What is CareCube and how does it work?
CareCube is a fully integrated digital workflow system specially designed 'by cardiologists for cardiologists' to simplify and centralise the complex scheduling and tracking of patients; safeguarding patients from human error and helping hospitals to optimise resources through efficient time management.
A networked solution linking every individual user to the labs, wards and admin teams in real time.
Fully integrated module enables efficiency and planning including managed and displayed lab rota's and on-calls.
Virtual server that connects your hospital PAS and EPR in real-time.


text:
Neal Cohen
SRS Seller Representative Specialist A
Property Watch
Bucks County Dining, Business & More!
Search Cities A to L
Search Cities M to Z
My Professional Qualifications
Why I'm Good To Know
Credentials & Statements
Fox & Roach REALTORS
Fox & Roach Charities
Serving over 11,000 students (K-12) with over 900 teachers in the heart of Bucks County, the award-winning Council Rock School encompasses 72 square miles and is comprised of five municipalities: Newtown Borough and the Townships of Newtown, Northampton, Upper Makefield, and Wrightstown.The district is conveniently located along the New Jersey state border, and offers easy access to Trenton, Princeton, and Philadelphia.
Council Rock School District operates sixteen schools: ten elementary schools (grades K-6), three middle schools (grades 7-8), and two high schools (grades 9-12), including Churchville Elementary, Goodnoe Elementary, Hillcrest Elementary, Holland Elementary, Maureen M. Welch Elementary, Newtown Elementary, Rolling Hills Elementary, Sol Feinstone Elementary, Wrightstown Elementary, Newtown Middle, Holland Middle, Council Rock High School North, and Council Rock High School South. The district also operates an alternative school, The Sloan School and participates in the Middle Bucks Area Vocational-Technical School. Additionally, Bucks County is home to over 130 private schools, many of which are conveniently located within Council Rock School District.
Council Rock enjoys a strong reputation for academic success! The district has been recognized by Philadelphia Magazine and Newsweek for being among the region's best high schools, and approximately 91% of students further their education at a 2 or 4-year college or university.
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Rounding out the curriculum, Council Rock boasts one of the most comprehensive and successful athletic and co-curricular programs around offering wonderful opportunities outside of the traditional classroom
Unit/Flat
Doylestown, PA 18901
© 2022 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
_Decorators on top of your ORM layer._

## Introduction

Disposable is the missing API of ActiveRecord*. The mission:

* Maintain a manipulatable object graph that is a copy/map of a persistent structure.
* Prevent any write to the persistence layer until you say `sync`.
* Help designing your domain layer without being restricted to database layouts ([renaming](#renaming), [compositions](#composition), [hash fields](#struct)).
* Provide additional behavior like [change tracking](#change-tracking), [imperative callbacks](#imperative-callbacks) and [collection semantics](#collection-semantics).

Disposable gives you "_Twins_": non-persistent domain objects. That is reflected in the name of the gem. They can read from and write values to a persistent object and abstract the persistence layer until data is synced to the model.

## API

The public twin API is unbelievably simple.

1. `Twin::new` creates and populates the twin.
1. `Twin#"reader"` returns the value or nested twin of the property.
1. `Twin#"writer"=(v)` writes the value to the twin, not the model.
1. `Twin#sync` writes all values to the model.
1. `Twin#save` writes all values to the model and calls `save` on configured models.

## Twin

Twins are only # FIXME % slower than AR alone.

Twins implement light-weight decorators objects with a unified interface. They map objects, hashes, and compositions of objects, along with optional hashes to inject additional options.

Every twin is based on a defined schema.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  property :title
  property :playable?, virtual: true # context-sensitive, e.g. current_user dependent.

  collection :songs do
    property :name
    property :index
  end

  property :artist do
    property :full_name
  end
end
```

## Constructor

Twins get populated from the decorated models.

```ruby
Song   = Struct.new(:name, :index)
Artist = Struct.new(:full_name)
Album  = Struct.new(:title, :songs, :artist)
```

You need to pass model and the facultative options to the twin constructor.

```ruby
album = Album.new("Nice Try")
twin  = AlbumTwin.new(album, playable?: current_user.can?(:play))
```

## Readers

This will create a composition object of the actual model and the hash.

```ruby
twin.title     #=> "Nice Try"
twin.playable? #=> true
```

You can also override `property` values in the constructor:

```ruby
twin = AlbumTwin.new(album, title: "Plasticash")
twin.title #=> "Plasticash"
```

## Writers

Writers change values on the twin and are _not_ propagated to the model.

```ruby
twin.title = "Skamobile"
twin.title  #=> "Skamobile"
album.title #=> "Nice Try"
```

Writers on nested twins will "twin" the value.

```ruby
twin.songs #=> []
twin.songs << Song.new("Adondo", 1)
twin.songs  #=> [<Twin::Song name="Adondo" index=1 model=<Song ..>>]
album.songs #=> []
```

The added twin is _not_ passed to the model. Note that the nested song is a twin, not the model itself.

## Sync

Given the above state change on the twin, here is what happens after calling `#sync`.

```ruby
album.title  #=> "Nice Try"
album.songs #=> []

twin.sync

album.title  #=> "Skamobile"
album.songs #=> [<Song name="Adondo" index=1>]
```

`#sync` writes all configured attributes back to the models using public setters as `album.name=` or `album.songs=`. This is recursive and will sync the entire object graph.

Note that `sync` might already trigger saving the model as persistence layers like ActiveRecord can't deal with `collection= []` and instantly persist that.

You may implement your syncing manually by passing a block to `sync`.

```ruby
twin.sync do |hash|
  hash #=> {
  #  "title"     => "Skamobile",
  #  "playable?" => true,
  #  "songs"     => [{"name"=>"Adondo"...}..]
  # }
end
```

Invoking `sync` with block will _not_ write anything to the models.

Needs to be included explicitly (`Sync`).

## Save

Calling `#save` will do `sync` plus calling `save` on all nested models. This implies that the models need to implement `#save`.

```ruby
twin.save
#=> album.save
#=>      .songs[0].save

```

Needs to be included explicitly (`Save`).

## Nested Twin

Nested objects can be declared with an inline twin.

```ruby
property :artist do
  property :full_name
end
```

The setter will automatically "twin" the model.

```ruby
twin.artist = Artist.new
twin.artist #=> <Twin::Artist model=<Artist ..>>
```

You can also specify nested objects with an explicit class.

```ruby
property :artist, twin: TwinArtist
```

## Features

You can simply `include` feature modules into twins. If you want a feature to be included into all inline twins of your schema, use `::feature`.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  feature Coercion

  property :artist do
    # this will now include Coercion, too.
```

## Coercion

Twins can use [Virtus](https://github.com/solnic/virtus) coercion. This will override the setter in your twin, coerce the incoming value, and call the original setter. _Nothing more_ will happen.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  feature Coercion
  feature Setup::SkipSetter

  property :id, type: Integer
```

The `:type` option defines the coercion type. You may incluce `Setup::SkipSetter`, too, as otherwise the coercion will happen at initialization time and in the setter.

```ruby
twin.id = "1"
twin.id #=> 1
```

Again, coercion only happens in the setter.

## Defaults

Default values can be set via `:default`.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  feature Default

  property :title, default: "The Greatest Songs Ever Written"
  property :composer, default: Composer.new do
    property :name, default: -> { "Object-#{id}" }
  end
end
```

Default value is applied when the model's getter returns `nil` when _initializing_ the twin.

Note that `:default` also works with `:virtual` and `readable: false`. `:default` can also be a lambda which is then executed in twin context.

## Collections

Collections can be defined analogue to `property`. The exposed API is the `Array` API.

* `twin.songs = [..]` will override the existing value and "twin" every item.
* `twin.songs << Song.new` will add and twin.
* `twin.insert(0, Song.new)` will insert at the specified position and twin.

You can also delete, replace and move items.

* `twin.songs.delete( twin.songs[0] )`

None of these operations are propagated to the model.

## Collection Semantics

In addition to the standard `Array` API the collection adds a handful of additional semantics.

* `songs=`, `songs<<` and `songs.insert` track twin via `#added`.
* `songs.delete` tracks via `#deleted`.
* `twin.destroy( twin.songs[0] )` deletes the twin and marks it for destruction in `#to_destroy`.
* `twin.songs.save` will call `destroy` on all models marked for destruction in `to_destroy`. Tracks destruction via `#destroyed`.

Again, the model is left alone until you call `sync` or `save`.

## Change Tracking

The `Changed` module will allow tracking of state changes in all properties, even nested structures.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  feature Changed
```

Now, consider the following operations.

```ruby
twin.name = "Skamobile"
twin.songs << Song.new("Skate", 2) # this adds second song.
```

This results in the following tracking results.

```ruby
twin.changed?             #=> true
twin.changed?(:name)      #=> true
twin.changed?(:playable?) #=> false
twin.songs.changed?       #=> true
twin.songs[0].changed?    #=> false
twin.songs[1].changed?    #=> true
```

Assignments from the constructor are _not_ tracked as changes.

