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Volume 13 - Demise of Life and Soul
Chapter 1316 - The Sky Poison Poison Spirit
"Did you previously see Senior Dragon Monarch come often?"
While the Dragon Monarch and Shen Xi were discussing important matters, Yun Che and He Ling, these two juniors, were also quietly whispering to each other.
"Mn," He Ling nodded her head, "Even though the Dragon God Domain is very far away from here, the Dragon Monarch would still visit very often. Most of the time, he would come here once every month or two, and even if the gap between visits was longer, it would not exceed half a year. This time, the Dragon Monarch had an important matter to attend to in the Eastern Divine Region. If not, you would probably have met him quite a while back."
"Every month or two!?" Yun Che said, shock filling his heart. Given the lifespan of the dragon race, every month or two was not much different from a human's every day or two. Leaving aside the distance between this place and the Dragon God Domain, given the Dragon Monarch's position, this happened with such frequency that it boggled the mind.
"That's right," He Ling rested her chin on her hands as she spoke in a very moved voice, "Furthermore, I heard from Master that he has done this for hundreds of thousands of years already. The Dragon Monarch is truly, deeply, and irrevocably smitten, and devoted to Master."
"..." Yun Che slowly turned his head around, an incomparably weird look appearing on his face, "The Dragon Monarch… has always been deeply smitten and devoted… to Senior Shen Xi? Wait, wait, wait, wait! Even though I've only been in the God Realm for a very short period of time, even I have heard that the Dragon Monarch has very deep feelings for the Dragon Queen and that he's only ever loved the Dragon Queen in his entire life. Furthermore, he has not taken a single concubine over these hundreds of thousands of years. So how could he also feel this way towards Senior Shen Xi…"
"Eh?" He Ling's beautiful eyes swivelled towards him as she looked at him with an astonished expression on her face, "Could it be that you've been ignorant of it all this time? Master, she is the…"
Before He Ling had even finished speaking, she suddenly felt like it was hard to breathe. That was because an intimidating oppressive might had descended from the heavens, and had come very close to them.
The Dragon Monarch!
The two people hurriedly got up and bowed at the same time.
The Dragon Monarch slowly walked forward until he faced Yun Che. He gave a small sigh before speaking, "Yun Che, she is indeed the only person in this universe that can purge you of the Brahma Soul Death-Wishing Mark that you have been afflicted with. Even though you met with a great disaster, being able to come to this place means that you've turned your calamity into a blessing. You are the only male that she has ever been willing to accept in this place over all these many years, so you should know that this is a gigantic opportunity for you."
"Yes, this junior will always bear that in mind." Upon hearing He Ling say that "the Dragon Monarch has always been deeply smitten and devoted to Master", he felt his heart twist… and he also felt some dread bubbling up in his heart.
"The ambition of this girl Qianye is extremely big and her methods are vicious and cruel. The fact that she looked for and seized an opportunity to make her move against you doesn't surprise me in the slightest. It was also for this reason that I advised you to come to my Dragon God Realm at that time." The Dragon Monarch gave him a look, his eyes filled with goodwill and benevolence. At the very least, he definitely did not covet him the way Qianye Ying'er did. "After you have gotten rid of your Brahma Soul Death-Wishing Mark, come to my Dragon God Domain. Even though you are not of the dragon race, the dragon soul that you possess naturally gives you the qualifications to enter the Dragon God Domain."
"At least my dragon god race will be able to protect you and ensure your safety in the Dragon God Domain." The Dragon Monarch's eyes grew melancholic, distant and hooded. "No matter what your heart desires, there is something that you must remember. Life is more important than anything else. Even if you don't have any freedom in the Dragon God Domain, it is far far better than losing your life in the Eastern Divine Region."
"I thank Senior Dragon Monarch for his advice. The words of Senior Dragon Monarch are something that Yun Che will always bear in mind," Yun Che said in a solemn manner. "When I consider what path to take in the future, this junior will definitely cautiously think it through."
The Dragon Monarch gave a faint nod of his head. He could hear from Yun Che's words that he still did not have the intention of staying in the Dragon God Realm, at least that was the case for the time being anyways.
"Senior… seems to be in a rather somber mood?" Yun Che asked, "Could it be because of the 'crimson crack'?"
The Dragon Monarch's eyes grew dull before he gave a placid laugh, "Every living creature in the world will have things that do not go according to their own wishes, even if I am the Dragon Monarch, this is also something that is unavoidable."
"What sort of thing could exist in this universe that would not go according to the wishes of Senior Dragon Monarch?" Yun Che asked again.
The Dragon Monarch shook his head and replied, "You are still young so you naturally wouldn't understand."
As he said those words, he turned to the side and took to the air, vanishing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
Yun Che stood to his feet and as he pondered He Ling and the Dragon Monarch's words, his scalp suddenly started to tingle as his internal organs started shuddering… and they shuddered rather furiously at that.
Shen Xi… was the person whom the Dragon Monarch adored!?
This was f*cking...
Yun Che turned around and stared at He Ling as he said, "So what sort of relationship do the Dragon Monarch and Senior Shen Xi have anyways?"
Yun Che's weird behavior caused slight shock to appear on He Ling's face, "Oh, so you really didn't know, huh? I had actually thought that… actually, Master, she is… Ah! Master!"
Yun Che turned around only to find that Shen Xi had already arrived and landed in front of them, the wind gently curling around her.
"Since the honored guest has already left, let us continue where we left off."
Yun Che did not sense any ripples in Shen Xi's emotions in regards to the arrival and departure of the Dragon Monarch. It was as if the number one person in the Primal Chaos, a man who could cause the entire universe to quake around him, was only a small mote of ordinary dust to Shen Xi, a small mote of dust that she had welcomed and sent on its way.
"Are you referring to the matter of me taking you as my master?" They had just had sex for an entire day and night yesterday, but today she actually wanted him to take her as his master… This coupled with the earth-shattering words that He Ling had said caused him to be completely mystified and bewildered by the thoughts, actions and behavior of Shen Xi...
It was not only her outer appearance and her body that were concealed, her entire existence seemed to be hidden within a cloud of thick and dense fog.
Shen Xi looked at him and it seemed as if she sensed the weird thoughts in his heart and mind. A complex look that a normal person would not be able to understand appeared in her eyes, "In regards to that matter, I have changed my mind for now."
Changed her mind? Yun Che was stumped by those words… Why did she suddenly change her mind? It was only the Dragon Monarch who had come during this intervening period. Could it be that the reason for her changing her mind was the Dragon Monarch?
Shen Xi took a step forward and suddenly extended a hand, lightly gasping Yun Che's left wrist.
As his wrist was being lightly held by her jade hand, the feeling of snowy jade and tender flesh caused a bizarre weakness to run through Yun Che's entire body. She not only had a fantastically dreamy and beautiful appearance, even her body seemed to contain some sort of magic… A magic that could cause any man's will to collapse, cause them to go completely crazy and even cause them to sink into a deep abyss for all eternity.
"Release your Sky Poison Pearl and bring it out," she suddenly said.
Even though his heart was filled with suspicion, Yun Che still did as he was told. With a single thought, the palm of his left hand immediately shone with a dark-green light. After that, the illusory image of the Sky Poison Pearl slowly appeared in the air.
Yun Che said, "The Sky Poison Pearl has already been completely fused with my body, it isn't possible for it to appear independently. So I can only summon an image of it."
Shen Xi's gaze only lingered on the Sky Poison Pearl for a brief period of time before she softly muttered to herself, "As expected…"
Yun Che, "...?"
"Yun Che, after you obtained the Sky Poison Pearl, you should always have wondered why it's 'poison' was so weak?" Shen Xi said in a soft and gentle voice.
Yun Che was stunned by those words and he immediately nodded his head, "Could it be that Senior Shen Xi knows why?"
During his life in the Azure Cloud Continent, his heart had been filled with hate and vengeance after Yun Gu died. For the sake of vengeance, he had crazily released the poison within the Sky Poison Pearl, taking the lives of countless living creatures with its poison… He had done so until all of the poison within the Sky Poison Pearl had been exhausted, and not a single bit of poison power remained in it.
After that, his body had merged with the Sky Poison Pearl and he had awoken in the Profound Sky Continent. Ever since then, the Sky Poison Pearl's ability to cleanse, sense and refine remained, but it did not have any poison power left, not even the smallest bit of it. He had originally thought that it was because he had completely emptied it and it needed time to recover, but many years had already gone by, and it still did not possess any poison power.
It was only after he returned to the Azure Cloud Continent and, to his amazement, came across another "Sky Poison Pearl" that he knew that the poison origin of the Sky Poison Pearl had been left in the Azure Cloud Continent.
After he retrieved the poison origin, he had thought that the Sky Poison Pearl would finally start to regain its poison power. But, even though the poison power was indeed recovering slowly, it was just that this "slowly" was a tad too slow. A distinguished and grand Heavenly Profound Treasure, the Sky Poison Pearl, had only recovered that teensy little bit of poison power, an amount that was not even enough to poison a profound practitioner who had just entered the divine way to death… To the current Yun Che, it did not even have the tiniest bit of use.
This was also something Yun Che had always been suspicious about, to the point where he suspected whether he had actually retrieved a fake poison source back then.
"Its poison spirit is dead," Shen Xi said in slow and measured tones.
"Poison… Spirit?" Yun Che said pensively.
"All of the Heavenly Profound Treasures had a spiritual consciousness, and it was a very high ranked spiritual consciousness at that. However, this Sky Poison Pearl that has merged with you, its 'spirit' is already dead, and it should have been dead for a very long time. Without a spirit to call its own, the Sky Poison Pearl would be no different from a vegetable who was still alive and breathing but had no will of their own."
