Margaret Owen OBE, a human rights barrister, director of Widow's for Peace and Democracy (WPD) and founder member of Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS), as well as long-time supporter of the Kurdish people, is today travelling to Rojava in northern Syria, also known as Western Kurdistan, on a week-long solidarity and fact-finding mission.
The visit comes less than two months after the Democratic Union Party (PYD) announced the decision to form an interim transitional administration for the region, which was the result of a conference on 12 November attended by representatives of 35 organisations of various ethnic, religious and political affiliations operating across Rojava.
Women have been particularly active as frontline fighters in the struggle against both regime forces and armed al-Qaeda affiliated groups in the region, as well as in establishing refugee support networks for Syrians fleeing violence in the rest of the country, in women's councils, assemblies, and other decision-making bodies, and in education and family care.
Ms Owen, 81, says: "I hope in the short time I am in Rojava I will have an opportunity to visit some of the projects and programmes, service delivery that the PYD are managing on the borders of Rojava, and so I can observe at close quarters the plight of the refugees who have fled to Western Kurdistan.
"The PYD is, in its constitution and structure, a model for gender equality and the empowerment of women, as well as a model for countries in transition and developing new constitutions.
Margaret Owen OBE is a barrister and international human rights lawyer with a focus on women's rights and access to the justice system. Her particular focus is on the status of widows in developing countries and particularly those afflicted by armed conflict, civil wars and revolution. She is the founder and Director of the international NGO Widows for Peace through Democracy (WPD) and in that capacity regularly holds meetings at the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
She has travelled widely researching gender and human rights issues, and is also a Founding Member of GAPS -UK (Gender Action on Peace and Security), which works with the UK Government on developing National Action Plans to implement Security Council Resolutions addressing violence against women, sexual violence in conflict and post conflict.
For more than a decade Margaret has been intensely engaged in work to bring about a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issues in Turkey and elsewhere in the region. She has often visited Turkey to observe trials, to monitor elections, and to provide training to Kurdish women's associations on how to use the international human rights mechanisms, such as the Beijing Platform; CEDAW (UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women); other human rights treaties and conventions; and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. For several years she was Women's Rights Advisor to the KHRP (Kurdish Human Rights Project). She is a Patron of the Peace in Kurdistan Campaign and the campaign's adviser on Kurdish women's and children's human rights, and has co-authored reports to the European Parliament on women and girls in Kurdistan. She is well known as a writer, broadcaster, and activist on feminist issues both in the UK and globally.
She is a Cambridge University Graduate and also holds a degree in Social Sciences from the London School of Economics. She is a Member of the Bar of the Middle Temple, a Door Tenant at 9 Bedford Row, and a member of the UK Bar Human Rights Committee. She is also a founder member also of the UKNGOCSWALLIANCE, and a member of the NGO Liason group working with the government to prepare for the 58th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in March next year.


Do you believe in global climate change? Is it a serious threat to world health and peace foisted on us by a century and a half of greedy robber barons, or is it an emperor's-new-clothes fruit of left-wing self-hatred?
How about ADD? Is it an excuse for permissive parenting and for the overuse of electronic babysitters, or is it a genetic predisposition some children can do nothing about without medication?
Now let's stop, and let me ask another question. Answer honestly. Are you qualified to judge either of these issues?
Are any of my readers climate scientists with extensive knowledge of complex computer weather modeling—or even people who have enough scientific knowledge to follow those people's arguments?
Are any of my readers trained psychologists or counselors who have spent intense biblical and scientific study time trying to figure out the difference between culpable misbehavior and the fallout from physical injury?
My guess is that I would get no yeses for scientific qualification and a few for psychology/counseling (including a yes from my own wife on the second).
It's true that the experts will always disagree about important issues and that we all just have to do our best with the lights we have.
I'm not saying that science is so politically biased as to be entirely unreliable—though it would be naive to deny that science is an utterly objective pursuit of truth unalloyed with political concerns.
And there are educated people who make good-faith efforts to read responsible publications and reach informed decisions on these issues. But I wonder how many such people there are. I don't have time to be one right now myself on ADHD and climate change. And most of the people I hear get exercised about these issues don't seem to be reading responsible publications but instead seeking out news matching their ideological affiliation.
I recently heard Kevin Bauder say that not everyone is entitled to an opinion. Only those who have done their homework have that right. If Christians are to be "ready always to give a defense" of their hope (1 Pet 3:15), sometimes that will include taking a position on issues like the ones I'm discussing. But in order to do it "with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience," we need to do our homework. Learn what sources are rightfully considered responsible on any given issue and take the time to read them.


text:
Home / Feature / Long Way from Home: CFHS welcomes exchange student from Kosovo
Long Way from Home: CFHS welcomes exchange student from Kosovo
By Martha Hall on September 13, 2011
Rhydian Talbot/Staff Writer
Some students think it's a big deal to study at a college out of state. Alma Jashari set her bar a little higher and, for a year, is studying out of country.
Jashari, a native of Prishtinë, Kosovo, packed her bags and made her move to America mid August to become our high school's one and only foreign exchange student for the year, a rarity compared to the higher number of exchange students in years past. During her stay, she plans on playing a part in the Cedar Falls community by volunteering at Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army, along with enjoying some good ol' American traditions like camping, Thanksgiving dinner and cheering on the Panthers at UNI sporting events.
The opportunity to study abroad came through the Youth Exchange and Study program (YES), an international foreign relations program that was established after Sept. 11 in efforts to create mutual respect and understanding between the United States and students from predominantly Muslim countries.
In efforts to select the most qualified candidates, exchange hopefuls from a host of countries undergo a rigorous selection process that lasts several weeks. "I went through many group activities, interviews and three rounds of tests. There were about 700 students just from Kosovo in the process, and they narrowed it down to six finalists. It started in October, and in March I got a call that said I was finalist," Jashari said.
Students can be placed with YES host families throughout the United States, and Jashari had a few areas in mind that she hoped — and hoped not — to be placed. "I wanted to live either in California or Iowa. I have a cousin who lives in Des Moines, so I would've been OK living there. When I found out I was placed in Iowa, I just thought, 'Not a farm, please, not a farm,'" she laughed.
While some might not feel comfortable sharing their home and their life with a new student, senior Megan Hahn, a member of Jashari's host family, couldn't be happier. After hearing about the need for a host family in the community, she and her parents discussed the possibility of welcoming a new "family member" into their lives. "My mom wasn't sure at first because she was like, 'No, it's your senior year — shouldn't we be focusing on you?' But I really wanted this to happen."
Along with assimilating to a new family and new culture, students must also adjust to their host country's educational systems. Jashari noted the difference in standards between American and Kosovar school systems regarding foreign language. "In Kosovo, everyone can speak English because it is an international language. People should study foreign language earlier than they do here because it's so much easier to learn when you are a child." Kosovar law also requires students to attend nine years of elementary school, and from there, they must take admittance exams to be selected for high school.
New lessons will be learned both in and out of school as Jashari becomes accustomed to the American way of life, but the most important things Cedar Falls and high school students can teach her are rooted in the nation's moral values and core beliefs. America strives to accept other cultures and embrace the flavor they bring to the melting pot, and this call for unity among citizens serves as one of the principle purposes of YES.
"It's important for people in other countries to see our diversity and know that it is possible to live in harmony," Hahn said. "Hopefully they see that America is an amazing place full of good people, so when they go home they can say, 'No, those bad stereotypes [about Americans] aren't right.' It's a life-changing experience for both the student and the families."
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From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This recipe, developed at the Culinary Institute of America, caused me to change my mind about Manhattan clam chowder. I had, for years, scoffed at those who would order it as a soup of preference. I considered it to be nothing more than a vegetable soup into which a bunch of clams had been thrown. I needed to use the last of the canned clams with which I had been working and this recipe read well. I could find no reason not to make it, so I was off to the vegetable bin and chopping block and within an hour had a table ready meal. I was really surprised by how much I like this chowder. That just goes to show it doesn't pay to be a food snob. It would have been a shame not to have tried this. It will never replace its New England cousin but it is good enough to make into my rotation and it adds a bit of food lore to my collection as well. Did you know that legislators in Maine once tried to ban the use of tomatoes in chowder? While I suspect it must have been a slow legislative year, they swear its true. Come to think of it, I've never had Manhattan chowder in New England. Huh! While the CIA recipe, of course, used fresh clams, my exercise for these past few weeks has been to find ways to use the variety that comes in restaurant-sized cans. Two 51-ounce cans can be purchased at warehouse stores for around $12. That's enough clams to make four or five meals for an averaged sized family and that's a bargain by any standards. Here's the recipe.
1) Cook bacon in a soup pot over medium heat until crisp and browned, about 10 minutes.
2) Add leeks, onion, carrot, celery, pepper, and garlic. Cover pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes.
3) Add tomatoes, potatoes, clam juice, tomato juice, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a simmer and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add clams with their juices and simmer until the clams are cooked, about 5 to 10 minutes more.
4) Using a shallow, flat spoon, remove any fat from surface of chowder and discard. Remove bay leaf and season to taste with salt, pepper, and Tabasco. Serve in heated bowls. Yield: 8 servings.
Yum yum! I adore the clam, actually any seafood chowder! Yours looks awesome!
I have never had clam chowder, but more and more restaraunts are serving it.
I'm one of those Manhattan Clam Chowder lovers. I love the New England style, but this is still my favorite. I'm so glad you tried it, so that you can share the recipe. I'll definitely be making some very soon.
devo dire che questa zuppa ha un'aspetto veramente delizioso... con il freddo che c'è ora in Italia, è proprio adatta !!
Wat a beautiful looking clam chowder..yumm!
Absolutely love clams but have only made the New England chowder version. I know this is good and yours is more than tempting! And perfect for this cold, wet weather!
I'm having a soup rave right now!
I used to be a die-hard Boston clam chowder fan, but one I tried the Manhattan version, I have a hard time choosing a favorite!!
It's one of my favorite soups when done right - this recipe looks great! Thanks for sharing it Mary!
I adore Manhattan clam chowder - far more than the cream type - which I thought buried the flavors. I used to order it for lunch at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station. As a poor actress, it was filling, warming, delicious and cheap. I am saving this.
Mmm, what a delicious chowder! I love both Manhattan and New England versions and this one looks amazing!
Even though I live in Boston, I grew up in NJ and, therefore, was served both Manhattan and New England Clam Chowder. I have to say, I prefer the tomato base better than the cream. It's a heartier, more comforting (and less filling) soup.
And thanks for including my Fish Chowder on your list there!
Vegetable soups can have so many variations. I can't really imagine the taste of this one (I haven't had chowder in forever), but if it was enough to convince you, it must be something!
Interesting. I have always been a bit of a New England clam chowder snob myself, but this looks pretty easy so I might have to give it a go.
Nice recipe,Mary.I make a version of this sans bacon and clams with fish fillet and shrimp.
This looks delicious! I love clams.
I love clams in almost anything! This chowder looks really delicious!
I've never liked this version of clam chowder....I'm a white chowder fan. But if you say it's good, it must be!
I love clams but it's so hard to get hold of a large amount here. This sounds wonderful!
Gosh, finally, you can have something like this back home!


