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Hidden Measures: A behind-the-scenes look at the Park District's new green initiatives
Did you know that the Park District's new Fort Hill Activity Center is partially powered by 117 solar panels on its roof? This new, mostly hidden source of renewable energy is just one of the many eco-friendly features of the Activity Center. A sign posted at the entrance to the Activity Center explains the benefits of these hard-working solar panels.
A row of solar panels is barely visible on the left side of the roof.
Keep reading to discover 8 other ways in which the Park District is helping to keep Naperville green. And learn how you can help.
1. Conserving and purifying stormwater naturally. Parking lots at several parks and facilities have permeable pavers designed to let stormwater soak in through the spaces between the pavers. The Park District added nearly 10,000 square feet of permeable pavers in 2016 at Fort Hill Activity Center, along with a bioswale, which is a low-lying strip of land planted with native plants that act like a sponge. The pavers and the bioswale work together to filter and clean stormwater before it flows to local waterways.
Permeable pavers and bioswale at Fort Hill Activity Center filter stormwater on site.
Native plants help purify water that flows into our creeks and streams. The Park District planted more of these beneficial native plants along McDonald Creek at Knoch Knolls Park, extending from the Nature Center to the DuPage River.
McDonald Creek and the interpretive sign explaining how its shoreline was restored to feature native plants
What you can do: Collect and re-use stormwater at home by purchasing a rain barrel. Plant a small rain garden in a low spot in your back yard. Learn more about native plants by stopping by the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots to see a demonstration rain garden. There also is an educational sign explaining the rain garden at Meadow Glens.
Purchase a rain barrel here.
Visit the Idea Gardens at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots, located at 811 S. West St.
2. Beautifying parks with the help of volunteers. In 2016, 1,740 volunteers helped with park maintenance tasks including litter picking, mulching, weeding, planting and seed harvesting. The Adopt-A-Park program is growing, with new options for groups to take care of a field or trail within a park.
New this year, the Park District is coordinating a community-wide celebration of Earth Week, involving special events and many volunteer projects out in the parks and throughout the city.
Volunteers litter picking in 2016
What you can do: Join an Earth Week volunteer project, consider adopting a trail, field or park, or look for other volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
3. Helping pollinators survive and thrive. Honey bees, monarch butterflies and other pollinator insects are declining, posing a threat to world food supplies. Late in 2016 the Naperville Park District joined with other local governments in approving a DuPage Monarch Project Resolution to support pollinators and help educate others about their plight. The District has nurtured several hives of honey bees in the organic section of the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots since 2014 and maintains more than 260 acres of natural areas where native pollinator plants can flourish.
A monarch butterfly on a milkweed plant. Photo by A.J. Koenig
In 2017 the District plans to create several monarch butterfly way stations, including one at Knoch Knolls Nature Center, with milkweed plants necessary for their food in preparation for their migration to Mexico each year.
Cub Scouts planted milkweed plants at the Ron Ory Community Garden Plots
What you can do: Plant native plants at home that attract bees and butterflies and eliminate the use of pesticides in your landscaping.
4. Providing more walking and biking trails through natural areas. The Park District partnered with the Forest Preserve District of Will County to add a new trail, Segment 5 of the DuPage River Trail, linking Knoch Knolls Park to the 95th Street Bridge. The new trail begins just south of the bicycle/pedestrian bridge at Knoch Knolls Park, branching off from the existing trail, which is known as Segment 4. Now that Segment 5 is complete, walkers or bicyclists can enjoy a beautiful path through the woods and along the river, experiencing nature in all four seasons.
Segment 4 of the DuPage River Trail, approaching the bicycle/pedestrian bridge at Knoch Knolls Park
What you can do: Explore the DuPage River Trail starting at Knoch Knolls Park or at any other stop that is convenient. Walk or bike Segment 5 to experience the peace and quiet of the woodlands and stop to view the Confluence of the East and West Branches of the DuPage River.
5. Saving energy with LED lighting and Solatubes. The Park District continues to install or upgrade to LED lighting at facilities and parks. For example, the Park District invested in LED lights in the parking lot at Commissioners Park. The new lights are predicted to save more than 56,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. The District also installed LED lights throughout the Fort Hill Activity Center. In addition, Solatubes light the gymnasium with sunlight, funneled to create bright, natural light that lessens the need for artificial lighting.
Solatubes shine brightly above the gymnasium, reducing the need for artificial lights.
What you can do: Gradually replace incandescent or fluorescent lights in your home with LED lights as you are able.
6. Saving paper, saving trees. In 2016, the Park District began mailing its quarterly Program Guide through the U.S. mail, rather than via a delivery service. Increased accuracy in delivery allowed the Park District to reduce the number of copies printed. As a result, the District used nearly 2.9 million fewer sheets of paper, saving 348 trees.
What you can do: If you find that you are relying on the Virtual Program Guide and don't need a paper copy, you can opt out of home delivery by clicking here. Extra copies of the Program Guide are always available for pick up at Park District facilities should you need one.
7. Recycling and re-using materials. In addition to providing trash and recycling cans in convenient locations for patrons to use in the parks, Park District staff recycles a variety of materials in daily operations. Tires, engine oil, oil filters, metal, electronics and used vegetable oil are some of the materials recycled by staff. In addition, staff was able to re-use the HVAC system from the Barn for the Riverwalk Café and salvaged refrigerant from the building for future use. Park maintenance staff chipped 3,400 Christmas trees discarded by area businesses, which will be used for the District's mulching activities this spring, summer and fall.
Volunteers help mulch a trail. Park staff obtained 15 truckloads of mulch for 2017 from recycled Christmas trees.
What you can do: Bring a reusable water bottle when you visit the parks. However, if you do have bottles or cans to dispose of, please recycle in the correct container. Recycling bins usually are placed adjacent to trash cans in our parks to make disposal as convenient as possible.
Recycling bins are located conveniently at Knoch Park playground and in other parks and sports complexes.
8. Making nature accessible to those with visual impairment. In 2016 the Park District launched a new mobile tour system at Knoch Knolls Nature Center which can be accessed online from a smart phone or computer at https://napervilleparks.oncell.com/en/index.html or by calling 630-315-9156. The audio described tour is completely outdoors, leading visitors along the nature trail that loops around the Nature Center, beginning and ending at the parking lot. The tour includes detailed descriptions of the educational signs and the natural features in the area, so that a visitor with visual impairment can hear much of the information that is printed on the signs, gain a sense of place and enjoy all of the other sensory features of the environment, such as the rustling grasses, bubbling creek and scent of the flowers.
Visitors test the new audio described tour at Knoch Knolls Park prior to release
What you can do: Do you know someone with visual impairment who might enjoy taking the audio described tour? Pass along this link: https://napervilleparks.oncell.com/en/index.html and they can take the tour from their computer. Or visit the Nature Center with your friend and enjoy a peaceful and educational walk outdoors as you assist them with the audio described tour.
Please note: The Park District also offers a scavenger hunt on the same mobile tour system, allowing families and groups of visitors to complete the activities outdoors on their own. And for Earth Day 2017, the District will release a third mobile tour with new guided activities related to Earth Day.
Although the Knoch Knolls Nature Center building will be closed for repairs during the spring of 2017, all of the mobile tours can be enjoyed throughout the season, as they are fully outdoors.
For more detail on any of the Naperville Park District's green initiatives, visit the Green Initiatives webpage where you can find the 2017 Sustainability Report.


There is growing support for medicinal cannabis. Repeated peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated positive patient responses in a variety of maladies. However, to date, the response has been largely anecdotal, and, unlike rigorous pharmacology, the precise mechanisms and chemical profiles of cannabinoids remain unknown. Through exacting scientific protocols, Veritas Pharma Inc. (CSE: VRT) (OTC: VRTHF) (FRT: 2VP) is about to radically change the understanding and applications of this millennia-old medicine.
Led by experienced management and bolstered with veteran academic pharmacologists, anesthetists and chemists, Veritas Pharma is rapidly unlocking the science underlying medical cannabis. The company chemically profiles different marijuana cultivars (specific plant varieties produced in cultivation by selective breeding). The cultivars are then pharmacologically profiled to identify disease-specific strains, and once these stringent protocols are achieved, Veritas performs clinical trials to establish the clinical utility and efficacy of each cultivar.
Delivering scientifically tested and clinically proven standardized cannabis therapies is a potential game changer throughout the entire nascent medical cannabis industry. In addition to developing clinically proven effective cannabis strains (cultivars) specific to pain, Veritas is targeting pain, nausea, epilepsy and PTSD. During development of these therapies, the company institutes broad patent protections for its potential blockbuster intellectual properties. Targeting multi-billion dollar global markets, the company's unique value proposition uses a low-cost research and development model to drive speed-to-market. Veritas intends to license or sell its IP's to cancer clinics, the insurance industry and pharmaceutical companies.
Anecdotally embraced, the rush into marijuana as medicine has been hamstrung by lack of pharmacologically profiled, scientifically tested, clinically proven therapies. Real medicine requires real science. Veritas Pharma is poised to deliver the requisite real science and indelibly transform medical cannabis therapeutics.


