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Lightweight Tourers Comparison
Smiles Through the Miles
Sportbikes are great, but they'll break your back on a long ride. Full-dress tourers are a pain to hustle around the canyons. What weapon to choose when you want to combine some fun with serious mileage?
Let's see, we want serious ground clearance, good handling, sticky tires giving good feedback, combined with enough tankage for at least 200 miles between refills, a fairing that gives enough still air to hide in during a rainstorm with enough space to pack that overnight bag and a camera. Oh, and maybe room for a passenger too. And a heater would be nice, too, for those snow-capped mountain passes (think we're kidding? One of the bikes here has one). The three machines reviewed here, BMW's R1100RT, Honda's ST1100 and Kawasaki's Concours are all long-legged highway mile eaters, aimed squarely at the sport tourer who wants to cover miles and enjoy them too. They share a common mission: To put fun in any day or weekend long ride. Lets call it smileage.
3. Kawasaki Concours
Kawasaki describes the Concours as spirited. The powerful (we dyno'd it at close to 100 bhp) 1000cc engine is certainly not lacking in top end punch -- Kawasaki's liquid-cooled, DOHC four-valve inline-four Ninja motors have a reputation that is second to none in this arena. With the Concours' tuning biased toward mid- to upper-rpm performance, it's perfectly suited for the sport side of the equation.
If winding backroads are the mainstay of your tour's itinerary, then the Kawasaki rules. Its combination of performance-based engine, firm springing and damping rates, Dunlop K700 series Sport Radials, and sporty riding position form an excellent handling platform that eats up both high-speed sweepers and sinewy mountain curves. The semi-floating dual front discs and powerful twin-piston, single action calipers inspire late braking confidence, even with fully loaded saddlebags and passenger. Generous ground clearance allows you to attain impressive lean angles, especially for such a large bike (585 pounds dry). At speed the Concours hides this weight well, feeling light, nimble, and very responsive to rider input at the bars. The smooth-shifting six-speed gearbox is a delight to use, and its ratios help keep the high-revving engine in the powerband. Shaft effect is not too obtrusive, but is noticeable during spirited riding with the bike fully loaded for touring.
Unfortunately for the Concours, though, many tours spend time on the Interstate. And it's here that the Concours suffers from it's sport-bike tuning and engine/frame design. The Concours' Ninja-based motor is buzzy, really buzzy. And the high-tensile steel diamond frame utilizes the engine as a stressed member. As a direct result of this design, way too much of the engine's vibration passes through to the rider, quickly fatiguing hands and arms. As the revs climb, so does the intensity level of engine buzz, escalating to an annoying point where it can even be felt through the footpegs.
Sporty ergonomics serve to further diminish long-range comfort. The handlebars are too low and too far forward, forcing the rider to support an excessive amount of weight on his wrists. Grips are too small in diameter. Add engine vibration and the result is hands, arms, and shoulders that begin to tingle after just a few short miles, and plain go numb well before the 7.5 gallon fuel supply needs replenishing, which on the Concours will be around the 210 mile mark.
For both rider and passenger the seat is one of the roomiest, most comfortable saddles that we've ever had the pleasure of spending hundreds of miles in. Seat-to-peg relationship is good, even for taller riders, and the wide, rubber-covered footpegs provide good support. Windscreen protection is excellent also, although the top lip of it is curved to reduce turbulence, producing a distorted view. Shorter riders may find this distracting. Rearview vision out the mirrors is superb, providing a wide, unobstructed view of traffic behind.
Touring amenities on the Concours include easily removable saddlebags which attach and detach with just a flip of a latch, and are each large enough to hold a full-face helmet. When the saddlebags are removed, special color-matched side panels can be snapped in place to hide the bags' mounting points. A small parcel rack is found under a removable cover behind the passenger seat and is flanked by two flip-out bungee hooks. Lockable glove compartments are located on the inside of the fairing to either side of the instrument cluster, and the large, flat fuel tank can easily accommodate a tank bag. Fit and finish on the Kawasaki is good, and it received numerous compliments for its clean, integrated styling.
Around town and open highway drive-ability is acceptable; the 32mm Keihins carburate flawlessly from idle to redline with no hiccups or flatspots. Quick to warm-up, you can ride away almost immediately from a cold start on half choke. The big four-cylinder revs freely, but a distinct lack of low-end torque, coupled with the Concours heft, makes low-speed handling a bit cumbersome. The only adjustments available on the 41mm forks are for spring preload, with both spring and four-way rebound damping on the rear Uni-Trak® shock.
For commuters, ample luggage space allows you to carry all those important necessities to work. The powerful engine and strong chassis make quick work of rush hour. And you'll arrive all smiles on a quick jaunt to that overnight backwoods hideaway if your route allows you to take winding backroads.
Kawasaki's Concours still defines the word "Sport" in the Sport Touring class. Heavily biased towards high-performance, this bike's roots are firmly planted in its Ninja heritage. The Concours has changed very little since it first appeared in 1986, spawning COG, the Concours Owners Group, and a healthy aftermarket along the way. Ultimately, its age makes it pale against the likes of newer sport-tourers like the BMW R1100RT and Honda ST1100.
BMW's boxer twins just keep getting bigger. The progression started when the R1100GS outsized its progenitor, the R1100RS. Now the R1100RT is the biggest -- and heaviest -- boxer yet. Not that weight will stop the BMW aficionados.
Prime mover of the new behemoth is BMW's 90hp (claimed, we measure a peak power of 78 bhp) 1100cc opposed twin, whose familiar air/oil cooled cylinders stick out from beneath the all enveloping bodywork. Underneath the recyclable plastic bodywork (We didn't test it by putting it out at the curb on garbage day), the engine acts as the main frame member, and as a mount for the wishbone-type telelever front suspension and one-sided paralever rear suspender. Bosch Motronic electronic fuel injection and a catalytic converter round out the specs. Colors, according to BMW, are Glacier green, Sinus(!) blue and Siena red metallic.
How does it feel on the move? You definitely know there's a twin cylinder down there. The level of vibration is never bad, just omnipresent at highway speeds. Overtaking power is available in spades, though some bottom end torque has been sacrificed (compared to the GS model) in the quest for highest power output, since the RT has the same engine as the sport-styled RS model. Even so, it takes a high mountain pass, or very high-speed highway (hey, no speed limits in Montana right now) to faze this twin.
Vibration from the twin, while always present, is never intrusive and never gets annoying. Also easy to forget is the telelever front end. It's different from anything else on the road, but the only time it is noticeable is under braking, when less dive is present than telescopic forks.
Additional cost options include luggage liner bags (a boon for swift packing in motel rooms) and an anti-theft system. However, we have to say that BMWs seem to be one of the least stolen motorcycles around (We can hear the sound of keyboards clicking here, as hundreds of readers immediately respond with tragic tales of absent beemers).
The all-encompassing fairing is multi-functional, providing a lockable hiding place for radio, speakers, handwarming vents, and adjustable windscreen, knockoff mirrors and turn signals and an auxiliary power take-off point. It also encloses the rider information center (oil temp and fuel gauge). Plus, the front of the fairing sticks out far enough to cover the ungainly (but effective) front suspension wishbone. The unconventional suspension is governed by a single shock absorber and spring mounted in front of the engine. The fork tubes themselves are flexibly mounted at the top fork yoke, and serve merely as convenient connections to the handlebars.
The hard saddlebags are easy to mount and dismount, convenient to use, but lack one important thing -- enough space to park a large full face helmet (mediums fit). We can't imagine paying the sizeable price for this huge sport tourer, and then not having anywhere to safely keep our lid when the bike is parked. The luggage lids will oh-so-nearly close when you put a helmet inside, but not quite. Slap on the wrist to BMW.
Three sizable Brembo discs bring the Sinus blue whale to a halt with alacrity (as in completely fuss-free and surprisingly quickly). On loose surfaces, the second-generation ABS takes over with little fuss -- sometimes you don't even know it's working. And when you don't want to stop, the 6.6 gallon tank will carry you 300 miles, with care. The seat ceases to be comfortable long before (actually it's good for a couple of hours).
The electrically adjustable windshield ceases to be a gadget in wintertime then becomes a necessity. You simply can't, once you're used to it, remember what you did without it. Press the handlebar-mounted button, and the 'shield levers itself up from the fairing. As it rises, wind pressure gradually lessens on your chest and as it reaches the top of its arc, the roar of the wind disappears. At the top of its travel, the shield is still low enough for the average rider to see over it, in case of rain.
BMW's radio isn't as impressive. Given the total redesign of the RT's bodywork, it's surprising that the radio is such a blatant afterthought, stuck into a sideways-facing locker in front of the fairing. It's inaccessible while the bike is moving because -- says BMW -- its locked cover must be closed before driving away -- although BMW promises bar-mounted radio controls in the future. At anything above town riding speeds, the speakers are all but impossible to hear while wearing a full-face helmet. BMW does offer optional helmet radio hookups, and it's the only way to go for sound on a motorcycle.
The standard heated handgrips are a real journey extender on short, winter days, and work much better than the heater ducts in the fairing. When the sun goes down, hitting the 'bar heater switch raises your endurance by another couple of hours.


