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The American oil and natural gas industry finds itself once again at a dramatic political crossroads in 2012. Not entirely surprising in an election year for a historically targeted industry, it is nonetheless alarming to see the wide divergence from the reality of what American oil and gas production provides and offers for the nation's future, and what its opponents would have it reduced to for the sake of politics.
Thanks to a complete transformation of the nation's energy supply and potential, made possible by the homegrown entrepreneurship and ingenuity of independent producers, the United States is poised to make revolutionary strides with new jobs, more revenues for state and local governments and the invaluable national security that comes with it. This is the path leading to the bright horizon of revived rust belt towns and a largely self-reliant energy future.
The emergence of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, led by America's independent producers, has unlocked vast riches of shale oil and natural gas. As a result, the United States' oil imports are down from 60% in 2005 to 47% today. Many experts project that the United States will be the world's top petroleum producer in under a decade.
The other road points to closed U.S. factories, high energy prices, and increased political dependence on the Middle East. Well-organized, well-funded environmentalist movements, intent on inventing a carbon-free future, seek to shut down all development of U.S. petroleum, liquids and natural gas. Their tactics? Paint the entire industry as homogenous and greedy — the industry is "Big Oil" stealing funding from the education of our children and the healthcare of the elderly. Paint the industry as destructive — the industry's mysterious "fracking" contaminates water, kills animals, and causes earthquakes. These are unfounded, purposeful claims but are also serious threats as the federal government now has more than ten separated agencies seeking to regulate American oil and natural gas exploration and production.
Preventing an onslaught of prohibitive federal regulations has become a growing priority for the Independent Petroleum Association of America over the past few years, as well as a growing challenge. Fortunately, our efforts to date have been largely successful, but with much more work to be done, IPAA continues to fight for independent producers and ensure that the tremendous potential of America's oil and natural gas reserves are realized and made available a to the American people.
With regulatory issues, such as the manufactured debate over hydraulic fracturing leading concerns over the federal government's involvement and potential to slow or stop American oil and natural gas production, the crawling pace of federal permitting continues to hinder American oil and natural gas production on a nearly prohibitive level. The federal government's slow process of re-opening the Gulf for exploration and production, more than a year after the Deepwater Horizon accident demonstrates that the administration can restrict American oil and natural gas production.
And to date, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has had the most aggressive federal hand on America's independent producers, threatening to over-regulate the industry on a number of fronts, with one in particular leading the way.
Hydraulic fracturing, the technology which, combined with horizontal drilling has enabled the amazing shale revolution in America, has become the environmentalist's bull's-eye to take down the industry — and they are using the EPA to make it happen. The EPA is still conducting a closed door study to determine the effects of hydraulic fracturing on groundwater. Though IPAA has welcomed thorough investigation into the process, knowing our industry's long history of safety, the EPA has recently, in the case of some early data from Pavillion, Wyoming, seemed aggressive to find fault that hydraulic fracturing contamination. It is an alarming posture, especially in light of EPA chief Lisa Jackson's acknowledgment that there has not been one proven case of hydraulic fracturing contaminating drinking water.
EPA is also vigorously being called to regulate hydraulic fracturing under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). This disregards that the states are already safely and successfully regulating hydraulic fracturing. The immediate problem of imposing this specific federal regulation is that hydraulic fracturing is outside of the scope of the SDWA.
The SDWA was never intended to apply to well-completion fluids when it was passed in 1974. In the 1990s, environmental groups brought their case to court to change the scope of the legislation to regulate the industry. The 2005 amendment, coined by environmentalists as the "Halliburton loophole" is not a loophole at all, but a clarification of the legislation, which brought the scope back to the legislation's purpose.
Undermining the point of redundancy of new federal initiatives has been the opposition's disregard of state-based programs such as FracFocus, an online chemical registry website where production companies list their hydraulic fracturing fluids, and STRONGER, the State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations. IPAA actively promotes both programs, which demonstrate the success of the state regulatory regimes already in place.
But the EPA has pressed on, as have the activist interests, like "GasLand" director Josh Fox, that have become obstructive in the process of finding productive answers to the public's questions on hydraulic fracturing. For the industry's part, there remains an open and transparent source of information through the IPAA-managed coalition, Energy In Depth (EID).
Dispelling confusion about hydraulic fracturing early in the public debate through its comprehensive online information platform and media resource outlet (www.energyindepth.org), EID outreach and capability continues to grow every day and has served as the industry's focal point for getting the truth about hydraulic fracturing and answering the public's questions about industry practices.
These threats demonstrate the importance of electing policymakers who understand how much the oil and natural gas industry has to offer. The IPAA Wildcatter Fund is the largest oil and natural gas industry association Political Action Committee in the nation. Its success has been demonstrated throughout many election cycles. In 2010 alone, the Wildcatters Fund contributed to over 113 races nationwide. Out of these races, 86% of our candidates won.
Not only does IPAA get these leaders elected, but once these legislators are in office, IPAA holds them accountable by publicizing their voting record on industry issues. The oil and natural gas industry has the ability to help take our nation down the path of prosperity and energy security. The importance of success in the upcoming elections of 2012 cannot be emphasized enough.
Despite the dangers that the industry faces in 2012, IPAA is confident that the future of the American oil and natural gas industry is bright. We must take back the debate from radical environmentalists, who champion their cause by demonizing the industry and drumming up unfounded fear in the public. Their activities threaten the livelihood of millions of American workers who depend on the oil and natural gas industry for well-paying jobs.
Independent producers support 4 million jobs in America — that's 3% of all U.S. jobs. IPAA is committed to fighting against overregulation and irresponsible legislation which limits the oil and natural gas industry's ability to lead our nation to economic recovery and a more stable energy future.
IPAA's efforts and success would not be possible without the continued support of its members, who are truly the backbone of the association's work in Washington. Not only is IPAA fortunate to have a membership that is effective through their collective advocacy involvement, but also one that is a constant example of its own cause; America's independent producers continue to make the best case for the industry every day in the field, as they lead in industry and the nation towards meaningful energy security and our manufacturing renaissance.
The nation is at a serious crossroads, one defined by choices to be made on the economy, energy and national security. Fortunately, there is a path available that provides the key to all three — and the American oil and natural gas industry is prepared to lead the way. At IPAA, we are proud to represent the men and women who have made that path possible and defend their right and ability to continue that work.


