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University of Iowa launches new online journal: "Addressing the Crisis"
Inspired by the work of sociologist Stuart Hall
The University of Iowa has announced the launch of Addressing the Crisis, a new open-source online journal that takes inspiration from the work of sociologist Stuart Hall. The journal is housed at Iowa, and is hosted by Iowa Research Online, a service of the University of Iowa Libraries dedicated to preserving and providing open access to the research and creative scholarship of the university.
In short, sophisticated essays, digital films, and art aimed at a wide audience, authors engage in the journal with the complexity of culture and of everyday life, including the historical and contemporary factors that shape social and political relations. The editors are especially attuned to the urgency of creating critical, diverse, and multi-genre work that takes advantage of the journal's digital format. The journal provides a digital space for scholars and artists to publish quality projects that contribute to their fields.
The first issue includes pieces on moral panics, policing and surveillance, higher education, labor, environmental activism, critical sport studies, and medieval studies. The pieces are written by Deborah Elizabeth Whaley (American Studies and African American Studies), Loren Glass (English), Kathy Lavezzo (English), Naomi Greyser (American Studies and Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies), Doris Witt (English), Chris Henderson (American Studies/Sport Studies), Greg Rosza (American Studies), Thomas Oates (American Studies and Journalism and Mass Communication), Travis Vogan (Journalism and Mass Communication and American Studies). In addition, it features a digital film by Wylliam Smith (English and Creative Writing). The editors of the journal are Deborah Elizabeth Whaley and Mark Anderson (Digital Scholarship and Publishing Studio).
The editors invite queries, submissions, and pitches for special issues; they should be sent to address-the-crisis@uiowa.edu.
Read Volume 1 of Addressing the Crisis here
Home > News > University of Iowa launches new online journal: "Addressing the Crisis"


This morning (August 1, 2014) we were informed that the JJ-CCR has successfully passed the CE, and is therefore available on the European market again.
EN14143:2013 - The odyssey is over!
It was a long journey, but today it is our pleasure to announce the successful CE for the JJ-CCR rebreather DiveCAN. We are very proud to be one of the first, or maybe the very first rebreather manufacturer with a CE according the new EN14143:2013 standard! The CE demonstrates our commitment to the European market and that we take the local rules and regulations serious.
Our special thanks goes to all involved people, and especially to Dave Thompson and Dietmar Inäbnit. Both of them worked extremely hard to achieve the CE. We also would like to thank our instructors and customers for there patience and understanding.
The download section of our homepage has been updated with the new CE user manual, price list and CE certification. To make it easier for you to find the right downloads the structure has been changed. All downloads for the "JJ-CCR rebreather DiveCAN" can be found in one section and everything, which is related to the older version, can be found underneath "JJ-CCR rebreather - analog"
There is a huge backlog for the "JJ-CCR DiveCAN CE Edition". We are awaiting the new CE plates from our supplier and as soon as we get them, everything will be done to get them out as fast as possible.


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Gigi Hadid Collaborates with FAO Schwarz
The model talks holiday plans, gift giving, and her new design project for FAO Schwarz
By Lauren Alexis Fisher
Rony Alwin
Gigi Hadid is channeling her inner kid to get in the holiday spirit this year. The supermodel is no stranger to design collaborations, but her latest ventures off the runway and into the toy realm for the reopening of New York's iconic FAO Schwarz.
Making for an unexpected collaboration, the famed toy store tapped Hadid to design new uniforms for the toy soldiers at its soon-to-be-opened New York flagship. The model (dressed in an equally playful Moschino suit) unveiled her designs at a FAO Schwarz event and later on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
"They've never had someone come in and design the toy soldier uniforms," Hadid said. "So the soldiers who greet the kids at the door and are the heart and soul of FAO Schwarz will be wearing my designs. It's really cool because I grew up loving FAO Schwarz."
"I had one of the giant plush giraffe toys in my room," she recalled excitedly, "I remember going to the store as a kid and just running around, touching everything, and taking it all in. I think it's really important to have a place for kids to go experience the fun of toys and discovery."
Hadid's newly-designed uniforms feature red double-breasted jackets with gold epaulettes covering the shoulders and a tall hat with gold detailing—including some mini FAO building blocks. On Instagram, she shared a behind-the-scenes look at some of her sketches for the project.
Proving she's still a kid at heart, Gigi later danced on a replica of FAO Schwarz's famous giant piano and hugged a giant stuffed animal giraffe, similar to the one she owned growing up. For the occasion, she even got an FAO-themed manicure that paid homage to the same giraffe.
With the holidays quickly approaching, she also reflected on some of the Hadid family's favorite Christmas traditions—making us all want to get in the spirit early this year. As usual, she's planning on spending the holidays at her family's farm house.
"Holidays are always just with the family. We love going to the farm and we do a lot of cooking, hanging out, fire pits, and movie nights—stuff like that. It's just a very calm time to be together and do fun things," she revealed. "We all cook something different on Christmas. I'm usually on pie duty, so I make like five different kinds of pies, but I always like to do something fun and random. One year I made Santa's Sleigh out of candy and cupcakes, I love creative projects like that."
Rony AlwinGetty Images
As for gifts, she's not exactly sure what she's giving everyone this year, but for her, personal gifts are the most important. "I love writing notes for the holidays. I do it for my family and also for everyone that I work with, I always send notes," she explained.
In fact, all of the Hadids like to participate in writing thoughtful letters to each other on the holidays. "It's so funny because Christmas morning is not cute for us because we're crying over everyone's really long notes. We're always like 'I'll read them later!! Don't show me your note!!!" because we'll all cry. It's like 'let's open presents first and then we'll read them alone in our rooms by ourselves,'" she laughed.
The new FAO Schwarz is set to open at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in NYC on November 16.
From: Harper's BAZAAR US
Every Look from Ami Fall/Winter 2022
Every Look from Bluemarble Fall/Winter 2022
French Girl Fashion is Having A Moment in 2022
Tom Ford Launches Ocean Plastic Sport Timepiece
Gucci Joins the World of NFTs with Superplastic
Every Look from 1017 ALYX 9SM FW22
Meet the 8 Designers Debuting at Men's PFW
Watch the Prada F/W 2022 Menswear Show Live
Gigi and Zayn Are Expecting Their First Child
Yolanda Hadid Shares Photos of Pregnant Gigi
Gigi Hadid Loves the Romance of Adventure
Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik Welcome Their First Baby
Gigi Hadd Walked for Prada For the First Time
Gigi Hadid Flaunts Baby Bump in Pregnancy Portrait

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Sticky: 2014 APCT First Round: The Red Wedding Discussion Thread.
Poll: FINAL MATCH: Bartolomeo vs. Cavendish!
Poll: LET'S RAGNARÖK, BABY! A battle between the GODS of the tournament!
Cavendish: One Strawhat down, one to go ... Brook: How scary!
Poll: Filler Match - Your "favorite" One Piece topic!


On March 1, Day 60 for me, I attended the Carl Junction Destination Imagination (DI) competition. My grandson, Dayan, and his team competed and won 2nd place in their category, qualifying them for the state competition. Today, for my first, I attended the MO State DI Competition, conveniently held in Joplin this year, to watch Dayan's team compete at a high level.
The last 6 weeks have been challenging for this group of teens, most of whom are freshmen in high school. They have school, homework, extracurricular activities and lives to enjoy with families and friends. And yet, they dedicated themselves to spending a great deal of time preparing for the state competition, staying late after school and conferring with each other via texts and phone calls when they were away from school.
Their skit, "Live and Let Fly", dealt with the challenge they were given for DI: EXTREMES. Their points of interest were to explore an extreme environment, present a story in which the characters must survive in an extreme environment, design and create extreme gear that is demonstrated, and design and create a depiction of the extreme environment. As I noted in the earlier blog post, the kids create and write the skit, develop the characters, create the backdrops and props and put together the costumes, all without adult help. At the local competition I was amazed at their creativity and ingenuity.
For the state competition, this energetic group decided to improve on their skit and focus more on the extreme environment they had decided to explore, Venus. This was not an easy task when you have a team of seven, with seven different opinions and ideas. However, two of the important skills learned during Destination Imagination are compromise and learning to work as a team, giving each member a voice. They worked diligently on creating the best skit they could, that met the challenge they had been given.
I was a bit nervous this morning, as I took my seat in MSSU's Phelps Theater. I loved their original skit. How could they improve on that? Dayan's group was the first team to perform. As they set up their backdrops and assembled before the judges, I had a moment of panic. I couldn't find Dayan! Surely they wouldn't start the skit without him! Then my eyes came to rest on the tall, slender figure in the long black cape. With the hood pulled up and a mask over his lower face, only his bright, dark eyes were showing. There he was. The costumes had changed slightly. My grandson had been trying to get my attention and I had almost missed him.
I was, once again, amazed by their performance. Humorous, scientific, technology based and relevant to the challenge of surviving in an extreme environment, the skit was spot on. This is one talented group of young adults. The judges asked questions after the skit and thanked them for starting their day, and the competition, in such a great way. I loved their performance, and apparently, so did the judges. They took 3rd place at State. I'm so proud of Dayan and so proud of the team for their creativity, persistence and teamwork. Way to go! And now, enjoy some of the free time you'll hopefully have back, after weeks of hard work!
Judges, in the bright costumes, ask the team questions after the skit.


