Valentine's Day Golden Retriever plaque comes with ribbon (colour of your choice) ready to hang on your wall and a black organza gift bag.
Please let us know the name/s that you would like engraved on your heart plaque in the notes to seller section at the checkout.
You can also personalise this plaque with your own special message just leave us a note.


Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago is the home of gospel music. Thomas Dorsey, the Father of Gospel Music served as musical director there for over 50 years, Mahalia Jackson, the Queen of Gospel, sang at Pilgrim at the invitation of Thomas Dorsey. Her place in gospel music is legendary. She was a Dorsey disciple who went around the country promoting and demonstrating his music with Sallie Martin.
Pilgrim has planned many events to highlight National Gospel Music Month. A musical is planned for Thursday, September 27, 2018. The film "The Evolution of the Gospel" and a discussion takes place Friday, September 28th. Don Jackson, CEO of Central City Productions and the Stellar Awards is a featured guest.


When you're trying to lose weight, the local supermarket can be your best friend or worst enemy. Since there's no way for you to stop eating or to stop grocery shopping, it's a very good idea to learn the right tips and tricks to make sure your supermarket will be a friend rather than a foe.
Use the following techniques to turn your supermarket into a weight loss buddy, despite the fact that it has been designed to encourage you to buy as many weight loss unfriendly products as possible. It can be done!
The outer edges of grocery stores are where you will find nearly all the whole foods. Your fresh produce, dairy, eggs, seafood, poultry and meat are all around the outer borders of the store. The inner aisles contain all the shelf stable and packaged foods. Try to spend as little time in those aisles as possible. Have a purpose as you head down the aisles – for example, know that you're there for the brown rice, black beans and steel cut oats – and walk directly to those items instead of strolling along and looking at what else is available.
When you're hungry, food is exceptionally tempting. Whether you're aware of it or not, you have far less self control when it comes to purchasing foods when you're hungry than you do when you're already satisfied. Don't let your hunger pangs add foods to your shopping list. Fill your tummy first and keep a rational mind as you shop.
Plan your meals for the upcoming list, check your fridge and cupboards for what you already have and make a list based on what you actually need to lose weight and get healthy. It might take an extra few minutes every week, but overall it will save you a lot of time and money. You won't need to decide on what to have every night. You'll already know – and you'll have what you need to make it, too. Moreover, you're far less likely to have to throw out food that has spoiled before you were able to eat it because you purchased it for a purpose.
If your current store stocks far more processed and junk foods than fresh and healthy options, consider changing your store. Choose a market that focuses on the foods you feel are the most important to your health and goals. You'll already be saving money by planning your meals. Use that money wisely by purchasing the best and most nutritious ingredients you can. It will mean that even though you're eating light, your foods will be highly flavorful.


text:
Q: How do scientists attempt to break quark confinement? From what I understand, when energy is supplied to quarks, it elongates the gluon tube and when enough energy is put in, new quarks are formed, keeping quark confinement. However, I am inquisitive from an experimental point of view about how this is performed to give us the information we know. More specifically, how do scientists supply energy to the quarks?

A: As the comments say: smash. One way to do this is called deep inelastic scattering (DIS):

This was originally done at SLAC with an electron beam on liquid hydrogen and deuterium targets. Since the beam and scattered electron momenta are known, the energy and momentum (and longitudinal polarization) of the exchanged tree-level photons is known. This led to the confirmation of 3 valence quarks with charges of $+\frac 2 3$ and $-\frac 1 3$, and sea-quarks, and gluons (see: 3-jet events). It also showed that quarks only carry half of the nucleon momentum.
If you just detect the electron, it's called inclusive DIS. With coincidence detection of one or more (but not all) of the hadronic products, it's semi-inclusive DIS, which allows tagging the struck quark (which "get dressed" on its way out). TJNAF was designed to do this.
With polarized electron beams and targets the spin / angular momentum state inside the nucleon (or nucleus) can be studied, as the virtual photon can be circularly polarized. From these experiments, it appears the proton spin is not just the $S = \frac 1 2$ state of 3 quarks. (See: Proton Spin Crisis).
It's also done with muon beams, and neutrino beams.
From all the data (which is a lot), so-called Parton-distributions functions are tabulated and are essential to understanding the signal and background processes in $pp$ colliders such as LHC.
Regarding the hadronization process, it was studied at Fermilab (E665), searching for a process called Color Transparency. Here the struck quark takes some time to evolve into a hadron, and should thus be able to pass through nuclear matter more easily. The experiment involved measuring deep inelastic scattering of various nuclear targets and looking for a dependency on the nuclear size ($A$). There was also an experiment at SLAC (NE18), which look at elastic $A(e, e'p)$ scattering, with the idea that at  wavelengths much smaller than a proton size, the struck proton is in a small state, and would traverse the nuclear matter before evolving into a normal proton.
I was an author on one of those experiments, and can't remember much more than that. See: https://arxiv.org/pdf/hep-ph/9311238.pdf .

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Product prices and availability are accurate as of 2019-04-22 11:50:06 EDT and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on http://www.amazon.com/ at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
We've all taken note of crystals and various gemstones. They are beautiful and interesting, each one an original. What many of us fail to see when we look at these wonderful crystals is that they have the ability to help us in many ways, including healing, relaxation, and stress relief. In this book you'll gain the knowledge you need to understand all aspects of crystals better, including how to care for them and pick the right ones to help you with any things you may wish to improve in your life, no matter if it is emotional, physical, or spiritual. Through this knowledge we can gain better health, self awareness, and success in the areas of life that are most important to us, whether it be love, relationships, our careers, our health, or a combination of all of those things. A more balanced us will always be a good thing, and crystals can help us achieve that.


And then there were 3 ... days left!
3 is a magical number. Fortunately, it's also the number of days remaining before Psion Alpha is released! Today's profile is of Anna Lukic, a character named after a girl I worked with at the Case Western University Health Science Library. I love Anna's character. She's tough as nails.
Raised by two mothers on a ranch in rural Oklahoma, Anna was one of the last American recruits to join Psion Beta before the Schism in 2063. Her older brother, Adam, joined Psion Beta three years before her. Anna was known throughout Beta as "the crazy b****" because she didn't want friends, didn't want help, and refused to lose at anything. Fueled by a fiery competitive spirit, she aspired to be top in all rankings, and nearly achieved her goal. (In Anna's time at Beta, Byron ranked students in twelve categories. Anna was #1 in ten of them, and in the top 3 in the other two.) More than once, she made teammates (males and females) cry if she lost as honcho.
By the time she graduated to Psion Alpha, Anna's fierce reputation had spread among the squadron honchos. No one wanted her on their team. Fortunately, Commanders Byron and Havelbert spoke with Nikita Gonzales, honcho of Oscar Squadron. Nikita took Anna under her wing and taught her what it meant to be an effective leader. Under Nikita's guidance, Anna blossomed into a capable soldier and lieutenant. This led to her appointment as one of the youngest squadron leaders in Alpha. At age thirty-two, she was given the helm of Charlie Squadron.
Prior to his joining Charlie Squadron, Anna was romantically involved with Justice Juraschek, a member of Tensai Alpha. On her request, they kept the relationship discreet. When Justice was assigned to her team, Anna immediately ended the relationship. Justice, however, has relentlessly pursued her despite her rebuffs. Despite knowing that a disclosure of their relationship would result in his removal from her team, Anna has refused to do so because she values Justice's contributions to Charlie Squadron.
These little character bio's are really interesting background to have when reading the books! I've been trying to create a sci-fi series myself for some time now, but I always get stuck trying of things that haven't been done before during world-building. I think ill try this to see if it helps.


Microbiome Art by Joana Ricou – microBEnet: the microbiology of the Built Environment network.
We've written about Joana Ricou before on this blog, and here she is again. This time with an exhibit featuring oil paintings representing human bodies and their microbiomes. The linked article also includes a video of Ricou discussing her work, which has been featured on the cover of a scientific journal and strives to combine science and art in inventive and beautiful ways.
Via labiotech article on Joana Ricou's latest exhibit, Multitudes.


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Nima Arkani-Hamed (em persa: نیما ارکانی-حامد; Houston, ) é um físico estadunidense.

Foi professor da Universidade Harvard e trabalha desde 2008 no Instituto de Estudos Avançados de Princeton. Filho de iranianos, nasceu nos Estados Unidos e tem nacionalidade canadense.

Participou da 23ª Conferência de Solvay.

Ligações externas

Laureados com o Breakthrough Prize
Fundamental Physics Prize
Conferência de Solvay
Professores do Instituto de Estudos Avançados de Princeton
Professores da Universidade Harvard
Professores da Universidade da Califórnia em Berkeley
Teóricos das cordas
Físicos do Irã
Físicos dos Estados Unidos
Físicos do Canadá
Alunos da Universidade de Toronto
Alunos da Universidade da Califórnia em Berkeley
Azeris iranianos

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Evora GTE is a variant of the Evora that was built by Lotus to satisfy FIA's homologation requirements for the GT3 and LM GTE class. Originally intended as a 25 number limited run for the Chinese market, Lotus upped production seeing the demand explode there and later expanded sales to the rest of world.
This is a 1/64 scale model from Tomica.