Yun Che, "..."
"Without a poison spirit, even though your Sky Poison Pearl still possesses its basic abilities, it will never be able to produce poison, and even if it can do so, it will only be able to produce the lowest level of poison. So even before it merged with you, anybody who obtained it could control it freely, even though it would still be hard for them to do so."
Yun Che's heart throbbed intensely, Shen Xi's words were right on the money.
When they had obtained the Sky Poison Pearl in the Azure Cloud Continent all those years ago, no matter whether it was Yun Gu or him, either one of them was able to freely use it, they did not need its approval… but at the same time, they could also never fully control it, and an example of that was its poison power going out of control.
Poison spirit, so it was because it did not have a poison spirit, I should have thought of this point long ago… Yun Che muttered in his heart.
"During the Primordial Era, the frenzied and berserking Evil Infant's Wheel of Myriad Tribulations merged with the power of the Evil Infant and the Sky Poison to release the poison, the 'Myriad Tribulations', which wiped out all of the gods and devils… Perhaps it was from that moment on that the poison spirit of the Sky Poison Pearl had died. Given the dreadfulness of the Evil Infant's Wheel of Myriad Tribulations, it also did indeed have the power to kill the Sky Poison Pearl's poison spirit."
Once she had said this, Shen Xi's tone suddenly changed, "Given your current ability, taking revenge on Qianye Ying'er is an absolute impossibility, and if you wanted to cultivate until you reached the stage where you could go head to head with Qianye, it would still take you many long years even given your absolutely unique talents and natural endowments. If you truly want to take revenge on Qianye Ying'er in the shortest amount of time, then the poison power of the Sky Poison Pearl will be the greatest thing that you can rely on."
Yun Che's eyes glimmered, "So your words are telling me that… you want me to think of a way to revive the poison spirit of the Sky Poison Pearl?"
Shen Xi did not answer his question but instead said in a soft voice, "And that is why I want you to help Ling'er take revenge."
Yun Che was stunned by those words but after that, he swiftly looked to the side, "Could it be that you want… He Ling to become the Sky Poison Pearl's… poison spirit!?"
He Ling, who had been quietly listening all this while, raised her head then, ripples glistening in her beautiful eyes.
"The Sky Poison Pearl is one of the Heavenly Profound Treasures and it stands at the pinnacle of the Primal Chaos. So how can its poison spirit be so easy to revive?" Shen Xi's gaze shifted to the wood spirit girl, "But Ling'er, as the descendent of the wood spirit royal family, a tribe which possesses the purest souls, is not only the only person in this universe who can do it, she is also the last person in the universe that can become the Sky Poison Pearl's poison spirit."
"Furthermore, this is also the only way she will ever be able to personally take revenge."
Yun Che was stunned by those words but the wood spirit girl was stunned as well… The gloomy green waves began tossing in the depths of her eyes and they were incomparably fierce and intense, and they were only getting stronger.
"No... No way! Absolutely no way!" Yun Che shook his head, he had shaken his head in a manner which could not be more resolute and he had said "no" three times consecutively. Even though his life experiences could not even be considered "superficial" when compared to Shen Xi, how could he not know what becoming a "artifact spirit" meant? Even though the Sky Poison Pearl was an extremely high-level artifact, in the end it was still an item. If He Ling truly became the Sky Poison Pearl's poison spirit, it would also mean that… she would be forever tied to the Sky Poison Pearl and himself, and she would no longer have any freedom or independence.
He Ling had saved his life, and this coupled with the fact that He Lin had entrusted her to him caused him to have very special emotions in regards to He Ling. She was someone he wanted to protect and repay with all of his strength… so how could he allow her to become his own poison spirit just so he could awaken the poison power of the Sky Poison Pearl.
Shen Xi was not the least bit shocked at his reaction. She said in a soft and gentle voice, "Yun Che, you must definitely be thinking that this is simply sacrificing her, and given your temperament, this isn't something you can accept. But… do you still remember what I said to you a month ago?"
"Given He Ling's current state, only you can 'save' her. Moreover, the best method of saving her would be to allow her to become your Sky Poison Poison Spirit."
Shen Xi's gaze shifted and Yun Che also unconsciously looked towards He Ling… In that instant, his eyes intensely focused.
In the depths of He Ling's beautiful eyes, he could see an incomparably resplendent viridian light… It was as if her heart and soul, which had already turned into dead ashes, had suddenly been reborn and had started to burn with a glorious light.


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December 7, 2012 Breaking Bad fiction
EXT: ABQ, DAY, TIME-LAPSING INTO NIGHT
PR Griffis
EXT: ABQ, DAY, TIME-LAPSING INTO NIGHT*
*With Potential Spoilers, Depending on How Behind You Are
Aaron "Jesse Pinkman" Paul and Mister White (aka Heisenberg, aka Walt, aka Bryan "Malcolm's Dad" Cranston) are making meth in a cavernous and secret meth-cave. Which is like the Bat-Cave, but for meth-making. They are wearing their yellow suits and respirators and are pouring various fluids into multiple large stainless steel containers. There is a terseness to their movements as they perform these actions, as if there is something unsaid between them, some unsaid something (or series of somethings, it now occurs) about which they have both been brooding for some time. After slamming closed the lid on one of the gigantic meth-cauldrons and removing his respirator, the Actor Formerly Known as Cap'n Cook speaks.
"Look, Mister White."
"Jesse," Mister White says, furrowing his furrowy brow, "you can stop calling me Mister White. Come to think of it, you probably could have quit calling me Mister White after high school. How long have we been cooking meth together now? It's starting to get a little weird, your calling me Mister White. How about Walt? Or Walter? Or maybe Chief Most Awesome Meth Chef In the History of Ever?"
Aaron Paul tilts his chin down, catching the light from one of the meth readout displays or maybe the overhead fluorescent tube lighting and thereby illuminating his brilliant Blue Sky©-blue eyes, which stare steadily at Walter "Do I Even Have Cancer Anymore?" White as he says, "You want to talk about weird… bitch? What's weird is how when we first started cooking meth together, you were always solving shit with science. I got the feeling that you were going to be like some kind of nerd chemist MacGyver. But you're not some kind of nerd chemist MacGyver, are you… bitch."
"I'm the person I've always been," Chief Most Awesome "Walt" Meth Chef Ever says, indignant, self-righteous, and perhaps (just a touch) disingenuously. "I love my family, and I want to do whatever I can to protect and provide for them."
"Right… bitch," Aaron "Brilliant Blue Eyes®" Paul says, sneering. "That's why you ran your mouth off at your crippled DEA brother-in-law. Because if you hadn't done that, he'd probably still be sitting in bed watching porn and ordering rocks online."
"They're minerals, Jesse. Minerals."
"Bitch," Jesse Aaron Paul retorts, expelling a salaciously vehement bit of saliva from his mouth on the –ch part, then wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, exposing his decidedly-nineties tribal hand-and-wrist tattoo.
"I just…" Walter "Meth Chef to the Meth-Distribution Stars" White begins, raising his hand and chopping the air for emphasis, "I want to be… respected. I am a good chemist… a great chemist, and I want… to be… respected. That's all."
"You…" Aaron "Ru" Paul says, smiling like he might while watching a fat kid try to run to first base in a kickball game during that short period of time where he was convinced he was evil or whatever. "You do your best work in your tighty-whiteys… bitch. How do you plan to get respect like that?"
"Maybe I'll kill some people," Mister Walt "Tighty-Whitey Meth Chef" White says, glancing sideways and darkly at Jesse (No Relation to Ron) Paul. "Or maybe I'll pit people against each other in an uncharacteristically sophisticated way. Maybe I'll get drunk and/or pilled up and divulge even more things I shouldn't. Or maybe… I'll stagger around in my tighty-whiteys, weeping."
"You make great meth," Captain Jesse Paul Cook says, "bitch. But otherwise, you're all over the place."
Mister "Where in eff, and by what means, did he come by that Heisenberg Hat, and also no relation to Jack" White draws his mouth in a straight line, tectonic activity taking place in his brow region, glancing momentarily up at the security camera which has been tracking their conversation, it now occurs, this whole time. Also, he took his respirator off a little while ago. Respective of the security camera's presence, he lowers his voice, edges closer to Aaron Cap'n Paul. "And I guess you feel like you have room to talk because during the period of time we've been cooking meth together… using my formula and expertise, I might add—"
Jesse (No Relation to Hank) Aaron, glances likewise at the security camera before responding, "Do you never not add that?" Another glance, then, "Bitch?"
"—you went from hooking up on the fairly regular with a seriously busted meth whore to shacking up with a kinda-hot-in-a-decidedly-nineties-kind-of-way-just-add-crystal-and-smack-Instant-Yoko-Ono type, to a single mom who seems mostly like a plot line that didn't quite make but won't go away, or maybe like a sad combination of doormat and wallpaper, a woman whose—dare I say it—coincidental connection to your life as a meth-cook-and-distributor is almost as thin and preposterous as Jane's dad being the air traffic controller who crashed those planes into one another, being so stricken with grief over his daughter's death. Is that what gives you the right to criticize me? Also, I didn't have anything—at all—to do with Jane's death."
"Why doesn't your head tan, Mister White? Huh? Bitch?" Aaron Paul is now seriously spraying it, rather than saying it. He continues, his own curiously youthful face now brow-furrowed. "Why… does your head… always look like you just shaved it, no matter how leathery your craggy, leathery, face gets?"