Cerebrum 2010 is well written, extremely interesting and easy to understand for the general reader. There are seventeen chapters each one dealing with a different aspect of practical neuroscience. The overall emphasis, much to the editor's credit, is to represent the real situation concerning procedures, current state of research, and probable future scenarios of this often hyped-up science of the brain.
Most chapters are co-authored by experts in their respective branches of neuroscience, they keep jargon and scientific terminology as simple as possible. So even if the reader has no prior knowledge of such things as neurotransmitters or editions of the DSM it should not effect understanding the general concepts behind the various discussions.
The range of topics dealt with is quite amazing. Ever wondered why teenagers take dangerous risks, why seniors often get swindled, or why obesity is so hard to overcome? Cerebrum 2010: Emerging Ideas in Brain Science will provide a comprehensive introduction to these topics and has plenty of references for those interested in further reading.
A Debate on "Multiple Intelligences"
This is the fourth annual edition of Cerebrum, the articles are taken from the web edition and this particular edition is dedicated to William Safire, chairman of The Dana Foundation who passed away during the final editing. Part of Cerebrum's mission is: "to provide a forum on the changes brain research promised not only in human health but also in important aspects of everyday life." In keeping with this notion the articles all discuss the science involved but with emphasis on its relationship both with society and individuals.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the present state and probable future of neuroscience. Cerebrum 2010 presents clear, well argued, and wisely cautionary investigations into most aspects of this frontier land of the brain and mind.


Making a comeback after a job break may seem tough for some women. But you can get back into the workforce just as easily as you got on your break. Here's how to do it.
No one prepares a woman for the harsh realities of when she takes a break from her career and then re-enters the workforce. All said and done, getting back into the workforce is tougher than what you'd anticipated.
Irrespective of whether you were on a maternity break, or took time off to take care of young children or elders, or if you had followed your partner to a different city or country, the so-called "gap" in your career will most definitely stick out like a sore thumb.
Often employers get fixated on this "gap" in your resume and use that as a way to either hire you with a dip in pay or totally dismiss you. In such scenarios, your self-esteem often takes a beating and you are left with nothing but despair.
So, what can you do to overcome these challenges when you plan on making a comeback? Well, you can prepare yourself in more than one way and get ready to re-enter the workforce. Here are some useful mechanisms to help you make a successful comeback and cope with the work-life post a break.
One of the most important things to do before you even begin your job search is to make a roadmap for yourself. You should write down the kind of jobs you are interested in (whether you want to go back to the same place you were working previously, or venture into a new space), analyze the skill sets required for the job, understand where to find such jobs etc.
By doing this simple task, you will understand the gravity of the situation you are in. This will further motivate you and help you move towards your end goal, i.e., to get back into work mode. This can also be a makeshift checklist of all the things you need to do before starting afresh.
Sure you did miss out by not being employed, and during this time a lot has changed for both you and the work industry. We totally understand that when you take time off during childbirth or while raising kids, you are totally cut out from the world. Because, duh, priorities!
But, once you've decided to return then you need to buckle up and start working on yourself. Understand what you have missed in all this time and see if you can catch up on a few things, if not everything.
A big part of your self-assessment will include working on your skill sets. You need to understand certain terminologies or get a hang of newer methods your company has adopted in making headway. Perhaps, you can enroll yourself in an online course if you feel rusty. Working on yourself and preparing yourself for the next step is crucial to landing yourself the desired job.
Dig into your old computer files and pull out your resume, because it's show-time! Put everything in it that you consider relevant and that can help you score an interview with any employer. Get some help if needed but work on that resume until it is impressive.
If you are active on professional networking sites like LinkedIn, you need to log in and update your profile. Often, employers make inquiries when they come across a professionally attractive profile. This is also a great way to get started if you want to search for jobs. You can always reach out to headhunters on LinkedIn and see if you stand a chance.
The next thing to do is to start applying for jobs and get the word out. A lot of job portals such as Naukri, MonsterIndia, iimjobs, JobsForHer etc are great ways to apply for listed jobs. That said, you can also seek the help of a job consultant to get started. Another way is by checking with family and friends for a referral at their organizations.
These days, a lot of companies have active returnee programs that are specifically designed to target people, particularly women who restart their careers. So, unlike the olden days where it was practically impossible to get back to work after a break, these days it is relatively easier.
If you've managed to get so much as an interview with any company, you will be able to determine what your true market value is. Don't underestimate yourself, a so-called "gap" in your career shouldn't be a setback. Instead, that should be your stepping stone to success. Regardless, of what people tell you, know your worth and work until you find the right job.
Got offered a figure you're unhappy with? Reject it. Unless of course, that's the only offer on the table for you. In that case, grab it. But, you'll see that often companies are biased when it comes to hiring people who were on a break. Somehow, that gives them the liberty to bargain with the potential employer. So, bargain right back and don't settle for less.
You know you can also do a little retail therapy to help yourself groom for that much-awaited comeback into the workplace. All you need is some confidence that you can do it and a Credit Card by your side that gives you the much needed financial liberty.


This book is by Terry Carr. It has somehow ended up under Philippa Carr booklist.
Millennia in the future, Earth has become a backwater planet, ignored by others in the galaxy. Its one jewel is Cirque - the city on the Abyss, a city of love and harmony, with inspiring religious rites.
But in the Abyss there lives the Beast, formed from the castoff hates of the Cirquians: a beast whose body is refuse, whose mind is black as sin. Feeble weapons are no match for the Beast.


Home Filmy Tollywood Chilekotha : The nostalgia of a Bygone Era!!
Chilekotha : The nostalgia of a Bygone Era!!
Upcoming Bengali cinema Chilekotha is a Biographical drama which revolves around Animesh Chattopadhyay an NRI who returns to Kolkata from America after his retirement. His son stays with his family in USA and Animesh's wife left him long ago. Animesh used to have a joint family with his favorite uncles and aunts and as he returned to the city of his childhood, memories get fresh with passing time.
Chilekotha is directed by Premangshu Roy with the star cast's of Dhritiman Chatterjee, Bratya Basu, Ritwik Chakraborty. In the movie most of incidents are shown as flashback and it takes the audience back to the sixties and seventies. You will get the charm of adda, football, Durga pujo, romance, politics, naxal movement – all wrapped in time in this movie.
Produced by Pankaj Sarkar & Bikash Agarwal, This movie seems to be built on nostalgic flavors of an era which had its good and bad times. More importantly this movie tries to capture the bonding between people of that time which is defiantly different from today's world. So to capture or get back in time, Chilekotha may prove to be a good passage for time travel. The movie is slated to release in September 2017.


text:
Q: How to generate all ways to order a vector I have a programming exercise where you need to find all the ways in which you can arrange a vector.I searched and it was showing me just how to generate all subsets.Can someone explain how do you do this?
p.s in the exercise something like 1 2 3 4 and 4 3 2 1 count as two ways.

A: Possible way to print all permutations is to use std::next_permutation.
#include <algorithm>
#include <vector>
#include <iostream>

void print(const std::vector<int>& s)
{
    for (int i : s) {
        std::cout << i;
    }
    std::cout << '\n';
}

int main()
{
    std::vector<int> s = {1, 2, 3, 4};
    std::sort(s.begin(), s.end());
    do {
        print(s);
    } while(std::next_permutation(s.begin(), s.end()));
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Kirk Yetholm, with its twin village Town Yetholm, can be found in the Bowmont Valley, snuggling at the base of the Cheviot Hills, approximately a mile from the English Border in Northumberland.
Just 7 miles from Kelso, we have the advantages of a rural location, and also benefit from our proximity to what has been described "as the prettiest town in the Borders".
The Pennine Way finishes at our village Green and St Cuthbert's Way passes our front door.
Further afield we are almost equi-distant from Edinburgh, Newcastle and Carlisle, no more than an hour and a half from any of them.
Travelling from London, a car journey takes between 6 and 7 hours, coaches and trains (just 4 hours) can be taken to Berwick-upon-Tweed. The closest airports are Edinburgh and Newcastle.
If travelling by public transport to Newcastle, Edinburgh or Berwick, we will be happy to collect you for a small charge.


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TV One
TV One's 'Uncensored' returns with Loretta Devine on Sunday, August 29 at 10 p.m. (VIDEO)
Ray Cornelius
TV One's original, autobiographical series UNCENSORED returns with a star-studded, new season premiering on Sunday, August 29 at 10 PM ET/9C. This season,…
#UPFRONT featuring Deji LaRay, David Quinn and Lee Foster (AUDIO)
Check out this week's edition of UPFRONT Inside the Entertainment Industry. It features Lee Foster, executive director of Georgia State's Rialto Center…
Watch the Trailer for 'Don't Waste Your Pretty' feat. Keri Hilson and Deborah Joy Winans
TV One announced the premiere date for its new original film DON'T WASTE YOUR PRETTY, which will premiere on Sunday, February 28 at 8 PM/7C. Based on the…
TV One's 'UNCENSORED' returns Sunday, Mar. 21 at 10 p.m. (VIDEO)
TV One announced the spring lineup of its original, critically-acclaimed auto-biographical series UNCENSORED, with all-new episodes premiering on Sunday,…
#UPFRONT feat. Salt N' Pepa + ATL Homicide's David Quinn and Vince Velazquez (AUDIO)
Check out this week's edition of UPFRONT featuring Grammy Award-winning hip hop duo Salt N' Pepa plus David Quinn and Vince Velazquez from TV One's ATL…
TV One's 'ATL Homicide' returns January 25 at 9 p.m. (VIDEO)
TV One dives into a third season of the nail biting true crime series ATL HOMICIDE, premiering on Monday, January 25 at 9 p.m. ET/8C. Viewers will reunite…
TV ONE premieres New True Crime Drama 'Blood on Her Badge' 11/16 at 8 p.m.
TV One newest suspense-drama film BLOOD ON HER BADGE premieres next Monday, November 16, 2020 at 8 P.M. ET/7C. Inspired by true crime events, this…
TV One presents 'UNCENSORED: Best of Scandals' on 11/1 t 10 p.m.
TV One's edgy docu-series UNCENSORED, which explores the private lives of some of today's most notable personalities, continues with UNCENSORED: Best of…
Urban One Elevates Michelle Rice to President of TV One and CLEO TV
Urban One today announced that veteran television executive Michelle L. Rice has been named President of TV One and CLEO TV. Since February 2018, Rice has…
TV One hit series 'UNCENSORED' highlights the best of #BlackGirlMagic on 10/25 at 10pm
TV One's edgy docu-series UNCENSORED, which explores the private lives of some of today's most notable personalities, continues with UNCENSORED: Black…


Based on our super-flexible Framework, Finance is by far a multi-purpose and responsive theme allowing you to set up your own web page without painfulness with its outstanding feature such as varied header with 5+ styles, powerful options throughout each page, post, drag & drop Page Builder, speed & SEO optimized. Use Finance to build any website.
- Add option change color button for shortcode iconbox.


