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We have a double rumor regarding the Nexus 5 today. The first one is that the device will be revealed the last week of October. This corresponds with previous rumors suggesting an end of this month launch. The rumor came from the usual "sources close to the matter," which is as dubious as it gets. This report also comes with intel that the phone will cost half the price of the iPhone 5S. This would put it in the £275 ($473 AUS, $446 US) range, which is a little more expensive than the previous Nexus 4. Of course, this rumored pricing is also not regionally adjusted, so it's possible the US sale price will be a bit lower, perhaps in the $350-400 range.
Ultimately, this rumor doesn't offer much that is new, although it is additional confirmation of some previous intel. Of course, we will continue to crank out stories which offer any hints at the launch of this new device.
Source: TechRadar


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"Equipping Students for Success"
Our Seamless Summer Food Program is ended and now it is time to change gears and get ready for the upcoming school year.
Below you will find a letter from our director regarding the extension of the CEP program to include all K-12 students in our district. Also, below is the flyer detailing how to complete the Fair Share Survey online.
It is important that everyone understand that without your assistance, our schools cannot maximize the utilization of available State and Federal Funds and our ability to provide free meals to all students may be jeopardized. We ask that you please complete and return the Fair Share Survey as soon as possible after receiving it and/or go online at delnortenutrition.org to complete the online version.

subset: commoncrawl


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"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." This is the serenity prayer that is often chanted in unison by those struggling with addiction who attend Twelve-Step Meetings such as A.A.
While drug addiction is a serious issue that shouldn't be taken lightly, music addiction disorder aka M.A.D. seems a little extreme in comparison.
Can You Compare Music Fans to Clinical Addicts?
I've joked in the past about being addicted to music but in my mind, it's not an addiction if it's helpful to your overall well-being with little or no negative consequences. I came across the term "music addiction disorder" while doing some research for another blog article I was working on.
Even when it comes to drug or alcohol addiction there's still quite a bit of debate as far as what constitutes "addiction" and what doesn't.
Does it Improve or Impair Your Life?
It would be fair to say that if you have an irresistible craving to hear as much music as you can while shirking the rest of your responsibilities you might have a problem. If you spend your entire paycheck on unnecessary equipment or records, you might have a problem.
On the other hand, if you can manage to balance a strong interest in music on top of getting everything you need to do, you probably don't have the so-called M.A.D.
Disorder vs. Avid Interest
These days it seems like there's a disorder for everything. Is biting your fingernails really a recognizable medical disorder that should be treated with therapy and medication? Maybe if the nail biter can't stop to the point where they are literally biting past the nail, through the skin, and down to the bone.
The whole point I'm trying to make is that just because someone has a hobby or interest and spends a lot of time doing it, doesn't mean it's an addiction.
The definition of addiction is as follows:
Behavioral Addiction vs. Substance Use
A lot of times, addiction to behaviors get overlooked. Most people think that it can only manifest in the form of drug-taking and alcohol drinking. This couldn't be further from the truth. I would even go as far as to argue that you can become entrenched in certain emotional patterns that then become addictive patterns of thought and behavior.
Emotional Patterns
For example, let's say that your natural inclination is to get mad when someone cuts you off in traffic. This is a pretty natural response for most of us. Where it would start to become a problem is if you tried swerving over to cut them off and you flipped them the bird. This is obviously an extreme example but I think you see what I'm trying to get at.
Take it a step further and pretend that this becomes your automatic response every time anything slightly annoying happens while you're driving to work or the coffee shop. At some point, it will catch up to you and you could get ticketed for reckless driving, it could escalate to a roadside confrontation, or you could even end up crashing your vehicle because you're so pissed off that nothing else matters.
Addiction Isn't Limited To Substances Only
That would be an example of how someone could become entangled in negative emotional patterns which leads to negative behavior and consequence.
Not to keep ranting but unless your interest in music drives you to the point of no return as mentioned above in the case of road rage anger, you probably don't have a diagnose-able addiction to music.
It's Not Always Black and White
As Oscar Wilde put it, "All things in moderation, including moderation". Music, emotions, and even certain drugs have positive effects on the brain. To say that they're either all bad or all good isn't fair.
I will be writing an article in the future about the positive effects of music on the brain so be sure to stay tuned for that.
Take This With a Grain of Salt
Don't feel bad about taking this with a grain of salt because I'm no psychologist or doctor of medicine.
Another thing I will say is that you don't have to be a psychiatrist or psychologist to recognize negative consequences/patterns.
Crank the Volume All The Way Up!
For now, turn the volume all the way up on your music, unless it's 3 am and your neighbors decide to file a noise complaint… See, that would be a negative consequence in relation to your love for music.
Responsible adults usually make responsible choices and the same applies here.
I think by now you're beginning to understand my perspective on what some have called a music addiction disorder. You might have a different kind of disorder if you can't stand listening to music at least once a day.
Now that you've seen our take on M.A.D. – do you think you have Music Addiction Disorder? Does the amount of time you spend watching music interfere with your daily life? Do you spend way too much money buying new albums, records, or audio equipment?
If you want to share your thoughts – leave a comment below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask using the comment section below. I always do my best to respond as quickly as possible. I hope you enjoyed reading about a lesser-known 'disorder'! Thanks for stopping by, I look forward to hearing from you!
Sonic Elevation: Ride The Waves.
- Our Audio Technica ATH-CKN70 Review - April 2, 2020
- Are the HIFIMAN RE-400 As Great As You Think? - April 2, 2020
- Williams Overture 2 88-Key Console Digital Piano - January 21, 2020


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Joseph Vorgity is a contemporary realist watercolorist and printmaker. He makes beautiful woodblock prints influencedby the American Precisionist Movement, the Arts and Craft Movement, and Japonisme. He was using one of our older templates, which wasn't mobile-friendly and didn't take advantage of our new fonts.
His original site was blue, and I thought this worked well to accentuate his work, but I chose a slightly greener blue. I also chose a green color for the font. It happens to match the color he'd chosen for his home page, but I think it will work well even if he changes the home page image to one that has warmer colors. The blue and green color-scheme brought to mind Hiroshiga's work, as do Vorgity prints. I changed the font of the title to one of our newer options, and I made his name larger and centered it.
If you'd like your site considered for a website makeover, email firstname.lastname@example.com. To change the design of your own site, go to your control panel, click on "design" and then "customize." The tutorials section of your control panel will give you step-by-step instructions, with pictures, to change fonts, colors, or backgrounds.


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Most current Enterprise Headlines & Industry News from Singapore publishers. Prior to the year 1600, there had been no newspapers in the new British colonies. A dream of kissing babies or little children forecasts accomplishment in a hard undertaking. LinkedIn is much more for specialist individuals to network to share job possibilities and educational resources. Inform them you can get plain yards of fleece for actually $2 at walmart, and in contrast to the plain paper you will not have to keep running to get a lot more. A dream of getting unfaithful in any way is warning you to be far more discriminating in regard to your decision of playmates. My point is – these years taught me that Tv journalism can at times be far a lot more staged than folks realize. There is a lot of expansion and innovation that will branch off from this, we really are heading into the futuristic years with AR, Google Glass and what not. You are going to also find out what I have discovered by way of encounter about such items as diet program, option property remedies and supplements, and my own mandatory regimen I comply with in order to make living with pancreatitis a lot less difficult, and I feel safer, with significantly less possiblity of horrific complications. This was a quite fascinating period in which we looked at the funds utilized by the initial colonists, the intense bust of the Continental currency, the era of privately-issued bank notes, and Congress' emergency issuance of the fiat greenback" during the Civil War. The U.S. Federal Reserve is keeping its benchmark interest rate unchanged at a time of low inflation, which remains persistently below the Fed's target level.
The Saturday meeting discussed matters related to the ASEAN Financial Neighborhood (AEC) , … Read More


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September 17, 2009
Mount Vernon ISD is accepting nominations for students in first grade through twelfth grade for the Gifted/Talented Program through October 2, 2009. Students may be nominated by teachers, parents, or any other person directly related to the student's educational experience. Testing of nominated students will begin after parental permission is obtained. MVISD provides a gifted and talented program for those students who perform or show the potential to perform at a remarkably high level of accomplishment when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment and who excel in specific fields. Anyone wishing to nominate a student for the Gifted/Talented Program may pick up a nomination packet from the student's school counselor.
(MVISD gifted 7-2tc 09)