OpenStack Cloud Computing Software now can be considered as a standard Cloud Computing Software, all the major Linux distributions are slowly adopting for OpenStack Cloud integration. Some of these have integrated into their distro with OpenStack, while others have chosen to create a distribution of OpenStack independent, which runs on Linux and uses KVM hypervisor, this lead to a paid support for the technical support. There are various add-ons which must be integrated with OpenStack Cloud Software to make the cloud really usable and one of these is the storage. Like the fellow market of Red Hat and Canonical, SUSE also seems to favor the storage of objects distributed to OpenStack based Cloud Computing Platform. We published a video guide to get OpenStack Private Cloud with DevStack and Red Hat's approach to OpenStack Cloud Compute.
Other object storages have had to adopt the distributed architectures, but Ceph is distributed from the beginning as distributed. Ceph project was created by Sage Weil for his PhD thesis at the University of California and its development was initially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. The interesting thing about the Ceph object storage is that, one can stratify other layers above it, just as an user would run an application on top of an operating system. For example you can upload a file on Ceph distributed system, which is actually similar to the IBM GPFS, Red Hat Gluster or Oracle Lustre. The most important features of Ceph as with OpenStack Cloud software is, there are the block device and the gateway. The level comprising allows Ceph seems like a block storage and the gateway, Rados is a layer that emulates the controller of OpenStack Swift object storage, which is coupled with the Nova compute controller within OpenStack.
SUSE Cloud, the OpenStack distribution is created by SUSE Linux, which was launched in August as a preview based on the OpenStack Essex release, including with some features of Ceph and the cloud-based version of SUSE Folsom have to wait until next year to get matured. The collaboration with Inktank this year has been made to provide business support to Ceph, which aims to ensure that the companies who will build cloud infrastructure based on SUSE Cloud, will have the support for all the features.
As is the case in most of these support agreements, SUSE Linux is providing support for the first and second level, with Inktank that supporting layer 3.
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Cloud Security Tools checks the security in cloud environments, there are several tools available for free, users not necessarily have to buy expensive suites.
Cite this article as: Abhishek Ghosh, "OpenStack Cloud : Now is the Turn of SUSE Linux," in The Customize Windows, November 29, 2012, April 26, 2019, https://thecustomizewindows.com/2012/11/openstack-cloud-now-is-the-turn-of-suse-linux/.


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1) We will implement The Coldwell Banker Service Guarantee, our commitment to perform our promised services.
2) Detailed description and photos of your property will be sent to the local Multiple Listing Service, making them accessible by all real estate offices. Multiple photographs will be taken of your home to ensure the Buyer and Agents are able to view many appealing aspects of your property while in their office or home.
3) We will provide worldwide exposure of your home via the Internet (color pictures with vibrate descriptions worldwide in seconds!) through over 725 websites including Realtor.com, HAR.com, Move.com, ColdwellBanker.com and HomeGain.com and publish your property in local newspapers.
4) A Good Faith Estimate of the anticipated proceeds that you can expect will be prepared for you following any purchase offer.
5) We will seek qualifying information on all Buyers submitting a Purchase Offer and strive to show your home to only qualified Buyers.
6) We will develop a plan to enhance your property's ability to attract Buyers, both on-site and on-line.
7) Your home will be presented to our Corporate Relocation Department to ensure any and all incoming Buyers are aware of your home immediately. And our status as the sole Principal Designated Brokerage firm in Houston for Cartus Relocation (the national's largest relocation firm), assures us of the most current information of impending employee transfers to our area, from most of the largest Fortune 500 companies and our state/federal governments.


Tech Magiks (Tech Magic Innovative Products Private Limited) is a India's Fast-growing Technical & Virtual Products manufacturers, Traders and Suppliers, with own independent R & D team, It's next-gen digital technology gives a wonderful, unforgettable experience to the consumers, It is an ocean of creative and innovative products; Tech Magiks aims to produce user-friendly products and services at affordable prices.
To be the most trusted and valued manufacturer and supplier of Innovative, unique and best-in-class Technical products to both Indian as well as global clients and be the most creative and customer-centric company in the field of next-gen products..
It is our vision to become an internationally renowned production house serving different markets across the globe and create a niche in the consulting industry.
Our motto is to serve our client to their complete satisfaction, and partner with them in their growth. We aim at sustainability and reliability with our clients.
We will fulfil our vision by winning the trust of our customer by exceeding the expectation through offering innovative products and services every time.
Our organization is blessed with an efficient team of personnel who work with integrity and sincerity. We respect the human rights of our employees and provide them with all facilities. Their sincere involvement and concerted efforts on each specific assignment promotes our business towards the path of success. Our employees are facilitated with good, safe and healthy environment. Each team member is committed to their specific role. We also encourage our team to involve in planning, direction and fair appraisal of their work. These personnel are also encouraged to participate in the application of these ethics and values within the company.
We help optimize your overall performance by partnering with you to achieve your immediate and long-term objectives. Our approach is to have a systematic understanding of your business, its challenges and opportunities and suggest measures which would have a positive and long-lasting impact on the performance and growth of your enterprise. Innovative and unconventional thinking leads to unique solutions and seamless execution delivering quick and positive results.
We utilize our expertise in formulating a comprehensive business and financial strategy and find optimal solutions to suit your business requirements.
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A satellite company has been banned from broadcasting a Lebanese television station's programmes in France after it screened anti-Semitic material.
The Al-Manar station, seen as a mouthpiece of Hezbollah and denounced in the French parliament as an "apologist for terrorism", had breached a promise to obey French laws prohibiting racial abuse.
A giant ovarian cyst, the size of three watermelons and weighing 66lb, has been removed from a woman in Cincinatti, Ohio.
Grace Radtke, 40, weighed more than 300lb when she suddenly started losing weight without dieting.
Doctors said the tumour could have been growing inside her for five years.
China took a symbolic step up the development league table yesterday when the United Nations announced it would stop giving the country food aid next year.
"By the end of 2005…China will no longer need us," said James Morris, director of the UN's World Food Programme.
Makoto Igarashi, managing director of the Tokyo-based toy model maker Trane Co, rests his head on his company's "lap pillow". It is targeted at lonely hearts and party-goers, comes with a red or black skirt and costs a mere £45.


text:
Continued Unidentified Activity at Site of North Korea's Last Nuclear Test
By: Jack Liu and Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.
Recent commercial satellite imagery from August 4, 2016 shows continued activity at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, specifically at the North Portal, site of North Korea's fourth nuclear test conducted in January 2016. While supplies and/or equipment stacked on the ground south and southeast of the North Portal, as well as a small vehicle at the support building, visible in July are no longer present, a 6-meter by 9-meter net canopy has been erected immediately south of the support building. The canopy is not camouflaged, but does prevent accurate observation of the area it covers.
Figure 1. New net canopy erected at the North Portal.
Image © 2016 DigitalGlobe, Inc. All rights reserved. For media licensing options, please contact [email protected]
The purpose of this activity as well as of an object located on the tailings pile to the east of the North Portal is unclear. The resolution of the imagery is not sufficient to identify, but given the location, it may be a small vehicle or group of smaller objects such as mine ore carts.
Imagery also indicates very limited activity in other areas of the Punggye-ri test site.
An object, likely a small vehicle, is present on the south side of the main support building at the West Portal.
At the Main Support Area, a large truck is visible in the south courtyard. Additionally, supplies or crates are stacked in front of the greenhouse, which appears to be actively being tended.
The South Portal is almost completely obscured by clouds and no meaningful observations are possible.
Several groups of people and small vehicles observed on the road south of the test facility in July are no longer present although large sections of the road are obscured by the summer tree canopy.
A large truck, the purpose of which is unclear, is present in front of the main building in the Command Center area. A building east of the Command Center on the main road that appears to be for support of security forces has been externally completed.
Figure 2. Small vehicle or object present at West Portal.
Figure 3. Truck and supplies or crates visible at the Main Support Area.
Figure 4. Large truck present in Command Center area.
Figure 5. New building east of Command Center externally complete.
jack liu
joseph s bermudez jr.
main support area
nuclear test site
punggye
west portal
Sohae Satellite Launching Station: Upgrades and Expansion Efforts Continue to Progress
Peter Makowsky, Jack Liu and Olli Heinonen
Satellite Imagery, WMD


Art-making for me is about growth, communication, and engagement of the imagination. As a very introverted child, I drew a lot in order to make my quiet existence more stimulating. By creating my own little world in a work of art I could bring my fantasies into reality.
As my art has developed, I have continued to find that life is more interesting and hopeful when dreams are able to be turned into something real.


