text:
Mishpatim 5776
by Rabbi Nachman Kahana | Feb 3, 2016
BS"D Parashat Mishpatim 5776
Open Your Eyes – the Angels are working overtime!
In last week's parsha, Rashi states that when Aharon met Moshe after tens of years of separation, Moshe introduced his wife Tzippora and his two sons. Aharon's reaction was one of grief and hurt.
The Jewish people now in Egypt are being crushed under the yoke of slavery; why bring three more Jews into this cruel situation!?
From his reaction, it would appear that Aharon was denying or at least doubting the forthcoming exodus, because if indeed the Jews were to be leaving even within a year's time (which occurred), why did Aharon object to three more Jews taking part in the great experience?
The answer lies in our parsha.
The initial set of Halachot which was revealed to the nation after the incredible, unprecedented events at Mount Sinai, relates to 'eved Ivri' – a Jew or Jewess who is obligated to work for another Jew for various reasons, usually for a period of 6 years.
At the end of six years of work or at the advent of the Yovel (Jubille year), whichever comes first, the Jewish bondsman has the option to go free or to remain a bondsman until the following Jubilee year.
If he chooses to remain a bondsman, the master must bring him to the bet din where they pierce his ear with an awl while standing by the doorway, as the Torah states (Shemot 21,6):
והגישו אדניו אל האלהים והגישו אל הדלת או אל המזוזה ורצע אדניו את אזנו במרצע ועבדו לעלם
then his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
The Gemara (Kedushin 22b) explains why the ear was chosen to be pierced rather than any other organ:
אמר הקדוש ברוך הוא: אזן ששמעה קולי על הר סיני בשעה שאמרתי כי לי בני ישראל עבדים ולא עבדים לעבדים, והלך זה וקנה אדון לעצמו ירצע.
The Holy One Blessed He declared: The ear that heard Me say at Mount Sinai, 'The Children of Israel are MY servants and may not be the servants of servants (servants of another human being, whether a Jew or a gentile), and this man voluntarily became a servant to another man – shall be pierced.
Hashem declared the Jewish nation to be free and independent of other human beings, while serving only Hashem.
Aharon was telling Moshe that Tzippora and her two sons are the only Jews in the world who are free and independent. To bring them into a situation where they lose that freedom, even for a short time, is a sin – a chillul Hashem. Therefore, send them back to Midian and they will return to you after we attain our freedom.
A Jew in the galut is subordinate to gentile leaders and their laws. They are taxed to support many programs which are not beneficial for Jews. They are drafted into the armies of gentile nations and die while fighting their wars. Hashem declared us to be His and only His servants, which can be performed only when we are in our own Land, and under a Jewish government.
Slaves to Personal Delusion
Within the Halachot regarding an eved Ivri, the master-employer has the right to couple off the Jewish bondsman with a gentile slave-woman. The children to be born to them would have the halachic status of the mother – they will be gentile slaves of the master. The connection between the child and the Jewish bondsman who begot him, would be biological but not halachic – the man is a Jew, the child is a gentile slave, like his mother.
As stated above, at the end of six years of work or when the Yovel (Jubille year) arrives, the Jewish bondsman has the option to go free or to remain a bondsman until the following Jubilee year.
If he chooses to be a slave he must declare before the bet din, as follows:
ואם אמר יאמר העבד אהבתי את אדני את אשתי ואת בני לא אצא חפשי: והגישו אדניו אל האלהים והגישו אל הדלת או אל המזוזה ורצע אדניו את אזנו במרצע ועבדו לעלם
'… I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,' then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his bondsman for life (until the next jubilee year).
The bondman's declaration before the bet din (court) indicates that he is delusionary; living in his world of fantasy and hallucinations. At the time of his declaration his "master" is no longer such; the gentile woman he lived with was never his wife, and the offspring she gave birth to with the bondsman were never his children.
There are two broadly accepted premises within wide circles in the galut: that the State of Israel is in great danger, while life in the United States or other places in the galut is secure.
This is a bubble of delusionary virtual reality that relegates its adherents to being slaves to their personal instincts. We, in Eretz Yisrael are threatened, but are not in mortal danger. The Jews in the galut are in mortal danger.
We are the only nation in the world explicitly threatened with nuclear weapons, and there is little solace in the non-nuclear threats.
But in reality, we are in the safest place on the planet.
The Torah (Melachim 2 chap. 6) relates a story involving Elisha, the protégé of Eliyahu Ha'Navi.
The King of Aram learned that Elisha was in the town of Dotan in northern Shomron; he sent a large military contingent to surround the town with orders to capture Elisha.
The force arrived there at night and waited. In the early morning, Gaichazi, the student of Elisha, went outside and saw that the enemy had completely besieged the town. In desperation, he called out to Elisha, who calmed the young man by saying:
ויאמר אל תירא כי רבים אשר אתנו מאשר אותם:
Do not fear, for there are more on our side than there are on theirs
(ויתפלל אלישע ויאמר ה' פקח נא את עיניו ויראה ויפקח ה' את עיני הנער וירא והנה ההר מלא סוסים ורכב אש סביבת אלישע
Elisha prayed to Hashem saying, "Lord, open his eyes (of Gaichazi) so he can see (the surrounding spiritual world)" And Hashem opened his eyes, and he saw the mountain filled with horses and chariots of fire around Elisha
Surrounding Eretz Yisrael are myriads of God's angels protecting the righteous of the land.
At this point, you, dear reader, might be shrugging your shoulders in skepticism and thinking that what Hashem performed for a great tzaddik like Elisha is not necessarily what Hashem does for our lowly generation. Wrong!
Whoever thinks that the establishment of the State of Israel, the victories in our impossible wars, and the quality of life we enjoy today are not the result of God's personal intervention, is simply not thinking.
The angels are being overworked in their defense of the Holy Land. After every war, we hear tales of soldiers who swore that angels were driving them on to victory.
By every human standard, the State of Israel should have died in "childbirth" and should certainly not have attained the mature age of 67 (and most certainly not have the most stable currency in the world). We are now in the midst of Hashem's fulfillment of His promise that He will return His children to Eretz Yisrael.
And what of the reality in the galut, where our fellow Jews view their situation with serenity?
The Jews who cling to the galut are similar to the eved Ivri who declares:
'… I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free'.
Their masters are the governments of the lands they live in. Their wives are their domestic comforts; their homes, cars, boats, bungalows, TVs and finished basement replete with full size billiards table. Their children are the contributions they make to their gentile societies. Their implied declaration is that they do not want to go free, it is their admission that they pick and choose the mitzvot which serve them, and will serve Hashem only on their terms.
A bit of history:
Upon the establishment of the State of Israel, the gates of the land were thrown open, with the first law to be passed being the Law of Return.
Hashem granted the dispersed of Am Yisrael a period of time to return home, in accordance with Israel's capacity to absorb the returnees. In its first years, Israel absorbed over one million desperate Jews from Europe and Arab and Moslem lands – a feat unparalleled in all history. And all this in the midst of wars.
In these short years, the Land has embraced its returning children so that today the majority of Jews in the world have arrived home. This, in itself, proves that our generation is the greatest one since the generation that entered the land with Yehoshua bin Nun.
As modern history evolves, we see an increase in the "discomfort level" of Jews in foreign lands.
Today, it is uncomfortable to be a Jew in Europe, and in many other places in the world. We are all aware that latent anti-Semitism is as close as the Gentile at the next work desk in your office, or behind the gentle-Gentile smile on your neighborhood green grocer's face…
The reality of life has taught us that the fabric of society is thin, that it takes little to turn neighbor against neighbor and friend into foe.
But this thought does not really disturb our brothers and sisters in the galut; because deep in the recesses of the Jewish galut mind is the knowledge that if, God forbid, the situation becomes intolerable, Israel will always be there to take them in. The house in places like the Five Towns and Lakewood will always be there to be sold to finance their return to Israel, if need be. This, too, is virtual reality.
Rambam writes in the Laws of Teshuva that Hashem waits a period of time for the sinner to return; but if he does not, Hashem creates a situation in his life that makes doing teshuva a very difficult – if not impossible – alternative.
Hashem has given the Jews in the galut a limited window of opportunity to return to Eretz Yisrael. However, with the passing of time, it will become increasingly difficult to do so, until that tragic moment when Hashem will say AD KAN (no more!) and the gates will be closed.
We pray in the chapter preceding the morning "Shema"
ותוליכנו קוממיות לארצנו
Lead me upright to our land
Meaning: Permit me to return home, not as a poor refugee with only the shirt on my back (as was the case after World War Two), but upright in body and spirit, with self-pride and confidence.
There is still time for those who wish to assure their family's spiritual and physical future – but who knows for how long!