```ruby
twin = AlbumTwin.new(album)
twin.changed? #=> false
```

## Persistance Tracking

The `Persisted` module will track the `persisted?` field of the model, implying that your model exposes this field.

```ruby
twin.persisted? #=> false
twin.save
twin.persisted? #=> true
```

The `persisted?` field is a copy of the model's persisted? flag.

You can also use `created?` to find out whether a twin's model was already persisted or just got created in this session.

```ruby
twin = AlbumTwin.new(Album.create) # assuming we were using ActiveRecord.
twin.created? #=> false
twin.save
twin.created? #=> false
```

This will only return true when the `persisted?` field has flipped.

## Renaming

The `Expose` module allows renaming properties.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  feature Expose

  property :song_title, from: :title
```

The public accessor is now `song_title` whereas the model's accessor needs to be `title`.

```ruby
album = OpenStruct.new(title: "Run For Cover")
AlbumTwin.new(album).song_title #=> "Run For Cover"
```

## Composition

Compositions of objects can be mapped, too.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  include Composition

  property :id,    on: :album
  property :title, on: :album
  property :songs, on: :cd
  property :cd_id, on: :cd, from: :id
```

When initializing a composition, you have to pass a hash that contains the composees.

```ruby
AlbumTwin.new(album: album, cd: CD.find(1))
```

Note that renaming works here, too.

## Struct

Twins can also map hash properties, e.g. from a deeply nested serialized JSON column.

```ruby
album.permissions #=> {admin: {read: true, write: true}, user: {destroy: false}}
```

Map that using the `Struct` module.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  property :permissions do
     include Struct
    property :admin do
      include Struct
      property :read
      property :write
    end

    property :user # you don't have to use Struct everywhere!
  end
```

You get fully object-oriented access to your properties.

```ruby
twin.permissions.admin.read #=> true
```

Note that you do not have to use `Struct` everywhere.

```ruby
twin.permissions.user #=> {destroy: false}
```

Of course, this works for writing, too.

```ruby
twin.permissions.admin.read = :MAYBE
```

After `sync`ing, you will find a hash in the model.

```ruby
album.permissions #=> {admin: {read: :MAYBE, write: true}, user: {destroy: false}}
```

## With Representers

they indirect data, the twin's attributes get assigned without writing to the persistence layer, yet.

## With Contracts

## Overriding Getter for Presentation

You can override getters for presentation.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
    property :title

    def title
      super.upcase
    end
  end
```

Be careful, though. The getter normally is also called in `sync` when writing properties to the models.

You can skip invocation of getters in `sync` and read values from `@fields` directly by including `Sync::SkipGetter`.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  feature Sync
  feature Sync::SkipGetter
```

## Manual Coercion

You can override setters for manual coercion.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
    property :title

    def title=(v)
      super(v.trim)
    end
  end
```

Be careful, though. The setter normally is also called in `setup` when copying properties from the models to the twin.

Analogue to `SkipGetter`, include `Setup::SkipSetter` to write values directly to `@fields`.

```ruby
class AlbumTwin < Disposable::Twin
  feature Setup::SkipSetter
```

## Imperative Callbacks

Note: [Chapter 8 of the Trailblazer](http://leanpub.com/trailblazer) book is dedicated to callbacks and discusses them in great detail.

Callbacks use the fact that twins track state changes. This allows to execute callbacks on certain conditions.

```ruby
Callback.new(twin).on_create { |twin| .. }
Callback.new(twin.songs).on_add { |twin| .. }
Callback.new(twin.songs).on_add { |twin| .. }
```

It works as follows.

1. Twins track state changes, like _"item added to collection (`on_add`)"_ or _"property changed (`on_change`)"_.
2. You decide when to invoke one or a group of callbacks. This is why there's no `before_save` and the like anymore.
3. You also decide _what_ events to consider by calling the respective events only, like `on_add`.
4. The `Callback` will now find out which properties of the twin are affected and exectue your passed code for each of them.

This is called _Imperative Callback_ and the opposite of what you've learned from Rails.

By inversing the control, we don't need `before_` or `after_`. This is in your hands now and depends on where you invoke your callbacks.

## Events

The following events are available in `Callback`.

Don't confuse that with event triggering, though! Callbacks are passive, calling an event method means the callback will look for twins that have tracked the respective event (e.g. an twin has `change`d).

* `on_update`: Invoked when the underlying model was persisted, yet, at twin initialization and attributes have changed since then.
* `on_add`: For every twin that has been added to a collection.
* `on_add(:create)`: For every twin that has been added to a collection and got persisted. This will only pick up collection items after `sync` or `save`.

* `on_delete`: For every item that has been deleted from a collection.
* `on_destroy`: For every item that has been removed from a collection and physically destroyed.

* `on_change`: For every item that has changed attributes. When `persisted?` has flippend, this will be triggered, too.
* `on_change(:email)`: When the scalar field changed.

## Callback Groups

`Callback::Group` simplifies grouping callbacks and allows nesting.

```ruby
class AfterSave < Disposable::Callback::Group
  on_change :expire_cache!

  collection :songs do
    on_add :notify_album!
    on_add :reset_song!
  end

  on_update :rehash_name!, property: :title

  property :artist do
    on_change :sing!
  end
end
```

Calling that group on a twin will invoke all callbacks that apply, in the order they were added.

```ruby
AfterSave.new(twin).(context: self)
```

Methods like `:sing!` will be invoked on the `:context` object. Likewise, nested properties will be retrieved by simply calling the getter on the twin, like `twin.songs`.

Again, only the events that match will be invoked. If the top level twin hasn't changed, `expire_cache!` won't be invoked. This works by simply using `Callback` under the hood.

## Callback Inheritance

You can inherit groups, add and remove callbacks.

```ruby
class EnhancedAfterSave < AfterSave
  on_change :redo!

  collection :songs do
    on_add :rewind!
  end

  remove! :on_change, :expire_cache!
end
```

The callbacks will be _appended_ to the existing chain.

Instead of appending, you may also refine existing callbacks.

```ruby
class EnhancedAfterSave < AfterSave
  collection :songs, inherit: true do
    on_delete :rewind!
  end
end
```

This will add the `rewind!` callback to the `songs` property, resulting in the following chain.