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Kentucky has a feral hog problem, so snipers are shooting them from helicopters
Chris Smith Emma Austin
Leaf Chronicle
The war on feral hogs at Land Between the Lakes on the border of Kentucky and Tennessee has escalated, with plans announced last week to shoot them on sight from helicopters.
The winter campaign to eradicate feral hogs at LBL begins in November and also includes bait trapping and euthanasia, managed by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service.
Feral hogs are nonnative and threaten visitor safety, cultural sites, and native plant and wildlife species, LBL officials said.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service began assisting the Forest Service with trapping in 2014 with success, but not at a rate that keeps up with the hogs' rapid growth. In 2018, 70 feral hogs were euthanized by the inspection service. In 2019, that number grew to 124.
Feral hogs can have two litters per year averaging five to 10 piglets. Those offspring can give birth to a new generation in less than a year, making populations difficult to eradicate.
"It's going to take a lot of work and a lot of efforts," said Terri Brunjes, a wildlife biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "I can't really tell you how long it would take."
Related:'Fish fence' unveiled in Western Kentucky to stop Asian carp
Brunjes said she does believe feral hogs can be eradicated in Kentucky, though all the efforts could be undone with a single release of more pigs into the wild.
Hogs are considered feral, or wild, when they roam freely and aren't marked to show ownership. According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, wild pigs are not native to North America but have been in the United States since the 1500s, when Europeans brought domestic pigs as livestock and gave them free range around their settlements.
Reports of wild pigs began to emerge in Kentucky in the 1990s, when hunters released the animals illegally to hunt them for sport, and now wild pigs can be found "in all corners" of the commonwealth, according to the wildlife department.
The invasive species causes an abundance of problems for Kentucky wildlife and agriculture. They outcompete native wildlife for food and habitat resources, not unlike the Asian carp that have invaded surrounding lakes, and they destroy crops by upturning topsoil to feed on roots and other food sources.
The hogs not only destroy crops, native wildlife, cemeteries and streams, they also carry an array of diseases that can infect livestock, pets and humans.
See also:This video shows just how many Asian carp are invading Kentucky lakes
And, though not as well as Asian carp, hogs can swim. The boars have been known to swim the river to seek out females, Brunjes said.
Brad Robbins, USDA Wildlife Services district supervisor, said Kentucky doesn't have predators that can control the pig population, so it must be done by wildlife professionals.
The hogs are often trapped and euthanized, but helicopters are much more effective for a large group of hogs. While aerial operations have been used in other areas of Kentucky where large hog populations exist, Brunjes said this is the first time they are being used at Land Between the Lakes.
For the helicopters, the equipment and manpower have to be available, the weather has to be right, and the trees have to be clear of leaves for better visibility.
"All the stars have to line up," Robbins said. "However, when the stars line up, there's not a tool in the box that can compete with this. If you've got large pieces of contiguous real estate, and if you've got a population of pigs on that real estate, there's nothing that can compete with this."
The trained shooters will use a 12-gauge semiautomatic shotgun from treetop level.
The hogs have to be left where they are because they're often found in landscapes where it's difficult to recover them. What officials called "natural recycling" takes care of the carcasses, a process Brunjes said moves fairly quickly.
Weather:What the squirrels and trees are saying about this year's winter
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife recently launched a "report don't shoot" campaign to encourage anyone who spots the hogs to report the sighting to officials instead of shooting them.
"Hunting wild hogs is counterproductive to agency eradication efforts," Brunjes said. "Hogs that are hunted disperse into new areas and become very difficult to find and euthanize."
On top of dispersing, when hunted the hogs are capable of becoming nocturnal, making it even more difficult to track and trap them.
And as far as hunting goes, hunters have a definite interest in getting rid of the hogs, which drive down populations of deer and turkeys.
For more information about feral hogs in Kentucky, visit fw.ky.gov/wildlife.


text:
NYDFS taps former DOJ attorney as deputy virtual currency chief
The former Department of Justice trial attorney has been with the New York State Department of Financial Services for eight years.
Debra Brookes' new role with the New York State Department of Financial Services may suggest more of a focus on regulation through enforcement.
An attorney who has been working at New York's Department of Financial Services, or NYDFS, since 2013, Brookes has served in key roles in the department's Enforcement Division, Financial Frauds and Consumer Protection Division, and Consumer Protection and Financial Enforcement Division before becoming deputy virtual currency chief for its Research and Innovation Division in March. Prior to that, she worked as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice for five years, leading and participating in "complex white-collar investigations."
Though the former DOJ attorney's views on crypto have not been widely reported, she did contribute to a NYDFS report over the July 2020 hack on Twitter, which resulted in many high-profile accounts sending tweets fraudulently promising followers that they would double Bitcoin (BTC) payments sent to a specific address. That report concluded that "cryptocurrency companies had robust programs around cybersecurity, fraud-prevention, and anti-money laundering programs."
With regulatory authority over many crypto exchanges and firms, the NYDFS has approved Goldman Sachs-backed crypto custodian BitGo to operate as an independent custodian in New York. The regulator has also granted BitLicenses — virtual currency licenses which allow firms to do business with customers and companies based in the state — to both global crypto payments processor BitPay and institutional cryptocurrency exchange Bakkt.
Brookes works under Jon Blattmachr, who has been the NYDFS' virtual currency chief since October 2020.
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text:
From Berkman Klein Google Summer of Code Wiki
BerkmanSysop (talk | contribs)
(→Media Cloud)
(→Project Opportunities)
====[[Lumen]]====
Lumen [https://lumendatabase.org/] is a website, database and research project studying cease and desist letters concerning online content.<br>
====[[Book-a-Nook]]====
Book-a-Nook is an online tool to activate community spaces, with a particular focus on libraries.
====[[Dotplot]]====
Dotplot is a visualization that allows one to tell a story about data.
====[[Curricle]]====
Curricle aims at developing a lively, interactive, playful mode of navigating curricular programming and choices not as catalogue than as the experience of a landscape of intersecting ways.
====[[Internet Monitor]]====
1 Welcome to Berkman Klein Center Google Summer of Code 2018
1.1 What is GSoC?
1.2 Who are we?
1.3 Contact Us
2 Project Opportunities
2.1 Loosely Defined
2.1.1 CLA Commons
2.2 Tighter Defined
2.2.1 Media Cloud
2.2.2 Question Tool
2.2.3 Lumen
2.2.4 Dotplot
2.2.5 Internet Monitor
2.2.6 TagTeam
3 How to Apply
3.1 Application Template
Welcome to Berkman Klein Center Google Summer of Code 2018
What is GSoC?
Basically, it's where you spend your summer writing code for awesome open source projects:
Google Summer of Code is a global program focused on introducing students to open source software development. Students work on a 3 month programming project with an open source organization during their break from university.
Since its inception in 2005, the program has brought together almost 11,000 student participants and 10,000 mentors from over 113 countries worldwide. Google Summer of Code has produced over 50 million lines of code for 515 open source organizations.
As a part of Google Summer of Code, student participants are paired with a mentor from the participating organizations, gaining exposure to real-world software development and techniques. Students have the opportunity to spend the break between their school semesters earning a stipend while working in areas related to their interests.
In turn, the participating organizations are able to identify and bring in new developers who implement new features and hopefully continue to contribute to open source even after the program is over. Most importantly, more code is created and released for the use and benefit of all
The official GSoC homepage describes how it works and what it involves.
The GSoC Wikipedia entry also includes some interesting background information.
The Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University was founded to explore cyberspace, share in its study, and help pioneer its development. We represent a network of faculty, students, fellows, entrepreneurs, lawyers, and virtual architects working to identify and engage with the challenges and opportunities of cyberspace.
We investigate the real and possible boundaries in cyberspace between open and closed systems of code, of commerce, of governance, and of education, and the relationship of law to each. We do this through active rather than passive research, believing that the best way to understand cyberspace is to actually build out into it.
Our faculty, fellows, students, and affiliates engage with a wide spectrum of Net issues, including governance, privacy, intellectual property, antitrust, content control, and electronic commerce. Our diverse research interests cohere in a common understanding of the Internet as a social and political space where constraints upon inhabitants are determined not only through the traditional application of law, but, more subtly, through technical architecture ("code").
As part of our active research mission, we build, use, and freely share open software platforms for free online lectures and discussions. We also sponsor gatherings, ranging from informal lunches to international conferences, that bring together members of our diverse network of participants to swap insights – and sometimes barbs – as they stake out their respective visions for what the Net can become. We also teach, seeking out online and global opportunities, as well as supporting the traditional Harvard Law School curriculum, often in conjunction with other Harvard schools and MIT.
Read more about the Berkman Klein Center at our homepage.
We prefer email, though also run an IRC channel.
Email: gsoc@cyber.harvard.edu
IRC: irc://irc.freenode.net/berkman-gsoc IRC logs here
Project Opportunities
There are several GSoC 2018 projects at the Berkman Klein Center:
Loosely Defined
CLA Commons
Do you think Contributor License Agreements (CLAs) are confusing? What if there were a way to make the equivalent of what Creative Commons is for Copyright for CLAs? The aim of this project is to do just that. Partnering lawyers, researchers and technologists at Harvard Law School and beyond to come up with good and useful technology and law.
Tighter Defined
Media Cloud is an open source platform for studying media ecosystems co run by The Berkman Klein Center at Harvard University and the Center for Civic Media at the MIT Media Lab.
Question Tool
A tool for asking and voting on questions during events or classes. Written in Javascript using the Meteor.js framework.
Lumen [1] is a website, database and research project studying cease and desist letters concerning online content.
Dotplot
Internet Monitor
Internet Monitor's [2] aim is to evaluate, describe, and summarize the means, mechanisms, and extent of Internet content controls and Internet activity around the world.
TagTeam
TagTeam [3] is a versatile, open-source social-tagging platform and feed aggregator.
Applications open March 12, 2018 at 12:00 (EDT) / 16:00 (UTC). You must submit your application via GSoC: https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/get-started. We will not be able to accept or process any application in any other way. Please use the below application template when submitting your application.
All proposals must be submitted by March 27, 2018 at 12:00 (EDT) / 16:00 (UTC). We will not be able to accept or process any application in any other way.
Application Template
Berkman Klein Application template for GSoC. This is the preferred template for submitting your application to work on a Berkman Klein Center project.
Answers to commonly asked questions. This includes a set of requirements around working hours, who can apply, other commitments you might have for the summer. Please read!
Retrieved from "http://cyber.harvard.edu/gsoc/?title=Main_Page&oldid=546"
About Berkman Klein Google Summer of Code Wiki


