We interview Ambrose Little from Infragistics on their Indigo Studio software.
Could you tell us a little bit about Infragistics and how Indigo Studio came into being?
Infragistcs has been helping software professionals, especially developers, design and build better UIs since the late 80s. So it was a natural extension of that for us to branch out from there as UX and interaction design became more and more of a "thing" over the last decade. After releasing our free UX/UI patterns explorer, Quince, we started doing a lot of research and design prototyping and iteration for Indigo Studio, which culminated in our V1 release last November. We're all about enabling awesome digital experiences, and Indigo Studio is a key part of that.
I guess the main question has to be, why give this away for free?
This has been a challenging message to get across because many people will tout "free software" and "free downloads" when they really mean "free trial" or "free but it is time bombed or disabled somehow." For Indigo Studio, we want to communicate that Version 1 is completely free—forever. There's a lot you get free in V1 and its updates, but when V2 is released, it will be a paid option. You can keep V1 forever, though, if you don't want to upgrade.
What do you think makes Indigo Studio different from other UX tools such as Axure or Balsamiq?
Being technology platform independent and minimising technology concerns, so you can focus on interaction design, no HTML, Objective C, etc.
Interactions—even rich, animated interactions—are at the core; they are Indigo's "native tongue" if you will, not an afterthought.
Helping you stay focused on users throughout all design activities through integrated storyboards, mirroring user flow during design activities, visualising user flows in Indigo, and so on.
Simple, Clutter Free design environment that helps you focus on your designs, not ours, and not get lost in huge property sheets, bunches of panels, tons of dialogs.
State-based change model that makes it much faster and easier to design and maintain multiple states of individual screens—as part of one or more user flows.
Easy, built-in, free cloud-based sharing of your designs.
As someone who can't draw at all I would find the story boarding tool extremely useful for putting together user journeys. How did you come up with the idea?
Glad you like that! Storyboarding—designing for flows—was always something we knew we wanted to do in Indigo. The idea to include built-in real-world sketches was, as I recall, actually Joel Eden's idea, one of the interaction designers who worked on Indigo for a while. Part of his work on his dissertation dealt with the importance/impact of environment in Design, and I guess that enthusiasm for place/environment ultimately resulted in this idea for "scenes" in Indigo. As soon as he suggested it, we all knew we had to have it.
The quick sharing of prototypes from within the program is very handy – how do you see this adding value in a typical UX workflow?
What we have now is nice and super easy, so you can with just a click, essentially, grab a URL to show what you're working on to someone else. It can be interactive, or not. The ability to toggle annotation visibility is quite nice when you want to see the UI cleanly or, more importantly, evaluate it with users. I can't stress enough how important we consider design evaluation with users to be, and having even a minimally interactive, working prototype easily accessed from a URL makes that so much more efficient—so you can iterate more cheaply and find the best design faster.
Is Indigo Studio targeted mainly at UX Practitioners or is your target audience wider?
Our primary personas were absolutely UX folks—we wanted to make an interaction design tool, and it only made sense to do that with interaction designers in mind. That said, it has always been our intent to make a tool that anyone who is involved in software design could pick up and use. We've already had feedback from salespersons, VPs, product managers, and yes, even developers 😉 that they find the tool to be immensely helpful with a minimal learning curve.
What future features do you have planned for Indigo Studio?
Very soon we will be shipping a beta of our HTML-based viewer. This is absolutely huge. It means you can easily evaluate your designs on actual devices. You don't have to learn HTML; you don't have to learn Objective C, XAML, or Java. You use this simple, WYSIWYG code-free design tool, click a button, and open it on your device. We have more to come in V1 beyond that, too.
In the longer term, we have oodles of ideas on how to make Indigo more and more useful for interaction design, but we'd love to hear from you.
What is your favourite part about the software?
Hmmm.. That's like asking a father to name his favorite child. 😉 I love all my children, and I love all the parts of Indigo (well, okay, maybe except for those bits I really want to keep honing). But, since you're asking, I'll pick something. I'd say it's how easy it is to blast through designing a story/user-centered flow and have something that I can evaluate with said users in no time. That's the essence of sketching prototypes, and I think maybe more than anything else, it is the biggest contribution to better software design that we can offer.


text:
Stories from Saturday, December 13, 2008
Change of plea slated for Batchelor (Local News ~ 12/13/08)
A Brazil man will be in Putnam County Circuit Court for a change of plea hearing on Jan. 12. Michael S. Batchelor, 52, is facing charges of attempted arson, domestic battery and theft of a vehicle. According to a case report filed by Putnam County Sheriff's Department Deputy Ronnie Campbell, Campbell was dispatched on Oct. 7 to a residence in the 9000 block of South C.R. 825W, Reelsville, for "a domestic that had turned into an attempted arson."...
A.J. Hacker joins local Red Cross staff (Local News ~ 12/13/08)
Putnam County resident A. J. Hacker has joined the American Red Cross Wabash Valley Chapter as its Putnam County Community Development Coordinator. Hacker's duties will include increasing the number of Red Cross volunteers in Putnam County and building the necessary financial resources to support Red Cross services in the County...
Christina Williams (Obituary ~ 12/13/08)
CLOVERDALE -- Former Cloverdale and Indianapolis resident Christina Williams, 80, Bushnell, Fla., died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 at Mike Conley Hospice in Clermont, Fla. She was born June 17, 1928 in Greencastle to Fisher Austin and Maggie (Tuner) Austin...
Bon Ton has served Bainbridge for nearly 73 years (Local News ~ 12/13/08)
In January 2009 the Bon Ton Restaurant in Bainbridge would have been 73 years old. That is, if it were still open. The landmark business went on the auction block this week. Gene Hess opened the Bon Ton in January 1936. At that time, Bainbridge had a lot of traffic running through the town on U.S. 36...
E-Prescriptions can cut costs (Local News ~ 12/13/08)
A federal pilot project beginning in January and running through 2013 will award doctors additional money from Medicare if they use electronic prescribing systems known as e-prescribing. Purdue University research, this will help deliver safer and more efficient care to patients while also cutting costs...
Christmas in Roachdale (Local News ~ 12/13/08)
Richard Julius Stommel (Obituary ~ 12/13/08)
Richard Julius Stommel, 80, Brazil, died at 8:10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008 at St. Vincent Clay Hospital. Richard was born Oct. 20, 1928, in Detroit, Mich., as the son of Stephan Lewis and Dorothy Kunze. He worked as a supervisor in manufacturing plants. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps...
South Putnam falls to Cascade (High School Sports ~ 12/13/08)
By MOLLY MCLAUGHLIN For the Banner Graphic Cascade edged South Putnam 51-48 Friday night. A major part of the first quarter was turnovers by both teams. However, very aggressive play, both offensively and defensively, by the Cadets allowed them an eight point lead...
Eagles come up short against Cadets (High School Sports ~ 12/13/08)
South Putnam won the tip and from that moment, the game became very fast paced and physical on both ends of the court. The Eagles ultimately fell 49-42. The Eagles allowed many turnovers that Cascade was able to capitalize on and built a lead of 14-4 with 2:16 left in the first quarter. ...
Rockville too much for Cougars (High School Sports ~ 12/13/08)
ROACHDALE -- Sitting at 0-3 on the season and still learning a new system, the North Putnam boys' basketball team really didn't need to see Rockville rolling in to the gym on Friday night. The Rox came into the game at 2-0 and ranked No. 1 in class A...
Greencastle defeats struggling Clovers (High School Sports ~ 12/13/08)
By CAINE GARDNER Sports Editor Friday was a tale of two teams. One was looking to be back in the win column; one was just trying to find its identity. Greencastle used a solid effort on both ends of the court to defeat Cloverdale 44-21. "We needed one; we've lost a lot of close ones. I felt really good for the kids because their confidence was shaken badly in that fourth quarter against Danville," GHS head coach Glenn Hile said...
Tiger Cubs rally to defeat Cloverdale (High School Sports ~ 12/13/08)
By CAINE GARDNER Sports Editor Just when you caught your breath from the last time these two team met up, here we go again. After battling in the first round of the county tourney, Greencastle and Cloverdale were at it again Friday. The two squads fought to a 63-61 outcome in favor of GHS, leaving both players and fans breathless...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Favorite Spokane Restaurants: Luna if you're feeling fancy, Frank's if you're not! I also love Saranac, Madeleine's, and South Perry Pizza.
Favorite thing about Whitworth: Definitely the student-professor relationships. When I started Whitworth as a freshman, I was surprised by how my professors wanted to get to know me beyond my academic capabilities. Professors at Whitworth will help you discern your gifts and passions, encourage you ask hard questions, and contribute to your spiritual, personal, and professional development. If you visit Whitworth, you won't be surprised to see professors having coffee with students just to talk about life!
Advice for Whitworth applicants: Two things: First, visit campus! Printed materials about campus are great, but they can't totally convey the feeling of being a part of the Whitworth community. Come to campus for a visit day where you can get to know current students, see the dorms, and sit in on a class. Trust me; you'll see how unique Whitworth is once you visit. And second, reflect on what you're passionate about. We love applicants who see Whitworth as an opportunity to develop and apply their passions!
Free for all: I am a whole-hearted fan of the Pacific Northwest, as I spent several years missing it while studying theology on the East Coast. I'm passionate about young adult ministry and helping both Christians and non-Christians explore the Christian faith more deeply. I am an avid pottery collector, a competitive board game lover, and a chai tea enthusiast. Old murder mystery shows are my favorite, and I'm in my happiest place when attending a Broadway musical or having a conversation with someone that helps me know them on a deeper level. I'm a Whitworth alum, as are my husband, father, and brother. Go Bucs!


text:
Sophia Monique Brown (Northampton, Anglaterra, 1991/1992) és una actriu britànica que ha tingut papers habituals a Marcella i Clique, Giri/Haji, The Capture i protagonitzarà la sèrie fantàstica de Netflix The Witcher: Blood Origin el 2022.

