put up with or loud exhausts to compete with your conversation either. Just the soft hum of reliable four stroke outboards, so quiet that you almost forget that they are there, pushing you along on the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean.
Moloka'i. The name in itself lends to visions of blue oceans, sandy beaches, and pristine fringing reefs along the southern shore of the island and yes, most of all, FISH of all kind, depending on your taste buds and heart's desires, available all along the island's coastlines. Of course flyfishing is 100% catch and release.
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Can Research In Motion Be Fun?
Let me tell you what I think of when I hear the word "fun." Water slides, birthday parties, sky diving, and -- don't judge me -- digging through a freshly released 10-K. The last thing to come to mind is exactly Research In Motion (NAS: RIMM) .
When I think Research In Motion, I think of crippling service outages, corporate governance travesties, disgruntled shareholders and employees, and misguided attempts to become a musically gifted social butterfly.
In a recent interview with Pocket-lint, RIM's VP of industrial design, Todd Wood, talked about his design philosophy for BlackBerrys, including where the product lineup has been and, more importantly, where it's going. Wood described the company's 2012 product pipeline as "charming, whimsical, and fun."
Depth or breadth?
Wood has been RIM's design head for five years after coming from Nokia (NYS: NOK) . He talked of how he likes "restaurants with small menus because it shows they are good at those things." His analogy speaks to companies that utilize product depth strategically as opposed to product breadth.
RIM isn't the paragon of product depth; that distinction goes to Apple (NAS: AAPL) , who releases a single iPhone model each year and generally has laser focus on honing its relatively numbered product lineup to perfection. On the other hand, Research In Motion doesn't offer an overly broad arsenal of phones, like prolific Google (NAS: GOOG) Android vendors Samsung and HTC, at the risk of spreading itself too thin.
Where in the world is good design?
Wood flies his team to remote locations throughout the world to hold design workshops. The team drew inspiration for its most recent BlackBerry OS 7 phones from Bellagio in Italy (not the MGM Resorts casino in Sin City). The latest global outing was set in Malmo, Sweden, which prompted the three-word description above.
The BlackBerry maker isn't the type of company that creates buzz within the world of design. That's another title held by Apple and its own industrial design head honcho, Jonathan Ive. Ive's own design focus literally includes heavy use of lasers at times. Steve Jobs, Ive, and Wood have all drawn much inspiration from Dieter Rams, whose work at Braun set new standards of simplistic design decades ago.
What's this thing made out of?
Materials are a critical part of the design process. Wood's current material favorite is stainless steel, although he also expressed an interest in titanium and a love for carbon fiber. He hopes to distinguish BlackBerrys beyond the dull characterization of black slabs.
When asked why phones tend to be predominantly black instead of white, he mentioned that blue jeans tend to discolor white phones and cause "manufacturers like us real headaches." Apple is definitely not a manufacturer like RIM, crafting white iPhones out of stainless steel and glass, albeit being fashionably late.
BlackBerrys of the future
Research In Motion hasn't seen praise for its hardware in recent history. The original BlackBerry Torch last year had embarrassingly inadequate hardware. The recent BlackBerry Bold is an incremental improvement to hardware design -- an upgrade to the "average" category -- yet it's far from a showstopper, especially when pitted against iPhones, Microsoft (NAS: MSFT) Windows Phones, or Android devices.
Looking forward, Research In Motion is embracing its QNX acquisition and proceeding with its unified BBX operating system, despite a pesky trademark infringement suit. Some of the future BlackBerrys actually look bold. The company has teamed up with Porsche to design a future model that's a pretty dramatic departure from previous looks.
Source: BlackBerry.com.
On top of that design, The Verge has also exclusively gotten hold of a leaked photo of what may be the first BlackBerry running BBX. Codenamed the BlackBerry "London," it's allegedly scheduled for a June 2012 release but that may be as late as Q3. It's supposed to sport a dual-core ARM-based (NAS: ARMH) OMAP processor from Texas Instruments (NYS: TXN) .
Source: The Verge.
I never thought I'd say it, but those BlackBerrys actually look pretty smooth from a hardware perspective, and maybe even a little... fun.
The whole picture
Hardware is just part of the picture and, while important, arguably less important than software like the overall OS and the critical app ecosystem. BBX will have some high hurdles to clear, as Android is already on 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and iOS is up to 5; the OS bar will be even higher by the time BBX hits. It also doesn't help that recent reports show that RIM is losing developer interest in favor of Microsoft.
Even if Research In Motion can get up to speed in the hardware game, it still won't be enough to keep this sinking ship afloat.
Looking for other ways to play the mobile market? Get access to this free report on three component suppliers that are raking it in from the smartphone and tablet revolution.
At the time thisarticle was published Fool contributorEvan Niuowns shares of ARM Holdings and Apple, but he holds no other position in any company mentioned.Click hereto see his holdings and a short bio. The Motley Fool owns shares of Google, Apple, Texas Instruments, and Microsoft.Motley Fool newsletter serviceshave recommended buying shares of Apple, Microsoft, and Google, as well as creating bull call spread positions in Apple and Microsoft. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2011 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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The island is all atwitter today and decorated tropical-style for Sanibel Luminary which begins at dusk this evening. The celebration on Captiva is tomorrow night. Both events were expanded this year. The Sanibel festivities end with an after-party at the historic Island Inn at 9 p.m. tonight. We will have BIG ARTS Chorus members singing carols for the arrival of Santa and lighting of the tree at Bailey's Shopping Center at 6 p.m. Rumor has it that WINK News will be there too. Then we are off to sing at Island Inn.