Also... Jack gave up on Boone at the end, he was going to cut his leg off, but didn't. Maybe the island is only rewarding pure determination. Or, yknow... something.
Just an observation. If you can recover from a punctured lung in a day or two, and be up wandering through the jungle like Tarzan after a week then how come it took the losties injuries they sustained in the crash so long to heal? Those seem pretty superficial compared to a branch sticking out of your gut.
Seemed like the first few weeks (island time)at least.
That's an interesting point. We never heard anything about Jack's wound that Kate had to help sew up back in 1.1 healing at some superhuman rate, did we?
I think that Mikail's rebirth and Naomi healing from a punctured lung in 1 day probably relates to wherever the Others went for a week and what they did there. Is there some procedure or ceremony they perform that awakens the island's healing powers? If so, why didn't Ben try it sooner?
Mikail was shown to be dead.
A pneumothorax normally requires a drain for many days to ensure that the lung covering has closed. If it hasn't then air leaks out around the lung and you get another pneumothorax and, potentially, a tension pneumothorax. The latter will kill you quick and is always what doctor's identify by their stethoscope (no breath sounds) followed by some needle or sharp object being inserted into the pocket with air then rushing out. Very dramatic.
I guess that if we see Klugh on Dancing With The Stars, then we will know that the island can heal anything.
Based on this statement, is Pickett dead? Knowing what we know about Juliette, shooting Pickett and getting exiled could have been part of the plan to gain Jack's trust. If he gets shot, but can heal, or whether the shooting was faked, I wonder if he's still alive somewhere?
Patchy was never dead in my opinion, they left him there without actually checking his vitals or anything like that so they never really knew if he was actually dead or not.
Well Crap on a stick then - because Tweedle Dee (Nikki) and Tweedle Dumb (Paulo) weren't dead.
lmfao.. i swear if they bring these two back i will hurt somebody!!
-- If you are injured, you have to treat it the same way you'd treat it anywhere else. Deadly is still deadly, etc. etc. The ONLY difference with injuries seems to be the SPEED with which they heal, not deadly they are. Something that could kill ya at home can kill ya here.
But if it doesn't kill ya, you'll heal faster. Probably a similar reason why the sperm counts are five times higher: The body makes the sperm at amazingly fast rates on the island.
Patchy is alive because he was never truely dead.
He is only mostly dead... hasn't the 'Princess Bride' taught us anything?
Patchy is alive because he was never truely dead. Perhaps he was just unconscious or in a coma. Who knows. But I don't think he actually died and came back alive. And what's most important, I think he knew that he wouldn't be killed in the fence.
SOME ONE HELP ME!!! I AM AGREEING WITH ASTRO AGAIN!!!
No one checked to see if Patchy was dead which I found a little odd, I agree he was knocked unconscious by the shock!
ANd I agree with both of you!!
Earlier this year, the producers said that when you are dead on the island you stay dead. Some injuries kill you, some you survive! If you survive, you heal quicker. Pretty straight forward.
I disagree. They checked, and he was alive. But they left him there because he looked pretty bad and about to die, but NEVER we saw him dead.
but the libby thing still bothers me. a shot to the stomach isn't always deadly, actually the opposite. with immediate medical attention people can survive, although they will have future problems from their injuries, they still live.
Mikail bubbled out of his ears with blood. He was dead....but, he died at the Other's camp.
Danny died on the other island. His wife, on the water. Klugh at the Flame.
I have begun to learn to pay careful attention to the podcast's wording and I hope that the writer's have left themselves a little room here. Could they mean to suggest that there are "twinners" of each person (The Talisman) or that prior to Mikail completely dying he passed over into an alternate reality (as a "single" can do)?
Or, did the proximity to the healing center protect Mikail?
Did you all catch the implications of what Mikail stated, "On this island....1 1/2 days." Is there another island where healing/restorative powers are even more pronounced?
Finally, I would presume that the Other's would place their camp where the restorative powers of the island were greatest! Hence, Mikail returned from "almost dead" whilst Danny/wife did not.


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Mar 27 California's Gubernatorial Candidates Debate Public Policy
Carnetta Sheffield
Five candidates for governor of California participated in a debate on Monday at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy. Moderated by NBC4 anchor, Colleen Williams and chief political reporter, Conan Nolan, the "California's Race for Governor" debate was primarily focused on public policy. The candidates are Travis Allen, John Chiang, John Cox, Delaine Eastin, and Antonio Villaraigosa.
Considering the turmoil in the White House, Williams pointedly asked, "Is California at war with Donald Trump and his administration?" Her co-moderator Nolan quickly interjected, '... in light of the nearly two dozen lawsuits filed against Washington D.C. since he's taken office." Former two-term mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa stated that California will mark a different path from the White House. Villaraigosa made it very clear that universal healthcare is vital to remain intact. He also expressed a desire to have strong environmental standards in the state along with a need to protect California's immigrant population.
Travis Allen, a three-term Republican assemblyman from Orange County was clear on his message: It's time we take California back. Allen's plans for 'taking California back' include the elimination of sanctuary cities, "I am now encouraging every California city across this state to call your city council and tell them to opt out."
One of the central debate topics highlighted California's housing crisis. California is in the middle of a dramatic housing crisis making homes unaffordable for many new buyers. This resulted in the debaters shifting the discussion to California Senate Bill A27 which focuses on zoning along transit lines. John Cox, a Republican who ran against Barack Obama for U.S. Senate in 2003 stated, "I am in the housing business." Cox, was firm in his belief that regulation, taxes, and fees are the main causes for California's housing crisis and he has a plan to build 3 million housing units in California. But he stresses that subsidies will not best serve the state.
Gun safety in America has been a recurring topic and the next phase of the debate shifted to how these candidates can assure parents that safety is their primary concern for Californians. Delaine Eastin, served as a superintendent of public instruction from 1995 to 2003, and on the Assembly from 1986 to 1994, including as chairwoman of the Education Committee. Eastin declared, "We were the first state to pass an assault weapons ban and I was in the assembly at the time." Eastin elaborated on her experience with the NRA and believes that 'There is no excuse to have an assault weapon… we don't need the militia that we needed in 1789.'
"To the world, you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world....Understand the power you have to affect each other's lives." This was the message from John Chiang who was elected state treasurer in 2014. Chiang had a passionate message about how he would encourage young people to get involved in their communities. Chiang stated that he's had a long history in diversifying corporate boards with women, members of the LGBTQ community and believes in recruiting young people and getting them involved.
Gavin Newsom wasn't in attendance at the debate and the candidates made it very clear they noticed as well. Chiang called it 'sad that Newsom didn't attend the debate' and, "If he doesn't respect you now as a candidate, why should you trust him as governor?" Newsom, the current Liutenant Govenor of California was the mayor of San Francisco for two terms from 2004 to 20011.
The primary election will be held on June 5, 2018 followed by the general election on November 6, 2018. If you'd like to watch this debate in its entirety, follow this link to NBC Los Angeles: Watch the debate here at NBCLosangeles.com
California, governor, debate, California governor debate, politics, news, Gavin Newsom
Mar 31 Trump Falsely Attacks Amazon as 'Not Paying Taxes'
Mar 13 Surprise Win Expected For Democrat Conor Lamb in PA Special Election

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Montana MVD practice tests at driversprep.com have been updated. More than 1,000 questions based on the latest Montana Driver Manual to help you pass Montana MVD knowledge test with ease.
Permit practice tests for Connecticut are now also available on YouTube. Three initial videos based on our CT permit practice tests have been uploaded this weekend. You can use the YouTube videos for viewing and quick reminders of the most important DMV questions and answers. We suggest you take a few Connecticut permit practice test on driversprep.com each day to learn and fully understand the contents of DMV driver's manual. The YouTube videos can be used when you are on the go.
Our DMV practice tests get the highest ratings by colleges, high school programs, and commercial driving schools. You can rest assured that driversprep.com will give you the questions and answers that are accurate and up-to-date. When you are having trouble with a question you can use the report function and get additional feedback by email.
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This race bib Chester Half Marathon Bib Coaster. Is a great way of remembering the day!
Can be personalised with name, race number, colour and time (if required). If the race bib colour you are looking for isn't listed just select other colour and add the colour in the notes section. Also if you don't know or don't want to add the finishers time just leave it blank when ordering.
95mm x 95mm high quality glossy coaster made in the EllieBeanPrints studio. Made from heat resistant MDF with a wipe clean surface. Scratch and water resistant. Cork backed.
If you would like a race bib coaster doing for any other run you have taken part in then just drop us a message.


Recently, the government and business community in Hoi An have always considered cuisine as one of a special factor. It stimulates, creates attraction for the local tourism industry. Therefore, it brings a good impression for tourists after each trip. In the space of the old town, in addition to visiting the monuments and experiencing the nightlife activities, some people have a chance to enjoy Hoi An local food. All of them are very special and unique. Sitting with the whole family around barbecue food stall near Bach Dang river is very interesting. The scenery is lovely, beautiful as well as very impressive.
1.WHICH ATTRACTIONS DOES HOI AN HAVE?
Coming to Hoi An, tourists can learn and enjoy the Hoi An local food which have a very unique style of street food. Some are very popular such as : Pho, rice noodle,ect. The others are so unique like Cao Lau,Xi Ma, mixed mussels, pancakes, Ram with barbecue, barbecue wet cake… All are skillfully processed by locals. As you know, foreign tourists love Hoi An local food so much. The reason is that it's so simple, such as fried eggplant, garlic chili soy thorn. When we mixed vegetable with shrimp crab, most of tourists like eating. If you take them to Tra Que vegetable garden, Thanh Dong, they can have a chance to cut the herbs and taste immediately. They can also make salads or cook vegetables here. Therefore, in many tour, they ask tourists to buy vegetables in the garden and cook with tour guides. It will create a good memory for them in each trip.
Besides, to enjoy the dumplings and pretty small cauldron cakes with suitable price, you can go to the White Rose restaurant on Hai Ba Trung Street. Because 2 cakes are made similar to the tourists, they often refer to together . One plate of dumplings have about 5-6, cauldron cakes, and tourists do not want to stop with the first one. Also, this restaurant also fried dishes with Vietnam style, you can also enjoy if you are still hungry.
In addition, we also have Phuong bread on Phan Chu Trinh street. This is where Anthony Bourdain – a famous American chef considers "The most delicious bread in Vietnam" and I swear that he did not joke. When eating the bread here, you'll see the scene that there are many local people waiting to buy this bread. With only 20,000VND, you can enjoy one of the most delicious breads in the world.
It can be seen clearly that the diversity, abundance of food has contributed to Hoi An tourism industry. In other words, Hoi An local food is contributing to light up the love for the land and people of Hoi An in tourist's hearts.


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Pleasant Lake Stream flows into the Middle Branch Grass River near Newbridge, New York. The Pleasant Lake Stream and Blue Mountain Stream combine here to become Middle Branch Grass River.

References

Rivers of St. Lawrence County, New York

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Selective escape from CD8+ T-Cell responses represents a major driving force of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) sequence diversity and reveals constraints on HIV-1 evolution
Allen, T.M., Altfeld, M., Geer, S.C., Kalife, E.T., Moore, C., O'Sullivan, K.M., DeSouza, I., Feeney, M.E., Eldridge, R.L., Maier, E.L., Kaufmann, D.E., Lahaie, M.P., Reyor, L., Tanzi, G., Johnston, M.N., Brander, C., Draenert, R., Rockstroh, J.K., Jessen, H., Rosenberg, E.S., Mallal, S.A. and Walker, B.D. (2005) Selective escape from CD8+ T-Cell responses represents a major driving force of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) sequence diversity and reveals constraints on HIV-1 evolution. Journal of Virology, 79 (21). pp. 13239-13249.
Link to Published Version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/JVI.79.21.13239-13249.2...
The sequence diversity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) represents a major obstacle to the development of an effective vaccine, yet the forces impacting the evolution of this pathogen remain unclear. To address this issue we assessed the relationship between genome-wide viral evolution and adaptive CD8+ T-cell responses in four clade B virus-infected patients studied longitudinally for as long as 5 years after acute infection. Of the 98 amino acid mutations identified in nonenvelope antigens, 53% were associated with detectable CD8+ T-cell responses, indicative of positive selective immune pressures. An additional 18% of amino acid mutations represented substitutions toward common clade B consensus sequence residues, nine of which were strongly associated with HLA class I alleles not expressed by the subjects and thus indicative of reversions of transmitted CD8 escape mutations. Thus, nearly two-thirds of all mutations were attributable to CD8+ T-cell selective pressures. A closer examination of CD8 escape mutations in additional persons with chronic disease indicated that not only did immune pressures frequently result in selection of identical amino acid substitutions in mutating epitopes, but mutating residues also correlated with highly polymorphic sites in both clade B and C viruses. These data indicate a dominant role for cellular immune selective pressures in driving both individual and global HIV-1 evolution. The stereotypic nature of acquired mutations provides support for biochemical constraints limiting HIV-1 evolution and for the impact of CD8 escape mutations on viral fitness.
Centre for Clinical Immunology and Biomedical Statistics
© 2005 American Society for Microbiology


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America's Debt Challenge
Boehner: Spending cuts must top debt ceiling increase
By Jeanne Sahadi @CNNMoney May 15, 2012: 5:21 PM ET
0:00 / 1:27Boehner's 'line in the sand' on debt
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- House Speaker John Boehner warned Tuesday that he won't permit another increase in the debt ceiling without a larger amount of spending cuts and reforms approved in tandem.
"When the time comes, I will again insist on my simple principle of cuts and reforms greater than the debt limit increase. This is the only avenue I see ... to force the elected leadership of this country to solve our structural fiscal imbalance," Boehner said at a fiscal summit sponsored by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, according to prepared remarks.
Quiz: What the rich really pay in taxes
In other words, welcome to deja vu all over again.
Boehner issued a similar warning at this time last year. The end result was a confidence-shaking showdown over the summer that resulted in the Budget Control Act, which calls for $2.1 trillion in spending cuts.
Looming battle over investment taxes
It also sparked the first-ever downgrade of the U.S. credit rating by Standard & Poor's, which cited political brinksmanship as the chief cause.
Boehner said Tuesday "we shouldn't dread the debt limit" because it's an "action-forcing event."
"Yes, allowing America to default would be irresponsible," he said. "But it would be more irresponsible to raise the debt ceiling without taking dramatic steps to reduce spending and reform the budget process."
Boehner made clear that he wants tax reform that "lowers rates for individuals and businesses while closing deductions, credits, and special carveouts."
While explicitly ruling out tax increases, he allowed that some taxpayers can end up with higher tax bills when breaks and loopholes are eliminated.
"Yeah, some may pay more and some may pay less," Boehner said in a Q&A with CNN's Erin Burnett.
In fact, that's true of any tax reform. Republicans, however, don't want tax changes to raise more revenue than the current system. But fiscal experts have said more revenue will be required to accomplish the scale of deficit reduction the country needs.
Despite drawing "a line in the sand" on the debt ceiling, Boehner seemed to signal that the debt ceiling would be raised, but that it might need to be done incrementally.
"If ... we have to do a series of stop-gap measures, so be it -- but that's not the ideal," he said.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said Tuesday at the fiscal summit that he estimates the country will likely hit its $16.394 trillion borrowing limit sometime before the end of year.
But, Geithner added, the Treasury Department can use so-called extraordinary measures to keep the debt from breaching the ceiling until early 2013. Such steps include suspending contributions to federal pension plans.
Employing such measures may separate the debt ceiling debate from the tsunami of budget decisions lawmakers must make by year's end. That's when the so-called fiscal cliff -- $7 trillion worth of expiring tax cuts and spending policies that could undermine the economic recovery if implemented all at once.
At the same time, the debt ceiling debate likely won't be entirely separate. Lawmakers may choose to temporarily extend some tax cuts and postpone some spending cuts, thereby pushing off the real debate until 2013.
If Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling and Treasury exhausts its extraordinary measures, the country will no longer be able to borrow and hence will not be able to pay its bills in full.
0:00 /3:01Geithner: JPMorgan loss a call for reform
Geithner made it clear Tuesday, much as he did repeatedly last year, that creating any doubt that the United States will honor its obligations is a violation of a fundamental commitment.
"You can't put it into doubt ... in the service of any political agenda," he said.
He added that he hopes lawmakers raise the debt ceiling "without the pain and drama they caused last time."
Steny Hoyer, a leading House Democrat, echoed those sentiments in comments he made to CNN.
"The debt limit should not be a political issue. Mr. Boehner knows it shouldn't be a political issue ... We've incurred the debts. We need to pay the debts," Hoyer said.
On the GOP side in the Senate, Sen. John Cornyn, a party leader, said he expects Senate Republicans to demand the same standards as Boehner as a condition to approving a debt ceiling increase.
Moderate Republican Susan Collins, meanwhile, said she hopes Washington can avoid the "brinksmanship" that took place last year which was so "unsettling" to the public and the markets.
Speaking on behalf of Senate Democrats, Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "There is simply no way to address the challenges facing us in a way that will support our economic recovery without using both sides of the ledger."
- CNN's Kate Bolduan and Ted Barrett contributed to this report.
First Published: May 15, 2012: 10:16 AM ET


this one is my latest work i really put a long time effort in (about 50 hours/over the last 6 weeks). I really got inspired by vincenti's awesome work on his Salamander some time ago and thought i give it a try with my brush.
I used a normal plastic terminator from GW with the head of a the chaos space marine terminator lord. The cloak is from GW's Fantasy giant and some small parts of space marine bits were added to get my version of this battleproofed veteran. The base is inspired by rusto's great base-styles and is including the upper part of a statue of confrontation. The rest is scratchbuild from what nature has to offer.
Special thanks to all the people who influenced my work on this guy and helped me out with their oppinions and tips.
Salamanders are generally dark-skinned, yes. Not a huge deal though, some of the GW art shows caucasian looking Sallies. Really nice work on this guy, the shading is a bit intense for my taste but overall I think it gives a good strong impression. He has a good, natural sense of movement to him.
Cool thing. Although iirc, Salamanders are recruited from black skinned people.
Makes me want to make a Slamander Army!
wow!! it looks so cool, but needs bigger photos!!! thanks for your kind words...CIAO!
Great base work, great colors, incredible mood and feel to the overall piece. For such a vibrant green this fellow looks incredibly rugged. very impressive.


We All We Got explores the consequences and devastation of youth violence in contemporary America from 2006 to 2013 through a mix of powerful photographs, incisive essays, and moving letters from diverse individuals affected by this perennial scourge.
Carlos Javier Ortiz's work provides an avenue for getting to know these children and their families. This work aims to initiate a conversation about youth violence and society's complicity in it. The terror in the eyes of grieving children and inconsolable mothers only allows the viewer to begin to understand the toll that this reality takes on the children who live it.
The stories take place in Chicago and Philadelphia. By repeatedly returning to the same neighborhoods over the course of eight years, Ortiz shows the plight of the communities with which he has built a deep connection. You see abandoned buildings, memorials for victims, segregation, graffiti, juvenile incarceration, and other constant reminders of the outcomes of violence on young people and their surroundings.
Special thanks to speakers Luke Anderson, Chicago educator; Alex Kotlowitz, author and journalist; Diane Latiker, founder of Kids Off the Block, Inc.; Carlos Javier Ortiz, visual artist; and moderator Mark Schulte, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.
Diane Latiker, founder of Kids Off the Block, Inc.


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Home Scoops & Analysis Whisper co-founder insists app is not for gossip, bullying
Whisper co-founder insists app is not for gossip, bullying
Michael Heyward, co-founder of anonymous messaging app Whisper, became visibly agitated on stage while sparring with interviewer Michael Arrington, founder of TechCrunch.
Some VCs have questioned the morality of anonymous apps. Without mentioning Whisper by name, Marc Andreessen tweeted in March that anonymous apps can "encourage negative behavior, tearing people down, making fellow souls sad." VC Mark Suster was even more blunt, tweeting: "I deleted Secret after a week. I loathe reading hateful, hurtful, misogynistic, gossipy BS (I added to defend myself then deleted again)."
At yesterday's TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2014 conference, Heyward insisted that Secret was a place for people without a voice — a soldier suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome, for example — to get their message out. At one point, he mused about a future world in which everyone is open with each other and a service like Whisper is no longer needed.
"We're so intimately connected to each other, nothing is taboo, nothing is weird," Heyward said, describing his utopian vision.
Arrington, however, flashed a Whisper message on screen about actress Gwyneth Paltrow cheating on her husband. "Outing Gwyneth Paltrow for cheating on her husband is helping the world?" asked Arrington.
Heyward responded that Paltrow was a public figure, and Whisper information about public figures, as long as it is true, is fair game. Whisper doesn't allow the use of proper names unless it is for people it considers to be in the public eye.
"This is information that belongs to the public," Heyward said. "We have a responsibility to make sure this stuff is actually true [so] we're not arming the public and our users with rumors, lies and gossip.
Roelof Botha, a partner at Sequoia Capital, which has invested in Whisper, told the audience that the service can be an important platform for whistleblowers. But his defense of the value of Whisper seemed half-hearted as Arrington continued to tear into Heyward.
"We're not TMZ," Heyward insisted, which elicited laughter from some members of the audience.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has a mission to develop new knowledge in the field of occupational safety and health. NIOSH is initiating a study, with the assistance of The Graphene Council, to assess occupational exposures to graphene and other Two-Dimensional nanomaterials in commercial and industrial applications within the United States.
Our findings will help inform interested parties on what a representative workplace exposure currently is for these materials and establish consensus air sampling methods that can be adopted by industry and used to improve workers' short and long-term health outcomes.
NIOSH is inviting companies operating within the United States to participate in this research opportunity. Exposure sampling will occur over three to four sequential days at your convenience. Workers will wear personal air sampling pumps to assess exposures within their breathing zones. Multiple processes and locations will be assessed in this way to provide a facility-wide exposure assessment.
For participating, your company will receive a thorough industrial hygiene report. This includes exposure characterization for all employees and sampled processes as well as recommendations for controls and methods to reduce exposures specific to your company.
Matthew Dahm, PhD, MPH is an industrial hygienist and is the principle investigator of this study. Seth McCormick, MPH is an industrial hygienist who will be serving as the main point of contact for those interested in participating.
Please review the attached introductory letter, factsheet, and short biographies at your convenience. If you are interested in learning more about the study or participating, please contact Seth by phone or email at 513-841-4575 or SMcCormick@cdc.gov. We look forward to working with you to ensure the safest possible work environment for your employees.
Assessing the environmental safety of manufactured nanomaterials.
This In-depth Report was produced for the European Commission, DG Environment and is written and edited by the Science Communication Unit, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol.
The aim of this In-Depth Report is to present the most promising strategies and most significant challenges of nanomaterial characterisation, exposure, fate and behaviour, ecotoxicological hazard and risk assessment. It presents examples and case studies of both the scientific developments and the knowledge gaps.
Increasingly, determining how potentially toxic and dangerous nanomaterials are to our health and environment is a critical issue that is gaining public visibility.
The Graphene Council had the opportunity to interview Dr. Andrew Maynard, the National Science Foundation's International Chair of Environmental Health Sciences as well as the Director for the University of Michigan's Risk Science Center.
Dr. Maynard has consistently written and provided a balanced perspective on the risks of nanomaterials.
Motivation *What is your primary interest in graphene related health and safety issues?
Science for Environment Policy - Assessing the environmental safety of manufactured nanomaterials. This In-depth Report was produced for the European Commission, DG Environment and is written and edited by the Science Communication Unit, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol.


As Spring arrives, my time as a student in the MSMR program begins to wrap up. In just the short amount of time I've been in the program, I have found an immense amount of value in being able to interview industry professionals that have agreed to speak to our class in our series of "In-Depth Interviews." By conducting these interviews, I've had the chance to learn so much about the industry as it stands right now, as well as the direction in which it's heading. Being in the program has also introduced me to vast resources, such as the 2017 Q3-Q4 GRIT (Greenbook Research Industry Trends) Report, which has allowed me to delve even deeper into the world of marketing research. In this blog, I will summarize the current and future trends described to me by experts in the market research industry compared to the information provided by the most recent GRIT Report, which was published this past January.
In an interview with Bob Yazbeck, Vice President of Digital Methods at Gongos, he described the market research industry as "tight-knit" where interconnectivity and partnerships exist between supplier-side and client-side researchers. He also explained that the ability to tell a story has been increasingly important as personal client relationships have become a greater necessity in maintaining business. Alisha Strother, Head of Marketing Strategy and Planning at the NFL, emphasized the need to be innovative and industrious. Pat Goodnight, Vice President of Precision Sample, described the present state of the market research industry as competitive and touched on the importance of being a storyteller as well as a problem solver.
How these industry professionals described the state of the industry translates well to what I found reading about current trends in the GRIT Report. A contributor to the GRIT report states that, "While research suppliers are skilled at execution, clients continue to be dissatisfied with providers' ability to make research relevant to the client organization (50)." A study then shows that recent buyers of insights services have rated their level of satisfaction with suppliers' ability to report research results to be just 38%. This reaffirms Yazbeck and Goodnight's claim that utilizing storytelling skills is an increasingly important factor to maintaining clients. Along with big data, storytelling and data visualization were seen as the biggest game changers in terms of industry trends to keep an eye out for (57).
Strother, in our interview with her, touched on how important it is for a market researcher today to be innovative and think outside the box. What I found extremely fascinating was that the GRIT Report found technology/innovation to be considered the biggest challenge that is currently facing the industry. Technology is evolving rapidly at exponential rates and client-side, as well as supplier-side, market researchers are forced to continuously adapt to new ways of conducting research (75). It is extremely important for market researchers to take advantage of new and more efficient ways to gather data. Traditional market research firms in the industry may need to find ways to adapt to these technical enhancements in the near future.
The GRIT Report is a wonderful resource to use to compare how one company might be adapting to the most current marketing research trends. I was delighted to find out that a number of MSMR alumni contributed to the creation of the 2017 Q3-Q4 GRIT Report. I hope to make equally important contributions to the world of marketing research as I move closer to starting my career.


Unexpected vehicle movement such as a vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the park rod actuating plate and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed in April 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C06.


text:
Q: how I can choose name of my app I have a new application to help users recoding their voice , but when I searched on playstore I found many apps made the same things and their name were voice recorder , smart voice recorder....  so I want to know Are there any problems if I publish my app with the same name and when does my application name will become a violation of the laws of Google

A: Your apps name can be the same as an existing app (the package name can't), if the name is not protected by copyright.
I'm pretty sure no one can copyright Recorder, as it is a word, not a brand name.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Chinese tourists follow their guide in Seoul, South Korea.
In perhaps the first olive branch from Beijing to Seoul since an ice-breaking agreement, a group of 3,000 tourists with China's Youde Group will visit South Korea for their company's year-end bonus. According to Yonhap News, this visit would be the first group that China has allowed to visit South Korea since they announced a ban on package tours back in March of this year. If this trip goes through, it could allow South Korea's battered tourism industry, caught in the middle of a political row over the THAAD missile defense system deployed in South Korea, to breathe a sigh of relief.
Tourist entries from China were actually up in January and February this year, increasing 8.3 percent and 8.1 percent respectively. But after Beijing announced a ban on package tours to South Korea in mid-March, tourist visits that month plummeted 40 percent, and the downward trend continued throughout the normally busy summer season. Total Chinese visits to South Korea as of September are down 50 percent over the same period in 2016, a decrease of more than 3 million visitors.
And for the South Korean tourism industry, this drop has brought substantial losses. The Korea Tourism Organization has estimated that the average Chinese tourist spends $2,219 in Korea, translating into a potential $7.3 billion cost for tourism-reliant businesses like hotels and duty-free stores. In fact, duty-free stores have reported that revenue during the National Day period in early October, a major travel holiday in China, were down 10 to 15 percent.
However, there is perhaps a silver lining to the South Korean tourism industry's recent woes – despite that 50 percent drop in Chinese tourists, total tourist entries are down only 24 percent. Even before the THAAD row, South Korean tourism officials had been emphasizing diversification to avoid an over-reliance on the Chinese market – even after the steep decrease this year, Chinese nationals still make up 32 percent of tourist entries to South Korea. Now, the tourism industry is particularly focused on creating more services for Muslim visitors from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, creating more halal restaurants and opening prayer rooms in major tourist locations like the Coex Mall in southern Seoul.
Other hard-hit industries have similar plans to avoid future confrontations in China. Lotte, one of the most directly impacted companies in the row because it provided the land for the THAAD system, has more or less exited the Chinese market after China shuttered many of its Lotte Mart stores over "fire safety concerns." Now, they are looking to open more stores in Vietnam and Indonesia. E-Mart, another chain, is selling off five of its six Chinese locations and instead shifting its focus to Southeast and Central Asia.
Jenna Gibson is the Director of Communications at The Korea Economic Institute of America. She runs KEI's media relations and outreach along with managing KEI's online presence. Follow Jenna on Twitter at @jennargibson.


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Astha Butail (b. 1977)
Astha Butail%newline%An installation artist working with textiles, books and sound, Astha Butail is best known for her work on various methods of preserving cultural memory and community wisdom, such as mythology, religious texts and oral traditions. Her projects have involved extensive research and travel in India as well as West Asia. Born in Amritsar, Punjab, Butail was introduced to art at an early age through her sister, Aditi Lakhanpal, a textile designer trained at the National Institute for Design, Ahmedabad. As a teenager, she spent her summers at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre for Education, Pondicherry (now Puducherry), learning Sanskrit and calligraphy among other skills. In 2000, she received a master's in economics from Punjab University, Chandigarh, as well as a certificate in fashion design and clothing technology from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi. Over the next few years, Butail undertook her own research, especially on Western artists such as Sol Lewitt, from whom she drew inspiration. In 2009, she decided to delve deeper into her interest in the Vedic texts and travelled around the country to study various interpretations of the Rig Veda. This research also contributed to her ongoing project on oral traditions and community archives, A Story within a Story (2012). In 2013, she received a diploma in fashion merchandising and marketing management from NIFT, Bengaluru, alongside which she also completed an online MA in the Rig Veda from the International Centre for Integral Studies, Puducherry. Butail was awarded the BMW Art Journey travel grant by BMW and Art Basel in 2017–2018, using which she travelled to Iran and Israel to study the Zoroastrian Avesta and the Jewish Torah — ancient texts and oral traditions that are roughly contemporaneous with the Rig Veda. The research and work she undertook in this period culminated in her largest solo exhibition to date, In the Absence of Writing (2019), curated by Reha Sodhi and exhibited at the Gujral Foundation, New Delhi. Some other exhibitions of her work include Sarai 09: The Exhibition (2012–2013), curated by Raqs Media Collective at Devi Art Foundation, Gurugram; Manifested Ratios (2014) and Locus of Being (2017) at GALLERYSKE, Bengaluru; For Heaven's Sake! (2019) at the Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Art; as well as the group show Visions from India (2020) at the Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, USA. The artist lives and works in Gurugram.
Chicago MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art. "Astha Butail". Accessed January 27, 2023. https://mapacademy.io/article/astha-butail/
MLA "Astha Butail." MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art. https://mapacademy.io/article/astha-butail/. Accessed 27, January, 2023.
Harvard MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art. (2022) Astha Butail. [Online]. Available at: https://mapacademy.io/article/astha-butail/. (Accessed: 27, January, 2023)
An installation artist working with textiles, books and sound, Astha Butail is best known for her work on various methods of preserving cultural memory and community wisdom, such as mythology, religious texts and oral traditions. Her projects have involved extensive research and travel in India as well as West Asia.
Born in Amritsar, Punjab, Butail was introduced to art at an early age through her sister, Aditi Lakhanpal, a textile designer trained at the National Institute for Design, Ahmedabad. As a teenager, she spent her summers at the Sri Aurobindo International Centre for Education, Pondicherry (now Puducherry), learning Sanskrit and calligraphy among other skills. In 2000, she received a master's in economics from Punjab University, Chandigarh, as well as a certificate in fashion design and clothing technology from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi.
Over the next few years, Butail undertook her own research, especially on Western artists such as Sol Lewitt, from whom she drew inspiration. In 2009, she decided to delve deeper into her interest in the Vedic texts and travelled around the country to study various interpretations of the Rig Veda. This research also contributed to her ongoing project on oral traditions and community archives, A Story within a Story (2012). In 2013, she received a diploma in fashion merchandising and marketing management from NIFT, Bengaluru, alongside which she also completed an online MA in the Rig Veda from the International Centre for Integral Studies, Puducherry.
Butail was awarded the BMW Art Journey travel grant by BMW and Art Basel in 2017–2018, using which she travelled to Iran and Israel to study the Zoroastrian Avesta and the Jewish Torah — ancient texts and oral traditions that are roughly contemporaneous with the Rig Veda. The research and work she undertook in this period culminated in her largest solo exhibition to date, In the Absence of Writing (2019), curated by Reha Sodhi and exhibited at the Gujral Foundation, New Delhi. Some other exhibitions of her work include Sarai 09: The Exhibition (2012–2013), curated by Raqs Media Collective at Devi Art Foundation, Gurugram; Manifested Ratios (2014) and Locus of Being (2017) at GALLERYSKE, Bengaluru; For Heaven's Sake! (2019) at the Jerusalem Biennale for Contemporary Art; as well as the group show Visions from India (2020) at the Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, USA.
The artist lives and works in Gurugram.
The Alkazi Foundation for the Arts
Committed to the preservation and study of the cultural history of India, The Alkazi Foundation…
Astha Butail
Padayani
A form of ritual performance involving dance and theatre, padayani is performed in Devi temples…
Sound Art in India
An artistic discipline and style that came into practice in the 1900s, sound art refers…
Pupul Jayakar
Indian activist, writer and revivalist, Pupul Jayakar is known for introducing traditional Indian arts, crafts…
Anand, Kanika. "New Delhi Curator Kanika Anand Presents Indian Artist Astha Butail – Curator's Pick." Where's Art. Accessed June 29, 2021. http://www.wheresart.eu/new-delhi-curator-kanika-anand-presents-indian-artist-astha-butail-curators-pick/.
"Astha Butail." BMW Art Journey. Accessed June 29, 2021. https://www.bmw-art-journey.com/journeys/astha-butail.
"Astha Butail Biography." Ocula. Accessed June 29, 2021. https://ocula.com/artists/astha-butail/.
"Astha Butail – Curriculum Vitae." GALLERYSKE. Accessed 29 June, 2021. http://galleryske.com/AsthaButail/cv.
"Astha Butail In the Absence of Writing." Platform. Accessed June 29, 2021. https://www.platform-mag.com/art/astha-butail.html.
Garg, Sukanya. "Astha Butail Shares a Story within a Story at Her New Delhi Art Show." STIRworld, May 23, 2019. https://www.stirworld.com/see-features-astha-butail-shares-a-story-within-a-story-at-her-new-delhi-art-show.


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Israel's Ex-US Envoy Says Jewish State at 'Special Time in History' Due to 'Very Good Relationship' With Trump Administration
by Benjamin Kerstein
Ex-Israeli Ambassador to US Zalman Shoval answers a question at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, Feb. 1, 2001. Photo: Jessica Persson / Reuters.
Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Zalman Shoval has lived the Jewish state's short history as fully as almost any man. Born in Danzig in 1930, he made aliyah with his family to what was then British Mandatory Palestine when he was eight years old. After studying at, among other places, the University of California Berkeley, Shoval served in Israel's Foreign Ministry and later the Knesset, where he helped found not one but two political parties: David Ben-Gurion's Rafi, and then the far more successful Likud, which created an upheaval in Israeli society when in 1977 it broke Labor's decades-long hold on power.
Shoval's career hit its peak during his two terms as Israel's ambassador in Washington, DC, always a prestigious and coveted position given the importance of the alliance with the US. He held the post during the administrations of Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and took part in the high-profile and contentious Madrid Conference in 1991 between Israel, Arab states and the Palestinians; as well as the equally-controversial Wye River Conference in 1998.
In his new book, Jerusalem and Washington: A Life in Politics and Diplomacy, Shoval gives the inside story of these and many other extraordinary events in his life and career.
Seated in his spacious office in the heart of Tel Aviv, Shoval has the air of a man far younger than his almost 90 years. He is quick-witted, energetic, humorous and cautiously analytical, drawing on his extraordinary lifetime of experience to assess Israel's present and future.
Both of these, Shoval believes, are at a pivotal point, brought about in part by Israel's relationship with the Trump administration, giving the country a unique opportunity to advance its interests.
"This is a very special time in history," he says. "I don't like to use the term, 'This is fateful,' or whatever, but we have a very good relationship with the present American administration. I don't know how long it will last."
"We have a special favorable situation now internationally, because of America, Russia, the Arab states and so on," he observes. "If we God forbid should waste these remaining two years, let's say, and not try to move forward what must be basically Israel's most important aim — strengthen Israel's security, militarily and diplomatically and politically — at a very fortunate time, which could change in two years, for different reasons, I'm not just speaking about American politics, I think that would be a great mistake."
Asked whether Trump is, as some have claimed, the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House, Shoval notes, "I think there's no such thing as absolute friendship or absolute enmity when you talk about relations between countries. I think that Trump has certain inclinations and views on the global scene which support the way Israel sees the situation in the world and its own situation in the Middle East. And as long as there is this commonality of views, it's a good thing for Israel."
Regarding the future post-Trump era, Shoval looks back at his old mentor, the late legendary soldier and statesman Moshe Dayan, and states, "If there were another leader, another president, and one day there will be, I would once again follow what Dayan used to say — and there were confrontations at that time too — try to avoid a confrontation with America except on very vital issues, because with a country like America, a democratic country like America, you can always try to postpone decisions and try to work out a compromise, therefore you should play it by ear."
"And I'm saying this now because I believe that right now the situation is very favorable to Israel, which doesn't mean that if there is a change in America it must be completely negative," he emphasizes. "We'll have to wait and see."
Regarding the Trump administration's emerging Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative, kicked off this week at the Bahrain economic workshop, Shoval is pessimistic, something he bases on his experience as a diplomat, particularly at the Madrid Conference, where he recalls, "It was clear that the Palestinians, who were not official representatives of the PLO, but we knew that they got instructions from Tunis, that they made it very clear that they were not interested in any sort of accommodation with Israel."
"That became doubly clear later on after the change of government, after I had left my position, the so-called second Camp David conference with [Yasser] Arafat, at the end of which both President Clinton and then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak said that it became clear to us that we had no partner for peace," he remembers. "And that's probably still the situation today."
"And if you look at the Trump 'plan of the century,' basically the Palestinian attitude is, 'We don't want anything which would ipso facto lead to us recognizing the right of the Jewish people to a state,'" he notes. "And that's the main issue why they oppose it. Not because of what they say, 'We don't want to talk about economics before there's…' It's nonsense. You can talk about economics without giving up your political aims. On the contrary, it would help them to advance their political aims if they had a stronger economy. But they don't want it."
"And so the situation was clear to us even then," he says of Madrid, "and is still clear to us, unfortunately, because Israel wants to achieve some sort of accommodation. Right now, it seems to be stuck."
I ask the ambassador to look back on the past again, particularly to Israel's two most controversial policy moves of the last few decades: The Oslo peace process and the disengagement from Gaza.
"I think Oslo was a mistake, by and large," he says, "because of one principal issue. Not necessarily the issue that people on the extreme right raise, that it could or would actually lead to Palestinian statehood. This would have depended also on developments. But I think the major sin of Oslo was legitimizing the PLO."
"The PLO was out of the country," he continued. "They were in Tunis, after the first Lebanese war. They had no standing, no official standing, and Oslo gave them not only official standing, but exclusive official standing."
"Now, it should have been clear to the authors or negotiators of Oslo that Arafat and his group represented principally the Palestinian diaspora," he asserts.
"So it was short-sighted to bring them back," he says of the PLO. "And I think [Yitzhak] Rabin in his own heart and mind understood this quite early on. Perhaps not at the beginning but I think he understood it and he even expressed himself that Arafat was really cheating Israel."
On the Gaza disengagement, Shoval sees less a miscalculation than a missed opportunity.
"One of the criticisms of Gaza at the time was we shouldn't do anything unilaterally; we should have gotten something in return," he says. "In principle, I'm not against unilateral actions. I mean most of what Israel or the Zionist movement has done over the years was unilateral, including establishing the State of Israel and many other things. But here there was an opportunity to get not only some sort of not only vocal but practical concessions from the Palestinians' senior leadership, but perhaps also from the United States."
Referring to President George W. Bush's 2004 letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon accepting that Israel would not be expected to withdraw completely to the pre-1967 borders, Shoval notes, "Things which later under Sharon and Bush did actually take place, like the letter of Bush, new realities and so on."
However, he insists, "more could have been done. The way the disengagement was done was actually just leaving, closing the door, goodbye. So that I think was really basically mishandled."
During Shoval's tenure as ambassador, a mini-crisis erupted between President George H.W. Bush and Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir over negotiations with the Arab states, in which Bush sought to use loan guarantees for the absorption of Russian Jewish immigrants to force Israel's hand. I ask him to compare this to the intense rivalry between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama, culminating in Netanyahu's March 2015 speech before Congress opposing the nuclear deal with Iran.
"For Bush, this matter of the settlements and the Palestinian issue was something he very much wanted to accomplish," he says. "I think because he saw himself very much as a foreign policy president, he wanted this achievement. And he was annoyed by Israel's positions, which he thought was something that a country like Israel should not take upon itself."
"With Obama it was different," he goes on to say. "Obama, I think a priori, before he even entered the White House, had a certain, you could call it ideological or pragmatic attitude toward the Middle East: That America must create a new relationship with the Muslim world, the Arab world, and his attempts to create a relationship with Iran at the very beginning."
"He thought that Netanyahu, who led almost the international campaign against the nuclear rising Iran, on which he was right of course, as we now know, was a fly in the ointment," Shoval states. "Who is he or who are they to fight me, Obama, on the American political scene?"
"Netanyahu's speech in the US Congress is, of course, part of that," he says. "Was it a mistake or not? On the one hand it was not a mistake, because it really increased the recognition of the threat of Iran in the Congress, in the world. On the other hand, although one can never know exactly how things develop, I think it had a negative impact on Israel's relationship right now with the Democratic Party."
The topic of the Democrats' seeming disconnection from Israel has been the object of much discussion of late, but Shoval does not see it as solely the result of Netanyahu's actions.
"Not only because of that," he says. "I think the main fault lies with the new elements in the Democratic Party. I don't even call it 'left.' I call it anti-establishment in every sense of the word."
These anti-establishment Democrats, he points out, "put all sorts of issues into the same pot, whether it's Me Too or whether it's gay rights — all important issues — whether it's the dire story of Afro-Americans in America — and the Palestinians, as if this were part of the same thing."
"And this is a trend today which is worrying to Israel, because the Democratic Party has traditionally, historically been a mainstay of support for Israel," he notes. "And right now it's lopsided. Main support comes from the Republicans, whereas support among Democrats has lessened. I'm not saying it's disappeared, but it's lessened."
"There are today members of Congress from the Democratic left who are actually legitimizing even the activities of BDS, which is an all-out antisemitic and anti-Israel organization whose aim is the destruction of the State of Israel," he observes. "And that is a reality which not only Israel, but American Jews must be very, very concerned with."
On the topic of American Jews, Shoval thinks that the idea of a growing rift between them and Israel is "a bit overblown," but there is an issue with "the attitude of official Israel towards non-Orthodox American Jews."
"I think this is a major problem; not only for Israel, I think it's a major problem for the Jewish people, the Jewish community in America in particular," he says. "Although Netanyahu himself and most Israelis support the position of American non-Orthodox Jews to have full rights as Jews in holy places and religious practice, because of certain political realities in Israel, and in spite of very serious attempts by Netanyahu in his different governments to change the situation, he has not succeeded."
"But I can only hope that in spite of that, and in spite of the visceral opposition of most American Jews to the Trump regime, Jews will understand, especially non-Orthodox Jews — Orthodox Jews will remain Jews whatever happens — but liberal, progressive, Reform, Conservative Jews, what will keep them basically Jewish is the close relationship with the State of Israel," he states.
"I said at an AIPAC conference years ago, 20 years ago, those Jews who are not interested in Israel are not interested in remaining Jews," he says. "Israel will have to do a lot about that, but the American Jewish leadership will have to do a lot about that. Otherwise, part of American Jewry will disappear, which I think is a tragedy, and I'm saying this not as an Israeli but as a Jew. Jewish people have so much to be proud about, in their history and their legacy and their contribution to the world at large."
This sentiment extends to Shoval's view of the country whose history he has lived.
"Without trying to sound like a Pollyanna, we as young people, we were sure there would be a Jewish state," he says. "We were sure that this was going to happen. But realistically, objectively, this wasn't sure at all. The odds were against us. Here we were, 500,000 Jews. Most of the Jews in Europe had been murdered during the Holocaust, which would have been our main human reserve for the State of Israel. Arab states around us were getting independence, were building up armies. So with the attitude of the British, the unclear attitude of the Americans and the Russians, if it hadn't been for a person like Ben-Gurion, who knows?"
"Objectively, Israel — if you take just one fact: 500,000 Jews with very mediocre economy in the country, successfully absorbing within a very short time a million immigrants, sharing what we didn't have with them," he states. "This was an unprecedented achievement. And fighting a war and winning it."
"But Israel was so poor at the beginning," he notes. "And if I look at that situation and I look at Israel today, I think this is the biggest historical success in world history or modern world history. Compared to any of the other countries which achieved independence at the same time. And the odds against us were much more severe than most of the other countries."
"So I'm happy about what Israel has achieved," he says. "And Israel is today one of the most successful high-tech countries in the world. When Israel is an important center of cultural activity. When Israel has in the meantime integrated another million immigrants from Russia. Israel being military strong. I think we shouldn't be satisfied, but we should be happy with what we've accomplished."
"Satisfied we should never be," he adds. "Jewish people should always strive for more. Obviously, I would like to see a different relationship between us and our neighbors. But if that is not possible, perhaps the best we can achieve is some sort of de facto relationship, not necessarily to love each other but at least to avoid fighting each other. And I think a strong Israel as it is today can accomplish that."
I ask him if he is an optimist, as he certainly sounds like one, and Shoval simply smiles and says, "I think Jews have to be optimists."


