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It is time to know a little more about realities
By Fidel Castro (Posted Jul 21, 2014)
Political EconomyGlobalReflections of Fidel
I have asked the editors of Granma to relieve me of the honor of publishing what I write on the front page of the official organ of our Party, since I am thinking of expressing personal points of view on issues which, for obvious reasons of health and time, I have not been able to present in the collective leadership bodies of the Party or state, such as Party Congresses or pertinent meetings of the National Assembly of People's Power.
In our era, problems are increasingly more complex and news is produced at the speed of light, as many know. Nothing happens today in our world, which does not teach something to those of us who wish, and are still able, to understand new realities.
The human being is a strange mixture of blind instinct, on one hand, and conscience, on the other.
We are political animals, as, not without reason, affirmed Aristotle, who perhaps influenced humanity's thinking more than any other ancient philosopher through his almost 200 treatises, according to reports, of which only 31 have been preserved. His teacher was Plato, who left for posterity his famous utopia about the ideal state, which in Syracuse, where he tried to apply it, almost cost him his life. His Political Theory has endured as a designation used to describe ideas as good or bad. Reactionaries often describe both Marx and Lenin as theorists, without taking into consideration that their utopias inspired Russia and China, the two countries called upon to lead a new world which will allow for human survival, if imperialism does not first unleash a criminal, exterminating war.
The Soviet Union, the socialist camp, the People's Republic of China and North Korea helped us resist, with essential supplies and weapons, the implacable blockade of the United States, the most powerful empire ever to exist. Despite its immense power, it has not been able to squash the small country which has, a few miles off its coasts, for more than half a century, withstood its threats, pirate attacks, the hijacking of fishing boats and sinking of merchant ships, the in-flight destruction of a Cubana Airlines airplane over Barbados, the burning of schools and other similar misdeeds. When it attempted to invade our country with mercenary forces in the vanguard, transported by U.S. warships as the first wave, it was defeated in less than 72 hours. Later, counterrevolutionary bands organized and equipped by the U.S. committed acts of vandalism which led to loss of life and injury to thousands of compatriots.
The largest base of operations for activities against our country, which existed at that time, was located in the state of Florida. Over the course of time, the economic blockade was extended to other NATO countries and other Latin American allies, who during those first years were accomplices to the empire's criminal policy which lacerated the dreams of Bolívar, Martí and hundreds of other great patriots of irrepressible revolutionary conduct in Latin America.
Our small country was not only denied our right to be an independent nation, like any other among the many in Latin America and the Caribbean, exploited and sacked by them. On the contrary our homeland's right to independence would be stripped, and manifest destiny would fulfill its task of annexing our island as part of the United States of America's territory.
During the recently concluded meeting in Fortaleza, an important declaration was approved by the countries which comprise the BRICS group.
The BRICS propose greater macroeconomic coordination among the principal economies, in particular the G-20, as a factor fundamental to the strengthening of prospects for effective and sustainable recovery around the world.
They announced the signing of an accord to constitute the New Development Bank with the goal of mobilizing resources for infrastructure projects and sustainable development in BRICS countries, and others which are emerging or developing.
The bank will have an initial authorized capital of 100 billion dollars. The initial capital agreed upon will be 50 billion dollars, in equal parts from the founding members. The first president of the Board of Governors will be Russia. The first president of the Administrative Council will be Brazil. The first president of the Bank will be India. The Bank headquarters will be in Shanghai.
They also announced the signing of a treaty to establish a common currency reserves fund for contingencies, with an initial size of 100 billion dollars.
Support was reaffirmed for a multilateral system of open, transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory trade; as well as for the successful conclusion of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Doha Round.
They recognize the important role which state enterprises play in the economy, as well as small and medium sized companies, as creators of employment and wealth.
They reaffirm the need for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including its Security Council, with the goal of making it more representative, effective and efficient, so that it can respond appropriately to global challenges.
They reiterated condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever it might occur, and expressed their concern about the continuing threat of terrorism and extremism in Syria, while at the same time called upon all Syrian parties to commit to putting an end to terrorist acts perpetrated by Al-Qaeda, their affiliates and other terrorist organizations.
They strongly condemned the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances, and welcomed the decision by the Arab Republic of Syria to adhere to the Convention on Chemical Weapons.
They reaffirmed their commitment to contribute to a just and lasting global solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, based on the universally recognized legal framework, which includes pertinent United Nations resolutions, the Madrid principles and the Arab Peace Initiative, and expressed support for the convocation, as soon as possible, of a conference to establish a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
They reaffirmed their desire that the exploration and utilization of outer space be for peaceful purposes.
They reiterated that there is no alternative to a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear question, and reaffirmed their support for its solution via political and diplomatic channels.
They expressed concern for the situation in Iraq, and supported the Iraqi government in its efforts to overcome the crisis, defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
They expressed concern for the situation in Ukraine and issued a call for broad dialogue, abatement of the conflict, and moderation on the part of all parties involved, with the goal of finding a peaceful political solution.
They reiterated their firm condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and pointed out that the United Nations has a central role to play in the coordination of international action against terrorism, which must be conducted in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Charter, and with respect for human rights and fundamental liberties.
They recognized that climate change is one of the greatest challenges confronting humanity, and issued a call to all countries to act on the decisions adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), looking to reach, by 2015, a successful conclusion of the negotiations to develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed-upon document with legal force under the Convention, applicable to all parties, in accordance with the principles and dispositions of the UNFCCC, in particular the principle of common responsibility, although differentiated and in accordance with respective capacities.
They affirmed the strategic importance of education for sustainable development and inclusive economic growth, and emphasized the links between culture and sustainable development.
The next BRICS Summit will be held in Russia, in July, 2015.
It might seem that this is but one more agreement among the many constantly appearing in cables released by the major Western news agencies. Nevertheless, the meaning is clear and emphatic: Latin America is the geographic area in the world where the United States has imposed the most unequal system on the planet, enjoying of its internal riches, a supply of cheap raw materials, a market for its merchandise, and has been the recipient of its gold and funds which escape their respective countries and are invested by U.S. companies in the country, or any other place in the world.
No one has ever found a response to satisfy the demands of the existent market we know today, although no one can doubt that humanity is moving toward a stage which will be more just than the human society we have known to date.
The abuses committed throughout history are repugnant. Today what is valued is what will happen on our globalized planet in the near future.
How can human beings escape the ignorance, the lack for basic resources for food, heath, education, housing, dignified employment, security and fair compensation. What is most important, must be this or not possible, in this miniscule corner of the universe. If meditating on this is of any use, it is to guarantee in reality the supremacy of human beings.
On my part, I do not have the slightest doubt that when President Xi Jinping completes the activities in his tour of this hemisphere, as did Vladímir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, both countries will be culminating one of the greatest feats of human history.
The BRICS statement approved July 15, 2014 in Fortaleza advocates for greater participation by other countries, especially those struggling for their development, with a view toward promoting cooperation and solidarity with the peoples, and specifically with those of South America, pointing out in a significant paragraph that the BRICS particularly recognize the importance of the South American Union (Unasur) in the promotion of peace and democracy regionally, in the achievement of sustainable development, and the eradication of poverty.
I have already been extensive enough, despite the fact that the range and importance of the issue demand analysis of important questions which require some response.
I thought that in subsequent days there would have been a little more serious analysis of the importance of the BRICS Summit. It would be enough to add up the inhabitants of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to understand that, at this time, they amount to half of the world's population. In a few decades, China's Gross Domestic Product will surpass that of the United States. Many states are already requesting yuan and not dollars, not only Brazil, but several of the most important in Latin America, whose products like soy and corn compete with those of the United States. The contribution which Russia and China can make to science, technology and the economic development of South America and the Caribbean is decisive.
The great events of history are not forged in a day. Enormous tests and challenges of increasing complexity are on the horizon. Between China and Venezuela, 38 agreements were signed. It is time to know a little more about realities.
Across the Atlantic: A Month in the USA
On Capital, Real Socialism, and Venezuela: An Interview with Michael A. Lebowitz
Also by Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro -- Beyond Words by Fidel Castro November 26, 2016
The Cuban People Will Overcome by Fidel Castro April 26, 2016
Our right to be Marxist-Leninists by Fidel Castro May 08, 2015
Duty calls by Fidel Castro October 17, 2014
Also By Fidel Castro in Monthly Review Magazine
Terrorism and the War Crisis November 01, 2001