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The search found 13 results in 0.009 seconds.
The ASA Task Force on Liberal Learning and the Sociology Major, Third Edition (LL3) has been working steadily on the charge put to it by ASA Council at their August 2014 meeting: to revise the ASA document Liberal Learning and the Sociology Major Updated: Meeting the Challenges of Teaching Sociology in the 21st Century (McKinney et al. 2004). Perhaps the most important as well as the most cited sociology curricular document in the United States, this revision comes at a critical time when several changes are occurring in higher education.
Summer 2016 Vol. 15 No. 3
Summer 2015 Vol. 14 No. 3
Sociology is all about putting people—their identities and their interactions—in social contexts. And those contexts are nested in the inescapable intersections of time and space.
Fall 2015 Vol. 14 No. 4
The social and political entanglements of science, from climate change and medical marijuana to the origins of modern American sociology.
Winter 2016 Vol. 15 No. 1
Evidence is important. Even the most skeptical rely on tested and re-tested scientific certainty every day. And good sociologists hold scientific evidence suspect even as we use the best we have to make the decisions we must.
One year after Donald Trump's inauguration, many pundits and citizens alike continue to try to understand the results of the 2016 election. At the heart of the matter is a legitimate question that deserves to be considered not only for its importance to Trump's victory, but also as it relates to many other governments worldwide and throughout history. The pressing question is: How can voters find a candidate "authentically appealing" even though to many that candidate appears to be a "lying demagogue"?
Features include "Wedding Cake Woes", "Serial Killers and Sex Workers", "Mental Health and Police Killings", and "Truth-Spots."
Features include "Why Sociology needs Science Fiction", "The Struggle to Save Abortion Care", "Invisible Inequality "Wounded Warriors", "When the Personal is Political - and Infectious", and "Global Capitalism in the Age of Trump."
The sixth edition of the ASA Style Guide is the authoritative reference for writing, submitting, editing, and copyediting manuscripts for ASA journals and other publications following ASA's unique format. This revised, updated edition features guidelines for the most common situations encountered by authors and editors. New features include revisions to reference formatting and additional information on grammar, as well as expanded information on the use of electronic, digital, and social media sources.
From a study on the impact of racial resentment on political ideology to analysis of issues including minority college admissions, the success of lying demagogues, and public opposition to "religious freedom" laws, the most downloaded sociological research published in the American Sociological Association's journals in 2018 spanned a wide range of topics and social concerns.

subset: commoncrawl


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View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.
Christmas Day – December 25th
Thursday will be collected Wednesday
Friday will be collected Thursday


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Programs already exist to protect children in school from minute chance of attack
Steve Watson
Dec 20, 2012
While the mainstream media obsesses over the possibility of gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, a new study puts such incidents, and the idea of anti-Second Amendment legislation, into stark context.
Research published in USA Today stemming from FBI data, reveals that over a five year period ranging from 2006 to 2010, mass killings accounted for only a tiny fraction of homicides, less than 1% to be precise.
The research found that during that time, there were 156 incidents in which four or more people were killed – the classification of a mass killing.
The study notes that guns were not even involved in a third of those incidents, and that lone gunmen were to blame less than half of the time. The data also reveals that where guns were involved in mass killings, handguns were the far more likely weapon of choice.
Means of death in many of the incidents ranged from fire, to knives or blunt objects. In many incidents, the victims were known to the killers and were targeted, rather than being strangers in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In total, the attacks killed 774 people, including at least 161 young children. These numbers are still tragic, and while any deaths, particularly homicides, and particularly mass homicides, are abhorrent – the figures clearly do not represent an epidemic of violent killing using firearms.
To put the figures into context, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention records show that more people died from migraines, falling out of chairs and sunstroke than were murdered by mass killers during this time.
Grant Duwe, director of research at the Minnesota Department of Corrections, and an expert in mass murders told USA Today that such incidents have also become less common since the mid-1990s.
Clearly, such simple and cursory research provides a reminder in the face of media promulgated panic, that the majority of the time, America is a perfectly safe country to live in. Factor in the notion that of the mass shootings that do take place, many lives may have been spared had the shooter encountered responsible armed Americans.
When it comes to schools, there are hundreds across the country that have taken measures to responsibly endure the safety of children by extensively training teachers to carry concealed weapons and react to crisis situations. Such programs are subject to strict oversight, and the individuals authorized to carry firearms are subject to thorough and rigorous background checks.
While Barak Obama is set to address gun control measures, that will affect EVERY American citizen, for the first time in a decade at The State Of The Union address next month, consider the fact that virtually every mass shooter in recent history has been on some form of SSRI drug. The link simply cannot be denied, and it is clear that there is a much simpler way of going about preventing such incidents.
Those who refuse to acknowledge these facts and continue to blindly push for stripping away at the cornerstones of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution are either woefully myopic or completely politically driven individuals pursuing a very specific Anti-Second Amendment agenda.
Steve Watson is the London based writer and editor for Alex Jones' Infowars.com, and Prisonplanet.com. He has a Masters Degree in International Relations from the School of Politics at The University of Nottingham in England.
This article was posted: Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 2:27 pm


