In Citizens for Responsible Equitable Environmental Development (CREED) v. City of San Diego, the Court upheld the use of an Addendum to a 1994 environmental impact report (EIR) to approve a revised Project. The Court rejected two challenges: (1) that the Addendum failed to include an analysis of the impacts of greenhouse gases which was not addressed in the 1994 EIR; and (2) that the City improperly incorporated and approved a water supply assessment (WSA) as part of the Addendum. The challenges were rejected on the merits as well as for the failure to exhaust administrative remedies. The Court ruled that once an EIR is certified, the standards for requiring supplemental environmental review under CEQA are narrow and the challenger has the burden of proof to show additional review is required.
On GHG impacts, the City argued that an analysis of GHG impacts was not required because it was not new information that could not have been known at the time the EIR was certified in 1994. The City presented evidence that the potential impacts of GHGs on climate change were known as early as the 1970s. The Court agreed that this impact did not meet the CEQA standard for supplemental environmental review. GHG impacts could have been raised in 1994 when the City considered the EIR. CEQA's policies in favor of finality come into play once an EIR has been certified, and the presumption of completeness and adequacy favor the agency. The Court also rejected the argument because CREED did not exhaust their administrative remedies on the issue. The Court ruled that "general, unelaborated objections" to the environmental review contained in CREED's letter to the City Council did not satisfy the exhaustion requirement. The fact that CREED submitted a DVD of materials discussing GHG impacts on climate that were not explained or discussed in the letter did not provide the agency with an adequate opportunity to understand and respond to the objection. The Court's analysis of the exhaustion requirement may give agencies some basis for dealing with "late hits" or "document dumps" at hearings which is a common and frustrating tactic of project opponents.
On the WSA challenges, the Court ruled that the City properly incorporated the WSA into the Addendum. Also, although the record was not clear on whether the City had formally approved the WSA as part of the Addendum, the Court said that any doubts should be resolved in the agency's favor since setting aside the action would clearly be an exercise of form over substance. The Court found that the City considered and approved the WSA as part of the Addendum and the public had notice of this procedure.
Overall, the case provides strong support for reliance on already certified EIRs in future project approvals despite the passage of time. It emphasizes that once an EIR is certified, challengers have a high burden to show that further environmental review is required. In particular, an addendum to an "old" EIRs without a GHG analysis may be upheld based on a finding that GHGs is not new information requiring further environmental review under CEQA. In addition, agencies may raise a failure to exhaust administrative remedies in court to generalized, "late hit" objections where the opponent does not provide specific information in a form that the agency has an adequate opportunity to evaluate and respond to before making a decision.


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When Do CalPERS Rates Become 'Unsustainable'?
The use of the word "unsustainable" had a distant echo this month as the League of California Cities issued a study of CalPERS rates, a move to get stronger local options for controlling rising pension costs.
Over the next seven years, the study found, city CalPERS costs will increase more than 50 percent. The annual pension bite for the average city will reach 15.8 percent of the general fund, nearly doubling from 8.3 percent a decade ago.
A key finding of the study by Bartel Associates actuaries, using CalPERS data and survey replies from 229 cities, is that "city pension costs will dramatically increase to unsustainable levels."
Nearly a decade ago the CalPERS chief actuary then, Ron Seeling, made a similar prediction at a seminar sponsored by the Retirement Journal in August 2009. The CalPERS investment fund had just lost $100 billion during the financial crisis and market crash.
"I don't want to sugarcoat anything," Seeling said. "We are facing decades without significant turnarounds in assets, decades of — what I, my personal words, nobody else's — unsustainable pension costs of between 25 percent of pay for a miscellaneous plan and 40 to 50 percent of pay for a safety plan … unsustainable pension costs. We've got to find some other solutions."
The average CalPERS contribution for local governments in the current fiscal year is approaching Seeling's "unsustainable" level — miscellaneous 21 percent of pay and safety (police and firefighters) 40.45 percent.
In seven years, the League study expects rising CalPERS employer rates to be well above those mentioned by Seeling. By then a gradual rate increase will be fully phased in, filling the funding gap created by lowering the investment earnings forecast from 7.5 to7 percent.
"In FY 2024–25, half of cities are anticipated to pay over 30.8 percent of their payroll towards miscellaneous employee pension costs, with 25 percent of cities anticipated to pay over 37.7 percent of payroll," said the study. (see chart)
For safety or police and firefighters: "By FY 2024–25, a majority of these cities are anticipated to pay 54 percent or more of payroll, with 25 percent of cities anticipated to pay over 63.8 percent of payroll."
A call to "convene the stakeholders" was another similarity between the League study finding of "unsustainable" pension costs and remarks at the seminar in 2009 that followed Seeling's call for solutions.
"It is our hope that this report today helps inform the discussions that can be used across stakeholders to acknowledge that there is a problem and encourage all of us to come to the table to help forge solutions," Carolyn Coleman, League executive director, said this month.
At the seminar in 2009 the CalPERS chief executive then, Anne Stausboll, said the CalPERS board had talked about the "cost and sustainability of pension benefits" the previous week and decided that the system should take a "proactive role" on the issue.
"They asked us to formulate a way to convene our stakeholders — employers, labor, legislators and other stakeholders in our system — to convene everybody and start having a constructive dialogue on sustainability of pension benefits," Stausboll said.
At the League news conference a reporter's request for a definition of "unsustainability" was answered by Daniel Keen, a former Vallejo city manager with two decades of experience in five cities.
The ability to absorb rising pension costs varies from city to city, Keen said, but one thing unsustainable for all is the erosion of basic services. He said uncertainty causes reluctance to fully staff police, fire departments, and public works maintenance.
As discretionary services such as libraries, parks and recreation are threatened, long-term commitments are less likely. Though the economy is growing and unemployement is low, cities are forced to make tough budget decisions.
"That's not a good model for sustainability, considering that we will probably see recessions again in the future that will be much more difficult to manage through simply because of these rates," Keen said.
Managing the scheduled CalPERS employer rate increases over the next seven years will be difficult for many cities, even if a deep recession and plunging stock market does not create the need for additional rate increases.
The League needs to "convene the stakeholders" because the new cost-cutting local options urged in its "Pension Sustainability Principles," adopted last June, require legislation or a change in the "California rule" court decisions that prevent cuts in the pension offered at hire.
For example, current law prevents cities from negotiating with labor unions to give employees a lower pension for work done in the future, while protecting pension amounts earned in the past.
One of the League sustainability principles calls for converting employees hired before a pension reform on Jan. 1, 2013, (called "classic" by CalPERS) to the lower pension formula given employees hired after the reform.
At a workshop in November on proposed investment allocations that could raise employer rates, representatives of two cities told the CalPERS board their employees are willing to negotiate earning lower pensions in the future but cannot under current law.
"Our 'classic' employees, which are about 87 percent of our workforce today, have indicated a willingness to take a reduction prospectively in the benefit package offered if it were allowed," said the Hanford city manager, Darrel Pyle.
"Many of our employees have signaled that a reduction in the benefit formula going forward would be much more palatable than additional pay reductions or potential reductions in staff," said the Bencia human resources manager, Kim Imboden.
Cutting pensions earned in the future was the top recommendation of an influential Little Hoover Commission report in 2011 and a key part of a pension reform approved in 2012 by San Jose voters, which was overturned by a superior court.
The League study said "the most prominent source of the pension system's cost escalation" began with higher pensions granted by state and local governments under legislation around 2000, when CalPERS had a surplus that was said to cover most of the cost.
Other sources of the cost increase, said the study, are investment losses, an actuarial policy that delays payment of debt, demographic change that has pension debt for retirees exceeding the debt for active workers, and automatic pension cost-of-living adjustments.
Another league sustainability principle is a "temporary modification" to COLAs that "are automatically added to a retiree's pension benefit payment regardless of compensation level or CPI."
Cities in CalPERS can choose compounding COLAs of 2, 3, 4, or 5 percent, depending on union bargaining. The COLA for teachers in CalSTRS is fixed at 2 percent of the initial monthly payment. COLAs in private-sector pensions are rare.
Last September the CalPERS board was told that a COLA freeze could increase pension funding by up to 18 percent for safety plans and up to 15 percent for miscellaneous plans.
The board rejected a request to analyze the cost savings of COLA suspensions and switching all employees to the lower pension given post-reform hires. The request was backed by cities but opposed by unions.
With the current cost-cutting options, cities that are financially able can pay down debt quickly or set aside money for future pension costs. Some cities have been unable to restore services cut during the recession because rising pension costs eat up improving revenue.
Asking voters to approve tax increases and employees to contribute more toward their pensions also are options. A city that mentioned the possibility of bankruptcy in September, Oroville, did not use the "bankruptcy word" while addressing the CalPERS board in November.
A federal judge ruled in the Stockton bankruptcy that pensions can be cut. But Stockton, like bankrupt San Bernardino, did not try to cut pensions, saying pensions are needed to be competitive in the job market, particularly for police.
The state Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals of two appeals court rulings that would weaken or eliminate the "California rule," allowing pension cuts. The high court could make a narrow ruling that does little to alter vested rights precedents.
If the Supreme Court upholds the appellate rulings, cities might have to "convene the stakeholders" to get legislation allowing change. Attempted statewide pension initiatives have struggled with selecting a retirement replacement, funding, and unfavorable ballot summaries.
CalPERS funding, 101 percent in 2007, has not recovered from the huge loss a decade ago, despite a lengthy bull market. Last year the funding was only 68 percent of the projected assets needed to pay future pension obligations, little changed from a low of 61 percent in 2009.
Now CalPERS fears a deep recession or stock market plunge could drop its funding level below 50 percent, a red line some experts warn could be a crippling blow. Critics say the 7 percent earnings forecast is too optimistic.
In December the CalPERS board, as urged by cities, chose a new investment allocation that did not lower the current 7 percent investment earnings forecast, avoiding another large rate increase.
This week the CalPERS board is scheduled to consider a reform shortening payment of new pension debt from 30 to 20 years, triggering a small rate increase. In November some cities opposed the change, saying "the employer pays more option is no longer viable."
Originally posted at Calpensions.
Reporter Ed Mendel covered the Capitol in Sacramento for nearly three decades, most recently for the San Diego Union-Tribune. More stories are at Calpensions.com.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Prancing Elites of Mobile, Alabama, were invited to the Semmes, Alabama, Christmas parade. Some objected.
Semmes has a population of 2,897 and covers only 2,100 acres. It was incorporated in 2011 and, if I can believe my eyes, you can buy fireworks at Christmas time there.
Here you can see the Dallas Cowgirls. Not too different, except there are more Cowgirls and they show more skin. I think in some people's minds the Cowgirls rank right up there with Jesus and God.