On Captiva, Luminary is tomorrow night, with their partying continuing through December 17, their full schedule is posted on CaptivaHolidayVillage.com.com. BIG ARTS Chorus will be singing on Captiva tomorrow night too, at 6:30 p.m. outside the Shirley Allen Gallery on Andy Rosse Lane. No carols here but rather a dress rehearsal of our full holiday concert which is coming up next week, December 8 at 7 p.m. in Shein Hall at BIG ARTS.
Realtor Caravan at The Sanctuary
Our local Association of Realtors® had our weekly caravan meeting yesterday at The Sanctuary Golf Club. It was very well attended which probably had something to do with the wonderful breakfast buffet they provide. The Sanctuary staff, including their head of membership, Sheryl Tatum, does a terrific job in keeping the real estate community aware of their offerings and it is such a pleasure to work with them in selling the islands. For any readers, thinking of buying a social membership, there are only a handful (literally) of these opportunities left. The Club General Manager, Ken Kouril advised that the 12 months has seen a terrific increase in memberships of all types. With the 50,000 sq. ft. clubhouse decorated to the nines for the holidays, the golf, tennis, and pool/fitness facilities in perfect condition, and the food and service top-notch, it is no surprise.
Today's Market – Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
Florida Realtors® posted the following article this week: "The monthly cost of owning a home is more affordable now than in the past 15 years, and is less expensive than renting in numerous cities, according to The Wall Street Journal's third-quarter survey. Low home prices mixed with low mortgage rates – hovering at 4% or lower – create an appealing buyer's market, analysts say. For example, buyers today have a 77% increase in their borrowing power compared to 1991, according to Dan Green, a loan officer with Waterstone Mortgage in Cincinnati. He says that in 1991 a $1,700 mortgage payment allowed a borrower to take out a $200,000 mortgage; today, at current interest rates, the homebuyer can get a $350,000 loan for that same monthly mortgage payment. In 12 out of 28 cities tracked by The Wall Street Journal, monthly mortgage payments on a median-priced home – including taxes and insurance – were lower than the average rent levels. In Atlanta, owning was the most favorable compared to renting. The monthly rent on a median-priced home there was $539 during the third quarter (with a 20% down-payment) compared to the average asking rent, which averaged $840, according to data provided by Marcus & Millichap. Nationwide, apartment rents are expected to rise by about 4% this year, which may make the owning vs. renting picture tilt even higher, according to some analysts. Despite the appealing housing picture for homebuyers, some continue to stay on the sidelines, unable to sell their current home, qualify for a mortgage due to the tighter credit requirements or keep a steady job, housing experts say."
City Meeting on Redevelopment
Dave represented SanibelSusan Realty at the cooperative meeting held at The Community House on Tuesday to discuss redevelopment of properties in the resort district areas. The City is updating the Sanibel Land Development Plan, tackling it in phases. The changes discussed at this initial meeting were made to encourage updating of some of the older non-conforming island resort-type properties, while retaining most of their rental capability and physical characteristics. The meeting was well received and we have a copy of the handout if anyone wants it sent to them.
Not Much Real Estate Action
You will notice below from the activity posted this week in our Sanibel and Captiva Multiple Listing Service that things have slowed down here a bit. It seems to happen every year, as folks get into the holiday spirit. We were fortunate to put a home contract together this week. I also received an offer on a condo listing today. A little too early to tell how that one will pan out, but we are very thankful for each and every offer.
Sanibel & Captiva MLS Activity November 25 – December 2
5 new listings: Tennisplace #A26 2/1 $325K, Mariner Pointe #1092 2/2 $436K, Ibis at The Sanctuary #302 2/2 $475K, Sunset South #1B 2/2 $588.5K, Tarpon Beach #101 2.2 $599K.
8 price changes: Colonnades #47 1/1 now $149K (our listing), Lake Palms #9 2/2.5 now $260K (short sale), Ibis at The Sanctuary #301 2/2 now $399.9K, Loggerhead Cay #232 2/2 now $569K, Loggerhead Cay #401 2/2 now $599K, Pine Cove #303 2/2 now $97K, Sundial #L205 2/2 now $995K, Sedgemoor #105 3/3.5 now $2.35M.
No new sales.
1 closed sale: Sunward #101 3/2 $750K.
1 new listing: 1800 Ardsley Way 3/2 $564.9K.
10 price changes: 555 Chert Ct 3/2 now $414K, 2210 Camino Del Mar 3/2 now $545K, 5740 SanCap Rd 2/2 now $549K, 9454 Cotten Ct 3/3 now $599K, 1400 Albatross Rd 3/3 now $549K, 1316 Eagle Run Dr 4/3 now $899K, 1570 Sand Castle Rd 4/3.5 now $1M (short sale), 569 Lighthouse Way 3/3 now $1.145M, 1765 Venus Dr 3/3 now $1.249M, 3400 West Gulf Dr 4/3 now $1.349M.
5 new sales: 1214 Par View Dr 2/2 listed for $499K (our listing), 4215 Gulf Pines Dr 5/3.5 listed for $619K, 2555 Coconut Dr 3/2 listed for $685K (short sale), 1242 Middle Gulf Dr 3/2 listed for $730,751, 784 Birdie View Pt 4/4 listed for $1.695M.
4 closed sales: 3180 Twin Lakes Ln 3/3 $582.5K, 618 N Yachtsman Dr 3/2 $670K (short sale), 6192 Henderson Rd 3/2 $829K, 1052 Whisperwood Way 3/3 $1.3M.
1 new listing: 847 Casa Ybel Rd $164,555.
1 price change: 6401 Pine Ave now $699K.
No new or closed sales.
1 new sale: Bayside Villas #5140 1/2 $285K.
1 price change: Seabreeze #1253 3/3 now $1.595M.
No new or closed sales.
No new listings.
3 price changes: 15351 Captiva Dr 5/4 now $2.895M, 15891 Captiva Dr 5/4 now $3.249M, 16730 Captiva Dr 5/4.5 now $5.25M.
1 new sale: 16 Urchin Ct 2/2 listed for $699K.
1 closed sale: 11536 Wightman Ln 3/3 $757.5K.
Nothing to report.
This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors or its Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. The information provided represents the general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions. If your property currently is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.