Augustine's dominant image for the human life is peregrinatio, which signifies at once a journey to the homeland (a pilgrimage) and the condition of exile from the homeland. For Augustine, all human beings are, in the earthly life, exiles from their true homeland: heaven. Only some become pilgrims seeking a way back to the heavenly homeland, a return mediated by the incarnate Christ. Becoming a pilgrim begins with attraction to beauty. The return journey therefore involves formation, both moral and aesthetic, in loving rightly. This image has occasioned a lot of angst in ethical thought in the last century or so. Augustine's vision of Christian life as a pilgrimage, his critics allege, casts a pall of groaning and longing over this life in favor of happiness in the next. Augustine's eschatological orientation robs the world of beauty and ethics of urgency. In Pilgrimage as Moral and Aesthetic Formation in Augustine's Thought, Sarah Stewart-Kroeker elaborates Augustine's understanding of moral and aesthetic formation via the pilgrimage image, which she argues reflects a Christological continuity between the earthly journey and the eschatological home that unites love of God and neighbor. From the human desire for beauty to the embodied practice of Christian sacraments, Stewart-Kroeker reveals the integrity of Augustine's vision of moral and aesthetic formation, which is essentially the ordering of love. This study develops an Augustinian account of the relationship between beauty and morality.
Sarah Stewart-Kroeker is Assistant Professor of Theological Ethics in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Geneva. Prior to this position, she received her PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary and held a research fellowship at the University of British Columbia.


text:
Lynch: Brooks Koepka isn't at the U.S. Open, but he's 'alive' … and not watching
MAMARONECK, N.Y. — When the final putt fell in last year's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, Brooks Koepka could claim to have lost to only one man in the 117th, 118th and 119th stagings of the championship combined. He will still be able to make that claim when he arrives for the 121st edition of the Open next summer at Torrey Pines.
The 2017 and '18 champion finished second to Gary Woodland in his bid for a three-peat in '19, but his shimmering run came to an abrupt end eight days before a shot was struck in '20.
"Unfortunately, I have decided to withdraw from next week's U.S. Open," he posted on Twitter September 8. "I'm looking forward to getting healthy and competing at 100% against very soon."
So while 144 of the world's best golfers battled the conditions and the cut line at Winged Foot, the guy who used to be the best was laid up closer to next year's venue in Southern California. Koepka is staying in a rented home in San Diego, where he is undergoing intensive rehab for knee and hip ailments. I texted the four-time major winner Friday morning, just as conditions were predictably toughening in the event that has defined his career.
Care to check-in, I asked?
"My check-in is that I'm alive," he quickly replied. "I don't want to take away from anything the players are doing this week."
This has been an atypical year in golf, and it's certainly an atypical U.S. Open Friday for Koepka, who is more accustomed to spending this day stalking leaderboards. Through 36 holes at Pebble Beach, he was five behind Woodland, and eventually finished three back in solo second. In 2018 at Shinnecock Hills, he was five back of Dustin Johnson and went on to win by one. A year before that he entered the weekend in a four-way tie for the lead at Erin Hills and cruised to a four-shot victory.
It's in keeping with 2020's dismal ledger that Koepka isn't competing at Winged Foot. But nor is he even watching.
Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Brooks Koepka kneels on the eighteenth tee during the second round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament at Sedgefield Country Club. Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Koepka texted that he didn't watch a single shot of the first-round action and only briefly checked the leaderboard late Thursday night. What might seem a surprising admission of disinterest is really in keeping with his competitive loner approach to his work. A lion who isn't hungry doesn't waste time watching others in the pride feasting. Which is not to say Koepka doesn't have an eye on his next meal.
In that curt statement announcing his WD from WF, Koepka offered no specifics and no timeline for a return. It was the latest setback in what has been a miserable year for the former world No. 1. He missed several months after reinjuring his knee in South Korea last October, returned just in time to see the PGA Tour go into lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, then had to withdraw from an early start back at the Travelers Championship when his caddie, Rickie Elliott, tested positive.
For a brief time however, the Koepka of old remerged as he finished T-2 in Memphis and played his way into contention at the PGA Championship at Harding Park. The old cage-rattling swagger was back too as he aimed for a third straight win. During a Saturday night TV interview he dropped a drone strike on his former friend Johnson, whom he trailed by two entering the final round, casting shade on DJ's meager major tally. In the end, neither man added to his total. Johnson recorded his fifth runner-up finish in a major while his antagonist slumped to a 74 and a T-29 finish.
When asked by Golfweek a few days later if he intended to reach out to Johnson, Koepka replied, "That's not something I'm planning on doing." Since then, he has been beset with injuries and missed the FedEx Cup playoffs, which Johnson won for the first time.
While Koepka rehabs on the West Coast, the 120th U.S. Open continues on the east. Few competitors at Winged Foot will mourn the absence of a man who is perhaps the most old-style U.S. Open player in the modern game, one of those cold-blooded competitors who would think twice before even giving an opponent a Heimlich. This championship was once synonymous with stoic, unflappable types who went about their business with cool detachment. The Hale Irwins, the Curtis Stranges, the Payne Stewarts. If Koepka was here, he'd expect to win and wouldn't be shy about saying so.
But he's on a couch in California. So whose name does he think will be etched just beneath his on the trophy Sunday night?
"My pick from the start was Xander [Schauffele]," he offered. "It should suit him very well." After rounds of 68-72, Schauffele is at even par and well-positioned entering the weekend.
So if he didn't watch the first round of the Open, and won't be watching the second, what is he doing outside of rehab treatments? Watching NBA playoffs, he confessed. "I'm really rooting for Penn National and DraftKings," he wrote, a sly nod to the bets he has riding on games. "Need a good day out of them!"
Otherwise, his time is spent with his girlfriend, Jena Sims, a couple of her friends and a collection of their pets. "Glorified dog sitter," he joked. "Add it to my resume."
Of course, this rehab is all about adding an entirely different honor to his resume, one that is bestowed 58 days from now when the Masters hands out a green jacket. He had one arm in it last year before finishing second to Tiger Woods. On this U.S. Open Friday, Koepka's only goal is to make it to the tee on Masters Thursday.
"All of this is for Augusta," he wrote.
2020 U.S. Open, Brooks Koepka, Eamon Lynch
Written by Eamon Lynch
View all posts by: Eamon Lynch


Q. How do I find information on business-related topics?
When the page loads, look in the top right corner and you should see 4 headers: Collections, Research, General Info, and Assistance.
When the page loads, look under "Research Guides" and select "Business."
Once you're in the database, notice the 3 search bars in the top left corner.
On the first line, type in your specific term(s).
For more information about business-related topics, the JFL has created a short video tutorial.


Electrode structures of polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) : an electron microscopy approach to the characterization of the electrode structure of polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
Advances in gallium oxonitride ceramics : a new class of materials in the system Ga-O-N.
In: Advanced engineering materials, 7 pp. 921-927.
This list was generated on Tue Apr 23 01:55:34 2019 CEST.


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The BPP is probably the world's most respected expertising organisation, with rigorous tests. Candidates are examined on such things as their ability to recognise repairs, re-gumming, printing method, etc as well as their ability to recognise forgeries. BPP experts are expected to hold extensive collections of genuine and forged material and to keep systematic records of their work as an expertiser. For an example of what a BPP expert's office looks like, see my Blog here of 30 April 2012.
One of Stefan's first tasks will be to revise the Michel catalogue listings for Armenia. About twenty years ago, Michel made the good decision to bases their listing on Christoper Zakiyan's archive - based researches.Unfortunately, someone made a mistake in translating Zakiyan's Russian text. Zakiyan found in the Archives an inventory of stamps remaining in the Yerevan post office when the Bolsheviks took power at the end of 1920 - beginning of 1921. But Michel thought it showed issue numbers and so gave very high pries to common stamps like the Dashnak 10 rouble surcharge on 35 kopek perforated stamp. See my Blog of 4 July 2010.
With Stefan Berger at BPP and a revised Michel a sound basis will be created for serious collecting of classic Armenia. At the moment, the collecting area suffers a great deal from ebay forgeries and bad catalogues - from Artar to Yvert with many in between.


text:
KangStem Biotech completes stem cell drug plant
"KangStem Biotech aims to become a leader in the global stem cell therapy market with the recent completion of a factory for a stem cell treatment."
So said CEO Lee Tae-hwa during a ceremony to celebrate the dedication of what he said was the world's largest-capacity plant to manufacture stem cell therapies, on Wednesday.
The new Stem Cell GMP Center is capable of producing five times more drugs compared to the previous facilities, the company said. The new plant, located at SK Techno Park in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, can annually manufacture 36,000 vials of Furestem-AD, an investigational stem cell therapy for atopic dermatitis.
An inside view of KangStem Biotech's Stem Cell GMP Center
Last year, KangStem Biotech poured 20 billion won into the expansion of the plant, and the construction began in November. Located at the sixth floor of SK Techno Park, the factory covers a 2,644-square meter area consisting of a core manufacturing facility, a test lab, and a storage room.
"The previous GMP facility could manufacture 5,000-6,000 vials a year. It used to produce test materials for clinical trials mainly. The newly established facility is the world's largest, in terms of manufacturing a stem cell drug," said Kang Kyung-sun, chairman of the board of KangStem Biotech.
The manufacturing area is where umbilical cord blood is injected. It consists of a secondary packaging room, sterilization rooms, and a storage room for frozen cells.
The quality control test lab has a central lab for analyzing the drug's potency and purity. Here, the drug's main ingredient umbilical cord blood is analyzed. Equipped with a sterile room for safety tests, the lab also performs microwave plasma testing, aseptic testing, and exotic virus testing. The storage facility saves raw materials and finished products. It has a 2-8 degrees refrigeration room and a minus 80 degrees freezer storage.
When umbilical cord blood enters the center, the mesenchymal stem cells are isolated, cultured, and frozen after cryopreservation. Raw materials can be stored for up to two years. These raw materials are thawed later and filled into injections.
KangStem Biotech said it aimed to obtain not only Korean GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) certification for the new factory but current GMP (cGMP) to enter the global market. To do so, the company is conducting a self GMP validation on the facilities and equipment. The company plans to seek local GMP and approval for Furestem-AD in the first quarter next year.
KangStem Biotech CEO Lee Tae-hwa (left) speaks during a press conference at the Stem Cell GMP Center in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday. At right is Senior Managing Director Ahn Byoung-woo.
Ahn Byoung-woo, senior managing director of the strategic planning division at KangStem Biotech, said quality control was a crucial factor for a biopharmaceutical firm.
"Having its manufacturing facilities and being able to control the production line steadily is fundamentally different from entrusting the production to a contract manufacturing organization (CMO)," Ahn said.
The company hopes to receive GMP certification next year and approval for Furestem-AD in late 2020 to produce the drug in earnest.