text:
Self-Driving Tech Heads To Transit With New Flyer's Autonomous Electric Bus
Published by Forbes
Billions of dollars have poured into research and testing by companies like Waymo, GM-backed Cruise, Amazon's Zoox and startup TuSimple to teach cars and trucks how to drive themselves. Meanwhile, transit was an afterthought. That's changing as North America's biggest maker of city buses has created a heavy-duty autonomous model it hopes to put into service next year.
The battery-powered Xcelsior AV from New Flyer is the first Level-4 autonomous transit bus being readied for service in North America, with testing to start as early as 2022 in a program with Connecticut's Department of Transportation. (A human driver will remain at the wheel as a backup.) The 40-foot vehicle, able to carry 80 passengers, is loaded with laser lidar sensors, cameras and radar for 360-degree, 3D vision in daylight or at night, computers, software and a drive-by-wire system provided by Robotic Research, a private engineering firm in Maryland that's created autonomous vehicles for the Defense Department for about two decades.
Navigating massive vehicles safely through urban areas is challenging, but automating transit buses has advantages relative to robotaxis, cars and semi-trucks, says Chris Stoddart, president of Winnipeg-based New Flyer. Those include fixed routes and relatively low speed.
"One of the nice things is the ability to pre-map the routes, when you can run your vehicle around that route and pre-map it so that you have some redundancy and don't have to rely completely on your various visual systems all the time," Stoddart tells Forbes. "When your average bus speed is only 12 and a half miles an hour that certainly helps."
Big tech companies have lavished resources into autonomous driving because they see the potential for billions of dollars in future revenue from ferrying riders in robotaxi services or hauling freight in semi-trucks operated by robotic drivers. While transit services also seem like a good potential fit for the technology, it's also a smaller, more cost-conscious market, and therefore hasn't been a priority for the best-known developers.
New Flyer's prototype bus and the Connecticut test program are receiving funds from the Federal Transit Administration's Integrated Mobility Innovation initiative, which assesses ways advanced technology can improve transit services.
The Xcelsior AV's ability to detect and avoid pedestrians and other vehicles, owing to its advanced sensors, could help transit operators cut down on accidents and insurance costs, which could be a significant savings long term, said Kirk Burcard, New Flyer's vice president of engineering. It's also designed to share information including route conditions and road hazards with other buses in the network to keep vehicles moving as efficiently as possible. Routine tasks like aligning the bus closer to curbs and rider platforms or parking vehicles tightly in agency depots may be done more efficiently with autonomous systems.
The system developed by Robotic Research also allows multiple buses to "platoon" in convoys, operating closely like multi-car trains in cities with high-ridership needs. The company developed a fleet of 100 autonomous heavy trucks for the Defense Department–double the number of self-driving semis currently operated by TuSimple–and has also worked on autonomous shuttles, including Local Motors' robotic Olli models, said Alberto Lacaze, president of Robotic Research. New Flyer's autonomous bus "unlocks a new era of transportation as a service, leveraging technological advancements across industries to create a safer, cleaner, more efficient, and more accessible transportation solution for the public," he said.
And while Robotic Research isn't as well known as a self-driving tech developer as Waymo or Cruise, Lacaze is confident in its capabilities. "There's probably no company that has 100 autonomous trucks or even close to the 100 autonomous trucks we have. There're probably no companies that have been deployed in 20 cities and are running autonomously right now."
New Flyer initially will build and test at least three of the robotic buses and operate them exclusively in dedicated bus-only lanes in Connecticut. Federal regulations for transit buses don't yet allow the general deployment of autonomous vehicles on all regular routes, so it could be several years before the technology is widely available. A human will also likely remain at the wheel as a backup for the foreseeable future, potentially being able to provide more service and attention to riders than is currently possible, according to New Flyer.
"Everyone is going to be cautious. We're going to be because we want to just take baby steps," Stoddart said. At the same time, New Flyer will benefit from competition between makers of sensors and other technologies developed for robotaxis and autonomous big rigs. "We're going to piggyback off of the volumes that are going to come from automotive, and trucking."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Stay in the Cabin, the Chalets, The Bunkhouse, or put up your tent!
The Cabin is located right next to the rolling creek with a covered porch overlook for beautiful views. Equipped with a double bed, pull out couch, kitchen, and bath. All the comforts of home.
Great for your weekend get away or a long vacation with quick access to some of the best motorcycle roads in the country. The Parkway is 12 miles away! $100/night for up to 4 people. Linens Included!
Our Bunk House next to the creek is our rustic rental with 8 bunks, electric, and a lot of history. $20/person with sheet and pillowcase, bring your sleeping bag or blanket.
The Chalets and Open Camping!
There are four Chalets equipped with two twin beds, power, covered porch, with a lean-to for two motorcycles. The newly renovated bath house is located nearby with hot showers and laundry available. $50/night single or double occupancy. Twin Bed Sheet w/pillow and case. Bring a sleeping bag or blanket.
Closed for the Winter Season.


text:
12/05/2021 · Published in Investigations
Mass Surveillance and Control of European Dissidence
New research carried out in France, Spain and the United Kingdom by the ENCO network, ODHE-Observatorio de Derechos Humanos y Empresas en el Mediterráneo (SUDS and Novact), Observatoire des Multinationales and Shoal exposes the impact of mass surveillance technologies used during the pandemic, on privacy.
Tools, such as COVID-19 contact tracing apps, facial recognition technology, and drones, have been presented as a solution to the health emergency but they can severely affect privacy and the exercise of civil and political rights.
Mass surveillance by states turns all citizens into potential suspects, but the most affected social groups are racialized groups, migrant communities and activists who fight for social justice.
Governments have used the Covid-19 pandemic to justify increased implementation of digital surveillance tools, arguing that this is necessary to implement social distancing measures and epidemiological control. The massive use of these technologies, which are capable of collecting huge amounts of data about people's daily lives, poses a risk to exercising basic rights, such as those related to privacy and civil and political rights.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, drone flights have increased, some of which use thermal imaging to measure body temperature, and Covid-19 tracking applications have been developed, which are capable of monitoring our movements and collecting huge amounts of data about people's daily lives. One of the most invasive technologies is the use of biometric facial recognition tools or retinal scanners. Technologies, such as telephone data extraction tools and CCTV cameras, are being deployed in public spaces and have intensified the monitoring of populations.
These are some of the trends described in 'Mass Surveillance and Control of European Dissidence' an investigation which exposes various mass surveillance technologies that have been incorporated and standardized in policing in France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, without any public debate.
"Technologies capable of analyzing flows of people are being applied to control social distancing or to alert the police if they detect certain 'strange' behaviors, such as a group of people running" - the researchers explain - "this may have a dissuasive effect on rights and basic freedoms, such as the right to freedom of movement or protest".
Despite the recent proposal for a European regulation on Artificial Intelligence announced by the European Commission, as well as initiatives proposed by civil society organizations, there has not yet been a significant public debate at national level that allows citizens to understand the implications that this technology may have on our daily lives.
Social Control in Private Hands
As part of the research, the aforementioned observatories have launched the 'Mass Surveillance' website, where you can find information on the type of technologies used, including data from 85 companies that develop, supply, or deploy the technologies described, as well as the trends observed, and recommendations for governments and activist groups.
According to the research, the Covid-19 pandemic has intensified a tendency towards public-private collaboration, in which governments and companies join forces to exercise a new form of social control in the name of health and public safety, through technology.
Published by European Network of Corporate Observatories, Shoal Collective, Observatoire des multinationales and Observatory of Human Rights and Business in the Mediterranean region (Novact and Suds).
Supported by a grant from the Open Society Foundation, International Catalan Institute for Peace and Barcelona City Council.
All the versions of this article: [English] [Español] [français]
Website of the research: http://mass-surveillance.odhe.cat
In France, pandemic and security discourse feed surveillance
Spain. High-tech surveillance in times of COVID-19
The UK Surveillance State
PDF 10 Mb


text:
Heather Morris (ur. 1 lutego 1987 w Thousand Oaks) – amerykańska tancerka i aktorka telewizyjna. Znana z roli cheerleaderki Brittany w musicalowym serialu FOX Glee.

Morris związała się z Taylorem Hubbellem, z którym uczęszczała do tego samego liceum w Arizonie. Para zaczęła spotykać się po tym, jak Morris przeniosła się do Los Angeles, a Hubbell skontaktował się z nią przez portal Myspace. 28 września 2013 roku urodziła ich syna Elijah "Eli" Beckwitha. Para zaręczyła się w 2014 roku i wzięła ślub 16 maja 2015 roku. 11 lutego 2016 roku na świat przyszedł ich drugi syn, Owen Bartlett.

Filmografia

Nagrody
 Nagroda Gildii Aktorów Ekranowych
 Wygrana: SAG Najlepszy zespół aktorski w serialu komediowym lub musicalu
 (2009) za Glee

Przypisy

Linki zewnętrzne

Amerykańskie aktorki telewizyjne
Amerykańskie aktorki filmowe
Amerykańskie tancerki
Urodzeni w 1987

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


WhatsApp is quite simply the most popular app available for both Android and iPhone users alike and different. While it's so popular due to how simple and user-friendly it is, it also does its job and helps the users chat and interact with others in a clean, simple design.
And while Android and iPhone's might be the most popular phone models on the market, they're not the only ones. Users who have the Xiomi Redmi also have the same chance to download the app, have fun with it and use it to their full advantage, and still get all the same amazing features and abilities that users with other device platforms have.
One issue that a lot of Xiomi Redmi users have been having after officially downloading and installing is that they don't know how to get their contacts into the apps own version of a phone book. If you're a longtime user of WhatsApp or a greenie, the WhatsApp allows you to use your phones contact lists to transfer the contacts over so you don't have to reenter them all again (though they'll only be able to take information from your phone if you allow them). But a pressing issue for these users is that they're seeing "No WhatsApp contacts" when they open and engage in the app. So this poses the question, how do we fix it?
When you click this, you'll be given a notification that says, "You will not be notified when this app executes security or privacy related actions". If you click "OK", you're giving them permission to have access to your phone. Keep this in mind.
After you do this, open the WhatsApp again and go back to "add contacts". In the top you'll see a refresh button. Click this, wait a few seconds and all your contacts will be loaded into the apps phone book.
This is a simple fix to a common problem that most users face, but once it's solved, you be back up and running in no time.