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Under This Unbroken Sky
Mitchell, Shandi
In the spring of 1938, Teodor Mykolayenko returns to his family after a year spent in prison for the crime of trying to feed them. His wife and children have been living under the care of his sister Anna on the harsh and unforgiving prairie landscape. Channelling the great inner power that enabled him to survive drought, starvation, warfare, and Stalin's crimes in Ukraine, he takes to the land with unbending resolve, and as the crops grow, his family heals and strengthens. But the family's hopes and newfound happiness are short-lived when Anna's rogue husband returns with an unforgiveable plan that threatens to take away everything they have built. A novel about family, pride, the resiliency and fragility of the human spirit and the fine line between those who break and those who don't, Under This Unbroken Sky is a magnificent piece of storytelling from a remarkable new voice in contemporary literature.
Publisher: Toronto : Penguin Group (Canada), 2009
Branch Call Number: FIC
Characteristics: 354 pages ; 24 cm
Read more reviews of Under This Unbroken Sky at iDreamBooks.com
Liber_vermis Jul 08, 2014
About twenty years ago, in Winnipeg, I saw a bumper sticker that seems to sum up this book: "Life is tough, then you die". This story of frontier pioneer life is a close psychological study of an isolated extended family. The ending leaves this reader with the hope that there will be a sequel that examines the impact of childhood experiences on the characters as they enter adulthood during and after the Second World War. Author Shandi Mitchell writes to all five senses; and with a fast paced juxtaposition of point-of-view (similar to watching television) especially in the last two-thirds of her novel.
mimihardy Jan 04, 2014
beautiful story, heartbreaking in the style of Pearl Buck's "the good earth".
Ukrainian immigrants trying to settle down in the prairies in the 30's. Excellent book, could not put it down. I felt I was living in the cabin with the family, hoping for better days.
childx4 Nov 27, 2013
Family struggles on the Candian prairie during the depression years. Couldn't put it down and yet I was afraid to read on because of fear of what would happened to this struggling family on the next page, the nexp chapter.
becker Jan 03, 2013
A story of two immigrant families and their complicated relationship of love and hate which eventually leads to their downfall. The characters are all very distinct and contribute an important part in the outcome.
zaphodbeetlebox1963 Oct 11, 2012
I could not put this book down. I admired the strength and courage of these immigrant families. I enjoyed it from the historical aspect but also as an admirerer of the determination of the human characters portrayed. The novel also illuminated just how much the human spirit can take before it is finally broken. It is a story that I will not forget.
KatSu Aug 14, 2012
Different from my norm, was well written, actually that is what kept me reading, will look for more from this author
vcc Jul 06, 2012
Interesting read but very slow-moving. Great writing about the immigrant experience of the 1930s in Canada. I'd give it a 7 out of 10. (July 2012)
dontbugmeimreading Sep 30, 2011
I picked this one up and couldn't put it down. It's the story of two families trying to make it homesteading in Alberta in the late 30's. If nature and the treatment from "established" families wasn't enough, the families themselves are their own worst enemies. I loved Teodor but all the characters felt very real.
ChloesMama May 20, 2011
This was such a compelling, beautifully told story. It really gave me a new perspective on the lives that built this country and the struggles they faced. Phenomenal.
skindrea Mar 03, 2011
This book was very well written, gripping, but also somewhat horrifying in its descriptions of Ukranian immigrants to Alberta and their struggle to survive farm life. It had a shocking ending that was difficult to read.
Farm Life — Prairie Provinces — Fiction
Depressions — 1929 — Fiction
Imprisonment — Fiction
Resilience (Personality Trait) — Fiction
Ukrainians — Prairie Provinces — Fiction
Prairie Provinces — Fiction
Domestic Fiction
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Maximization: The church and its ministers and ministries operate at optimal levels of effectiveness and efficiency
Leadership Lessons From The Stone Soup Fable
There are many variations on the Stone Soup Fable, but they all involve a kindly traveler coming into a town beset by severe famine. The inhabitants try to discourage the traveler from staying, fearing he wants them to give him food. They emphatically tell him that there's no food anywhere to be found and that he should be moving on. The traveler explains that he doesn't need any food and that, in fact, he was planning to make a soup to share with all of them.
The villagers watch suspiciously as he builds a fire and fills a cauldron with water. Slowly and with great care, he pulls a stone from an elegant silk bag, placing the stone into the pot of boiling water. He sniffs the brew and exclaims how delicious stone soup is. As the stranger sniffs the soup and licks his lips in anticipation, hunger begins to overcome the fear of the villagers. As the villagers begin to show interest, the stranger mentions how good the soup would be with just a little cabbage in it. A villager brings out a cabbage from a hiding place to share. He then mentions how he once had a stone soup with a bit of beef in it that was fit for a king. The village butcher manages to find some salt beef. This episode repeats itself until the soup has cabbage, beef, potatoes, mushrooms, carrots, onions, and beets — indeed, a substantial soup that feeds everyone in the village.
The village elder offers the stranger a great deal of money for the magic stone, but he refuses to sell it and travels on the next day. As he leaves town, the stranger comes upon a group of village children standing near the road. He gives the silken bag containing the stone to the youngest child, whispering to the group, "It was not the stone, but the villagers that performed the magic."
Three Leadership Lessons
The obvious lesson from this fable addresses our tendency to hoard and hold back, yet when we work together sharing our resources, a greater good can be achieved. But the story also serves as a metaphor for at least three necessary leadership attributes. The stranger in the fable modeled:
Vision: An effective leader is able to cast a compelling vision. The really good ones can cast a vision without people realizing it. The stranger in the fable, through words and actions, cast a vision for a soup that would feed them all.
Inspiration: An effective leader inspires their followers to take the right action, especially action they would not otherwise take. Not only did the stranger cast a compelling vision, but he also inspired the villagers to take action against their instinct to accomplish the vision for a delicious soup that would feed them all.
Teamwork: An effective leader knows how to lead a group of individuals to synergistically combine their gifts and resources to achieve something bigger than themselves. The traveler had the ability to cast a vision, inspire people to action, and then get them to work together to create a spread that none of them could have created alone.
The Stone Soup Fable also offers a contrast between the abundance mentality of the stranger and the scarcity mentality of the villagers. In the coming weeks we will explore the difference between abundance and scarcity mentality, the pros and cons of each, and how they both are necessary mindsets for leaders and managers. We will show how abundance mentality is a pre-requisite for effective leadership. Without it there is no compelling vision. How scarcity mentality is a pre-requisite for effective management. Without it there is no synergism. And that without both working in tandem, there is no growth or maximizing of resources.
Tags: abundance mentality
Jim is a strong and trusted leader with extensive organizational experience. His clear passion and giftedness for personal and organizational leadership would compel any leader to seek his insight. In my executive leadership role, I continue to benefit from Jim's well of expertise.
Richard Scott
Executive Pastor, Fellowship Bible Church, Brentwood, TN


Twenty-one-year-old hairdresser Phyo Lay looks back on a turbulent childhood and adolescence and describes how difficult it is to come out in Myanmar. A rare glimpse into the emergent gay community in this hitherto isolated country.
Born in Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State in 1985, Hnin Ei Hlaing entered the film industry with a diploma in computer art with the Forever Group and subsequently worked as an editor for MRTV4. Since joining YFS in 2006 she has worked as a regular sound recordist and/or editor on a number of YFS productions (including An Untitled Life, The Change Maker and A Bright Future). She says she knew nothing about Myanmar's gay scene before deciding to make this portrait of her hairdresser. Burmese Butterfly marks her first film as a director.


These awesome pants are a worthy investment for all your off road exploring and the long flights to get you there. These ergonomic crafted pants excel at keeping you comfortable, dry and moving freely anywhere you need to go. They're crafted in an ultra-comfortable modern tech-fabric with a moisture wicking finish.