Walt "Not to be Confused With Walt Whitman, Who Didn't Make Meth, and who was probably gay, which despite the homoerotic overtones of Walt and Jesse's relationship (and maybe also their respective relationships with Gus, Mike, et. al.) they, Walt and Jesse are not" White strips down to his tighty-whiteys, his arms and hands flying out from his sides like some kind of meth-making bird of prey. "Why did you get that tattoo on your wrist and hand, Pinkman? Huh? Did you just want to make sure you could never get a job outside of a Citgo?"
"Bitch," Jesse Paul says, dismissing the conversation by stalking off, banging his way through the meth cauldrons and trays and whatnot. Walter stands there, next to the locker, clad only in socks and his actually-not-so-tighty-whiteys. And also his strictly-on-creepster-tip-midnight-to-eight-7-11-employee glasses. And his Clark Wallabees. And black socks.
"Jesse?" Walt says.
There is no reply.
"Son?" Walt tries next.
"You wanna knock off early, maybe grab a couple of brewskis? Toss the old pigskin around?"
Jesse says nothing in response, just expresses his angst by banging purposelessly on various meth implements.
Walter, defeated, hangs his head, his buttocks gone flaccid.
Outside, it time lapses from evening to night, then back into morning. And in a heretofore-unseen hovel, a brown hand carefully places a piece of paper on a candle-lit mantle. It is a caricature of Jesse and Mister White in their meth-suits, smiling, standing on either side of a shiny steel kettle, each with a stirrer in hand.
PR Griffis is a semi-recent transplant to the Northeast, where he resides in a defunct mill town that is just this perfect incarnate metaphor and embodiment of Springsteen's US of A; there, he enjoys seasons, snow-shoveling, and the company of his wife, the writer Mika Taylor. He is currently at work on a novel that takes as its themes Death, Family, Punk Rock, The Recovery Industrial Complex, Suburban Sprawl, Cultural-Homogenization (and -Devolution-As-Therapy), and Texas High School Football. A contributing editor to The Murky Fringe (themurkyfringe.com), his work has previously appeared in Diagram, Defunct, Devil's Lake, The Dictionary Project, and Sonora Review.
Isaac Sullivan is a California based artist and writer. Recent poems and new media projects have appeared or are forthcoming in 1913, Slope, and Quarterly West.
image: Isaac Sullivan

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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IMDb Heads to Sundance 2017
IMDb HEADS TO THE 2017 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
WITH KEVIN SMITH, TOP CELEBRITIES,
THE IMDb STARmeter AWARD AND AMAZON VIDEO DIRECT
IMDb's coverage of the 2017 festival will include original celebrity video interviews filmed in The IMDb Studio and hosted by Kevin Smith, the presentation of the annual IMDb STARmeter Award to Peter Dinklage and Col Needham's 50th Birthday party
IMDb and Amazon Video Direct will host the new Filmmaker Discovery Lounge designed to educate filmmakers on self-publishing and distribution opportunities via Amazon, IMDb and Withoutabox
SEATTLE, WA. – January 11, 2017 – IMDb, the #1 movie website in the world, today announced that filmmaker Kevin Smith will host four days (January 20-23, 2017) of original celebrity video interviews and other exclusive film festival coverage in the third annual IMDb Studio (#IMDbStudio) at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. IMDb's 2017 Sundance Film Festival presence will also include the presentation of an IMDb STARmeter award to Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, Rememory) at a private event on Monday, January 23 followed by an industry party later that night to celebrate the 50th birthday of Col Needham, IMDb's Founder and CEO.
"We are proud to be an official sponsor of the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, which exclusively relies on IMDb's Withoutabox to manage film festival submissions," said Col Needham, IMDb's Founder and CEO. "2017 will be our most significant film festival presence ever because Kevin Smith, a Sundance Film Festival legend, will be conducting four days of celebrity interviews in The IMDb Studio on Main Street. We are also thrilled that Peter Dinklage, star of Game of Thrones, the #1 TV show of 2016 and the previous four years as determined by the page views of IMDb's more than 250 million monthly customers worldwide, will be accepting the IMDb STARmeter Award."
Kevin Smith is back by popular demand after hosting talent interviews aboard The IMDb Yacht (#IMDboat) at San Diego Comic-Con® International 2016. IMDb's vision for the 2017 Sundance Film Festival is to give its hundreds of millions of customers all over the world a virtual front row seat while providing celebrities with an oasis from which they can promote their Sundance Film Festival titles. IMDb will be also be collaborating with Amazon Video Direct to create an educational opportunity for filmmaker customers who can come to The IMDb Studio to learn more about the unique and powerful ways they can effectively self-publish, distribute and promote their work on IMDb, IMDbPro, Withoutabox and Prime Video.
"I started my career with Clerks at the Sundance Film Festival in 1994 and I might've finished my career with Yoga Hosers in Park City last year," said Kevin Smith. "I look forward to starting a new career as a guy who talks to talented people at the Sundance Film Festival this year! I had an IMDblast this summer with all my IMDbuddies on the IMDboat at Comic-Con. I can't wait to get IMDback with them and talk to the IMDbeautiful people in Park City."
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In Crunchy Cons, Dreher reports on the amazing depth and scope of this phenomenon, which is redefining the taxonomy of America's political and cultural landscape. At a time when the Republican party, and the conservative movement in general, is bitterly divided over what it means to be a conservative, Dreher introduces us to people who are pioneering a way back to the future by reclaiming what's best in conservatism—people who believe that being a truly committed conservative today means protecting the environment, standing against the depredations of big business, returning to traditional religion, and living out conservative godfather Russell Kirk's teaching that the family is the institution most necessary to preserve.
In these pages we meet crunchy cons from all over America: a Texas clan of evangelical Christian free-range livestock farmers, the policy director of Republicans for Environmental Protection, homeschooling moms in New York City, an Orthodox Jew who helped start a kosher organic farm in the Berkshires, and an ex-sixties hippie from Alabama who became a devout Catholic without losing his antiestablishment sensibilities.
Crunchy Cons is both a useful primer to living the crunchy con way and a passionate affirmation of those things that give our lives weight and measure. In chapters dedicated to food, religion, consumerism, education, and the environment, Dreher shows how to live in a way that preserves what Kirk called "the permanent things," among them faith, family, community, and a legacy of ancient truths. This, says Dreher, is the kind of roots conservatism that more and more Americans want to practice. And in Crunchy Cons, he lets them know how far they are from being alone.


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Information, Salary & Finance
Women and Wages: Why You Should Ask For More
The phone rings and you answer with a sweaty palm and pounding heart.
The words blur into a meaningless hum, but one sentence stands out: "We'd like to offer you the job". A grin tugs at the corners of your mouth and you respond that you absolutely will take it, head fervently nodding in agreement at all the details that follow. You hang up and victory dance around the house, ignoring the neighbours' curious glances.
You've got the job!
But a few hours later, when you've told your family, friends, and all 972 people on Facebook, your mind wanders and dares to think, "Is that the salary I really want? Is it the one I really deserve?'.
We've all been there. Weeks, months, of depressing job applications followed by a series of nerve-wracking interviews. The huge amount of pressure and confidence knocks along the way often mean that, by the time we meet our match and get the magical 'you're hired' phone call, we feel grateful that anyone thinks we're worth hiring at all and agree to everything – including the salary – with barely a second thought.
Kate went on to tell me that no matter what salary I was offered, I must ask for more. I must ask for more because I am confident in my abilities and, more importantly, because my male counterparts will ask for more. Every time, no hesitation.
A few years ago, I was sat at home anxiously awaiting the phone call to tell me if I'd got the job. Thanks to my imminently ending contract role as a marketing assistant at a global telecoms company, my colleagues were fully aware of my situation and had even sent me a few good luck emails. I was working from home, eyes darting between a spreadsheet and my phone screen, willing it to ring. Finally, the screen lit up with an unknown number. Adrenalin pumping, I answered and was hit with a wave of anticlimactic confusion when I heard, "Sophia? Hi, it's Kate* here".
It was the global marketing director at my current company. Why oh why was someone of her seniority, with a team of over fifty people, calling me on the same day I was waiting to hear about a new job? What task could possibly be important enough to detract from the life-defining phone call that awaited me?
I'll ruin the story a bit here – I got the job. But that wasn't the most important phone call I had that day. Kate's call contained words that I have no doubt will outlive the memories of the job interviews that inevitably await me.
Once she'd established that I was indeed still awaiting the all-important phone call, Kate went on to tell me that no matter what salary I was offered, I must ask for more. I must ask for more because I am confident in my abilities and, more importantly, because my male counterparts will ask for more. Every time, no hesitation. My future employers will always ask what my current salary is, and any pay rises from my current employers will be based on my existing salary. This is my one opportunity to set the standard and freely negotiate; to play the game on my terms.
Kate had left a meeting to call me. Sure, she had been impressed with my work ethic and enthusiasm, but I won't pretend that her need to tell me this was from a personal angle. Rather, she was ringing as a highly successful woman working in a male-dominated industry who consistently saw men being paid thousands more than their (often more capable) female colleagues. But Kate's tone wasn't embittered; it was empowered. She knew that as a young female starting her career, I was perfectly placed to begin to challenge the wage gap still so rife in the workplace today.
We have the power to change the way our superiors view us as women at work. Whether an assistant, a teacher, or a director, it starts with us. If women continue to happily accept the first salary offered while men demand more, how can we ever expect our employer to view us as equal? How can we ever expect to view ourselves as equal?
Following my conversation with Kate, I hung up the phone and seconds later (seriously, seconds; my nerves were shot), the phone rang again. This time, it was the recruiter uttering those magic words. While whizzing through her tick-box list of the role, she stated the proposed salary, barely pausing for breath as she said, "Are you happy with that". You may note the lack of question mark – it's deliberate. It wasn't a question.
Negotiating your salary is not a big deal… You're setting the precedent that the employer has hired the right person, who isn't afraid to go after what they want and knows that they are a worthy investment.
With a deep breath, I challenged it. Channelling the strong independent woman vibe of the female protagonist in (admittedly sexist) Hollywood movies, I told her I was thrilled but that I was hoping for more. Surprised, she responded that she'd go back to the team and let me know. Hanging up, I felt sick and slightly embarrassed.
In need of reassurance, I called Kate back and told her, expecting a congratulatory response. Instead, while she congratulated me on the role, she seemed almost disappointed that I had requested only a marginally increased salary. At the time I felt disheartened – nervous that I'd pushed for more and frustrated that I perhaps still hadn't been bold enough.
With hindsight, I realise that Kate's lack of reaction is entirely the point – negotiating your salary is not a big deal. It should be viewed as an essential part of the recruitment process, as normal as the pounding heart and insistent email checking. You're setting the precedent that the employer has hired the right person, who isn't afraid to go after what they want and knows that they are a worthy investment.
After hanging up, a toxic cocktail of nerves and emotions flooding through my body, I realised I had a voicemail. The recruiter's chirpy voice chatted away, confirming further details: that the new requested salary was agreed and that they looked forward to seeing me on Monday. I listened to it twice in disbelief that it had been so casually achieved.
And then I victory danced again.
BySophia King
Written by: Sophia King
A writing enthusiast and general book geek, Sophia dreams of one day writing a novel. When not furiously typing away on her laptop, she enjoys discovering tasty gluten-free food, googling pictures of baby elephants, and dragging herself to the gym.
How Choosing the Right Employees Can Make or Break Your Business
What Do Small Business Failure Rates Really Mean?
I wish I had read something like this years ago. It could be life changing.
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Dhoot Vistara Emerald in Omex City, Indore by Dhoot Realtors Pvt. Ltd.
1224.00 sqft. - 1327.00 sqft.
Situated in Indore at AB Bypass Road, this project is under construction with possession scheduled in possession on May 16. There are various amenities in Vistara Emerald with Power Backup, Indoor Games, Gymnasium, Children's play area, Multipurpose Room . Located close to prominent suburbs of Indore, has prominent schools and hospitals within a close distance.
Dhoot Realtors Pvt. Ltd. of Real estate Companies India started way back to 1962 in a truly entrepreneurial style by its visionary – Sh. Kedar Nath Dhoot- Inspiration Mentor, Dhoot Realtors Pvt. Ltd.. Nurtured over the years with hard work, determination and dedication by Sh. Pawan Kr. Dhoot, the Group today has grown into a large business conglomerate with true pan India presence. Dhoot Realtors Pvt. Ltd. is through professionally managed organizations were in strategic and policy related decisions are made by poll and team of qualify professionals carry out day to day operations. Management transparency, professional approach, commitment to excellent quality & service, timely deliveries, extremely high quality construction standards, and efficient systems with latest infrastructure have helped the Group to achieve high brand reputation all over the country. Today, the firm has more than 100 companies and more than 10,000 people are directly and indirectly employed with them. The ability of meeting the challenges of time and technology has helped Dhoot Realtors Pvt. Ltd. in experiencing incredible growth and shaping the then a small group into multi-crore enterprise. Today, Group has expanded its business to sectors as diverse as Real Estate and Infrastructure, Power, Manufacturing, Finance, Education, Healthcare and Hospitality.


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New 'lifestyle' neighborhoods in Hendersonville built to connect communities
People moving to Sumner County often leave behind their network of friends and acquaintances. But when they purchase a home in two new Hendersonville "lifestyle" neighborhoods, a community comes with their new house.
In both neighborhoods, Durham Farms and Millstone, residents can participate in clubs and social activities, all professionally planned by a lifestyle director.
That appealed to Debbie and Dennis Doerr, who purchased a house built by Drees Homes in Durham Farms. They moved in last spring.
"Before moving to Durham Farms we spent time visiting the surrounding Nashville area trying to find a community that would be a good fit for us. The lifestyle approach was very important in our decision to settle here and we have been very pleased," said Debbie Doerr.
Durham Farms, on Drakes Creek Road between Vietnam Veterans Boulevard and Long Hollow Pike, will have more than 1,000 homes. It is being developed by Freehold Communities.
Millstone, being developed by Goodall Homes off Saundersville Road, will have 614 homes, including single-family houses, cottage homes, villas and townhomes.
"My husband and I had relocated 11 times during our marriage. Meeting people is a great way to make a new area feel like home. Everyone in Durham Farms is new and looking to meet their neighbors. Being a 'front porch community,' it makes it easy to talk with neighbors and meet new neighbors that are just out taking a walk. There is even a social director that constantly organizes monthly activities to help bring neighbors together," said Debbie Doerr.
Karen Poynor, left, and Sara Neal participate in a cooking class at Durham Farms. (Photo: Submitted)
Lacey Edwards, Durham Farms' lifestyle director, describes herself as a cruise director, but without the water.
"I connect residents to each other through events and shared experiences, and from that friendships are born," she said.
Recent activities include a murder mystery dinner with a 1980s prom theme and the neighborhood's first Harvest Fest, which included a petting zoo, a horse-drawn carriage, live music and other activities.
At Millstone, residents were recently invited to participate in classes led by the University of Tennessee Agriculture Extension Service, said Jana Pastors, community lifestyle director for the neighborhood and other Goodall Homes subdivisions.
"The kids got to learn all about pumpkins," said Pastors.
She also arranged a farm-to-fork dinner to introduce neighbors to Sumner County's farmers and produce sellers.
A bluegrass music event "was like the good old days, kind of like a family reunion," said Pastors. "The community is the family."
A social committee of residents hosts events, as well.
"They are all about the lifestyle," said Pastors.
Goodall Homes in Millstone offer open floor plans that are conducive to gathering family and friends. (Photo: Submitted)
Both neighborhoods are designed to encourage healthy lifestyles and outdoor activities. Millstone's amenities include a pavilion, resort style pool, a community lake, a fitness center, a playground and a walking trail.
Durham Farms offers several miles of paved trails, a Creekside nature trail and green spaces. The design includes a clubhouse, a fitness center, a pool and the Hub, a gathering place with a coffee shop-style café.
"Most people are looking for more than a new house or home; they want to engage with neighbors in a community. There's even scientific evidence behind it. A recent study from the Journal of Epidemiology said that good neighbors are actually good for your heart," said Suzanne Maddalon, vice president of marketing at Freehold Communities.
"Engaging in healthy activities together, like walking on trails or working out in the fitness center, are all part of building community," said Maddalon. "In fact, everything at Durham Farms is designed to encourage engagement, from the homes with front porches to open spaces that are great for gatherings. It's about connections and making friends for life."


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Joe Torry Breaks Down The St. Louis Vs. Kansas City Rivalry
Jamai Harris | 05.24.19
As we all know, there's a beef between St. Louis and Kansas City….but do you know why? Lucky for us comedian Joe Torry took a minute to break down the history of the beef. He says, "it all started back in the Jheri curl days." It was a constant battle of who had the best curls, and who's curls were dripping the most curl juice. From there it evolved into who had the best BBQ. Obviously, he says St. Louis was always and will always be the better city. He'd never say anything different, even though the Jheri curl is no longer a thing because, "St. Louis got the best sauce."
This weekend he's not in his beloved St. Louis, he's in Dallas performing at the Arlington Improv.
bbq	, Hometown	, Joe Torry	, St. Louis	, TJMS
Also On Black America Web:
The Ten Most Interesting Little Known Black History Facts


Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng, in a videotaped address to mark Human Rights Day, warns China's new leader Xi Jinping that whether the nation goes through a peaceful or violent transition depends on whether he starts taking steps to defend human rights and uphold the rule of law.
(New York--Dec. 2, 2012) Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng, in a videotaped address to mark Human Rights Day, warns China's new leader Xi Jinping that whether the nation goes through a peaceful or violent transition depends on whether he starts taking steps to defend human rights and uphold the rule of law.
Chen, whose dramatic escape from long-term illegal house arrest in China in the spring captivated the world, also decried the lack of action among leaders of the free world in the face of China's ongoing human rights violations, which have seriously escalated under the leadership of outgoing president and former Communist Party chief Hu Jintao.
Addressing Xi by name, Chen said, "The whole nation is watching you. Whether you follow the mandate of heaven and the will of the people and carry out reform or you hijack the government and protect the privileged [i.e. those in power] foretells whether our motherland will go through a peaceful or a violent transition."
Recorded in advance of the U.N.-designated Human Right Day on Dec. 10, Chen closed his nearly 10-minute address by speaking to his compatriots and urging them to take the initiative to defend their own rights.
"People back home should realize that we must be united. Our rights are our own to fight for and obtain," he said, later adding that "the principle of human rights can only be upheld through real actions. It most certainly is not a matter of just paying lip service."
Chen said that a long-lasting social system that is fair and reasonable can be established only through action. "Do not expect an enlightened ruler to take the initiative and bestow it; do not hope for upright officials to defend your rights for you," he said. "Our fate is actually in our own hands."
Making his remarks against a backdrop of the New York City skyline, Chen recalled the many victims of the Communist regime that he left behind, beginning with his immediate family.
The government's "acts of revenge against my nephew Chen Kegui and other friends and family are still going on. Chen Kegui, who tried to defend our family and was acting in self-defense, is still in jail," Chen noted. Chen Kegui was sentenced last week to a 39-month jail term for wounding at least one policeman when police burst into his home in a night-time raid searching for Chen Guangcheng.
In the videotape, Chen listed by name a wide-ranging selection of victims of Chinese government human rights abuses, from the Uyghur Christian leader Alimujiang to a series of human rights lawyers to imprisoned or "disappeared" rights activists including Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo and Gao Zhisheng. He also referred to victims of China's one-child policy, of the crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners and of the oppression of the Tibetans.
"Can the international community continue to turn a blind eye to the intractable forces of the ruling Chinese Communist Party protecting its autocratic rule and unhesitatingly inflicting on the people all sorts of violence? How is it that the leaders of democratic countries remain indifferent in the face the flow of the blood and tears of the victims, of each and every Tibetan who has died through self-immolation?" Chen asked. "Citizens of the world with a conscience ought to respond by speaking out for justice."
ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu, a close friend of Chen, said, "We applaud Chen Guangcheng's courage to continue to stand up for victims of human rights abuse and religious freedom violations in China. Referring to the most recent incidents, Fu said, "the latest harsh 39-month sentencing of Chen's innocent nephew Chen Kegui and the 12-year imprisonment for Christian democracy activist Li Bifeng should alarm the Obama administration and international community and put them on alert that it is time to set a new course for human rights and trade with China."
Chen, a self-taught lawyer who championed farmers, the disabled and other marginalized groups, was imprisoned for four years and three months for exposing the violent measures used to enforce China's one-child policy, including forced abortions and involuntary sterilizations that in his county alone in 2005 numbered 130,000. Following his release in September 2010, Chen, his wife Yuan Weijing, and their six-year-old daughter were illegally kept under house arrest and deprived of all contact with the outside world. When Chen and his wife smuggled out a videotape they had secretly filmed in early 2011 and released by ChinaAid showing the conditions they were forced to live in, the couple was subjected to brutal beatings and denied medical treatment.
Reporters and activists, including American movie star Christian Bale, who tried to visit them were roughed up and turned away. In April 2012, Chen managed to slip out of his house and make his way, alone and undetected, to a rendezvous point with supporter who drove him to Beijing, where he sought protection at the U.S. Embassy. His presence there unleashed a diplomatic storm that was finally resolved when Chen agreed to leave China with his family and pursue further legal studies in the United States.
World's Human Rights Day is drawing near. First, I'd like to express my gratitude to the people around the world who have shown great concern for China's freedom, human rights, rule of law, democracy and social justice. Thank you for your kindness to my family and myself. Today, I'm standing here because I'm in a free world. Yet, my family in China as well as thousands of my fellow countrymen are still in an authoritarian regime. They are not free like the Freedom Tower behind me. It is still under construction, but it won't take long. We need to raise our efforts to help them. The world experienced great changes in the past six months. Following the Arabic Spring, Burma strides forward towards democracy, with its leader Thein Sein ordering the release of 518 political dissidents. Cuba has finally loosened up its restriction for citizens traveling abroad. Unfortunately, the human rights situation in China is in fact getting worse. This has to garner more attention from the world. And the United States, in particular, as a beacon of freedom, needs to play a leading role. The nations in the world should shift their focus from trade to human rights. The Chinese government made a promise to me, the United States and to the world "To have a thorough investigation of those persecuting me and my family in Shandong for the past several years and to make the decisions public." Yet, they have not kept their word.
Because I fled the country, the government officials have enacted revenge on my nephew Chen Kegui and others. Chen Kegui tried to defend our family, but he was arrested and is still in jail today.
The corrupt officials who ordered his arrest, however, got promoted. To this day, there has been no news that the Communist Party leaders are willing to change and do the right thing. They are posing a challenge to humanity, justice and our conscience.
On many "sensitive days," citizens of conscience in Beijing and other first-tier cities were made to disappear in case they organized any activities. Now the practice has extended to the third-tier cities. Tsering Woeser and Liu Feiyue were made to disappear, so was Liu Guohui of Shandong province. In a society without rule of law, the citizens have no sense of security. Li Wangyang was killed yet said to have a suicide, which made "I will not commit suicide" a new mantra. And in fact, in China, no one is safe. Liu Xia, Hu Jia, Wang Lihong, Jiang Tianyong, Xu Zhiyong, Zheng Enchong, Feng Zhenghu, Liu Ping, Sun Wenguang…these people and many more, under the name of "Rule of Law," have been harassed and illegally detained for too long. Hada, Song Ze, Ge Zhihui's 8-year-old son and her family vanished without a trace. The Communist Officials at every level continue to act against the state law and humanity. Which part of China's law gives the Communist Party such special power? How can you rule the country with justice when you yourself are crooked? Dear Mr. Xi Jinping, the whole nation is watching you.
Whether you will follow the call of heaven and people to carry out reform, or kidnap the government and maintain the power of the Communist Party, it is a matter of whether China will have the transition in a peaceful way or a violent way.
How can the international community turn a blind eye to the crimes committed by the Chinese Communist Party in maintaining its power? How can the leaders of the Free World keep silent, watching the blood and tears of fellow human beings flow, and Tibetans burning themselves? How can world leaders remain unmoved? Citizens of the world, let your voice be heard in support of justice.
And people of China, we are capable and ought to join together to work for our own rights. We can rely on our own actions to establish and maintain a fair and just social system.
Don't expect some good emperor to bestow the right upon us. Or some upright officials to defend our rights. "Do not expect an enlightened ruler to take the initiative and bestow it; do not hope for upright officials to defend your rights for you.
God help those who help themselves. Our fate is actually in our own hands. Here, I would like to call upon our Tibetan brothers and sisters: "Please cherish life and do not choose the path of self-immolation. Our struggle cannot go on forever and I know that there is a solution out there. Let us work together to find it, shall we?" Human Rights Day belongs to each and everyone of us on this planet. Each individual has his or her rights, and these rights should be respected. As human beings, we should take actions to vigilantly improve and defend human values. It is to benefit our long-term and most essential interests and needs, not just through words but more importantly, through action.
As Human Rights Day is drawing near, let us put in all our efforts to defend human rights. Thank you.


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What city planners can learn from Hobart's floods
Lessons in resilience.
Hobart is a city known for its risk of catastrophic fire, such as the devastating wildfires of 1897-98 and 1967. As the second-driest city in Australia, until last week it was easy to forget that Hobart is also vulnerable to serious flooding. Like many cities, Hobart's closeness to nature can be a double-edged sword – the hilly terrain affords spectacular views of the mountain and the river, but makes the city especially prone to wildfire and flash-flooding.
Hobart's lack of preparedness for the scale and intensity of the May 2018 flood is also partly attributable to the city's postwar planning. So how can Hobart and cities like it become more resilient to increasingly frequent natural disasters?
Read more: Higher density in a flood zone? Here's a way to do it and reduce the risks
A history of vulnerability and risk
Like it or not, disasters are part of the urban landscape. So too is social inequality. And the two can be mutually reinforcing – socially isolated and disadvantaged residents are often less able to cope when disaster strikes. They may, for example, lack insurance or be less mobile.
Social cohesion is a key element in community disaster recovery, helping cities "bounce back" after an event. But good land use planning is also important to avoid creating future problems.
Read more: A healthy environment shouldn't just be for the rich
Planning (non)-responses
Like the rest of Australia, historically city planning in Hobart was characterised by disconnection from nature. Creeks and streams were filled in, built over or walled off (taming nature), creating risks of catastrophic failure in unexpected conditions. This approach also overlooked the important ecological functions of watercourses.
Hobart Rivulet, circa 1900, photographer unknown. Tasmania Archive and Heritage Office, NS1013/1/344.
The recent storm event was not the worst on record. In the 1960s, the city experienced very severe flooding. There were also several bad floods in the 1930s. But Hobart has changed since then.
The city has grown significantly. As houses, roads and buildings increase the paved area, Hobart has lost some of its green cover, which acts like a sponge. And in recent times the city has had an influx of residents who lack experience with the city's natural hazards.
Hobart Rivulet in flood, circa 1930, Collins Street and Market Place, photographer unknown. Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office.
Over the decades, the record of flood events has been partly translated into planning knowledge. For instance, Hobart's interim town planning scheme has overlay maps indicating places prone to flooding, landslide and wildfire.
Planners now also apply water-sensitive urban design principles. These include protecting floodplains from development, limiting the development of very steep land, and restricting land uses on flood-prone sites (e.g. to recreation areas).
Unfortunately for Hobart's residents, many of these principles were devised after much of the city was already built. Planning is less effective at retrospectively requiring that buildings are upgraded or even relocated.
Given Australia's system of property rights, planners can seldom relocate entire communities out of harm's way – the response to the Grantham floods in Queensland has been an exception. The default approach has been to leave it to the insurance system to manage risk and recovery.
Whose responsibility?
One of the drivers for the lack of policy on minimising disaster risks in Tasmania is the state government's aim to reduce government involvement in risk management and shift responsibility onto households and businesses. This is placing a greater emphasis on disaster "self-help" through insurance and risk reduction – such as clearing firebreaks, cleaning gutters and so on.
We assume that if a flood or fire affects residents, then insurance will allow them to get back on their feet. However, half of residents may be underinsured, according to Victorian government estimates. The reasons include being unable to afford insurance or deciding they have more pressing financial priorities.