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blog latest
How I was inspired by IDEA's SDG workshop for Deloitte Ireland: As part of our work through the Bridge 47 project, IDEA delivered an online interactive GCE workshop on the SDGs to Deloitte Ireland staff members.
Design Thinking & Global Citizenship Education: By Birgit O'Driscoll, Global Citizenship Officer of Green-Schools
Working on outcomes: Themes and learning from the Impact Measurement Masterclass: By Philip Isard, Senior Project Specialist with Quality Matters
Development Education and Covid-19: Frank Geary, Director of IDEA explores some of the impacts of COVID-19 and the role for Development Education
We need to talk about Palestine: IDEA Conversation Circle, 19 February 2020
Political Leadership for Sustainable Development:
Bridge 47: Cross-sector Building Bridges Forum on the SDGs: Private companies join forces with civil society in Northern Ireland to accomplish the SDGs through Global Citizenship Education
5 key points to think about when preparing to apply for the DEAR call.:
About the DEAR Call 2018:
HLPF Day One: Education is the golden thread running through implementation of all 17 SDGs: IDEA Director Frank Geary sharing updates from Day One of the 2018 UN High Level Political Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals
Combating Islamaphobia: 11 May, 2017
WorldWise Global Schools Conference: Meaningful Action: Croke Park, April 2017
Development Education: where we've been; where we need to go: This blog was written by Colm Regan to stimulate discussion at an IDEA Conversation Circle in Dublin, 04 May 2016
Learning about the 'Co' in Ecovillage!:
Youth are the Agents of Change: Rebecca Amet,Young Global advocate with Challenging the Crisis, on the UN Youth Delegate Programme Launch
Closing Time on the "Double Irish": Opinion piece on the OECD's recent announcement about global tax regulation
The Challenge of Learning for a Post-Carbon Future: David Hicks, freelance educator and visiting Professor at Bath Spa University addresses this question in the guest blog below. articles and teaching resources.
What to Learn NOW: How to Make Schools more caring, inclusive places: Dr Gerry Jeffers, lecturer in the education department in NUI Maynooth responds to our question: what should we be learning now to create the future we want?
Together We Stand; Together We Learn: Last weekend, Joe Costello TD revealed in an interview with the Sunday Business Post that Ireland will not meet its 0.7% of GNP target
Citizens of the World? Building global justice perspectives in challenging times: The 2013 IDEA Annual Conference focused on the theme of "Global Citizenship" and considered how we can harness the energy of new social movements.


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NOPE is an 18" x 24" three-color screenprint on Springhill 150 lb. Tag manila paper. It is a signed and numbered edition of 150, artist : Brian Bojo.
I bought it because proceeds went to The Mockingbird Foundation. When I received it I realized that I would never hang it. Looking for interesting trade offers.


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Plan your vacation today - Visit Montana's Beautiful Bitterroot Valley - From River to Ridge it's a Beautiful Day in the Bitterroot!
Go directly to the Old West/Gift Montana Shopping System!
Each Old West Candy Store Montana Huckleberry and Wild-Berry product is meticulously prepared from time-honored recipes in small batches to highlight the intensely delectable flavors of these famously popular berries. The sweet robust flavors of these unique wild berries are indigenous to the higher elevations of the Rocky Mountains, grown naturally in the forests, completely unattended until individually hand-picked each summer. These berries have never successfully been commercially cultivated and are limited in availability and highly desirable. The Old West Candy Store in Darby, MT offers hundreds of gourmet specialty foods like Jams, Jellies, BBQ Sauces, Vinaigrettes, Ice Cream Toppings, Syrups, and Honeys. Plus they carry a wonderful assortment of Teas, Hot Cocoa, Lemonades and more. And most fun and popular of all are the made in Montanan Chocolates, Fudges and Candies. Be sure to investigate the many other Huckleberry and Montana products from wonderful Wild Huckleberry Candles to sexy Huckleberry bath and body products.
Click here for Huckleberries and more!
Taste the Difference
You can taste the difference when you choose Old West Candy Store, made in Montana fudge, handmade on site.
Discover your favorite among a section of more than 30 different mouthwatering flavors. The Old West Candy Store specialty is HUCKLEBERRY FUDGE - YOU'VE GOT TO TRY IT!
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Chocolate! Enough Said.
Handmade, fresh, delicious, hundreds of varieties, sizes and shapes. If you want to make someone special very happy visit the Old West Candy Store online or in person in Darby Montana. Don't hesitate, order today.
Click here for Chocolate! They dare you!
Candy in Bulk!
Here is your source for Candy, Candy and more Candy. Hundreds and hundreds of varieties, flavors and tastes. From one piece for the youngster to hundreds of gift packs for the employees. Montana's Old West Candy store will keep you sweet. Call for special pricing on corporate and large party orders.
Click here for Candy!
Old West Candy Store
202 S Main St (Box 567)
Darby, MT 59829
(406) 821-4076
Old West Flavor for Today
Make someone happy with delicious homemade fudge or creative gift baskets from the Old West Candy Store on Main in Darby, Montana. The Fudge and Chocolates are homemade from the finest ingredients with loving care. From personal gift baskets to corporate and event treats the Old West Candy Store will keep you happy.
Old West Candy takes pride in providing quality service and products. For additional information regarding volume pricing/discounts, wholesale pricing, private label programs please contact Gene (firstname.lastname@example.com)
It's a beautiful day in Montana's Bitterroot Valley!
For the best of the Bitterroot Valley visit :
Go directly to the Old West/Gift Montana Shopping System!