SWITZERLAND: Appenzeller Bahnen announced a SFr36m order for four Stadler Rail electric multiple-units on April 7, three days after a groundbreaking ceremony for the St Gallen – Riethüsli diversion which is being built as part of the St Gallen Durchmesserlinie project to enable through running between its Trogen and Appenzell routes.
The 1·5 kV DC metre-gauge EMUs are to enter service in mid-2018 to replace the existing units used on the Gossau – Appenzell – Wasserauen route. There is an option for a fifth unit.
They will be similar to EMUs which were previously ordered for the Nyon–St-Cergue–Morez and Transports Publics Fribourgeois lines in western Switzerland. The three-car units will be 58·8 m long and 2 650 mm wide, with 161 standard and 15 first class seats, space for 123 standing passengers, and a multi-purpose area for bicycles, prams and luggage. They will have a maximum speed of 80 km/h, air-conditioning and step-free access including an accessible toilet.
Meanwhile, a ceremony on April 4 officially launched construction of the St Gallen – Riethüsli diversion including the 705 m Ruckhalde tunnel which will replace a steeply-graded section line which currently uses the Riggenbach-Klose rack system. Opening is scheduled for October 2018.
The St Gallen Durchmesserlinie project will allow AB to operate a train every 15 min between Trogen, St Gallen and Applenzell. The infrastructure works are being funded by the cantons of St Gallen (SFr16m), Appenzell Ausserrhoden (SFr26m) and Appenzell Innerrhoden (SFr7m), with a further SFr41m from the federal government which gave the go-ahead in November 2015.
The narrow gauge platforms at St Gallen station are being rebuilt, and the project also requires the lengthening of two passing loops, the provision of a passing loop and stop at St Gallen goods yard, and increasing the voltage on the 9·8 km Trogenerbahn from 1·0 kV to 1·5 kV DC.


text:
War gaming
Robert Joustra
Topics: Foreign Policy, Games
War gaming September 2, 2011 | By Robert Joustra
I've always loved war games, probably out of a combination of tactical curiosity and moral failure. Risk and Axis and Allies are still family favourites at my parents' home. My university days were punctuated by campus-wide competitions in the marvelously engineered Age of Empires II. And, of course, since the advent of e-sporting, these competitions—most especially since the release of Starcraft II—have gained a new notoriety both at home and abroad. That community and its professional advocates have long had a home in Korea, but now foreigners in North America and Europe are taking up the standard with equal fervour. My day job regrettably stands in the way of me making it pro.
Every generation has its war games, which have probably been around since human beings first picked up a wooden stick as an imitation sword. By the fifth century B.C. the ancient Greeks were playing petteia, one of the first modern board games modeled on war. Chess was invented in the sixth century A.D. in India, evolving into its modern form around the fifteenth century. The invention of firearms in China complicated earlier gaming, meaning that battles could no longer be accurately simulated without actually killing people. More abstract means were required.
Is all foreign policy missiology?
Bring on that Foreign Policy Review
The Caspian Sea Monster
But it was really not until the Prussians came along that war gaming took on the professional fervor that it has today. What Foreign Policy calls the grandfather of all modern war games was invented by the Prussians: kriegsspiel. It was a system used for training officers and its first set of rules was put to paper in 1812 under the title, Instructions for the Representation of Tactical Maneuvers under the Guise of a Wargame.
Since Prussia, and certainly because of its two intervening wars, wargames have exploded in the last century under the push of both modernization and realist political thought: the former which makes practice and prediction possible on a scale never before possible, the latter which puts more faith than ever in this same predictive power. One U.S. army general describes it as "writing history in advance."
Gaming became serious business, and not just for entertainment, though those lines became increasingly blurry. What became known as game theory in the social sciences was applied to the business of war, taking on some responsibility for concepts like hegemonic stability theory and mutually assured destruction. This glut was partly what inspired Scott Card's futuristic dystopia, Ender's Game, where genius children are bred for the purpose of war gaming against a genocidal insect-alien race. The plot is farfetched science fiction, the gaming premise is not.
And every now and then gaming turns up some embarrassing insights, like the 2002 games the summer before the invasion of Iraq which played retired Martin Lt. General Paul K. Van Riper as a wily Saddam-like dictator, bringing the American military to its knees with tactics eerily prescient of the insurgency.
War gaming works for a variety of reasons, but what's fascinating is when it doesn't. When I teach Realist game theory in class I introduce it using Settlers of Catan, and its priority on relative rather than absolute gains. But what throws Settlers out is playing with people who don't respect the internal logic of the game. Order is disrupted when players have agendas or loyalties that exceed what's happening on the board. It's not technically a violation of the rules, but when material self-interest is interrupted, the game becomes chaos.
That gets at the soul of war gaming. It depends on human beings filling their roles as materially self-interested agents in a rationally organized context. Modern life is predicated on a board much of the world refuses—or is struggling to refuse—to play on. It might be time to switch games.
Robert Joustra, Ph.D., teaches politics & international studies at Redeemer University College.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Careless medical mistakes that have even cost people their lives
nowtolove
Sat, 19 Oct 2019 10:43 UTC
Medical professionals help us live long, healthy lives. But sometimes their little mistakes can lead to some serious issues.
From accidental intestinal cuttings to mixed up babies at the hospital, we think we may have heard everything now. And trust us, some of these images aren't for the fainthearted.
Trapped and terrified
Rom Houben suffered a near-fatal car crash that left him in a vegetative state - or so his doctors thought.
For 23 years, Rom was stuck in hospital, listening as nurses did their daily rounds and his family visited. He couldn't move or speak to tell them he was conscious. All he could do was lie in bed, hoping someone would realise his brain was functioning.
It wasn't until a neurologist studying coma patients used a special scanning system on Rom that doctors realised he wasn't in a coma at all.
Now, using a special touchscreen computer and wheelchair, Rom can communicate with his loved ones in his hometown of Belgium. After three years of physiotherapy, he can even move a little.
Rom was trapped inside his body for 23 years, but now feels reborn.
Clamping up
When Norbert Pohl, 61, woke from a simple operation to clear a blocked intestine, he suffered terrible pain.
Shockingly, an X-ray revealed a pair of 15-inch surgical clamps stuck in his abdomen.
After five surgeries and the collapse of his abdominal wall, the clamps were finally removed.
Norbert, from Duisburg in Germany, now has to wear a surgical corset to keep his insides in place.
Slippery Scalpel
During a routine appendix removal, Bonnie Judge, 35, from Utah, was warned she had a mass on her colon, causing inflammation and blockage.
Bonnie was booked in for another procedure, but her insides were so inflamed and squashed together, the surgeon accidentally cut her intestines.
He didn't notice the mistake.
It wasn't until Bonnie woke later and vomited black fluid that her doctor became worried.
She went under the knife again and it was discovered her intestine was leaking bile.
To fix this, surgeons had to create a fistula - a hole in Bonnie's abdominal muscles.
Afterwards, Bonnie and her surgeon cried together.
They were both traumatised by the error, which left Bonnie with a permanent open wound that made her self-esteem plummet.
Foreign Object
After suffering excessive bleeding during childbirth, Guo Qiaohong, 33, faced countless complications.
She had chronic pain and thick liquid frequently seeped from her vagina.
Scans seemed to show that everything was slowly healing, but Guo's pain continued.
Three months after giving birth, Guo was in the shower when she felt something strange.
Peeking at her privates, she tugged on a strange object. A black piece of gauze fell out of her.
The surgical sponge had been left inside her during childbirth.
The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang in China, where Guo gave birth, promised to pay her in damages and move the nurse, who'd made the blunder, to a different department.
X-Ray Surprise
Meagan Bechtold was 27 years old when she came down with a niggling cough.
She went to the doctor three times within a few months.
At first, the doctors thought she had a cold.
Then, they thought it was allergies. Finally, Meagan was diagnosed with bronchitis - but when antibiotics failed to work, she was sent for an X-ray.
A 13cm mass was found in Meagan's diaphragm - she had Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer.
Because of all the misdiagnoses, it had already progressed to stage two and she needed to start intense chemotherapy immediately, in her hometown of Texas.
Off On The Wrong Foot
A surgeon in Azerbaijan is facing jail time after accidentally amputating a healthy limb.
Tarlan Mamedova, 87, had gangrene in her left leg, which needed to be removed.
Her right leg was riddled with atherosclerosis, a build-up of plaque in the arteries, but with treatment her doctors hoped she'd recover.
Unfortunately, the surgeon removed Tarlan's right leg instead, later claiming he'd made the mistake because the operating table was "the wrong way round".
The elderly woman was left without any legs at all, as both were amputated at the top of her thighs.
When Scottish mum Demi Bane's four-year-old daughter, Karis Cochrane, suffered excruciating stomach pain, she took her to the doctor.
But the pair were dismissed time and again over six days, with docs insisting Karis was simply constipated and dehydrated.
Finally, with the child still in pain, they returned to hospital and Demi put her foot down. She refused to leave until doctors did further tests.
Shockingly, a blood test found Karis had an infection and an ultrasound revealed her appendix had burst.
Pus had seeped into her body, causing an abscess behind her uterus.
Docs admitted that if Karis hadn't received emergency surgery, she would have died within 45 minutes.
Luckily, with urgent treatment Karis recovered.
Yu went to hospital to have her intra-uterine contraceptive removed.
It was a simple procedure and seemed to go well.
But 18 hours after the operation, Yu felt a sharp prick.
She looked down and saw a syringe sticking out of her vagina. It had been used to administer anaesthetics in the Eastern Chinese hospital.
Yu was furious, but the hospital refused to take full responsibility.
One surgeon, Dr Lang, simply said she remembered removing the syringe, although she admitted that couldn't be proven.
Pounding headache
Bimla Nayyar, 81, was admitted to a Michigan hospital with a dislocated jaw.
Doctors took a CT scan but, unbeknown to her, they mixed up her results with another patient's.
Bimla's surgeon had read the wrong scans and thought her patient had suffered a skull fracture and bleeding in her brain. Bimla was rushed into surgery, where five holes were drilled into her skull.
Once docs realised her brain was perfectly healthy, they hurriedly stitched her back together.
But the damage of an unnecessary brain surgery on this elderly woman had already been done.
Bimla died six months after the surgery.
Richard Smith, 79, was admitted to hospital after he experienced shortness of breath during a routine dialysis session.
He had an upset tummy as well and was prescribed an antacid which was supposed to help neutralise his stomach acid and ease the nausea.
Sadly, a nurse accidentally gave him pancuronium, a muscle relaxant and paralytic. In high doses, pancuronium is used during lethal injections.
Thirty minutes after the blunder, Richard was found unresponsive and was later declared brain dead.
His wife, who he'd been married to for 55 years in Miami, Florida, was inconsolable.
When British couple Joanne and Robin Harman welcomed their son, Ben, into the world they were overjoyed.
A paediatrician checked him over and gave them the green light to take their healthy baby home.
But what the doctor failed to notice was that Ben's blood sugar levels were dangerously low.
Shortly after leaving the hospital, the newborn suffered seizures.
Joanne and Robin rushed him to emergency, and doctors administered glucose to save him.
However, although he'd survived, he'd already suffered serious brain damage.
To avoid being blamed for negligence, hospital staff covered up the injury, claiming that Ben had epilepsy and autism.
Joanne and Robin were wracked with guilt, believing they were to blame for Ben's medical issues.
When he was 13, Ben was referred to a specialist at a different hospital, which revealed Ben had clearly suffered brain damage at birth.
Shocked, Joanne and Robin sought legal advice, and the National Health Service Trust surrendered medical notes that proved docs had failed to treat Ben's low blood sugar.
The family received one of the biggest medical negligence payouts in history, believed to be around $35 million.
Baby swap
Pictured; Lucia, left, Katya, right
When a Soviet hospital mixed up the identities of two babies, no-one could have guessed the grave error would lead to murder.
But that's exactly what happened when Zoya Tuganova's fair-skinned baby was given to the wrong family.
For three decades, Zoya was certain the daughter she'd taken home, who she named Katya, wasn't her own.
Finally, Katya decided to investigate the claims and found she'd been switched at birth by the hospital.
The two girls had been born by caesarean and the nurses got them mixed up.
Zoya's biological daughter, Liliya (aka Lucia), had grown up in poverty.
When her father saw Liliya's light skin, he accused his wife, Elvira, of cheating. He beat her up and then murdered a man he suspected of being her lover.
While he was in jail, Elvira turned to alcohol and her children were put in an orphanage.
Sadly, Elvira passed away by the time her biological daughter, Katya, found her.
Now, Zoya, Liliya and Katya are trying to make up for lost time.
Comment: Going through this list - and we are sure it is not exhaustive, having followed the news for decades now - one is left wondering whether it is ever safe to visit a hospital and/or undergo a medical treatment. Sure, human beings make mistakes and medical personnel is often overworked, but if we are to put our lives in their hands, shouldn't we expect to come out of the hospital healthier than before, or... alive even?
Woman sues doctor who allegedly operated on wrong eye, fixed mistake without anesthesia
Virginia doctor allegedly tied women's fallopian tubes, performed hysterectomies without consent, federal investigators say
Vaccine shot killed famed cancer doctor in minutes from "total organ failure", state-run media desperately tries to cover it up
Ohio hospital fires doctor accused of giving lethal doses of fentanyl to 27 intensive care patients
Doctor who cut off child's penis in botched circumcision acquitted by Swiss court
On the other hand, we should support and stand behind the doctors who are being prosecuted for daring to reveal truths regarding our health that the medical establishment and big-pharma does not want us to know about, so as to continue to fleece us monetarily.


