Over a dozen purple dresses suspended from the ceiling of the state Capitol Wednesday brought attention to missing women in observance of International Women's Day.
A group called Af3irm hung the dresses to honor the international day celebrating women. The group is a transnational feminist organization that focuses on activism to spread awareness of social issues against women.
One onlooker noted the dresses blowing in the wind resembled ghosts — and that was the intention of the symbolism behind the public art piece.
The dresses were up for about 20 minutes before state deputy sheriffs removed the display, Khara Jabola of Af3irm said.
"It was a symbolic act of art and messaging," Jabola said. She calls it a form of "artivism," when art and activism collide.
A march through Waikiki will was also held Wednesday to show solidarity with the International Women's Day.
The event coincides with the U.N.-designated International Women's Day, and organizers say they want to "stand with women around the globe" who supported their efforts Jan. 21 with similar protests in cities around the world.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Many American women stayed home from work, joined rallies or wore red Wednesday to demonstrate how vital they are to the U.S. economy, as International Women's Day was observed with a multitude of events around the world.
The Day Without a Woman protest in the U.S. was put together by organizers of the vast women's marches that drew more than 1 million Americans the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration.
The U.S. event – inspired in part by the Day Without an Immigrant protest held last month – was part of the U.N.-designated International Women's Day.
In a message, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said leadership positions are predominantly held by men, and "outdated attitudes and entrenched male chauvinism" are widening the economic gender gap. Closing that gap would add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025, he said.
A crowd of about 1,000 people, the vast majority of them women, gathered on New York's Fifth Avenue in the shadow of Trump Tower. Women wore red and waved signs reading "Nevertheless she persisted," "Misogyny out of the White House now" and "Resist like a girl." Thirteen people were arrested for blocking traffic, police said.
School in such places as Prince George's County, Maryland; Alexandria, Virginia; and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, canceled classes after hundreds of teachers and other employees let it be known they would be out. In Providence, Rhode Island, the municipal court closed for lack of staff members.
Lovely Monkey Tattoo, a female-owned tattoo parlor in Whitmore Lake, Michigan, offered tattoos with messages like "Nevertheless, She Persisted" – a reference to the recent silencing of Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the Senate floor – with proceeds going to Planned Parenthood.
Associated Press writers Phuong Le in Seattle; Mike Householder in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Michelle Smith in Providence, Rhode Island; William Mathis and Edith Lederer in New York City; Nick Riccardi in Denver; and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report.
Errin Haines Whack covers urban affairs for The Associated Press. Follow her work on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/emarvelous.
The agency overseeing the Honolulu rail project want a piece of the Blood Bank of Hawaii's property, but have objected to buying the whole parcel — and paying full price.
City officials, and the agency overseeing the Honolulu rail project, want a piece of the Blood Bank of Hawaii's property.
The Blood Bank wants to sell its entire 22,500 square-foot Dillingham Boulevard site to the City — it's been appraised at $5 million — but the rail authority says only wants a portion of the land.
The city has discussed forcing the sale through condemnation.
Nguyen says the Blood Bank must move out of its Dillingham home before rail construction hits the corridor, since blood bank operations will impacted by related closures.
Since discussions began two years ago, the non-profit says it has checked out 30 properties, but none of them were right.
Anticipating rail work that will affect traffic, the Blood Bank divided its operations, moving the drop-in donor center five miles its from Kalihi headquarters.
As a result, the blood bank says, drop-in donations plummeted. To make up for it, the blood bank increased mobile blood drives.
The move, Nguyen says, contributed to the non-profit losing money last year. It now needs capital from the sale Dillingham property to help pay for a move to a permanent home — a move that could cost $10 million or more.
"Just renovating our satellite center so we could move our donors, that cost $1.5 million. We just don't have that money in our reserves," Nguyen said.
The Blood Bank of Hawaii is struggling in its search for a new location — as fewer donors come through the doors.
The non-profit knows it will have to move before rail construction reaches Dillingham Boulevard. While it waits, the blood bank has altered operations that have cost it drop-in donors and money.
The blood bank wants to sell its entire 22,500 square-foot Dillingham Boulevard site to the city — it's been appraised at $5 million — but the rail authority says it only wants a portion of the land.
Anticipating rail work that will affect traffic, the blood bank divided its operations, moving the drop-in donor center five miles from its Kalihi headquarters.
The move, Nguyen said, contributed to the non-profit losing money last year. It now needs capital from the sale of the Dillingham property to help pay for a move to a permanent home — a move that could cost $10 million or more.
A 2-year-old who wandered away from her Kalihi home Wednesday was found safe about three hours after she went missing.
The girl, Mika Garen, walked away from her home near Kaumualii Street about 1 p.m.
Police launched a frantic search for the girl, using a police helicopter and patrol officers to look for her.
She was located about 4 p.m. at an address on Richards Street, several blocks from where she was reported missing.
Police are asking for the public's help in trying to find a 2-year-old who wandered away from her Kalihi home.
Police are asking for the public's help in trying to find a 2-year-old who wandered away from her Kalihi home on Wednesday afternoon.
The girl, Mika Garen, wandered away from her home near Kaumualii Street about 1 p.m.
She is wearing a blue dress with white polka dots, gray pants and pink slippers. She has two ponytails, and weighs about 40 pounds.
Police said she has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone who sees Garen is asked to call 911 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Federal wildlife officials say they're searching for an entangled humpback whale in waters off Kauai.
A spokesperson for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the whale was first spotted off Koloa Landing on Sunday, with two knotted ropes wrapped around its body and through its mouth. Two tiger sharks were spotted nearby.
Photos of the whale were taken by entanglement responders, the administration says.
NOAA employees say they mobilized on Sunday after the initial sighting, but were unable to find the animal. There were unsubstantiated reports of another sighting Wednesday morning, the administration says.
Anyone with information on the animal is asked to call the NOAA hotline at 1-888-256-9840.


hoggitworld. com, and uses the default port. Notable rhoggit Posts: A10C Pilot AMA ( Summary ) Feb 07, 2011 Printed DCS A10C Flight Manual Hey all been having a look around for a company too print the flight manual in the UK. I've just done a online quote, Would not believe how much printing in Dcs A10c Manual Pdf Afghanistan and one of the SMEs for the DCS: A10C manual. going to have to do it old school, which depending on the skill level of the A10C pilot, still.
Oct 20, 2011 DCS A10C Warthog Start Up: 1. Set Battery switch to PWR (right side panel). 2. Set Inverter switch to STBY (right side panel). 3. Test caution and warning systems: press and HOLD the lamp test button (Auxiliary Lighting Panel left side panel) Dec 31, 2012 They really strived to make DCS: A10c all it can be and then pretty much dropped the ball when it came to providing a premium package for those who'd like it.
The forum posting above started as a survey for buying a printed manual and 225 people said they wanted to buy a printed one I think they could have easily sold 500 copies (usually A 43 page normal checklist and weapons quick reference handbook created for the DCS A10C. Formatted in PDF, it can be used either in printed form or on the IPAD etc. This manual should be used in conjunction with the tutorials included with this simulation and the online videos available on the DCS website, to learn this aircraft.
Please note that all listed key commands are in regards to a standard U. S. keyboard.


We almost never think about what is the connection between fingernails and disease, but we definitely should! This is because the fingernails give significant warnings and signal the presence of various diseases.
A healthy fingernail has pink color with a touch of white moons near the base. If your nails have some other colors, it is possible that you have a hidden health issue.
Scrub your nails clean and take a look at the color once again. Taking into consideration the wide plethora of potential health issues, you want to know what your nails are telling you.
Having thick nails is anything but normal. It is good for the nails to be strong, but in case they resemble claws or talons, be careful!
Unusual thickness may also be a warning sign of circulation problem.
If you have thick nails, watch out for allergic reactions to new drugs.
Split nails are also caused by chronic malnutrition.
Watch your diet and check the psoriasis relationship in order to be able to fight back.