With an academic background in writing, editing, music instruction, and media/communications, Stacey Marie Robinson directs the activities and operation of Kya Publishing, including the creation, promotion, and production of her own novels, along with the Journal of Canadian Urban Fiction. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Studies (University of Windsor), a Masters in Communications (Wayne State University, Detroit), and a diploma in Publishing (Ryerson University).
SB: You have a publishing company called Kya Publishing. Tell us a bit about it?
SMR: Kya Publishing is "Canadian Literature Inspired by Urban Culture," and an outlet for me to communicate and document the experiences, the culture, and this moment in history for my peers and associates. I primarily do this through story writing, and have written 9 books to date that reflect our unique Toronto culture and the various lifestyles that exist within it. In addition to writing, designing, and producing my own books, I am also heavily involved in the promotional efforts and communication of a few urban cultural artists in the city as well. My goal with Kya Publishing is to establish and strengthen the literary genre of Canadian Urban Fiction through storytelling and character development. In addition to the reading materials, I am committed to seeing the culture grow and progress, and in supporting urban literacy and development in any way that I can. I have conducted book drives, panel discussions, a book expo, children's initiatives, and created an academic journal all in support of this mission to document and celebrate Canada's urban culture.
SB: How do you manage your time with your publishing company and writing?
SMR: Kya Publishing and my writing are rooted in inspiration. In order for me to be productive with building my company and growing as an author, I need to stay engaged and alert! I work full time as a Communications Coordinator for a government organization, and I also coordinate the communications/publicity for a few urban artists (photographers, dancers, DJs, MCs), sports figures, and cultural groups. In order for me to manage my time, it's simple: I have to stay INSPIRED! That involves taking in musical events, travelling, going to shows, and a big part of that is assisting others in the community with their writing, promotions, and dreams! My writing is rooted in the experiences and cultural passions of "the people" of Toronto, so all of my activities feed into one another, and help me to sustain my interest in seeing Kya Publishing grow.
SB: Carnival Spotlight is your recent publication and 9th book. You have written 8 URBAN TORONTO TALES, a collection of stories about the cultural and personal experiences of first-generation Canadians. What is different about this book?
SMR: That is a great question. Essentially, the overall themes in this novel have not changed in that it is representative of Canadian urban culture. I anticipate that most of my novels going forward will still be the same genre: personal tales of growth and self-awareness, heavily focused on culture, with an element of romance. That being said, the Urban Toronto Tales represent a younger demographic—of the 8 books in the collection, the majority of them were written when I was a high school/university student, so they reflect many of the issues and ideals of those stages of life. I tend to write characters that are the same age as me, and the Urban Toronto Tales represents characters below the age of 30, by default. Going forward, my novels outside of the collection will feature slightly older characters at a different stage in life and personal development. The issues will change as a result, as well as how the characters handle them.
SB: Carnival Spotlight is about Toronto's former reggae dancehall princess, Delia. Why did Delia leave the dancehall scene to dance for a soca group?
SMR: Delia left the dancehall scene because of an abusive relationship that was rooted in the people and environment, and also because her friendships fell apart, and she wanted to distance herself from the people that brought drama to her life. My novel Video Light tells the story of Delia and Ryan from the day they first meet (5 years before Carnival Spotlight takes place), and the trouble she had breaking out of her old habits, and trying desperately to establish a new stable life with Ryan. Delia's love for the dancehall remained in her heart, but being introduced to the soca group re-ignited her passion for dancing…with a new group of people.
SB: Delia's marriage is at stake because of her involvement in the seductive party lifestyle of soca? Do you believe that soca and/or dancehall affects many marriages/relationships, if so why?
SMR: Yes, in Carnival Spotlight, Delia's re-entry to the party scene definitely causes friction in her marriage because it brings her back to a place in her past that was filled with negativity and confusion, and it represents a part of her history that she was trying to move past. I think that any powerful outside influence can potentially affect your marriage or relationship if it's not explained or understood correctly. For example, Ryan (Delia's husband) is an academic, and doesn't place as much emphasis on partying and dancing for his self-esteem or ego. Delia, on the other hand, has her entire identity rooted in being "that girl" at the club and on the dance floor. So in this particular case, that passion of hers, and the powerful force of music and drinking and dancing and sexual movements all wrapped into one definitely poses a threat to Ryan. That being said, I don't think it's the soca/dancehall music in particular that affects marriages or relationships…I think it's the threat of having something break that bond, and something enticing one partner away from their union. Delia loves Ryan and what his world represents (stability, progress, etc.)…but Delia's heart is drawn into the music and her love for dancing with a force that Ryan fears.
SB: Have you ever thought of being a dancehall queen?
SMR: LOL, that's a funny question. I've always been so in love with reggae music, and there maaaaay have been a small part of me as a young teenager that truly admired the confidence and the boldness that came along with the image of the "dancehall queen." I knew every song, every riddim, every dance move, every artist, every sound crew…everything about reggae music in the 90s! And I knew this often from the comfort of my home as a teenager, and it fascinated me! As I got older and started venturing out into the actual venues where I could experience the music and dancing first hand, I knew that I had the opportunity to do what I do best: I wrote about it! There is an element of music, and reggae/Caribbean culture, and that urban entertainment environment in EVERY story I write. It is my heart…but as a writer, I would rather capture it in print and share the electricity of the moment than actually be the girl Dutty Wining on stage. I'll continue to let my characters live out those "secret" adolescent fantasies on my behalf!!
SB: What is it about dancehall or soca that many people, especially young people are fascinated with?
SMR: I think a huge part of the appeal of dancehall and soca music is the cultural connection. The lyrics, the dance moves, the rhythms, and the performance of it all are such a personal cultural experience and something that brings you closer to others with shared interests. In Toronto in particular, I think the young people are fascinated by what it represents: their heritage. Their families back home. It's a way to connect to your roots at a very personal level, and by dancing to the music, and taking in the lyrics, and enjoying the stage shows and performances, and DJs with your peers…there's a unique cultural bonding that takes place that you can't find just anywhere. It's a personal experience…and the music is so soulful that it almost strengthens your love for your culture and your people! Even for those outside of the culture, there's enough energy surrounding the music that it's hard to resist!
SB: You have been involved with Toronto carnival for 8 years. What was your experience like as a participant?
SMR: It's been so much fun, being involved with the Toronto carnival as more than a spectator. I've attended the carnival for over 20 years, living in the city, and there has been a great increase in my respect and appreciation for the event as a participant. There is such intricate planning, and detail, and the competition aspect is great, and the creative energy is out of this world. It's fabulous to have that mix of the arts and culture together, and being a participant is fun from every angle!
SB: What was it about the Toronto carnival that drew you to it?
SMR: Oh, everything! It started with the music and the social aspect, and as I became more familiar with the system and the opportunities, I became intrigued by the costume designs, the organization of the mas bands, and the promotion of the culture to others. The first year I designed/created costumes with a few friends, I fell in love with everything! The beads, the fabrics, the feathers, the mas camp socialization and camaraderie, the events, the performing artists, and then when we hit the road for the carnival for the first time as official "mas makers"…it was a wrap! I was hooked! I've since travelled to other carnivals and found that the culture is consistent: it's all about music, dancing, the foods, the celebration and there are few feelings of euphoria and joy that compare to this Caribbean tradition. I love that I've been able to integrate my writing into this fairly new passion of mine.
SB: What is the difference between dancehall and soca groups?
SMR: In this particular case, the soca group "Groovy Massive" is a collective of trained dancers who exclusively perform to soca music only. While there are many similarities with the two genres of Caribbean music, there is a difference in movement and tempo and the overall culture that surrounds them that makes this fictional dance group unique. While the character Delia Chinn was a notorious dancehall figure, her dancing mainly took place informally in the club and at events, whereas the Groovy Massive soca group are a choreographed group of professional performers. At the heart of it all…I believe both soca and dancehall music are very similar. SD: What sort of reviews/feedback have you gotten from your fans/people about Carnival Spotlight?
SMR: I am looking forward to receiving feedback on this novel, which has now been available for about a month. I hope that readers both in the carnival community, and new to the experience, can appreciate the beauty of the culture and all of the excitement it brings to Toronto. I also hope that those who originally read Video Light, are pleased with the way Ryan and Delia's relationships has progressed in this novel.
SMR: I'm going to participate in a Culture Days panel on September 27th for a discussion about freelance writing, and in November I will be on a panel at the Toronto International Book Festival about diversity and music in writing, which I'm looking forward to. I will continue to work on promotion for Carnival Spotlight and the Urban Toronto Tales collection, and I plan to put out the second edition of the Journal of Canadian Urban Fiction later this year. In February Kya Publishing will be hosting the 2nd annual Toronto Urban Book Expo, and I look forward to seeing this genre (and hopefully my readership!) increase as a result. I am really anticipating the discussions and insights that the interaction and research brings to my journey as an author and publisher.


