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Moves to restore market confidence as shares plunge
Chapman, Peter
Vol.7, No.34, 20.9.01, p4
By Peter Chapman
THE terrorist attacks on America left many questions in its wake, not least of which being who was behind the deadly mission.
But for the economic and financial world, struggling against plunging share prices and a loss of investor confidence, the most compelling question is how to stave off a global recession.
The EU's response comes under the spotlight this weekend, when its economic policy elite put their heads together in the Belgian city of Liège.
Making sense of a week of flux will not be easy. Markets continued to fall and job losses mounted even after the European Central Bank and Federal Reserve won praise from analysts for knocking another half point off interest rates on Monday in a bid to bolster confidence.
Shares in companies ranging from German sports-wear giant Adidas Salomon to French carmaker Renault dived, while Royal Dutch/Shell Group issued a profits warning on Wednesday as the prospect of a recession began to appear inevitable.
On Wednesday, Dutch bank ABN Amro said it was downgrading its growth prediction for the US from 2.5% before the attacks to zero - with follow-on effects right through the global economy.
A key question in Liège is whether the EU will match action in the US, where airlines have won the promise of a $20 billion rescue package on top of a wider $40 billion emergency spending programme for US industry.
Belgian finance minister Didier Reynders offered hope of similar action at EU level when he said there must be an immediate analysis of the impact on key industries to see the need for special measures starting this weekend.
This followed an earlier reaction from the European Commission, which said there would be little need for loosening state aid rules for harmed sectors - despite reports that airlines such as Belgian carrier Sabena faced bankruptcy.
Reynders said the Commission had been asked to supply figures on the likely impact on key sectors, including energy, transport and insurance, and an analysis of how US aid would affect the market. "We must see if it is possible to agree with such an intervention in the US without a distortion of competition and after that to see if it is possible to do something in the EU," he said.
Meanwhile, the Belgian finance chief, who chairs both Friday's meeting of 12 eurozone ministers - exceptionally opened-up to non-eurozone counterparts - and Saturday's full 'ecofin' session put a brave face on the EU's economic prospects. "It is impossible to say now what will be the evolution...but I am sure we have good fundamentals in the European and US economy." Nevertheless, he stressed that finance ministers and central bankers would also take a hard look at what last week means for prospects for growth in 2002 and budgetary policy.
Lurking in the background is the EU's stability and growth pact, which imposes tough discipline on member states in order to rein-in excessive government spending and borrowing.
Reynders said the prospect of lower growth this year and in 2002 would need to be discussed: "It is sure that there is an evolution with growth this year, so we must take account of that."
But he insisted there is still no reason to veer from the pact, which allows countries to run deficits above 3% only in exceptional circumstances. "The most difficult step must be the new definition of new stability programmes for next year. But we must do that with the same link - the same band as the stability pact. I am sure we must stick to the stability pact at this time also."
Reynders' comments were followed by an even more upbeat assessment of economic prospects by German ECB board member Ernst Welteke in an interview with CNN.
He said the most important factor would be the reaction of the US military to last week's attacks.
But he insisted the US and EU economies were strong enough to withstand last week's attacks.
He predicted that some sectors, particularly construction in Germany, would come out of the doldrums, with the help of low interest rates.
Ironically, last week's events gave the euro a boost as currency traders took a more favourable view of the single currency vis a vis the dollar - with the euro worth a respectable 92 US cents late on Wednesday.
The concerted effort with the Federal Reserve to drop interest rates on the same day also won praise as an example of good co-ordination. "It is impossible to say whether it will be enough but it was a good decision," said Reynders.
But more important than cutting rates by 0.5%, he said, was "the decision to make a decision together".
Nevertheless the ECB did not escape criticism for its handling of the rate cut.
Some members of the European Parliament's economic and monetary committee - the body charged with public oversight of the ECB's actions - attacked bank president Wim Duisenberg for sending confusing signals to the markets before the announcement. Duisenberg told reporters at a conference in Helsinki that it was too early to come to a judgement on the impact on economic growth of last week's events and rushed action would be tantamount to panic.
But only hours later, the ECB's governing bodies had 'met' by teleconference to announce their cut, stating "that recent events in the US were likely to weigh adversely on confidence in the euro area".
Luxembourger MEP Robert Goebbels said this was another example of Duisenberg misleading the markets. "I am sure this led to sell orders that would not have been placed," said Goebbels, adding that Duisenberg had a "communication problem".
However others sprang to the Dutchman's defence. ECB insiders insist Duisenberg's comments were overblown by the financial press. And EMAC chairwoman Christa-Randzio Plath took a swipe at her colleague, claiming Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan and Duisenberg must have agreed on a joint strategy during the weekend. "All this is very short sighted," she said, adding: "we only know what was said in public. None of us knows that it was not the explicit demand [of Greenspan] that coordination should work as it did."
Feature looks at the economic impact in Europe of the terrorist attack in the US, 11 September 2001.


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Tag: 300 rise of an empire
300: Rise of an Empire Review
Genre – Action
Director – Noam Murro
Cast – Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey,
Alluring element – A sequel to the epic 2006 movie about the Spartan 300
Scorecard:
Plot – 8
Acting – 8
Representation of Genre – 9
Cinematography – 9
Effects/Environment – 9
Captivity – 7
Logical consistency – 7
Originality/Creativity – 8
Soundtrack/Music – 8
Overall awesomeness – 8
Rise of an Empire marks the return of the Frank Miller-based story of Greek's resistance against the Persian Empire. After great success of the first film, ROAE builds on the story in a weird kind of backwards-spinoff way. We begin our tale a decade before the battle at the Hot Gates, where Themistokles (not to be confused with the Greek mythologist Themistocles – just so there is no allusion of historical accuracy here) leads the Athenians in a well-planned attack against the Persians. Themistokles ends up putting an arrow in King Darius and sparking his son, Xerxes, to give his soul to become a God-king. Xerxes, however, is just a token for the real story.
Well Scissor Me Timbers!
Judging by the trailers, I figured that this movie would follow the same formula as its predecessor. That is, Themistokles rises against the Persians, the Persians throw everything they can at the Athenians, and then somehow, one of them comes out victorious. I also thought that Xerxes would have a lot more screen time than he actually did. His whole back-story seemed for naught, because it added nothing to Xerxes' character – or anybody else's for that matter. Instead, the plot follows the strategic battle between Artemisia (Green) and Themistokles as they are in deadlocked in naval battle. It's an interesting approach that gave it some much-needed separation from just being a 300 film.
That being said, Rise of an Empire brings with it the return of everything that made 300 such an enjoyable film. The bullet time kills are all there in its barbaric splendor. We didn't see the film in IMAX 3D, but the way the fight scenes are orchestrated, we could tell that this was a movie that was made for, not adapted to, 3D film. The cartoonish way the blood flows and limbs are dismembered helps take away from the gruesomeness of the violence. The aspect that always stands out to me is the choice in colors. Themistokles' royal blue cape is a sharp contrast to the Spartan red, and the melancholy grays of the Greek skyline.
It's not just limited to color swaps, though. The difference between the Athenian and Spartan army is very apparent. The Athenians know it, the Spartans know it, and now we know it. The Athenians are stout politicians and strategists, where the Spartans rely on unwavering strength and brotherhood. The fact that the Athenians were everyday tradesmen really rings true; they're still incredibly fit, but nowhere near the 24-packs the Spartans sport. The Immortals, for one, are much more terrifying in this film as they tear through the Greek ranks of farmers and sculptors. The battle scenes are also distinct from 300. Most of the action in Rise of an Empire takes place on the Aegean Sea. So, it's not as breakneck paced as 300, but there's still an ample amount of bloodshed.
300: Rise of an Empire clocked in just less than ten minutes less runtime than the original, but it felt a whole lot shorter. It felt as though there were more moving pieces and more character development. While Themistokles hogs up most of the screen time, the real winners of the film are Artemisia and Queen Gorgo – the two lead women. Both are characters that viewers will gravitate to for their fortitude and wit ("You've come a long way to stroke your cock while real men train!"). They are strong and they are respected; they have the most powerful position among the two armies, and yet they're still objectified. It culminated in one weird, hardcore display of affection between Artemisia and Themistokles that left me laughing out of confusion and discomfort; I felt the same way watching this scene with two of my best friends as I did watching Kate Winslet's boobs in Titanic with my parents… at ten years old.
Honestly, with the blockbuster that 300 was, Rise of an Empire could have coasted the whole way through on the coattails of the original – and in many ways, that's exactly what it did. However, the formula didn't always work, as the "inspirational" speeches from Themistokles pail in comparison to the cries to battle that Leonidas gave his troops. The development from farmers to proud warriors happens too abruptly to be believable. The story feels incomplete, as nothing is really resolved once the credits roll, and unlike 300, there are no real lessons to learn at the end of Rise of an Empire.
Make your own 300 war face here
There was plenty of visual stimulation; from the killing to the unique cinematography, I was enthralled throughout. However, the abrupt climax and logical missteps really take away from any movie empire that Frank Miller had been hoping to build upon. Rise of the Empire a clear case of style over substance, but it's enough to tip the scales in favor of wanting to see the film.
