I'm sure you have seen the video that has spread like wildfire by now. A Dad in Cherry Hill, New Jersey posted a video on You Tube. In the video, he played several tape recordings of how his nine year old autistic son's teacher and aide verbally abused and bullied him in school. Equally upsetting...no other adults in the room (which was an autistic classroom of mostly non-verbal children) spoke up. How did he obtain these recordings? He wired his son with a recording device. And then he sat and listened to the six hours of tape - horrified.
The teacher and the little boy's appointed Aide - they knew that he wouldn't be able to go home and "tell" on them. They knew - or they thought, anyway - that they would get away with their inappropriate behavior in that classroom. All of the kids were autistic and couldn't go home and tell their Moms and Dads what happened in school.
This is my absolute WORST nightmare.
We have been so lucky so far. I am personally lucky that I have a husband who can support us so I can be home with the boys. We went through some "interesting" Aides from agencies early, early on when Brian was a baby - but I was here to monitor them, so to speak. I'm grateful for that. I've heard horror stories from friends who have found Aides and nurses sleeping on the job...or stealing...or just plain not doing what they're supposed to be doing. Agencies do not pay well - and the training, I'm sorry to say, is not great (no matter what they may tell you). I truly believe that the low pay combined with the lack of training results in employees who just show up. Add in some resentment about hating their job - and a child who demands a lot of attention and care - you will test the patience and push the limits of the employee. That's just my opinion - and I am not talking across the board about all Aides as there clearly are exceptions. We had one star from that period of our lives, Miss Kara, who is still a big part of our family. But I'm grateful we found a different way to do things which works so well for us. As you know, we have had some wonderful helpers - most recently Sara who is just amazing.
And Miss Maggie, too! Gavin has had her for speech and feeding since he turned three. And now she is Brian's speech therapist in school! Having these two therapists work in the school where I send Brian means a lot to me. Because I respect them...and their opinions...and know that they have our families best interests at heart - it was easier for me to send Brian there.
Maggie was here today and she, too, included Brian in Gavin's therapy. She put a picture of me and Brian on the iPad. Then she showed Gavin a photo of his brother, which she held, and asked him to find the matching "person" on the iPad. He got it right every time.
And when Brian heard his name as Gavin touched his photo on the screen - he came running excitedly to congratulate (and tickle) his big brother.
A week or so before I came across this video, I had made arrangements to visit a pre-school for Gavin. I will be meeting Gavin's coordinator there on May 11th and Miss Janna, Miss Maggie and possibly Miss Stephanie (his OT) will be meeting us there, too.
The program is longer than Brian's. It goes from 9am (after a bus ride from our home for probably 45 minutes) until after lunch. I was crushed to learn that if I decide to send Gavin here that he would absolutely lose all of his current therapists. They have therapists at the school that would see him during school hours. I can understand that, in a way, as it fosters continuity and consistent communication among the team.
It was a lot to take in, though. The thought of a new school...and ALL new therapists...it was a lot. And I wondered if it would be too many changes for Gavin. But I've always had in my mind that Miss Sara would go to school with him...as his Aide. I didn't have the guts to ask the coordinator on the phone if they would allow this. She had already bummed me out with telling me he'd lose his current team - entirely.
I can't imagine why it would be. They wouldn't have to pay for Sara. They would have an insider right there that could translate Gavin's actions for them. She could ensure that he was safe at all times. They would have an extra set of hands. What could possibly be the problem, right?
After Sara watched that You Tube video, she said to me: "And THAT is why Gavin will always go to school with a buddy." That's exactly how I feel. It makes total sense for a child like Gavin who can't walk, talk or feed himself...is not potty trained...and can't tell us when something is bothering him...to have someone who knows him well (and loves him) at his side. And as a parent, why wouldn't we want to send Gavin into the world with a friend - of his AND of ours - instead of a hired stranger who is possibly underpaid, undervalued and....need I go on? If I am told that Sara can't go with Gavin to this particular school...and it's non-negotiable? I'll find another school. That's all there is to it.
I know that one bad apple doesn't and shouldn't ruin it for the whole barrel. But after hearing and reading MULTITUDES of horrible, depressing stories about the abuse of special needs children in schools (just google it - you'll see!) ...I feel more protective than ever. Want to know what I would LOVE to propose? That every school has cameras. I've heard about day cares (for children and for pets!) that let you log in remotely from your computer to watch a live cam. How awesome would that be??? And just knowing that anyone could be watching at any time - that would keep ANY teacher or aide on their toes. Much like a nanny cam...but you wouldn't hide that it's there. All upfront - no secrets.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Especially if you are a special needs parent who has had experience with this situation...a teacher...a witness to this type of bad behavior...an aide...I want to hear from all of you.
I think I've told you before that I used to work in Disability Services for a university. We had students who had aides go to class with them. I worked as one for a friend of mine who has CP for a couple semesters. Under law, if a student requires an aide, at least at the university level, the school can't say no.
You know my thoughts...I expressed them when I first saw this video. It turns my stomach to think that ANYONE would speak to a child like this. I do not think it is only special needs children who need to be protected, but all of them! When 1 in 4 children are bullied by a teacher or student, and 1 in 10 will be sexually abused by a staff member at school, and both are thought to be UNDER REPORTED...it is very obvious to me that there is simply not enough protection for students in schools!
Abby...I hope you read this! I know that it's possible - but I'm worried that I won't always be able to "choose" Gavin's school aides, and I think that's my biggest issue. If there's anyone with experience that can speak to this, I'd appreciate insight!!!
I completely agree with you on everything. There are people out there who just meander through life and go to their job just for the job, they don't care about it. In the therapy field, or any medical field at that matter, you need to care. I also wanted to say that even if you are a "control freak parent", you have every God given right to be! People can run their mouth all they want, but until they have a child that requires every inch of your soul to care for, they wouldn't understand. If they were put in the same position (Assuming they actually care, cause we all know there are parents out there who do not care) I would hope they would do the same. My Uncle Henry is special needs, he is 44 year old and has been taken care of by both my grandparents since the day he was born. I've grown up seeing them pour their soul into taking care of him year after year, and he is well taken care of. I've said it before and I'll continue to say it, you guys are awesome.
I have followed your journey for a year or so now. I am so very impressed by you and your outlook on life. I am a special needs teacher and have been so for the past 23 years. I am a high school teacher and have always been so - I admire your for your views on your child. I teach in a public school and we have children bussed to us from a state facility that is located in our town. How I wish that they all had parents like you. I can not tell you how many parents don't care and are not involved at al in their children's education. How I wish that more parents were involved with their child's education. It would definately make our jobs a little easier. I live in SC and I must say that at our school we are very lucky. There are 9 special ed teachers on staff and we have all worked together for 12 or more years. Our aids are exceptional and have been with us that long as well. Keep looking for a school, you will find the right fit for Gavin as well as for you. Keep fighting for him - if you don't - who will? You are an awesome mom and Gavin as well as Brian are lucky to be able to call you mom!
You are Gavin's most important advocate. I work with children with different needs. Having someone who knows him is a need that Gavin has and so that should be the end of it. I agree, either his aide goes with him or he doesn't go. Chances are he would be fine, but you don't want him to be the statistic that is harmed. Stand firm.
Darnit... I wrote a big comment and it wiped it out when it made me sign into my Google account (even though I have Gmail open in another tab!) Blerg.
The gist of my message was this: You are absolutely doing the right thing with your plan to send Gavin to school with a "buddy"... someone you know and trust. It's the most reasonable, logical thing to do. Don't let anyone bully you into second-guessing your instincts as Gavin's mom. You know what you're doing!
I also commented that cameras (while better than nothing) are a poor substitute for the presence of a true child advocate. When cameras are right out in the open, everybody knows where they are and can easily figure out where they CAN'T see. I think this is the main reason people hide their nanny-cams. You can't possibly know the blind spots if you don't know where the camera is! Also, those cameras don't have audio... just video. As long as they say it with a smile, they can say whatever they want to your child and you'll never know it.
No one else has the same vested interest in your child, so you have every right to be a "control freak parent". You are taking advantage of the resources available that best fit Gavin/Brian/your family's needs, and anyone who would question your choices or fight you on them, if probably not worth being involved with.
We have three sons with various special needs who are turning into competent and charming young men and we truly believe it is because we are "control freaks", too. "Control freaks" who seek out opportunities, constantly evaluate learning environments, aren't afraid to speak up on our child's behalf and fight any ill-fitting system.
Your children will know how much they are loved and respected by how dedicated and driven you are to help them reach their potential.
YES to the camera idea--I think it's brilliant.


afordable price for ASP.NET 2.0 (using VB.NET).
the dll file to my BIN folder and work with it from there.
forms, tat I already create but as a HTML document.
object please tell me witch and your feedback.
step to save the word document to an HTML doc and then create the PDF.
print, pack, and ship the lettters.
create dynamic thumbnails on form or pannel using a picturebox?
Any way to not create .pyc files?


