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Spirit Walk Ministry
a grimoire for magickal thinkers
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
contact@spiritwalkministry.com
Spirit Walk
Paganism and Witchcraft
Pagan Festivals
Pagan In The Classroom
Traditional Witchcraft
Traditional Witchcraft FAQ's
History of Witchcraft
Witchcraft and Paganism
Types of Witchcraft
The Tools of a Witch
Witchcraft Festivals
American Witchcraft
Traditional Shamanism
Traditional Magick
The Tradition of Magick
The Principles of Magick
The Science of Magick
Qi (Chi)
Physical Cosmology
Metaphysical Cosmology
Physics and Metaphysics
Quantum Mysticism
Tesla and Metaphysics
The Simulation Hypothesis
The Paranormal
Phantoms in the Machine
Earth Mother
Goddess Movement
Goddess Directory A-F
Goddess Directory G-L
Goddess Directory M-S
Goddess Directory T-Z
Nature Spirits
Animal Spirit Guides
Land Animal Spirits
Bird Animal Spirits
Water Animal Spirits
Bug & Critter Spirits
Reptile Animal Spirits
Mythic Animal Spirits
Extinct Animal Spirits
Mesmerism
The Runes
The I-Ching
Plants and Herbs
Crystals And Gemstones
The Qualities of Crystals and Gemstones
Native American Spirituality
On Baseball
On Bathing
On Civility
On Diet
On Duct Tape
On Fasting
On Movies
"Believe in the fairies that make dreams come true,
believe in the wonder of the stars and the moon.
Believe in the magic from the fairies above,
they dance on the flowers and sing the songs of love.
And if you just believe and always stay true,
the fairies will be there to watch over you!"
~Unknown~
To those who practice animistic religions each plant, each animal and even each rock has a spirit and these spirits, joining together as a body of water or a tract of land, become the elemental energies of the ecology. Nature Spirits are incorporeal beings from non-material dimensions that employ these elemental energies of the Earth in order to bring themselves into manifestation in the material world. Mother Earth abounds with these beings, each type having its own special function to perform, and the Nature Spirits are involved in every aspect of life.
Throughout the world there are folktales and fairytales regarding these creatures and the divine forests and sacred waters that they protect and sanctify and their interactions with the humans who enter into these realms. Different people have different names for the Nature Spirits such as the Irish Sidhe and the German Kobold and some of the English language names you may be familiar with include: boggarts, brownies, elves, goblins, fairies, fauns, gnomes, leprechauns, nymphs, pixies and trolls amongst many others.* Nature Spirits are also called Devas or Shining Ones because of the light they radiate when they manifest into our world.
Sometimes in these folktales the Nature Spirits appear in the stories as a sort of Spirit Guide, helping the hero who enters their realm upon some sacred quest. Where they differ from Spirit Guides is that their main concern is not for the seeker on his journey, but for preserving the spiritual essence of area through which he travels and the Nature Spirit may try to obstruct the hero in his quest if he is seen as a threat to the sanctity of the area.
From a scientific viewpoint these spirits seem to behave in a similar manner to they way we understand atomic particles to behave, moving backwards and forwards in time and space, fluctuating between energy and matter. The theories of quantum physics suggest the possibility of alternative universes and multiple dimensions from which these spirits could be originating and these spirits may embody a "quantum mind" wherein what we would describe as forms of energy may have a conscious awareness and be able to interact with those of different dimensions or even different universes. These spirits cannot be directly observed anymore than atomic particles can be observed, but can only be discerned by the energy footprints they leave, like the glow of fairies in the garden. (Faerie Magick for People Who Don't Believe in Faeries)
*(Although "gremlins" might also be included within the group of "nature spirits" we have chosen to include them under "The Paranormal", as their manifestations more resemble hauntings rather than spirit apparitions.)
All nature-spirits are not the same as fairies;
nor are all fairies nature-spirits.
The same applies to the relationship of nature-spirits and the dead.
But we may safely say that a large proportion of nature-spirits became fairies,
while quite a number of the dead in some areas
seem to take on the character of nature-spirits."
~ Lewis Spence, British Fairy Origins ~
The Elemental Nature Spirits
All things in the material world are made up the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water and contain the nature spirits of these elements within them. These are the nature spirits that interact with the material world, but have their existence in the non-material beyond this plain of existence. When these spirit consciousnesses descend into the material world they manifest in the manner of physical existence within the boundaries of the realm into which they settle. It becomes and elemental spirit according to the element it forms in: In earth it becomes a gnome; in water it becomes an undine, in fire it becomes a salamander; in air it becomes a sylph. Each of these elementals has a distinctive and important part to play in the creation and maintenance of life within the natural world.
Earth Element (Gnomes) -- Earth spirits maintain the physical earth and they give us the basic energy of life in its rawest form and they aid in maintaining the physical realm of the earth. Thus, when they meet a human, they take a human form, though short, stocky and thick-set, due to their earthy nature. They help us to become more aware, but remember that they can be tricksters as well.
Water Element (Undines) -- Water spirits are found in natural sources of water such as rivers, springs, and the ocean. The water spirits govern magnetism and chemistry and they stimulate our emotions and spiritual impulses. They first appear as a blur of color, but as they manifest they take their form from our imaginations, and often appear mermaid-like.They are infinitely sensual, something to keep in mind if you encounter them. They are usually found in forest pools and waterfalls. They have beautiful voices that can be heard over the sound of water. In some legends, undines cannot get a soul unless they marry a man and bear him a child, which often leads to romantic, but tragic consequences.
Air Element (Sylphs) -- Air spirits are found in any motion of air, from a light breeze to a tornado. They are composed entirely from wind and thought, and they are the source of all life energy. Sometimes they are depicted as cloud beings. Sylphs are responsible for the myths of "angels", the winged protectors of the Garden of Eden and they defend the high mountain peaks that are their home. Mercurial and intense they assist humans to develop mental abilities and inspiration.
Fire Element (Salamanders) -- Fire spirits are everywhere and they will often first appear as sudden bursts of heat, but when manifest they will take the form of the lizard of the same name. They are responsible for all light, heat, and strong powerful emotions that drive "The Will". Salamanders when called upon to assist in magick can have a very profound effect upon human nature and while helpful in stimulating energies fire spirits can be temperamental and impulsive.
Trees are sanctuaries.
Whoever knows how to speak to them,
whoever knows how to listen to them,
can learn the truth.
They do not preach learning and precepts,
they preach undeterred by particulars,
the ancient law of life.
~ Hermann Hesse ~
sacred trees
For all of human existence the humans and the trees have had a special and even spiritual relationship. It is said that the first place man went upon leaving the oceans was up into the trees. Trees offered shelter, food and warmth. Trees became our allies in nature and the Native Americans Indians call them, "Our standing brothers and sisters". Trees therefore became the center for gatherings to worship and to exchange knowledge. One of the most well known creation myths had at its heart a Tree of Knowledge. In the Book of Genesis, the tree of knowledge was in the Garden of Eden. God forbade man to eat the fruit of this tree which would awaken him to his ability to think and reason for himself. (see: Earth Mother)
Every tribal people had its tales of local and guardian spirits of the tree. These spirits were guardians of the forest, often guarding a treasure or secret within the forest and each of the trees themselves had a connection to a spiritual connection of its own. Trees formed an important part of religious worship and many Sacred Groves served as religious centers throughout the world. It may be of interest to note that with the coming of the patriarchal Church religious gatherings moved from these sacred groves into grottos within the Earth and away from the spirits of the trees once so important to those early peoples reverence for Mother Earth.
Within these sacred trees was thought to reside another type of Nature Spirit, spirits that were of an elemental nature of wood and theses were the Spirits of the Trees. These tree spirits were thought to be of two essences male and female. "Tree Fauns" were the male tree spirits. Tree fauns were said to be wise and kind, but reserved in their dealings with humans. They were sensitive to the emotions of women and would sometimes court their souls. "Tree Nymphs" were the female tree spirits. More playful and adventurous with humans they would often fall in love with a human man. Dryads were the female tree spirits of Greek Mythology. Technically, dryads are the nymphs of oak trees, but the term is now used for all tree nymphs.
Tree Spirits were long-lived, but not immortal. If the tree died, the spirit associated with it died as well. For that reason, the Greek gods punished any mortals who harmed trees without first appeasing the tree spirits. It is highly doubtful that much thought is given today to the idea of mollifying the tree spirits as the great forests of the Earth are being cleared by the machinery of man.
The groves were God's first temples.
~William Cullen Bryant~
The Spiritual Properties of Trees
Each tree has a spiritual essence, but there are special trees that appeal to the human condition because of the special properties they bare. For this reason there were certain trees that were seen as holding special dominion over the affairs of man and of nature and sacred groves of trees are of great religious importance to many culture and are the meeting place for activities and rituals. Within the grove all become linked and hidden knowledge is revealed. The trees below are especially symbolic and have been throughout history.
Alder Tree -- Associated with water. The catkin bearing alder tree resists decay in its watery habitat and the water spirits or undines love this tree as does the unicorn. The leaves of an alder tree can be made into a tea to treat kidney problems.
Apple Tree -- The custodian of wisdom and tree of the soul. Freya, the goddess of wisdom walks through heaven dispensing golden apples to the gods which will give them the gift of wisdom and understanding and the day of the apple tree is Friday (Freya's day). To grow an apple tree in the garden is a happy omen and the Celts believe that apple trees grow in the Celtic paradise. The apple tree man dwells in the middle of the apple trees and he is the guardian of their fertility and the fairy protector of the spirit of the goddess.
Ash Tree -- It is said to be an ancestor of humankind. In Greece powerful families were believed to have come from ash trees. In Norse mythology the sacred ash is believed to be the entire support structure of the universe and even today, in certain places, people will leave tokens of human hair hanging from an ash tree in hopes that their wishes, hopes and desires will be granted. Used in fashioning witch's wands for healing.
Aspen Tree – The tree of heroes whose crowns of poplar leaves gave them the power not only to visit the Underworld, but also to return safely. The aspen crowns found in ancient burial mounds may have been included to allow the spirits of the deceased to return to be reborn. An aspen leaf placed under the tongue would make the bearer more eloquent, traditionally a gift of the Faerie Queen.
Bay Tree -- The tree of healing. It is associated with masculine principles and medicine, music, and the rays of the sun. The bay protects dwellings and gardens. Bay leaves crowned poet, heroes and important men. Grow a bay tree near your house for it protects your dwelling and wards off illness. When a baby is born it is lucky to celebrate by planting a bay tree for the baby's sake. Never plant a bay tree where vines grow.
Birch Tree -- Associated with Lammas tide on August 1, the light of the stars, the moon and the sun. It is a symbol of summer ever returning. It is said the birch is the mother of the oak tree because in prehistoric times it was the birch that prepared the earth floor for the majestic oak to be born. It is said the fairies love this tree in the springtime. Used in fashioning witch's wands for banishing.
Blackthorn Tree -- A winter tree, its fruits, called "sloes", only ripen after the first frost. The wood of the Blackthorn is traditionally used to make the Irish shillelagh. It represents the influence of fate or outside influences.
Bramble Tree -- The fairies love the bramble tree because it is wild and protects the penetration of secluded sacred faerie clearings.
Broom Tree -- The properties associated with the broom tree are that of astral travel and flight. The Irish called it the "Physician's power" because of its diuretic shoots. Sweep your outside ritual areas with it to purify and protect. Burning the blooms and shoots calms the wind. Be cautious if you plant Broom however, it will quickly multiply.
Cedar Tree -- Also known as the Tree of Life, Arbor Vitae, Yellow Cedar. Ancient Celts on the mainland used cedar oil to preserve the heads of enemies taken in battle. To draw Earth energy and ground yourself, place the palms of your hands against the ends of the leaves.
Cherry Tree -- Symbol of death, rebirth and new awakenings. Wild cherry folklore has unusual associations with the cuckoo, whereby the bird has to eat three good meals of cherries before it may stop singing. Folklore from the north east of Scotland warns against using the cherry tree's wood for any purpose, as it was considered a witch's tree. An infusion made of the stalks of the berries is used medicinally to treat bronchitis and anemia.
Elder Tree -- Legends said it was unlucky to bring any part of an elder tree into the house because it would bring a death in the family. It actually has a feminine soul. It is magickal, healing and fragrant. If planting an elder tree in the garden remembers it likes to be protected and hidden. In fact all the fairy trees like to be planted at a distant from others.
Fig Tree -- The fig tree appears in the story of the Garden of Eden when, after eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve covered their nakedness with leaves that are usually said to be from the fig tree. The fig tree has a sacred meaning for Buddhists. According to Buddhist legend, the Buddha, achieved enlightenment while sitting under a bo tree, a kind of fig tree. The bo or bodhi tree remains a symbol of enlightenment.
Fir Tree -- The Fir is a very tall slender tree that grows on the upper slopes of mountainous. Fir cones respond to rain by closing and the sun by opening. Fir can see over great distance to the far horizon beyond and below. Fir indicates high views and long sights with clear vision of what is beyond and yet to come.
The Silver Fir Tree -- Brings the knowledge of present and past lives into the now. The color silver links to the "silver thread" of awareness of the spiritual journey and the gift of insight.
Hawthorn Tree -- This is the most sacred tree to the fairies probably because it is so wild, uncompromising and fragrant. If you sit under the thorn tree on May Day Eve, Samhain Eve and Midsummer Eve you can commune with the fairies.
Hazel Tree -- The tree of wishes and tree of the star goddess. It is associated with the Celtic goddess of the stars, Arianrhad, whose image was seen in the stars of the constellation we now know as the constellation of the Corona Borealis. The Hazel is called the tree of wishes because it has the power to grant the hearts desire.
Holly Tree -- Symbol of the life force, vitality and immortality. It is considered a lucky tree to grow in the garden because it wards off negative energies. The shiny green leaves represent the vitality of life even in the coldest of times and is used in Yule for this reason. It is lucky to burn dried holly branches but not if their still green. The male holly tree (the prickly one) and the female holly tree (the smooth variegated one) are inhabited by respectfully the Holly Man and the Holly Woman, (the winter guises of the Green Man and the Green Woman.) Used in fashioning witch's wands for protection.
Juniper Tree -- Considered a protective tree and unlucky to cut down a jun niper tree. The tree has an abundance of healing properties. Infusions can be made to treat kidney and liver troubles, arthritis, dropsy and help the elderly.
Larch Tree -- The larch plays an important role in Siberian mythology where it takes the place of the ash as the World-tree. Their shamans use larch wood to rim their ceremonial drums. The smoke from burning larch is said to ward off evil spirits. Larch may be used for protection and to induce visions.
Laurel Tree -- Sacred to Apollo. When the Greek nymph Daphne was being chased by Apollo she asked to be changed into another form and Athena transformed her into a Laurel tree. Much respected in Roman times, the Latin word "laurus" means "praise" and "renowned". A symbol of wisdom and glory, the Latin "laureate" means "crowned with laurels", i.e. "poet laureate".
Lilac Tree -- It is the fragrance of the lilac tree that is considered magickal. The fragrance is believed to carry humans into fairyland and the supernal world. English tradition considers the lilac to be an unlucky flower to be brought into the house because it is associated with death, perhaps from the fear of the power of the fragrance of the lilac. It is really quite a beneficiary tree. Its flowers can be eaten and used as a tonic for the nervous system.
Maple Tree -- Maple trees meanings includes balance, promise and practicality. The maple is seen as a happy tree, alluring, mystically bringing together all who gather under it's sheltering branches. Carrying a young child through the branches of a Maple tree was traditionally thought to encourage good health and long life. The Maple is also said to bring lifelong success and abundance.
Mistletoe Tree -- Also known as Birdlime, All Heal and Golden Bough. It was the most sacred tree of the Druids, and ruled the Winter Solstice. The berries are poisonous! Bunches of mistletoe can be hung as an all-purpose protective herb. The berries are used in love incenses.
Oak Tree -- The tree of truth. It is ancient and wise and has an old spirit. The mistletoe of the oak tree has many magickal properties. It is also a marriage tree, symbolic of the marriage between the god and the goddess. If you dance around the oak tree and wear some of its leaves you will have a long and happy marriage. It is said that if there is a question in your heart that you cannot find the answer to then go to an oak tree and embrace it and ask the spirit of the oak tree to answer your question. If you should know the answer it will be send to you in a prophetic dream. The oak is frequently associated with Gods of thunder and lightening such as Zeus and Thor. This association may be due to the oak's habit of being hit by lightening during storms.
Olive Tree -- The symbol of wisdom and peace. The olive tree was the sacred tree of goddess Athena and Athens, the capital of Greece, took its name from the goddess. Zeus had decreed that the city should be given to the god who offered the most useful gift to the people. Poseidon gave them the horse. Athena struck the bare soil with her spear and caused an olive tree to spring up. The people were so delighted with the olive that Zeus gave the city to Athena and named it after her. Athena is often shown with an olive branch, a symbol of peace and plenty.Ancient Greeks used olive oil to fuel their sacred lamps, while specially aged olive oil was used by the church during weddings and baptisms.
Palm Tree -- Palms are the symbols of peace and opportunity. In many historical cultures, palms were also symbols for such victory and fertility. Early Christians used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the soul. In Judaism, the palm represents peace and plenty.
Pear Tree -- The early Germanic peoples would carve runes into the wood of a pear tree. honored by the Northmen. The pear tree is also mentioned in literature and folklore connected with love and temptation. In Greek and Roman mythology pears are the sacred fruit of the goddesses. The Chinese believed it a symbol of immortality.
Pine Tree -- The tree of the Sun. Its old title was "the sweetest of woods" and the scent of Pine is useful in the reduction of guilt. Like all evergreen trees which do not lose their leaves or green color during the wintertime, the pine tree stands for immortality. In Japan, the pine tree stands as a tribute to strong character and energy because it holds up against strong winds.
Poplar Tree -- The poplar tree is considered the tree of old age and the autumnal equinox . Heracles wore a crown of poplar leaves when he retrieved Cerberus from Hades and the upper surface of the leaves was thus darkened from Hades' smoky fumes. In Christian lore, the quaking poplar was used to construct Christ's cross and the leaves of the tree quiver when they remember this fact. The Poplar's ability to resist and to shield, its association with speech, language and the Winds indicates an ability to endure and conquer.
The White Poplar Tree -- The ability to find the spiritual determination to face the hardships of earthly and material life. This tree has the
Rowan Tree -- The tree of vision, healing, psychic powers, Rowan is associated with witchcraft and is also known as the Wicken Tree and Witchbane. Twigs and branches of the rowan tree help to bestow protection and runes were carved with sticks from a rowan tree. It is also a tree held dear by the Celtic Goddess Brigid. Rowan is also used during rites of the Moon and for rites of knowledge and divination. This is based on the Celtic calendar of the 13 moons and represents the Moon of astral travel and vision, healing and empowerment.
Willow Tree -- Since ancient times the willow tree has been associated with sorrow and death and it is also considered a tree of enchantment. Used in fashioning witch's wands used for divination.
Yew Tree -- Found in ancient cemeteries, this tree is said to grow a root into each corpse in the graveyard and is a symbol of rebirth and may have been used as wood for the "fe" rod, used for measuring of graves and corpses and in the making of shields. It is good medicine for working with past life issues.
(last updated July 9, 2019)


Satori Capital is a team of passionate CEOs, investment professionals, and sustainability leaders on a mission to invest in aligned private companies and help them grow - this is our life's work.
We assemble the partners, resources, tools, and frameworks to help inspired leaders achieve their vision and continue building their business.
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We work hard, because we love what we do. We invest our time, energy, resources, and capital in leaders and companies that are passionate about what they do, place an emphasis on long-term value over short-term profits, and appreciate that all of a business' stakeholders are critical to the success of the organization. We think these companies create more value in the world, they're better investments, and they're just more fun to work with. Learn more about what we do.


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Seize the Deal - New Hampshire
Rights To 'The Lord Of The Rings' Franchise Sold
Cody Mcintosh Published: August 18, 2022
Embracer Group is on a buying spree recently, and it seems they've made The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit the next part of their portfolio. With the upcoming series The Rings Of Power on its way to Amazon's Prime Video, many were left wondering what the acquisition could mean for the future of the show. Luckily, it won't actually have any effect on the production or release of the show.
The Rings Of Power is part of a new approach to Tolkien's work. Rather than adapting a large tome of Middle-Earth lore, it decides to adapt the appendices to The Lord Of The Rings. That means it's a fresh new story (at least for the screen), that may or may not actually include characters from the franchise we've come to know and love.
Embracer Group hasn't really shared a ton of details about new projects that will come out of the acquisition, but they do plan on merchandising the rights. They're also planning on creating a number of multimedia projects based around the IP. That means we could have movies, TV shows, and video games on the way. There are a wealth of characters and untold stories still untapped in the works of Tolkien, and they deserve to be more well-known.
Embracer Group didn't actually disclose how much they acquired the rights for, but estimates are high. According to a recent press release, they're excited to create more pieces of art set in Middle-Earth. They said:
Key upcoming works set in Middle-earth, in which Middle-earth Enterprises has financial interests, include the much-heralded Amazon series The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power which will premiere on September 2, 2022, set thousands of years before The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings; the animated movie The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (Warner Bros), set for release in 2024, and the mobile game The Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth (Electronic Arts).
According to the press release, other opportunities include exploring additional movies based on iconic characters such as Gandalf, Aragorn, Gollum, Galadriel, Eowyn and other characters from the literary works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and continue to provide new opportunities for fans to explore this fictive world through merchandising and other experiences."
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings Of Power will hit Amazon Prime on September 2.
Actors Who Were Traumatized By Their Roles
Source: Rights To 'The Lord Of The Rings' Franchise Sold
Filed Under: J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
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The 'Oscars of architecture': World Architecture Festival opens call for entries
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https://www.architonic.com/en/microsite/world-architecture-festival/5205952
Text by World Architecture Festival
The annual World Architecture Festival Awards, the 'Oscars of architecture', is now open for entries. The awards will be celebrated at the World Architecture Festival (WAF) in Singapore this November, following three days of intensive live presentations and judging.
The Chapel – a21 Studio – World Building of the Year 2014
Entries are now invited from architects and designers for the 2015 edition of what is the biggest architectural awards programme in the world. The awards are expected to attract more than 750 entries, about half of which will be shortlisted, in 31 categories. Closing date for entries is 22 May, and shortlisting takes place in early June.
Shortlisted entrants will compete for category prizes on the first two days of the three-day Festival, which takes place in the Suntec Centre on 4, 5 and 6 November. On the final day, category winners present again to 'super-juries' of experienced and respected judges, who decide on the World Landscape, Future Project and Completed Building of the Year.
This year's superjurors include Royal gold Medallist Sir Peter Cook, Sou Fujimoto (Japan), Kerry Hill (Singapore); Manuelle Gautrand (France), Benedetta Tagliabue (Spain) and Charles Jencks (UK/US).
In addition to the main awards there are prizes for small projects, use of wood and use of colour, decided by specialist juries.
Yalikavak Marina Complex – EAA-Emre Arolat Architects
Commenting on the awards, WAF programme director Paul Finch said:
'This is an exciting time for the Awards, with no predictions possible about this year's result. Since our launch in 2008 with our founder sponsor Grohe, we have had entries from about 70 countries round the world, and winners of every shape, size and type.
'Last year's completed building winner was a community space in Ho Chi Minh city by a small Vietnamese practice, a21, but we have also had big projects winning, including Zaha Hadid's Maxxi arts centre in Rome, and Wilkinson Eyre's Gardens by the Bay project in Singapore.
'Every year we find new talent competing with established big names, and that is part of the attraction of the event, not just for entrants, but for delegates too.'
The WAF Awards will be presented at a Gala Dinner on the evening of Friday 6 November.
Singapore Sports Hub – Singapore Sports Hub Design Team
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My clanmates and I have compiled some of the best th9 war base layouts if you want to defend from a 3-star. Now because these are anti 3-star TH9 war bases, they are set up so it is pretty simple to get a 1 or 2 star from them, but very difficult if they want to go for the 3. If you have all of your adopt some of the best TH9s war base layouts like these, your enemies will waste a good chunk of th9 and th10 attacks trying to get the 3 star.
Once we got our TH9s to switch to some of the best th9 war base layouts it made it much easier for us to win wars. This is because they have to be very skilled to get the 3 star, even if they are a th10 attacking our th9 war bases. We hope that this helps your clan win more wars as well!


Batman will never kill the Joker as it goes against what Batman stands for. Both the Joker and Batman know this. The Joker is laughing at. Its his twisted mind Joker has something called super sanity. No, its not a typo, if you're thinking he has super INsanity. Joker can basically see and. Joker revels in glee when his foes (such as Batman) are driven to the edge. His laughter is probably a reflexive output as well as a way for him to goad his.
1 Jul Laughter that sounds similar to that of The Joker. The laughter should only be used upon commiting an act of indecency. Such as: Physical. Explore and share the best Joker Laugh GIFs and most popular animated GIFs here on GIPHY. Find Funny GIFs, Cute GIFs, Reaction GIFs and more. 9 May Suicide Squad star Jared Leto reveals that he found an interesting way to create and perfect his laugh as The Joker.
With Tenor, maker of GIF Keyboard, add popular The Joker Laughing animated GIFs to your conversations. Share the best GIFs now >>>. 6 Oct Mark Hamill's Joker has one of the most iconic laughs in pop culture, and the actor recently opened up and explained how he discovered the. 23 Jun It may be called "The War of Jokes and Riddles," but this week's chilling BATMAN #25 was deadly serious. Set early in Batman's career, Tom. Get [email protected] The Joker (Laughing Ver.) % on the Tokyo Otaku Mode Shop. Orders of $+ Get FREE Shipping!. The Joker: Laughing in the Face of Death (Video ) on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more.


I didn't see the point of a tablet until I got one, and now I can't believe I ever lived without one. Samsung has a tablet in its stable of Galaxy products, but are these the 10.1 inches that you've been looking for?
As seems to be the way with all non-Apple tablets, this one is designed to be held in landscape, making it ideal for navigation while watching videos as well as playing most games which tend to use landscape rather than portrait orientation. Of course tablets can be held however you like, but depending on button locations, this can seem more natural in certain ways. The Galaxy Tab 3 has three buttons for navigation, the main big button that returns users to the home screen or can be double tapped to issue voice commands, as well as a back and menu button. This can help a ton when navigating within apps, although of course most users will rely on the awesome and sensitive touch interface.
As long as we're on the tactile component, the weight of the Galaxy Tab 3 made me more inclined to use it as a surface rather than as a general tablet – it was at its best when resting on my desk for all my swiping pleasure, rather than held in the hand. It weighs in at 512g, which it's exactly heavy, but was too heavy for me to hold at certain angles for extended periods of time, like when I wanted to read on it. That said, the borders are nice and rounded without any sharp or rough edges, so you do choose to hold it there shouldn't be any discomfort. Be prepared to hold it for a long while – this little baby doesn't need to be plugged in for about eight hours of use, although obviously battery life varies depending on Wi-Fi and app usage. The tablet itself is white, which seems to be all the rage in tech, but I still find a bit weird. It ends up making the tablet appear less slick for me; I would have loved to see it in black or chrome.
The 10.1″ tablet has a screen resolution of 1280 x 800. This is fine for most tablet users – games and videos look crisp and clear on it. However, if you're used to HD you might not be satisfied with it. Additionally, the tablet makes use of eye tracking to ensure that it stays on when you're looking at it and then turns off when you look away. Unfortunately, it never seemed to be able to detect my eyes. You'd expect this might happen with Geoff, but the thing really should be able to pick up my big hazels. I unfortunately can't tell you how well this system works.
The Galaxy Tab 3 has cameras in the rear and front. This means that you can snap that excellent moment of the cat on your lap, or Skype your loved ones. While the main (rear) camera can take passable photos for Facebook or other social sharing moments, I wouldn't recommend it for anything more important than that – the pictures just aren't that crisp and clear and I found it difficult to focus on the things I wanted. The front camera will be functional for video calls, but prepare to look rather grainy and pixelated – that 1.3 Megapixel camera won't do anything nice for your complexion.
Do I make you (h)Appy?
Before looking at the specific apps the tablet comes with, it's important to point out that Samsung uses their proprietary version of Android. Android is essentially a Google Operating System (OS) that companies can use as a foundation for their own OS. Samsung's version (TouchWiz) is incredibly easy to use and intuitive, making their phones and tablets quick and easy to pick up for anyone to play on, even if they have never used a tablet before.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 is ridiculously easy to use thanks to Google linking everything together – with the quick startup you can make sure your Chrome, Youtube and Gmail are all synced to the tab without any hassle. It comes preloaded with plenty of apps for you to play with, and of course you get access to the entire Google Play Store. However, upon start up you already get Youtube, Smart Remote (yes, you can use the tablet to control your TV), Flipboard and Google Talk, along with a whole host of other file management software including Dropbox. You do also get access to Samsung Apps although I didn't see anything on there that wasn't also available through the Google Play Store.
While applications and games work perfectly well on the Galaxy Tab 3, I couldn't help but feel like it was a bit laggy. This was particularly noticeable when switching between applications. Even once things were loaded from the internet, or already open and running, it just seemed to take a few too many seconds to switch from one app to another. This could be do to application bloat – due to coming pre-loaded with so many applications, the tablet drags when performing tasks. Here's hoping that the new Samsung Galaxy Tab Pro doesn't have this same issue.
All in all the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 is not quite right in its 10.1″ form. It's too heavy to really be ideal around the house without the processing strength to justify that weight. However, if you want an easy to use tablet that will easily interface with all your other preferences thanks to Google, Samsung's Android OS is fantastic. With this price tag, I'm just not sure it will be worthwhile to all consumers; if, however, you can pick it up for cheap while waiting for the Tab Pro, it might be an excellent entry into the Android tablet experience.


I am an Industrial, Oil and Gas Photographer and Videographer, offering a premium photography service on and around offshore installations in the North Sea and internationally.
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Yagha is one of the 45 provinces of Burkina Faso, located in its Sahel Region.

Its capital is Sebba.

In February 2020, 24 civilians were killed and three were kidnapped near a Protestant church in Pansi, Yagha Province.

Departments
Yagha is divided into 6 departments:

References

Provinces of Burkina Faso

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Home → Enablers → Analytics → Is your data safe?
The Internet of Things is no longer something that belongs to the future. They are a big part of the world we live in today – there are alarm clocks that track your routine to ensure you get a perfect night's sleep. And showers that offer water at the temperature of your choice, without you having to do anything. There are fitness bands and connected cars. Smart refrigerators and smarter homes.
As we all know, all these gadgets work by collecting and processing humungous amounts of data about each individual – data that will make each of these devices almost intuitive – they exist to make our lives easier. But one of the main concerns that many people have – is that of privacy. Fortune magazine even calls it the "Achilles Heel" of the Internet of Things.
While people's lives are made easier by these devices, there is a sense of unease – a feeling that anyone can get a window to peek into all kinds of private data!
Mattel brought out a Barbie recently – that is nothing new. What is different about this one, however, is that this new Barbie actually listens when you talk to her and – wait for this – she talks back too! And how does this happen? Access to Data! Not just any data, a CHILD's data!
This is how the Barbie works – kids push a button on her belt buckle to get her started. Her necklace doubles up as a microphone and a voice recorder. Kids download the Hello Barbie companion app. And they are good to go. The Barbie uses wifi to transmit a child's talk or questions to a control center for processing where speech-recognition software, operated through ToyTalk works on it and then the Barbie replies from its storehouse of some 8,000 pre-programmed lines.
You know, I really appreciate my friends who have a completely unique sense of style…like you!
Here's what's up: I'm worried my sister Stacie is having a hard time finishing her homework. Does that ever happen to you?
I think Santa is real. There's something very magical about the holiday season and I think he helps bring that magic to all of us!
So if you were planning the biggest, raddest, most unforgettable party of the year, what would it be like?
Of course we're friends! Actually, you're one of my best friends. I feel like we could talk about anything!
Oh nice! Fun with numbers! Teaching math sounds like a lot of fun. What kinds of things would you teach—counting? Addition? Subtraction?
Children have always talked to their dolls – always had a relationship with them that is "pretend" and real! And now, the Internet of Things makes their dolls come alive – they talk, laugh, crack jokes and play games … And when play time is over, the Barbie doll shuts down and is hooked up to a charger and charged back up. The technology allows the doll to listen to a child, and learn about his or her interests over time and "remember" them for later conversations.
There is no dearth to Internet-connected, voice-activated gadgets in the world today. Siri is an example. Or the Amazon echo.
But these are children we are talking about. Aren't we taking things too far??
Shouldn't we be worried about the kind of influence this would have on a child? Are we telling children that this is how a friend would act / talk? Are we putting children in a compromised position? Are we teaching them that pretend empathy or affection is real? And how will this impact the social development of a child? Children won't be able to understand and interpret body language (there is none here)! Bottom line – this whole thing seems to place children's ability to relate to other people on the line.
But isn't this a privacy or security nightmare? Any hacker can access all kinds of information! While one of the issues plaguing the Internet of Things is that all kinds of data about people is out there for marketers to tap into, raising all kinds of privacy issues, Mattel says it won't use the doll, or the data, for marketing purposes.
Studies have shown that people are aware that every smart device records data, which can be used later, and they don't like it. People wonder where businesses keep their data. What do they do with it? Do they sell this data? Who has access to this data? Can people hack into this?
Take the matter of an App download. When you download an app from either the App store or Play store, the app asks you for access to your account and all kinds of information. It gives you two choices basically – either you give up your data, in which case you get to enjoy the services offered by the App, or you don't – in which case, the App doesn't work for you! So customers are left with little or no choice at all in the matter! For the sake of convenience, they uneasily give up their hold on privacy.
Customers are not clear about what happens to the data that businesses have access to. And they have concerns. And those concerns need to be addressed. Customers need to feel that their data will not be sold off or shared with anyone else. And that the data that the businesses collect is safe – and can't be hacked into. Customers have suggested that there is some information about what will happen to the data a device picks up, on the device or on its packaging itself. Or have a third party certify that the data collected by a device is protected and will not be shared. A seal of approval, kind of thing.


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Patronymie
 Alexander Kluge (né en 1932) est un réalisateur de cinéma et écrivain allemand.
 Anja Kluge (née en 1964) est une rameuse allemande.
 Ewald Kluge (1909-1964) est un pilote automobile et un pilote moto allemand.
 Friedrich Kluge (1856-1926) est un philologue allemand.
 Günther von Kluge (1882-1944) est un Generalfeldmarschall allemand pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, frère de Wolfgang mentionné ci-dessous.
 John Kluge (1914-2010) est un homme d'affaires américain.
 Peer Kluge (né en 1980) est un footballeur allemand.
 Roger Kluge (né en 1986) est un coureur cycliste allemand.
 Wolfgang von Kluge (1892-1976) est un Generalleutnant allemand pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, frère de Günther mentionné ci-dessus.

Art
 Die Kluge est un spectacle musical de Carl Orff (1895-1982).

Divers
 Prix John-Werner-Kluge récompense une œuvre d'une vie dans les sciences humaines et sociales pour célébrer l'importance des Arts de l'Esprit dans l'intérêt du public.

Homonymie de patronyme


«Art Studio XIII» was founded in 2008 by a group of collectors with the aim of presenting contemporary painting, graphic art and sculpture of young talent artists from the Slavic countries on the territory of Russia.
Since the foundation «Art Studio XIII» holds at its permanent exhibition platform of thematic exhibitions of works by artists from Serbia, Macedonia and Russia.
«Art Studio XIII» is a gallery format "Living Contemporary". The basic concept is to help our guests to create a unique image of the house, by the use of painting, prints and sculpture, giving the interior a final sense. In the subjects of art, which surround us, reflects our unique style and attitude, character, taste. These things create weightless figure atmosphere of inspiration around us, allowing to create, to contemplate and to philosophize.


November moonlight shone through the overhanging trees onto a pair of large human-like tracks headed for a waterfall's frozen pond.
The first track was sharp, the second was scuffed as if the maker had slipped before walking across the ice.
Because Islander Robert Jones (not his real name), 23, had camped and hiked throughout his life and he had seen animal tracks, he said he had no doubt the one-inch deep tracks in the fresh snow belonged to a sasquatch.
"No animal makes that kind of track. It was clearly five-toed. (You could) see the individual toes. I put my shoe ? it's size 11 ? next to it and it was half that still. It looked like a big human foot, about the same size as mini-snowshoes."
The sasquatch is a mythical, large, hairy, gorilla-like creature witnesses say lives in the northwestern part of Canada and the United States. Its name comes from B.C.'s Coast Salish First Nation term, sasqits or hairy man.
Witnesses say it walks on two legs like a human, but has a flat, ape-like face. Sasquatch sightings and tracks have been reported in North America for 200 years.
It's called Bigfoot in the United States and Yeti in Nepal, an country in Asia's Himalayan mountains.
For Jones and a co-worker he calls Kelly (not his real name), who was along for the hike, reality and folklore suddenly mixed that late fall day in 2000. They were five kilometres from civilization and panic washed over them in a wave, Jones said. "There's a sense of fear that comes over you. Kelly's a tough fellow. He grew up being a boxer. He was freaking out and getting all anxious. Kelly grabbed a large stick." For several minutes they stood in the clear, cold night and listened to the forest. It was unbearably quiet, said Jones. "You have to understand it's a deafening silence. There's almost too much noise because there's no noise. By this time we were a little freaked out. There was a sense of uneasiness, a sense we were being watched."
Jones, originally from Bedford, N.S., worked as a bellman during the summer and fall for the swanky $700-a-night Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho National Park. Kelly, from Vancouver, B.C., had been at the lodge several months before Jones arrived.
Just over the Alberta border, B.C.'s 1,310-square-kilometre Yoho butts up against Banff National Park. It would fit into the area between Charlottetown and Summerside from east to west and Cavendish and Tryon from north to south.
The Emerald is part of a resort chain in the Rocky mountains. It sits about 210 kilometres northwest of Calgary, about 15 kilometres along an access road linked to the Trans-Canada Highway.
Trails into the mountains lead from employee residences and Jones and Kelly would often hike them after their 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift. Both wore headlamps similar to miners' lamps that night, but bright moonlight lit the trail so they didn't need to use them.
Jones said they'd been on this offshoot of the main trail before and decided to walk the metre-wide path to a 10-metre high waterfall. A tiny stream trickled down the almost frozen waterfall. Behind it was a cave about three metres up in the rock.
At the pondside they saw the tracks. They vanished on the pond's frozen surface.
Snow had fallen about 12 hours earlier, Jones said, so there was no chance this was an old animal track which thawed and refroze into a distorted shape.
The men returned using a different trail. Before they headed back, they paid close attention to the ground and when he saw the same track again he knew it wasn't a dream.
"We could clearly see it again coming back down. If you'd seen it you'd know this wasn't a shadow."
When they got back, Jones told his co-workers what they had seen. People who had worked at the lodge for several years weren't shocked because stories of sightings and reports of weird noises in the woods had floated around the lodge for years.
A sighting like this doesn't surprise wildlife biologist John Bindernagel either. The sasquatch is a real animal and he's got the tracks to prove it, he said in a telephone interview from his British Columbia home.
In 1988, he found sasquatch tracks near his house on Vancouver Island.
He poured plaster into the prints and when it dried he pulled out casts 15 inches long and eight inches wide ? about a man's size 20 shoe. A man who wears size 11 shoes usually has a foot about 10 inches long and four inches wide.
Bindernagel said because wildlife biologists have routinely used tracks as evidence an animal exists, the hundreds of prints found in Canada and the United States point to an undiscovered animal living in North American forests.
"We can be pretty sure there's a large mammal in North America we haven't seen before. We do have a lot of evidence we have to work with."
In North America there's a database of over 3,000 items, including reported sightings, hundreds of plaster casts of tracks and pictures and film of the animal.
It's this evidence that prompted Bindernagel to publish his book, North America's Great Ape: the Sasquatch, in 1998. It's a field guide to the sasquatch's habits and behaviours. It also includes drawings of what it looks like based on evidence he's gathered since 1963 when he was an undergraduate at Guelph University.
Because the sasquatch doesn't fit into a neat slot for scientists to study, there wasn't categorized information available for witnesses to identify what they saw.
And that's why, Bindernagel said, he wrote the book.
"It doesn't fall into anyone's bailiwick, so to speak. I'm not saying it should be in a field guide but if it was, people can say that's what I saw. It's those people I think I can help."
The argument for the sasquatch being a large ape instead of a primitive human is based on witnesses' reports of it throwing rocks, swinging sticks and vocalizing when they were noticed.
Jane Goodall, a scientist who studied chimpanzees in the wild, documented similar behaviours when chimps perceived a threat.
Research of African mountain gorillas found they occasionally release a rotten egg smell from glands when threatened. Many people have claimed they've smelled this scent before or after seeing a sasquatch.
So if wildlife biologists ignore evidence, they're not doing their job, Bindernagel said, and new animals aren't discovered.
"It's very frustrating. With my colleagues, I'm just getting very, very tired. They're not looking at the evidence. Wildlife biologists shouldn't ignore it. We're stuck with not just disbelief, but denial. It's not a matter of belief, it's not a matter of faith. This is mainstream biology. We will look bad when we find it."
But for Neb Kujundzic, a UPEI philosophy professor and department chair, the validity of Bindernagel's research depends on how it stands up to long-term scientific study.
All scientific discoveries are theories until another scientist comes along and proves or disproves it, he said in an interview in his book-lined UPEI office.
"Theories are respected solely because they haven't been refuted yet. The essence of science is refutation."
Using the scientific method, a scientist presents a hypothesis then tries to find evidence to prove it. For the scientist's theory to be valid it has to always return the same result and stand up to new evidence. This means a hypothesis implies a correlation.
Kujundzic used 400 bowls of chili as an example.
He always gets a headache after eating a bowl of chili ? that's the hypothesis. If he still gets a headache after 400 bowls that's the correlation. This correlation should be provable no matter where or when he eats the chili.
But, said Kunjudzic, if the person eats bowl 401 then doesn't get a headache, the hypothesis isn't valid. Something has changed and the hypothesis gets retooled.
This is how the scientific method is supposed to work, said Kujundzic.
"There you see it, others you don't. If you see it, it should be all over the world."
And it's the difference between science and pseudo-science. It's like a straight line versus a circle.
Open-ended science is a straight line on which a theory is presented and evidence given to prove or disprove it, while close-ended pseudo-science is a circle in which a theory is presented, but it can't be refuted because there's no evidence.
As an example of pseudo-science, Kujundzic used theories that extraterrestrial knowledge helped ancient Egyptians and Central America's long-dead Aztecs build pyramids.
But, he said, it doesn't mean discoveries like the H. Pylori ulcer-causing bacteria, once laughed at by scientists who thought ulcers were caused by stress, won't eventually be accepted.
"It emerged from kookland to mainstream science."
As for Jones, the sasquatch has become mainstream. "I'd always had that thought, but never thought I'd see anything. I'm not a fool, I know what I saw."
But, Jones who now lives in Winsloe, said he'd like to return and hike the trail again.
"I believe we saw something. I'd like to go back."


The majority of our Ford Transit units are 2016 models, simply put we have the finest fleet of modern rental commercials in Ireland at cheap rates..
Power steering / abs / drivers air-bag / radio/CD player.
Electric windows/ mirrors/ headlamp adjustment.
Description 1120kg Load, 11 cubic metres.
Insurance– These vehicles are for companies with their own commercial insurance cover. If you need insurance look at the private rentals section.
Credit Cards – Your credit card is never processed until vehicle collection, there is a 500 Euro deposit required on our vehicles.
Licence – Your driver must hold a full licence for the category required. Convictions should be mentioned to our rental department.
Tolls – M50 trips are paid for upon return of vehicle, all other tolls are paid for directly by customer.
Going aboard – Company must arrange AA five star cover and inform us of Travel destination, A surcharge will apply for vehicles taken abroad.


text:
Home News Human Rights World should thank Iran for high execution rate, says Tehran official
World should thank Iran for high execution rate, says Tehran official
The world should view Iran's executions and violent crackdowns as a "great service to humanity," Mohammad Javad Larijani said this week, speaking at a Human Rights Council meeting.
Larijani said that while the world criticizes Iran's government for an increased number of executions, it should be understood that the killings are a result of Iran's aggressive clampdown of drug trafficking. Iran has had a long history of confronting drug trafficking, mostly due to its proximity and shared border with Afghanistan, the leading world producer of opium.
More recently, with an unemployment rate of about 28 percent and inflation at 40 percent, Iran is reporting an increasing usage among its youth population.
By the country's own numbers, two million Iranians are drug addicts, which would make the nation of 76 million the world's leader. Experts say factoring in recreational users would result in a much higher percentage.
In February, the United Nations human rights office called on Iran to halt executions after announcing that just in the first seven weeks of 2014, between 80 and 100 Iranians had been executed for minor crimes, a noticeable spike from months before.
The UN acknowledged that the majority of these executions were in fact for drug-related offenses, but noted that these charges did not meet international law standards for which the death penalty may be implemented.
The report said a handful of Iranians were executed in secret and at least seven were executed in public this year.
Larijani also accused Western governments and leaders of "involvement with the vast drug networks" and "benefiting from their enormous revenues for political, offensive, and even terrorist activities."
Rouhani, who took office in August, ran his campaign on promising the Iranian people reforms, specifically emphasizing social and economic improvements.
More than 400 Iranians have been executed only since Rouhani took office, according to the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. In 2013, there were 624 executions.
In "Uncategorised"
Iran executions surge amid U.S. nuclear talks
Iran Continues Executions of Drug Offenders, Juveniles, and Political Prisoners
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Qarchak Prison, a Nightmare for Women Prisoners in Iran
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Poorang Novak - 13th January 2022
Urgent Calls Made to Human Rights Organizations To Protect the Lives...


Our Handwoven Bamboo Chenille Infinity Scarf beautifully showcases Mayan artisan traditions. These scarves are made from 100% organic and renewable bamboo chenille for a luxuriously soft texture. The sustainable fiber blends beautifully with tradition Mayan craft to produce these colorful scarves. Each scarf is hand dyed and handwoven on a backstrap loom, just as the Mayan tradition has been for millennia.
The Handwoven Bamboo Chenille Infinity Scarf is handwoven by a fair trade women's cooperative in the highlands of Guatemala. These scarves play a large part in the success of a grass roots cooperative that has grown from 15 to 300 members, helping dozens of indigenous families improve their lives.


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Swig loses 5 Hanover Square
Kent Swig and 5 Hanover Square (building source: PropertyShark)
Embattled developer Kent Swig lost ownership of 5 Hanover Square yesterday after Manhattan-based real estate firm Savanna bought the discounted mortgage on the 325,000-square-foot building, Crain's reported. Savanna paid $51.5 million in cash to Capital One Bank, a 14 percent discount from the loan's face value of about $60 million. Swig agreed to surrender his equity and transfer the deed, but will continue managing the property. The building is 85 percent occupied and has an annual income in excess of $3 million. "Savanna saw an opportunity to purchase an attractive, well-located, recently improved B-plus building in the heart of the Financial District, which had been effectively marginalized with various issues and problems related to the financial crisis," said Nick Bienstock, a partner at Savanna. He said Savanna will continue the improvement plan implemented by Swig and will market the building. Swig, who has lost several properties in the recession, is said to owe as much as $50 million to various creditors and has threatened to file for bankruptcy. [Crain's]
capital oneKent Swigsavanna
One Court Square recapitalized in $880M deal
Savanna's Bruckner Building goes into contract for $65M
Savanna rebounds following Amazon loss
Savanna in contract to buy Midtown East office building
Savanna in contract to buy Flatiron District building for $110M
Savanna picks up 521 Fifth Ave for $381M
Savanna's Chris Schlank blames Cuomo's "hubris" and de Blasio's "weakness" for Amazon ditching New York
Savanna struggling to recapitalize emptyting LIC office tower: report


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Dawson-Boyd's Johnson signs to wrestle at Augustana
Dawson-Boyd (Minn.) Trevon Johnson is one of eight student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent to wrestle at Augustana University in Sioux Falls.
Johnson went 34-6 as a junior with 21 pins en route to a fifth-place finish at 145 pounds in the state Class AA tournament. As a sophomore, he was 39-10 with 22 pins and a fifth-place finish in state at 138.
Johnson, the son of Ryan and Dayna Johnson of Dawson, tallied a 33-7 record with 20 pins as a freshman.
"Trevon is an exceptional athlete and an outstanding student," said Augustana head coach Jason Reitmeier. "We are looking forward to working with Trevon and seeing him grow in the sport of wrestling."


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Yorkshire's First Lady of Music: Dame Fanny Waterman remembered
By Geoffrey Mogridge
Dame Fanny Waterman pictured in 2003 with conductor Sir Mark Elder. Courtesy of Leeds International Piano Competition
"ALL roads lead to Leeds and all roads lead from Leeds:" The legendary Leeds piano teacher who died last month, delivered her strapline to a glittering audience at the Finals of the 14th Leeds International Piano Competition.
One summer night in 1961, Fanny Waterman discussed with husband Dr Geoffrey de Keyser her audacious proposal for a world class piano competition in the city. The popular Morley family doctor with an encyclopedic knowledge of piano music, was at first dismissive: "This must be held in London". Geoffrey's response merely stiffened Fanny's resolve.
A steering committee soon swung into action. Those on the "key board" were Fanny, Geoffrey, Roslyn Lyons - wife of the Leeds financier and arts philanthropist Jack Lyons, and concert pianist Marion Lascelles (nee Stein) Countess of Harewood from 1949-67. Fanny had taught the Lascelles boys to play the piano. She later confided in David, now Lord Harewood, that he had been one of her worst pupils.
A volunteer army of hospitable Leeds music lovers would be key to the enduring success of Fanny's grand project. These devotees were tasked with chauffeuring a hundred of the world's finest young pianists between competition venues and spacious north Leeds homes with room for a giant Steinway concert grand for contestants to practice.
The soubriquet "Field Marshal Fanny" said as much about Fanny's management of the huge event as the rigorously high standards she set herself and expected from others. Celebrated singer Dame Janet Baker imparted her wisdom and humanity as Patron of "The Leeds" from 2000 - 2015. Said Dame Janet: "If I was to associate just one word with Dame Fanny, that word would be excellence".
Lang Lang, Global Ambassador for the Leeds Competition affectionately calls her "the pianists' mother." Addressing audience and competitors at the 2012 Finals, Dame Fanny declared: "I give love and I receive love". Young pianists across three generations of entrants to "The Leeds", and the grandees on competition juries chaired by Fanny from 1981-2015, would doubtless concur.
Although physically frail, Fanny delivered a typically robust speech at a reception on 1st February last year, ahead of her 100th Birthday. This would sadly be her last public appearance in Leeds Town Hall, the scene of so many triumphs.
Fanny often claimed to have "put Leeds on the map". She achieved more than that: her iron-willed determination and "can do" philosophy effectively sowed the seeds of the city's onward and upward cultural renaissance.
Leeds International Piano Competition 2021 will feel very different; but the indomitable spirit of its founder lives on as an inspiration, to those whose mission is to help the development of a beautiful talent.


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Q: reading entries from multiple files I have few files like A.txt, B.txt and C.txt, each having a only single number in it i.e A.txt has 45, B.txt has 35 and C.txt has 100. How could I read these entries from each files and report with its corresponding file name.
output:
45 A.txt
35 B.txt
100 C.txt

A: One way:
awk '{ print $0 " " FILENAME }' A.txt B.txt C.txt

Output:
45 A.txt
35 B.txt
100 C.txt

A: Another answer, which doesn't involve awk but gives you the output in another format:
$ grep "" *.txt
A.txt:45
B.txt:35
C.txt:100

A: With shell only:
for f in {A,B,C}.txt; do echo $(<$f) $f; done

Output:
45 A.txt
35 B.txt
100 C.txt

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Harold R. Jones
Harold R. Jones is a principal in the San Francisco, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. For more than 15 years, Harold has worked with employers to solve employee-related problems.
Harold has represented local and national employers in a broad array of industries including financial services, hospitality, healthcare, bio-technology, staffing, manufacturing, retail, transportation and technology. Harold's practice includes the defense of employers in the full range of civil actions before California courts, and state and federal administrative agencies. He works closely with his clients to develop cost effective strategies for investigating, defending and resolving legal actions. In addition, he has significant experience in representing employers against claims of gender, race, and disability discrimination; wrongful termination; breach of contract; defamation; invasion of privacy and many other employment-related matters under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and other related federal and state statutes.
Harold has an active advice and counsel practice assisting employers on day-to-day California employment issues. He works with his clients to understand their business needs and provides strategic advice to avoid litigation. He regularly advises employers in the areas of background investigations, interactive processes, reasonable accommodation issues, wage and hour compliance, employee discipline, terminations, employee handbooks, drug testing, and severance negotiations.
Harold is an experienced workplace investigator. Relying upon his 10 years' experience conducting initial crime scene investigations and background investigations of police officer applicants as an Oakland police officer, Harold designs and conducts internal workplace investigations arising out of employee complaints of harassment, bullying, discrimination, retaliation and other inappropriate actions. He works with his clients to design an appropriate investigation based upon the allegations, his client's resources and needs.
Harold is a former legal extern to the Honorable James Ware of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Recent Experience
Obtained summary judgment of claims of disability discrimination, age discrimination and wrongful termination by a health care worker
Obtained summary judgment of claims of defamation, blacklisting and interference with contract alleged by client's former employee
Obtained multiple dismissals of administrative charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing
Secured very favorable resolution of multiple claims of under California Fair Employment and Housing Act and California Labor Code
Conducted internal workplace investigations of harassment allegations by transit authority employees
Managed large internal investigation of substance abuse treatment center requested by county authority
Association of Workplace Investigators
Wiley Manuel Law Foundation
50 California Street
Santa Clara University School of Law
California - C.D. Cal., 2000
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Harold R. Jones In the News
Harold Jones Discusses Joining Jackson Lewis in San Francisco
January 6, 2020 • Law360
Jackson Lewis Continues San Francisco Expansion with Harold R. Jones
December 23, 2019 • Jackson Lewis
Harold R. Jones Blog Posts
COVID-19 Workplace Law Advisor
San Francisco Mandates Vaccination Verification for Certain Businesses' Staff and Patrons
California Workplace Law
The California Department of Public Health Provides Details on California Reopening


The melancholic singer from North of England, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, will be playing in Prague for the first time. He will present his forthcoming third album, which will be released early next year via Dirty Hit. It will see Leftwich bring more electronic elements into play, and darker, intricately layered production, whilst still maintaining the raw emotion that has resonated throughout his work to date.
Leftwich's debut album, Last Smoke Before The Snowstorm, was released in July 2011. Jurnalists drew comparisons to Damien Rice and José González. Leftwich's "Shine" was named Spotify's most addictive track of 2014, the most repeat-played song of the year.


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"FIFE & KINROSS SHIRES Civil Parish map" by The Imperial gazetteer of Scotland. Vol.I. by Rev. John Marius Wilson.
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Fife, bounded to the north by the Firth of Tay and to the south by the Firth of Forth, is a natural peninsula whose political boundaries have changed little over the ages. Legend has it that the Pictish realm was divided into seven sub-kingdoms or provinces, one of which became Fife. The name is recorded as Fib in A.D. 1150 and Fif in 1165. It was often associated with Fothriff.
The hill-fort of Clatchard Craig, near Newburgh, was occupied as an important Pictish stronghold between the sixth and eighth centuries AD.
Fife was an important royal and political centre from the reign of King Malcolm III onwards, as the leaders of Scotland gradually moved southwards away from their ancient strongholds around Scone. Malcolm had his principal home in Dunfermline and his wife Margaret was the main benefactor of Dunfermline Abbey. The Abbey replaced Iona as the final resting place of Scotland's royal elite, with Robert I amongst those to be buried there.
The Earl of Fife was until the 15th century considered the principal peer of the Scottish realm, and was reserved the right of crowning the nation's monarchs, reflecting the prestige of the area.
A new royal palace was gradually constructed at Falkland, formerly the stronghold of Clan MacDuff, and was used by successive monarchs of the House of Stuart, who favoured Fife for its rich hunting grounds.
King James VI of Scotland described Fife as a "beggar's mantle fringed wi gowd",[citation needed] the golden fringe being the coast and its chain of little ports with their thriving fishing fleets and rich trading links with the Low Countries. Wool, linen, coal and salt were all traded. Salt pans heated by local coal were a feature of the Fife coast in the past. The distinctive red clay pan tiles seen on many old buildings in Fife arrived as ballast on trading boats and replaced the previously thatched roofs.
In 1598, King James VI employed a group of 12 men from Fife, who became known as the Fife adventurers, to colonise the Isle of Lewis in an attempt to begin the "civilisation" and de-gaelicisation of the region. This endeavour lasted until 1609 when the colonists, having been opposed by the native population, were bought out by Kenneth Mackenzie, the clan chief of the Mackenzies.
Fife became a centre of heavy industry in the 19th century. Coal had been mined in the area since at least the 12th century, but the number of pits increased ten-fold as demand for coal grew in the Victorian period. Previously rural villages such as Cowdenbeath rapidly swelled into towns as thousands moved to Fife to find work in its mines. The opening of the Forth and Tay rail bridges linked Fife with Dundee and Edinburgh and allowed the rapid transport of goods. Modern ports were constructed at Methil, Burntisland and Rosyth. Kirkcaldy became the world centre for the production of linoleum. Postwar Fife saw the development of Scotland's second new town, Glenrothes. Originally to be based around a coal mine, the town eventually attracted a high number of modern Silicon Glen companies to the region. Fife Council and Fife Constabulary also centre their operations in Glenrothes. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)
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Scientists recreate the face of ancient dog
in Pieces
The face of the world changes all the time, but the face of a good doggo is timeless. Now, we can see it.
Meet a very special Neolithic dog.
This canine cranium was one of 24 dog skulls found in a Neolithic passage tomb – the so-called 'tomb of the dogs' – at Cuween Hill in Orkney. Remains of at least eight people, along with other dog bones and those of cattle, were also found there when the tomb was excavated in 1901. This is the only dog skull to have made it into a museum; the others are believed to be lost. Credits: Historic Environment Scotland.
Human forensics have developed greatly in recent years, up to the point where facial reconstructions have become somewhat mundane. Not only have scientists reconstructed the faces of numerous men and women, but ancient people and even other hominid species have been reconstructed. Now, researchers have taken this to the next level and re-constructed the face of man's best friend.
This dog lived in the Orkney archipelago, off the coast of Scotland. It was buried in Orkney 4,500 years ago, and its skull was discovered in a 1901 excavation of the Cuween Hill chambered cairn, alongside 10 other dog skulls. Now, the skull, which is in the collection of National Museums Scotland, was CT- scanned.
The digital documentation was passed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to forensic artist Amy Thornton, which used 3D printing to create a realistic model of the dog's head, including muscle, skin, and hair. The process was similar to facial reconstructions done with humans. Steve Farrar, Interpretation Manager at HES, who commissioned the work, said:
"Just as they're treasured pets today, dogs clearly had an important place in Neolithic Orkney, as they were kept and trained as pets and guards and perhaps used by farmers to help tend sheep. But the remains discovered at Cuween Hill suggest that dogs had a particularly special significance for the farmers who lived around and used the tomb about 4,500 years ago. Maybe dogs were their symbol or totem, perhaps they thought of themselves as the 'dog people'."
Researchers previously thought the dog was a terrier — now we know it was a much larger and imposing dog. Image credits: Historic Environment Scotland.
It's the first time the figure of an animal of this age was reconstructed with such accuracy. They started with clay, using traditional methods, but based on a 3D-printed model. The resulting model gives us a fascinating glimpse at this ancient animal.
"While reconstructions have previously been made of people from the Neolithic era, we do not know of any previous attempt to forensically reconstruct an animal from this tim," Farrar continued.
"Looking at this dog helps us better relate to the people who cared for and venerated these animals, people whose ingenuity and sophistication made Orkney such an important place in the Neolithic and who have left us with such a rich legacy of monuments today."
There's always a certain degree of uncertainty associated with this type of work. In human reconstructions (which also carry significant uncertainty), artists sometimes rely on potential DNA samples to determine figures such as eye and hair color, and draw from existing research on the relationship between bones and soft tissues. This is not possible in dogs, and this type of research is almost non-existent. In an email to Atlas Obscura, Thornton says she approached the project from a strictly "anatomical perspective," comparing the dog's skull to skulls of modern domesticated dog breeds with similar morphology.
The skull is CT-scanned by Titziana Liuti at Edinburgh University's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (left). The resulting 3D print of the skull from a laser scan is on the right. Image credits: Historic Environment Scotland.
We might not be entirely sure what the dog looked like, but it was most definitely the best dog — as all doggos are.
The project is part of a visitor center to Orkney's chambered cairns, including Cuween Hill. For a virtual tour of the cairn, check the 3D model below, courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland (trust me, it's worth it).
Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn, Finstown, Orkney by Historic Environment Scotland on Sketchfab
Mihai Andrei
Andrei's background is in geophysics, and he's been fascinated by it ever since he was a child. Feeling that there is a gap between scientists and the general audience, he started ZME Science -- and the results are what you see today.


Michele specializes in freshwater ecology and freshwater conservation planning. Her current research centers on the role of protected areas in conserving freshwater ecosystems and improving conservation planning in freshwater environments.
Michele leads the Spatial Tools and Analysis Team and is an active member of the Impact Evaluation team. Having joined the Conservation Science Program in 1999, Michele works to conserve freshwater life in WWF's priority river and lake basins. She was a key contributor to the development of Freshwater Ecoregions of the World and edited a book on the freshwater ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar. She obtained an MS from the University of Arizona and her BS from the University of Virginia.


Bishopton School has a range of clubs that occur throughout the year. Some are tailored to Key Stage 1 and some to Key Stage 2. Why not have a look at the clubs that are running at the moment in the table below.


Address - WUVT: Radio for Everyone!
We're located in Squires Student Center, Suite 350 on Virginia Tech's campus.
If you'd like to make a request, you can call the FM studio directly at (540) 231-WUVT (9888).
For all other matters, you can reach our business office at (540) 231-9880. Our office hours are 10:00-17:00 on weekdays. Please see our contact page for more specific office hours.


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The Pueblo Zoo recently welcomed the birth of its logo animal, a zebra foal born last week.
Zookeepers haven't determined the sex of the curious newborn because of its protective mother, Dafina, a 4-year-old mare nursing her second offspring here in Pueblo.
Zoo Curator Marilyn McBirney said Wednesday that Dafina gave birth to a male last year and is being a concerned and responsible mother, distancing personnel, as well as ostriches and water buffaloes, away from her newborn in their home in the African Plains exhibit.
Zebras, like domestic horses, are pregnant for 11 months. When born, McBirney explained, zebras come out full of life and running around because in the wilderness they must quickly avoid predators.
The zoo was expecting the foal, but the delivery definitely came as a surprise.
"We had a visitor come up and ask us about the baby zebra and we were like 'What baby zebra?' " McBirney said.
Once the sex of the animal is discovered, then the zoo staff starts talking about names. Since the zebra is only a week old, keepers are avoiding human contact for a while.
The father, Dart, an 8-year-old stallion, was too protective of the last foal and is fenced off from the mom and newborn.
The new zebra was born in the afternoon of Aug. 28.
McBirney said she hopes in a month's time that Dart will be able to join the family. She also mentioned after a year, once the foal grows strong, it will be shipped elsewhere like last year's foal, to prevent inbreeding.
The zoo also welcomed a bison calf in early August, as well as three African black-footed penguins, four swift foxes, seven pigmy goats and one Irish Dexter calf this year.
Breeding is limited at the zoo and for a couple reasons, according to McBirney. Space is one issue, because there is so little on its 25-acre lot in City Park.
Zoos follow breeding plans drawn for certain animal species. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association nationally monitors animal reproduction for concerns of overpopulation - like zebras - and the opposite reason for rebuilding certain species.
Animals like swift foxes, which are close to making the endangered species list, are on a special species plan to boost population numbers.
The zoo has been active in breeding swift foxes and has already sent the animals, threatened by trapping and habitat destruction, to Canada, Montana and Oklahoma, McBirney noted.