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Part of HuffPost Parenting. ©2022 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved.
8-Year-Old Dresses Up As Ruth Bader Ginsburg For School Superhero Day
Because she fights prejudice and injustice.
Emily McCombs
Deputy Editor, HuffPost Personal
12/22/2016 03:22pm EST | Updated December 23, 2016
Michele Threefoot, 8 years old, is a proud Hufflepuff.
She relates to the house from Harry Potter because Hufflepuffs are kind, loyal and believe in treating everyone the same. These are qualities shared by another one of her heroes, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
That's why she chose to dress up as the 83-year-old Brooklyn native (sometimes known as The Notorious RGB) for "Superhero Day" at her school.
"She and her sister aren't really into Marvel superheroes, so I was just going to put them in Supergirl capes and masks. But while our family was talking about it, she told me she wanted to be Ruth Bader Ginsburg. So we went with it!," Michele's mother, Krista Threefoot told The Huffington Post.
Michele learned about Ginsburg, who was the second of four total female justices who have served on the Supreme court, from a children's book called I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark, which her mother picked up for her at a writing conference.
"The book talks a lot about the prejudices Ruth Bader Ginsburg faced as a child and about how she has worked her whole life to fight inequality in our country. Michele gets pretty passionate about unfairness, especially relating to girls and women, so the book's message really stuck with her," said Threefoot.
Threefoot didn't question Michele's decision to dress up as a non-traditional superhero. In fact, she proudly posted a picture of the mini-RBG in the group Pantsuit Nation, and on her own Facebook, where she wrote, "It's superhero day at school. Michele has been reading the heck out of I Dissent and decided to dress as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, because she fights prejudice and injustice."
She also added the text "Yes, world. Girls who read are dangerous" to the photo of Michele, referring to the Lisa Kleypas quote, "A well-read woman is a dangerous creature."
While none of the other students knew who Michele was dressed as, no one made fun of her either, according to Threefoot. And she got a response from somewhere even better.
"I got an email yesterday from RBG's assistant ― she saw the picture, loves it, and will be sending Michele a handwritten note!! I told Michele that RBG had seen the picture and loved it, but we are keeping the letter a surprise until it comes," Threefoot said.
Threefoot is also planning to do a lesson using the I Dissent book with Michele's girl scout troop, and the whole troop will be touring the Supreme Court next year.
"I can't recommend the book enough to parents of young girls ― or boys," she says.
Supreme CourtU.S. NewsKidsInspiration Generation ruth bader ginsburg
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Who is a migrant?
ERDF Compliance
How we define who is a migrant has huge implications for how we organise our societies, writes Professor Mary Gilmartin, Department of Geography.
Which country provides the largest group of migrants to Ireland? The answer might surprise you. It's the United Kingdom. According to the 2016 Census, around 5.8% of the total population of Ireland – just over 270,000 people – were from the UK. This is over twice the number from the country that provides the second largest group of migrants, Poland.
Right now, you're probably looking to prove this is wrong. After all, the Irish Times said just last year that Poles are the largest group. However, the Irish Times is also right. How is it possible to arrive at two totally different answers, both of which are correct?
How we answer the questions matter, because how we define and count migrants has broader implications for our society. In a world where the power of states has been eroded by globalisation, migration is one of the few remaining ways for states to exert influence. This happens by deciding who gets to enter a country and under what conditions, such as whether or not someone can work, or vote, or start a family. Under these conditions, the rights of people who are defined as migrants are never fixed and are always vulnerable to change and exploitation. We see this with Brexit, where many British people living outside the UK, and many EU citizens living in the UK, are now uncertain and fearful about their status and their possible futures.
Who counts as a migrant is also important, because of the implications for how we organise our societies. In particular, it allows us to see if there are differences between the experiences and opportunities of those who count as migrants and those who do not. For example, we can identify if migrants are appropriately employed, experiencing good health, living in good quality accommodation or have good English or Irish language skills. If not, we can develop policies and practices to help improve people's lives, and make sure that public services meet the needs of the public.
We can examine if we limit people's access to services based on their migrant status and the longer-term consequences of these actions. If we are not clear about how we define and count migrants, it will be more difficult to respond to their, and society's, broader needs, now and into the future.
When we define some people, and not others, as migrants, we are making judgements about who doesn't, and who does, belong
When I said that the UK provides the largest group of migrants to Ireland, this is because I described people as migrants based on place of birth. This is also how the UN and the OECD identify migrants. Using this definition, anyone born outside the Republic of Ireland is classified as a migrant. In contrast, the Irish Times report defines migrants based on nationality, which is a more common measure in Europe. Using this definition, a migrant is anyone with a nationality other than Irish.
Both of these definitions give us counts of international migrants in Ireland. There's a third possible definition, which is that you have changed your country of residence for at least a year. As a consequence, we have three different measures of international migrants living in Ireland in 2016. To show the difference, the 2016 Census counted 535,475 non-Irish nationals, 810,406 people born outside Ireland, and 888,899 had who lived outside Ireland for a year. The lowest number is 11.2% of the total population; the highest number is 18.7% of the total population. That's a big difference.
Each of these ways of answering the "who is a migrant?" question brings its own problems. If we define migrants on the basis of place of birth, what does this mean for people born in Northern Ireland? Should they be categorised as born in Ireland, or as born outside Ireland - particularly since the removal of the territorial claim to Northern Ireland from the Constitution in 1998? If we define migrants on the basis of nationality, how should we count the increasing number of new Irish citizens, many of whom have dual nationality? Do they count as "nationals", "non-nationals" or "migrants"?
Our definitions have broader implications in the current era, because migrants are increasingly being used as scapegoats for other political issues
And what does it mean for people born in Ireland, who have spent their whole life in Ireland, but who do not have Irish nationality? If we define migrants as people who have spent a year outside Ireland, what does this mean for Irish nationals, born in Ireland, who have lived away from Ireland for a long period? Should they be considered migrants, or do we discount their migration experience completely?
Our definitions have broader implications in the current era, because migrants are increasingly being used as scapegoats for other political issues. When we define some people, and not others, as migrants, we are making judgements about who doesn't, and who does, belong.
In the past, we did this by describing migrants living in Ireland as 'non-nationals', thus suggesting they belonged nowhere. Today, while people living outside Ireland may well be described as Irish, they are also seen as migrants, and they have no rights to vote in Ireland. How we define migrants, and how we count migrants, has real world consequences. We need to pay attention to those consequences as we come to terms with the changing place of Ireland in a mobile world.


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South Perth Lions Rugby League
Welcome to the Home of the South Perth Lions Rugby League
SPRLC AGM Nomination Form
Please find attached the AGM Nomination Form
SPRLC_AGMDownload
SPRLC New Constitution
The State Government has legislated new Rules governing the running of Clubs and Associations in WA, whereas a Club's constitution has to conform to the requirements of the Act and its Model Rules.This process had to be completed by 30th June 2019. SPRLC acknowledges that we did not meet this date, and the consequences are that our existing Constitution is now invalid and that the Club is subject to the conditions and rulings of the Model Rules (as contained in the Act) until such time as a new Constitution/Rules is adopted by our members, and then submitted to the State Government Department and then approved by that Department. Notice is hereby given that the Club will hold its AGM on Sunday 3rd November at 3pm.At that meeting a new Constitution/Rules will be voted on to be adopted, and the proposed Constitution is attached for member's review. In essence it combines the requirements, clauses and wording of the Model Rules with the Club's previous special clauses and wording from the old/existing Constitution.Any comments or proposed changes must be emailed to Club at admin@sprl.com.au by no later than Sunday 20th October.You must be a financial member to propose changes and to vote at the AGM. Bruce Greenwood and Michael Coleman (both Life Members) have vetted the drafting of the new Constitution and recommend acceptance
Final-Constitution-Oct19Download
Coaching & Player Opportunities for Season 2020
Young Lions Roar
Unfortunately our First Grade team were defeated in a thriller last weekend by North Beach who scored in the dying minutes to steal the match from a very committed and gutsy Lions team. The final score was 24-20 which was a tough loss to take given the way that we had played the majority of the match. The club is very proud of the efforts of our team who fought all year through our fair share of adversity.
In very much brighter news, the future of South Perth looks fantastic with all 5 of our junior Grand Final teams winning their matches on Sunday which is an absolutely amazing result for the club.
Under 11's WON 30-24
Under 17's Girls WON 44-10
Under 17's WON 34-4
Congratulations to all Players,Coaches, Managers and volunteers on a very successful season, once again the club could not be prouder of your efforts.
Senior Grand Finals are on this Saturday at Dorrien Gardens with games starting at 11am (WLT) with First Grade kicking off at 5.30.
Our Senior Presentation Night will be held on Saturday 12th October with more details to follow.
Committee Members Wanted For 2020
With the 2019 season's end fast approaching, the Club is looking forward and planning for 2020. We will be seeking new senior committee members for the 2020 season to strengthen our off field club management structure. Some long term committee members are now looking to step back from their current executive committee roles yet stay involved in a support capacity.
The club needs members to consider stepping up and assisting. The committee/executive roles are not too onerous but are vital to the ongoing success of the club. The club has strong off committee support from previous players and administrators, providing plenty of assistance to the committee.
Success on the field has a direct link to a strong off field management structure – they go hand in hand.
Committee and Executive roles will be up for nomination at the club AGM which will be held on Sunday 3rd November 2019.
Please give this some serious consideration over the coming months and feel free to contact Bruce Greenwood (0419 915 612), Phil Hanna (0419 037 822) or any of the current committee members should you have any questions.
Preliminary Final – TEAM LIST
SOUTH PERTH LIONS – SMARTER THAN SMOKING PREMIERSHIP TEAM LIST
Kade MCDONALD
Connor HUDSON
Ben GRACE
Billy JUDGE
Eddie PROUDLER (C)
Harry DEBIQUE
Zac WOOD
Tim NOBLE
Ethan GOURGAURD
Brandon WRIGHT
Jarrad SMITH (VC)
Isaac THOMAS
Caleb NORTON
Cody LAUGHTON
Taine KINGI
Wessel VAN-TONDER
Please note that the game kicks off at 4.50pm…!!!
Join the South Perth Rugby League Club on Facebook