text:
utmp – Up The Mighty Pool
A Blackpool FC blog and podcast for fellow seasiders about latest news from Bloomfield Road
Review – Shrewsbury 1-0 Blackpool
Posted bySean McGinlay 30th December 2020 30th December 2020 Posted inMatch ReviewTags:blackpool, critchley, kaikai, Shrewsbury
Blackpool fell to a 1-0 defeat against Shrewsbury after a lacklustre performance away from home. The Seasiders were slow and passive for the majority of the game, with Daniel Udoh striking the killer blow late in the first half following an impressive string of saves from loanee Sam Walker. Neil Critchley made four substitutions late on but they failed to make an impact in one of the sides' worst performances in recent months.
That was very poor. I am not one for the cliches of players simply not turning up but this game was that in a nutshell. Having said that, had a lot of our players still turned up, the main issues within the game would probably have persisted. We looked passive and there was a real lack of urgency, particularly in the final third where we quickly ran out of ideas with Gary Madine looking isolated.
The Plus points
Let's go through the very few positives that were apparent in the game. First of all, I can't speak highly enough of Sam Walker's debut performance. To be thrown into a game like that, after the annoyance of the Boxing Day cancellation, and perform to the level that Walker did is mightily impressive. Whilst the team itself deserved to lose that game, Walker did not deserve to concede in the manner that he did after an impressive penalty save as well as a rebound save. The non-reaction of a couple of players to aid his cause after the penalty save will no doubt leave a bitter taste for him.
Alongside Walker, Marvin Ekpiteta and Dan Ballard looked impressive as always. It is strange really that having started the season with central defence probably our main concern, it is now the one area of the pitch you know will be covered every game we play. We have developed an aerial dominance and composure, with our positioning improving week on week to deal with the stereotypical lower league languid target men, but also the pacey, diminutive forward.
As you can see above, Ballard and Ekpiteta won the most aerial duels as well as the most clearances. Now obviously a lot of this is down to the sheer dominance in forward areas from Shrewsbury compared to our own, but they won everything that they needed to and looked calm and composed in the process. It was the other members of the team that were at fault for our concession and it is nice to know that even in a performance as poor as that, we tend to be well on course for a clean sheet if we ever require it.
Sullay Kaikai
Kaikai was anonymous in our attacking phases and culpable for the winning goal. He has been anonymous for large parts of the season, there is this clinging hope that his moments of magic, that we know he is capable of, will come more often and consistently than they do, but that hope is fading. And there is no real evidence that it will ever change. The Shrewsbury commentator highlighted his performance and made note that his 26 game spell with them, resulting in a dozen goals, is the best of his career at the age of 25. He has a decent CV in terms of the clubs he has played for but for me that comes down to his evident moments of quality being deceptive to the fact that he offers little else on a consistent basis. He is becoming a liability to the side, and it becomes even more apparent when our one real creative spark CJ Hamilton is out of the side.
Kaikai should be picking up the mantle and driving us forward, creating moments out of nothing and offering support to Madine, instead he is non-existent and out of possession he is found wanting. His positional sense in defensive phases is poor and it leaves our left full back, whoever it may be, isolated and unable to push forward in an attacking sense. I don't like using lazy as a descriptive for players because a lot of the time it tends to be their style of play, drifting into space under the radar, but Kaikai's foul for the penalty and his lack of desire to follow up the rebound spoke of a player who isn't up for the fight when the chips are down. When creativity isn't apparent, when the moments of magic aren't apparent and when the effort isn't apparent either, he unfortunately serves no purpose. It's important that he starts to show the quality we all know he has on a consistent basis.
Lack of creativity
This is the main takeaway for me. It has been underlying for practically the whole season, but our incredibly clinical recent spell has masked it. When you look at our chance creation form it has continued to dip in recent weeks, and now the results are starting to catch up with it. As you can see below we again failed to register more than 1xG and it has been an alarming trend. Reinforcements in the attacking midfield area have to be the priority.
When I look towards the league as a whole, the top sides have those players in that area that can create something out of nothing when the team as a unit aren't playing as fluidly as they would like.
Ronan Curtis at Portsmouth, Malik Wilks at Hull, Jorge Grant at Lincoln. These are the players that win you promotion and when CJ Hamilton is not in the side, we don't have a real match winner. We are stagnant in our play in the attacking phase, with a disjointed nature to how we build up moves. What I noticed most was that our full backs could not capitalise on space in the wide areas because Kaikai and Kemp were occupying it. There needs to be a fluidity for our wingers to drag defenders in narrow to open up space for our crossing outlets in Garbutt and Gabriel.
I like Keshi Anderson but in games like this one, he is too quick to lay off short passes to the central midfielders and recycle possession too often when he should be picking up the ball and driving. Now I think this is down to a frustration in the lack of moment ahead of him and had Jerry Yates been playing it could have been a different story. Having said that, it is clear that we need another left winger and a number 10 to come in that will take games like this by the scruff of the neck. No one can drive on a team quite like an electric winger or a progressive attacking midfielder and we lack that in a fair few games. They are what bring the top teams success.
Frustration is the general feeling. I think Critchley got this one wrong, it was clear early on that Madine would be isolated and when he is isolated Sullay Kaikai is not going to be someone to pick up the slack. It seems to me that once our central midfielders are sloppy and slack in possession that runs through the whole team, as if they know they have a mountain to climb because there isn't the extra creativity there to help out when the likes of Dougall aren't on song. The positive is that I know Neil Critchley has a clear indication of where the problems lie and in Simon Sadler we have an owner who will give him the resources to address it. We are just missing that player that can drag us through a game.
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Stats Provided by: Who Scored & XG_Data
Image: Blackpool FC
Transfer/Insight: Sam Walker
Opinion: Quality over Quantity
One thought on "Review – Shrewsbury 1-0 Blackpool"
honest hanks says:
30th December 2020 at 14:28
You did an in depth report on the players a couple of weeks ago on how they were performing you need to think again and come up with a few home truths. Last nights performance was worse than against Stanley which was bad enough and similar to a lot of our performances. Defensively we appear to be reasonabley well off but going foreward we lack creativity and pace except for C.J. when hes playing..Eventhen the keepers punting high balls to him which are more suitable for a big c)foreward. When we eventually reach the opposition penalty area our passes are either misplaced or poorly controlled no one seems to want to take responsibilty and try a shot. How many shots have have we had this season never mind those on target.. Our crossing and aerial threat are none existant.It was beyond me why Critchley thought bringing on Turton would change the game when he constantly punts hopeful balls foreward or turns and passes back..We need new blood sign the keeper a couple of attaking midfield players w ho can pass the ball and a c/foreward who knows where the goal is.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
De voorjaarsboomspanner (Alsophila aescularia) is een nachtvlinder uit de familie Geometridae, de spanners. Bij de imago is sprake van een opvallende vorm van geslachtsdimorfie dat wel bij meer spanners voorkomt, de vrouwtjes zijn vleugelloos. De voorvleugellengte van het mannetje bedraagt tussen de 16 en 19 millimeter. Opvallend is dat hij de vleugels in rust gedeeltelijk over elkaar heen vouwt. Het vrouwtje is onbehaard op een opvallend plukje aan haar achterlijf na. De soort overwintert als pop in de grond in een losse cocon.

Waardplanten
De voorjaarsboomspanner heeft diverse loofbomen en struiken als waardplant.

Voorkomen in Nederland en België
De voorjaarsboomspanner is in Nederland en België een vrij gewone vlinder, die verspreid over het hele gebied voorkomt. De vliegtijd is van begin februari tot half april in één generatie.

Externe links

 Lepidoptera of Belgium

Dier uit het Palearctisch gebied

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Twitter for Churches
Published by John David Smith at 6:09 pm under Books,Technology
Rebecca Egolf, I think, recommended The reason YOUR CHURCH must Twitter; making your ministry contagious by Anthony D. Coppedge and I've recommended it to several people since buying the $5 e-book about a week ago. So it comes with excellent ecumenical credentials, since her recommendation said, in effect, that it was "good for synagogues, too." (I noticed that the book is scrupulously non-denominational but it's clearly American Evangelical.) Indeed I think that the book would be helpful for leaders of all kinds of spiritual and religious communities. Beyond that, it's a nice example of how to teach people that a tool like Twitter needs to be approached in the context of ongoing social practice. It combines lots of basic how-to instructions and hints at how Twitter could be used in the every-day life of a church. (Because I'm in the final stages of publishing a book myself, I have to mention two typos that I noticed: it should be "Dr. Edwin Land" on page 54 and "People's lives are busy" on page 29; also when I printed it there were no page numbers which makes it clumsy for referencing passages.) The many screen-shots that are included are very good, too.
There's a practice. This book is more than just a manual on how to use Twitter. (There are certainly enough of them out there by now.) What struck a chord with me was the feeling that it gave me a window into some of what being a pastor in a church is about. Pastors are pivotal leaders who play a very complex role in their communities. Sometimes they are domain spokespersons, sometimes team leaders (of volunteer or paid teams), and sometimes learners trudging along the path. Most interesting, you get the sense from reading this book that there is a widely distributed community of practice of church pastors who have a lot to learn from each other. (It's a professionalized occupation, or calling, where seminaries have had a gate-keeping role, so learning from each other may need more support than it did a generation or two ago.) But the book suggests that pastors need to learn from each other about handling issues of connecting with church members selectively and impactfully, with personal privacy, and with marginality (e.g., not just being 'relevant on Sundays only'). All these issues come up in the context of using Twitter for a church. So, bottom line, the practice of being a pastor is similar to that of leading many other communities of practice. There could be a lot of learning on both sides.
There's a community. I love the way Coppedge suggests that there's a real social network out there that can provide examples and support. (And he just names names like spiritual entrepreneur Dave Ferguson or digerati pastor Terry Storch). Following them or Anthony Coppedge himself obviously gives you access to that community. But I found it surprising that his book didn't mention hashtags. Beyond increasing traffic with such things as #followfriday, hash tags are an obvious way for conversations within a church or among a community of pastors to take place. Why not advocate hashtags like these?
#pdx1stbaptist
#t4pastors
#t4church
There's a learning agenda. Finally, the book is filled with nice quotes that suggest an authentic learning agenda. For example:
"The Church cannot be content to live in its stained-glass house and throw stones through the picture window of modern culture." — Robert MacAfee Brown
Although the worry may not be stated in terms of stained glass, I've heard Protestants, Catholics, Jews, and Buddhists voice very similar concerns. Relevance and connection are very important. Addressing the issue will take more than Twitter.
One Response to "Twitter for Churches"
Rebecca Egolf says:
Glad you liked this resource, John. I think it is terrific, and equally as useful for all the different kinds of Jewish communal organizations and synagogues with whom I work. There's a related feature in the New York Times today on Twitter use in churches – check it out at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/technology/inte…