by Zindel V. Segal, Ph.D.
It was kind of outrageous. There is no other way to describe my initial reaction to being told that teaching mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) would require that I begin practicing meditation myself. I wasn't the only one who felt that way either.
Mark Williams and John Teasdale shared similar reservations during our first visit to the Centre for Mindfulness at UMass Medical Centre in 1993. Still, Jon Kabat-Zinn, and a number of the senior mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) teachers whose groups we observed, were adamant on this point. To be fair, we could see that they were only asking us to follow best practices as they understood them. However, as cognitive therapists, we had seen our patients develop the same decentering skills and metacognitive awareness that training in mindfulness provided--through the structured exercises and thought record work that are at the core of cognitive therapy (CT).
Thinking about colleagues who might be interested in utilizing MBCT, I couldn't see the justification for requiring a personal practice and also worried that insisting on it might turn out to be an impediment to broader uptake and dissemination. Things became a lot less theoretical when running my first MBCT pilot groups. At this point, I still wasn't practicing and viewed that component of the program as akin to relaxation training. What could be wrong with my leading the in-class meditation practices and then distributing audiotapes (remember this was back in 1995-96) to participants for their home practice?
Since mindfulness meditation was a pivotal element in MBCT, I listened carefully when group members described what arose for them when they practiced. What became increasingly clear was that my approach to working with participants' reports of strong, often negative, affect was very much determined by my prior CT training. How could it have been otherwise? My stance was essentially one of assimilating the practice into the frame and goals of CT. It allowed me to be attentive to their experiences, but did not fully convey the insights about emotional regulation that come from practicing myself. It took me a year or so of reflection and discussions with John and Mark to figure out that MBCT, at its core, is quite distinct from relaxation and standard psychotherapies formats.
Feeling that I needed to learn about mindfulness from the inside, I took the plunge and started to practice regularly in 1996.
At three years from my first point of contact with the mindful community, some may ask, "What took you so long?" while others may be relieved to learn this, perhaps because their own trajectories were similarly gradual. Now, 20 years later, this issue has resurfaced in an interesting way. In developing our therapist training tools, Mindful Mood Balance for Professionals and the 3-Minute Breathing Space, I wanted to make sure we honoured the lessons learned from my earliest forays as an MBCT teacher. In other words, we wanted to avoid training others to teach in the absence of grounding in practice.
As a result, both programs are predicated on the assumption that users already have a regular contemplative practice and that the skills they will acquire will be layered upon this understanding. If a novice approaches the programs, the first resources we provide are to help them develop a practice, before proceeding with the training. Yes, it might be frustrating at first, especially if MBCT's manualized structure implies that it can simply be delivered off the shelf. As I learned early on, you first have to open yourself up and install the proper perspective before you can open the box and deliver the program.