one story about her, it would be this.
from Dad's parents who were scandalized that she would divorce their son.
She decided that she had to move far away in order to make a fresh start.
no car. But she found someone who needed a car driven to Portland, Oregon.
own business in a completely new territory.
chapter "The Open Road" from Wind in the Willows. Such a fitting tribute.
Inside. Each email contains an attached song by Sara Hoxie.
sending these emails. I am sending these songs to you for three reasons.
her music to you as a gift, not as a pitch.
teacher and I want to support her and help her music reach a wider audience.
Feel free to forward my emails with the attached songs to others.
has spent time by rivers.
is that psychologically, I'm not a leader. I love scouting; I don't like leading.
will allow others to follow. In that way, a scout is followed.
back when people are following me—that I don't like.
difference between the two. And that led me back to Fort Wolters.
chance we could somehow win it.
awareness of how his stories were blowing me away.
counts based on incidents like that would only lead reasoning into a fantasy.
spent a lot of that first summer gnawing on my campfire talk.
Alaska. It doesn't get dark until mid-August so there is no need for a fire.
grow fast or large. So we're not going to have a fire.
walked straight into a silent but incredibly palpable wall of hostility. BAM.
I meekly built a hasty fire.


text:
Twins Notes: Arcia, Gibson, Benson, Butera, Morneau, Mauer, and Gomez
• When the Twins called up Oswaldo Arcia from Triple-A in mid-April they gave him consistent playing time, but as soon as the 22-year-old slumped for the first time those starts dried up. Last week Ron Gardenhire benched Arcia in four straight games, choosing instead to go with Ryan Doumit twice and Chris Parmelee and Chris Colabello once apiece in right field. And then after finally starting Arcia again Friday the Twins demoted him back to Rochester.
Even after his recent slump Arcia was hitting .255/.318/.449 in 30 games overall, which is damn good for a 22-year-old rookie who was rushed to the majors and ranks third on the Twins in OPS behind Joe Mauer and Josh Willingham. In talking about the demotion Gardenhire acted upset, suggesting he may not have agreed with the front office's decision, but the manager choosing to start Doumit, Parmelee, and Colabello over Arcia wasn't helping.
For a 22-year-old's development playing regularly in Rochester is better than playing sparingly in Minnesota, but if they wanted to find room in the lineup for Arcia it's not as if benching Parmelee or sending him back to Triple-A would have been a tough call. For all the focus on Arcia slumping for 30 at-bats, Parmelee is 25 years old and has hit .222/.290/.351 with nine homers and an ugly 88-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 106 games since last season.
Arcia was Darin Mastroianni's injury replacement and arrived after just 10 games at Triple-A and 79 total games above Single-A, so his heading back down is hardly a tragedy. His plate discipline still needs work, which isn't surprising given his age, hastened timetable, and poor K/BB ratios in the minors. Sending him down now doesn't really jibe with rushing Arcia to the majors in the first place, but it does ensure that he won't burn through a full season of service time in 2013.
• Speaking of service time, bypassing Kyle Gibson twice in favor of Samuel Deduno and P.J. Walters should save the Twins money down the road. Whether that was a factor in keeping him at Triple-A is tough to say, but Gibson is 25 years old and thriving in his first full season back from elbow surgery. In his last four starts he has two complete-game shutouts and another game of eight shutout innings on the way to a 2.82 ERA and 53/17 K/BB ratio in 61 innings overall.
Deduno and Walters are nothing more than replacement-level filler who made a lot more sense last year as emergency options for an injury wrecked rotation. It doesn't speak well for the front office that they're both already back in the rotation following an offseason spent talking about improving the dreadful starting pitching, which has somehow been even worse. Last year they turned to Deduno and Walters because injuries forced them. This year it's their own doing.
• By calling up non-roster players in Deduno, Walters, and Colabello the Twins needed to open three spots on the 40-man roster. Two of those were created by transferring Mastroianni and Tim Wood to the 60-day disabled list and the third was accomplished by waiving someone. There's no shortage of fungible talent on the 40-man roster, which is why it was surprising when they chose Joe Benson and the Rangers claimed him.
Benson has been equal parts injured and awful since the beginning of last season and his stock has plummeted to the point that the 25-year-old former second-round pick is clearly no longer a top prospect. Just a few weeks ago on a "Gleeman and The Geek" episode I actually wondered if Benson was in danger of being trimmed from the 40-man roster, but I was speculating about an offseason move if he continued to struggle all year.
To cut bait now seems short-sighted, especially when the 40-man roster still holds Drew Butera, Cole De Vries, Wilkin Ramirez, Chris Herrmann, Tyler Robertson, and the aforementioned trio of Colabello, Deduno, and Walters. Butera in particular isn't someone to worry about losing. He hit .183 for the Twins after hitting .216 in the minors, and if some team wants to claim his $700,000 contract another bad-hitting, good-fielding catcher isn't difficult to find.
For some organizations losing a struggling former top prospect like Benson is simply the cost of needing to juggle roster spots to provide big-league reinforcements, but in the Twins' case the 40-man roster is full of spare parts and choosing Deduno and Walters as reinforcements when Gibson was already on the 40-man roster essentially cost them Benson. Benson's upside has rapidly deteriorated, but guys like Butera and De Vries have never had any upside.
• Friday night Mauer singled to end Anibal Sanchez's no-hitter with one out in the ninth inning. Mauer previously broke up ninth-inning no-hitters by Gavin Floyd in 2008 and Neftali Feliz in 2010, and doing it three times ties him with former Yankees second baseman Horace Clarke for the most since 1961. I'm not sure if that says more about the Twins' offense or Mauer's hitting.
• Lost in the near no-hitter Friday night is that Parmelee randomly played an inning in center field after Gardenhire pinch-hit Doumit for Aaron Hicks and apparently didn't want to use Ramirez. All of which got me thinking about the least-qualified center fielders in recent Twins history. They've used 23 different center fielders since Gardenhire became manager in 2002, led by Torii Hunter for 814 games and Denard Span for 448 games. Here's the full list:
Torii Hunter     814     Nick Punto         9
Denard Span      448     Wilkin Ramirez     8
Carlos Gomez     283     Craig Monroe       7
Lew Ford         149     Darin Mastroianni  6
Ben Revere       134     Michael Cuddyer    6
Aaron Hicks       41     Michael Ryan       5
Jason Tyner       37     Denny Hocking      3
Bobby Kielty      36     Erik Komatsu       2
Dustan Mohr       12     Joe Benson         2
Jacque Jones      12     Clete Thomas       1
Jason Repko       11     Alexi Casilla      1
Chris Parmelee     1
Quite a few guys on that list had no business in center field, but it's tough to beat Parmelee. Prior to Friday he'd played eight seasons and 838 games as a pro without spending an inning anywhere but first base or an outfield corner.
• On a related note, after homering twice off Kevin Correia yesterday Carlos Gomez is hitting .331/.376/.611 this season and .300/.343/.540 with 24 homers and 35 steals in 123 games since last year's All-Star break. Toss in what has always been strong defense in center field and Gomez has seemingly developed into one of the best all-around players in baseball at age 27.
• Gardenhire's ejection Saturday afternoon was the 64th of his career, which averages out to one ejection per 28.6 games as manager. Bobby Cox has the all-time record with 158 ejections, so at his current pace Gardenhire would have to manage 17 more seasons to top him.
• Justin Morneau has just two homers in 47 games this season and a total of four homers in his last 79 games dating back to last year, with half of them coming in one game. Morneau is hitting .300 and Willingham is hitting .212, but Willingham has a higher OPS by 50 points.
• Mauer has a .433 batting average on balls in play. No other AL hitter is above .400 and Mauer's career mark is .349. Mauer is hitting .339 and the rest of the Twins are hitting a combined .229.