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Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Universal Values (MGCUV)
The Global Indian Mahatma Gandhi Centre for Universal Values (MGCUV) is committed to instilling strong virtues and peaceful living into our students through the experiences and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. We believe our values and beliefs are of significance in the current climate across the world.
Through specific initiatives built into our curriculum, we are able to embrace projects and educational practices that encourage students to live in the spirit of understanding, peace and racial harmony. Our goal is to create well-balanced global citizens who are ambassadors of peace throughout the globe. This is accomplished through our initiatives: peace curriculum, green curriculum and community involvement.
Peace Curriculum: Teach Students to Embrace Peaceful Living
To inspire students to follow the tenets and life of Mahatma Gandhi, MGCUV utilizes a unique Peace Curriculum, which encourages students to participate in collaborative activities that spur holistic development with a focus on peaceful living. All activities, both in and out of the classroom, enforce the principles of peaceful living. From performing random acts of kindness to embracing tolerance for all genders and cultures, the Peace Curriculum encourages peace in every aspect of life.
Green Curriculum: Create Caring Global Citizens
Living at peace with the world also involves peace with nature. MGCUV's Green Curriculum encourages students to love and care for the environment and make the world a more beautiful place to live. Activities in the curriculum may include recycling drives, Earth Day programs, youth environment days and tree or garden planting projects.
Community Integration: Teach the Love of Service
Students at MGCUV participate in a variety of community service activities, both on the school campus and around the local community. Whether picking up waste and recycling within the community or spending time working the school garden, Community Integration teaches our students to value service and their environs in equal measure. The end goal is to create young people who are ready to step up and improve the world around them.
At MGCUV, our students are taught in a way that supports traditional values while helping students enhance their scholastic aptitude and individual talents. By embracing Indian philosophy and our unique curriculum, coupled with co-scholastic activities that encourage community involvement, students are given an education that develops a well-rounded individual.
Learn more about our curriculum today, or schedule a tour of our campus to see our students in action, and you will see the difference that MGCUV's core values can drive in your child.


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Product 8/34
midnight blue / navy blue
Aura Backdrops hand dyed muslin backgrounds.
Aura Backdrops are made with only the highest quality muslin material to ensure that you get the most 'bang for your buck'. We have found muslin to be by far the most versatile material for photography backdrops. It is light enough not to be a hassle (especially if you are working on location), yet durable enough to last and get the job done right! It can be draped or hung straight, used on location and even works great with gels. It is great for all types of photography: family, children, high school seniors, bridals, models, or even commercial work. They can be hung on a background stand or on a ceiling mount system or they can be hung using "A" clamps. -Handmade -Made from the highest quality muslin material -100% cotton to absorb the light and help eliminate reflection -Seamless, made from one piece of material -4" rod pocket at one end -5-1" grommets at the other end -Dyed with the best quality dye -Machine washable -Crimped along the edges to prevent tears -100% satisfaction guaranteedPlease remember that these muslin are made by hand, therefore, the pattern may vary slightly from the backdrop pictured. Allow for 5-8% manufacturing shrinkage.
This product was added to our catalog on Friday 05 May, 2006.


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Starting fresh after injury, Heisey hot at plate
CINCINNATI -- Chris Heisey had no other choice. Upon returning from a nearly two-month stint on the disabled list, the Reds left fielder had to bury his lousy April and start anew.
Since returning from a strained right hamstring on June 25, Heisey entered Saturday hitting .367 (11-for-30) with three home runs, five doubles and seven RBIs. During Friday's 5-3 victory over the Pirates, he hit a first-inning solo homer and an RBI single off third baseman Pedro Alvarez's glove in the fifth.
"I've been working with our hitting coach [Brook Jacoby] to really try and just slow it down and just trust the ability I have and not overthink things," Heisey said. "It's been working for me."
In 23 games before going on the DL on April 29, Heisey was batting .173 with two homers. During that stretch, he was trying to replace the injured Ryan Ludwick as the regular left fielder.
"That was kind of my thing -- to try and forget about the April I had," Heisey said on Saturday. "It wasn't what I wanted to start the season like. When I look at my numbers, I try to look at them from the time I came back. Looking back, I don't feel like I was in a great place, mentally, to go out there and put really competitive at-bats together.
"Maybe it was the fact I felt it was my job and I wanted to kind of prove I can be an everyday guy, and putting that added pressure on myself probably wasn't a good thing. Mentally, I've been able to get to a better point where I can go out there and say, 'Hey, this is what I've got. Relax. If it's good enough, it is. If not, what are you going to do?'"
Reds manager Dusty Baker kept the righty-hitting Heisey's hot bat in the lineup on Saturday vs. Pirates right-handed starter A.J. Burnett.
"He's made some adjustments," Baker said of Heisey. "It's who I stack him up against, kind of. Ordinarily, I might not be playing him today against Burnett because he throws a bunch of breaking balls."
Heisey is primarily a fastball hitter.
"I had a talk with Heisey today about how to hit that breaking ball," Baker said.