"There is a Flow which publishes on Twitter the name of every file that someone uploads into our document library, and I don't know where it is, who made it, and how I should delete it!".
It's Not an April Fool's Joke: Adis Jugo is our Chief Strategy Officer!
SysKit Monitor is one of the first products from SysKit. As such, it has been present on the market for many years now and it has served many happy users.


text:
Q: Fermat primes expressed in the form : $x^2+2\cdot y^2$ How to prove or disprove following statement :

Conjecture :
Fermat number , $F_n=2^{2^n}+1$ , $(n \geq 2)$ is a prime number iff exists a unique representation of
$F_n$ in the form : $x^2+2\cdot y^2$ , where $\gcd(x,y)=1$ , $x,y \geq 0$ .

Assertion :
For every Fermat number $F_n$ , $(n \geq 2)$ it is true that : $F_n \equiv 1 \pmod 8$ .
Theorem :
Odd prime $p$ is expressible as : $p=x^2+2\cdot y^2$ iff
$p \equiv 1 \pmod 8$ , or $p \equiv 3 \pmod 8$ .

So , it follows that every Fermat prime $F_n$ , $(n \geq 2)$ is expressible as :$F_n=x^2+2\cdot y^2$
Question : How to prove uniqueness of this representation ?

A: Based on tests on first $5$ Fermat numbers, I found the following simple identity:
$F_n=2^{2^{n}}+1=(2^{2^{n-1}}-1)^2+ 2 \times (2^{2^{n-2}})^2$.
Thus, take $x=(2^{2^{n-1}}-1)$ and $y=(2^{2^{n-2}})$ and you have $F_n=x^2+2y^2$.
Then I found out this is already known as a recurrence relation satisfied by Fermat numbers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat_number

A: The uniqueness follows because $R = \mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-2}]$ is a Euclidean domain whose only units are $\pm 1.$ As you correctly observe, no rational prime $p$ congruent to $1$ or $3$ (mod 8) remains prime in $R.$ Then there is a prime $z$ in $R$ such that $z \overline{z} = p,$ and the only other primes $w \in R$ with this property are $-z, \overline{z}$ and $-\overline{z}.$ Hence if $z = a + b \sqrt{-2}$ for rational integers $a$ and $b,$ then $p = a^2 + 2b^2$ is the unique expression of $p$ in the form required with $a$ and $b$ positive. The conjecture is true. If $q$ is any prime which divides $F_{n}$ for $n >1,$ then we certainly have $q \equiv 1$ (mod $8$). If $F_n$ is divisible by more than one rational prime, it is a easy matter to combine the corresponding primes from $R$ and their complex conjugates in different ways to produce more than one representation  of $F_n$ in the form $c^2 + 2d^2$ for rational integers $c$ and $d.$ If $F_n$ is a power higher than the first of a single rational prime, a similar argument can be applied.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Voodoo (2011-2012) #2
Voodoo (2011-2012)
Voodoo is on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of her pursuers, using all of her considerable assets to complete a mission that will put the entire Earth in danger.
Ron Marz
Sami Basri
Colored by:
Jessica Kholinne
Cover by:
Vol. 1: What Lies Beneath
Who is Voodoo? Is she hero, villain--or both? Learn the truth about Priscilla Kitaen as she leaves a trail of violence across America. Discover the DC Universe through her eyes, because the things she sees are not always what they seem. This series is rated Teen+.
Resurrection Man (2011-2012)
Resurrection Man can't stay dead for long--and he returns again in a new series! But his many returns have not gone unnoticed, and forces are gathering to learn what's so special about him and to see which of them will finally stop the Resurrection Man dead. This series is rated Teen+.
Blackhawks (2011-2012)
Welcome to a world waging a new kind of war that's faster and more brutal than ever before-fought by those who would make the innocent their targets. Between them and us stand the Blackhawks, an elite force of military specialists equipped with the latest in cutting-edge hardware and vehicles!
Grifter (2011-2013)
Former Special Ops agent Cole Cash is a charming grifter few can resist, but he's about to be branded a serial killer when he begins hunting and exterminating inhuman creatures hidden in human form--creatures hunting him as well!
DC Universe Presents (2011-2013)
A new series spotlighting some of the DC Universe's most exciting super heroes by some of comics' top creators. Will you explore the less-traveled corners of the DCU to visit Deadman's past, or Aqualad's future? Anything could happen here...and it probably will!


text:
package vicnode.daris.femur.upload;

import java.io.BufferedInputStream;
import java.io.BufferedOutputStream;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.OutputStream;
import java.util.zip.CRC32;
import java.util.zip.CheckedInputStream;
import java.util.zip.CheckedOutputStream;
import java.util.zip.ZipEntry;
import java.util.zip.ZipOutputStream;

public class ZipUtil {
    public static final int BUFFER_SIZE = 8192;

    public static long zipDir(File dir, File zip) throws Throwable {
        return zipDir(dir, new FileOutputStream(zip));
    }

    private static long zipDir(File dir, OutputStream output) throws Throwable {
        CheckedOutputStream cos = new CheckedOutputStream(
                new BufferedOutputStream(output), new CRC32());
        ZipOutputStream zos = new ZipOutputStream(cos);
        try {
            zip(dir.listFiles(), dir.getAbsolutePath(), zos);
            return cos.getChecksum().getValue();
        } finally {
            zos.close();
            cos.close();
        }
    }

    private static void zip(File[] files, String baseDir, ZipOutputStream zos)
            throws Throwable {
        byte buffer[] = new byte[BUFFER_SIZE];
        for (File f : files) {
            String name = f.getAbsolutePath();
            if (name.startsWith(baseDir)) {
                name = name.substring(baseDir.length());
            }
            if (name.startsWith(System.getProperty("file.separator"))) {
                name = name.substring(1);
            }
            if (f.isDirectory()) {
                zip(f.listFiles(), baseDir, zos);
            } else {
                if (name.endsWith(".DS_Store")) {
                    continue;
                }
                ZipEntry entry = new ZipEntry(name);
                entry.setSize(f.length());
                entry.setCrc(crc32(f));
                zos.putNextEntry(entry);
                BufferedInputStream is = new BufferedInputStream(
                        new FileInputStream(f), BUFFER_SIZE);
                int count;
                try {
                    while ((count = is.read(buffer, 0, BUFFER_SIZE)) != -1) {
                        zos.write(buffer, 0, count);
                    }
                } finally {
                    is.close();
                }
                zos.closeEntry();
            }
        }
    }

    public static long crc32(File f) throws Throwable {

        CheckedInputStream cis = new CheckedInputStream(
                new BufferedInputStream(new FileInputStream(f)), new CRC32());
        try {
            while (cis.read() != -1) {
            }
            return cis.getChecksum().getValue();
        } finally {
            cis.close();
        }
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Shivraj Rakshe, the man who felled Haryana heavyweights
125kg specialist breaks North's dominance in highest weight category
Updated At: Nov 25, 2021 07:42 AM (IST)
Shivraj Rakshe beat Haryana's Mohit 3-1 to win the 125kg category gold at the Nationals Championships.
Vinayak Padmadeo
New Delhi, November 24
Shivraj Kaluram Rakshe is a long way away from reaching Maruti Mane's status. After all, Rakshe has only started his journey in wrestling while Mane was a giant in his own right.
Mane won two medals at the 1962 Asian Games – gold in freestyle and silver in Greco-Roman in the 97kg weight class – and was the last from Maharashtra to represent India in the light-heavyweight category.Hind Kesari in 1964, Mane, who passed away in 2010, had been the flagbearer for wrestlers from Maharashtra in higher weight categories.
Maharashtra has produced internationals such as Kaka Pawar, Narsingh Yadav and Rahul Aware but the state's wrestlers have been failing miserably in higher weight classes.
Maharashtra's search for a top heavyweight ended at the National Championships early this month when 25-year-old Rakshe beat Haryana's Mohit 3-1 to win the 125kg category gold. In the semifinal he beat Rohit 10-0 by technical superiority. These back-to-back wins over two Haryana boys not only put him in the spotlight, it also earned him a ticket to represent India at the Commonwealth Championships, scheduled to be held in Pretoria from December 3 to 5. This would be the first time when Rakshe will don the India colours.In the midst of preparations at Antarashtriya Kusti Sankul, former India international Kaka Pawar's academy in Pune, Rakshe says he is looking forward to his debut. "I am very happy that I was able to do something about Kaka Pawarji's dreams of winning in heavyweight category. I did not know that no one from our state has represented in the heavyweight category for so long. Now focus is to win medals and I'm preparing accordingly," the 25-year-old told The Tribune."My ustadji (Gobind Pawar) had a big role in what I have achieved. I just hope this is the start for a wonderful journey for me," he added.Rakshe, who hails from Khed taluka near Pune, has been training at the academy for over a decade.
The only time he came anywhere near the national camp was way back in 2016 when a right knee ligament injury gave him a loss against Satywart Kadian. He was competing in the 97kg category then. It took him almost two years to recover from reconstruction surgery. Now he wants to make the most of his second chance.
Tough timesThough the bulk of his diet and supplement needs is taken care of, his earnings through dangals have stopped due to the Covid surge. It is a big hit for Rakshe, who is unemployed. "Money from dangals has stopped. It was handy for me. Thodi dikkat hoti hai per kya kar saktein hai (Things are tight but what can I do)," Rakshe said.
Rakshe's father Kaluram Rakshe was a keen wrestler but was forced to quit due to lack of funds. Now he runs a small farm where he cultivates millet and jowar, besides running a small dairy, and wants to realise his dreams through his son."I was left at the academy when I was very young. Despite being from a humble family, my father has always supported me. He dreams of seeing me fight at the Olympics and I will do everything to realise that," Rakshe said.


