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All Hail the Hail Stones!
Posted byAn Ordinary Girl April 4, 2018 April 4, 2018 Posted inTravelTags:chamba, duenorth, garhwal, hail, heritage community, kanatal, local craft, long weekend, nathuakhan, natural environment, road trip, rural tourism, saur cottages, tehri dam, uttarakhand
Less than three weeks after our road trip to Nathuakhan, we hit the road again! The One above was being kind. So where to this time? The weather was turning warmer; we needed to escape to the mountains. But we had just been to Kumaon. Driving on the same roads and seeing the same region was not exciting.
The fact that even the hills were sweating made the search more excruciating. Apart from Kumaon, we had either Garhwal or Himachal. Garhwal still brought back memories of the devastating landslides & floods that hit it. Himachal, of course, was a tad too far away.
After days of Googling, we chanced upon a place called Kanatal. Sounded suspiciously like Nainital, Bhimtal etc. However, surprisingly, it was neither in Kumaon nor had a 'tal' (lake). It was located in Garhwal, quite close to the Tehri dam.
All of it had been painstakingly painted…
The weather here seemed salubrious; it seemed away from the hustle-bustle of the typical hill stations. With a belief in what Paulo Coelho said, "Everything that happens once can never happen again", we opted for Kanatal.
Three of our friends were keen to head out too. It was a long weekend for all; well, there was no reason needed to holiday. But now we had to find a place to stay – something that fit in with my love for home stays. There were not too many options in Kanatal. The most appealing property, The Terraces, was quite expensive. We did not have the inclination to splurge. When you travel as much as we do, you do need to keep it frugal.
The other options we got were of camps. A big no! The ninth or tenth search result threw up the name of Saur Cottages. Sounded interesting! So Saur Cottages are a home stay – like accommodation run by DueNorth, a group promoting tourism adventure in Uttarakhand. They aim to foster rural development, heritage communities and local crafts in the natural environment.
There's no greater joy than to be able to distinguish…
The Cottages are located in Saur Village, which is about five kilometers from Chamba on the road that leads to Tehri dam. The cottages themselves are restored 'pahari' (mountain) houses with extensive use of bamboo, mud, stone & wood.
When we saw the pictures online, we knew this was where we wanted to stay. We left Delhi NCR in a Mahindra XUV 500 at almost 9 am. The roads were buzzing with activity already; we knew it was going to be a long day, long drive.
We drove amongst buses, bullock carts and cycle rickshaws. It was only the promise of what awaited us in Uttarakhand that kept us energized. We looked out of the window to the children playing in the mud, the village elders having their 'chaupal' under the banyan tree, the village women going about their daily chores. In the midst of this, a few brand names dominated the semi-urban and rural landscapes – Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Airtel, Idea and Vodafone.
Reflecting on the day gone by…
Entering Uttarakhand always brings a smile on our faces. We crossed the Ganges at Haridwar with a silent prayer on our lips. We saw hundreds of vehicles parked – folks were washing away their sins.
The road till Rishikesh had been jam-packed. It seemed a whole section of NCR was off river-rafting. It eased up after Rishikesh. Three of our passengers had their Google Maps open. All three gave contradictory directions. It was quite amusing.
Once we crossed Chamba, we kept our eyes open as a narrow road took us to the Saur Village. If we continued on the main road, we would end up in Badrinath. Not sure if we were feeling so religious then!
Wisps of yellow radiated even amidst showers
The narrow road came under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. About 12 kilometers on this road brought us to the very pit of the valley. Nestled amongst lush green terrace farms & protected by mountains on all sides, sat pretty the picturesque village of Saur.
It was a forgotten village, abandoned by its inhabitants and dying a slow death, before DueNorth took it up and started the restoration work. DueNorth had restored one of the village homes to a set of cottages where tourists could stay. Additionally, it works to improve the livelihood of the village people, specifically women, through local produce & handicraft.
