text:
Leaderboard Submission
BIZ – Northwest Louisiana
Gatti: While Louisiana sleeps
BIZ. Staff
A movement is growing across the nation to rebuild our aging roads and bridges. Serious conversations of over a trillion dollars in federal money over the next ten years. President Trump made this promise when he was a candidate and this program is gaining momentum across the nation. Anyone traveling Louisiana's roads and bridges doesn't need to be told our system is in a steep decline. Our system deficits in structure and function are obvious to out of town guests and longtime citizens. These long overdue repairs are necessary.
Trump's plan calls for heavy investments by state and local governments for most of the infrastructure spending. It seems to favor those states who have invested recently with streams of revenue dedicated to roads and bridges. States who want to leverage their infrastructure investments are developing streams of revenue to match the requirements of this upcoming program. States that can't or won't invest in this partnership will be left out on the front-end matching funds, but they will be responsible for paying off this new national debt. Being left out is an indefensible position. It's an issue all state legislatures must address, sooner rather than later.
This plan comes at a difficult time. Public trust in the legislature is at an all time low- but the legislature is the only body that can prepare Louisiana to participate in Trump's plan.
Public distrust was evident last year. The voters instructed the state government to spend transportation taxes on roads and bridges. This measure passed the legislature overwhelmingly and many saw it as a first step in regaining the public trust over wasting transportation dollars. In October 2017 a Constitutional Amendment was passed by voters concerning any new fuel taxes. The fund and its restrictions were set up before any revenue was allocated- this in an of itself of evidence of the distrust of government.
The measure required that money in the Construction Subfund be used by the state and local governments for constructing and maintaining transportation infrastructure projects. The new law prohibited money in the Subfund from being used to pay employee wages and retirement benefits. The public spoke loudly by passing this measure that they are fed up with transportation taxes not being used to fix or build new roads and bridges. Anyone surprised by this vote has been living under a rock. Raiding transportation funds for other programs must come to a stop. It was also a clear signal that a "trust but verify" relationship is emerging. Many legislators ran on fixing roads, but public trust must be restored first. This amendment wasn't the entire solution, but it was a clear first step to address the long-term problems of public distrust of government and government's limited role that includes road and bridge repairs.
While other states are addressing infrastructure needs, Louisiana has been in a "no holds barred" fight over fractions of pennies. My fear is we will be in the indefensible position of helping payoff the Trump infrastructure plan while not receiving one yard of concrete from the plan. Our ship for roads and bridges is finally coming in, but we will be at the airport fighting over fractions of pennies. We have no plan to make a meaningful leverage of funds for Trump's infrastructure plan. In fact, we have passed no meaningful roads and bridge measures in over 30 years.
While the political debate is heated and confusing, we only have five choices in the third special session. Most likely only two could receive the super majority needed for enough legislators to hold their nose and vote.
The first option is to renew the entire penny. This would fund the $648 million-dollar budget shortfall created by the lapse of the penny and create an approximately $352 million-dollar surplus. This would receive very few if any votes in either the House or the Senate. This option is dead.
The second option is to filibuster or pass nothing. This would result in the temporary one penny sales tax stopping on July 1, 2018. The result would be a projected $648 million-dollar short fall and cuts to non-protected budget items and some protected. Deep cuts across the board would be implemented and the usual scapegoats would be slaughtered- Higher Education, Healthcare, TOPS, Family and Children Services, Department of Corrections, Services for the Disabled, etc. This option doesn't need votes; it just needs one person to take the microphone and filibuster all other ideas.
This option is highly unlikely.
A third option was presented by Rep. Lance Harris who heads the Republican delegation in the State House in HB 27. This option requested the renewal of a 1/3 penny sales tax. The result on the consumer would be a thirty-three-cent increase in sales tax on a $100.00 purchase. This measure would raise $395 million in new taxes and would result in a $253 million dollar underfunding of the budget passed by the legislature. This underfunding if not addressed with revenue ahead of time, will become a mid-year cut after the budget starts on July 1. A quarter of a billion dollars in foreseeable midyear cuts is not a good message. Foreseeable midyear cuts should be a thing of the past. The fact that the head of the party in the House acknowledged a shortfall between the budget and projected revenue was a wakeup call to me personally. Most think this option would fall well short in the Senate of the 2/3 vote needed. Additionally, this option only received 38 votes in the House with 66 voting against it. The measure needed 70 house votes to pass.
The fourth option was outlined in Rep. Leger's bill from the second special session HB 17. This option requested the renewal of ½ penny sales tax. The result to the consumer would be 50 cents increase in new taxes on a $100.00 purchase. The measure would raise $510 million in new taxes and would result in a $138 million dollar underfunding of the budget passed by the legislature. This bill received 32 votes for and 6 votes against in the Senate. In the House, this measure received 63 votes for and 41 against. The measure failed in the house because it needed 70 votes.
A fifth option address the shortfall and our need to address roads and bridges. This measure would renew the 1 penny sales tax allocating ½ to the general fund and ½ to roads and bridges. The ½ to the general fund would still result in the $138 million-dollar shortfall addressed under option four above, but it clearly shows our state's willingness to participate in the Trump road and bridge program. This option would provide $510 million dollars a year for over 10 years to address road and bridge repair, preservation, and construction. The sub account would have the same restrictions as the constitutional amendment. The fund would be reviewed quarterly by the Joint Legislative Budget and would be the first account to transition to the Louisiana Checkbook recently passed into law.
This option, coupled with new transparency measures, would not only help us move forward in repairing the public trust and repairing our roads and bridges, but also provide a permanent stable solution to our budget problem, our general fund problem, and our infrastructure neglect.
Louisiana State Sen. Ryan Gatti represents Dist. 36
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As part of patient advocacy, Save Your Skin Foundation is one of the few patient advocacy organizations that is approved to submit treatment recommendations to the CADTH Common Drug Review (CDR) and to pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review (pCODR) from the patient perspective. As an ongoing initiative, we will post these recommendations online.
In Québec effective July 19, 2017: read more here (Appendix IV – page 19) and in Newfoundland, effective June 2017: read more here.
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) received approval for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma who have not received prior treatment with ipilimumab. KEYTRUDA is now the first and only anti-PD1 agent approved for first-line treatment regardless of BRAF mutation status.


A new study ranks Publix Super Markets as second-to-last when it comes to reducing food waste, earning the chain a "D" grade.
The study by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Ugly Fruit and Veggie Campaign rated major U.S. supermarkets based on their accountability in food waste, prevention efforts and recovery and recycling.
The highest possible points a supermarket could receive in the study was 50 points, but Publix only received 11. Aldi U.S. was the only chain ranked lower than Lakeland-based Publix, while Walmart held the top spot with a "B" grade and 32 points, following by Ahold Delhaize U.S. with a "C" grade and 26 points and Kroger with a "C" grade and 24 points.
Publix has 1,178 stores throughout the southeastern portion of the U.S., with 90,000 employees manning the locations. According to the company's sustainability website, the chain recycled about 270,000 tons of materials last year and has worked with suppliers to cut down on packaging.


Fishermen setting out for the day early in the morning. They will probably catch Snoek, and maybe a little Yellow Tail or Cape Salmon.
Muizenberg has always had a very active fishing community, and one of the benefits of living in the Southern part of Cape Town is having a good supply of fresh fish.
You can often see the line fishermen fishing on the beach, especially early in the morning and in the late afternoon. Sometimes you see the boats coming in, the smaller boats often landing on the beach, offloading their cargo directly onto the back of bakki's to go off for resale.
Driving to work on Strandfontein beach at about 8:00am, I spotted these fishermen taking their small rowing boat out. The boat reminded me of a bygone era of fishing, the days before motors, marine radios and GPS. The sepia effect takes it back in time.
You remind me of my childhood day. I grewup in Muizenberg, Our family home use to be on No. 1 Badenpower Drive. My dad Victor Collop worked for Cape City Council as an electrician. My three older brother were fihermen in Muizenberg. Then they had bigger boats four men rowing, on castting the net and the "skipper" Then a fishing crew would be 15 to 20 men. I still remember the owners of the boat the Van Der Pool family and the Skipper was Mr. Ross from Vrygrond. As a boy of 11 years I witness how the boat capsized and how Mr. Ross and two other fishermen drowned. On that day it shoud have been my brothers drowning. One of my brothers Stephen risked his life and saved two men. The following day in the Cape Argus the story appear with a photo of a white man as the hero. Friend, we were forcefully removed from Muizenberg in 1968 and dumped in Parkwood Estate. What a sad day it was.
Robert, that is a remarkable and very sad story. A little piece of history. Thank you for sharing it with me.


This is a recipe full of proteins and packed with just the right amount of spices to treat your tastebuds BUT without adding excessive calories to tip off your balance.
Marinate it beforehand and you just need a few minutes to do the rest of it.
Wash and dry the chicken thoroughly and then mix in all the ingredients for marinade and let it marinate in the freezer for 24 - 48 hours.
Take out the chicken from the freezer and let it defrost for 4-6 hours until you are ready to cook.
In a large thick bottomed pan, add olive oil and cook on medium heat.
Once the oil is hot, add asafetida, immediately add bay leaf, cinnamon stick and caraway seeds.
Stir for about 10 seconds and then add onions. Cook until onions are translucent and start to turn slightly pink.
Add marinated chicken and cook on medium-low heat stirring the chicken every 5 minutes.
Sprinkle additional salt and pepper to taste (if needed).
Keep stirring and cooking the chicken until all the liquid is dried up.
Garnish with cilantro and mix well.
Roti and Rice are certainly traditional options for eating it with (not so if you are eating for weight loss).
If you are already healthy and happy with your current weight, feel free to enjoy with roti and rice!!


Our Li'l Pals® 4" Latex Blue Dog Toy is pint-sized to fit perfectly in your petite dog or puppy's mouth. Durable construction and an enticing squeaker provides hours of fun and exercise.
Li'l Pals® Latex Dog Toys are non-toxic and feature durable construction and an enticing squeaker that provide hours of fun and exercise. Designed with comfort and style in mind, the Li'l Pals® line by Coastal Pet Products is specifically made for petite pets.