Primers anys
Brown va néixer a Northampton, Anglaterra. Es va graduar a l'Arts Educational Schools de Londres i a l'Identity School of Acting de Brixton, on es va formar en ballet, jazz i dansa contemporània, i també va estudiar a l'Ivana Chubbuck Studio. Actua amb la Theo Adams Company des del 2015.

Carrera
Els seus crèdits televisius inclouen The Capture, Giri/Haji, Marcella, Clique, Guerrilla, Casualty i Top Boy. Els seus crèdits cinematogràfics inclouen Desobediència, La bella i la bèstia i Genius.

El 2022, Brown interpretarà a Èlie, una guerrera beneïda amb la veu d'una deessa a The Witcher: Blood Origin, una sèrie limitada de sis episodis, que és una precuela derivada de la sèrie de Netflix The Witcher.

Referències

Persones de Northampton
Actors britànics
Alumnes de l'Arts Educational School

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We LOVE Polenta at our house, grilled, sweet, savory, you name it, we will eat it.
I wanted that cheesy, creamy polenta that I know and love, but since my diet has changed and I have not gone astray I decided to try and make a vegan version and you know what? It was delicious!
Bring broth to a simmer and slowly sprinkle in polenta (this is important so you don't get lumps). Keep at a low simmer and stir often scrapping bottom of pan so it doesn't stick. Let it cook until thick and smooth (about 15 minutes) and then add "milk", nutritional yeast and "butter".
Top with your favorite sauce or veggies and enjoy!
I made a quick sauce tonight with a small can of diced tomatoes, sauteed onions, olives and a can of white beans (plus herbs and dried red pepper) - easy and quick and no added salt or oil.
Thanks! I am going to try to make this! I need the nutritional yeast...or what's a typical kitchen replacement?
Parmesan, Asiago or Pecarino Romano Cheese! Before I was vegan I would add it by the handful, so delicious, nutty and sharp. Ohhh...I can almost taste it now.


The show, Hardscape North America and LANDSCAPES 2017 offered education, new products and networking for landscape contractors.
Landscape contractors once again had all they could handle when it came to green industry education and products during the week of Oct.16. That's when the industry convened in Louisville, Kentucky, for GIE+EXPO, LANDSCAPES 2017 and Hardscape North America.
More than 24,000 people represented a 7 percent increase in attendance compared to 2016. And, with an indoor footprint equal to 47 White Houses, exhibit space grew 9 percent. There were more than 1,005 exhibits indoors and out in GIE+EXPO and the co-located Hardscape North America, including 226 new exhibitors.
The indoor show floor was 50,000 square feet larger than 2016. The Outdoor Demonstration Area covered 20 acres, and attendees had two full days to test equipment. HNA increased in size by more than 16 percent over 2016. The popular New Products Showcase sold out, featuring more than 100 products that were introduced within the past year.
Next year, the indoor show floor will open exclusively for dealers, retailers and the media at noon on Wednesday. Then, beginning at 3 p.m. and continuing Thursday and Friday, the entire industry will be invited to visit the exhibits. The Outdoor Demonstration Area will be open Thursday and Friday.
Over the next few pages, we've compiled coverage from the events. For complete coverage, visit bit.ly/GIEEXPOcover.
Mary Kelly, leadership expert, economist and author, covered the current state of the economy and what to expect in the upcoming years at the LANDSCAPES 2017 CEO Forum.
At the event, hosted by the National Association of Landscape Professionals and sponsored by Caterpillar, Kelly said the economy is doing "okay." Inflation is low, health care costs are up and the stock market is doing well, she said in her update.
"Inflation is very low so the good news for you is that the prices for what you need to run your business are low," she said.
It's also harder than ever to find workers. Nine years ago, seven people applied for each open job. Now, that number is 1.2.
On average, people change jobs every 4.6 years. That number for Millennials is even lower at 2.1 years.
"Gone are the days when you sign up with one company and stay there for 30, 40 years. They're just gone," Kelly said.
She also gave ideas for where to invest in 2017: virtual reality, video games, elderly/older care health care services, physical therapy, translation and interpretation, biotechnology, VOIP, drones, green energy, water and water treatment.
Health care costs are up 5.6 percent from last year and it will keep going up.
The stock market is doing well. "If you have invested you should be feeling very, very cheerful about your investments," she said.
Interest rates are going to go up, so buy a house now if you want to buy one.
Existing home sales were the best in a decade.
The median home price in the U.S. is up 3.1 percent and the median listing price is $254,000, while the median rent is $1,600/month. "People are paying more for rent and getting less," Kelly said.
Labor productivity growth is poor. "Look at your teams to see where your productivity is getting held up," she said.
"People are spending like there's no tomorrow," Kelly said. People are buying a lot of large, durable goods but they're financing them. "It's not just our young people who want instant gratification," she added.
The average cost of an employer-offered family plan in 2017 is $18,764, up 3 percent from last year.
"Credit card debt has skyrocketed in the last couple of years," Kelly said. And today, Americans have the highest credit card debt in U.S. history. There's also an increase in defaulting. "How does this affect you? When you get a credit card, it might not be so great," Kelly said.
$74,000 – this is the money Frank Gandora, president of Creative Hardscape Company, managed to save his business by implementing a few strategies to motivate his crews in one year. According to Gandora, the jobsite is where many contractors and hardscapers lose money.
According to Gandora, about 98 percent of the people he talks to don't have a plan for performing hardscaping jobs. However, he said this is critical to saving money on the job and in turn motivating crews. "Even if you just write a plan down on a napkin, write that down," he said. "You need a plan that you can have in your back pocket." This includes having a plan for what crew will do at a jobsite as well as paperwork for the homeowner where a hardscaper is performing a job. In addition, it means having a safety plan in place. Gandora recommended hosting weekly safety talks with crew members to further motivate them.
Offer a few levels of training, both for the foreman and for the crew members. With the foreman, make sure he knows how to motivate people. "I would say the foreman or superintendent has the toughest job in the company," Gandora said. "It's all politics – you have moody crew members, men who call in sick every day and another guy who won't clock in until 2 p.m. We're in the people business, so spend time with the foreman to teach him how to reason with his guys and manage people." With crew training, invest time in training them their first days on the job. He recommended having them do video training before having them out working on the equipment. Also, he said take some time to invest in an annual training day with an expert who can come on site to talk about different topics, like a manufacturer coming on to talk about their products.
Have a crisis action plan.
Things fall apart on a jobsite sometimes. Four things that really mess a hardscaper up are weather, labor, architects and materials, Gandora said. He added that it's wise to consider how to prepare for a people crisis, an equipment crisis, a material crisis, a safety crisis or an environmental crisis to alleviate extra stressors on the job to make operations run smooth.
Should your crews wear uniforms?


text:
Hanna Halaburda
Blockchain Revolution Without the Blockchain
Staff Analytical Note 2018-5 Hanna Halaburda
The technology behind blockchain has attracted a lot of attention. However, this technology is for the most part not well understood. There is no consensus on what benefits it may bring or on how it may fail.
Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes Topic(s): Digital currencies and fintech, Recent economic and financial developments, Service sector JEL Code(s): D, D8, G, G2, O, O3, O33
Central Bank Digital Currencies: A Framework for Assessing Why and How
Staff Discussion Paper 2016-22 Ben Fung, Hanna Halaburda
Digital currencies have attracted strong interest in recent years and have the potential to become widely adopted for use in making payments. Public authorities and central banks around the world are closely monitoring developments in digital currencies and studying their implications for the economy, the financial system and central banks.
Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers Topic(s): Digital currencies and fintech, Financial services, Payment clearing and settlement systems JEL Code(s): E, E4, E41, E42
Competition in the Cryptocurrency Market
Staff Working Paper 2014-33 Neil Gandal, Hanna Halaburda
We analyze how network effects affect competition in the nascent cryptocurrency market. We do so by examining the changes over time in exchange rate data among cryptocurrencies.
Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Digital currencies and fintech JEL Code(s): L, L1
Some Economics of Private Digital Currency
Staff Working Paper 2013-38 Joshua S. Gans, Hanna Halaburda
This paper reviews some recent developments in digital currency, focusing on platform-sponsored currencies such as Facebook Credits.
Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers Topic(s): Bank notes, Digital currencies and fintech, Economic models, Payment clearing and settlement systems JEL Code(s): D, D4, D42, E, E4, L, L5, L51
Bank publications
Bank of Canada Review articles
Understanding Platform-Based Digital Currencies
Bank of Canada Review - Spring 2014 Ben Fung, Hanna Halaburda
Given technological advances and the widespread use of the Internet, various digital currencies have emerged. In most cases, Internet platforms such as Facebook and Amazon restrict the functionality of their digital currencies to enhance the business model and maximize their profits. While platform-based digital currencies could increase the efficiency of retail payments, they could also raise some important policy issues if they were to become widely used outside of the platform. Thus, it is important to closely monitor the evolution of these digital currencies.
Content Type(s): Publications, Bank of Canada Review articles Topic(s): Bank notes, Digital currencies and fintech, Financial services, Payment clearing and settlement systems JEL Code(s): E, E4, E41, E42


Meet 'Domino', our incredibly sweet male AKC Boston Terrier Puppy, and he's available in East Bay. He is current on his vaccines and comes with a One Year Congenital Health Guarantee. Domino will be 13-18 lbs Full Grown and is AKC registered. He's currently 10 weeks old, and he's ready for a new home!
Skype or FaceTime to meet Domino!
This advertisment was posted from San Francisco, on Oct 29, 2014 by Norcalpups1. Find other similar ads by searching the Boston Terrier Dogs & Puppies For Sale & Adoption category.