```ruby
collection :songs do
  on_add    :notify_album!
  on_add    :reset_song!
  on_delete :rewind!
end
```

## Readable, Writeable, Virtual

Properties can have various access settings.

* `readable: false` won't read from the model in `Setup`.
* `writeable: false` won't write to model in `Sync`.
* `virtual: true` is both settings above combined.

## Builders

## Used In

* [Reform](https://github.com/apotonick/reform) forms are based on twins and add a little bit of form decoration on top. Every nested form is a twin.
* [Trailblazer](https://github.com/apotonick/trailblazer) uses twins as decorators and callbacks in operations to structure business logic.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Kim Kardashian DRAGS Fashion Nova for COPYING her style yet KYLIE stole styles from BLACK designer!
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ASPETTATIVA vs REALTA': TRY-ON HAUL KYLIE JENNER OUTFITS DI FASHION NOVA !!!
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Colombian Caribbean Coast - Global Happiness Family - Traveling family finding sustainable development goals around the world.
From the Capital we moved to the Colombian Caribbean Coast with white beaches and a cristal clear sea. We love the palmtree showers!


You can turn sewing skills into a small business through careful planning.
1 What Do I Need to Open a Clothing Alteration Business?
You can start a small business by taking advantage of your sewing skills. By offering services, such as clothing repair, custom tailoring and button replacement, you can create a steady income with a business that has returning customers. You have the choice of starting as a home-based business or setting up shop in a retail location. Your success will depend on the quality of your marketing and customer service, as well as the quality of your work.
Check your equipment. You must have a commercial-grade sewing machine that can stand up to repeated use as well as a variety of fabrics. Make sure the machine is in good repair and establish a relationship with someone who can do routine maintenance on it. You must also have a second machine in case your main machine goes out of service temporarily. The backup machine does not have to be as expensive or heavy-duty as your primary machine, but it should be reliable enough for you to use to complete orders. Your equipment is the core of your business, so even if you buy used equipment, make sure it is the best quality you can afford.
Choose your location. You can start from home if you want to save on overhead, but you must be sure you are surrounded by enough businesses and homes to supply you with a steady supply of customers. If your home is isolated from populous areas, consider opening a shop closer to potential customers. Sewing and alterations businesses tend to be very local, meaning that customers won't travel great distances for your services.
Market your company by partnering with other businesses. Visit local laundry services and dry cleaners and offer to give them 10 percent of every order that comes through a referral from them. Post flyers on bulletin boards at laundromats. Offer clothing stores your alteration services; their customers might need custom hemming and fitting. This can improve the clothing store's service while providing you with new customers. If you have a reliable vehicle, you can offer a pickup and delivery service.
Retain customers. Always cultivate repeat customers. Do this by following up with a phone call to see if a customer was satisfied with your work. Also offer to fix any problems with your work at no extra charge. Offer discounts to repeat customers, and send out postcards regularly to remind them that you appreciate their business.
Add a charge for your pickup and delivery service because travel time is time you could be earning income through sewing. You also deserve to be paid for your gasoline expense.
Johnston, Kevin. "How to Open a Sewing and Alteration Business." Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/open-sewing-alteration-business-31956.html. Accessed 22 April 2019.
What Is a Clothing Store Marketing Plan?


Excellent comfort on impact, and highly durable!
Paddle Balls PB860 designed for regular paddle ball players looking for a ball that is durable and comfortable on impact.
The use of high quality felt ensures a long-lasting ball, speed, and excellent bounce.
Good bounce quality thanks to rubber with an even density.
This ball is highly wear-resistant thanks to its thick felt.
Suited to regular players needing a medium speed ball.
Store away in the box after each use to prevent rapid wear.


text:
Quit smoking and reclaim your life
Quite Smoking
Inside Quit Genius: Thinking Hard or Hardly Thinking?
[avia_codeblock_placeholder uid="139″]
FEB 19, 2018 / IN INSIDE QUIT GENIUS / 7 MIN READ
It started out as a gorgeous Saturday morning in Palo Alto, I wake up, head downstairs in my PJs expecting a relaxing morning…
Lucas (our CTO) finishes off his scrambled eggs and glances up at our analytics dashboard on the TV, "Were anyone of you guys testing the app last night?".
Me and my two co-founders (Yusuf and Sarim) look at each other sheepishly "Not that I know of, why?".
"Our servers are in meltdown – what's going on??".
It's a frantic half an hour before we realise that Apple had selected Quit Genius out of the 2.2 million apps on the App Store to be the main feature in the USA. Our traffic and revenue have increased 10,000% from the day before. Our servers are in meltdown. I suggested we drill a Silicon-Valley-Style hole in the wall (shout out Guilfoyle), instead, Lucas goes for the more sensible route of calling up John (big up) – our contact at Amazon Web Services – to upgrade our servers. I jump on Intercom to answer hundreds of customer support emails that have begun to pile into our inbox. Meanwhile, the kettle is still boiling.
Meant to be me at the back
As the dust settles, I take a moment to do something I rarely do; reflect.
Less than a year ago, I was in London revising for my final exams of medical school. Fast forward 9 months and we have an incredible team of scientists, designers and developers, we've relocated to Palo Alto to participate in Y Combinator (a well known startup school that has produced the likes of Airbnb, Dropbox and Coinbase (the Bitcoin one)) and most importantly we've already helped thousands of real people quit smoking.
We pinch ourselves every day asking how this has even happened?
I still have a vivid recollection of the conversation I had with my parents after graduating as a doctor. The shocked look on their faces when I told them I wanted to pass up my dream job to pursue what they thought was a long lost fantasy. In hindsight, they were probably right. We knew what we wanted to make but we had no plan, no experience and no money…but what I did have were two friends who were just as foolish as me!
We launched Quit Genius just two months later. We messaged every single person we knew to download the app. Below is a message me of reaching out to my barber Luca, not for a "1 into a 4 and keep it wavy on top", but a plea to download Quit Genius.
So "swell"
We spent our lunch breaks in Golden Square (Soho, London), preying on smokers and telling them about Quit Genius. I remember one day we managed to get 100 new users and we treated ourselves to a team dinner at one of Soho's finest establishments.
Haters will say this is Pizza Express
It's crazy to think just 6 months later we've touched hundreds of thousands of lives from all across the world. I can't describe how rewarding it feels to get messages on a daily basis from people from all walks of life thanking us because their lives, and the lives of their families, has transformed because they've managed to quit smoking. All because of an app.
We always get asked why we're not practising as doctors after spending six whole years at medical school. And the true reason is, as doctors we feel as though we could have made a positive impact on the lives of thousands, but with Quit Genius we believe we can make a positive impact on the lives of millions.
From the outside looking in, it may all look rosy: a fast-growing user base, features in the press and bringing on board notable investors. But I can assure you it is far from that. Every day there's a new challenge, a new problem, a new setback. There are countless times this business could have been dead and buried (I'll save these stories for another time). It's only the dedication, motivation and sheer resilience of every single member of the team that has stopped that from happening.
We count our blessings every day and are thankful to God for giving us this opportunity to change the way therapy is delivered. We know we still have a long, long way to go to get anywhere close to achieving our mission of making the world a smoke-free place. A smoke-free world?! You might think we're young, dumb and naive 24-year-olds wishfully thinking, but every step we take, every smoker we get to quit, fuels our fires. And so long as there's an ember, rest assured, we'll be working as hard as possible to make our long lost fantasy a reality.
All the highs and lows on our journey to help 100,000 people quit smoking
Subscribe to stay updated. We email our best content, just once per month.
Download the Quit Genius app
Quit Genius is free to download and includes personalised therapy content, craving tools and a vibrant community to help you quit smoking and stay smoke-free for good!
The post Inside Quit Genius: Thinking Hard or Hardly Thinking? appeared first on Quit Genius.
Copyright © 2019 @ TheSmokingQuite


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text:
Ballots in from 56% of expected Wash. voters
Monday, November 3, 2008 10:10pm
Local NewsNation / world
OLYMPIA — More than half of Washington state's expected voters already have returned their ballots to elections officials, a day before Election Day.
A county-by-county assessment by the Associated Press found that as of Monday, more than 1.7 million ballots had been returned.
Secretary of State Sam Reed predicts 83 percent turnout statewide — about 3 million people — so about 56 percent of the expected voters have sent back their ballots.
Ballots were sent out Oct. 17, and must be postmarked by today.
Thirty-seven of the state's 39 counties are voting entirely or nearly entirely by mail, including Snohomish County. King and Pierce counties still have poll sites, though a majority of voters in those counties already vote by mail.
In rural Columbia County, where elections officials have predicted a 92 percent turnout, more than 70 percent of the county's approximately 2,500 voters have returned their ballots.
"Our turnouts are typically high, but that is really good," said Naedene Shearer, chief deputy auditor.
King County, the state's most populous county, has 1.1 million voters and is predicting an 85 percent turnout. Some other counties are predicting a turnout as high as 90 percent.
The average statewide general election turnout since 1936 is 78.85 percent. The record turnout in modern times was 84.5 percent in 1944.
King County elections officials said they plan to be able to count all the expected 286,800 poll votes on Election Day, as well as 100,000 mail ballots. Following that, they expect to count 90,000 to 100,000 mail votes daily.
Reed has cautioned that voters shouldn't expect to know definitive results on election night because much of the state's vote is still outstanding, and because King County's results will come in slower than the rest of the state.
"Unless the outcome of the race is very lopsided, it could change as more ballots come in," he said.
About a third of the American electorate was expected to vote before Election Day, largely to avoid long lines at the polls.
More than 29 million people in 30 states have already voted, according to partial state and county data provided to the AP, and that number was projected to rise to 44 million out of 137 million total votes nationally, according to estimates by Edison Media Research and George Mason University political scientist Michael McDonald.