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Nationalism Project Home * About The Nationalism Project * What is Nationalism?
Bibliography of Journal Articles * Book Reviews and Abstracts * New Books
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Conferences/Calls for Papers * Search
Nationalism Project Blog
Eric G.E. Zuelow
Copyright © by Eric G.E. Zuelow
Site Last Updated 2 December 2009
The Nationalism Project is one of the most widely used nationalism studies resources on the Internet and provides users with a clearinghouse for scholarly nationalism information including: leading definitions of nationalism, book reviews, web links, subject bibliographies, a bibliography of more than 2,000 journal articles, and much more. The site was created in 1999 by Eric G.E. Zuelow, currently Assistant Professor of Modern European History at West Liberty State College. The Nationalism Project is loosely affiliated with the Association for Research on Ethnicity and Nationalism in the Americas (ARENA), an informal association of international scholars dedicated to the study of nationalism in both North and South America.
The Nationalism Project is a scholarly website and is not affiliated with any nationalist groups or organizations. No political agenda is being advocated by this site; it is intended purely as an educational resource. While scholarly submissions are welcome, contributions containing any clearly ideological political bias will not be accepted.


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PAX West 2019: E1 - Abyssal Swamp
Fri Aug 30 2019 3:24 PM PDT
- Length: 2 hrs
- Total tickets: 10
- Available tickets: 0
- Purchased tickets: 10
Players will encounter amazing sets, props, NPCs and animatronic monsters while solving group-puzzles and battling fearsome foes. All players receive a free bag of 10 Treasure Tokens (an $8 value) to equip their character, at least 3 random draws from our Treasure Generators, and a collectible limited-edition token. Those who survive the adventure gain a special "Survivor" button. This highly-immersive adventure lasts two hours and takes place within a massive darkened ballroom. No experience is necessary. We offer multiple difficulty settings from Non-Lethal, which is very new-player friendly, all the way up to Nightmare -- a level only the bravest of souls dare undertake.


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Senate Republicans say they have the votes to pass their tax bill — even if they don't yet have a final bill.
Republicans were racing Friday to finalize last-minute changes to their legislation, but said they would be holding a vote later in the day or early Saturday morning, a remarkable pace for legislation that would be the most sweeping overhaul of the country's tax code in three decades.
"When will the Senate be able to actually see the full text of this legislation?" Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), the ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee, asked on the Senate floor.
"There will be plenty of time to read the final version of it before we vote," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell replied.
The late changes being introduced reportedly include an increased tax break for pass-through businesses that would allow owners to deduct 23 percent of their business income, up from 17 percent. That provision was apparently enough to win over Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Steve Daines of Montana, who had expressed concern that the tax bill treated pass-throughs less favorably than corporations.
Another new provision, sought by Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, would preserve the deduction for up to $10,000 in state and local property taxes paid, as the House bill allows. Another change offered by Collins would increase the deductibility of medical expenses.
And Sen. Jeff Flake said he would support the bill after winning changes that would extend a provision allowing companies to immediately deduct business expenses, which had been set to expire after five years, and getting agreement that he would be involved in discussions about fixes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals law, known as DACA.
The late changes would cost more than $300 billion over 10 years, according to Bloomberg.
To pay for the additional costs, the Senate plan reportedly will not eliminate the alternative minimum tax for corporations and individuals, as the bill originally called for, and will increase tax rates imposed on offshore profits of multinational corporations.