In this video, we have presented the funny mashup conversation between Narendra Modi and Varun Dhawan. In this video, Varun Dhawan wants to tell Modi about girlfriend but cannot express his love because he is afraid of telling it to Modi.
If you think video was good, please drop a like and if you think it wasn't good, please drop a dislike but comment what was wrong in the video.
Comment for any topic you want to watch in the next video. Thanks for watching.


When it comes to starting a photography business one of the biggest struggles you may encounter is what to charge. Photography pricing can range from couple dollars to a couple of thousand. The key is figuring out what you need to charge so you can be profitable and not get burnt out.
If I could go back in time 15+ years and give my just-graduating-photography-school-self some advice, it would be this.
1. Don't take on every client that is willing to pay you.
2. Find a specialty and get really good at it.
3. Low pricing implies low quality (i.e. don't give everything away).
4. Most importantly, value your time.
When I first started in photography, I had the "just stay busy, and all will work out" mindset. If an inquiry came in for pet photography, I said yes. Babies? Sure! Weddings? Absolutely! Sports and school photography? Why not! All the while, charging a bare minimum, which (I didn't realize at the time) didn't even come close to covering my costs. If only I had realized that low pricing implies low quality, I could have saved myself a lot of time and money.
Although I had found my niche and was continuing to develop my style, I struggled for years trying to find the "perfect price" to charge for my photography services. Even after years of experience and many thousands of dollars spent on my photography education, I found it difficult to believe in the value of, not only my artwork, but also my time. I often let clients "negotiate" pricing with me, which always turned into a nightmare. I spent many, many sleepless nights wondering if I was charging enough to make a profit. I could never seem to figure out photography pricing.
Let's be honest, we've all gone to our competitors websites and checked out their pricing and thought, "Should I change my pricing to be more like theirs?" After years of struggling with photography pricing, I finally realized that the problem with this scenario (well, there are many) is that we have absolutely no knowledge of how profitable the other photographer may (or may not) actually be.
Unfortunately, many photographers (including the old me) are not valuing their time and services appropriately. It is our responsibility, as professional photographers to determine the costs associated with delivering high-quality products and experience, and charge appropriately for them.
So, the big question is, how to set your photography pricing and be profitable? Well, the answer is quite simple.
1. Write a business plan and check it often.
If we don't know where we're going, we are bound to get lost. Even if it's just a couple scribbled pages in a notebook with goals and how you plan to achieve them, that's a great start.
2. Know and fully understand where each and every dollar is coming from and going to within your business.
If you have no idea what your expenses actually are, the number of hours invested in every photo session start to finish (from inquiry to delivery), it would be extremely difficult to actually be profitable. Guessing at photography prices (or basing them on someone else's) is bound to get you in trouble. Each photographer has a different list of expenses and a different business plan. Continuing to charge "made up" numbers and hoping that someday these numbers just miraculously add up to a desired salary sounds a little far fetched (I speak from experience).
If the thought of running your numbers is overwhelming, take a deep breath; this will be well worth the work, I promise. You can (and must) do this for your business to be profitable. To figure out what you need to charge for your photography services and products to be profitable follow these steps.
1. You will need to make a list of all of your expenses (monthly business expenses, fixed yearly expenses, personal expenses, salary, etc.). Factor in the number of hours you plan to work each month.
2. Once you know your hourly rate, you can make a list of all of the products you wish to offer your clients.
3. Now, calculate all of the fixed expenses associated with ordering that product.
4. Then factor in the time associated with creating each product, charged at your hourly rate.
5. Once you have these numbers, you'll know the minimum amount you can charge for that product.
6. Lastly, put together some packages based on your new product pricing.
7. At this point, you can define your desired yearly salary, divided by your package prices to determine how many sessions per month you'll need to book to reach your goals.
Please remember that your time is very valuable. It is the most valuable part of your business. This is a lesson I have learned the hard way. Let's face it, if you're leaving your family on the weekends to photograph somebody else's, be sure it's worth your time and makes sense for you and your business.
Best wishes on your photography pricing journey!
I have been a professional photographer for 15+ years and own of a portrait boutique in Niwot, Colorado (just north of Boulder), specializing in newborn and children's photography. I am also a small business consultant to photographers. You can visit my website to purchase a workbook that will do the math for you and tell you what you need to be charging for your photography.
I seriously had a sleepless night LAST night about this exact topic!!! I have been doing my own photography for the last 4 years and I did up my price but was always fearful that no one would want to pay that and go to someone else so I would discount things. But in the end it's making things harder on me and I am getting burnt out. I hate that and I want to make this a successful career. Thank you thank you thank you for this post!!!
This is a really helpful read! My only other question would be is, how do I know what to put in to those packages. If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it!
How do you know how many pictures to take/give? How do you know when your editing goes too far?
This has been helpful for me but I have to ask the same question as Mandy in how many pictures to you give? I know I take way to many shots but at the same time I want to make sure I get that perfect shot. I also am struggling with the pricing because I have several retired ladies that live near me who has taken some photography courses just for fun and they are really good but they give their time and work away because they are doing this to pass the time on the "retirement" venture. I feel like I am fighting a loosing battle.
I have found myself working in accounting and doing what I love "photography" on the side because I have not made enough to survive. Any suggestions?
We are getting into wedding photography and we are struggling with this same concept. I appreciate the comments and advice. We are definitely guilty of looking at other websites and thinking about their pricing!
This article has been very helpful for me as I figure out what to charge my customers for photography packages. It's more difficult than it seems or one would think it would be. I know it has taken me months of agonizing over pricing, checking other photographers websites and reading article on top of article of what to charge and how to come up with a pricing scheme for a photography business. This is by far one of the easiest to use in helping me figure out pricing. A lot of the other articles became too extensive and confusing on how to figure out what to charge.
Suggestion on how many photos to take, take as many as you want. Put them on a CD with a watermark (so the client can't take credit for your hard work) then have the client choose from all the photos you have taken then go from their ie: 8×10, 5×7, wallets etc. Hope this was some what helpful.
Great article! Another important thing is reviewing competition before setting up price will be helpful in long run. Knowing what cost local photographer charging in particular niche and keeping price little lower than market price, will be helpful in market penetration. Recently I've created an online portfolio on Pixpa to support my offline business results turn out to extremely good.


text:
How False Beatles Rumors Almost Derailed Concerts for Kampuchea
A cool old-school-meets-new-school cast played four shows meant to raise money for war-torn Cambodia.
Dave Grohl + Ringo Starr Emotionally Reflect on Losing Bandmates
They've both endured tremendous losses.
Danny Boyle Feared 'Yesterday' Movie Might Upset the Beatles
Director of film that explores a world where the Fab Four appear to have been forgotten explains process of getting their approval.
Beatles Pre-Breakup Letters On Sale for $550,000
The Beatles hired and fired Lee and John Eastman within a few months.
Beatles Pinball Could Be Most Expensive Table of All Time
Limited-edition Beatlemania machine to be released in Diamond, Platinum and Gold editions.
55 Years Ago: Don Rickles Insults the Beatles
Nobody - not even the Beatles at the height of their popularity - was safe from the barbs of the world's most beloved insult comedian, Don Rickles.
Matthew Wilkening
How the Beatles Revolutionized Music, Again, With 'Revolver'
'Revolver' is where the Beatles abandoned any preconceived notions – and all the expectations that came with them.
The Day Stuart Sutcliffe Left the Beatles
In July 1961, Stu Sutcliffe left the Beatles to continue his art career and be with his German girlfriend, Astrid Kirschherr.
The Day the Beatles Played Their Final TV Show
In the mid-'60s, the BBC's 'Top of the Pops' was destination viewing for British rock fans.
Frank Mastropolo
The Day Paul McCartney Played His First Post-Beatles U.S. Concert
When Paul McCartney arrived on May 3, 1976 for a show at Fort Worth, Texas, he hadn't played an American concert in a decade.
Bob and TomRead Articles
Scott ThomasRead Articles
$500 Survey Giveaway
Take five minutes to complete a brief survey for a chance at $500!


text:
Heinz Röhr (* 20. Mai 1931 in Marburg; † 5. März 2005 in Bad Laasphe/Lahn) war ein evangelischer Theologe, Religionspädagoge und Religionswissenschaftler.

Leben
Von 1951 bis 1956 studierte er in seiner Heimatstadt Religionsgeschichte und -philosophie, Theologie, Philosophie, Politologie, Musikwissenschaft und Klassische Philologie bei Friedrich Heiler, Georg Wünsch, Wolfgang Abendroth und anderen.

1956 heiratete er Christel Kuhli, mit der er 1959 – im Jahr seiner Promotion – die gemeinsame Tochter Esther bekam.

Nach den für den Lehrerberuf geforderten Lehramtsprüfungen arbeitete er seit 1958 als Studienrat in Bad Arolsen und zog 1965 mit Familie nach Frankfurt am Main, um dort als Oberstudienrat in den Dienst der Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität zu treten. 1972 war er dort Professor für Religions- und Kirchengeschichte. Diese Tätigkeit übte er bis zu seiner Pensionierung im Jahre 1996 aus.

Überdies engagierte er sich als religiöser Sozialist, aber auch im Bund für Freies Christentum und seit 1979 als Quäker in der "Religiösen Gesellschaft der Freunde" – einer Gemeinschaft, welche er bereits seit 1946 kannte.