• Since joining the Twins organization Deduno has 88 walks in 143 innings between Triple-A and the majors. In his final three seasons Brad Radke had a total of 81 walks in 583 innings.
• Rafael Perez, who was released by the Twins from Triple-A, signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox.
• This week's "Gleeman and The Geek" episode was jam-packed with good Twins topics. We broke down all the recent roster moves, tried to figure out their plan for Gibson, weighed the pros and cons for demoting Arcia, and got in depth looking at the Twins' draft options with the No. 4 pick.
This week's blog content is sponsored by Ticket King, a local ticket broker that doesn't charge check-out fees, offers in-store pickup, and specializes in Twins tickets. Please support them for supporting AG.com.
Drew Butera
Joe Benson
Kyle Gibson
Oswaldo Arcia
P.J. Walters
Samuel Deduno
I was fine with losing Benson until I read this article. I didn't think about who the Twins chose over him…
Comment by mike — May 28, 2013 @ 12:02 am
I find it interesting how Arcia slumps and gets 4 days off and demoted yet Hicks has played all but 4 games this year.
Comment by Brian — May 28, 2013 @ 12:09 pm
Joe Benson has two homers in two games with the Ranger's AA affiliate. Means pretty much nothing, but I won't be shocked if he turned things around.
Comment by Jeff — May 28, 2013 @ 2:31 pm
Choosing garbage over Benson is an abomination. Now, in AA, Benson has hit 3 homers in three games. Added a triple and an outfield assist. Great job, Twins.
Check out a weird Chris Herrmann fact. His AAA day/night splits are amazing. A roughly .350 OPS in day games (51 at bats) and a .720 OPS in night games (100 at bats). Weird as hell, but interesting as the Twins evaluate who deserves to on the 25 man roster.
Comment by Shane Wahl — May 29, 2013 @ 12:53 am
Morneau has also hit 2 or 3 balls off the limestone facing in RF this year. Those are singles that should be homeruns.
Not that 2-3 homeruns would make a huge difference…
Comment by Manny — May 29, 2013 @ 9:54 am
AG hits big-time; featured in STRIB!
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/209231171.html
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Howard University wins $90M military contract, makes history
TheGrio Staff
The school is the first HBCU (Historically Black College and University) to secure such a Pentagon award.
In a major contract win, Howard University has been awarded $90 million for military research.
The school is the first HBCU (Historically Black College and University) to secure a Pentagon contract for research development, officials announced Monday, ABC 7News reports.
The U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense will fund a university-affiliated research center (UARC) where Howard University will study "tactical autonomy" technology for military systems, according to a release.
Howard University, which has won a $90 million military university-affiliated research center (UARC) contract, is the first HBCU (Historically Black College and University) to secure such an award. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
"The contract will establish a Historically Black Colleges and Universities-led University Affiliated Research Center consortium to execute research focused on tactical autonomy that will aid in the transition of research into practical applications," the release states.
HBCUs produce about 30% of all professional STEM workers, according to the ABC 7News report, but receive a small percentage of military research funding. This newly announced UARC center symbolizes the much-needed support for STEM-related programs at these schools. Currently, the Pentagon has 14 UARCs.
Howard will conduct the research at a facility on campus and the work is expected to be completed by Jan. 31, 2028.
"Howard's new research center will focus on tactical autonomy," said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III on Monday from Founder's Library on campus. "That's central to U.S. security in our changing world. Responsibly used autonomous systems make our military faster, stronger, and smarter."
Howard University president, Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick said the award "brings to culmination, our mission and the work we have been doing to get here as well," he told the students and faculty who gathered with local government, members of Congress, the Air Force and Department of Defense staff for Monday's announcement at the school, according to ABC 7News.
"I think that we just need the world to see that we are more than liberal arts we also stem we breed many architects, engineers, and mathematicians, all types of STEM degrees, and having this program really pushes that forward," Howard University ROTC member Bria White told ABC 7News.
"I've heard my friends cheering in their rooms when they heard about this program," White said. "So yeah, we're all excited to be a part of this program."
Having access to this program would help Howard University students advance their careers and majors in stem fields.
"We need your ideas," Austin III said during the official on-campus announcement. "We need your creativity and we need to draw on the skills of all of our people."
TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!
The post Howard University wins $90M military contract, makes history appeared first on TheGrio.
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Could 2019 be your year to be recognised as one of Europe's top audiologists?
The countdown is on for European hearing professionals to secure their nominations for the prestigious Audiologist of the Year award in time for the 1st July closing date.
According to Benjamin Schadow, winner of the 2018 Audiologist of the Year competition and owner of Hörstil in Erfurt, Germany, the opportunity to boost your profile and business is one that is too good to miss.
Now in its twelfth year, the competition invites patients from across Europe to nominate their hearing practitioner by describing the difference they have made to their lives. These stories, highlight the hard work of audiologists and explain why they deserve to be rewarded at a national level as well as on an international stage.
The award is run by Rayovac®, a world-leading hearing aid battery manufacturer* and division of Energizer Holdings, Inc., in partnership with Audio Infos, a leading international hearing publication for the audiology industry, the European Hearing Instrument Manufacturers Association (EHIMA) and the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH).
Recognising that some practitioners might find it uncomfortable to ask their patients to nominate them, Paula Brinson-Pyke, Director of Marketing at Rayovac®, has some advice for audiologists who are thinking about getting involved but are unsure of how to go about it: "We have created a promotional pack to enable audiologists to easily promote the competition in their practices and through their networks.
"The pack includes everything that a patient needs to know, so audiologists don't have to feel that they're asking people to nominate them. There are plenty of promotional materials too, that audiologists can display in their waiting rooms and offices to encourage entries, including table talkers, business cards, posters and entry forms.
After the country winners are announced in September, they will compete to be the overall European winner, with the result being revealed at an 'Evening of Excellence' in October at the EUHA in Nuremberg, Germany.
Each country winner receives a trophy, framed certificate, a £250 cash prize, annual subscription to Audio Infos and a PR package to publicise the award. The overall European winner receives £2,500 and a trip to the annual EUHA event where the award will be presented at the special Evening of Excellence, in front of their industry peers. The patient who submits the winning entry will also receive a special prize package, including £250 and a gift bundle to the value of £200.
"It was an overwhelming feeling to read the nominations and to know that I had such a big impact on people's lives, removing barriers to communication. It's what we do every day and the feeling I got was unexpected, and definitely the best part of the process.
The independent judging panel for this year's competition is looking for examples of an audiologist's outstanding patient commitment, the difference they've made to the patient's life, their knowledge of new technologies and examples of how they work in partnership with other specialists.
Like the Audiologist of the Year on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AudiologistoftheYear or follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AOTY_EU.