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Mexico City Marriott Reforma Review
The Mexico City Marriott Reforma Hotel is located right in the poshest area of Mexico City at Paseo de la Reforma, across from the US embassy. The large office building has the Marriott lobby quite hidden and unless you are specifically looking for it, you may walk by and not ever be aware of it.
Check-in was friendly but in surprisingly broken English. 'Don't joke around at this check-in desk' was my first thought! After some time of pushing paper (I wish I could be a check-in agent one day so I can figure out what people do for 15 minutes with a simple reservation made via the website), my keys were ready and I was good to go.
The room looked a bit uninspiring at first, with all the drawers and cabinets open. It also had an odd view over the adjacent buildings.
But over time, I learned to love the room. Without ever switching on the air conditioning, it was perfectly cold or warm, despite the warm afternoons and cold nights.
It was also superbly quiet and the Internet was never slower than 8 Mbit. The best part was the bed, which had high-quality linens and the perfect mix of soft and hard.
I felt the whole room was a perfect 'bastion' against noisy Mexico City.
The bathroom was rather old and the shower pressure wasn't the best but hey!
Several good eateries and cafes are within walking distance in Roma and Condesa (a bit further out) - no need to use Uber if you do not want to.
All in all, I felt this Marriott delivered on its promise of an upscale hotel and it gets all the basics right. That's uniquely Marriott! They would even prosper without a loyalty program.
You can book the Mexico City Marriott Reforma Hotel here.