Insurance can also be inadequate because it is hard to estimate replacement costs. These costs may soar after a disaster. The Hobart repair bill has already climbed above A$20 million, and residents may discover their policy is inadequate.
Even if residents have insurance – and many don't – it may not be enough to cover their costs in the disaster recovery phase. Twitter
Read more: Properties under fire: why so many Australians are inadequately insured against disaster
What can planners learn from this?
Even though Hobart avoided loss of life in the recent floods, we might not be so lucky next time. Governments have a key role to play in getting the balance right between regional and large-scale infrastructure planning and self-help at the household level. Focusing on self-help at the expense of planning and broader-scale mitigation can increase a city's vulnerability.
We need to learn from other places. Key actions should follow the principle of safe failureand may include:
better communication of hazard mapping and using town planning scheme overlays to enforce development restrictions
devising state policies for watershed, coastal and bushland management to reduce risks at regional and watershed scales, which includes protecting green space and restoring floodplains
identifying opportunities for "multifunctionality" – for example, a cricket ground is also a flood retention basin
strengthening social cohesion and reducing inequality, so communities can bounce back faster
identifying properties in harm's way and using new building codes, compulsory acquisition or even managed relocation to reduce hazard exposure
siting critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and electricity substations, away from floodplains and building in redundancy – backup infrastructure, for example.
Not all these solutions can be implemented immediately. Paradoxically, some actions – planting trees, for instance – could increase other risks, such as bushfires.
In cities like Hobart, by learning from past mistakes and experimenting with alternative solutions, good planning can avoid putting people in harm's way in the future.
Read more: Natural hazard risk: is it just going to get worse or can we do something about it?
Jason Byrne, University of Tasmania
Dave Kendal, University of Tasmania
Kate Isabel Booth, University of Tasmania
Emma Pharo, University of Tasmania
This article originally appeared on The Conversation.
Find this research interesting? Apply for our Bachelor of Science with Honours (Geography and Environment major) or Master of Planning.
TAGS:College-of-Sciences-and-EngineeringSchool-of-Technology-Environments-and-Design-ResearchCoSE-ResearchThe-ConversationEnvironment-Resources-and-SustainabilityGeography-and-Spatial-Sciences-ResearchSchool-of-Technology-Environments-and-DesignGeography-and-Spatial-Sciences
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Q: Passing servlet response to servlet request without client -- needed for Java SSO (Single-Sign-On) authentication Note: This question is specifically for Java but I suppose it can apply to nearly any server-side language.
I have a login page with a form that submits to an application's servlet for authentication.  I had to modify the login to submit to the an SSO servlet for authentication.  However, I need to pass back the SSO servlet response to the application's servlet so it can complete its part.  I don't want the SSO servlet to return back to the client; I want it to pass the baton to the application's servlet, which will do its thing and return a response back to the client.
How can I realize this approach?
Thank you.

A: From the SSO servlet you can issue a redirect to the browser with the necessary parameters. Redirect URL should be your application's servlet. Refer
http://docs.oracle.com/javaee/5/api/javax/servlet/http/HttpServletResponse.html#sendRedirect(java.lang.String)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind," "I Am Legend") has signed on to write and produce film adaptations of author Marcus Sakey's bestselling novel trilogy "Brilliance". Goldsman will write the adaptations and produce the films with Shane Salerno.
The story is set in a future where 'brilliants', the rare 1% born gifted with superior mental abilities, are carefully tracked by the government. A federal agent is tasked with using his own gifts to infiltrate a radical group and hunt down another 'brilliant' who could plunge the entire country into a devastating civil war.
The property was previously set up at Legendary as a potential Will Smith vehicle, but rights reverted back to Sakey who wrote two more books and fleshed out a potential franchise.
Goldsman recently penned the currently filming "The Shining" sequel "Doctor Sleep" and is on track to produce the film adaptation of Tom Clancy's "Without Remorse" starring Michael B. Jordan.


Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition lets solution providers enable small businesses to get the most out of their network security applications without the complexity in no time.
That's a fair enough aim. For small businesses to a) get the most out of a network security application and b) do so without needless amounts of complexity and hardware and networking requirements, that means keeping the overhead small and functionality robust. The industry has learned over time that security software works best when it's installed correctly and actually used. If you don't believe it, consider the problem that Microsoft created by making its User Account Control ridiculously aggravating for end users on Windows Vista. It became such a thorn in the side that users would either just disable it, or mindlessly click permissions on software just to get it done.
Well, the industry learns. And Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition is a nice example: Security is smart, well-tailored to small business, and easy to manage. And, yes, it takes about 20 minutes to install -- from start to finish -- so a small network can achieve nice security with minimal hassle.
The application also allows an administrator to easily configure and set e-mail alarm notifications for breaches and other system issues. Preconfigured reports and alerts can be set, and the management console provides a nice, graphical interface for security data metrics including risk distribution by source, risk distribution by attacker, and results from the software's TruScan Proactive Threat Scan, which examines applications on a system and rates them for "good and bad behaviors."
Pricing is an attractive point: A five-user pack license is $200; a 10-user pack is $363; a 25-user pack is listed at $714. Given the cost of acquisition, time of deployment, and features and functionality, Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition is a strong offering for enterprises with 10 or fewer clients. It won't fit for all small enterprises; in fact, many small businesses will simply need more to meet compliance needs and antispam will become a necessary issue to deal with on a network level with fewer and fewer users. But, as we've all seen, much of the battle is simply getting good security installed on a network, properly deployed, managed and, importantly, actually used. VARs with customers who do have fewer nodes on a network will want to keep Symantec's small business offering at the ready, especially for those who are as cost-averse as risk-averse.
Symantec's channel program is long-standing and robust, and company executives have told us they plan to engage the channel aggressively on this product -- further reason to give this offering consideration.
COMMUNITY: Connect with the CRN Test Center at community.crn.com.


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Amaya Slots
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Bonus Features:
Coin Values $/£/€:
Max Per Spin $/£/€:
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Noah's Adventures Where Winning Symbols come in Pairs!
Noah's Ark is one of the most famous narratives in the bible. Appearing in Genesis, God spares Noah and his family, plus the animals of the world from an all-engulfing flood, by instructing him to build an ark. The tale has been told many times over the years, featuring in books and movies, with the animals aboard the ark famously go in two by two.
Now IGT have designed an entertaining online slot based around the bible story. The game features a series of animals who might have been aboard the ark, each appearing either on their own, or with another animal of the same species within a symbol. The game has a fun cartoon-style feel, while a free spins bonus round is the main feature.
All Aboard the Base Game
Noah's Ark plays out on the very popular 5×3 reel configuration. The game pays from left to right and has a total of 30 win-lines, with the cost of each spin being the same 30 credits. You'll notice immediately that the animal symbols on the reels can appear as singles – as well as in pairs. This gives the pay table an interesting look, as you can therefore land ten in a row, despite there only being five reels.
The highest paying standard symbol in the game is the friendly looking lion, who like all of the other animals, appears through a wooden window of the boat. Land the maximum ten lions in a row and you'll win an impressive 2,500 coins. The four remaining animals in the base game are a hippo, an elephant, a camel and a tortoise, who each offer a top prize of 1,000 coins.
The lower end of the pay table shows the playing card symbols A, K, Q and J. These only appear once in a symbol and the top prizes for 5 in a row are 200 coins for the Ace and 100 coins for the subsequent symbols.
The wild symbol shows the ark itself, with the title of the slot in large green lettering. This symbol will substitute for any other symbol in the game and when substituting for any of the animals will count as a double symbol. This wild is also the highest paying symbol in the entire game, worth an eye-catching 10,000 coins for the maximum 5 in a row.
New Animals in the Free Spins Bonus
The final symbol in the game is a dove with an olive branch in his beak. This acts as the bonus symbol and appears on reels 2, 3 and 4 only. Like the other animals, the dove can appear twice within a symbol, meaning a maximum of 6 doves can make an appearance. Land five or six doves on the reels and you'll enter the free spins feature with 5 or 10 free spins respectively. Four doves will see you win 2x your total bet.
On entering the free spins you'll encounter a whole new set of symbols. Leading the way on the pay table now is the giraffe, who is joined by a ram, a zebra, an ostrich and a crocodile (even the crocodile looks friendly in this game). Land 5 or 6 doves during the free spins and you'll retrigger the feature.
Friendly Animals Design
If I was confined to a boat while the planet was engulfed in a catastrophic flood, I'm not sure I'd be too happy with it. However, the cartoon style animals in this slot seem delighted with their lot. This game has a fun and friendly design throughout, with colourful visuals and a cast of amiable animals. What does stand out in the design is the complete switch of symbols when you enter the free spins bonus round. This is a very nice touch and gives the bonus a whole new feel. An up-tempo soundtrack matches the fun feel of the game.
Will Wins Come Flooding in with the Noah's Arc Slot?
While this slot might not set the world alight (well not with all that water around it won't), it is entertaining and will place a smile on your face. The gameplay in the base game with the twin symbols give the slot a unique feel, while look out for that huge pay for the wild symbol. The free spins bonus round is a fun one, with a whole new cast of animals. No, this isn't as big and bold as some online slots, however, it's well worth a spin or two.


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Origin EON15-X review
The Origin Eon15-X is a serious gaming powerhouse
By Matthew Murray published 19 August 20
(Image: © Laptop Mag)
The Origin EON15-X keeps up with its competitors while costing hundreds of dollars less. Just keep it plugged in.
Impressive gaming capabilities for the price
Outstanding productivity performance
Blazing-fast SSD
Terrible battery life
So-so audio, display
Runs hot
Today's best Origin EON15-X deals
It wasn't all that long ago that you could only buy a gaming laptop with ceiling-scraping performance if you were willing to shell out upwards of $3,000 — and, in some cases, closer to $5,000. How much those times have changed is exemplified by the latest incarnation of the Origin EON15-X, which today comes in at under $2,500, but performance-wise is on a par with or better than other systems costing hundreds of dollars more.
No, you won't get every single imaginable bell and whistle at that price. The EON15-X is not the most excitingly designed gaming PC out there, there's no option for a 4K screen, the audio is a bit iffy, and the battery life is blink-and-you'll-miss-it bad. But it's packed with quality hardware that enables top-tier performance, which is all you need, and most of what you want, in a laptop like this. If you can live with the minor caveats, the EON15-X is a good way to game.
Origin EON15-X pricing and configurations
Our review unit of the EON15-X was priced at $2,366 (after a currently running $100-off promotional offer) and equipped with a desktop-class 12-core AMD Ryzen 9 3900 processor, 32GB of RAM, a 1TB NVMe primary drive and a 2TB secondary hard drive for storage, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Max-P GPU with 8GB of VRAM, and a 1080p, 144Hz display (apparently the only one Origin offers with this model).
The $1,658 base configuration of this laptop comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 CPU, 8GB of RAM, 250GB of storage, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 graphics card with 6GB of VRAM.
Origin's configurator offers a sprawling range of options that can push the price of your personal EON15-X upwards of $4,000 depending on which components you select, meaning you can put together a system that will precisely meet your needs and budget.
Origin EON15-X design
As is common with gaming laptops, basic black is the name of the game with the EON15-X.
(Image credit: Laptop Mag)
Everything from the lid to the keyboard deck to the display bezels (about a quarter-inch on both sides, a third-inch on the top, and a full inch on the bottom) is black — a white circular Origin logo is the only real adornment. If you're willing to shell out some extra cash, you can get yours decorated with HD UV printing, metallic paint jobs, Hydro Dip design, or custom laser etching.
Gentle ridges outlining the exterior and interior and three sharp arrow-shaped vents distributed between the rear panel and the right edge are the only additional defining visual features of the chassis. The EON15-X isn't ugly by any stretch, but it is a bit boring. Origin is obviously counting on you, and your games, to supply the dazzle here.
Measuring 14.2 x 10.1 x 1.2 inches and weighing almost exactly 6 pounds, the EON15-X is a gaming laptop that makes its presence known. For a 15-inch model, that's fairly heavy. It weighs more than the MSI GE66 Raider (5.3 pounds, 14.1 x 10.5 x 0.9 inches), the Aorus 15G (4.9 pounds, 14 x 9.8 x 1 inches), and the Acer Predator Triton 500 (4.8 pounds, 14.1 x 10 x 0.7 inches). For a heavier laptop, you can look to the Razer Blade Pro 17 (6.1 pounds, 15.5 x 10.2 x 0.8 inches), but, well, that's a 17-incher.
All that said, the EON15-X has been neatly streamlined since the last one we reviewed two years ago was both bigger (15.2 x 10.3 x 1.5 inches) and bulkier (7.9 pounds).
Origin EON15-X ports
There's no shortage of ports to be found on the EON15-X. On the left edge are two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, an Ethernet jack, a microSD slot, and a Kensington lock slot.
A USB 2.0 Type-A port and separate headset/microphone jacks can be found on the right. Gracing the rear panel are a USB Type-C port with DisplayPort, a dedicated Mini DisplayPort jack, HDMI, and, naturally, the power jack.
Origin EON15-X display
With a 144Hz refresh rate, you won't need to worry about lag on the 1080p display (though some laptops, such as the MSI Raider GE66 have higher refresh rates still — in that case, 300Hz). Metro: Exodus looked smooth and clean, with very little tearing visible amid its fast action, crackling flames, and torrential snowstorms.
The trailer for Christopher Nolan's eternally upcoming film Tenet didn't lack for details, but displayed slightly oversaturated colors, giving a too-warm orangey hue to John David Washington's and Robert Pattinson's faces as they discussed the mysterious mechanics of time travel .
Our lab testing confirmed our suspicions about the EON15-X's facility with colors. We discovered that its display reproduced 104.8% of the sRGB color gamut; that's above our minimum acceptable value of 100%, but significantly below what we've seen from the Razer (119%), the Acer (117%), or the MSI (114%). That it also reproduced only 74.3% of the DCI-P3 color gamut further suggests what you may be missing out on, most notably in next-generation video content.
Nor is the screen essentially bright, averaging only 253.2 nits on our brightness test. That's brighter than we saw from the Aorus (which managed only 243 nits), but not quite at the level of the Predator (277 nits) or the Blade (304 nits), and well below our category average (345 nits).
Origin EON15-X audio
The downward-firing speakers on the bottom of the EON15-X produce sound that will suffice for gaming but isn't likely to thrill audiophiles. I could detect the presence of bass when playing The Knife's "Silent Shout," but it was a dull, atmospheric thumping instead of an integral component of the song, and it was partnered with somewhat muted trebles and muddy vocals. Songs with a lighter mix sounded better, such as Jessica Molaskey's classic rendition of "Stars and the Moon," but even there, distortion became inescapable at the laptop's highest volume levels.
Creative's Sound Blaster Cinema 6 software provides equalizer functionality for tweaking various aspects of the audio quality. There were some subtle differences switching between the four available preset modes—Gaming, Cinema, Music, and Streaming—but you'll need to experiment to get the best out of whatever you listen to. I found Music particularly hollow and a little unpleasant, and got better results sticking with the default Gaming mode.
Origin EON15-X keyboard and touchpad
The EON15-X's keyboard has an above-average feel, with island-style keys that offer a pleasing amount of travel, but none of the aural or tactile feedback you'll find on better mechanical keyboards. Typing on it was not uncomfortable for me, which is saying something, and I had no trouble (or pain) reaching 115 words per minute on the 10fastfingers.com typing test, which is par for the laptop course for me.
Measuring 2.5 x 4.3 inches, the touchpad offers a goodly amount of pointing-and-clicking real estate, and the separated buttons are a nice touch I always like to see. The left button was a bit clickier than the right, however, which makes it easy to distinguish between them without having to look, but adds just a touch of muddiness to right-clicking (which I do frequently).
Origin EON15-X gaming, graphics and VR
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 with 8GB of VRAM is a top-notch card that makes the EON15-X well suited for any type of PC gaming, from traditional to VR. Although Nvidia does make more powerful cards, you hardly need them when your system has a 1080p display.
In every gaming test we put to it, the EON15-X scored well above our usual playability thresholds, though a number of its competitors' frame rates were higher on those same games. Its result of 88 frames per second on Far Cry New Dawn, for example, is above the category average of 85 fps, but below the MSI's 99 fps. It hit 86 fps on Grand Theft Auto V, compared with 91 fps for the MSI, 89 fps for the Razer, and a category average of 85 fps. It actually fell just short of the category average for Shadow of the Tomb Raider (67 fps versus 71 fps), and was outpaced by the MSI (109 fps), the Razer (98 fps), and the Aorus (76 fps). But in any event, you don't have to worry about the EON15-X not giving you a good gaming experience on the highest graphics settings with a majority of titles.
If you're interested in hooking up a VR headset to the EON15-X, don't worry—it has you covered. It earned a score of 7,126 on the midrange Cyan Room portion of UL's VRMark synthetic benchmark, easily passing the Aorus (6,575) but not the MSI (8,423) or the Razer (8,056).
Origin EON15-X performance
Loaded with a high-end AMD processor, the Ryzen 9 3900, and a hefty 32GB of RAM, the EON15-X is well-positioned to blaze through productivity and gaming tasks alike. In our regimen of benchmark tests, it earned an outstanding multicore score of 41,968 on the Geekbench 4.3 CPU test—trouncing not just the MSI (32,767, Intel Core i9-10980HK), the Aorus (28,508, Intel Core i7-10875H), the Razer (22,810, Intel Core i7-10875H), and the Acer (20,990, Intel Core i7-8750H), but also the category average of 26,538. The EON15-X's score of 10,980 on the newer Geekbench 5 is, again, well beyond the MSI (8,347), the Aorus (7,101.3), the Acer (5,996), and the Razer (5,989).
Multimedia tasks were no chore, either. The category average for our Handbrake video-encoding test is 8 minutes and 48 seconds—considerably slower than the EON15-X's time of 5:17. Behind the Origin were the MSI (6:59), the Aorus (7:59), the Razer (9:31), and the Acer (11:04). The EON15-X's score on the PugetBench Photoshop test, which runs through a series of intense activities on a loop, was an eye-catching 883.9; this score is a bit less than the MSI's (905.7), but it surpasses that of each of our three other comparison systems by nearly 150 points.
The EON15-X took 4.6 seconds to copy a 4.97GB folder of video, music, and image files to its primary storage drive, a 1TB Samsung 970 Plus SSD. This amounts to a transfer rate of 1,106.4 megabytes per second. That's well above the category average (944.1MBps), as well as the speeds of the Razer (848MBps, 512GB PCIe NVMe) and the Aorus (658MBps, 512GB SSD), but behind both the Acer (1,696.4MBps, dual 512GB NVMe PCIe SSDs) and the MSI (1,458.2MBps, 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD).
Origin EON15-X battery life
No laptop is perfect, and gaming models usually flaunt their imperfections when it comes to how long they last when not plugged in. The EON15-X is no exception. Its best time on our battery test, which consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi with the screen set to 150 nits of brightness, was a facepalm-inducing 1 hour and 10 minutes, drastically short of the category average of 4:19. All of our other comparison laptops lasted a lot longer: The Aorus came in at 6:16, the MSI at 4:57, the Razer at 4:41, and the Acer at 3:04.
On the PCMark 10 gaming battery test, which runs a 15-minute clip of a 3D game on an endless loop, the EON15-X lasted only 47 minutes.
In short, the Origin may deliver a good time—but keep it anchored to the wall.
Origin EON15-X heat
Heat is a typical failing with gaming laptops, which are often designed more to the highest frame rates rather than the lowest operating temperatures. In our standard web surfing heat test, the underside of the laptop hit just over 111 degrees Fahrenheit—nearly 30 degrees hotter than the touchpad and the center of the keyboard, and above our 95-degree threshold. Things got even hotter during our gaming heat test with Metro: Exodus, where the same spot underneath the laptop shot up to nearly 129 degrees.
All this, however, was on the default Performance setting for the fans in Control Center 3.0 (see below). Switching the fan speed from Automatic (the default) to Maximum lowered temperatures around the laptop by 2 or 3 degrees. It also increased the amount of already-considerable fan noise, but, I never found them unbearably loud. Every little bit helps in high-heat situations, but even so, you're probably still better off keeping the EON15-X on your desk and away from your lap.
Origin EON15-X webcam
The webcam on the EON15-X, well, takes pictures. But you're not going to want to send them home to mom as pandemic souvenirs. Photo resolution is limited to 720p, and they looked dark and grainy, even in a well-lit room. The color of my bright blue shirt took on a darker-than-actual hue that only looked accurate compared against my heavily shadowed mask and eye sockets. Occasional video calls will be passable, but it's clear that this laptop was not designed as a photo station.
Origin EON15-X software, warranty and extras
The key utility bundled with the EON15-X is the Control Center 3.0 software. This allows one-click access to change between four power modes: Performance, Entertainment, Power Saving, and Quiet), activate the Flexikey app to set up keyboard and mouse macros, change the keyboard's LED backlighting, or adjust the cooling fan speed to your ideal balance of cooling and noise.
Also preinstalled on the system is Nvidia GeForce Experience, which provides a one-stop-shop for driver downloads and game optimization. Per Origin's usual, there's no additional bloatware to speak of.
Origin offers a number of warranty options with the EON15-X. Ours included 24/7 U.S.-based technical support, free lifetime labor, and a one-year warranty with 45-day free shipping. For an additional charge, this may be upgraded to as much as three years with part replacement and completely free shipping.
This new EON15-X shows that Origin—and the gaming laptop industry—have come a long way in two years, breaking down formerly imposing price and performance barriers. For $2,500, you get pretty much everything you need for a top-notch 15-inch gaming experience. Configuring for AMD's newest processor and a not-quite stratospheric video card lets you reallocate spare money to memory, which can make a big difference in non-gaming performance, too.
If raw frame rates are all you care about, y the $2,999 MSI GE66 Raider, the $3,199 Razer Blade Pro 17, or the $2,199 Aorus 15G might be a better option. But the EON15-X holds its own nonetheless, with superior application performance to compensate and a price that puts it in a class of its own. MSI and Razer's systems sparkle a little more brightly overall, but the money you save may be worth the few compromises— poor battery life, a mediocre display, high heat—you'll have to make.
Origin Eon15-X Specs
CPU 3.7-GHz Intel Core i7-8700K processor
Card Slots 6-1 card reader
Company Website www.originpc.com
Display Size 15.6
Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 8GB
Hard Drive Size 512GB SSD
Hard Drive Speed n/a
Hard Drive Type PCIe NVMe M.2
Highest Available Resolution 1920 x 1080
Native Resolution 1920x1080
Optical Drive None
Optical Drive Speed n/a
Ports (excluding USB) Line-in, USB Type-C, Mini Display Port, USB 3.1 Always-On, RJ-45, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt 3, USB 2.0, DC-in, HDMI, headphone + S/PDIF
RAM Upgradable to 64GB
Secondary Hard Drive Size 2TB
Secondary Hard Drive Type SSHD
Size 15.2 x 10.3 x 1.5 inches
Touchpad Size 4.2 x 2.4-inch
Video Memory 8GB
Warranty/Support One-year limited warranty, upgradable to three years
Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Wi-Fi Model Killer Wireless AC 1535 Dual Band


The drug crizotinib (Xalkori) is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with mutations in the ALK gene. However, most patients develop resistance to the drug, usually because of further mutations in the ALK gene. A new ALK inhibitor drug, PF-06463922, may offer a solution. PF-06463922 blocked a variety of Xalkori-resistant mutant versions of ALK in cell cultures, and inhibited the growth of Xalkori-resistant ALK-mutant tumors in mice. PF-06463922 also combated tumor cells driven by mutations in ROS1, a gene closely related to ALK, in mouse models. Like Xalkori, PF-06463922 may therefore also be effective for NSCLC patients with ROS1 mutations. Finally, PF-06463922 was able to penetrate into the brain in multiple animal species–important because lung cancer often spreads to the brain.
Science News. Oct 20, 2013.
PF-06463922, an investigational drug being developed by Pfizer Inc., has the potential to become a new treatment option for patients who have lung cancer harboring abnormalities in the ALK gene, according to preclinical results presented here at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics, held Oct. 19-23.


We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Trading forex involves taking risks. A good trader does everything possible to manage risks, but no trader, not even one who uses artificial intelligence instead of a human one, can make forex trading entirely risk free.
But a skilled trader, just like a banker or a broker, puts forex risk management practices at work to keep risk at a minimum.
Let's start with the most challenging forex risk management practice of all – knowing when to quit.
If you haven't traded with real money before, you won't understand why this is so hard, but after one day of putting your funds at risk, you will.
Because in forex trading, it's always possible for a currency pair to change direction, even though that possibility may be infinitely small, don't fool yourself into thinking that it will happen. This is when traders foolishly widen the stop loss, thinking, 'I'll just give it a little more leeway…" And, nearly every time, the losses get more significant.
Good forex risk management practice will prevent you from falling into this trap.
Just set your stop loss rationally, with strategic logic behind what you are doing, and then stick to your logic. Don't let your emotions carry you away. Control the risk on each trade, and your profit will grow.
Another fundamental rule is to control the size of any position you take. For example, if you have $10,000 in your trading account, don't put all $10,000 on a single trade. Divide your funds up for use in different positions. This division doesn't have to be even: You may want to have funds that are used for less risky trades, and smaller amounts for riskier ones. This is indeed a good strategy for beginners.
Obviously, if you divide up your funds into very small portions, you not only won't see much gain when you win at a trade, but you'll also risk having small market fluctuations move past your stop loss before the trade has a chance to exercise properly. So be reasonable, but be careful too.
It is relatively simple to calculate how much money you gain or lose per 1-pip movement. But it's not necessary to think in those terms (tends to make traders anxious). Before you trade, decide what the desired exit point would be – within reason. Now consider how the strategy will work to get to that exit point. When you see that the strategy is not working, how will you decide that it has failed?
Suppose I've gone long in USD/GBP, and I see the pair hitting resistance at $1.10. It drops and then hits the resistance again at $1.10. How many times should that happen before you close the trade? Make that decision, and hit the close-trade switch no matter how bad it makes you feel.
Hedging, at its most basic, means making two trades at the same time, so that if one loses, the other one covers the losses.
Most brokers won't allow direct hedging, which is most simple and effective: You trade USD/GBP and at the same time, GBP/USD. Close the losing trade faster.
But there are other types of hedging that help control risk, like forex options.
A forex option is an agreement to exchange at a specified price in the future. For example, you place a trade on EUR/USD at 1.30. To protect that position you place a "strike option," which means an order to sell, at 1.29. This costs you only the purchase price of the option if it doesn't happen.
There are also even more complex approaches to hedging, and a trader should study them if this kind of risk management seems appealing.
We think that simple is better when it comes to forex risk management unless you've got a great deal of money on the market. Hedging properly, however, requires a deep understanding of the market, and traders risk largescale losses if they aren't at that level. The bottom line: Don't hedge if you're not very confident about predicting market swings and timing.
But each trader should choose what feels right – the important thing is to make a choice and stick to it.


It wasn't part of the meeting but the touch of Mardi Gras that was courtesy of Lynn and Jennifer Meserole will not be soon forgotten.
The book Dakota's Daughter, by Gladista Mancini, is hardcover and filled with many photos of the different eras in the life of Gladys Harrum.
Things are popping in McClusky in community growth and projects.
Thursday, all day, the locals of Butte worked endlessly on a mission to pull a pickup from the ice and water in the middle of the local lake, Cottonwood Lake, a favorite fishing spot of many around. An amazing act of comradery, ingenuity, and teamwork came together in the hours that followed resulting in recovery and removal of the truck.
McClusky Public School put on a Community Engineering Night for everyone on Monday evening, February 1, at the McClusky High School gym.
Ron Hipp was well known for his tender spirit, attention to detail and his sense of humor.
With praise for Laurel Kukert's good work, time and effort spent in and her obvious enjoyment of her job, Park District President Rhonda Meckle thanked Kukert at the opening of the January McClusky Park Board meeting.
The McClusky Sportsman's Club had a big crowd for its Landowner's Appreciation Supper on Sunday night, January 24, at the American Legion Quarters.
Developing overall plans within the county is a large task. Some agencies such as Emergency management and Wayne Houston and McClusky School District, along with the McClusky Rural Fire District have some plans in place.