text:
What's the Big Deal About True Bypass?
The phrase "true bypass" has become a watchword for the pedal industry, and it's high on most buyers' lists of priorities.
Dave Hunter
The phrase "true bypass" has become a watchword for the pedal industry, and it's high on most buyers' lists of priorities. But is true bypass as essential a feature as so many pedal makers would have us believe?
True bypass, aka "hardwired bypass," occurs when the input of an effect is wired directly to the output via the on/off switch when it's in the "off" position, rather than being routed through (or connected to) part of the circuitry the entire time. This sounds like a good thing, right? But rather than simply trusting in true-bypass, the "killer app" for excellent stompbox audio is to be aware of the detrimental effects that tend to occur when you have too many of one type of pedal or the other—meaning true bypass, non-true-bypass, or buffered—without considering how they all work together.
True Bypass Pedals
If you chain together ten or 12 true-bypass pedals on your board, you're adding a lot of extra wire to the signal path. And more wire, with no buffer to drive it, can mean duller tone. Shazzam! You may have just surrendered a chunk of the benefit gained by using true-bypass pedals.
Non-True Bypass Pedals
While many '60s and '70s pedals sucked some of your tone as it passed through the circuit—even when the pedal was "off"—a lot of classic guitar sounds were made with those babies. So how can non-true-bypass be a tonal hindrance, when some epic tones were made using non-true-bypass pedals? In many instances, the highs robbed by these pedals helped to tame overly bright amps and guitars, and contributed to the sense of warmth heard in what we now think of as classic tones.
Buffered Pedals
Many manufacturers route the signal through a buffer. This is a small, unitygain preamp of sorts that converts a signal to low-impedance to help it travel through long cable lengths with little or no highend loss. Most of these pedals contain more than adequate buffers, but if the pedal is powered solely by a 9-volt battery, headroom can be limited. Hit that pedal with a heavy attack on a chord, and the signal might overload. Also, if you chain several buffered pedals together, the slight hiss of one buffer into another into another can add noise to the output signal.
The Failsafe
With eight to 12 pedals on a board, a buffer at the front end will help to drive the signal through all those pedals and connections and out the other side without losing too much sparkle. This can be a dedicated buffer or a clean booster/preamp pedal. Or, if you're a player who uses a compressor or overdrive pedal "always on" at the front of your chain to goose your tone, that constitutes a buffer in itself (most standard effects pedals become buffers when switched on). If, on the other hand, you only have five or six true-bypass pedals on the floor, a buffer at the end of the chain—a powered A/B/Y amp switcher, for example—will help eliminate losses through the cable from board to amplifier.
"True bypass can create dreadful problems with a system that uses many pedals without a buffer," says Pete Cornish, British pedalboard builder to the stars. "Let's say you boost the gain and highs at the amp to compensate for signal loss and treble depletion through a large pedalboard and long cable runs. But when you switch on one of your pedals, its high input impedance, and, usually, low output impedance will buffer all the output cables from the guitar. In short, the tone will change dramatically. However, keeping a buffer always on in that chain will maintain a consistent tone."
Where you put the buffer depends on how your pedalboard is set up, and what's on it. If you have a few overdrives and fuzzes and boosters at the start of a large board— all true bypass and none always on—they will usually perform better with the buffer after them, but before any modulation and delay pedals. Many vintage fuzz pedals, in particular, like to be first in the chain, and interact most dynamically with your guitar's pickups when connected directly to it.
Ultimately, what's best for the sound of your pedals comes down to using your ears.
"The answer is not on an Internet forum or in a manufacturer's hyperbole," says David Barber of Barber Electronics. "Plug into your amp with a good ten-foot cable and play. Then, plug into the front of your pedalboard with everything off. If your tone suffers, try using a buffer where appropriate in the chain to see if that helps."
In the end, true bypass can be a great thing, but a good buffer can definitely give it a helping hand.


text:
'Seinfeld'-like redemption fraud conviction upheld
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine's highest court has upheld a former Kittery redemption center operator's conviction for illegally redeeming cans and bottles from out of state.
Thomas Woodard, who ran Green Bee Redemption in Kittery, was convicted in 2011 in the state's first criminal trial over redemption fraud for passing off no-deposit containers from New Hampshire and Massachusetts as if they were purchased in Maine. He was sentenced to 21 days in jail.
In his appeal, Woodard argued there was insufficient evidence for a conviction and that the lower court judge erred in allowing certain evidence at trial and failing to give requested jury instructions. He further said the prosecutor engaged in misconduct by asking the jury to "send a message."
In a unanimous decision Tuesday, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruled the conviction stands.
In 2011, when the case was first reported, it was compared to a memorable "Seinfeld" episode in which Kramer and Newman took thousands of cans and bottles to Michigan so they can get a nickel more per container than they would in New York.
In the "Seinfeld" episode, Kramer laments the scheme can't be done. "You overload your inventory and you blow your margins on gasoline," he says at one point. But Newman offers up free space in a mail truck he has to drive to Michigan before Mother's Day — "the mother of all mail days," he calls it — and the pair head off. (They end up aborting the trip while chasing down Jerry's stolen Saab.)
Green Bee was accused of passing off more than 100,000 out-of-state containers — with a value of more than $10,000 — as if they had been purchased in Maine.


Not only is today's paper plate kid craft super simple, inexpensive and fun for all ages – but it also ties everything together with the classic story. You can easily make a full afternoon out of it as you celebrate some crafty time, as well as storytime!
* Take your paper plate and put a good amount of glue all over it. Have children place the tissue paper on top of the glue, until the paper plate is completely covered. This is Little Red Riding Hood's face.
* While they are working on that, cut out little girl facial features from the cardstock. Think eyes, nose, hair and of course – that iconic red hood!


The Buffalo News - 2019-04-14 - MONEYSMART - By Susan Tompor Susan Tompor is the personal finance columnist for the Detroit Free Press. She can be reached at stom[email protected]ress. com.
Plenty of people would jump at the chance to speed up getting some of their tax refund cash, especially in light of the government shutdown, job cuts and other financial headaches.
But Tiffany Vernier's story should make some who are desperate to pay their bills think twice about handing over a few hundred dollars to get their taxes done in the hopes of snagging a tax refund advance of up to $3,000.
We're bombarded with TV ads, window signs and other pitches for a loan product that some consumers might not even consider a real loan. Isn't this tax advance just a way to get some of your own refund money a few weeks early? Not exactly.
And while tax refund advance loans may be popular and work OK for some people, they're not always a fast-cash guarantee – especially if you have a bad credit score.
"A lot of people are going for this refund advance because you can't get a standard loan," said Vernier, 38, who admits her credit score of around 530 needs work.
Vernier found out too late that she couldn't qualify for a tax refund advance, either.
Her story is worth telling because it's easy to gloss over the details in a rush for cash.
Many families feel the pressure of too many bills smacking up against too little cash. Only 40 percent of Americans, for example, would be able to pay an unexpected $1,000 expense from their savings, according to a survey by Bankrate.com.
About 1.7 million refund anticipation loans were made in the industry in 2017, according to a report issued in March 2018 by the National Consumer Law Center.
Vernier, a mother of two children under 4, had her taxes done on Jan. 16 in the hopes of qualifying for one of the heavily advertised tax refund advances. She wanted some quick relief to catch up with car payments and other bills.
"My partner is out of work," Vernier said, noting that he has had health issues.
Vernier, a freelancer who specializes in technical writing and drafting proposals, reported nearly $27,000 in income on her 2018 tax return.
She thought she'd be able to receive some type of refund advance.
The loans vary in amounts: $500, $750, $1,250 or $3,000. The amount of the advance depends, in part, on the expected amount of your refund.
For many, some advance money becomes available the same day you file your taxes.
"I knew my credit score wasn't going to be high enough for a standard loan," Vernier said.
But she said she was told by the tax preparers that she likely would qualify, given that she was expected to receive more than $7,800 in federal and state tax refunds with the earned income credit and the child credit.
Her refund will be reduced $327.95 (after a $25 coupon) for the cost of getting her taxes done at an H&R Block office near her home in Timberville, Va., in the Shenandoah Valley. The fees include a $39.95 charge for a federal refund transfer, a processing fee associated with paying tax prep fees out of your refund and avoiding out of pocket costs.
After she had her taxes completed, she waited for a text to show the exact amount of her refund advance, which could vary. No text. Instead, she said she had to call the 800 number later to find out that she didn't qualify for anything.
After all that, she's waiting until at least mid-February to get her refund and she'll get a somewhat smaller refund because the tax prep fees will be taken out. Fees she might have avoided otherwise.
She feels she was blindsided.
Vernier takes issue with using words like "underwriting criteria," as well.
Getting a refund advance, though, means you're taking on a loan made by a bank.
"This is a loan," said Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center in Boston.
What consumers must understand with the refund advance loans is that you're not actually getting your tax refund faster. You're getting a loan that reflects a portion of your refund.
H&R Block said it is focused on being upfront.
"Transparency is important to H&R Block," said H&R Block spokesperson Susan Waldron.
"That's why we're providing tax prep prices before the tax professional starts a return and the terms for Refund Advance are also disclosed to the client," she said.
Waldron told me the bank may review the client's credit report as part of the application for the loan.
"The client is informed of this and agrees to it as part of the loan application," she said.
Waldron said the approval rates for the H&R Block Refund Advance is more than 75 percent.
Not everyone would receive a refund advance loan.
"The client is also told that the bank will make a decision on the loan application based on the bank's underwriting standards and there is no guarantee of approval," Waldron said.
Vernier, who reached out to me to tell her story, said she's concerned that others could fall into this trap because she maintains the credit-check aspect of the loan was not spelled out to her. She's concerned that other consumers could easily be confused, too.
H&R Block has been heavily advertising its refund advance of up to $3,000. It's a no-interest loan from Axos Bank and offered to customers who file their taxes at H&R Block from Jan. 4 through Feb. 28 at participating offices.
Other tax prep firms offer some type of refund advance loans, too.
Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has a "No Fee Refund Advance Loan" that is available in amounts up to $3,500.
Liberty Tax just announced that it was expanding its Easy Advance program to offer furloughed federal government workers or those working without pay pre-approved access to an immediate tax refund advance of $500 with no interest or fees, if they have an expected tax refund of at least $1,001.
The minimum advance of $500 would be offered without the normal loan approval process to the federal government employees hurt by the shutdown. The Liberty refund advance loan is secured by and paid back with your tax refund and offered by Republic Bank & Trust.
"For amounts higher than the preapproved $500, the taxpayer's tax return data, expected federal refund, previous history with the transmitter and credit bureau will be evaluated to determine the likelihood that it will be funded by the IRS," according to Brian Ashcraft, a spokesperson for Liberty Tax.
"The credit bureau check is considered a 'soft check' and does not affect the taxpayer's credit score," he said.
The money is repaid from the client's tax refunds. If approved, clients will typically have access to the loan amount within hours of applying.
Many of the promotions highlight that the refund advances have no fees and charge zero percent in interest. But again, you do have to pay for tax preparation services, which can add up depending on your tax situation.
In the past, consumer watchdog groups indicated that some lower and moderate-income taxpayers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit faced tax preparation fees of $400 or more in some cases.
Many who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit are eligible for free tax preparation at volunteer sites, such as the Accounting Aid Society, which will open its metro Detroit offices Jan. 26.
Families and individuals with incomes up to $55,000 may be eligible for the Accounting Aid Society's full service tax help. If so, the service offers to prepare and file your federal, state and local income tax returns, and to ensure you receive all of your federal and state Earned Income Tax Credits.
Vernier – who has prepared her own taxes in the past – said she wouldn't have paid all that money to wait a month or more for a refund. Instead, she said she would have used tax software to do the tax return herself and skipped the $327.95 in fees.
Her taxes, she said, aren't that complicated.
"I took the standard deduction across the board," she said.
While tax refund advance loans may be popular and work OK for some people, they're not always a fast-cash guarantee – especially if you have a bad credit score.


The Upper School Global Nomads leadership team are facilitating our annual Upper School Global Week 2019 from Jan 28-Feb 1 which this year focuses on the United Nations Global Goals #5 gender equality and #10 Reduced Inequalities. There are a wide range of events happening including lunch time awareness activities, art and performance, guest speakers, and an anti-oppression student workshop and special film screening of the internationally acclaimed documentary film In the Name of Your Daughter which looks at the issue of Female Genital Mutilation or FGM in Tanzania that students can sign up to attend.
WHAT IS FGM or Female Genital Mutilation? If you are not aware, FGM encompasses all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is also sometimes referred to as female genital cutting or female circumcision. There are no health benefits to FGM and it is recognized internationally as a human rights violation. The United Nations Global Goals identify it, along with child marriage, as a priority for global change and gender equality.


text:
Yacht Charter in France
The cruising season in the French riviera begins in May with the annual film festival in Cannes and the Monaco Grand Prix. It remains the most popular yacht charter location in French Riviera with many options of itineraries. Luxury yacht charter France.
If you care for a relaxed sailing holiday with easy coastal sailing and a touch of Cote d'Azur glamour, Start your yacht charter holiday from the marina at Antibes, close to the beautiful Iles d'Hyere, preserved as a marine park. Sail east or west along this unspoiled part of the French riviera where the sheltered coastline makes a great sailing holiday with beautiful beaches, plenty of anchorages, and the famous resorts of St. Tropez and Port Grimaud. Yacht charter in France daily flights to Toulon and flexible yacht charter France durations make Antibes ideal for long weekend breaks in yacht charter France.
Yacht Charter in St Tropez And Cote D'Azur
St. Tropez has to be one of the great places to start a luxury yacht charter in France. Ringed by a centuries-old wall, small, intimate restaurants line the harbor, specializing in seafood and Provencale cuisine. Behind the waterfront restaurants, you'll find a maze of little streets and alleys ('chemins') with countless little shops selling everything from traditional Provencale foods and brightly colored linens to designer gear and hand-made one-off accessories.
Yacht Charter in Isles H'yeres
These three islands, also known as Iles d'Or (Islands of Gold) due to the yellow color of their rock, provide a special contrast to the rest of the Riviera. Just a short cruise away from St. Tropez, each has its distinct characteristics. Porquerolles, the largest of the islands has an excellent selection of lovely sandy (and often uninhabited) beaches, as well as a truly colonial feel to its villages, especially the main village of the same name. The smallest island, Port-Cros, is a National Park. The island has a wild feel to it and is a great place to hike and picnic. yacht charter in France
Yacht Charter in Cannes and Cote D'Azur
All along the waterfront runs the legendary la Croisette. This is where millions of people watch the glittering celebrity turnout for the Cannes film festival every year. Lining the beach are dozens of restaurants that also rent sun loungers, some of which morph into funky nightclubs when the sun goes down. For shopaholics, rue d'Antibes runs parallel to la Croisette and is crammed with everything from typical French high street fashion to designer shops. The Old Town of has its charm: a covered market selling local produce and flowers. A must include on your yacht charter France vacation.
Just a short ferry or yacht tender ride from the old port of Cannes, St. Honorat, and Ste. Marguerite is a breath of fresh air. The old abbey on St. Honorat, which is still a functioning monastery for Cistercian monks, has laid a blanket of calm over the island. Yacht Charter in France
Both islands are crisscrossed with walking trails which are so gentle they're perfect for the least active of visitors. It's worth going just to check out the abbey. Fort Royale (built-in 1712) on Ste. Marguerite was, for a time, home to The Man In The Iron Mask – it's a short walk from the port and makes for an engrossing trip. Take a picnic up to the fort – have lunch looking out over the bay to Cannes. Take your camera!
Antibes Yacht Charter in France
For those of you who love to walk amongst the quays admiring the boats, this is the place to visit. Port Vauban is the largest pleasure boat port in Europe! We don't need to add that you can find every kind of water sport imaginable in Antibes. For a long time, Antibes was the only large town between Marseille and Italy. It was the only town on the coast to be protected by ramparts, and thus it has managed to conserve historic monuments from each period in its heritage.
The Chateau, bastion, and towers have today been transformed into a magnificent Modern Art Museum, History and Archeology Museum, and museum of traditional crafts and local culture. Most of the treasures can be found in the historic town center.
It's better to visit this part on foot taking in its particular atmosphere, meander between pretty squares and its narrow streets. Let yourself be guided by the charm of the craft workshops where craftspersons work, often leaving the doors of their workshops open for all to see, or by the boutiques with their sun-faded façades or by the beautiful odors of simmering dishes wafting from the open windows. 25 km of coastline where pebble beaches give way to fine sandy beaches (public and private), secluded even secret creeks, and 5 ports (Vauban, Galice, Crouton, Olivette Antibes old town will be one of your favorite places. the Picasso museum and the Marche Provencal in front of the Mairie (town hall).
Yacht Charter in Nice
Nice has so many faces but has long been acknowledged as "Queen of the Riviera": with good reason. The famous Promenade des Anglais walkway skims the beach for a good couple of miles and is always busy with tourists, locals, rollerbladers, skateboarders, joggers – you name it, it's on the Promenade des Anglais.
On the westernmost end of the Promenade des Anglais is the old town, between Place Massena and the Chateau. Take a break from the boutiques and galleries at one of the many bistros with a café au lait at a table on the street and watch the world go by. Your charter yacht will likely berth near the old town.
Yacht Charter in Ville France and Cap Ferrat
Villefranche de Mer and St. Jean Cap Ferrat, two idyllic seaside villages hiding superb restaurants, secret bays, and excellent anchorages. Short inland trips arranged from your charter yacht can include ancient hilltop towns complete with picturesque passageways and countless galleries. Many yachts anchor off either harbor and guests use the yacht tender to shore. This quiet little town is becoming popular with celebrities snapping up holiday homes on the Riviera, and with good reason. With a 16th century citadel and church and a beautiful beach, Villefranche is situated right between Cannes and Monaco.
Stretch out on the beach or walk around the town. A walk up to the Musee Volti in the lovely old Citadelle (fort), or the nearby Musee Goetz-Boumeester, will make a few hours flash by. Visit the cool, serene Chapelle St-Pierre or soak the Citadelle St. Elme, home to three museums. Don't forget a trip up to the tiny medieval village of Eze.
Yacht Charter in Monaco
The famous Monaco harbor, always lined with megayachts, is surprisingly small and the foothills of the Alpes Maritimes just tower over Monaco. The harbor is lined with instantly recognizable landmarks: on the one side, the Hotel L'Hermitage; on the other, the Royal Palace and beautiful old town, not to mention the Casino Royale. Yacht charter in France For raw, unadulterated glamour, this is the place. For shopping, there are countless shops in the twisty streets behind the port and the old town.
Yacht Charter in South of France
Cannes is one of the most famous resort areas in the world and International Yacht Charter Group's specialists have access to every fully crewed charter yacht available in the South of France. Cannes, an elegant city known around the globe, is home to the Cannes film festival and some of the finest stores in the world. The arts thrive in Cannes with the annual film festival and presentation of the Palm d'Or. Sandy beaches and stunning yacht after yacht dot the coastline here. A private crewed yacht charter in Cannes can be planned alongside year-long festivals and events to cruise the coast of the south of France.
While in Cannes, a yacht charter France can let you choose the time and place of your arrival plus the length of your stay in Cannes. All along the waterfront runs the legendary la Croisette. This is where millions of people watch the glittering celebrity turnout for the Cannes film festival every year, and where those with A-list taste can indulge at the fashion houses tucked between the luxury hotels, such as Chanel and Christian Dior. Lining the beach are dozens of restaurants that also rent sun loungers, some of which morph into funky nightclubs when the sun goes down.
For shopaholics, rue d'Antibes runs parallel to la Croisette and is crammed with everything from typical French high street fashion to designer shops. The Old Town of Cannes has its charm: a covered market selling local produce and flowers, the product is not cheap but is of incredible quality, but the flowers are a bargain, especially the roses. For those long summer evenings, go for dinner in the Old town. Walk up the cobbled rue Le Suquet and rue Petit Antoine where little intimate restaurants abound.
Near Cannes lies a group of small islands called the Iles de Lerins. Just a short distance from the old port of Cannes, St. Honorat, and Ste. Marguerite is a breath of fresh air.
The old abbey on St. Honorat first established in 400 a.d. and rebuilt in the 18th century, has laid a blanket of calm over the island. Both of the islands are crisscrossed with walking trails which are so gentle they are perfect for the least active of visitors. It is worth going just to check out the abbey, which is still a functioning monastery for Cistercian monks and also provides accommodation for anyone who wants to stay a little longer.
Ste. Marguerite has a far more colorful history than her brother's island; Fort Royale (built-in 1712) was, for a time, home to The Man In The Iron Mask, before he was shipped off to the Bastille where he spent his remaining years. Fort Royale has been used as barracks over the centuries and you can see the updates. It is a short walk from the port and makes for an engrossing trip.
Luxury yacht charter specialists, we are experts in matching our customers with a yacht charter that meets all of their unique needs. A yacht charter is an ideal way to see the French Riviera. With our expert assistance, we can place you on a yacht charter that will have you enjoying the South of France in a state of ultra-luxury, Sailing Yachts, Motor Yachts, and Mega yachts are all available and we have access to every fully crewed luxury yacht cruising the French Riviera each summer.
Climate in France
France has three different climates. The west part is oceanic with mild winters and mild summers. Temperatures vary between + 5° and + 21°C on average. The east part is continental with cold winters and hot summers. Temperatures vary between 0° and +25°C on average. The southeast part is the Mediterranean with mild winters and hot summers. Temperatures vary between + 5° and + 25°C on average.
France is an easy destination to reach. Paris CDG hub has direct flights from all over the world welcoming 74 million passengers a year. Nice on the French Riviera also has an important international airport. The Eurostar links Paris to London within 2h30 and the Thalys train links Paris to Brussels within 1h20.
Motorways and freeways make it very easy to drive around France. The density of our road network is such that there are few traffic jams and that driving is safe and timely. The rail network with the TGV bullet train makes journeys extremely rapid between cities, with trains going as fast as 200 mph (300 kph) and putting Marseille and Bordeaux at only 3 hours from Paris, Strasbourg at 2h15, Lyon at 2 hours, the Loire Valley and Champagne at less than an hour.
Places to Visit in French Riviera
In France, you can find within a relatively small country, all types of landscapes. If you are looking for mountains and ski resorts, there are among the best in the world in the Alps (Chamonix and Courchevel), but also many in the lower mountains of the Pyrenees and the Jura regions. The coastline is renowned throughout the world with the French Riviera and mythical towns such as Cannes, Nice, or Monaco, but also St. Tropez and other beautiful Provence villages along the Mediterranean Sea.
Other resorts are also highly recommended on the more vivid Atlantic ocean with Biarritz, Arcachon, La Baule, and many others.
The countryside is a compromise between nature and man-made mosaics of fields which give such a reputation to regions like the Dordogne valley, Normandy, Burgundy, or Provence where forests and agricultural lands blend showing the most beautiful landscapes in the world with postcard villages nestled within the cities are also very much visited for their architecture and historical monuments, as well as for their market places, festivals, and other social events.
Culture and Art in French Riviera
Culture & art date from the paintings in prehistoric caverns to futuristic contemporary art, France has been part of and initiated, many artistic and architectural movements. Literature, cinema, music, sculpture, and even comic strips, we have always been interested in every segment of art.
The number of works that the past generations have left behind is among the richest cultural heritage in the world. Impressive collections of art are scattered throughout numerous museums and chateaux and great monuments are present all over the country.
French Gastronomy and Places to Visit in French Riviera
The French Chefs are a country pride and the wines are the most elaborated. France export know-how throughout the world.
Whether you want a deluxe restaurant, a bistro, a country inn, or a modern and trendy venue, there is a vast choice of great places where food and wine are of excellent quality.
France's history is one of invasions, occupation, colonization, wars won and lost all over the world, and has influenced many other nations. Today France still has territories in every ocean of the world, souvenirs of its past, and remains one of the politically influential countries of the world.
Top Quality Hotels in French Riviera
Whether your choice goes for classical or modern hotels, boutique or large hotels with conference facilities, France offers a large range to fit every need and taste. Whatever the type of group you have, there is always the hotel they are looking for.
Hotels are constantly being renovated and kept to the highest international level and the choice grows constantly with new hotels opening all over the country regularly, especially on the 4-star level. It is important to note that the 5-star category does not exist for French hotels and is replaced by the 4-star deluxe category.
Services in French Riviera
French service is renowned for its efficiency. In restaurants or with caterers, the Maitre D, the sommelier, and the waiter all know exactly what to do and how to do it with a maximum of discretion, and are always there when you need them. Service is part of the French art of the table. Today, most persons working in the tourism industry speak English and/or other foreign languages.
Fashion and Luxury Products in French Riviera
Perfumes, jewelry, crystal goods, silk scarves, leather bags, fashion clothing. France has concentrated the know-how on all luxury goods and many of the most renowned brands originate from this country. Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Baccarat, Hermès, Boucheron, Chanel to name but a few. They're all in Paris, which is the world capital for fashion and luxury goods, and waiting for your visit to make you discover the most elaborate goods their craft can create.
Festivals and Exhibitions
Dance, theatre, art exhibitions, concerts, carnivals… the French love to organize large events which drain in crowds, with street parties, packed cafés and restaurants, and an overall feeling that life is enjoyable. Throughout the year, there is always something going on where all are invited to participate.
Throughout the summer, cities and beach resorts rival to have the largest festival with art and music in the streets and performances held in the theatres and concert halls. Typical examples are the theatre festival in Avignon, the classical music festivals of Aix en Provence, or Evian, the dance festival of Montpellier.
Meeting and Congress Tourism
Paris and the French Riviera are among the top world destinations for meetings and congresses. Easy access, a large choice of hotels, and congress centers explain this. For a board meeting or a congress for 5 000 persons, you can organize your meeting in a pleasant setting with the latest technology for all your requirements.
International Sports Activities
Soccer, rugby, tennis, formula 1, and horse racing offer major sports events happening every year in France and broadcasted throughout the world. Ski races, golf tournaments, sailing events are also programmed regularly. French people enjoy many sports and are always on the lists to host major international events with the necessary sports infrastructures to support them.
Lifestyle in French Riviera
Over one million foreigners have already bought a holiday home in France. The French way of life is often the main reason for this purchase. Enjoying the small moments of life and taking time to live social events thoroughly is a tradition that has been preserved in a world that is going faster every day. Shopping in street markets, having a drink on the terrace of a café, taking time for lunch, or lazing in the sun is typical of the French lifestyle.
Yacht Charter France, Safe Destination in French Riviera
Security is a major criterion when choosing a destination, particularly for corporate clients who do not want to take any risk with their staff or guests. France comes out as a very safe destination with no major risk to fear. The French regularly enjoy demonstrating in the streets and criticizing their government however they are not an aggressive nation.
Yacht Charter Greece Yacht Charter Greece Meet the unique blue and rich culture of the Greek islands with yacht charter Greece. The Greek Islands consist of 7 different island groups. The most famous of these are the Cyclades, Crete, and...


I'm not a single bit surprised that 2016 is off to a rough start. It's almost a tradition at this point: go into it hopeful, get knocked down so fast my head spins. Because by "rough start", I mean that it has been made very clear to me that this coming year will make or break me. And I refuse to let it break me, no matter how hard everything is trying to. All good news fades. All steps forward seem like they haven't mattered. I am no closer to anything than I was before. If anything, I've fallen back several steps.
+ I'm working hard at my Wandering NerdGirl blog, in hopes that my nerdy adventures can be more productive. Cons, Orlando, other nerd-tastic events… I'm on it.
+ I'm writing again, period. I was so down and depressed Tuesday, reading about the market and what agents and publishers don't want right now, blah blah. I'm a very critical person on myself, so of course I instantly decide everything I write is garbage and I should give up. But for some reason, one of my favorite story ideas popped into my brain, and I had a lot of interesting new ideas for it. Since it hasn't actually been written yet, it will be a good exercise in writing again. I've spent so long in editing and rewriting hell, I haven't had much time or opportunity for new creation. I've mostly been jotting notes down and what not, or writing a few specific scenes that some to mind. But as soon as I get my thoughts together, I'm running with it. I'll hammer out my first draft, as intimidating as that feels right now. I won't lose my dream. I'm going to write this book for me, and see where that takes me.
+ I have been drawing. Well, the last day or two I haven't been. But I will excuse that because I have started a huge, new painting of Poe Dameron's helmet from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It's all pretty exciting, considering I was very close to just getting rid of a lot of my art stuff to save space.
+ I have my eyes on new projects. Bigger projects. More projects. I have plans to go beyond what I have done and make something new all the time. New shoots, new types of projects, new ideas. It's all very vague to you guys right now because I'm not jumping in with both feet just yet, so there isn't much information to share. Just cross your fingers that I make the time to pull it all off.
+ My collection is growing. My collection is a tiny beast, but it is my tiny beast. I know I've been slacking on the Collection Haul posts, and if you'd like to see them again, I could start back up this month or in February. There have been quite a few additions. And as stupid or trivial or whatever it sounds, one of my goals for the year is to really build my collection up. I take great pride in my Batman stuff. Someday I'll have a massive assortment of various Batman items properly displayed. For now, it steadily grows.
+ I've been trying to figure out how to get back to college, and exactly what I want to do when I get back. I was going to start again Fall 2015 but my financial aid decided to be complicated. So maybe Fall 2016 or Spring 2017. Who knows. Going back genuinely frightens me at this point. But I would still like to try.
So, you have a basic rundown of my game plan for the year. Obviously, subject to change. But hopefully, this year I rise from the ashes and become closer to where I was before.