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If you follow me on Snapchat, then you'd probably know I'm not at all "in the pink". (If you're not familiar with idioms, "in the pink" means in good health.) Unlike my all out pink outfit on today's post, I'm ironically far from being in the pink since I got back from my Sumilon beach trip. I somehow got a bacterial infection on my knee, allergies on my eyes, a fever and a cold all at the same time. And tomorrow, I'm flying off again to Bangkok for work. Oh dear, oh dear. I'm praying so hard I'd be good as new ASAP. Send me well wishes, will you? I miss interacting with a lot of you in the comments section below! Those were the good old days. Let's bring them back!
P.S. Find out how I exercise my abs on my previous post!
Jolie top and skirt | Céline bag | Wanderlust + Co. rings and bracelet | Alexander Wang heels


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Considering hosting Web based services on IIS 7.0?
If you are contemplating to move over (upgrade) to IIS 7.0 from your existing Web hosting on either IIS 5.0 or 6.0 this is a very useful Technical White Paper link. It talks about various aspects of improvements in IIS 7.0 dealing with Management, Performance, Extensibility, Security and Deployment.
Migrating a Large, High-Volume Web Site to Internet Information Services 7.0


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Chris has worked at Macadoodles since 2014 and has been the Spirits Manager since 2016. He has been involved in several Single Barrel "Store Picks" and has had a hand in deciding the end result of those Macadoodles Select Whiskeys. Chris's passion lies in learning the history of different spirits, distilleries, and the industry as a whole.
Current Top Pick: Yellowstone – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
A masterful fusion of flavors from seventh-generation distillers. Yellowstone features a hand-picked blend of sweet, spicy, and smoky bourbons, each selected to give this exclusive whiskey a taste that celebrates its deep, family origins.


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What Is the Reason Why Brain Functioning Begins to Change in Middle Adulthood?
The topic of brain aging often turns out to be a source of avid discussions because it allows understanding the key points of brain functioning.
Mental and cognitive skills tend to decline at variable rates as people get older.
This tendency may differ from person to person.
Some researchers even claim that brain function can be improved in people who do not suffer from dementia in order to slow down the degenerative processes.
However, why does it happen in the first place?
The major reason why our brain functioning worsens in middle adulthood is insufficient mental effort.
No brain activity leads to disastrous consequences so that people have decreased cognitive and mental skills as well as the lack of interest in education and mental development.
Researchers point out that regular brain activity and growing educational level allows improving the neural synapses, as a result of which the brain is protected from cognitive impairment.
The other reason why our brain function worsens as we get older is the lack of physical activity and poor dietary habits that result in malnutrition and increase the rates of cognitive decline.
These factors are known as secondary aging.
The mind of people in middle adulthood works a lot slower and is susceptible to making mistakes when processing some information.
Our memory skills suffer the most being followed by our mental and cognitive abilities.


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Alpine gardens help reintroduce rare plant
VAIL — Betty Ford Alpine Gardens has partnered with the Bureau of Land Management to grow and reintroduce the one of the rarest plant in North America – the Penstemon debilis onto the Roan Plateau near Rifle. This unique species of Penstemon, also known as Parachute Penstemon, is endemic to the Central Rocky Mountain Region where it grows above the Colorado River on loose shale cliffs.
"The Gardens is the only nonprofit in the valley whose scientific research impacts strategies for plant conservation," explained Nicola Ripley.
In 2004, the gardens became actively involved with the BLM's conservation efforts and participate in a global initiative of botanical gardens to diminish the decline of rare and endangered plants and ensure healthy biodiversity for our planet.
Facing Extinction
Botanists have identified more than 400,000 species of plants worldwide. However, approximately 34,000 are currently threatened; two-thirds of the world's plant species are in danger of extinction during the course of the 21st century; and of the 20,000 known plant species in the United States, more than 200 already had vanished by the end of the 20th century with another 600 to 700 in imminent jeopardy.
Plant species are in jeopardy because of an increasing human population and its affect on our environment including deforestation, habitat loss, the spread of invasive species and agricultural expansion.
The Penstemon debilis project will help populate this endangered species and document the success of several propagation techniques. The Garden's staff will monitor and report on the health of the new plants for years to come.
Creating New Life
In August, staff of Betty Ford traveled to specific sites in the Central Rocky Mountain region to collect the Penstemon debilis seed. In October, the seeds were divided into two groups. The first group of seeds were sown in flats and placed in cold frames outside, where they will undergo a natural stratification until spring. The second group of seeds is being stratified using an indoor, walk-in cooler where they will remain until mid-January. After eight weeks in the cooler, the seeds will be placed in a heated greenhouse where they will be tested for germination and grown in larger pots.
"Our research will help determine the best way in which to grow Penstemon debilis," said Betty Ford Alpine Gardens head gardener Nick Courtens.