Schwerpunkte seiner Forschungen waren Mystik, religiöser Sozialismus und das Verständnis anderer Religionen – bis hin zum interreligiösen Dialog.

Veröffentlichungen (Auswahl)
 Der Einfluß der Religionswissenschaft auf die Missionstheorie Heinrich Fricks. Dissertation Marburg 1959.
 Die Weltreligionen im Unterricht. Hanau 1964 (Schriftenreihe Freies Christentum, Bd. 48/49).
 Indische und christliche Gnadenreligion bei Rudolf Otto. Stuttgart 1987 (Forum Freies Christentum. Arbeitstexte des Bundes f. Freies Christent. 10).
 Wortwechsel (Gedichte), Darmstadt 1991.
 Quäker sein zwischen Marx und Mystik. Bad Pyrmont 1992, 2. Aufl. 1996 (Richard-L. Cary-Vorlesung 1992).
 Außerchristliche Mystik. Stuttgart 1993 (Forum Freies Christentum 27).
 Der Ruf der Religionen. Ausgewählte Aufsätze. hrsg. v. Peter J. Winzen, Marburg 1996.
 Friedrich Heiler und Indien. Stuttgart 1997 (Forum Freies Christentum 35).
 Unterwegs zu einer Ökumene der Religionen. Stuttgart 2003 (Freies Christentum, Forum-Reihe 46).
 Buddha und Jesus in ihren Gleichnissen. In: Neue Zeitschrift für systematische Theologie und Religionsphilosophie 15, 1973, S. 65–86.
 Buddhismus und Christentum. In: Zeitschrift für Religions- und Geistesgeschichte 25, 1973, S. 289–303.
 Mystische Elemente in der Vereinigungstheologie. In: Günter Kehrer (Hrsg.): Das Entstehen einer neuen Religion. Das Beispiel der Vereinigungskirche. München 1981, S. 79–107 (Forum Religionswissenschaft 3); auch in: Fritz Piepenburg (Hrsg.): Blickpunkt Vereinigungskirche. Beiträge aus der Theologie, den Geisteswissenschaften und in eigener Sache. Schmitten 2002, S. 41–76.
 Bhakti and Christian Faith According to Rudolf Otto (1869–1937). In: Edmund Weber, Tilak Raj Chopra (Hrsg.) Shri Krishna Caitanya and the Bhakti Religion. Frankfurt/M. 1988, S. 163–182 (Studia Irenica 33); auch in: Journal of Religious Culture 14/1998 (o. S.); deutsch: Bhakti u. Christlicher Glaube bei Rudolf Otto. In: Oswald Berger (Hrsg.): Mythos und Religion. Interdisziplinäre Aspekte. Stuttgart 1990, S. 133–148.
 Martin Buber und die religiösen Sozialisten. In: Werner Licharz, Heinz Schmidt (Hrsg.): Martin Buber (1878–1965). Internationales Symposium zum 20. Todestag, II. Frankfurt/M. 1989, S. 121–149.

Literatur

 Esther Röhr: Der Autor. In: Der Ruf der Religionen ..., hrg. v. Peter J. Winzen, Marburg 1996, S. 13 (Foto H. Röhrs auf S. 12; Bibliographie H. Röhrs auf S. 269–275).
 Edmund Weber: Gestorben: Heinz Röhr. In: Uni-Report / Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt/Main, Bd. 38/2, Frankfurt 2005, S. 21.

 Claus Bernet: Quäker aus Politik, Wissenschaft und Kunst. 20. Jahrhundert. Ein biographisches Lexikon. Nordhausen 2007, S. 140–142.

Religionswissenschaftler (20. Jahrhundert)
Religionspädagoge (Christentum)
Evangelischer Theologe (20. Jahrhundert)
Hochschullehrer (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main)
Gymnasiallehrer
Quäker
Deutscher
Geboren 1931
Gestorben 2005
Mann
Absolvent der Philipps-Universität Marburg


text:
How To Insure Your Car Modifications
by Aaron Crowe
Modifying your car can be a personal statement and a lot of fun, if you can afford it.
From stereos and entertainment systems to custom wheels, paint jobs and hydraulics that can bounce your car into the air, it can be easy to spend thousands of dollars on customized parts and equipment.
Getting those modifications insured, however, can be difficult and require additional coverage that will likely be limited.
And, just to be clear, when talking about car modifications, we're talking about legal ones that insurance companies will at least consider covering. Illegal modifications, such as HID headlights and undercarriage lighting, aren't covered.
Other modifications, such as lifting the suspension or frame and body, may be limited in height by state regulations. Some states measure by maximum headlight and taillight heights and others measure by maximum bumper heights.
Pennsylvania, for example, doesn't allow front lift blocks to raise a vehicle's height, and rear lift blocks can't exceed five inches over original equipment. New York doesn't have suspension lift limits.
Some modifications may not be covered because they're not permanently attached to the car and can be easily stolen. Adding sub-woofers to the trunk that aren't screwed in could mean no coverage if they're stolen because they're technically not part of the vehicle.
$4,000 in coverage
Auto insurer Esurance sells policies that offer up to $4,000 in coverage for customized parts and equipment that are damaged or need to be replaced. These include:
Stereo and television equipment.
Radios, citizen band radios and scanners.
Personal computers, Internet access and navigation systems.
Body, engine, exhaust or suspension enhancers.
Custom grilles, spoilers.
Custom wheels, tires, or spinners.
Custom chrome and paint.
Special carpeting or insulation.
Furniture or bars.
Height-extending roofs.
Custom murals, paintings or other decals or graphics.
Its standard policy only covers original equipment included by the manufacturer, and customized parts must be part of any additional insurance coverage. Some states may require buying comprehensive and collision coverage in order to get customized parts and equipment coverage.
Extras installed by the dealer, such as a better stereo than what comes with the base model of a car, should be covered by a regular policy, says Keith Going, director of insurance relations for Carstar, an auto body repair business. The thinking is that the customer will argue that the "extra" was part of the car's original equipment and should be covered by the manufacturer if damaged, Going says.
It's still a grey area worth checking with your insurance agent, says Going, who previously worked in the auto insurance industry, because some insurers will put a $1,500 cap on after-market modifications.
"Many people do not have that dialog with their agent," he says, and are surprised by what isn't covered by their insurance.
"They're just not aware, in many cases, of what their policy covers and doesn't cover," Going says.
When checking with an insurance agent, some will want to know not only what the modification is, but how it will be used, says Todd Balderson, owner of Balderson Insurance Agency in Silver Spring, Maryland. For example, is it for speed and increasing the performance of the car or motorcycle?
Insurance companies may also want to know who is doing the work and their qualifications, Balderson says.
"If it is your buddy down the street, you may find yourself with an uninsurable vehicle," he says.
Higher coverage
Adding $4,000 in coverage isn't much if you've spent double that on new rims, a stereo system and paint job. To get extra coverage, you can go to a collector car insurance company such as Hagerty or Grundy that specialize in custom and collectible cars.
A modified car doesn't have to be a classic car such as a '57 Chevy that's only driven on weekends, or hauled on a trailer to classic car shows. A modified Honda Civic, which is one of the most popular cars to modify, can get extra coverage through a company such as Hagerty.
The company doesn't limit how much the modified car is driven, though how much they're used helps in determining an insurance rate.
It considers a vehicle to be modified if its performance has been significantly increased, or the body, chassis or frame have been structurally altered, or a custom paint job cost more than $10,000.
Drivers may not want extra coverage
Car owners who have added turbochargers, nitrous oxide injection systems and other ways to amplify engine power may not drive fast and recklessly, as the stereotype may dictate. Instead, they may not drive it much, keep it in a garage or other safe place, and take care of regular maintenance.
Those qualities can help get a better insurance rate. Even so, they may not get extra insurance for their vehicle modifications because they either think it's too expensive or just don't think of it.
"Many of them, they just don't get the extra coverage," says Paul Nadjarian, founder of Mojo Motors, which helps people find used cars to buy.
Some may only take their modified cars to car shows in a trailer, and feel an anti-theft device is enough to keep it safe, Nadjarian says.
"Some of these folks, they just don't care," he says of adding insurance.
Others may assume they're covered by their normal insurance policy, says Carstar's Going of young drivers with a second, modified car on their policy, along with a first car that isn't modified that they drive regularly.
"They just don't know that 'I'm supposed to call my insurance company because I just upgraded from a $200 stereo system to a $1,500 system.' A lot of times they think they're covered, but they're not," Going says.
The bottom line: Check with your insurance agent before making any car modifications to see if you're covered.
Click hereto read the complete story by Aaron Crowe on cheapcarinsurance.net.


Thank you for visiting Engagement Rings with Wedding Band Set Fresh some Of the World's Most Expensive Rings to Drool Over. we hope the above pictures and pictures can be a reference for all of you.
15 photos of the "Lovely Engagement Rings with Wedding Band Set"


Tina Malti is Professor of Psychology and Founding Director of the Laboratory for Social-Emotional Development and Intervention at the University of Toronto. She is cross-appointed as a Professor in the Division of Child and Youth Mental Health at the Department of Psychiatry. Tina is also a registered clinical psychologist in Ontario (Canada) and Zug (Switzerland).
She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division 7: Developmental Psychology, as well as Division 53: Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology) and the Association for Psychological Science.
She received her doctorate in developmental psychology from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Free University of Berlin in 2003. In 2005, she completed her clinical training at the Academy of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Children and Adolescents in Switzerland. After her post-doctoral studies at Harvard Medical School, the University of Maryland, and the Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, she joined the faculty at the University of Toronto in 2010.
Tina has received numerous awards for her research on social-emotional development, aggression, and child and youth mental health, including the New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, the Young Investigator Award from the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), and the New Investigator Award from the International Society for the Study of Aggression (ISRA).
She is currently an Associate Editor of the journal Child Development and serves as the Membership Secretary of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development.
The overt aim of Dr. Malti's program of research is to gain new insight into the origin and developmental trajectories of aggressive behaviour and kindness from early childhood through adolescence and how our biological systems and emotional experiences in response to stressful contexts can prevent or trigger their emergence and distinct pathways. In order to study these topics, she utilizes a variety of research designs, ranging from experimental cross-sectional and large-scale longitudinal approaches to randomized controlled trials and meta-analysis.The long-term scientific goal is to design and implement social-emotional intervention approaches to enhance kindness and reduce aggression and negative consequences of exposure to violence in children facing multiple forms of adversity.
Over the past decade, her collaborators and she have been involved in efforts to identify social-emotional processes and biomarkers associated with the foundations and pathways of aggression and kindness using new methodological advances across different disciplines. Based on her recursive socio-emotional developmental theory, Tina also continues to create, test, and adapt intervention approaches that aim to reduce the negative effects of exposure to violence and promote mental health and kindness in children. Ultimately, the goal of this program of research is to generate knowledge on how to innovate practices and establish scalable impact.
She has authored and co-authored more than 150 journal articles, book chapters, and books. Her research has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
In July 2016, she was named recipient of a CIHR Foundation grant (new/early career investigator) to study the psychological and biological mechanisms underlying childhood aggression and to design and test new practices to identify and reduce aggression and promote empathy and prosocial orientations in at-risk children and youth.


Just called AE support to ask and see if they know whats up with the diffs. the guy who answered the phone didn't know, but he asked someone else over there and before he could finish asking the question, the other guy said to take out one of the shims and/or add an extra gasket. They said that the diffs should wear in and after the first diff oil change to possibly add the removed shim back in if it seems like it needs it.
The info I have read indicates its suppose to handle better on rough tracks which is what I really wanted it for.
Looking to run this same setup. Any suggestions on where to find the batteries would help. I have looked at Hobbyking, but all batteries seem to be to looong!
I have ran the 6s 1400kv for 2 years now. I get a solid 12+ minute run time out of nano-tech 2650mah 6s. Love it. I have had a few bec problems but that is it. I run 6s 1350kv in my truggy with 3000 mah and same runtime. The nano 3000 mah is a good battery if you have a heavy finger and only weighs 400grams.
+1 6s 2650 Nanotech packs have been really good for me in buggy with 1400 motor and I use the 6s 3300mah packs in truggy with the 1350 motor. Ive also had great success with the Thunderpower 2700 6s packs in buggy.
Using the 6s 3300 pack in my buggy gets me 16-18 minutes of run time depending on traction.
One think Ive been doing to eliminate the BEC from the equation is to unplug the red wire from the ESC going to the Rx and make a wire harness that just plugs into the balancing tap of the battery and goes directly into the receiver. The wire harness just picks up 2 of the cells in the pack and supplies a direct 2s voltage to the radio system. Works great and one less thing to worry about. it does use 2 f the cells and theoretically would make the pack go out of balance but chargers now days balance the pack n every charge anyway so it really isnt an issue at all.
I finally got a chance to start assembling my kit last night. There were no problems encountered with the diffs; I built them using the number of shims recommended in the instructions and they spun freely.
+1, everything went together smoothly. Just do as the instructions say step by step and and spins very free.
Ya, that's definitly not machined right. I would get ahold of AE.
They did send me a new one. It came yesterday but I already had one from my A Main order. Good first experience with AE customer support.
do you think that 16mm tapered shock pistons ,10x1.1 fit on rc8.2e ?
where i can find a drilled bit 1.2/1.3 ?
Finished the build. On the 2 rough diffs I ran them in a bit on the bench by holding one wheel and letting the other wheel spin. Took about 10 minutes of this going back and fourth between wheels and in forward and reverse but they smoothed out nicely.
This is a pic of the metal shavings that came out of the diff after that break in. If you had a rough diff that you needed to break in I'd reccomend changing the oils as soon as it smooths out. This doesn't seem like something you want running through the gears for too long.
Other than this the build was smooth. Can't wait to get it on the track. Just gotta get the paint on it now and it's all set.
holy crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i wonder if the nitro is the same way???????????
Thats good news to hear.
All times are GMT -7. It is currently 09:12 PM.


Where are you guys going for opening day? I have not made up my mind yet....I mosty hunt around the anchorage area. I'm always looking for new hunting buddies if anyone wants to team up.
I won't be here for opening day. I shooting for Tue. Evening out on either Mud lake or one of the lakes there. PM me all ways looking to meet new people.
in my boat on Gull or Leaf lakes depending on my mood and the wind conditions. My buddy can't make it so I am going it alone this time.
Fishgirl - I think that you are in the valley. Do you know where Hayfield road is? That is the access to cottonwood creek area of the hay flats. You can walk in or ATV in on the one ATV trail there. I don't know the exact roads and what not to take to get right to the access point, but it has been published around the web a few times. google palmer hay flats and you should come up with some directions.
That area may not be the greatest for the boy to walk in, but some areas out there are not bad. Opening day will be filled up with folks close in so it may not be the best bet. Hopefully you can find someone out there with a boat that will keep you and the boy dry and having some fun.
Fishgirl: go south on Knik Goose Bay Rd and make a left onto Fairview Loop Rd (across from Tesoro and Knik Kountry Liquor) and then go straight where Fairview makes a sharp left (road turns to dirt). Follow dirt road a little bit and make a left onto Scout Rd (not marked - you can miss it - follow other tire tracks). Thru the woods and down the hill (also a great scenic overlook!) This will get you to the parking area. Walk over the bridge and the Flats are your oyster. But be careful! Very muddy in areas with water, esp. after ATVs have been in there. Remember: Cottonwood Creek is tidal in this area, and if you cross any of the culverts and the tide comes in, it can be very dangerous. Please be careful.
Another place to try is Goose Creek. Follow Knik Goose Bay down to the end to airstrip. Make right on airstrip (make sure no planes are coming in!) Follow to T and make a right. This is Burma Road. Follow this dirt road (bring a kidney belt for the potholes) and there is an access road on left (unfortunately you should be looking for the shot-up appliances - arrrgggh) If you come to where the water is crossing the Burma Road, you've gone too far. Park here and walk into Goose Bay. (There'll be water you'll have to wade, but it's only thigh deep). Just remember the Tides!


text:
Quinton De Kock sets CPL apart from other T20 leagues
by Zainab Shafiq | 17 Sep 2022
Quinton De Kock, the third-highest run-scorer of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL 2022), has opened up about his short stint with Barbados Royals. He was spoken that although coming to CPL was something new to him. However, the cheerful welcome has made things going comfortable for him.
"It has been a great experience. Coming to the CPL for the first time was a new challenge for me. However, the moment I walked in here, I was greeted by smiles throughout by the team and our extended staff members. It has to be one of the better team environments I've ever been in, and to say it's my first time in the CPL, makes it even better."
Explaining the best part of the current CPL tenure, De Kock says winning the matches has been a big flex so far. Saying that he has been across several people but new connections feel extraordinary to him.
"I think the best part is that we are winning matches and are also enjoying off the field. I've obviously played with certain people before but making new connections here within the team has been amazing."
"I think this is one of the great ones. It is so much fun. I had never played here before but had always heard great things about the whole experience. It's one of those tournaments where you will never know until you come in and see for yourself. The quality of cricket on offer has been great, and you can see that by the number of talented upcoming players from the Caribbean who are performing now."
Defining the Caribbean as the centre of natural beauty, Quinton reveals his relaxation alongside playing and witnessing the finest cricket action. Being for the first time in CPL, the South African cricketer is looking to return the next year as well. He has set CPL poles apart from all other leagues.
"You know this is one of the most amazing places around the world. You come to the Caribbean, you see beautiful beaches, great food and some amazing fishing experiences. I already cannot wait to come back next year. I was telling a few people that if I could come back here every year for the rest of my cricketing career, that would be amazing. It is such a wholesome T20 experience and surely very different from all the others."
The Proteas is looking to reach the playoffs since every player, from raw to veteran, has been giving his one hundred per cent for the Barbados Royals.
"With the team that we have, you can see everyone has stepped up and performed – whether that is the experienced players or the younger ones. We want to make sure we can perform well in the next few matches and get that playoff spot secured before reporting to the national team, and I'm very confident.
Quinton, moreover, has mentioned that each player sets a different environment within the team and has termed them the best people he has ever met.
"It has been so much fun. It's like another level of how much I'm enjoying my cricket at the moment, both on and off the field. I've also really enjoyed the company here, with guys like Dappa (Kyle Mayers), Big Jimbo (Rahkeem Cornwall), Jason (Holder). There's just so many characters and everybody brings a different energy to the group. I don't think there's been a day where my cheeks haven't had a cramp from laughing too much."
Revealing the captaincy-bounded and batting-related concerns, he narrated,
"We obviously have a leadership group here at the Royals. Jason, Kyle and myself, we do input into Dave (Miller). I think we all just surround him and help to make sure he's finding the solutions which help the team. I think it comes very naturally to him, and he's been doing a great job. His attitude is right up there and he's always concerned for his players both on and off the field, which is a quality of a great leader."
"When I came into the team, I saw Rahkeem and Kyle being the openers, so I was prepared to bat down the order. It is something that I've done in the past at the beginning of my career, and I'm happy to do so again for the team,"
Also, see:
PCB reveals future plans for Sarfaraz Ahmed
Is Babar Azam 'Greatest Test cricketer'? Tells ex-Pakistani player
Shadab does not match Babar's calibre, says Rashid Latif
Karachi Kings: A New Season, A New Beginning: PSL 8 Training Commences on T...
Karachi Kings: A New Season, A New Beginning: PSL 8 Training Commences on This Date...
Lahore Qalandars's PSL 8 Anthem Ready to be Released
Babar Azam talks after getting numerous ICC Awards
Out or Not Out? MCC Clarifies Nida Dar's controversy
What ICC record Babar Azam has made?
Babar Azam named Captain of ICC ODI Team of 2022
PSL Season 8 Replacement Draft to Feature Mohammad Hafeez and Other Notable...
PSL Season 8 Replacement Draft to Feature Mohammad Hafeez and Other Notable Players...
Kamran Akmal to Join Peshawar Zalmi's Coaching Staff for PSL 8
© 2023 OPn Network. All rights reserved.
About Us | Privacy Policy | Sitemap


text:
NewsIndiaVideoWatch: Kangana visits her Bandra office to inspect damage
Watch: Kangana visits her Bandra office to inspect damage
Noida,UPDATED: Sep 10, 2020 18:15 IST
Actor Kangana Ranaut today visited her office in Mumbai where BMC had demolition some portions of her office yesterday. She was accompanied by her sister and...
BBC documentary screened at Jadavpur university; TN CM targets PM over hindi imposition; more
The controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots was screened by the Students Federation of India (SFI) at Kolkata's Jadavpur University on Thursday evening. The screening of 'India: The Modi Question' was reportedly held without any interference from the police or the administration. "Don't fool people of Tamil Nadu by saying Vanakkam or quoting Tamil poems. Yes, we are Dynasts", said CM MK Stalin to PM Modi while targeting him for imposing Hindi.
The Param Vir Chakra is India's highest military decoration, awarded for displaying distinguished acts of valour during wartime. The award is granted for 'most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy'. The medal has been awarded to 21 bravehearts, of which 14 were posthumous and 16 arose from actions in Indo-Pakistani conflicts.
The BJP-led NDA government's approval rating has gone up a notch and if the Lok Sabha 2024 polls were to be held today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will secure a historic hat-trick and remain in power, revealed India Today's Mood of the Nation poll. The survey revealed that if the Lok Sabha elections were held today, the Bharatiya Janata Party was projected to win 284 seats. Even though price rises and unemployment were listed as major failures of the government, the Centre scored well in terms of Covid management, revocation of Article 370, and construction of the Ram temple, one of the key poll promises of the BJP. The survey has thrown up the names of Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath as possible names to succeed PM Modi at the helm of affairs, but as of now, Narendra Modi's popularity remains undented. The survey found that 72 per cent of the respondents were satisfied with the prime minister's performance. Here's a full report on the Mood of the Nation survey. Listen in!
Mood of the Nation poll: 52% want PM Modi to continue to lead India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approval rating remains above 50 per cent ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, revealed the Mood of the Nation poll. The survey showed that 14 per cent want Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to become the next prime minister. After Modi, who? As per the survey, 26 per cent believe Home Minister Amit Shah is best suited to succeed PM Modi, while 25 per cent back Yogi Adityanath to become the prime minister in the near future. Meanwhile, 16 percent want Union minister and Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari to become prime minister after Narendra Modi. Watch the full report here.
Screening wars: BBC series on PM Modi vs Kashmir Files at Hyderabad University


Parascript Partners receive product discounts on their partnership levels. Qualify for Platinum and get the most out of your Parascript opportunities, including the deepest discounts available.
Partners have access to Not-for-Resale copies of Parascript products to use for training, demos, support and pre-sale activities. In addition, Partners receive automatic updates and enhancements to all of our products — accessible anytime, anywhere on our Partner portal.
Parascript ensures our Partners have the most up-to-date technology and answers to their questions through our helpdesk services.
We provide professional services for various needs regarding professional business logic planning, end-user training, best practices, custom integration and consulting services, to name a few.
Partners have access to training and certification, including complimentary training vouchers for classroom or online training and virtual lab access.


text:
Home Giannis Antetokounmpo Lakers News: Giannis Antetokounmpo Joins Shaquille O'Neal In Exclusive Statistical Group
Lakers News: Giannis Antetokounmpo Joins Shaquille O'Neal In Exclusive Statistical Group
NBA Rumors: 76ers Looking For 'All-Star Caliber Player' In Return For Ben Simmons
During the 2021 NBA Finals, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first player since former Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal to record at least 40 points and 10 rebounds in back-to-back games.
O'Neal accomplished the feat during the 2000 NBA Finals when he recorded 43 points and 19 rebounds in Game 1 and followed it up with 40 points and 24 rebounds in Game 2. Antetokounmpo joined O'Neal after accumulating 42 points and 12 rebounds in Game 2 and then 41 points and 13 rebounds in Game 3.
Antetokounmpo has managed to overcome a knee injury he suffered in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks and is currently looking like the player who won back-to-back MVP awards. The Greek Freak is averaging 34.3 points, 14 rebounds and 4.7 assists in the series, and is also attempting nearly 16 free throws a game.
Outside of Deandre Ayton, the Phoenix Suns do not have any players who can credibly guard Antetokoumpo, especially once he gets it going from the post area. In Game 3, Ayton was plagued by foul trouble, which opened up the door for the Bucks star to eviscerate the undersized Suns frontcourt.
Much like O'Neal, Antetokounmpo relies on his ability to finish around the rim and dominate the painted area. O'Neal tortured the Indiana Pacers as they simply had no answer for his brute strength and size, and although Antetokoumpo is not nearly the same physical specimen the Lakers star was, he is still a handful for any wing player to defend.
Despite Antetokoumpo's herculean efforts on both ends of the floor, Milwaukee still finds itself down 2-1 in the series. Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday have yet to really get going this series, but it may ultimately not matter if Antetokounmpo continues his level of play. Game 4 will surely be a battle and it will be interesting to see how much higher Antetokounmpo can raise his game.
O'Neal sees unprecedented streak snapped
Although O'Neal and Antetokounmpo now belong to an exclusive statistical group, the former Lakers big man did see an incredible streak of his broken during the 2021 NBA playoffs. After the L.A. Clippers and Rajon Rondo were eliminated, it snapped O'Neal's 37-year streak of having a former teammate in the NBA Finals.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It's the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!
Lakers News: Luke Walton 'Hoping,' But Not Planning, On Lonzo Ball Playing Friday
The preseason is almost over, but the Los Angeles Lakers still have a problem regarding their starting point guard…
Lakers News: Wes Johnson Calls 2013-14 His Most Important Season
Wesley Johnson is officially a Los Angeles Laker, and he is looking…
Ramneet Singh
Lakers News: Larry Nance Jr. On Knee Issues His Rookie Season
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Larry Nance Jr. has been enjoying an extremely productive season, but he has dealt recently with an ongoing knee issue…
Lakers Officially Won't Use Stretch Provision On Steve Nash
[new_royalslider id="310″] Heading into the NBA off-season, the future was uncertain for…
Ryan Ward
LeBron James Expresses Frustration With Lakers' Below .500 Record After Loss To Pacers
The Los Angeles Lakers have once again suffered a reality check when they appeared to…


A cat only remains alive thanks to the unrelenting efforts of just one muscle: the heart. Unfortunately, cats' hearts are vulnerable to a serious condition called Cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a form of the disease, has been identified as relavent to Ragdoll cats. It appears that some bloodlines are carrying the disease.
As Ragdolls can be fairly lethargic animals for much of the time, the earliest symptoms of heart disease – notably tiredness – are often missed, even by the most diligent owners. Untreated Cardiomyopathy is deadly. To try to identify it early, all Ragdoll cats should undergo a basic heart evaluation as part of routine annual veterinary health checks.
Cardiomyopathy is the most significant cause of heart failure in cats. There are a number of different types of the condition, the most common of which is known as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. This is associated with a marked thickening of the heart-muscle mass that encloses one of the heart's two larger chambers, the left ventricle. This muscle mass is responsible for pumping blood through the aorta, which is the body's largest artery.
Another form of this condition is called Dilated Cardiomyopathy. It is associated with weakness of the heart muscle and is less common in Ragdolls.
Notice the difference in the X-rays shown above. Compare the top image of a healthy cat's heart with the bottom one showing a cat with Cardiomyopathy. As you can clearly notice, on the bottom X-ray, the heart is much larger and clearer to see on the film, than on the top one (where the heart looks like a faint, lemon within the X-ray).
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy may be the result of various problems, including high blood pressure due to renal failure and hyperthyroidism. However, in most cases the cause of the condition is unknown.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy occurs in cats who do not eat enough of a specific amino acid (a building block of protein), called taurine. This condition is extremely unusual nowadays, as most cat food manufacturers are including taurine in their products.
Cardiomyopathy may be life-threatening but, if a specific cause is identified and resolved, many or all of the changes in the heart can be reversed. Even if the cause is unknown, treatment can alleviate symptoms for long periods of time.
One serious complication that is associated with cardiomyopathy is that of blood clots settling in the arteries to the hindlegs. This can be difficult to control and cure. Some cats with cardiomyopathy die suddenly and unexpectedly.
Cardiomyopathy occurs mainly in cross-bred cats – especially in those with long hair – for unknown reasons. Research shows that as many as four times more male than female cats seem to suffer from this condition, and it may affect kittens as young as five months old.
If your cat demonstrates several of the the following symptoms, alert your veterinarian immediately. Symptoms to look for: difficulty breathing, lack of appetite, lethargy and weakness, fainting, weight loss, abdominal swelling, vomitting, and inability to use the hindlegs.
Your veterinarian is likely to carry out X-ray and ultrasound investigations, ECG recordings and blood tests. An assessment of your cat's current dietary regime may also be appropriate.
A cat diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy will be treated with medications. At home, you must administer any medicines prescribed by your veterinarian and follow his or her recommendations as to your cat's general management. For example, if your cat's heart is in failure, you must keep him indoors and well-rested.
Tender-loving-care is something that I prescribe with any disease. A sick cat will sense the power of love and affection and will respond to it very positively. Cardiomyopathy is indeed a treatable disease and it is important that you accept the diagnosis and help your cat live with it as comfortably as possible.
If your cat is a Ragdoll and is diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy be sure to let the breeder know. Also, contact us here, at RCN. Isolating the bloodlines that may be carrying this deadly disease is the key to keeping Cardiomyopathy from being the Ragdoll's worst enemy. The rise in cases of Cardiomyopathy in Ragdolls is becoming a concern that all Ragdoll lovers should focus on eliminating!


When we stepped into the presidential ballroom at the Grand Plaza Hotel, I instantly felt like we were on vacation. The setup reminds me of a cruise ship with the floor to ceiling windows curving around the room, giving a 180 degree view of the beach and ocean from the building. The weather was breezy and beautiful - setting the stage for a memorable ceremony. Their theme was tropical - so we added some palm trees to their layout. We also tried something new - videos!
We were so happy to be a part of Danielle & Christopher's day! Danielle is a good friend and fellow event industry vendor (ADR Decor). Some of the other wonderful vendors that helped bring this beautiful wedding together include Angelina with The Apostolic Wife, Sarah Rose Events, Cinthia with Life with the Crooks, and Tony with On the Move Productions.


Daniele started working on systems management back in 1995 with the first wave of tools for Microsoft OSs. He then followed Microsoft solutions evolution from small businesses with a few tens of PCs to large enterprises with ten of thousands PCs and thousands of servers. He led the first huge NetIQ AppManager deployment in Italy back in 2001/2002 on 60,000 workstations and 2,500 servers, he has been involved in MOM 2005 and SCOM 2007 TAPs. In 2009 he has first awarded with MVP status for System Center Cloud and Datacenter Management. Currently he leads a team of 13 engineers planning, designing and operating hybrid clouds architectures for Progel spa.Follow me on Twitter @DanieleGrandini.


text:
First Responder Friday banner
First Responder Friday: Fountain Inn Police Department
by: Fred Cunningham
Posted: Aug 6, 2021 / 04:50 AM EDT / Updated: Aug 6, 2021 / 07:08 AM EDT
FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (WSPA) – Fountain Inn Police Department Officer Eva Kantzios wanted to become a police officer, but she couldn't realize her dream in her native Greece.
The official police policy said she didn't measure up.
"I could not do it back home. They had a height requirement," said Kantzios. "You had to be 5'7″ and above. I'm 5'2″. I couldn't do it."
Kantzios made the decision to leave her hometown of Karpenisi, Greece and traveled more than 5,400 miles to the Upstate. Her uncle lives in the area and 11 days after arriving, Kantzios was attending classes at Greenville Technical College.
She graduated and after finishing the academy, Kantzios became a member of the Fountain Inn Police Department. She was named 2020 Officer of the Year and has been with the department for two years.
It's a job Fountain Inn Police Chief Michael Hamilton says she's doing with great success.
"I always look at them (officers) with respect. I thought they were doing an important job," said Officer Kantzios. "But I never saw any females (in Greece), so, I want to do that."


text:
COAST GUARD ACADEMY STUDENT-ATHLETIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The mission of the United States Coast Guard Academy Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to forge the optimal athletic experience for all Coast Guard Academy student-athletes. With a broad range of representatives from each of the Coast Guard Academy's varsity athletic teams, the SAAC aims to create an athletic platform that allows student athletes to utilize their leadership potential. The Coast Guard Academy SAAC believes community service is paramount; "committed to service above self." Another priority is to increase student attendance for all Varsity level sports; showing the upmost support between cadets and cadet athletes. Creating a positive environment for both its student athletes and the community, CGA SAAC hopes to set an example along with the entire NEWMAC conference of holding academics along with athletics at its highest standard, and representing the Coast Guard to the best of their ability.
Welcome to the United States Coast Guard Academy. We at the Academy promote an environment of good sportsmanship through our core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty. We ask that all athletes and fans support our core values on and off the [field, court, track, mat, pool, ice, pitch, etc.]
by refraining from making disparaging remarks or singling out athletes and coaches by name or number. Please support participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, derogatory comments or other intimidating actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of competition. Also, consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited
We would like to thank all coaches, trainers, officials, and fans for supporting our athletes' hard work and their dedication to the sport. Go Division III Athletics. Go NEWMAC and Go Bears!
2018-19 SAAC REPRESENTATIVES
Mike Bynon
Mary Heneberry
Kayla Schroeher
Andrea Stewart
Bronwynn McGill
MegMarie Stanchi
Claire Hurley
Kassidy Whitney
Kayla Sowers


text:
Trump attacks Jussie Smollett case as a 'disgrace to our nation'
After recognizing that the alleged attack would constitute a hate crime, Trump then blasted Smollett's case as "a total lie" and a "disgrace to our nation". Judge Sheila O'Brien has subpoenaed Chicago...
'Game of Thrones' Battle of Winterfell sets Twitter record
Spoilers ahead for last night's episode of Game of Thrones . Arya Stark was the one to kill the Night King once and for all during the Battle of Winterfell . But before Arya could become "no o...
John Cena Joins Fast and Furious 9
Now, we all await to know what is John Cena's role while he shares frame with Vin Diesel. Recently, Vin Diesel also shared an image with costume designer Sanja Hays, indicating the movie was close t...
Lil Nas X Enlists Diplo on Second 'Old Town Road' Remix
As would probably be expected, the song puts more of an EDM twist on it and brings a vital new energy to the track. That's when Billy Ray Cyrus chose to swoop in and collaborate with Lil Nas X o...
'Historic' Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition features first burkini model, meets mixed reaction
Quickly after, Aden made her runway debut during New York Fashion Week Fall 2017 as a model in Kanye West's Yeezy Season 5 show. In 2016, she was the first contestant to wear a hijab in the Mis...
Next 'Fantastic Beasts' film gets November 2021 release date
Initially, WB had eyed a November 2020 release date for Fantastic Beasts 3 , but it was previously revealed that the production start-date was being pushed back to give the filmmakers more time to ...
Chrvches Says Chris Brown Fans Are Sending Them Death Threats
Mayberry said that she wasn't just going after Chris Brown for the sake of going after him but rather because of Marshmello's "morally dubious" decision to work with the singer. Everyone makes mis...
Spotify hits 100m premium subscribers as global expansion pays off
Spotify shares were 1% at $136.93 in recent trading. Premium subscriptions accounted for 91% of Spotify's revenue this quarter, totaling up to €1.3 billion, 34% higher year-on-year. That keeps Sp...
Charlize Theron: Romantic comedies make me feel like a loser
The 43-year-old actress explained that a modeling agent had recommended the audition after she told the agent she wanted to try acting. "He had a very healthy ego, he felt very good about himself", ...
Cent and Randall Emmett's Beef Explained - Plus, Lala Kent's Involvement
The rapper was back on social media Sunday looking to embarrass Emmett with a series of posts after repeated warnings of retribution if he didn't pay back the loan, which 50 Cent said was at $1 mi...
Khloé Kardashian Opens Up About Sticking With Cheating Ex Tristan Thompson
She later shared, "It's hard to overcome cheating. So I'm really just trying to reevaluate what is important to me and really make the right decision". "Will you ever really get back to where you were...
Sigourney Weaver helps school celebrate 'Alien' production
She embraced one teen (who portrayed Ripley in the play) as the rest of the cast screamed in exhilaration. I can't imagine a greater nerdy validation than Sigourney Weaver showing up for your Ali...
Woodstock 50 Has Been Canceled
Rumors about the fate of Woodstock 50 began when the festival missed its April 22nd on-sale date, Rolling Stone said . Talk about an L... The 50th-anniversary event was scheduled to feature per...
Deepika Padukone casts vote, clears 'confusion'..
We saw some of the big stars from Bollywood like Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, Shilpa Shetty, Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan arriving in style for ...
United States broadcaster Larry King suffers heart attack
He has previously suffered with two heart attacks prior to the latest health scare. According to the statement , King experienced angina - a type of chest pain - and he was admitted to the hospital e...
Director John Singleton to be taken off life support following stroke
Singleton had suffered a stroke and was on life support, and his family made the decision to take him off that life support. On Monday morning, Singleton's family shared the heartbreaking news ...
Backstage News On Why Lio Rush Has Heat In WWE
Some of the frustration stems from Rush's insistence to have his wife present at nearly all times. Last week saw Lio Rush subjected to fresh reports of backstage heat in WWE, with the Wrestling Ob...
Offset Reunites With His Estranged Father After 23 Years
Offset stocks just went up ten fold after watching the clip and reading what he wrote in the caption. It was while he was on a promo tour for the project that he revealed on " The Breakfast Club " he...
Brian Cage Rushed To Emergency Room Following Rebellion PPV
Cage's polarizing night was far from over. Brian Cage lost a great deal of blood early on in the match but he was able to continue on to finish Impact off with the "Drill Claw" to become the new IMPAC...
Kim Kardashian Celebrates Baby #4 With "CBD and Meditation" Baby Shower
On Saturday, Kim hosted a CBD and meditation-themed baby shower at her home. Instead of baby-themed games and colourful snacks, Kardashian opted for a wellness-focused approach featuring meditat...
Shah Rukh Khan to not announce his next anytime soon
It was in recently when Shah Rukh Khan attended the closing ceremony of the Beijing Film Festival in China for the screening of Zero . The actor had said, "I think I will take a decision for the ne...
Fornite's Daily Item Shop Is Selling Black Widow Items
Fortnite's update 8.50 is online, as is the Fortnite x Avengers event, so it is logical to expect that the store update will also be superhero-themed, and so it is. This is the Black Widow skin...
Shannen Doherty to return for 'BH90210'
The same day the project was announced, it was also announced that of the original cast, only Jason Priestley (Brandon Walsh), Jennie Garth (Kelly Taylor), Brian Austin Green (David Silver), To...
Justin & Hailey Bieber Shut Down Pregnancy & Selena Gomez Rumors
Justin directly addressed a fan who kept bringing up his ex, "ur immature the fact that you have an account dedicated to dissing my wife and I is absolutely absurd why would I dedicated my whole life...
Watch Emilia Clarke prank New Yorkers dressed as Jon Snow
Watch below. Fans who want a shot at the opportunity have to donate to her charity, SameYou , which is working to raise $1 million to study ways that young people can recover from brain injury and st...
Cranberries 'thanking Dolores' for songs on final album
The members, Dolores O'Riordan as lead vocalist, guitarist Noel Hogan , bassist Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler , were in the studio working on what is now their final studio album when volca...
Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Planning Africa Tour With Royal Baby?
As the world eagerly awaits news of his royal baby, the Duke of Sussex is adamantly attending as many special engagements as he can. It's likely to be his last public appearance before the birth o...
NXT Referee Tom Castor Comments On Breaking His Leg During Live Event
WWE referee Tom Castor suffered a rather gruesome leg break during an NXT live event in Omaha, Nebraska on Thursday - but still managed to make the one-two-three count at the end of the match. I'm r...
NASCAR penalizes 8 teams just before Talladega
Off the race's final restart with four laps to go, Bowman and Elliott made quick work of the leaders to take control of the race by planting themselves in the bottom lane. His older brother, Austin, f...
Prince Harry Attends London Marathon Amid Meghan Markle Baby Watch
As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex used their joint social media account to wish their nephew, Prince Louis , many happy returns on his first birthday, royal commentator Kaitlianj Menza assumed th...
John Singleton's Daughter Disputes That Filmmaker Is in a Coma
Cleopatra Singleton recommends that her older brother Maasai or her grandfather Danny be named conservator of her father and his estate instead of Ward. The conservatorship would be established to pre...
WWE Legend Feels Sasha Banks' Career Is Over
According to Atlas, sending her home was just a message by WWE and Sasha Banks' career is now over with because of her actions. He continued, "What they'll do is have a meeting". As most of you know...
Model dies after becoming ill on catwalk at Sao Paulo's Fashion Week
A statement from organisers said model Tales Soares fell ill on Saturday while he took part in a parade for Spanish fashion label Ocksa. Tales - who also worked under the name Tales Cotta - was ...
Maltese ten-year-old gets 'golden buzzer' on Britain's Got Talent
She deserved the golden buzzer though!' With this year's BGT now in full swing, former judge Morgan is dropping hints about a potential return to the talent show, and has revealed on social media ...
Chris Pratt Toasts Fiancee Katherine Schwarzenegger at Bridal Shower!
Live music reportedly played in the background for the shower. Katherine wore a long, white dress and had her hair down, pulled to the side with a matching white clip. Katherine Schwarzenegger an...


To lead the community in promoting health and preventing disease.
All people in our community have the opportunities they need to thrive in a safe and healthy environment.
Browse a listing of the divisions and personnel of the Health Department.
Learn about the employment opportunities within the Health Department, and other departments throughout the county.
Check out the Facebook page of Whatcom County's Health Department.
Follow the Health Department on Twitter for up to date information relating to the health of our county.
Find locations and hours of our facilities.


text:
Q: notepad++ handling / converting binary command characters I'm using notepad++. i want to copy my code and then paste it in a simple textarea of little program (which obfuscates variables, removes blank lines & comments) and returns it.
the problem is my code contains binary command characters (like the NUL in white writing with black background) which the program cant handle.
my questions is, is there a simple way to convert these command charachters into something safe, run the program, and then convert them back?
thanks

A: In SynWrite editor this converting of NULL char can be done. Synwrite has text-converters (Run menu): described in help file topic.
PSPad has similar text-conv feature (Tools menu).
Or you can use a regex to replace [\x00-\x19] with new string.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


From time to time, the "staff" here at Bart Takes on Sports Cliches will come upon other fledgling sports writers doing their part to fight the good fight against ESPN. For instance, I highly recommend you check out former The Post assistant sports editor Rob Mixer's blog, which never shies away from taking shot or two at the sports "news" giant. But, I digress.
Soccer, the game the Europeans call "football" and the Americans call "tedious", is gearing up for its quadrennial cluster- flock which they oh-so pretentiously call the World Cup.
While we Americans brace ourselves for a month-long diversion from Real Sports and face the threat of having portions of actual televised games inflicted on us if we let our guard down — a brief primer on this sport — like competition is perhaps in order.
Soccer is a game in which 11 players on a side kick a spherical object down a 110 meter rectangular field toward a defended goal. It is believed to have been invented by the Scots in the Eighteenth century. However, with the demise of their short-lived Highlands Boulder League in 1803, many hoped the game would be lost to civilization. Eventually, as with all things Scottish, the game was stolen by the British and refined over the centuries to its current level of abject boredom.
While the goals themselves are large enough to park two garbage trucks bumper to bumper, even the most elite teams are utterly incapable of scoring more than two goals in any 90 minute game. On those rare occasions when three goals are scored in a game, Parliament goes into special session and Euro Disney opens its turnstiles to all. While four goal games are virtually unheard of — during the last recorded instance, a 4- 0 trouncing of Liverpool FC by Real Madrid in 2004 — it is well documented that the silly looking guy on the back of the 50 pound note actually shed stigmata tears.
While Soccer's irredeemable vapidity sets it apart, it does share one sports attribute with a full- blooded American sport: NASCAR racing. These two pastimes, to the exclusion of all other respectable sports, have sold out their image and their outerwear to soulless corporations: Chelsea to Samsung, Arsenal to Emirates Air, Real Madrid to bwim.com… the shameful list goes on. Even the once proud Manchester United Club —formerly the inspiration to kit and kin throughout The British Empire— now bears the satanic mark of "AIG". Nothing bespeaks soccer greatness like, you know, single-handedly causing the collapse of the world's economy for a goddamn generation!
Like many other elements of the game, soccer's penalty scheme is particularly egregious. Yellow card cautions are liberally dispensed when one player brushes the shoestrings of another, causing him to forthwith dive onto the turf and spend five minutes writhing in faux agony. The red card, on the other hand, is handed out when one player actually does trip another, who forthwith dives onto the turf and spends ten minutes writhing in faux agony… until shuffled off the pitch on a gurney to the solemn strains of Greig's Funeral March.
But of all the penalties in all the sports in all the world, nothing compares to "offsides" in soccer. As far as can be ascertained, "offsides" is the penalty that is called when a goal is scored at a critical point in the game, which threatens to make the game marginally interesting or competitive. To avoid such a catastrophic outcome, soccer officials have been painstakingly trained to call this penalty judiciously– irrespective of the positions of actual players on the field– and to wave off any pesky goals that might have the unwelcome effect of invigorating the crowd.
Deprived of any opportunity for a goal or a change of momentum in the game, the soccer fan (live or tuning in on TV) returns to his slumber. Those who brought knitting projects to the game return to their craft. Those who did not, well, they drink excessive amounts of beer and sing …sort of… a raunchy, post- apocalyptic collection of bawdy tunes generally categorized as "football songs." These "songs" are worthy of anthropological study—so that future cultures can enact rigorous laws to prohibit their public rendering.
But perhaps nowhere is soccer's' futility more succinctly expressed than in its roster of so-called "football heroes." Not since the Mussolini Regime have such a collection of self-important, over- compensated and outright annoying individuals occupied such a lofty perch on the European stage.
David Beckham serves as a prime example. With all the loyalty and fidelity of a Somali Pirate, Beckham consistently abandons flag and country to mindlessly follow the banner of greed across international boundaries. After a stint at Manchester United in the (so-called) Premier League, Beckham tinkled on the Union Jack and signed with Real Madrid in 2003. Dissatisfied with the huge sums of money offered up by the Spaniards, Beckham bid them "buenos dias" for the sun and surf of Southern California to sign with the L.A. Galaxy. Thus far during his L.A. stint, he has led the Galaxy to previously unattained heights of mediocrity. Not content with even this level of brazenness, Beckham then sold out LA to play midfield for Italian giant AC Milan, which, dear reader, brings the Mussolini analogy to full circle.
Other examples of unworthy soccer heroes are abundant: Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo , Roberto Carlos… the list goes mercilessly on. Unlike their American counterparts— Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez and Bret Favre, for example—who labor hard in relative obscurity for love of the game alone, these footballers are unworthy icons of corporate greed. They are a bane to our youth and should be banned from our shores until they have publicly renounced their vile sport and earnestly asked forgiveness.
So as this year's World Cup winds laboriously on, we Americans can actually take pride in the fact that we do not excel at this lackluster, overrated sport. For us, defeat in soccer is Victory!
As a proud subject of the Queen, I take great offence at Mister Biffney's blustery critique of European football.
As today's USA v England World Cup match shows, we British are fully capable of competing with the Americans and, just because we only scored one goal, and a pathetic one at that, … that does not mean that all of our basic assumptions about British supremacy (and perhaps life itself) will come crashing down around our shoulders.