text:
Q: Calculating destination point using Python I am trying to write a function that calculates the GPS (decimal) coordinates of a point that is far of a given distance from a given point.
Let say that we start from point 1 (The stripe of Dublin) and we want to move 25km east.
This is what I have written:
import math
# Coordinates of "The Spire" (Dublin)
lat1_dg=53.34972
lon1_dg=-6.26028
bearing=90 #degree from North
distance=25000 # distance in meter
alpha = math.radians(bearing)
radius=6371000 # radius of Earth (in meter)
gamma = distance / radius
lat1_r= math.radians(lat1_dg)
lon1_r= math.radians(lon1_dg)
Δlat_r = gamma * math.cos(alpha)
lat2_r = lat1_r + Δlat_r
Δlon_r = gamma * math.sin(alpha)/math.cos(lat1_r)
lon2_r = lon1_r + Δlon_r
lat2_dg=(math.degrees(lat2_r))
lon2_dg=(math.degrees(lon2_r))
print(lat2_dg,lon2_dg)

This outputs the following, which is close to the correct answer

53.349720000000005 -5.883634969206713

but if I calculate the distance between point 1 and point 2 with this tool, I get 25.008 meters...why?

A: Check your units in the Andrew Hedges Haversine tool - it gives me 25.008 km !  (or 15.543 miles)
(also by just looking at your coords, you can see it should be 10s of km and not metres - a degree is usually somewhere in the 50-100km range - this is a very rough approximation but gives you a clue)


Emerging Markets : Rating Upgrade Boosts The Rise Of India Inc.
In a move that will drive substantial foreign investment in India, Standard & Poor's became the third major ratings agency to raise India's sovereign rating to investment grade. The rating now stands at BBB-/A-3. S&P; cited a strong national balance sheet, foreign exchange accumulation, strong capital flows and prudent debt management. Though this is a sovereign rating upgrade, it does not affect the Indian government much since it does not borrow much from foreign markets.
However, the rating upgrade will have a very significant effect on corporate India's activities. Indian companies raised $30 billion in debt, largely through convertible securities, between April 2004 and March 2006. Even before the rating upgrade, Indian dollar-denominated debt was finely priced at 57 basis points above six-month LIBOR. The spread over LIBOR is expected to fall further, while the rupee is expected to strengthen.
The rating upgrade reflects strong growth in India's economy. According to the Central Statistical Organization (CSO), Indian GDP growth is expected to be 9.2% for the fiscal year 2006-2007 (April-March), topping the blistering 9% growth of 2005-2006. Estimates for 2006-2007 show manufacturing growth at 11.3% against 9% last year, while construction grew at 9.4% against 14.2%. Agriculture grew by only 2.7% against 7% in 2005-2006. Within the services sector, banking and finance has expanded by 11.1%, while trade, hotels, transport and telecommunications have grown by 13%.
The premier Indian stock exchanges are sitting pretty, as overseas stock exchanges and private equity funds line up for a stake. Deutsche Börse, Nasdaq, the London Stock Exchange and the Singapore Stock Exchange are all in the fray for a 5% stake in the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) prior to its IPO this May. The exchange has been valued at $800 million. Earlier, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) sold a 5% stake to the NYSE Group, General Atlantic, Goldman Sachs and Softbank Asian Infrastructure Fund. The NSE has been valued at $1.2 billion. The Indian market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), has stipulated that a single investor cannot control more than 5% in either stock exchange.


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McCain embraces Bush's radical views of executive power
John McCain yesterday delivered a speech in which he hailed the inspiring constitutional principles of Government on which our country was founded, including the central goal of avoiding excessive, unlimited power in any one branch, secured by checks and balances from the other two branches:
In America, the constitutional restraint on power is as fundamental as the exercise of power, and often more so. Yet the framers knew that these restraints would not always be observed. They were idealists, but they were worldly men as well, and they knew that abuses of power would arise and need to be firmly checked. Their design for democracy was drawn from their experience with tyranny. A suspicion of power is ingrained in both the letter and spirit of the American Constitution. . . .
The executive, legislative, and judicial branches are often wary of one another's excesses, and they should be. They seek to keep each other within bounds, and they are supposed to. And though you wouldn't always know it from watching the day-to-day affairs of modern Washington, the framers knew exactly what they were doing, and the system of checks and balances rarely disappoints.
Sadly, though, McCain lamented that "there is one great exception in our day" to these principles. Surely "the exception" to which McCain refers must be the fact that we've lived for the last eight years under a President who literally has claimed powers greater than those possessed by the British King; whose underlings have promulgated radical and un-American theories literally vesting him with the power to rule outside of the law, who has exploited a political and media culture devoid of "suspicion of power" when exercised by the White House, and who has acted with no meaningful constraints or checks from Congress and virtually none from the judiciary? No, actually, that isn't the "exception" to which McCain was referring at all. Instead:
[It] is the common and systematic abuse of our federal courts by the people we entrust with judicial power. For decades now, some federal judges have taken it upon themselves to pronounce and rule on matters that were never intended to be heard in courts or decided by judges. With a presumption that would have amazed the framers of our Constitution, and legal reasoning that would have mystified them, federal judges today issue rulings and opinions on policy questions that should be decided democratically. Assured of lifetime tenures, these judges show little regard for the authority of the president, the Congress, and the states. They display even less interest in the will of the people.
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Kaine: Hillary Will Legalize Illegals Within 100 Days
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Limitless, the Dubai-based international master developer, is to build India's biggest new urban community – a US$12 billion, 4000 hectare mixed-use project near Bangalore.
Limitless, a Dubai World company, will create Bidadi Township – one of several projects it is planning for India – through a 50-50 joint venture with DLF, one of India's largest developers.
Bidadi Township is a balanced, sustainable development of homes, commercial buildings and retail units. Located 35km south-west of Bangalore, India's information technology centre, it will house around 750,000 people and attract billions of dollars of investment. It is the first of five new townships the Government is planning for the outskirts of Bangalore.
Saeed Ahmed Saeed, CEO of Limitless, said: "India is currently experiencing the biggest urban migration it has ever seen. As a result, there is a massive opportunity for us to demonstrate our core strengths of master planning, innovative developments and execution of large-scale projects.
Work on Bidadi Township is expected to begin in the first half of 2008.


Now that Lachlan Murdoch have no hurdles to buy TEN 50/50, TEN may have channel changes and programming changes. Murdoch family has wanted to return to FTA TV for a long time. We shall see how that pans out with Lachlan and Bruce Gordon as co-owners soon.


text:
The King and Queen host Sweden Dinner at the Royal Palace of Stockholm
Previous 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Next
Motiv: Guests from Värmland County: Kristina Lundberg and Jonas Lundberg, Viola Johansson and County Governor Kenneth Johansson, Nazanin Amin, Aram Sharif, Carina Odhe and Jan-Erik Odhe. Photo: Maja Suslin/Scanpix
On Friday 1 February, The King and Queen hosted the first official dinner of the year at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. The aim of the Sweden Dinner is to recognise people who have made significant local, regional or national contributions.
The invited guests included representatives from culture, industry, education, sports and organisations in Sweden's 21 counties, as well as all the county governors. Approximately 200 guests were received and welcomed by The King and Queen and The Crown Princess Couple in Queen Lovisa Ulrika's Dining Hall. Dinner was served in the Vita Havet Assembly Rooms.
The King escorted County Governor of Stockholm County Chris Heister to the table. Maria Hedblom, CEO of the Forestry Technology Cluster in Västerbotten County, was seated to his left.
The Queen was escorted to the table by County Governor of Halland County Lars-Erik Lövdén. Sami Community Chairman Nicklas Johansson, from Tåssåsen Sami Community in Jämtland County, was seated to her right.
The Crown Princess was escorted to the table by County Governor of Västra Götaland County Lars Bäckström. Göran Hoas, owner of Lilla Bjers farm shop in Gotland County, was seated to her right.
Prince Daniel escorted County Governor of Skåne County Margareta Pålsson to the table. Caroline Trege, CEO of Drivhuset in Stockholm County, was seated to his left.
2013 marks the 40th anniversary of when The King ascended to the throne and became Sweden's Head of State. In connection with this, the Sweden dinner — a new form for one of the annual official dinners — has been introduced. In his welcoming address, The King mentioned the journeys that The King and Queen will be making throughout Sweden in 2013.
Vegetable terrine covered in chard leaves with a parmesan crème and crisp parmesan thins.
Herbed pepper-roasted fillet of venison with green pepper sauce, fondant potato gratin with Västerbotten cheese, fried red cabbage with sherry vinegar and fennel crudités.
Orange mousse with a crisp nougat base and hazelnut ice cream with crème fraîche.
You can watch a film (in Swedish) showing preparations for the dinner below.
Föreberedelser inför Sverigemiddagen from Kungahuset on Vimeo.
HM The King's Christmas speech 2017
The Royal Family attend the formal gathering of the Swedish Academy
The Crown Princess, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar accept Christmas trees
» More news from the Royal Family


text:
"""Utility functions used by values.py and ps_values.py."""

from __future__ import absolute_import
from __future__ import division
from __future__ import print_function

from tensorflow.python.distribute import distribute_lib
from tensorflow.python.distribute import distribution_strategy_context as ds_context
from tensorflow.python.distribute import reduce_util
from tensorflow.python.framework import ops
from tensorflow.python.framework import tensor_util
from tensorflow.python.ops import control_flow_ops
from tensorflow.python.ops import math_ops
from tensorflow.python.ops import variable_scope as vs
from tensorflow.python.saved_model import save_context
from tensorflow.python.saved_model import save_options
from tensorflow.python.training.saving import saveable_object

def get_on_write_saveable(var, primary_var, name):
  """Return saveable spec for AUTO and ON_WRITE variables."""
  # We use a callable so that we don't have to evaluate this expression
  # in the case where we are trying to restore instead of save.
  def tensor():
    strategy = var.distribute_strategy
    return strategy.extended.read_var(var)

  spec = saveable_object.SaveSpec(
      tensor=tensor,
      slice_spec="",
      name=name,
      dtype=var.dtype,
      device=primary_var.device)

  return tensor, [spec]

def get_on_write_restore_ops(var, tensor):
  """Return restore ops for AUTO and ON_WRITE variables."""
  packed_var = var._packed_variable  # pylint: disable=protected-access
  if packed_var is not None:
    return control_flow_ops.group(
        tuple(
            assign_on_device(d, packed_var, tensor)
            for d in packed_var.devices))
  return control_flow_ops.group(
      tuple(
          assign_on_device(v.device, v, tensor)
          for v in var.values))

def get_on_read_saveable(var, primary_var, name):
  """Return saveables for ON_READ variable."""

  # We use a callable so that we don't have to evaluate this expression
  # in the case where we are trying to restore instead of save.
  def tensor():
    return var._get_cross_replica()  # pylint: disable=protected-access

  spec = saveable_object.SaveSpec(
      tensor=tensor,
      slice_spec="",
      name=name,
      dtype=var.dtype,
      device=primary_var.device)

  return tensor, [spec]

def get_on_read_restore_ops(var, tensor, aggregation):
  """Return restore ops for ON_READ variables."""
  # To preserve the sum across save and restore, we have to divide the
  # total across all devices when restoring a variable that was summed
  # when saving.
  if aggregation == vs.VariableAggregation.SUM:
    strategy = var.distribute_strategy
    tensor = math_ops.cast(tensor / strategy.num_replicas_in_sync,
                           var.dtype)
  return control_flow_ops.group(
      tuple(
          assign_on_device(v.device, v, tensor)
          for v in var.values))

# Utility function that indicates if you are in an UpdateContext when running
# in a replica fn.
def in_replica_update_context():
  return distribute_lib.get_update_replica_id() is not None

def on_write_assign(var, value, use_locking=False, name=None, read_value=True):
  assign_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.assign(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=assign_fn,
      value=value,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name,
      read_value=read_value)

def on_write_assign_add(var, value, use_locking=False, name=None,
                        read_value=True):
  assign_add_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.assign_add(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=assign_add_fn,
      value=value,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name,
      read_value=read_value)

def on_write_assign_sub(var, value, use_locking=False, name=None,
                        read_value=True):
  assign_sub_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.assign_sub(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=assign_sub_fn,
      value=value,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name,
      read_value=read_value)

def assign_on_each_device(var, assign_func, value, read_value):
  """Update the variable on each replica with the given assign_func and value."""
  if var._packed_variable is not None:  # pylint: disable=protected-access
    update = control_flow_ops.group(
        tuple(
            assign_func(d, var._packed_variable, value) for d in var._devices))  # pylint: disable=protected-access
  else:
    update = control_flow_ops.group(
        tuple(assign_func(v.device, v, value) for v in var._values))  # pylint: disable=protected-access
  if not read_value:
    return update
  with ops.control_dependencies([update] if update else []):
    return var.read_value()

def on_read_assign_sub_cross_replica(var, value, read_value=True):
  with ds_context.enter_or_assert_strategy(var.distribute_strategy):
    if ds_context.in_cross_replica_context():
      if var.aggregation == vs.VariableAggregation.SUM:
        raise ValueError(
            "SyncOnReadVariable does not support `assign_sub` in "
            "cross-replica context when aggregation is set to "
            "`tf.VariableAggregation.SUM`.")
      return assign_on_each_device(var, assign_sub_on_device,
                                   value, read_value)

def on_read_assign_add_cross_replica(var, value, read_value=True):
  with ds_context.enter_or_assert_strategy(var.distribute_strategy):
    if ds_context.in_cross_replica_context():
      if var.aggregation == vs.VariableAggregation.SUM:
        raise ValueError(
            "SyncOnReadVariable does not support `assign_add` in "
            "cross-replica context when aggregation is set to "
            "`tf.VariableAggregation.SUM`.")
      return assign_on_each_device(var, assign_add_on_device,
                                   value, read_value)