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Home » Hydroelectricity, Hydro Electric Systems Information
Hydroelectricity, Hydro Electric Systems Information
A brief history of Hydroelectricity
How Hydroelectricity is Generated
Hydroelectric System Efficiencies
Types of Hydroelectric System
Types of Micro Hydroelectricity Systems
Community Hydroelectricity Station
Commercial Hydroelectricity
Large Scale Hydroelectricity Dams
Hydroelectric system components and electronics
Remote monitoring technology for hydroelectric turbines
Maintenance and Warranties
Site Suitablilty for Hydroelectricity Generation
Using the energy produced yourself
What head and flow measurements are required for my site to be suitable?
Other site factors
Environmental impact of Hydroelectricity
Costs Associated with Hydroelectric Systems
Finance for Hydroelectricity
Financial Benefits of a Hydroelectric System
Hydroelectricity Investment Inforamation
Feed-in Tariffs
Renewables Levy Exemption Certificates
Planning permission for Hydroelectricity
Certification bodies for Hydroelectricity
Is Hydroelectricity Generation Worth it
Manufacturers of Hydro Turbines
UK's Hydroelectricity Installers
Hydroelectricity and micro-hydro information
Hydroelectricity Information
Hydroelectric and micro-hydro systems harness energy in flowing water in order to generate electricity. The United Kingdom is particularly well suited to generating electricity using hydro technology as it has a relatively wet climate that means there is a plentiful supply of fast running water.
Whether installed by a river-based water source or in tidal areas, hydro technology is a great way for homes, businesses and communities to exploit a clean, free and inexhaustible energy source. What's more, as well as generating energy in an environmentally friendly way, hydro systems can also present an excellent commercial opportunity with a significant return on investment.
Despite their ability to produce electricity 24 hours a day, hydropower currently only accounts for 1.3% of the UK's total electricity consumption, with most of the systems located in Scotland and Wales. This figure is set to rise, however, as hydro technology becomes increasingly accessible for local communities and as the price of non-renewable energy skyrockets.
The History of Hydroelectricity
Since man first became civilised he has been trying to harness the running power of water to help operate things like grain mills and irrigation systems. Our ancient ancestors were often at the forefront of innovation when it came to renewables such as hydropower. It was simply a matter of waiting until the discovery of electricity came along when the two technologies could be combined to create power plants. Then, throughout the 20th Century, we began to construct huge dams that could be used to generate electricity for millions of homes. In more recent times, hydroelectricity has begun to downscale, with smaller projects being developed on a community scale.
Discover the rich history of hydroelectricity.
The generation of electricity through hydropower is a relatively simple process. At its core, fast moving water drives a turbine which in turn feeds that mechanical energy into a generator that produces alternating current. The amount of energy which is produced is dependent on a number of factors such as the speed and force of the water and the type of generator being used. Large scale constructions like the Hoover Dam in America use vast reservoirs to supply a continuous flow of water that can be used to create electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes.
Find out more about how hydroelectricity is generated.
Types of hydroelectricity systems
There are two main types of turbine that make up a hydroelectric system. Impulse turbines are partly above water and reaction turbines are, in contrast, fully submerged but they both do the same job in turning a shaft that feeds into an electrical generator. There are different scales when it comes to hydroelectricity from large industrial installations to smaller, micro hydro plants that produces less than 100 kW. We are also now beginning to explore the prospect of finding ways to harness the power of the sea through tidal hydroelectricity.
Explore the different types of hydroelectricity systems.
Types of Micro-Hydro Turbine
Micro hydro turbines are those systems that generally deliver under 100 kW and are often installed to feed one property. They are easier to install and can be of a variety of types, often depending on the style of turbine that is being used. Like other forms of renewable energy, a micro hydro system can benefit from the government's Feed in Tariff which means you can earn money by selling your energy production to the National Grid.
Find out more about micro hydro turbines.
Community Hydroelectricity
One of the areas that hydroelectricity is beginning to show great benefits is the development of community projects that not only produce clean energy but also provide a significant income that can be fed back into the local population. Whilst the initial installation cost for a hydroelectricity project can often stretch into the millions, the payback time can be as little as 6 years. Communities buy shares in the project and also get the chance to benefit from the profits, something that also reduces the amount that is taken out in loans.
Discover the benefits of setting up a community hydroelectric project.
It's not just communities that can benefit from installing hydroelectricity. With the generous Feed in Tariffs, which mean that there can be a quick turn around on return on investment, many businesses are now beginning to look at the prospect of this form of renewable energy as a realistic proposition. Organisations such as the National Trust and Welsh Water have already embraced the possibilities, as have a number of farmers in Wales.
Is hydroelectricity right for your business?
Large Scale Hydroelectricity
Some of the largest construction jobs undertaken in the last century have been for hydroelectricity production. Most major developing countries have invested heavily in the building of large dams that are used to drive huge turbines and generate electricity for millions of people across the world. From the Hoover Dam in the US to the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze in China, large scale hydro has made a big difference to the world we live in.
Explore the world of large scale hydroelectricity.
Is my site suitable for hydroelectricity generation?
There are a number of issues that you have to consider when you undertake a hydroelectric project and the primary one amongst these is the suitability of the site. Renewables such as solar PV can be installed almost anywhere, but hydroelectricity needs a fast flowing water source, whether that is caused by a dam system or a naturally flowing river. This is where head and flow rate become important and why location is vital.
Find out if your site is suitable for hydroelectricity.
Components and Electrics for Hydroelectric Systems
The parts that make up a hydroelectric system will depend on the complexity of what you want to do and how much power is going to be produced. Essentially, water is used to drive a turbine which is used to turn a shaft that feeds into a generator that produces alternating current. The electrics will in turn depend on the level of monitoring you want for the system and whether you are feeding into the National Grid or just powering a single, off-grid property.
Discover the different components of a hydroelectric system.
Maintenance & Warranties
Despite their size and complexity, most micro hydro and medium sized hydroelectric projects are fairly low maintenance. Warranties are normally attached to different parts of the system such as the turbine or generator.
Find out more about maintenance and warranties for hydroelectricity.
There are number of issues to take into account when installing a hydroelectric plant, the most important being the environmental impact. Most installations will need to have a survey done for the Environmental Agency to ensure that there is no adverse impact on things like the local landscape and the wildlife, particularly fish.
Take a look at the environmental impact of our hydroelectric project.
Costs Associated with Hydroelectricity
If you are considering installing a hydroelectric plant on your property you need to consider more than just the cost of the equipment. You will also need to be aware of the additional costs that will be incurred through planning and development and the actual installation, especially if the site is in a remote area.
Find out more about the cost of hydroelectricity.
Financial Benefits of Hydroelectricity
Whilst the cost of installation can initially be daunting, many commercial and community projects are beginning to see the benefit of opting for hydroelectricity as a renewable and profitable energy source. Generally, the larger the size of the hydroelectric installation, the more quickly the initial investment is paid off and a return on investment achieved.
Discover the financial benefits of a hydroelectric project.
Unlike other renewable installations like solar which are permissible under current planning law, most hydroelectric projects will need to go through the council to obtain planning permission. They will also normally need to satisfy Environmental Agency criteria that no harm is being done to the site.
Find out more about planning permission for hydroelectricity.
Is Hydroelectricity Worth It?
There are a number of factors that go into deciding whether installing a hydroelectric plant for your property is going to be worth it, quite apart from the initial cost. There are issues of how suitable your site is and all the work that goes into planning and designing the project.
Find out if installing hydroelectricity is going to be worth it.
There are a number of certification bodies associated with hydroelectricity and other renewable technologies. You can find out more here.
There are now a wide range of manufacturers and suppliers for hydroelectric systems and turbines in the UK as the industry begins to expand. Many can take your through the whole planning and design stage to actual construction.
Browse our list of manufacturers and suppliers here.
Installers of Hydroelectricity
The installation of micro hydro is a growth industry and you can explore our list of things to look for and also get access to our database for companies in your area here.


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Building has begun and old wood from the previous bldg. lays aside.
A long 2 yr. period building it with only being able to work on it in spare time. Les was a small business owner. He was self made, he had a skill and used it to feed his family. He worked his whole life with his hands and was successful.
Auto repair and body work.
at 411 E. 9th Street. His son, Lester N. then ran his electrical business here for a period of time.