text:
I listened to the unabridged audio version of When Germs Travel: Six Major Epidemics That Have Invaded America and the Fears They Have Unleashed by Howard Markel and narrated by Steven Jay Cohen.
I essentially stumbled upon When Germs Travel on Chirp when it became one of Chirp's limited time audiobook deals. I decided to give this nonfiction book a try despite the fact that I'm still squeamish around anything epidemic or pandemic related due to the Covid-19 pandemic... But my fascination to learn more about six epidemics that invaded America was the major impetus to listen to When Germs Travel.
Tuberculosis, Bubonic Plague, Trachoma, Typhus, HIV/AIDS, and Cholera are the six epidemics discussed in much detail in their own individual chapter within When Germs Travel. Not only do we learn about each disease, but also a lot of the history on how each disease traveled into America and more. Sometimes, the historical information provided was a bit much. Also, a better narrator could have been chosen for When Germs Travel. Who wants to listen to a flat, monotone reader?
Below is the summary for When Germs Travel: Six Major Epidemics That Have Invaded America and the Fears They Have Unleashed by Howard Markel from Goodreads:
The struggle against deadly microbes is endless. Scourges that have plagued human beings since the ancients still threaten to unleash themselves; new maladies are brewing that have yet to make their appearance in the headlines; lethal germs employed as weapons of warfare and terrorism have reemerged as a worldwide menace. Regardless of their mode of attack, microbes exist to multiply, thrive, and find new hosts; they cross national boundaries and social classes, attacking without prejudice.
Now medical historian and pediatrician Howard Markel, author of Quarantine! ("Engrossing . . . Meticulously documented" —Sherwin Nuland, The New Republic), tells the story of six epidemics that broke out during the two great waves of immigration to the United States—from 1880 through 1924, and from 1965 to the present—and shows how federal legislation closed the gates to newcomers for almost forty-one years out of fear that these new people would alter the social, political, economic, and even genetic face of the nation.
Markel writes about tuberculosis today, the most serious public health threat facing the contemporary world. He writes about bubonic plague and how it came to this country in the early twentieth century; about trachoma in the years before World War I; about Ellis Island and how an East European rabbi was diagnosed and treated for the dreaded eye infection; about typhus fever and an epidemic on the Texas-Mexico border in the aftermath of Pancho Villa's revolution; and about AIDS, the Haitian exodus, and the early years of the AIDS epidemic.
Markel explains how immigration in the twenty-first century is characterized by porous borders, rapid travel, and scattered destinations. While more than 75 percent of all immigrants during the first great wave of immigration came through New York Harbor, transportation today allows travel to all parts of the United States from the farthest reaches of the globe, giving public health physicians little opportunity to definitively diagnose infectious diseases that can incubate silently in a traveler, making the spread of epidemics far more than a theoretical concern.
Markel looks at our nation's response to the pathogens present in our midst and examines our foolhardy attempts at isolation and our vacillation between demanding a public health system so punitive that it worsens matters rather than protects and settling for one that is too lax; how we are fascinated with all things infectious and then hardly give microbes a second thought; how the United States, a country that since its inception has prided itself on being a nation of immigrants, continues its tradition of blaming newcomers for its physical and social ills; and how globalization, social upheaval, and international travel render us all potential inhabitants of the so-called Hot Zone. Finally, Markel puts forth a plan for a globally funded public health program that could stop the spread of epidemics, help eradicate certain diseases, and protect us all.
I am giving When Germs Travel: Six Major Epidemics That Have Invaded America and the Fears They Have Unleashed by Howard Markel a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.
Labels: Audiobooks, Books, Nonfiction, Reading
The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass
I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass and narrated by Elizabeth Klett earlier this month. I must admit I was initially captivated by cover art for The Walled Garden, which I think is a lovely book cover.
When I looked past the cover art for The Walled Garden and read the summary for this novel, I knew I wanted to read this novel! I enjoy reading novels that fall into the historical fiction and mystery genres that also contain a touch of romance in them.
The Walled Garden has a lovely premise and storyline. However, I didn't like three of the minor characters and some of the over the top, dramatic behavior of a few of the other characters in this novel. I also suspected what the 'mystery' was well before it was revealed at the end by the author. Otherwise, a decent read for the most part.
Listening time for The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass is 10 hours, 22 minutes and is well read by Elizabeth Klett.
Below is the summary for The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass from Goodreads:
American grad student Lucy Silver arrives in England hoping to solve a longstanding literary mystery, write her dissertation, and finish her graduate studies in a blaze of academic glory. But as Lucy starts to piece together the correspondence between her late grandmother and Elizabeth Blackspear, the famous poet and garden writer who's the subject of Lucy's dissertation, she discovers puzzling coded references in the letters—and when an elderly English aristocrat with a secret connection to Elizabeth offers Lucy access to a neglected walled garden on his estate, the mystery deepens.
As spring turns to summer in Bolton Lacey, Lucy finds herself fighting the Blackspear Gardens' director's attempt to deny her access to vital documents in the archives . . . and trying not to fall in love with an attractive Scottish contractor.
In the midst of this turmoil, she stumbles upon an illicit plot to turn the historic gardens into a theme park, and becomes determined to stop it. As she races against time to save the gardens, Lucy's search for the truth about Elizabeth's life leads her to a French convent where she uncovers explosive evidence that will change her life and the lives of everyone around her, ultimately revealing a home—and an inheritance—more incredible than anything she could ever have imagined.
I am giving The Walled Garden by Robin Farrar Maass a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.
Until my next, post happy reading!!
Labels: Audiobooks, Books, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Reading, Romance
The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin
For those that have followed my blog over the years, you already know that I am a fan of historical fiction novels.
I've had The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin in my 'to be read' pile for a number of years now and finally decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of this historical fiction novel earlier this month.
I had high hopes for The Fortune Hunter as the storyline sounded interesting. I didn't know much about Empress Elizabeth of Austria (aka Sisi) before the novel, but her comparison to Princess Diana had me curious about her as a character in The Fortune Hunter. I was also curious about how the love triangle between Sisi, Captain Bay Middleton, and Charlotte was going to play out in this novel as well... Additionally, I was also attracted to The Fortune Hunter as I'd heard good things about Daisy Goodwin as a writer. So, I had looked forward to reading The Fortune Hunter.
Unfortunately, I was disappointed with The Fortune Hunter overall. Although, both Charlotte and Empress Elizabeth of Austria (aka Sisi) were strong willed women and quite accomplished in their fields of interest, which I admired. However, Empress Elizabeth of Austria (aka Sisi) came off as vain, shallow, entitled, controlling, and insecure, while Charlotte Baird, a young lady of good standing and promising photographer, was a fun character to read about in The Fortune Hunter.
Captain Bay Middleton, the third main character in this novel, is a military man and one of the finest horseman in England. Captain Middleton doesn't come from money. He is well known as a ladies man among many social circles and it grew tiresome hearing everyone refer to Captain Middleton amongst themselves and to Captain Middleton's face what a ladies man he was.
Captain Middleton came off as a complete cad and gold digger after trying to win both the affection of Charlotte and also Empress Elizabeth of Austria (aka Sisi). Captain Middleton had already wooed a woman of high standing and wealth, whom had become pregnant with his child... She terminated her relationship with Captain Middleton as she was married and didn't want the social scandal associated with a married woman becoming pregnant with her lover's baby... Instead, she makes her pregnancy seem like the natural occurrance between herself and her husband.
There are a lot of twists and turns in The Fortune Hunter. But I found this novel not to my liking. Many of the characters and plot twists seemed shallow or contrived. I think I'll pass on reading anything more written by Daisy Goodwin.
Below is the summary for The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin from Goodreads:
Empress Elizabeth of Austria, known as "Sisi," is the Princess Diana of nineteenth-century Europe. Famously beautiful, as captured in a portrait with diamond stars in her hair, she is unfulfilled in her marriage to the older Emperor Franz Joseph. Sisi has spent years evading the stifling formality of royal life on her private train or yacht or, whenever she can, on the back of a horse. Captain Bay Middleton is dashing, young, and the finest horseman in England. He is also impoverished, with no hope of buying the horse needed to win the Grand National—until he meets Charlotte Baird. A clever, plainspoken heiress whose money gives her a choice among suitors, Charlotte falls in love with Bay, the first man to really notice her, for his vulnerability as well as his glamour. When Sisi joins the legendary hunt organized by Earl Spencer in England, Bay is asked to guide her on the treacherous course. Their shared passion for riding leads to an infatuation that threatens the growing bond between Bay and Charlotte, and all of their futures.
I am giving The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin a rating of 2 stars out of 5 stars.
Labels: Audiobooks, Books, Historical Fiction, Reading
These Women by Ivy Pochoda
I enjoyed listening to the unabridged audio version of These Women by Ivy Pochoda and narrated by Bahni Turpin and Frankie Corzo.
These Women is a contemporary work of fiction set in South Los Angeles with a focus on marginalized women. These Women is told from the perspective of five different women through five different sections featuring the unique voice of each of the five women in this novel.
I liked the way These Women unfolds because the voice of each of the five women helps to propel the plot forward and identify the identity of the serial killer by the end of the novel. I liked These Women for the most part as it is different from most of the novels I normally read. However, I was able to figure out who the serial killer was before it was revealed, which was a little bit of a disappointment.
Feelia is definitely my favorite character in These Woman. She's sassy and her character really pops. Feelia is a former prostitute who had survived a brutal throat slashing from the man who would decades later be caught as the local serial killer. Feelia is the only known victim to survive her brutal attack. The sad part is that the police don't even try to search for, nor apprehend the man who had attacked Feelia... The police don't have much sympathy for prostitutes as they view Feelia's attack as just the hazard of being a prostitute.