That would be an early vote of 32 percent of this year's electorate, up from 22 percent in 2004 and 15 percent in 2000.
A guide to election night on TV
Congressional races to watch today
No right turns on red gets a look, a bid to expand sports betting arrives
It's a new week. Here's what's happening on Day 22 of the 2023 session of the Washington Legislature
Woman dead, man burned in Marysville RV fire
The Snohomish County Fire Marshal's Office and Marysville Police Department were investigating the cause of the fire.
COVID still 'simmering' in the county, while booster uptake remains low
Meanwhile, flu and RSV cases have plummeted, suggesting the "tripledemic" could — emphasis on "could" — be fading.
The Daily Herald publisher Rudi Alcott discusses our new publishing schedule and newspaper delivery by mail.
Despite controversy, Lynnwood opioid treatment center opens its doors
For weeks, protesters have objected to the center opening near Little League fields and a Boys and Girls Club.
After rapid rise, Everett's Pallet hits milestone: 100 shelter villages
Temporary home manufacturer Pallet hires locals who have "experienced homelessness, substance abuse or the justice system."
Boil water advisory in effect for 75 Snohomish homes
A water main break resulted in outages and possible contamination Sunday. Service was expected to return by Wednesday.
Driver in fatal I-5 crash in Arlington gets 10 years
Ismael Cruz-Sanchez had a lengthy history with impaired driving. He pleaded guilty to killing Jason Vogan, 45.
Charges: Arlington drug trafficker masqueraded as a pastor
Prosecutors say Steve Parker led a double life, helping people in addiction while dealing drugs across Western Washington.
Paved path, plaza coming to Mountlake Terrace near light rail
The public space additions are envisioned as boosting access to the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center.
Incoming superintendent says he's 'done homework on Monroe'
Shawn Woodward has faced issues of racism, equity and inclusion as the leader of the Mead School District near Spokane.
Charges: Everett bar shooting suspect faces up to 50 years in prison
Francisco Cuahutemoc Vazquez has a violent history that dates to 2015, when he was involved in gangs.
With 747 out, Boeing to open new 737 Max line at Everett's Paine Field
Since the last 747 rolled out of the factory, speculation has been rife that Boeing might move some 737 Max production to Everett.


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Home > News in Pictures
Ambassador Sun Gongyi Attends "Salon de Thé" in Celebration of the National Day of the People's Republic of China Held by the Chinese Communities in Mauritius(2020-09-29)
Ambassador Sun Gongyi Attends the Handover Ceremony of Epidemic Prevention Materials Aided by China(2020-08-03)
The Chinese Embassy in Mauritius Transfers Epidemic Prevention Supplies to Spouse of Mauritian Prime Minister(2020-07-27)
Presenting the Most Beautiful Songs to You(2019-10-12)
The Chinese Embassy in Mauritius Holds National Day Reception(2019-09-25)
Ambassador Sun Gongyi Attends 2019 Annual Awards Ceremony of Modern College in Mauritius(2019-09-08)
Ambassador Sun Gongyi Accompanies Mauritian Prime Minister to Inspect Sports Complex at L'avenir in Moka(2019-07-03)
Report on the Work of the Government(2019-03-18)
The Chinese Embassy Holds the National Day Reception(2018-09-26)
Counselor Wang Ju, spouse of the Chinese Ambassador pays an official call to spouse of Mauritian Prime Minister(2018-09-10)
Ambassador Sun Gongyi Meets with Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth(2018-09-06)
Ambassador Sun Gongyi Attends "Salon de Thé" in Celebration of the National Day of the People's Republic of China Held by the Chinese Communities in Mauritius
On September 26, 2020, the Chinese communities in Mauritius held "Salon de Thé" in celebration of the National Day of the People's Republic of China and the Mid-Autumn Festival at Hua Lien club. Over 150 people including Mauritian Vice President Eddy Boissezon, Ambassador Sun Gongyi and his spouse, Opposition Leader Mr. Arvin Boolell, former Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth and his spouse, MP YeungJohn Michael Tzoun Sao, MP Foo Eileen Karen Lee Chin, former Vice President Monique Ohsan Bellepeau, President of the United Chinese Associations Eric Lim and representatives of the Chinese communities in Mauritius were present at the Salon.
On behalf of the Mauritian government, Vice President Eddy Boissezon conveyed his greetings to the Chinese government and people, lauding the achievements of the People's Republic of China in 71 years since its founding, and especially in 40 years since its reform and opening up. He underscored that China and Mauritius have always been close friends and partners. In recent years, the relations between the two countries have continued to develop, with the landmark events such as Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Mauritius in 2018, Mauritian Prime Minister Jugnauth's visit to China to attend the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and the signing of Free Trade Agreement between China and Mauritius further deepening bilateral relations. Mauritius expresses gratitude towards China for assistance and support in its economic and social development and wishes to continue enhancing the friendship between the two countries and promoting practical cooperation in various fields.
For his part, Ambassador Sun Gongyi highlighted in his speech that this year is an extraordinary year which marks the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Confronted with the sudden plague of Covid-19 pandemic, the Chinese government has given first priority to life and people, having adopted the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough policies and measures to effectively curb the spread of the virus. China has also done its utmost to provide assistance to the international community in fighting the pandemic, demonstrating China's sincere aspirations to promote the building of a human health community through practical actions. At the outset of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Mauritian government also responded quickly to take strict measures to fight the epidemic. With arduous efforts, China and Mauritius have taken the lead in effectively controlling the pandemic, resuming economic activities and restoring people's lives gradually back to normal.
Ambassador Sun Gongyi underscored that the people of China and Mauritius stayed in the same boat and helped each other through the crisis, writing a touching chapter of fighting the virus together with boundless love. Sino-Mauritian cooperation in fighting the virus showcases once again that virus knows no borders and that no country can be exempted from global public health security. Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat the virus. China upholds the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and puts forward the "One Belt One Road" initiative in conformity with the historical trend as well as the tendency of world development, further displaying its value and appeal during this epidemic crisis.
Ambassador Sun Gongyi highly commended the important role played by the Chinese communities in the fight against the pandemic, hoping that the Chinese communities in Mauritius could seize the opportunities of the development and cooperation between China and Mauritius to make more contributions to the construction of Mauritius as well as the development of friendly relations between the two countries.
President Eric Lim stated in his speech that enormous strides have been made in all fields since the founding of New China. Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the Chinese government has taken decisive measures and the Chinese people has exercised a high degree of self-discipline, thus finally contained the spread of the epidemic successfully in a short period of time. Although oceans apart, the Chinese communities in Mauritius have always clung to their home country, sincerely wishing China great prosperity.
Afterwards, all the guests raised their glasses and drank a toast to the best wishes of the Chinese National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival together.
A short video named "Amazing China" was played, introducing China's achievements in fighting the virus as well as Sino-Mauritian cooperation in fighting the pandemic. Many Mauritian artists sang Chinese songs and performed Chinese folk dances, winning thunderous applause from the audience. Joyous festive atmosphere had permeated the auditorium all along the Salon.


Well I know all of us here had a good time over Christmas, and we hope all of you did too. There has been a lot happening over the Christmas period here at WSPLC, the shop has been especially busy. Unfortunately for the time being we have sold out of W-8681 Weather Stations, they are so popular its hard to get one to everyone that wants one. We should have more of those in soon though, so don't worry if you haven't managed to get one yet.
And as most of you have probably noticed by now our site is completely up and running now. We are still tweaking settings and making minor adjustments, but nothing major. I have had a few comments from users about the site, which I'm pleased to say are almost all good. If you have any comments about the website or the blog, feel free to leave them on here as they are all read and checked by me for spam before they appear.
We are wrapping up 2008 well, and everyone plans to celebrate tonight. 2008 has been a good year even though the economy is turning, trading has been good, and we hope that in 2009 we will see even more custom.
Thank you and happy new year from all the Waters and Stanton staff.
You are currently browsing the Waters & Stanton Blog blog archives for December, 2008.


Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter has said May's NPD results are showing the games industry is in a "persistent" state of decline.
Speaking to MCV in reaction to the figures, Pachter said a worrying trend is appearing, despite the month's software line-up being stacked in favour of dramatic growth.
"We expect investors to remain spooked by the May results, as they are beginning to reinforce the notion that the videogame industry is in a state of persistent secular decline," he said.
Pachter singled out Nintendo, which, despite its huge install base, seems to be one of the worst hit when it comes to software sales.
"Wii software sales were down 29 percent year-over-year, and DS software sales were down 13 percent, while PS3 software sales were up 58 per cent and Xbox 360 software sales were up 29 per cent.
You can catch all of the NPD results for May here.


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Endangered Species Monday - Procyon pygmaeus
This Monday's endangered species article I write about a species that I have honestly never even heard of or had the pleasure of meeting. Listed as critically endangered, the species is commonly known as the Pygmy Raccoon or scientifically known as Procyon pygmaeus. (Image: Pygmy Raccoon)
Identified back in 1901 by Dr Clinton Hart Merriam (December 5, 1855 – March 19, 1942), Dr Merriam was an American zoologist, ornithologist, entomologist, ethnographer, and naturalist. Known as "Hart" to his friends, Merriam was born in New York City in 1855. His father, Clinton Levi Merriam, was a U.S. congressman.
Dr Merriam studied biology and anatomy at Yale University and obtained an M.D. from the School of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University in 1879. He taught for a while at Harvard University. Dr Merriam died in Berkeley, California in 1942. I have followed quite a lot of work relating back to Dr Merriam and must say Dr Merriam was one of very few experts of his type within the field of animal studies as we know it.
From 1996 the Pygmy Raccoon that's known to the locals as the "Cozumel Raccoon" was listed as endangered back in 1996. Endemic to Mexico, Pygmy Raccoon's are only known to inhabit the Cozumel region off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, hence the carnivores name - "Cozumel Raccoon".