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Art of the Meal: 5&10 by Krista Reese
"If you've been around Athens long enough to remember when the original 5&10 opened 13 years ago, you might recall the almost magical singularity of the place. In those days, young chef Hugh Acheson's fluffy unibrow looked a little like a unicorn's horn. In a small town, in a small house, the Canadian Acheson (with a band of young acolytes) reclaimed the Southern food narrative and pitched it forward." Continue reading Art of the Meal: 5&10 in our December issue of Georgia Trend by Krista Reese
Photo Credit: Koko Warner/www.modportfolio.com

subset: commoncrawl


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The K&N 69-7061TS Typhoon air intake system is a free-flowing, mandrel-bent aluminum tube air induction system designed to fit some Nissan Altima models. The restrictive factory air filter and air intake housing are replaced by the K&N Typhoon air intake which is designed to dramatically reduce air flow restriction as it smoothes and straightens air flow. This allows your engine to inhale a larger amount of air than the factory air intake. More air means more usable power and acceleration throughout the engine's RPM range. The 69-7061TS air intake comes with a black rubber topped K&N high-flow air filter and a heat shield that installs into the previous air box space with a port for the fresh air duct. Air is directed through the intake tube into the engine's throttle body for a guaranteed power gain. The intake tube has an attractive silver powder-coat finish that's made to last and it accommodates the factory mass air sensor and crank case vent hose. The oversized cone shaped air filter can be used for up to 100,000 miles before servicing is needed depending on driving conditions. This air intake is relatively easy to install usually in 90 minutes or less using existing factory mounting points. The tools needed are a screwdriver, ratchet set and several wrenches. Some Typhoon air intakes are not legal for sale or use in California and other states adopting California emission standards while others are CARB exempt and 50 state legal. Check the K&N catalog or website for vehicle applications and specific CARB status for each vehicle and air intake.
|Air Filter Outlet Shape
|Filter Color
|Filter Material
|Cotton Gauze
|Flange Angle
|0 degrees
|Flange Offset
|0 in (0 mm)
|Flange Type
|Intake Pipe Material
|Replacement Filter
*Some manufacturer restrictions apply.
K&N Engineering in Riverside California is the world's leading manufacturer of washable performance air filters and air intake systems. K&N invented the reusable high flow cotton air filter in 1969 and has been perfecting the technology ever since. K&N is a world class filtration company selling air filters, oil filters, and air intakes in over 30 countries. K&N sells over 5,000 products designed for cars, trucks, motorcycles, engines, and industrial applications. From their Million Mile Warranty to their Consumer Protection Pledge, K&N stands behind their products and their consumers 100%. The distinctive K&N logo represents performance from one of the original performance companies.
Based in California with 3 warehouses across the country, we're sending out shipments everyday of the week, even Saturdays. Because your next mod shouldn't have to wait.
The best modders use Wheelwell to build their dream rides.


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2020 - 55x70 CM
Arches Paper 160gm² & acrylic painting
Benjamin Ottoz uses as his medium the paper that he sculpts, crumples and shapes in a physical confrontation. He sprays it with paint, sprinkles it with water, compresses it and repeats the process until the creative accident occurs. Sculpture, painting, even photography, the artist uses different techniques, follows different paths in his work...
Discover all the artworks by Benjamin Ottoz available on La peau de l'ours.


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WASHINGTON, July 9, 2014 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack provided a 12-week progress report on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) disaster assistance programs today, announcing that USDA has processed 106,000 payments to farmers in 40 states across the country who suffered livestock and grazing losses between October 2011 and passage of the 2014 farm bill.
"Farmers and ranchers who waited two and a half years for a farm bill are now getting some relief," Vilsack said. "We met the very ambitious goal to get these programs up and running in just 60 days. Now, thanks to our dedicated staff in offices across the country, we've provided more than 106,000 payments to farmers and ranchers in 40 states who suffered drought, blizzard and other weather related losses."
A quick implementation of the disaster assistance programs has been a top priority for USDA. In February, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that enrollment for four disaster assistance programs would begin April 15, 2014, 60 days from the date the programs were reestablished by the 2014 farm bill. After the 2008 farm bill, it took over one year for the programs to get up and running.
Since then, dedicated full-time FSA staff, as well as temporary employees hired to expedite the application process, have processed over $1.2 billion in payments to qualifying farmers and ranchers. The first payments were sent out to farmers and ranchers within two weeks of enrollment. USDA estimated that roughly $2.5 billion would be provided in disaster relief to cover losses from October 2011 through September 2014. If those estimates prove accurate, it would mean nearly half of all disaster payments have already been provided.
While disaster relief is a critical lifeline that can prevent farmers and ranchers who do not have access to crop insurance from being wiped out by weather-related losses beyond their control, most producers only receive support equal to 60 percent of their actual losses.
USDA disaster programs include:
The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) and the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) provides payments for grazing losses due to drought and livestock deaths due to adverse weather.
The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) provides assistance for livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish losses due to disease (including cattle tick fever), weather, wildfires and colony collapse disorder, or for losses not covered under other disaster assistance programs established by the 2014 farm bill.
The Tree Assistance Program (TAP) provides financial assistance to eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers to replant or rehabilitate trees, bushes and vines that were lost or damaged by natural disasters.
Specific program deadlines are as follows:
· 2011- 2013 ELAP – Friday, Aug. 1, 2014
· 2011 - 2014 LFP – Friday, Jan. 30, 2015
· 2011- 2014 LIP – Friday, Jan. 30, 2015
· 2011- 2014 TAP – Monday, Feb. 2, 2015
Producers affected by adverse weather should contact their FSA county office to make an appointment and learn if they are eligible for disaster assistance. For more information, producers may review the 2014 Farm Bill Fact Sheet, and the LIP, LFP, ELAP and TAP fact sheets online, or visit any local FSA office.
Vilsack also highlighted that more than $270 million in disaster assistance has been paid to farmers and ranchers in USDA StrikeForce counties experiencing chronic poverty. "Farmers and ranchers in these counties have extraordinary challenges," Vilsack said. "Through USDA's StrikeForce initiative, we can get federal support to areas that need it the most."
The StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative works to address the unique set of challenges faced by many of America's rural communities. Through the StrikeForce, USDA is leveraging resources and collaborating with over 400 community organizations, businesses, foundations, universities and other groups to support 80,300 projects with more than $9.7 billion in USDA investments into rural America.
StrikeForce currently serves 20 states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
For more news, go to www.agri-pulse.com.


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With most Marx Bros. movies, the story happening for all the surrounding characters is pretty bland and is easily overshadowed by the somewhat unrelated activities of the boys. In At the Circus, however, there is a pretty decent base plot. Chico and Harpo are appropriately cast as members of a travelling circus while Groucho is invited into the action as an attorney.
Harpo plays second fiddle to the strongman in the troupe, played by a nearly speechless and almost unrecognizable Nat Pendleton. Chico, although pals with Harpo's Punchy as usual, is behind the scenes and helps out the circus manager Jeff Wilson (Kenny Baker), who is the protagonist of the movie's actual story. Jeff left behind a life of luxury via his family's wealth to run the circus but is now at risk of losing it lest he can pay $10,000 to his business partner, antagonist John Carter (James Burke).
John does not actually want Jeff to be able to pay because he does not wish to relinquish his share of the circus. He conspires with the strongman Goliath to steal the $10,000 in cash Jeff prepared, starting the hunt for the money. Chico, Harpo and Groucho as J. Cheever Loophole fail to regain the money and the latter instead targets Jeff's rich aunt, Mrs. Dukesbury (Margaret Dumont).
When Loophole arrives in Newport to talk the money out of Mrs. Dukesbury, he is mistaken for the orchestra conductor Jardinet, who is to be entertaining the woman's massive crowd the following night. Loophole plays along and convinces the woman to pay a fee of $10,000 for his services. When the time comes, however, it is the circus that will entertain Mrs. Dukesbury's guests.
At the Circus, like all Marx Bros. movies, contains scattered and unamusing musical numbers. Chico does fit in his usual entertaining piano playing and Harpo guides a chorus of black singers with his harpist performance. Most amusing is a scene in which Chico and Harpo search Goliath's train stateroom for the stolen money. The strongman is asleep, and the boys manage to keep him that way while they push him around and climb into his mattress. Coming in second place, by my estimates, is our first encounter with Loophole. Chico has been advised that no one can get on the train without a badge, and despite his inviting Loophole to intervene for Jeff, he will not allow him on board. Loophole ends up rather wet before he can manage to get inside.
I would not say At the Circus is the best Marx Bros. movie, but it is nice to see one that can somewhat captivate you with its main plot line. As I mentioned, the boys usually just steal the show in these movies by conducting their antics while the unimportant plot takes place. In this case I was intrigued by the struggles of Jeff and girlfriend Julie (Florence Rice) to maintain the circus and their romance.
Filed under: Comedy, Romance | Tagged: Edward Buzzell, Florence Rice, Gasser, James Burke, Kenny Baker, Margaret Dumont, Marx Brothers, Nat Pendleton | 2 Comments »