Another good NI Massive Video tutorial on how to make a killer Reese style bass. This time we look at how to go about creating a Leakage Reese from Noisia, perfect for that dark Dn'B and even Neurofunk sound.
This bass is a pretty sick sound, and it is a far cry from the sound it starts with. Sometimes you end up with the best sound design sessions when you begin with a sound you normally do not use, such as the Lunacy wavetable within Native Instruments Massive. YouTube user tnt767 does a good job of explaining what he's doing and why throughout the entire process of developing this Reese bass and that makes it pretty easy to follow for users of all experience levels. One more thing to appreciate about his approcah to this lesson is the fact that he does not use to much technical jargon, the entire tutorial is explained in simple turns with plenty of examples to illustrate his points along the way.
Beginning with setting up the instrument as a monophonic synth right from the start, he first sets the Voicing Unisono value to 2 and switches the mode to Monorotate and the trigger to Legato Triller to allow for a nice glide when moving between notes. Next a Lunacy wavetable is activated on OSC 1 the generate the base sound that will be manipulated into our Reese bass. A square wave is then added via OSC 2. Some phasing is then introduced to the sound coming from from OSC 1 through the Modulation OSC.
Next comes the addition of a Brauner Tube Amp for a boost and a touch of gentle distortion. A Dimension Expander will add a feeling of more depth, as well as spread the sound out across the stereo field significantly. Next, activate the EQ feature and take out some of the high end and mid-range to help shape the sound further. Modulating a Parabolic Shaper and a Hard Clipper (As well as the Phase knob on the Modulation OSC) help round out the sound by adding that serious grit that the bass needs at this point.
In the end, it's a very cool sound with tons of flexibility and a huge range. If you have a sound you would like to share with the MassiveSynth community let us know by sending us a message to get the conversation started. As always, if you have a request, contact us through the website or visit our Facebook page.


text:
Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations
NYSERDA Clean Energy Communities
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Air Products to Invest About $500 Million to Build Green Hydrogen Production Facility in New York
Air Products (NYSE: APD), the world leader in hydrogen production and a first mover developing and executing low carbon hydrogen megaprojects driving the energy transition, announced plans to invest approximately $500 million to build, own and operate a 35 metric ton per day facility to produce green liquid hydrogen at a greenfield site in Massena, New York, as well as liquid hydrogen distribution and dispensing operations.
The commercial operation of this facility is targeted to begin in 2026-2027.
In support of this Air Products' project, in July 2022, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) board approved 94 MW of low-cost St. Lawrence hydroelectric power to Air Products for its significant investment and the creation of 90 jobs in New York State.
This project supports New York State's goal of becoming a Regional Clean Energy Hydrogen Hub, as announced by Governor Kathy Hochul in March 2022. New York's hydrogen hub ambitions directly support the goals of the State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
Air Products has determined that the market demand warrants the investment in the project, assuming the receipt of certain local and state incentives, as well as any benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and which are anticipated in the current project budget.
Further to this proposed facility announcement, Air Products is also investigating the feasibility of establishing a hydrogen fueling station network in the United States' northeast region, including the ability to serve Air Products' truck fleet. Air Products has announced plans to convert its global fleet of approximately 2,000 trucks to hydrogen fuel cell zero-emission vehicles.
Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said:
We are very pleased to announce this proposed project as this shows our commitment to work closely with New York State to support its energy transition program by making real investments and creating highly paid jobs with our Massena green hydrogen project.
"This project is another demonstration of our leadership role in the low-carbon hydrogen and the hydrogen for mobility markets, and New York State's and IRA incentives will continue to encourage hydrogen's key role and our investment in the energy transition."
Justin E. Driscoll, NYPA Interim President and CEO said:
In supporting Air Products' expansion in Massena, NYPA is furthering New York's aggressive climate goals and helping to advance the state's vision of becoming a regional hydrogen hub.
"The St. Lawrence-FDR Power Project is a critical economic development catalyst in the region — and around the state — and we are pleased to leverage its clean hydropower to strengthen the North Country's economy."
The low-carbon intensity liquid hydrogen product from the facility is expected to be sold to the mobility market in New York State as well as other potential northeast industrial markets.
If all the hydrogen is used for the heavy-duty truck market, future climate benefits over the project's lifetime would include avoiding more than six million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is equivalent to the emissions from over 600 million gallons of diesel used in heavy-duty trucks.
Demand for green hydrogen for mobility and industrial applications is expected to grow significantly in the northeast as a result of the New York-led multi-state agreement to develop a proposal to become one of the regional clean hydrogen hubs designated through the federal Clean Hydrogen Hubs Program, and New York State's adoption of a new Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) rule. New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act targets include: 40 percent greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions below 1990 levels by 2030, a carbon free electricity system by 2040, and an 85 percent reduction in GHGs below 1990 levels by 2050.
Click here for article.
ESF professors, administrators involved in 'most ambitious climate law in the nation'
NY approves $672 million bailout for utility customers who are not in low-income programs
OSWEGO'S FIRST ELECTRIC VEHICLE FAST-CHARGING HUB NOW AVAILABLE
Governor Hochul Announces Approval of Siting Permits for Three Major Solar Energy Facilities
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© 2022 CNY Energy Challenge


text:
How China's Bike-Sharing Collapse Could Presage Problems With AI
The same desire to make a quick yuan without giving adequate attention to the potential economic consequences that ruined the bike sharing business may be driving current investment in AI - and could lead to a similar outcome. JL
Grady McGregor reports in Fortune:
The rapid ascent and spectacular collapse of China's bike sharing sector may presage new problems. "Nobody was questioning the investing patterns" behind the bike sharing boom. "There was no intellectual property so people were competing on price and availability. Investor attempts to snap up the market became the path toward success. Easy funding patterns are simply switching to "hot" technologies like artificial intelligence. "Investors drove [bike sharing start-ups] to grow faster than their competitors without calculating breakeven points. Now it is shifting to A.I. and big data."
Build new, technologically savvy bicycles with codes that people could scan with their smartphone, pay a small fee for a short ride, and leave basically wherever they pleased.
In just a few years, this 'bike sharing' idea became a country-wide phenomenon, and by 2016 millions of new bicycles could be found in cities across China from companies with billion-dollar-plus valuations.
By the end of 2018, however, several leading bike-sharing companies had gone bankrupt, and now the bicycles that were once viewed as one of the country's great innovations have largely become inconvenient and colorful stains on city streets or been sent to massive bicycle graveyards.
"Bike sharing was one of China's biggest innovations, so everyone was championing it," said Chen Lin, a marketing professor at China Europe International Business School in Shanghai. "Nobody saw the rise and fall being so quick and so dramatic."
Now, however, the rapid ascent and spectacular collapse of China's bike sharing sector may presage future problems in one of the world's technology powerhouses. The bike sharing phenomenon hasn't prompted reflection across China technology industry, analysts say, and issues that spurred its downfall may soon switch over to new industries.
"Nobody was questioning the investing patterns" behind the bike sharing boom, said Henrik Bork, founder of the Beijing-based consulting firm Asia Waypoint. "Now it is shifting to new hot issues [like A.I. and big data]."
Many people, including investors, are easily blinded by the fact that China's economy is still growing, Bork said: "But in reality it is difficult to make money anywhere, even in China."
The rise of China's bike-sharing
China was once known as the Kingdom of Bicycles, with its government famously defining prosperity for Chinese citizens in the 1970's as the ability to own a bike, claiming that it would put a Flying Pigeon, a state-owned bicycle brand, "in every household."
And even though cars have overtaken bicycles on China's streets, the country's deep connection with two-wheelers helps explain how bike sharing took off so quickly and on such a massive scale (being environmentally friendly and convenient helped too).
"It was a fantastic innovation, in that it really looked at the consumer journey and pinpointed the way that people needed more convenient and accessible travel," said Chen.
Ofo, whose founders were members of that Peking University cycling club, was at the center of the industry's rise after it launched in 2014. At its peak in 2017, the company was worth close to $2 billion after several rounds of funding and had expanded to hundreds of cities in nearly two dozen countries.
The fall begins
Ofo was far from the only company in the market, however, and competition from companies like Mobike and Bluegogo launched a loss-making race to grab market share.
For Chen, the unsustainable rise of the sector was made possible by two issues: weak intellectual property protection and over-eager investors.
"There was no intellectual property and the companies copied each other all over the place, so people were only competing on prices and availability," Chen said. Therefore, investor-fueled attempts to expand and snap up as much of the market as possible became the presumed path toward success.
"Investors drove [bike sharing start-ups] to grow faster and quicker than their competitors, to move to more cities and places, to lay out more bikes without even calculating breakeven points," Chen said.
In late 2018, after the startups had burned through billions of dollars, it became clear that even the top companies didn't have a path to profitability. In July, a court found that Ofo couldn't pay its debts, and the company still refuses to refund $15 deposits from up to 15 million customers. (A recent Ofo refund scheme promises customers their deposits if they purchase over $200 worth of other products.)
Mobike, which was purchased by food delivery giant Meituan Dianping, scaled back operations and was apparently only valuable for its data. And at least five other competitors went bankrupt, a string of failures that likely means rusting bikes will only become more of a nuisance.
"This year and the year after you will only see more and more garbage bikes being laid on the street at a great social cost," Chen said. "The companies don't have money to clean it up so it almost becomes a societal burden. Who's going to take care of all this steel and metal?"
Still, amid the doom and gloom, there may be some hope that bike sharing is not totally dead. Recently, bike sharing latecomer called Hellobike found success in building a customer base in smaller cities and with fewer bikes, with plans to expand into electric scooters and more cities.
The same fate for A.I. firms?
All of the turbulence in the bike sharing sector seems to have cooled off funding
and expectations for China's once skyrocketing sharing economy. And China is not the only country in which sharing economy firms are struggling to make the model profitable, as shown by the travails of firms like WeWork and Uber.
Brock Silvers, managing director of the Shanghai private equity firm Kaiyuan Capital, believes that most of the responsibility should fall on the investors, who will likely now take a more restrained approach.
"The tech sector's lessons aren't the true issue—no one can blame companies for accepting wild investments. The reality is that the pathways to exit have become more difficult," Silvers said. "This will temper [venture capital and private equity] investors, which in turn should enforce a more sober outlook upon China's tech firms and entrepreneurs."
Still, there are signs that the bike sharing boom and bust of yesterday might become the A.I. cycle of tomorrow. Bork said that while it has gotten more difficult to raise funds in the sharing economy, easy funding patterns are simply switching to new, "hot" technologies like artificial intelligence.
In 2018, A.I. investments in China rose 54%, to $7.4 billion, according to ABI Research. And in the 2019 edition of the Hurun Global Unicorn List, an annual international report that tracks startups worth more than $1 billion, China boasts 15 unicorns in the A.I. sector alone. One-time unicorns Mobike and Ofo, on the other hand, are now worth a fraction of what they once were, and Hellobike is the only remaining bike sharing unicorn on Hurun's list.
"For businesses in China that manage to package their business model with these new hot issues, you are seeing the same thing," said Bork. "And I don't see so far that this stops. The big gamble here in China is still on."


text:
The 100% Noticias building is seen in Managua on December 22, 2018, one day after it was raided and closed by the Nicaraguan police. Two journalists from the broadcaster remain in detention. (Maynor Valenzuela/AFP)
CPJ, RSF call on Nicaragua to release two journalists held on terrorism charges
The Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders today condemned the detention of two independent journalists in Nicaragua, and called on Nicaraguan authorities to immediately release them and drop all charges against them.
Miguel Mora and Lucía Pineda Ubau, journalists for the independent cable and digital channel 100% Noticias, have been held in pre-trial detention on charges of "inciting violence and hate" and "promoting terrorism" since their arrests during a police raid on their Managua newsroom on December 21, 2018, as the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have reported.
"The ongoing detention and baseless charges against Miguel Mora and Lucía Pineda are the clearest sign of the stark deterioration of press freedom conditions within Nicaragua," said CPJ South and Central America Program Coordinator Natalie Southwick. "Mora and Pineda have now spent two months behind bars, showing just how far the Nicaraguan government is willing to go to silence critical reporting. Nicaraguan authorities should immediately let them return home to their families and stop the transparent attempts to criminalize journalism."
Read the full statement here.
100% Noticias
Lucía Pineda Ubau
Terror Law
Available in: Español
Short URL: https://cpj.org/x/768b
Locked in 'small graves': Nicaraguan journalists Mora and Pineda describe their ordeal
July 16, 2019 9:00 AM ET
Miguel Mora and Lucía Pineda were arrested on December 21, 2018, in the Managua newsroom of 100% Noticias and spent 172 days in prison facing charges of "inciting violence and hate" and "promoting terrorism." The two journalists spoke to CPJ after their June 11 release. They will receive CPJ's...
In Nicaragua, Ortega's control over the media slips even as a government crackdown intensifies
Nicaragua's four-month-old popular uprising has not only weakened President Daniel Ortega's grip on power: it has eroded his government's control over the news....
Nicaragua's press defiant in the face of arson attacks and mob violence
July 9, 2018 10:32 AM ET
At the temporary office of Radio Darío in the Nicaraguan city of León, reporters have set up two emergency escape routes: a trap door that opens into the dining room of the house next door and a ladder leading to the roof....
Long silence from Nicaragua's president as first lady keeps press at arm's length
It's been nearly 3,000 days since Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega last held a news conference, according to the opposition newspaper La Prensa. But when journalists complain about the lack of access to Ortega they often direct their ire not at the president but at the first lady, Rosario Murillo....


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In reply to anthonyw9's post on January 2, atheeos Results 1—1 of 1 1.
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Hangsen Echo series e-cigarette is Latest exclusive product which is cup shaped matrix refillable cartomizer can insert up to 3ml e-liquid and at least take 1300 puff.
3. It could hold up to 3ml of e-liquid (when comes with our own battery which enlarge the containing size of cartridge in the ECHO) that could last around 1,000 puff!
What is the status of the indicator light on battery, charger?
The LED indicator light of the charger is green and the light of the battery will flash for several times once the charger being connected to a power source.
*Then the light of the charger will turn to red while the light on the battery will go out.
*The LED on the Cordless charger keeps blinking every 6 seconds while charging.
*When the battery is fully charged, the LED light will turn to green.
*Do not screw battery too tight to the charger in case of damage to the central pin of the battery.
*You'd better remove the battery ten minutes after the LED light on the charger turns to green.
Only two batteries come with a 180 days warranty. That is 180 days from being delivered, not shipped. So it is a true 180 days warranty. If for any reason, within 180 days, you have problems with the battery, we will replace the defective or malfunctioning part(s) via hongkong airmail freely.


Ombudsman Maiava Iulai Toma issued a rallying call to the government to ratify the Convention Against Torture as soon as practicable.
The call follows a meeting between the Ombudsman's team and a delegation from the Convention Against Torture Initiative last Thursday.
The visiting delegation, headed by Danish Ambassador to the UN Carsten Staur, was in the country to discuss the benefits of Samoa ratifying the Convention Against Torture (C.A.T) and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and its Optional Protocol.
They met with the Ombudsman and other key stakeholders.
The Convention Against Torture stands apart from other international human rights treaties as it contains practical steps to prevent torture and ill-treatment or punishment and these can be adapted to the national context.
The Optional Protocol to the Convention requires the establishment of a 'National Preventive Mechanism' responsible for monitoring all places of detention to ensure the principles of CAT are being met.
During the meeting the Ombudsman expressed support for ratification, highlighting efforts already made by his office to ensure a smooth process and how the Convention could strengthen Samoan society.
"Regardless of whether torture or ill-treatment occurs in Samoa right now, ratification of the C.A.T can strengthen our laws, policies and practices within places of detention and improve effective law enforcement.
The Ombudsman continued, "since the establishment of my office as the National Human Rights Institution we have been building our capacity to monitor places of detention to the standard required by the C.A.T Optional Protocol.
In conclusion, the Ombudsman asked the government to ratify the Convention as soon as practicable.
"Samoa is currently leading the way in many respects with regards to human rights initiatives in the region, being the only Small Island State in the region to have an accredited National Human Rights Institution and the most advanced National Mechanism for Human Rights Implementation and Reporting," he said.


text:
TG0443 : Detail of a Civilian Brass, St Margaret's church
taken 8 years ago, near to Newgate, Norfolk, Great Britain
Detail of a Civilian Brass, St Margaret's church
Six sons from a Civilian Brass. From circa 1450.
St Margaret's church, Cley next the Sea
Grade I listed
The south porch is dated between 1405 and 1414 and contains a wealth of heraldry carved in stone including shields for the de Roos family who were patrons of Cley for nearly 300 years.
The nave has some beautifully carved poppy heads from the 15th century and eleven remarkable cinquefoil windows in the clerestory which retain fragments of medieval glass.
There are 6 bay north and south aisles.
The font, dated from the mid 15th century, depicts the Seven Sacraments. The lower part of the tower dates from the 12th century and was heightened in later years. The chancel contains 13th century two-light fork windows one of which is reset with 15th century stained glass.
There are six misericords under seats in the chancel and the carvings are not as old as the seats themselves. There are still a number of brasses on the floor of the nave. There are two generic monkey figures on top of the pinnacles to the south east and south west corners of the south aisle.
Behind the organ in the south aisle is a brass to John Symondes (1511) and his wife Agnes (1508) represented in their shrouds with the words "now thus". Beneath them are their children: William, Raufe, Aleyn, John, Cecily, Anne, Agnes and Rose. The inscriptions are quaintly arranged so that they appear upside down in order that they should be read by the passer by without turning his back on the altar that stood at the east end of this aisle.
On the wall is a brass to Robert Taylar (1578) is an interesting example of a palimpsest brass.
The reverse side suggests the canopy of a foreign brass of an earlier period and may well be the work of an apprentice as the engraving is of poor quality.
There is also a brass at the west end of the south aisle with a male figure and a group of six sons and they are all that remains of a fine civilian brass (c1450). A further brass of 4 daughters, which fits neatly into this civilian brass, is now in the custody of the Archaeology Department of the Norfolk Museum Service and is only available for viewing on request.
(info from Church Guide Book)
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NATO on Tuesday accused Russia of violating the provisions of the 1987 Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty to rid Europe of land-based nuclear missiles.
"Allies have concluded that Russia has developed and deployed a missile system, Novator 9M729, which violates the FNI Treaty and poses a significant threat to Euro-Atlantic security," say the foreign ministers of the EU's member states. Atlantic Alliance in a statement issued after a meeting in Brussels.
NATO members say they are backing accusations by the United States, whose President Donald Trump announced in October that he would denounce the treaty concluded by Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
Denouncing a "direct threat to Europe," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced after the release that Washington would begin the process of withdrawing the NIF in 60 days if Moscow does not recognize its wrongdoings and not in accordance with the treaty by then. This withdrawal process would take six months.
"It does not make any sense strategically to be the only country to abide by the INF Treaty," said the US foreign minister, who promised to consult his European allies on the next stages of the stand-off.


text:
Brothers in Art
Tibor Eichinger & Stefan Varga
Új élet himnusza (Eichinger) 5:24
Delay-es legényes (Eichinger/Varga) 1:46
Clear Night (Varga) 3:43
Özönvíz (Madai/Megyaszay) 0:32
Kimle (Varga) 5:44
Stainless Metal Rat (Eichinger/Varga) 1:05
Penguin song (Varga) 4:34
Esö után (Eichinger/Varga) 0:24
Guadeloupe island (Eichinger) 5:01
Mellow mood (Varga) 3:49
Idözár (Tibor Eichinger / Stefan Varga) 0:58
Nyárutó (Eichinger) 4:46
Sava river blues (Tibor Eichinger) 5:49
Song of the Day (Varga) 3:41
Trio (Eichinger/Madai/Varga) 0:47
Regenlied (Varga) 6:24
Budapest bei Nacht (Eichinger/Varga) 1:21
Philipp van Endert
Tibor Eichinger – E-Gitarre
Stefan Varga – E- & A-Gitarre
István Megyaszay – E-Bass
Zsolt Madai – Drums
The house of jazz has many rooms. Since 2005, Tibor Eichinger and Stefan Varga have made themselves at home in one of them: developing a surprising and inspirational fusion of Western and Eastern sounds, beats and grooves. With their current production "BROTHERS IN ART" they have opted for an approach that is firmly rooted in jazz, with the compositions of the two guitarists nevertheless simultaneously entering other musical areas.
On their journey, the defining musical compass has received influences from jazz, rock, classical and ethnic elements. Driving grooves, sophisticated improvisations, and at times, hearty rock riffs, all with flashes of the Balkans – crossing like a thread, the boundaries of pingeon-holed genres – is typical of the Eichinger/Varga-sound. Concerts all over Europe have proven how successful this alternative concept to conventional jazz categorisation has become.
The Stations
The German-Hungarian guitar duo, "West and East, comprising Tibor Eichinger and Stefan Varga, is the core and the origin of the quartet. Their first eponymous CD has caught the attention of the international jazz scene. The repertoire, consisting solely of original compositions, uses elements of jazz, avant-garde and traditional Balkan folk music. In 2010, the duo expanded to the quartet ZoZo. The newly formed band follows this original musical concept.
The duo, "West and East", and also the quartet, ZoZo", have had numerous appearances at international festivals. They have participated in many TV and radio productions, receiving enthusiastic reviews. In 2009, they appeared in "Balkan ska", an acclaimed live recording of the Budapest Jazz Festival. In 2011, they released their first album as a quartet, "Squared".
Catalogue-No.: 5090JS
Sample Track
Uj élet himnusza
Assi Ghat
Jazz Ensemble Düsseldorf


text:
House Documents, Otherwise Publ. as Executive Documents: 13th ..., Том 5
Авторы: United States. Congress. House
case shall be reported to the legislature at its next meeting, when the legislature shall either pardon or commute the sentence, direct the execution of the sentence, or grant a further reprieve. He shall annually communicate to the legislature each case of reprieve, commutation, or pardon granted; stating the name of the convict, the crime of which he was convicted, the sentence and its date, and the date of the commutation, pardon, or reprieve, with his reasons for granting the same.
Section 7. In case of the impeachment of the governor, or his removal from office, death, inability from mental or physical disease, resignation, or absence from the State, the powers and duties of the office shall devolve upon the lieutenant governor for the residue of the term, or until the governor, absent or impeached, shall have returned, or the disability shall cease. But when the governor shall, with the consent of the legislature, be out of the State, in time of war, at the head of the military force thereof, he shall continue commander-in-chief of the military force of the State.
Section 8. The lieutenant governor shall be president of the senate, but shall have only a casting vote therein. If, during a vacancy in the office of governor, the Keutenant governor shall be impeached, displaced, resign, die, or, from mental or physical disease, become incapable of performing the duties of his office, or be absent from the State, the secretary of state shall act as governor until the vacancy shall be filled, or the disability shall cease.
Section 9. The lieutenant governor shall receive double the per diem allowance of members of the senate for every day's atten dance as president of the senate, and the same mileage as shall be allowed to members of the legislature.
Section 10. Every bill which shall have passed the legislature, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the governor; if he approve, he shall sign it; but, if not, he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the objections at large upon the journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of the members present, it shall become a law. But, in all cases, the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for or against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the governor within three days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, unless the legislature shall, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.
ARTICLE VI.
ADMINISTRATIVE.
Section 1. There shall be chosen by the qualified electors of the State, at the times and places of choosing the members of the legislature, a secretary of state, treasurer, and attorney general, who shall severally hold their offices for the term of two years.
Section 2. The secretary of state shall keep a fair record of the official acts of the legislature and executive department of the State, and shall, when required, lay the same and all matters relative thereto, before either branch of the legislature. He shall be ex officio auditor, and shall perform such other duties as shall be assigned him by law. He shall receive as a compensation for his services, yearly, such sum as shall be provided by law, and shall keep his office at the seat of government.
Section 3. The powers, duties, and compensation of the treasurer and attorney general shall be prescribed by law.
Section 4. Sheriffs, coroners, registers of deeds, and district attorneys, shall be chosen by the electors of the respective counties, once in every two years, and as often as vacancies shall happen; sheriffs shall hold no other office, and be ineligible for two years next succeeding the termination of their offices. They may be required by law to renew their security, from time to time; and in default of giving such new security, their offices shall be deemed vacant. But the county shall never be made responsible for the acts of the sheriff. The governor may remove any officer in this section mentioned, giving to such officer a copy of the charges against him, and an opportunity of being heard in his defence.
ARTICLE VII.
JUDICIARY.
Section 1. The court for the trial of impeachments shall be composed of the senate. The house of representatives shall have the power of impeaching all civil officers of this State for corrupt conduct in office, or for crimes and misdemeanors; but a majority of all the members elected shall concur in an impeachment. On the trial of an impeachment against the governor, the lieutenant governor shall not act as a member of the court. No judicial officer shall exercise his office, after he shall have been impeached, until his acquittal. Before the trial of an impeachment, the members of the court shall take an oath or affirmation, truly and impartially to try the impeachment according to evidence; and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, or removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of honor, profit, or trust, under the State; but the party impeached shall be liable to indictment, trial, and punishment according to law.
Section 2. The judicial power of this State, both as to matters of law and equity, shall be vested in a supreme court, circuit courts, courts of probate, and in justices of the peace. The legislature may also vest such jurisdiction as shall be deemed necessary in municipal courts, and shall have power to establish inferior courts in the several counties, with limited civil and criminal jurisdiction Provided that the jurisdiction which may be vested in municipal courts shall not exceed, in their respective municipalities, that of circuit courts, in their respective circuits, as prescribed by this constitution: And that the legislature shall provide as well for the election of judges of the municipal courts as of the judges of inferior courts by the qualified electors of the respective jurisdictions. The term of office of the judges of the said municipal and inferior courts shall not be longer than that of the judges of the circuit court.
Section 3. The supreme court, except in cases otherwise provided in this constitution, shall have appellate jurisdiction only, which shall be co-extensive with the State, but in no case removed to the supreme court shall a trial by jury be allowed. The supreme court shall have a general superintending control over all inferior courts; it shall have power to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, injunction, quo warranto, certiorari; and other original and remedial writs, and to hear and determine the
same.
Section 4. For the term of five years, and thereafter until the legislature shall otherwise provide, the judges of the several circuit courts shall be judges of the supreme court, four of whom shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority of the judges present shall be necessary to a decision. The legislature shall have power, if they should think it expedient and necessary, to provide by law for the organization of a separate supreme court, with the jurisdiction and powers prescribed in this constitution, to consist of one chief justice, and two associate justices, to be elected by the qualified electors of the State, at such time and in such manner as the legislature may provide. The separate supreme court, when so organized, shall not be changed or discontinued by the legislature; the judges thereof shall be so classified that but one of them shall go out of office at the same time; and their term of office shall be the same as is provided for the judges of the circuit court. And whenever the legislature may consider it necessary to establish a separate supreme court, they shall have power to reduce the number of circuit court judges to four, and subdivide the judicial circuits, but no such subdivision or reduction shall take effect until after the expiration of the term of some one of the said judges, or till a vacancy occur by some other means.
Section 5. The State shall be divided into five judicial circuits, to be composed as follows: the first circuit shall comprise the counties of Racine, Walworth, Rock, and Green; the second circuit, the counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane; the third circuit, the counties of Washington, Dodge, Co
lumbia, Marquette, Sauk, and Portage; the fourth circuit, the counties of Brown, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Winnebago, and Calumet; and the fifth circuit, shall comprise the counties of Iowa, La Fayette, Grant, Crawford, and St. Croix, and the county of Richland, shall be attached to Iowa; the county of Chippewa to the county of Crawford, and the county of La Pointe to the county of St. Croix, for judicial purposes until otherwise provided by the legislature.
Section 6. The legislature may alter the limits, or increase the number of circuits, making them as compact and convenient as practicable, and bounding them by county lines; but no such alteration or increase shall have the effect to remove a judge from office. In case of an increase of circuits, the judge or judges, shall be elected as provided in this constitution, and receive a salary not less than that herein provided for judges of the circuit
Section 7. For each circuit there shall be a judge chosen by the qualified electors therein, who shall hold his office as is provided in this constitution, and until his successor shall be chosen and qualified; and after he shall have been elected he shall reside in the circuit for which he was elected. One of said judges shall be designated as chief justice in such manner as the legislature shall provide. And the legislature shall, at its first session, provide by law as well for the election of, as for classifying the judges of the circuit court to be elected under this constitution, in such manner that one of said judges shall go out of office in two years, one in three years, one in four years, one in five years, and one in six years, and thereafter the judge elected to fill the office shall hold the same for six years.
Section 8. The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction in all matters, civil and criminal, within this State, not excepted in this constitution, and not hereafter prohibited by law, and appellate jurisdiction from all inferior courts and tribunals, and a supervisory control over the same. They shall also have the power to issue writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, injunction, quo warranto, certiorari, aud all other writs necessary to carry into effect their. orders, judgments and decrees, and give them a general control over inferior courts and jurisdictions.
Section 9. When a vacancy shall happen in the office of judge of the supreme or circuit courts, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the governor, which shall continue until a successor is elected and qualified; and when elected, such successor shall hold his office the residue of the unexpired term. There shall be no election for a judge or judges at any general election for State or county officers, nor within thirty days either before or after such election.
Section 10. Each of the judges of the supreme and circuit courts shall receive a salary, payable quarterly, of not less than one thousand five hundred dollars annually; they shall receive no fees of office, or other compensation than their salaries; they shall hold no office of public trust, except a judicial office, during the term
for which they are respectively elected, and all votes for either of them for any office, except a judicial office, given by the legislature or the people, shall be void. No person shall be eligible to the office of judge who shall not, at the time of his election, be a citizen of the United States, and have attained the age of twentyfive years, and be a qualified elector within the jurisdiction for which he may be chosen.
Section 11. The supreme court shall hold at least one term annually at the seat of government of the State, at such time as shall be provided by law. And the legislature may provide for holding other terms, and at other places, when they may deem it necessary. A circuit court shall be held at least twice in each year, in each county of this State organized for judicial purposes. The judges. of the circuit court may hold courts for each other, and shall do so when required by law..
Section 12. There shall be a clerk of the circuit court chosen in each county organized for judicial purposes, by the qualified electors thereof, who shall hold his office for two years, subject to removal, as shall be provided by law. In case of a vacancy, the judge of the circuit court shall have the power to appoint a clerk until the vacancy shall be filled by an election. The clerk thus elected or appointed shall give such security as the legislature may require, and when elected shall hold his office for a full term. The supreme court shall appoint its own clerk, and the clerk of a circuit court may be appointed clerk of the supreme court.
Section 13. Any judge of the supreme or circuit court may be removed from office, by address of both houses of the legislature, if two-thirds of all the members elected to each house concur therein; but no removal shall be made by virtue of this section unless the judge complained of shall have been served with a copy of the charges against him, as the ground of address, and shall have had an opportunity of being heard in his defence. On the question of removal, the ayes and noes shall be entered on the journals.
Section 14. There shall be chosen in each county, by the qualifiedelectors thereof, a judge of probate, who shall hold his office for two years, and until his successor shall be elected and qualified, and whose jurisdiction, powers and duties, shall be prescribed by law: Provided, however, that the legislature shall have power to abolish the office of judge of probate in any county, and confer probate powers upon such inferior courts as may be established in said county.
Section 15. The electors of the several towns, at their annual town meeting, and the electors of cities and villages, at their charter elections, shall, in such manner as the legislature may direct, elect justices of the peace, whose term of office shall be for two years, and until their successors in office shall be elected and qualified. In case of an election to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of a full term, the justice elected shall hold for the residue of the unexpired term. Their number and classification shall be regulated by law. And the tenure of two years shall in no wise interfere with the classification in the first instance. The justices


This time of year, I always try to take some time out from my normal schedule to sit down with a cup of hot tea, a notebook and reflect on the year that has gone by. The deep dark of December is a wonderful time for this kind of inward reflection and quiet. I warm my heart and mind on all the things I am grateful for and give voice to the things I'd like to let go of. I also use the time to look ahead to the fresh arrangement of new year that I have ahead of me. I plan. I devise. I create goals and action plans.
Thanks so much for including my 100th Tough (Question) Tuesday celebration! So glad you liked it & you're using it to set 2011 off on the right foot. Hooray!


OiX Sensor is a wearable device to be placed on the patient.
The idea is that the patient should wear it between the shoulder blades, or in other body areas that are difficult to reach, so as not to be able to remove it.
The sensors allows the caregiver to monitor activity, posture, walking direction and position, and environmental parameters (temperature, humidity). It is also equipped with a system for fall detection.
OiX Sensor provides a double accelerometer, magnetometer, IR temperature sensor, altimeter, Humidity sensor, an ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller and a radiofrequency module Sub-GHz Ultra Low Power Long Range 868MHz. The complete features include GPS and BLE.


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Parrot and Olivier in America by Peter Carey: review
John Preston considers Peter Carey's story of a master and servant from the Old World struggling to shake themselves free in the New World.
By John Preston 25 January 2010 • 5:29pm
Parrot and Olivier in America | Buy the book
FABER, £18.99, 464pp
There are certain things you know you're going to get from a Peter Carey novel: scale of ambition, narrative boldness, apparently inexhaustible imagination and fizzingly exuberant imagery. Even by his standards Carey's 11th novel, Parrot and Olivier in America, has all these in abundance. Loosely based on the life of Alexis de Tocqueville, it follows two Old World protagonists – one from France, one from England – and sets them down in New York in the mid-19th century.
Olivier is the son of French aristocrats who – like de Tocqueville's parents – have narrowly missed having their heads chopped off during the Revolution. A spindly, short-sighted boy with terrible handwriting, he's a colossal snob who believes, unthinkingly, in the rights of the aristocracy to lord it over anyone lower down the social ladder.
Parrot – so called because of his carrot-coloured hair – works with his father at a printers in Devon where he becomes an early devotee of the works of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. After his father is arrested for forging counterfeit currency, the 12-year-old Parrot flees to Paris and ends up working for Olivier's family. When Olivier is dispatched to America to investigate their penal system – as was de Tocqueville – he finds that he's been saddled with Parrot as his servant-cum-secretary.
The two men take an immediate loathing to one another: Olivier suspects – rightly – that Parrot has been sent to spy on him by his parents, while Parrot bitterly resents being another man's chattel. In America, Olivier finds to his horror that he can't take any money out of the bank without Parrot's approval – his parents have made Parrot the cosignatory to his account.
But slowly their relationship changes. Enmity gives way to tentative friendship, and then to a kind of codependence. However, it's not just their relationship that changes; their philosophies do, too. Both are forced to reinvent themselves. Initially appalled by the notion of democracy, Olivier becomes smitten by it – despite his recognising what excesses it could easily be capable of.
Like de Tocqueville, Olivier embarks on a huge study of American social and political life. Meanwhile, Parrot – after a sticky start – eventually flourishes in the land of opportunity, even if for him the pursuit of liberty becomes indistinguishable from the pursuit of money.
All this may make Parrot and Olivier in America sound a little dry, a little theoretical. In fact, there are scenes here as dramatic and as poignant as any Carey has ever written. His evocation of Parrot's childhood is plainly – and deliberately – reminiscent of Dickens. And throughout the book there are various Dickensian moments – an account of Parrot being incarcerated in an underground prison in New York, as well as a brilliantly engineered reunion towards the end. But whereas most writers who attempt to evoke Dickens end up producing thin, tuneless versions of the original, there's nothing cod, nothing timid about Carey. You don't just get a few tinny triangles banging away with him; you get the whole orchestra blowing the roof off.
At the same time, Parrot and Olivier contains some wonderfully funny moments, perhaps most of all the one when Olivier dictates a letter to Parrot in which he gives a gleefully graphic account of how he has just slept with Parrot's girlfriend – "Dear Mamma, I rogered her. I laid her on the floor and when the gift was all unwrapped found a willing partner, a Marseilles animal, who refused to be contained by the narrow space between the bunks."
And then there are the images…It's hard to think of any other writer who would come up with such a richly evocative description of hats as "small black dinghies beached upon their wigless heads". Or who would write of a door – "an awful door" – that it "leered slowly open on its hinges".
Like Carey's 2001 Man Booker Prize-winner, True History of the Kelly Gang, Parrot and Olivier in America has an epic historical sweep to it. Yet for all the novel's virtues, the book can't muster the same emotional impact as its predecessor. In part, this is due to the nature of the story. However, there are other factors, too. The friendship between the two men comes to feel increasingly contrived. Sparring away with one another, Parrot and Olivier work wonderfully well, but once they've buried their differences, they tend to lose definition as well as edge.
Similarly, the respective love stories – Parrot's with a painter called Mathilde, Olivier's with a Southern belle – never entirely convince. In the end, the novel's richness can't disguise the fact that the plot rather lags behind the ideas driving it. That said, it's still one hell of a ride.
Why a 2-in-1 dress could be the most useful purchase you make this season
By Bethan Holt 22 Jan 2022, 6:00am


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Search for: "Andy Taylor" Results 1 - 20 of 204
Sheriff Andy Taylor on taping attorney client communications
3 Jul 2012, 9:09 am by John Steele
Here, Sheriff Andy Taylor, played by Andy Griffith (RIP) teaches Opie that it's wrong to tape attorney client communications. [read post]
Legal Ethics Forum - http://www.legalethicsforum.com/blog/
A Tribute to the late Andy Griffith
5 Jul 2012, 4:30 am by Stuart Mauney
Sheriff Andy Taylor was a resident of Mayberry, North Carolina. [read post]
Abnormal Use: An Unreasonably Dangerous Products Liability Blog - http://www.abnormaluse.com/
ANDY GRIFFITH HAS DIED. I prefer to remember him as Sheriff Andy Taylor, rather than as a shill for…
3 Jul 2012, 9:20 am by Glenn Reynolds
I prefer to remember him as Sheriff Andy Taylor, rather than as a shill for ObamaCare. [read post]
Andy Griffith Dies (1926-2012)
Griffith, who played the gentle and wise Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry, North Carolina in "The Andy Griffith Show" in the 1960s and later Ben Matlock in "Matlock" from 1986 to 1995, became a familiar face not just in the US but around the world as well as a pop culture icon. [read post]
Law & Humanities Blog - http://lawlit.blogspot.com/
Case Preview: Andy Warhol Foundation v. Bugarin
15 Mar 2016, 11:57 am by Jessica Preis
By Jessica Preis* In 2014, Agusto Bugarin, a one-time associate of Andy Warhol (b. 1928- d. 1987) found himself accused of stealing various Warhol works, including the extremely valuable piece entitled, Liz (the "Work"), portraying the actress, beauty icon, and business woman Elizabeth Taylor. [read post]
Koppelman on Taylor's "A Secular Age"
11 Feb 2009, 4:25 pm
Charles Taylor's "A Secular Age" has been mentioned here at Prawfs before. [read post]
PrawfsBlawg - http://prawfsblawg.blogs.com/prawfsblawg/
Kentucky enacts law restricting use of no-knock warrants on anniversary of Breonna Taylor's death
11 Apr 2021, 3:52 pm by Heidi Johnson | Vermont Law School, US
Several of Breonna Taylor's family members stood behind Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear during the bill signing ceremony, and watched as he signed the bill into law. [read post]
JURIST - Paper Chase - http://www.jurist.org/paperchase/
A ONE-DAY-ONLY SALE: Andy Griffith: The Complete Series. UPDATE: Reader Jim Breed writes: "Do…
26 Oct 2010, 6:00 am by Glenn Reynolds
" Well, there was always a pretty sharp distinction between the character Andy Taylor and the actor Andy Griffith. [read post]
Will Elizabeth Taylor's Family Fight Over Her Fortune?
27 Mar 2011, 5:36 pm by Andrew & Danielle Mayoras
By Andy and Danielle Mayoras, co-authors of Trial & Heirs: Famous Fortune Fights! [read post]
The Probate Lawyer Family Feud Blog - http://www.probatelawyerblog.com/
6 Feb 2019, 3:10 am by Family Law
From CNN: For months, someone was trying to change Andy Taylor's sexuality. [read post]
Family Law Prof Blog - http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/family_law/
No indictments in death of Breonna Taylor, one officer indicted for wanton endangerment
24 Sep 2020, 5:40 am by M. Tyler Gillett | U. Pittsburgh School of Law, US
Breonna Taylor's death. [read post]
Quirky, Yes; Copyright or Trademark Infringer, No
8 May 2007, 8:26 pm
District Judge John Shabaz on Friday dismissed the lawsuit brought by Andy Samuel Griffith, who played Sheriff Andy Taylor on the popular 1960s TV series. [read post]
Sivacracy.net - http://www.sivacracy.net/
Andy Griffith (1926-2012)
3 Jul 2012, 11:44 am by Lovechilde
" -- Sheriff Andy Taylor (from the Andy Griffith Show) [read post]
Fair and Unbalanced - http://fairandunbalancedblog.blogspot.com/
Breonna Taylor grand jurors seek impeachment of Kentucky AG Cameron
25 Jan 2021, 11:07 am by Sarah Kimball Stephenson | U. Nevada Las Vegas School of Law, US
Four Kentuckians sought to impeach Governor Andy Beshear in January over COVID-19 restrictions. [read post]
Celebrity Legacies: Elizabeth Taylor's Estate Sets Gold Standard
16 Feb 2015, 5:45 am by Danielle & Andy
Celebrity Legacies is a documentary series airing on the Reelz cable channel featuring Danielle and Andy Mayoras and other experts. [read post]
Lawsuit Over Portrait Splits Warhol Family
13 Dec 2014, 6:00 am by Gerry W. Beyer
The recent lawsuit by the Andy Warhol Foundation over a Warhol portrait of Elizabeth Taylor has pitted Warhol's nephews against each other, with foundation trustee Donald Warhola on one side and his cousins James and George Warhola speaking up on... [read post]
Secularism and Self-Deception
25 Jan 2015, 7:29 pm by Steve Shiffrin
Meanwhile Andy Koppelman has reminded me that Charles Taylor has a subtle account of the relationship in his magisterial A Secular Age. [read post]
Religious Left Law - http://www.religiousleftlaw.com/
Chicago Man Charged with DUI in Party Bus Crash on Eisenhower
Andy Darrell Taylor, 28, of Chicago, was charged with DUI after allegedly sideswiping a party bus on the Eisenhower Expressway. [read post]
Chicago DUI Lawyer Blog - http://www.chicagoduilawyerblog.net/
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Recently I was talking with a colleague about the "elevator pitch". She looked at me funny and said "what's an elevator pitch?" Of course, I explained it to her.
But, the point of this story is that there may be people in business today who are not familiar with this concept. That means those who know what it is, can create and deliver one, may have a leg up in the job market. So…what is it?
Allow me to begin with a story.
What did you study and what are you planning to do?
Turns out Joe was the owner of a start up and had been looking for someone to help with his social media strategy. Sara was soon after hired by Joe.
So, what happened in this story? Two college graduates walk into a party with the same degree. Only one walks out with a job. Where did Jack go wrong and Sara go right? What did Sara know that Jack didn't know?
The answer is simple. Jack was unable to articulate who he was and what he wanted. He probably thought that his degree and resume would do all the work for him. Sara, on the other hand, knew that her resume was lazy and wouldn't be getting her a job any time soon and that if she wanted to land a great job opportunity she had to be ready at a moment's notice to sell herself. In short, Sara had her elevator pitch ready to go.
It is very simple: A brief and to-the-point explanation of who you are and what you want, that ends in an "ask." It is called an elevator pitch based on the idea that you may have 15 to 30 seconds, the time it takes to ride from one floor to the next, to sell yourself to the person riding the elevator with you. That person may be a hiring manager, someone of influence, or someone who can simply offer you advice or help you make a connection.
Of course, as evident in our story of Jack and Sara, the opportunity to sell yourself may come at unexpected times – not just in elevators – so you should always be ready.
Let's face it. Your resume is lazy. Don't expect it to do all the work for you. Get yourself an elevator pitch today.


"Blue sky, sunshine, what a day to take a walk in the park.
Ice cream, day dream till the sky becomes a blanket of stars.
What a day for pick-in' daisies, and lots of red balloons.
And what a day for hold-in' hands and be-in' with you."
One of my Favorite 60's groups (1966-1969) was out of Chicago, headed up by female lead vocal, Elaine 'Spanky' McFarlane, and appropriately called Spanky and Our Gang.
Other group members included Malcolm Hale, Oz (Paul) Bach, Nigel Pickering, Lefty Baker (true name Eustace Britchforth), John Seiter, and Kenny Hodges. The group did not release many songs, but several of them, particularly, Sunday Will Never Be The Same (performed June 18, 1967 on the Ed Sullivan variety show), Lazy Day, and Like to Get to Know You, embody the idealism of that era, and are timeless.
Spanky's powerful voice, great supporting harmonies, and song arrangements, are what made for such a unique sound.
Tragically, group member Malcolm Hale died in 1968, as did Lefty Baker in 1971.
More recently, (September 1998), founding group member, Oz Bach, succumbed to a lengthy battle with cancer.
Oz, Sharon and family, song lyrics, as well as where to buy re-released Spanky and Our Gang CD's.
Check out the lyrics for Lazy Day--such an uplifting song!
Kind of like Sunday Will Never Be The Same, due to the loss of so many group members, Spanky and Our Gang will never be the same, but the great tunes and memories will live on forever.
Bruce Eder--Has a detailed group history that is worth a read.
Spanky was back performing March 9, 2012 at Armando's Martinez, Calif.
In December 2003 Spanky teamed up with singing legend Chris Montez performing at the San Carlos 60's Music Festival. Thanks to Leslie Sahlen for helping organize the event, and allowing the use of these photos.
2003 San Carlos Music Festival, Sonora, Mexico.
Thanks go out to "Spankette" Leslie Sahlen for encouraging Spanky to perform, and helping organize Curleyfest.
Spanky along with Nigel Pickering, and Kenny Hodges put on a reunion concert at the Trade Winds Lounge in St. Augustine, Florida, March 14, 1999. Also present was Mama Blue (a key figure in Our Gang's genesis), Sharon Bach, Belinda Bach (Sharon and Oz Bach's daughter who is also a song writer and musician), John Brown, and Curley Tait, former manager of Spanky & Our Gang, among others.
For more pictures, please see Sharon Bach's photo montage from the gathering.
Spanky and Our Gang member Nigel Pickering, who reportedly fell and broke a hip.
Another key figure in the evolution of Spanky and Our Gang has unfortunately met her maker. Lorraine Marie Blue (best known as Mother Blue and/or Mama Blue) passed away in her sleep on June 16, 2000 at 3:45 AM of lymphoma at her home in Sacramento.
A memorial was held on July 29, in Sacramento, and was also observed at other locations by friends not able to attend. Spanky, Ginni Clemmens, and other friends wrote and performed songs in her honor. Donations may be made in her name to the American Cancer Society. Please see Sharon Bach's Mother Blue memorial page.
The following pictures (Click To Enlarge) are from a compilation called Spanky's Greatest Hit(s), which is no longer in distribution. Thanks to Sharon Bach for identifying the band members, and her personal insights.
"In the choir robes (pose from the Smothers Brothers show incidentally - they were singing Leopard Skin Phones, alternating between brightly colored 'mod' clothes in front of a huge stereo system and the choir robe pose) They are, from left to right, front row, Nigel (Pickering), Spanky (McFarlane), John (Seiter), back row, Kenny (Hodges), Lefty (Baker)." (Click To Enlarge) "In the solo photo is Malcolm (Hale), who passed away before the final release of the 3rd album. He does perform on that album, however."
Vintage Spanky and Our Gang "Making Every Minute Count".
45 RPM vinyl record cover. 69 cents, what a deal!
Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane with The New Wine Singers, a group that preceded Spanky And Our Gang. This is the LP "The New Wine Singers At The Chicago Opera House."
Thanks to Jim F. for providing the LP images (Click To Enlarge) Elaine "Spanky" (pictured at the microphone) with The New Wine Singers "The New Wave. Wonder if this was one of the first uses of the term "New Wave," in the music world?
Sheet music for Lazy Day, Like To Get To Know You, Making Every Minute Count.
Spanky & Our Gang, Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, Texas February 20, 1977 Distance-Sunday Will Never Be The Same, 45 picture sleeve.
--Sharon Bach's Spanky And Our Gang Web Portal--A must see gateway to all things Spanky And Our Gang produced by wife of founding group member Oz Bach.
Disclaimer: This is not an official website for Spanky And Our Gang (one does not exist), but simply a fan tribute page.


UNDP de-mining division sources too concur with the SLA, claiming that no minefield was newly laid in Manalkaadu.
However, the villagers continue to insist that they saw the military laying mines and show cattle that were injured in explosions in the area where they say land mines were laid in Manalkaadu.
Mr. Asokananda is a resident of Thunnalai East who ekes out a living by chopping firewood, relatives said.
He has been admitted to the Pt. Pedro Base Hospital.


NEW YORK – The free-agency questions await Kevin Durant, and he remains adamant about swatting them away as if he were protecting the rim.
Durant has maintained he has not decided his future. He only said he wants to keep his options open. Although Warriors majority owner Joe Lacob expressed optimism recently that Durant will re-sign next summer, others around the team admit they have no idea what he might do. Durant does not want to answer those questions, anyway. He is more than willing to address topics, though, that pertain to the Warriors after winning two NBA championships and two Finals MVPs in consecutive seasons. Issues that may or may not influence his decision to stay with the Warriors.
Did Durant have any selfish motives when he became a ball dominant, isolation player in the Warriors' seven-game series against the Houston Rockets in the 2018 Western Conference finals?
After winning two consecutive NBA titles with three other All-Stars in Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, would Durant like a bigger role on another team?
How much value does he put in the Warriors' synergy that has involved daily conversations with general manager Bob Myers and frequent talks with coach Steve Kerr?
In other words, if Durant were to leave the Warriors, it appears it would have nothing to do with them. It would have everything to do with Durant. Golden State is the presumed favorite to win another NBA championship this season. Durant can re-sign with the Warriors up to five years for $221 million. Durant has business partnerships and philanthropic projects in the Bay Area.
Without directly addressing free agency or the factors that will determine his decision, Durant explained why he has felt comfortable with the Warriors for reasons beyond collecting championships and Finals MVP trophies. He also expressed appreciation for how he has developed as a player and thrived in an environment that he says remains free of individual agendas.
Durant obviously has not been with the Warriors his whole career. He joined Golden State as a free agent in 2016 after spending his first nine seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder franchise. Durant appeared in six NBA playoffs and one NBA Finals during that span, but he never collected a championship ring. The Thunder also squandered a 3-1 series lead to Golden State in the 2016 Western Conference finals. Questions arose during and after Durant's departure about his dynamic with and Russell Westbrook.
No such issues emerged with the Warriors' team-oriented culture that centered on blending All-Star talent, swift ball movement and efficient shots. The Warriors' offense changed dramatically, though, in the 2018 Western Conference finals against Houston. Then, Durant took over.
That strategy initially worked. The Warriors stole Game 1 despite Thompson (6 of 15) and Curry (1 of 5) shooting inefficiently from the arc. Durant made up for that with 37 points on 14-of-27 shooting. The Rockets' switch-heavy defense partly stemmed from conceding the reality that Durant would score a lot. They tolerated Durant's scoring as long as his other teammates didn't. Durant still played efficiently in Game 2 with 38 points on 13-of-22 shooting. But the Warriors lost with Curry (7 of 19 from the field) and Thompson (3 of 11) still missing shots.
That strategy became less and less effective in Games 4, 5, and 6. Then, Durant shot a combined 23 of 63 from the field.
Durant eventually changed course and had 34 points on 11-of-21 shooting in a Game 7 win. In that same game, Curry (10 of 22) and Thompson (8 of 13) rediscovered their marksmanship. Behind the scenes, Durant said that his teammates and Kerr offered support about the public criticism he received for his high-volume shooting. Durant said the Warriors saw this as an X's and O's puzzle to solve as opposed to an All-Star-laden team fighting over touches and shots.
Durant admitted that he follows the Warriors' coverage closely. "I read all that," he said. Durant also acknowledged what the burner account and his responses to Twitter and Instagram commenters reveal. "I'm a social media guru," he said.
Durant heard that plenty when he won his second Finals MVP award after the Warriors swept Cleveland in the 2018 NBA Finals.
Durant averaged 28.8 points while shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range, along with 10.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists. He also had 43 points in a Game 3 win that included a dagger 3-pointer over LeBron James. But Curry averaged 27.5 points while shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 41.5 percent from 3-point range, along with 6.8 assists and 6.0 rebounds.
Curry immediately downplayed missing out on what could have been his first Finals MVP award. Not only did Curry dismiss the storyline to reporters afterward. He offered Durant support for winning the award afterwards in the locker room. Durant admitted this incident highlights one of many examples that illustrate how he and his teammates have refused to allow individual accomplishments to contaminate their team-oriented environment.
During his championship journey the past two seasons, Durant has relished his constant talks with those in the organization. He said that "Steve has done a good job" in communicating with players, seeking their input and offering suggestions on how to craft his system to benefit his stars and role players.
Durant found those conversations particularly valuable in his second season with the Warriors. He said those talks mostly hinged on X's and O's, such as how to run pick-and-rolls or work out of the post. Kerr recently said that Durant, Curry and Thompson have "the neon green light" to take any shot from anywhere on the court. That dialogue has often prevented other problems from emerging.
That entails relying on his versatility as a scorer and defender. Durant has wanted to set an example as "being a great practice player" that hustles during every drill, maintains a disciplined regimen, listens to feedback gracefully and offers input when asked.
Hence, Durant has embraced where he fits in with his other All-Star teammates.
Will Durant want to continue to bask in that beauty? Or will he find other options more attractive? No one knows. But with his third and potentially last season with the Warriors just starting, Durant appears content with his current surroundings.


Turn your boring car commutes into a Spirit filled high with the Mark & Ladonna Bunney 5 CD Collection Package! This package features a copy of Mark's latest 2019 Album, FORHYM, as well has his 3 other great CDs: The Art of Praise, For His Praise, and his Debut album entitled, Coming Soon. Also included is his wife, Ladonna Bunney's, 4 track EP, I must tell Jesus. This is a great package if you are new to Mark's music, or don't already yet have his material. With this package you are in for hours of blessings, it's an absolute treat!


There's much more to UNIQLO's two new retail locations on Fifth Avenue and in Herald Square beyond the opportunity to purchase items from the Japanese retailer's line of colorful clothing.
If you're like us, you took a few steps into one of UNIQLO's pop-up stores over the summer and turned around, not because you weren't grabbed by the futuristic aesthetic of the Japanese clothing retailer, but because the crowds were overwhelming. Now, UNIQLO has opened two more permanent locations: its 89,000-square-foot global flagship store at 666 Fifth Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets and a 64,000-square-foot outlet on 34th Street (the third is on Broadway in SoHo) which deserve a closer look not only if you're looking to update your wardrobe, but also from design, construction, and advanced building technology perspectives.
Each of the spaces was designed by Tokyo-based interior design firm Wonderwall in concert with executive architect Gensler here in New York. The flagship Fifth Avenue location, which opened on October 14, features a 50,000-square-foot sales floor, four glass elevators, and three 60-foot escalators, surrounded by a staircase backlit with LEDs. Over 300 LCD screens provide digital signage throughout the space. The screens were custom-engineered for UNIQLO so multiple screens could be mounted together rather than individually. 175 audio speakers complement the video installation, washing the store in a wave of sight and sound. Both the elevators and Fifth Avenue storefront also feature custom LED video installations. The 34th Street store opened on October 21 and boasts its own 46,000-square-foot sales floor, two glass elevators, 600 custom-designed mannequins, and a feature staircase, also with LED backlights.
Gensler addressed the energy code concerns implicated by the extensive audiovisual installations through the use of UV-coated insulated glass units (IGUs) and efficient, state-of-the-art mechanical and HVAC systems. Overall, the design of each store strongly emphasizes the visual display components and open spaces: the Fifth Avenue location features a three-story atrium and the stores each offer 100 dressing rooms, 50 cash registers, and hand-held inventory check-out devices. Gilsanz Murray Steficek (structural engineers) and Structure Tone (construction management) were also members of the project team that delivered the two stores.
You may recall that Brooks Brothers formerly occupied UNIQLO's flagship space at 666 Fifth Avenue, which is part of a Carlyle Group-owned, full-block retail condominium that features 200 linear feet of glass street frontage and is also home to Hollister and the NBA Store. UNIQLO's $300 million lease was the largest retail deal in the history of New York City when the retailer signed up for the space in April of 2010.
Having visited the store, I was struck by how futuristic some of the design was, and how generic other areas were. Specifically product presentations could have benefitted from rethinking the retail lighting experience.
I still haven't checked it out but I'll pay attention to the retail lighting when I do. Hope everything on your end is going well- thanks for the comment, and Happy Thanksgiving!