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Walking football is a football session for those aged 50 where footballers walk instead of run so they can still enjoy the beautiful game and participate in competitive football but at a slower pace.
Walking football offers a range of health benefits, from being actively involved in a sport providing exercise and increased fitness, to offering social opportunities as players become part of a team.
Sessions take place in Shrewsbury at Wilfred Owen School. Monkmoor Campus, Woodcote Way, Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, SY2 5SH
As well as our training sessions, we regularly arrange mini tournaments and matches between our teams, and further afield with fixtures previously having been played against teams from Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham and more.
When: Every Monday
Time: 6pm – 7pm
Ages: 50+
Location: Wilfred Owen School (3G)
Cost: £3.50
When: Every Tuesday
Time: 7:30pm-8:30pm
Ages: 50+
Location: Ludlow Football Stadium
Cost: £3:50
Whether you just want a kick about, or to become part of a Shrewsbury Town team, if you are interested in attending one of the walking football sessions contact us at [email protected]


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Nick Abadzis (1965 - ) is a British cartoonist, comic book writer, and graphic novelist who worked on Generation One Marvel UK titles.
Of Greek and British parentage, in 1987 he secured a job at Marvel Comics' UK publishing branch where he was, at that time, the youngest-ever editor. His most famous work has been Laika, a graphic novel that gives a fictionalized account of the life and death of the eponymous dog, the first living creature launched into outer space.
His Transformers work included:
- Coloring #131 and #138
- Lettering duties on Aspects of Evil!
External links
You left a piece out!
This article is a stub and is missing information. You can help Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki by expanding it.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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« back to Power Tools, Hardware and Accessories forum
|Forum topic by indyj
|posted 02-07-2018 06:22 PM
|515 views
|0 times favorited
|3 replies
Hey all you Lumber jocks, I'm in need of some direction (no pun intended) in the he process of reversing the rotation of a motor I'm switching to retro fit a 10" craftsman TS. It's has a schematic printed on the motor housing but when I open the wiring housing to access the connections they are in a circuler postition on the end of what I think is a capiciter?
-- .... I'd rather do this than work for a living!