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Alice Denture Clinic constructs partial and full dentures, as well as providing all aspects of denture maintenance including additions of teeth, denture relines, repairs and cleaning and we construct custom fitted mouthguards. Our in-house dental laboratory ensures we have full control over the design and appearance of dentures made in our clinic. This helps us to provide our clients with comfortable functional dentures that are worth smiling about.
If you have any queries or would like more information about dentures, the Alice Denture Clinic can assist you.


Yealink is a global TOP 3 SIP Phone Supplier in the IP communications industry. The company designs & manufactures innovative, high-quality & low-carbon IP phones. Since 2001, Yealink has developed state-of-the art, hi-tech VoIP communication terminals that include IP video phones, IP phones and USB phones. With a worldwide market in more than 140 countries, the company has also established a first-class international service network.


Are you in search for timeless pieces to wear season after season? You are in the right place! Discover our selection of designer jackets, blazers and parkas from the top designers. Elevate your style with just these exceptional pieces.


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Organization Excellence
Regulatory Drumbeat on Operational Resilience Grows Louder with Fed Paper on 'Sound Practices'
U.S. federal bank regulatory agencies have issued a much-anticipated paper on operational resilience, adding their voices to the chorus of global watchdogs calling on firms to enhance their resilience capabilities to wide-scale disruptive events before they significantly affect consumers, other businesses and the economy. The Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the agencies) released the paper on October 30.
The paper, titled "Sound Practices to Strengthen Operational Resilience," does not revise the agencies' existing rules or guidance, or propose any new mandates. Rather, it draws from existing regulations, guidance, statements and common industry standards to create a set of practices for the largest and most complex domestic firms. The suggested practices are written specifically for U.S. banks with more than $250 billion in total consolidated assets or more than $100 billion in total assets with $75 billion or more in average cross-jurisdictional activity, average weighted short-term wholesale funding, average nonbank assets or average off-balance-sheet exposure. The agencies contend that these practices can help large institutions protect critical operations and core business lines from all major hazards, including technology-based failures, cyberattacks, natural disasters and third-party failures.
Practices for Building Resilience
Consistent with existing regulations and guidance, the agencies offer numerous practices to promote sound and effective governance, operational risk management, business continuity management (BCM) and third-party risk management. Practices on conducting effective scenario analysis are also covered in the paper.
On governing resilience, the paper addresses the board and senior management's roles in overseeing and implementing a resilience programme, including setting the firm's risk appetite and articulating its tolerance for disruption. These strategies align with Protiviti's recently published views on how the C-suite and the board can drive operational resilience.
Regarding BCM, the paper stresses the importance of business continuity plans in the management of market-and enterprise-wide stresses and idiosyncratic risks. It also suggests various practices to mitigate third-party risks, including prioritising third-party dependencies, monitoring vendor performance against service requirements, and identifying substitute services.
Finally, the paper delves into practices on maintaining secure and resilient information systems, surveillance and reporting of operational risks, and cyber risk management (Appendix A of the paper).
Our First Take on the Proposals
To date, the most significant effort by any financial regulator to create formal guidance around operational resilience has come from the United Kingdom, where supervisory authorities, led by the Bank of England, issued a series of coordinated consultation papers on the subject in July 2018 and December 2019. Most recently, in early August 2020, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision released a consultative document that proposed a pragmatic yet flexible approach to operational resilience, one intended to be principles-based.
Compared to the papers issued by the U.K. supervisory authorities and the Basel Committee, there are some minor (yet notable) differences in the agencies' verbiage and definitions of key operational resilience terms. For example, the agencies' definition of operational resilience includes terms that have not appeared in other previously published definitions. Operational resilience, according to the agencies, is the ability to deliver operations, including critical operations and core business lines, through a disruption from any hazard.
"Critical operations" and "core business lines" replace the U.K. authorities' preferred term of "important business services and processes." While subtle, the divergence may challenge some firms looking for regulatory alignment on what exactly is considered core, critical or important when it comes to business services. Also, judging by the definitions put forth, the agencies appear to take a top-down approach in how they view firms' resilience. In other words, they mostly address the topic from the standpoint of financial stability and a firm's viability, whereas the U.K. supervisory authorities' papers focus more on customer harm.
The phrase "tolerance for disruption" is used 22 times throughout the agencies 14-page long paper. Its significance to the agencies is clear, although the definition put forth is vague:
Tolerance for disruption is determined by a firm's risk appetite for weathering disruption from operational risks considering its risk profile and the capabilities of its supporting operational environment. A firm's tolerance for disruption is informed by existing regulations and guidance and by the analysis of a range of severe but plausible scenarios that would affect its critical operations and core business lines.
The vagueness of this definition is particularly striking when one considers the fact that the U.K. regulatory authorities dedicated a paper to dissecting the concept of impact tolerance, a term the authorities defined as "the maximum tolerable level of disruption to an important business service." The term has been heavily discussed since July 2018, with industry leaders and regulators considering various definitions and approaches. In its most recent paper, the U.K. supervisory authorities offered some flexibility in determining impact tolerances, proposing that, where relevant, institutions may decide also to include metrics other than time, such as volumes and values, to determine their impact tolerances.
Another point worth noting is the decision by the agencies to focus on the largest institutions. This is not unexpected, given their ongoing scrutiny of payments clearing and settlement activities. However, this is different from the approach of U.K. regulators, which have taken a much broader view of firms that must address operational resilience. This is yet another indication that the agencies have taken a systemic approach to resilience, while the U.K. regulators are looking at the issue from the perspective of harm at the customer level.
In addressing cyber risk management, the agencies both highlight and contrast the clear overlap between cyber resilience and broader resilience concepts. While cyber events can certainly trigger interruption in critical operations, the paper makes it clear there are broader considerations beyond the cyber-resilience sound practices outlined in the appendix.
Finally, the agencies direct firms to identify their critical services and operations in their recovery or resolution plans (RRP) and to use the RRP plans for managing and aligning their operational resilience to the most important services. This alignment validates the agencies' decision to focus on the largest firms. While this practice is intuitive, Protiviti has found that using RRP plans to effect resilience can create functional challenges that, in some cases, would render the RRP documents ineffective. As such, firms may need to align and/or alter their RRP documents so they can be utilised as part of their operational reliance efforts effectively.
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This is a classic moderate multi-pitch climb near Whiteface Mountain.It sets up differently as the season progresses, but this day it was sketchy and thin with sections of ice breaking apart under me. The hardest parts had the best ice--luckily. It's one of the venues with a deep backcountry feel even though it's only a 10-minute walk from the Ausable River. See the following link for a video filmed during my January 2018 climb.
Looking up from partway up the route.
Climbing under the overhang at the top.
A look down says it all. Ausable River is in the background.
Loren Swears follows--this it the top of the climb.


From November 15 to 18, Azimut Olympic Moscow Hotel was the venue of the VII Moscow International Lubricant Week. The conference hosted a number of events, including the XII International Conference "Lubricants Russia – 2016", the VII International Conference "Greases Ryssia – 2016", the VII Specialized Exhibition "Services and Equipment for the Lubricant Market – 2016", the "Infineum Trends – 2016" Conference and informal cocktail reception for the Open Collar Event attendees and a formal evening reception hosted by LUKOIL Lubricants Company, the General Sponsor of the Event.
The international conference "Lubricants Russia" is a premier annual event for the Russian downstream petroleum industry. In the seven years since inception, the conference has evolved into the highest-profile industry event not only on the Russian but also on the European stage. The 2016 conference was attended by over 530 participants.
Special Sponsor - Sepahan Oil Co.
The event is supported by the ATIEL Association.
The conference brought together major Russian and foreign manufacturers of lubricants, additives, greases and liquid coolants; leading global and Russian transportation and manufacturing companies; and major lubricant users, including LUKOIL Lubricants, INTESMO, LLK-Naftan, Infineum, Sepahan Oil, Afton Chemicals, Lubrizol, Chevron Oronite, Evonik Oil Additives, BASF, Frigmaires Engineers, BPT Chemicals, Rosneft Lubricants, Gazpromneft Lubricants, MIC GSM, Rhein Chemie, APL, Vanderbilt, Dow Corning, Idemitsu Lubricants, Qualitet, NAMI-KHIM, Gazprom VNIIGAZ, Ford Sollers, AVTOVAZ -RENAULT- NISSAN, Lifan, VNIIZhT, KAMAZ, AVTOVAZ, Avtodizel and many others.
In total, more than 160 leading Russian and foreign businesses from 29 countries attended the Moscow International Lubricant Week. Delegates from Russia and the CIS made up 81 percent of the attendees, with the remaining 19 percent representing Europe, the United States and Asia-Pacific. About a third of the attendees were corporate top managers. 39 percent percent were middle managers and specialists from manufacturing, engineering, and research and development practices. Marketing and procurement personnel from manufacturing and transportation companies made up 24 percent. The attendee industry breakdown was as follows. 24 percent were delegates from Russian and foreign VIOCs (including oil refineries); 33 percent were lubricant manufacturers; 14 percent were trading houses and dealers; 19 percent were lubricant and lubricant component developers; 2 percent were consulting companies and financial and investment institutions; and 8 percent were others, including media.
Uomo Collezioni company supported the event as a Brand Sponsor.
In 2017 the Moscow International Lubricant Week is expected to become the biggest industry event in Europe and the CIS. It will be held from November 14 to 17.