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Tina Butters
Sales Development Manager for North America Sales Team
Hi all! My name is Tina Butters and I'm the Sales Development Manager for the North America Sales Team out of Chicago. I joined NCC Group in November of 2018 on the Sales Development Team. Before joining NCC Group, I worked at Trustwave as a Healthcare Account Executive and then a Global Client Success Manager for Enterprise Healthcare & Hospitality organizations. I joined NCC Group because of the values the company stands for and the incredible work we do but mostly, because of the diverse culture. I remember reading an article when I was interviewing that has always stuck with me and it talked about how NCC Group embraces difference and change, and encourages women leadership. NCC Group is truly a remarkable organization continuing to break barriers with challenging stereotypes and I'm so proud to be a part of it to continue supporting women in cyber security.
What do you work toward in your free time?
In my free time, currently, I'm furthering my education at ASU in their Technology & Global Management program. When I started in the cyber security field, I did not realize it would be something I would become so passionate about and once I realized that, I decided to go back to school to become more technologically equipped and understand the business elements from a global perspective.
Who are your role models and mentors?
My mom is a huge role model and mentor for me. Since I was little she always encouraged my sister and me to try anything once, only quit if we don't like something not when we fail. She reminds me daily that failure is a part of life and we only get stronger the more that we're able to overcome those challenges. She is incredibly strong and doesn't let anything stand in the way of her goals and dreams. She has always encouraged me to do what is right for me, not for anyone else.
I'm lucky enough to also have great mentors at NCC Group. Three people that I have looked up to over the past year are John Collins, Jim Jordan & Dana Hehl. These three have different strengths that I've been able to learn from, they all have challenged me throughout my career here and I know I can always go to them for help and advice.
If you were a Microsoft Office program, which one would you be?
Does Microsoft Teams count? Because I'm super chatty, I love staying connected with people and I'm always making a lot of facial expressions so, between the chats and the memes on the program, I think it fits my personality to a T.
Seeing other people succeed and breakthrough challenges or barriers. This has always been something that continues to make me challenge myself and think outside of the box. Whether it's women in leadership and executive roles (especially in male-dominant industries), running a marathon or a simple 'ah-ha moment' is something that inspires me to keep trying every single day. When I'm able to see and be a part of the successes that people have as they break the barriers of what is considered the 'norm' it truly ignites a fire in me and keeps me going every day.
What was the last gift you gave someone?
I just put together a care package/congratulations gift for one of my best friends who got engaged over the weekend! Since we're on lock down in Chicago, I'm not able to celebrate with her and her fiancé until April at the earliest so I wanted to send them something to keep their engagement as exciting as it would be if we were all able to get together. In the package, I put together some wedding planning & celebratory items along with a few gift cards to some of our favourite local places to continue to support local businesses during this time of need.
If you could compare yourself with any animal, which would it be and why?
An animal I would compare myself to would be an elephant. They are extremely social animals, they work together, have great problem-solving abilities and are a bit goofy. Their deliberate movements exude both confidence and calmness in all aspects of their lives and have strong loyalty, patience, devotion, courage, and cleverness. And they seem to always be happy and have a lot of fun!
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text:
No more crying for Mika
by Leanne on July 30, 2006 · 4 comments ·
CRY NO MORE
Peak Position: #8
Label: SONY MUSIC ASSOCIATED RECORDS
Product Code: AICL-1730
First Press: "BLOOD+" jacket-sized sticker
Nakashima Mika's Official Web Site
After playing the role of NANA and releasing a single posing as her, Nakashima Mika returned with "CRY NO MORE" a slow blues ballad that washes Blast (Oosaki Nana's band) completely away from her. However, Nana herself isn't completely washed off. Mika is set for a sequel for the movie which will start production soon. Also, her collaboration with HYDE in "GLAMOROUS SKY" has formed a deep friendship with him and might lead to more work together in the future. A small piece of evidence of future collaberations with him is that "CRY NO MORE" is the ending theme song to the anime "BLOOD+", while HYDE's latest single (released on the same day!) is the opening theme song. One has to wonder what this magical pair will work on in the future.
1) CRY NO MORE
Featuring a few instances of gospel choir, "CRY NO MORE" is a pleasant piano-driven blues ballad. But, in all reality, that's all there is to it. Mika's voice is quite pleasant to listen to, but she doesn't shine too much. The chorus gets tiring after awhile, with the constant repetition of "I don't wanna cry no more". It picks up for awhile before the end with more of an instrument ensemble, and the chorus picks up, too. However, this song doesn't present the same impact that her other ballads such as "yuki no hana" and "hi no tori" presented. All in all, it falls short.
2) BLACK & BLUE
"BLACK & BLUE" is a tougher, jazzier song, that has a very old feel yet sounds modern enough to be interesting. It gives the impression of someone doing some detective work. Mika's vocals here really display the song's emotion, and her voice really fits the song. The chorus is quite catchy and finger-snap worthy, and for some reason, it's fun hearing Mika yell out "Son of a gun!" Maybe if this was the main track, the single would have had something going for itself. It rates a 4, but just barely.
3) CRY NO MORE (instrumental)
4) BLACK & BLUE (instrumental)
Conclusion: This song barely reached the top 10, and for someone who is seen as an extremely popular artist these days, it's only an okay ranking. The first track isn't anything too special, and with a c/w that is barely any better, it's no wonder why it didn't fare so well for an artist of her caliber. Let's hope that next time she doesn't feel like crying, she doesn't tell us in the form of song.
GLAMOROUS SKY Yazawa Ai's masterpiece manga "NANA" has been gaining a lot of attention this year: first with its very own tribute album, a dedicated café, and now a movie starring Nakashima Mika herself as the rocker-chick Oosaki Nana. To play with the "realism" of the movie a single has been released entitled "GLAMOROUS SKY" under the psuedonym "NANA starring MIKA NAKASHIMA". Staying true to the style of Yazawa's character, the single contains four rock tracks, the title track being composed by the famous rocker HYDE himself.........
sweet & sugary kitty reggae After the bluesy and boring "CRY NO MORE" and the New Orleans charity single "ALL HANDS TOGETHER", Mika unbraids her hair and lets go of the southern-sounds of Louisiana to float into the relaxing Caribbean with "MY SUGAR CAT". ......
REIRA starring YUNA ITO – ENDLESS STORY Yuna Ito, a new artist in the Japanese entertainment scene, debuts with "ENDLESS STORY", an excellent single full of emotions and hopes for the future for this upcoming artist.......
HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – HOT LIMIT HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR's latest single is out, but will it be their last? On July 2, 2008, lead singer Maki (20) announced that she will be leaving HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR at the end of the year because of the marriage with DREAMS COME TRUE leader Nakamura Masato (49).......
Kaoru Amane's Taiyou no Uta Kaoru Amane's single has created quite a huge hype within the Japanese audience. This beautifully constructed single broke many records and has brought the dorama 'Taiyou no Uta' to life.......
Tagged as: Anime, Mika Nakashima, Reviews, Single, Sony
ThePatriot July 9, 2007 at 1:46 pm
I think it's a pretty nice song. It has a nice melody and a pretty deep meaning.
Nathan May 13, 2007 at 2:05 am
I have to say I still like her original songs ,the ablum"Music"….but i am happy to say after the movie NANA,MIKA has a change…Her regardless of others is admir~~I really love this song~~~ keep working!!
Ginette March 2, 2007 at 7:15 am
But isn't this song is the ending song for BLOOD+ ?
Agree with you, she's got pleasant voice but yes, doesn't shine that much.
HilaryDuffFanboy August 12, 2006 at 11:23 am
Hm… I personally love the song… it is made even greater when you consider the themes behind the song and the PV… and after studying "To Kill a Mockingbird" and the Civil Rights Movement in History class, I am quite aroused by such things like this song. It actually has a really good meaning to it…
I'd give CRY NO MORE a perfect five stars…. but that's just me. =P
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GLAMOROUS SKY
sweet & sugary kitty reggae
REIRA starring YUNA ITO – ENDLESS STORY
HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR – HOT LIMIT
Kaoru Amane's Taiyou no Uta


text:
Slovak Protesters Demand Action In Probe Of Journalist's Killing
Slovakia: Biggest Protests In Decades After Death Of Investigative Journalist
Tens of thousands of Slovaks rallied in antigovernment protests to demand an investigation into the killings of a journalist and his fiancee and to call for an end to corruption in the EU and NATO country.
Slovak media estimated that some 40,000 protesters gathered in the capital, Bratislava, on March 9, the largest demonstrations since the 1989 Velvet Revolution that brought down communism in then-Czechoslovakia.
Reporter Jan Kuciak and fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, both 27, were found shot dead in their home near Bratislava on February 25.
Police said the journalist's death was "most likely" related to an article he was writing on alleged links between top Slovak politicians and the Italian mafia. The article was published after his death.
On March 1, Slovak authorities released all seven Italian suspects detained in connection with the case because of lack of evidence.
On March 2, demonstrations took place across Slovakia to demand government action in the killings.
Protest organizers say they want foreign experts to help investigate the slayings.
They also seek establishment of "a new trustworthy government with no people who are suspected of corruption" or links to organized crime.
Based on reporting by AFP and AP


Career: Law Degree from the University of Granada. Member of Illustrious College of Lawyers in Cadiz.
Memberships: Member of the Spanish Association of Legal Experts and Arbitral Mediators (Mediator for the civil and commercial field).
Experience: Internship at Rosales Angulo law firm with the Dean of the College of Lawyers of Granada and President of the Andalusian Council of Colleges of Lawyers (Cadeca).