Everyone, that is, except for one woman. The prisoner was on death row for brutally torturing and murdering her husband, and horribly mutilating her. The woman sat quietly staring at the prisoner through the glass as tears streamed down her face. Amidst the chaos, she seemed completely at peace.
Today was one of those days you don't expect to happen. Victor was provided a stay of execution today as the liquid was about to be released for his death. I didn't know how to react at first. All these years of anger, hatred, confusion…yet, when I heard his words, I felt complete peace and comfort. Is that sick? Am I losing my mind? How can I forgive him so easily after all these years of keeping him in a prison of my own making because I would not grant him forgiveness for taking Charles from me and for what he did to me? Why today? Why at that moment? I believe I must talk with him.
The prisoner was relaxing in his room, still in disbelief that one statement could stop his death. After all those years of being in prison, he simply had to utter one sentence to receive freedom. He felt free despite still being locked in a 7 x 7 cell. He felt as though a chain had been lifted. But there was still something that he needed. He realized that though he meant what he said, and was grateful for not being killed, he had to suffer the consequences of his crimes. Horrendous, terrifying crimes committed by a young boy who was lost, confused, and angry. He stared out into the prison population, looking at all of the cells, wondering if others realized how easy it would be to stop their death and receive peace.
In all of my years of feeling horrible for what I did that night, it never dawned on me that I could receive peace and stop all of this by uttering one sentence. I still feel that I am missing something though. I still feel the need to confront my victim, to tell her what I feel inside. To let her know I did not mean to ruin her life and take her husband that night. I was a child. I was lost. I was angry at the world. She suffered at the hands of my rage. I can never take back what I did. I can never make it right. But I can ask her for forgiveness and ask that she find a place to be a friend to me. I know it is asking a lot, but what do I have to lose? I am so thankful for my life at this moment that I have to take the risk.
The warden was unsure whether to grant to visit, but decided to do so only because the series of events over the past two days had been unprecedented. He was used to watching criminals refuse to accept their guilt. In a prison of thousands, he had one guilty man: the man who was supposed to die and did not. Why had that one sentence changed the judge's mind? Could it be real that uttering a few simple words would save someone from death? He could tell the prisoner meant the words. He could see the change within the man as he visited with him the day after the event. When the prisoner asked him if it would be possible to speak with his victim, the warden thought for sure the guy had lost his mind. He had been insane, that obviously was why the judge put a stay on the execution. It had to be. What he didn't expect was to receive a call that same day from the victim, asking to meet with the prisoner. Had the entire world gone mad? He had to grant the visit if only to see if forgiveness was something that truly existed. He alerted the guards, called in extra duty, and demanded a full body search for the woman when she arrived.
I am going to do it. Today, I am going over to the prison where two days ago Victor was supposed to die for what he did to my husband and me. I am going to look him the eyes, ask him to touch my face and my arms, and then allow him forgiveness for what he did to me. I am going to show him pictures of all the children whose life I have impacted because I have been able to teach them that their scarred skin from being burned is not a reflection of their inner being. I am going to share with him how the tragedy of losing my husband led me to reflect upon the life we had together before that terrible evening. And how in that reflection, I found the strength to go out and begin volunteering with single mothers and teach them how to protect their children. I want him to understand how his violent and murderous behavior sent me first into a prison of shame, depression, and anger, but then brought me to a place of wholeness, forgiveness, and hospitality. I would not wish these events on anyone; yet, I am no longer angry they happened to me because my life has changed for the better not for the worse. And I want to explain to him what caused my change, as it is evident from his utterance that the same reason has caused his.
I am going to do it. I am going to meet her today. I am going to ask her if I can touch her face and her arms, to feel the pain I inflicted upon her. I must understand the way I changed her life. I want to know from her how I damaged her life, so I can help find a way to repay it. I know it will be painful. I can only imagine she has lived a life of bitterness, anger, and distrust of all around her. I imagine that she has lived her life wondering what she could have done differently. I want to assure her that there is nothing she could have done. I need her to understand that I was in a place of darkness, having been sexually abused for many years by someone I trusted. I am going to do this today and in this meeting I will finally give her what she has asked for all these years through my lawyer: I am going to explain why.
The prisoner walked slowly from his cell to the meeting area. As he sat waiting for his victim to join him in the room, a soft smile began to come over his face. Though he was sad, though he was repentant for what he had done, he was happy to finally have this moment after twenty years of silence. Today was a good day. Today he was going to release himself from prison he had kept himself in by keeping this secret.
The victim drew her breath and held it for a few moments. "Here I go," she said aloud. She walked with her head high, smiling wide as she approached the prison. Today was a good day. After twenty years, today was the day she would release herself from the prison she had been in by remaining silent.
Several guards stood strategically placed around the perimeter of the room. It was quite obvious they were not expecting this meeting to go well. The victim walked through the door and made eye contact with the prisoner. The guards stood at attention, not expecting the exchange they were about to witness.
The prisoner rose as the victim approached him. He reached out his arms and was surprised when she embraced him fully and without reservation. They remained in this embrace for fifteen minutes, tears streaming from every eye within the room. The mother and son reuniting after twenty years.
The mother who had always felt shame for not being able to protect her son from the man she married. The mother who always felt at fault for not stopping the violence within the household. The mother who wondered why her son had nearly killed her but didn't finish the job. The mother who had prayed for years that her son would find it within himself to ask for forgiveness, even going so far as requesting the judge drop her son's penalty from death to life in prison if he ever found it within himself to ask forgiveness. Together they stood as one, demonstrating to all in the room the power of forgiveness and truth.
To increase my writing ability and expand my thinking, I sometimes open up 3 AM Epiphany: Uncommon Writing Exercises that Transform Your Fiction by Brian Kiteley. This challenge, Point of View Exercise 5: Journalism, is to write a 700 word story (I totally blew past this word count!) in which part of the story is told through journal entries that reveal more about the author. I have to keep it from being self-absorbed and ensure the reader does not get confused, understands the events are occurring and then the writer is explaining what happened from another vantage point. That is, the events happen and the reader understands them, but then the journal entries explain another point of view that the reader didn't see when reading the story. How did the author feel about the events? What did she perceive that others didn't during the events?
I chose to write the story using diary entries from the two main characters, instead of just one author. I know that is not within the guidelines, but it still helped me learn another way of writing. I enjoyed this exercise so much that this story is actually the sixth one I wrote! I had five others that I just didn't love…where when I wrote this one, I found myself wiping tears at times. I could feel what the characters were feeling and it overwhelmed me. So I knew this was the one I would post despite it being more graphic than what I normally share.
Reblogged this on Shell Vera.