The following is a book summary for These Women by Ivy Pochoda from Goodreads:
n West Adams, a rapidly changing part of South Los Angeles, they're referred to as "these women." These women on the corner … These women in the club … These women who won't stop asking questions … These women who got what they deserved …
In her masterful new novel, Ivy Pochoda creates a kaleidoscope of loss, power, and hope featuring five very different women whose lives are steeped in danger and anguish. They're connected by one man and his deadly obsession, though not all of them know that yet. There's Dorian, still adrift after her daughter's murder remains unsolved; Julianna, a young dancer nicknamed Jujubee, who lives hard and fast, resisting anyone trying to slow her down; Essie, a brilliant vice cop who sees a crime pattern emerging where no one else does; Marella, a daring performance artist whose work has long pushed boundaries but now puts her in peril; and Anneke, a quiet woman who has turned a willfully blind eye to those around her for far too long. The careful existence they have built for themselves starts to crumble when two murders rock their neighborhood.
I am giving These Women by Ivy Pochoda a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.
Labels: Audiobooks, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Reading
New to Me Authors I discovered 2022!
I read 99 books in 2022... Most of the books I read 2022 were audiobooks. I actually listened to more books than read books in 2022, which is a first for me I'm pretty sure. Many of the books I read in 2022 were written by authors I'd never read before 2022.
Below are the top ten new to me authors I read in 2022:
1. Margaret Walker - Jubilee
2. Peter Swanson - The Kind Worth Killing
3. Helen MacDonald - H is for Hawk
4. Sarah McBride - Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality
5. Diana Rowland - My Life As a White Trash Zombie
6. Xio Axelrod - The Girl with Stars in Her Eyes
7. Rudolfo Anaya - Bless Me, Ultima
8. Glen Duncan - The Last Werewolf
9. Elizabeth Day - Magpie
10. S. T. Gibson - A Dowry of Blood
Have you read any of the above authors or books? Which new to you authors did you read in 2022? Share with me in the comment section below!
Labels: Authors, Books, Reading
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
News of the World by Paulette Jiles is a novel that had been in my 'to be read' pile for a number of years, until this year. I am happy that I finally decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of News of the World by Paulette Jiles and narrated by Grover Gardner.
I'd heard many great things about News of the World from other readers and of course, that this novel was a National Book Award Finalist for fiction... But I wasn't sure if I'd like it due to the hype and the fact that westerns are generally not my go to genre.
Let's just say that I was pleasantly surprised by News of the World. It's very well narrated by Grover Gardner. I enjoyed the main character, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, the best. I also liked the other main character of Johanna as well, however not as much as the character of Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd. The characters and storyline were both well developed in News of the World and this novel contains a very tidy ending.
Listening time for News of the World by Paulette Jiles is 6 hours, 42 minutes.
Below is the summary for News of the World by Paulette Jiles from Goodreads:
In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction from the author of Enemy Women that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.
In the wake of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd travels through northern Texas, giving live readings from newspapers to paying audiences hungry for news of the world. An elderly widower who has lived through three wars and fought in two of them, the captain enjoys his rootless, solitary existence.
In Wichita Falls, he is offered a $50 gold piece to deliver a young orphan to her relatives in San Antonio. Four years earlier, a band of Kiowa raiders killed Johanna's parents and sister; sparing the little girl, they raised her as one of their own. Recently rescued by the U.S. army, the ten-year-old has once again been torn away from the only home she knows.
Their 400-mile journey south through unsettled territory and unforgiving terrain proves difficult and at times dangerous. Johanna has forgotten the English language, tries to escape at every opportunity, throws away her shoes, and refuses to act "civilized." Yet as the miles pass, the two lonely survivors tentatively begin to trust each other, forming a bond that marks the difference between life and death in this treacherous land.
Arriving in San Antonio, the reunion is neither happy nor welcome. The captain must hand Johanna over to an aunt and uncle she does not remember—strangers who regard her as an unwanted burden. A respectable man, Captain Kidd is faced with a terrible choice: abandon the girl to her fate or become—in the eyes of the law—a kidnapper himself.
I am giving News of the World by Paulette Jiles a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.
Labels: Audiobooks, Books, Chirp, Historical Fiction, Reading, Western
Don't Look For Me by Wendy Walker
The first novel I read and reviewed by Wendy Walker was All Is Not Forgotten back in March 2018. I loved reading All Is Not Forgotten, as it was an excellent and thought provoking read.
I've wanted to read another novel by Wendy Walker ever since then. I discovered the unabridged audio version of Don't Look For Me by Wendy Walker and narrated by Therese Plummer on Chirp Books as one of their limited time deals, so I couldn't resist downloading and listening to this mystery/thriller.
I loved the suspense and tension built by alternating each chapter from the point of view of Molly Clarke followed by the point of view of her daughter, Nicole. I literally couldn't wait to see how this novel played out. I ended up finishing this novel within 48 hours.
Overall, Don't Look For Me, is a great book…. However around 90% into this novel there is a plot twist that I didn't see coming. This plot twist didn't sit well with me. Nor did this plot twist resonate well with me either as to how the plot would unfold. Other than this detail, I thought that Don't Look For Me was a great read.
Below is the plot summary for Don't Look For Me by Wendy Walker from Goodreads:
One night, Molly Clarke walked away from her life. The car abandoned miles from home. The note found at a nearby hotel. The shattered family that couldn't be put back together. It happens all the time. Women disappear, desperate to leave their lives behind and start over. She doesn't want to be found. Or at least, that's the story. But is that what really happened to Molly Clarke?
The night Molly disappeared began with a storm, running out of gas, and a man in a truck offering her a ride to town. With him is a little girl who reminds her of the daughter she lost years ago. It feels like a sign. And Molly is overcome with the desire to be home, with her family—no matter how broken it is. She accepts the ride. But when the doors are locked shut, Molly begins to suspect she has made a terrible mistake.
When a new lead comes in after the search has ended, Molly's daughter, Nicole, begins to wonder. Nothing about her mother's disappearance makes sense.
Nicole returns to the small, desolate town where her mother was last seen to find the truth. The locals are kind and eager to help. The innkeeper. The bartender. Even the police. Until secrets begin to reveal themselves and she comes closer to the truth about that night—and the danger surrounding her.
I am giving Don't Look For Me by Wendy Walker a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.
Labels: Audiobooks, Books, Chirp, Mystery, Reading, Thriller
New to Me Little Free Library in San Ramon, California!
7524 Northland Ave, San Ramon, CA 94583
Yes, I still love finding new to me Little Free Libraries! This is the first new to me Little Free Library of 2023 in San Ramon, California! It was a very cute LFL find filled with an abundance of books. I left two books and took two books.
My 11 Least Favorite Reads During 2022!
Overall, I'd say that I enjoyed most of the books I read in 2023 were pretty wonderful... However, 11 books out of the 98 books I read this year I gave a 1 or 2 star rating out of 5 stars as follows:
1. Partials by Dan Wells - I'd read/heard a lot of wonderful things about this young adult/apocalypse novel (also the 1st book in a series). So, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Partials. I didn't like, nor do I understand the hype for this novel. The characters and storyline were so one dimensional. I almost gave up on finishing this novel it was so bad, in my opinion.
2. Wolf by Jim Harrison - I wanted to branch out and try a new to me author. After I finished listening to this novel, I was like what the hell did I just listen to? Wolf was so weird/strange and all over the place. Wolf felt very stream of consciousness to me.
3. Ozoni and Onsens by Steph Gennaro - This is a short story/novella. I didn't find the storyline or characters that engaging.
4. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton - I listened to the audio version of this novel for a mystery/thriller virtual book club I joined this year. Although, I enjoyed the unique premise of this novel, it was 17 hours, 4 minutes long and had TOO MUCH going on to keep track of throughout the novel. The ending I didn't like, nor did I see the twist for this novel's ending either.
5. MatchMater Paranormal Dating App: The Complete Series by Laura Greenwood - Cheesy paranormal romance series. Need I day more?
6. Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera - Intriguing storyline that sounded like a promising one to me. In the end, I thought it was okay overall... very forgettable.
7. The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones - I so wanted to LOVE this novel. Again this was another novel I'd heard great things about, but it didn't live up to the hype for me.
8. Robbergirl by S.T. Gibson - I'd listened to A Dowry of Blood by the same author earlier in the year, which I really enjoyed. So, I decided to give this novel by the same author a try. Meh, it wasn't as rewarding as the first novel was.
9. Miss Kane's Christmas by Caroline Mickelson - A Christmas themed read in time for the holiday season that makes for an easy read. I didn't care for it much - too shallow/superficial for my taste.
10. Caught Witch Handed by Catherine Waltan - Another one of those novels with an overall mediocre storyline and over the top cast of characters. It wasn't my type of book. I'll skip the rest of the series.
11. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald - I've read a three things written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Let's just say, I don't understand the appeal of his writing and leave it at that.
Did you come across any books that didn't make the cut with you in 2022?
Posted by Captivated Reader at 12:00 AM 1 comment:
Top Ten Tuesday - FREEBIE - My Top TEN Reads From the Second Half of 2022!!!
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Below are my top ten favorite reads during the second half of 2022!! Have you read any of the books in my Top Ten Tuesday post? Let me know in the comment section below!
1. The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
2. H Is For Hawk by Helen MacDonald
3. The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
4. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming
5. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya
6. Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan
7. Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie
8. The Book of Eels: Our Enduring Fascination with the Most Mysterious Creature in the Natural World by Patrik Svensson
9. Where the Lost Dogs Go: A Story of Love, Search, and the Power of Reunion by Susannah Charleson
10. 10 Landmark Supreme Court Decisions and How They Impact Your Life by David L. Hudson
How was your year of reading in 2022?
Labels: Book Memes, Books, Reading
When Germs Travel: Six Major Epidemics That Have I...
New to Me Little Free Library in San Ramon, Califo...


I took a little trip at the weekend and escaped Brighton for a few days to visit a friend and explore Bristol. I had never been before, and even though time was limited I saw so many cute independent shops, artists' work and health food shops that I love it!
Getting to know her dog, Pippa. Absolutely adorable, and despite being deaf she was so loving and welcoming!
We had dinner at Oh Calcutta, a brilliantly modern Indian restaurant, with vibrant red walls and large prints of photographs of India.
There was wine, which I enjoyed.
It was so nice to catch up with friends, spend time in a new city and sit in coffee shops relaxing.


The Everyday Top comes in a selection of premium fabrics that vary in both texture and fit. Shown here in silk charmeuse. See more fabric options here.
Pictured here in our naturally dyed Cutch. Our colors are derived from natural, plant based materials. See more color options here.


text:
← Listening To Echoes
Making Sure Nothing Much Happens →
Dealing With the Resentful Who Don't Get Out Much
Everyone agrees Mondays are a drag. And this Monday morning, thankfully the last one of those this March, the New York Times paywall goes up – no one reads for free anymore. They've already lost Frank Rich, and now Bob Herbert. More may jump ship. Writers want lots of readers. The Times wants only paying readers. And at the level of use here – all the instances of citing their primary reporting or analyses or an important opinion piece – access to the Times would cost maybe four or five hundred dollars a year. That's unworkable for many of us, so we will all find other sources, and other things to talk about. And so the newspaper of record now becomes a boutique specialty limited-circulation publication. And it's also a decision to remove themselves from the crude and rude boisterous ongoing national conversation about the issues of the day. They'll float above all that. And there will be good things there, kind of like that fantastic seminal discussion of some hot topic in a scholarly journal that everyone only hears about, because access is denied to all but the important people. You can build up a mystique that way, but the idea seems to be that the way to return to profitability is to severely limit circulation. That's new in the news business. We'll see how that goes. Maybe you can do well by generating no buzz at all.
Yes, there are ways around the paywall – any geek can defeat it with a few judicious clicks – but that's being a bad sport, and unethical. It's stealing. And one must respect their decision, because this is America after all – you pay for something or you do without – like with healthcare. That's the argument from the right as you know. It really is a matter of personal responsibility – I pay the giant for-profit insurance company to cover any health issues that arise, and you do the same, and no one should be forced to chip in to cover the health issues of the fat or lazy or stupid, or the smokers, or those who spend far too much time at the all-you-can-eat buffet down the street instead of running three miles a day, or those who are just unlucky. We love our freedom – that's what they call this. You're on your own. Why would you want it any other way? No one should be forced to support whiners and losers.
And Paul Krugman had an item about this last week in the New York Times – America's Superiority Complex – which you might still be able to access, as you get forty hits a month before the Times shuts you out unless you pay up. The proximate cause of his comments was one more op-ed on Obamacare, as the right calls it. And it was the usual thing – my daughter would be dead if we had socialized medicine, like in Canada or Europe – and Krugman was not impressed, because it wasn't true. He notes that Aaron Carroll simply demolished it – simple facts do work wonders – but Krugman adds this about the author of the original piece:
Along the way he commits some of the classic howlers, like the one about how you can see how bad single-payer insurance is by the fact that Americans don't have to wait as long as Canadians for hip replacements, which in Canada are paid for by the government, while in America they're mainly paid for by … Medicare.
But what struck me about the whole piece was the assumption that modern medicine in general is something only we lucky free-market Americans have, while in Europe they're still using leeches or something. In other words, it is part of the superiority complex you often encounter in U.S. politics; people just know that we're the best, and won't believe you when you tell them that actually they have the Internet, cell phones, and antibiotics in Europe too.
Well, they do. But then who has ever been there?
Okay – some of us have been there. But you learn to never mention the yearly trips to Paris each December to kick around, or Arles or Aix or Avignon, or June in Rouen or London in the rain, and those two years working in Canada, down the way from Toronto – you learn to say you hated that, even if it was quite fine. And it's not that people resent you for putting on airs, or that they feel threatened or anything like that – Americans are not insecure by any means. It's more a tribal thing. You don't mention these things if you wish to me a member in good standing in the tribe, or in the American Family if you want to put it that way. Keep quiet about that stuff and you won't be dismissed as unimportant.
And that's why Krugman links to the post by Richard Florida on America's Great Passport Divide – with a cool map showing, state by state, the percentage of those holding passports:
New Jersey boasts the highest percentage of passport holders (68%); Delaware (67%), Alaska (65%), Massachusetts (63%), New York (62%), and California (60%) are close behind. At the opposite end of the spectrum, less than one in five residents of Mississippi are passport holders, and just one in four residents of West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama and Arkansas.
What are we to make of that? As a tease see this at Down with Tyranny:
Visiting China this week, Bloomberg, NYC's globalist, multinational mayor, growled about congressional attempts to prevent China from illegally dumping solar panels into the American market with the express purpose of driving U.S. firms out of business. "If you look at the U.S., you look at who we're electing to Congress, to the Senate – they can't read," he said. "I'll bet you a bunch of these people don't have passports. We're about to start a trade war with China if we're not careful here," he warned, "Only because nobody knows where China is. Nobody knows what China is."
Former Rep. Robert Wexler, then a member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, made the same observation in his book, Fire Breathing Liberal, about Know Nothing members of Congress, including members of his committee, for whom not having a passport – or even eating "foreign" food – was a badge of honor. Wexler endorsed Charlie Crist for the open Florida Senate seat and Crist lost to one of the bunch of Know Nothings Bloomberg was whining about, Marco Rubio, who's waltzing into the Senate – and many fear the national stage – after a 49% win, Crist and Kendrick Meek splitting the non-teabaggy vote.
You can go buy a copy of Fire-Breathing Liberal of course, or consider what Richard Florida says about his research:
It's a fun map. With the exception of Sarah Palin's home state, it reinforces the "differences" we expect to find between the states where more worldly, well-travelled people live versus those where the folks Palin likes to call "real Americans" preponderate. Mostly to entertain myself, I decided to look at how this passport metric correlates with a variety of other political, cultural, economic, and demographic measures.
What surprised me is how closely it lines up with the other great cleavages in America today. The statistical correlations generated by my colleague Charlotta Mellander are genuinely striking, among the strongest I have seen for virtually any measure. While my usual caveats stand – our analysis deals with associations only, correlation and causation are not the same thing – the results are intriguing and perhaps provide another window into America's divide.
You'll notice on the map above that, generally speaking, the states with the smallest percentage of passport holders – i.e., states with people who don't travel outside the country – are also the states that elect Republicans that most regularly. Mississippi is the worst, closely followed by West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama and Arkansas.
And those statistical correlations are striking across a range of indices. People in richer states tend to hold passports and people in poorer states tend to not – which makes sense, as travel costs some money – and the same holds true for educated people versus those with less education. As the item in Down with Tyranny puts it – "The kinds of folks who elect Haley Barbour, Mitch McConnell, Jim DeMint, Jeff Sessions, David Vitter don't hold college degrees – or passports. They watch Glenn Beck instead and listen to Hate Talk Radio."
But the devil is in the details:
States with higher percentages of passport holders are also more diverse. There is a considerable correlation between passports and the share of immigrants or foreign-born population (.63) and also gays and lesbians (.54). The more passport holders a state has, the more diverse its population tends to be. And yes, these correlations hold when we control for income.
What about politics? How does passport holding line up against America's Red state-Blue state divide? Pretty darn well, actually. There is a considerable positive correlation between passports and Obama voters (.59) and a significant negative one (-.61) for McCain voters. It appears that more liberally-oriented states are more globally oriented as well, or at least their citizens like to travel abroad. Again, the correlations hold when we control for income, though they are a bit weaker than the others. …
And finally, states with more passport holders are also happier. There is a significant correlation (.55) between happiness (measured via Gallup surveys) and a state's percentage of passport holders. Yet again, that correlation holds when we control for income.
There are stark cultural differences between places where international travel is common and those where it's not, and we can see them playing out in the cultural and political strife that has been riving the country over the past decades. Think of John Kerry, who was accused of looking and sounding "French" and George W. Bush, who'd hardly been overseas before he became president, or for that matter Barack Obama, with his multi-cultural global upbringing, and Sarah Palin, who had to obtain a passport when she traveled to Kuwait in 2007. The trends in passport use reflect America's starkly bifurcated system of infrastructure. One set of places has great universities and easy access to international airports; another an infrastructure that is much further off the beaten track of the global circulation of capital, talent, and ideas.
So passport-holding provides a window into America's Big Sort (that's the seminal book on how we isolate ourselves from each other) – it's a pretty good indicator for all the things that divide us. It'll do.
And Down with Tyranny adds this:
I was horrified to read in Wexler's book about how Republican yahoos bragged about having never traveled abroad. In truth, they represent their constituents' prejudices and fears very well. And circling back to Krugman, it helps explain easily manipulated antipathy, for example, for "socialized medicine," especially of the Canadian variety, an antipathy that is ingrained all over the solid South.
It all comes together, and Digby adds this:
I've always thought that America is dual tribal culture that goes back a long way. (All the way, actually.) And during this last couple of decades the differences have been particularly pronounced. But I do recall taking some comfort during the Bush years in recognizing that as much as liberalism seemed on the run here in the US, we were actually a huge faction in the West in general. Indeed, many times during that period (and today) I felt solidarity with the large number of allies in Europe and Canada and realized that our "tribe" is much bigger than it seems. (Of course xenophobes and chauvinists are a worldwide phenomenon as well, but the American version only sees them through the prism of friend or foe.)
But there's this too:
I used to believe that while Americans are certainly parochial we also had such a high rate of immigration that it mitigated it a bit and made us more flexible. And in some ways it has. We at least developed a mechanism for assimilation that a lot of countries haven't. But I've realized in my later years that it only goes so far. We might eventually absorb "the other" but only once they agree to accept American exceptionalism.
Still there is hope:
Those who travel, however, quickly learn that while cultures differ, at the end of the day humans are humans and most problems are the fault of fundamental flaws in the species, not the race or the culture or the borders. It broadens the thinking a little.
Yes it does. Just don't admit it.
And one her readers adds another factor:
I have long accepted your description of America as being of two tribes, and I have tried to determine what makes the difference between the memberships. Passport holding seems one more element.
My own opinion is that America is still shifting from a rural culture to a large city urban one, but our politics is structured on the rural setup from a generation earlier. This passport thing seems to confirm that. So does the red-blue county map of elections. I'll bet that this passport thing coincides very closely to the percentage of a state's population that lives in big cities and is second generation away from rural life. Texas, for example, has shifted from almost completely rural in the 1950's to about half urban at present. All of Texas' large cities (except Fort Worth) voted heavily for Obama.
So it is my opinion that liberals are slowly taking over here in the US also, and a lot of the franticness of the conservative movement is caused by the recognition of the rural losers that they are, in fact, losing the political game here. So they try to restructure voting to block urban voters and to gerrymander districts to maintain their power. I have little doubt that if the conservatives don't destroy America they will have completely lost power in another generation except for the rural outposts like South Carolina and Mississippi. That's why they are acting so desperate to maintain power and destroy the Democrats.
Yes, one must beware the resentful who don't get out much. Near the end of World War I there was that song that swept the nation – How 'Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down on the Farm (After They've Seen Paree) – "Imagine Reuben when he meets his Pa / He'll kiss his cheek and holler OO-LA-LA!" It's those damned French, you see. What's wrong with the farm?
There is no farm. It now part of a fully-automated Archer-Daniels-Midland multi-county complex. And Paris is still there, much as Reuben might remember it.
And as for the resentful who don't get out much, see Gary Younge in the Guardian with this:
Polls suggest there are between one in three and one in four Americans who would believe anything. More than a third thought President George Bush did a good job during Hurricane Katrina; half of those thought he was excellent.
Throughout most of 2008, as the economy careered into depression, just over one in four believed Bush was handling the economy well. As Bush prepared to leave office in January 2009, bequeathing bank bailouts, rampant unemployment, and Iraq and Afghanistan in tatters, a quarter of the country approved of his presidency.
These are national polls that span the political spectrum. So you can imagine how concentrated the distortions become when filtered through the tainted lens of the right. A poll earlier this month revealed that a quarter of Republicans believe a community rights organization called Acorn will try to steal the election for Barack Obama next year, while 31% aren't sure whether it will or not. It won't. Because Acorn does not exist. It was defunded and disbanded after a successful sting operation by conservatives a couple of years ago.
Meanwhile, a poll last month showed that a majority of Republicans likely to vote in the primaries still believe Obama was not born in the United States. He was. But no number of verified birth certificates will convince them.
Nope. These people don't get around much. Of course they don't have passports. But Younge senses something new:
What is relatively new, however, is the level of logical dysfunction and hyperbole within the American right, trapped in a fetid media ecosystem where all the Kool-Aid has been spiked. In short, what you need to say and do to be credible within the Republican Party essentially deprives you of credibility outside it. The Republicans seem to realize this, but like an obese glutton at an all-you-can-eat buffet, they just can't seem to help themselves.
When asked which of their possible contenders they believe to be qualified for the job they can think of one, Mitt Romney, and even then barely 50% believe so. The person they say they like the most, Sarah Palin, is also the one they believe is least qualified: only 29% believe she can actually do the job.
Younge goes on to cover the first caucuses in the primary process in Iowa. And he quotes Doug Gross, a Republican activist and former nominee for governor – "We look like Camp Christian out here. If Iowa becomes some extraneous rightwing outpost, you have to question whether it is going to be a good place to vet your presidential candidates." And Younge adds this:
When I saw Rand Paul speak before 35 people in Leitchfield, Kentucky, just over a year ago, he never mentioned abortion, and nor did anyone else. "I'm not running for preacher," he told me. "I'm running for office." Now he's a senator who supports slashing aid to Planned Parenthood. Meanwhile, the Kentucky legislature has recently passed a bill requiring a woman to view an ultrasound before she has an abortion.
But the strategic question of where and how to strike a balance between principle and pragmatism, or even whether such a balance is desirable, still eludes them. So too does any consensus on the kind of facts – Obama's religion and place of birth being just the two most obvious – that would enable others to take them seriously.
But would you take seriously anyone who has never been anywhere or seen anything? That tribe is not the majority any longer.
Of course Paul Krugman started all this – the buzz about what are essentially tribal claims of superiority, with a sly reference to that passport study. Lucky the New York Times will now keep him hidden away.
About Alan
The editor is a former systems manager for a large California-based HMO, and a former senior systems manager for Northrop, Hughes-Raytheon, Computer Sciences Corporation, Perot Systems and other such organizations. One position was managing the financial and payroll systems for a large hospital chain. And somewhere in there was a two-year stint in Canada running the systems shop at a General Motors locomotive factory - in London, Ontario. That explains Canadian matters scattered through these pages. Otherwise, think large-scale HR, payroll, financial and manufacturing systems. A résumé is available if you wish. The editor has a graduate degree in Eighteenth-Century British Literature from Duke University where he was a National Woodrow Wilson Fellow, and taught English and music in upstate New York in the seventies, and then in the early eighties moved to California and left teaching. The editor currently resides in Hollywood California, a block north of the Sunset Strip.
View all posts by Alan →
This entry was posted in American Exceptionalism, American Xenophobia, Travel, Tribalism in American Politics and tagged America's Superiority Complex, American Exceptionalism, American Healthcare System, American Insularity, Americans Don't Have Passports, Canadian Healthcare System, NYT Paywall, Passports Data, Paul Krugman, Personal Responsibility, Richard Florida, Travel and Humanity, Tribal Politics, Who Has Passports, Worldliness, Xenophobia. Bookmark the permalink.


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Can an English Team Win the Champions League Again This Year?
August 5, 2020 August 5, 2020 James Hill
The 2019/2020 football season across Europe has mostly been concluded but we still have the advanced stages of this year's Champions League tournament to look forward to.
Some juicy clashes are coming up and today I will be focusing on the two remaining Premier League clubs.
Manchester City and Chelsea are the only English clubs left in the competition after holders Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur were booted out in the last round by Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig respectively.
The first legs of the upcoming quarter-finals have already been played and we will know the fate of the remaining two English contenders before the end of the week.
Let's see what they are up against and whether an English team can win the Champions League again this year.
Blues fans' are probably carrying very mixed feelings regarding their season so far.
The team managed to hold on to the 4th spot in the EPL and book a place in the Champions League for next season but their form since Project Restart began has not been encouraging.
Lampard started his tenure at Stamford Bridge brilliantly but injuries and the inexperience of his young core eventually caught up with him.
Thankfully for the club, Leicester was a complete shambles in the closing stages of the Premier League, otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible for Chelsea to finish in the Top 4.
After losing the FA Cup final to Arsenal, the only thing left for the Blues is to rely on their very slim chances of overturning a 3:0 deficit from the first leg against Bayern Munich.
The German champions completely destroyed Lampard's team in a match that showed that the London outfit still has a long way to go if they are to consistently challenge the European elite.
Olivier Giroud Mason Mount's form has been very positive as of late and it's true that the French striker has found a way to score against Bayern multiple times in the past but progressing from here looks like mission impossible for Lampard and his players.
Their fragile defense will be easily exploited and although I do expect the visitors to score one or two goals, I just can't see them pull off such a major miracle at the Allianz Arena even if there would be no Bayern fans there to spur on the home team.
Manchester City lost the Premier League title to Liverpool and they were knocked out by Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final, so the big news surrounding them these days was the capture of Valencia starlet Ferran Torres.
City fans are right to be excited about the player but we will have to wait until next season to see him play at the Etihad and the focus is completely on their upcoming tie with Real Madrid.
Unlike Chelsea, City did the hard job in the first leg by beating the Spanish giants 2:1 in their own ground.
This gives them a huge chance to progress to the semi-finals as Real Madrid have never qualified after accumulating a first-leg deficit at Santiago Bernabeu.
On top of that, Guardiola has been successful in eliminating them in the past and key players Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero, and David Silva will be pumped up for the match as this year may well be their last realistic chance of putting their hands on the most coveted club football trophy.
Manchester City has gradually become more experienced in the tournament and they have both the quality and depth to challenge the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, and Bayern Munich should they wrap up the tie with Real Madrid on Friday.
Having no spectators during matches can also be an advantage as City fans are not exactly known for their vocal support.
Whereas the other big teams have a following that can make every away match a living hell for the visitors.
There is still a lot of work ahead but getting things done against Madrid and a favorable draw in the semi-finals can go a long way here.
The club will be relieved that their Champions League ban was lifted, the Premier League season is in the past and they can fully focus on the job at hand.
Conclusion and Final Words
Chelsea definitely has a mountain to climb but I really do feel that City has a chance to take the trophy this year.
It looks like all the conditions favor them and they will be much harder to eliminate than in previous editions.
Both Pep Guardiola and his players have been waiting for a CL triumph for a long time and if anything catastrophic doesn't happen, I can easily see Man City making it to the final.
Another winner from the Premier League will be a big statement after more than a decade of Spanish and German domination over the trophy.
In any case, I'm excited to have the Champions League back and hope that we're in for an entertaining business end to the competition.
Champions League, Europe, Featured Column, Premier LeagueBayern Munich, Champions League, Chelsea, Ferran Torres, Manchester City, Premier League, Real Madrid
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Graham Evans to Lead New International Insurance Platform
Home / About Us / Press Room / Press Releases /
Graham Evans to Lead New International Insurance Platform at Westfield Specialty(SM)
Westfield, a leading property and casualty (P&C) insurance company in the United States, today announced that Graham Evans will be joining the company as Westfield SpecialtySM Executive Vice President and head of International Insurance.
As a 35-year veteran of the London specialty insurance market, Evans will be tasked with building Westfield Specialty's international business, a new international platform offering multi-line capabilities. Evans will also lead the integration of Lloyd's Syndicate 1200, which Westfield announced it is acquiring from Argo Group.
Evans has a demonstrated track record for building and growing underwriting operations across Europe and Asia, most recently as Head of International Insurance at Sompo International until his departure in 2020. Prior to his tenure at Sompo, Evans held several underwriting and management positions in the London Specialty market including AXIS Capital, where he served as President, Professional Lines, Chief Underwriting Officer for European Financial Lines at CNA Europe Ltd., director of a start-up Lloyd`s operation, and manager of an international professional lines book at Chubb Insurance Company of Europe.
"Graham has an excellent reputation for building start-up operations and a significant network of relationships, both of which will be critical as we develop Westfield Specialty's presence in the London market," commented Jack Kuhn, President of Westfield Specialty.
Evans will be based in London and report to Kuhn. Contact Evans at GrahamEvans@westfieldgrp.com


Namibia is located in the southwest coast of Africa. Theeconomy of Namibia is largely dependent on industrial sectors like mining, fishery, and tourism. Namibia is rich in natural resources like diamonds, gold, silver, uranium, zinc, copper, lead, tin, granite, marble etc.
Namibia is one of the leading diamond producers in the world. Diamond Mining contributes almost one third of the GDP(Gross Domestic Products) of Namibia.Agriculture contributes a small part of Namibia's GDP(Gross Domestic Products), nevertheless, most of the job opportunities in Namibia are observed in this sector.
Major agricultural products include peanuts, millet, sorghum etc.Major industries in Namibia include mining industry, fishing industry, meat processing and dairy products industry.The energy sector in Namibia is principally dependent on oil and natural gas, specifically coal and iron ore.
Mining accounts for 20% of country's GDP.The tourism industry also plays an important role behind the growth of Namibian economy.
In 2003, GDP: $4.7 billion.


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Search Results: 'feelings'
27,097 results for "feelings"
Feel Awesome By Jey Samuel
Stories of amazing people and individuals that seemed to defy the loneliness, pain and agony they were in. They lived such awesome lives. They conquered their circumstances; they did not give in nor... More > did they ever give up. This changed my life, all of my negative circumstances and my thoughts. My hope for the reader is that what you read may touch your life, so you too can conquer your circumstances so you can live a life of peace, joy and happiness. You too can feel awesome.< Less
THE HIDDEN FEELINGS By kanaz khan
Its about a girl who feels soo much for a guy but is never able to express it to him , its a story which relates alot of teenagers nowadays . Its everything a person feels but keeps it inside... More > him/herself just to not make a joke or break friendship with that person . Its everything we teens feel but never tell anyone .< Less
To Feel Alive By Emily Talbut
Louise has never been lucky in life, losing her best friend and mother within a year, and now has a Dad who barely recognises her existence. All she has left is Cody, with whom her relationship is... More > strictly friendly, and a small but successful business where she anonymously helps girls decide whether a boy is worth dating. But one day she receives an email from Maisie, the most popular girl at school who she tries to avoid at all costs, asking for her help. The choices that follow will make life as she knows it unrecognisable.< Less
Religious Feel By Charlie Currie
Hardcover: $286.54
The definitive guide to Religious Feel. The things in life that aren't religion, not religion based or in any way involved in worship which use a methodology of some religious groups in extracting... More > money from pockets to further their own self-promotion. Charlie Currie is the world authority on the subject and Tim Rykert isn't.< Less
"Negative Feelings" By Donna-Maria Jones
I hope to reflect the power of prayer will yield victory over the negative feelings that we must face in our everyday lives.
Poetry With Feelings By Amelia Randall
Hardcover: List Price: $38.64 $32.84 | You Save: 15%
A book of feelings. Poems you can connect to in one way or another. Poems helping you to connect with the inner you. An easy read, easy relaxing, book of poems.
Feeling : Detachment By Aditi Pimprikar
This book explores the idea of detachment and desensitization due to the internet, with the help of a series of provocative images captures by google street view.When the google street view project... More > began, it captured a lot of perturbing sights. These were curated and shared on numerous blogs and social media. Is detachment experienced by the google employee while documenting these moments, equivalent to the people watching them on the screen? Discrete and subtle visual cues contrasting with dry straightforward captions endeavor to evoke and test emotions.< Less
Gutter Feelings By Pip Wilson
Gutter Feelings Pip Wilson has been on the frontline of Youth Work for many years, including much intensive work and love for young offenders. He feels with the Gutter Feelings of the toughest of... More > teenage gangs and wants, at the same time, to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. This is a book about putting Christian principles into practice and living it out – the failure, the hurt, the wounds and the hope. It is a faith journey of a human being... becoming.< Less
I Feel By Daniele Antonio Battaglia
Something to discover inside a soul full of opposites feelings. With "I Feel", the italian writer and actor, Daniele Antonio Battaglia, describes a period of his life where he felt... More > darkness so close to himself and into this book there is a collection about his new thoughts and lyrics, plus all others ones he wrote in english. Some poems and songs have been published already in other books written by the author, like "Vita nella Giungla" and "Stonehenge", but this time he wanted to focus all to the language he loves so much. In this book is possible to find also some spanish song. Here we can read "The Killer Sense" wrote for the first book of "The SharpShooter" and for which one has been made a video poem. All video poems and short films made by Daniele Antonio Battaglia are available online at his official website and on the one of the "Compagnia Teatrale Fantasma".< Less
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