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Part 1: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 |
Part 2: Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7
How to Obtain this Publication | Related Documents
Despite concern about the negative impacts of globalisation on the economies of OECD regions, notably the loss of manufacturing jobs and enterprise relocation, this report presents evidence that region-specific advantages – embedded in specialised firms, skilled labour and innovation capacity – remain a significant source of productivity gain for firms, even for the largest multinational enterprises. This seems to contradict the hypothesis that globalisation reduces the importance of geographical proximity in business.
Economic geography in an era of global competition involves a paradox. It is widely recognised that changes in technology and competition have altered many of the traditional rules that determine location of economic activity, making it possible for firms to access the inputs and knowledge that they need from anywhere across the globe. Yet specialisation and concentration remain striking features of regional economies in the OECD. For example, many of the leading firms in "new economy" industries have tended to cluster together.
This report argues that some long-term trends will over time change how economic activities are distributed both within countries and across the globe. Some of the key drivers of this process include:
There is evidence that a new geography of production is emerging, based around both old and new regional hubs in OECD and non-OECD countries. Some of the new hubs in non-OECD countries are attracting increasingly high value-added production and services.
These trends have important consequences for policy makers. These relate both to how to attract and retain key investments in their current locations, and how to build on existing locational advantages. In response, national and regional governments in OECD countries are looking for ways to ensure that regions maintain a competitive edge in industries that generate wealth and jobs.
This report looks at how different regions specialised in one of three major global industries (auto, biopharma and ICT) are responding to these challenges and the strategies they have adopted to support existing competitive advantages and to transform their assets to develop new competitive strengths.
A principal message from this research is that OECD regions can compete in key industries on the basis of region-specific assets, even in industries that are characterized by intense international competition.
Regions emphasised that their main comparative advantage was the innovativeness of their enterprise base. Firms are under pressure to develop innovative products and assimilate new technologies rapidly. Given that even large firms cannot do this effectively in isolation, the system of innovation is becoming less vertical and more open.
This study suggests that there are new opportunities for suppliers to access new customers and break out of vertical systems, thereby offering greater incentives for SMEs to innovate. This is one of the key domains for public policy in the regions studied.
Open innovation is becoming an important tool for large and small firms as they look for new ways to share risk and develop complex products and processes. The links between R&D institutions and firms could become more important as the process of innovation becomes less internal. Here, proximity remains an important asset. Firms underlined the positive impact of region-level interaction relating to innovation.
However, global production networks are also important. R&D is increasingly internationalised and maintaining innovation networks across different countries is technically feasible. Regions are looking for ways to help local firms access global partners and so the regional innovation system concept needs to be also an outward looking strategy.
Part 1. MAIN REPORT
Chapter 1. The Reshaping of Regional Economies
Rapid changes in economic structures are causing concern among both policy makers and citizens in OECD countries. To understand how these trends are affecting regions, this chapter explores the dynamics of the manufacturing sector at the regional level and the shift, visible in some places, towards higher value manufacturing and non-manufacturing activities.
Chapter 2. Globalisation and the Spatial Reorganisation of Production
The drivers of change in regional economic structures are assumed to be linked to globalisation, notably the reorganisation of production. This chapter outlines the main drivers of globalisation and explores the role of multi-national firms in this process and what this has meant for particular regions. It then reviews the changing geography of production and uses industry examples to better understand the impact on regions of processes such as outsourcing and offshoring, including offshoring of innovation.
Chapter 3. How Can OECD Regions Compete?
Given the changes in regional economies due to globalisation, the reorganisation of production and the nature of innovation, how should regions respond? Regions, not nations, appear increasingly as the nodes in global networks. Regions are also the scale at which meaningful interaction among firms, people and knowledge generators leads to innovation. This chapter discusses the opportunities that the reorganisation of production seems to offer and presents examples of how regions have worked to seize these opportunities.
Chapter 4. Clear Strategy, Good Governance
This chapter explores the importance of governance arrangements in helping regions react to changes in the global economy. In some cases, mobilisation has been a response to crisis; in others a more structured mechanism for economic policy formulation is used. In either case the evidence base necessary for decision-making stands out as a crucial issue, as does the ability of public and private sector actors to find consensus around a forward-looking and realistic response.
Part 2. SUMMARIES OF REGION-SECTOR CASE STUDIES
Chapter 5. Regional Case Studies in the Automotive Sector
This chapter looks at the evolution of the automotive industry and the impacts that changes in the industry are having on four car producing regions,. In each case, the regions are struggling with the impact of restructuring of the global car industry but also striving to build on the technological and innovative capacities that the regions have acquired over time as leaders in a dynamic technology-driven industry.
Chapter 6. Regional Case Studies in the Biopharmaceuticals Sector
This chapter looks at the evolution of the biopharmaceuticals industry and the impacts that changes in the structure of the industry are having on four regions specialised in drug production and/or biotechnology. In each case, the regions are struggling with the impact of restructuring of the global pharmaceuticals industry but also striving to build on the R&D strengths and innovative capacities that the regions have acquired over time as leaders in a dynamic technology-driven industry.
Chapter 7. Regional Case Studies in the ICT Sector
This chapter looks at the evolution of the mobile ICT industry and the impacts that changes in the structure of the industry are having on four regions specialised in ICT. In each case, the regions are struggling with the impact of restructuring of the global ICT industry, particularly the after-effects of the ICT "bubble". But the regions are also striving to build on the R&D strengths and innovative capacities that the regions have acquired over time as leaders in a dynamic technology-driven industry in order to maintain a competitive edge.
How to Obtain this Publication
Readers can access the full version of OECD Reviews of Regional Innovation: Globalisation and Regional Economies: Can OECD Regions Compete in Global Industries? choosing from the following options:
For questions related to this publication, please contact Mr. Andrew Davies: email@example.com
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Procopius prōkō´pēəs [key], d. 565?, Byzantine historian, b. Caesarea in Palestine. He accompanied Belisarius on his campaigns as his secretary, and later he commanded the imperial navy and served (562) as prefect of Constantinople. His education, high connections, and public offices give his histories great value as firsthand accounts. His chief works are generally known as Procopius' History of His Own Time, dealing mainly with the wars against the Goths, Vandals, and Persians, and as the Secret History of Procopius, which is largely a scandalous and often scurrilous court chronicle. His authorship of the Secret History has been questioned, but most scholars now agree that it is an authentic work of Procopius. He also wrote On Buildings, a work in six books describing buildings erected by Justinian throughout the empire. In his polished style Procopius imitated the historians of the Greek classical period. His descriptions of social and religious customs among the barbarians are very valuable, but his histories are marred by his violent personal prejudices, e.g., in favor of Belisarius and against Empress Theodora.
See study by J. A. S. Evans (1972) and A. Cameron (1985).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Historians, European: Biographies


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Pure indulgence for your body: You probably devote a great deal of time to taking care of your face and hair but what about the rest of your body? Doesn't all of you deserve to be nourished, pampered and perfectly presented? Our fabulous bath and shower collection will certainly help you on the pampering front, not forgetting our indulgent soaps. As for nourishment, our lotions and oils will beautifully moisturise, soothe and soften your skin. You will also discover advanced formulas to address specific issues that may be concerning you including painful feet, sagging skin, dry hands, stretch marks and cellulite.
In search of the body beautiful?
Day to day life ensures that there will always be issues with your body. After all, you can't lock yourself away and refuse to use your hands and feet, can you? But you could treat them to a little TLC courtesy of our foot care and hand and nails collections! If sagging skin is impacting your confidence, then check out our firm and shape products too and don't forget that you can also address cellulite and stretch marks with our carefully curated treatments.
Treatments you can trust
It's good to spoil yourself and you can do that every day! Our body care collections feature only the finest available products from the world's leading brands. These are the ranges you can trust to take good care of your skin and to deliver the results you are looking for. Your body deserves the best, it's a simple as that! Explore the amazing choices in the Dr. Hauschka, Mavala, Patisserie de Bain and Spongelle ranges and you can look forward to discovering a whole new you!


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A man who nearly lost his life in New York City's first instance of bubonic plague in more than 100 years has died of an unrelated illness in a Santa Fe, New Mexico, hospital, his wife said Thursday.
John Tull was diagnosed with a rare cancer last month, but doctors didn't believe it was connected to his previous health struggles, said Lucinda Marker, his wife. Tull was 65 when he died Wednesday.
In November 2002, the New Mexico couple was on vacation in the Big Apple when both came down with flu-like symptoms including a fever and swollen lymph nodes. They were diagnosed with the plague, an exceedingly rare disease that wiped out a third of Europe in the 14th century. It was considered New York's first plague case in more than a century, but doctors said Tull and Marker had likely become infected back home in Santa Fe.
While Marker recovered within days, Tull was hospitalized for more than two months. He fell into a coma and both of his feet were amputated.
With the case coming in the relative aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks, speculation and scrutiny were rampant. Marker said she was questioned for days by a "parade of people" from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FBI and New York City health officials.
"They thought we were possibly terrorists or victims of bioterrorism," Marker said.
Dr. Ronald Primas, the New York physician who diagnosed and treated them, remembers the media frenzy surrounding their cases. "I did like 40 interviews in two days," he said.
Primas said everyone wanted to know if there was evidence the plague was caused by bioterrorist activity or if it would spread.
"Had (John) waited another day, had he gone out into the public with the cough he had, theoretically he could have spread it," Primas said.
About seven plague cases are reported across the U.S. each year, and the disease can be treated with antibiotics, according to the CDC. Worldwide, between 1,000 and 2,000 cases are reported to the World Health Organization, the CDC says.
Fleas that feed on infected rodents or other mammals typically transmit the plague bacteria. Researchers have said the case of Tull and Marker was pivotal in helping them understand why plague persisted in Santa Fe County, where the couple lived.
Despite his hardships, Tull faced everything with humor and a cheerful attitude, Marker said. "He never stopped loving life — even after he woke up and had his legs amputated," Marker said.
According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, which first reported Tull's death, the couple was writing a book about their experiences. Marker intends to finish it.
She said Tull would always advise people to be diligent and not let an illness or the recovery process wear them down.
"He would say, 'You've got to work as hard as you can when you are sick. When they tell you to do something, do it twice as hard," Marker said.
Tull is survived by three children from two previous marriages.
A memorial service is planned for Aug. 9.