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How to watch super bowl LVII 2023 live Streaming
December 7, 2022 By Live Sports
Super Bowl LVII is an international NFL game of the world. In fact, it is one of the four Best games in the whole world. This year, Super Bowl 2023 will be held on 12th February 2023, Sunday.
The AFC and NFC champions will face off in Super Bowl LVII, which promises to be exciting. As long as you reside within the range of a FOX affiliate station, an over-the-air (OTA) antenna is the optimum way to tune in. Yet, with any cable, satellite, or live TV streaming service that broadcasts FOX, you may watch the entire championship game.
The Super Bowl LVII tournament will be nationally televised by Fox. The new emblem template used by Super Bowl LVI is used, with pictures of a desert canyon and sky (the latter evoking Arizona's state flag) to represent the settings of the host region, as seen in the official emblem unveiled on February 14, 2022.
Where and When does the Super Bowl 2023 start?
The sports start at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, United States. The tournament will be held on 12th February 2023.
Super Bowl 2023 Schedule
To watch Super Bowl LVII, you don't need a cable or satellite subscription. If you live near a FOX broadcast network, a simple digital antenna can easily provide access to the Big Game.
Match Overview of Super Bowl LVII 2023
Event Name: Super Bowl 2023
Start Date: 12th February 2023
Close Date: 12th February 2023
Types: Men's
Network: Westwood One
Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
TV Broadcast: CBS Sports, Fox, FoxSports, etc.
Halftime Show: Rihanna
Super Bowl finals 2022 winners
Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl 2022 against Cincinnati Bengals in 2022. After a 23-20 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams are Super Bowl LVI champions. With eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 1-yard touchdown with 1:29 left, Rams receiver Cooper Kupp was named Super Bowl MVP.
How to watch super bowl 2023 without cable?
If you're unable to get cable, then there are a number of ways that you can watch the Super Bowl without paying for cable. One option is to stream it online using services like Hulu or Netflix. Or, if you have an Echo device and subscribe to Amazon Prime Video, you can watch the game live streaming on your TV screen. Finally, many sports bars and restaurants will be airing the game live free of charge. So don't be afraid to ask around.
There are a number of ways to watch the Super Bowl without cable, and many streaming services offer free trials so that you can experience their service first-hand. Some popular options include Hulu with Live TV,
Netflix Instant Streaming, Sling TV BlueStream Plus, DirecTV Now (with select packages), YouTube TV (which offers a 7-day trial), PlayStation Vue (PS4 included with some channels), and FuboTV.
Read here also the World sporting events 2023 with details.
How to watch Super Bowl 2023 live streaming on TV
If you want to watch Super Bowl 2023, the best way to do so is by buying a live-stream ticket. You can also watch it on TV if your location happens to be in one of the participating countries. If this isn't possible for some reason, you can follow along with all the highlights and recaps online.
If you're looking to watch the Super Bowl this year, there are a few different ways that you can do so. First, you can stream the game live on your desktop or laptop using an online streaming service such as Hulu or Netflix.
Or, if you have a smart TV and access to DirecTV Now or Sling TV, you can watch the game live without cable. Finally, if you want to keep up with all of the post-game analysis and commentary, then be sure to check out one of the many websites that offer coverage including The New York Times and ESPN.
If you're a cord-cutter or only have limited cable options, Sling TV is an excellent option for watching the Super Bowl. With the service, you can watch the game live on any device including your computer, phone, and even set-top box. You'll also be able to access all of your streaming channels including ESPN and TNT in addition to NBC and CBS. Start your free trial today.
In fact, Sling TV offers a 7-day online plan for the customer's free trial. Everyone can test defending or their video value, from different channels, and if all is fine and feel free to buy the highest plan on Sling TV.
Hulu Live TV
Hulu TV is talented enough to view outstanding online live streaming. Everybody can see it here at a $69.99 price every month. And, you have the chance to see 50 channels on Hulu live TV.
If you're looking for a more comprehensive streaming service, Hulu Live TV might be the perfect fit. With this option, you'll have access to over 60 different channels including NBC, CBS, and Fox in addition to ESPN and TNT.
With a subscription, you get unrestricted access to the Hulu streaming library (ad-supported). Enjoy exclusive series, current episodes, popular films, Originals, children's programming, and more!
Hulu Live TV in the world can benefit to watch the huge 7-day free trial of this channel which, anyone can watch video fineness delivered from Hulu TV Live.
Fubo TV Live
You can open it by giving $45 every month for carrying 75+ Broadcast channels.
If you're looking for a way to watch the Super Bowl without breaking the bank, Fubo TV is an excellent option. For just $35 per month, you can access all of Fox's live and on-demand programming including the Super Bowl. Plus, any channel that airs in HD will be available to watch without ads or commitments. Start your free trial today.
If any person can get higher posts to watch Super Bowl final 2023 Live online streaming. Currently, Fubo TV gives support to Fire TV with Roku. With Fubo TV, all you want is a good speed connection, and a well-matched device to stream the entire Super Bowl event.
PlayStation Vue
Seeing any sports is one of the highest highs. Real Excellence Streaming TV Services is the name of the company. There are enough channels for sports, acting, and other performing arts. This package offers 45 channels for viewing for $45 per month.
If you have a PS4 and want to watch the Super Bowl without cable, then Playstation Vue is an excellent option. With this streaming service, you can access NBC, CBS, Fox (live and on-demand), ESPN, TNT, and TBS (live only).
AMC Networks (DirecTV Now excluded), Disney Channel (excluding ESPN), HGTV, Food Network & Cooking Channel*, Travel Channel* including BBC America*.
And, it includes Fox sports which can help to realize the Super Bowl match 2023 Online live streaming. It brings just a 5-day free trial period for users.
Fox Sports Go
If you are not spending money to realize the games Super Bowl Live Online, so, Fox Sports Go is a free better performance. By the Fox Sports Go app, you can see the complete games of Super Bowl Live Online.
If you're a diehard Fox Sports fan, then this is the plan for you. With this package, you'll get access to all of their live and on-demand programming including the Super Bowl. In addition to that, they have tons of other sports offerings including MLB, NFL football (including Sunday Night Football), NHL hockey, Grand Slam Tennis tournaments*, ATP tennis tournaments*, NASCAR racing events*, and cycling races*.
Live streaming via YouTube TV is a fantastic way to see it. You may pay $40 each month to watch it. It broadcasts a vast number of 70+ television channels, with 15 of them being genuine sports channels.. Besides, by counting $15 per month, you can have entrée to soccer games.
Basically, the company doesn't give you any free trial period. But, it is the brand name YouTube TV.
CBS Sports is expectable to air the Super Bowl live online series. But, the info is not yet fit whether they will display.
If you're looking for a cheap and easy way to watch the Super Bowl, then Roku TV is your best bet! You can get an entry-level device for as little as $50. This will give you access to dozens of live channels including NBC, CBS, Fox (live only), and ESPN.
NFL is the most popular sport in America, Canada, and other American countries.
VPN Services to Watch Super Bowl 2023 Live Streaming
You can watch the occasion via the VPN. If you live in an area where Geo-Restriction is on the surge, choosing a VPN Service provider is unresolved.
So, let's see some VPN services for watching any event.
It is a make which you can believe to avoid restriction issues. Really, Nord VPN has a well status, and to watch the Super Bowl on a free trial from any Country.
NordVPN's Threat Protection feature takes your cybersecurity to the next level. It won't work unless you connect to a VPN server. Threat Protection will always make your online browsing safer, quicker, and silkier after you enable it in the settings.
Christmas sale, you'll get a three-month offer. The first starts from $11.95 USD every month and you get overall support. Similarly, during the online live streaming of the Super Bowl, you will not face more linking losses at any point.
Private VPN for viewing the Event
Another option for watching the entire Super Bowl live matches is to use a Private VPN. You may use a Private VPN to watch every sport and remain anonymous.
Social Media Platforms to watch 2020 Super Bowl LVII Live Stream
Every day, the number of social media grows bigger. Social media brings some wonderful features because the majority of individuals utilize it for messaging. Every event may be watched live on social media by anybody.
Now, I'd like to discuss some of the greatest social media sites for watching Super Bowl Live online.
Any sports can be seen on Facebook in a good way. There are many categories and pages to choose from. You may explore other groups or search for the Super Bowl's official website. You'll get a group if you write a Super Bowl 2023 live broadcast. You'll discover that one page or group that broadcasts live events.
It's an internet site that broadcasts live sports. Anyone may distribute to people that stream any games and provide the most recent news on the LIVE if they Tweet about your stars' pages that you like.
You can find relevant groups, and people, and see and enjoy Super Bowl Live Online by searching for scripts on Twitter.
Reddit provides a great way to watch the 2023 Super Bowl live stream in Reedit, as it offers sub-edits for every different online sports event that delivers live streams. Read also more posts.
Apple Music, who took over as the new naming rights sponsor of the Super Bowl halftime show from Pepsi, was revealed on September 23, 2022.
If you're a Super Bowl fan or subscriber, feel free to tune into the halftime show on February 3rd. You can watch it live or on-demand starting at 6:30 PM PT/9:30 PM ET.
Filed Under: NFL, NFL, Super Bowl