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OnePlus manages to release some of the most exciting and interesting Android phones every year. The concept of getting flagship specs for considerably less money than the competition is what's helped OnePlus stand out from other brands, but as prices rise with each new release and that cost gap closes, OnePlus has had to further refine and improve its phones to help them still stand out.
For 2020, OnePlus is bringing two new handsets to the U.S. with the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro. The OnePlus 8 is a pretty minor update to 2019's OnePlus 7T, while OnePlus 8 Pro is where the company put all of its marbles to create its most premium smartphone to-date.
Whether you're interested in our review, full device specs, or a closer look at the OnePlus 8/8 Pro's best features, here's everything you need to know!
- Here's our full review
- Stock is limited right now
- OnePlus is offering two models
- The specs are insane
- Is it time to upgrade?
- Let's compare to other phones
- Tips & tricks you should know
- The 120Hz display is excellent
- Interesting cameras to talk about
- Wireless charging is finally here
- Would you look at these colors
- Check out these accessories
- These are expensive phones
Done settling
OnePlus 8 Pro
OnePlus goes full flagship
The OnePlus 8 Pro marks a big shift in OnePlus as a company. While every device prior to this has cut some corner or feature, the 8 Pro does none of that. In addition to the beastly processor and RAM you've come to expect from OnePlus devices, the 8 Pro also delivers a stunning 120Hz AMOLED display, a 4,510 mAh battery, 30W wireless charging, an IP68 dust/water resistance rating, and 5G connectivity. Yes, it's expensive, but it's also one of the most fully-featured flagships on the market.
First, check out our reviews
Before you go any further in this guide, we recommend taking a look at our reviews of the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro.
Starting with the OnePlus 8, this is the baseline phone for OnePlus in the first half of 2020. The specs are about as solid as you could ask for, offering a Snapdragon 865 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, a 90Hz AMOLED display, 4,300 mAh battery, and OnePlus's excellent OxygenOS software that's based on Android 10.
It's a reliable all-around phone that just about anyone would be happy with, but the fact of the matter is that it's not much different from the OnePlus 7T. Plus, while the OnePlus 8 starts at $699 and it's pretty common these days to find the OnePlus 7T for $500, the 7T may continue to be the better purchase for folks looking to get the best dollar-for-dollar value.
As for the OnePlus 8 Pro, this is where OnePlus went all-out. The display is bumped up to a 120Hz refresh rate, more interesting cameras, an even bigger battery, and (finally) wireless charging.
There's no doubt that it's the most technically impressive phone OnePlus has ever created, but with a starting price of $899, it's also the most expensive by a considerable margin.
- OnePlus 8 review: More of the same, for $100 more
- OnePlus 8 Pro review: No strings attached
- OnePlus 8 Pro second opinion review: A great phone, but not a flawless one
Buying the phone is pretty difficult right now
If you're interested in buying a OnePlus 8 or 8 Pro, doing so is actually quite difficult right now. The current health situation across the globe has resulted in inventory and manufacturing shortages everywhere you look, including smartphones.
Every configuration of the OnePlus 8 Pro is sold out on OnePlus's website right now, and if you look on Amazon, you'll notice that the listing for the 8 Pro has been completely removed for the time being. As for the regular OnePlus 8, OnePlus's website has both Interstellar Glow and Glacial Green in stock while Amazon only has inventory for the former.
This is likely an issue we'll see across the entire industry for a while, but if/when things change, we'll be sure to update this accordingly.
There are two models — OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro
As mentioned above, you get two variants of the OnePlus 8 to choose from this year. While OnePlus did launch a OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro last year, only the 7 Pro was released in the United States. This time, however, you'll be able to buy both the 8 and 8 Pro.
The phones have a lot in common, such as the processor, RAM, storage, and the general design. If you choose to upgrade to the 8 Pro, you'll get that nicer display, wireless charging, etc.
Also shared between the phones is that they both support 5G connectivity. OnePlus launched a couple of different 5G-specific models in 2019 to go along with its main releases, but this year, 5G is a default feature.
OnePlus 8 Pro vs. OnePlus 8: Which should you buy?
Here are all of the specs
Specs have always been the big draw to OnePlus phones, and that's no different for the OnePlus 8 series.
You'll find all of the latest and greatest specifications in these two phones, so if that's something you care about, OnePlus once again has you covered.
Here's a quick rundown of the most notable specs:
|OnePlus 8
|OnePlus 8 Pro
|Operating system
|Android 10
OxygenOS 10
|Android 10
OxygenOS 10
|6.55-inch 90Hz Fluid AMOLED
2400x1080 (20:9)
Gorilla Glass 6
|6.7-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED
3168x1440 (19.8:9)
3D Gorilla Glass
|Snapdragon 865
1 x 2.84GHz A77
3 x 2.42GHz A77
4 x 1.80GHz A55
|Snapdragon 865
1 x 2.84GHz A77
3 x 2.42GHz A77
4 x 1.80GHz A55
|MicroSD slot
|Rear camera 1
|48MP, 0.8um
f/1.75, OIS
4K at 60fps
|48MP, 1.12um
f/1.78, OIS
4K at 60fps
|Rear camera 2
|2MP, 1.75um
f/2.4, macro lens
|8MP, 1.0um
f/2.4, OIS, telephoto
3x hybrid zoom
|Rear camera 3
|16MP, 1.0um
f/2.2, ultra-wide lens
116° FoV
f/2.2, wide-angle, 119° FoV
|Rear camera 4
|5MP Color Filter
Warp Charge 30T (5V/6A)
Warp Charge 30T (5V/6A)
Warp Charge 30 Wireless (20V/1.5A)
|Water resistance
|IP68 (some models)
|In-display fingerprint (optical)
|In-display fingerprint (optical)
For a closer look at all of the parts that go into making the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, be sure to check out the complete spec sheet linked below 👇.
OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro specifications: 120Hz AMOLED panel, 30W wireless charging, IP68 water resistance
Should you upgrade from an older OnePlus phone?
It's no secret that OnePlus crafted a duo of excellent Android phones with the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, but as you probably know, OnePlus creating solid products is nothing new.
Year after year, OnePlus has show us that it's one of the better Android manufacturers in the business. And, because of that, its previous devices leading up to the OnePlus 8 series are still really darn good.
If you have an older OnePlus phone and aren't sure if it's worth upgrading, here are some comparisons to help you out.
- OnePlus 8 Pro vs. OnePlus 7 Pro: Should you upgrade?
- OnePlus 8 Pro vs. OnePlus 6T: Should you upgrade?
How the OnePlus 8 series holds up to other phones
On their own, there's no doubt that the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro bring a lot to the table. However, as you all know, that's not the world we live in. The Android space is filled with tons of different handsets, meaning the OnePlus 8 series is met with a great deal of competition.
We're doing our best to compare the 8 and 8 Pro against as many phones as possible, so keep checking back often as more of those comparisons are added below!
OnePlus 8
- OnePlus 8 vs. Galaxy S20: Which should you buy?
- OnePlus 8 vs. Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite: Which should you buy?
- OnePlus 8 vs. OnePlus 7T: Which should you buy?
OnePlus 8 Pro
- OnePlus 8 Pro vs. Galaxy S20+: Which should you buy?
- OnePlus 8 Pro vs. Motorola Edge Plus: Which should you buy?
- OnePlus 8 Pro vs. OPPO Find X2 Pro: Which should you buy?
- OnePlus 8 Pro vs. Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: Which should you buy?
Tips & tricks to get the most out of your OnePlus 8
There's a lot going on with the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro, so we don't blame you if you buy either phone and feel a little intimidated by it.
You have a lot to unpack if you want to get the most out of these devices, and rather than leaving you blind to find everything on your own, we're compiling a few how-to guides to ensure you can use your new OnePlus handset to its fullest potential.
We'll be adding more of these as time goes on, so be sure to keep checking back for more tips & tricks as we add them!
- How to take a screenshot on the OnePlus 8
- How to enable dark mode on your OnePlus phone
- How to maximize battery life on the OnePlus 8
- How to fix OnePlus 8 performance problems
- How to customize the alert slider on the OnePlus 8
- How to turn on Live Caption on the OnePlus 8
- How to enable Bedtime Mode to slow wireless charging (and fan noise) on the OnePlus 8 Pro
- How to enable VoLTE on the OnePlus 8
- How to disable 5G on the OnePlus 8
Yes, the 120Hz AMOLED display looks great
With the OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus ushered in fast refresh rates for its displays. The 90Hz AMOLED panel on the 7 Pro was a joy to use, as was the one on the 7T.
The OnePlus 8 also has a 90Hz AMOLED screen, but if you get the OnePlus 8 Pro, you'll be treated to an AMOLED panel with a 120Hz rate. That means even smoother animations, which is something we'll never complain about.
Unlike the Galaxy S20, which limits you to a Full HD resolution when running its display at 120Hz, the OnePlus 8 Pro allows you to retain its full Quad HD resolution whether you have it set to 60Hz or 120Hz. Add all of that together with 240Hz touch sampling, and this is one of the smoothest-feeling phones on the market.
Another year of OnePlus cameras
If there's an Achilles heel for OnePlus phones, it's the camera. It's possible to take very good photos with a OnePlus device, but compared to the likes of Google, Apple, and Samsung this year with the S20 series, they always straggle behind in one way or another.
The OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro share the same 48MP primary camera of the 7T and 7 Pro, which is — good. OnePlus continues to use pixel-binning tech for a final result of a 12MP image, but you do have the option of taking legit 48MP shots for increased sharpness/detail. The sensor takes solid pictures, offering accurate colors, good HDR processing, and surprisingly good low-light performance. It should be more than good enough for most folks, but it doesn't get on the same level as a Pixel 4 or iPhone 11 Pro camera.
Both phones also have ultra-wide cameras, though the OnePlus 8's is a 16MP sensor while the 8 Pro gets a much higher 48MP one. Things get more interesting when looking at the third sensor, with the OnePlus 8 Pro having a fairly typical 8MP telephoto camera while the regular OnePlus 8 omits that for a 2MP macro camera.
Being able to get up close and personal with subjects with the macro camera is neat, but we can't help but shake the feeling that having a telephoto sensor like you get on the 8 Pro would be way more useful.
- How to take the best photos with the OnePlus 8 Pro
- How to use the macro camera on the OnePlus 8
- Galaxy S20 vs. OnePlus 8 camera comparison: Zoom trumps macro
OnePlus finally supports wireless charging 🙌
With every OnePlus phone that's been released up until now, one feature that's been sorely missing is support for wireless charging. That changes this year, kind of.
The regular OnePlus still doesn't have any wireless charging of any kind, but on the OnePlus 8 Pro, you get access to 30W wireless charging. Yes, it's just as impressive as it sounds.
With the new system OnePlus is calling "Warp Charge 30 Wireless," you can wirelessly charge the 8 Pro from 0 - 50% in just 30 minutes. You'll need the company's proprietary wireless charger in order to pull off these speeds, but it's very impressive regardless.
Furthermore, if you don't care about those speeds and just want a more convenient way to charge the 8 Pro, it's compatible with any Qi wireless charger you already have.
- Everything you need to know about OnePlus' Warp Charge 30T and Warp Charge 30 Wireless
- OnePlus Warp Charge 30 Wireless Charger review: Great for OnePlus owners, and nobody else
- Best OnePlus 8 Pro Wireless Charging Pads in 2020
These colors are downright gorgeous
With gorgeous colorways like Thunder Purple and Lava Red in its repertoire, OnePlus has become known for creating some truly gorgeous smartphone designs.
That same attention-to-detail prevails with the OnePlus 8 series, with OnePlus offering Interstellar Glow, Glacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, and Onyx Black this time around.
Interstellar Glow is extremely reflective and showcases shades of blue, pink, and gold depending on how the light hits it. In exchange for the shimmering design, you'll have to put up with a heap of fingerprints.
Glacial Green and Ultramarine Blue, on the other hand, favor a matte finish that's less susceptible to fingerprints while being more slippery. At the end of the day, however, all you need to know is that you can't go wrong with any of these colors.
Which color OnePlus 8 & 8 Pro should you buy?
You'll want to pick up some accessories
OnePlus did an excellent job designing the 8 and 8 Pro to look and feel great, but as with any smartphone, using it naked isn't always a good idea. Unless you want to end up with a shattered and broken mess after just one drop, we highly recommend picking up some accessories to go along with your new phone.
Cases and screen protectors are the most essential things you can buy, giving you an affordable way to safeguard your device from daily use and unwanted tumbles. We're building up lists of the best accessories currently available, and we'll keep adding more below as time goes on.
These are all the official OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro Cases you can buy
OnePlus 8
OnePlus 8 Pro
Alright, let's talk price and availability
OnePlus phones have long been seen as some of the best values in the Android space, and while the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro are cheaper than some of their direct competitors, the margin isn't as drastic as it used to be.
The OnePlus 8 starts at $699 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage configuration, going up to $799 if you want 12GB RAM/256GB of storage. The OnePlus 8 Pro is even more expensive, starting at $899 and going all the way to $999 for the same configurations. That's a lot of money, especially considering that the OnePlus 7 Pro debuted with a $669 price last year.
There's an argument to be made that you're still getting a good deal when the Galaxy S20 Ultra costs at least $1,400, but even so, prices like this for OnePlus devices will take some getting used to.
Sales are open right now on OnePlus's website, and for the first time ever, Amazon.
While the OnePlus 8 Pro is only being sold as an unlocked device through those channels, the regular OnePlus 8 touts carrier availability through Verizon and T-Mobile.
Done settling
OnePlus 8 Pro
OnePlus goes full flagship
The OnePlus 8 Pro marks a big shift in OnePlus as a company. While every device prior to this has cut some corner or feature, the 8 Pro does none of that. In addition to the beastly processor and RAM you've come to expect from OnePlus devices, the 8 Pro also delivers a stunning 120Hz AMOLED display, a 4,510 mAh battery, 30W wireless charging, an IP68 dust/water resistance rating, and 5G connectivity. Yes, it's expensive, but it's also one of the most fully-featured flagships on the market.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
WhatsApp service returning after over an hour of worldwide outages
After over an hour of WhatsApp outages leading to delayed messages around the world, the service is coming back for most people.
Google Pixel Buds second opinion: A genuine triumph with one damning flaw
Google has never shied away from a fight, and the second version of the Pixel Buds are the kind of sequel you like to see.
125W charging is coming — what do you think about that?
125W charging speeds are coming soon. What's your take on this? Whether you think it's amazing or overkill, we want to hear from you!
Your OnePlus 8 Pro deserves only the best screen protectors
We love the OnePlus 8 Pro, especially its 120Hz AMOLED display. A screen protector is installed on the phone out of the box, but if you find yourself needing a new one, here's what we recommend buying.


text:
Taking a step back, weed was considered as an illegal drug, but today after the realization of its immense health benefits, many states have legalized the use of marijuana. Weed is an extract of the cannabis plant, and it contains Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).THC is the compound responsible for the psychoactive effect that one gets after smoking weed. Of course, one puff will not get you high, but having several puffs will take you to a whole new level.
With the internet at our disposal, why drive for hours to get to a weed dispensary, and you could simply search for weed 'dispensaries near me' and get it delivered at your doorstep? It is with no doubt that weed dispensaries are the real deal and here's how;
- Convenience
Perhaps this is the main reason why people have shifted their inclination to buying weed online. For one, you no longer have to drive for hours to get to the physical store and secondly, you do not have to worry that the store will be closed before you make your purchase. Most online weed dispensaries are available 24/7 meaning you can purchase your marijuana at any time and still get it delivered at your doorstep.
- Time-Saving
The fact that you are now able to get your weed delivered at home means that you will save up so much time that you would have otherwise spent to get to a physical store. As you wait to hear the long-awaited knock at your door, you could be doing one or two things.
- Variety
As opposed to physical weed stores that have limited space, online weed dispensaries have unlimited space. This means that online dispensaries have a more extensive selection of weed products to choose from. Whatever type of weed you are looking for, you are always certain that you will find it in an online store, for that matter a legit and reputable online dispensary.
- Anonymity
Yes, weed has now been legalized in most states, but, stigmatization towards weed smokers is still there. If you are afraid of being judged by the society or any of your close family members, you can indulge in your weed without them knowing by purchasing it in an online dispensary. When shopping for marijuana online, your details are only available to your budtender, meaning that no one will ever get to know that you indulge in weed.
- Cost Effective
Weed prices in a physical store might be relatively high due to costs such as rent and security. However, since online stores do not have to incur some of these costs, the prices are bound to be cheaper. Most online dispensaries make free deliveries to the customers near them. And even when you have to pay for a delivery, the prices are quite affordable.


text: I think this is about as good as you can do off the shelf for MF/LF (solid state): http://k5dnl.com/sale_amp2.htm http://www.monitorsensors.com/ham-radio https://www.qrp-labs.com/ultimate3.html Not a big CW guy, but I see a few on the waterfall that I might give a shot. If you're interested in a QSO on 630m - give me a shout on JT9-1 someday. 73 Jim, WQ2H / WK2XAH