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Grand Canyon tourists exposed for years to radiation in museum building, safety manager says
Dennis Wagner
For nearly two decades at the Grand Canyon, tourists, employees, and children on tours passed by three paint buckets stored in the National Park's museum collection building, unaware that they were being exposed to radiation.
Although federal officials learned last year that the 5-gallon containers were brimming with uranium ore, then removed the radioactive specimens, the park's safety director alleges nothing was done to warn park workers or the public that they might have been exposed to unsafe levels of radiation.
In a rogue email sent to all Park Service employees on Feb. 4, Elston "Swede" Stephenson — the safety, health and wellness manager — described the alleged cover-up as "a top management failure" and warned of possible health consequences.
"If you were in the Museum Collections Building (2C) between the year 2000 and June 18, 2018, you were 'exposed' to uranium by OSHA's definition," Stephenson wrote. "The radiation readings, at first blush, exceeds (sic) the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's safe limits. … Identifying who was exposed, and your exposure level, gets tricky and is our next important task."
In a Feb. 11 email to Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall, Stephenson said he had repeatedly asked National Park executives to inform the public, only to get stonewalled.
"Respectfully, it was not only immoral not to let Our People know," he added, "but I could not longer risk my (health and safety) certification by letting this go any longer."
According to Stephenson, the uranium specimens had been in a basement at park headquarters for decades and were moved to the museum building when it opened, around 2000.
RELATED:Understanding radiation: 6 key things to know about public exposure
One of the buckets was so full that its lid would not close.
Stephenson said the containers were stored next to a taxidermy exhibit, where children on tours sometimes stopped for presentations, sitting next to uranium for 30 minutes or more. By his calculation, those children could have received radiation dosages in excess of federal safety standards within three seconds, and adults could have suffered dangerous exposure in less than a half-minute.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission measures radiation contamination in millisieverts per hour or per year. According to Stephenson, close exposures to the uranium buckets could have exposed adults to 400 times the health limit — and children to 4,000 times what is considered safe.
Emily Davis, a public affairs specialist at the Grand Canyon, said the Park Service is coordinating an investigation with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Davis stressed that a recent review of the building in question uncovered only background radiation, which is natural in the area and is safe.
"There is no current risk to the park employees or public," Davis said. "The building is open. … The information I have is that the rocks were removed, and there's no danger."
Davis declined to address Stephenson's assertion that thousands of people may have been exposed to dangerous levels of radiation, or his allegation that the Park Service violated the law by not issuing a public warning.
"We do take our public and employee safety and allegations seriously," she said.
Clean-up with dish-washing gloves?
Reached by phone at the South Rim, Stephenson said his only concern is the safety of everyone who spent time in a danger zone, and he alerted them only after failing for eight months to get park officials to act.
"I've never seen anything like this in my life," he said.
Stephenson said the uranium threat was discovered in March 2018 by the teenage son of a park employee who happened to be a Geiger counter enthusiast, and brought a device to the museum collection room.
Workers immediately moved the buckets to another location in the building, he said, but nothing else was done.
A few months later, Stephenson said, he was assisting with a safety audit when employees told him about the uranium. As a former Army helicopter pilot who later worked as a safety manager in the Navy, Stephenson said he knew it was "bad mojo" and instantly called a National Parks specialist in Colorado.
Stephenson said specialists apparently had no Geiger counter, so they drove to Utah to pick up a Ludlum meter, which also measures radiation output.
The technicians reached the Grand Canyon several days after his call, on June 18. Lacking protective clothing, they purchased dish-washing and gardening gloves, then used a broken mop handle to lift the buckets into a truck, Stephenson said.
Those details are corroborated by photographs Stephenson included in a 45-page slideshow created to document the radiation exposure and alleged cover-up.
Stephenson said technicians concealed the radiation readings from him and dumped the ore into Orphan Mine, an old uranium dig that is considered a potential Superfund site below the Rim, about two miles from Grand Canyon Village.
Stephenson said he drove to Phoenix in November and filed a report with OSHA, which sent inspectors to the museum building in yellow protective suits.
Stephenson said they detected a low-level site within the building and traced it to the three buckets, which Park Service technicians had inexplicably returned to the building after dumping their contents.
"You could hear their meters going off," Stephenson said.
Davis, the Park Service spokeswoman, declined comment on those details.
A spokesman for OSHA confirmed an investigation is underway, but declined to provide any other information.
A 'secrecy pact'?
Stephenson, a military veteran who is certified as an occupational safety and health technician, was in a similar controversy during his time in the Navy. According to court records, he began calling for action to prevent falls after a series of accidents in 2016.
As complaints escalated, Stephenson was fired. He turned to the Office of Special Counsel, a federal agency that protects whistleblowers, and his termination was stayed. It is unclear how that case was resolved, but within months, Stephenson had a new job with the National Park Service.
Stephenson said the uranium exposure saga developed while he was pursuing a racial-discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity office. Stephenson is African-American.
He said high-level officials in the Park Service developed a "secrecy pact" to conceal radiation exposure data despite his insistence that a "Right to Know" law mandates public disclosure.
"My first interest is the safety of the workers and the people," he added.
Stephenson eventually obtained a report submitted by the Park Service's regional safety manager, confirming the area was "positive for radioactivity above background" and showing high levels near the taxidermy area.
The report indicated radiation levels at "13.9 mR/hr" where the buckets were stored, and "800 mR/hr" on contact with the ore. Just 5 feet from the buckets, there was a zero reading. The abbreviation, "mR" typically stands for milliroentgen, a measurement roughly equivalent to a millirem, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The NRC says average radiation exposure in the United States from natural sources is 300 millirems per year at sea level, or 400 at high altitude.
The commission lists a maximum safe dosage for the public, beyond natural radiation, is no more than 2 millirems per hour, or 100 per year.
The report's recommendations did not call for public notification, but suggested guidelines for handling and storing geology samples in the future.
Stephenson calculated potential exposures over 1,400 times the NRC's safe level for children, and over 140 times the safe level for adults.
He said he pressed park superintendents to take action, submitted an Inspector General complaint, contacted the FBI, and wrote to every member of Congress.
In his letter to colleagues, Stephenson apologized for the untimely notice. He stressed that exposure may not be severe depending on how close individuals got to the source, how long they were exposed, what they were wearing, and other factors. He also emphasized that employees will not necessarily suffer health consequences, but should consider receiving a medical screening.
"Of particular concern are 1000s of children attending 'shows' in very close proximity to the uranium," he wrote. Those presentations lasted a half hour or more, he said, yet radiation dosages could have exceeded federal safety standards within seconds.
Stephenson said he's heard nothing from superiors at the Park Service since he sent the warning letter.
"They're in cover-up mode," he said. "I've been cut off from any kind of information."
How Phoenix man went from character to a face of Capitol raid Don't expect home prices to fall in 2021. Here's why Facing an income-tax surprise? Now is a good time to update your W-4 How to watch Joe Biden's Inauguration Day 2021


http://www.cruisinfor... Any one going to this show. I am will be there with my mustang.
California Chapter - Who's going to Cruise For A Cure?
Can't make it this year. It's my mother's 80th birthday and there is a party planned for her. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.