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With ViewStat users can produce time series based on statistics produced by view.brussels on unemployment and employment opportunities in the Brussels' Region. They can also view these data in the form of pivot tables that take customized variables into account such as place of residence (municipalities in the Brussels Region), age brackets, education level, etc.).
A new version of the statistical analysis tool ViewStat has been available online since August 2019. The application was improved and now offers additional functionalities.
View.brussels, the Brussels Observatory for Employment and Training (Observatoire bruxellois de l'Emploi et de la Formation), has been conducting research and analysis in a range of areas, these include training since 2017 within the framework of the Training plan 2020 (Plan Formation 2020). The new tool contributes to the mission of view.brussels, which organises its activities around four strategic priorities:
- monitoring, evaluating and analysing the transitions following training and employment measures;
- analysing and anticipating training and employment needs;
- observing and analysing the job market in its various forms;
- providing support and technical expertise, especially regarding the follow-up of the Training plan 2020.
These activities improve the consistency, cross-tabulation and analysis of the statistics on employment and training. To this end, view.brussels benefits from stronger cooperation between the research and statistics services of Actiris, Bruxelles Formation and VDAB Brussels. With the last one, the relationship is based on methodology and data exchange. At a later stage, the results of these studies contribute particularly to the planning of training offers.
Read more:


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Articles, Reviews, Recipes, Videos & More
Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tim grew up with a strong love for the outdoors. His parents took him and his brother camping every summer, where they learned to fish backwater streams and creeks and cook foil wrapped dinners on the campfire. "Whether at the beach or the ball field and everywhere in between - I couldn't get enough of the outdoors", Tim said.
"But when it comes to hunting, I was a bit late arriving on the scene. My first hunt was my freshman year in high school and let me tell you … it was the coldest duck hunt I have ever been on and someone forgot to tell the ducks to stop by!" Nonetheless, on that unsuccessful and frozen morning Tim found something he could enjoy when it was too cold to do anything else outside. Thanks to a large amount of public hunting land in Oklahoma, Tim gravitated to bird hunting, particularly, quail and pheasant.
The next progression was hunting whitetails and he decided to start off the hard way! He skipped the gun and went straight to the bow. "Now, if you can imagine a self-taught bow hunter trying to learn on public land, well, you can see why after a few years I wasn't so keen on bowhunting whitetails anymore!" That all changed for Tim after a random meeting through other friends with a guy named Dave Poteat. "When we started Inside Outdoors TV, I quickly realized I had teamed up with a seriously, seasoned big game hunter whom over the years, has helped me go from no whitetails under my belt to having more than a few hanging on my wall along with several bull elk, mule deer, bear and turkeys" The unique part of Tim's growth as a hunter, is that every big game animal he has ever taken, has been caught on camera. Yep, all the trials and tribulations for viewers to enjoy….or laugh at.
"While some would call my love for the outdoors an addiction, that addiction is trumped by my love for God and for family. The highlight of my entire hunting career was when my daughter killed her first turkey while sitting in my lap!" Tim's young son will be tagging along on hunting trips soon and is sure to become a hunter, just like dad! Along with Co-Host, Dave Poteat, Tim has been able to make a successful career out of traveling the world and hunting many different species of big game. His 'mild' start in hunting, has grown to a very in depth knowledge base of how to get in close and punch tags from the eastern shores of Virginia to western shores of California and from northern Saskatchewan to Old Mexico.


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Kings of Indy: A tragedy we never saw coming
For some reason how we hear bad news — where we hear it and how we got it — takes on an outsized importance in times of tragedy, whether it's something as massive as 9/11 or something much more finite, such as the unexpected death of a family member.
The best I can figure is that we share stories of getting the news as a means to process the grief. The whys of the tragedy are hard; the mechanics of how we came to know about it are not.
That's been especially true these past couple of weeks for our little family here in Indianapolis, and our extended kin in South Carolina, as we contend with a list of hard questions. Why did one of our bright young lights, my 21-year-old niece, take her own life? What could we have done to prevent it? How do we go on?
Abby Carroll spent her last weekend on this Earth in Indianapolis. And, with my wife Tammy as a tour guide, she seemed not just to be enjoying life, but soaking up every drop of it.
She walked around the lake at the Indianapolis Museum of Art's 100 Acres and jogged through the Victorian grandeur of Woodruff Place. She sipped a perfecto at our favorite neighborhood coffee shop, the Tin Comet. She bought a copper bracelet at Global Gifts on Mass Ave and a skirt from a vendor at the Irvington Halloween Festival. She ate taco pizza at Bazbeaux, a hamburger with peanut butter at Red Lion Grog House and a Reuben at the Rathskeller. And she loved all of it.
In the middle of all that fun, Abby's mother took a snapshot of her in front of our house. It shows Abby as a beautiful young woman who radiated joy. It's who she was.
A week later, that photo sat in a frame atop Abby's closed casket. Her death came just two days after she and her mother and grandmother drove away from us. Perhaps you have a sense of why we are left with so many unanswerable questions.
In fact, there are hundreds of things people closest to Abby have been turning over in our minds since she so suddenly left us on the morning of Halloween, a day she had plans to take another of her cousins trick or treating.
A ridiculous irony of all this is that one of the reasons Abby and her mother and grandmother came to visit was to check out this new world we've moved into on the Near Eastside, to see for themselves this place they've been reading about and hearing us talk about. And let's be honest, to make sure we were safe. What none of us knew, though, was where the real danger lay.
We knew that Abby was struggling to deal with a breakup of a long-term relationship. But she'd talked to her mother and to Tammy about it, cried on their shoulders about it, seemingly opened up about it. It was a rough patch, to be sure, but there was no sense this was going to consume her. Abby was too smart for that, too level-headed.
We also know that, as she struggled, Abby's doctor prescribed some anti-depressants and that there is considerable controversy about them, even an FDA warning that when used by children and young people, they can actually increase suicidal thoughts and behavior. But for Abby, her doctor felt they were safe.
We had hoped that Abby's stay with us might be a therapy of its own, a nice diversion. Her visit to Indianapolis was going to be about more than food and sizing up our neighborhood. She wanted to spend a few days volunteering here, in a part of the city where service opportunities abound. We had lined up a chance for her to serve at a day care and to spend some time shadowing at a legal defense clinic.
But before Abby could sample some of those opportunities, she felt a need to go back home to address some of her personal issues, to be in a familiar place. We thought we understood. We gave her a last hug. We said our goodbyes. We didn't know we'd never see her again.
When word came of Abby's death – and here's my story – I was walking out of the Star building at the end of the day. Literally, it brought me to my knees. Then I had to gather myself for the longest 10-minute commute of my life. As I fought the traffic, I carried a terrible burden: I had to break the hearts of every member of my little family.
I share this because it is important to know how our new neighborhood closed ranks to help in a time of crisis. Our closest neighbors agreed without question to take my 8-year-old Caroline to their house while I talked with Tammy and our two older girls. I just wanted to spare my youngest from seeing that first wave of unbridled grief.
Another neighbor who is a school counselor, Aaron Munson, advised us on how to share the news with Caroline — that we should be honest and answer questions she might ask about the loss of the cousin who had slept in her bed the weekend before. But he advised us to let Caroline ask questions at her own pace, to be straight with her, to keep things at her level. Aaron's was a voice of calm amid the tempest.
While we traveled to the funeral, other neighbors looked extra close after our house. Still others cried with us and listened to us. All of them made it clear, once again, that this little house on the Near Eastside is our home, and these people around us are our community.
Abby was coming into a sense of what it means to be part of a community, especially the larger global community. She had traveled extensively and, as a scholarship student at Winthrop University, had even spent a semester in Australia. She had a notion that she wanted to work in global health. She was brilliant and she could have done just about anything she wanted, which makes this a loss that goes beyond her family and friends. Abby was someone who was going to add something to this world, rather than subtract. When we lost Abby, the world lost an asset.
In the days that followed Abby's death, Tammy began looking for a Near Eastside organization that might represent some of Abby's interests, that we could support in memorial and invite others to do the same. She found Exodus Refugee, which helps displaced immigrants resettle in Indianapolis, and even helps them with medical services. It's just the sort of place Abby would have wanted to spend some of her energies.
Call Robert King at (317) 444-6089. Follow him on Twitter at @Rbtking.