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Perhaps the most talked about and coveted aspect in the art of macaron making. You'll realize that once you've acheived macarons with feet, you don't want just any kind of feet because each type actually reflects what kind of macaron you will have and shows the kind of mistakes you've made. Small unbroken feet are usually a good indication that the macaron is not hollow. Big bubbly feet usually indicates that the insides have been pushed out into the feet causing a hollow macaron.
Examples of "Good Feet":
✓ Ruffled Feet (slight horizontal rise)
✓ Small Delicate Air Pockets in Feet (clean vertical rise)
✘ Examples of "Bad Feet": (messy broken air pockets/detached feet, excessive horizontal rise (tall feet)/ overly developed feet, no feet)
NO HOLLOWS & Texture:
The texture of the macaron should not be super crunchy or crispy like a biscotti. Shells can turn hard from over baking so learn when to stop baking and mature your shells with a higher moisture filling if needed. Stale macarons can also turn hard so make sure to place them in an air tight container in the fridge as they are best eaten within 5-7 days.
Another coveted attribute for any macaron is the absence of hollows. When handled, hollow macarons can be easily broken because there's a big gaping hole inside the shell. As soon as you press into it with your hands, it can easily get crushed. You do not need to fill the macaron shell and bite into it to see that it is fully set with no hollows. This should already be apparent once it cools down and you break it open to see that the shell is not hollow and the insides have not collapsed. Macaron bodies should be fully set with a nice fluffy interior and a crispy egg-shell like exterior. It's the presence of these two contrasting textures which makes this cookie so special. Pressing the bottom of the macarons shell, thereby pushing the insides up to the top, is not the proper way of achieving no hollows. Aim for reducing hollows by baking at the correct temperature (not too low), proper meringue whipping and using the correct folding techniques.
The shells should have a healthy rise, not too puffy yet not too flat. A bloated shell that is disproportionate to the whole macaron is often hollow or conversely, dense and not as moist . Fix this by working on your folding technique and making sure that your temperature is just right.
On the flip side, a pancake like macaron is usually a sign that you've over mixed your batter. These aren't too attractive so learn to judge the consistency and know when to stop folding. Remember, the batter should flow slowly like lava and fall a few times on itself like a ribbon.
This is obvious. Macaron shells should be round. There are several reasons for oddly shaped shells including: over mixed batter, wrong piping techniques and use of parchment paper, either through improper use or just plain bad quality. Invest in a Silpat pan, it will work wonders to keep your shapes round.
The filling should not overwhelm the overall construction of the macaron by being over stuffed or under stuffed. Pipe the filling until it reaches close to the edge of the shell but leave some room for it to expand once you assemble the macaron. The filling should not run past the the outer rim of the shell. Too much filling and it will be hard to eat it without the filling squishing out, making for one messy messy treat.
The tops of the shell should be smooth, not too lumpy and devoid of "nipples". Sift your almond flour well and you will have super smooth shells. Remove nipples by rapping the tray firmly against the counter after piping.
The colour of the shells should be uniformed and not spotty or browned. To avoid spotty coloring, make sure you're introducing the gel colour into your mixture with enough time left to mix it thoroughly. As for shell browning, make sure you are using your oven correctly. Move your macarons further away from the heat source, lower the temperature or place an empty pan below or above your macarons according to your own situation. Click here to read how to use your oven properly for baking macarons.
I hope it gave you insight on what attributes to look for in an "ideal" macaron. I put that in quotes because at the end of the day, don't forget that macarons are for eating!
Special Recent Posts
How to Make Almond Flour for Macarons
April 17th, 2020
How to Fold Macaron Batter with Real-Time Macaronage Video
June 10th, 2018
How to Pipe Bear Macarons
March 13th, 2015
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April 18th, 2020
Resting the Macaron Shell
September 18th, 2020


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Collaborative Information Seeking
The Art and Science of Making the Whole Greater than the Sum of All
Part of the The Information Retrieval Series book series (INRE, volume 34)
Part of the The Information Retrieval Series book series (INRE, volume 34)
Today's complex, information-intensive problems often require people to work together. Mostly these tasks go far beyond simply searching together; they include information lookup, sharing, synthesis, and decision-making. In addition, they all have an end-goal that is mutually beneficial to all parties involved. Such "collaborative information seeking" (CIS) projects typically last several sessions and the participants all share an intention to contribute and benefit. Not surprisingly, these processes are highly interactive.
Shah focuses on two individually well-understood notions: collaboration and information seeking, with the goal of bringing them together to show how it is a natural tendency for humans to work together on complex tasks. The first part of his book introduces the general notions of collaboration and information seeking, as well as related concepts, terminology, and frameworks; and thus provides the reader with a comprehensive treatment of the concepts underlying CIS. The second part of the book details CIS as a standalone domain. A series of frameworks, theories, and models are introduced to provide a conceptual basis for CIS. The final part describes several systems and applications of CIS, along with their broader implications on other fields such as computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) and human-computer interaction (HCI).With this first comprehensive overview of an exciting new research field, Shah delivers to graduate students and researchers in academia and industry an encompassing description of the technologies involved, state-of-the-art results, and open challenges as well as research opportunities.


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Review: Rocku Yakiniku Japanese Buffet, 1 Utama
>> Friday, January 29, 2016
Overall comment: Fresh meats & variety of seafood that's worth your money, especially if you can really eat (a lot) within 100 minutes & if you enjoy dining with some entertainment of live band/magician show on stage. It was a really fun dining experience for me :)
Halal: No
I was really excited to be here at Rocku Yakiniku, 1 Utama, last weekend with AP as the restaurant was also hosting the finale of a singing competition (top 10 finalists of the WILLIAM x ROCKU) & had many OneFM DJs hosting/attending the event as well :D
Rocku Yakiniku landed on the shores of Malaysia 2 years ago with their 1st outlet at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur opened on 13th December 2014. A year after i.e. last year, they started their 2nd outlet at 1 Utama, which has since gained much popularity among residents in Petaling Jaya & its surrounding areas.
The restaurant boasts of "a restaurant with daily entertainment" concept. Diners can expect to enjoy performances from live bands every evening, with magician shows taking over the stage every Saturday at 1 Utama & every Friday at Pavilion KL.
Each diner will be given a 'ticket' upon paying for the Japanese BBQ buffet, which will indicate the time of entry (I think), so that when the 100 minutes is up, other diners waiting in line outside the restaurant can get an opportunity to enjoy their meal at the restaurant when your table is cleared. I thought this is a pretty good concept as those waiting in line will know how long they need to wait until the next table is available & if they can't wait, they can go off to another restaurant to satisfy their hunger pangs ;)
There will be occasions where the entertainment is just too good to leave once the 100 minutes is up, so diners can actually pay the RM9.90++ for each additional 20 minutes to stay on & enjoy the performances/ continue eating!
Rocku Yakiniku @ One Utama
Lot F355/356/357
1 Utama Shopping Centre
First Floor, Rainforest
47800 Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: (+603) 7710 9884
URL: http://www.rocku.com.my/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ROCKU.Malaysia
Presentation: * * *
Price: * * *
Environment: * * * 1/2
Taste: * * * 1/2
Service: * * *
Rocku Yakiniku rocks!


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Bradley Manning Apologizes For The Harm Everyone Admits He Didn't Actually Cause
from the messed-up deptAs you may have heard, Bradley Manning took the stand at the sentencing part of the trial and issued an apology.
First, your honour I want to start off with an apology. I am sorry that my actions hurt people. I'm sorry that they hurt the United States.There's more to the apology, but that's basically the first half. There's just one problem with it. There remains no evidence that he hurt anyone or the United States. We've discussed some of this before, but Rainey Reitman, over at the Freedom of the Press Foundation has a detailed breakdown of how the US government admits, quite clearly, the lack of any real damage or harm from Manning's actions:
At the time of my decisions, as you know, I was dealing with a lot of issues, issues that are ongoing and continuing to effect me. Although a considerable difficulty in my life, these issues are not an excuse for my actions.
I understood what I was doing, and decisions I made. However I did not fully appreciate the broader effects of my actions.
Those factors are clear to me now, through both self-refection during my confinement in various forms, and through the merits and sentencing testimony that I have seen here.
I am sorry for the unintended consequences of my actions. When I made these decisions I believed I was going to help people, not hurt people.
In fact, she notes that Manning's original assessment that he was trying to help not hurt is borne out in what actually happened thanks to his leaks:
Even when the WikiLeaks hysteria was in full swing, government officials from the State Department briefed Congress on the impact of the Wikileaks revelations, and said that the leaks were "embarrassing but not damaging." U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said that, while some of the information may have been embarrassing, "I don't think there is any substantive damage."
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates has admitted the leaks caused no serious damage, telling Congress that the reactions to the leaks were "significantly overwrought." He went on to say: "Is this embarrassing? Yes. Is it awkward? Yes. Consequences for U.S. foreign policy? I think fairly modest."
At the same time, Reuters reported that other officials were admitting in private that they were exaggerating the damage that resulted from the leaks in order to bolster the legal efforts against WikiLeaks and Manning.
This has born out in Manning's trial and sentencing hearing. It's why the government fought so hard to keep its official WikiLeaks "damage assessments" from being revealed in court. It's why, despite all the government's overwrought pronouncements early on of "blood on the hands" of those responsible, a U.S. official was forced to admit under oath in Manning's sentencing hearing that not a single person died as a result of the releases.
The truth is, the public has benefited tremendously as a result of Manning's disclosures to WikiLeaks. Over the least three years, the disclosures have helped shape an international discussion about America's foreign policy. They showed Americans the true face of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- from accurate body counts in Iraq to journalists killed by American soldiers to the government blocking investigations of CIA extraordinary rendition to U.S. turning a blind eye to torture in violation of the Geneva conventions. They've exposed corruption and lawbreaking in dozens of countries around the world. They contributed to democratic movements in the Middle East, and helped spur a movement in defense of free speech online. One State Department cable was even instrumental in helping precipitate the end to the Iraq war.Her concluding paragraph makes the point quite clearly. Embarrassment may feel like "harm" but when that embarrassment is from doing something wrong and exposing that wrongness is part of the necessary process of stopping it, that's not "harm" at all. That's the process of helping:
Bradley Manning didn't hurt us any more than a dentist hurts a patient when removing an abscessed tooth. The brief discomfort that resulted from the WikiLeaks disclosures was necessary to begin the process of healing and reform. It is a process that we do not yet know will be successful, but which began with Manning's decision to leak vital documents to WikiLeaks. And for that, we owe Manning thanks; no apologies necessary.Obviously, the apology is effectively Manning throwing himself on the mercy of the judge -- a last gasp effort to prevent having to spend most or all of the rest of his life in jail. But, as Kevin Gosztola points out, while there are people who should have to plead for mercy from a judge, Manning should not have to, given the total lack of harm, and the tremendous help that came out of his leaks.
The conviction of Bradley Manning will go down in history as an embarrassment for the US -- much more harmful and embarrassing than anything that he leaked. The prosecution and conviction show a country that doesn't stand up for its own principles and looks to massively and disproportionately punish whistleblowers who call attention to government and military wrongdoing and coverups.
Filed Under: apology, bradley manning, harm, mercy of the court, wikileaks


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Thomas Rhett – The Man Behind The Guitar
Thomas Rhett, 21, hails from Valdosta, GA where music became a part of his life from the very beginning. Having grown up in a musical family watching his father Rhett Akins have hit after hit, he began playing the guitar and writing songs in high school where he and some friends started a band.
While still a student at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Thomas Rhett signed his first publishing deal with EMI in 2010 and shortly thereafter landed his first cut on Jason Aldean's platinum album, "My Kinda Party", with his song "I Ain't Ready To Quit". A year later, he signed his first record deal with Scott Borchetta and Big Machine Label Group.
He has recently opened up for artists such as ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blake Shelton, Pat Green, David Nail, and The Dirt Drifters and is currently working on his debut album for the Big Machine Label Group.
Thomas Rhett is driven by his faith, his passion for music, and the support of his family and friends. "Everything that I want to accomplish in the music business will be pointed towards God and what He wants for me. I have no idea what will happen tomorrow, next week, or next year, but I have complete faith that wherever it may be will be the right spot. This is such an exciting time in my life, and I can't wait to see what happens."
Catch Thomas Rhett performing live in Lawton on December 17, 2011 during the Taste of Country Christmas Tour!