DC's Legends of Tomorrow — "The Magnificent Eight"– LGN111a_0392.jpg — Pictured (L-R) Dominic Purcell as Mick Rory/Heat Wave, Johnathon Schaech as Jonah Hex, Arthur Darvill as Rip Hunter, Ciara Renee as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl, Caity Lotz as Sara Lance/White Canary, Brandon Routh as Ray Palmer/Atom — Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW — © 2016 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
DC COMICS' JONAH HEX MEETS THE TEAM — When the team needs a place to hide out, Rip (Arthur Darvill) sets a course for the Old West. Upon arrival, they start a fight with a gang of outlaws, putting the small town in jeopardy. Luckily, an old friend of Rip's, Jonah Hex (guest star Johnathon Schaech), steps in to save them. Thor Freudenthal directed the episode with story by Greg Berlanti & Marc Guggenheim and teleplay by Marc Guggenheim (#111).


text:
HSBC Asset Management Launches Sterling ESG Money Market Fund
HSBC Asset Management (HSBC AM) announces the launch of a new ESG money market fund (MMF), the HSBC Sterling ESG Liquidity Fund. The fund has received seed investment from British multinational retailer Tesco.
The fund will invest in a portfolio of issuers that have an A1, P1 or F1 rating, or long term equivalent, and are demonstrably better at addressing ESG risks than other issuers in the investable universe. This will be achieved by applying a robust ESG scoring system and relative ESG filters that are appropriate for the money market investable universe. The fund will enable institutional investors – including large corporates, pension funds, insurers and others – to focus their cash investments in a solution that helps them meet their own sustainability objectives.
Issuer engagement will also be a key component of the fund's approach. To meet sustainability goals, HSBC AM will be encouraging issuers to address identified shortcomings in how they manage ESG risks. This ensures that companies are aware that their ESG performance is factored into decisions on whether their short term debt issuance is eligible to be purchased by the fund. By doing so, HSBC AM aims to increase the focus on better management of ESG risks and achieve more sustainable outcomes.
In addition to the investment process focused on addressing ESG risks and opportunities, the fund will look to evolve to include other features to provide further contribution to investors' sustainability objectives.
Paul Griffiths, Global Head Institutional Business, HSBC AM said: "The launch of our first ESG MMF is another innovative example of how we are providing our clients with opportunities that enable the transition to a more sustainable world."
Jonathan Curry, Global Liquidity & Americas CIO, HSBC AM added: "We are committed to delivering market-leading solutions to meet the responsible investment ambitions of our clients.
"For corporate treasurers, the use of a money market fund that credibly applies ESG to its investment process can contribute to the company's overall sustainability objectives. For individual or institutional investors with a specific focus on sustainable investing, cash no longer needs to be an afterthought in a sustainably invested portfolio."
HSBC AM currently manages liquidity assets in 10 global currencies and has USD118 billion in liquidity strategies1. In 2020, the firm set out its strategy to re-position the business as a core solutions and specialist emerging markets, Asia and alternatives focused asset manager, with client centricity, investment excellence and sustainable investing as key enablers.
[1] – As at 30 June 2021
Serrala and BNP Paribas Enter Global Referral Partnership
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Coupa to Offer HSBC Virtual Cards to European Businesses
Eleanor Hill (TMI) invites Dick Oskam and Bert Van Drie (ING) into the TreasuryCast hotseat to find out what trends treasurers want to see emerge from the Request for Proposal (RFP) and Request for Information (RFI)...
When data flows are connected, it's so much easier to make quick and accurate decisions. This is the principle behind the notion of the connected financial office. In this podcast, Gareth Priest (Bottomline Technologies) provides informed advice on how...
Journeys to Treasury: Managing Changing Perspectives
For this special edition of TreasuryCast, we showcase the results of the Journeys to Treasury 2021-22 report. Here, Jan Dirk van Beusekom (BNP Paribas) and Christian Mnich (SAP) offer Eleanor Hill (TMI) an informed view...
Cybersecurity for Treasurers
Cybercrime and fraud is on the rise and new attack vectors are emerging with alarming frequency. In this podcast, Nicolas Trimbour (BNP Paribas) and Laurent Sarrat (Sis ID) provide an overview of the latest tools and best practices treasurers should be employing...
A New Treasury Ecosystem: Open Banking, APIs, and BaaS
For this special edition of TreasuryCast, Eleanor Hill invites Peter Claus-Landi (GE) and Jared Smith (HSBC) to cover how key API-centric developments are changing the treasury landscape. With APIs significantly...
Using Data as the Corner for Finance Transformation
Many organisations face challenges in managing spend, payments, and cash effectively due to siloed processes and datasets across multiple departments. In this podcast, Ulrika Haug (Coupa) and Kim Estes (The Knot...
Realising Treasury's True Value – A Strategy for Change
Join John Meehan (Froneri) to hear how Froneri utilised a year of no acquisitions and no meetings to implement a total transformation project through implementation of a TMS, unlocking the true value of his corporate...
Lessons from Innospec on Building a Strong Cash Culture
Without ready access to the key metrics of cash forecasting, Andrew Hawes (Innospec) knew the business could do little more than react to events. But without the collaboration of key stakeholders too, he knew that...
How to Make Your TMS the Ultimate Investment Tool
The right TMS can be a huge asset to treasury. But these one-stop shops often fall short when it comes to short term investment workflows. In this podcast, Ed Lopez, James Griffin (Calastone), Jeannot Jonas (Carrier...


The proposals seek to extend and remodel an existing detached house in Liverpool, to provide a high quality, contemporary modern Architect designed family home. The proposals seek to make the best use of the existing house, the plot, orientation and context.
The primary constraint for this house was the Green Belt which limits the size and scale of any extension. This property had earlier house extensions and as such the scale of any new extension was restricted further.
The site benefitted from some fantastic views over Liverpool, however, these were to the front of the property which was quite exposed. As such a sheltered entrance way protects the open plan of the ground floor and allows the family room to benefit from the views.
The proposals aim to keep the extensions close to the original dwelling, thus maintaining the openness of the Green Belt and wider Liverpool countryside. At the rear of the property, the extended areas are stepped in from the side elevations, and the ridgeline is stepped down from the main roof, maintaining the subservient nature of the extension. There is no increase in the width of the property which would have a larger impact on the Liverpool countryside.
It is proposed that the original garage building will be converted into a habitable space in order to minimise the visual impact on the open countryside. The link between the house and garage is visually equal to the current arrangement of the existing wall and gate.
As part of the improvements to the property, it is proposed that the original dwelling will be externally insulated, and windows will be replaced in order to improve the fabric energy efficiency of the dwelling. The external appearance of the dwelling will, therefore, be changed from a brick façade to a rendered façade. To the rear of the property, the new extensions will be constructed in brickwork, reflecting the original character of the dwelling and helping to break the scale of the extension.
Features: Family home, natural materials. Contemporary design. Garden Room, open countryside, rural design, green belt.


This unique blend matches the mellow warmth of turmeric and the spices of ginger and cinnamon with the smooth vegetal flavor of organic matcha.
$16.50 / 1.5 oz pkg.
This unique Organic Spiced Turmeric Matcha blend matches the mellow warmth of turmeric and the spices of ginger and cinnamon with the smooth vegetal flavor of organic matcha.
This tea can be prepared traditionally with a bowl and whisk, or it can be added to any dairy or dairy substitute of preference and enjoyed as a slightly spicy Matcha latte.


text:
Q: windows assembly x86 weird Function Issue I am creating a simple function that prints a character to the screen
STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE   equ -11
NULL                equ 0

global Start
extern ExitProcess, GetStdHandle, WriteConsoleA

section .bss
msg     resb    1

section .text

Start:
    push 'b'
    call Print

Print:
    ; Function Start
    push    ebp
    mov     ebp,esp

    ; accepting the argument
    mov     ebx , [esp + 8]
    mov     [msg],ebx

    ; eax = handle
    push    STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE
    call    GetStdHandle

    ; WriteConsoleA System call
    push    NULL
    push    1
    push    msg
    push    eax
    call    WriteConsoleA

    ; Funcion end
    mov     esp, ebp
    pop     ebp
    ret

When I remove the ret instruction the output is as expected is b but when I add it back the output changes to b., what's Happening ????
I am using the Nasm Assembler and the golink link

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Get Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka 7th ODI Live Streaming for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Afg vs SL 7th ODI Live Cricket Streaming being played on 4th June 2019 at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff. This ODI match will be broadcast live all over the globe. Where to watch Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka 7th ODI CWC Live Streaming is available here.
Afghanistan gears up to take on Sri Lanka in the seventh ODI match for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. This ODI match will be broadcast live all over the world. We have compiled a list of all TV channels and broadcast sites that will bring live telecast for this Cricket World Cup match live for the cricket fans.


My fundraising message: Hi! My name is Addyson and I'm trying to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I lost my grandmother to breast cancer, so raising this money means a lot to me. Also, Gabby Douglass, is my role model & I would LOVE to get the chance to meet her! Please donate and help me, help others!
Welcome to the personal fundraising page of Addyson!
Addyson is fundraising with Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas to help raise funds for Breast Cancer Research Foundation! Breast Cancer Research Foundation provides critical funding for cancer research worldwide to fuel advances in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, metastasis and survivorship.
The more Addyson raises, the more help Addyson gives, and the more prizes Addyson wins!
Please help Addyson raise funds to benefit Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Your generosity will help Addyson win unforgettable experiences with the great Gabby Douglas, including a clinic, dinner, Q&A session, and more!


The Business Exchange is sited in the former Rockingham Road School, built in 1893 and designed by local architect J A Gotch.
The organisation doesn't make a profit - it runs to support the local business community.
The Business Exchange is a Social Enterprise organisation providing flexible serviced office space for businesses from the Kettering Borough. for more information on our history click here.
Contracts are easy to terminate.
Another priority was to create a working 'community'; that could offer both practical and emotional support to the lone worker starting out in business for the first time. Quite often it is the loneliness of self-employment that is the hardest thing to manage if you come from a huge open plan environment.
The success of The Business Exchange has been rapid. By February 2001 80% of the workspaces had been occupied and a few tenants had already upgraded by taking and additional office or moving to a larger one. Since then occupancy levels have been maintained at between 90% and 100%.
There is a great entrepreneurial spirit with many companies doing business together either cross-trading or collaborating on larger projects.


You and your boyfriend have been together for just over a year. Everything is working out great! He is the man you have dreamt of, and you are excited about your future together. Then, you find out you are pregnant. If you and your boyfriend have not yet discussed what you would do in this situation, you are not alone. Many couples do not discuss a plan of action prior to pregnancy.
When faced with an unexpected pregnancy, you need support.
You need someone to talk to. You want someone to be there for you to listen. What if you and your boyfriend do not agree? What if he wants to raise the baby, get married and begin your family. Meanwhile, you are thinking an adoption plan would be the better route for both of you. Perhaps he has already offered to pay for the abortion, but you are unsure if you want an abortion. You may find yourself in several different scenarios. Just remember, you are not alone, and you can work through this together.
Your first step is to schedule an appointment with Your Options Medical. A positive pregnancy test should always be confirmed with a medical grade pregnancy test which is offered free of charge to patients at Your Options Medical.
Next, if the pregnancy test is positive, you will want to receive an ultrasound. This exam will visually confirm if there is an actual pregnancy and help you determine if a decision needs to be made.
Then, you can talk with the trained staff at Your Options Medical about all three of your options: abortion, adoption, and parenting. You can ask questions, review procedures, and learn more about each option.
At Your Options Medical, we invite our patients to bring a guest with them. You can bring your boyfriend, mom, friend or anyone you would like with you to the time of the appointment. If you and your boyfriend disagree or have differing feelings regarding your pregnancy, you can both receive options counseling from Your Options.
If you would like to learn more or schedule an appointment, contact us today!


text:
Q: How Could I Update a table with conditions from other table I Have the Table "Person" and the table "Fisica" which is the extention of "Person". Both tables are related by the field name Id, and I want to update the tables based on conditions that include both tables.
For example:
Tables:
Persona(Id, Name, Money)
Fisica(Id, LastName, Year)

With data:
Persona(1, X, 5)
Persona(2, A, 10)
Fisica(1, Y, 1990)
Fisica(2, B, 2000)

I want to set Persona.Name=some_Value, Fisica.LastName=other_Value and Fisica.Year=number when Persona.Name='X', so it results
Persona(1, some_Value, 5)
Persona(2, A, 10)
Fisica(1, other_Value, number)
Fisica(2, B, 2000)

I am working in Oracle

A: You can't update two tables with one statement. So you need two UPDATE statements.
So you have to update one, then the other. The question is, which one first?
It doesn't really matter, but if you update Persona first and change the name, then you have to use the new name when updating Fisica. Like this:
update Persona
set name = 'some_Value'
where name = 'current_Name'
;
update Fisica
set lastname = 'other_Value',
    year = number
where id = (
  select id
  from Persona
  where name = 'some_Value'
)
;

If you update Fisica first, you use the old value of name both times, like this:
update Fisica
set lastname = 'other_Value',
    year = number
where id = (
  select id
  from Persona
  where name = 'current_Value'
)
;
update Persona
set name = 'some_Value'
where name = 'current_Value'
;

note number has to be replaced with an actual numeric value.
Good coding practice would be to put both statements in the same transaction and commit only if they are both successful.

A: Though Oracle don't provide such functionality as compare to mysql where we can write query like this:
Update table1 t1, table2 t2 set t2.field2="ABC" where t1.id=t2.id

But you can update multiple tables using single query in Oracle for Views.
So create the view for the above two tables Persona, Fisica and write query as follows:
 CREATE OR REPLACE FORCE VIEW  "Persona_Fisica" ("PersonaID", "Name", "Money", "FisicaID", "Lastname", "Year") AS
      select P.Id as PersonaID,
        Name as Name,
        Money as Money,
        F.Id as FisicaID,
        LastName as Lastname,
        year as Year
     from Persona P,
        Fisica F
     where P.ID=F.ID
/
Update Persona_Fisica set Name=some_Value, LastName=other_Value,Year=number were Name='X',


text:
Bits of Baseball Lore
Baseball players, managers, and even front office personnel are among the most superstitious in all of sports. Here are some examples.
Jason Giambi played 20 years in the majors. In 2008 with the Yankees, he revealed that he often wore a gold thong under his uniform pants when trying to snap out of a slump. He admitted he kept the shiny thong in his locker since he played for the Athletics (1995-2001). Several of his New York teammates revealed that they tried wearing the distinctive underwear also, including captain Derek Jeter and OF Johnny Damon.
A successful manager also had an underwear superstition. When Jim Leyland managed Detroit in 2011, he wore the same pair of boxer shorts to the ballpark during a winning streak. Furthermore, he didn't wash the underwear until the streak ended.
Moises Alou played 16 years in the bigs from 1990-2008. He was one of the few hitters who shunned batting gloves. In 2004, he said that the secret to hitting without gloves is to harden your hands to prevent calluses. Then he explained his secret method for doing that: he urinated on his hands. He didn't remember where he learned that technique but said it wasn't from his famous father, Felipe. Moises was a career .303 hitter. So you can't argue with success. Some pitchers, including Julian Tavarez, have peed on their hands to cure blisters. These players either didn't know or didn't care that science says that urine actually softens the skin.
Sometimes a player stumbles onto a lucky charm or habit by accident. Case in point: Mark Teixeira, who played from 2003-2016. While he was with the Yankees, one of P CC Sabathia's socks accidentally ended up in Mark's locker. So he unknowingly put on one sock with his number 25 on it and another sock with 52, Sabathia's number, on it. He didn't notice until he undressed after the game. But since he had one of the better games of his career with two homers and six RBIs, he decided to wear two different socks in future games.
Pitchers have their superstitions too. When Ryan Dempster joined the Cubs in 2002, he ate at the same Italian restaurant the night before every start he made at Wrigley Field. Whether it was the diet that did it, he posted a 3.75 ERA in his home starts, much lower than his career 4.36 ERA.
Hall of Fame OF Larry Walker was obsessed with the No. 3. He wore uniform number 33, was married on November 3 at 3:33, and his phone number had as many threes in it as the phone company could give him. He took three swings in the batter's box before he hit, six if he felt tight or nine or 12.
We'll end with Mark McGwire, who wore the same protective cup throughout his pro career. He started wearing the cup in high school and used the same one for all 16 of his major league seasons.
L-R: Mark Texeira, Ray Dempster, Larry Walker, Mark McGwire
Jim Leyland
Moises Alou
Baseball Lore – 1
Baseball Lore – 10


text:
Salehi v. Surfside III Condominium Owner's Ass'n (Cal. Ct. App. - Nov. 14, 2011)
This is why you should be very, very careful about filing suit against your homeowner's (or condo-owner's) association. Even if you're a smart attorney. Even if, in fact, you might be right.
Because the HOA has an incentive to fight the lawsuit, and may rack up a quarter million dollars in legal fees that you ultimately might be forced to pay.
That's what Ventura attorney Susan Salehi discovered this week. As a result of an opinion by Justice Yegan that's unlikely to add him to Salehi's list of Christmas card recipients.
For what it's worth, I think this one could have been shorter, and perhaps a little less harsh to Salehi. Salehi dismissed all but two of her causes of action without prejudice on the eve of trial. I agree with Justice Yegan that before deciding whether the Association is the prevailing party (and hence entitled to costs), it should see what happens to the remaining causes of action. Accordingly, I think it's probably enough to say that a party who dismisses her causes of action without prejudice right before trial may well end up being the loser, and that it was hence an abuse of discretion to categorically deny the Association its fees. At least at this point.
That way we'd get the right result and perhaps slam Ms. Salehi a little less.
Posted by Shaun Martin at 12:05 PM
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People v. Dement (Cal. Supreme Ct. - Nov. 28, 2011...
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Salehi v. Surfside III Condominium Owner's Ass'n (...
Perry v. Brown (Cal. Supreme Ct. - Nov. 17, 2011)
People v. Mendoza (Cal. Supreme Ct. - Nov. 10, 201...
People v. Ruffin (Cal. Ct. App. - Nov. 4, 2011)
Ninth Circuit Goes For the Modern Record (9th Cir....
People v. Nelson (Cal. Ct. App. - Nov. 14, 2011)
Rich v. Thatcher (Cal. Ct. App. - Nov. 14, 2011)
U.S. v. Ceballos (9th Cir. - Nov. 7, 2011)
Lacey v. Maricopa County (9th Cir. - Nov. 10, 2011...
Executive Benefits Ins. Agency v. Arkison (9th Cir...
Schad v. Ryan (9th Cir. - Nov. 10, 2011)
Bauman v. DaimlerChrysler Corp. (9th Cir. - Nov. 1...
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People v. Nunes (Cal. Ct. App. - Nov. 1, 2011)
Jaramillo v. County of Orange (Cal. Ct. App. - Nov...
In Re Marriage of Seaton (Cal. Ct. App. - Nov. 8, ...
Ditullio v. Boehm (9th Cir. - Nov. 7, 2011)
Glenn v. Washington County (9th Cir. - Nov. 4, 201...
People v. Carlson (Cal. Ct. App. - Nov. 2, 2011)
Mirmehdi v. U.S. (9th Cir. - Nov. 3, 2011)
Conahan v. Sebelius (9th Cir. - Nov. 1, 2011)
Oglio Entertainment Group v. Hartford Cas. Ins. Co...


text:
Gumpert Apollo crashes during Nurburgring lap record attempt
Crashes and Fires, Gumpert, Nurburgring, Performance News
While attempting to set a new Nurburgring lap record, a Gumpert Apollo Speed has crashed into a barrier just after taking off. The Gumpert was being driven by Adrian Sutil, current F1 Force India Formula One driver.
According to Nurburgring enthusiast website, BridgetoGantry, Sutil was attempting to break the car's lap record at the treacherous track, which currently stands at 7:11.57. Unfortunately, Sutil got a bit too excited about attempting the run and used too much throttle existing the pit lane.
All 522kW were transferred to the tarmac at once, sending the carbon-fibre hypercar into a flinging, out of control fishtail and into the straight's guard rails. The damage doesn't appear to be too serious from these images, but still, way to go Sutil.
The Gumpert Apollo Speed is generally regarded as the fastest road legal car to lap the circuit. Although it's not really what you would call a weekly runaround, it does feature doors, lights and mirrors just like any normal car.
In the back sits an Audi-derived 4.2-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 522kW of power and a thumping 875Nm of torque. The entire car weighs just 1300kg and is able to do the 0-100km/h dash in just 2.9 seconds. Not bad for a rear-wheel drive.
(with thanks to BridgetoGantry)
Interested in the actual record run? Click play on the video below. It was achieved in 2009 piloted by Florian Gruber.
Gumpert Apollo
Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport spotted testing at Nurburgring, epic speed (video) June 26, 2020


Our White 6" x 9" Economy Envelopes are made for use with our 2-up flat cards and bi-fold greeting cards! These White bi-fold and flat card envelopes are made from a 24 lb bond / 60 lb text (90 gsm) paper. Item Group# 57311 Product features 6" x 9" Booklet Envelopes White 24lb bond / 60lb text (90 gsm) Paper Stock Inkjet & Laser Compatible Available in 100 or 250 Envelopes.


text:
ManualCampaignConversionOptimizer displays the contents of Conversion Optimization settings.

### Service

+ [CampaignService](../../services/CampaignService.md)

### Namespace

[CampaignService#Namespace](../../services/CampaignService.md#namespace)

### Inheritance

+ [CampaignConversionOptimizer](./CampaignConversionOptimizer.md)

| Field | Type | Description | response | add | set | remove |
| ----- | ---- | ----------- | -------- | --------- | --------- | --------- |
| eligibilityFlg | enum [ConversionOptimizerEligibilityFlg](./ConversionOptimizerEligibilityFlg.md) | Availability of conversion optimization.
If this field value is 'DISABLE',this Campaign cannot use Auto Bidding(Conversion Optimization). | yes | Ignore | Ignore | Ignore | |

この 作品 は クリエイティブ・コモンズ 表示 - 改変禁止 2.1 日本 ライセンスの下に提供されています。

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Since this was my very first order (but not my first BPAL; eBay is a good place to try new scents!), all I got was a pack of imps ears. Brisingamen (on the right wrist), Dana o'Shee (left wrist), Dublin, Glasgow, La Belle Au Bois Dormant, and Perversion, with Succubus thrown in as a frimp. (Free Imp).
Just popped some NSAIDs, so it's back to the knitting for me.


Those of you who follow The Stitching Sheep on Instagram will have noticed the daily updates of the Edsadvent CAL I joined. As today is the 24th of December it is the final day of the advent calendar and that means I have finished the animal!
She is called Gloria and she is a Red Panda.
The animal-species we were crocheting was not revealed until today. However, after stitching the body and the tail I had already guessed the animal we were making a red panda as I couldn't think which other animals would have those feature and after making the head she really could not be anything else.
Despite the initial disappointment of an opened advent calendar, which I wrote about in my last post, I really enjoyed this CAL.
It is a really novel way of doing an advent calendar. Usually, you just get presents and you have to think about what you will make with them, but this way you get to make something with it too. It was really fun too, doing a daily rather than a weekly CAL. Fortunately, each section did not require too much time so I could complete each day after work. Opening each door was not very surprising though as you knew it would be a skein of Toft DK yarn and it often was not a big surprise which colour you would get.
I learned a lot during this CAL as I had never done any loop stitches before, and I had never done any complicated colour changes either. The CAL has therefore given me the confidence to try more complicated animals, which I think is a real plus.
I would definitely join next year's CAL as I had so much fun crocheting it and sharing it with everyone.
Good to know you had such fun, crocheting Gorgeous Gloria!
What a great advent gift at the end of all your hard work! Such a lovely little guy to add to your collection.
Een heel bijzonder beestje geworden. Ziet er leuk uit met al die losse draadjes. Heel speels.
Dankjewel Mama, leuk he, maar was best een gepriegel!
Echt schattig weer en leuk dat je het per dag ziet groeien.
Fijne feestdagen Marlous en Ferdi.
Dankjewel Will! Fijn dat je het leuk hebt gevonden om te volgen! Jullie ook hele fijne feestdagen!


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Op-Ed: How does Susan Rice, collateral damage in Trump's war on facts, get back her reputation?
Then-National Security Adviser Susan Rice is seen on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on July 7, 2016.
(Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
By Max Boot
Susan Rice, President Obama's United Nations ambassador and national security advisor, must feel a little like Raymond Donovan. Not the Showtime TV character, but the Reagan-era Labor secretary who was forced to leave office and tried on fraud charges. After he was acquitted, he famously asked: "Which office do I go to get my reputation back?"
This past spring, Rice was accused by President Trump and his supporters of breaking the law by "unmasking" the names of Trump aides in surveillance transcripts made by the National Security Agency. Now it comes out, from Rice's testimony to the House Intelligence Committee last week, that she had every reason in the world to discover those names. She did not break the law. She's just collateral damage in the administration's attack on facts and reality.
The Rice affair was an outgrowth of the president's wild claim, made on March 4, that the Obama administration had engaged in illegal wiretapping of Trump Tower. "Terrible!" he tweeted. "Just found out that Obama had my 'wires tapped' in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!"
There was not, of course, an iota of evidence to support this charge — which Trump clearly made to distract attention from the very real scandal of his campaign's links to Russia. The tapping story has now been definitively refuted by the Justice Department. "Both FBI and NSD [National Security Division] have no records related to wiretaps as described by the March 4, 2017 tweets," the Justice Department recently wrote in a court filing.
There is, of course, no chance that Nunes, Trump or anyone else will apologize to Rice for impugning her integrity.
Unable to support Trump's ludicrous claim on its face, his more creative fans in the fever swamps of the far right tried to come up with fanciful explanations of how the supposed wire-tapping might have occurred. Former Judge Andrew Napolitano said on Fox News that, even though the NSA hadn't spied on Trump, its British counterpart, the Government Communications Headquarters, had done so. Trump appeared to endorse this claim, which was swiftly and angrily refuted by the British government, straining trans-Atlantic relations.
And then came Version 3.0 of the "Obama surveillance scandal," as some on the right called it: the notion that Rice had illegally unmasked names of Trump associates whose conversations were incidentally collected during the course of wiretapping directed against someone else. This allegation first surfaced April 2 on the Twitter account of Mike Cernovich, a far-right conspiracy theorist who also alleged that Hillary Clinton ran a child-sex-abuse ring out of a Washington pizza parlor.
Within 24 hours, Eli Lake of Bloomberg View had reported that Rice had "requested the identities of U.S. persons in raw intelligence reports on dozens of occasions that connect to the Donald Trump transition and campaign." Unlike Cernovich, Lake did not say this supported Trump's wire-tapping allegations or that Rice did anything illegal, but those details were lost in the rush by right-wing media outlets — Fox News, Breitbart, the Daily Caller, the Washington Examiner, Gateway Pundit and others — to bolster Trump's specious charges by dragging Rice's good name through the mud. Before long the president of the United States was accusing her in the media of having committed a crime.
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, proved particularly zealous in pursuing the allegations. He made a dramatic trip to the White House to brief the president and reporters on supposed evidence that incriminated Rice. In fact, the "evidence" was ginned up by far-right White House aides, including Ezra Cohen-Watnick, who was subsequently fired from the NSC staff. Nunes had to recuse himself in April from the House investigation of Kremlingate, and he found himself under investigation from the House Ethics Committee for possibly leaking classified information.
The entire Susan Rice "scandal" began to collapse like an overdone souffle in early August when Lake, who had helped set the story in motion, reported that national security advisor H.R. McMaster had concluded that his predecessor had done nothing wrong. And now Rice's testimony to the House Intelligence Committee explains what she was doing: her job.
Rice unmasked the names of Trump associates because she was trying to learn why the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, had made a secret trip to New York after the November election. It turns out that UAE Foreign Minister Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan was meeting with Trump transition officials as part of an effort to set up a secret back-channel to Russia. Neither the Trump aides nor the UAE bothered to inform the Obama administration, which was still in office and still in charge of U.S. foreign policy.
According to CNN, Rice's "explanation appears to have satisfied some influential Republicans on the committee, undercutting both Nunes and Trump and raising new questions" about Trump associates and the Russians. Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), one of the leaders on the House probe of Kremlingate, said: "I didn't hear anything to believe that she did anything illegal."
So much for this faux scandal. There is, of course, no chance that Nunes,Trump, the right-wing media or anyone else will apologize to Rice for impugning her integrity. Indeed Trump on Thursday told reporters "what she did was wrong." The president and his enablers will never allow truth, comity or common decency to get in the way of their crazy conspiracy theories.
Max Boot is a contributing writer to Opinion and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook
3:35 p.m.: This story was updated with additional information.
OpinionOp-Ed


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sixgill sawshark
Unique sawshark with 6 gill slits
The Sixgill sawshark (Pliotrema warreni), the only member of the genus Pliotrema, is a sawshark of the family Pristiophoridae. Like its name, it has 6 gill slits, and uniquely the only sawshark with 6 gill slits. In general, 6 gill slits are a unique feature among all sharks. Unlike other sawsharks, the barbs on the Sixgill sawshark's rostrum continue onto the sides of the head. Its barbels are also closer to its mouth than in other species.
Family: Pristiophoridae – Sawsharks
Genus: Pliotrema
Species: warreni
Class– Chondrichthyles
Subclass– Elasmobranchii
Order– Pristiophoriformes
Common Name– Sawsharks
Family– Pristiophoridae
Genus– Pliotrema
Species– warreni
Status: IUCN Red List NEAR THREATENED
Average Size and Length: On average, male Sixgill sawsharks are around 3.6 feet long. At maximum, females can reach over 4.5 feet long, and males can reach over 3.7 feet long.
Teeth and Jaw: The Sixgill sawshark's barbels are also closer to its mouth than in other species.
Head: Barbs are present on the posterior edges of larger rostral sawteeth. This is absent in other sharks. Unlike other sawsharks, the barbs on the Sixgill sawshark's rostrum continue onto the sides of the head.
Demographic, Distribution, Habitat, Environment and Range: The Sixgill sawshark is found in the temperate and subtropical waters of the southeast Atlantic in South Africa, and the southwestern Indian Ocean in South Africa, south Mozambique and southeast Madagascar, between latitudes 23° S and 37° S, at depths of between 121 and 1,640 feet. It lives on or near the bottom, offshore continental shelves and upper slopes, in the benthic and benthopelagic zones.
Diet: The known diet of a Sixgill sawshark includes small fish, crustaceans, and squids.
The only observed predator of the Sixgill sawshark is the Tiger shark. It is highly possible that other bigger sharks may predate Sixgill sawsharks.
Aesthetic Identification: The Sixgill sawshark is the only sawshark with 6 gill slits.
Biology and Reproduction: The Sixgill sawshark is ovoviviparous. The Sixgill sawshark is thought to breed annually (7-17 developing eggs per female), giving birth to around 5-7 pups per litter. It is possible that they come to inshore pupping grounds to give birth. Sixgill Sawshark pups are born between 1.1 and 1.2 feet long, and they later mature at around 2.7 feet.
Behavioral Traits, Sensing and Intelligence: Using their sensitive barbels and ampullae of Lorenzini, Sixgill sawsharks are able to find their prey and then incapacitate them with their rostrum.
Adult Sixgill sawsharks are partially segregated from juveniles, as they naturally tend to aggregate at lower depths.
Sixgill Sawshark Future and Conservation: The Sixgill sawshark is restricted in range, they have small litters and are vulnerability to bottom trawling fishing. Though they are not sought after in any market, they are frequently caught as by-catch and disposed. This is why they are listed as near-threatened
Sixgill Sawshark Recorded Attacks on Humans: They are not a threat to humans, mainly because of their deep-water habitats.


Seiont Manor was created from the traditional farmstead of a Georgian manor house with origins as a Neolithic burial ground. Some of the buildings added in the 1800s by a naval surgeon were sited so that the summit of Snowdonia could easily be seen, rather than for practical reasons!
Seiont Manor has been a hotel since 1988 when the then owners filled the 28 bedrooms with some unusual and beautiful pieces of furniture from around the world. These remain, together with all the modern amenities you would expect to find in a first rate hotel. Each room is individually designed and has delightful views over the grounds.