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"Love each other deeply and fully.
Remember the ways that I have loved you,
and demonstrate your love for others in those same ways."
John 13:34 VOICE
I was sitting at my desk in my first grade class during recess. He ambled in from the fourth grade classroom, his smile warming my heart, making me feel special.
"Hi, Miss Van Veldhuizen. How are you today?" Conrad was different from many of us, not only because he had Down's Syndrome, but because I could always trust that his greeting was never out of habit. I always knew he truly cared about my wellbeing and happiness.
It's been over 30 years ago, but my heart still warms at the memory of him on the last day of school. Most students would wave good-bye as they boarded the bus, but Conrad took special care of greeting each of us teachers by name and wishing us a nice summer.
Conrad was limited in mental capacity, but he had an even greater gift. The gift of uninhibited love and kindness without prejudice. A way of making each person he met feel noticed, special, and cared about.
A smile. A sincere greeting. A caring heart. We don't have to do big things that get noticed. We can do little things with an overflowing love that spills out of hearts filled from the bottomless well of the love of Jesus. Those little seeds we plant will not be wasted, because God can nurture them in some person's heart. Like Conrad did in mine.
The memory of Conrad's caring heart makes me want to love like him. But above all, when I remember the unfathomable, no-greater-love of Jesus, I want to love more like Him. May God teach us to love deeply and fully, remembering how much He loves us!
Every seed of kindness we plant,
However small, noticed or unnoticed,
Can bloom hope in the heart of a hurting soul,
A soul aching to be loved and cared about.
With the nurturing of God's love and grace
Every tiny seed planted
Will grow and blossom,
Spreading fragrances of love to more souls,
Making a difference in this broken world.
"Teach Me to Love"
by Steven Green


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Key City Insurance's blog offers an opportunity for people to have an open dialogue with their agent about topics such as St George car, home and auto insurance.
St. George, UT (PRWEB) November 20, 2012
Key City Insurance is making communication a two-way street through consistent updating of the agency's Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn profiles as well as its interactive blog. These social media connections make it easy for customers, and those looking for information, to be kept up-to-date about insurance matters quickly and easily.
Customers can now request an insurance quote or service forms, get one-stop information about St George car insurance, access an employee directory and pinpoint locations directly from the agency's Facebook page. Social media is a great way to connect immediately with a trusted agent at Key City Insurance in the event of a disaster, after hours, or on the go; providing multiple ways to get information or request a quote.
Social networking services offer clients instant access to information from Key City Insurance that might otherwise be difficult to get in the event of a disaster or emergency. Claim information, weather alerts, disaster warnings and breaking news are now at the customer's fingertips. Clients can easily get in touch with the agent, especially if they do not have the agency's direct contact information within reach.
Key City Insurance's blog offers an opportunity for people to have an open dialogue with their agent about topics such as St George car, home and auto insurance. Blog entries create a conversation filled with valuable information from knowledgeable agents about community and insurance news. It also includes tips and tricks for making the best insurance decisions. Blog discussions are especially helpful for those with general insurance questions. Users can also find insurance information by downloading Free Reports from Key City Insurance's website.
Consumers now have a simple way to communicate, collaborate, find expert advice, and share information using any of the social networking links found on the agency's website. Visit http://www.keycityinsurance.com to learn more and to get connected to the resources offered by Key City Insurance.


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TechRepublic member slconsultingsvc, who is exiting the employee scene to become a full-time IT consultant, asks:
So I am looking for advice from all the seasoned IT Consultants on here. What did you do right or what would you have done differently when you started up?
I think most of us who have been in business for ourselves for many years could come up with a few pointers — the serendipitous good calls that made us say, "Wow, I'll have to do more of that," as well as the costly lessons that left their stinging reminders on our business backsides.
I've learned many lessons throughout my 18+ years of consulting; here are a few from my early years as an IT consultant.
What I did right
- Lined up a big client before I struck my employee colors. The transition to self-employment is hard enough without having to worry about the pay. I was fortunate enough to land an ongoing gig that was nearly full-time right out of the gate, which allowed me to court other clients without exuding desperation. Many consultants find that it can take a year or more to build enough ongoing business to be self-supporting.
- Settled into a profitable niche. I capitalized on my unique experience, which just happened to be in high demand among a modest number of software developers. My niche was small enough to avoid attracting competition from large consulting firms, but it was big enough to feed me. It still does, though I've since branched out into other areas.
- Listened to my clients. I developed software for users for 13 years before becoming a consultant, so I knew that the most important path to success was to help make your customers successful. Listen to what they need, and figure out how to accomplish that in the way that suits them best — not necessarily the industry-standard-enterprise-state-of-the-art way, or even the way that you prefer.
- Gave out freebies. It took me a little while to learn that one, though. Free examples not only create a sense of gratitude and indebtedness, but they also demonstrate your abilities. A lot of my business comes from freebies.
- Helped my colleagues with their careers. I often hooked my clients up with potential employees whom I thought would fit the job. I wrote letters of recommendation for people I worked with when they deserved one. I'd help circulate the resume of a good programmer who was looking for work. As a result, I got a few introductions to clients from friends whom I had helped.
What I would do differently
- Put some research into setting my rates. When I first started consulting, I had no idea what to charge. I let my first big client drive that number, which I erroneously considered generous because it was considerably higher than my previous employee rate. I failed to take into account all of the additional expenses involved in self-employment, and it took me years to bring my rate up to something reasonable.
- Get a lawyer to help me write my standard contract. My first contract was written by my client, which is usually not a good idea; I, at least, had the sense to dispute a couple of items and get the contract changed. For years, I worked many gigs without a contract before hammering out a good contract on my own terms. Not having a contract isn't a problem unless there's a dispute, and you need to have ground to stand on. Besides, having the terms in writing helps to set expectations, even if everyone remains amicable.
- Refuse more business. I took many gigs in the early days that I had no business doing, just to get the business. Before you accept an engagement, you need to answer "yes" to these questions: (1) Can I really help the client? (2) Will the client pay me? (3) Is this my best opportunity for the use of that time? (Read all the reasons I list as to why you may want to turn down business.)
- Get the entire story. I've always concentrated on the technical problems first and foremost, but I needed to pay more attention to everything else that can affect success or failure. What is the client really trying to achieve with this project? The problem they posed to you may not even lead to the best solution — you may have been asked to solve the wrong problem. Who else has a stake in what you're doing? What would they like to achieve? Who benefits from killing the project?
- Dedicate more time to improving my skills. Starting out, you feel like you need to bill every waking hour in order to get ahead — especially if you're not charging enough. But if you just keep on solving the same problems over and over again, you'll eventually become irrelevant. It's only been in the last several years that I've set aside specific hours for pure learning, and it's really helped me to branch out.
- Avoid paid advertising. I once paid out the nose for a big ad in Dr. Dobbs Journal and a full-page flyer distributed at JavaOne. I got so many phone calls that I could hardly put the phone back on the hook before it rang again. It led to a grand total of zero engagements. Most of the calls were people looking for a job or trying to sell me something. The very few who were initially interested in my services turned out not to be a good fit. I had cast my net far too wide. Nowadays, you can put up your own Web site, practice a little SEO, and let Google bring in your leads. You can put much more information about what you do on a Web page than you can ever fit in an ad, so your prospects can browse around and qualify themselves before they talk to you. You can pay for ads that drive traffic to your Web site, but I don't.
What lessons did you learn from your early consulting experiences? Share your thoughts in the discussion.


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This past week I traveled to India and Burma to meet with leaders of the private sector, civil society, and government who are charting their nations' bright and prosperous futures. In Mumbai, I had the opportunity to sit down with a group of courageous women advocates to discuss gender-based violence. It was especially meaningful to have this conversation leading up to International Women's Day, particularly because this year's theme is A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence against Women. It was only recently that thousands of young men and women took to the streets in India to protest the tragic death of a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern who was the victim of a brutal gang rape in Delhi.
At our meeting, we discussed the opportunity to shift ingrained social and cultural practices that perpetuate sexual violence among women, girls, and boys and the importance of educating India's future generations. We also talked about the need for better data, stronger laws, and expanded services to both prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
I was honored to inform them that the young woman known worldwide as "Nirbhaya" (Fearless) would be honored posthumously by First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry at the Department of State's Women of Courage Awards event this year.
A few days later, I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Aye Aye Mu, who has been practicing medicine in Burma since 1977. It quickly became clear that the Doctor and I share the same vision for development—beginning with the community level and drawing on the strengths of both private sector and civil society. Dr. Aye Aye Mu is part of a network of active health providers that is supported by our Agency and covers 217 of Burma's 324 townships.
Through an innovative approach called "social franchising," Dr. Aye Aye Mu helps encourage doctors running their own private clinics to improve the scope, quality, and accessibility of their services by joining the franchise called the SUN Quality Health Clinics. Started by our long-standing partner Population Services International in Myanmar, this network provides affordable, quality health care services nationwide.
Today, this network is contributing in remarkable ways to USAID's ambitious yet achievable goal of ending preventable child death and improving the lives of women and children. In 2012 alone, Dr. Aye Aye Mu conducted over 5,000 reproductive health consultations, diagnosed and treated 107 pneumonia cases, and diagnosed and treated 243 tuberculosis cases with a treatment success rate of over 80 percent. By leveraging the local private sector to deliver health commodities and better quality, affordable health care services, she receives quality birth spacing products and anti-malarial drugs at subsidized prices and passes the savings to those who need it them most.
Our Agency is working hard to save lives, especially among children. Building upon the Child Survival Call to Action, USAID is introducing a global public private partnership, Survive and Thrive, which will be linked to local partnerships to increase coverage of high impact and high quality interventions delivered by midwives to women and newborns wherever births occur. Working closely with our partners, these efforts will help improve the quality of maternal and newborn health by linking Burmese health care providers at the community level to their peers from American professional associations.
From India to Burma, these efforts advance the aspirations of the first-ever United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally, which was released this past year. The strategy pledges to improve coordination across U.S. government agencies to improve the quality of our programming and strengthen our impact. In a world where rates of gender-based violence show no signs of abating, it is increasingly important that we work together to improve women's lives.
This past week has been an incredible experience. Even as we advance gender equality and women's empowerment worldwide, it is important to remember on this International Women's Day that women and girls are not just victims. They are leaders, change-agents, and innovators, courageously improving lives and expanding opportunities around the world for individuals, families, and communities. As our policies and initiatives gain traction and implementation gains speed, we will work beside them to ensure our aspirations translate into concrete results around the world.