Each legal case is distinct in its own right, with regard to both the regulations involved, provisions and even the procedure in which they're supposed to be ran. For this reason it is important that you recognize the importance of making an informed decision on who you would want to represent you and how it should be done. In the event that you choose to represent yourself it is important for you to educate yourself on the right tips to follow. If you decide to get the services of a lawyer, it is then important that you find the best personal injury lawyer the market has to offer. Below are some of the tips that you will use when finding the best personal injury lawyer the market can provide.
Specialization is one of the most significant elements that a personal injury lawyer needs to have if you would like to increase your likelihood of receiving the best compensation. A lawyer that has specialized in personal injury law is familiar with the statutory laws in your state that allows him or her to make inferences and come up with legal strategies that are effective in delivering the best compensation. In addition to this, a lawyer who is focused on personal injury cases knows the most appropriate venue for a unique type of case that will increase the effectiveness of your case.
Its also important to have the right resources to id with the case. When you take part in an accident, you case is going to be constructed mostly on the evidence obtained from the scene of accident. For this reason it is wise to find a lawyer with the appropriate resources to build a strong case. The resources should be both human resources with skills and equipment. The lawyer should also have a very good office that will provide good working environment.
Recommendations are also of utmost importance when choosing the best personal injury lawyer, as they give you a more direct approach when finding the best attorney. There are several lawyers in the market thus making it difficult to choose the best kind of lawyer to hire, more so, if you do not have the right knowledge on how to go about it. Seeking advice from friends and your close associates, with a good idea of where to find the best injury lawyer will help you find the best lawyer to represent you in a court of law. You can also get referrals from other attorneys with the right knowledge on where to find the best personal injury attorney.


text:
Home News Politics Senator Ekweremadu: One term is enough for governors, presidents
Senator Ekweremadu: One term is enough for governors, presidents
Ferdinand Jumbo-Asukwo
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has proposed that governors and presidents should spend only a single term of six years in office.
According to him, most leaders do everything possible to remain in power, a situation he believes should come to an end, especially considering the nation's current political climate.
"Unable to resist the temptations that come with enormous power of incumbency, those who call the shots today, throw everything within their reach into the mix in desperate efforts to retain power at all cost and by all means.
"The feverish political climate in the country today, once again, justifies the call by some of us for a single term of five or six years for the President and Governors," he said on Wednesday in a series of tweets.
The Deputy Senate President stressed the need for the nation to make necessary constitutional adjustments to safeguard the democracy and make periods leading up to the elections less toxic.
Making reference to other democracies, he said, "For over 150 years, starting from George Washington up to Harry Truman, there was no term limit for presidents of the United States of America. In fact, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) served four terms (although he died just 11 weeks into his fourth term).
"It was the 22nd Amendment, which was ratified on February 27, 1951, that gave birth to the two-term limit for US presidents".
According to him, in the 1970s, many Latin American democracies faced the same challenges as Nigeria.
But as many of them transited from military and autocratic regimes to democratic regimes, they discovered that the politics of succession, including incumbents' penchant for self-perpetuation, overheated their polities and threatened their democracies which eventually led them to adopting the single term presidency "until such a time their respective democracies matured and stabilised".
"Although virtually all of them have reverted to two-term presidency, Mexico still practices single term presidency, called Sexino," he stated.
The Senate President noted that the single term regime had been proposed before with several transitional options during the constitution amendment exercise in the 7th National Assembly.
However, according to him, "it was misunderstood by various political and sectional interests for various reasons and the proposal did not succeed".
He, therefore, proposed that Nigerians consider the single term government after the 2019 general elections.
"I strongly believe a single term of five or six years for President and Governors, even if for a stipulated period as was the case with several Latin American democracies, is something Nigerians should revisit after the 2019 general elections.
"This will substantially reduce the political tensions and executive excesses that come with self-succession," he said.
Previous article2019: President Buhari's sterling quality can guarantee his victory – lawyer
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Deputy Senate President
Killings: Ohanaeze calls for emergency security summit
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has requested that Nigeria summons an emergency national security conference to discuss ways out of the escalated insecurity in different parts of the country that has resulted in different manners of killings.
Edo Assembly confirms six commissioner-nominees
The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday screened and confirmed six nominees as commissioners in the state.
Kogi: APC gubernatorial aspirant denies endorsing indirect primaries
A governorship aspirant in Kogi State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sani Shuaibu, has denied endorsing indirect primaries in selecting the party's flag-bearer in the September 2, governorship polls in the State.
Ghana's Joseph Aidoo seals move to LaLiga club Celta Vigo
The centre-back has signed a five-year deal with the LaLiga outfit, bringing an end his two-year stay with Belgian side Genk.
Envoy advises homeless, jobless Nigerians in US to return home
The Consul General of Nigeria in New York, Mr Benaoyagha Okoyen, speaking at a conference on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hosted by the consulate in New York,