text:
We recognise that a time comes in January when you can't wish people a happy New Year any longer but as its not quite mid month, happy New Year to you all and hello to twelve more months of legal developments for employers and HR professionals!
The next few months include the new-look TUPE (more on this later), fines for employers who make mistakes with employment rights, mandatory Acas conciliation for tribunal claims, and extended rights to request flexible working.
It's going to be a busy 2014 and to get the year to a flying start, we have appointed John Robinson, as a Partner in our expanding employment team. John is looking forward to meeting you in the coming months and we are poised to keep you in the know.
Ill-health dismissals
BS v Dundee City Council
Employee ill-health is one of the most thorny issues facing employers. It demands empathy and patience, balanced against commercial realities and the needs of the business. Perhaps the biggest challenge of all is in recognising when the end of the road has been reached and the employment relationship must be terminated.
The Court of Session in Scotland has given some useful guidance to help employers deal properly with this. When an employee has been on sick leave for some time, the sort of questions a reasonable employer should consider include:
1. Could we be expected to wait any longer before dismissing? If so, how much longer? Relevant here is the size of your organisation, whether or not the employee has exhausted their sick pay, and whether you could call on temporary staff to cover.
2. Have we consulted with the employee and taken their views into account? How do these views sit alongside any medical opinion?
3. Have reasonable steps been taken to find out about the employee's medical condition and the likely prognosis? This doesn't mean that you have to commission a specialist examination. Relying on the available medical advice should be enough, provided the right questions are answered.
It may be instinctive to take length of service into account (and it can be important to do so), but it isn't automatically relevant. What really matters is whether the employee's length of service, and the way in which they delivered that service, leads you to conclude that they are likely to return to work as soon as they can.
Sunday-working requirement discriminatory?
Mba v London Borough of Merton
The Court of Appeal has reminded employers that minority views matter. Even where an employee's religious beliefs are not commonly held, they shouldn't be disregarded. You need to be confident that you can justify instructions on good business grounds, if those instructions cause difficulties to those of specific religious convictions, and that there are no practical alternatives which achieve the same aim without causing difficulties for the employee.
Ms Mba, a practising Christian, was employed by the Council as a care assistant in a children's home. She has a deep and sincere belief that Sunday is a day for worship and not for working.
Staff hours were set out in a shift rota which included weekends, bank holidays and sleeping duties. At first Ms Mba was not required to work on Sundays. That changed and, after failing to turn up on a rostered Sunday, she was disciplined and given a final written warning. She resigned and brought a claim for constructive unfair dismissal and indirect religious discrimination.
The employment tribunal accepted that the requirement to work on Sundays was indirectly discriminatory (it put Christians at a disadvantage), but Ms Mba's claim fell down when it came to the question of proportionality. The requirement was a proportionate means of achieving the employer's legitimate aims, the tribunal held, adding that a belief that Christians should not work on Sundays was not a core part of Christianity.
The Court of Appeal partly disagreed with the tribunal's approach. It wasn't fatal to Ms Mba's claim that not every Christian felt as she did about working on a Sunday. In fact, it was wrong to look at whether others shared that belief. What mattered was whether her belief was sincerely held and whether her treatment was justified.
But what the Court of Appeal gave with one hand it took away with the other. It was proportionate for the Council to demand Sunday working because of the need to provide round-the-clock care, coupled with health and safety requirements. None of the alternatives were viable and practical, the judges said, and they rejected Ms Mba's appeal.
Bring in the TUPE changes
TUPE (or to give it its full title, the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment Regulations 2006) is the law which requires employers who take over a business, or take over certain contracts from another employer, to take on the employees who worked for that previous employer.
At the end of January, some long-awaited TUPE amendments come into force. Here's what is new:
Service provision changes
It will be clearer that, for TUPE to apply, the activities carried on after service provision changes have happened must be "fundamentally or essentially the same" as before.
Employee liability information
The new employer will have more time to consider the liabilities it will be taking on. That information will normally have to be handed over by the transferring employer at least 28 (rather than the current 14) days before the transfer.
Businesses employing 10 or fewer employees will be able to inform and consult with them directly, rather than having to hold elections for employee representatives.
Collective agreements
A new employer will only be bound by collective agreements that were in place at the time of the transfer. They can't be bound by later changes which they weren't involved in negotiating.
Also, terms agreed in a collective agreement can be renegotiated by the employer. That's as long as the new terms are, overall, no less favourable to the employee and don't take effect until at least one year after the transfer.
Dismissals not necessarily automatically unfair
Dismissals will only be automatically unfair where the transfer was the reason for the dismissal (and not where dismissal was for a reason connected with the transfer), unless an economic, technical or organisational reason entailing changes in the workforce applies.
There could be more scope for employers to make changes to employees' contracts after a TUPE transfer. Currently, changes would be void if the reason for them is the transfer itself or a reason connected with the transfer. The italicised wording will no longer apply.
A change of location, post-transfer, could be an "economic, technical or organisational reason entailing changes in the workforce". So an employee made redundant because of a business move won't necessarily have a claim for automatically unfair dismissal. And, in certain circumstances, consultation carried out before the TUPE transfer could count towards any overall 30 or 45-day collective redundancy consultation period.
There is Government guidance to come which should help organisations get to grips with the new provisions. For now, though, the new-style TUPE is being viewed in the round as good news for employers.
Holiday pay and commission
ZJR Lock v British Gas
Commission doesn't form part of holiday pay. Or does it?
An opinion from Europe has set the ball rolling towards resolving conflicting decisions on this.
The case involved a salesman who was paid basic salary and commission. Commission varied from month to month, based on the sales he achieved. When he took a fortnight's leave (during which time he wasn't able to make any sales) his employer calculated his holiday pay simply by reference to basic salary.
The Advocate-General's view (the Advocate-General is a type of preliminary judge in the Court of Justice of the European Union) is that that was the wrong approach. Commission was intrinsically linked to the salesman's work and so should have been included in the holiday pay calculation. If it wasn't included, then he could be deterred from taking annual leave.
The European Court usually follows the Advocate-General's recommendation. If it does, it will prompt employers to review their approach to remuneration and perhaps alter their pay structures. The UK courts would then be required to decide how the commission element of holiday pay should be calculated, but it could be based on an average yearly commission (even where an element of commission hasn't actually been earned).
This is important for anybody who pays commission and may have wider implications for other types of ancillary payments. We'll keep you informed and, once the European Court of Justice decides the case, you can talk to us about ways of dealing with the fallout.
Paid to sleep?
Whittlestone v BJP Home Support
Sleeping on the job has kept employment tribunals busy for years. Employees working night shifts have long argued that even when they're not tending to clients, they are still 'working' and, so, are still entitled to be paid the National Minimum Wage ('NMW').
That's what happened in Ms Whittlestone's case. She was a care worker who visited clients in their homes. For sleepover shifts between 11pm and 7am she was paid £40 (so less than the NMW), and was allowed to sleep when she wasn't needed. There was no evidence that Ms Whittlestone was required to attend to clients during those night shifts.
The Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) agreed that she should have been paid the NMW for the whole time spent sleeping over because it was 'time work' under the Working Time Regulations. That was regardless of whether her sleep was broken or not. The EAT held that she was also entitled to be paid the NMW for the time spent travelling between clients' homes.
For employers in the care sector, in particular, this case should trigger a review of contracts and payments made for sleepover shifts. It's a complex legal area, and each case is different, but those employers who get it wrong and don't pay the NMW when they should do could face substantial sanctions and adverse publicity.
Subcontractor has worker status
Boss Projects v Bragg
Cases concerning employment status crop up pretty regularly, and all employers need to be aware that you could be next. The key message to take from these cases is usually the same: parties' declarations about employment status are rarely worth the paper they're written on. Whether someone is a worker (and entitled to employment law protections) or not depends on the work they do day-to-day, and the true nature of their relationship with those they provide a service to.
Mr Bragg was a scaffolding supervisor who worked under a chain of contracts. He was paid by Boss which, in turn, contracted with another company (and it with another) for the provision of subcontractors.
The words of Mr Bragg's contract were pretty clear on his status – he was an independent subcontractor and not an employee. He didn't have to provide personal service, instead having complete discretion to substitute or delegate the work. He could carry out other work before, after or at the same time as he worked for Boss, and was responsible for his own tax and national insurance.
Nevertheless, the Employment Appeal Tribunal found that Mr Bragg was a 'worker', and not self-employed. As with all worker status cases, it boiled down to the nature of the relationship between the parties. Relevant here was the fact that Mr Bragg didn't use his own tools while working for Boss, and that although he could provide someone else to do his work, neither he nor Boss intended for that to happen; he had been personally selected for the role.
And finally….
We all remember those feelings, don't we? A child's desperation to cling onto the tail end of the festive period; the sadness at packing away the baubles; the gut-wrench of going back to school.
Well, it can be tough for grown-ups too. But for those suffering from the debilitating effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), these winter months are far more than a time for just feeling a little downbeat. A form of depression, SAD affects disposition and energy levels. It can have a knock-on effect for employers, reportedly costing the UK 9.6 million workdays each year (Epson report).
In an Opinium survey of more than 1,000 UK workers, 20 per cent said they'd called in sick because of SAD, taking an average of four days off a year. Many others reported a dip in motivation.
On the bright side, it seems there are things that can be done in the workplace to combat SAD. Better lighting, more colourful work spaces and more creative visuals are all on the list of things employees would like to see, saying that these would improve their mood.
So it's out with gloomy grey, in with sunshine-inspired hues. Injecting life and positivity into the workplace could well be the answer for some employees, and for employers too.
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With the good weather, the desire to enjoy the environment and to maintain an active life increases, so we are going to show you 5 models of minimalist sneakers that you can not miss in your shoemaker if you like to enjoy the summer in fullness. Do not lose detail, we are sure you will love it.
The huaraches are the barefoot shoes par excellence for the summer and each time with more followers. It has a multitude of benefits that make its use a positive and pleasant experience. The huaraches are ideal for the summer to keep the feet airy and in contact with the environment. Here we can opt for the handmade huaraches of Pies Sucios or Enix Sandal, or the more contemporary ones like the Vivobarefoot Eclipse. In the next post we give you more information about what a huarache is and its uses.
They are many years that endorse to this shoe minimalista ideal for the summer. Contrary to what it may seem because of its simple and light structure, it defends itself wonderfully on many occasions. They are a minimalist multifaceted sneakers for everyday life and water sports. We can use them to go to the beach or as a running shoe for the city. They are very comfortable and have reflexology points to improve balance and proprioception. They are made of materials that facilitate rapid drying.
They are already in their 3rd version and there is Vivobarefoot Ultra Man, Vivobarefoot UltraWoman and Vivobarefoot Ultra kids.
If you like the freedom of huaraches, but you need a little more protection, we make it easy for you to choose. The Vivobarefoot Camino Sandal have been designed as a minimalist summer sandals to keep an active life. It highlights its multi-use sole with small cleats for easy grip, and a synthetic upper with adjustment using velcro straps.
If your are water sports and enjoy summer, you can not miss the Five Signers. Rowers, surfers, kayakers, ... are for anyone who wants a minimalist shoes with excellent grip and comfort in the water. Its excellent drainage prevents water from accumulating inside and you feel the soaked foot.
In the last years a new sport modality has come very fun. It is about running and swimming taking advantage of the circuits that only nature can create. The Primus SwimRun is the only amphibious shoe on the market with minimalist performance, with which we can swim and run along the most difficult trails or rocky terrain. The new Firm Ground sole, the sock-like fit and the low weight complete an authentic off-road vehicle.
So that the slippers do not stay in a corner of the closet because they are big or worse, small do not miss the following video:
06/21/2017Tengo las Vivobarefoot I y sólo puedo decir que estoy muy contento con la compra y el resultado que me han dado (frescas, ligeras y cómodas). De hecho estoy a punto de comprarme las Vivobarefoot Ultra III, porque ya se me ha desgastado la suela de las I.
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The spiritual capital of the country, Varanasi, also known as Benaras or Kashi, is a city on the banks of the holy River Ganges. It is the holiest of the Sapta Puri, or seven sacred cities, of both Hinduism and Jainism, and it also played a pivotal role in the development of Buddhism.
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Monthly Archives: June 2012
Be counted — be part of the 2012 NYS Trail User Count
Want to know how many people are using your multi-use trail each year? Join the 2012 New York State Trail User Count. As part of efforts to implement recommendations of New York's Statewide Trails Plan, PTNY will assist NYSOPRHP and other … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged multi-use trails, oprhp, statewide, study, trail count Leave a comment
It's serious: elimination of funding for biking and walking looms
Funding for programs that have done so much to support bicycling and walking for almost two decades are seriously threatened. The House members of the conference committee charged with drafting new transportation legislation want to eliminate local governments' ability to access federal … Continue reading
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Tips for handling negative media
What should you do if you receive negative coverage from the press? How should you handle critical comments on Facebook, Twitter, or other forums? Join us for Handling Negative Media, the next webinar in CDC's Soundbites series on publicity … Continue reading
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Park, trail, and greenway grants available through CFA process
Park, trail, and greenway grants available through CFA process Applications due July 16 The second round of funding for park, trail and greenway grants is now underway. Applications through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process are due July 16. Amongst … Continue reading
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Old Erie Canal path in DeWitt has re-opened
The Old Erie Canal path in DeWitt has now re-opened as crews continue to work to stop the flow of canal water into Butternut Creek. Canal Corp. officials meet today with representatives from the town of DeWitt and New York … Continue reading
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Grants of up to $10,000 are available to municipalities and not-for-profit corporations to implement the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The deadline for applying is July 20. … Continue reading
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Saratoga County's Zim Smith Trail among 54 recognized
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The hypocrisy of our government
The harrowing images of 3-year-old refugee Aylan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach have shaken the world.
Alongside his father and brother, Aylan fled the northern Syrian city of Kobane attempting to find refuge in Europe. Aylan, his brother and his father are just three of the estimated 4 million people who have fled Syria since 2011.
The indisputable tragedy of Aylan's death has forced the world's attention onto the refugee crisis. European leaders continue to bicker over what to do with the hundreds of thousands of desperate displaced people on Europe's doorstep. Pressure has been placed on world leaders to increase their intake of refugees from Syria.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has responded in the most despicable way possible by pretending to react yet committing to absolutely nothing. The announcement that Australia will take more refugees from Syria is a total farce considering the refugee quota will not increase at all. Pitting refugee against refugee is no solution.
There is absolutely no material, economic, legal or logistical barrier to Australia immediately taking in 20,000 or more Syrian refugees. The barriers that exist are purely political. They are the product of over two decades of using refugees as pawns in populist politicking. In this crime both sides of politics are to blame.
The images of little Aylan brutally contrast with the familiar narrative of asylum seekers as 'queue jumping criminals' who need to be locked up. Until we examine what has led to the unspeakable brutalisation of refugees who make it to Australian shores, we cannot hope to find a genuine solution to the global refugee crisis. When our government spends billions of dollars to indefinitely imprison just 1,500 asylum seekers in offshore detention centres, is it any wonder it's response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria is woefully lacking?
As the effects of the gloabl crisis of capitalism and dramatically increasing wealth inequality continue to provoke political instability around the globe, we are presented with two options. We can shut our eyes to this immense human suffering, or we can attempt to uncover and address the root causes of war, poverty and the humanitarian crises we are confronted with.
The place to start is on our own doorstep.
Refugee detention is inhumane but profitable
In August a Senate inquiry into offshore detention found that conditions are "not adequate, appropriate or safe" on Manus Island and Nauru. Serious allegations of sexual assault and child abuse have also come to light. Accusations of private security guards using torture techniques against asylum seekers have also surfaced.
The Senate inquiry recommended all children be removed from detention, a policy the Government has repeatedly refused to implement. Even newborn babies are subject to the dangerous and unhygienic conditions in offshore detention. Over the past year at least 300 children in detention have committed or threatened to commit self-harm, while over 200 were assaulted in custody.
The response of the Abbott Government to these serious breaches and allegations has been to continue with business as usual. Scandalously, the private contractors accused of these human rights breaches are in charge of investigating, ruling and reporting on their own conduct.
The only significant change in approach from the Abbott Government has been to limit access to detentions centres and threaten those who speak out about the deplorable conditions. The recently passed Border Force Act makes it an offence for health professionals working in offshore detention centres to publicly disclose the conditions and incidents of mistreatment they witness. This comes after numerous whistleblowers have come forward about serious human rights breaches occurring in these offshore hell holes.
Last year the Nauru government increased the visa fee for visiting journalists from a few hundred dollars to AU$8,000! Last month it was revealed that Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young was spied on by private security contractor Wilson Security during her visit to Nauru.
The Government also seems to want to limit its own knowledge of what occurs in offshore detention, as the Senate inquiry also found that the private operators were not "properly accountable to the commonwealth despite the significant investment in their services". In response to Government assertions that it has limited jurisdiction over the offshore detention centres, the Senate inquiry labelled such claims "a cynical and unjustifiable attempt to avoid accountability".
The extent to which the Abbott Government is happily ignoring the criminally inhumane conditions in offshore detention is demonstrated by the recent decision to renew the contracts with the current private operators. Despite the Senate inquiry finding the current operations, run by Transfield Services and Wilson Security, are "insupportable" the Government has awarded these same companies renewed five year contracts at a cost of billions of dollars. In less than two years Transfield has been handed $1.2 billion in Government contracts to run refugee detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island. This amounts to approximately $37 million per month, or $24,000 per refugee per month. These refugees are crammed into tents without basic amenities.
The amount of money the Australian Government spends on indefinitely detaining approximately 1,500 asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island is unprecedented. It is also completely unnecessary. This money would be much better spend providing support and services to asylum seekers living in the community while their claims are processed. Community processing costs far less than detention. Studies have demonstrated that asylum seekers are less likely to commit crimes than the rest of the population. Most importantly, it is much better for the health and wellbeing of those seeking asylum, many who are already dealing with serious trauma.
There is no basis for continuing the brutal practice of offshore detention except for the political benefit to the Government. Refugees provide a convenient scapegoat for governments intent on implementing policies of cuts and austerity. Instead of focusing on the big business beneficiaries of such policies, blame for diminishing access to social services is directed towards those least culpable and most denied – refugees, single mothers, people with disabilities etc.
For this political goldmine – a scapegoat for all of the ills caused by pro-business, neoliberal policies – the government is willing to pay handsomely – with our money! The refugee detention industry itself has become a self-perpetuating private industry with influence over government and millions in profits to be made from human suffering.
When the real motivations behind offshore detention are revealed, it is clear that a system based on inequality of wealth and the private pursuit of profit are the driving factors. This is why socialists make the case for linking the refugee rights movement with building a strong workers movement that can fight for the interests of all working people against the big business domination of our lives.
Playing politics with people's lives
The level of public support for a 'tough stance' on refugees is the result of over 20 years of political manipulation and misinformation. A lot of effort has gone into creating a culture of fear, mistrust and hostility towards refugees from the time the Labor Party first introduced mandatory detention in 1992, to John Howard's 'Children Overboard' lie, to Tony Abbott's 'Stop the boats' mantra.
A 2011 survey found that more than three-quarters of Australians have enormously overinflated ideas about the numbers of 'boat people' seeking asylum in Australia and the cost of resettling them.
However, it is not as simple as educating people on the facts. Politicians will continue to whip up anti-refugee hysteria to divert attention away from the real problems we face. The major political parties have all pushed the idea that 'overcrowding' is to blame for diminishing access to jobs, housing and services like healthcare and education. This is what lies at the heart of many people's current reluctance to actively support refugee rights.
Winning mass support for refugee rights will require addressing the basis of these concerns. Our campaign needs to include the demand for jobs, homes, healthcare and education for all. While politicians try to outdo each other with their 'though stance' on desperate people fleeing war and persecution, big business routinely flout laws, line their pockets with public money and avoid paying taxes. There is no 'tough stance' when it comes to corporate tax evasion.
There is more than enough wealth and resources in society to resettle all of the world's refugees. The problem is that this wealth is concentrated in the hands of a tiny minority, while the rest of us are left to fight over crumbs.
It is urgent that we work to build a movement that can challenge the Government's cruel refugee policies and this system which pits people against each other in a race to the bottom.
Such a movement could offer an alternative to mandatory detention and offshore processing, as well as challenging the very system that creates war, poverty and the environmental devastation that forces people to seek asylum in the first place.
The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare many of the problems with capitalism. The Socialist strives to explain the systemic causes of this crisis, and reports about the issues that are important to working people. We also help to organise struggles against the powers that be.
We don't receive a cent from big business or governments. Our work is fully funded by our supporters. Even if half the people who read our website every month donated a few dollars each we would raise thousands to help our work!
We need organisations of struggle now more than ever, so if you support what we do please consider making a donation.
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Enjoy all your entertainment needs under one virtual roof with tickets for theatre, concerts, sport, family events, clubs and more. Your €70 Ticketmaster Voucher can be used against all events and tickets offered on www.ticketmaster.ie
Click 'Redeem' and your €70 Ticketmaster Voucher will be on its way to you by email within 2 working days.
1. Offer is valid for one €70 Ticketmaster voucher to be used for full or part payment online towards tickets and services available at www.ticketmaster.ie 2. The promotion is not valid in conjunction with any other promotion and is subject to availability. 3. There are no cash or other alternatives. 4. The re-sale of vouchers is strictly prohibited. 5. The promotion is not open to employees of TLC Marketing or Dulux. 6. Vouchers are valid for 1 year from issue 7. For full terms and conditions as outlined by Ticketmaster please visit www.ticketmaster.ie
The Dulux Trade Points Loyalty Programme is our way of rewarding professional decorators like you for choosing Dulux products.


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What is our continuing fascination with immortality? Increasingly there are new films, TV series and books that have living-forever as a central theme. In an increasingly secular world, stories and myths about immortality are shifting from the spiritual immortality, to the promise of living forever.
To set the context for this inquiry, postmodern society has been characterised by the disappearance of the meta-narratives of modernity. We no longer collectively buy into 'grand narratives' such as Marxism or the Enlightenment projects of linear progression that suggest logical paths of 'teleological determinism' – which can be paraphrased as 'everything happens for some reason, and contributes to some good'. Our resulting world is one that is characterised by more protean and fragmented meaning: self-determinism, individuality and independence have become the goal of western culture.
The jury is out on how this modernity project is progressing, I've explored the darker side…
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PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus shares fell on Friday after the European planemaker reported weak order figures.
The planemaker reported late on Thursday that it had won only four gross aircraft orders over January and February after a number of cancellations.
Shares in the company, whose main rival is Boeing, were down 1.7 percent by 0805 GMT.
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by David Goodman)


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Voit 48" 14 in 1 Combo Table Game Air Hockey Football Basketball Darts
$117.65 $179.99
The Voit 14 in 1 Table Game has 14 table games which will keep family and friends playing for days. This well made, durable table is engineered with lots of use in mind. Choose from Air hockey, Stick hockey, football, bowling, shuffleboard, horseshoes, ring toss, basketball, and 6 Magnetic Dart games. The game table includes air hockey table base, with full color graphics. All the accessories for all the games included, assembly and game play instructions. Table dimensions: 48 inches long x 24 inches wide x 30 inches high. Assembly takes two adults about 45 minutes
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1970 N Columbia St
Milledgeville, GA 31061


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Enjoy a game of Barefoot Bowls at 1pm on Thursday. From the festival campgrounds it's just a stroll across the lagoon, 500m to reach the Tara Bowls Club.
No bowls or bowling experience is necessary. BBQ lunch is available Thursday.
Cost for Barefoot Bowls: $5 per player. RSVP to secure your booking 0437 735 919
NOTE: Dinner is also available Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights at the Bowls Club from 6am – 8.30pm
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June 22, 2014
I was so glad to get the call to photograph baby London for his 6 month old pictures. I had the please of photographing him as a newborn, and it is so great to see him grow into such a good looking boy!
June 14, 2014
Madeleine and Todd's wedding in Greenville, South Carolina proved to be one of my favorite weddings yet. Just look at these two! Gorgeous bride, dashing groom, and they choose this awesome location for their first look and portraits. I couldn't have been happier.
May 31, 2014
What a great wedding at Pretty Place Chapel. Though it isn't the first go round for Sue and Dennis, this wedding had all the joy, happiness and family togetherness of any other I've attended.
Click here to like my Facebook page and see more of my work!
May 4, 2014
Meghan and Michael's Wedding at Chattooga Belle Farm was a full day of celebration. The bride and groom, along with their energetic bridal party made this an event to remember.
Click here to like my Facebook page and see more of my work!
April 3, 2014
Meghan and Michael were a lot of fun to work with - and it shows! I can't tell you what a relief it is when you get a great couple like this that trust their photographer and 'just go with it.' We got so many great images that really showed their personality and affect...
February 25, 2014
It was great to meet up with The Carolina Boys Quartet and for a shoot at Furman University. Many shots were taken, lots of poses, with many different backgrounds; one will be chosen as the cover of their upcoming album!
February 21, 2014
Don't settle for bad school portraits! We can do custom portraits that are properly lit, show your child's personality and won't break the bank. We give you the retouched digital files that you will be proud to make prints of and share online with friends and family.Co...
February 19, 2014
Snowmageddon wasn't 'geddon' us down! The snow was a great atmosphere to incite some genuine smiles and chuckles.


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Hyundai Joins Automotive Grade Linux, Linux Foundation
Auto maker Hyundai recently joined both the Linux Foundation and Automotive Grade Linux (ACL), a cross-industry effort to develop an open platform for connected cars.
"Open collaboration is essential as we realize our connected car vision," Hyundai vice president and head of infotainment technology center Paul Choo said in a statement. "ACL has built a robust platform that offers the flexibility to design and build new services on top of it, and quickly bring them to market."
"We look forward to working with the community to expand the platform and collaboratively develop the underlying technologies that are vital to the next generation of connected vehicles," Choo added.
The ACL Unified Code Base (UCB) open source platform for infotainment, telematics and instrument cluster applications provides 70 percent of the starting point for a production project. More information on ACL can be found here.
This article was originally published on January 11, 2019
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Ser Jacopo: Insanus Spongia Rusticated Billiard with Silver (R2) (5)
Product Number: 002-171-2755
Featuring a chamber depth on par with your average Stack; a bold, backwards cant to the bowl; a pronounced, jutting heel; and a stout muscularity throughout, suffice to say, this Insanus Billiard from Ser Jacopo certainly sports some strong aesthetics — forgoing much of the workshop's signature Pesaro style for something more streamlined and modern. While we've seen a number of the marque's Insanus pipes over the years, this design is a relative rarity, and turning up any external information on the shape has proven difficult. I can't imagine there are too many of these out there, so if you're looking for something unique and interesting to add to your collection, this silver-banded, powerful, and jaunty Sitter Billiard might be right up your alley.- Andrew Wike
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The pipe you see is the pipe you receive. Click here to see our photography process.
Measurements & Other Details
- Length: 5.39 in./136.91 mm.
- Weight: 3.20 oz./90.72 g.
- Bowl Height: 2.63 in./66.80 mm.
- Chamber Depth: 1.84 in./46.74 mm.
- Chamber Diameter: 0.85 in./21.59 mm.
- Outside Diameter: 1.83 in./46.48 mm.
- Stem Material: Acrylic
- Filter: None
- Shape: Billiard
- Finish: Rusticated
- Material: Briar
- Country: Italy


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The SEBI circular that makes 'side pocketing' of mutual funds mandatory has raised several questions about the term and its impact on mutual fund investments. Read on to know about mutual fund side pocketing and how to invest in mutual funds, specifically hedge mutual funds.
What does 'side pocketing' in mutual funds mean?
Before we discuss the effects of mutual fund side pocketing on fund houses and investors, let's talk about the basics first - What is mutual fund side pocketing?
Side pocketing in mutual fund investments enables investors to segregate cash holdings and mutual fund units in a debt portfolio from risky illiquid investments. This ensures that the capital invested in high-risk mutual fund schemes are locked, buying time for the fund to recover the invested capital. The liquid assets can be redeemed by investors. In short, it controls liquidity risks.
SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has made side pocketing of certain securities mandatory for fund managers to control the rising instances of defaults like Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS). This initiative will, in turn, have an impact on liquid mutual funds holding IL&FS securities amounting to Rs. 2,800 crore.
What's in it for fund managers?
- Separating the illiquid and risky mutual fund units from the gainful ones enables the fund managers to keep a closer watch on the former as they need more attention. It helps them in tracking and analyzing them better and giving them a greater push towards improving their performance.
- Mutual fund side pocketing enable fund managers to aim for stabilizing the fund performance to achieve maximum returns.
- Analyzing and predicting the NAV is a challenge, even for the most experienced fund managers. This is because there is no tested rule that enables them to accurately predict the NAV of the illiquid and risky assets.
- Ring-fencing risky mutual funds help fund managers tackle redemption pressures better, while ensuring that the other liquid and cash holdings are not adversely affected. This gives them enough opportunity to focus on recovering the capital of the investor who has defaulted on payments. And that too, without unnecessarily adding to the pressure of the other investors.
How does it benefit investors?
- One of the main focuses of side pocketing is to prevent a new investor to take undue favors from the investments of a previous investor. Side pocketing offer investors the benefit of selling the liquid investment and staying invested in the risky funds till they generate healthy returns. If these risky bets generate returns, they are passed on to the investors. Thus, side pocketing may lead to liquidity of investments showing a downgrading rank.
- Side-pocketing is easing the hassle that once accompanied risky investments. Previously, investors would exit funds with downward ranks to achieve returns at a higher NAV. Side pocketing is changing this scenario drastically, enabling investors to remain invested in the illiquid assets. After these assets generate returns, the original unitholders will be reimbursed.
- The evaluation of the investment realization has become tougher because of side-pocketing. The returns realized from liquid asset investment is easy to calculate on the basis of the existing NAV, the same cannot be said about evaluating the returns from illiquid assets. As discussed before, predicting the NAV of illiquid investments is no game. The investor will have to stay invested and hold their breaths till the investments offer returns.
SEBI's measure to prevent the misuse of mutual funds side pocketing
Sebi is introducing measures to ensure that the provision is not misused and fund managers do not become reckless. It is yet to notify them, but people familiar with the matter say a fund manager may need the clearance of the board of trustees before investing in such risky assets; the performance of the scheme may also be monitored by the board. Fund managers will be able to use the facility only in select credit events such as in the case of a default in interest payments by the issuer.
Salient points about mutual fund side pocketing at a glance
- SEBI has made mutual fund side pocketing compulsory to avert liquidity risks by separating money market and debt instruments from illiquid investments.
- This segregation, which is done when there is a rating downgrade of a mutual fund scheme, allocates the units to the existing investors on a pro rata basis.
- The NAV of the mutual fund then reflects the value of the liquid holdings, and assigns a separate NAV to the side pocket mutual funds.
- Only the investors who were invested in the mutual fund at the time of the rank downgrade benefits from the future recovery and growth of the fund.
In a nutshell
Everything has its share of pros and cons, and side pocketing in mutual fund investments is no different. However, investment experts believe that it has more good in store for both fund houses and investors. Therefore, SEBI's recent decision, passed in December 2018, in making side pocketing mandatory for certain mutual fund schemes is a step towards the right direction.
Recommended Read: How will I Make Right Mutual Funds Investment?