If you've been wondering why Deirdre is bald it's because instead of sculpting her hair I'll be using a wig when she's done. So I know she looks a bit shaven, but in the end she'll have beautiful wavy locks.
Today I'll be showing you how I get a block mold ready before I pour the silicone. So I'll refrain from showing the silicone being poured until next time. That's how important the preparation is. I finished off the horns and put the final textures on them so it was time to very very carefully HACK THEM OUT!
Here the key is to be precise in making the box. I drew a quick plan and cut out all my pieces of wood before attaching them with screws. Then I fill all the creases with some plastilene so the silicone won't sneak out any where. I put the horns in and filled them with used chunks of silicone to save on material costs.
Again, everything I do is a learning process and I'm glad to share.


text:
Digital & Social⟩Twitter
The Future of Twitter Is As a Protected Essential Public Utility
Jay Leonard Last updated: February 14, 2017
This week's blog post is thanks to my close friend and persistent colleague Sally Falkow of Meritus Media. Sally sent me a series of questions about what I think the the future of Twitter will be in light of a fourth-quarter revenue miss based on analysts' expectation.
SF: What's your take on the future of Twitter?
CA: Twitter isn't going anywhere. It's become an International dial tone, like the internet itself, like your phone service or your AM, FM, and Ham Radio spectrum. Twitter will become protected some way or another becoming, effectively, a protected essential public utility.
Twitter is an essential commodity that benefits the State Department, Open Source Intelligence (NSA, NRO, CIA, FBI), and Corporate Intelligence (NASDAQ, DOW, etc). There's too much good, free, intel — remember the Real Time Web? It's still a thing!
After all this time — and now, with amazingly powerful tools like Palantir's Gotham and Metropolis — it's still one of the most amazing sources of International, filterless, geolocated pulsepoint providing real-time access to "stupid people" organizing protests (instead of using secure channels), and so forth.
So, they really can't lose it. It's seriously way too valuable. Maybe In-Q-Tel (IQT) can buy it. It's also a super-valuable communications channel for our current President, and he would consider any attack on Twitter as a personal attack on his 24.6M followers.
And if Trump is really a billionaire, maybe his dynasty can buy it. Or maybe it can be nationalized by an Executive Order.
SF: This announcement of a big Twitter loss in the last Quarter has raised doubts
CA: Maybe this is a play for a leveraged buyout. Maybe someone has discovered that Twitter is the #1 channel for @realDonaldTrump and @potus to communicate directly to and with the world. More valuable than CNN, MSNBC, and possibly FOX News — at least when it comes to total eyeballs.
Don't forget that volatility doesn't necessarily mean vulnerability, it could just mean corporate raiding.
SF: Will it last or go the way of MySpace?
CA: Facebook, Insta, and Snapchat can't do the same thing that Twitter can do, all these years later. And I don't see another one coming up. Know why? Because Millennials and Gen Z like their small little chat apps a lot more than they like their live outloud and share with the world model of Twitter. Bieber could leave Insta but he would never leave Twitter — I mean, 91.7M followers!
SF: If it does go away, how will that affect brands who do customer service on Twitter?
CA: Facebook and Instagram — and maybe also Snapchat and Pinterest — are better investments for brands. Their advertising offerings seem to be more effective. And then there's YouTube, too, right?
So, aside from the fact that the Twitter handle has become a de facto internationally-recognized contact number second only to the URL, there are other sexier and stickier channels that people devote a lot more time to.
But everyone knows that they can actually get liked, retweeted, and responded to by their favorite brands and celebrities and influencers — or somebody repping them — and that's rarely the case on Facebook.
SF: And the public who have grown used to a fast response via Twitter?
CA: Not going to happen. It can't. It's too useful to despots, strongmen, warlords, intelligence agencies, and authoritarians. And too useful for Wall Street, as we have seen as a direct result of Trump's filterless chastising of anyone and everyone who displeases him.
SF: Or those who use it as a news source?
CA: Yeah, the real-time web just isn't the same on Google or Facebook or anywhere else. Twitter really does still have the pulse. I feel like normal consumers use Twitter less as a news source, outside of celebrity news, than actual media outlets and so forth, although the app and the web interface is evolving to become a better and better filter with a much-improved algorithm.


text:
City, Boston State Delegation Looking to Cooperate;City Requests 151 New Licenses from State Leaders Over Three Years
by The Boston Sun Staff • January 27, 2017 • 0 Comments
Putting last year's low-level feud over control of liquor licenses for Boston in the past, Mayor Martin Walsh and the Boston state delegation are looking this year to cooperate in releasing more than 150 new liquor licenses over three years in creative ways – a way cited as a part of a plan to spur economic development across the city.
In a meeting this month at City Hall to follow up on the bi-annual Boston State Delegation luncheon with the mayor, members held a discussion of how to move forward in creating more liquor licenses for the city, creating more dynamic licenses for stagnant areas of the city while also preventing new licenses from areas already believed to be saturated. The State Legislature, in a nod to days past, controls the release of liquor licenses to Boston, while most other communities' liquor licenses are governed by Census-based population growth alone.
In materials submitted to the state leaders, the City indicated it had learned great lessons from the 2014 liquor license bill, and that communities thrive when people can live, work, shop and eat in their own neighborhoods. That vitality, read the materials, only comes when local food establishments contribute to the area.
"There remains an unmet demand for additional liquor licenses so that Boston can continue to attract new businesses and restaurants," read the materials.
The plan outlined the release of 151 non-transferrable licenses for Boston over three years, licenses that would revert back to the City when not being used and could not be sold on the open market. The licenses would break down as follows:
10 citywide all alcohol licenses per year over three years.
Five all alcohol licenses per year over three years (total of 15 for each neighborhood) for each of the following neighborhoods: Dorchester, Eastie, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Mission Hill and Roxbury.
Five all alcohol licenses per year for three years for Main Streets Districts.
One license for the Lawn on D at the South Boston Convention Center.
Mayor Martin Walsh's office said they are looking at licenses at part of the overall economic development planning initiatives for neighborhoods. Rather than just permission to sell liquor, they are now seeing them – from the experiences garnered in a 2014 bill – as ways to revive business areas that need a shot in the arm.
"Liquor licenses are an important economic development tool in every neighborhood of Boston and Mayor Walsh looks forward to working with the Boston City Council and members of the Boston State Delegation to ensure that Boston has a sufficient number of licenses," he said in a statement.
The move would be accomplished through a bill filed at the State House by the Boston delegation.
Last year, a statewide move got underway to remove liquor licenses from the purview of the State Legislature. This flamed a disagreement between the state delegation and the City Council and Mayor Walsh. While Boston leaders wanted their licenses released from state control, believing in total local control, state leaders weren't confident they wanted to cede that power to the City.
The conflict resulted in a stalemate where Boston made no progress in getting more licenses and reforming the current license structure.
Last fall, the License Commission gave out the final batch of licenses that came as a result of a 2014 compromise bill between the City and the state delegation that released 75 licenses over three years.
The new outreach effort and potential new legislation is aimed at expanding on the successes of 2014, while also putting in some new twists to help areas that could improve through economic development with a new dining spot. Rather than creating barrooms or troubled "restaurants," the idea is to use restaurants with full liquor licenses as ways to generate economic development in stalled out areas.
The new licenses are a help to small business owners who often lack the capital to buy a liquor license on the open market, with figures approaching $400,000 to purchase an existing license. That barrier could be eliminated, especially in the neighborhoods, with an influx of new licenses.
Some initial criticisms, however, come from existing license holders who purchased licenses on the open market for huge sums of money. Those licenses – much like the conundrum with taxi medallions – are devalued by the release of new licenses. That, it was said, is as much of a small business killer as the situation for those trying to get a license.
That, some said, was something that should probably be considered in any bill going before the State Legislature to release so many new licenses.
← City Officials Outline New Legislation to Allow New Shadow from Winthrop Square Tower in Common
Developers Take Battle to State's Top Court →


Usually will we read news of fraud, scam and stories of some digital advertising agencies that add no worth to their purchasers' businesses. Testing web site pages to enhance conversions is a core practice in digital advertising. The DoubleClick Digital Marketing platform brings actual-time knowledge collectively across screens, channels and codecs-from first impression to closing conversion. This course empowers you to craft, implement, measure, and optimize a successful social media marketing technique.
Companies today face a continuing proliferation of social media channels, the growing power of connected clients, and an explosion of recent digital instruments. Participants ought to be acquainted with the assorted social media platforms, and have the ability to understand how business strategy applies to these digital marketing and media instruments.
It's advertising that simply appears like content material. Act as thought chief in performance advertising and programmatic promoting space for the model, together with maintaining fluency in the latest finest practices. Previously, Michael was the North American managing director for the Mobile Advertising Association (MMA), the place he led its regional membership, events, analysis, schooling, and standards-development efforts in North America.


text:
Multiple jobholding rates higher in North
Multiple jobholding rates among the States varied widely in 1999. Generally, States in the northern half of the country tended to have higher rates of multiple jobholding, while those in the southern half tended to have lower rates.
North Dakota and Montana had the highest multiple jobholding rates at 10.3 percent each. For the sixth consecutive year, Minnesota had a double-digit multiple jobholding rate, 10.0 percent.
Louisiana recorded the lowest multiple jobholding rate at 3.8 percent. This marks the fourth time in the last 5 years that Louisiana has had the lowest rate of all States. Mississippi had the second lowest rate, 4.3 percent, followed by three other States at 4.5 percent each.
The largest over-the-year percentage point declines in multiple jobholding were recorded in Virginia (-1.5), Kansas (-1.2) and Arizona (-1.0). Rhode Island and Hawaii had the largest increases from the prior year, 1.1 and 1.0 percentage point, respectively.
The 1999 multiple jobholding data are from the Current Population Survey. Multiple jobholders are employed persons who had either two or more jobs as a wage and salary worker, were self-employed and also held a wage and salary job, or worked as an unpaid family worker and also held a wage and salary job. Find out more information on multiple jobholding by State in "Regional Trends," Monthly Labor Review, September 2000.
Regions and States
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Multiple jobholding rates higher in North at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2000/nov/wk1/art03.htm (visited January 31, 2023).


text:
The Eugene Saturday Market is an outdoor craft market in Eugene, Oregon. It is the oldest weekly open-air crafts market in the United States. It has a festival atmosphere that includes live performers as well as art and crafts displays and sales, and also food booths and other local vendors.  Between 3,000 and 5,000 people visit the market every Saturday.