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What is the purpose of studying Kabbalah? What effects (both tangible and intangible) does this have on a person? With areas of Torah study like character development and Jewish law, the purpose and effects are obvious. With Kabbalah, this is not the case. So what's it all about?
Kabbalah is best defined as "Jewish metaphysics." Just as physics deals with interactions and relationships within the physical world, Kabbalah deals with interactions and relationships within the spiritual world, as well as the interconnection between the physical and spiritual. It addresses such ideas as an infinite God creating a finite universe, body-soul relationships, etc.
Just as physics has its principles and descriptive formula, so too Kabbalah has its principles and descriptive formula. Though one may be exposed to popularized explanations of physics, a true understanding of the physical universe (such as sub-atomic physics) requires an in-depth study of standard physics with a strong background in calculus, etc. So too Kabbalah cannot be understood without a firm grasp of Talmud, Code of Jewish Law, and other primary Jewish works. The study of Kabbalah is like "graduate work" built upon a firm base of the revealed written and oral Torah.
Further, Maimonides writes that Kabbalah should be studied only after one has passed the age of 40. Without a huge base of Torah and years of maturity, one lacks the ability to correctly understand Kabbalah. Even worse, one who misunderstands Kabbalah could actually cause spiritual destruction upon himself and others.
The Hebrew word Kabbalah literally translates as "received," since it is a tradition that has been "received" from previous generations. The roots of this tradition are very old, with the earliest Kabbalistic writings can be traced back to the very first Jew, the patriarch Abraham. The main book of Kabbalah, "The Zohar," was written by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai about 2,000 years ago.
The reason to learn Kabbalah is simply because it contains the deepest secrets of the universe! Kabbalah explains how everything in the physical world is a metaphor for a spiritual concept. For example, hair appears on the power-points on a body: arms, head, groin. Therefore, hair represents power. The Torah concept of a Nazir (one who refrains from cutting hair, among other things) is tapping into the deep wellsprings of spiritual power. (See the biblical story of Samson, who strength waned when his hair was cut.)
You should be aware that popularized accounts of Kabbalah are often misrepresented and wrong.
Nevertheless, there are certain basic Kabbalistic concepts that can be grasped by one who does not have an extensive background. These ideas are found in "The Way of God," written in the 18th century by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lutzatto. There is an English translation published by Feldheim. Also, see an online course, "Kabbalah 101" at: www.aish.com/sp/k/
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Strong self-assembly single wall corrugated cardboard mailing postal box / carton in a range of popular sizes & colours suitable for a variety of mailing & packaging applications
This style of mailing box is known in the packaging industry as an 0427 & has full flaps at the front & sides
The side flaps tuck inside the box with the front flap coming over & tucking into slots on the sides
This results in a very sturdy & strong box construction providing excellent levels of postal protection for the contents & is our most popular mailing box style
A self seal strip can also be easily applied by us as an optional extra
Unless otherwise stated all dimensions given are internal
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Q. What is FEFCO & what is a FEFCO style?
A. FEFCO is the industry's internationally recognisable box, carton & case code & there are a range of standard box styles which are given a unique number so they can easily be identified worldwide.
Q. What board grade are your mailing boxes?
A. All the mailing boxes are supplied in a singlewall board grade, that is, one layer of corrugated fluting with a layer of paper on either side.
Q. The size is spot on and the colour is great but it doesn't seem substantial enough. Can I have a heavier duty board?
A. We can supply our mailing boxes in a number of grades. Please speak to one of our sales representatives, who will advise you on the grade most suited to your individual needs, subject to a minimum order quantity.
Q. What style are the mailing boxes?
A. The majority of our mailing boxes are an industry based standardised style known as 0427. A small percentage are 0470 and some are 0421. These references are given to the box style by FEFCO & ESBO, the international box style regulators. FEFCO-ESBO are responsible for setting references for all box styles internationally.
Q. Can you make any style of mailing box?
A. We manufacture our standard range of mailing boxes to a pre set style, however we can manufacture virtually any style you want. Alternatively you can suggest your own mailing box style or we can suggest or design a mailing box style for you (Please note that any new mailing box styles including other FEFCO-ESBO styles will incur a one off tooling charge).
Q. I am not sure if a particular box is going to be suitable, what should I do?
A. In this instance the best course of action is to request a free mailing box sample. This way you can check that the box size, style and board grade are suitable for the job.
Q. Can I have my company logo/details printed onto the mailing boxes?
A. We provide a comprehensive print service, allowing you to choose from a huge range of colours & finishes. This would be subject to a minimum quantity and tooling charge. For those who wish to have a logo designed, we also offer an in-house design service. Please call our sales team for further details.
Q. Do I need any further products to seal the mailing box before mailing?
A. Many of our mailing boxes feature tabs for closure of the box. It is unlikely that this alone will be enough to secure your item in transit through a postal or courier service.
We recommend that either packing tape and/or a self seal strip be used to ensure your product arrives as intended. Both of these are available on our site.