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Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, BMW and Cadillac. The mere mention of these luxury brands summons a clear impression of what they stand for—and, quite likely, what their products look like. Say the name Infiniti, and what comes to mind is a vague picture of the Nissan's luxury division in search of an identity for 15 years. The quest for its rightful place in the luxury pantheon may have borne fruit with the 2006 M45, a sedan that breathes fire, spins tires and still delivers looks and luxe.
Infiniti had come close to the mark recently with the sporty G35, the quirky crossover FX45 and the previous-generation M, a definite sleeper, sporty, sleek, but not quite distinctive enough in a crowded luxury market. Infiniti didn't repeat that mistake. The 2006 model is both visually striking—featuring the Japanese automaker's new "vibrant design" theme—and technologically sophisticated.
The '06 M features a voice-activated DVD navigation system, hands-free Bluetooth phone technology, laser-guided active cruise control and adaptive forward lighting, which follows the steering wheel to aim into corners. Infiniti also will be offering an all-new Lane Departure Warning system, which uses a camera mounted behind the rearview mirror to see if you inadvertently cross a lane marker. Commit a "violation," and you'll get a gentle chiding.
The heart of the '06 M45 is a 335-horsepower, 4.5-liter aluminum V-8 that emits the low, throbbing roar that one normally associates with a classic muscle car. The engine boasts 32 variably timed titanium valves, and it's mated to a 5-speed automatic that's smart enough to blip the throttle when shifted in manual mode.
Step down on the accelerator and you'll find yourself sinking deep into the sporty leather seats. Steering is a little light, but sure and responsive. The sedan's chassis is extraordinarily stiff, something we discovered during a hard drive through the winding mountain passes connecting California's Napa and Sonoma valleys. The Sport edition adds another slick touch, an active rear steering system that handles curves with uncanny precision.
Infiniti doesn't offer all-wheel-drive on the M45—yet. An AWD option will, however, be available for the V-6-powered M35, with an impressive 280 hp that's not much of a sacrifice for those who opt for the V-6. It will still blast the big sedan from 0 to 60 in barely 6.5 seconds.
Talk that the aging Infiniti flagship, the Q45, might be replaced by the sportier M series was apparently unfounded. Nevertheless, expect the newer car to dominate the sales chart until a replacement Q is unleashed. If our initial experience holds up once the new M45 hits showrooms, this is very likely to be the car that makes Infiniti's niche in the luxury market.
Visit www.infiniti.com.


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Story by
Harry Mylonadis
Harry is a Brand Builder, Thinker, Writer, Tech Geek and most of all passionate about Simplicity. In 2009 he co-founded minimoko to eradicat Harry is a Brand Builder, Thinker, Writer, Tech Geek and most of all passionate about Simplicity. In 2009 he co-founded minimoko to eradicate complexity from brand communications. In 2012 he launched CPU Wars to make tech geeks happy. Connect with him on twitter, email, LinkedIn, Google+ and here.
Activism is important. In some cases it's the only way to change things and move people in the right direction. In the past, we've seen how movements like STOP SOPA can affect decisions and how people from around the globe can join forces to ensure the greater good.
Although petitions and campaigning can sometimes work, as geeks we need to find more effective ways to inspire people and help them act against the problems of our society. There is a new kind of activism and we call it geektivism (add it to your vocabulary, it's going to be huge!).
Geektivism is what geeks do when they are fed up with the current status of their environment. Drawing from their resources, they find ways to tackle problems in a creative and engaging way (of course this usually involves games…).
In our search for geektivists, we came across five new projects that can really make a difference. Both trying to solve important problems, they turned to gaming and technology to inspire people and help them do something, rather than just complain or click on a form.
The Go Game Road Trip
The problem as stated on the game's site:
"Every year, California struggles to keep its 278 state parks open. In fact, due to proposed budget cuts, the state might close 70 of them… which is a huge bummer!!"
Geek game designer Jenny Gottstein took it on herself to save the parks using her geeky superpowers. When I talked to her about why she's doing this she told me about her Grandma who had brought the problem to her attention. Coming from a tiny goldrush town called Volcano (population 100 and the coolest name ever) she was worried that if their Chaw'se Indian Grinding Rock state park ever closed it would have a major impact on their small town. Further inspired by an archiving project of family photos taken over the last 90 years (many of which were taken in parks), Jenny created something that makes a difference.
The outcome is The Go Game Road Trip: an online mobile app that works on every platform to help you build a new adventure for your journey. Once you start the adventure you have a list of tasks that you need to fulfill and gather points. Armed with your mobile and a few good friends this can be the perfect day off at a nice Californian park.
Select Mission
Although progress has been made and some parks have been spared, Jenny and her team are still fighting to get the word out. If you are based in California, load the game, visit the parks, have fun and message your state representatives to find a solution (the bill AB1589 needs to be passed by 30th June so time is of the essence!). These geeks need your help and they've found a way for you to have fun in the process.
Mission Accomplished!
The problem as stated by one of the founders of the game:
"We are on a mission to help kids be more active physically."
The TreesureGame intrigued me so I spoke with one of the founders, Ville Kormilainen, to find out how they are trying to solve the problem. My first question is always "Why are you doing this?". It turns out that both founders of Treesure Ltd have kids and have been watching how their kids are activated by new technology but not ever physically motivated. Add this to the rising threat of obesity in Europe and you have a serious problem. Since they have a story-telling background (they're both journalists), they knew that a story element was needed to help engage children and get them outside. Using mobile phones, GPS technology and stories they created the TreesureGame.
The game gets the whole family outside to have fun. Once outside you can pick a story, plan a route and while you're doing the route interesting tasks and activities come up. After completing all your tasks and finishing the route, the kid is rewarded by the game. The best part of it is that it actually works!
Ville pointed me to a story from his creative director. One night, despite the insane Finnish weather (-15o C!!!) his 7 year old son wanted to try out the game. They quickly put on their protective clothing and went outside to try a new adventure. After 30 minutes, 1.5 kilometres and completing tasks like "Walk as slowly as possible", they went back home. Not only did they have fun and exercise, his kid even asked if they could take the other direction of the route next time.
Choose your story…
… and follow the action map
The team has even moved a step further and will be introducing the game in an amusement park in Helsinki with stories and bonus tasks at every game. If you have young kids and an iPhone then you need to give this game a try.
War on Terror and Crunch
War on Terror and Crunch are the two old-school games we came across dealing with social issues. The first was a board game having to do with terrorism and the second, a card game dealing with our banking system. I caught up with one of the founders, Andy Sheerin, to find out what the games bring to the table and why they started working on them.
Andy, Andy and Tom (the founders) joined forces to create games that are closer to more traditional activism topics and founded Terrorbull Games. The initial idea came while the two Andys where watching the invasion of Iraq on the news back in 2003. This gave them the push to look at how these actions can be explained and maybe experienced through gameplay. After a lot of work and trial War on Terror was born.
What really surprised them is what they observed during the user trials. Even though players were entering the game from a level playing field, while playing they were transforming by assuming a persona and disassociating from their values. When the time came to make a nasty decision they could blame it on the other character for a suspicion of having nuclear weapons. Over and over, they have observed how the players mimic our political systems and make decisions very similar to our history.
Their second game, Crunch, does to the banking system what War on Terror does to the political system. Through the game they have found a way to show people how the system works and how certain actions are not viable in the long term. Players even get a chance to experience the collapse of capitalism.
A small sample of the Crunch cards
These games might not fix our current problems, but they can help us understand what caused them and how we can act in the future. They are fun, satirical and can provide our friends and family a good time while teaching us important lessons.
Before I go into how Alleyoop is solving our society's problems I'll pause and mention a point that Gerard LaFond, their VP of Marketing, made during a chat we had. In the 80s, 90s and even 00s, when you wanted people to pay attention and change behaviour you had to use media that they were used to. A controversial film, a progressive song, an engaging ad, were all ways to make people act in a certain way and think differently. Now, that we are dealing with our geek generation, in which video games are their media, we need to act accordingly and use them as a way to change behaviours and drive action.
Alleyoop is doing this by gamifying education. The company's initial focus is in math and trying to pick up where the school system is leaving off. By gamifying the experience, the company is able to provide affordable tuition and games that can further children's knowledge. The beauty of this system is that it's flexible and adaptable to the person's needs and way of learning. It uses one-on-one tutoring, whiteboard sessions, recorded lessons and of course games. Having a freemium model also allows users to start learning immediately and only get more services when they really need to.
Starting with Alleyoop is a breeze
Along with other initiatives, this is a great start to fixing our education problems. By not giving just a pass mark but focusing on an understanding of all the important concepts, children have a better chance at succeeding in the future. If you know someone that needs help in math, tell them to give Alleyoop a try.
Grantoo's mission statement sums it up really well:
Play Your Tuition Bills!
Tuition fees around the world are sky-rocketing. To a point that people have started questioning if getting a degree is worth debt for most of their adult life. Even in Europe where education has been heavily subsidised, we see a rise and introduction of fees. In the UK, next year will see an increase of at least 80% for university fees, which has had a severe effect on applications. That's where Grantoo comes in.
What they do is really simple. They get companies to sponsor tournaments that have tuition fee grants as prizes. These tournaments feature games like quizzes, word games and even Texas Hold'em, and give students a chance to get a grant while doing what they already enjoy doing. The games are also educational, so it's a win-win-win scenario.
A tuition grant for playing a word game? Who can say no
Grantoo has a second benefit. Every winner has a chance to donate a portion of their winnings to their favourite charity. What really surprised the founders (Dimitri and Mikhael) was that even though they advise a 10% donation, their average donation to charity is a whopping 35%!
The above games and initiatives are just the beginning. There are so many problems to be solved and geeks need to use their superpowers to make an impact. My personal quest is to educate kids about what goes on inside a computer (it turns out that they don't know), what's yours?
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Georgia Walks
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Georgia WalksA creative and resourceful guide to discovering the history of the Peach State. Discover all that Georgia has to offer in over fifty self-guided tours, suitable for the entire family. From the northern mountains to the southern coast, GEORGIA WALKS covers the entire Peach State and its history, including Prehistoric Georgia, Colonial Georgia, Civil War Georgia, and Modern Georgia. Includes a timeline of Georgia history, detailed maps, and notes on walking, running, and bicycling each trail, as well as parking and contact information. Also provides extensive local and natural history and lists notable sights, attractions, and special events. A must-have for anyone interested in the natural or social history of Georgia.
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EU seeks views on the minimum wage
Against a background of growing polarisation, it is worth remembering the model of social dialogue that allows us each year to debate and reach thousands of agreements that start from different and distant positions and interests.
The European Commission's consultation on minimum wages and the recent agreement in Spain have put wages back at the centre of public debate.
- European Commission: First-stage consultation of social partners on Fair Minimum Wages in the EU
The moderate growth in wages, the increase in the number of workers on low pay and the tensions relating to competition based on wage costs are some of the issues set out in the Commission's consultation. The objective to boost purchasing power where economic circumstances allow is difficult to question. What is positive is that this issue is being addressed through dialogue.
The starting point for any debate on wages should stem from a common understanding of what the minimum wage can (and cannot) do. The main aim is to guarantee workers a minimum wage, who, because of low qualification levels or poor bargaining power, can have very low earnings.
To what extent can increases in the minimum wage push less productive workers – who are precisely those who need to be protected – into unemployment? Most studies show that there is no significant impact on overall employment levels. Workers on the minimum wage are a relatively small group, and most of these jobs seem to be holding up. By disaggregating the data for certain groups of workers (young, low-skilled, temporary and so on), we do see negative impacts in some cases, such as in Slovenia. Some studies show an increase in the black economy linked to certain occupations and sectors. In other examples, such as Germany, the total number of employees was not affected, but the wage increase was offset by a drop in the number of hours worked.
Examples of bigger increases, such as in Hungary, show similar results, with a limited impact on the overall employment rate but affecting around 30,000 jobs when extra costs cannot be built into prices or be absorbed by profit margins. In the case of Spain, which started from a fairly low level of around 40% of the median salary three years ago, a rise was expected in a phase of economic growth. Pending more robust evaluations, the findings from various analyses are not so different, indicating a limited impact on overall employment but showing visible effects in certain sectors and occupations.
Does the minimum wage reduce poverty? While its role in income is clear, its effect on poverty reduction is limited. Poverty reduction depends more on unemployment levels or on the number of family members (and income). Poor workers are often self-employed or work part-time, and a minimum wage has little impact. Disposable income also depends on taxes, contributions, social assistance and public services. Policies aimed at guaranteeing an income that ensures decent living standards need to consider wages alongside these other policies.
How to determine an adequate minimum wage? Relative indicators, such as percentages of the median or average salary, are among the most frequently used. They are mainly useful to illustrate wage inequality but say little about purchasing power. In Spain, 60% of the median wage allows for a much lower standard of living than the same wage level in richer economies such as Sweden or Holland. A different approach is to determine the income based on the cost of living. This is the case, for example, with the so-called 'living wage' in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which offers a means to differentiate the income required to live in large cities from that required in other parts of the country. Other issues are the extent to which increases in the cost of living can be transferred to a company without affecting employment and business and whether specific costs (housing, energy, transportation, etc.) can be addressed through wage policies or other measures.
What difference will the European Union initiative make? The EU will not set a common minimum wage, but we can expect that it will try to establish a shared framework where minimum wages can be determined at the national level. It could agree on common criteria and objectives; monitor performance through a certain set of indicators; or promote that economic convergence keep in step with wage increases.
The role of social dialogue will also be relevant. The Commission's own consultation procedure recalls the importance that the EU attaches to the social partners. The Treaty requires consultation before launching any social or employment initiative so that they can guide the discussions, or even request its suspension and negotiate bilaterally. In terms of minimum wages, 22 countries currently set a standard wage (as in Spain), and in 6, it is the social partners that handle wage-setting. In the Nordic countries, for example, any state intervention is perceived as a threat to the negotiation of agreements. A European initiative would need to respect all systems and promote the role of the social partners where the minimum wage is set by the government. It would base its proposal on existing practices, such as consultation and negotiation procedures to set wages in a predictable and transparent way, or by providing technical support (through independent committees or indicator scoreboards) to facilitate an informed debate with the best data.
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Výskum, ktorý bol vykonaný pred vystúpením Spojeného kráľovstva z Európskej únie dňa 31. januára 2020, a následne uverejnený, môže obsahovať údaje týkajúce sa 28 členských štátov EÚ. Po tomto dátume sa vo výskume bude zohľadňovať len 27 členských štátov EÚ (EÚ 28 mínus Spojené kráľovstvo), ak sa neuvádza inak.


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Welcome to the Home of Writing
in South East London.
Helping writers to help themselves for over two decades.
The East Dulwich Writers' Group is an informal collection of authors living in south east London, some published, some yet-to-be, and all at different stages in their writing. We meet on Saturday evenings at each others homes approximately once a fortnight. The atmosphere is intimate. Our email list may be large but it is rare to have more than eight members at a meeting. There are also regular weekday meetings for those who can't make the Saturday meetings.
Members read ongoing work, discuss ideas, writing blocks etc. We also give constructive criticism, suggestions and lots of encouragement. The aim is to improve our writing and keep motivated.
The writing is as varied as our members. All styles, formats and genres welcome.
Would you like to be involved?
New members are always welcome. Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com and we will let you know when we are meeting next.
Quite often new people choose not to read at their first (or more) visit until they feel more comfortable. We all still get butterflies when we read and recognise it can feel a bit intimidating to start with. Of course, if you want to read first time, that's fine too.
Follow us on Facebook
Check out some of our members and their websites here
H o m e
Subpages (1): M e m b e r s


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Reach new heights
Improving your life starts with identifying achievable, daily actions that become positive long-term habits. MYCLYMB is an app that helps you stay accountable to those daily achievements while having fun along the way.
Create a simple plan
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Complete daily actions to work your way up iconic mountains, reaching milestones and collecting bonuses as you go.
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Compare your progress week by week, and receive the occasional motivational push you need to keep climbing.


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Dana Silvernale: Jill Stein And The Green New Deal Deserve Your Vote – October 28, 2012
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress. – Frederick Douglas
Power concedes nothing without a demand." A demand… We demanded that George Bush not invade Iraq.
Millions of people around the globe marched against the war, but power conceded nothing, and the U.S. destroyed an entire country.
We demanded single payer health care for all. It was not allowed on the table.
We told Congress not to bail out the banks. They did it anyway.
On the other hand, the civil rights movement ended racial segregation.
The peace movement forced our government to withdraw from Vietnam and end the draft.
The ANC brought an end to Apartheid, freed Nelson Mandela from prison, and elected him President of South Africa.
So why do some demands succeed and others fail? The common thread I see running through each successful movement is the "teeth" of the demand. It is the real and concrete threat to power that forces concession.
We have a rare opportunity this year to stand behind a movement for prosperity, to demand a Green New Deal that serves the people rather than the corporations, and to give that demand the teeth it needs to succeed: Our vote.
Both Obama and Romney are promising deeper cuts to social services and increased exploitation of our natural resources. Both are completely controlled by the corporations that fund their campaigns.
Their economic policies will bring greater profit to those corporations and deepening austerity to the people. Romney may move faster than Obama, but both are moving in the same direction.
In sharp contrast, Jill Stein's Green New Deal promises prosperity. Absolutely practical, the Green New Deal is based on sound analyses of economists like Nobel prizewinner Paul Krugman and the historical success of the New Deal that brought us out of the Great Depression.
The Green New Deal creates 25 million living-wage jobs, single payer health care, free public education through college.
It calls for clean renewable energy and restoration of our forests, rivers, and fisheries. It cuts the military budget in half and invests that money in building a new and lasting economy here at home.
So how will you vote? Will you quietly submit to austerity? Will you vote for the XL Pipeline, for hydrofracking, for drilling in the Arctic? Will you vote for indefinite detention, for drones in the hands of our militarized police forces? Will you vote to support Israel's theft of Palestinian land?
Or will you make your vote count for what we all truly want and desperately need?
Will you vote to return power to the people, for government with integrity, for a healthy and prosperous future for our children and our great grandchildren?
The choice really is that stark. And there is tremendous power hidden in each and every vote. Do not underestimate it.
The Green New Deal is a campaign that will not stop on Nov. 6. If Jill Stein wins five percent of the vote in this election, the Green Party will automatically be on every presidential ballot in 2016 and will receive $20 million in public campaign funding.
Your vote for Jill Stein is powerful. Do not waste it on the lesser of two evils. Make it count!
Dana Silvernale lives in Blue Lake. She is the county council chair of the Humboldt County Green Party, humboldtgreens.org. To contact her, e-mail email@example.com or call (707) 267-5342. For more information about Jill Stein and the Green New Deal, visit jillstein.org.