text:
"I KEEP FORGETTING"...BUT NEVER... THE DOOBIES.
If you're lonely or seek attention---Get a Dog.
"Checking our bags at the Little Rock Airport Terminal after a brief visit in Pine Bluff, my youngest daughter and I were impressed with all the attention Miss Starr was receiving inside the terminal.
No doubt, "Missy"--- as we so-often called her--- enjoyed the affectionate hugs, pats, and comments from strangers of all ages. Tall, stately, and a natural blonde.... Missy, a standard poodle... proudly displayed her Pedigree and Show Dog manners; she managed to wear her Traditional Poodle Cut like a princess.
Also checking in at the crowded ticket desk, a group of young men---surrounded by guitar cases, sound equipment, and other performance paraphernalia--- began paying attention to Missy, petting her and commenting on her classic good looks.
One man in the group was particularly friendly and soon struck up a conversation. He was tall, nice-looking, and his name was Ken Cross. I couldn't help but notice his ear lobes, not only pierced but also tattooed with half-moon designs (Don't forget, this was the early eighties and tattoos were rare.)
It wasn't long before my daughter and I met each of Ken's friends, learning they had performed in Little Rock the night before and were now returning home. Sorry we had missed their show, they asked for our address, saying they wanted to send us tickets for future performances.
On the flight to Philadelphia, my daughter and I were sitting in coach until Ken came looking for us, insisting we join his group. Since the group had purchased every seat in First Class, there were quite a few extra seats. Before leaving us in Philadelphia, our new friends insisted on sharing lots of hugs and kisses for all concerned…including Miss Starr.
For several years after our surprising airport encounter, we---and that included Miss Starr--- received tickets to concerts, invitations to dinner, even Christmas Cards from our new friends....The Doobie Brothers. "


Give Love. Get Love. Be Love. Offered in packs of 50, these business card sized love notes feel great to give out and people really love receiving them too! Such a simple way to share more love.
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Every time someone orders our love cards, stickers or magnets to sprinkle around their community, a heart gets pinned on this map for their zip / postal code. Join the movement and represent your community. Get a heart on this map today and help love go viral!
So far, with your help, we have sprinkled 125,000 love cards around the world in over 600 communities!
Thank you everyone. I Love You. Pass it on.
I ordered a couple packs of these cards and instantly fell in love!! I left some at book stores, grocery stores, handed some out to strangers, and my favorite was putting them in all of my students end of the year cards !!! I gave 2 to each child, and told them to pass them along! I absolutely love these cards and this movement!! Keep changing the world, friends!!
Awesome cute cards to pass love on to other people. Just so simple but so meaningful! The cards are great! I'm looking forward to making more people smile!
It is a fabulous idea and concept! Thank you for giving me an opportunity to be part of this campaign. We Malaysian's love it!
I love the way these cards start conversations. I love the way people light up when I give them one. I love the way people miss them when they have run out (of the frequent places I leave them) and get excited when I'm back to leave more. I love how this tiny gesture can change someone's day, perhaps even their life. I love spreading love. Thank you for creating this opportunity to do so.
I love these cards! My first experience with them was several years ago when Shawn Jason organized a Free Hug Event in the downtown core of Toronto. It was such a magical time and nothing like I had ever experienced before. We went around with signs hugging those who wanted it and we handed out these cards. I remember seeing everyone's face light up when we did they were all so thankful. I love leaving these cards around random public places as I know and trust that someone who really needs some love that day will find them. I like to keep some at me at all times as you never know when someone may be in need of a little love. Its beautiful to see how far around the globe these cards are traveling to. This is a wonderful initiative I remember when this was just in the beginning stages its beautiful to watch this movement flourish and blossom. Thank you Shawn for all that you do brother.
As the creator of this project, it tickles me deeply to see these cards reaching around the world and touching so many lives. A big thanks to all who have ordered these cards and who are spreading love everywhere they go. I have shipped nearly 100,000 of these cards so far and am aiming for 1 million! All the love & support you have shown for this project is very much appreciated. I Love You! Pass it on.
From Toronto to BC & back again. I left these little gems everywhere. It was really cool when I was able to see people find them. Their whole physical demeanor changed. Thanks for helping me spread love ❤??
I love handing these out!
I was so excited to get my love cards in the mail yesterday. I think this is perhaps the most clever thing I've ever seen on a business card. I LOVE to spread love wherever and whenever I can so these are just the perfect thing for me to have in my wallet. I can't wait to spread then around the GTA and we often travel to the US so I will be spreading the love there as well. Shawn you are really on to something here and I'm hoping that I can help in a BIG way to spread the word and also some LOVE. The world certainly needs more LOVE today than ever. I love you. Pass it on!
Now available… business card sized love stickers!! With the popularity of our love cards, many of you asked for stickers too, and now here they are… just like the cards but sticky! These indoor paper stickers are 3.5″ x 2″ and feature a high gloss finish with a strong adhesive for a long lasting stick. WORLDWIDE SHIPPING IS FREE! • 1 pack (20 stickers) $5 • 5 packs (100 stickers) $15 • 20 packs (400 stickers) $45 Discounts are automatically applied when any 5 or 20 packs of our love cards, stickers or magnets are added to cart.
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This Chinese herbal remedy is formulated to soothe the liver, increases bile secretion and clear away damp heat for stagnation of liver qi and gallbladder qi accompanied by heat and damp, abdominal distension and fullness, gallstone.
Actions: Clearing away heat and removing dampness, normalizing the function of the gallbladder and removing calculi.
Directions: To be taken orally. Removal of stone: 6-10 tablets each time, twice a day; anti inflammation: 4-6 tablets each time, twice a day.
Click the button below to add the Tangerine & Turmeric Combo Extract (Li Dan Pai Shi Pian) to your wish list.


Not one to waste a good media opportunity, the Victorian government has used visiting former US vice-president Al Gore to launch its new Renewable Energy Action Plan, which it says contains the largest spending commitment to renewables from a Victorian government in history.
The plan commits $146 million to projects, including $25 million to40 megawatt of battery storage and 100MWh of capacity in the west of Victoria, set to be completed by summer 2018.
"We will achieve this by delivering a minimum of two 20MW batteries in western Victoria, to support battery storage becoming mainstream," the plan states.


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Fire in Metro Station Disrupts Service on 3 Train Lines
Published June 27, 2016 • Updated on June 27, 2016 at 11:32 pm
The Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station was temporarily closed during rush hour Monday evening because of a small fire.
Trains on the Green and Yellow lines are bypassing the station. Metro advised riders on both lines to expect delays. Red Line service in the station has resumed.
One person who may have inhaled smoke was taken to a hospital for evaluation, the D.C. fire department said. No one else was hurt, the department said.
The fire was extinguished, Metro said about 6:25 p.m.
No-Loiter Zone Around Woodbridge 7-Eleven Cuts Job Access for Day Laborers


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Mitch McConnell thwarts Donald Trump bid for $2,000 coronavirus economic relief checks
McConnell said on the Senate floor that a bill passed by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, which sought to meet fellow Republican Trump's demands for bigger checks, "has no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate."
U.S. Senate leader Mitch McConnell dealt a likely death blow on Wednesday to President Donald Trump's bid to boost coronavirus aid to Americans, declining to schedule a swift Senate vote on a bill to raise relief checks to $2,000 from $600.
McConnell, who controls the Senate's agenda and opposes the increase in aid, had introduced a competing bill combining the $2,000 checks with provisions unacceptable to Democrats, who could block it.
With a new Congress set to be sworn in on Sunday, the action appears all but certain to kill the effort to increase the amount of the $600 checks Congress has already approved.
Appearing to shrug off Trump's own initiative, McConnell continued: "The Senate is not going to be bullied into rushing out more borrowed money into the hands of Democrats' rich friends who don't need the help."
Democrats have insisted the aid is for people in dire need of help in the face of a health crisis that has killed nearly 340,000 people in the United States, but McConnell complained the checks were not targeted to need.
"Let folks vote. Mitch McConnell has the ability to do that ... He simply is unwilling to do that and the American people are going to be hurt," Democratic Senator Gary Peters told CNN.
Trump had ramped up pressure on fellow Republicans to back the bigger checks for struggling Americans in a series of tweets over recent days. "$2000 ASAP!" Trump wrote on Twitter early on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the president attacked Republican leaders as "pathetic" and accused the party of having a "death wish" if it did not back raising the stimulus payments or scrap legal protections for social media companies.
Republican Senator John Cornyn told reporters he thought it unlikely that Congress would now act to increase the checks given McConnell's remarks.
Asked if he expected his party to face political blowback, Cornyn said: "No, not in any normal world," noting that lawmakers had already approved trillions of dollars in relief for an economy battered by the pandemic.
Some Republican senators had supported an increase in the payments, including David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, who face runoff elections in Georgia next week that will determine which party controls the Senate under President-elect Joe Biden's incoming administration.
Biden, who defeated Trump in a November election and takes office on Jan. 20, supports the House bill.
Congressional Republicans have largely stuck with Trump through four turbulent years, but the president is angry that they have not fully backed his claims of election fraud.
The tensions among Republicans have been exacerbated by a second showdown over an effort in Congress to override Trump's veto of a defense policy bill.The Senate voted 80-12 on Wednesday to begin debate on the issue, with another procedural vote due on Friday. If successful, the effort would lead to the first veto override of Trump's presidency.
The House of Representatives voted to overturn Trump's defense bill veto on Monday. Once preliminary hurdles in the Senate are cleared, a final vote could come later in the week or over the weekend.
(Reporting by Susan Cornwell and David Morgan; additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Lisa Lambert, Jeff Mason and David Brunnstrom; writing by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Howard Goller and Grant McCool)
TAGS: #World News
Coronavirus News Highlights: 145 people found infected with UK strain of coronavirus in India, says Health Ministry
Mitch McConnell thwarts Donald Trump bid for $2,000 coronavirus...
Kharif Marketing Season: Govt procures paddy worth Rs 1.08 lakh crore
Trade setup for Friday: Top 15 things to know before Opening Bell


I presume the Walnuts don't include "It's been a good year for the Roses" play list?
No. Otherwise there would be NO audience.
And some crucial missing information about the police raid – when the police 'entered the premises' at 1am the 50 or so guests immediately quietened down out of respect for their local Babylon. This silence was only interrupted by Matt banging out Johnny B Goode on a piano whilst being egged on by Håkon waving a 10 foot high Norwegian flag and with the local priest swinging his shirt around his head and belting out 'Go go go Johnny go!' at the top of his voice.
That's how I heard it anyway – I wasn't there. I was standing out on the street with Donald listening to the combination of German Disco, Wagner and Johnny B Goode, wondering why the neighbours hadn't called the police. And then they did.
Listening now! I've heard of Greg Leisz but never checked him out. Thanks for the tip!


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Q: Looking for more values in a column of a table I have a query in Access which opens a table. In this table I should check one column. This column can contain several values, or can be empty. My search terms are a bunch of strings and integers, for example "V1234" or 974623.
My final aim is to have a MsgBox if the column is empty, or contains any data out of my search terms.
I was thinking of the DCount function, but it is good for 1 criteria at once:
If DCount("VendorCode", "MyTable", "[VendorCode] = 'V1234'") = 0 Then
    MsgBox....

Question 1:
Can I somehow use a variant a a criteria?
For example:
Dim vendors As Variant

vendors = Array("V1234", "V2345", "V3456", 9543435)

If DCount("VendorCode", "MyTable", "[VendorCode] = vendors") = 0 Then
    MsgBox....*

Question 2:
If question 1 is a complete dead end, what is the most effective way to look for more data in one column?

A: You can use In:
vendors = Array("V1234", "V2345", "V3456", "9543435") ' Note: All strings.

If DCount("VendorCode", "MyTable", "[VendorCode] In ('" & Join(vendors, "','") & "')") = 0 Then
    MsgBox....*

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to change strokeColor by custom gradient I want to animate strokeColor of CAShapeLayer, but in CABasicAnimation I have two value (from and to). Is it only two color support while animation is fire? For example, on start I have strokeColor = [UIColor blueColor].CGColor;
then
CABasicAnimation *colorAnimation = [CABasicAnimation animationWithKeyPath:@"strokeColor"];
colorAnimation.duration            = 3.0; // "animate over 3 seconds or so.."
colorAnimation.repeatCount         = 1.0;  // Animate only once..
colorAnimation.removedOnCompletion = NO;   // Remain stroked after the animation..
colorAnimation.fillMode = kCAFillModeForwards;
colorAnimation.toValue   = (id)[UIColor redColor].CGColor;
colorAnimation.timingFunction = [CAMediaTimingFunction functionWithName:kCAMediaTimingFunctionEaseIn];

on half-way I have a dark purple color, but I need, for example, yellow color.
Is it possible to add custom gradient to CABasicAnimation?

A: I don't think you can do that with CABasicAnimation, but you can use a CAKeyframeAnimation to set intermediate values for your animation:
CAKeyframeAnimation *colorAnimation = [CAKeyframeAnimation animationWithKeyPath:@"strokeColor"];
colorAnimation.values               = @[(id)[[UIColor blueColor] CGColor],
                                        (id)[[UIColor yellowColor] CGColor],
                                        (id)[[UIColor redColor] CGColor]];
colorAnimation.duration             = 3.0;  // "animate over 3 seconds or so.."
colorAnimation.repeatCount          = 1.0;  // Animate only once..
colorAnimation.removedOnCompletion  = NO;   // Remain stroked after the animation..
colorAnimation.fillMode             = kCAFillModeForwards;
colorAnimation.timingFunction       = [CAMediaTimingFunction functionWithName:kCAMediaTimingFunctionEaseIn];

If you want a "across the spectrum" sort of feel, you could do:
colorAnimation.values = @[(id)[[UIColor blueColor] CGColor],
                          (id)[[UIColor greenColor] CGColor],
                          (id)[[UIColor yellowColor] CGColor],
                          (id)[[UIColor orangeColor] CGColor],
                          (id)[[UIColor redColor] CGColor]];

Or if you want more of a simple blue to red, but avoiding that really dark purple, you could do:
colorAnimation.values = @[(id)[[UIColor blueColor] CGColor],
                          (id)[[UIColor colorWithRed:0.9 green:0.0 blue:0.9 alpha:1.0] CGColor],
                          (id)[[UIColor redColor] CGColor]];

Lots of options.


text:
Seagrass Ocean Rescue
Why Seagrass
SeagrassSpotter
Seagrass (Re)Store
Supportership
IssuesProjectsResearch
Restoring our Damaged Seagrass Meadows
By Benjamin Jones December 8, 2015 September 3rd, 2020 No Comments
When you think about areas requiring bold initiatives to protect the environment, the small Welsh costal village of Porthdinllaen might not be the first place that comes to mind, and with only two dozen buildings and a miniscule population you might find it surprising that the environment there is under threat.
Porthdinllaen is a part of a marine conservation area called Pen Llŷn a'r Sarnau Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which extends from Nefyn, on the north coast of the Llŷn, to Clarach, about a mile north of Aberystwyth. The presence of seagrass within the SAC is one of the reasons the area is so special. Due to its location, sheltered from all but north-easterly winds, Porthdinllaen is the perfect place for seagrass to grow and as such the seagrass meadow there is thought to be the largest and densest in Wales covering an area the size of 46 football pitches.
However, its natural sheltered location also makes it an ideal natural harbour, and it is here where the problems lie. The sheltered harbour, the only such haven on the Llŷn Peninsula, has been used for many centuries as a place to run to for shelter in a storm offering safe anchorage. It is now a lively, but small fishing port with around 90 moorings, each of which is having a negative effect on the seagrass meadow.
Damage of boat moorings within the seagrass meadow at Porthidinllaen
It's estimated that around 10% of the seagrass at Porthdinllaen has been lost due to moorings alone, but moorings aren't the only problem. Anchoring within the seagrass meadow is also a common sight. By far the biggest concern within the extensive intertidal seagrass meadows of the site are tractors and 4×4 vehicles, which routinely cross the seagrass to retrieve the fishermen's catch. These issues fragment the seagrass causing it to become patchy and no longer a continuous area of habitat for fish. Fragmented meadows are more vulnerable to the effects of erosion.
Tractor damage to the Porthdinllaen seagrass meadow
Not all doom and gloom!
Its not all doom and gloom though, Project Seagrass has now begun the first ever seagrass restoration trial in Wales with the hope of developing a novel method to restore our damaged seagrass meadows and consequently help support our declining fisheries. Interest in seagrass restoration in the UK is increasing as the value of seagrass ecosystems is recognized by scientists, managers and regulators. However, despite this interest action remains limited. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for seagrass beds specifically details the restoration of 1000 hectares of seagrass during 1997-2010. Transplantation trials in the 1980's, the early 1990's and in the last two years were carried out around the south coast of England, but with little success in the long-term. No seagrass in the UK has been restored to date.
Seagrass seeds ready for sorting
During our 2015 summer SeagrassWatch survey we collected a number of Zostera marina shoots laden with seeds. Having let the seeds harden and mature within their seed pods in the aquaria at Swansea University we then sorted the seeds and placed them into hessian bags, ready for planting. During our autumn 2015 SeagrassWatch survey we buried these bags in areas of bare sediment and will check the progress during our 2016 winter, spring, summer and autumn surveys. Despite some poor survey conditions, we planted over 1,500 seeds. If this trial is successful we hope to continue and expand the restoration trial across Wales introducing seeds from other areas to create a genetic mix that allows for hardier and more resilient seagrass meadows in the face of environmental stresses, such as climate change.
Planting the hessian bags at Porthinllaen
Author Benjamin Jones
Ben's a founding director of Project Seagrass and is currently undertaking a PhD at Stockholm University where he is investigating the role of seagrass meadows and their associated fauna in providing poverty alleviation.
More posts by Benjamin Jones
Project Seagrass is an marine conservation charity dedicated to ensuring that seagrass meadows are protected globally, for the biodiversity and people that depend on them.
Registered Charity in England and Wales
No. 1162824 and in Scotland No. SC046788
2020 : A Year In Review
Seagrasses starred in Ocean Hackathon Mexico 2020
The role of seagrass meadows in promoting Ocean Literacy
Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve
Project Seagrass
Sustainable Places Research Institute
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This knife-wielding Chinese man turned out to be the "world's kindest crook" recently when he initially attempted to rob a woman at an ATM in China. Imagine the woman's surprise when he ended up giving all of her money back!
Evidently, the robber caught a glimpse of the woman's bank balance and realized that she didn't have any money and the account was actually empty. He felt like such a tool for taking her last dollars that he gave it all back to her and fled the scene.
Ms Li, the woman who initially was robbed, made a late-night trip to the ATM where she withdrew about $500. Closed circuit footage showed the robber coming up behind her, holding a small knife.
After Ms Li handed over the cash, the man also demanded to check her bank balance to see if she would be able to withdraw any additional cash for him.
"At the time, I felt that as long as he didn't hurt me, I was willing to give him everything," Ms Li said.
Soon, though, the robber realized that the balance was now zero, so he simply smiled, handed her back the cash and was seen walking away from the bank while checking his cell phone.
While it may have been viewed as a kind gesture, local police quickly found him and arrested him two days later. He remains in police custody.


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Constantin ou  Bardzabertsi (en arménien ) est Catholicos de l'Église apostolique arménienne de 1221 à 1267, année de sa mort. Le siège du catholicossat est à cette époque situé en Petite-Arménie, à Hromgla, où il succède à  et où il sera suivi par .

Ce Catholicos a mené une action œcuménique soutenue. Avec le roi , il entretient une correspondance fournie avec les patriarches de Constantinople  et . Ces échanges infructueux poussent l'Église arménienne à se rapprocher de Rome : la papauté obtient ainsi en 1251 la reconnaissance de la primauté du Pape et de la double procession du Saint-Esprit. Rome reconnaît de son côté le rite arménien.

 a également procédé à une réforme de la discipline ecclésiastique en 1243. Enfin, ce Catholicos mécène est connu pour être l'un des principaux patrons du miniaturiste Toros Roslin.

Notes et références

Bibliographie

Catholicos apostolique arménien au XIIIe siècle
Personnalité arménienne du Moyen Âge
Décès en 1267

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Today's tutorial is first time shared online Alhamdulillah that will discuss the most advanced and unique technique of extracting thumbnails from a YouTube Video Iframe embedded inside your blog posts. Our technique is unique because it will ignore all images inside the post and will only pull out the Iframe Image provided by YouTube and will display it as the featured thumbnail. If no video Iframe was found only then the existing third party images inside the blog post will be considered to play a thumbnail role. We have already discussed the manual method of displaying YouTube thumbnails in blogspot posts and today we will discuss the dynamic method to automatically do the job for you. Although Blogger now provides a default link to YouTube thumbnail in its JSON feed API but due to its low resolution we still need a better dynamic method to do the job for us. Lets get to work!
Now comes the coding part. We will use the exact same script that we have shared in part#10. Major modifications made have been highlighted in Purple with white text.
var listing = "
<a href="
If you visit our Label Video, you will notice that the posts also contain images and our blog is displaying those images as thumbnails and not displaying the youTube thumbnail. But with the above advanced widget, you will actually display youTube thumbnails. I will update the Summary plugin that our blog is using shortly.
First we ran a loop to check if a YouTube Iframe actually exists.
Finally we inserted the Video ID inside the standard URL structure of YouTube Thumbnails. We stored the Image URL inside ListImage and passed this value for printing.


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Birth, death, marriage and divorce records mark major events in a person's life, and are used as essential identity documents. If they are allowed to fall into the wrong hands, identity theft can all too easily happen. VitalChek is the ONLY external authorized online ordering agent for government vital records agencies across the nation. This means your data is securely handled by only two parties - VitalChek and the government agency issuing your requested certificate. When you order from VitalChek, we'll verify your request and any required documentation before we securely submit your sensitive information through our direct digital portal to the correct government agency to prepare and ship your document. This transmission is fully encrypted and firewall-protected to meet or exceed all U.S. Department of Commerce standards for transmission and storage of sensitive data, passing the most rigorous security tests available.
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Each entire online transaction is fully encrypted and firewall-protected, meeting the highest Payment Card Industry standards (Level 1 Compliant) and federally-mandated standards set by the U.S. Department of Commerce for the transmission and storage of confidential data.
Want all the latest news on RealID and how it affects you and your travel plans, or get great tips on school sports and international travel?


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Bible > Genesis > Chapter 37 > Verse 4
◄ Genesis 37:4 ►
When Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Causes of Envy E. Stock. Genesis 37:4
Envy G. Lawson, D. D. Genesis 37:4
Envy Hateful E. Stock. Genesis 37:4
Envy Soon Finds an Opportunity W. M. Taylor, D. D. Genesis 37:4
Lessons G. Hughes, B. D. Genesis 37:4
The Baleful Nature of Envy Thornley Smith Genesis 37:4
Joseph At Home F. Hastings Genesis 37:2-4
The Representative Man R.A. Redford Genesis 37
Joseph At Home
Joseph, being seventeen years old, &c. Picturesque scene is the encampment of Jacob. How well the dark camel-hair tents harmonize with the general character of the spots in which they are pitched. Peace and purity should dwell there. Ten men of the tribe of Jacob are most depraved, but their characters only threw into brighter prominence that of Joseph. It is probable that Jacob gave greater attention to the training of Joseph than to that of his brethren. He showed favoritism also. His act of giving him a garb of varied color may not altogether have been so foolish and weak as sometimes it has been supposed to be. It was simply an ordinary Eastern way of indicating that Joseph was to be the future leader and sheik of the encampment. Think of Joseph's home life, and learn -
I. THAT AT HOME WE SHOULD, LIKE JOSEPH, LEARN TO PREPARE FOR FUTURE LIFE. Doubtless Jacob would tell Joseph of the promises of God to Abraham, of the tradition of the Deluge and the Fall; probably also of his own fleeing from home, and his dream in the desert, when he saw "the great altar-stair sloping through darkness up to God," and the angels ascending and descending. Joseph always afterwards has great faith in dreams. No book had he. The Bible was not written. Traditions and oral teaching formed his mental training.
II. AT HOME WE SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE SOME EMPLOYMENT. His father loved him too dearly to allow him to grow up in habits of idleness. He learned to handle the crook and to become a faithful messenger. No work is to be despised, for all may be a preparation for future usefulness.
III. AT HOME WE SHOULD NOT WILLINGLY BE WITNESSES OF WRONGDOING. The lives of Joseph's brethren were sinful, and their doings deceitful. Some things he is obliged to know about of which it is dangerous to keep silence. The welfare of the whole tribe was being risked by the elder brothers, and Joseph, fearing that, tells his father, or seeks counsel that he may be strengthened to resist evil influence.
IV. AT HOME WE MAY HAVE GLOWING VISIONS OF THE FUTURE. The two dreams concerning the sheaves, and the sun and moon and stars, brought hate from his brethren, but they had an influence on Joseph's after life. They were remarkably fulfilled. We all have some such visions. We build "castles in the air." The stern realities of life tone down our dreams. It is well to have some such dreams. Without them few make any advance in life. We are not to be like mere senseless stones, but growing plants. Better is it to bear fruit than to wait to become only the sport of circumstances. - H.
They hated him.
1. Choice respects to any, from parents, above all others, usually make such favourites to be envied.
2. Flesh and blood usually hate that which grace affects and loves.
3. Sin, and envy specially, put men out of a capacity of doing duty to relations.
4. Where hearts are full of hatred, mouths speak not peace but bitterness and scorning.
Causes of envy
E. Stock.
Notice now what are the three things for which we are prone to envy others.
1. Their privileges. Joseph was envied because his father favoured him. Asaph was "envious at the foolish," when he "saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73:3). Against this David warns us — "Fret not thyself because of evil doers" — "Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way" (Psalm 37:1-7).
2. Their prospects. Joseph was envied because of the destiny foreshadowed by his dreams. Walter Scott envied his school-fellow the prize he seemed certain to win. This again, how common I Many a boy stands aloof from his comrades, and joins little and without heart in their sports, because he has fixed his hopes — his ambition if you will — on some object to be gained. Now the others will not envy him in the sense of wishing to be as he is; but they resent his presuming to have objects higher than theirs.
3. Their piety. Joseph was envied because he held aloof from his brothers' sins. It is not so now?
(E. Stock.)
G. Lawson, D. D.
The happiness of other men is poison to the envious man. The odious passion of envy torments and destroys one's self, while it seeks the ruin of its object. Beware of envy; you know not to what it tends. Beware of all its fruits; you will find them to be deadly, when they have time and opportunity to ripen. Joseph's brethren did not proceed to extremes of cruelty when they were first seized with this baleful passion. They "could not speak peaceably to him," but they entertained no thoughts of killing him, till their envy had by indulgence acquired a greater degree of strength. Their "lust conceived and brought forth sin; and when their sin was finished, it brought forth death" to Joseph in their intentions. They contracted the guilt of his blood, although they did not shed it. They were chargeable with intended murder in the sight of men, when they cast Joseph into the pit; but in the sight of God they were chargeable with this crime as soon as they began to hate Joseph; for "he that hateth his brother in his heart is a murderer."
(G. Lawson, D. D.)
The baleful nature of envy
Thornley Smith
"Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?" (Proverbs 27:4). Even a brother is sometimes exposed to its influence. Like the wild tornado which, as it sweeps along, destroys the loveliest flowers, and leaves the garden desolate as the wilderness, it has cut down many a youth of promise, and turned many a peaceful home into a scene of sadness and distress. We may say of it as Seneca says of anger, to which it is intimately allied: that it is a vice decidedly against nature; for it divides instead of joining, and in some measure frustrates the end of Providence in human society. "One man was born to help another; envy makes us destroy one another. Nature unites, envy separates; the one is beneficial, the other mischievous; the one succours even strangers, the other destroys the most intimate friends; the one ventures all to save another, the other ruins himself to undo another."
(Thornley Smith)
Envy hateful
When Sir Walter Scott was a boy at school, his efforts to gain a prize seemed all to no purpose, on account of the superior memory of one of his companions, who never failed to say his lessons perfectly. Walter did well, but now and then he would make a slip. In vain he strove to be first; he was always second, but could not oust his schoolfellow from the top place. One day, watching his rival repeating a long task without mistake or hesitation, Walter noticed that his fingers were perpetually fidgeting a particular button on his waistcoat. A thought struck the envious lad. Could it be? He would see. An opportunity soon occurred, and he cut off that button from that waistcoat while its owner was asleep. Next day the class stood up. Number one began, and as the first words left his lips, his fingers might be seen feeling for the familiar button. They felt for it in vain; and the hapless boy stopped, then stammered, then stopped again, and broke down altogether. Utterly unconscious of the cause, he racked his memory in despairing amazement, but he could not remember a line, and Walter stepped to the top of the class. Not a very serious trick, many boys will say. I choose it on this very account, as an illustration of what envy will lead to. Our object in this lesson should be to show envy at work in ordinary daily life, working all manner of mischief, just because its wickedness is not appreciated. An illustration of some murderer, whose crime was instigated by envy, would not answer our purpose. Our Sunday scholars would condemn the sin with horror, utterly failing to see the less glaring, but in God's sight not less hateful, fault of their own hearts and tongues and lives. Our illustrations should be such as will enable us effectively to say, like Nathan, "Thou art the man!" "Mutato nomine, de te fabula narratur." But it is not enough to show the hideousness of envy. We must show the beauty of the " charity" which "envieth not." Thus: What should Walter Scott have done? Let the button alone? Yes; hut more than that. He should have honoured his companion, and rejoiced in his success. Ah, that is hard!
Envy soon finds an opportunity
W. M. Taylor, D. D.
When envy has fully formed its purpose of cruelty, it very speedily sees and seizes an opportunity for carrying it through. The great dramatist, indeed, has represented one of the most unscrupulous of his characters as excusing himself after this fashion: "How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done"; but then it is only the envious and malicious man who is on the outlook for means to do ill deeds, and therefore it is to him only that the perception of them offers a temptation. If King John had not been wishing to make away with Arthur, the presence of Hubert would not have suggested to him that he had found a fit instrument to do what he desired. Just as love keens the vision to such a degree that it sees ways of service that are invisible to others, so hate quickens the perception, and finds an occasion for its gratification in things that would have passed unnoticed by others. The brothers of Joseph, therefore, being filled with envy towards him, soon had an opportunity of working their will upon him, and they seized it with an eagerness which showed how intensely they hated him.
(W. M. Taylor, D. D.)
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Q: Start plot from origin in r I am currently trying to plot my results that I have obtained from a regression. I have added a line with slope 1 starting from the origin. Everything actually worked perfectly. My code looks the following:
plot(rfr_test_data$Y_Miete_je_m2, rfr_opt_pred_un, xlab='Tatsächliche Miete pro Quadratmeter',
     ylab='Prognostizierte Miete pro Quadratmeter',xaxs='i', yaxs='i', xlim=c(0,50), ylim=c(0,50), asp=1,
     abline(a=0, b=1), family = 'serif', cex.lab = 1.25)

However, the line does not start in the left corner of the plot. The following picture shows this quite perfectly:
Plot of my Results
Can anybody tell me why the Zero of the x-axis is not in the left corner of the graph?
Thanks in advance


There have been so many articles written about what to wear for a job interview and everyone knows that they should wear "interview appropriate" professional looking clothes. But what exactly does it mean?
It's extremely important to remember that "interview-appropriate" will have different meanings at different companies. This is where so many people go wrong. Many of us have this image that professional attire includes a sleek all-black suit, white shirt and high-heels. We have heard so many times that anything too bright, colourful or fashion-forward is a big "no-no".
So what exactly should you wear to increase your chances of securing the job interview?
Now imagine that you are being interviewed at a trendy start-up. And you show up in an all-black suit and your favourite pair of heels while employees at that company are wearing natural colourful clothing and sandals. What will be their first impression of you? It's fair to say that you would look like you just simply don't belong there. While you can be qualified for the position you are not going to be a perfect fit for the company's culture.
Everyone understands that showing up in jeans and trainers will never be acceptable at a law firm. So why would you assume that wearing corporate attire will be appropriate in a start-up? Which of course is one of the biggest mistakes you can make while dressing for a job interview – not dressing the part.
When it comes to dressing for your interview, it's all about the fit (and no, this time we are not talking about the right fit for your body shape). If you don't 'fit in', in terms of how you dress, you'll feel out of place and uncomfortable. And potentially give off the wrong vibe.
It is very important to understand the dress code of a company you are applying for. Learn about the work setting, premises and office style that your perspective company abides by. The company you are about to be interviewed for may have been keeping their traditions for centuries. With respective attributes; conservative dress code, tables of redwood, chairs of expensive leather. This can be the case in consulting, banking, financial services and other industries that highly depend on reputation.
Being interviewed at Google differs from being interviewed at Morgan Stanley. Dressing to fit your profession or industry goes a long way toward making you feel like you belong. Not only with the team but also with that particular corporate culture.
Your wardrobe tells its own story. You've been selected for an interview based on your skills and experience. How you dress and present yourself can convey a great deal about your perceived character, values, work ethic and viability as a future employee.
Your interview is an opportunity to show hiring managers that you're perfect for the role. Maintaining proper appearance will ensure they can see themselves working with you.
Do your research, learn as much about the company as you can ahead of time, and dress accordingly. If appropriate, ask the recruiter or hiring manager what they believe is the most suitable attire. Remember, there's never harm in asking if you're unsure.
Evelina is a millennial career coach & personal branding expert who is passionate about empowering women to become more confident and stylish. She is passionate about helping women find their dream job.


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Assignment: False Memory Syndrome Assignment: False Memory Syndrome ORDER N - Writerden
Assignment: False Memory Syndrome Assignment: False Memory Syndrome ORDER N
Assignment: False Memory Syndrome
ORDER NOW FOR AN ORIGINAL PAPER:Assignment: False Memory Syndrome
A great deal of controversy has surrounded the phenomenon of "false memory syndrome" and the implications that it has had in our society, particularly in the legal realm. One of the most influential psychologists in the area of memory and eye witness testimony is Dr. Elizabeth Loftus, who has spent three decades as a research psychologist and memory expert in legal cases. To learn more about the controversy surrounding "false memory syndrome," visit the online LA Weekly website at
http://www.laweekly.com/2004-08-19/news/memory-and-manipulation/ to read the article, "Memory and Manipulation."
Based on the points that the Loftus article brings up and our textbook readings this week, what kind of implications do particular limitations of human memory have on the use of eye-witness testimony in criminal and civil court cases?
Forum General Posting Requirements:
Mahler thought that the degree of integration and separation between parent and child contributed greatly to healthy and unhealthy relationships in adulthood. What might be examples of healthy and unhealthy degrees of closeness between parents and children?
False memory syndrome, a condition in which a person's identity and relationships are affected by strongly believed but false memories of traumatic experiences. Source-monitoring error, an effect in which memories are incorrectly attributed to different experiences than the ones that caused them.
Factors that can influence false memory include misinformation and misattribution of the original source of the information. Existing knowledge and other memories can also interfere with the formation of a new memory, causing the recollection of an event to be mistaken or entirely false


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What Your Finance Team Needs to Know About Cybersecurity
By Ira Winkler, chief information security officer, Skyline Technology Solutions
Yes, attackers are gunning for your AP clerks. No, I am not here to sell you expensive new training courses.
Problems occur when cybersecurity is bolted on instead of built in.
CFOs must constantly ensure standard, everyday processes have controls to prevent vishing, payables fraud and whatever comes next.
When I perform cybersecurity assessments, my attention quickly turns to the finance team. It doesn't matter what the industry is. It doesn't matter the size of the organization. It doesn't matter where the client's CISO tells me I should focus. The finance team is always a prime target for scrutiny.
When people ask why, I echo infamous bank robber Willy Sutton's response: "Because that's where the money is." I know it, and more importantly, criminals know it.
Unfortunately, finance team members, especially at smaller firms, often don't believe that they would personally be targets. They figure there are much larger organizations than theirs where criminals would rather expend the effort. This mindset makes them perfect targets. CFOs, therefore, need to ensure their teams receive the proper awareness training.
Fundamentally, a good awareness effort involves letting people know:
What the problem is,
What the solution is and
Most importantly, why we all need to be part of that solution.
Most organizations fail at the "why." They fall back way too much on fear. Then, when an attack doesn't happen, some portion of users get complacent, while others believe that the organization is crying wolf. So, they ignore the information, put off watching the training video and get loosey-goosey about awareness.
In the finance realm, frankly, the reason people need to work securely is simple. Public and would-be public companies are subject to laws that state financial results must be accurate. Any compromise of computer systems can impact that accuracy.
Phishing is constant, as is ransomware, but there are also criminals specializing in attacks against financial teams.
Vishing is an alternative form of phishing in which a criminal calls up one of your finance people and claims his company hasn't received payment on an invoice. The scammer will ask for a direct email, send an attachment and ask the employee to open the attached invoice while they are on the phone.
The fake invoice contains malware that gives the attacker access to the company network. Vishing happens frequently and is a reason organizations are more often requiring invoices and similar documents to be uploaded onto cloud accounting software and rejecting documents received in email.
There are also many cases in which criminals contact companies, saying they need to update a vendor's payment information. I worked with one organization at which these attacks came in weekly. In this case, a criminal claims to work for a vendor, tells the finance pro that his company changed banks and requests that future payments go to the new account.
I end up working with these organizations to establish verification mechanisms to ensure that any out-of-process requests are handled in a formal way that proactively prevents this and other types of accounts payable fraud.
Criminals can find your team members with minimal effort. Earlier this year, for example, a LinkedIn data breach(opens in new tab) resulted in an account database containing email addresses, phone numbers, links to other social media profiles and professional details for some 500 million users being sold online. Attackers just need to search for "accountant," "CFO" or "accounts payable" roles, identify an individual, do some research on the person and company — easy if you're public — and find someone who can write or speak passable English.
"Hi, Joe? Pam from Supplier Corp. here, we met at that trade show. Loved your photos of the booth by the way! How are the kids, back in school? Great, great! Suzy looked adorable in that Facebook post. Hey, so really hope you can help me out before I get in big trouble. I was supposed to have changed the routing number for our payment two weeks ago but it slipped my mind..."
The primary defense against these attacks, and the next ones coming down the pike, is baking security into your financial — and all business — processes. Security should not be additional, layered-on, optional or otherwise outside the way employees do their day-to-day jobs.
A security-conscious finance leader does not, for example, leave it to the discretion of any individual clerk to change a supplier's payment information. By developing standard, repeatable, mandated processes that take into account the ways your people could be fooled or go rogue, you protect the business.
That's not to say you don't need security awareness training for your team — the fact is, most regulations and standards require some form of traditional instruction. At most companies I work with, this means everyone watches a video and takes a short, can't-fail-it quiz once a year. Frankly, I don't put much value in videos alone. They rarely translate into consistently improved behaviors, but they are part of most compliance efforts, and they can't hurt.
A worthy add-on is a good phishing simulation tool, which I have found can make people aware, especially if they fall for the simulation. People are more likely to remain vigilant if they or a colleague gets tricked. I recommend that you not use obvious, simplistic phishing sims; opt for more sophisticated programs that some percentage of your people will fall for.
But still, if you're still forwarding invoices via email for approval, making exceptions without escalating, manually comparing invoices to purchase orders or not enforcing segregation of duties, all the phishing simulations and videos in the world may not help.
I don't recommend going overboard on standalone security training. Spend that time and money keeping abreast of new attacks, automation and, most critically, making sure that controls are built into your processes to thwart criminals looking to compromise finance pros. Then, your focus can be on ensuring that your team knows how to do their jobs.


POCATELLO, Idaho — Idaho Water Resource Board Chairman Roger Chase is booked to address members of a congressional subcommittee on Oct. 4 about the state's proactive and unique approach towards reversing decades of declining groundwater levels in the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer.
Chase will speak to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water regarding Idaho's program of intentionally injecting surplus surface water into the aquifer, a practice known as managed recharge. The state has its own recharge water right, which avoids the need to buy water and keeps costs down.
"Really as people have looked at it, they've found our recharge program is probably one of the best in the nation," Chase said.
Chase, who will be among a small group of Western leaders presenting on their recharge efforts, said he also plans to suggest measures the federal government should take to help Idaho's program remain successful. He'll ask Congress to approve language that would give the state greater flexibility to wave a requirement that Upper Snake canals remain closed for at least 150 days following the irrigation season to build up Palisades Reservoir levels. The change would help accommodate upper valley recharge using spring flood-control releases. Chase will also request additional language facilitating recharge partnerships between the state, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management.
Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, serves on the subcommittee.
"Less federal regulation and more common sense with regards to state water rights need to be pursued," subcommittee member Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, said via email.
Thanks to an especially wet winter, Idaho recharged more than 315,000 acre-feet of water during the 2016-2017 recharge season, under the state's water right. Private entities recharged another 140,000 acre-feet. Furthermore, Idaho groundwater users have agreed to cut their well irrigation by a combined 240,000 acre-feet per year to help build the aquifer, under terms of a water call settlement, and the state has had a moratorium on new well development within the aquifer for several years.
Idaho, which recharges mostly through unlined canals and adjacent spill basins, is investing millions to build up its recharge capacity but has also capitalized on the existing infrastructure of canal companies, who receive fees to open their systems to the state's water.
"One of the things we're going to talk to Congress about is the fact that we're using existing infrastructure, which saves us millions and millions of dollars," Chase said.
Chase is optimistic that planned infrastructure upgrades will allow the state to increase its recharge capacity by 50 to 100 percent within the next year. He said Idaho plans to soon expand its recharge program into the Treasure Valley and Northern Idaho.
The state's recharge coordinator, Wes Hipke, was involved for years in running Arizona's recharge program. Hipke said Arizona and Idaho have the two most significant recharge programs in the U.S., and Idaho is unique in that its program aims to build up the aquifer solely for the public good, rather than to mitigate for a specific impact or as the basis for a private credit system.
Jerry Rigby, chairman of the Western States Water Council, said members of his organization are also closely following Idaho's efforts and have invited Idaho Department of Water Resources Deputy Director Mat Weaver to speak during their October meeting in New Mexico.
"We've been telling them what we've been doing with recharge, and all of the Western states are saying, 'We're interested in that. Tell us how you're doing it,'" Rigby said.


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Teen Titans Fan Fiction ❯ TTHS-City Musical: The Phantom of the City ❯ Magical Ending ( Chapter 13 )
Jackson is arested, and things improve in the city.
This is when Terra wakes up
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The president had seen and heard far enough. It was already bad enough that Jackson had just threatened a, supposedly, innocent boy at gun-point, and lying to president himself. "You put on a very convincing show, Mayor Jackson, but it may shock you to discover that I put on a good performance myself. For you see… I already had more than all the evidence I needed against you and you're council of five before I even came here."
Jackson was livid. "You take the word of those who plot against me and threaten me?" he asked in outrage.
"It seems that nearly everyone in this entire city is against you and would rather take action." said the president. "And for what I have seen tonight and heard, perhaps even I myself would consent to do against such tyranny!"
The president also explained that the law had been looking for Jackson for some time after his actions in Africa. The president glared angrily at Jackson and all five members of his council. "You're all under arrest. Guards, take them away!"
The police did as they were told, and all the people began to smile for joy. The president then shook Garfield's hand and offered his most sincere apology. "I knew you couldn't be this phantom character, and I will see to it that you are compensated for all the obvious years you have been poor."
Garfield almost felt like he had been touched by angel. "Thank you sir…! Thank you! A -million times…!"
The president then proceeded to shake hands with Dick and all his friends for their outstanding effort and determination in help to bring Jackson down, and he would reward them all as well. "Thank you sir…!" Dick said for everyone.
"Deputy Mayor Dodgers…?"
Dodgers approached the president. "Yes sir…?"
"From this moment on you are now hereby dubbed as mayor of Jump-City and will remain so until such a time a new candidate is elected."
"Yes sir!" dodgers simply said, but then he suddenly stopped and after fully-realizing what had just been his smile grew and grew. "Yes sir, Mr. President, sir!" he said as he shook the presidents hand.
The president knew he had not made a mistake and knew Dodgers was a good man who had only been obeying Jackson's law against his own wishes. Now that Dodgers was officially the mayor, it was a good sign that things were going to change again in Jump-City, this time… for the better!
By this time everyone was gathering around to congratulate Mayor Dodgers on his promotion, and no one noticed Terra had returned, but Garfield had and shot her a wink. She winked back at him.
Then Garfield proceeded to Dodgers. "Excuse me Mr. Mayor…" he said as he performed a magician's trick and pulled a sash seemly from Dodgers' ear. "Your sash, sir…"
Dodgers proudly thank Garfield and put his sash on. "And now, what is your first order of the day, Mr. Mayor?" Dick proudly asked.
"My first order...?" Dodgers thought quickly. "I declare a holiday in honor of my promotion, to the fall of Jackson and his court, and the dawning of a new era for Jump-City."
The people highly approved and then began to celebrate. "Hey Dick…" Garfield said.
Dick gazed at his old rival. "Yeah…?"
Garfield merely shook his hand. "I guess you're all right."
"You, too." replied Dick. "…I guess."
Many months later, the city was highly improved. Many of the office complexes were torn down and new and better buildings and things took their place-- New malls, stores and salons. Even more playgrounds and skate parks were made for kids, who just wanted to have a little fun, and those were out of work, Mayor Dodgers helped them find employment in other areas in the city.
The Murakami School was long since up and running again, but by this point was ready to shutdown for summer holidays. Dick and friends became top-class citizens for having received presidential awards of the golden eagle badge for acts of heroism and fine demonstration of independence.
As for Garfield, things really changed for him when the president compensated him with enough to money help Garfield find ways to get his life on track. With Mayor Dodger's permission and help, Garfield used his money to fix the old theater. It was renovated and everything. Some of the forest around it however did have to be chopped away, but it was well worth it, because now the theater was one of Jump-City's most popular places of entertainment. It was now the Logan play house, Garfield was now the owner and manager.
Now people would come to see ballets, stage-performances, and all that stuff, but easily the most entertaining was Garfield who now assumed the role as Jump-City's youngest but most fantastic magician and Terra was his beautiful assistant.
People came from all over to see them perform, Dick and friends loved to show up frequently. Sometimes they did tricks together, but most of the time they did a very special act for their closing performance.
Terra and Garfield had also begun dating a long time ago, and every minute was worth it. She loved him, and he now admitted his love for her. So, Terra would stand on stage, and sing a very romantic song while Garfield would do some beautiful tricks around her to make it even more romantic.
You sigh, the song begins, you speak and I hear violins
The stars desert the skies and rush to nestle in your eyes
Without a golden wand or mystic charms
Fantastic things begin when I am in your arms
When we walk hand-in-hand, the world becomes a wonderland
How else can I explain those rainbows when there isn't rain?
Why do I tell me myself these things that happen are all really true
When in my heart I know the magic is my love for you?
The final scene, they would share a kiss on stage, the crowd would go wild and then Garfield and Terra just seemed to fade away, and the show would be over.
Garfield and Terra made quite a profit. Garfield was even able to buy himself a new apartment, new clothes, afford better food, and all the things he never thought he'd have.
As for the phantom--
Well, he was not really seen anymore now that the city was no longer in danger or corruption. Still, whenever there would be another day of darkness that would need fixing… the phantom would always be there.
For now, Garfield was just happy to live a normal life as he walked Terra home; they shared a soft kiss at the door of the apartment building where she lived… only a few blocks down the street from him.
"Good night, Terra."
"Good night, Gar…" she gazed at her boyfriend's eyes. "There really is magic in your eyes."
"Really…?" Garfield asked playfully. "I was just thinking the same thing about your eyes."
They shared another kiss, and when they separated Garfield continuously said Terra's name over, and over. His voice began to echo as everything went white…!
"Terra…! Terra…!" Beast-Boy called to her.
His wife softly began to awaken in the morning. "Beast-Boy…?" she said through a yawn. "Rise and shine Honey. Breakfast's on."
Cyborg came in wearing a chef's hat. "Come and get'em we got waffles, we got waffles, and we… got… waffles."
Raven rolled her eyes, "Evil, beware… the titans are eating waffles."
Terra rubbed her eyes as she got out of bed. "Wow! I must've been dreaming."
The others could tell for Terra been shouting the place down. Starfire was curious to know what Terra's dream was about, and Robin came in with the morning newspaper. "Look at this…" he said to the others. "It says here that the people of the city have tales of a phantom magician who also shares a hatred of changes, and plans to see the mayor overthrown."
The other titans were shocked. "Dude… That is not cool." Beast-Boy said grimly, but Terra was amazed. "That's exactly what I was dreaming about. Phantoms… magic… more changes… things like that."
Copy-Cat chuckled and couldn't help but remind Terra of an old saying. "If you are to dream of something hard enough… it just may come true."