def on_read_assign_cross_replica(var, value, read_value=True):
  """Return the value of the variable in cross replica context."""
  with ds_context.enter_or_assert_strategy(var.distribute_strategy):
    if ds_context.in_cross_replica_context():
      # To preserve the sum across save and restore, we have to divide the
      # total across all devices when restoring a variable that was summed
      # when saving.
      tensor = value
      if var.aggregation == vs.VariableAggregation.SUM:
        strategy = var._distribute_strategy  # pylint: disable=protected-access
        tensor = math_ops.cast(tensor / strategy.num_replicas_in_sync,
                               var.dtype)
      return assign_on_each_device(var, assign_on_device, tensor,
                                   read_value)

def scatter_sub(var, sparse_delta, use_locking=False, name=None):
  scatter_sub_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.scatter_sub(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=scatter_sub_fn,
      value=sparse_delta,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name)

def scatter_add(var, sparse_delta, use_locking=False, name=None):
  scatter_add_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.scatter_add(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=scatter_add_fn,
      value=sparse_delta,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name)

def scatter_mul(var, sparse_delta, use_locking=False, name=None):
  scatter_mul_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.scatter_mul(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=scatter_mul_fn,
      value=sparse_delta,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name)

def scatter_div(var, sparse_delta, use_locking=False, name=None):
  scatter_div_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.scatter_div(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=scatter_div_fn,
      value=sparse_delta,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name)

def scatter_min(var, sparse_delta, use_locking=False, name=None):
  scatter_min_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.scatter_min(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=scatter_min_fn,
      value=sparse_delta,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name)

def scatter_max(var, sparse_delta, use_locking=False, name=None):
  scatter_max_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.scatter_max(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=scatter_max_fn,
      value=sparse_delta,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name)

def scatter_update(var, sparse_delta, use_locking=False, name=None):
  scatter_update_fn = lambda var, *a, **kw: var.scatter_update(*a, **kw)
  return var._update(  # pylint: disable=protected-access
      update_fn=scatter_update_fn,
      value=sparse_delta,
      use_locking=use_locking,
      name=name)

def get_current_replica_id_as_int():
  """Returns the current replica ID as an integer, or `None`."""
  replica_context = ds_context.get_replica_context()
  if replica_context:
    replica_id = replica_context.replica_id_in_sync_group
    if not isinstance(replica_id, int):
      replica_id = tensor_util.constant_value(replica_id)
  else:
    replica_id = distribute_lib.get_update_replica_id()
  return replica_id

def assign_on_device(device, variable, tensor):
  with ops.device(device):
    return variable.assign(tensor)

def assign_add_on_device(device, variable, tensor):
  with ops.device(device):
    return variable.assign_add(tensor)

def assign_sub_on_device(device, variable, tensor):
  with ops.device(device):
    return variable.assign_sub(tensor)

def assert_replica_context(strategy):
  replica_context = ds_context.get_replica_context()
  if not replica_context:
    raise RuntimeError(
        "Replica-local variables may only be assigned in a replica context.")
  if replica_context.strategy is not strategy:
    raise RuntimeError(
        "Replica-local variables may only be assigned in a replica context.")

def apply_aggregation(strategy, value, aggregation, destinations):
  if aggregation == vs.VariableAggregation.ONLY_FIRST_REPLICA:
    return strategy.extended.broadcast_to(
        strategy.experimental_local_results(value)[0],
        destinations=destinations)
  reduce_op = reduce_util.ReduceOp.from_variable_aggregation(aggregation)
  return strategy.extended.reduce_to(reduce_op, value, destinations)

aggregation_error_msg = (
    "You must specify an aggregation method to update a "
    "{variable_type} in Replica Context. You can do so by passing "
    "an explicit value for argument `aggregation` to tf.Variable(..)."
    "e.g. `tf.Variable(..., aggregation=tf.VariableAggregation.SUM)`"
    "`tf.VariableAggregation` lists the possible aggregation methods."
    "This is required because {variable_type} should always be "
    "kept in sync. When updating them or assigning to them in a "
    "replica context, we automatically try to aggregate the values "
    "before updating the variable. For this aggregation, we need to "
    "know the aggregation method. "
    "Another alternative is to not try to update such "
    "{variable_type} in replica context, but in cross replica "
    "context. You can enter cross replica context by calling "
    "`tf.distribute.get_replica_context().merge_call(merge_fn, ..)`."
    "Inside `merge_fn`, you can then update the {variable_type} "
    "using `tf.distribute.StrategyExtended.update()`.")

scatter_error_msg = ("{op_name} is only supported for mirrored "
                     "variable (variable created within certain "
                     "`tf.distribute.Strategy` scope) with NONE or "
                     "`ONLY_FIRST_REPLICA` aggregation, got: {aggregation}.")

def is_saving_non_distributed():
  """Returns whether we're saving a non-distributed version of the model.

  It returns True iff we are in saving context and are saving a non-distributed
  version of the model. That is, SaveOptions.experimental_variable_policy is
  NONE.

  Returns:
    A boolean.
  """
  if not save_context.in_save_context():
    return False
  options = save_context.get_save_options()
  return (options.experimental_variable_policy !=
          save_options.VariablePolicy.EXPAND_DISTRIBUTED_VARIABLES)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I'm sure you've heard the phrase "Don't judge a book by it's cover" several times, but when it comes to revealing a new cover we always get excited when it's a super vibrant, eye catching, fun cover like this one! But before we get to that, let's introduce you to Author Andrew Hess!
To find Author Andrew Hess check out these sites!
I think there is only one thing left to do!
Campus Killer by Andrew Hess!
Don't forget to check out all the other blogs helping us spread this cover all around the world and leave a comment for the author! What do you think of the cover?
A surprise inheritance brings Lizzy Bradford and her father to Blackwater Bayou, Louisiana. But the house is the smallest of the surprises in store for young Lizzy.
Growls and snarls, teasing and pranked, Lizzy's life seems to be going…. Wait... Growls and snarls? That can't be normal!
Lizzy starts to learn more about her past, and the secrets that her mother had hidden from her father as the past comes back to haunt the future.
With the help of her new friend, Marie, Lizzy must look deep within herself to find the strength to not only believe in, but also battle The Nightmare Witch.


text:
Sir Dave Richards (nascido em Walkley, Sheffield) é o presidente da Premier League, membro do conselho da Football Association, presidente do comitê internacional da FA, da European Professional Football Leagues, do Comitê de Futebol Profissional da UEFA e ex-presidente do Sheffield Wednesday.

Richards foi um diretor de empresas envolvidas em engenharia de telecomunicações, água e tratamento de resíduos. Muitas dessas empresas entraram liquidação administrativa ou foram dissolvidas. Ele se tornou diretor do Sheffield Wednesday em outubro de 1989 e presidente cinco meses depois, após a saída de Bert McGee. Em 1999 foi feito presidente da Premier League e deixou Sheffield Wednesday pouco depois.

Naturais de Sheffield
Campeonato Inglês de Futebol
Dirigentes esportivos da Inglaterra


text:
INTERNATIONAL WOTA
About IW
IW Original Content
#wotachat
Up-Front Agency
TechnoPop
Toggle Content
Now Browsing the	Technopop category
Another Set of Items Added to the Auction
By maiZe under AKB48,Community,JPop,Technopop,Up-Front Agency
We've got a 3rd set of items which have been added to the auction. This time, johpan of johpanOnline and CK of Chuo Dori have donated the items. If you're a fan of Perfume, AKB48, Porno Graffiti or Morning Musume, there may be something here for you! So check out the central auction page for the full listing of auction items.
Also, it was brought to our attention that Canadian bidders have not been able to submit bids. We have fixed the issue, and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. So Canadians, if there was something you tried to bid on and were unable to, try again! If you come across any issues, please send us an e-mail at admins[at]intlwota.com. So far, all the auctions are limited to North America. We will only honour bids from Canada and the United States.
Just a reminder: the first batch of auction items will be ending today (April 1st) at 9 pm EDT.
Comments Off on Another Set of Items Added to the Auction
Should Capsule Have Altered Their Album Title?
By brian under Technopop
The KILLER WAVE Has Passed (Hijitsuzai)
As with every other release, capsule's album was delayed (officially "postponed indefinitely"). What's unique about capsule's situation is that their album was scheduled to be named KILLER WAVE, a reference to the audio file format. The connotation of that name to the tsunami has caused the band to distance themselves from the name. Selryam wonders if capsule and their producers are blowing a situation out of proportion by changing the album title. Selryam's argument is Yasutaka Nakata is an artist and a coincidence (no matter how horrific that coincidence is) shouldn't get in the way of that artist's vision.
I find it to be a weak argument. Yes, Yasutaka Nakata and Toshiko Koshijima are artists, but they are also a part of a commercial band in a music industry that is all about making money. Artistic Integrity and Sales aren't necessarily forever in conflict with each other; but when they do conflict, as in this situation, it's revealing to see what decisions are made. If sales are more important than artistic integrity, then what sense would it make to sell an album title that, fairly or unfairly, reminds people of a national tragedy of death and destruction?
I don't think Selryam addresses the reality of this. He is focused on Nakata's original vision. Sel says that Nakata "put both a lot of time and effort into creating the entire package as it is, choosing everything for a specific reason." I read this as suggesting that it wasn't Nakata himself that decided to change the album title. How can one be so sure of that? Even my argument about sales is speculation. Nakata, who was affected by this tragedy as every other Japanese citizen, could have felt it would be extremely inappropriate and disrespectful to have an album that just reminds people of it all.
By Murr under AKB48,Blogs,JPop,Pop Idols,Technopop,Up-Front Agency
TBS TV :"Which female group would you want to join?" (Pure Idol Heart)
With the recent influx of new idol girl groups in Japan, I could see why the news stations would be interviewing the public about this. For these groups to even come into existence, there needs to be enough interest in forming new ones/joining established ones. That means that people need to want to apply for the ability to audition for these groups. Don't even get me started on the last two boy groups/bands that formed in the past week or two. Saturation of the market is NOT needed right now~ -_-
Comments Off on Sign Up Here!
MEG leaving the music biz. TechnoPop cries.
By johpan under News,Noteworthy,Technopop
Bad MEG news, everyone. 🙁 (contemode LJ Community)
Community member tiaraways shares her translation of the rather sudden news of MEG leaving the music scene. Non-fans may find it a little tl;dr but personally, reading this just makes me love the TechnoPop sweetheart even more. MEG admits to being in a place in her career where new ideas can't be born. In a glass-half-full way of looking at it, she's doing us a favor by leaving now and not x number of half-assed singles down the road. For that, MEG, I thank you.
On a personal level, I'm sure a lot of us can relate to how MEG is feeling and why she feels the need to break off from her current situation. Like most of the commenters in the post said, you've got to admit that she's got guts to drop everything and follow her heart and reset like this.
Towards the end of the post, MEG hints that she may return with a new record label or create a new label for herself. No matter what she decides for her future, I know I'll be watching. BTW, I liked MEG more than Perfume
Comments Off on MEG leaving the music biz. TechnoPop cries.
Back With A Bang?
By Murr under Blogs,New Blogs,Technopop
THE END OF THE POLYSICS HIATUS (Natsu Bam Bam)
POLYSICS are back, and it seems with a bang! With a new promotional picture and a set gig coming up later this year, the absence of Kayo is really startling.
Comments Off on Back With A Bang?
Update: Perfume Returns With A Contrasting Double A-Side
By johpan under Fan Sites,Technopop
New single details:「Fushizen na Girl / Natural ni Koishite」 (Perfume City)
Contrary to initial interpretations, Natural ni Koishite is actually one half of Perfume's latest single… a DOUBLE A-SIDE SINGLE! According to the news from Perfume City, ekuseru points out that Fushizen translates to "unnatural" or "artificial" contrasting with the "Natural" kind of love that we've been introduced to from its PV and Natural Beauty Basic CM clips.
To those who weren't completely satisfied with how Natural ni Koishite turned out, here's hoping that the contrast in titles also carries into a contrast of emotion conveyed in the music.
To the rest of us that just enjoy the fact that Perfume's releasing new stuff, YAY FOR US 😀
Comments Off on Update: Perfume Returns With A Contrasting Double A-Side
Reactions to Perfume's Natural ni Koishite
By johpan under Blogs,Technopop
All Natural Perfume (23ji no ongaku)
Perfume – Natural ni Koishite (musical ramblings of a dreamer)
The Natural ni Koishite PV has been up for a little while now and some reaction posts have popped up.
Nicole of 23ji no ongaku sees this latest track as unnaturally cheery for the girls.
"…something makes the song seem so un-serious that it's almost silly."
I definitely see parts of the PV being silly but musically, I'm kinda not seeing where she's coming from. It could just be the sound system I'm listening to it with: every thump of the kick drum rumbles seriousness. There are no un-serious kick drum thumps here ;D. If acchan of Maji High ever came over and heard the seriousness of my bass, she'd take off her glasses and destroy it. まじすか? </lulz>
A new challenger has appeared going by the pen name "dreamtiny" and reviews the PV and has a bit of commentary on the use of autotune and its appropriateness. It's a fun read but the very last sentence caught my eye:
"Anyway, their new single releases on April 14, and I bet they'll sell well! (though probably nowhere near as well as AKB did)"
It's always been in my head that Perfume is one of the better selling Japanese artists, especially after TRIANGLE. It's just been a while since they've released anything so those who follow sales don't have much to judge with based off the release silence. Considering the release gap and contrasting that with the touring and what not that happened during the release gap, where are they going to be for first day / first week sales?
On one side, we have the Perfume die-hards that have been fans since the indies days; has the release gap taken its toll on the fan base? On the other side, Perfume's popularity with the new fans (from the touring and what not) should be high and their exposure should be up there too especially with the Natural Beauty Basic CM campaign; is this enough to boost their sales?
AKB48's latest single "Sakura no Shiori" sold over 317,000* copies in its first week. The single before that, "RIVER", sold over 178,000* in its first week and was their first single to hit #1. From my understanding, RIVER was responsible for hooking a considerable amount of fans all over the world which would partially explain the huge jump in sales. Consider that Perfume's TRIANGLE sold 210,000* in its first week. While Perfume's first major fan explosion was over Polyrhythm, do you think that Natural ni Koishite could outsell 317,000? </tl;dr>
Anyway, dreamtiny just started blogging at the start of the year but has reviews and comments on a lot of the JPop and KPop artists we know and love here at IW so be sure to check out the rest of the blog!
* sales stats from Oricon via jpopstop's wiki
Perfume's Natural ni Koishite PV is now streaming!
Natural ni Koishite PV Released! (Perfume City)
Meirin reports that Perfume's latest single's PV is up on TOKUMAJAPAN's YouTube channel! Considering it's been a year since we've heard a new single*, this is a very welcome bit of news on this fine Cake Day! It also justifies my pre-order. Yay Perfume for never failing me!
Anyway, check out this awesome new track by these lovely ladies!
*One Room Disco released in March 2009 while TRIANGLE released in July 2009
Some Upcoming Technopop Releases!
By Wendy under Blogs,News,Technopop
Perfume's Valentines Gift to us: New Single Announced! (Perfume City)
NEW Perfume single!! (contemode LJ community)
New MEG Single Confirmed?
New Stuff In April, あいにいくよ (PlanetSAWA)
I don't know about you guys, but I've really been feeling the lack of contemode material lately. However, as you may or may not know, capsule has an album coming out soon (personally I am REALLY EXCITED). But where are Perfume and MEG? Well, the problem has been resolved. Perfume City and the contemode community on LiveJournal have information on Perfume's new single set for April! Not much is known about it right now, though. The contemode community is also reporting on MEG's new single, but there's hardly any information on that either besides the fact that it's coming out on April 21st.
SAWA, on the other hand, recently put out her Swimming Dancing mini-album (November isn't really recent, but it's MORE recent than contemode's acts) so there's not really a lack of her. Either way, you can never have too much SAWA! (Don't bother arguing about that.) She has a new mini-album titled Ai ni Iku yo that's set to be released on April 7th and we already have a preview and tracklist! There's lots of info provided by BlackCheremy, so instead of me trying to summarize it all, I'd recommend just checking out the post itself.
I am SO excited for all of this. Perfume's my favourite group, MEG's my favourite solo singer, and I love SAWA! Her preview sounds really cute, too. Ah, April can't get here fast enough!
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Perfume City Has the Top Perfume Songs of 2009!
By Amy under Blogs,Fan Sites,JPop,Noteworthy,Pop Idols,Technopop
And the Best Perfume Song of 2009 is… (Perfume City)
Meirin over at Perfume City has the results for their recent poll asking readers what they thought the top Perfume song of the year was! I don't want to spoil the top three, but I do want to mention that one of my favorite songs, the best thing, came in at #4! Either tons of Perfume fans have great taste or we're all just crazy! I was surprised to realize that Perfume only released one single and one album this year, but I guess it's good that they're not flooding the market. Let's hope that they release some more #1 singles next this year and continue their domination of the technopop industry!
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Mr HIDDING (Lyons) - I am pleased to second this motion before the House and I also record my agreement with the mover and his comments about the Governor.
May I begin by congratulating all the other members of the House on their election and offer an expression of goodwill to each of them as we set about managing the affairs of this State.
I also extend my congratulations to you, Mr Speaker, on your election to the august position and if I may be allowed a little levity I think you look as cool in that Chair as you do on your Harley.
Mr HIDDING - I take this opportunity to address the House for the first time with a great deal of pride and pleasure. The electors of Lyons have extended to me and six others in this place the privilege of serving them. At this early stage I have gained what I think is a reasonably solid understanding of the responsibility that this task confers on me but I accept that the learning continues steeply upward.
The path leading to my election featured much face-to-face contact with the electors of Lyons and it took various forms but at all times clear messages were available that are now burned into my conscience.
The Lyons electorate, Mr Speaker, while a relatively ridiculous size and shape is a very tough taskmaster for a representative like me that attempts to work all ends equally but it is an electorate however which provides a rich tapestry of the Tasmanian community. This tapestry includes complete opposites in terms of wealth and in low income; in terms of enterprise and in people in retirement and in terms of urban dwellers and some seriously displaced families. A description of the tapestry could well be a courageous people in courageous enterprises.
While some of the larger agricultural enterprises may seem to have a reasonable income the return on their net assets are of a level that is laughable compared to other industries. Many of the smaller agricultural enterprises indeed continue to operate well below the breadline in a commercial and personal income sense.
Make no mistake, Mr Speaker, in my opinion our farmers are the contemporary heroes of Tasmania's economy. Recently they faced major change in climatic conditions; a world crash in wool prices; Asian markets being skewed by America's economic programs, and still they're in there, working long hard hours, walking financial tightropes and changing their businesses smoothly to international best practice - and in most cases, with their lifestyles extremely modest. On top of all that they manage to maintain an excellent industry body, the TFGA. Mr Speaker, I take this opportunity to record my sincere admiration for this sector of industry.
The oceans that wash the shores of the Lyons electorate also provide a great income for Tasmania. The brave people of the wild fishery industry are not much different from our farmers. High capital inputs, uncertain market conditions, and a constant worry for the future of their industry. The task for any government in making decisions to protect the future of their fisheries in an equitable manner is one which will take much consultation and education for all parties involved. I am delighted to see that a person such as the Minister for Fisheries is in charge of that portfolio.
A shining light in the fishing industry is the abalone industry. This industry has always had the great good fortune to have strong leaders, people prepared to forgo immediate profits for the sake of long-term security. This industry has a strong message for other industries; they have made the hard decisions when they present themselves. They do not put them off and they have got strong self-discipline and they promote this to others in their industry. This industry has displayed courage and intellectual imagination to build an industry worth a big percentage of the State's GDP. The Government owes this industry respect for what they have done and respect for what they can still achieve.
Another exciting industry in the tapestry of the Lyons electorate is the aquiculture industry, and I am not just referring to the fish farms in Macquarie Harbour, but the leading edge of the industry found in some of these amazing facilities on the east coast: oyster hatcheries with huge potential; abalone hatcheries that are among the first in the world, and if not the first they at least have the genetics of the most desirable species under constant research and development. There is an air of excitement in these facilities. They are well placed to become very successful enterprises indeed and the Government should give them every form of encouragement it can.
The timber industry in the Lyons electorate is a huge employer of people and of assets. The operators in this industry have also been courageous in their investment decisions. While knowing that the resource is there, the political environment has waxed and waned at the whim of a single Federal minister who, by the stroke of a pen, could put thousands out of work. I am a positive person and I believe that the forest and timber industry and the environmental lobby will one day work side by side in harmony to properly harness the wealth available from the truism that Tasmania grows trees better and quicker than anywhere in the world. The quality of our native species, our temperate climate, will ultimately prevail to make Tasmania a showplace for the world in forest management practices.
I also have a vision that in the not too distant future farmers will be able to describe themselves as tree farmers, as well as graziers or croppers. I am aware that there are substantial landowners who have the business plans, environmental. plans and the financial resources to commence private forestry on a major scale, almost immediately creating many new jobs. The Federal and State governments both owe these people the respect due to them as major potential employers and should not just insult them by treating them as potential environmental vandals.
All Tasmanians should also be excited by what is happening in the western part of the Lyons electorate. The Mount Lyell mine is a showpiece of enterprise in modern Australia, striving towards latest international best practice, mixed with good tough horse sense, all working with a great local community to produce excellent outputs. The future of the other mines in the area, such as Pasminco Deep, Henty Gold and Savage River also feel me with great anticipation.
But, Mr Speaker, the rich tapestry of the community in the Lyons electorate is not all about enterprise, and the stitching that holds this tapestry together is the community itself. A positive attitude, a wry lift of the shoulders in times of adversity and a kind word for others in more need is easy to find in the townships and backblocks of Lyons, and I know that all other elected members of Lyons would share this view. A genuine concern for Australia and, in particular, Tasmania is a feature in their conversations. A healthy cynicism about the services that are available to city dwellers and not to themselves keeps their elected representatives well on their toes. They also display a keen sense of economics. They might not know about macro or micro or otherwise, but they do know that most enterprises in the world these days are about the distribution of wealth, but the generation of that wealth in the first place comes down to the real workers of the world like themselves. The elected representatives of these people, including local councillors upper House members and the seven MHAs in this place are very fortunate indeed to be part of this rich tapestry.
Whatever vision for Tasmania each one of us carry in our minds we would all agree that we want to leave Tasmania in at least the order it is in today, preferably in better condition for our children and our grandchildren. Many of the good things about Tasmania today however have come about through good economic performance for one reason or another. Tasmania in the past has had cheap power and it has had mineral abundance and those happy circumstances do not necessarily go on forever. We should be about setting the scene for the next 25-odd years in Tasmania.
My two year old granddaughter, Amy, in the year - I will take the year that my colleague for Denison used - 2020 will by the grace of God have her own children by then and they will be wondering if I, back in 1996, had 20/20 vision in both senses of the word. The major power generation capacity available to industries then will be available from one or more sources decided upon by us in the very near future. We have to get those options right and the sources we choose have to aim at oversupply, not break even. How on earth can we expect industry to think big in Tasmania if the Government does not think big as well?
Much has been recently made of business and industry groups calling upon this place to turn a negative into a positive, to use the hung Parliament as a method to achieve a bipartisan approach to State development. I will take that advice in the spirit it was intended but I do call upon business and industry groups themselves to come closer to the heart of the issue and participate more strongly in the process. It will not do any more for these groups to be over the fence throwing missiles into our compound. If business and industry groups are genuine about economic development then they should become familiar with the Government's long-term fiscal strategies and the budget process and should make submissions to the budget process and when they want changes to things like industrial relations or to workers compensation they should provide strong but balanced input into the process and when the Government makes the moves they wanted, not go and hide and be nowhere to be found in the public debate that follows. Business and industry need to have the same courage of their convictions that a government needs.
A vision for the future should not, as I said, only be about economic development, things that affect the well-being and pride of a community can be diverse. Each town and each region in Tasmania has its issues of cultural significance but we as a government have a role in preserving in a way that transcends dry economics. Only in that way will each community still have in that year 2020 the focal points that give a heart to communities. In a general sense, however, I think the best thing I can do for my grandchildren is to ensure that in 2020 Tasmania is at least still Tasmania.
I shudder when I hear Jeff Kennett talk about an economic bloc alliance between Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. I see red when I realise that Australia, the nation, has signed protocols that forbid Tasmania, the State, from branding its produce as Tasmanian-made rather than Australian. I worry when I see arguments every month now about problematic Commonwealth and State relationships and taxation equities. Mr Speaker, if we do not watch it we will lose the very uniqueness that gives us our special position in this nation and on God's earth.
In an environmental sense this uniqueness includes the fact that because of our isolation we could quite properly aim to be the last bastion of clean and green on this planet in 2020. Being dictated to by States on development matters will not help that aim and neither will, in a merchandising sense, having our produce lumped together with other States, each with their own disease problems. This uniqueness of Tasmania in a political sense is the great deal that we were handed at the time of Federation. Tasmania got twelve seats at Federation and there are of course those States with 5 million-odd people who only have twelve seats themselves. In personal discussions with some of the centralists in politics on both sides that aberration in their minds is something that creates much teeth gritting. Of course the Northern Territory is pushing for statehood, and quite properly too and in due course I think they will get it. How many senators do they get? If we were to succumb to the popular view that they should have, say, three senators then Tasmania will find itself on the wrong end of the argument that population should not be a determining factor in these issues. What happens then? Northern Territory gets twelve senators and those huge population centres get their influence diluted even further. They are going to fight hard and dirty to ensure that this does not happen.
Mr White - You know where you can put it.
Mr HIDDING - I moved it across but then I could not see the member for Denison so I will put it about halfway if you do not mind, Mr Speaker.
Mr Rundle - He's not the member for Denison - the member for Braddon.
Mr SPEAKER - Order. I ask the House to come to order. It is the member's maiden speech and should by courtesy be heard in silence.
Mr HIDDING - Thank you and I do apologise for that error to the Opposition Leader.
Preserving the uniqueness of Tasmania in the cultural sense is something however I do not lose a lot of sleep over. Cultural development is I believe a community issue preferably not to be engineered by governments. We have developed a civilised society largely on top of the big issues such as law and order, health and education, although there is much work to be done in these areas aiming for continual improvement.
The one factor which holds Tasmania back, as alluded to by my colleague from Denison, is the lack of population. For one reason or another Tasmania did not attract the big numbers of migrants that other States did, with the result that our population is static. Australian immigration in the last twenty years has had a large component of family migration and it is exponential in that sense. Hundreds of thousands of migrants have moved to cities like Sydney and Perth simply because their families had already migrated there in the first place. In Tasmania we missed those first waves of migration and therefore we missed the next waves. The result is a society that is predominantly Anglosaxon or at least Anglo-Celtic probably even in some ways more so than in England or Ireland. The very good news is of course that a goodly number of migrants did manage to sneak into this State around the forties and fifties, even the odd Dutchman or three.
It is a measure of the proportion of the migrants in Tasmania that it has taken until today for a European migrant to be sworn into this House where in other States of course this has been the case for some time. I am not absolutely sure whether I am the first European migrant to be sworn into this House but an eminent historian on my left tells me that he cannot remember another one.
Mr White - Gabby Haros.
Mr HIDDING - Okay, so there was another one.
Mr Michael Hodgman - He was born in Australia.
Mr HIDDING - I was born in Holland.
Mr Michael Hodgman - He was born in Holland; Haros was born in Australia.
Mr HIDDING - It is also probably a measure of the proportion of migrants in Tasmania that this particular Dutchman on a recent visit to Europe felt more at home in the streets of London than I did in the streets of Amsterdam. In all seriousness however the Tasmanian community may need to broaden its thinking on multicultural issues by that year 2020.
On a global scale, the next cultural dilemma facing the world will be the overpopulation of the world in especially areas of Asia. As a nation making its money out of Asia Australia will be looked to for relief in this dilemma and Tasmania will not in its wildest dreams miss out on being forced to see its responsibilities in this matter.
The motion that I have seconded uses the term that the measures which will be laid before us during the session will receive our careful consideration. I look forward to applying my careful consideration to these measures which by all accounts will be coming in thick and fast from all sides due to the particular circumstance of numbers in this place.
My careful consideration will use the input that I will continually seek from my constituents. It will utilise careful study of the issue and it will also utilise my Christian faith that is at the base of everything I do. Let there be no mistake about it I am a committed and practising Christian and the principles that are the fruits of that faith are not for sale. That is not to say that some Christians might think that in the secular and pluralistic society we have I should be imposing my Christian will on every issue before us. There is room in this House for all views and where appropriate I will be on my feet calling it as I see it from a Christian viewpoint.
The Government will do well to continue to protect and enhance the standing of churches in our society and to provide an environment where the mainstream Christian faith can flourish. I was delighted to be at the church service of this first session of the Forty-third Parliament this morning.
As this is my maiden speech in this place I ask the House's indulgence - just to finalise - to place on public record a particular record of thanks. Many people need to be thanked for their part in the fact that I am standing here today including my wife and my family but I have pared down my thoughts to this: I want to thank a then young couple who forty years ago, in a giant leap of faith, took the decision to leave behind large and loving families a familiar country and climate to pack a few suitcases, pick up their four kids, step on a ship and sail off to the other side of the world. That they were responding to over-the-top advertising in Europe about how wonderful it was in Tasmania and in Australia meant nothing really. Their great faith in their God and Saviour and his providence gave them a courage and a cheerfulness that still has not faltered. Within a few weeks of arriving in Australia my father had built a bungalow for his family and was holding down two jobs.
I also want to thank that same couple for, almost to the week after the minimum time was up - five years - deciding to become Australian with their four children. This decision led to a beautiful naturalisation ceremony in the township of Evandale in Lyons where we lived at that time not far from the home of my Denison colleague, Mr Cheek. In fact it was to a young Queen Elizabeth the Second that, through my mother and father, I pleaded allegiance in 1961. I have not had the opportunity to do so since and it is my distinct honour to do so again today both in the swearing-in ceremony and in this motion. To my parents Max and Therese Hidding I extend my profound thanks and admiration for those early decisions. Mr Speaker, I thank the House for its respectful attention and commend the motion before it.


The first thing Mark Cuban did when he became a billionaire was a "little naked billionaire dance."
Then he bought a plane, he tells the audience at OZY Fest in New York City.
Cuban became a billionaire back in 1998. That's when he and Todd Wagner took their online audio streaming company, Broadcast.com, public.
"Obviously I knew exactly what the number was to become a billionaire," Cuban says of the stock price, to the audience at OZY Fest.
"And so I am sitting there naked one morning. Naked. Bam, bam, bam, refresh, refresh," says Cuban. He was repeatedly hitting "return" on the keyboard to update the website where he was watching the stock.
"[The price] gets up there — and then I did my little naked billionaire dance."
He jokes that becoming a billionaire affected his appearance, too. "I was so much more handsome that next day. No lie," says Cuban.
Cuban's co-founder, Wagner, also became a billionaire with Broadcast.com.
"I'd put all my money into Broadcast.com — all my savings, all my 401(k)," Wagner tells CNBC Make It. "I had gotten a line of credit before I quit the law firm because I knew once I quit I'd never get a line of credit. I put all that in.
"So I went from somebody that had zero net worth to being on the Forbes [richest] list in six years."
Wagner and Cuban would go on to sell Broadcast.com to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in April 2000.
Today, Cuban is worth $3.4 billion according to Forbes.
But both Cuban, 58, and Wagner, 56, grew up in working class towns. Cuban is from Pittsburgh. His dad upholstered cars for a living and his mom did odd jobs. Wagner is from Gary, Ind.
Coming into wealth suddenly is life-changing, says Wagner.
"You've won the lottery. There's no other way to really describe it. You can walk in a store and instead of saying, 'How much is that suit?' you can buy all the suits," says Wagner. "The first year, of course, you're happy every day."
In the long run, though, being a billionaire does not guarantee happiness, says Cuban.
"When I was broke, sleeping on the floor, starving — literally we would go anywhere that would give free food if you bought one beer, and I gained like 50 pounds," says Cuban of his early 20s. "I was broke, fat but having fun.
"And then when I made all the money, my wallet changed, my bank account has changed, but my approach to having fun hasn't changed," he says.
"People always say, 'What is your definition of success?'" says Cuban. "If you can wake up in the morning with a big old smile on your face, excited about the day, you are successful, and how much money you have doesn't change any of that. That is just who you are."