At almost the end of the road, we left the car and walked down to the cottages. This was a descent through vegetable gardens; we could already feel a part of the place. We peeped into the cottage that was to be our home for the next two days. It was rustic in every sense and in a good way.
I may not be pretty but I stand out…
Orange-colored with wooden frames supporting it and a roof thatched with bamboo, the cottage had two bedrooms, a kitchen and a sit out. Descending to the basement brought us to a large bathroom, the size of which was comparable to a flat in Mumbai!
The rooms had mellow lighting and furniture made of bamboo and pine. Innumerable blankets were plopped on the beds; so we knew it was going to get cold.
We ended up chatting with the cottage in charge about our travels to Uttarakhand. She told us about her work with the village women, teaching them to use pine needles in crafting products. After our chat, we pulled out our woolens, and settled in.
Stop & smell the flowers while there are any
It was getting quite cold; we were enjoying it. After a hearty dinner, blissful sleep followed!
Day two, we headed to the Tehri dam. We had heard a lot about it, especially how it saved lives during the floods of June 2013. And prior to that, the extensive debate on it being a threat to the environment and it displacing people from their homes.
Well, there will always be two sides to any story. We do not have an opinion. We just wanted to see the architectural marvel that it was. The dam is on the Badrinath road and 45 minutes away from Saur Village.
The gentle reminder of our insignificance
Close to the site, we started seeing the sparkling blue water. It reminded of our first glimpse of Pangong Tso. Our excitement had known no limit. It was almost the same this time. Turning around curves, we inched closer to the dam.
At the same time, the temperature was dropping furiously; it had started drizzling. None of us had rain coats and at best, flimsy sweaters. At the gate of the dam, we were stopped. We did not have the permit to go inside. Such a dampener!
But there were other tourists; they pleaded their way in. We were happy to follow suit. We were told by security to go till the bridge and return. We were almost freezing. The wind was harsh; the rain was soaking through our sweaters to chill our bones.
She toiled away trying to make ends meet…
At the bridge, unfortunately, the dam gates were closed. So, on one side was the water filled to the brim, and, on the other side, was the machinery visible for us to see how the water ran its course.
After shivering for a few minutes and being scolded by the security guard at the second check post, we headed back. It had been a good visit. We were assured of the good work being done by Tehri.
In the past, the dam had stopped the river from unleashing its fury on Rishikesh and Haridwar. At least, some damage was prevented. We shuddered getting reminded of those images on television. But we do not blame nature.
Geography lessons came alive
It was wholly and solely the folly of human beings. If you usurp what belongs rightfully to Mother Nature, She will stake Her claim sooner or later.
What was the plan for lunch? The thought of The Terraces came to our minds. We could not stay there due to it being prohibitively expensive but we could certainly have lunch there. So we found The Terraces on Google Maps and drove on.
About 20 kilometers from Tehri dam but in a different direction is the town called Kanatal. It is high up in the mountains and experiences snowfall in winters. The legend says there used to be a 'tal' (lake) but it is dried up.
The road led to Saur & ended its purpose there…
The Terraces was certainly a beautiful property. Perched high on the mountain, it commanded a view of many peaks. Unfortunately, it was clouded and raining. A sumptuous lunch in the warm restaurant warded off the cold for us.
The best was yet to happen. We could feel it, though it was impossible to feel anything beyond the cold. On our way back to Saur, we saw vehicles covered in a layer of white. We were excited. Just a little ahead, we discovered the secret.
It was raining hailstones. Or should we say it was hailing cats and dogs? Hail stones as big as pebbles hit our car, making a metallic sound. Hail stones as small as grains of rice fluttered into our outstretched palms. We had not seen a more spectacular scene.
The laws of attraction spare none…
The road was covered in sheets of white, making the path a tad slippery. We had felt this excited when we encountered snow for the first time, en route Khardungla. We sensed the same flutter of excitement. The road covered in white brought about a sense of awe.