Recent census counts taking into consideration juveniles gives us an (estimated) population at a depressingly two hundred and fifty mature individuals. However fifty nine per cent of the population actually corresponds to mature individuals which is somewhat concerning, especially when we really need more younger juveniles to continue the gene pool and to ensure that overall protection of the species is to a degree somewhat safe should an outbreak of disease occur.
Taking all data - past - and - present census counts, NEAR exact population size of juveniles we're still not looking at a high number of individuals however can state that overall population sizes are 192-567 individuals. Due to low population densities, introduction of new species onto the island and the effects of mega-hurricanes this provides environmental scientists justification to place the species at (critically endangered level/criteria).
Due to continuing decline of population sizes with regards to increasingly destructive hurricanes, introduction of new species onto the island, extent of occurrence being in the region of some 500km2, less than five locations the species is known to inhabit on the island the Pygmy Raccoon thus meets the criteria for (endangered listing). Overall and taking both reports into account the species qualifies for critically endangered listing.
Exact location; Cozumel Island (478 km2) off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
Image: Mexico - Pygmy Raccoon.
Back in 2004 a further census was undertaken by Mr McFadden that estimated a near total of some 954 mature individuals (including juveniles). However due to some pretty intense hurricanes and new taxa introduced to the island species populations are still taking a pretty fast downward spiral of which its populations are still noted as (declining).
Due to the species being severely impacted by hurricanes and already depressed populations from a variety of human threats make it increasingly difficult for populations to recover following natural disasters it quite likely were going to witness extinctions occurring very soon. After major hurricanes, the density of Pygmy Raccoon's can decline at a particular site by as much as 60% and the proportion of juveniles in the population can diminish significantly. The impact of hurricanes may vary among regions or vegetation types on the island.
The species is not legally protected and there are no protected areas on Cozumel Island. Proposed conservation measures include protecting areas inhabited by this species, establishing captive breeding programs, and controlling introduced species. However even with these protective measures in place - we can already state local NGO's and zoological gardens are expecting the species to be pushed into extinction within the wild due to the fact captive breeding programs are being thought up.
Relatively little is known about the group size of the Raccoon's. They are primarily nocturnal and solitary animals, but may sometimes form family groups possibly consisting of the mother and cubs. The Raccoon's live in densities of about 17-27 individuals per km2., and inhabit home ranges of around 67 hectares (170 acres) on average. However, individuals do not appear to defend territories to any great extent, and their close relative, the common raccoon, can exist at very high densities when food is abundant. Although there have been no detailed studies of their reproductive habits, females seem to give birth primarily between November and January, possibly with a second litter during the summer months.
While legally protected within Mexico threats are still increasing that do look set to push the species into complete wild extinction.
Cozumel Island has been substantially developed for tourism. Cozumel is still relatively well-conserved, with close to 90% of the island covered by natural vegetation, but the situation is deteriorating rapidly. The interior of the island is less developed, but Raccoon's are rare or absent there. There is only a very small area of prime raccoon habitat and this is on the coast where most of the tourist development is taking place.
The expansion and widening of the road system is fragmenting the vegetation of the island in at least three areas. The widening of roads is potentially increasing their barrier effect and exacerbating their impact on the conservation of Pygmy Raccoon's and other native species.
Most cases of Pygmy Raccoon mortality documented since 2001 have been the result of animals being run over by cars on the island's highways. Alien invasive predators, such as Boa constrictor, as well as domestic and feral dogs, may have an important impact on the Pygmy Raccoon population and it is confirmed that feral dogs predate on them.
Additionally, introduced carnivores to the island could easily become a source of parasites and pathogens that could potentially affect negatively Pygmy Raccoon populations. The introduction of congeners from the mainland (P. lotor), usually for pets, is a risk of genetic introgression and a potential source of parasites and pathogens.
Hurricanes are the main natural threat recognized for the Cozumel biota. In the case of the Pygmy Raccoon, hurricanes cause drastic population decline, reduction in the proportion of juveniles, and cause injury and facilitate pathological change. The frequency, magnitude and duration of hurricanes in the Caribbean Basin is increasing (CITA), so they are an issue of major concern as there may be a synergistic effect with anthropogenic disturbance.
Hunting and collection of Pygmy Raccoons as pets is currently not an important threat.
Dr. J.C Depre
Environmental and Botanical Scientist. CEO
This entry was posted on June 29, 2015 by speakupforthevoiceless. It was filed under You must be the change you want to see in the world and was tagged with Clinton Levi Merriam, Cozumel Island, critically endangered, Endangered, Hurricanes, I.A.R.F, International Animal Rescue Foundation Raccoon, Procyon pygmaeus, Pygmy Raccoon, Pygmy Raccoons.
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2. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $4.50 to $4.52, inclusive. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote (2).
4. continuation of footnote 3 above: (f) a deferred stock award of 94,444 restricted stock units with performance based vesting conditions, which if earned shall vest in equal installments on May 24, 2019, 2020 and 2021, and are contingent upon achievement of a performance condition tied to relative shareholder return; and (g) 257,165 shares of common stock held by the Reporting Person.
5. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $4.50 to $4.55, inclusive. The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to the Issuer, any security holder of the Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote (5).
6. Includes the awards referenced in clauses (a) through (f) of footnotes (3) and (4) above, plus 244,740 shares of common stock held by the Reporting Person.
7. Includes the awards referenced in clauses (a) through (f) of footnotes (3) and (4) above, plus 244,340 shares of common stock held by the Reporting Person.


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Posted inHistory
Is America founded on freedom or on slavery?
Anti-Black racism is not part of America's DNA. If it were, it couldn't change -- and it has.
by Robert R. Reilly Dec 9, 2021 Dec 30, 2021 / 7 mins /
John Trumbull's famous painting (1819) depicts the five-man drafting committee of the Declaration of Independence presenting their work to the Second Continental Congress.
One of the most contentious issues in American history is the existence of slavery in a country "dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal," as Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address. Inspired by critical race theory and the Black Lives Matter movement, the New York Times has even campaigned with its 1619 Project to popularise the idea that the country was founded on the bondage of slavery, not the liberty extolled by its Founding Fathers.
MercatorNet interviewed Robert R. Reilly about this debate. Reilly is the author of America on Trial: A Defense of the Founding. He recently added a special chapter on slavery.
MercatorNet: Did the United States fight the Revolution primarily to protect the institution of slavery?
Robert R. Reilly: It had absolutely nothing to do with protecting slavery. To suggest otherwise is a singular act of ignorance – one that the 1619 Project commits. Gordon Wood is perhaps the foremost historian of the American Revolution. He makes clear that, "this claim is false. In 1776 Great Britain was not threatening to abolish slavery in its empire… It was the American colonists who were interested in abolitionism in 1776."
Princeton historian Sean Wilentz explained, "Had the Americans not won their independence in 1783, it is almost inconceivable that the British government would have ended slavery in any of its colonies thereafter." Indeed, the British Empire was the leading slave trader in the world, and many of its colonies in the Western Hemisphere relied on slavery for their economic output and well-being.
Legal scholar Paul Finkelman relates that "the British government gave special protection to the Royal African Company, which brought more slaves to the American colonies than any other single entity. Investors in the Royal African Company reached the highest echelons of British society, and included members of the Royal family."
In 1769, Virginia raised taxes on the importation of slaves, but the Crown overruled it. In 1772, Virginia passed another law with a prohibitively high tax on the slave trade. The legislators appealed to the king that "[t]he importation of slaves into the colonies from the coast of Africa, hath long been considered as a trade of great inhumanity" and asked him to "remove all those restraints on your majesty's governors of this colony, which inhibit their assenting to such laws as might check so very pernicious a commerce." Once again, the British government overrode the law.
Thomas Jefferson complained in 1774 of the Crown's interference in the colonies' efforts to end the transatlantic slave trade. Great Britain eventually passed legislation to end it in 1807, several weeks after the United States did.
"Anti-Black racism runs in the very DNA of this country" is the catchcry of critical race theory and the 1619 Project. How do you respond to this allegation?
If it were in the DNA of America, then it couldn't be changed, but it has been. People who have not seen the change in race relations in this country over the past half-century since the civil rights movement must be blind. I don't know a sector of American society in which racism is not considered morally repugnant. Of course, to our shame, that was not always so.
Was the slavery practiced in the American slave states the worst in the world at the time?
There is no gainsaying the fact that it was very bad, indeed. It was certainly just as bad if not worse in the Caribbean and in South America. Slavery in Africa was also vicious.
How did the Founders reconcile in their own mind the statement that "all men are created equal" and the existence of slavery? To us, after all, the double standard seems so obvious.
It was the Founders who publicly raised the moral standard by which slavery, which had existed since time immemorial, would be seen as a great wrong. Why was that hypocritical?
Gordon Wood said, "Far from protecting slavery, the American Revolution inflicted a massive blow to the entire slave system of the New World." Benjamin Franklin held that slavery was such "an atrocious debasement of human nature" that he formed a Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and raised funds for the "relief of free negroes unlawfully held in bondage". Pennsylvania became the first government in history to abolish slavery. John Adams considered slavery a "foul contagion in the human character." He said, "Negro slavery is an evil of colossal magnitude." At the Constitutional Convention, Gouverneur Morris excoriated slavery as being "in defiance of the most sacred laws of humanity," which "damns them to the most cruel bondages."