text:
package game

import (
	"encoding/gob"
	"fmt"
)

func init() {
	gob.Register(&Item{})
}

type Item struct {
	Object // The game object?

	Desc     string
	Weight   int
	Modifier int
}

func NewItem(name string) *Item {
	i := &Item{Object: NewGameObject(name)}
	//	i := BootstrapItem(o)
	//	i.Tags["visible"] = true
	//	i.Tags["gettable"] = true
	return i
}

func (i Item) String() string {
	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: <weight: %s, mod: %s, desc: %s, %s>",
		i.GetName(), i.Weight, i.Modifier, i.Desc, i.Object)
}


JONES David Richard Gwynne Peacefully on Monday July 31st 2006, at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, Gwynne of 37 Heol Elfed, Burry Port. Beloved husband of the late Ann, a devoted father and a much loved grandfather and great grandfather, who will be sadly missed by all his family. Funeral on Monday, August 7th. Public service at 11.00 a.m. at Burry Port Chapel of Rest (Dolau Fan), followed by interment in the public cemetery. Family flowers only. Further enquiries please to Eric James, Funeral Directors, Trawscoed, Snowdon Road, Burry Port. Telephone 01554 832461.
Published from: August 03, 2006.


text:
Caitlyn Jenner Shuts Down The Idea That She Came Out As Transgender For Fame In The Best Way
By Jamie Primeau
Angela Weiss/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Although you may not agree with everything Caitlyn Jenner says, there's no denying that she's become a trailblazer in her own right. Sure, she's not the first public figure to be openly transgender, but in a lot of ways, she's helping spark a conversation that's important to have. On Wednesday night, Jenner gave a sold-out talk at the University of Pennsylvania, and from the sound of it, it was an insightful event. When Buzz Bissinger — who interviewed Jenner at the event and for her Vanity Fair article last June — brought up the rumor that she came out as transgender just for money and fame, the I Am Cait star gave the perfect response. She shut down the accusations like a queen and, according to Billy Penn, said,
I don't need the money. So I don't understand that claim. No one transitions for financial gain. No way... You don't do it unless you know deep down in your soul that it's the right thing to do. If I can't be honest with myself about what I'm doing, I'm no good for anything.
Even though she shouldn't have to defend herself to anyone, the 66-year-old really did drop the mic with her response. It makes perfect sense that she decided to come out because she knew "deep down in [her] soul" that it was the right decision. I highly doubt that she'd go through such a major life change, just for the sake of publicity. That's ridiculous to even say.
Plus, when you think about it, of course she didn't need the money. She already was a successful Olympic gold medalist, who also had a motivational speaking career. Add in the fact that she starred on the ever-popular Keeping Up With the Kardashians and there's no denying that she was doing more than OK financially.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
By that same token, I don't think Jenner was trying to throw her wealth or fame in the faces of others. That's not the point she was making. She's talked before about how she understands she comes from a place of privilege. On an episode of I Am Cait last fall, she said,
I've lived a great life, and I realized in this transition I kind of have that privileged status. You were a white guy, I worked hard, I was able to put a few dollars away. So, I'm blessed. I'm in a wonderful position in life... Boy oh boy, what I'm learning. It's shocking for me to see the struggles that are out there.
She's also made it clear she wants to use her spotlight to help others that are not as fortunate, which is an admirable goal to have. To me, it seems like Jenner's main point is that she came out as a transgender woman because it reflects who she is in her heart; not for fame, attention, or any other nonsensical reason. In doing so publicly, she hopefully can help others in their journeys.
Still, Jenner acknowledges she may not be the perfect role model. She told the UPenn audience, "I'm not a role model. I'm so new to this community I don't expect to be one." Yet with responses like the one above, she definitely sets an important example. Especially when it comes to being true to yourself and shutting down unfair rumors.