There was a renewed respect for nature. How easily nature transforms water to ice, to snow, to vapor, to mist-each with its own beauty! Moreover, how easily we plain – walas get excited seeing snow and ice. The mountain folk are probably sick and tired of these but we transform into kids.
We slowed down and took in the spectacle. We clicked photos to capture this for eternity. However, more than the pictures, it is the memory that will keep us company.
Diamonds might adorn a neck but they would never be this beautiful…
As we descended into the valley to get to our cottage, the hail stones converted to a drizzle. The sky had opened up; the valley was a mix of green and white – green where the water had washed off the dust, and white where the hail stones had settled. This was a brilliant time to click photographs.
The temperature was dropping rapidly. By night, it was 3 degrees Celsius. We were unprepared for this kind of cold. We snuggled into the bed under two layers of blankets. It was our last night here; the shower of hail stones had made our holiday worthwhile.
We also shopped! The small room beneath our cottage had the handicraft goods created by the village women. Pine needles earrings, baskets, table mats, table runners, cloth dolls, cloth key chains – it was an interesting assortment but was clearly the work of people who were still learning. The finish was not that great but given the softies we are, we ended up buying quite a few things.
We might be broken but we were not shattered…
Morning gave no hint of the weather the night before. It was bright, sunny and warm! It was time to return – to monotony, to the daily grind, to the banal existence. Holidays should be the rule, not the exception. Well, we should not complain. We take holidays at every opportunity we get.
One last magic awaited us before the road ended. On our way back, with the sky completely devoid of clouds, we saw an entire Himalayan range, sparkling a brilliant white. We had murmured that sitting in the valley, we had missed out on 'views'. But here they were – tall, grand, gleaming, white, covered with layers and layers of snow, and inviting. Sigh!
We recommend an itinerary for five days, four nights to Garhwal:
Delhi – Mussoorie – Saur Village – Delhi
Day 1: Depart from Delhi early and arrive at Mussoorie by tea time. Spend the night at Pine Hill exploring the premises, specially the club, reading at the library or sipping a local brew in the sit out
Day 2: Spend the day sightseeing or trekking. Mussoorie may be overrated but once in a while, it is okay to be a part of the hype!
Day 3: Checkout and head to Saur. Check in at Saur Cottages. Take a walk around and experience village life at its best
Day 4: After breakfast, head to Tehri dam. Good to get a permit beforehand. Head to Kanatal from Tehri and spend the day soaking in the beauty of the yet-undiscovered hill station. Back to Saur for dinner
Day 5: Checkout and head back to Delhi
Recommended time to visit: Pretty much all through the year. It snows during winter in Mussoorie and Kanatal, so be prepared for the cold!
Recommended eats: Thukpa soup at Mussoorie; Rhododendron juice anywhere
Recommended buys: Shawls from Mussoorie, pine needle decorations from Saur
We are planning our next holiday in Himachal Pradesh. Any recommendations?
Images courtesy our talented friend TB
Published by An Ordinary Girl
I write, therefore I am.	View more posts
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3 thoughts on "All Hail the Hail Stones!"
An Ordinary Girl says:
Thank you so much! That's really kind of you.
Thank you so much for your kind words! As a traveler, it's our duty to bring to the world both the good & the bad that happens in far flung places.
P.K. Singh says:
Tens of thousands of tourists flock to mountains ⛰ every year, hardly 0.1 percent pen it down chronically in such beautiful descriptions. It becomes more important due to fine tuning of places, weather, socioeconomic conditions, nature's gifts and a lesson how to preserve it for our generations to come. Great job ! Thanks for highlighting the efforts done by some People to preserve the villages and making female folks economically viable and strong.


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MYTHSTALKERS, Part 3
Posted on July 15, 2013 by blackflak
When last we left our heroes: Safely home from Finland, the Society begins to argue amongst themselves until Sir Charles bursts in with his latest discovery… the location of the famed Labyrinth of Crete, home of the Minotaur!
"Oh Lord, spare me from men and their bull… fights," Mrs. Cassandra Chatterton said.
"Come now," Victor Terranove said, frowning skeptically. "You can't actually mean a real Minotaur, half-man, half-bull? I mean, misshapen freaks who hide out in a lake and get confused with trolls are one thing…"
"And this is another," Colonel Durant said with finality.
"Come now, Victor," Kenneth, earl of Marston said, his young good looks matched only by the charm in his voice. "Greece in the summer? The open Mediterranean beneath our feet? Well, beneath a boat beneath our feet, naturally. Grandest of adventures! I promise you all!"
There was no arguing with Lord Marston when he put his exuberant face on.
Sir Charles was the first to fall. "Yes!" he cried. "I'll start the travel and recovery plans immediately!"
"Ah, here we go…" Mrs. Chatterton said.
The others had finally left. Relaxing his smile, Kenneth walked over to one of the dark wood library shelves and pulled down an untitled thin leatherbound volume. Taking it to the desk, he sat and opened it to the ribbon-marked page.
Taking a pen in his left hand, he began to write.
The unfortunate incident with the death of the Sjotroll notwithstanding, I feel that with each expedition we come closer to understanding the motivation behind the Society's shift from hunting to enquiry under my father's leadership.
It is my fervent hope that this latest foray will, if not forge new ground, at least place us in the literal footsteps of our predecessors, facing the same unforseen horizon that they did.
What concerns me most at this juncture, however, is not so much the risk of mythic dangers but rather the growing bureaucratic difficulties in pursuing said peril. It was in no uncertain terms last time that the Ministry's man informed us that further pursuits after unknown creatures were now forbidden. Though we ignored their edict once to go to Finland, I suspect that has drawn their attention and we shall not find it so easy to travel again without incident.
Looking down at his words, he absently tapped his lips with the back of the pen. A few drops of ink fell on the empty space of the journal page. Blotting them away, he hoped it wasn't a bad omen.
The next day, preparations were made.
Mrs. Chatterton, her stoic beauty hidden beneath a veil, stepped out of a carriage in a poor quarter of London town. She strode a block away from where she disembarked and turned onto a smaller lane, taking only a moment to look behind her to see if she had been followed. She felt confident that she hadn't been.
Approaching an unremarkable red door, she knocked twice before a pleasant looking maid answered.
"Oh! Missus Chatterton!"
"Is he in, Rose?" Cassandra asked.
"No, mum," the maid said, escorting her quickly through the doorway, also looking down the lane for observers. "Come in quickly, though. I… I know he watches you."
"He watches us all, Rose," Mrs. Chatterton said. "But I won't let that stop me from seeing her."
Across town, Victor Terranove was involved in a wholly dishonest game of cards. He was cheating less than the other players, but he was doing it far more skillfully. The same slight of hand that served him well on stage made gambling with locals easy. As he pulled a pot of dirty coins towards his stack, he suddenly felt a wide hand fall upon his shoulder. While not unexpected, Victor had hoped to get out of London before he was found.
"Mister Terranove," the raspy voice that belonged to the tightly gripping hand said. It wasn't a question.
"Victor, please," Terranove said without turning around. "We're all friends here, Mister Batson."
On his other side, a wiry man in a suit that was far more expensive than his breeding allowed him to wear comfortably moved into position flanking the magician.
"Mister Quill," Victor smiled. "I'm so glad you boys caught up with me."
Quill peered at Victor through squinted eyes, suspicious. "That wouldn't be as you've got our money, would it?"
Victor looked sadly at the money on the table before him. He had so hoped to enjoy a fine Grecian wine over a fine Grecian night with a fine Grecian woman. He supposed the Society's campsite tent would have to do. Sliding the coins into a cloth purse, he reluctantly handed them to the shorter, balder, more menacing of the two gangsters. "I would hate to inconvenience you, Mr. Batson," he said. The burly man said nothing.
"I suppose 'twill have to do, Victor," Quill said, taking the purse. "Don't make us come lookin' for yeh next week, though."
As the two left with Victor's winnings, Batson turned and muttered, "It does put us out a wee bit."
Meanwhile, Sir Charles was also trying to keep a low profile. He did this by wearing an old hat and an altogether awful fake mustache. If his disguise didn't give him away, the nervous way he walked towards the newsstand would. Fortunately, in Sir Charles' case, no one at all was looking for him, despite his paranoia.
The man minding the stand was tall and bearded. Upon seeing Sir Charles approach, a wry smile crossed his face. He waited patiently as the scientist serpentined across the cobblestone street, approaching the newsstand from an oblique angle.
"Excuse me," Sir Charles said in a low register, "but have you the latest issue of the Strand Magazine in?"
"Fan of the detective, guv'nor?"
"I… I enjoy the news articles," Sir Charles stammered.
"Of course, sir." The shopkeeper took a folded volume off of one of the racks and placed it before Sir Charles. "Anything else?"
"What about the new All About Our Day?"
The bearded man shook his head sadly. "Sold out. Should have more in Tuesday. That Dickens knows how to sell a weekly."
"The Graphic?"
"Hardy? Not this week."
"P-punch?"
The shopkeeper let out a long patient breath. "Sir, would you just like to give me your list and have me put aside what you want each week when the dockloads come in?"
Sir Charles nodded, his hat bobbing comically. "You… you could do that?"
"Of course sir. Lot's o' your kind do that, you know. Saves on the fake mustaches."
It was at night that Colonel Durant went out, and of the four, he strode with the least worry of being seen. He was also the most aware of his own shadower.
After half an hour of leading his tail through the most unpleasantly odorous streets he knew, Durant had had enough fun. Stepping quickly between stone buildings, he waited as the man passed by and grabbed him from behind.
"All right," Durant growled, "I've damned well had it."
The man who had been following him was dressed for banking, not for street brawling, and obviously had been trained similarly. It only took one punch for the old colonel to lay him on the stones.
"Every time we have a meeting you incompetents from the Ministry come out like rats. Are you really that scared of us?"
The man from the Ministry responded by pulling a firearm from his jacket and aiming it at Durant's face.
Categories: MYTHSTALKERS	| 1 Comment
One thought on "MYTHSTALKERS, Part 3"
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


SargeBaldy has updated his site several times over the past week, with several reviews of which his thorough review of 007: License to Spell Doom really stands out.
well actually, i had one but i sold it for crack.
mmm, speaking of ebola i started on a phobia review but legacy kept crashing. go figure.
Seeing that Mines of Titan only got a 6.5, I decided to take a look at the map to which Baldy/Grogglo gave his worst rating - Motion (0.01), and it turned out to be a map I played a while ago, and rather enjoyed. Heh.
haha, you liked motion.wad? i did, but only as a joke =P i wonder what a map YOU hate looks like, heh. mines of titan wasn't really bad, it was just too long and consistently full of enemies to sustain my interest. when i got to the end i was like 'about damn time'.
i did once play a CD full of wads from '94 and early '95. i actually wrote a simple list giving each map a rating from 1 to 5 a long time ago, but i lost that years ago. which is too bad because i know there was some really good stuff mixed in with all the crap, and now i can't remember what they were called.
there was one in particular that for whatever reason i liked the storyline. you start out in some town, and then in the second map head into the mountains. the text file of the second map said there was a 3rd map called "sands of doom" or something but i couldn't locate at cdrom.com. anyone know what i'm talking about?
haha, you liked motion.wad? i did, but only as a joke =P i wonder what a map YOU hate looks like, heh.