text:
Triptych - "Back To The Future Film Posters"
£39 / $53 per poster (Medium size)
£79 / $106 per poster (Large size)
£134 / $181 per poster (XL size)
by artist "Vintage Poster"
Keywords: Triptych, Films, Cult
March 2019 - Our pick for this month's "Triptych Of The Month" is this matching set of minimalistic Back To The Future I, II, & III designs, by artist Vintage Poster, spread across three Displates! A must-have set for fans of the classic film trilogy!
Displate Create Eight Art Challenge 2019
Image courtesy of Displate.com
Displate.com are currently running a Create Eight Art Challenge during the course of the next month, from the 7th of February 2019 until the 7th of March 2019.
" The octopus has eight arms, most umbrellas have eight sides, spiders have eight legs, and we have our best collections of at least 8 artworks inside.
This challenge may be a hard nut to crack, but you can do it. We believe in the power of collection so summon your creative forces, bring the big guns and upload your best artwork on Displate.
Dig your hard drive in search of that long-lost masterpiece or create one from scratch, the choice is yours. Feel free to choose the topic you feel perfectly fine with, as long as you follow the coherency rule.
Give your best shot - we're ready to put our hands in the air and praise you all night long. "
- 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place will be awarded $500 prize + L Size Displate
- 4th, 5th, & 6th place will be awarded $300 prize + L Size Displate
1. Upload a set of at least eight new designs. Remember that the uploading tool works only on desktop. You can submit as many pictures you want.
2. Choose a perfect name for your work, add tags, and include the tag #FEB19 so that Displate will be able to easily find it and qualify it for the contest.
3. Be patient - your artworks will be checked during the validation process – Displate needs to be sure that they meet their general upload guidelines.
4. The contest starts on 7th of February 2019 and ends on 7th of March 2019.
Triptych - "Star Trek Uniform Insignias"
£39 / $53 per poster (Medium)
£79 / $106 per poster (Large)
£134 / $181 per poster (XL)
by artist "The FantArtistic"
Keywords: Triptych, TV Shows, Films, Cult
February 2019 - Our pick for this month's "Triptych Of The Month" is this matching set of minimalistic Star Trek uniform insignia designs, by artist The FantArtistic, spread across three Displates! A must-have set for fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation!
Displate Interstellar Art Challenge 2019
Displate.com are currently running a Vintage Art Challenge during the course of the next month, from the 7th of January 2019 until the 7th of February 2019.
" Live long and prosper.
Now think of different worlds, other planets, galaxies, aliens, spaceships, spacesuits, lack of oxygen and tons, tons of buttons. How does it all make you feel? Excited? Good.
Going to space may be a (huge) pie in the sky, but that's when the imagination comes in. Whether you're from Mars or not, create cosmic designs and make us starry-eyed. Don't space out, but make art out of the world instead! Winning may be written in your stars.
Join, it's not rocket science. "
- 1st & 2nd place will be awarded $500 prize
- 3rd & 4th place will be awarded $300 prize
- 5th & 6th place will be awarded $200 prize
- 7th to 10th place will be awarded L size Displates prize
1. Upload at least one new picture. Remember that the uploading tool works only on desktop. You can submit as many pictures you want.
2. Choose a perfect name for your work, add tags, and include the tag #JAN19 so that Displate will be able to easily find it and qualify it for the contest.
3. Be patient - your artwork will be checked during the validation process – Displate needs to be sure that it meets their general upload guidelines.
4. The contest starts on 7th of January 2019 and ends on 7th of February 2019.
Triptych - "Back To The Future Minimalistic"
£118 / $166 per poster (XL size
by artist "Chungkong Art"
January 2019 - Our pick for this month's "Triptych Of The Month" is this matching set of minimalistic Back To The Future I, II, & III designs, by artist Chungkong Art, spread across three Displates! A must-have set for fans of the classic film trilogy!
Anime - "Digimon Digital Monsters Gym"
by artist "Soulkr Design"
Keywords: Anime, Animation, Video Games
Browse Set
Digimon are creatures who live only in the "Digital World" - a parallel universe created by accident from Earth's communication signals. The Digital World can be accessed by digitizing humans, and the different species of Digimon are raised by various Tamers. The Digimon are then used to battle each other, as well as fighting evil humans who want to corrupt the Digital World. Digimon started out during the virtual pet toy phenomenon of the late 90's, and later turned into video games and an anime series. With a similar premise to Pokémon, the original anime proved popular, and spawned several more animated series, Manga, feature length films, as well as numerous video games and a successful toy line! The franchise is known for its wide variety of unique monsters, and virtual pet toys. To celebrate this popular Japanese franchise, here's a selection of Displate artwork featuring some of the main creatures found in the Digital World!
Displate Vintage Art Challenge 2018
Displate.com are currently running a Vintage Art Challenge during the course of the next month, from the 6th of December 2018 until the 6th of January 2019.
"You don't have to be old to be vintage. Forget granny style and create a modern classic.
Feel yourself a little retro and show us the best home decor design that will turn every space into a holy land of coziness. Let it be a wild animal, travel spot or cool collage.
Just make people want your posters so bad they will get lost in time. "
2. Choose a perfect name for your work, add tags, and include the tag #DEC18 so that Displate will be able to easily find it and qualify it for the contest.
4. The contest starts on 6th of December 2018 and ends on 6th of January 2019.
Triptych - "Pokémon GameBoy Generations"
by artist "Raymond Diaz"
Keywords: Triptych, Video Games, Anime, Cult
December 2018 - Our pick for this month's "Triptych Of The Month" is this colourful matching set of Pokémon Generation 1, 2, & 3 designs, by artist Raymond Diaz, spread across three Displates! A must-have set for fans of the original GameBoy Pokémon games!
Displate Black & White Art Challenge 2018
Displate.com are currently running a Black & White Art Challenge during the course of the next month, from the 5th of November 2018 until the 5th of December 2018.
"Life isn't always black and white, but Autumn days are pretty much out of colors, right?
It's November already so pull out all of your Inktober pieces and give them a new life in our Black & White Art Challenge.
Somehow overslept this October struggle? It's nothing. Show us what you got! But remember, this month we put a ban on multicolor!"
2. Choose a perfect name for your work, add tags, and include the tag #BW18 so that Displate will be able to easily find it and qualify it for the contest.
4. The contest starts on 5th of November 2018 and ends on 5th of December 2018.
by artist "Jackson Davey Sharman"
November 2018 - Our pick for this month's "Triptych Of The Month" is this iconic matching set of Back To The Future I, II, & III designs, by artist Jackson Davey Sharman, spread across three Displates! A must-have set for fans of the classic film trilogy!
Triptych - "Super Mario Bros. NES Covers"
by artist "DD ART"
Keywords: Triptych, Video Games, Cult
October 2018 - Our pick for this month's "Triptych Of The Month" is this matching set of poster designs based on the classic NES Super Mario Bros. video game covers, by artist DD ART, spread across three Displates! A must-have set for fans of the classic Nintendo franchise!
Anime - "Digimon Digital Monsters Sumi-é"
Keywords: Anime, Cult
First appearing in the late 1990s to rival Tamagotchi virtual pet toys, Digimon fast became popular in anime, manga, and video games. Featuring digital monsters, the franchise is very similar in premise to that of Nintendo's Pokémon, albeit set in a parallel digital world. The various digital monsters usually team-up with their human counterparts in order to battle evil Digimon and human villains who are intent on destroying the fabric of the digital world. The virtual toy line by Bandai enjoyed moderate success around the world, but the franchise only really became popular after the introduction of the anime TV series, and later, the breakthrough into video games. The franchise is now over 20 years old, and is still popular amongst otaku. Here's a selection of sumi-é Displate artwork by artist Soulkr Design based on some of the more frequently seen Digimon characters.
Video Game - "Fortnite Inked Characters"
by artist "Gab Fernando"
Keywords: Video Games, Cult
Online Battle Royale first-person-shooter, Fortnite, seems to have changed the online multiplayer landscape considerably since it smashed its way onto home consoles and mobile devices several months ago! The epic 100-player mode made waves throughout the gaming industry not only for its visuals and gameplay, but also for its "Free-To-Play" business model that sees game developers, Epic Games, earn revenue from various micro-transactions. The game has become hugely profitable for the company, and has also inspired industry veterans, Activision, to apply a similar model for the up-and-coming Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4! To celebrate the success of the popular shooter, here's a matching set of Displate artwork by artist Gab Fernando, featuring various Fortnite characters! Check out the full set by clicking the button above!
Displate Voyage Voyage Travel Art Challenge 2018
DISPLATE VOYAGE VOYAGE TRAVEL ART CHALLENGE
3rd September - 3rd October 2018
Displate.com are currently running a Travel Art Challenge during the course of the next month, from the 3rd of September 2018 until the 3rd of October 2018.
"Ah, the sweet summer days are over.
It's time to bring back your memories and make them into designs that will answer the call to adventure and turn every couch potato into an avid globetrotter.
Don't miss the boat - take up our Voyage Voyage Travel Art Challenge.
Make your memories, fantasies, and dream travel destinations into posters or digital illustrations. Capture your most beloved cities and places just how you imagine them, remember or would like them to be. And if the Earth is just not enough - take us to space!"
2. Choose a perfect name for your work, add tags, and include the tag #TRVL so that Displate will be able to easily find it and qualify it for the contest.
4. The contest starts on 3rd of September 2018 and ends on 3rd of October 2018
Triptych - "The Legend Of Zelda Triforce Guardians"
by artist "Paula Garcia"
September 2018 - Our pick for this month's "Triptych Of The Month" is this stunning matching set of poster designs based on characters from The Legend Of Zelda video games, by artist Paula Garcia, spread across three Displates! A must-have set for fans of the classic Nintendo franchise!
30% Off Displates - Until 2nd September 2018!
Use code: "TOTAL30" for 30% off Displate artwork - UNTIL 2ND SEPTEMBER ONLY!
Browse Posters
Film - "Marvel's Ant-Man And The Wasp"
Official artwork by "Marvel"
Keywords: Films, Comic Books, Cult
Ant-Man And The Wasp is the latest film in Marvel's Cinematic Universe series of films featuring popular superheroes. The film was released several months ago in the United States, and has recently been released in cinemas in Europe (delayed in order to avoid competing with the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia over the summer). The film is a direct sequel to Ant-Man, and takes place after the events of Civil War but slightly before the events of Infinity War, and continues the story arc of Scott Lang and his incredible shrinking suit developed by Hank Pym. The film has received mostly positive reviews from critics and fans, citing it as being a "Funnier and more light-hearted story" compared to that of some of the more recent films in the hugely successful Marvel franchise. The film has so far earned over $450m across all markets where it has been released, but some believe that the delayed release in Europe may have hindered its potential success, especially during an unprecedented heat-wave over the last few weeks. To celebrate the theatrical release of the film, here's some officially licenced Displate artwork featuring some of the key characters from Ant-Man And The Wasp!
Video Game - "Fortnite Glitched Characters"
by artist "Georgio Paviani"
Video game phenomenon, Fortnite: Battle Royale, seems to have taken the world by storm over the last few months, being the topic of conversation in most workplaces and school playgrounds! With over 125 million active players, Fortnite has fast become one of the most successful online multiplayer games to date, and has even broken into popular culture thanks to its diverse roster of characters, in-game taunts, and victory dances! Surprisingly, the game has yet to receive an Android release, although it is due to be released very soon on the platform where it will no doubt break numerous mobile gaming records! To celebrate the popularity of Fortnite, here's a set of Displate artwork featuring glitched characters from the highly popular game!
Triptych - "The Godfather Trilogy"
August 2018 - Our pick for this month's "Triptych Of The Month" is this cool matching set of minimalistic movie poster designs based on the classic The Godfather trilogy, by artist Chungkong Art, spread across three Displates! A must-have set for fans of the Francis Ford Coppola trilogy!
Displate Monsters Art Challenge 2018
DISPLATE MONSTER ART CHALLENGE
1st August - 1st September 2018
Displate.com are currently running a Monsters Art Challenge during the course of the next month, from the 1st of August until the 1st of September 2018.
"Release the monsters out of your head. Brace yourself for the most frightful Art Challenge of them all.
What's that popping out of your head? Is it a monster? IS IT A MONSTER? You bet it is! Let the beasts roam free in our newest Art Challenge!
Make your demons, cookie monsters and fantastic creatures into digital illustration, concept art, children design or whatever that gives you chills!"
- 7th to 10th place will be awarded M size Displates prize
2. Choose a perfect name for your work, add tags, and include the tag #MNSTR so that Displate will be able to easily find it and qualify it for the contest.
4. The contest starts on 1st August and ends on 1st September
Video Game - "Fortnite Characters"
by artist "Donnie"
Fortnite was originally released by Epic Games back in 2017 as an open-world multiplayer first-person survival game similar to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. However, since Epic Games introduced a free-to-play Battle Royale mode across all platforms (including mobile devices), the game quickly become a cultural phenomenon almost overnight! The game revolves around 100 players parachuting onto an island, with the sole intent of being the last player standing. Players are forced to a specific area of the map by a storm that surrounds the playing field, which gradually shrinks in size to encourage players to move to a safe area and to engage each other in combat. The game currently boasts over 125 million players across all platforms, and has become a huge financial success for Epic Games via the various micro-transactions in the game. Here's a collection of Displate artwork by artist Donnie, featuring some of the more popular characters in the game!
31% Off Displates - Until 29th July 2018!
Use code: "PIE31" for 31% off Displate artwork - UNTIL 29TH JULY ONLY!
Video Game - "Halo Legends Of Gaming"
by artist "Rykker o7"
Microsoft's tent-pole Xbox franchise, Halo, has been going strong since 2001 when Bungie first released Halo: Combat Evolved for the original Xbox. Considered at the time to be the most advanced first-person shooter, it was the game that sold Xbox consoles and propelled Microsoft's Xbox onto the world stage as a major video game console, as well as cementing Master Chief as one of the most recognisable video game protagonists of all time! The halo franchise has had several spin-offs over the last two decades, such as Halo Wars and ODST, and the franchise itself has been handled by several different developers. In celebration of the series, here's a selection of Displate artwork by artist Rykker o7, featuring various characters from the popular franchise! Check out the full set by clicking the button above!
Film - "Star Wars Character Lightsabers"
by artist "Star Wars"
Keywords: Films, Cult
George Lucas released the iconic Star Wars film in 1997 - a sci-fi epic that penetrated all forms of popular culture in the decades that followed! The film introduced cinema audiences to numerous iconic characters, spaceships, locales, and of course, the lightsaber weapon used solely by those who possess "The force" within them - namely the Jedi and Sith. With each lightsaber being unique to its user, this fictional energy sword is supposed to only able to be wielded successfully by those who have trained extensively in the ways of the Jedi, although several other characters have exhibited the ability to use a lightsaber from time to time. The powerful energy blade is able to melt and burn through many substances with relative ease, as well as inflicting a cauterized wound when it comes into contact with flesh. The sword can also be used as a defensive weapon, with the user able to deflect projectiles and other lightsaber beams. In honour of this iconic weapon, here's a set of officially licenced Displate artwork featuring the various unique lightsabers as used by the different characters in the Star Wars films! Click the "Browse Set" button to view the whole set!
Sports - "World Cup Animal Mascots Pt. 4"
by artist "Ariadna S. C."
Keywords: Sports, Special Interest
The FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia is almost at an end, with four teams - France, Belgium, Croatia, and England - left in the semi-finals all eager to win that coveted final position! Regardless of whether they win or lose this round, all four teams have performed exceptionally this year, none moreso than Gareth Southgate's England squad which has reignited England's dream of winning a second World Cup! France are also chasing that second win, following their first when they were hosts way back in 1998. Croatia and Belgium both have very strong teams this year, both looking at achieving their first ever World Cup win! As the world prepares for the final four matches, here's the final eight Displate designs by artist Ariadna S.C. featuring the animal mascots for each of the participating teams in the World Cup this year!