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Posted inOutdoor Guide
by Jason Phox January 25, 2023 January 24, 2023
Photo by Jason Phox.
Pittsburgh is celebrated for its bridges, its predominant role in U.S. industrial history and for being home to one of the world's biggest conventions for anthropomorphism. Now, people finally are noticing Pittsburgh is a destination for outdoor activities.
A study by the real estate listing company CommercialSearch ranks Pittsburgh as the 8th best place for outdoor enthusiasts among cities with fewer than 500,000 residents.
The study examines several factors such as parks, outdoor amenities, outdoor trails per resident, air quality, number of clear days per year, walkability and recreation places.
"In our bustling daily lives, it may be increasingly difficult to connect with nature and spend time outside," writes Lucian Alixandrescu for CommercialSearch. "As such, living in a city where such opportunities are easier to find can contribute to physical and mental well-being. Our aim was to identify which cities are the best in this regard."
Pittsburgh has more than 165 parks with amenities for everyone such as biking, walking, swimming, hiking and disc golf. Pittsburgh earned a park score of 21.5 out of 30 with 67.3% of residents living within a 10-minute walk to a park. The city received the best score out of all small cities for its outdoor fitness zones per capita, with almost one fitness zone for every 10,000 residents.
"From urban havens to the Great Allegheny Passage, Pittsburgh is a paradise for outdoor lovers ready to take in the sights and sounds of nature within the city as well as outside its limits," says Alixandrescu. "Beyond hiking and biking, the city also offers kayaking, with eight rivers being within an hour's drive, as well as camping and many other opportunities for recreation."
Image courtesy of CommercialSearch.
Valerie Beichner, president & CEO of Venture Outdoors, a Pittsburgh-based organization working to highlight the benefits of getting outdoors, agrees.
"Access to outdoor spaces is vital to everyone's mental and physical health and wellness. Parks provide opportunities to be physically active and connect with nature. They also provide space for communities to gather and engage," she says.
Beichner says Pittsburgh residents tend to engage in cycling and walking the most because of how easily accessible they are. She adds that kayaking is becoming more popular in the city.
"Pittsburgh has it all," says Beichner. "We have what feels like endless miles of trails on the riverfront and throughout our wooded hills; several waterways like rivers, streams and lakes to choose from; and countless clubs, nonprofits and for-profits with a mission to get you enjoying the natural environment."
This story is part of the new Outdoor Guide series for NEXTpittsburgh focusing on outdoor recreation within a roughly three-hour drive from Pittsburgh.
Outdoor Inclusion Coalition aims to make parks more accessible for all
Our guide to 6 Pittsburgh area ski resorts
Pennsylvania outdoor economy experts explain how recreation and job growth go hand-in-hand
Tagged: outdoor recreation, parks & recreation, Venture Outdoors
Jason Phox
Jason Phox is a journalist in the Pittsburgh area sharing important information with the people of the Steel City. He enjoys writing, photography, and mostly comic books. More by Jason Phox
Lower Hill development approved despite community opposition


An unusual home taking shape inside General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant is intended to be part of a movement to rebuild Detroit's economy and deteriorating housing stock.
Skilled-trades workers from the factory that makes the electric Chevrolet Volt perform framing, electrical and plumbing work. Meanwhile, a nonprofit urban farming group is preparing property nearby that by spring should welcome what's believed to be the city's first occupied shipping container homestead.
The 40-foot-long container will be secured on a foundation that once supported a blighted home in the North End neighborhood. It will be home base for caretakers of a neighborhood farm and agricultural research.
Both GM and the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative hope it's a model to lure and keep residents as Detroit removes blight and recovers from bankruptcy.


As 2018 comes to an end, you're probably starting to think about your resolutions and plans for the new year. For some, buying a home may top that list, but it's important to remember that "wanting" to buy a home and "being ready" are two completely different things. If you're hoping to become a homeowner in 2019, getting your finances in order is a must, and there's no better time to start than now.
Here are some expert tips to help ensure you're financially prepared to make your homebuying dream a reality in the coming year.
Credit is key to buying a home. Why? Because your credit score has a direct impact on your mortgage interest rate. The higher the score, the lower the rate.
When it comes to credit, most lenders look at your FICO score. FICO stands for the Fair Isaac Corporation, a company that developed a method for calculating credit scores based on information from credit reporting agencies. Your lender will pull a combined mortgage credit report from the three major agencies and use the middle number as your official FICO score for determining loan qualification. For the best possible rate, experts say your score should be above 740, but there are conventional loan programs that accept scores as low as 640, and some government-backed loan options that go as low as 580.
Consumers are entitled to a free copy of their credit report every year through the three reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. If you notice any errors when reviewing your report, call one of the bureaus immediately to have it resolved.
Probably one of the easiest ways to avoid becoming house poor is to buy a home that you can truly afford, which all comes down to setting a budget right from the start.
"Remember, knowing how much you can afford in a house payment is often different than what you are preapproved for," said Peterson.
The general rule of thumb is to not pay more than 30 percent of their pretax income on housing—so if you make $5,000 per month, you should spend no more than $1,500 on your mortgage, property tax, and other housing costs.
With home loans, lenders look at gross income, not what you actually take home. So, when putting together a budget, start with that take-home pay number, and then list all recurring monthly expenses, as well as expenses you will add once you become a homeowner. And, don't forget to factor in your current lifestyle expenses, like eating out or traveling. While lenders qualify you for what you can technically afford based on the hard numbers, they don't know how you spend your disposable income.
"Fine-tuning your budget now may also allow you to start putting away extra cash for upcoming expenses like the down payment, closing costs, etc.," said Peterson.
Like credit, your down payment also influences your monthly mortgage payment: the higher the down payment, the less your payments will be. However, one of the biggest homebuying myths is that you must have 20 percent down, and that's just not the case anymore. Not only are there several government-backed mortgage programs that accept low down payments — even no money down in some cases — but conventional mortgage requirements have also eased up over the years.
In addition to low-down payment loan options, there are also city, state, and sometimes employer down payment assistance (DPA) programs available. Each program has its own set of requirements and qualifications, so if you're interested in pursuing a DPA program, be sure to speak with a professional lender.
This may very well be your first step in your financial housekeeping plan. An experienced, local lender can walk you through the entire mortgage process, help you through your financial preparation, and secure your prequalification or preapproval.
What areas of your credit report should you focus on to ensure the biggest impact on interest rate? How much should you set aside for down payment and other transactional expenses? If you spent $150,000 on a house instead of $130,000, how much would your monthly payment increase? These are all questions you can talk with your lender about.
Peterson says local REALTORS® and other recent homebuyers are often good sources for lending referrals.
If buying a home is in your future, visit the Greater Lansing Association of REALTOR®'s website at www.lansing-realestate.com to find a list of professional lenders and REALTORS® who are ready to help.


Paul Greenberg: The final debate: Who's living in the real world?
The final debate: Who's living in the real world?
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | The last of this year's long slog of presidential debates Monday night was about foreign affairs -- that is, the state of the world and America's place in it. By the end, the essential question raised by the debate should have been clear: Which candidate is living in the real world we've all experienced the past four years? And which in a world of denial and excuse-making?
To ask such questions is to answer them. Just look around you. As the ancient Romans might say, to put it in plain Latin, res ipsa loquitur. The state of the world speaks for itself. And, as always, it is fraught with danger. And full of people who'll deny it. And who are ready to explain that we're doing just dandy. And about to do dandier.
In the president's world -- any resemblance to the real one may be purely circumstantial -- we're living in the best of all possible worlds, thanks to his guidance, wisdom, leadership and virtues in general. Much like Voltaire's Candide, he looks around and concludes there is nothing to be improved on. Once again the United States is in control of developments. That's good to hear, just hard to believe.
In the world his presidential challenger inhabits, along with the rest of us, this administration continues to be caught by surprise as its foreign policy unravels. Caught unawares, repeatedly, this administration has been unprepared for emergencies and, worse, unwilling to admit its mistakes, which only assures that more unpleasant surprises are in store. For how correct mistakes and misassumptions if they're never recognized?
If there is a single event that summarizes this administration's unpreparedness, it is what happened just last month to the American consulate in Benghazi, to our ambassador and three other dedicated envoys there, and what it revealed about the whole, unwinding fabric of American policy in the Middle East.
Revealing, too, is what didn't happen after Benghazi: an honest, far-reaching re-assessment of the assumptions that policy is based on. Assumptions this president has operated on from the outset of his administration, when he made a grand apology tour speaking of how America had "shown arrogance and been dismissive, even divisive" in the world. Much as the president might like to deny it now.
Just as he did in the aftermath of the attack in Benghazi. Yes, he may have offered some lip service in general to this country's war on terror when he spoke immediately after the attack on our consulate ("No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation..."). But he forbore to specify that the assault in Benghazi was a terrorist attack. Indeed, his administration has studiously avoided any mention of a war on terror, preferring the euphemism Overseas Contingency Operations.
For weeks after Benghazi, key members of this administration--like our ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice--continued to depict the violence in Benghazi as some kind of spontaneous demonstration against a stupid video ridiculing the prophet Mohammed. Why?
Not just for political reasons -- to support the president's claim in this election that he's got the terrorists "on the run" -- but as a reflection of a deeper, ideological worldview: If only we weren't so arrogant, all would be well. If only we went around the world apologizing and extending the hand of friendship, our enemies would grasp it. It would all be so easy. Like closing Guantanamo.
The late Jeane Kirkpatrick, our ambassador to the United Nations in the Reagan administration, had a phrase to sum up that whole attitude: Blame America First. And once again, it has led to violence, just as the policy called appeasement did in an earlier era.
The president continues to insist our alliances are in great shape. Ri-i-ight. Tell it to the Poles, who had the rug pulled out from under them when long-agreed-upon plans for a missile-defense system in Eastern Europe were canceled by this administration. Tell it to the Israelis, who know very well with what distaste our president deals with their leader. Tell it the leaders of Green Revolution in Iran, those who survived.
To quote Mitt Romney in Monday night's debate: "The president began what I've called an apology tour of going to various nations in the Middle East and criticizing America. I think they looked at that and saw weakness. Then when there were dissidents in the streets of Teheran, the Green Revolution, holding signs saying, 'Is America with us?' the president was silent. I think they noticed that as well."
The world certainly noticed. Specifically, it noticed the absence of the moral authority America has shown again and again as one tyranny after another has arisen to threaten the peace of the world. And as the mullahs in Iran, their centrifuges still spinning madly, do now. Does anyone believe the next four years will be any different in that regard from the last four?
Monday night, the president responded to such concerns mainly by attacking his opponent, delivering one zinger after another. But zingers do not a foreign policy make. Or as Mitt Romney quietly responded at one point: "Attacking me is not an agenda." Indeed, even at this late point in this year's presidential campaign, Barack Obama doesn't seem to have one.


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