Sure, it had its deficiencies, but also had its good points, and I found it quite interesting to play. I tend not to "hate" maps, but find ones with no worthwhile gameplay a bit pointless. A really rotten wad? I'd nominate Boom2_3 as one of the worst ever.
mines of titan wasn't really bad, it was just too long and consistently full of enemies to sustain my interest. when i got to the end i was like 'about damn time'.
Heh, you should see DooMer 4ever's speedrun: 3:30. He reckoned it could go under 3 minutes too. Anyway, I enjoyed exploring this map, and gradually unravelled its mysteries over the course of a few years (I found it way too hard to start with).
you start out in some town, and then in the second map head into the mountains. the text file of the second map said there was a 3rd map called "sands of doom" or something but i couldn't locate at cdrom.com.
Sorry, that doesn't ring any bells.
Where can I find this demo? I´m stuck in this map (can´t get access to the yellow key area, that one with the four square buildings) so I´d love to watch the demo for it. It seems it´s not in Opulent´s page... Could you please e-mail it to me Grazza?
It's here. It's for Legacy.
You may also wish to read this.
Talking of DooMer 4ever, his army duty should be ending around now, so maybe we'll be seeing him again quite soon.
That's the kindof latest version of legacy. it's a release candidate released kindof close to today. I think there's a newer version in the legacy forums or on the site.,. you can check it out but I can't find that either.. anyhow. that version is quite stable for me anyway. only had one crash so far, and that was when I tested the savegame bug and it's still there. But it'll probaly be gone soon to.
grazza: yeah, huge maps can be fun to explore every inch of. but some of these older ones are a little too weird thematically for me to get really into. plus sometimes i forget to save and i meet my demise, and.. heh.
Phobia has never crashed for me, maybe because I never savegame in doom, I dunno.
You're thinking of deadbase.wad and mntfire.wad. Sadly, the third one never got made.
awww :( oh well, thanks for info. i hope they're as good as i remember them.
i'm almost considering looking up the author of these and asking him if i can make the 3rd map myself (and maybe polishing up the first couple as well).


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2020 Arzachena ITU Triathlon World Cup
Results: 2020 Arzachena ITU Triathlon World Cup | Elite Men
Cannigione, Arzachena, Italy • 10 Oct, 2020
1 Vincent Luis 1989 FRA 1 00:54:24 00:08:49 00:00:37 00:29:58 00:00:23 00:14:40
2 Kristian Blummenfelt 1994 NOR 4 00:54:29 00:09:24 00:00:38 00:29:22 00:00:23 00:14:45
3 Alistair Brownlee 1988 GBR 36 00:54:45 00:09:11 00:00:39 00:29:34 00:00:29 00:14:54
4 Antonio Serrat Seoane 1995 ESP 15 00:54:55 00:09:25 00:00:39 00:29:21 00:00:21 00:15:11
5 Gustav Iden 1996 NOR 2 00:55:02 00:09:34 00:00:36 00:29:15 00:00:24 00:15:15
6 Léo Bergere 1996 FRA 9 00:55:09 00:09:04 00:00:37 00:29:44 00:00:22 00:15:25
7 Tim Hellwig 1999 GER 34 00:55:16 00:09:07 00:00:37 00:29:41 00:00:22 00:15:32
8 Matthew Mcelroy 1992 USA 6 00:55:19 00:09:27 00:00:37 00:30:04 00:00:22 00:14:51
9 Pierre Le Corre 1990 FRA 7 00:55:19 00:08:51 00:00:39 00:30:05 00:00:24 00:15:22
10 Gabriel Sandör 1996 SWE 27 00:55:20 00:09:40 00:00:36 00:29:08 00:00:23 00:15:35
11 Leon Pauger 1998 AUT 54 00:55:21 00:09:22 00:00:40 00:29:22 00:00:24 00:15:35
12 Kevin McDowell 1992 USA 12 00:55:23 00:09:19 00:00:35 00:29:41 00:00:27 00:15:24
13 Florin Salvisberg 1990 SUI 25 00:55:28 00:09:07 00:00:39 00:30:22 00:00:23 00:15:00
14 Henri Schoeman 1991 RSA 3 00:55:35 00:08:53 00:00:36 00:30:07 00:00:22 00:15:39
15 Jonas Breinlinger 1994 GER 31 00:55:40 00:08:59 00:00:39 00:29:47 00:00:23 00:15:54
16 Jonas Schomburg 1994 GER 8 00:56:04 00:08:50 00:00:38 00:30:07 00:00:23 00:16:09
17 Dorian Coninx 1994 FRA 10 00:56:10 00:09:10 00:00:39 00:30:20 00:00:22 00:15:42
18 Gianluca Pozzatti 1993 ITA 39 00:56:14 00:09:10 00:00:36 00:30:22 00:00:26 00:15:42
19 Alessandro Fabian 1988 ITA 19 00:56:16 00:09:05 00:00:38 00:30:26 00:00:25 00:15:44
20 Emil Holm 1996 DEN 51 00:56:16 00:09:26 00:00:38 00:30:06 00:00:23 00:15:46
21 Richard Murray 1989 RSA 11 00:56:19 00:09:40 00:00:38 00:30:53 00:00:20 00:14:51
22 Jelle Geens 1993 BEL 5 00:56:28 00:09:25 00:00:38 00:30:40 00:00:22 00:15:26
23 Simon Viain 1993 FRA 17 00:56:32 00:09:37 00:00:39 00:30:27 00:00:23 00:15:28
24 Seth Rider 1997 USA 22 00:56:38 00:09:23 00:00:40 00:30:07 00:00:24 00:16:07
25 Valentin Wernz 1995 GER 21 00:56:44 00:09:26 00:00:37 00:30:39 00:00:23 00:15:41
26 Tyler Smith 1998 BER 50 00:56:46 00:09:19 00:00:43 00:30:06 00:00:23 00:16:18
27 Noah Servais 1997 BEL 41 00:56:49 00:09:24 00:00:38 00:30:25 00:00:23 00:16:01
28 Shachar Sagiv 1994 ISR 20 00:56:54 00:09:23 00:00:37 00:31:07 00:00:21 00:15:28
29 Roberto Sanchez Mantecon 1996 ESP 33 00:57:12 00:09:42 00:00:39 00:30:49 00:00:25 00:15:40
30 Delian Stateff 1994 ITA 37 00:57:18 00:09:07 00:00:37 00:30:25 00:00:25 00:16:47
31 Vetle Bergsvik Thorn 1999 NOR 40 00:57:24 00:09:18 00:00:42 00:30:43 00:00:24 00:16:20
32 Nicola Azzano 1997 ITA 43 00:57:29 00:09:15 00:00:39 00:31:13 00:00:23 00:16:02
33 Michele Sarzilla 1988 ITA 44 00:57:33 00:09:39 00:00:39 00:31:41 00:00:23 00:15:14
34 Felix Duchampt 1989 ROU 16 00:57:35 00:09:32 00:00:38 00:31:49 00:00:23 00:15:15
35 Endre Espedal 1998 NOR 56 00:57:41 00:09:42 00:00:38 00:30:22 00:00:21 00:16:40
36 Genis Grau 1994 ESP 29 00:57:48 00:09:33 00:00:37 00:31:49 00:00:23 00:15:29
37 Tony Smoragiewicz 1994 USA 23 00:57:49 00:09:40 00:00:39 00:30:53 00:00:23 00:16:17
38 Lasse Lührs 1996 GER 18 00:58:06 00:09:24 00:00:40 00:31:03 00:00:22 00:16:39