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Orlando mayor reflects on Pulse nightclub shooting
While memorials and vigils clearly show how the Pulse massacre has touched the hearts and lives of so many people, the man at the center of the city's recovery, is Orlando's Mayor, Buddy Dyer.
Dyer talked with WESH 2 political reporter Greg Fox about the hardest moment he faced, and how he plans to help the City Beautiful heal from the deep wounds left by the nightclub shootings.
As he watches the memorial at the Dr. Phillips Center where the president and vice president paid respects last week, Dyer is finally taking a step back to think about the evil mark left on his city: the deadliest mass shooting in the nation's history. It began with a phone call from police Sunday morning, June 12, which prompted him to call his son.
"The first thing I did, I have a 26-year-old son who lives here in Orlando. So I called him and fortunately, he answered the phone. And I said, 'Where are you?' And he said, 'I'm home in bed,' and I said, 'Good,'" Dyer said.
That was likely the only good news Dyer got that day. As viewers watched live on WESH 2 News, at 10:21 a.m. that morning, Dyer weathered his most grievous moment:
"And it is with great sadness that I share, we have not 20, but 50, casualties," Dyer said the morning of the massacre.
Forty-nine people lost their lives in the massacre.
"I thought it was important that the mayor, not the FBI, go out there and reveal the reality, and the totality of the situation," Dyer said. "Going out and having to say it's not 20, it's 50, I had to take a pretty big breath and a deep gulp to get that out. I know my voice was shaking when I was doing that," Dyer said.
When Dyer was first elected in 2003, he read former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's book, Leadership. Handling 9/11, the worst attack on U.S. soil, made Giuliani "America's Mayor." He called Dyer to offer moral support.
"When somebody that has been in this type of crisis calls and says, 'Hey, you guys are doing a good job and I just want to tell you,' that's important,'" Dyer said.
Going forward, Dyer will focus on a permanent remembrance to the Pulse nightclub victims. For the mayor whose built stadiums and an arts center, a memorial just might be his most important legacy.
"We're going to do something world-class to memorialize the victims here," Dyer said.


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David - Releasing New Single
Solo artist David ( f.k.a SUI) has announced the wonderful news that his first single will be dropping some time in September of this year! But unfortunately other then this no other information has been announced quite yet.
But we will keep every updated as more information becomes available!
Source: OHP


text: The Bronx is considered one of the most diverse communities in America, as well as the home of Hip Hop and Salsa. For the families who have called this borough a home, Orchard Beach remains a treasured respite from the sweltering confines of the concrete jungle. Lawrence's portraits of these summertime regulars celebrate the pride and dignity of those who frequent Orchard Beach.


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Little Cracks Can Become BIG Cracks
In order for your property, whether commercial or residential, to be structurally sound its foundation must be in the best possible shape, since your entire building is supported by the foundation. Even the tiniest cracks in your foundation can eventually cause evolving problems since they hardly stay little, thereby, leading to wet basements, mold/mildew growths and general structural deterioration. However little that crack may be, call AquaGuard Waterproofing's foundation contractors to avoid major issues for your property or home.
We have a team comprising of foundation repair experts and basement waterproofing specialists who will repair every crack, ensuring that you building is permanently dry and structurally sound. We offer free and comprehensive foundation inspections, for commercial and residential clients alike, after which we will come up with the best strategy to help you resolve any foundational issues arising. Call us now for your free evaluation and estimate, and begin the journey towards a permanently dry basement and complete foundational repairs.
Cracks can occur even with the strongest foundations. There's hope though! AquaGuard Waterproofing can help you restore your foundation to top shape in a short time. Depending on its magnitude, a method will be selected to resolve it externally or internally.
Remember that while seeming harmless in the beginning, cracks can only get bigger. Water will easily seep through such cracks, and then freeze allowing the thaw cycle, which is typical of winter, to only widen the crevice. Therefore, do not hesitate; call us now to get your foundation repairs going before it is too late. Our thorough inspections and free estimates will give you peace of mind!
Commercial Foundation Repair
At AquaGuard Waterproofing, we offer our foundation repair services to homeowners and commercial clients alike. For years, we've helped customers in Maryland, D.C. Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania to have permanently dry basements. We have also offered appropriate solutions for a vast array of commercial foundation repair requirements.
We have catered to property management firms, schools, houses of worship, business owners and government buildings among others. AquaGuard Waterproofing is your answer to restoring your building back to structural soundness with no cracks. We will assist you to eliminate all foundation cracks to prevent further damage. So call us at 800-784-9913, whether you are a property owner, building contractor or manager and we'll be there at your service.
Call us now for more information!