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|Part of a series on
|Living spaces
A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for an individual, group or family. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. Homes provide sheltered spaces for instance rooms, where domestic activity can be performed such as sleeping, preparing food, eating and hygiene as well as providing spaces for work and leisure such as remote working, studying and playing. Physical forms of homes can be static such as a house or an apartment, mobile such as a houseboat, trailer or yurt or digital such as virtual space.[1] The aspect of 'home' can be considered across scales, from the micro scale showcasing the most intimate spaces of the individual dwelling and direct surrounding area to the macro scale of the geographic area such as town, village, city, country or planet.
A principle of constitutional law in many countries, related to the right to privacy enshrined in article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[2] is the inviolability of the home as an individual's place of shelter and refuge.
The concept of 'home' has been researched and theorized across disciplines - topics ranging from the idea of home, the interior, the psyche, liminal space, contested space to gender and politics. Such topics can be found in the writings of Gaston Bachelard, Jean Baudrillard, Mrs Isabella Beeton, Pierre Bourdieu, Beatriz Colomina, Le Corbusier, Mary Douglas, Diana Fuss, Dolores Hayden, Martin Heidegger, Henri Lefebvre, Edith Wharton amongst many others.[3] Discussions of home can help better understand and challenge perceptions of self and the extension of self.
Places of residence do not necessarily correlate with associations to the home; the home consists of a physical space as well as an emotional and psychological relationship, where memory, comfort, activity and familiarity are some of the many important factors in the construction of home.[4] Amongst being a space of domestic activity the home in the 21st century has appropriated new meanings with the advance of technology, therefore enabling multiple activities to be performed within a singular space. The home blurs boundaries of the domestic, the professional and the leisurely and conceptually becomes an amorphous space.[5]
The home as a concept expands beyond residence as contemporary lifestyles and technological advances redefine the way the global population lives and works.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2013)
The earliest homes that humans inhabited were likely naturally occurring features such as caves.
Throughout history, primitive peoples have made use of caves. The earliest human fossils found in caves come from a series of caves near Krugersdorp and Mokopane in South Africa. The cave sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai B, Drimolen, Malapa, Cooper's D, Gladysvale, Gondolin and Makapansgat have yielded a range of early human species dating back to between three and one million years ago, including Australopithecus africanus, Australopithecus sediba and Paranthropus robustus. However, it is not generally thought that these early humans were living in the caves, but that they were brought into the caves by carnivores that had killed them.[citation needed]
The first early hominid ever found in Africa, the Taung Child in 1924, was also thought for many years to come from a cave, where it had been deposited after being preyed upon by an eagle. However, this is now debated.[6] Caves do form in the dolomite of the Ghaap Plateau, including the Early, Middle and Later Stone Age site of Wonderwerk Cave; however, the caves that form along the escarpment's edge, like that hypothesised for the Taung Child, are formed within a secondary limestone deposit called tufa. There is numerous evidence for other early human species inhabiting caves from at least one million years ago in different parts of the world, including Homo erectus in China at Zhoukoudian, Homo rhodesiensis in South Africa at the Cave of Hearths (Makapansgat), Homo neandertalensis and Homo heidelbergensis in Europe at Archaeological Site of Atapuerca, Homo floresiensis in Indonesia, and the Denisovans in southern Siberia.
In southern Africa, early modern humans regularly used sea caves as shelter starting about 180,000 years ago when they learned to exploit the sea for the first time.[7] The oldest known site is PP13B at Pinnacle Point. This may have allowed rapid expansion of humans out of Africa and colonization of areas of the world such as Australia by 60–50,000 years ago. Throughout southern Africa, Australia, and Europe, early modern humans used caves and rock shelters as sites for rock art, such as those at Giants Castle. Caves such as the yaodong in China were used for shelter; other caves were used for burials (such as rock-cut tombs), or as religious sites (such as Buddhist caves). Among the known sacred caves are China's Cave of a Thousand Buddhas[8] and the sacred caves of Crete.
As technology progressed, humans and other hominids began constructing their own dwellings. Buildings such as huts and longhouses have been used for living since the late Neolithic.[9]
A house is a building that functions as a home for humans[10] ranging from simple dwellings such as rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to complex, fixed structures of wood, brick, or other materials containing plumbing, ventilation and electrical systems.[11][12] Most conventional modern houses will at least contain a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or cooking area, and a living room. In traditional agriculture-oriented societies, domestic animals such as chickens or larger livestock (like cattle) may share part of the house with humans. The social unit that lives in a house is known as a household. Most commonly, a household is a family unit of some kind, although households may also be other social groups or individuals. The design and structure of homes is also subject to change as a consequence of globalization, urbanization and other social, economic, demographic, and technological reasons. Various other cultural factors also influence the building style and patterns of domestic space.
A terraced house[a] is a style of medium-density housing where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls, while semi-detached housing consists of pairs of houses built side-by-side or (less commonly) back-to-back,[13] sharing a party wall and with mirrored layouts.
An apartment (in American English) or a flat (in British English) is a self-contained housing unit (a type of residential real estate) that occupies only part of a building. Such a building may be called an apartment building, apartment house (in American English), block of flats, tower block, high-rise or, occasionally mansion block (in British English), especially if it consists of many apartments for rent. In Scotland it is called a block of flats or if it's a traditional sandstone building a tenement, which has a pejorative connotation elsewhere. Apartments may be owned by an owner/occupier by leasehold tenure or rented by tenants (two types of housing tenure).
A homestead consists of a dwelling, often a farm house, together with other buildings and associated land, and facilities for domesticated animals. In Southern Africa, the term can also refer to a cluster of several houses that is inhabited by a single family.
A home's occupants may be a single individual, a family, household, or several families in a tribe. Occupants may be part of other groups, such as nursing home residents or children in an orphanage. Domesticated or tamed animals may live alongside human occupants for various reasons.
The financial arrangements under which someone has the right to live in a home are, most frequently, tenancy, in which rent is paid by the tenant to a landlord, and owner-occupancy. Mixed forms of tenure are also possible.
Squatting is an action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building – usually residential[14] – that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use.
Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly, contains the following text regarding housing and quality of living: "Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services..."[15]
In 2004, the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, defined a homeless household as "those households without a shelter that would fall within the scope of living quarters. They carry their few possessions with them, sleeping in the streets, in doorways or on piers, or in another space, on a more or less random basis."[16]
In 2009, at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Conference of European Statisticians recommended that homeless people are classified in two broad groups (noting that this would not provide a complete definition):[17]
In 2005, 100 million people worldwide were estimated to be homeless,[18] although some prefer the term 'houseless' or 'unsheltered'.
A home is generally a place that is close to the heart of the owner, and can become a prized possession. It has been argued that psychologically "The strongest sense of home commonly coincides geographically with a dwelling. Usually, the sense of home attenuates as one moves away from that point, but it does not do so in a fixed or regular way."[19] Since it can be said that humans are generally creatures of habit, the state of a person's home has been known to physiologically influence their behavior, emotions, and overall mental health.[20] People may become homesick when they leave their home over an extended period of time. Places like homes can trigger self-reflection, thoughts about who someone is or used to be or who they might become.[21] These types of reflections also occur in places where there is a collective historical identity, such as Gettysburg or Ground Zero.[22]
The word home can be used for various types of residential community institutions in which people can live, such as housing cooperatives, nursing homes, retirement homes for seniors, foster homes, etc. Short-term accommodation in a treatment facility for several weeks is unlikely to be psychologically considered 'home'.
Popular sayings about homes include "home is where the heart is",[23] "home sweet home", "a man's home is his castle",[24] "there's no place like home", "to be at home", "home away from home", "make yourself at home", "you can never go home again",[25] and "home is where you hang your hat".[26]
Homes may be lost in ways ranging from the upheavals of natural disasters,[27] fraud/theft, arson, or war-related destruction, to the more common voluntary sale, loss for one or more occupants on relationship breakdown, expropriation by government or legislated cause, repossession/foreclosure to pay secured debts, eviction by landlords, disposal by time-limited means – lease, or absolute gift. Jurisdiction-dependent means of home loss include adverse possession, unpaid property taxation and corruption such as in circumstances of a failed state. Personal insolvency, development or sustaining of mental illness or severe physical incapacity without affordable domestic care commonly lead to a change of home. The underlying character of a home may be debased by structural defects, natural subsidence, neglect or soil contamination. Refugees are people who have fled their homes due to violence or persecution. They may seek temporary housing in a shelter or they may claim asylum in another country in an attempt to relocate permanently.
|Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Returning home.
Presented content of the Wikipedia article was extracted in 2021-06-13 based on https://en.wikipedia.org/?curid=249429