All photos belong to Warner Bros. and Frank Miller
Posted on March 8, 2014 May 12, 2014 Author Sherif ElkhatibCategories Movie Reviews, MoviesTags 300, 300 rise of an empire, ancient greece, frank miller, greek boy lovers, movie review, movies, Themistokles, this is sparta, warner brothers, xerxesLeave a comment on 300: Rise of an Empire Review
Diggin' Through the Crates: Lupe Fiasco "Lightwork"
Artist: Lupe Fiasco
Song: "Lightwork"
Album: Friend of the People: I Fight Evil (2011), a mixtape that followed up his third studio album (Lasers). Free download here.
Lyric: "They wanna be fiascoes, reproduce his failures/Emperor is his alias, but not Marcus Aurelius/This is more like Sparta: kick you down a well, kid"
Character Reference/Meaning:
With the release of 300: Rise of an Empire, we felt that this week's "Diggin' Through the Crates" had to be a reference to 300. Most casual fans might not know that before Gerard Butler was dining in hell, 300 was a mini-series run published by Dark Horse Comics in 1999 written by Frank Miller, the same creative genius behind Sin City, The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One. Not only does today mark the return of 300 to the theaters, but it also marks the return of Lupe Fiasco to "DTC." A few months ago, Lupe made the pages of Hush for his Wolverine references. We try to switch up the artists as much as we can, but this was the best Spartan/300 reference out there – And believe me, there were plenty to choose from.
Just to catch some people up, the scene in 300 that Lupe is referencing is when a Persian messenger comes to relay a message to the King of Sparta, Leonidas. The message is this: we own you now; lay down your arms, kneel before us, and we won't slaughter your men and enslave your children. It sounded like quite the raw deal, as Leonidas thought, and so he showed his hospitality by kicking the messenger down a giant well. Aside from being one crowd-pleasing moment, it's also a sentiment that resonates within the Hip-Hop community.
In poor, urban communities like the ones Wasalu Jaco (Lupe) grew up in, there's always somebody coming in to take what you and yours have. This might surprise you, but a lot of the time, that doesn't always come in the shape of peers. The Athenians and Spartans frequently butt heads. They fought with each other for the dominance of Greece multiple times. When the Persian empire came to their doorstep, both were out-powered by the unstoppable force.
Today, gentrification and police abuse are the Xerxes and prison is the new slavery (oh yeah, I went there). Young black men are constantly antagonized by the police officers and ridiculed by white wealth. It's no surprise that Hip-Hop artists gravitate towards being able to tell somebody to get the hell out of their home.
The line "They wanna be fiascoes, reproduce his failures" is a clever play on words, as the word "fiasco" is actually Greek for failure. Lupe also references Marcus Aurelius, a Greek philosopher that the Spartans saw as a personification for weakness. You can tell Lupe really does his homework.
Posted on March 7, 2014 May 12, 2014 Author Sherif ElkhatibCategories Diggin Through the Crates, MusicTags 300, 300 rise of an empire, chicago, diggin through the crates, frank miller, gentrification, hip hop, hip-hop, lupe fiasco, nerd, persian empire, rap music, sparta, this is spartaLeave a comment on Diggin' Through the Crates: Lupe Fiasco "Lightwork"
Shut Up and Take My Money: 300 Helmet Licensed Replica
The money in our bank account is limited, so how unfair is it that there are endless gadgets, collectibles and toys out there that demand to be purchased? Let us help you sift through the crap, so you don't can save that hard-earned cash for the things that deserve it. In other words, we give you the power to go to the counter and say, "Shut Up and Take My Money!"
Item: 300 Helmet Licensed Replica
What it is: What is it? IT IS SPARTA! The universally recognized headpiece from Leonidas and the 300 elite Spartans can be yours. Lucky for you, you don't need to stab a wolf, kick a dude down a well or have a twelve pack of ab muscles. All you gotta do is put up the cash and order it online. This isn't your average replica; it's forged in hell itself…. Okay sorry, getting carried away. The helmet is made of steel, plated in brass and lined in leather. That last bit lets you know that this baby was meant to be worn, not put on display like some boy-loving Greek.
How Much it Costs: The retail price of this glorious headpiece is over $300. It's a steep price for a replica, but when you think about movie and show replicas, it's rare to find a collectible that embodies the spirit of the source material so fully. There are other options if you can't throw down the full votive, there are tons of awesome-looking hand-made helmets that also bring glory to Sparta.
Is It Worth It?: Oh hell yeah it is. It is literally the coolest thing you can buy for the dollar amount. And you can wear it anywhere, literally anywhere. I mean, have you personally ever made fun of a Spartan helmet? No, you haven't, because anybody that rocks a Spartan helmet is one bad mutha. Only thing is, you need some Xerxes type wealth to comfortably afford this. You could always spring for the hand-made models on eBay, but if we're talking about a home-made model, I'd rather get my hands on a 3-D printer and make my own than spend $100 on somebody else's work – as cool as it may be.
Bottom Line: It is almost too awesome to pass up. I can't even imagine how cool it would be to go see 300: Rise of an Empire this weekend and find somebody in the seats wearing this. I couldn't even get mad at him for blocking my view. All things considered, I wouldn't mess with this collectible due to the price tag, but it is a beauty.
Written by Sherif Elkhatib
Posted on March 4, 2014 May 12, 2014 Author Sherif ElkhatibCategories Shut Up and Take My Money!, ToysTags 300, 300 helmet, 300 rise of an empire, collectibles, comic books, dark horse, frank miller, rise of an empire, shut up and take my money, sparta, spartans, this is spartaLeave a comment on Shut Up and Take My Money: 300 Helmet Licensed Replica
So Far This Week… January 22, 2014
With the expansion of Hush Comics, we have decided to give bi-weekly news updates. Anything we find news-worthy will be posted here every Wednesday and Sunday. Have anything to add? Post it in the comments!
So far this week…
Quickly following the release of the next DC Animated film which debuts in less than two weeks (February 4th), Justice League: War, it has been announced that an animated adaptation of Grant Morrison's Batman & Son story titled Son of Batman will be released in the Spring of 2014. Chronicling the introduction of Damian Wayne, this will be a great addition to the DC Animated library. Check out the trailer below.
DC won't be the only comic book company getting some animated love; Marvel will be releasing an anime-style movie called Marvel Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher, coming straight to DVD on March 25 I'm really excited to see a darker animated film of two of the most brutal enforcers in the Marvel universe. You can find more details here or just check out the trailer below.
Everybody holding out hope that the open world bounty hunter game, Star Wars 1313, would still be produced after LucasArts was sold are going to be sorely disappointed. Disney has officially dropped the trademark on the game's title, essentially dropping it in the sarlack pit for good. Wanna know more about this game changer that could have been? Click here.
Don't be too down in the dumps, Star Wars nerds! There have been heavy talks about a Boba Fett spin-off film. Only thing is, he might not be the Fett you grew up with. If you're intrigued by Lawrence Kadsan's (acclaimed Star Wars producer) alteration of the great bounty hunter, check this out.
In an amazing show of love, a couple in Denmark have crafted a table-top version of a Mass Effect reaper, a world destroying drone for the popular science-fiction video-game. It's terribly realistic, which does the nearly month-long construction justice. You can learn more about this couple and their pet drone here.
It's a LEGO'opoly out there! LEGO and Marvel have once again teamed up to come out with LEGO sets (and assumed videogame connection) for Captain America: Winter Soldier, Amazing Spiderman 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy, the latter of which will be released in August, right in time for the film. You'd think will all these sets coming out that the price would decrease.
In comics news, Dr. Who will be finding himself a new home after leaving IDW Comics (home to some of our favorite independent comics like TMNT, Samurai Jack and Locke & Key) for a lesser known Titan Comics, ending a six-year run with IDW. We're not sure how we feel about it, but check the facts and let us know how you feel.
It's been a while since Bruce Willis has blown something up in a futuristic sci-fi thriller (uh, you mean like in Looper?). This film, titled Vice, portrays a society where people are allowed to take out primal urges on androids. Complications arise when one of the androids becomes self-aware. There are more details here.
The script for a new Fantastic Four film, slated to release in June 2015, has been finished, with casting to begin within a month. I might be the only one who thinks Marvel is beating a dead horse with the FF franchise, but I am excited at the prospect of Michael B. Jordan (The Wire, Fruitvale Station) playing the Human Torch. Those interested should check out this article.
So if the New 52 Justice League International didn't work out, and the current Justice League of America isn't working out… the next logical step is to release Justice League: Canada, right? DC Comics logic has me confused. It's since been renamed Justice League United, and features another ensemble cast of lesser-known DC characters. Check out our reviews when this book drops April 23rd.
New trailers have been released for Maleficent and 300: Rise of an Empire, both of which are on our 'must see' list for 2014.
Quentin Tarantino is PISSED! Somebody leaked his finished script for what was supposed to be his next film, a Western titled The Hateful Eight. The leak caused him to go on a Pulp Fiction-esque rant, the entirety of which can be found here.
Miniature Dollhouse reunion, you say?! It's true! You can watch the trailer for Lust for Love starring Franz Kranz, Dichen Lachman, Enver Gjokaj and Felicia Day right here. Then you can squeal about Whedonverse.
Check back on Sunday to get a new round-up!