When is Black Friday? Black Friday is now under one month away – 25 November to be exact. Considered the biggest day of online spending the world has ever seen, retailers need to be prepared for the surge in demand.
How much consumers will spend will be determined by several factors and retailers need to consider their strategies and tactics to acquire a part of the pie.
Is Black Friday losing steam? There is recent speculation that for many shoppers the excitement of standing in long lines and sometimes fighting off other shoppers for the best deals is wearing off, with 31% of US shoppers admitting to disliking shopping on Black Friday. In order to quash the potential risk of not achieving revenue targets, traditional retailers are looking to improve their online sales. This is backed up by Deloitte's study that in the build-up to the holidays, shoppers will spend nearly half (47%) of their budget online.
To support the increased demand from shoppers, retailers need to ensure they have the functionality and strategies in place in the run-up to Black Friday.
Building Engagement – Are your marketing campaigns tailored and targeted?
Black Friday is all about getting the best deals and in preparation for 25 November, retailers should consider offering deals which entice consumers to purchase on the day.
Is Black Friday More than One Day?
While Black Friday might traditionally be one day, retailers can outdo the competition by launching their offers beforehand.
Why not have a week of offers? Tempt your customers to purchase your products without the rush of it only being available on one day. You could create your own event before anyone else launches their Black Friday offers, so why not launch Grey Week? Start hitting those revenue targets before your competitors, as well as promoting offers for 25 November to keep customers returning afterwards.
Supporting the Demand – Can your platform support the traffic?
With such a high volume of shoppers expected to be online during Black Friday (and Cyber Monday too), it is essential to have an infrastructure which can support the number of visitors on the site. It is also vital to have a platform which can cope with processing the high volume of transactions. This is in light of US eCommerce sales reaching $2.72 Billion on Black Friday 2015 – and this is set to increase for 2016.
Gathering Audience Insight – Are you able to collect audience information?
Visitors to your site offer you the opportunity to gather a plethora of information, providing exclusive insight into their interests, viewing and purchasing habits and engagement with the service. Considering how many visitors will be online this Black Friday, with 39%of US shoppers planning to shop online on Black Friday,no retailer can afford to miss out on collecting this information.
Complete Existing Strategies – Are you ready to build recurring revenues?
Regardless of the type of retail business you are, the way customers purchase products is changing dramatically.
To capitalize on this, retailers are considering how they can generate recurring revenues and looking to other industries who have recognised the opportunity in subscriptions. For all types of retail, a subscription model enables an organization to complement existing sales channels, increase revenue and improve customer engagement. The Honest Company for example, is valued at $1.4 Billion, with 80% of sales coming from its subscription plans.
This is where MPP Global's eSuite comes in – an advanced eCommerce platform to manage the complete customer lifecycle to ensure you can maximize conversions, retain existing custom and increase average spend.


Jan 23, 1985 - Precision Surgical Instruments, Inc.
A hand held surgical instrument for use in removing body tissue from a human body. It is particularly useful in arthroscopic surgery of joints such as of the knee or shoulder, but may also be used to remove tissue from the stomach, abdomen, jaw or other portions of the body. An auger-like helical cutter is motor driven at speeds in excess of 1,000 rpm within a stationary outer cylindrical sheath member. The helical cutter is ground to provide a generally concave distal end which gives it a generally fish-tailed appearance and the ability to cut endwise, i.e., to effect an axial boring cut. In addition, the cylindrical sheath member is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed tab members at its distal end. Each of the tabs has at least one longitudinally extending edge thereof ground to provide a cutting edge which co-acts with the auger-like cutter blade to sever body tissue insertable between the tabs.
This invention relates to a hand held surgical instrument for removing body tissue from a human body and, more particularly, to such a surgical instrument that is particularly useful in arthroscopic surgery.
Heretofore it has been known to use coaxially mounted hollow tubes in the performance of arthroscopic knee surgery. Side cutting is effected by providing co-acting side edges of the tubes which diverge as cutting proceeds in the proximal direction. The outer tube is stationary and is provided with a side port which is opened and closed on each cycle by the inner rotating tube. Vacuum is used to remove the severed body tissue which is sequentially admitted through the port in the outer tube and then withdrawn through the inner tube. U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,444 to Bonnell et al and U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,414 to Johnson et al are examples of the previously described prior art.
These two patents are deficient in a number of respects. First of all, because the blades are made from tubular members, radial deflection is a critical problem. Bonnell et al acknowledges that even slight deflection, even on the order of one or two thousandths of an inch, of the rotating blade radially relative to the stationary blade can result in jamming of tissues cut from the knee. Secondly, neither of the devices in these two patents are useful in cutting straight ahead, i.e., to give an axial bore cut. Both patents are used for side cutting only. Thirdly, because of the manner in which tissue is introduced into the cutters in these patents, namely, by opening and closing a port in the side of a tube, the speed of cutting is much too slow. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,444 to Bonnell rotational speeds are limited to 200 rpm or below.
In accordance with the present invention the aforementioned difficulties and shortcomings of the known prior art are effectively overcome in the practice of the present invention. In particular, an auger-like cutter blade is rotated within a stationary cylindrical sheath member which supports the cutter blade throughout its length. Both the auger-like cutter blade and the cylindrical sheath are made from stainless steel and deflection of one relative to the other is not a problem.
The cylindrical sheath member is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed tabs at its distal end. A cutting edge is provided on a longitudinally dinally extending edge of each of the tabs which co-acts with a helical cutting edge of the auger-like cutter blade to provide side cutting of body tissue insertable between the tabs. In addition, the auger-like blade is provided with a generally concave distal end ground to provide a generally fish-tailed appearance at its outer end terminating in two diametrically opposed sharp portions capable of effecting an axial boring cut.
Finally, the surgical instrument is designed for very rapid cutting speeds. In many applications, including arthroscopic knee surgery and arthroscopic shoulder surgery a rotational speed for the auger-like helical cutter blade of about 3,000 rpm is used. The surgical instrument of the present invention is adaptable to the skill of the operating surgeon. A lower speed of 1,000 rpm is possible while upper rotational speeds of 10,000 rpm or even higher are attainable for delicate operations such as an operation on the human eye.
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective of another modified sheath member with a vertical cross section cut.
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a surgical instrument indicated generally at 20 with the instrument being inserted into a small puncture site below the patella of the knee joint of a patient P. Not shown in the figure are conventional elements including another small puncture site to receive a fiber optic device to light the interior of the joint from a suitable light source which return a visual image either directly to an eye piece for the surgeon or preferably with recording cameras to a visual display which is observed by the surgeon in performing the operation. Also not specifically illustrated is the external introduction of a saline solution through another small puncture site at the knee.
A vacuum line hose 22 is illustrated attached to the surgical instrument and a pneumatic drive hose 24 drives a motor within motor assembly 78. Compressed nitrogen is usually used for this purpose. Alternatively, an electric motor can be used, although special precautions must be taken to ensure the safety of the patient, especially when saline solutions and the like are being employed.
Reference to FIG. 2 illustrates a meniscus indicated generally at 26. This meniscus is generally C-shaped in cross section and is illustrated to have a tear at 28. This is only one of a great many different configurations that a damaged meniscus may have. In order to prevent the damaged meniscus tissue from being pinched between the bones comprising the knee joint, extraneous tissue will be removed by making a cut substantially along the dashed lines 30, 32 in order to provide a relatively smooth configuration for the tissue at the site of the meniscus.
FIG. 3 illustrates in an exploded view, a number of the major elements of the surgical instrument. Thus, there is illustrated a suction housing member 34 which prior to being assembled is open at both ends as may be seen by an inspection of FIGS. 4 and 10. A cylindrical sheath member 36 is illustrated which is open at both ends and terminates at its distal end in a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed tabs 38. A vacuum tube 40 is secured to the suction housing member 34 at port 42 as seen in FIGS. 4 and 10. Vacuum tube 40 is provided with a series of hose barb seal members 44 in order to receive and retain the vacuum line hose 22.
As can be seen best in FIGS. 4 and 10, the cylindrical sheath member 36 is provided with a sealing head plug member 46 inserted into one open end of the suction housing member 34. An auger-like helical cutter blade 48 received and supported by cutter housing member indicated generally at 50 is inserted within the cylindrical sheath member and resides in closely spaced relationship thereto. FIGS. 4 and 10 also illustrate the use of an O-ring on the cutter housing member 50 so as to provide a seal with the interior of the suction housing member 34 on the side of port 42 that is remote from the cylindrical sheath member 36. A C-shaped spring retainer 54 forms a longitudinal stop for an internal bearing 56. The helical cutter 48 is provided with a thickened end shaft 66 having hub ring members 58 thereon which straddle the bearing 56. A spacer member 60 with any required shim members are used to obtain the proper longitudinal spacing for the distal end of helical cutter 48 with respect to the tab members 38. An end seal member 62 is then placed next to the spacer and/or shim members. An additional constructional feature of the cutter blade includes a pin drive member 64 diametrically inserted through the thickened end shaft 66.
A quick disconnect nut member 68 is carried or trapped on a cutter drive coupling nut member 70 by virtue of a raised boss 72 (FIG. 10) on the cutter drive coupling nut member 70. Left handed threads are provided at 74 on the cutter drive coupling nut member 70 and threaded on the exterior left hand threads 76 of motor assembly 78. A hose receptor 79 is provided for the motor assembly 78 at one end and the motor shaft 80 extends to the left at the other end in FIGS. 4 and 10. Screw 82 secures a cutter drive coupling member 84 to the shaft 80 of the motor. The cutter drive coupling member 84 is slotted at 86 and provided with a widely tapering end so as to self-seat the pin drive member 64 of the helical cutter blade 48. Spring 88 is retained within the cutter drive coupling member 84 by means of recess 90 in the cutter drive coupling member 84 and engages the end of the thickened end shaft 66 so as to urge the auger-like helical cutter blade 48 constantly toward its distal end eliminating any positional change caused by any backlash in the geared drive motor.
In order to effect a quick disconnect for the surgical instrument and to gain access to the cutting blade, the quick disconnect nut member 68 is provided with internal threads 92 engageable with external threads 94 of the suction housing member 34. By simply unscrewing this connection, the end of the cutter housing member 50, which is knurled at 95 as illustrated in FIG. 3, is simply pulled away from the cylindrical sheath member whereby any jammed tissue may be removed. Alternatively, a different size of helioal cutter 48 and cylindrical sheath 36 may be inserted.
Certain measures may be taken to minimize lodging of the tissue within the surgical instrument and these are shown in FIGS. 12-14 to include the application of straight grooves such as that shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 within the cylindrical sheath member 36 or the use of spiral grooves 96a within cylindrical sheath member 36a in FIG. 14. The direction of spiralling of the spiral grooves 96a is preferably opposite to that of the spiralling of the helix on the cutter blade 48.
Further details of the distal end of the auger-like helical cutting blade 48 and cylindrical sheath member 36 may be seen in FIGS. 5-9. In particular, one longitudinally extending edge of each of the tabs 38 is ground to provide a cutting edge 100. The edge of the helical spiral on the helical cutter blades 48 cooperate with these cutting edges 100 to provide lateral shearing of tissue which is inserted laterally between the tabs 38. The tabs 38 are undercut at 102 to provide a protective outer stop shoulder or lip for the blade 48. With the aid of spacer member 60 and any required shims, the outer edge of the cutter blade 48 is positioned from about two to about four thousandths of an inch away from the hook-like undercut portion of the tab members 38.
In addition, the auger-like helical cutting blade 48 is provided with a generally concave distal end at 104 that is ground to provide a generally fish-tailed appearance at its outer end terminating in two diametrically opposed sharp portions or types 106 so that the surgical instrument is capable of making what is called a plunge cut or an axial boring cut. To increase the stiffness of the surgical instrument, it is possible to provide increased thickness at the region of the tab members such as is shown at 108 in FIGS. 5 and 8.
It is possible to vary the details of the blade cutter to suit the skill of the surgeon as well as to vary it to accommodate different tissues that are inserted between the tab members 38. For example, the back angle or sharp edge at 106 on the helical cutter blade 48 may be varied from about 35 degrees minimum to an angle approaching 90 degrees. If this angle is too blunt, no cutting will be effected and if it is too steep, the cutting edge becomes fragile. It is also possible to vary the width of the tab members 38 of the sheath. As the width is made narrower, it is possible to cut faster. This width may be either less than the diameter of the blade or greater than the diameter of the blade. Once again the width is varied dependent upon the skill of the surgeon.
As far as the amount of suction is concerned, 27 inches of mercury is deemed to be high suction and will work very satisfactorily with the surgical instrument of the present invention. Twelve to 16 inches of mercury is considered to be marginal and if the suction is less than that, the chances of clogging the spiral groove in the auger-like helical cutter blade 48 becomes much greater. The auger-like blade with its helical groove serves as a conduit for severed tissue under the influence of the vacuum connected to vacuum tube 40.
While presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that the invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the claims which follow.
(3) said helical cutter blade further having at least a portion of its distal end ground to provide a concave distal end providing a generally fish tailed appearence terminating in two diametrically opposed sharp tynes so that the instrument is capable of making an axial boring cut and wherein the length of the concavity of said concave distal end in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical sheath is less than the length of said tabs.
2. A hand held surgical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein the grinding of said helical cutter to produce two diametrically opposed sharp portions to produce axial boring cuts forms an angle of at least 35 degrees with an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said helical cutter.
3. A hand held surgical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical sheath is internally grooved to assist in the removal of severed tissue.
4. A hand held surgical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein the distal end of said sheath is thickened.
5. In a hand held surgical instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor drive rotates said cutter blade at a rotational speed of at least 1000 rpm.
(3) said helical cutter blade further having at least a portion of its distal end ground to provide a concave distal end providing a generally fish tailed appearance terminating in two diametrically opposed sharp tynes, each of said tynes presenting a generally radially extending cutting edge so that the instrument is also capable of making an axial boring cut independently of said external tabs and wherein the length of the concavity of said concave distal end in a direction along the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical sheath is less than the length of said tabs.
4203444 May 20, 1980 Bonnell et al.
4274414 June 23, 1981 Johnson et al.


Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are essential for regulating conformational changes, activities and functions of proteins, and are involved in almost all cellular pathways and processes. Phosphorylation is one of the most important post-translational modifications of proteins, which is related to many activities of life. It can regulate signal transduction, gene expression and cell cycle regulation of many cellular processes by protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. With the development and application of proteomics technology, researchers pay close attention on protein phosphorylation research more and more widely. In this paper, we use PSO algorithm to optimize neural network weight coefficients and classify the data which has secondary encoding according to the physical and chemical properties of amino acids for feature extraction. The experimental results compared with the result of the support vector machine (SVM) and experimental results show that the prediction accuracy of PSO-ANNs 2.44 % higher than that of SVM. And this paper at the same time, this paper also analyzes the experimental results under different window values. The results of the experiment are best when the window value is 11.
This research was partially supported by Program for Scientific research innovation team in Colleges and universities of Shandong Province 2012–2015, the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2011FZ001), the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2011FL022, ZR2013FL002), the Youth Science and Technology Star Program of Jinan City (201406003), Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China, under Grant ZR2015JL025 and the Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Network Based Intelligent Computing. This work was also supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61302128). The scientific research foundation of University of Jinan (XKY1410, XKY1411).


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Home » Is Turkey rattled by Russian-Kurdish deal?
Is Turkey rattled by Russian-Kurdish deal?
AUTHOR Fehim Taştekin TRANSLATOR Timur Göksel
Turkey's plans to expand its Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria and isolate Kurdish forces in the region appear to be backfiring.
Turkey may feel its already-tenuous footing in Syria slipping now that Russian troops have arrived in Afrin, after making a pact with the Kurds.
After Turkey liberated al-Bab from the Islamic State (IS), it turned toward Manbij, which is controlled by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and its Syrian allies, only to encounter US flags northwest of the town and Russian and Syrian national flags to the southwest. Now a similar scenario is being played out in Afrin.
On March 20, YPG spokesman Redur Halil announced Russia would deploy troops to the Cindires district of Afrin province. The statement was followed by photos of military vehicles flying the Russian flag.
"The presence of Russian troops at Cindires is the outcome of an agreement reached between our forces and the Russian army," Halil said. "This agreement foresees partnership in combating terror and training of our fighters by the Russian army. We have direct contacts with Russia."
YPG sources told Al-Monitor the two sides met at Khmeimim air base near Latakia to discuss developing a joint operation against Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (previously Jabhat al-Nusra), which has made Idlib its central base. The Kurds initially insisted that the partnership should also oppose organizations such as Ahrar al-Sham, which Turkey supports. In the end, the sources said, both parties decided not to debate which organizations they will confront and agreed that Russia will set up a base in Afrin. The Kurds said they rejected Russia's request to have Syrian regime troops at the base and to fly the Syrian flag there.
But the Russian Defense Ministry denied it plans to have a permanent military base there. The ministry said Russia has a site nearby that it uses to monitor cease-fire arrangements.
Preparing for a possible war
Zelal Ceger, an official with the Kurdish Movement for a Democratic Society in Afrin, said the Kurds sought an agreement with the Russians because of persistent attacks on Afrin by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and armed groups that Turkey supports. A Russian military convoy went first, as planned, to Cindires, immediately south of Afrin near the western border with Turkey. Russia then decided the convoy would be better positioned in Kefir Ceni, which is about an hour northeast toward the northern Turkish border and some 9 miles from Azaz.
"We have the Turkish state on one side and the gangs on the other," Ceger said. "We are resisting them by our own means. But they are setting up alliances against us. We have to do something about these. The Turkish state is threatening us every day and shelling Raco, Sharra and Shiigi. We are under pressure also from the direction of Tel Firat. Turkey is massing troops around Idlib and giving weapons to the gangs of Idlib."
He added, "This war can escalate — hence our call on Russia for an alliance. There has to be coordination between Turkey and us. Russia will provide that coordination to prevent Turkish attacks against Afrin."
Russian military experts have been coming to Afrin for the past two years. These visits started immediately after Turkey said it wouldn't allow the YPG to cross to the west of the Euphrates River, and the YPG started attacks from Afrin against Azaz. However, if the YPG sources are correct, this will be the first time the Russians have felt the need for a permanent base at Afrin. Why?
A senior YPG commander speaking to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity said, "According to an agreement between Turkey and Russia, Turkey was to hand over al-Bab to the Syrian army after capturing it from IS. But Turkey did not leave al-Bab. To the contrary, it is now building a second base on a dominating hill outside al-Bab. It had already built a base at Aktarin. When the Turks didn't pull out of al-Bab, Russia wanted to send them a new message. Russia's rapprochement with the Kurds stems from the weakness of Turkish-Russian relations."
Will the rapprochement affect the partnership between the United States and the Kurds? The senior YPG commander replied, "No. We initiated contacts with Russia after openly speaking about it with the Americans. We told the Americans, 'If you are not willing to cooperate with us at al-Bab and Afrin, then we will have to look for other connections.' They did not react. The Russian and American positions on Raqqa have become closer. This makes it easy for us to set up relations with both of them."
Raqqa, the so-called IS capital in Syria, is another sore spot with Turkey, which has made it clear it plans on being part of the operation to take control of the city. That scenario is looking more unlikely each day.
After the United States and Russia reached an understanding on Manbij, the United States continued providing military assistance to the Syrian Democratic Forces, a YPG-dominated coalition. The United States has brought in armored vehicles, heavy weapons and helicopters for the Raqqa operation. The Kurds are now waiting for Apache assault helicopters. In the meantime, the Kurds firmly rejected a US proposal to include Syrian Kurdish peshmerga forces supported by Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq. Barzani cooperates with Turkey. YPG Kurds said of the proposal, "We see this as a conspiracy. It will mean war between the Kurds. We categorically reject it."
All these developments indicate that either the United States is being flexible or it is not in a position to impose conditions on the Kurds, who are aware that the US-Russia understanding could be a short-term one.
Kurds can join Idlib operation
The critical question now is what will happen at Idlib. The Syrian army has been clearing out IS forces from their last Aleppo stronghold. Thanks to an agreement between Turkey and Russia, Turkish-supported armed groups — which oppose the Syrian regime but were also fighting IS in Aleppo — were allowed to leave there with their weapons and families. Most of them settled in Idlib and Azaz.
Now, Russia and Turkey disagree on what to do with these anti-Syrian (and therefore, anti-Russian) groups. Russia wants them disbanded. Turkey would like them to hold onto that area and join the pro-Turkish Free Syrian Army factions to fight the Kurds and keep them from establishing a continuous autonomous region near Turkey's border.
If Russia and the Syrian army open a front against Idlib, clashes with the Turkish-backed groups could spill over to Afrin.
Although the Kurds are focused on defending Afrin, they may be amenable to a joint operation with the Russians against threats from Idlib. This is what the YPG commander told Al-Monitor: "We could, of course, join operations against Idlib-based groups if we so wanted. Idlib is the key now. If Idlib is attacked, then Afrin will come under pressure. We are open to different alternatives."
According to this YPG commander, if Turkish-supported groups or the Turkish army directly move against Afrin, the Kurds have two options:
"The first option is cooperation with Russians. This is ongoing. Russian deployment at Afrin is an open message to Turkey. Our second option is to give the green light to the Syrian army. Afrin is a Syrian town. The Syrian army can come there as stipulated by its territorial integrity. If we have to, we will look into this option."
In summary, Russia has deployed troops to Afrin for three reasons. First, it is sending a message to Turkey, via the Kurds, that it is unhappy about Turkey not leaving al-Bab. Second, Russia will not allow a TSK move against Afrin. Third, a northern Kurdish front is developing against groups like Jabhat Fatah al-Sham at Idlib.
www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/03/turkey-syria-russian-troops-arrive-afrin.html
news_articles | by Dr. Radut

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A Consumer Proposal will be noted on your credit history for two to three years following completion of the Consumer Proposal, depending on the credit bureau. This is the same credit rating impact as traditional or non-profit credit counselling programs and debt management plans, even though these plans require you to pay your debts back in full, compared to partial repayment in most Consumer Proposals.
Many people are surprised to learn that transactions credit bureaus consider "negative", such as bouncing payments or a judgment will be shown on your credit history for seven years – this is even longer than a bankruptcy note, which shows on credit history reports for six years following discharge from bankruptcy.
Filing a Consumer Proposal does not prevent you from seeking new credit before the Consumer Proposal expires from your credit history report. Even during the time that the Consumer Proposal is noted on your credit history, it may still be possible to obtain new credit, including renewal of ongoing commitments such as your mortgage, financing the purchase of a new vehicle, or even a credit card.
Tools and resources to help you rebuild your credit rating and information about actions you can take to improve your credit score are provided as part of the two financial counselling sessions that take place during your Consumer Proposal. It's important to remember that a credit score can change massively in as little as two years depending on your actions.
For many people the relatively short-term impact to their credit history and score after a Consumer Proposal filing allows them to gain a financial fresh start and build a strong credit rating faster than if they tried to pay the debt (plus interest) on their own.
Watch our short video to learn more about rebuilding your credit after making a Consumer Proposal or filing a personal bankruptcy.


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Books, Printed Ephemera and Manuscripts
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[ Gariazzo; lithographs ] Tribal peoples of three continents: 1930s illustrations by Pier Antonio Gariazzo
Pier Antonio Gariazzo, artist and filmmaker
80 lithographic prints, mostly hand-coloured, of drawings of indigenous peoples and tribal groups, made on a voyage to South America, Africa and Asia in 1933 by the Italian painter and film director Pier Antonio Gariazzo. With accompanying French letterpress. This collection of accomplished and beautifully-finished prints is a puzzle, with no apparent reference to it or to the letterpress among Gariazzo's published works.Each print on one side of a separate piece of thick laid paper, 24.5 x 32.5 cm. Numbered 1 to 82, with 61 and 63 lacking.
Engravings of Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga, New Guinea, Fiji, Pitcairn Islands, etc., from De Sainson, and map of Tonga, in Vol.2 [Tomo II] of the Spanish edition of Dumont D'Urville's 'Voyage Pittoresque' ('Viaje Pintoresco al Rededor del Mundo').
M. Dumont D'Urville, Capitan de Navio [Louis Auguste de Sainson (1801-1887), official artist on board Dumont D'Urville's L'Astrolabe, during its three months' tour of New Zealand in 1827]
Barcelona. Imprenta y Libreria de Juan Oliveres, Calle de Escudellers, Núm. 53. 1841.
The 90 plates (uncoloured steel engravings) are in 4to format, in good condition, with some having creasing to corners (not affecting the illustrations themselves), on lightly-aged paper, in the second volume of the work ([6] + 382pp., 4to), which is in a worn contemporary brown leather half-binding with marbled paper covers. These show views, fauna, inhabitants, atrefacts, and incidents on D'Urville's voyage. Also present is a fold-out map (Gravé par Ambroise Tardieu') titled 'Carte des Iles Tonga pour servir au Voyage pittoresque autour du Monde par M. D'Urville.
D'URVILLE
SAINSON
'Pain and Sin' in wartime Australia: The Diaries and Stories of Duncan Murray Gordon (1912-2012)
Duncan Murray Gordon, soldier and writer [Australian Author)
Duncan Murray Gordon was born in 1912, the son of a commercial traveller. In 1927 he won a scholarship to Stott's College, Melbourne, and in August 1940 he began a clerical job at the Victorian mining company Broken Hill South Ltd. He served in the Second World War between March 1941 to July 1946, in both the AMF (Australian Military Forces) and AIF (Australian Imperial Force) in Australia and New Guinea (where he finds, as the second volume of the diary reveals, the only way to survive is 'to find somebody to go mad with').
Military and Naval History
Tribal peoples of three continents: 1930s illustrations by Pier Antonio Gariazzo
Pamphlets and Books
Travel and Topography
Diplomatic and Consular Reports. Trade of the German Colonies [Togo, Cameroon, East Africa, German South-West Africa, Kiau-Chow, German New Guinea, Marschall Islands (1896). No. 474.
[Foreign Office. 1897. Annual Series] [GERMAN COLONIES]
Foreign Office, 1897
Pamphlet, stitched as issued, blue wraps, 44pp., 8vo, sl. marked, mainly good condition. Report for 1896.
KIAU-CHOW
Studio photograph inscribed to Hubert Smith, author [?] of "Tent Life with English Gipsies in Norway"
Octavius C. Stone [ HUBERT SMITH ]
No place, 4 May 1906.
Author of "A few months in New Guinea". Vignette photograph of Stone, circa 3.5 x 6", one nick on margin, bottom trimmed, taken at the Exposne inter.fotog. Milano 1894. INSCRIBED by Stone: To my dear & valued friend Hubert Smith with sincere affection & loving memories of 'auld lang syne" / Octavius C. Stone, FRGS. / 4 May 1906". Note from net: "'The Scholar Gypsy' by John Sampson has several pages on Esmeralda Lock, including two portraits. She was married to Hubert Smith, the town clerk of Bridgnorth, but ran away for some time with a lover.
Subscribe to our irregular newsletters of selected latest additions.
RICHARD M. FORD LTD (ABA)
(Dr Richard Ford)
Antiquarian Bookseller
70 Chaucer Road,
London, W3 6DP.
e-mail: richardford@manuscripts.me


My grasshopper-like spacecraft exploring an atmospherically toxic planet at sunset.
When the highly anticipated Hello Games video game No Man's Sky released in 2016 as a Playstation 4 exclusive, fanfair was loud and dreams were big; procedural-generation, a method of creating data according to algorithms instead of manually inputting them, would allow each player to pilot unique spacecrafts and discover unique flora and fauna on unique planets in unique galaxies, theoretically forever… a truly unique feat.
NMS was supposed to be so vast, more so than any other game before and after, that even though it was "technically" multiplayer, one may never come across another player. Ever. The curious nature of NMS, the sheer wonder of what one would find if they landed on that distant ringed-planet, is what fueled so much intrigue during the countdown to launch. So who is this audacious Hello Games, a relatively quiet and new company, and why would they embark on a mission of such magnitude?
Founded in 2008 in Guildford, England, former employees of other big-time video game companies came together to start over and get back to the fundamentals of creating games. Prior to NMS they specialized in making "indie games," which means they produced games without major funding and support from a larger company like Electronic Arts (one of the places some Hello Games employees left). They did this in part because indie games tend to be more on the creative side and more akin to old-school side-scrolling video games. The other reason, Hello Games only employs 16 people. SIXTEEN. In comparison, EA employs 9,300 people (as of 2018 statistics).
Ventures like NMS are thus unheard of for indie game companies because of the massive demand of resources for large scale games, even with a tool like procedural-generation.
When gamers invested their $60 towards a brighter future navigating the stars, they were stunned when instead their money went straight into a black hole devoid of happiness. As I told the cashier at my local shop that I was picking up NMS he appropriately quoted the wise Admiral Ackbar. Indeed, sir, it was a trap. It was.The gaming community finally had hands-on experience and found more of a cheeseless moon than an Earth 2.0 or Mars. The excruciatingly simple tasks - traveling to a planet, harvesting some materials, and discovering new flora/fauna - it turns out got incredibly stale. The main storyline felt hollow, simple, and uninspired. It was also too short, something rather unforgivable for a game with such touted spaciousness.
One of the saving graces was that tiny, insignificant chance that maybe, potentially you might come across another player out in the ever-expanding universes. Well, some gamers with incredible stick-to-it-iveness found out that that's not actually possible due to coding (or lack thereof) that made each player invisible to each other. Despite wandering the same planet for hours and potentially standing right next to each other, no player-to-player interaction was possible. Some of the other broken light-promises (I call them that because I don't ever remember Sean Miller or any other Hello Games exec claiming some of these during pre-release interviews, but the gaming community recalls otherwise) included the possibility for building structures ala Minecraft or Fallout. Those light-promises were not met upon release.
There are ways of tracking how many people are actively playing a game at any one moment, and they are used to determine a games popularity in real time. These stats don't usually surface for the general public because they generally follow the same arc, but in the case of NMS, by the time Houston realized it had a problem, the numbers proved it. 88% of NMS players worldwide put the controllers down and walked away like they just watched Apollo 13 in person.
With such a failure most companies would do as the consumer did, or they would tweak the game in some downloadable content for another $30. Instead, to their credit, Hello Games listened to the gaming community and went back to work to create a series of free, literally game-changing, updates.
Foundation was the first major update, and laid the… groundwork... for building planetary bases, as well as adding different game modes. Path Finder followed with three different types of vehicles (dune-buggy, hovercraft, and behemoth) to be used for planetary exploration and some extra storage. Included is another game mode titled PERMADEATH (without the caps lock ofcourse) - which plays exactly how it sounds - go until you die, then, well nobody has come back from that to tell us what happens after (perma)death… Atlas Rises arrived shortly after, reworking the main storyline and introducing new side missions, portals for traveling quicker between galaxies, new system economics and trade improvements, and joint exploration which directly leads to the next update. Next… (yep) is the latest massive update and finally made true on an original promise - multiplayer. Attached but not to be neglected is the ability to command freighter armadas and a graphics overhaul that everything look even better.
By now I have spent about equal time playing the original version and the updated version with all of the new goodies (about 100 hours altogether). I tried my best to stick with NMS during the lean times; the beautiful landscapes of each planet and simple tasks created a peaceful escape from stressful everyday life. I would be dishonest, however, if I said I loved it just the way it was and didn't think about what more it could be.The updates that Hello Games made feel necessary and delivered so much more dimension and content than previously existed. I have never experienced a game like NMS, which blends perfectly the uniqueness of Minecraft with the beauty and wonder of a Sci-Fi movie poster. I'm excited to share all of this with my fellow gamers, and with Next, finally be able to meet up on Hoth (the ice planet I've colonized and named originally). With more adventures on the horizon, today NMS seems destined to be a title that will never be deemed an all-timer due to its rough start, but will instead be called something more special by its fanbase - stardust - for that unique feeling and quality No Man's Sky possesses.
I told you it's grasshopper-like! This is Hoth (original) my colonized planet.
This freakin planet was made entirely of hexagonal plates, reminding me of the "cob-planet from Rick and Morty.


Next we have decided to surprise you by ofering a new game in which you will have by your side one of your favourite disney princesses. Because we like you to have as many new games as we can offer, the administrative team of games-kids.com is trying really har to offer you new and beautiful online games in which you will have by your side some of the most wonderfull characters. This time the new game that we have for you is a makeover game in which you will have as main character princess Sofia the First. The game that we have for you is a very beautiful game in which we want you to apply some facial treatment on Sofia and eliminate all of her skin impurities. After you are done you need to arrange her eyebrows and choose a makeover for her. Use you imagination and skills and make sure you so the best for your princess friend. We are sure that you will have alot of fun playing with the beautiful princess Sofia the First and that is why we inivte you to join us and play this new game. Have fun!


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Imo: Why I chose my son-in-law as successor – Okorocha
September 3, 2018	1 Comment
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has revealed why he is throwing his weight behind his Chief of Staff, Uche Nwosu to succeed him as governor of the state in 2019.
The governor, who made this known through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, asserted that in a bid to avoid being missed by people of the state on some of his landmark achievements, especially his free and qualitative education programme, he has chosen Nwosu to consolidate on the projects.
Governor Okorocha maintained that the free education programme in the state, which some of his opponents had tried to discredit when it was introduced, has yielded obvious remarkable results.
He maintained that aside the school enrolment in the state snowballing from 381,000 in 2011 to more than One million in 2017, the state has continued to lead in JAMB applications for the seventh time .
Buttressing his choice of Nwosu, Okorocha disclosed that the state has also continued to do well in West African Examination Council (WAEC) exams, emphasising on the 2018 Senior School Certificate Exam (SSCE), which the state came fifth out of the thirty-six states in the country .
He also noted that his administration has more than 1,000 verifiable projects to its credit, while challenging his critics to disprove him.
"We have also been claiming and indeed, truthfully, that what Governor Okorocha's administration has achieved in less than eight years, have gone beyond all that those who had governed the state before him had achieved, when you put them together. Nobody has also challenged us or tried to fault our claims.
"We have equally gone the extra-mile to say that anybody who feels that he has a contrary claim to ours should indicate.
"And the best way to deal with such claim and counter-claim is for those concerned to itemise their claims, publish them for public consumption, while we also publish ours, for comparative analysis.
Meanwhile, a gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Frank Nneji has dismissed rumours in the state that he is being sponsored by Governor Okorocha as not only an insult to him, but the governor does not have the moral capacity to do so.
This was just as he pointed out that Imo is today at the same stage that Anambra was in 2003 where everything had grounded to a halt.
The founder of ABC Transport, who stated this at the weekend during an interactive session with newsmen in the state, said "governor Okorocha does not have the moral capacity to sponsor my gubernatorial aspiration."
Previous: South-East Governors' Forum hails Ugwuanyi's giant strides
Next: FG approves $1.3bn for five critical projects – Lai Mohammed
your transport company is almost dead with its always breaking down buses and you dare to govern a state?
The Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has approved the payment of N30,000 minimum wage ...


text:
GBNF
xXx EVENTS - Bros Only
POW/MIA FLAG
I am the flag of thousands that never came home!
I am the empty face of the comrade in arms that you have left behind.
My colors are Black and White; there is no gray area with me.
I am either behind a barbwire fence, with a watchtower over me, or lying in a shallow grave in a foreign land.
There was a time when I was flown throughout this country, but now you hardly ever see me.
I fly at Veterans Halls, Memorials, and the houses of those that still Remember me.
I am quickly fading from your memory.
I am the Forgotten One!
I was spawned out of WAR; I should NEVER have been born!
Is it because of that, most of you turn your head in shame when you see me?
Or is it because you are trying to forget me?
Is it that easy to forget a friend, a comrade, or a loved one?
Tell me what I did that was so wrong, that I might know why you have left me here all these years after my
Brothers have all gone home.
Why must I labor for my captures, Day after Day?
Why do I lie in a shallow grave in a foreign land, where No One comes to visit me?
Why has my country FORSAKEN ME, and the people I fought for FORGOTTEN ME?
What did I do to deserve this from MY COUNTRY?
TELL ME WHY!
I just want you to know!
I AM STILL HERE!
Bring me HOME to the land I was born in, and the Country I so PROUDLY Served!
Dear GOD, bring me HOME!
"BRING THEM HOME or SEND US BACK"
By Stubby
Viet Nam Vets / Legacy Vets MC
The POW/MIA Flag
The POW/MIA flag is an American flag designed as a symbol of citizen concern about United States military personnel taken as prisoners of war (POWs) or listed as missing in action (MIA). The POW/MIA flag was created by the National League of Families and officially recognized by the Congress in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, "as the symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation."
In 1971, while the Vietnam War was still being fought, Mary Hoff, the wife of a service member missing in action and member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia, recognized the need for a symbol of U.S. POW/MIAs, some of whom had been held in captivity for as many as seven years. The flag is black, and bears in the center, in black and white, the emblem of the League. The emblem was designed by Newt Heisley, and features a white disk bearing in black silhouette the bust of a man (Jeffery Heisley), watch tower with a guard on patrol, and a strand of barbed wire; above the disk are the white letters POW and MIA framing a white 5-pointed star; below the disk is a black and white wreath above the white motto:
The flag has been altered many times; the colors have been switched from black with white – to red, white and blue – to white with black; the POW/MIA has at times been revised to MIA/POW.
On March 9, 1989, a league flag that had flown over the White House on the 1988 National POW/MIA Recognition Day was installed in the U.S. Capitol rotunda as a result of legislation passed by the 100th Congress. The league's POW-MIA flag is the only flag ever displayed in the rotunda, and the only one other than the Flag of the United States to have flown over the White House. The leadership of both Houses of Congress hosted the installation ceremony in a demonstration of bipartisan congressional support.
On August 10, 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, recognizing the National League of Families POW/MIA Flag and designating it "as a symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation." Beyond Southeast Asia, it has been a symbol for POW/MIAs from all U.S. wars.
Flag Use
With the passage of Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act during the first term of the 105th Congress, the POW/MIA Flag was specified to fly each year on:
Armed Forces Day Third Saturday in May
Memorial Day Last Monday in May
Flag Day June 14
Independence Day July 4
National POW/MIA Recognition Day Third Friday in September
Veterans Day November 11
The POW/MIA Flag will be flown on the grounds or the public lobbies of major military installations as designated by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, all Federal National Cemeteries, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the White House, the United States Post Offices and at official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense and Veterans Affairs, and Director of the Selective Service System. Civilians are free to fly the POW/MIA Flag whenever they wish.
In the U.S. armed forces, the dining halls, mess halls and chow halls display a single table and chair in a corner draped with the POW-MIA flag as a symbol for the missing, thus reserving a chair in hopes of their return.
Other color patterns exist: the Orange and Black pattern was run by Outpost flags at the time of Harley Davidson's 100th anniversary, so that the bikers would help keep the issue alive and in the forefront of American politics. There are Red and White versions, which some say are to cover more recent military actions, but this is not official policy. There are Black and Red versions available as well.


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The Moguldom Nation
MogulWatch
Here Are The Biggest Cultural Trends To Watch In Q3 2018
Written by Lauren DeLisa Coleman
Alfre Woodard, Kerry Washington, and Brandy Rayana Norwood at Women's March Los Angeles, Jan. 21, 2017. Photo: Faye Sadou/MediaPunch/IPX
Cultural trend analysis will become even more important to everyone in the third quarter of 2018 because we are in the midst of major value and sentiment paradigm shifts.
Connecting will become even more important and to do so, understanding mindset, motivations, fears, and goals of society will be paramount.
Here are my picks for key areas and insights that I will be tracking this year and breaking down via periodic updates:
1. Celebrity
Celebrities are increasingly becoming involved in political and social issues. Trump's anti-immigration policy is only the latest, bringing out such notables as Laura Dern, Amy Schumer, Kerry Washington, Anne Hathaway, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and John Legend.
These celebrities bring awareness to help keep families together. However, the next level of the narrative will be holding such notables accountable for increased participation rather than one-offs. This is where unique business opportunities will intersect with public service.
Your play: Watch this. It's rare that celebs move solo. It's either all or none and usually a one-off attempt through their megaphones. As cause-related marketing ops heat up, compel them to deepen their participation by long-term strategies that your company can drive for the largest social good while still making the bottom line.
2. Race
The recent use of the n-word from a now former Netflix exec gives further demonstration to the CEO as quasi-public figure in this tension-filled era. Netflix was quick to jump on this. It's just one of the increasingly bold racial outbursts in which more and more companies are finding themselves entangled.
Your play: Photos such as the recreation of "A Great Day in Harlem" are nice, and they reinforce Netflix's commitment to creatives of color, but diversity is never equivalent to equity. Efforts should lead to more than images and hiring of creatives. Giving back to communities of color that Help drive Netflix's massive revenue should be next. Diversity should never be confused with equity. Spread the social word on this.
3. Millennial mashup
Fortune magazine recently did a piece about certain debit cards being the new hot status symbol among 18-34. Acorns, SoFi and Venmo allegedly rank very high.
Your play: Watch for articles like this because they may be jumping the gun a bit. Not all 80-plus million millennials follow the same trends. Make no mistake, the AMEX Black Card still reigns supreme in many sub demos. Others are all about crypto over any cards. Stay alert on the needs and moves of the variety of millennials and you'll stay ahead of the curve.
4. Tech
Blockchain in advertising is going to be h-u-g-e. It's just that simple. As blockchain and crypto intersect vital parts of the backbone of our capitalist society, rest assured that this space will grow exponentially for the rest of the year.
Your play: The most important space to watch is new ways to leverage brand messaging beyond simply using blockchain to carry out the standard ad buy with greater transparency. Those who do so will be the winners. Stay up on every conference you can attend in order to be with innovators in this important space.
John Legend performs at the "Families Belong Together: Freedom for Immigrants" March on Saturday, June 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
5. Politics
As I mentioned in my keynote speech during the NAB Conference in Las Vegas in April, watch for increasing trends around women of color and politics. As Moguldom reported, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Latina running in her first political campaign, defeated political veteran Joe Crowley in the Democratic Party's congressional primary in New York City. What is important to note is that she is half the age of the Caucasian male she defeated and is indicative of a major power trend that will change the country as we know it!
Your play: While Caucasian women in Hollywood have primarily co-opted part of the Feminism 2.0 narrative, watch for women of color to go for other levels of political and economic power to truly change the narrative of the growing majority in the U.S: people of color.
See additional ways in which you can leverage each of these trends. Don't miss "Conquer All," the included track by new artist Kelvin D. Frazier, Ph.D.
As our world changes, cultural intelligence is definitely the new oil.
Sign up for the Moguldom newsletter - business news you need to know about economic empowerment for the digital age.
July 12, 2018 July 12, 2018 by Lauren DeLisa Coleman
Category: Crypto, GN, Hollywood, Inequality, original, Politics, Tech.Tag: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, causes, cryptocurrency, cultural trends, marketing, Millennials, Netflix, people of color, social issues, women of color
© Copyright 2019 Moguldom®
Nubai Ventures, LLC


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text:
package uk.co.harrymartland.multijmx.service.commandline;

import com.google.inject.Inject;
import com.google.inject.Provider;
import com.google.inject.Singleton;
import org.apache.commons.cli.CommandLine;
import org.apache.commons.cli.CommandLineParser;
import org.apache.commons.cli.ParseException;
import uk.co.harrymartland.multijmx.service.options.OptionsService;

@Singleton
public class CommandLineServiceImpl implements CommandLineService {

    private CommandLine commandLine;
    private CommandLineParser commandLineParser;
    private Provider<OptionsService> optionsService;

    @Inject
    public CommandLineServiceImpl(CommandLineParser commandLineParser, Provider<OptionsService> optionsService) {
        this.commandLineParser = commandLineParser;
        this.optionsService = optionsService;
    }

    @Override
    public CommandLine get() {
        if (commandLine == null) {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Command line not set!");
        }
        return commandLine;
    }

    @Override
    public CommandLine create(String[] args) throws ParseException {
        if (commandLine != null) {
            throw new IllegalStateException("Command line already set!");
        }
        return commandLine = commandLineParser.parse(optionsService.get().getOptions(), args);
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


In this episode of Mike & the Kids! Where I, as Mike O'Brien, the Creator of A.P. Bio, Interview the Actors That Play the Students on the Show, show creator Mike O'Brien interviews Marisa Baram, who plays Marissa (with two s's).


Background Born in Puerto Rico. Trained at Johnson & Wales University in Norfolk, Virginia. Worked at The Frog and the Redneck in Richmond, Virginia, and The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, in Atlanta.
How he got into cooking "There weren't always waves to surf in Virginia Beach, where I grew up, so I needed something else to do."
First food memory Barbecued wild pig, grilled catfish and venison sausage at his uncle's ranch in Texas, age eight.
Mentors Chefs Jimmy Sneed and Guenther Seeger.
Menu bomb "I made an awesome rabbit terrine. I was loving it, but I couldn't give it away."
What he'd be if he weren't a chef An oceanographer.
Favorite cookbook Jacques Pépin's La Technique.
Favorite place to eat Soto in Atlanta.
Dish he could eat every day Mashed potatoes.
Trend he's most tired of "People trying to do the Asian thing—it's like a contagious disease. There should be a law."
Favorite kitchen tool A Vita-Mix blender."The best. It will puree rocks."
Food vices Barbecue ("In Richmond, that's a vice") and Burger King.
Recipe tip When sautéeing onions or shallots, add a pinch of salt first; it helps release their juices and prevents burning.


text:
Auditioning FAQs
Vocal Conservatory
Boys Choir
Musical Theatre Camp
For beginning and advanced singers, boys and girls, age 10–18
Develop performance skills as singer/actors alongside peers, both as soloists and members of ensembles. This two-week intensive camp will include:
Vocal coaching
Movement rehearsals and blocking
Acting and character development
Vocal Anatomy
Improvisation and theatre games
Accepting singers ages 10-18 per audition or submission.
Campers will take part in vocal coaching, acting instruction focusing on the challenges of the singer/actor, and staging/blocking sessions. Repertoire assignments are based on ability level and vocal range. Students will work in small groups and receive individual vocal coaching for their pieces. The final week is dedicated to dress rehearsals and staging. The camp ends with a final performance, allowing students to showcase their prepared scenes from the musical theatre repertory.
When: July 6–17, 2020
Where: 1336 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.
What time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Michael Ashby earned his Masters of Operatic performance from New Jersey City University and his Bachelor of Science in Music Performance from Indiana State University. He has performed regionally in opera, operetta, musical theater, and theater productions. In addition to our vocal conservatory he maintains voice studios at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and Community Music School in Trappe, Pennsylvania. For the past year Michael has been working as the vocal technical teacher for the Philadelphia Boys Choir and Chorale as well as the Philadelphia Girls Choir. This summer will marks his seventh time directing the opera camp for the conservatory and his twelfth opera camp in total. His previous teen opera camps were directed at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and for Philadelphia International Music Festival in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. During his time at Rutgers he was a private vocal instructor with the Mason Gross Extension Division/Community Music Program for eleven years. This Summer Michael will also undertake direction of our choral camp.
Accompanist/Coach
Steve Weber graduated from both Cedarville University (B.A. in Music) and Boston University (M.A. in Music Education). He has been teaching high school music in southern New Jersey for over 15 years, where his students have been featured on Philadelphia radio and national television several times. Steve has worked with many regional music groups, including International Opera Theater of Philadelphia, Delaware Valley Opera Chorus, and the Ritz Theater of Oaklyn. In his spare time, he arranges music for not only his students but other high school and college ensembles as well.
The fee for the two week program is $600.00. All materials are included. Lunch is not provided.
A $50 non-refundable fee is due upon application (payments can be made by check or online). If accepted into the program, $550 is due by July 1.
Please use our online application, or email info@phillygirlschoir.org.
NOTE: Singers accepted per audition or submission. Please prepare up to two song selections, one of which may be from an opera, an operetta, or musical theater. Both selections can be in English. Should you choose to submit audition materials, CDs should be mailed to our office and .mp3 files can be emailed to mashby@phillygirlschoir.org. YouTube clips are also acceptable.
Personalized Summer Instruction
See our concert schedule and order tickets to our next event.
HIRE!
Invite the Philadelphia Girls Choir to your event.
Discover how to audition to become a member and wear the signature red gown. Please visit meetme.so/PGCAuditions to schedule an audition. If there are no appointment slots available, please email info@phillygirlschoir.org to request an audition time.
BECOME A FRIEND OF THE CHOIR!
Support the choir with a gift.
Join the mailing list.
©2019 Philadelphia Girls Choir | All rights reserved | Site Map


text:
module MATLAB

using Libdl
using SparseArrays

import Base: eltype, close, size, copy, ndims, unsafe_convert

# mxarray
export MxArray, mxClassID, mxComplexity,
       mxclassid, data_ptr,
       classid, nrows, ncols, nelems, elsize

export is_double, is_single,
       is_int8, is_uint8, is_int16, is_uint16,
       is_int32, is_uint32, is_int64, is_uint64,
       is_numeric, is_complex, is_sparse, is_empty,
       is_logical, is_char, is_struct, is_cell

export mxarray, mxsparse, delete,
       mxcellarray, get_cell, set_cell,
       mxstruct, mxstructarray, mxnfields, get_fieldname, get_field, set_field,
       jvalue, jarray, jscalar, jvector, jmatrix, jsparse, jstring, jdict

# engine & matfile
export MSession, MatFile,
       get_default_msession, restart_default_msession, close_default_msession,
       eval_string, get_mvariable, get_variable, put_variable, put_variables,
       variable_names, read_matfile, write_matfile,
       mxcall,
       @mput, @mget, @mat_str

if Sys.iswindows()
    export show_msession, hide_msession, get_msession_visiblity
end

const depsfile = joinpath(dirname(@__DIR__), "deps", "deps.jl")
if isfile(depsfile)
    include(depsfile)
else
    error("MATLAB is not properly installed. Please run Pkg.build(\"MATLAB\") and restart Julia.")
end

# exceptions
struct MEngineError <: Exception
    message::String
end

include("init.jl") # initialize Refs
include("mxarray.jl")
include("matfile.jl")
include("engine.jl")
include("matstr.jl")

if Sys.iswindows()
    # workaround "primary message table for module 77" error
    # creates a dummy Engine session and keeps it open so the libraries used by all other
    # Engine clients are not loaded and unloaded repeatedly
    # see: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/305877-what-is-the-primary-message-table-for-module-77

    # initialization is delayed untill first call to MSession
    const persistent_msession_ref = Ref{MSession}()
    const persistent_msession_assigned = Ref(false)

    function assign_persistent_msession()
        if persistent_msession_assigned[] == false
            persistent_msession_assigned[] = true
            persistent_msession_ref[] = MSession(0)
        end
    end
end

# helper library access function
engfunc(fun::Symbol) = Libdl.dlsym(libeng[], fun)
mxfunc(fun::Symbol)  = Libdl.dlsym(libmx[], fun)
matfunc(fun::Symbol) = Libdl.dlsym(libmat[], fun)

function __init__()
    check_deps()

    if libmx_size > 0 # non-zero size library path

    # load libraries

    libmx[]  = Libdl.dlopen(joinpath(matlab_libpath, "libmx"), Libdl.RTLD_GLOBAL)
    libmat[] = Libdl.dlopen(joinpath(matlab_libpath, "libmat"), Libdl.RTLD_GLOBAL)
    libeng[] = Libdl.dlopen(joinpath(matlab_libpath, "libeng"), Libdl.RTLD_GLOBAL)

    # engine functions

    eng_open[]          = engfunc(:engOpen)
    eng_close[]         = engfunc(:engClose)
    eng_set_visible[]   = engfunc(:engSetVisible)
    eng_get_visible[]   = engfunc(:engGetVisible)
    eng_output_buffer[] = engfunc(:engOutputBuffer)
    eng_eval_string[]   = engfunc(:engEvalString)
    eng_put_variable[]  = engfunc(:engPutVariable)
    eng_get_variable[]  = engfunc(:engGetVariable)

    # mxarray functions

    mx_destroy_array[]   = mxfunc(:mxDestroyArray)
    mx_duplicate_array[] = mxfunc(:mxDuplicateArray)

    # load functions to access mxarray

    mx_free[]         = mxfunc(:mxFree)

    mx_get_classid[]  = mxfunc(:mxGetClassID)
    mx_get_m[]        = mxfunc(:mxGetM)
    mx_get_n[]        = mxfunc(:mxGetN)
    mx_get_nelems[]   = mxfunc(:mxGetNumberOfElements)
    mx_get_ndims[]    = mxfunc(:mxGetNumberOfDimensions_730)
    mx_get_elemsize[] = mxfunc(:mxGetElementSize)
    mx_get_data[]     = mxfunc(:mxGetData)
    mx_get_dims[]     = mxfunc(:mxGetDimensions_730)
    mx_get_nfields[]  = mxfunc(:mxGetNumberOfFields)
    mx_get_pr[]       = mxfunc(:mxGetPr)
    mx_get_pi[]       = mxfunc(:mxGetPi)
    mx_get_ir[]       = mxfunc(:mxGetIr_730)
    mx_get_jc[]       = mxfunc(:mxGetJc_730)

    mx_is_double[]    = mxfunc(:mxIsDouble)
    mx_is_single[]    = mxfunc(:mxIsSingle)
    mx_is_int64[]     = mxfunc(:mxIsInt64)
    mx_is_uint64[]    = mxfunc(:mxIsUint64)
    mx_is_int32[]     = mxfunc(:mxIsInt32)
    mx_is_uint32[]    = mxfunc(:mxIsUint32)
    mx_is_int16[]     = mxfunc(:mxIsInt16)
    mx_is_uint16[]    = mxfunc(:mxIsUint16)
    mx_is_int8[]      = mxfunc(:mxIsInt8)
    mx_is_uint8[]     = mxfunc(:mxIsUint8)
    mx_is_char[]      = mxfunc(:mxIsChar)

    mx_is_numeric[]   = mxfunc(:mxIsNumeric)
    mx_is_logical[]   = mxfunc(:mxIsLogical)
    mx_is_complex[]   = mxfunc(:mxIsComplex)
    mx_is_sparse[]    = mxfunc(:mxIsSparse)
    mx_is_empty[]     = mxfunc(:mxIsEmpty)
    mx_is_struct[]    = mxfunc(:mxIsStruct)
    mx_is_cell[]      = mxfunc(:mxIsCell)

    # load functions to create & delete MATLAB array

    mx_create_numeric_matrix[]   = mxfunc(:mxCreateNumericMatrix_730)
    mx_create_numeric_array[]    = mxfunc(:mxCreateNumericArray_730)

    mx_create_double_scalar[]  = mxfunc(:mxCreateDoubleScalar)
    mx_create_logical_scalar[] = mxfunc(:mxCreateLogicalScalar)

    mx_create_sparse[]         = mxfunc(:mxCreateSparse_730)
    mx_create_sparse_logical[] = mxfunc(:mxCreateSparseLogicalMatrix_730)

    mx_create_string[]         = mxfunc(:mxCreateString)
    mx_create_char_array[]     = mxfunc(:mxCreateCharArray_730)

    mx_create_cell_array[]     = mxfunc(:mxCreateCellArray_730)

    mx_create_struct_matrix[]  = mxfunc(:mxCreateStructMatrix_730)
    mx_create_struct_array[]   = mxfunc(:mxCreateStructArray_730)

    mx_get_cell[]              = mxfunc(:mxGetCell_730)
    mx_set_cell[]              = mxfunc(:mxSetCell_730)

    mx_get_field[]             = mxfunc(:mxGetField_730)
    mx_set_field[]             = mxfunc(:mxSetField_730)
    mx_get_field_bynum[]       = mxfunc(:mxGetFieldByNumber_730)
    mx_get_fieldname[]         = mxfunc(:mxGetFieldNameByNumber)

    mx_get_string[]            = mxfunc(:mxGetString_730)

    # load I/O mat functions

    mat_open[]         = matfunc(:matOpen)
    mat_close[]        = matfunc(:matClose)
    mat_get_variable[] = matfunc(:matGetVariable)
    mat_put_variable[] = matfunc(:matPutVariable)
    mat_get_dir[]      = matfunc(:matGetDir)

    end
end

###########################################################
#
#   deprecations
#
###########################################################

end


SketchUp 2014 brings with it many improvements. This webinar will present the improvements that will impact how landscape architects do business. You will hear from experts what scripts and plugins they prefer and they will share insights into some of the tricks of the trade. Speakers will discuss how plugins provide great capability within SketchUp as well as exporting a high quality rendered product. These techniques are changing the perception of what SketchUp can produce.
Understand how software improvements to SketchUp 2014 can improve your projects.
Learn which techniques and extension tools are useful for site design.
Become familiar with how various rendering plugins can greatly enhance your project quality.
Our half-day seminar on Productive Landscapes in the Urban Environment was a great success! Thank you to all of the speakers, moderators, volunteers and participants.
Photos from the event are currently posted on our Facebook page and will be posted on our website soon.
This webinar will be a tremendous opportunity to learn how to get in on the ground floor of some contracting opportunities specifically for LAs.
During this 45-minute session, ASLA members will hear from GSA's National Design Director for Landscape Architecture, Christian Gabriel, ASLA, and GSA contracting specialist Joseph Imamura, ASLA, about how landscape architects can contract with the agency to work on upcoming federal projects. Specifically, you will learn about GSA's Public Building Services program, the project delivery methods used by GSA, and how to navigate the agency's procurement process. The webinar will also provide specific examples of federal projects, including award-winning projects that used the design services of landscape architects.


text:
Beyoncé's Ivy Park Responds to Factory Sweatshop Allegations
May 16, 2016 1:31 PM PST
Beyoncé's Ivy Park brand is fighting back against accusations their products are made in a Sri Lankan sweatshop under harsh working conditions.
via WWD:
On Monday, the brand said in a statement: "Ivy Park has a rigorous ethical trading program. We are proud of our sustained efforts in terms of factory inspections and audits, and our teams worldwide work very closely with our suppliers and their factories to ensure compliance."
The brand added that it expects its suppliers to meet its code of conduct "and we support them in achieving these requirements."
The statement came in response to a front-page story in The Sun on Sunday tabloid — never one to shun a sensational headline. The paper accused the brand of relying on "poverty-stricken seamstresses" at the MAS Holdings factory in Sri Lanka to make some of the Ivy Park clothes.
The story said the mostly female workers earn 4.30 pounds a day, or $6.17, and could never afford to buy a pair of Ivy Park leggings, which can cost 100 pounds, or $144.
But the minimum daily wage in Sri Lanka is 400 rupees, or $2.68. That means Ivy Park workers are earning more than twice the minimum wage for a day's work.
We're glad that's settled.
Tags:beyonceIvy Park


text:
This Week In: English Football – Cup Roundup and Premiership Preview
January 10, 2013 ~ John Lally
Alex Lawless scores the goal the secures a win for non-league Luton Town against Wolves
Although last weekend saw only two Premiership clubs knocked out of the FA Cup, the third round stage has already produced some upsets, with a round of replays providing the potential for more. The biggest shocks were at Macclesfield and Luton, where the two non-league home teams knocked out Cardiff and Wolves respectively, the latter of whom subsequently sacked their manager, Ståle Solbakken. However, there was no fairy tale for Mansfield – who lost 2-1 to Liverpool, albeit somewhat controversially, as Luis Suarez had clearly handled the ball before scoring the visitor's second goal – nor for Hastings United of the Isthmian Premier Division, who were beaten 3-1 by Middlesbrough.
The biggest top flight casualty was Newcastle, who produced a tepid display in their 2-0 defeat away to Brighton of the Championship, while the other Premiership side to have already exited – Southampton – were beaten by Chelsea, 5-1. All of the other three encounters between teams currently at the top of the English league pyramid ended in draws: Manchester United forced a replay against West Ham thanks to Robin Van Persie's stoppage time equaliser; Arsenal scored twice in two minutes to take the lead after they had been trailing in their game at Swansea, but the hosts forced the tie back to the Emirates with their own late strike; and Kieron Dyer found the net with virtually the last kick of the match to even things up for QPR against West Brom. Five Premiership clubs were forced into another fixture by lower league opposition: Blackpool earned a 1-1 draw at Fulham; Sunderland had to battle back from 2-0 down away at Bolton to take the tie back to the north-east; Crystal Palace and Stoke ended goalless; and Wigan came from behind to remain in the competition as their home match against Bournemouth finished 1-1. By contrast, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Everton, Reading, Manchester City or Norwich, had little trouble in all advanced to the fourth round – which will be contested over the final weekend of January.
There was also League Cup action in midweek and the first legs of the two semi-finals both produced unexpected outcomes. League Two's Bradford, who had knocked out Arsenal on penalties in the quarter-finals, are half-way to claiming another Premiership scalp as they defeated Aston Villa 3-1 at Valley Parade; while Swansea were dominated by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but the Welsh side came away with a 2-0 win and now have one foot in the final. This weekend sees the return of Premiership action and on Saturday, Harry Redknapp will have the opportunity to beat the club that sacked him, as Queens Park Rangers host Tottenham – a fixture that has been moved from its original date of Monday, January 14th as QPR have their cup replay against West Brom next Tuesday. That same day, the two sides just above the relegation zone – Aston Villa and Southampton – meet at Villa Park; Swansea travel to Everton; Stoke will have their unbeaten home record tested by Chelsea; Sunderland host West Ham; Fulham, who have won just two of their last thirteen league matches, entertain third-bottom Wigan; and West Brom have an away trip to Reading.
The biggest fixtures of the weekend come on Sunday, as Arsenal host the champions, Manchester City, who have returned nearly a third of their ticket allocation, as many supporters were unwilling to pay the (ridiculous) sum of £62 to watch their team play at the Emirates, where they lost 1-0 last season; and old rivals Manchester United and Liverpool square off in the lunchtime kick off at Old Trafford. Brendan Rodgers will be hoping that his new team can continue their push up the Premiership, as they have won five of their last seven in the league, while the Red Devils will be looking to at least maintain their seven point advantage over City at the top of the table.
Last time, 8-12; Season, 90-107
QPR vs Tottenham – Home win
Aston Villa vs Southampton – Draw
Everton vs Swansea – Draw
Fulham vs Wigan – Home win
Norwich vs Newcastle – Home win
Reading vs West Brom – Away win
Stoke vs Chelsea – Draw
Sunderland vs West Ham – Home win
Manchester United vs Liverpool – Home win
Arsenal vs Manchester City – Draw
Posted in English Football, Sports
< Previous This Week in: The NFL – Wildcard Weekend
Next > This Week in: The NFL – Divisional Round
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text:
First team hold photo shoot
Team photo shoot done for the season
So here it is, your 2016/17 Fleetwood Town Squad.
Thursday was a busy day at the club's Poolfoot Farm training ground as the first team was assembled for the official team photograph.
A number of new signings also had headshots taken for the big screen at Highbury, and the club also launched the brand new Poolfoot 5's initiative, with the help of five of the first team players.
A film crew were also in attendance to capture some behind the scenes footage which will be available very soon. Keep an eye out across the Official Fleetwood Town social media channels.
Players enjoyed meals in Crossbar And Grill where more shots were taken for some brand new advertisements and youngsters from local schools were also treated to visits from some of the squad before their matches on the 3G pitches.


At Wolf Photography we are all about that real love stuff. We are natural wedding photographers with an unobtrusive approach for those free spirited couples who love light, laughter, and the great outdoors. Spontaneous moments and candid emotions are our passion.
"I am sitting here with happy tears reliving their special day! Thank you for your exceptional attention to detail and giving us a gift of beautiful moments that we will treasure forever."
We are so over the moon honoured to be featured in the below magazines and online publications! Hoping to have your wedding in the press? Just let us know before the big day!
At Wolf Photography, we have the best clients, hands down! Click on the WeddingWire Rated button below to read what our couples have been saying about us.
We are Rianna and Adam, soulmates and wedding photographers. Based in Vancouver and Toronto but lucky enough to call both Australia and Canada home. We're big believers in bringing it back to what it is all about – you marrying your best person. Real emotions, unfiltered moments, the planned for and the wonderfully unplanned.
We've been in your shoes, now we'll be there for you.
MEET US Take a look behind the scenes. See who we are and how we work.


text:
Plan B? Green Party Candidate Jill Stein's Message to Bernie Sanders Supporters
Kurt Schrader D-OR voted to ban GMO labelling
Kurt Schrader (D-OR 5th CD) is one of the 275 Members of Congress who just voted for the DARK ACT (Deny Americans the Right to Know) which prevents all states from enacting their own GMO labelling laws ever, and overturns existing state laws which do require GMO labelling.
Named the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 by a bunch of politicians who know next to nothing about about the dangers of GMOs the legislation was recently passed in the House Committee.
If you are a member of the Pacific Green Party, live in Oregon Congressional District 5, and are OUTRAGED by the Congressman's vote, please considering running against him 2016! We'll help you do so.
Jill Stein invited to meet with Russian leaders
From Green Party Watch:
"Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein has been invited to Russia later this year. Stein said that after attending the UN Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, she is planning to visit Moscow on a mission for international peace and diplomacy." Click here to read the full article.
Transgender Day of Remembrance 20 Nov 2015
Greens celebrate the diversity of humankind. We believe everybody has a right to be who they are, free from constricting stereotypes, in peace. Our society must heal from all the useless violence by facing the awful truth of our social failures and embracing the radical changes necessary to build the better world we know in our hearts is possible. To find events in your area click here.
State-wide RANKED CHOICE VOTING to be on Ballot in Maine
by Alan F. Zundel
On November 18th the Maine Secretary of State determined that a state-wide ranked choice voting initiative has enough valid signatures to appear on the ballot in the November 2016 election. Maine voters will decide if ranked choice voting will be used for federal and state offices for the first time in U.S. history.
To read the rest of Alan's fine article please visit his blog at RCV Oregon.
Maine Initiative for Instant Runoff Voting Will Be On 2016 Ballot
Published in Ballot Access News on November 18, 2015, by Richard Winger.
On November 18, the Maine Secretary of State determined that the initiative for instant runoff voting (for all federal and state office except President) does have enough valid signatures. It will appear on the November 2016 ballot.
Darryl Cherney running for Green Party Presidential nomination
I am deciding now if I'll run for the Green Party Presidential nomination. Many deadlines are approaching. I am requesting that state parties provide me information on the requirements for earning delegates and/or qualifying for a primary. Please read my revised platform/manifesto and "like" my facebook page.
I need your signatures here to achieve recognition from the GPUS as a candidate. I seek your input now!
My platform is below the fold.
CHRIS HEDGES - CALLING ALL REBELS: THE MORAL IMPERATIVE TO REVOLT
Speech by noted author and activist Chris Hedges to our neighboring Green Party of Orange County on September 20, 2015.
America's Big Election Night
Photo and Article by Blair Bobier
Although a number of important—and under-reported—elections just took place in the U.S., the election that might ultimately matter most to Americans happened last month in Canada. There, the Liberal Party executed an '08 Obama-like ousting of the governing Conservative Party.
Three aspects of the Canadian election are particularly notable and inspiring—if not downright revolutionary. One is the Liberal Party's promise to change Canada's winner-take-all elections; two is the re-election to Parliament of Green Party leader Elizabeth May; and three, is the inclusive Cabinet appointed by the new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
German Greens support protection for Snowden
The European Parliament narrowly adopted a nonbinding but nonetheless forceful resolution on 29 October 2015 urging the 28 nations of the European Union to recognize Edward J. Snowden as a "whistle-blower and international human rights defender" and shield him from prosecution. "It's the first time a Parliament votes to ask for this to be done — and it's the European Parliament," said Mr. Albrecht, a German lawmaker with the Greens political bloc. Click here to read the full article.


Following a series of studies, community consultation and the preparation of a detailed character study report (Kensington/South Perth – Character Study Report), the City has prepared a draft amendment to Town Planning Scheme No. 6 and an associated draft local planning policy.
The draft amendment and policy were considered by Council at its meeting of 26 June 2018, where Council agreed to commence formal public advertising on the proposals.
Table B (Additional height) & Table C (Performance Criteria) which only applies to specific sites within Precinct 16.
Special Control Area provisions and map, which apply to specific properties at the eastern end of the proposed Precinct.
Feedback closed 5pm, Tuesday 16 October 2018.