text:
MIND GAMES: Soft Info-Warfare, Mind Control Research in Norway, Funded by US Air Force
The Smoking Man / March 3, 2016
Source – arstechnica.com
– This research was conducted decades ago. With microwave frequencies emitted from cell phones towers, cell phones, wifi, GWEN towers, etc., there is no need to attach electrodes in the brain.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUwWs…
MIND CONTROL RESEARCH IN NORWAY, FUNDED BY US AIR FORCE (PART 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC-wd…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ6w7…
http://investmentwatchblog.com/mind-control-research-in-norway-funded-by-us-air-force/
Air Force research: How to use social media to control people like drones
"Containment control" model looks at how groups of influencers can manipulate people:
Facebook isn't the only organization conducting research into how attitudes are affected by social media. The Department of Defense has invested millions of dollars over the past few years investigating social media, social networks, and how information spreads across them. While Facebook and Cornell University researchers manipulated what individuals saw in their social media streams, military-funded research—including projects funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Social Media in Strategic Communications (SMISC) program—has looked primarily into how messages from influential members of social networks propagate.
One study, funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), has gone a step further. "A less investigated problem is once you've identified the network, how do you manipulate it toward an end," said Warren Dixon, a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering and director of the University of Florida's Nonlinear Controls and Robotics research group. Dixon was the principal investigator on an Air Force Research Laboratory-funded project, which published its findings in February in a paper entitled "Containment Control for a Social Network with State-Dependent Connectivity."
The research demonstrates that the mathematical principles used to control groups of autonomous robots can be applied to social networks in order to control human behavior. If properly calibrated, the mathematical models developed by Dixon and his fellow researchers could be used to sway the opinion of social networks toward a desired set of behaviors—perhaps in concert with some of the social media "effects" cyber-weaponry developed by the NSA and its British counterpart, GCHQ.
Soft Info-warfare
Military social network research has been ongoing over the past decade as part of the DOD's efforts to leverage "open source intelligence" and use social network analysis (using mobile phone records, other electronic relationships, and physical-world relationships) to target manufacturers of improvised explosive devices and leaders of insurgent cells. Along the way, the research has shifted more toward "hearts and minds" goals than "search and destroy" ones.
DARPA launched its SMISC program in 2011 to examine ways social networks could be used for propaganda and what broadly falls under the euphemistic title of Military Information Support Operations (MISO), formerly known as psychological operations. Early in July, DARPA published a list of research projects funded by the SMISC program. They included studies that analyzed the Twitter followings of Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber among others; investigations into the spread of Internet memes; a study by the Georgia Tech Research Institute into automatically identifying deceptive content in social media with linguistic cues; and "Modeling User Attitude toward Controversial Topics in Online Social Media"—an IBM Research study that tapped into Twitter feeds to track responses to topics like "fracking" for natural gas.
The AFRL-sponsored research by Dixon, Zhen Kan, and Justin Klotz of University of Florida NCR group and Eduardo L. Pasiliao of AFRL's Munitions Directorate at Eglin Air Force Base was prompted by a meeting Dixon attended while preparing a "think piece" for the Defense Science Study Group. "I heard a presentation by a computer scientist about examining behaviors of people based on social data. The language that was being used to mathematically describe the interactions [between people and products] was the same language we use in controlling groups of autonomous vehicles."
The social drone graph
That language was Graph theory—the mathematical language that is the basis of Facebook's Graph database and the "entity" databases at the heart of Google and Bing's understanding of context around searches. It's also become a fundamental part of control systems for directing swarms of autonomous robots. The connection inspired Dixon to want to investigate the connection further, he said. "Can you apply the same math to controlling autonomous people to groups of people?"
Dixon's group had been doing other work for AFRL around robotics, and when he mentioned the idea to a contact there, he was connected with researchers within the same group at AFRL who were interested in social media topics. With funding in hand, the research team worked to model how collaboration between "key influencers" in social networks could affect the behavior of groups within the network by using the principle of "containment control."
Dixon explained the concept this way: "There's a group of leaders, each of which has their own objectives, and they have their own topic of emphasis. The goal is to have those people change the opinion or coerce the group of followers—people [who are] in the social group of these people but don't know the high level objective."
Using Graph theory, Dixon and his fellow researchers created a model to find the mathematics behind how much influence a social media "leader" needs in order to exert power and shift behavior. Dixon's research, like many of the DARPA studies, did not perform real-world research to confirm findings—it was all simulation. And that's a tripping point for taking this work further, one that Cornell Social Media Lab researchers hurdled with Facebook, creating an outcry in the process.
"The problem is, how do you perform a closed loop experiment? That's something DARPA has struggled with," said Dixon.
To that end, the SMISC program has pushed for experimental environments that use "closed" social networks. On the DARPA project page, the SMISC project team wrote, "SMISC researchers will create a closed and controlled environment where large amounts of data are collected, with experiments performed in support of development and testing. One example of such an environment might be a closed social media network of 2,000 to 5,000 people who have agreed to conduct social media-based activities in this network and agree to participate in required data collection and experiments. This network might be formed within a single organization, or span several. Another example might be a role-player game where use of social media is central to that game and where players have again agreed to participate in data collection and experiments."
After initial reports linked the Facebook research to the military, DARPA published a fact sheet that not only denied a connection but also called the Facebook research to task.
"DARPA does not support research programs that aim to deceive unwitting people to see how they react (as the controversial Facebook study did). DARPA funds research on how groups form and influence each other and related dynamics—similar to social science research that has been conducted for decades with other kinds of communication," a program representative wrote. "DARPA‐funded studies that have involved sending potentially deceptive information to see how people react have been conducted with closed groups of enrolled individuals who have volunteered/consented to be in social media studies. None of the social media data collected or analyzed by DARPA‐funded academic scientists is collected or saved by DARPA or the Government. Further, DARPA‐funded researchers must certify that no personally identifiable information (PII) is collected, stored or created in contravention to federal privacy laws, regulations or DOD policies, and SMISC researchers are not provided PII from any other government agency or outside source."
While DARPA's research funding comes with specific ethical and legal constraints, it's clear that there is other research being conducted in social media manipulation not happening with such oversight. As Ars reported earlier this week, documents provided to The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden show that the British intelligence agency GCHQ has developed tools specifically aimed at leveraging social media for "effects" operations. The organization has shared its methods with the NSA, and these capabilities have been used in Afghanistan and elsewhere to "shape" information available to members of targeted organizations online and via mobile phones.
The Defense Department already uses some social media manipulation techniques as part of its "information support" operations, targeting message boards and websites associated with foreign groups that are considered "extremist." At least on one occasion, that's resulted in some blowback in the United States. In 2012, a DOD contractor identified a website operated by a US citizen who immigrated from Somalia as being an "extremist" site associated with the Somali al-Shabab terrorist group, and the contractor recommended DOD use it to conduct "messaging" campaigns to amplify anti-al-Shabab opinions.
Social media subversion doesn't stop with DOD or the intelligence community. In April, the Associated Press uncovered an effort by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2009 to create ZunZuneo, a Twitter-like mobile social network aimed at undermining the Communist regime in Cuba. But the research that DOD is financing has much broader cultural implications than as a tool of information warfare against adversaries abroad.
"People don't like to think they're manipulated," Dixon said. "But every day we're being manipulated—by advertisements, by government leaders, religious leaders, and even into going to work." He believes the mathematical models could be applied to everything from marketing to workforce management. "We're working because we're getting paid for the most part, but how much do I have to pay someone to work? If I give them a sporadic bonus, can I pay them less overall? How do I get people to buy Levis or Wranglers?"
Sean Gallagher / Sean is Ars Technica's IT Editor. A former Navy officer, systems administrator, and network systems integrator with 20 years of IT journalism experience, he lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/07/air-force-research-how-to-use-social-media-to-control-people-like-drones/
March 3, 2016 in BRAVE NEW WORLD; Psychotronics, Robotics & DARPA, MIND GAMES: Psychokinetics, Remote Viewing & ESP.
MIND GAMES: Three Ways Human Psychology is Being Exploited to Create an Obedient Self-Policing Society – By Dylan Charles
MIND GAMES: War Propaganda & The Cult of Militarism – By Rod Driver
BRAVE NEW WORLD: 'Secrets of Silicon Valley', What Big Tech Doesn't Want You to Know – By James Corbett
← VOODOO ECONOMICS: A Tale of Two Crashes, Part II – By Jeff Nielson
NEO-CONNED: Trumped, The GOP Neocon/War Party That Has Held Sway for Nearly Three Decades in the Imperial City – By David Stockman →


On the international stage, I have been a Cameroon supporter since their participation in the Summer Olympics in 1984 – and I saw them play for the first time.
Family loyalty often ties my heartstrings to Italy on the world stage [better odds than the Scots side of the family I admit]; but, if there is a global match played and Cameroon is on the card, that is who I will support.
Bravo. Wonderful victory for the Indomitable Lions.
Didn't you catch any of the Super Bow?
Yup. Well after African Cup match. And I'm a longtime Pats supporter. Lived 14 miles from Schaefer Stadium and cycled to games – hiding my bike in the woods behind the parking lot.
At least there were woods, then. Over 30 years ago.


The shipping minister Shahjahan Khan was among commuters left stranded in the middle of the Padma river for over two hours on Monday night, when a passenger car ferry became stuck in an underwater shoal part of the way across Bangladesh's biggest waterway. The minister was eventually transported across the river to Kaurakandi ferry terminal by speedboat. "Golam Maula Ro Ro ferry was stuck at Lohajang turning point in the middle of Padma River with Minister Shahjahan Khan and a few other Jubo League leaders around 1:30am," said Sultan Ahmed, executive engineer of BIWTC (Dredging). "The ferry was commissioned on the Shimulia-Kaurakandi line just two days ago and its master was not familiar with the route. Due to his inexperience and lack of skills the ferry was stuck in the middle of the Padma." The ferry was salvaged at around 1pm by a tugboat of BIWTC. Giasuddin Patwari, the assistant manager of Shimulia ferry terminal, denied that the master was to blame for the stranding. "The ferry got stuck in the middle of Padma due to poor navigability, not because of the master's inexperience," Giasuddin said.


text:
function output = spikedetect(prefix, recname, recparam, algor, ...
                                  algor_p, output_type, output_p);

curr_dir = pwd;

cd(prefix);

sdpath = which('spikedetect');sdpath = [sdpath(1:end-2) 'ors'];addpath(sdpath);
sd_alg = ['sd_' algor];
dummy = which(sd_alg);

eval(['output=' sd_alg '(recname, recparam, algor_p, output_type, output_p);']);

rmpath(sdpath);
cd(curr_dir);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub