text:
package storageos

import (
	"github.com/bufbuild/buf/private/pkg/storage"
)

// Provider provides new ReadWriteBuckets.
type Provider interface {
	// NewReadWriteBucket returns a new OS bucket.
	//
	// Only regular files are handled, that is Exists should only be called
	// for regular files, Get and Put only work for regular files, Put
	// automatically calls Mkdir, and Walk only calls f on regular files.
	//
	// The root path is expected to be normalized, however the root path
	// can be absolute or jump context.
	//
	// Not thread-safe.
	NewReadWriteBucket(rootPath string, options ...ReadWriteBucketOption) (storage.ReadWriteBucket, error)
}

// NewProvider returns a new Provider.
func NewProvider(options ...ProviderOption) Provider {
	return newProvider(options...)
}

// ProviderOption is an option for a new Provider.
type ProviderOption func(*provider)

// ReadWriteBucketOption is an option for a new ReadWriteBucket.
type ReadWriteBucketOption func(*readWriteBucketOptions)

// ReadWriteBucketWithSymlinksIfSupported returns a ReadWriteBucketOption that results
// in symlink support being enabled for this bucket. If the Provider did not have symlink
// support, this is a no-op.
func ReadWriteBucketWithSymlinksIfSupported() ReadWriteBucketOption {
	return func(readWriteBucketOptions *readWriteBucketOptions) {
		readWriteBucketOptions.symlinksIfSupported = true
	}
}

// ProviderWithSymlinks returns a ProviderOption that results in symlink support.
//
// Note that ReadWriteBucketWithSymlinksEnabled still needs to be passed for a given
// ReadWriteBucket to have symlinks followed.
func ProviderWithSymlinks() ProviderOption {
	return func(provider *provider) {
		provider.symlinks = true
	}
}


The strength of the project is its interdisciplinary approach and the unique expertise of the consortium. PRO-EEL brings together leading institutes and experts in European eel reproduction complemented by excellence in disciplines filling gaps in scientific knowledge and technology. A tight collaboration with the aquaculture industry promotes the applicability of developed protocols and technology.
The consortium includes 15 partners comprising European research institutes and industry partners as well as an international collaboration partner country. The map indicates the geographic location of PRO-EEL partners. Numbers on the map refer to the list of numbered partners on the left side, which avails specific information about partners and their tasks inside the project.


text:
Home All Articles Altaf Hussain hate Speech causing terror in Pakistan
Altaf Hussain hate Speech causing terror in Pakistan
By Shahid Qureshi : –
MQM leaders Altaf Hussian's telephonic hate and inflammatory speeches on TV channels in Pakistan causing terrorism, death and destructions. Some experts believe that he has been giving coded messages to his target killers. Those target killers are inflicting terrorism on the innocent civilians on the streets of Karachi.
People in Pakistan and UK strongly of the view that British government is complicit and protecting him. They are asking what if he was a religious man with a beard? Would he be treated in luke warm way or slap on the wrist?
I asked a legal expert what could be done and what options UK government has?
Q. It is alleged that Altaf Hussain had been using inflammatory, provocative and racist language/remarks against Punjabis and others in his speeches. Can you please guide me is there any existing UK law, which can used to prosecute Mr Hussain? Race hate, etc
Answer By Amjad Malik a Solicitor Advocate of SC of England and a human Rights lawyer:
I must say that if some one in Britain used his oratory in a negative way and target his audience to create hatred against any other class in that society which results in violent activities against those group or community and/or results in killings and entails acts committed at any time as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population with knowledge of the attacker including offences such as murder, blackmailing, targeted killing in revenge and to create terror, torture, rape, severe deprivation of liberty, enforced disappearance of persons, damage to property or Genocide, Terrorist activities, or Organised crimes to advance political aims, or he incites racial and religious hatred by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour the answer is yes, that person may be investigated and later charged under s.18 of Public Order Act 1986 and further for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or displays any writing , sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting under s.4(a) Public Order Act 1986.
In my opinion those oratory intimidation and criminal behaviour will be considered racially aggravated offences if racially motivated under s.28(1)a of Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which confirms ˜that at the time of committing the offence, or immediately before or after doing so, the offender demonstrates towards the victim of the offence hostility based on the victims membership or (presumed membership) of a racial group; or b) the offence is motivated (wholly or partly) by hostility towards members of a racial group based on their membership of that group. Incitement for racial hatred is similar to incitement of race and religious hatred which we see under s.29a and b) of Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006. In that situation one can be investigated by UK police under Police and Criminal Evidence Act and may be asked to attend an interview under caution to see if there is a satisfactory response to the allegations of incitement to racial hatred and as a result of that investigation may be charged by the State if there is sufficient evidence to prosecute and one can be tried in UK under existing national laws, and if one is foreign national and/or naturalised, he can be stripped off his nationality and may be extradited to the State where he originally belongs and where those crimes actually take effect subject to some conditions and human rights provisions. In all circumstances Britain will offer a fair trial to the accused.
A petition demands of the British government to expel Altaf Hussain from the United Kingdom, freeze MQM (Altaf) bank accounts and declare MQM (Altaf) as a terrorist organization. Please read it and sign it if you agree:
http://www.petitiononline.com/altaf/petition.html
Arab Betrayal of Kashmir and Palestine: Pakistan do not accept Israeli...
Top British bosses earn nearly 400 times more than minimum wage
Spain to hold repeat elections in November as Sanchez fails to...
Russia: Slumping ruble should push Russia to 'live in new reality'...
British Foreign Secretary visits Afghanistan
China's military, launches education campaign on upholding Xi's core status
New measures to tackle rogue landlords and overcrowded housing
David Cameron issues 'final offer' over TV debates
Trump sets NATO allies' military spending target to 4 percent
Chevening Turkey applications for 2016/17 Academic Year are open

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This Sage Rose Gold real leaf pendant is stunning, worn by itself or layered with other leaves in our collection. This pendant measures approximately 60mm x 25mm.
Check out our instagram pages for ideas on how to wear your leaves. You may also like our Sage Earrings which we can custom make, especially for you!


Signs featuring a woman with "perky" breasts and a short skirt are set to be removed from the streets of Uppsala in eastern Sweden following a mix up that has left local officials baffled.
The signs, which depict a silhouetted woman crossing the road, were from a batch of images outsourced by independent designers that were rejected by the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) for running afoul of the agency's policies.
The woman on the sign, known as Fru Gårman ('Mrs. Walkman'), is a gender-sensitive version of her male counterpart, Herr Gårman, a name that translates both as 'Mr. Walkman' and 'This is where you walk'.
The signs erected in Uppsala, however, show a seemingly younger and bustier woman, with a shorter skirt and a somewhat sprightlier step compared with the design that was eventually approved.
According to a report in the local Upsala Nya Tidning (UNT), the female silhouette's breasts were "too perky".
The mix up has left staff at Uppsala municipality stumped as to how the signs made it on to the city's streets.
"Somehow, a rejected variant of the accepted prototype from several years ago was produced and erected on the streets of Uppsala," Tina Hallin of the Uppsala municipality told The Local.
The 2008 unveiling of the 'Fru Gårman' signs was preceding with a great deal of publicity after several designs were rejected for being "too feminine" and for not following the regulations that a new road sign may not erected if it could be confused with an existing design.
The Fru Gårman signs featuring the rejected design have now been taken down around Uppsala, even though there have been no official complaints from the residents.
"Individually, one may think it's rather dashing, but of course we follow the regulations and will replace it with the original design," said Christer Åkerlund of the traffic department in Uppsala municipality said to UNT.


text:
Q: Securing API EndPoints with JWT (JSON Web Token) Edited with additional info : error still there..
I am developing an application with CakePHP BackEnd and Vue FrontEnd and am in the process of securing my API BackEnd with JWT Security. For this I am using the 'ADmad/JwtAuth.Jwt' Plugin, but I believe you do not need to know this plugin to be able to answer the question. Basic idea is that upon login/ register, the client receives a JWT token, stores it in cookies/ session, and then uses it in subsequent requests to the API.
The plugin is loaded in my AppController, my API secret is stored in app.php..
        $this->loadComponent('Auth', [
            'storage' => 'Memory',
            'authenticate' => [
                'ADmad/JwtAuth.Jwt' => [
                    'parameter' => 'token',
                    'userModel' => 'Users',
                    'fields' => [
                        'email' => 'id'
                    ],

                    'queryDatasource' => true
                ]
            ],
            'checkAuthIn' => 'Controller.initialize',
        ]);

When logging in, through form/ facebook, or registering, the JWT is generated and sent to the client. I will illustrate this through the login action, facebook login & register are built up similarly. These are allowed actions on the UsersController, the rest are protected by JWT Auth Plugin..
$this->Auth->allow(['login', 'register', 'facebooklogin', 'getfbcredentials']);

On the client side (Vue), the function loginUser takes email/ password credentials from the form and sends them to the API. On the server-side (Cake API) the hashed password is checked with value in DB and the mail/ password credentials, along with an expiration date, are sent back encrypted with api secret from environment variables on server side.
On the client-side these credentials are decrypted and compared to original mail/ password values to make sure no outside attacker has tampered with them. Only then login is allowed and token is stored in a cookie..
I am not 100% sure if it is better to store them in a cookie or sessionstorage, but httponly cookie seemed the same and I have chosen this option because I have read arguments for and against both..
https://dzone.com/articles/cookies-vs-tokens-the-definitive-guide
Client-side Vue fetch interaction..
methods: {

    loginUser(){

        this.errors = "";

        // if one of the mandatory fields is empty
        if(!this.email || !this.password){

            this.errors = "fill in all fields with an *";

        // make the API call
        } else {

            // cannot use associative arrays in Javascript : does not exist!!
            this.data[0] = this.email;
            this.data[1] = this.password;

            fetch(this.$baseURL + '/users/login', {
              method: 'POST',
              mode: 'cors',
              headers: {
                'Content-Type': 'application/json',
              },
              body: JSON.stringify(this.data),
            })
            .then(response => response.json())
            .then(json_data => {

                // console.log(json_data);

                // wrong password
                if(json_data == 2){

                    this.errors = "wrong password, please correct."
                    this.password = "";

                // email not found
                } else if (json_data == 0){

                    this.errors = "email not registered, please register.."

                // succesful save
                } else if (json_data[0] == 1) {

                    // perform JWT token check, store it & use it in subsequent API calls..
                    var payload = this.parseJwt(json_data[2]);

                    this.$session.set('isLogged', true);
                    this.$session.set('user', json_data[1]);
                    this.$session.set('navigateto', 'userhub');
                    this.$emit('navEvent');

                    this.errors = "welcome!"
                    this.email = this.password = "";

                    // (XSFR attack vulnerability cookie, protected through CORS :: XSS no vulnerability with cookie)
                    this.$cookies.set('jwtoken', json_data[2], {httpOnly: true});

                }

            })
            .catch(error => {

                // console.log("error");
                this.errors = "no success.. please try again."

            });
        }
    },

API-side (Cake) interaction, login action UsersController:
// loginaction needs to be the same, is defined in AppController
public function login(){

    $data = $this->request->data;
    $sendback = [];
    $hasher = new DefaultPasswordHasher();

    // no automatic view, only data returned
    $this->autoRender = false;

    // mandatory check to prevent server timeout
    if($data){

        $users = $this->Users->find('all');

        foreach($users as $user):

            if ($user['email'] === $data[0]){

                if ($hasher -> check($data[1], $user['password'])){

                    // get user id, this is the user given you implement a check for double entries
                    // never a password in storage!!!!
                    $user['password'] = "";
                    $user['resetcode'] = "";

                    // JWT Encode the payload/ secret to generate token..
                    // secret from environment variables, not known to the attacker, needs to know this to form the token or steal the token..
                    $apisecret = Configure::read('apisecret');
                    $payload = ['mail' => $data[0], 'password' => $data[1],'exp' =>  time() + 604800, 'id' => $user['id'], 'sub' => $user['id']];

                    // uses salt value in app.php for encryption::encryption mechanism uses firebase library combined with salt value..
                    $jwt = JWT::encode([$payload, $apisecret], Security::salt());

                    $sendback[0] = 1;
                    $sendback[1] = $jwt;

                // wrong password
                } else {

                    $sendback[0] = 2;

                }

                // break actually does the same as a $this->Users->find('first') with condition email..
                // break the loop whenever email is found, run password check 1 time..
                break;

            } else {

                $sendback[0] = 0;

            }

        endforeach;

    }

    return $this->response
    ->withType('application/json')
    ->withStringBody(json_encode($sendback));

}

So far so good.. :-)
Now I want to use this cookie in subsequent API requests to my Back-End. So I am setting my JWT, retrieved from my cookie, in Authorization Header in my fetch request.. I am getting an error on my Back-End, stating "You are not authorized to access that location". (Error log bottom page)..
fetch(this.$baseURL + '/holidays', {
      method: 'POST',
      mode: 'cors',
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
        'Authorization': 'Bearer ' + this.$cookies.get("jwtoken"),
      },
      body: JSON.stringify(this.data),
    })
    .then(response => response.json())
    .then(json_data => {

        // console.log(json_data);

    })
    .catch(error => {

        this.errors = "no success.. please try again."

    });

Error Log
2020-09-29 11:44:14 Error: [Cake\Http\Exception\UnauthorizedException] You are not authorized to access that location. (C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\admad\cakephp-jwt-auth\src\Auth\JwtAuthenticate.php:264)
#0 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Controller\Component\AuthComponent.php(387): ADmad\JwtAuth\Auth\JwtAuthenticate->unauthenticated(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response))
#1 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Controller\Component\AuthComponent.php(315): Cake\Controller\Component\AuthComponent->_unauthenticated(Object(App\Controller\UsersController))
#2 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Event\EventManager.php(352): Cake\Controller\Component\AuthComponent->authCheck(Object(Cake\Event\Event))
#3 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Event\EventManager.php(329): Cake\Event\EventManager->_callListener(Array, Object(Cake\Event\Event))
#4 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Event\EventDispatcherTrait.php(113): Cake\Event\EventManager->dispatch(Object(Cake\Event\Event))
#5 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Controller\Controller.php(676): Cake\Controller\Controller->dispatchEvent('Controller.init...')
#6 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\ActionDispatcher.php(115): Cake\Controller\Controller->startupProcess()
#7 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\ActionDispatcher.php(94): Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher->_invoke(Object(App\Controller\UsersController))
#8 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\BaseApplication.php(234): Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher->dispatch(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response))
#9 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\Runner.php(65): Cake\Http\BaseApplication->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response), Object(Cake\Http\Runner))
#10 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware.php(162): Cake\Http\Runner->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response))
#11 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\Runner.php(65): Cake\Routing\Middleware\RoutingMiddleware->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response), Object(Cake\Http\Runner))
#12 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware.php(88): Cake\Http\Runner->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response))
#13 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\Runner.php(65): Cake\Routing\Middleware\AssetMiddleware->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response), Object(Cake\Http\Runner))
#14 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware.php(96): Cake\Http\Runner->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response))
#15 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\Runner.php(65): Cake\Error\Middleware\ErrorHandlerMiddleware->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response), Object(Cake\Http\Runner))
#16 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\debug_kit\src\Middleware\DebugKitMiddleware.php(53): Cake\Http\Runner->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response))
#17 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\Runner.php(65): DebugKit\Middleware\DebugKitMiddleware->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response), Object(Cake\Http\Runner))
#18 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\Runner.php(51): Cake\Http\Runner->__invoke(Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response))
#19 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\vendor\cakephp\cakephp\src\Http\Server.php(97): Cake\Http\Runner->run(Object(Cake\Http\MiddlewareQueue), Object(Cake\Http\ServerRequest), Object(Cake\Http\Response))
#20 C:\wampserver\www\wamp_projects\holidays_backend\webroot\index.php(40): Cake\Http\Server->run()
#21 {main}
Request URL: /users/retrievepicture
Referer URL: http://localhost:8080/

What am I doing wrong in using my JSON Web Token? I think there is an error in my Authorization Header, but unsure.. Can anyone help me?

A: From Packege Documentation and a simple but good explaining tutorial I suggest you add
'storage' => 'Memory',
'checkAuthIn' => 'Controller.initialize',

in your $this->loadComponent('Auth',...)
Also when you are creating token , add user-id, sub in payload like this
payload = ['id' => $user['id'],'sub' => $user['id'] ,'mail' => $data[0], 'password' => $data[1],'exp' =>  time() + 3600];

Also requesting you to follow the above tutorial link to understand better.
Edit: if this problem still exist, please

*

*check whether Vue is sending the Token in API request

*For debugging, Auth allow that method which is bind /holidays request to  and check header by
$header = $request->getHeaderLine('Authorization');

*print the $header in the controller method to see if CakePHP receives the Authorization Header.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Keep things crisp, refreshing, and sugar free with a clean pisco curacao cocktail from our friend The Weekend Mixologist. Feel good about what you're drinking when it's made with Zevia Black Cherry soda for a healthy happy hour drink.
Combine and shake together Pisco, Dry Curaçao, cherry heering, and lime juice with ice.
Strain mixture over ice and top with Zevia Black Cherry soda. Enjoy!


The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is planning to install a new pedestrian crosswalk along West Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (SR 574), between MacDill Ave and Gomez Ave in Tampa. Many people are crossing this busy road to access St Joseph's Hospital and medical facilities on both sides, along with stores, eateries and bus stops.
The new crosswalk will be located away from the existing traffic signals, and will be equipped with push-button activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB), a pedestrian refuge area in the existing landscaped median, as well as crosswalk signing and high-visibility pavement markings. Construction is expected to begin soon and will be completed before the end of Spring 2015.
WalkWise Tampa Bay will be visiting St. Joseph's Hospital to explain how to use the new pedestrian crosswalk and RRFB system as well as to spread pedestrian safety tips. For more information about this project contact Stephen Benson at Stephen.Benson@dot.state.fl.us or 813/975-6255.


text:
'I thought I was fat'
Bodybuilder tells how she went from crying when she looked in the mirror to being awarded professional card with World Beauty Fitness Federation
Sarah Moloney, 19, from Castledermot, Co Carlow reveals her body confidence hell and the journey to winning bodybuilding competitions
by fiona ellis
5th February 2017, 7:51 pm
FROM hating her reflection in the mirror to winning bodybuilding competitions, teenager Sarah Moloney has come a long way.
The 19-year-old from Castledermot, Co Carlow, was awarded her professional card with the WBFF (World Beauty and Fitness Federation) in London last November.
fiona.ellis@the-sun.ie
The nine stone beauty wasn't always happy with her body
The nine-stone blonde struts her stuff in tiny bikinis which show off every hard-earned, muscular curve. And last year she won first place in her category at the Derry XFS Fitness Showcase.
But the inspiring teen didn't always have such body confidence.
She explained: "I just felt super down about how I looked in the mirror, and so many times I cried over it. I definitely wasn't overweight. I was still young, I probably was still growing but I thought I was fat compared to everybody else."
The 19-year-old thought she was fat compared to everyone else
She started to cut down on what she ate, but ending up getting caught in a vicious cycle of binging and starving herself.
Sarah, who is studying Health and Society at UCD, said: "When I started to diet myself I went down the completely wrong path and it made me underweight.
"I completely cut out carbs, which is not good, especially at my age then. I needed to eat carbs for energy. Then I'd have a day at the weekend that was supposed to be a cheat day, but it ended up being a complete and utter binge. I got into this horrible cycle.
"I went to the doctor about it because I'd lost my period and stuff, that's when I started weight training. Then I felt strong and started eating more and it went on."
It took Sarah some time to have the confidence to lift in the gym
Being so young, Sarah had to battle through her nerves to start lifting at a gym. She said: "I felt really awkward there, so I stayed on the treadmill. It's completely different walking down to the weights where all the lads hang out.
"When I was nearly 17, I finally got someone behind the desk in the gym to show me something down the weights area, so I wouldn't feel so awkward. From there I fell in love with it."
The student added: "It's empowering, it's the best thing ever to be able to go into the gym and to lift as heavy, if not heavier, as some of the lads.
"A couple of lads look at me as if, 'how the hell is a girl able to do this?' They can't even do normal pull-ups. That achievement is amazing. At the moment now feeling strong and each week being able to lift heavier than last week, that's even a bigger buzz now.
"It's something I look forward to and it really de-stresses me."
The bodybuilding champion wants women to focus on strength as well as being slim
Sarah wants women to focus on being strong and healthy, not just slim.
She said: "I love that physique anyway. I like an athletic look. I think it's cool to be able to see muscle tone."
Making a meal of it
Frugal mum feeds her family for just a EURO a day...and her top tip is to shop for groceries online
'not fit for purpose'
Almost 200 doctors claim University Hospital Galway is unsafe and inadequate
Irish men not welcome
Escort reveals all about life as a sex worker, her 'no Irish' rule and why 7am can be a very busy time
Aldi stocking everything you need for some family fun at the beach - with prices starting at just €3.49
WEEDING OUT COSTS
Aldi Ireland launches super cheap gardening range starting at €1.99 - just in time for spring
Romps with your boss, S&M fantasies and sex with an ex… here are what your sex dreams REALLY mean
'BYE STARBUCKS'
Irish woman tells how she saved for new €6,000 boobs - and reveals why they were worth every penny
'Being a part-time mum makes me a better parent'
Single mum says spending only four days a week with her daughter leaves her time for hobbies like DJing


text:
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-"Fake News, Real Views!" ®
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Researchers highlights impact of Premarks!
July 2007 For Immediate release: Premarks - all you need to know about the new rule!
(ACPA-Atlanta) Earlier this year the Executive Branch found itself in hot water for its use of illegal wiretaps. However Congress meekly stepped in and passed a new law to make the activities retroactively legal.
The unmasking of the wiretapping program's illegal activity did have the side effect of alerting terrorists to the administrations tracking efforts, deeply upsetting President Bush.
So the Executive Branch, together with Congress, has created a new legal tool called a Premark, to prevent this from happening again.
A Premark, like an Earmark, will be a few lines added to a bill under circulation in Congress. The Earmark is somewhat scandalous. Basically a politician slips a few lines of text into a major bill and hopes nobody will notice. Those few lines typically fund some pork barrel project that is of no relevance to the main bill, but significantly benefits the politician's constituents or financial backers.
A Tool Against Terrorism
The Premark will work in a similar manner. It will be slipped into some inoffensive piece of legislation and will authorize some new law such as a restriction on habeas corpus, removal of attorney access or elimination of some other basic legal right. Basically, those rights that officials state, "are blocking an effective counter terrorist strategy," will be slowly eliminated with Premarks.
However, unlike an earmark, which can be eventually discovered, the Premark will be deleted from the bill once the bill is approved and then listed in the classified 'Premark Registry', to which only the President will have access.
"It will never show up in the published version of the bill and the terrorists and their supporters will never know what rights have been stripped from them," enthused a highly informed source at the White House adding. "Its just a matter of the President having a competent enough team who can predict the ways in which the Executive Branch will need to break the law. Then Premarks can be created for each of these loopholes, saving potential future embarrassment, while keeping security initiatives secret."
Removing Barriers that aid the Terrorist
The ACLU had planned to condemn the new system, but unfortunately the very first Premark made it a crime to be a member of the ACLU and its members were quietly rounded up before a press release could be issued.
The second Premark is likely to target those who read this article, as anyone with an interest in this subject is likely to be a terrorist sympathizer of some sort. Your IP address has been collected, so get your affairs in order before that knock on the door.
End press release www.satireandcomment.com
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Sweden's New Anti-Terrorism Communications Law
Iraq War a Clerical Error
China Prepares for Low Quality Olympic Tourists
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My dear little sweetie, my dearest little daughter! All my dear ones!
Every chance I get to write to you, I take. I'll also take advantage of the fact that I'll be in Danzig again on march 15 to see the orthopedist (I'm having inlaid soles made because, according to the physician I am still "useful" for war purposes, in spite of the fact that I have severely flat and spread feet). At the same time I can hand in the letter at the post office.
I was in Danzig today, but there was artillery shelling. Hotel Continental got a direct hit. The refugees were dining at that time;, the bodies were awful. I cried when I saw the children's bodies.
All of the shops were closed; they've even put refugees in the cinemas! A large contingent is digging in for the defense of Danzig. A woman on the tram gave me a coupon worth 1,000 grams of bread, and I bought a fresh loaf . At a butcher, after a long talk, the woman gave me, 100 grams of sausage. At the abattoir I bought (45 Pfennig a pound!) 20 pounds of beef. At our barracks we immediately made them into meat balls and fried them in sunflower-seed oil. Delicious! To have enough to eat again! So you see, dear mother, I still have a guardian angel, who will protect me in the future. It is still not known when we will be going into battle! But it will have to be some day soon! Maybe we'll be able to get out of this lousy trap before that time comes. We are based near Danzig harbor, but they'll ship out the wounded and refugees first! We will be last, maybe. It is a horrible feeling to be in this position. Adlershorst was under heavy fire today! We have to prepare for everything, and that includes being taken prisoner! But dear mother, don't be afraid, don't be sad. When this happens, you must learn to live with it, but we will be 100.000 men. Endless numbers of soldiers, Volkssturm commando, marines, Hitler Jugend etc. are stationed here. Trudel's fate is a hard one: I enclose a card: Erich is missing or dead. I fear the latter; I know this business. In this chaos they don't bother with informing the relatives; we have, as far as I know, had the same problem over here. The dead are only buried days later. Please comfort Trudel, but don't mention my fears!
Here the situation looks catastrophic; military everywhere. We must succeed in holding Danzig and get through or go out by ship! The pressure from the Russians is strong here as well! But we hope, we hope!
That my thoughts are with you is beyond question. I miss you all very much, but the war is unforgiving. One day it will end. Be brave, every one of you, and don't forget your daddy! Dear mother, you have my bank and savings books. If need be, you can always sign my name. You don't need an authorization. You are acting on my behalf, so just go on. I hope you have a decent place to stay and won't starve or freeze. I worry about this. Make sure you have some food stashed away. If it should come to a siege, try to remain in contact with the abattoir (perhaps through Rudi). What else is new? I am longing for mail. I cannot write to everyone anymore. No time, also blackouts intervals, patrols I have to go on, etc. I will not write tomorrow. We want to have a company feast because two sides of beef just arrived; it's more bearable then! Give my love to all of you, especially parents, brothers and sisters, and thousands of kisses from your dad.
My dear Helga, stay pretty and good, and help your mother where you can. School is not important right now.


This beautiful Traditional Lion Wall Fountain will enhance any garden. Each individually hand-crafted fountain is made of cast stone resin which does not absorb moisture, making it ideal for outdoor use. Its greatly reduced weight when compared to concrete make it easy to hang, and easy to move as you wish. Placing it on the wall is as easy as hanging a picture frame.


text:
Keeping their heads down: how are Afghan students faring in the West?
Students who escaped the chaos in Kabul are beginning their second terms at overseas universities. But can they concentrate on their studies amid trauma, worries about their families and uncertainty about their future prospects? Pola Lem considers what more universities can do to help
Pola Lem
Twitter: @PolaLem
On 14 August, Zeinab Rezaie was preparing for the greatest step of her education so far: leaving Afghanistan to take up a prestigious Fulbright fellowship in Colorado to study social entrepreneurship. But as she stood at a clinic waiting for a Covid test, Kabul broke into chaos as the Taliban entered its outskirts. People rushed in all directions. Shops' shutters came down.
That night, Rezaie hardly slept, talking with her fiancé and sister, the three of them in disbelief that their hopes for the future had been dashed. She had always envisioned going abroad to study before coming back home to work with women in the country. Now that dream seemed impossible.
By the following day, the insurgents had seized power. Rezaie was among the few who made it through the crowds and into the airport. As her plane circled the tarmac, American soldiers shot into the air to disperse an increasingly desperate crowd packing the gates of the airport and clustered on the runways. She tried not to look from her window after she saw people clinging to the wheels of a jet that had just taken off.
THE Campus views: Three big mental health questions that academia must talk about
By the end of August, when its troops pulled out of Afghanistan, the US had evacuated more than 117,000 people from the country, according to the Department of Defense. Between April and September 2021, the UK evacuated 17,000 people. The official figures do not show how many of these Afghans were students, but experts say it is plausible that hundreds have left. (During the 2020-21 academic year, some 354 Afghan students were studying at US higher education institutions, according to the education search platform Erudera.) They represent an elite minority in a country where, even 20 years after the previous Taliban regime was toppled in the wake of 9/11, the proportion of adults with a tertiary education had only risen to 10.6 per cent.
For those Afghan students and researchers who have managed to leave the country, universities have played a critical role in their relocation, says Sarah Willcox, deputy director of Scholars at Risk, the New York-based international network devoted to providing help to those under threat. She describes the international response as "unprecedented in its scope and diversity".
"Governments, NGOs, the higher education, human rights and humanitarian sectors have responded and organised in ways I've not seen in the 20+ years I've been in this field," she explains, adding that more than 200 universities in the group's network have invited scholars to their campuses. Some academics have been offered visiting appointments, with many universities arranging flights and settling-in allowances, housing, schooling for children and passes for local transportation.
But what about the students such as Rezaie, from whom the world has heard little since the evacuation flights took off at the end of August? How are they faring? Do they have what they need? And are they able to concentrate on their studies in the wake of such traumatic events?
At Colorado State University, Rezaie is, as far as she knows, the only recent arrival from Afghanistan. She says that staff and classmates have gone out of their way to give her household items. They've also encouraged her to take advantage of counselling services. But adjusting to Fort Collins has not been easy: "Everyone is nice and friendly, but it's painful for me because they're living their own lives [and] don't know how people in the other parts of the world are living. I don't want to make them sad with my stories – because they are always sad..."
"Everyone [here] is into sustainable fashion, how to manage food waste. I care about those things too, but there are a lot of social problems in our country, like now girls cannot go to school…In Afghanistan now people cannot manage to feed themselves."
"Dina" (not her real name) is a student on the UK's Chevening programme. She is among a dozen or so Afghan students on the programme who arrived in the UK without family. She and the other Chevening scholars came in a group after UK prime minister Boris Johnson intervened to get them out of Afghanistan. But in the chaos of evacuation, only some were able to take family with them. Dina's mother relies on her for support, but the UK authorities have told Cheveners that they are not allowed to bring anyone beyond "direct dependants", classified as partners or children.
The decision has crushed Dina even as she has become her family's only lifeline. In the autumn, her Afghan bank account was frozen. Like other such students, she now relies on her Chevening stipend to send money back home. But she gets just over £1,100 a month – only enough to support her alone.
"The first month I wasn't able to even send a coin," she explains. "My laptop was broken during the evacuation, so I bought a refurbished one."
Like others who left, Dina arrived with little more than a backpack. She also needs to pay for medication, not covered by the National Health Service, and other necessities. Her university temporarily waived accommodation fees while she got back on her feet, but the new year means that she will need to pay upwards of £800 a month for housing.
All the Chevening students who spoke with Times Higher Education stress that they appreciate the help provided by their universities, which have tried to pitch in as much as possible. In some cases, institutions have given students money for laptops or small amounts for vouchers to buy food and items such as kitchen utensils. Despite this, some have had to apply for hardship funding.
But their concerns over money pale in comparison to worries about their future.
"Amir", another scholar on the programme who asked THE not to use his real name, says his status in the UK is uncertain. Both he and Dina received a stamp in their passport allowing them to stay for six months, but neither has heard back from the relevant authorities about their long-term visa status. As a result, Amir feels unable to "think what will happen after my graduation".
Both say that they are waiting to find out whether they will qualify for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, but they have no assurance of their status – and universities know little more than the students. Dina's frustration at her inability to get through to the UK government is palpable.
"I feel I am homeless – it's still not clear whether the UK can be my home or not. It feels like the Home Office is in the sky," she says, gesturing upward. "I just cannot reach them."
For both these scholars, the situation has taken a toll on their mental health – another area where universities are trying to help. While the counselling has been a bit hit and miss, some of the advice has helped, Dina says, and she is trying to focus on what her counsellors have told her: "You have to concentrate on studies because your status might be resolved very soon, but if you miss your lectures, that will damage you in the future."
The determination to push forward with her education also keeps her going. "The scholarship has opened other doors" for Dina, who wants to pursue a PhD in the UK if her legal status is clarified and her university is able to support her. She dreams of returning to Afghanistan one day to shape policies for women's development and gender equality.
Amir also credits his programme for pushing him. Despite difficulty focusing in lectures, he describes the work as challenging, in a good way.
"Everything is turned over to the student. The student has to read a list of course material, come with questions to class," he says of his experience in the UK. Instead of sit-down exams, Amir is evaluated on group work and essays.
"The material they're providing is huge and very [up to date] – we're studying journals published just a couple of years ago – and they're providing us [with] theory that has had great results in countries around the world."
Faculty are also more approachable than he is used to: "I can drop a simple message to my adviser that I have a problem and want to meet them."
Dina agrees. "One of the professors is helping me a lot when I write a piece of work, commenting on it, encouraging me to focus more, read more. Compared to [a few] months ago, I'm getting better…I tell myself, when you can't change anything in my country or here, why are you so stressed? I don't want to lose my studies, to lose my mind."
Amir also still struggles with thoughts about his family and his future. But he has given himself a mandate: "In the end I have to finish my studies. This is the only option. I've come to the conclusion that if there's no way to rescue my family, then there is no way to manage the situation other than to stand on my own feet and survive by myself."
Even for students with previous experience of education and life outside Afghanistan, the country's shutdown has changed how the world sees them – and how they see themselves.
Mansoor Shams first came to Poland in 2017, under the EU's Erasmus student mobility programme. Compared with what he had experienced in Afghanistan, he describes Polish universities as much more "student-centric". He began his studies in business management in Łódź, but later moved to the Jagellonian University, Poland's top institution. "In Afghanistan, they give you a chapter of a book for one semester…Here, I'm getting 180 to 200 pages," he reports.
Shams' family have left Afghanistan – a huge relief and a comfort to him. He lives with his siblings and nephews in a flat in central Kraków, where they stay free of charge thanks to a Polish woman who has helped them.
But even for Shams, there are clouds on the horizon. So far, he hasn't asked his university for any aid or other assistance, but with money for another semester due soon and his earnings going to support his family, he will need a scholarship. His legal status concerns him even more.
He had always intended to study abroad and then take what he learned to improve the situation back in Afghanistan. But now, he reflects, "with my Afghan passport I'm in a desperate situation, because the world doesn't recognise [me]. What will my future be if the world recognises the Taliban? Will I be able to go there? I don't think so, because my way of living and thinking is different from the Taliban's."
Afghan embassies around the world remain closed, and there is scant hope they will reopen any time soon. Currently, Shams' visa allows him to work while he finishes his studies, but if he seeks asylum in Poland, he will have to give up his job.
"Applying for asylum sounds easy, but I've been to camps in Germany [holding centres used to house refugees] to visit some friends while I was a student and I don't want that life," he says. "But if I stay here, where will I be from?"
As the Afghan students progress in their studies and lives outside their homeland, they face a mass of obstacles. Like others, they have seminars to attend, research to do and papers to write. But they must also navigate complex and bewildering legal systems in a language that is not their native tongue.
So what can host universities do to help? At the most basic level, students say, they should be willing to listen to their problems. One student cites examples of how some of them "have been welcomed by the head of their programme – or even the head of the university". Just being asked "What are your problems? How can we help you?" proved reassuring.
The students interviewed by THE are naturally grateful for any financial relief they have received and are generally reluctant to criticise their universities. They recognise that some of their problems fall outside what universities are equipped or can be expected to compensate for. But one student expresses disappointment about her experience of seeking advice from her university's international students' office and legal services department. "We cannot do anything for you and your family because we have only done student cases and we haven't [handled] anything similar" to her case, they told her.
More generally, the students commonly hope for more assistance in finding legal resources or organisations that might be able to help. They feel it would be very useful if universities were able to connect them with lawyers or staff who can advise them on their legal status and answer questions about how they can help their families emigrate. They also see universities as well positioned to serve as a bridge between them and the governments in the countries they're studying in. Many currently advocate for themselves in their spare time – and would welcome any means of amplifying their voices.
Although universities are already doing a great deal, there are surely lessons here for how they might do even more for a cohort of students who have already suffered so much.
pola.lem@timeshighereducation.com
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Q: Convert milliseconds to time_t I have the number of milliseconds starting from 2004 to a specific date. I want to convert this to time_t to display it with ctime()?
Perhaps there is another method to visualize the date by this milliseconds timestamp, does anyone have one?

A: Assuming that by "starting from 2004" you mean "starting from 2004 at 00:00 UTC", then
time_t time = 1072915200 + millis / 1000;

Beware that ctime() will display the result in local time instead of UTC.

A: time_t only has an accuracy of one second. If this is ok for you, you can calculate the time_t value for 2004-01-01 using mktime() and add it to your time-value in seconds.
struct tm tp;
memset(&tp, 0, sizeof(tp));
tp.tm_mday = 1;
tp.tm_mon = 0;
tp.tm_year = 2004 - 1900;
time_t offset = mktime(&tp);

time_t realtime = offset + yourtime / 1000;

printf("%s", ctime(&realtime));


When I first heard of the Segway, I never for a second believed it would catch on like it has. What is a Segway you ask? Powered by an electric mortar, the Segway is a two wheeled vehicle which us used standing up. All across the US and many other countries people are using the Segway as their intercity vehicle either to commute to work, or just to get from place to place.
Having personally had the chance to use the Segway this summer I must admit, I'm impressed. At first glance, the Segway looks very awkward with only two wheels and a small platform to stand on. Part of my original skepticism was the issue of being able to properly balance and keep from falling over. However due to their dynamic stabilization technology, balance is almost no issue at all. Within minutes, I was comfortable and secure enough to cruise the streets of Toronto.
How many times have you been out and found that you need a screwdriver, a knife or a bottle opener and you can't find one anyplace. Well, with this great multi-tool not only will you have those gadgets right in your reach but you will have a cool toool that everyone will wish they had.
This is the perfect gift for anyone that enjoys having a multi-tool gadget whether for their tool collection or for everyday use. Even women will enjoy having this cool design. It can easily be attached to their key ring that they carry around, or to an inside ring on their purse.
This is cool. Google recently let us have the excellent and free Google Earth, which is great fun and also an educational tool for young and old alike. I often sit down with my daughter and fly around the world planning the next dream holiday.
You've spent the whole day on your feet and by the end of it your feet ache, your knees hurt and your back's letting you know it's there. Sound familiar? You need some of these Conform'able customised footbeds. They're insoles moulded specifically to the shape of your feet. Sounds crazy doesn't it? I thought so too until I tried them.
The market for these things started out with professional athletes demanding perfection in sportswear and moved on to providing comfort for ski boots but the lastest range is good for hiking boots and sturdy shoes too.
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The Roomba® Red Robot Vacuum will clean many surfaces including mid-pile carpet to hardwood floors. It adjusts automatically its cleaning head to clean effectively. All you need to do is push the "Clean" button and relax.
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Karauli : It is a remote ancient town founded in 1348, is famous for the residence of lord Krishna's descendents.The old city palace was built in 1635 and is a treasure trove of Architecture, stone carving ,gorgeous Jailli work and classic paintings.
Bhanwar Vilas Palace heritage hotel one of the magnificent hotels in Rajasthan, located in the city of Karauli. Maharaja Ganesh Pal Deo Bahadur established the hotel in the year 1938. The exact location of the hotel is the Shekhawati area. The hotel stands on an extensive field which adds to its the magnificence. The architectural style of the hotel replicates the colonial patterns.
ROOMS : 20 double rooms & 05 suites. Rooms are partially Air-conditioned & Air-cooled.
AMENITIES : Room service, all the rooms are furnished with modern amenities, Indian and Rajasthani cuisine, Doctor on call, Laundry, Horse, Jeep and camel safari , Billiards, Bird sanctuary and all major credit cards are accepted here.
The Hotel Bhanwar Vilas Palace has 25 rooms in total, which are airy and spacious. Out of this allotment 5 suites have marked as luxury suites having all the up to date facilities in it. The rest 20 have been marked as guest rooms, which are exorbitantly decorated and furnished. You can get all the necessary services at your fingertips. The rooms are centrally air-conditioned and have running hot and cold water.
The hotel authorities have properly maintained the entertaining elements of their visitors and for that swimming pool; billiard room and many other recreational features have been arranged. The most unique feature that the hotel provides for its foreign visitors not of Indian origin is an English guide. The hotel also provides doctor on call facilities to its visitors in cases of sickness and ailments. If you are a fan of visiting sanctuary and safari the hotel will take the responsibilities to fulfill your wish. The hotel accepts all major credit cards.
The Royal Kitchen in the Bhanwar Vilas Hotel will definitely activate your taste buds with its Indian and Rajasthani delicacies.
Thus with all these facilities and exciting features of the Bhanwar Vilas Palace your visit to Rajasthan will be a successful one.


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Vote for Early Childhood! Edward Street's November 2022 Election Guide
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What effects do you expect from space?
What else except that it aids and stimulates interaction between family members, neighbors and community.
If you ask architects about their work, you will find that they have something in common - earnestness. Each of them considers his work to be very important and each attempts to find some profound grounds in his work. Few manage to hold on to simplicity of expression in their ideas about architecture. There are even fewer who can make you laugh until you cry with some anecdotes which shade their ideas about life with bright colors.
My first attempt to seriously approach architecture was as a student doing practical fieldwork in th early 1970's. My first glimpse of the then famous Split 3, a new urban architectural complex which gained international fame, shocked me with its simple elegance. My colleagues and I were impressed by Borozan Street which won many national awards. At the site sheds Mr. Kovačić spoke to us in no uncertain terms about his architectural concept. He taught us that even pigeonholes could be taken seriously in architecture. The value of Kovačić's architecture can be found in these Schonheit Fehlers, face moles in the then ultra modern housing projects. Following Mušić's idea of living in the streets, Kovačić discretely met the criteria of internal logic, fully aware that a street is not merely physically determined by facades, but by its ability to meet the needs of the community. In order for a street tgo have a soul, the residents must first give it personality. One must first like one's apartment in order to like the street. Can an apartment be a home?


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There's been a lot of talk on social media about suicide lately after the tragic death of Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. I see it all, I read it all, I typically don't comment on any of it.
I am deeply saddened by every suicide I hear about, it feels like they all touch me personally, but I've been living my own personal grief story for the past few months and sometimes I feel that if I were to comment on some of the things I have read that all of the anger built up inside of me would come out in a fit of rage so deep that I would feel extremely sorry for anyone who happened to get caught in my path.
I do not understand why anyone would ever commit suicide. I just don't. I just can't. I am totally ignorant to it.
That doesn't mean though, that I don't know that it's real, and it's deep, and it's not just a "weak" thing that people do as some of you have even more ignorantly blasted to the internet. You see, I grew up with a mother who swung with the wind between extreme highs and terrifying lows. I saw the depression in her eyes, heard the sadness in her voice.
I was a child who tried to selfishly walk slower than my two older sisters when we got off the bus at the end of the day, hoping one of them would make it down our long gravel driveway and into the house before I did, so that if today was the day she did "it", I wouldn't have to be the one to find her.
I am the mother now, who knows that anything that would be powerful enough to keep me in bed for days, sleeping away precious moments with my children would have to be strong, and powerful, and real.
So when I tell you I don't understand it, I can't comprehend it, don't think for a second that it means that I don't believe that the depression and darkness are real. Don't think that I am discounting the feelings, the deep loneliness, the heart-wrenching pain that someone must go through to make such a final and tragic decision. Trust me when I say, it's real, and there are demons that some people are fighting that some of us will never be able to comprehend.
There are times since my mother's suicide that I have wished I had felt depression, been to those depths, fought that same fight simply so I could understand how she could do this. In some ways I feel like it might be easier to make sense of all this if I could just visit that place once, know how it feels, maybe then I could know that it wasn't something I did, or said. Then maybe I would lose the feeling that I was never enough to keep her happy, her own child. It's an odd and unexplainable position to be in, to understand so fully and not understand at all at the same time.
As quick as I wish it, I take it back. I take it all back like a child who called their sibling a bad name but still wants to play with them. I hope I never understand. To fully understand the depths of the pain my mother suffered through would mean I would have to walk through hell and come out gasping for breath only to be crashed down by another wave.
I sometimes (unwillingly) picture my mother, walking down the hallway, going into her bedroom, shutting the door, laying down on that bed. Did she say anything? What were her final thoughts? Did she think of me? Did she think of my kids? Did she say that she loved me? Was she scared? What if, what if, what if.
So I think that if I could say anything to those of you who believe that suicide is "weak" and "selfish", it would be that I sincerely hope that you never understand either. I pray that less and less people "understand". Instead, I hope that you realize that you simply cannot understand, you are ignorant, just like me. I hope that you accept that this issue is so real that you are terrified of it knocking on your door one day, so terrified that you choose to be a light in the world instead of contributing to the darkness. I hope you are as quick to take back your words as I was to take back my wish, so that when someone close to you is struggling in that dark place, you aren't the one left behind with the guilt because they will never speak of it to you until it's too late.
I know exactly how you feel. I had lost my dad in 1999 to suicide. Heres a crazy thing and hopefully not to long of a story. All my life i have always showed signs of having great Intuition. From telling you that a phone was going to ring, to a death, it has been a gift and a curse. My dad suffered with depression all of his life. So far back in his life that he even had the electric shock therapy. Most of that was before I was born in 1963 so I don't understand anything about depression until I got older. I can remember being as young as 4 when he would get sick and have to go to the hospital, I would pull the kitchen chair over to the 'wall phone' and call him all the time. I also thought that it was something I did that would put him there. I'm the middle of 3 girls and I don't think they ever felt that way or if they did, they never mentioned it. His was also what they would describe as seasonal depression, started sometime in late October and end around March. He was a small in stature kind of man, which now I would associate it with "small syndrome". Like you said, Highs were High but the Lows were LOW. I will say that in the 70's and 80's I never heard him say anything about ending his life or bad thoughts. That came in the late 90's. Our lives ran parallel. He had his tonsils out and I had mine out, he had gotten a piece of rust embedded in his eye a week later it happened to me. He had appendicitis at age 18, when I turned 18 I swore it was going to happen to me (it didn't). Out of his 3 girls, i was more of a tomboy. Football season would be crazy, I'd get up to leave the room and come back in and he'd be in the 'down set ready' position ready to tackle. It was great!!!! He was my softball coach, and most of the time I was the 'line backer' he never had. Sisters would play with dolls, I'd help him change the oil in the car, play catch, wrestle anything as long as it wasn't DOLL related. In 1997 low and behold I was diagnosed with depression. For the life of me I could not let that man find out. The last thing I wanted was for him to blame himself, then he would get sick and it would be 'my fault'. So my depression was as strange as this will sound, a blessing. I now could understand what he was going thru. Not look at it like most of that generation did/does, if you keep yourself busy, mind occupied, you won't have time to get depressed. So far from the truth. On top of it the energy that it takes to hide it from your children. At this time, I was a single mom and they were not going to ever feel like it was 'their fault' mommy was sick. So to hide it from them took everything I had.
We grew up in a Christian home, raised Catholic but then my dad was saved and started going to a Church of God with my mom. I always knew the Lord, but was saved in Dec 1996 and started going to a Baptist Church.
In May of 1999, one of the worst bouts of depression my dad was going thru, I said to my sister, I really feel if it wasn't for daddy's faith, he'd end his life. Let me mention, that my dad knew what it was like to go to work and find someone who committed suicide, so he knew first hand what he would be leaving behind. So the response I got from my sister was, maybe God is trying to tell you something. You should pray about it, maybe your suppose to do something……so in the months to come, October and November, he spent more time in bed that out enjoying his retirement. On occassion, my mom would have to work and would ask me to come and sit at the house. Which was a good thing, while i was there I was able to get his insurance information, social security number, any info that i would need to play Mrs. and make doctor appointments or whatever I had to do to get him the help I knew he needed. I had been medicated now for 2 years and was improving, but knew and understood more that you must…..MUST take your medication. So in Novemeber 1999, dad and I went to the doctors. We met with a counseler and he made the verbal promise of I will call you if i ever have any thoughts. They put him on medication and set up other appointments. Middle of November, he felt bad enough to get himself to the hospital. I found that out while i was on the way to my counciling session so i was able to talk to my therapist about it and found out that in 72 hours they would release him. My mom made the comment that she brought him home in the same condition she dropped him off in. 72 hours is the insurances window. NOT THE DOCTORS. He was home and would hold his head and just cry saying it won't stop……Until 12/4/1999. My phone did not ring. My mom came home from appointments, he wasn't anywhere around, wasn't in the living room, wasn't in the bedroom. She went to the basement and in the cellar way is where he was. Laying from a single gunshot from a .22 to the temple. Dad was a hunter so he knew what to use that wouldn't be so 'ugly' thats what the police said. My dad, who would give anyone the shirt off his back, loved his kids and grandkids with everything he had just couldn't take the demons any more. I get mad, sad, hurt, angry, extremely angry. In my heart of hearts, I know even though he didn't leave a note, his last word was AMEN. I believe with everything in me that he prayed, asked for forgiveness and said AMEN. Of course, I went thru the guilt of why didn't I do more, why didn't he call me like he promised? Why Why Why? I understood him better than anyone, why didn't he come to me?
Catholics believe that suicide is a sin that will get you a speed pass to Hell. But thank you God for telling us in the bible that 7 x 70 you will be forgiven if you ask for forgiveness. Matthew 18:22..
For 2 years after I would find myself crying, sobbing praying to God why did He allow this to happen, why didn't he reach for that phone, all the why's that come flooding in. Then I asked for a some kind of sign to let me know that he was all right. I got that sign in the middle of the night. He was walking up my stairs saying my name as only he would and saying I'm alright, I'm alright. I believe with all my heart, he is in heaven with his Lord and Savior and he is all right!
For the people that say that's the cowards way or the easy way out, I say put a gun to your head and pull the triger, take that bottle of pills and don't put your finger down your throat to throw up.
Thank you for sharing your story. I hope mine helped you a little.
Wow, thank you so much for sharing your story with me, and your dad's story. We should chat sometime.
Your words are just beautiful. You def make someone stop and think about depression and suicide from a different prospective. I pray you continue to heal and find peace. I'm sorry for your loss.
Thank you so much Michele! I SO appreciate your taking the time to comment and your kind words.


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Report: Coburn, Dudley, LaMora schools top options for closing
The consultants recommended closing as many as two elementary school buildings
Report: Coburn, Dudley, LaMora schools top options for closing The consultants recommended closing as many as two elementary school buildings Check out this story on battlecreekenquirer.com: http://bcene.ws/1br4LwA
Jennifer Bowman, Battle Creek Enquirer Published 6:02 p.m. ET March 24, 2015 | Updated 8:22 p.m. ET March 24, 2015
Dudley(Photo: Enquirer file)
Three Battle Creek elementary schools are candidates for closures, according to a report compiled by consultants earlier this year.
In a 63-page report, Birmingham-based firm Rahmberg, Stover and Associates recommended Battle Creek Public Schools close as many as two elementary school buildings. It named LaMora Park, Coburn and Dudley as possible options, using information on geographic considerations, building capacities, facility condition ratings and improvement costs.
Along with calling for "re-purposing" of the district's already-closed school buildings, consultants also recommended the district continue to review enrollment data.
"Battle Creek Public Schools should monitor enrollment levels on an ongoing basis, including regularly obtaining enrollment projects and evaluating building capacities versus actual utilization," the report said. "If enrollment levels continue to decline, further school consolidations/closings may be required."
Closing Dudley would offer the most financial savings, topping the list of nine elementary schools at $499,860, according to the report. Ann J. Kellogg comes in second, and although not identified by consultants as a candidate, it would save the district $494,609 if closed.
Consultants said closing LaMora Park would save $491,275 and closing Coburn would save $467,590.
A committee of more than 35 staff members and administrators have met multiple times in recent months to discuss the possibility of closing elementary schools. As part of that process, it has reviewed finances, student counts, building infrastructure, use of space and other details — a move that has helped "ascertain the realness of it," Superintendent Linda Hicks said.
"That's a report with data and numbers, but now we're talking about people and actual physical buildings," Hicks said Tuesday. "So it's a deeper dive into the collection of that information, which has served as a frame, but we were able to take steps further into making determinations."
The report pointed to several challenges facing the district: changes in birth rates, the economy and increasing competition from schools of choice and charter schools have led to significant drops in enrollment.
As one of four public school districts in the area, BCPS has seen a 22.4 percent decline in enrollment in the past seven years, according to the report. While Battle Creek Central High School has been hardest-hit -- it saw a 35 percent drop during that period — elementary enrollment is down 17. A continuing decline is projected through 2017, according to the report.
Also hit hard is the district's general fund. During the 2003-04 school year, the BCPS general fund had a $27.9 million year-end fund balance. Last year, that number was just $8.1 million.
Battle Creek Public Schools already has closed several schools. Three of the buildings — Washington Elementary and Southeastern and Southwestern middle schools — are still maintained by the district, costing $97,379 last school year.
"Seeking opportunities to control/reduce costs is more imperative today than ever for Battle Creek Public Schools," the report said.
The district has nine elementary schools, with a total of 2,616 students enrolled in fall. Their total classroom capacity is 2,970.
Of the three schools tapped for potential closure, Coburn is the oldest, built in 1949. But it also has the smallest bill for recommended improvements at $2.1 million, and currently utilizes nearly 90 percent of its building.
Dudley's improvements would cost the most at $2.8 million, about the same as LaMora Park. Dudley utilizes about 72 percent of its building while LaMora Park uses about 84 percent, according to the report. Both schools were built in 1954.
On April 13, the committee is expected to present a recommendation to the Board of Education, which will ultimately make the decision. The board also is scheduled to meet April 20.
The district also will hold several sessions before then to discuss the process with parents. Meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. March 30 and 31; the locations will be determined this week. Another meeting is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 1, in Willard Library's Fireplace Room, 7 W. Van Buren St.
It's a challenging process, Hicks said, but one that has allowed officials to hear perspectives from both staff and parents that could make for for better solutions.
"It's unfortunate for us to be at this juncture," she said. "However, I think any time you can reorganize or rethink about what you're doing, it creates a new sort of energy about what you're doing and how you're doing it. Instead of maintaining and continuing to do what has always been done, now it's opportunity."
You can read the reports prepared for Battle Creek Public Schools here:
BCPS Facility Utilization Study by Jennifer Bowman
BCPS Facility Assesment Report by Jennifer Bowman
Call Jennifer Bowman at 966-0589. Follow her on Twitter: @jenn_bowman
Read or Share this story: http://bcene.ws/1br4LwA


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mbg changemakers mbg_planet
Fashion Activism Might Be The Easiest (And Chicest) Way To Change The World Daily
Photo by Slow Factory
"Fashion is culture," says Céline Semaan, the founder of fashion tech lab Slow Factory. This simple fact is what fuels her line of eco-friendly, fair trade garments printed with poignant imagery and timely activist slogans.
It all started when Semaan, who used to work in image licensing, saw that NASA started making some of their photographs available in Creative Commons in 2014. One shot in particular—nighttime above the Gaza Strip, with rockets punctuating the dark sky, creating patches of light—struck a chord with Semaan, who is Palestinian. "I really wanted to bring it closer to people—and fashion was a way to do that." She downloaded the image, printed it onto silk scarves, and helped kick-start a new wave of what she calls #FashionActivism.
How Slow Factory uses fashion as a form of activism.
Photo: Slow Factory
Today, take a visit to the Slow Factory website and you'll see this scarf (though it's sold out right now) alongside an ever-expanding line of pieces that represent some of the most pressing social environmental issues of our time—scarves and necklaces that depict endangered and extinct animal species, a flight jacket with the Declaration of Independence written in Arabic. The unique brand has graced not only fashion runways but United Nations exhibitions and art museums, too.
As for how she decides what to depict next, Semaan says, "It's a mix between the image inspiring a cause and the cause inspiring the image." She's partnered with organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and World Wildlife Foundation to give them a percentage of proceeds so that each purchase can make a concrete statement in addition to a symbolic one.
Originally a cult brand among NASA employees and people in the tech space, Semaan has noticed more and more millennials drawn to Slow Factory as a brand that aligns with their values. One scroll through the #fashionactivism Instagram hashtag, and you'll find thousands of posts by people of all races, religions, and creeds using their clothes as a source of power.
How to become a fashion activist.
Amid a news cycle increasingly bombarded with bad news, Slow Factory wants to make fashion a sort of antidote—ironic, considering that, for many, the industry has historically been a source of elitism and environmental degradation. According to Semaan, the most meaningful way you can become a fashion activist is by asking two simple questions: Who made my clothes? And how did they make them?
"It's about knowing exactly where your pieces are coming from. If you're wearing a shirt that says 'we should all be feminists' and it's coming from a fast fashion company, chances are it's a bit hypocritical," she says. "The women who made that T-shirt aren't really being considered under this statement."
You can shop with an activist's eye by looking for brands that are Fair Trade certified, like Semaan's, meaning they pay living wages to everyone involved and take steps to reduce the environmental impact of the production process by cutting back on water use, reducing chemicals used, etc. As for mainstream brands championing best production practices, Semaan points to these companies:
G-Star Raw: One of the only denim brands to earn the coveted Cradle to Cradle certification, which highlights brands that think about a garment's entire life cycle. G-Star jeans are made of 100 percent organic cotton and metal buttons instead of zippers, so they can be broken down and made into another garment.
Eileen Fisher: "She's leading the way in sustainable fashion and direct-to-consumer awareness today," Semaan says.
Mara Hoffman: The designer is creating capsule collections that eschew trends in favor of pieces that will last a lifetime.
Studio One Eighty Nine: Actress Rosario Dawson's new brand gives proceeds to community-led projects in Africa and the United States.
VEJA: A line of fair trade, vegan sneakers
Behno: A leather goods company with high ethical standards
As new brands experiment with ways to lessen the fashion industry's environmental footprint, it's exciting to see the social impact of clothes being considered in meaningful ways, too. After all, truly ethical fashion is beneficial for both people and planet.
Next up, check out how this innovative T-shirt company wants to change fast fashion's waste problem. And if you're in LA, pop over to Semaan's upcoming fashion activism gathering later this month!
#environmentalism #news #technology
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/slow-factory-founder-on-fashion-activism


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Warning, a gory first aid story follows...
It was an incredibly hot day here today. The sky was bright blue, the sun shone brilliantly and I had to work but the sun poured into my classroom all morning. At lunchtime I sat on my classroom verandah to read something tricky and our Head of Maths joined me - he always has interesting things to chat about. Then the Guidance Counsellor sat down to say hey. Our Principal leaned out of her office window and yelled at us to get back to work *g* she was laughing the whole time! None of us had to be there today really. School starts in earnest in a few days though, a new year, new classes, new students, and a Ministry inspection just three or four weeks into the year. Yikes!
A really gory thing happened today. I was driving my boys and two friends, four boys, from Miramar North and we came upon an accident that had just happened. A Beamer had pulled across in front of a motorbike, a Harley, with a rider and pillion passenger. The car was fine, the bike rather hurt, the pillion passenger grazed and shocked, and the rider, he had hurt his arm and had a wound on his leg. But this was no ordinary wound. I walked over to see if anyone needed first aid help, since there were only a few people there and it'd just happened. The people didn't know a lot about what to do, and had fashioned a kind of tourniquet thing around the guy's knee with a towel. I wouldn't have done that but once it was done, I wasn't going to undo it with the ambulance close by. This guy's shin had honestly ripped open from knee almost to ankle, and you could see the whole white shinbone, flesh, tendon-looking things, fatty tissue, all hanging off in strips. He had full gear, boots, leather jacket, black jeans, but it wasn't able to prevent the damage to his leg. I didn't want to hurt him any, so I just laid a clean towel over the top of the whole mess. OMG! It'll be quite a job to fit all that crap back into his leg, I am sure. The boys watched from the car, and they were pretty grossed out but impressed that I could deal with it! Since I couldn't do much else, and another guy was maintaining the pressure on the leg, I just held the guy's hand and reassured him. He was a tough young guy. Was sure his new girlfriend's mother would kill him, even though it wasn't his fault. Even insisted on phoning his boss and leaving a message. I told him to just squeeze my hand and he did, but he said he didn't want to hurt me! I'm sure he was in shock, he was so calm! the ambo guy said to him, after looking at his leg, 'Congratulations, you've earned yourself a ride to hospital.' Once they were getting on with the job, I drove our boys home. I hope the guy is going to be just fine. He'll have a damn good scar, I guess...
-Hairy Maclary is proving very popular, btw!!! Jamie tries to stroke the dogs!!
Hee! I was amazed how much my children liked the stories, especially Finn. A woman we used to be friendly with (she was married to a friend of Steve's) has made a fortune illustrating children's books, and she did beautiful art, amazing stuff, like this one for a NZ author
http://www.amazon.com/Nicketty-Nacketty-Noo-Noo-Noo-Joy-Cowley/dp/1572555580
, and was quite derisive of Lynley Dodd's scratchings. But it's that minimalist art that catches some children's imaginations, huh.
Part of the beauty of your friend's illustrations lies in the background details, but I think very small children need less detail. They can't distinguish which bit of the picture is important (unless it's animated, as on TV) so a large character on a nearly white background makes more sense to them!


dc.identifier.citation Eslamboli , A , Cummings , R M , Ridley , R M , Baker , H F , Muzyczka , N , Burger , C , Mandel , R J , Kirik , D & Annett , L E 2003 , ' Recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV) delivery of GDNF provides anatomical and behavioural protection against 6-OHDA lesions in the common marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) ' , Experimental Neurology , vol. 184 , no. 1 , pp. 536-548 .


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Some initial thoughts about why it is hard to get realistic rocks by just modeling, then going on to showcase these assets, which were photoscanned and also fine touched up etc, also includes sculpting brushes.
skill to optimize it all.
297 usd ..also a lite version with fewer rocks 167 usd and sculpt brushes for 60 usd.
Blender has a LW object exporter. The brushes should work in any sculpting app, I mean they are just alpha brushes aren't they. You just need to think whether you really really need this, I mean did you need it yesterday when you didn't know about it, or do you need now because you've seen it and it looks good, and it certainly is great value if rocks are your thing.
Don't really need any of it to be honest. All this is mostly an expensive hobby for me (mostly - have done some small contract work).
But given that those assets could build a scene much faster than me hand-sculpting or going out and doing my own photo scanning, it may just be worth it.
I am not sure, it´s not just standard black and white alpha brushes, think they contain a bit more info in normal direction or height, not sure, there is already a nice one in the zbrush free download libraries, I will try to put a sample up on youtube and how it looks when you use ancored brush mode in blender, that allows for drawing the brush and image as one piece and rotate/scale as you want..it´s pretty nice.
Unfortunatly ..for lightwave these brushes do little good, you could use the new drag texture falloff options, but since that tool can not use any point normal directio..if falls flatt sort of, as opposed to blender which takes all that in account when sculpting.
So ..use the brushes with sculptris,blender for free or zbrush, mudbox, 3d coat etc.
But yes, I was thinking about using the brushes in 3D Coat as I do have that..
Yup, missed the boat.. $100 bucks more... I can wait until it goes on sale again.
May still just get the brushes.
Sketchfab also have some interesting stuff, some may be even be allowed for commercial use.
You can see which ones is downloadabe with the arrow above the harddrive icon, you can also filter to show only downloadable.
Photogrammetry scans are usally dense, I downloaded a Nevada moon rock section, a bit over 3 millions of polys, now...native gemloss reduce poly plus will not maintain textures, but plg simplify does, I tried it and it maintains uv and texture after reducing, so that is helpful for at least rock or natural stuff that just needs some reduced amount of polys without the concern of any specific topo flow.
Click on download more at the bottom and let it load more and more..
Must add, sketchfab has quite a lot of interesting reference, statues or fossiles, skeletons etc..so it´s good to be able to reduce those and maintain uv and textures.


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beauty:Human has always pursued for beauty with is an endless desire. However, the true beauty does not exist externally but it's inside of oneself. Namely, it is to reveal natural beauty of human. / Health:Health is basic right and happiness for human. Enthusiasm is the key to gain it. Human is not only existing in the nature world, but also they possess the beauty and health from what they made, and they exert themselves to the utmost to keep it last.


The Highland Park Community Foundation's Gather for Good Benefit was a huge success. Approximately 300 attendees enjoyed the festivities. Residents, area business owners, civic leaders, and other HPCF supporters came together for an evening filled with cooking demonstrations, delicious bites, and sips featuring local chefs, and a surprise box raffle. Celebrity radio show host Melissa Forman of WLIT- FM 93.9 was the emcee for the event. Highland Park Councilman, Alyssa Knobel received the 2018 Jack Blane Community Service Award. Proceeds from the event and raffle will support the HPCF to help address the unmet needs of friends and neighbors in Highland Park and Highwood. The Gather for Good Event was co-chaired by Betsy Brint and Robyn Schuster.