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On Friday 23rd Feb 2018 I attended the Headteachers' Roundtable Summit. The Headteachers' Roundtable was set up on 12th October 2012 during a meeting at the Guardian Offices. The group started on social media and now has 30, 000 twitter followers and an active blog. The group is a think tank and works to develop educational policies. The notable publications so far have been the Five Policy Papers for the General Election 2015, Alternative Green Paper 2016 and the Doorstop Manifesto 2017. The two striking things about the group in my view are that they think its right and proper that politicians should be involved in education and that they crowd source and develop their policy ideas.
It is because of the fact that they seek views when developing their policy statements that I think people involved in education, including governors, should try and attend their events. As governors are responsible for setting strategic direction their input into policy discussions is of vital importance. It was appreciated by all the governors who were able to attend that the organisers, recognising the voluntary nature of governance, were able to offer a discounted ticket price. The other advantage to governors of attending events such as these is that we get to meet people outside of our schools/LAs/MATs. Education isn't only what happens in our schools. As they say there is whole world out there and it helps if we know what's happening outside of our schools.
Every session I attended was informative and interesting. In this post I'll write about points from the various presentations I attended which I think governors should be aware of.
The Opening remarks were delivered by the Stephen Tierney. Stephen talked about accountability systems which are affecting how we work/operate. He also mentioned off rolling of students. This is something governors should be looking into. Ask for number of students on roll in each year at the beginning of the year and at the end. Ask for explanations if there is a difference in these. How confident are you that students are not being off rolled for the sake of league tables etc? Stephen also talked about the accountability system affecting recruitment of teachers. While, as governors, we can't do much about the accountability system, we can try and make our schools an employer of choice. We can also try and ensure that we retain staff by making sure that it is not what is happening in school which is driving staff away. As governors do you know if your school conducts exit interviews and do you get to see the results of these? If your head/SLT come to you with a new initiative do you ask about the implications introducing that new system will have on your workforce? Are they being told to do extra work or is the new system a better one and is replacing an old one?
In the morning session there were two keynote sessions. In the first one Laura McInerney in conversation with Robert Halfon MP, Chair of the Commons Education Select Committee. It was good to see the Chair of the Committee engaging with heads, teachers and governors. He said that although he was in favour of academies and autonomy, he felt there wasn't enough transparency in the system. If you are a trustee in a MAT, then I'd like to ask you how transparent are your decisions? Would you be able to explain the reasoning behind them (obviously there may be some things which you may need to keep confidential to the board but these will be few. Confidentiality shouldn't be used as means of avoiding transparency.
The second keynote was delivered by David Benson, Head Kensington Aldridge Academy. It was an honour to listen to David talk about the way he, his staff, staff of neighbouring schools and most importantly his students coped during the days and weeks after the Grenfell Tower fire. David Benson gave a shout out to his governors which was wonderful to hear. He talked to us about the days after the fire and how the students and staff coped. This was made possible by the ethos and culture of the school which is supportive and collaborative. As governors do we know, really KNOW, what our school culture and ethos is? How would your head/staff and governors have responded if it had been you in their place? How do you make sure that the new staff are totally committed to the ethos of your school? David Benson placed great emphasis on the teaching and learning framework and the strong CPD programme. As governors do you know how strong your staff CPD programme is? Is it effective? Does it help staff to develop and cater to their needs and the need of the whole school?
The next session I attended was by Sir David Carter. Other sessions taking place at the same time were Fixing the Middle Tier: The Hoodinerney Model (this aims to streamline roles/responsibilities of everyone from Secretary of State to heads; Laura McInerney and Matthew Hood), Radical changes to tea her workload through intelligent assessment practice (exploring impact of marking and assessment on workload relative to their impact on learning; Tom Sherrington) and Our Biggest Blindspot in Education (looking at Initial Teacher Training and retention; Prof Samantha Twiselton). Sir David Carter's session was entitled "The Standards You Pass By Are The Standards You Accept". David believes that this quotation (of a remark made by an Australian general) applies to all leaders. He then posed some questions which I think we, as governors, should be asking ourselves. These questions were:
How do you embody your values?
- How do you enact your values?
- How do you ensure those who you lead can "see" your values?
- If you ask them can they say what your values are?
Are your values "visible" and explicit when you
- Appoint staff
- Promote staff
- Performance manage staff
- Praise and sanction students
- Respond to upset/challenging visitors to your school
- Create strategic plans (this is very important from a governance point of view. Governors set the strategic direction of their schools and their values should be a thread running through these plans)
- Set targets
How do you help others to model ethical leadership?
- Is the behaviour you want to model for others the behaviour they see when they look at you?
- How does your leadership raise expectations in your community?
What standards would you never walk past?
When thinking of behaviour of?
- Adults and children
- Adults and other adults
- Parents and school
- When considering inclusion?
What considering equality for all for
- Entitlement to quality teaching (for all children in the community and not just within your school)
- Professional development
- Wellbeing of staff (staff are not robotic practitioners) [I have written previously about wellbeing and our responsibilities]
Sir David also talked about coaching and mentoring and said coaching/mentoring new CEOs is a part of his job that he really enjoys. The following questions are the ones he asks the most when coaching/mentoring.
- What are your current developmental goals and how far have you come in the last 12 months?
- How challenging of your own performance do you want to be?
- How close is the alignment between your personal leadership competencies and the behaviours you show most frequently?
- Do you embody your own motivations and values?
- What habits and insecurities hold you back?
- Do you behave differently when you are being observed in public as opposed to a more private setting?
Chairs and governors often mentor new governors. If you are one who mentors new people on your board you may like to modify the above questions to suit your governance setting and use them.
Sir Carter emphasised the need to model good, ethical leadership. This is important for governors to do too. He also emphasised that ethical leadership will look after ALL children. He asked us to pick up the phone and offer support to the school down the road who we know is facing difficulties. Chairs of Governors should remember that NLGs are there to offer support. So if you need some help then contact your nearest NLG who will happily support you. He also pointed out that there are no quick fixes to bring about school improvement. Having said that, there is no time to waste; if improvement will take five years then year one is as important as year five. We also need to recognise that a school which doesn't have good results yet but is doing all the right things to get there is different from a school which has a meaningless strategy.
Sir Carter said that schools belong to communities. Our role as ethical leaders is to create a legacy so that the school is in a better place than when we started leading it. Sir Carter also gave us four questions the answers to which would indicate how ethical our leadership is. These are:
- The Sleeping Test: If I do this can I sleep at night?
- The Newspaper Test: Would I still do this if it was published in a newspaper?
- The Mirror Test: If I do this can I look at myself in the mirror?
- The Teenager Test: Would I mind my child knowing I did this?
Sir Carter ended his presentation by asking us the following:
What are the standards that you would never walk past if accepting them meant children remained dis-advantaged?
As governors I think it's very important that we reflect on the above five questions individually and as a board.
One of the afternoon keynotes was by Laura McInerney. She walked us through the history of education policy, various education secretaries and challenges facing us. The three issues we should watch out for are:
- No moiré funding
- More selection, possibly at post 16
- Sex education
Laura also told us about Teacher Tapp, which she and Prof Becky Allen have been developing and which is starting to yield some interesting data. The one remark that really stuck with me was when Laura said,
People give us their taxes and their children
As governors we must ensure that we spend people's taxes wisely and educate their children well.
The last keynote was delivered by Geoff Barton. He talked about five things we should be looking to change.
Accountability: The high stakes accountability is making us fearful and timid. Geoff said we need to stop thinking and talking about Ofsted and banish the Ofsted banners.
- I think this is an area where as governors we can lend support to our heads and SLT. If your head wants to have a mocksted, then challenge them. Ask them what would a mocksted show which they don't know already. Ask them to justify spending money (of there is precious little anyway) on consultants offering mocksteds. Ask them if that spend is value for money. Ask them if the same support can't be accessed from elsewhere. Perhaps, see if your head would like an experienced head to as a mentor. This would be more supportive and helpful and contribute more to your head's professional development than getting someone in to do a mocksted. And it would be less stressful too, I imagine.
- Think about flexible working. Trust your teachers
- Tell your school's story
Look after your young people. Help them to navigate social media. Bring a human dimension to how you deal with them.
- This, again, is something governors can and should be asking our school leaders.
Be ethical.
- Irrespective of our leadership role, ethical leadership is something we all should practice. Governors have a hugely important role to play in setting the tone and the expectations. If the Governing Body behaves in an ethical manner then so will the rest of the institution. Geoff, like Sir David Carter, mentioned the mirror test. An ethical governor, head, member of the SLT, teaching and support staff should be able to look themselves in the mirror when they make any decision or take any step.
In the coming weeks and months members of the Headteachers' Roundtable will be reflecting on the discussions which took place on the day and formulating policy documents. So keep an eye out for them. In the meantime:
Further reading:
If you want to get a flavour of the Summit then I have collated the tweets for many of the sessions which are as below.
Stephen Tierney's blog about his opening remarks