In the decade between the Declaration and the Constitution, every state north of the Mason-Dixon Line, and north of the Ohio River, abolished slavery or passed measures leading to its abolition by 1804. The Northwest Ordinance, passed by Congress in 1787, forbade slavery in the huge territory that would later comprise five Midwestern states (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin). None of these things would have happened had not the American founding principle been that "all men are created equal."
Could we focus on two key figures in your analysis? First, Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration, the third President – and a slaveowner. Doesn't his record support the 1619 Project's accusation of hypocrisy?
In 1779 Jefferson proposed a law for gradual emancipation in Virginia. It failed passage. In addition, in Congress in 1784, he proposed the law, which came within one vote of adoption, that would have banned slavery from the entire Western territory of the United States.
In Jefferson's original draft of the Declaration, he had written that George III "has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life and liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him", which was a condemnation of Great Britain's participation in and perpetuation of the slave trade. According to Jefferson, this sentence was removed at the insistence of South Carolina and Georgia. Ironically, in earlier colonial times, Georgia had been overruled in London when it tried to ban slavery.
In regard to American slavery, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever… The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in such a contest… The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on the one part, and degrading submissions on the other."
In 1807, President Jefferson applauded the approaching congressional measure to forbid the foreign slave trade "to withdraw the citizens of the United States from all further participation in those violations of human rights which have been so long continued on the unoffending inhabitants of Africa, and which the morality, the reputation, and the best interests of our country have long been eager to proscribe".
Like many others, Jefferson presumed that slavery would peacefully die out over the course of time. He freed only two slaves during his lifetime, allowed three others to leave Monticello with his tacit consent, and manumitted five more in his will.
Why not more? Robert F. Turner explains that "the reason Jefferson did not free but five of his own slaves in his will is simple: Under Virginia law at the time, slaves were considered 'property,' and they were expressly subject to the claims of creditors. Jefferson died deeply in debt." In fact, Jefferson took on a sizable debt that came with his inherited estates and accrued more debt when he co-signed a large loan for a friend who subsequently defaulted.
This is not to gainsay the fact that Jefferson practiced slavery and benefitted from it. Nonetheless, in 1823, he wrote that slavery was "a hideous blot" and that he was "happy in believing that the conviction of the necessity of removing this evil gains ground with time". Unfortunately, this was not to be so.
The other figure is Frederick Douglass, the brilliant freed slave and abolitionist leader who was loud in his praise of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Founding Fathers. How does the 1619 Project account for his attitude?
It can't, because what Douglas said gives the lie to its central thesis. He was emphatic that the Constitution was not a pro-slavery document precisely because it did not mention slavery and thought it was "a slander upon their memory" to think otherwise of the Founders' intentions.
In a Fourth of July oration in 1852, he said, "In that instrument I hold there is neither warrant, license, nor sanction of the hateful thing; but interpreted, as it ought to be interpreted, the Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider its purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway? Or is it in the temple? It is neither."
There are at least three provisions in the Constitution which appear to support slavery – the importation clause, the three-fifths clause, and the fugitive slave clause. They clearly seem to support slavery… How do you account for those?
In order to reach ratification, the framers did include three compromises regarding slavery's existence in the Constitution. The "Importation Clause" of article I, section 9, prevented Congress from banning the importation of slaves for a period of 20 years. As mentioned above, the ban was passed in 1809.
The "Three-Fifths Clause" of the Constitution (article I, section 2) for apportioning representation in the House of Representatives is often misunderstood as a denial that slaves were fully human because they each counted as only three-fifths a person. The purpose of the clause, however, was to lessen the power of the slave states and was not in any way premised on the belief that slaves were not fully human beings. Had the slave states been able to include the slaves in "the whole Number of free Persons" it would have enhanced their power by increasing their number of representatives, which was determined by population. It was an anti-slavery clause.
The so-called "Fugitive Slave Clause" (article IV, section 2) appears to be the most troubling of the compromises because it provided for the return of runaway slaves. It at least avoided the word "slave," tellingly using "person" instead, in order to undercut condescension toward them as property. This revision emphasized that slaves were held according to the laws of individual states and, as the historian Don Fehrenbacher has noted, "made it impossible to infer from the passage that the Constitution itself legally sanctioned slavery."
So, these were prudential compromises necessary for there to be a United States in the first place – without which slavery would not have been ultimately abolished.
How do historians view the 1619 Project? After all, the project creator, Nikole Hannah-Jones, received a Pulitzer Prize for her work.
That speaks volumes about the Pulitzer Prize, unless it was given in the category of fiction. Hannah-Jones is not an historian; she is a journalist. Some of the most prestigious professional historians of the American Founding wrote a joint letter protesting her misrepresentations.
Is the story of the founding basically just an academic quarrel or does it have political consequences in 2021?
The whole point of the calumny is to support attacks on the United States. If the Founders can be tagged as supporters of the odious practice of slavery, ipso facto, they stand condemned. More than any other issue today, slavery is used to limn the American Founding as corrupt in its origins. The most often repeated charge, especially from the Left, is that the United States was rooted in racism from the beginning, actually even before the beginning. Therefore, this country is irredeemable. If it is irredeemable, it must be taken down.
This accounts for its current political relevance, and it is why it must be countered if we wish to preserve the first nation in the history of the world to be founded on the principle that all people are created equal.
Robert R. Reilly
robert_r_reilly.519@mercatornet.com
Robert R. Reilly is Director of the Westminster Institute. In his 25 years of government service, he has taught at National Defense University (2007), and served in the Office of The Secretary of Defense,...	More by Robert R. Reilly
Tagged: 1619 Project, Black Lives Matter, Founding Fathers, racism, slavery
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As part of my Professional Specification module I'm required to make contacts with at least 3 people in the field I wish to specialise. Not that I should need to be told to do this as it's a great way for me to get a handle on the level of expertise required in the industry, get constructive feedback on my work, make contacts within the games industry, etc., but I digress. I've been looking up UK based technical animators within larger UK games studios (specialised technical animators are a rare thing in small studios it seems,) and found Harry Gladwin-Geoghagen's awesome dino-rig.
Since I'll be animating and rigging a small bird this semester there's something to draw from here as much of the joint layout and IKs will be similar, never mind that having an example rig from a professional is a great source of research and inspiration for my own work.
The full rig, along with Harry Gladwin-Geoghagen's "Harryrig" is available to download here: http://www.harry-gg.co.uk/downloads.html.
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This cottage overlooks the sea and the village. It has a large enclosed garden. It has a large living area with an open plan kitchen.
Living Areas: Large open plan lounge, dining room and kitchen. DSTV – bring your own decoder. There is a sunroom with a sleeper couch which doubles as a fourth bedroom.
Kitchen: Gas and electric stove, two fridges with deep freeze space. Separate scullery off kitchen.
Parking: Off street parking for two cars.
Go through security and turn left into Guest Road, first right into Long Street. The house is the fourth house on the right hand side.


Lexus has always favored luxury over performance, but the brand's IS F spiced things up by challenging the BMW M3 and Mercedes C63 AMG. Unfortunately, it appears that the model will be axed.
Lexus recently revealed the 2014 IS F Sport, but it appears the company still has a few tricks up their sleeve for the North American International Auto Show.
Lexus has officially unveiled the 2014 Lexus IS F Sport, ahead of its debut at the North American International Auto Show.
The first official images with the 2014 Lexus IS F-SPORT have surfaced the web, following one last teaser released by Lexus earlier today.
The 2014 Lexus IS won't be unveiled until the North American International Auto Show, but that hasn't stopped Jay Leno from getting a test drive of the upcoming model.
Lexus has officially announced plans to introduce the 2014 IS at the North American International Auto Show.
According to a recent report, the 2014 Lexus IS Hybrid will feature a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with direct-injection technology.
According to a recent report, the 2015 Lexus IS-F could feature a twin-turbo V6 engine with approximately 450 hp (336 kW / 456 PS).
If you've ever wondered what happens to the various concepts that tour the auto show circuit, you'll definitely want to check out the latest video from Fox Marketing.
Lexus has quietly released a new promotional video which apparently reveals the front fascia of several upcoming models.
Designed to be more dynamic than ever before, the 2012 IS-F adopts a retuned suspension with new shock absorbers, larger stabilizer bars and revised spring rates.
New details are starting to emerge about the future Lexus lineup as Automotive News is reporting the company will introduce a variety of redesigned models.
Lexus brings the CT200 H F Sport to Tokyo along with the IS F CCS-R and the IS F Club Performance Accessory.
According to a recent report, the 2014 Lexus IS will be underpinned by the long-awaited FT-86 sports car.
Listen up seniors, Lexus has unveiled the 2011 IS. It features minor changes and a new diesel engine.
Just what is included in the F-Sport package for the Lexus IS? Find out inside.
At the Chicago Auto Show Lexus announced that they will expand their popular line of F-Sport Performance Accessories to the GS, IS all-wheel drive, and the new IS C hardtop convertible.


Q: Is there a connection between sleep and weight control?
Most of us recognize that sleep is of some importance, though there is still a large group of people who think, like Edison, that it is a waste of time, or Margaret Thatcher, that it is for wimps. However, we need to realize that if we live to age 90, which is more and more common, we will sleep a bit over 30 years. So, if you think that 30 years of your life is important, you need to understand some things about sleep.
Sleep is complex. We will not delve into sleep science today other than to discuss its importance to overall health, but specifically its link to obesity. Today, we are finally recognizing that, while we always knew that weight control is linked to diet and exercise, the third leg of the support for good health and weight control is sleep. And now that over 30 percent of America is overweight with a growing epidemic of childhood obesity, we must address all the things leading to it.
Lack of sleep has direct effects on the control of our appetites. We produce hormones that help regulate our dietary intake. Leptin is a hormone that is naturally produced and tends to suppress hunger and eating while ghrelin does the opposite. What has become clear is that short sleep times, or markedly fragmented sleep, leads to a decrease in leptin and increase ghrelin. So, while we are awake watching TV or on our notebooks or phones we are likely to have urges to snack. And few snacks turn out to be good for us.
What is short sleep? For most people, we really do need seven to nine hours of sleep. Much of America, particularly teenagers, are getting between one and three hours less than what we need – and we delude ourselves into believing we are fine because we get used to being chronically tired. That is our normal. If you are getting good sleep, you should be able to awaken without an alarm and feel well rested. There may be a slight dip in alertness in the afternoon, but it should not be overwhelming.
Weight gain has another, very direct, impact on sleep. It is a major contributor to developing or worsening a condition called sleep apnea. This is a condition in which our throats close up and block our breathing when we sleep causing multiple awakenings through the night. And of course decreases in leptin and increases in ghrelin leading to further weight gain. Fatty tissue in our necks and tongues (yes the tongue can get fat) crowds our pharynx and makes the obstruction worse.
And it gets worse. Poor sleep from whatever cause leads to resistance to insulin. When that gets bad enough we can no longer control our blood sugar. That's called diabetes with its myriad of health consequences.
So, sleep is not only necessary and not for wimps, it is a crucial factor in our health.


As an AP professional, the daily grind of paper, payments, and processing is relentless, with the days all bleeding one into the next until you can't distinguish one from the other. With this monotony, how can you make an impact on your business?
Optimize your AP strategy with small AP tips and tricks. Read this eBook and learn how to get started. operates.


The channel had previously launched a series based on the various regiments that constitute the Indian Army, titled as 'Regiment Diaries'.
EPIC set to launch two series on history and wildlife of India.
The Hindi Infotainment channel EPIC will be launching two new series 'Wilderness Days' and 'Kissa Currency Ka', based on the wildlife and history of India, respectively.
Filmed at national parks such as Corbett Tiger Reserve, Rajaji National Park, Valley of Flowers, Kanha National Park and Choti Haldwani, the show titled 'Wilderness Days' will give the viewers a glimpse of the wildlife reserves and sanctuaries along with stories of animals and nature and human interaction with the wild.
This show will be an opportunity for the audiences to reconnect with the late Tom Alter, a veteran Indian actor and theatre stalwart who hosted the show.
The 13-episode mini-series, 'Kissa Currency Ka', will showcase the evolution of currency over 2000 years, as well as the monetary system from the ancient times.
It will also feature the coins and currencies that were minted by the various rulers that governed the kingdoms of the Indian subcontinent.
"We have had a slew of successful shows across a variety of genres and by adding more variety in content, treatment and visuals, we are looking at consolidating our hold on the infotainment space," she added.
'Kissa Currency Ka' will be releasing on 5th September and 'Wilderness Days', a 26-episode series, on 7 September 2018.


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Arts Tech Film Fest: The Last Starfighter
http://artstech.me/FilmFest
The Program in Arts Technology presents the third annual Arts Tech Film Fest at the Normal Theater. This year's festival features four films inspired by video game culture from the 1980s to the present day.
6:30 p.m.: Multimedia installations and virtual reality demos on display in the theater.
7 p.m.: Showing of The Last Starfighter (1984).
After becoming the highest scoring player on the arcade game "Starfighter", teenager Alex Rogan (Lance Guest) is recruited by alien forces to battle an evil warlord threatening the galaxy. The Last Starfighter is one of the earliest films to feature extensive computer generated imagery and includes Robert Preston in his last film role.
Arts Technology Program
decremer@ilstu.edu
http://finearts.illinoisstate.edu/arts-technology/


'Malouda and Bosingwa are not available for tomorrow. Malouda has a problem on his ankle after a tackle in the last game, It's not a big problem but he won't be available for tomorrow. I hope he is ready for the game against Liverpool.
Also Lampard is out, as is Benayoun, as we know, and Bosingwa is not ready for tomorrow. There is more than a 50 per cent possibility Lampard will be involved in the game against Liverpool.
The other players are good, they've had a good recovery from the game against Blackburn but I want to look at all the players before I make a decision about the team tomorrow.
Maybe I can change something compared to the line-up against Blackburn because I want to make sure all the players have recovered well. We have a lot of important games, tomorrow, against Liverpool, against Fulham and I want everyone in good condition with no injuries. I don't want to take a risk.
We are in a good position in both the Champions League and the Premier League, but we have to continue to do our best because when you are at the top everybody wants to beat you.
Spartak played very well in the last game and we had a problem in the second half. We had a lot of difficulty and we want to avoid this kind of difficulty tomorrow. We had a problem in the second half, we played too defensively and we want to play a different game tomorrow."
Its a blow to lose Malouda for tonight, but being honest I would prefer to lose him for tonight and to then have him ready (fingers crossed) for Liverpool on Sunday. Bosingwa is not a problem as we have Ivanovic there or Ferreria, how ever Carlo wants to tackle the right back position. Finally we have had to get used to Lampard being absent in these last weeks. Let's hope he has a better than 50/50 chance Carlo has spoken of to face Liverpool.
It's no secret Carlo has one eye on the Premier League so expect to see a strong side start the game with a view to making changes as early as possible tomorrow as long as we win the game.
Spartak are a dangerous side and my match preview will follow this afternoon.


China has been reported to feel uneasy about relying on the dollar to store its reserves. It has also pressed for changes to give developing countries more influence on the IMF, the World Bank and other financing institutions. To reduce its complete reliance to dollars, China now swaps currency with G-20 trading partners like Hong Kong and Argentina. G-20 is a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 economies and was formed to discuss the international financial system.
Working capital in accounting is defined as a measure of a company's efficiency and its financial health in the short run. It is calculated as current assets less current liabilities. Through its calculation investors and other stakeholders are able to tell if a company has enough short-term assets.


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News & Media: News Coverage
Detroit Regional Chamber > News & Media > News & Media: News Coverage > OU takes the next step in furthering higher education availability
OU takes the next step in furthering higher education availability
Laurel Kraus
As of 2015, around 60 percent of Americans had not obtained an associate's degree or higher, according to Forbes. Oakland University has entered a full partnership with the Detroit Promise Program beginning fall of 2018 to provide Detroit students with the opportunity to combat that statistic.
"We're trying to create a culture and an understanding in Detroit that if you graduate high school, there is a pathway for you to go on to higher education," said Greg Handel, vice president of education on the Detroit Regional Chamber.
The Detroit Promise Program, established in 2013, is a scholarship program in which Detroit students are offered the ability to attend either two or four years of college tuition-free.
"Most of our students come from Oakland and Macomb County," said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost at Oakland, James Lentini. "We'd like to actually expand our opportunities for Wayne County students, and Detroit students in particular with the Detroit Promise, to be able to attend Oakland."
For the previous two years, Oakland has participated through accepting up to five students in the program each year, but with the full partnership it will now be accepting an unlimited number.
"We are trying to increase our presence in the Detroit area," Director of Financial Aid Cindy Hermsen said. "I think this is another step toward Oakland University expressing our interest in providing access to students throughout the entire state."
Students who have lived in the city all four years of high school and have graduated from a Detroit school, achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and earned a minimum score of either 21 on the ACT or 1060 on the SAT, are automatically eligible for the scholarship but must register with the Detroit Chamber of Commerce.
Since Michigan Governor Rick Snyder announced the idea for such a program in 2011, the Detroit Regional Chamber has been responsible for managing it, with funding from the Michigan Education Excellence Foundation.
The Detroit Promise Program is considered a last dollar scholarship, which means that Oakland will first accept and apply all other scholarships and/or grants that a student is eligible for before utilizing the program's scholarship to pay any remaining tuition balance.
"We build on existing sources of support so that we're really leveraging our resources in a way that allow us to be sustainable," Handel said.
While the Detroit Promise Program fully covers tuition costs, it does not aid in books or housing.
"We understand that there are still barriers to students being able to continue, but we've removed a major one," Handel said.
Under the program, five classes have graduated from high school and moved into the community college program and two classes have moved into the four-year university program, according to Handel.
As similar scholarship offered at OU is The Wade H. McCree Scholarship Program, which holds the same academic requirements as the Detroit Promise Program, but awards full tuition to students in Detroit, Pontiac and Royal Oak who are nominated by their school districts.
View the original article here.
Tagged Detroit, Detroit Promise Program, Greg Handel, Michigan Education Excellence Foundation, Oakland University, rick snyder, Students, Wade H. McCree Scholarship Program
Archives: News & Media: News Coverage


Regent presents to you the ever so popular Mazda MPV 2.3L. This sleek looking Mazda is far from a people mover with the similar curves to the CX-7 SUV. In my personal opinion this would have to be the most attractive 7 seater I have seen in a while. Not only does this MPV look good the driving and handling capabilities are outstanding. The MPV is sitting on alloy mags with detailed chrome car handles also along with the one touch automatic sliding door is not something to miss when looking at this vehicle as it just stands out in Mazdas Wine Red colour. This Mazda MPV is a must view!!!! Call Holly or Tracee at Regent Car & Commercial today!!


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Using Play to Innovate
By Chris Cunningham Chris Cunningham - Consultant at Primal Management Ltd
December 15, 2011 at 5:40pm
Enable communities of passion
Take the work out of work
Experiment more often and more cheaply
Too many people in our lives believe that we all work to maintain a lifestyle outside of work. We go on about the work/life balance yet very few manage to find that happy medium. But what if we change the culture around work and give people reason to do it other than monetary reasons. This hack looks at developing a Play to Innovate Cycle which talks about creating the culture around making work enjoyable while reaping the benefits of innovation and creativity.
Everyone in the world likes the concept of having fun and enjoying themselves either as an individual or in a group. The world is made up of people who are internally and externally focused on what enjoyment means to them and what their requirement for social interaction is, even if they are not consciously aware of this fact. So why is it that in our everyday lives, more often than not people say that they work to live, yet generally speaking we spend more time in our work environments (including thinking about it when we are not actually at work) than actually living the life we are trying to establish by working in the first place?
So how does a manager change the focus of individuals who treat work as an income stream only and create a team environment that enables people to become passionate about what they do? How does a manager create this culture around work to enable people to get out of bed every day and be driven to succeeding in their line of work?
The solution to all these challenges is not complex but the execution can be depending on the industry you are in, the company and of course the culture that is already present both internally and externally. It's about empowering people within to openly engage in collectivism while maintaining their own individual values. It's about generating and supporting innovative thinking and using the resources available to conduct research and development in all areas, not just that of the current core business to create the sense of belonging, ownership and more importantly driving passion for the industry. Within the gaming industry it is said that the best ideas and the best innovation comes from the strangest of side projects that people do for fun , not just because they have to.
The best example of this is within Google who only employs highly motivated people who share the same interests and values as the company does. Google allows its people the time, space and resources to adapt and become members of the overall Google community by fostering innovative behaviour and providing the environment to do so in a fun and inventive way. Google maintains a philosophy around what they call '10 things' which it has had from the beginning of its history. These 10 things call for innovation and free thinking while maintaining focus on the end user and how they perceive the world. It looks at the fact that with technology, the internet has provided a massive medium that everyone is connected through. Google has aspirations of bringing these people from all over the world, closer together regardless of language, culture or race. It does this through development of technologies that translate information, indexes data and provides the best possible answers to every person's individual questions.
So with the '10 things' that Google have and reading through the various documents, websites and articles on Google, it's easy to spot a trend in why Google has been successful. Google's employees are passionate about their jobs and the work they do, and all of them believe that they participate in helping to change the world through Google. How Google does this is of no surprise, it believes that to do well in your job you need to have fun and be free to be creative in thinking. To quickly highlight this, we need to consider the Burning Man Festival and what it means to Google.
The Burning Man Festival is an extraordinary amalgamation of normal life and the world of art. Each year in August over a one week period, 40,000+ people drive out to Black Rock Desert in Nevada and build Black Rock City from nothing, which stands as a self-contained, non-commercial community. Burning Man represents a freedom of sorts from normal life and being non-commercial, it enables people to escape all the pressures from modern society and live in a truly free environment. Every year Google's headquarters closes for the week of Burning man and everyone attends the festival. What the festivals does for the Google staff is it enables them to have a have complete autonomy in creating what they want within a socialised workplace . For many, the festival gives them an 'obsessive' and 'exciting' workplace that many experience with working on their own projects that they believe in and have vested interest in it succeeding. The founders of Google believe that the Burning Man Festival gives people the play that they want to be able to engage in projects and stimulate the mind without prejudice or criticism. It teaches/reminds people how to be creative.
So how do we do this? With Google as the example, we have identified that we need to create an environment that enables people to have fun which will open creativity and allow learning as well as discovery and experimentation, ultimately leading to innovative ideas. All of this creates employee engagement with the company as a whole while generating that 'obsessive passion' for what they do.
This flow is simply identified as a mix between the learning cycle , and innovation cycle that are already known particularly within the scientific community. Managers who understand the way these cycles work can set the conditions within the work environment and measure the effectiveness. The flow of the cycle is illustrated below and each component can be shown with how Google operates.
Play.
As we grow older we tend to play less as the pressures of life surround us and complicate our dealings with normal society. Playing is an important part of engagement within the learning cycle, it's were the activity of some sort is conducted for enjoyment and recreation. This helps to break the barriers of thought processing down and captures the interest in certain topics. Google uses play within its work environment to help inspire people and on its campuses numerous areas for both physical and mental forms of play are available such as volley ball courts, large inflatable balls, foosball tables etc .
Bringing play into a work place environment can be difficult and no one solution will suit every industry, company, branch or business unit. The problem with play however is ensuring that the right amount of it is brought in so not to be disruptive to the work flow and maintaining the all-important outputs required.
Play is useful for expanding the imagination and inspiring new possibilities or new alternatives. People are intrinsically motivated to be creative because of their need for varied forms of complex stimulation. An example of what creativity can produce is easily found simply by watching an episode of 'The Jetsons' and understanding that very little of the technology in that programme was actually available at the time it was made. Now days a lot of what was in those shows actually exist and have had very good market success.
Learning & Discovery / Experimentation & Prototyping.
As creativity develops new and challenging problems for us to solve, we naturally have an inclination to want to research the issue to see what is possible and what we can achieve. The Internet provides us the easiest method for research in the form of search engines, journal repository's, databases, and most importantly, other people to bounce ideas off. The Learning & Discovery and Experimentation & Prototyping phases are closely tied together. As we research information from various sources we learn by trying the ideas in experimentation. Google uses this approach by allowing its employees time allocated to this process for their own personnel projects of interest. The only catch is that any projects that are developed during company time are owned by Google.
These phases are important as it gives the employee the ability to understand and start applying the information, techniques or ideas in their current work. It could be something as simple as a new dashboard for monitoring systems easier and cheaper or a piece of code that optimises their work flow.
All the personnel projects that are developed by Google's employees are evaluated and critically assessed by peers and managers for commercial feasibility; similar to how the hackathon works. This is where the company can benefit from the entire process as these ideas are developed, new opportunities and business ventures present themselves. The key here is to provide a feedback and evaluation system for these projects as well as being ready to move on an idea that is good.
As we grow older we tend to play less as the pressures of life surround us and complicate our dealings with normal society. Playing is an important part of engagement within the learning cycle, it's were the activity of some sort is conducted for enjoyment and recreation. This helps to break the barriers of thought processing down and captures the interest in certain topics. Google uses play within its work environment to help inspire people and on its campuses numerous areas for both physical and mental forms of play are available such as volley ball courts, large inflatable balls, foosball tables etc .Bringing play into a work place environment can be difficult and no one solution will suit every industry, company, branch or business unit. The problem with play however is ensuring that the right amount of it is brought in so not to be disruptive to the work flow and maintaining the all-important outputs required.
Remembering the overall intent of this exercise is to create a workplace where employees have the passion of their work and to add value to the business. By adapting the Play to Innovate cycle, managers will be able to create an environment in the workplace that will foster this type of thought, understand their employee's wants and what motivates them. It will also allow managers to build team cohesiveness through socialised collaboration and shared experiences.
Not every company has a Burning Man Festival nearby to take their employees too, and that's not what is suggested. The first step to building a workplace environment that will foster innovative change is to have fun, the rest follows.
Dr Bernie Frey – Massey University
Dean Hall – Bohemia Interactive Studio's
MBA NZ4P Class - Massey University
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In both these functions the first variable is the note value, in this case C2, the second variable is the velocity and the final variable is the channel.
In the meantime I have got my hands on a Yamaha MU10 tone generator from eBay.
This simplifies things considerably as I'm not having to use the computer as both editing station for the Arduino and MIDI playback device.
And so, back to basics. I've rigged up an Arduino with a MIDI port , connected it to the MU10 and have been experimenting with the MIDI library.
The first batch of code is a simple test. It turns on one note, turns on a second note then turns them both off one after the other.
// Experimenting with Arduino MIDI library.
// This code is realeased into the Public Domain.
I'm starting with arduino and I need to make a midi sustain pedal, just send continuous control 64 with value = 127 when you press the pedal and value 0 when released. I have NO idea about the programming and I'm starting with the software "virtual breadboard" to experience.