List Rules Vote up the funniest, most eye-roll worthy dog name puns!
Don't you love those dogs whose personalities just don't really seem to fit generic dog names like "Spot" or "Princess"? Perhaps you're even considering adopting a new dog who's as unique as you are and want to give your new buddy an epic name to match. If so, you've come to the right place. Here we've put together a collection of hilarious dog name puns to help you decide what to dub your new best friend.
They say that dogs tend to reflect the unique traits of their owners, so why not give your fur baby a name that celebrates your shared interests? If you've got a little buddy you love to snuggle up and read with, you're going to love some of the great literary pun names you'll find below. Or perhaps you're more the popular entertainment type and love listening to music or watching movies with your four-legged pal? If so, then you'll get a kick out of some of the funny dog name puns you'll find below that are derived from rappers, artists, and even talk show hosts. We've even got names for your favorite furry little trouble makers, based on famous bad boys like mobsters or pirates!
So whether you've just adopted a larger than life pooch or are just up for a great laugh, scroll down and let the funny dog related puns begin! Not only do we have some of the funniest, most eye-roll worthy dog puns around, we've even got adorable pups demonstrating the personality types each would fit perfectly!
Is this sort of funny?


Multiple myeloma medications - multiple myeloma emedicine - With a pair of myeloma, the machine's immune takes a critical hit. That makes it a lot harder to fight infections. So your immune device system is a focal point of many treatments. There are many different types of immune machine pills your doctor will not forget you. You need to get acquainted with what they do and how they paint. You can hear them known as the biological ones. They are treatments with medications that help your immune system manage your myeloma. They are made up of residents of the organisms. Some improve the machine's immune system to help the body fight the disease. Multiple myeloma medications - multiple myeloma emedicine - Others suppress to do the same things. Still greater break the cancer cells without delaying or reducing the side of the consequences of the different resources.
Those who help your immune system gadget factor and attack cancer cells. The three under the meds are taken in pill form. Your doctor may name them called immunomodulators or immune-modifying the capsules. Thalidomide (Thalomid) decreases blood to deliver to cancers. That becomes the first is used to treat myeloma in the Nineties. Before that, it was what changed in the USA as a sedative and medicinal nausea of drugs for pregnant girls until it became uncovered on the occasion of the delivery of the defects. Lenalidomide (Revlimid) developed to be a more potent form of thalidomide. This model has a lower number of results, however it is able to reason the numbness, rash, fatigue and thalidomide. Each drug brings a risk of shortness of breath or convulsions. Pomalidomide (Pomalyst) is the latest FDA-approved drug for multiple myeloma. It's like the others, above. The big difference is that this has been set to be more effective.
Each of the medications also has more of a side to the consequences your doctor will discuss with you.
Interferon: This drug stimulates the gadget's immune system and animates healthy cells for transport to most cell cancers to destroy them. It's a lot of injecting into the skin for three cases every week. You can feel the flu-like symptoms after it is given to you.
Monoclonal antibodies: those that are man-made. It's supposed to be paintings in some sort of goal.
Daratumumab (Darzalex) binds to multiple myeloma cells. Going to kill them and sign their immune system gadget to attack them. You get this remedy if others haven't worked. You can have a few hours ' response after the drug.
Scientific essays: There are a couple of developing biological products. You can ask your health professional about becoming a member of a medical trial, so that you can try. Encompassing them: Adoptive T-cell transfer, which uses the body of T cells (white blood cells that help combat the disorder) to destroy the cancer. Vaccines, which could function as an extra common for jump vaccines-will start the device's immune system for assaulting cancer cells.


It has been awhile! The holidays are just around the corner so I thought I would provide you something super sweet to try. And it is extra boozy in case you need to self-medicate while spending quality time with the fam or while watching your favorite team lose. I will be with someone else's family which is certainly less stressful. In fact, it is incredibly entertaining! I hope you have some fun plans.
I found this pairing's candy at Candy Village, a store in a local mall. Unlike my August splurge in Indianapolis, this was a fairly reserved grab bag. I bought a variety of chocolates filled with delectables. I however screwed up the purchase so instead of a champagne filled chocolate I got an espresso bean one. Oh well!
For this pairing, I picked up a Layer Cake Garnacha. Layer Cake has a distinct chocolate flavor and their reds are incredibly rich. Instead of doing opposites, I wanted to draw like-to-like to change my typical approach. Since every chocolate was different, I had to be able to at least match one flavor note from the wine to the chocolate….and so I went with chocolate.
As predicted, the chocolate note comes surging through on the first sip and then smoothes out into a raspberry tang. It is slightly unexpected and almost like biting into a fruit filled chocolate. I love Layer Cake for this experience. It is a fairly affordable wine that truly is its own meal.
The chocolate has a firm crunchy shell (and I didn't even freeze them!) and has little flavor. The liquor is more sweet than sharp. When the wine and liquor filling meet, the wine is very unhappy and sour. But if you sip after you eat the chocolate, it is a double berry delight. Yum.
The shell is again fairly flavorless and crunchy. The pure rum is rum alright and I prefer it over the blackberry. But when the rum and liquor meet the wine goes sour. Sipping after eating the chocolate didn't add anything either.
This was my favorite pair. There is a slight minor throw of flavor when the wine hits the coffee bean but it is mostly pleasant. After eating the chocolate, the coffee-chocolate flavors layer nicely with the wine.
Well the espresso bean bought on accident edited up being the star player! I will have to return to try more of the offerings though honestly the chocolates weren't that great. Next pair will return to this blogs pure, candy roots!
Posted in Garnacha and tagged Espresso, Layer Cake, Wine. Bookmark the permalink.
Yes, I didn't make a Halloween post which is a bit terrible. Or is it? Because I seem to see quite a few wannabes around Halloween touting supposed candy-pairing knowledge. I guess I felt a bit disgruntled and frankly, I didn't want to look so unoriginal. I do this year 'round so hmph. Anyway, thanks for being my loyal followers.
Annnnd you might just question that loyalty with this pair! Blech. Blech. Blech. So who wants to get negative? Getting negative is one of my best traits, so lets hop to it!
I picked the wine first. I only have gummy candy to choose from at the moment (besides some chocolate I'm saving for a later post), so I chose the red because that is my new obsession. Ever since my red-wine gummy breakthrough, I go for the red.
Out of all my choices, I got the Apple O's because I imagined their sweet-tartness balancing out the granacha. In my experience, a granacha is not too fruity or sweet, so I did not think the candy would throw the flavors.
I did not like this wine. The tannins overpower the taste buds and only the most bitter flavor notes survive (for example, an unripe blackberry…not tasty). It was like biting into something not quite ripe, like an apple that was picked too soon. My lips puckered and not in a good way. Dear manufacturers of this wine: pump the breaks on the tannins. Pump. The. Breaks.
If we want to be technical, this pairing was good. But we are being negative! The candy mellowed out the tannins and made the wine much smoother to drink. But the candy needs to be in your mouth to help. If you swallow the candy then boom, tannins. Too many tannins. And ultimately, I don't want to help the wines I pair….I want to enhance an already great wine! This isn't a buddy I am helping out with math homework. I don't owe this wine any favors! Anyway…this is getting too personal.
I am going to put a little more thought into these pairs. I have this wine subscription, but I am relying too much on the wines I get through that. Instead of the exploration and the puzzle, I just grab a wine from my subscription and one of my many candies I keep around and meh….that's not as fun! This blog and I need to go back to the early years and relearn what we loved about each other.
This got too personal again.


text:
Home | Film Review: Dark Night Of The Scarecrow (1981)
Film Review: Dark Night Of The Scarecrow (1981)
Angel Van Croft 05/08/2015	Uncategorized
In a small town, a wrongfully killed man exacts revenge on those who murdered him beyond the grave.
Director – Frank De Felitta
Starring – Charles Durning, Robert F. Lyons, Claude Earl Jones, Larry Drake
The year was 1981 and on CBS a made for television movie debuted in the spooky month of October. Who would have thought that all of these years later, when it finally got the DVD (and bluray1!) release it so richly deserved, it would become a cult classic and one of those movies that would fall into the category of "they just don't make 'em like they used to."
Before the DVD release and before I was able to snag a VHS copy from a mom and pop's video store that was closing down, the only way to see this was on television, I believe only on TBS but it might have aired elsewhere. For years there was a cry for it to be put out on DVD and then finally, on September 28, 2010, it was. I promptly picked it up and now it sits as a proud addition to my personal horror movie collection.
At its heart this is a ghostly revenge movie and oh, what sweet and poetic revenge it is. Bubba Ritter is a mentally challenged thirty-six year old who has the mind of a child. He's big but has a sweet heart and mind. Afternoons are spent playing with Marylee, a young girl whom he has befriended. Not everyone, however, agrees with this.
Most notably one Otis P. Hazelrigg (played by the one and only Charles Durning), the postman in this small town. He's just waiting for the day when "something" happens to poor Marylee and then he'll have the excuse he needs to wipe this "blight" from the face of the earth.
He doesn't have to wait long. Word quickly spreads that Bubba has killed her and a manhunt is underway. Otis decides he's going to do things his way and rounds up three of his buddies with perhaps the greatest names in movie history: Skeeter Norris, Philby, and Harless Hocker. If those don't scream small town vigilantes I don't know what does.
They find Bubba hiding out in a field dressed as a scarecrow and without further ado pump him full of lead. But word comes over the radio that they may have acted too fast. Seems Bubba was a hero and saved the girl from a vicious dog attack. Oops.
And when the justice system fails and Bubba's mom screams out, "there's other justice in this world, besides the law," you know things will be set right. This is a horror movie after all.
Dark Night Of The Scarecrow is a well made movie with great acting, directing, and plenty of spooky atmosphere. Due to it being made for television the blood is almost non-existent but frankly none is needed in a tale such as this. I would also be remiss not to mention the mask of the scarecrow, very creepy.
Charles Durning as Otis P. Hazelrigg (love that name) absolutely dominates the screen. I love every scene he's in, which is most of the film. Everyone else is just as amazing and you'll recognize some of them. I really love Lane Smith as Harless Hocker and for those with a keen eye you'll remember him as the prosecutor in My Cousin Vinny. Tonya Crowe, who plays Marylee, was even nominated for a Young Artist Award for her role.
There are also some funny moments in this as well, even if they are unintentional. Look for the reaction in the courtroom of Philby when the case is dismissed. One of my favorite parts of the film but if you blink you might miss it.
Try and see this, especially if you like the ghostly revenge subgenre, for it doesn't get much better than this for that category. Some will even think about buying and I couldn't agree more. I can't tell you how happy I was when word got out that it was coming to DVD. A classic that deserves all of the praise it gets.
Dark Night Of The Scarecrow (1981)
Dark Night Of The Scarecrow is now available on bluray per VCI entertainment
BD | 1 DISC | 96 minutes | 1981 | Color | Not Rated | English language | English & Spanish Subtitles subtitles | 1.33:1 / 16×9 Pillar Boxed | PCM 2.0 & PCM 5.1 | NTSC/All Region
Director & Writer Commentary
Original World Premiere Trailer
English & Spanish Subtitles
Rebroadcast Trailer
World Premiere Promo
Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery
"Bubba Didn't Do it: 30 Years of the Scarecrow" – Directed by Daniel Griffith and Produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures
"DNOTS Cast Reunion Q & A" – Recorded at the 2011 Frightfest Film Festival in Louisville, KY
Tags 1981 Charles Durning Claude Earl Jones Dark Night of the Scarecrow Frank De Felitta Jocelyn Brando Larry Drake Robert F. Lyons Scarecrow Scarecrows Tonya Crowe
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Dark Night of the Scarecrow Soundtrack Release
The Secrets of Emily Blair (2016)
Film Review: The House by the Cemetery (1981)
Top 10 Super Villains We'd Like to See in a Horror Film
Film Review: Deadly Blessing (1981)
Who really was the scarecrow person?


That's a text message that greeted me the morning of Jan. 1. I was excited to see "Happy New Year" but saddened by the second sentence. It really got me thinking about the sender's mindset.
Any year has its share of ups and downs. But we can't play the role of victim. A new year gives us an opportunity to start fresh. And that is directly related to the scarcity vs. abundance mindset. In the scarcity mindset, you're operating from a needy place where you're constantly concerned that there will never be "enough." With the abundance mindset, you see the potential to move beyond present circumstances. You have hope in a brighter future. (For related articles, see John Maxwell's tips or The Simple Dollar's explanation).
Operating with an abundance mindset also ties into goal-setting. You've likely heard of SMART goals — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Familiarity is one thing, but application may be harder. If you're serious about reaching your goals in 2018, there are two new books I'd recommend: Finish, by Jon Acuff, and Your Best Year Ever, by Michael Hyatt. Although they follow a similar theme, their approach and writing styles differ tremendously. Acuff adds humor, plenty of practical examples, and research-backed evidence. Hyatt took his popular "Best Year Ever" e-course and converted it to a book, offering a structured five-step plan to achieving important goals. He even includes a life assessment tool for progress checks.
The main premise of Acuff's book is that we need to beat perfectionism to truly finish. Perfectionism shows up the day after we get started and then rears its ugly head again when we're close to finishing. We need to make goals fun; if you don't enjoy running, don't set a goal to run a marathon this year. To avoid shiny-object syndrome, Acuff also encourages you to focus on one goal at a time rather than trying to work simultaneously on several different goals.
Hyatt encourages you to have eight to 10 annual goals, spread among interrelated life domains. For instance, if your marriage is already solid, it may be easier to cultivate a stronger relationship with your co-workers. Michael Hyatt also discusses the importance of setting both habit and achievement goals. If your achievement goal is to read 30 books by Dec. 31, your habit goal may be to read 30 minutes nightly, beginning today. Finally, Hyatt challenges you to uncover your "why" behind the goals; in other words, connect with your key motivations and identify potential stumbling blocks.
Since I'm all about practical application, let's walk through an example. Suppose you want to increase your financial net worth by $50,000 in 2018. Below are some of the principles you may want to follow.
1. Believe the Possibility. Start with an abundance mindset and identify self-limiting beliefs that may have held you back in the past. Consider developing a simple mantra that you repeat verbally each day, such as "I am worthy of a bright financial future." Even if you've struggled with debt in the past, don't let that hold you back from achieving this goal.
2. Design Your Future. Work through the SMART framework, establishing both achievement and habit goals. Your achievement goal is to increase your financial net worth by $50,000 by Dec. 31, 2018. Perhaps one habit goal is to contribute $1,541.67 monthly to your 401(k) plan, for a total of $18,500 (the maximum employee contribution in 2018) and $2,500 monthly to your emergency fund. The final $1,500 of your big $50,000 goal could be accomplished through market appreciation or an employer 401(k) contribution.
4. Cut the Goal in Half. Maybe $50,000 truly is out of reach. Would cutting the goal in half, to $25,000, make the difference between achieving your goal and letting it disintegrate? The beauty of goals is that they can be revised. You don't want to be like 92% of people whose New Year's resolutions fail within a matter of weeks.
5. Use Data to Celebrate Progress. Know ahead of time what rewards you will use to celebrate small wins. Make those incentives meaningful to you, and find a tracking tool to monitor progress. My clients have access to an online portal that shows all investment accounts, but a simple Excel fie that you manually update monthly could work, too.
As a fee-only financial planner, my only compensation comes directly from clients. I don't earn any commission from recommending books or other products. In fact, I recently purchased a few copies of the books as a welcome gift for new WorthyNest clients.
In closing: What is one 2018 goal you have that scares you a little bit? Please post your comments on my blog.


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Mount Mitchell (Aboriginal: Cooyinnirra), is a twin-peaked volcanic mountain with an elevation above sea level of , located in the Main Range, is about  west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and immediately south of Cunninghams Gap.

Features and history
The peak to the south of the gap was named by Allan Cunningham in 1828 and today is part of the Main Range National Park. Cunningham named the mountain after the Surveyor-General, Thomas Mitchell.

To the north of Cunninghams Gap is Mount Cordeaux, while Spicers Peak is located a small distance to the south east.

A trail, classified as grade 4, winds  up to the main summit which offers some great views. From the peak on a clear day the tallest buildings in Brisbane can be seen, as can the D'Aguilar Range, Teviot Range, Fassifern Valley and many other parts of the Scenic Rim.  At the top of mountain there are sheer cliff edges.

Gallery

See also

List of mountains of Australia

References

Mitchell
Main Range National Park
Scenic Rim Region

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


All rates net-net incl. VAT, excl. tourist tax (CHF4 per person/ night) and BaselCard.
For a couple, or two friends Basel Backpack offers deluxe double rooms equiped with their own spacious bathroom. The stylish rooms have hardwood floors and a sound system.
All taxes and fees, fresh bed linen and towels, free WiFi-internet and the Basel Mobility Ticket are included in the room rates.


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Tomasino reflects on World Junior experience from Nashville
hockey canada oshawa generals Philip Tomasino world juniors
From niagaraicedogs.net.
Enjoying a few days of rest in Nashville, Phil Tomasino is in quarantine preparing to join the Predators to start the 2020-21 National Hockey League season. We caught up with the IceDogs Alum to reflect on the 52 days he spent with Hockey Canada's World Junior team as he gears up to take the ice with the Preds.
Unlike the World Junior Championship preparation in years past, the Canadian team was together for over a month and a half. Despite the setbacks experienced through two different quarantine periods, the team took it as an opportunity to bond together.
"It was different. Obviously, we had to go through a lot of adversity with the quarantine periods, but we made the most of it and had as much fun as we could."
During the day, when Tomasino wasn't at the rink for practice or team meetings, he could be found in the team lounge playing cornhole and ping pong or playing video games on his Xbox, which he brought from home in Mississauga. In the evenings, Hockey Canada organized team activities, like poker games, paint nights with Bob Ross or video calls with Canadian guest speakers, including a chat with Max Kerman from The Arkells and Brett Kissel.
SPECIAL GUEST | @arkellsmusic frontman @Max_Kerman made the #WorldJuniors players part of his birthday Monday night — joining the team over video call to share words of wisdom.
Thanks, Max! ??? pic.twitter.com/KdC9Pkh1za
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) December 1, 2020
The team got the opportunity to talk with Max before he played a small concert of songs, which included Relentless, the song featured in IceDogs' 2019-20 regular season hype video.
With as much time as the Canadian team spent physically apart in Red Deer and the early days in Edmonton, they used the opportunity to bond. "During that time, we really came together as a group."
In times as unique as these, something remained the same for Tomasino. Despite the distance between them, he was able to talk to his family, Manny and Shannon (parents) and Isabella (sister), several times a day and after each game.
"With them not being in Edmonton, and only have the chance to watch the games on TV, I would still call them after games like I normally would," he said. "They've always supported me, and they've always been there for me, so with the extra free time, I talked to them a couple of times per day. We're a close family, so it was nice to be able to talk to them often."
Before the tournament, each family was provided with a care package of jerseys, Canada accessories to feel closer to the games from home. Shannon made national headlines with a pair of socks gifted to her before Canada's 3-0 quarterfinal win against the Czechs.
Show this to a hockey mom who needs a pair of @ShannonTomasino's game day socks. ?#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/OvVhtFX8BU
— #WorldJuniors (@HC_WJC) January 2, 2021
When asked if there were any particular players that he grew especially close to, Tomasino couldn't pinpoint just one player. Despite having experiences playing with several of his teammates in the past, there was not just one particular guy he was closest to.
"I think everyone was so close with each other that I can't say just one guy. We were always together. The whole group was really close and really connected."
The closeness of the team showed on the ice. When one player scored, it was as though the entire team was on the ice celebrating. By the end of the tournament, Canada had outscored its opponents 41-6. A significant goal margin like that happens when a team comes together to play for each other.
From the outset of camp, or even earlier in the Program of Excellence process, Hockey Canada instils the mindset of accepting the role you were given. Although Tomasino would typically be found on any other team's top line, so would any other forward on Team Canada. Accepting a bottom six-forward role wasn't to be seen as a demotion of any kind but rather a testament to how talented the team was.
"I think Hockey Canada stresses the importance of accepting your role from the time you start with the U17's until World Juniors," he said. "So, I think it's always been our mindset ever since the summer camp in August, right up until the end of the tournament last week. Our motto was to accept your role.
"I'm used to being a top-six guy on my regular team, so it was different, but I think I performed pretty well. Especially our bottom-six forwards, we not only accepted our roles, but we did extra things to help our team win. We all bought in and pushed to be better. That's what, I believe, really made our team so special. It's always an honour to represent your country."
Accepting and adapting to a new role, while important to team success, can be easier said than done. For Tomasino, this became especially important early, before the tournament started. As IceDogs fans, and Canadians alike, know, it's not about how many minutes you play; it's about what you do with those minutes. There was no one better to reiterate that to Tomasino than former IceDogs captain Akil Thomas.
"I didn't really talk to a lot of people throughout the camp or tournament, but I talked to Akil before the exhibition game when I was scratched, against Russia. He had been through this tournament before, and he has been a great friend and mentor for me in the OHL. I figured I might as well give him a shout. I think the most important thing he told me was to take advantage of the opportunity like he did last year, that regardless of how much ice time you get to take advantage of the opportunity and do anything you can to help the team win. I think I did that. I think I played really well and that I took advantage of my opportunities."
"Akil told me 'don't get too caught up in it, you're going to get your opportunity, and when you do, you have to try to make the most of it.'" This is a mentality Tomasino will bring forward with him in his career.
As his time in quarantine comes to an end, Tomasino plans to carry the learning experiences he's gained from the World Juniors tournament into his next opportunity with the Predators. "I think it's a huge learning experience. It was nice to get back into game shape. Maybe I have a bit more game experience than a lot of guys here, so I want to use that to my advantage. I want to stick to playing my game. I feel like I can play in the NHL this season."
"As long as I stick to my game and play with confidence, I believe I can compete here."


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Q: Graphics3D: the box vertices do not coincide with triangle I have drawn a triangle using Line graphics primitive and Graphics3D function:
 Graphics3D[Line[{{1, 0, 0}, {0, 1, 0}, {0, 0, 1}, {1, 0, 0}}],
 Axes -> False, Boxed -> True, AspectRatio -> 1]

But in the shape I get, the vertices of triangle do not coincide with the vertices of the box, how can I solve this problem?

A: The comment is right, but here is a thought. If you'd like a cube you should use Cuboid and leave the 3D box for the role it plays - to put things in a better 3D perspective (if needed). Then you precisely control all coordinates. You could try something like
Graphics3D[{
  {Red, Opacity[.7], Polygon[{{1, 0, 0}, {0, 1, 0}, {0, 0, 1}}]},
  {Opacity[.2], Cuboid[{0, 1, 0}, {1, 0, 1}]}
  }, Axes -> False, Boxed -> False, AspectRatio -> 1]

A: As noted by xslittlegrass you can get coincident vertices by instructing Graphics3D not to use padding of the plot range, by using PlotRangePadding -> 0.
AspectRatio controls the two dimensional image aspect ratio rather the proportions of the three dimensional rendering which is what I expect you intended; for that use BoxRatios.
Specifying Boxed -> True should (by default) produce a graph without axis lines shown, therefore the Axes -> False option is redundant.
Graphics3D[
 Line[Tuples[{0, 1}, 3][[{5, 3, 2, 5}]]],
 Boxed -> True,
 PlotRangePadding -> 0
]


Bean Appetit by Shannon Payette Seip, Kelly Parthen, and Carisa Dixon is a captivating cookbook for children. Its goal is to get kids excited about healthy eating. It certainly did just that for my daughter who couldn't wait to try out several of these recipes.
The chapters cover topics such as: breakfast, snacks, going to the market, outdoor eating, food art, cooking-themed birthday party, winter food, summer food, international food, tea party, and book-themed food. There are activities and games interspersed with the recipes, making for a very fun book.
We tried the Stick Stacks and the Stack 'N' Sip -- both were much enjoyed by my children (not to mention me!).
Make 3 different colored smoothies. Pour one color in the bottom of a glass. Layer the second smoothie on top. Add a top layer using the final smoothie. It's a triple-decker drink!
Note: We used blueberry, banana, and strawberry smoothies.
Chant "Pancakes! Pancakes!" as you combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, flax meal, and cinnamon.
Combine the eggs and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Add the butter and milk. Slowly add the egg mixture to the flour mixture. Stir until smooth. Chill in the freezer for 5 minutes.
Preheat a griddle to low. Lightly spray the griddle with nonstick spray. Ladle the pancake mixture onto the griddle to make 2-inch mini pancakes.
When the pancakes start to bubble lightly and the edges turn golden brown, flip them over. all the bitty bakers should flip around the kitchen, as if they were just flipped with a spatula. Cook on the other side for 1 to 2 more minutes, until the pancakes come off the griddle easily with a spatula.
Layer the pancakes and fruit on the skewers. Dip in maple syrup and eat one layer at a time.
Makes 12 to 14 mini pancakes.
These look scrumption and fun! I just received this cookbook as a gift, and our family LOVES it. Just made the "bug bites" for lunch yesterday. Thanks for sharing!
looks really yummy. I need to think of some inspiring baby food ideas to get John get out of the "sweet tooth" phase.


Pan American Motors is located at the address 811 Burlington Ave in Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. They can be contacted via phone at (301) 585-1510 for pricing, hours and directions.
For maps and directions to Pan American Motors view the map to the right. For reviews of Pan American Motors see below.


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Ultra HD Blu-ray Movie Reviews
Chris Chiarella | Mar 4, 2022
When you're all-in with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you take the good with the bad, and Jack Kirby's lesser-known 1970s comic book has yielded the latter. With Eternals, we are introduced to a diverse team of never-aging otherworldly protectors, each with a different superpower, who are tasked with defending humanity from some nasty creatures. These heroes have been here for millennia, blending into various civilizations throughout history, and their work is done…or is it? The story picks up after the Avengers: Endgame snap. Some mysterious events are unfolding as an unintended consequence, so they need to get the band back together for their biggest challenge yet. Ten members are a lot of characters to meet, and it results in a two-and-a-half-hour-plus runtime that can feel like, well, an eternity. None of these folks are particularly charismatic, and the action sequences are rather repetitive—mostly CGI beasties being punched or zapped into submission, with a few variations here and there.
The bigger your TV, the better, as the scale of the movie is tremendous, particularly the mighty Celestials, next to which a five- or six-foot person appears as a mere speck. The 2.39:1, native 4K image has a welcome subtlety and stability, and it does wonders for the beauty of the cinematography and the production design. Interesting lighting choices give Eternals a distinctive look, such as daylight under the canopy of trees in the Amazon rainforest, with some effective HDR10 highlights in the glowing eyes of an enemy. Shadow detail is decent on Ultra HD Blu-ray and demonstrably superior to the crushed blacks on the included regular HD disc. It's worth noting that the Disney+ streaming version offers Dolby Vision and an "IMAX Enhanced" option that shifts the aspect ratio to a roomier 1.90:1 for select scenes.
The Dolby Atmos soundtrack offers some enjoyable moments supporting extreme weather and sharp directionality for the speedster of the group. LFE is somewhat timid, but it combines well with surround effects during the team's frequent energy blasts. The booming, inescapable voice of Arishem, the Prime Celestial, also adds a touch of menace.
No extras are provided on the 4K disc, while the HD platter serves up deleted scenes, bloopers, and a couple of typical Marvel featurettes in addition to an audio commentary from director/co-writer Chloé Zhao (Oscar winner for Nomadland) and her VFX supervisors. It's one of those seemingly free-form tracks that covers a bit of everything and not just the topics we'd expect.
Ultra HD Blu-ray
Studio: Walt Disney, 2021
HDR Format: HDR10
Audio Format: Dolby Atmos with TrueHD 7.1 core
Length: 157 mins.
Director: Chloé Zhao
Starring: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh
Taking the "good" with the "bad"
Submitted by Old Ben on March 7, 2022 - 8:32am
I am definitely all in on the Marvel universe. I don't think any of the films are truly bad. Rather, the really excellent ones highlight how not excellent the others can be. That being said, I feel like even the mediocre movies are pretty good when viewed as part of the whole of the MCU. I did enjoy the Eternals but also do agree that it wasn't among the best of the MCU. However, I will withhold final judgment until I see how it fits in with subsequent movies that are yet to come.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Director's Edition 4K
Apocalypse Now Final Cut
The Doors: The Final Cut


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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses supporters at a Liberal Party fundraiser in Surrey, B.C., on Sept. 4, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)
West Seen Planning Bigger Footprint in Pacific to Counter China's Influence
Iran Moves Missiles to Iraq in Warning to Enemies
Trump Promises Mutually Beneficial Trade Deals in Meeting With Kenyan President
Trudeau says he won't use 'tricks' to ram through pipeline construction
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is pouring cold water on Alberta's suggestion that the federal government use legislation or a court appeal to get construction started quickly on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
In a Sept. 5 interview on Edmonton radio station CHED, Trudeau said using "tricks" such as a new law or the Constitution's notwithstanding clause would create further legal fights down the road.
The Federal Court of Appeal last week reversed a cabinet decision to allow Trans Mountain construction to go ahead.
The prime minister was in Edmonton to meet with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who has pulled her government from the national climate plan until there's a fix.
Archeologists aim to uncover more secrets of Franklin expedition
Canadian archeologists are set to spend two weeks exploring the wreck of HMS Erebus to uncover even more secrets from the ill-fated Franklin expedition.
The ship, along with HMS Terror, disappeared during an exploration through the Arctic in 1846, leaving the fate of captain Sir John Franklin and his crew a mystery for more than 150 years.
Inuit guides helped Parks Canada archeologists find the Erebus in 2014, and the Terror was found two years later about 100 kilometres away.
Underwater archeologists are aiming to recover artifacts from the Erebus's living quarters, possibly including Franklin's cabin.
New concussion guidelines could change practices worldwide
A University of Calgary researcher says new concussion guidelines in the United States could change care for all children with mild traumatic brain injuries.
The guidelines, initiated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include recommendations on the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of mild concussions in children.
Keith Yeates, who runs the Integrated Concussion Research Program at the University of Calgary and co-authored the report, said they will better help doctors deal with the cases.
Deal reached on broken rail line to Churchill
A deal has been reached to sell and repair a broken rail line that is the only land link for the northern Manitoba town of Churchill.
The community on Hudson Bay has been isolated since spring flooding in 2017 damaged the line and forced fuel and food to be flown in at skyrocketing costs.
The town said the deal includes the sale of the Hudson Bay Railway, the Port of Churchill, and the Churchill Marine Tank Farm.
A news release from the federal government said the assets have been purchased by the Arctic Gateway Group, a private-public partnership of Missinippi Rail Limited Partnership, Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings, and AGT Limited Partnership.
It said they are fully committed to the restoration of the Hudson Bay rail line.
With files from The Canadian Press
Categories: Canada World


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Syria's civil war explained from the beginning
In March, the Syrian conflict will enter its 8th year.
Meanwhile, more than 465,000 Syrians have been killed in the fighting, over a million injured, and over 12 million - half the country's prewar population - have been displaced from their homes.
Here is the story of the conflict in Syria, explained from the beginning:
What caused the uprising?
While lack of freedoms and economic woes fuelled resentment of the Syrian government, the harsh crackdown on protesters inflamed public anger.
Arab Spring: In 2011, successful uprisings - that became known as the Arab Spring - toppled Tunisia's and Egypt's presidents. This gave hope to Syrian pro-democracy activists.
That March, peaceful protests erupted in Syria as well, after 15 boys were detained and tortured for writing graffiti in support of the Arab Spring. One of the boys, a 13-year-old, was killed after having been brutally tortured.
The Syrian government, led by President Bashar al-Assad, responded to the protests by killing hundreds of demonstrators and imprisoning many more.
Free Syrian Army: In July 2011, defectors from the military announced the formation of the Free Syrian Army, a rebel group aiming to overthrow the government, and Syria began to slide into civil war.
While the protests in 2011 were mostly non-sectarian, the armed conflict surfaced starker sectarian divisions. Most Syrians are Sunni Muslims, but Syria's security establishment has long been dominated by members of the Alawi sect, of which al-Assad is a member.
In 1982, Bashar's father ordered a military crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood in Hama, killing tens of thousands of people and flattening much of the city.
Even global warming is said to have played a role in sparking the 2011 uprising. Severe drought plagued Syria from 2007-10, causing as many as 1.5 million people to migrate from the countryside into cities, exacerbating poverty and social unrest.
AL JAZEERA WORLD: Syria - The Roots of Tyranny (47:31)
Foreign backing and open intervention have played a large role in Syria's civil war. Russia entered the conflict in 2015 and has been the Assad government's main ally since then.
Regional actors: The governments of majority-Shia Iran and Iraq, and Lebanon-based Hezbollah, have supported al-Assad, while Sunni-majority countries, including Turkey, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia supported anti-Assad rebels.
Since 2016, Turkish troops have launched several operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) near its borders, as well as against Kurdish groups armed by the United States.
Anti-ISIL coalition: The US has armed anti-Assad rebel groups and led an international coalition bombing ISIL targets since 2014.
Israel carried out air raids inside Syria, reportedly targeting Hezbollah and pro-government fighters and facilities. The first time Syrian air defenses shot down an Israeli war plane was in February 2018.
WATCH: A new flash point between Israel, Syria and Iran (25:00)
US and Russia
The US has repeatedly stated its opposition to the Assad government backed by Russia but has not involved itself as deeply.
Chemical red line: Former US President Barack Obama had warned that the use of chemical weapons in Syria was a "red line" that would prompt military intervention.
In April 2017, the US carried its first direct military action against Assad's forces, launching 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air force base from which US officials believe a chemical attack on Khan Sheikhoun had been launched.
CIA training: In 2013, the CIA began a covert programme to arm, fund and train rebel groups opposing al-Assad, but the programme was later shut downafter it was revealed that the CIA had spent $500m but only trained 60 fighters.
Russia's campaign: In September 2015, Russia launched a bombing campaign against what it referred to as "terrorist groups" in Syria, which included ISIL as well as anti-Assad rebel groups backed by the USA. Russia has also deployed military advisers to shore up Assad's defences.
At the UN Security Council, Russia and China have repeatedly vetoed Western-backed resolutions on Syria.
WATCH: Syria: Under Russia's Fist (25:00)
Peace talks
Peace negotiations have been ongoing between the Syrian government and the opposition in order to achieve a military ceasefire and political transition in Syria, but the main sticking point has been the fate of al-Assad.
Geneva: The first round of UN-facilitated talks between the Syrian government and opposition delegates took place in Geneva, Switzerland in June 2012.
The latest round of talks in December 2017 failed amid a tit-for-tat between Syrian government and opposition delegates over statements about the future role of al-Assad in a transitional government.
In 2014 Staffan de Mistura replaced Kofi Annan as the UN special envoy for Syria.
Astana: In May 2017, Russia, Iran and Turkey called for the setup of four de-escalation zones in Syria, over which Syrian and Russian fighter jets were not expected to fly.
Sochi: In January 2018, Russia sponsored talks over the future of Syria in the Black Sea city of Sochi, but the opposition bloc boycotted the conference, claiming it was an attempt to undercut the UN effort to broker a deal.
Rebel groups
Since the conflict began, as a Syrian rebellion against the Assad government, many new rebel groups have joined the fighting in Syria and have frequently fought one another.
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) is a loose conglomeration of armed brigades formed in 2011 by defectors from the Syrian army and civilians backed by the United States, Turkey, and several Gulf countries.
In December 2016, the Syrian army scored its biggest victory against the rebels when it recaptured the strategic city of Aleppo. Since then, the FSA has controlled limited areas in northwestern Syria. Since January 2018 it has been fightingwith Turkey to capture Afrin from Kurdish fighters seeking self-rule.
ISIL emerged in northern and eastern Syria in 2013 after overrunning large portions of Iraq. The group quickly gained international notoriety for its brutal executions and its energetic use of social media torecruit fighters from around the world.
Other groups fighting in Syria include Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, Iran-backed Hezbollah, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).
WATCH: Western Jihadis in Syria (25:00)
Fighting in Syria continues on two main fronts:
Eastern Ghouta: In February 2018, Syrian government forces backed by Russian warplanes escalated bombing of Eastern Ghouta, resulting in hundreds of civilians deaths.
Eastern Ghouta has been under siege since 2013 and is the last remaining rebel stronghold near the capital, Damascus.
The US also accused the Syrian government of using chemical weapons.
Afrin: Turkey and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) began in January 2018 a military operation against the YPG in northwestern Syria, near Afrin. Pro-government forces have also joined the fight.
Also in northwestern Syria, Hay'et Tahrir al-Sham rebels claimed responsibility for shooting downa Russian warplane near Idlib on February 3.
Now having gone on longer than World War II, the war in Syria is causing profound effects beyond the country's borders, with many Syrians having left their homes to seek safety elsewhere in Syria or beyond.
As of February 2018, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) had registered over 5.5 million refugees from Syria and estimated that there are over 6,5 million internally displaced persons (IDP) within Syria's borders.
Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan are hosting most of the Syrian refugees, many of whom attempt to journey onwards to Europe in search of better conditions.
The 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees describes a refugee as any person who, "owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country".
In 2017, about 66,000 refugees returned to Syria, according to reports. With much of Syria inruins, and a population deeply traumatised by war, one thing is certain: rebuilding Syria after the war will be a lengthy, difficult process.
Source: Al Jazeera News