History
Lotte Streisinger, a noted artist and community activist, and the wife of George Streisinger, founded the Eugene Saturday Market.

The market first opened on May 9, 1970 with 29 vendors. It was located on city property adjacent to a city-owned parking structure in downtown Eugene. Each vendor paid $1 to participate. On the opening Saturday, it rained all day. Nevertheless, the market was successful enough that the Eugene City Council agreed to allow the hippies to continue using the site. More vendors joined the market as the Christmas holiday approached. The first season closed on the Saturday before Christmas with about one hundred vendors crowding into the market area.

At the end of the first season, established businesses adjacent to the Saturday Market venue petitioned the city to close or move the market. Lane County commissioners offered a county-owned plaza, the Park Blocks, in front of the county courthouse for the market on condition that the Saturday market incorporate and secure liability insurance.  As a result, the Eugene Saturday Market was officially established. This arrangement with Lane County allowed the use of the Park Blocks only during the summer months. In the fall, the vendors were required to move to the upper level of a county-owned parking structure, known as the "butterfly lot", across the street from the Park Blocks. The Eugene Saturday Market continued to operate in those two locations until the end of the 1982 season.

Over time, the Saturday markets held in the parking structure lost their customer base.  As the number of vendors dwindled, the Saturday Market board of directors began working with the City of Eugene and Lane County officials to find a new venue.  In April 1983, the Eugene Saturday Market was relocated to a two-block park area at the intersection of Oak Street and 8th Avenue.  This new venue was an attractive setting, with a central fountain and had enough space for 100 to 125 vendors.  It was also centrally located in the downtown areas.  Over the years, this has helped attract people to the market.  In 2006, the City of Eugene prepared a master plan for the Park Block area.  The plan included the Saturday Market as an important element in the area's long-term development.  Today, the Eugene Saturday Market is the oldest continuously operating weekly open-air crafts market in the United States. It inspired the creation of a similar market in Portland, which took the same sort of name, the Portland Saturday Market, and has been in operation since 1974.

Farmers market

In 1978, a county task force was created to determine if a farmers market could be successful if it were located adjacent to the Eugene Saturday Market.  The concept was to offer an open-air venue for local growers to market their produce directly to the public.  The Eugene Saturday Market organization would oversee the new farmers market.  Based on the task force's recommendation, the county approved the first farmers market in August 1979.  It was held on Saturday in a parking lot adjacent to the Saturday Market.  The Lane County Farmers Market became an independent organization in 1989.  While it has not been as successful financially as the Saturday Market, the farmers market is still open from April through November ever year.

Marketplace

The Eugene Saturday Market is open every Saturday from early April until mid-November regardless of weather.  The market opens at ten o'clock in the morning and closes at five o'clock in the afternoon.  On the weekend before Thanksgiving, the market moves to the Lane County Fairgrounds where it is held indoors through Christmas Eve. This market is called the Holiday Market

There is no admission charge and people walk through the market area freely.  During a normal Saturday, between 3,000 and 5,000 people visit the market.  Every year, shoppers buy approximately $2.5 million worth of handcrafts and food from Saturday Market vendors.

Everything sold at the Saturday Market is handcrafted.  In addition, all of the products for sale at the market must be sold by the person who made them or a member of their immediate family.  The market offers a wide variety of handcrafted goods including artwork, jewelry, clothing, and craft furniture. Vendors also sell homemade jams, breads, and honey.

There are about fifteen food booths at the market. The food court features many global food cuisines, including Afghani, English, Indian, Mexican, Thai, and American.   The food booths must meet all state health department regulations and licensing requirements.  The food service operations are also subject to regular public health inspections.

The Eugene Saturday Market provides a venue for local musicians and other performing artists.  There are six stage performances every week.  There is a kid friendly act at 10am on the Saturday Market stage every week.  There are also strolling performers who play in open areas throughout the Park Blocks.  During the course of a year, over one thousand performers appear on the Saturday Market stage.

Currently, there are over 700 members of the Eugene Saturday Market.  About 300 of these members are active vendors who regularly sell crafts or food at the market.  Members pay an annual $50 fee.  On Saturdays, vendors pay $13 to rent an eight-foot by eight-foot booth or $8 for a four-foot by four-foot booth.  Vendors must also pay ten percent of their sales revenue to the Saturday Market.

Awards
The Eugene Saturday Market won local recognition as Lane County's first-best place for a family outing in The Register-Guard's Readers' Choice awards in 2010.

Eugene Saturday Market won the 2018 Fentress Endowment Award presented at The Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene's BRAVA Breakfast. This award, established by Carroll D. and Harriet Fentress in 1984, is given annually to a local arts organization for exceptional work and achievement in the arts. The winner is selected by a committee of local Eugene artists and community leaders. The committee chose Eugene Saturday Market to recognize the important role the Market has played in Eugene's community as a venue for local artists, crafts people and performers.

Governance

The Saturday Market is a not-for-profit-organization.  Its board of directors sets policy and oversees market operations.  The board has nine members elected by Saturday Market members.  Each director serves for 18 months and may be re-elected once.  An election is held every three months with three director positions being filled at each election.  The members of the board elect a chairperson, who serves for one year.  The board also elects a treasurer.

The Saturday Market standards committee was established in 1981.  It establishes guidelines for crafts sold at the market and is responsible for setting on-site marketing rules.  It also resolves disputes between vendors.  In addition, a budget committee works with the board of directors to ensure the organization remain financially healthy.  The budget committee prepares an annual budget and a vendor fee schedule for board approval.

The board of directors hires employees and sets their salaries.  Currently, there are only three full-time employees; a director, a financial coordinator, and a promotions coordinator.  There are also twelve part-time employees who help set up and take down the stage and information booth on Saturdays.

See also
 Salem Saturday Market

References

External links
 Eugene Saturday Market photo gallery

Tourist attractions in Eugene, Oregon
Festivals in Eugene, Oregon
1970 establishments in Oregon


text:
Facebook to acquire Giphy in a deal reportedly worth $400 million – TechCrunch
by Our Source | Aug 4, 2020 | Social | 0 comments
Facebook will acquire Giphy, the web-based animated gif search engine and platform provider, Facebook confirmed today, in a deal worth around $400 million, according to a report by Axios. Facebook said it isn't disclosing terms of the deal. Giphy has grown to be a central source for shareable, high-engagement content, and its animated response gifs are available across Facebook's platforms, as well as through other social apps and services on the web.
Most notably, Giphy provides built-in search and sticker functions for Facebook's Instagram, and it will continue to operate in that capacity, becoming a part of the Instagram team. Giphy will also be available to Facebook's other apps through existing and additional integrations. People will still be able to upload their own GIFs, and Facebook intends to continue to operate Giphy under its own branding and offer integration to outside developers.
Facebook says it will invest in additional tech development for Giphy, as well as build out new relationships for it on both the content side and the endpoint developer side. The company says that fully 50% of traffic that Giphy receives already comes from Facebook's apps, including Instagram, Messenger, the FB app itself and WhatsApp .
Giphy was founded in 2013, and was originally simply a search engine for gifs. The website's first major product expansion was an extension that allowed sharing via Facebook, introduced later in its founding year, and it quickly added Twitter as a second integration. According to the most recent data from Crunchbase, Giphy had raised $150.9 million across five rounds, backed by funders including DFJ Growth, Lightspeed, Betaworks, GV, Lerer Hippeau and more.
Apptopia raises $20M to expand its competitive intelligence business beyond mobile – TechCrunch
CMU researchers show potential of privacy-preserving activity tracking using radar – TechCrunch
Exeger takes $38M to ramp up production of its flexible solar cells for self-powered gadgets – TechCrunch
When the Earth is gone, at least the internet will still be working – TechCrunch
Longevity startup Gero AI has a mobile API for quantifying health changes – TechCrunch


The design is an hommage to the French ceramist, Roger Capron (b. 1922) who attained international acclaim in the mid-fifties for his unique and graphic ceramic art. His frequent motifs of the sun emblem bring a sense of well being and warmth. He was a pioneer of the "forms libres" movement in the 1940's.
Using the old craft of woodturning, the oiled solid walnut blocks undulate in form evoking a sense of play with the warm caramel and chocolate colours and lighthearted circular pattern. I want people to connect with the form and texture of the door. To run their fingers along the oil-sheen surface; to feel that warmth of Roger's envisioned sun pattern.
Made of solid black American walnut.
Click the image to see the CAPRON wall panel on location at The Butcher Chef restaurant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.