Posted on January 22, 2014 May 12, 2014 Author Hush ComicsCategories NewsTags 300 rise of an empire, batman and son, black widow, fantastic four, geek, hush comics, January 22 2014, justice league canada, justice league war, lego, lucasarts, maleficent, marvel avengers, mass effect, nerd, news, punisher, so far this week, star wars, whats new, whedonverse1 Comment on So Far This Week… January 22, 2014

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I was trying to build an Easter egg today. I wanted the egg to roll back and forth. From what I understand, the base of the egg has to be heavier than the peak. How do I do this, Is it possible to have different layer settings for top and bottom of the print?


Consumers Energy's mission is to provide our members with reliable electric service in a safe manner at affordable and equitable rates.
Consumers Energy is a local, member-owned electric cooperative located in Marshalltown, Iowa, with an outpost located in Nevada, Iowa. The cooperative provides electric service to over 5,000 members throughout five counties in Central Iowa: Marshall, Story, Polk, Jasper, and Tama.


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EBAN Brussels Winter University 2019
Investor Day 19 – Where CEE's Leading Investors Meet
EVPA Annual Conference 2019
The African Business Angel by Tomi Davies
The African Business Angel – An Early Stage Investment Opportunity
Last year everyone was curious about Mark Zuckerberg's visit to the African continent, wondering why he was there and what he meant when he said "The future will be built in Africa".
Photo 1 Sep 2016, Mark Zuckerberg walks the streets of Lagos, Nigeria (Technpoint.ng)
Well first it's the people. According to a report by the African Development Bank (AfDB), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with 200 million people aged between 15 and 24 (a figure expected to double by 2045), Africa has the youngest population in the world.
Then there's the economy. Conventional wisdom documented by the Economist and Time Magazine now has it that Africa went from a "hopeless continent" in 2000 to "Rising Africa" in 2012 and an economy with a 5% GDP growth rate in 2016. The continent's changing economic fortunes have been in a large part due to its rich natural resources and youthful human capital driving the private sector in spite of historic public sector challenges.
However, it's really the entrepreneurial spirit that's driving the changing narrative. The African early stage investment ecosystem today is a dynamic cocktail of young entrepreneurs, hubs & accelerators, angel & venture capital investors, development institutions, professional service providers, networking & demonstration events. The recent emergence of local angel investors, syndicates and networks is a key addition and notable contributor to this ecosystem.
A 2016 study by VC4Africa the largest online community of venture capitalists, angel investors and entrepreneurs in Africa showed that early stage African companies are securing increasing amounts of investment with both revenue and team size continuing to increase. As these enterprises formalize their operations they are creating meaningful employment opportunities for their fellow citizens and contributing to the tax base of local governments, which in turn increases their ability to invest in infrastructure and social services. This becomes economically critical when considering the fact that over 40% of the Sub-Saharan African population is under 14 years old. So, in more ways than one, the future of the continent will be shaped by the continued success of its entrepreneurs and their enterprises.
The African entrepreneurial base and early stage ecosystem has dramatically grown over the last few years, and the quality of the ventures being created have also improved. These key factors have resulted in some key trends that are considerably influencing the African early stage investment landscape.
The first of these trends is a growing interest from African diaspora to invest in startups in their country of origin. African Diaspora entrepreneurs who run businesses in their destination countries are increasingly setting up businesses in their countries of origin as well. In addition, a significant number of people who are not entrepreneurs in their destination countries are using their experience and skills to start up new commercial ventures in their countries of origin. In each case, there are multiple motivating factors.
Setting up business in their countries of origin enables Africans in diaspora to profitably transfer the knowledge, skills, experiences and opportunities gained in their destination countries. These businesses also provide vehicles through which the diaspora are starting to make substantive contributions to innovation, production and development in their countries of origin. In addition to the jobs being created in the local economies, the profits accumulated enable these investor entrepreneurs to lead a better quality of life than they would otherwise be able to in their destination countries.
Another key trend is the increasing number of business professionals in Africa that are turning into angel investor locally and contributing to the development of their respective countries. While there is still much work to be done to educate potential angel investors on the concepts and best practices of early stage investing, according to the African Business Angel Network (ABAN) "2016 was a firm step in the right direction for angel investing across Africa, and the level of activity suggests the angel investing landscape has come-of-age on the continent" as the number of angel groups in Africa almost doubled from 25 at the end of 2015 to 40 spread across 25 African countries by the close of 2016.
This growth in business angel activities was highlighted by the Lagos Angel Network (LAN) of Nigeria introducing syndicated "Deal Days" and launching of the South African Business Angel Network (SABAN). Discussions of the "African Opportunity" at key global events and support from critical global institutions such as AfDB, World Bank and EIB for early stage investing in Africa have also increased.
African policy makers are yet to introduce incentives for angel investing but when compared to the Europe and US, angel investors in Africa need relatively little capital to become notable players in the early stage investment market. This presents a real opportunity for new and small players from the US and Europe who relocate to or focus on the African early stage market to have a superior market position.
However, these international investors must be cautious as making investments in unfamiliar environments can be extremely risky. It is strongly advised investors co-invest or at least get the support of trusted local partners when making investments in early stage African companies. Local partners especially active business angels, syndicates and networks will be aware of the prevailing business environment and can help oversee the structuring, management, diligence as well as the closing of investment deals. They will also be critical resources in the subsequent monitoring and evaluation of the investments performance and growth leading to exit.
Tomi Davies, Feb 2017
Tomi Davies is an Advisor, Keynote Speaker, Angel Investor and Advocate of the African Early Stage Tech Business Ecosystem. He is co-founder of the Lagos Angel Network and President of the African Business Angel Network (ABAN)
Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter & Skype: @TomiDee


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More About Mrs. Laassah
Current News & Updates
Xpressions Of Praise Christian Dance & Performing Arts
Xpressions Of Praise Christian Dance & Performing Arts Xpressions Of Praise Christian Dance & Performing Arts Xpressions Of Praise Christian Dance & Performing Arts
"You don't have to be great to start; Just START, to be GREAT!"
Special Programs & Events
The Artistic Director
Xpressions of Praise CPAA is designed to build character and self-esteem in the lives of each student. We focus on muscle strengthening, development, dance technique styles, the discipline of movement and the education of Christian Dance. It is very important that the dancer develops strong muscle-mass, exude power and strength in order
Xpressions of Praise CPAA is designed to build character and self-esteem in the lives of each student. We focus on muscle strengthening, development, dance technique styles, the discipline of movement and the education of Christian Dance. It is very important that the dancer develops strong muscle-mass, exude power and strength in order to project confidence in any style of dance. The choreography and dancing, in its essence is always symbolic. It is laughter; a profound means of admonishing and the ability to connect audiences to exhilaration in a dancer's world
Mrs. Laassah has trained intensely with Patrick Johnson, Artistic Director for Grand Rapids Community College, in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Modern dance. Her passion for dance began as a child and has developed into a lifestyle, in which she pours out her soul when she's dancing. Her choreography experience began in 1995 with the Grand Rapi
Mrs. Laassah has trained intensely with Patrick Johnson, Artistic Director for Grand Rapids Community College, in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Modern dance. Her passion for dance began as a child and has developed into a lifestyle, in which she pours out her soul when she's dancing. Her choreography experience began in 1995 with the Grand Rapids City-Wide High School Black History Programs. Along with training and developing several local church Praise Dance Ministries, she has had the opportunity to travel worldwide.
Xpressions of Praise Christian Performing Arts Academy strongly believes in providing platforms for students to share their gifts and talents with the world. Annual opportunities are given at our Bi-Annual Recital Showcases, The GR Festival of the Arts, The Balloon Festival, Organizational, church, and school programs to name only a few.
Xpressions of Praise Christian Performing Arts Academy strongly believes in providing platforms for students to share their gifts and talents with the world. Annual opportunities are given at our Bi-Annual Recital Showcases, The GR Festival of the Arts, The Balloon Festival, Organizational, church, and school programs to name only a few. We service our community with Year 'Round Arts opportunities through our Special Programs. Click on - Year 'Round Arts.
'Our Family & 'Our Coaches
Bridging Faith & Community Xpressions Of Praise Christian Dance & Performing Arts has connected with our community by sharing the love of Christ through the Arts since 2014 at Festival of The Arts, Grand Rapids, MI. Building our network of community partners through collaboration in Balloon Festival, churches, organization events, and GRPS Schools.
Our Motto: You don't have to be great to start, just start, to be great. This is evident in the lives we get to touch by providing platforms for those who would otherwise not have the opportunity.
Our Objective: Gifting foundational principles and the education of dance in worship. This demonstrates the connection of the heart of God to the heart of man.
Mission Statement: Building character & self-esteem Building through the Art of dance, drama, etiquette, exercise and music. Bridging Faith and Community by implementing healthy youth programs.
We believe in you! You Are Good Enough!
We aspire to cultivate your passion through movement and drama.
Festival Of The Arts GR
Community events create opportunities to bring our family together and provide platforms to share our gifts.
Our Dance Family Opportunities:
Monthly Open Enrollment
Multiple Family Discounts
Tri-Annual Recital Productions
Quarterly Dance Education Symposiums
Performing Arts College Trips
For Our Community:
Book-A-Party Packages
Wedding Party Packages
Dance Ministry Training
Mrs. Tiffany Jones
Mrs. Tiffany Jones being a Teacher of Academics for 14 years, earning a Bachelors Degree in Education and a MBA in Curriculum. She has had a passion for dance since 1996 and currently is a Teacher of the Art. Mrs. Tiffany has been dancing for 26 years. Her heart is to serve as she volunteers and dedicates her time to building character through dance. In extension, her enjoyment and pride it tied to raising her daughter. Those same morals, values, & goals she unselfishly shares with other young ladies, building a safe community.
Ms. Ja'ila Hall
Ms. Jasmine Gerard
Ms. Jaila Hall has shared her gift of dance since 2008, with studies in Communications, Jazz and Modern Contemporary at Jackson University College. Her passion is to use dance/arts to build relationships and to tell a story through movement. She has been dancing for 12 years and works closely with XOP's Recital Production Team. She embodies the theory and goal of Classy Young Lady's & Sophisticated Jewels Club because she was once a Sophisticated Jewel and has returned to, as she states, "give back to a program I was apart of."
Ms. Jasmine is a budding artist, choreographer, and voice in the dance industry in West Michigan. Jasmine has been dancing & sharing her passion in dance for 17 yrs, seeking to bring all surrounding her closer to Christ. One of her greatest joys is teaching at Rhythm Dance Center & Asst. Director of the community outreach program, Reaching with Rhythm. Jasmine specializes in tap dance, having trained under worldwide professionals including Savion Glover, Star Dixon & more. Jasmine is currently studying general business and entrepreneurship at Grand Rapids Community College
Ms. Damiane Lake
Ms. Kessia Graves
Ms. Damiane has been working in children & young adult ministry since age 16. She believes her steps are ordered by God. Her compassion to encourage, help build confidence, integrity and spiritually connect drives her passion to help young people become everything God designed them to be. She currently majoring in Psychology/Social Work, believing there is a purpose in everyone. Ms. D has worked with XOP's Recital Productions, Stage Manager, PADS Camp, Classy Young Lady's Club and is a registered student of Prophetic Dance classes held at XOP.
Ms. Kessia is an Oakland University Alum. She currently works for the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Communication and Leadership Studies. Her excitement to work with Classy Young Lady's Club & Sophisticated Jewels Club is evident in her choice to volunteer her time and dedication to the program. Her goal is to learn from their experiences as well as share her experiences to help encourage positive connections of support and inspiration. She loves traveling, watching movies and baking.
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SUPER 'XCITING NEWS!!


August 15th, 2011 | Ram Zone- Another year is halfway through, so here at the Ram Truck brand we're thinking to the future. We're excited about the changes we're bringing to you for 2012 , but even more so, proud of the consistency that Chrysler Group LLC has been bringing to the table since 1925. Here's a quick peek at our 2012 offerings. We know you'll enjoy.
The biggest news for the 2012 model year lays with our HD HEMI-powered trucks which are now offered with a new six-speed automatic transmission. This new transmission, called the 66RFE, replaces the previous 545RFE gearbox, and comes standard with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 on all Ram 2500 models.
But that's certainly not all – our Ram Chassis Cab trucks get upgrades and increased capabilities for the 2012 model year. Specifically, the GCWR has been increased to 30,000 lbs., the trucks have been designed with heavier payload towing in mind, and the best improvement of all—Ram trucks now provide a lower cost of ownership.
Also noteworthy are programmable options, allowing customers to select a maximum speed for the 2012 Ram Chassis Cab at no extra cost. Either the factory or the Ram Truck dealer can adjust the speed, with 55, 60, 65, 70 or 75 mph limits. The Ram 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cab trucks, typically used as safety and rescue vehicles, have a standard 87 mph top speed. This is a great feature for those of you that have the occasional lead foot.
The new Ram C/V Cargo Van joins this year's lineup which expands our reach into the small commercial van segment. Ram C/V provides small businesses and commercial customers many competitive advantages including best in class 1,800 lb payload, best in class 144.4 cu-ft cargo capacity and segment exclusive towing capability up to 3,600 lbs. It is powered by a 283 horsepower Pentastar V6 with 25 mpg highway.
Making reappearance for 2012 is the award-winning Ram Power Wagon. The Power Wagon, equipped with electric-locking front and rear differentials, and an electronic disconnecting sway bar, is the most aggressive and equipped off-road-ready pickup truck to menace the streets. The Wagon also boasts Bilstein shocks, 33-inch BF Goodrich off-road tires, underbody skid plate protection, a 4.56 axle ratio for hill climbing and a custom-built Warn 12,000-lb. winch hidden behind the front bumper.
August 4, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – Chrysler Group LLC is recalling 299,718 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans to replace the Occupant Restraint Control (ORC) modules. The ORC modules may have been exposed to moisture and could eventually experience an illumination of the airbag light with the potential for an inadvertent airbag deployment.
This announcement follows a prior recall of the same vehicles in January of 2011 to replace the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) drain grommet, which had the potential to leak moisture into the area of the ORC module.
Chrysler engineers have determined that the printed circuit board in ORC modules previously exposed to moisture could delaminate over time, despite the elimination of the source of prior moisture. This potential delamination could lead to a disruption in the circuitry and compromise airbag performance.
Chrysler reports it is unaware of any accidents or injuries related to the condition in vehicles that have had the prior recall completed. "Despite the lack of field reports, we believe it is in the best interest of our customers to replace these modules to ensure the proper functionality of the minivan's advanced safety system," said David Dillon, Head of Product Investigations and Campaigns.
Most of the vehicles involved are sold in the United States; there are also 50,251 vehicles in Canada; 3,748 vehicles in Mexico, and 13,633 export models.
Chrysler will begin sending letters to customers in September to schedule appointments with dealership service departments for a no-charge repair. Dealer service personnel will replace the ORC modules at no cost to the customer.
Thursday, June 2, 2011, Alan and Jackie Ellis-When you own a Jeep® brand vehicle, it's hard to resist the urge to take your vehicle off-road. We bought our Jeep vehicle to not only experience the adventure lifestyle, but also to go places without the benefit of a paved road. Trail Rated® Jeep brand vehicles offer that opportunity. So with the next series of articles, we'll talk about some basic off-roading techniques and how you can safely enjoy your Jeep 4×4 on the trail. Off-roading can involve many different types of obstacles, each one presenting different challenges for both the driver and the vehicle. Water fording and driving in mud are two obstacles that are fun and exciting if done properly and safely.
Water Obstacles: Crossing streams and water obstacles are fun and exciting! While you've probably seen drivers speed up and roar across a stream, it may not be the smartest thing to do in certain situations….especially through an unknown water obstacle. The first thing you'll need to know is your own vehicle's capability. It is important to check your owner's manual to determine your vehicle's maximum water fording depth. As an example, a 2010 Trail Rated® Jeep Wrangler's maximum water depth is 30 inches at speeds under 5 mph, and a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee is 20 inches for standing water and 9 inches for flowing water, both under 5 mph. If you don't have your manual handy when you get to the water, a general rule of thumb is that water up to the bottom of the bumper is a safe depth to cross to avoid damage (but some models may be lower). Water that is too deep can cause damage to the engine, transmission, differentials, and electronics.
Once you arrive at the water crossing, use a long stick to determine initial water depth, or get out and walk out into the stream if it is not too swift and can be done safely. Put your vehicle in 4WD Low, drive slowly, and be ready to back off if the water gets too deep. Watch for large rocks or holes that may appear as you cross. It's also important to remember to keep moving at all times and not to stop mid-stream. Never cross a water obstacle without another vehicle to assist with recovery equipment if needed. After crossing, use your brakes lightly until they dry out. If necessary have your vehicle inspected to check for water in the differential or transmission.
Mud: Usually, if there is water present, there will also be mud. Mud can also take us by surprise as it can sometimes be camouflaged by other debris. Or….maybe you just want to go mudding! Either way, mud can be a fun challenge on an off-road trail. Unlike water (where you can sometimes see the depth), the depth of mud can be hard to judge. You can get seriously stuck in mud, so it's essential to make sure you have recovery equipment and another vehicle close by to pull you out if needed.
Do not proceed if there are no tracks on the other side of the mud hole. The important thing about mud is to make sure you're in 4WD low, avoid excessively spinning the tires, and KEEP MOVING. Beware of the middle of deep ruts where you could easily high-center. If you start to get bogged down, slightly turn your steering wheel from side to side to gain more traction while continuing forward momentum. Once you get back to civilization, use a pressure washer to clean the underside of your vehicle to get rid of excess weight and prevent corrosion.
Water and mud can be fun and challenging off-roading obstacles. By keeping these tips in mind, you can enjoy your Trail Rated® Jeep vehicle as it was meant to be used without compromising safety and without damaging your vehicle. Do you like water and mud obstacles? Where is a great place in your area where water and mud can be enjoyed with your Jeep brand vehicle?
As always, click any of the pictures in this post to see more images of Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Vehicles. Thanks again for checking out Chrysler Catchall!


Install virtual box additions on the guest os. Then shutdown the guest OS. Open the guestos settings in virtual box. Then add a shared folder and save the settings.... Hi, I looked for the directions on how to create a shared folder on an OS X (Lion) and Ubuntu (11.13) Guest, but was unable to find them. I have done this in the past with an older version of VirtBox, but I'm having trouble with 4.1.8.
virtualbox.org View topic - Create shared folder?
7/04/2015 · To share a host folder with a virtual machine in Virtual Box, you must specify the path of that folder and choose for it a "share name" that the guest can use to access it. Hence, first create the shared folder on the host; then, within the guest, connect to it.... 11/06/2016 · I have been running Windows 10 in VirtualBox and accessing files across OS's via a shared folder. Windows updated this morning and now I've lost access to the shared folder. I've removed the folder from the VirtualBox Shared Folder list (Windows is booted up).
Install virtual box additions on the guest os. Then shutdown the guest OS. Open the guestos settings in virtual box. Then add a shared folder and save the settings.
Hi, I looked for the directions on how to create a shared folder on an OS X (Lion) and Ubuntu (11.13) Guest, but was unable to find them. I have done this in the past with an older version of VirtBox, but I'm having trouble with 4.1.8.
11/06/2016 · I have been running Windows 10 in VirtualBox and accessing files across OS's via a shared folder. Windows updated this morning and now I've lost access to the shared folder. I've removed the folder from the VirtualBox Shared Folder list (Windows is booted up).
VirtualBox Shared Folder Option. 4. The result shows a shared folder between VirtualBax and Host machine. If you don't see the shared folder, it means that you did not install the VirtualBox guest additional drivers for integrating the VirtualBox and host system.


text:
Andrew Morton Asks: Would Princess Diana Have Married Dodi Fayed?
Andrew Morton, Diana's official biographer, has strong doubts about a Dodi/Diana marriage.
By Andrew Morton
Was Diana going to marry? It is a question as intriguing and contradictory as the lady herself.
Dodi's father contended that his son had proposed and that he had sent three cases of champagne to Kensington Palace as a toast to the bride to be. He also ardently believed that she was pregnant, a claim emphatically denied by the official coroner Dr John Burton. 'I have seen inside her womb. I know she wasn't pregnant.'
Others, including her butler Paul Burrell, are equally dismissive. Her friend Lana Marks claims that Diana telephoned to say Dodi would soon be history, a 'past chapter' of her life.
Another friend Gulu Lalvani said he joked with her about saving up for a wedding present only to be told by Diana that while she was having a lot of fun, no marriage was planned.
Other friends were concerned that she may have been making the wrong choice. Her former boyfriend Teddy Forstmann called her on the Fayed boat and asked her 'what the hell she was playing at.'
The princess placated him by saying that the romance was simply a summer fling.
Think back now to the last images of her departing through the revolving door of the Ritz hotel late on a sultry August night in 1997. Those bodyguards, drivers and others who had seen her at close quarters over the years could gauge her mood from her body language.
She was agitated, anxious and on the verge of tears. It had been a long day and she was tired. She was keen to return to England to meet up with the other men in her life, William and Harry.
Her great friend Lucia Flecha de Lima agrees with the professional assessment. 'That footage says it all. She looks cross and fed up.'
A woman in love? Whatever love means. As they say…..
As one of the world's best-known biographers and a leading authority on modern celebrity, Morton has been called "the king of celebrity biographers." He became an overnight sensation with the publication of his groundbreaking 1992 biography revealing the secret world of the late Diana, Princess…
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Cara Chen
Feature Reporter at The Standard
School Archive
2021年1月8日 ~ Cara Chen
A renowned Hong Kong artist whose paintings are popular with collectors, Liu Cheng-mui's dream has always been to hold a gallery exhibition – though not for the recognition.
"Hanging my paintings in a gallery gives me a sense of distance, allowing me to reflect on what I have gained in the past and think about how to go on in the future," Liu said.
She is enchanted by the evocative words of English painter and critic Roger Fry: "We feel that [the artist] has expressed something which was latent in us all the time, but which we never realized, that he has revealed us to ourselves in revealing himself."
Her new exhibition, Scenic Romance at Sun Museum in Kwun Tong, reflects and explores her own self. She hopes that the audience can stop and reflect on life through these paintings.
Among the more than 30 works she is exhibiting, most of the pieces are bold oil paintings featuring nude female bodies.
Liu's colorful paintings are watched over by Dickson Yewn's black-and-white photos across the hall in the same gallery space, which Liu finds mysterious and exciting.
Initially attracted by the light and shadow in Yewn's photographs, Liu said the large patches of darkness seemed to surround her, allowing her to reflect on the stories behind the photos.
She found that this feeling was very similar to appreciating paintings.
Despite the richness of color in her paintings, Liu said the bright elements often depict a clear subject, and only the dark parts give her more room to express herself and leave the audience with more imagination.
"When I paint, I add more layers of colors on the dark part with my imagination on the subject," she said. "This kind of imagination makes my creation more relaxed and free."
In her works, Liu accentuates body curves and skin textures rather than depicting face profiles or facial expressions. The proportions of the bodies are realistic, but the colors are not necessarily so. They confront, clash or mix with one another to create a mesmerizing visual effect.
Her brush flows so smoothly that it swirls colors into a dance, imbuing the paintings with sharp contrasts of light and shadow and animating her protagonists with a dance in various poses. Even if there is no movement, they still come to life by simply just standing, sitting or reclining.
In Liu's words, these soft bodies – mostly her own – represent a woman's motherliness, symbolizing warmth and love. They reveal her thoughts on her mother and herself, and the dark patches resemble the pressure on a woman's body and spirit.
Some pieces started off as sketches, to which Liu added her expressive touches after the model left. Liu described the process as talking to herself, thinking and imagining alone. That is the reason why she named the series Wo Yu, or talking to myself.
A few figure drawings are also on display. Liu said that she hopes that the audience can intuitively feel her objectivity when sketching and her "carefree state" when painting.
Ironically, this contrast was broken by the last series of realistic paintings – including still subjects and scenery from the series Diary and Hong Kong during the Pandemic.
"I removed all emotions at the start and observed the subject dispassionately, but when I finished the painting, I found that what I thought was objective was still full of inner choices," said Liu. "The color I chose and the way I handled every stroke were all related to my inner feelings."
Given the latest government measures on the Covid-19 pandemic, Sun Museum is closed to the public until further notice so the exhibition will be extended to March.
More updates will come on the museum's website: http://www.en.sunmuseum.org.hk
(This article was published at The Standard on January 8, 2021: Weekend Glitz: The naked truth )
Posted in Art & Culture
Published by Cara Chen
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There aren't many side scrolling bullet-hell shooters on the PS Vita that are as tough as Sine Mora. That's not to say that it's a bad thing but it's definitely not a game for the faint-hearted. The slick visuals and presentation will draw you in, the relatively gentle early segments will lull you into a false sense of security and then – BLAM! – you're hit with how hard the game is but by then you'll be hooked on this classic slice of arcade gaming. One of the best looking shooters on the Vita, and with an innovative time manipulation feature allowing you to slow the game down when the going gets tough, this is the game to get out to show people just what the Vita can do.
The real icing on the cake for Sine Mora for me is its extra 3D mode. Grab a pair of red/blue 3D glasses and play the game in glorious stereoscopic 3D. The effect is absolutely mindblowing yet even with the extra work demanded from the Vita the game still doesn't slow down for one second. It's almost worth buying for the 3D mode on its own!
Darius is one of Taito's all time classic games in all of its incarnations, whether it's the arcade original, any of its home ports or any number of the countless sequels that have been released. DariusburstCS (Chronicle Saviours) is the only entry in the series to make it to the PS Vita, but it's more than made up for with its quality. Arcade quality visuals, spanning hundreds of stages, many of them branching allowing you to choose your own path through the game. Not enough for you? How about two distinctive game modes and a staggering 40 bosses and Cross Play with the PS4 version which unlocks additional content on the Vita version. This really is an arcade machine in your hands.
Another reworking of Defender, but this time it's an update of Tikipod's own game originally released on PlayStation Mobile. Back then it was one of my favourite games for the format and the 16-bit styled shooter hasn't lost any of its charm in its transition to this PS Vita enhanced port. Essentially as I said before it's a Defender clone, but set underwater… with cats, killer robotic fish, crabs and other aquatic lifeforms… and the Earth in crisis thanks to a global shortage of milk. Sounds bizarre but the lush retro visuals, chip soundtrack and gameplay come together in harmony to make for a perfect shooter.
Another PS Vita update, this time from the PSP original that made it to the Minis range. A radical improvement on the original, Sky Force Anniversary takes a slightly different angle on vertically scrolling shooters. While the game is split into stages, each is played separately and has a series of goals. For each one you complete you're awarded a medal. Once you collect enough, and complete each level, the following one is unlocked for play. Stars you collect in game from destroying land-based turrets or attacking ships can be used to upgrade your ship with new or existing weapons and you can play any of the unlocked levels at will to earn more stars, improve your performance, earn more of the 8 medals on offer per level and progress as far as possible in the game. It's this upgrade and medal system that gives the game a much longer shelf life that you'd expect from a straightforward shooter, in addition to the great aesthetics so you'll be drawn back to this right until you beat the final stage and beyond.
Twin-stick shooters. Zombies. Retro inspired visuals. They are always firm favourites and Riddled Corpses EX has them in abundance. The retro styled twin stick shooter has proved to be a hit and it's easy to see why. Plenty of power ups, non-stop action, a wide range of characters and upgrades and replayability gives you enough bang for your cash to keep you coming back long after others have been left by the wayside.
Do you have any favourites that you think we've missed out or do you agree with our choices? Let us know in the comments below.


text:
HRHW film festival 2015: Syria Differently
"Syria Differently" – The third Syrian narrative.
12 February 2015 18:00 at Litteraturhuset
With the picture of the Syrian struggle being blurred and the focus being shifted to Islamic extremism only, it is important to bring back to the scene the increasingly neglected aspects of the Syrian 'conflict'. "Syria Differently" provides an alternative image of Syria and the Syrian 'conflict' with thematic interest in the daily lives of ordinary civilians and their experience of the destruction of their country.
18:00 We Cannot Go There Now, My Dear (43 mins)
19:00 Panel with Ziad Majed and Maren Næss Olsen (55 mins)
20:00 The Immortal Sergeant (73 mins)
21:30 False Alarm (58 mins)
We Cannot Go There Now, My Dear
A documentary film by Carol Mansour (2014)
Palestinian refugees living in Syria have been severely affected by the war. Thousands have fled Syria seeking refuge in Lebanon becoming double-refugees. It is the second or even third time that they lose everything and find themselves once more homeless and stateless.
This film tells part of their story; where memories are awakened between one exodus and the other, while loss invades everything striking the very self. A story where lives are continuously being rebuilt and improvised awaiting the return.
Panel with Ziad Majed and Maren Næss Olsen:
Covering Syria: images, terminology, and the role of Media
A discussion about how most Media outlets covered Syria in the last three years, and how this coverage influenced the emotions and the political stances of large segments of the public opinion in different western countries.
Ziad Majed is an Associate Professor at the American University of Paris, teaching Middle East studies and writing on Lebanese, Syrian and Arab affairs as well as on political Islam, political transitions and crises.
The Immortal Sergeant
A documentary film by Ziad Kalthoum (2014)
After he completed his mandatory military service, the filmmaker was held in retention as the revolution unfurled in his country. His military rank was that of a sergeant. During these times, he would go back to his home, located in the middle of Damascus city, take off his military uniform and return to his normal life, working as an assistant director with the filmmaker Mohammed Malas. To make sense of this schizophrenic situation, he decides to take his camera and start shooting a 'making-of' that will eventually go beyond Malas' film.
False Alarm
A documentary film by Firas Zbib (2014)
It is a documentary about revolution, exile, death, hope, victory and defeat. Told by young Syrians, filming each other's journeys and holding on to their cameras like they were the only proof of existence, it is a story about a country that has become unrecognizable to its own inhabitants.
The documentary follows them through the laughter and the tears, until it is no longer clear whether they are happy to have found their freedom or sad that the revolution no longer resembles them. www.falsealarm-movie.com
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text:
Review finds judge showed no bias
The Augusta Chronicle on April 12, 2012 released the following:
"By Greg Bluestein
ATLANTA — Prosecutors say they have found no evidence that mental impairment or racial bias affected any cases handled by a disgraced judge who was sent to prison for buying drugs with a stripper, ending the U.S. Attorney office's review of the ex-jurist's legal decisions.
U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates said her office reached that conclusion after examining the cases of 29 defendants who asked for the review after former U.S. District Judge Jack Camp was arrested in October 2010. Camp, who resigned from the bench, was sentenced to 30 days in prison in March 2011 after pleading guilty to drug-related charges.
Yates called for the review after witnesses interviewed as part of the federal investigation into Camp suggested he had a racial bias, and Camp admitted in court filings that a 2000 bicycling accident caused brain damage and led him to use drugs.
"I hope that this demonstrates to citizens we serve that we are committed to justice, not to convictions," Yates said this week. "When you have a situation that strikes at the heart of our justice system, we have to do everything we can to assure that the public has confidence in the system."
Camp, who has been out of prison for about a year, said in a statement to The Associated Press that he felt vindicated by the review.
"Today, the U.S. Attorney has publicly confirmed what I never doubted throughout this ordeal," he said. "I am pleased the report vindicates that my decisions were fair, impartial, and true to the law. Just as drug tests by the government had already shown no controlled substances, the report further confirms the fact that my work as a judge was never affected by drugs."
Camp was 67 when he was arrested in a suburban Atlanta parking lot on Oct. 1 after he handed the stripper $160 to buy drugs from an undercover officer, according to court documents. The stripper was secretly cooperating with authorities.
The married judge, who has two grown children, pleaded guilty soon after his arrest to buying drugs for the stripper, possessing illegal drugs and giving the woman his $825 government-issued laptop. The former judge apologized at the March 2011 sentencing, saying he wanted to pay the debt he owed to society and rebuild his reputation.
Yates recused her office from the criminal case against Camp, but knew her office would need to deal with appeals filed by defendants who believed they were unfairly treated by the judge.
Yates said she decided her office would not object to any requests by any defendant sentenced by Camp between March 2010 and September 2010 — when Camp was believed to have been using drugs — for a new sentencing hearing with a different judge.
Of the 12 defendants who did so, six received the same sentence Camp had imposed, and five others' sentences were reduced. Two of those were reduced when the new judge accepted a request from prosecutors that Camp had rejected to reduce the sentence because the defendants cooperated with authorities. One case is still pending.
It's not unusual for a sentence to be reduced when the details of the case are heard by another judge.
In one case, U.S. District Judge Owen Forrester reduced Harold Wardlaw's sentence for bank fraud from 145 months to 120 months. Wardlaw's attorneys argued that his original sentence was "distorted" and failed to account for charitable giving in his past.
Another case involved former professional wrestler "Hardbody" Harrison Norris, who was initially sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of leading a sex trafficking ring. His sentence was reduced to 35 years behind bars in December 2010 by another judge, after he argued the sentence was "grossly disproportionate" to those convicted of other crimes.
As more details of the Camp investigation surfaced, Yates had to consider expanding her office's review.
Court filings in the case outlined Camp's decades-long battle with depression and he blamed brain damage he suffered after the 2000 accident for his eventual dalliance with the stripper. Yates also said the investigation uncovered evidence of a possible bias: One witness told investigators Camp said it was difficult sentencing black men because they reminded him of someone he didn't like, and another witness said Camp once used a racial slur to describe the same man.
Because of those two factors, Yates decided her office would consider reviews for the hundreds of cases that Camp heard during his 22-year career on the bench.
"We recognize that feelings of racial bias don't arise overnight," she said. "We felt it was important to tell any defendant who went before Camp that we would hear their case regardless of when it happened."
Twenty-nine defendants made the request, and Yates assigned a team of 25 attorneys to review the cases. They spent hundreds of hours reading the trial transcripts, vetting motions and reviewing court filings. Each filled out a nine-page form with details about the case, detailing any potential problems with Camp's decisions and issues regarding the "fairness or integrity of the judicial process."
The attorneys went to great lengths to document anything out of the ordinary involving each case, even noting when Camp, who was known as a temperamental jurist, became cranky, lost his train of thought or forgot the name of an attorney trying the case.
"We wanted to go beyond that to see if something had gone amiss here — was there anything that would reflect a racial bias or that he was impaired?" Yates said. "Did anything look out of whack to us, even if it was legally defensible?"
Prosecutors found that of the 23 black defendants who requested the review, 10 received sentences at the lower end of the guideline range, eight were near the middle to high end and three more defendants were actually sentenced below what the range suggested. One other defendant was given life in prison because the law required it based on his prior convictions. The last case, involving a 1993 bank robbery conviction, fell within the guideline range but records didn't indicate where.
Of the six remaining cases, five involved white defendants and one involved a Hispanic defendant. The review found that Camp sentenced two of those defendants to stiffer sentences than the guidelines suggested, one was sentenced near the middle of the guideline range, one was sentenced below the range and one is still pending. The records from the final case, which took place in 1996, haven't arrived at the office yet.
Yates said the review brings an end to her office's vetting of the case.
"This closes this chapter. It's been a very difficult and troubling chapter for everyone," she said. "But it's something for us to be mindful of to make sure that the public be treated fairly."
Meanwhile, other cases involving Camp are still pending.
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering an appeal by Rolando Martinez. He wants the court to review his drug trafficking conviction on grounds that prosecutors shouldn't have allowed his case to be tried before Camp because they knew he was using illegal drugs. Camp declared a mistrial in Martinez's case a day before his arrest because of a hung jury, and the defendant was later convicted in a trial before another judge.
And several civil cases are pending, too, including a lawsuit filed by attorneys from a now-shuttered strip club. They contend Camp should have recused himself from the club's case because his personal experience put him too close to the debate.
But it won't be easy to persuade the judges to overturn Camp's decisions. At the March hearing involving the strip club's challenge, a veteran judge suggested Camp's out-of-court activities don't necessarily merit a do-over.
"We have an unusual circumstance and we are very concerned," said Circuit Judge J.L. Edmondson. "But we haven't just canceled out what Judge Camp has done for months and months nor do we see a reason to do so."
Camp, for his part, said he's moving on from the "dark chapter" in his life.
"I deeply appreciate the encouragement offered by friends both near and far as I have come to terms with my mistakes, learned to manage my condition, and begun to forge a meaningful path toward the future," he said in the statement."
This entry was posted on Friday, April 13th, 2012 at 2:16 pm and is filed under Federal Attorney, Federal Crime, Federal Crimes, Federal Criminal Attorney, Federal Criminal Defense, Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys - McNabb Associates, Federal Criminal Lawyer, Federal Lawyer.	You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.
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#324 - The Super Ximango motor glider
Part two in the continuing series of articles by feature writer Jim Hanson
Photo courtesy of Jim Hanson
The Super Ximango motor glider slipping through the air.
The takeoff was "taildragger standard"-by the time the power was fully in, the tail wanted to come up. Even with a 9 knot 45 degree crosswind, the Ximango tracked the centerline dueto its 9' wide gear and the powerful controls.
I allowed the aircraft to accelerate in a levelattitude on the main gear, then applied back pressure. The aircraft flew off at about 50-I held that attitude as the aircraft accelerated. "Climb at the yellow triangle-best rate of climb speed" Greg coached.
I dutifully held 58 knots-and when we reached 200 feet (the minimum altitude for a glider to make a 180 degree turn to return to the field) Greg retracted the manually-activated gear.
The aircraft climbed noticeably better-and even at our all-up weight, we were climbing at about 700 fpm. I reduced to climb power at 5500 RPM, and the rate of climb only declined by 100 fpm. By the time we got to 300', we could easily have landed on the cross runway if required, and by 400', we could have simply flown the downwind for a normal landing.
This is one of the things I like about motor gliders-unlike an airplane, very little time is spent in a position where you couldn't make it back to the airport. We continued our climb to 4500'-about 3200 feet above the airport. I noticed the light controls-a roll rate as good or better than many airplanes, despite the long wings.
We accelerated to cruise speed, and verified the 110 knot claimed speed-but cruising wasn't the reason for this flight-we wanted to go gliding! Greg advised throttling the engine back to idle and holding altitude. It took a L-O-N-G time to slow down (after all, this IS a glider!) and by that time, the engine temperature had stabilized.
We switched the engine OFF (!!!) and as the prop slowed, we moved it to feather. WE WERE A GLIDER! Greg advised keeping the airspeed at the 58 knot yellow diamond-though it is higher than the minimum sink speed, it allows you to fly faster in search of lift at only a very small penalty in performance (Google "Drag Polar" for a full explanation). I saw a large cumulus cloud a mile or more away, and headed for it-guessing that it marked lift. Despite taking a full minute to get there, we only lost about 150 feet-this aircraft will stay up a long time even in the complete absence of lift.
Upon reaching the area below the cloud, we were welcomed with a soft but firm "thump"- we had found our lift. I stayed in it to find out how wide the rising thermal was (it was big!) and upon running out the other side, immediately banked back to the thermal. We were rewarded with a rate of climb of between 400 and 800 feet per minute. In no time at all, we were at 5700 feet MSL, or 4500' AGL. With the 31:1 performance of the Ximango, we could glide 139,500 feet, or nearly 26.5 miles on a no-wind day.
Power pilots often are obsessed with staying close to an airport while gliding-but with glide performance like this, you can concentrate more on the pure FLYING of the aircraft-instead of slow and steady sink. I would have liked to have stayed up all afternoon, but I had 80 glider people to feed that night-and Greg had people lined up to fly the Ximango. I asked Greg "Power on or power off landing?"
He replied "This is a GLIDER. I don't think I've made a dozen landings with power on." We headed back to the airport, and Greg had me fly a high downwind and a short base leg in order to demonstrate the efficiency of the powerful spoilers. He lowered the gear, and told me to deploy the spoilers.
We seemed impossibly high for a glider approach (most gliders have a very flat approach), but true to Greg's coaching, I found I had to come OFF the spoilers to make the runway. Putting the aircraft down right on the touchdown spot was a cinch with those spoilers-once you fly an aircraft with spoilers, you'll wonder why EVERY aircraft doesn't have them! With the huge wing span, the Ximango exhibited a glider-like ground effect as an air cushion is developed between the wing and the ground.
Greg advised holding it at 10' momentarily, then let it settle in. The result was one of the best tailwheel landings I've ever experienced-it was THAT easy to land. (I give props to Greg for the excellent instruction!) We let it roll to the intersection to clear the runway "Bob Hoover Style" after the deadstick landing-then started the engine and taxied in.
We parked the airplane and opened the canopy-from my "Perma-Grin", those waiting for their ride KNEW they were in for a treat! The Ximango gives the pilot the best of all worlds. While it is certified as a self-launching glider, it gives the pilot freedom from having to assemble the glider before the flight-it gives freedom from having to round up a tow pilot and ground crew. (A motor-glider pilot calls hiscraft "My Wednesday airplane"-I just go down to the hangar, take it out, and go fly!"
No need for a tow pilot or assistance with rigging and ground handling.) It gives dependable cross-country performance or local sport flying-on very little fuel. Since it is a glider, the pilot is required to have a glider pilot's license, but that's OK-for a Private Pilot Glider add on, you will have your license by the time you are checked out in the aircraft (and no written test). Because it IS a glider, you can fly it without a medical, even if you have previously failed a medical.
Unlike Light Sport, you can fly it at night, fly in Class B airspace, fly it internationally (they are flown here from Brazil!), fly above 10,000 feet, and fly it commercially or even IFR if so equipped and the pilot rated.
It offers over 750 mile range on little fuel (in Europe, motor gliders are used to fly from country to country for vacations) It's as close as you can get to hassle-free flying!
The huge and effective spoilers on top of the wing provide tremendous rates of descent and the precise glide path control that glider pilots appreciate..
How does it compare to the Pipestrel (reviewed earlier)? It's the classic "High wing/low wing" argument-which do you like better? The glide performance is the same. The cabin comfort and baggage room is better in the Pipistrel.
The gear is fixed in the Pipistrel, vs. retractable in the Ximango. The point is-these are REAL AIRPLANES-capable of providing cross-country transportation--not just toys.
Try a motor glider-like me, you just may discover how much fun they can be! J
Jim Hanson is the long-term FBO at Albert Lea, MN. Jim has hosted a number of glider events at Albert Lea, and is a glider instructor (in addition to his many other ratings). Jim enjoys flying all kinds of airplanes-balloons, gliders, seaplanes, helicopters, and jets-in 54 years of flying, he has never tired of the experience. Contact Jim at his airport office at 507-373-0608 (he will probably be flying!) or jimhanson@deskmedia.com
#325--The American Champion Denali Scout "The Once and Future Champ"


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About Evanston Now
Evanston Now
Your best source of community news since 2006.
Posted inBusiness, Government
More workers, but jobless rate unchanged
by Bill Smith December 23, 2009 Updated January 7, 2022
Evanston's workforce grew by 269 people last month and 242 of them found jobs. But that wasn't enough to budge the city's unemployment rate from 7.7 percent.
The latest numbers from the Illinois Department of Employment Security show the city had 38,464 people with jobs and 3,212 people looking for work in November.
Evanston added new jobs at the same pace as the Chicago metro area as a whole, but for the metro area the jobless rate declined slightly, from 10.4 to 10.3 percent, because not quite as many additional people were looking for work. The statewide jobless rate remained unchanged in November at 10.5.
The state and city jobless rates are roughly 4 percentage points higher than they were a year ago, while Evanston's jobless rate is up 3.1 percent over the year.
Ten of the nearly 100 communities in the state with more than 25,000 residents reported jobless rates last month lower than Evanston.
They were Arlington Heights and Park Ridge at 7.6 percent, Elmhurst at 7.5 percent, Normal at 7.3 percent, Glen Ellyn at 7.1 percent, Glenview and Highland Park at 6.9 percent, Carbondale and Northbrook at 6.6 percent and Wilmette at 6.4 percent.
Among other metro-area communities, Downers Grove and Oak Park were tied with Evanston at 7.7 percent. The rate was 8 percent in Skokie, 10.4 percent in Des Plaines, 11.4 percent in the City of Chicago and 13.2 percent in Waukegan.
The jobless figures are not seasonally adjusted.
More find work, but jobless rate unchanged
In "Business"
Jobless rate declines as workforce shrinks
More Evanstonians found work last month
Bill Smith
bill@evanstonnow.com
Bill Smith is the editor and publisher of Evanston Now.	More by Bill Smith
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Real-life applications with Linux. Sick of having to be at the door with mewing pains of hunger? Love to do DIY projects and have a fascination with Linux? This is the project for you. Linux Journal has published this howto on a linux based cat feeder.
I am sure those dog lovers out there can do a change-up on this howto to make it a dog feeder also.


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Monday Morning Crew Chief: The next best thing to 'BeIn' there
So as we got to the last minute before the start of the 2013 World SBK season without a North American broadcast deal, it seemed as if there would be essentially no way for motorcycle racing fans to watch what has been -- at least arguably -- the most compelling road racing world championship.
Then, we were told that a subsidiary of Al Jazeera -- a network whose name previously only cropped up when some jihadi nutcase wanted to release cell-phone video of a terrorist beheading -- would carry carry it on 'BeIn', a cable sports channel available in approximately 17 households.
I'm not sure whose coverage BeIn picked up, but it was too good to be true.
Then, we were told that BeIn's stream would be available only to the 49 people who were already customers of a cable company that carried BeIn.
With that in mind, I went out to a birthday party Saturday evening (Sunday morning at Philip Island). When I got in later, I checked my FB page and saw rather rapturous accounts of how great it had been watching the BeIn feed online. My friends noted, "A full hour of race coverage without a single commercial!" and one helpfully posted a URL, that appeared to be hosted on a Spanish server, where anyone could watch it.
I clicked the link and watched a few minutes of soccer news, and then it cut to SBK Race 2.
Indeed, the race coverage was brilliant, and even on my sketchy and bandwidth-challenged connection it was a hell of a lot better than anything Speed ever put up. The only thing that bothered me was, it was an hour of uninterrupted coverage without a single commercial.
You see, if something seems to good to be true, it usually is.
I watched for an hour, without seeing so much as a banner ad. I wish there had been some advertising, so that I could at least hope BeIn has a business plan that will allow them to continue paying the bill at the server farm. I can, unfortunately, guarantee you that that great feed won't be available for too long if is to go completely unmonetized.
Still, as long as it's available, it's the next best thing to being there.
Keith Flint, of the band Prodigy, is a genuine motorcycle nut, and not just a 'celebrity' whose PR advisors have told should be seen associating with bad-boy sports like motorcycle racing. That said, he was a guest of Crescent Suzuki on the grid.
In an accidentally revealing moment, the grid-walk cam focused on Flint -- a guy who (me being me) I didn't recognize from Adam (Ant). All I saw, at a glance, was an idiot in a sideways flat-billed cap, with lots of chunky bling, who, when he realized that a camera was pointed at him, mugged for it and flashed pretend gang signs. (Note to all white guys, even motorcycle racers: The pretend gang thing is pathetic; especially so when you're dressed all ghetto to boot.)
What was noticeable, too, was that although the riders were less than two minutes from the sighting lap, Flint was NATTERING on to Leon Camier. Dude: unlike you, he's a professional motorcycle racer. Unlike being an idiot rock star, Camier's job requires concentration. SHUT THE FUCK UP.
While I'm on this rant, let me add that if I could wave a magic wand and make one thing disappear, it would be the way celebrity wannabes are invited onto the grid at all. For fuck's sake, you're on the starting grid at Philip Island. The celebrities here are on the bikes.
"Motorcycle racing must be cool, right? Because look at these cool people who want to be with us..." It just makes our sport look desperate.


White, lightly textured paper very good for pencil, colored pencil, pen and crayon. Made in the USA. 9" x 12" size includes two inspirational project ideas printed on the inside cover. Cover artwork by Maria - Grade 5.


As I sit here drinking my peppermint tea, I reflect on how productive my weekend has been. I have spent the weekend working on decluttering my home (there will be many more to come), which I think is very important. When I am unorganized, I am irritable, and cannot function. I have spent the majority of my time working on different projects around the house. I started in my daughter's room, since she is away in college I felt this was the best time to organize, get rid of and go through her trophies while I cleaned and changed the room up. I got as far as I could on that project, because I need to order furniture and decor, paint, and do some DIY's in order to finish. I also worked on two of my kitchen cabinets that were disasters and needs some organization. My tea cabinet was out of control and so disrespectful, but looks a hundred percent better now. I will continue through the month of October and November if I need to, to declutter my home one or two projects at a time. I have a few tips that may help you out when decluttering your home.
Do I use it? If it has not been used in 6 months to a year get rid of it. (Unless it is clothing and shoes that do not fit the season.
Do I need it? Will life stop if you do not have it; there is a difference between needing and wanting something. I am the first to say that I have a lot of items, which I don't need, but want. For the most part I use a lot of it, but have been getting rid of a lot of it as well.
Will it make me money or help someone in need? Is it something that you can either sale or donate to help someone less fortunate. I have been to the thrift store 10 times with in the last three months donating. There are people who are less fortunate than I am and if I can help them out I am happy to do so. (You can also write it off on your taxes). Other stuff will be uploaded to my Depop for sale.
Signed: Clearing my home, mind, and life.
Aug 19 Great thrift store finds.


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U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Pass 100,000
Olivia Rosane
May 28, 2020 11:45AM EDT Health + Wellness
A man walks by a memorial for those who have died from the coronavirus outside Green-Wood Cemetery on May 27, 2020 in Brooklyn, New York. Green-Wood Cemetery, one of New York's oldest cemeteries, has been the site of hundreds of burials and cremations of Covid-19 victims. Spencer Platt / Getty Images
The U.S. death toll from the new coronavirus surpassed 100,000 Wednesday, even as all 50 states begin to reopen.
The U.S., with less than five percent of the world's population, accounts for nearly a third of its coronavirus deaths, according to NPR. It has by far the highest death toll of any country in the world, and the virus that causes COVID-19 has now killed more Americans than every military conflict since the Korean War, The New York Times reported.
"Back in March, I did not think this would be possible — I was not expecting 100,000 deaths," Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, told NPR. "I really believed we as a nation would have taken the decision to put in place social distancing and accepted the economic hardship that it's creating, and that we would have stuck to it to get transmission down to a very low level."
The first known U.S. coronavirus death occurred in Northern California Feb. 6, NBC News reported. That ballooned to an average of 2,000 deaths a day in April, and has fallen to an average of 1,400 a day in May, Reuters calculated. The U.S. now has more than 1.7 million confirmed cases. Worldwide, the disease has infected more than 5.6 million and killed more than 350,000.
The new virus has not been an equal opportunity killer in the U.S., NPR pointed out. According to calculations based on the first nearly 69,000 fatalities, it killed around twice the number of men than women under 75, and 80 percent of the dead were 65 or older. It has disproportionately impacted African American and Native American communities, and has taken a higher toll on low income areas.
"If you look at the locations where people are disproportionately dying, they are in places that are lower income," University of Chicago Population Research Center Director Kathleen Cagney told NPR. "They are places that likely have multiple residents in a single-unit space. They are places where people rely on public transit and rely on services like big-box locations, where by entry alone you're putting yourself at risk."
The grim 100,000 milestone comes about a week after a Columbia University study found that the death toll could have been significantly lower if the country had entered lockdown just one week earlier, NPR reported at the time. If social distancing measures had begun March 8 instead of March 15, around 36,000 lives could have been saved.
President Donald Trump, who claimed as late as March that those with mild cases could still go to work, took to Twitter Wednesday to stave off criticism of his handling of the virus.
"The Radical Left Lamestream Media, together with their partner, the Do Nothing Democrats, are trying to spread a new narrative that President Trump was slow in reacting to Covid 19," he wrote, as The New York Times reported. "Wrong, I was very fast, even doing the Ban on China long before anybody thought necessary!"
Former Vice President Joe Biden, his rival in the upcoming 2020 presidential election, posted a video Wednesday in which he did fault the administration for not acting sooner.
"This is a fateful milestone we should have never reached," he said, according to The New York Times.
The concern now is that states will reopen too quickly. While the number of new cases and deaths have fallen nationwide, some locations have seen a surge in cases.
In New York state, the nation's hardest hit, the daily death toll has declined to numbers not seen since March.
But a White House coronavirus task force report found that cases were surging by as much as 72 percent in cities around the country, according to NBC. In Mecklenberg County, North Carolina, where Charlotte is located, cases had nearly doubled between May 1 and Saturday. In Montgomery County, Alabama, they had nearly tripled during the same period, and the hospitals have been forced to send people to Birmingham.
"Right now, in Montgomery, we're at a point where we can see the cliff, and we don't want to get too close to it for fear of falling off," Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow on Thursday. "We're in a very dangerous predicament."
Public health experts warn the death toll could keep climbing as all 50 states are moving to ease their lockdowns, surging past 140,000 by August.
"Now we're almost getting the worst of both worlds — we're getting the economic hardship and we're relaxing," Murray told NPR. "And it seems either now or in the fall, we're going to have a big second wave, and we'll be right back to dealing with pressure on the hospital system and dealing with, when is the peak surge coming?"
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Building a gaming computer is about so much greater than trying cool. It's about power — pure and simple. It can give you an edge and allow you to win!
To take your gaming to the next stage, it is very important maintain your PC components up to date. Upgrading your motherboard, processor, graphic card, RAM and other hardware will give you a greater gaming experience. Using high quality peripherals with your Gaming PC offers you a aggressive edge. At Fierce PC we understand that no single Gaming PC is the same because the spec can depend significantly on what the gamer prefers. As a outcome, we offer a large variety of quality peripherals which you can select from to enhance your gaming expertise and take your gaming to the subsequent level!
So maybe you suppose you may simply skip Windows altogether and go with Linux; it is free in any case. While you may certainly find video video games that will run on Linux, you are going to discover a ton of major games that won't run on Linux. If you are buying a gaming pc, you're shopping for it to play video games. Not to browse the web looking at all the games that your laptop would not play. Look right here , and when you do not see all the video games you desperately need to play, don't go together with Linux.
Now to your storage and when constructing a PC on a good finances it is in all probability greatest to avoid SSDs (Solid State Drives) because conventional storage presents much more area per greenback. However, if you happen to do want to benefit from quicker boot and application load time and don't thoughts spending an additional 50 bucks or so in your construct, the SSD included within the upcoming Mid-Range construct below can be our suggestion and will fit into this build with out issues.
Would you say this PC that is steered could be good enough to run on TwitchTV and stream with it at fairly high FPS? I've at all times needed to improve from my current PC but been too scared to unload loads of cash into a PC, as a result of I'm brainless with regards to PC parts and whatnot. It does sound good though, and defiantly at an reasonably priced worth!