39 Alberto Gonzalez Garcia 1998 ESP 30 00:58:23 00:09:19 00:00:38 00:32:25 00:00:22 00:15:42
40 Jonathan Wayaffe 1995 BEL 49 00:58:26 00:09:50 00:00:38 00:32:04 00:00:23 00:15:32
41 Gaspar Riveros 1990 CHI 35 00:58:34 00:09:35 00:00:37 00:31:48 00:00:26 00:16:11
42 Davide Uccellari 1991 ITA 24 00:58:40 00:09:37 00:00:40 00:32:17 00:00:21 00:15:47
43 Aram Michell Peñaflor Moysen 1999 MEX 32 00:59:05 00:09:29 00:00:37 00:32:53 00:00:27 00:15:42
44 Vitalii Vorontsov 2000 UKR 62 00:59:08 00:09:54 00:00:39 00:32:25 00:00:23 00:15:50
45 Maximilian Sperl 1994 GER 53 00:59:09 00:09:37 00:00:37 00:32:08 00:00:23 00:16:27
46 Ian Manthey 1993 IRL 48 00:59:16 00:09:48 00:00:44 00:32:08 00:00:27 00:16:10
47 Henry Räppo 1998 EST 52 00:59:17 00:09:41 00:00:38 00:32:14 00:00:22 00:16:24
48 Benjamin Zorgnotti 1994 TAH 57 00:59:18 00:09:47 00:00:36 00:32:11 00:00:23 00:16:25
49 Ivan Ivanov 1989 UKR 38 00:59:19 00:09:39 00:00:40 00:32:39 00:00:25 00:15:59
50 Tom Van Cappellen 1999 BEL 61 00:59:22 00:09:56 00:00:35 00:32:09 00:00:24 00:16:20
51 Bence Lehmann 1997 HUN 47 00:59:29 00:09:22 00:00:38 00:32:36 00:00:23 00:16:33
52 Yegor Martynenko 1987 UKR 46 01:00:04 00:09:50 00:00:40 00:32:27 00:00:23 00:16:46
53 Matthias Steinwandter 1993 ITA 42 01:00:06 00:09:41 00:00:39 00:31:40 00:00:26 00:17:43
54 Itamar Eshed 2000 ISR 60 01:00:22 00:09:43 00:00:40 00:32:36 00:00:29 00:16:57
55 Scott McClymont 1998 GER 55 01:00:33 00:09:47 00:00:40 00:32:31 00:00:23 00:17:15
56 Maciej Bruzdziak 1998 POL 59 01:00:39 00:09:20 00:00:39 00:33:00 00:00:23 00:17:20
57 Donald Hillebregt 1992 NED 45 01:00:49 00:09:22 00:00:40 00:31:58 00:00:27 00:18:26
58 Mateusz Gluszkowski 2001 POL 63 01:01:36 00:09:08 00:00:34 00:32:51 00:00:21 00:18:45
DNF Rostislav Pevtsov 1987 AZE 14 DNF 00:09:38 00:00:39 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00
DNF Kenji Nener 1993 JPN 26 DNF 00:09:23 00:00:41 00:41:30 00:00:00 00:00:00
DNF Collin Chartier 1993 USA 28 DNF 00:09:33 00:00:41 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00
DNF Oscar Gladney Rundqvist 2000 DEN 58 DNF 00:09:36 00:00:37 00:00:00 00:00:00 00:00:00
Technical delegate: Daniel Martin/AUT. Head referee: Laura Patti/ITA. Competition jury: Daniel Martin/AUT, Antonio Fernandez/ESP, Luigi Bianchi/ITA.
Distances: Swim 750 m (1 lap), bike.19.260 km (3 laps), run 5 km (2 laps)
Water temperature 20.1ºC , air temperature 23ºC. Wetsuits not allowed.
Athlete #63 Gluszkowski/POL served a 10 seconds penalty during the run segment


KOTA KINABALU, Oct 31, 2014: Sabah police is investigating the identity and backgrounds of the two Filipino armed robbers shot dead in Penampang Baru, some 10km from here yesterday, including a possible link to the Sulu militants. According to the State Police Commissioner Datuk Jalaluddin Abdul Rahman, they will be cross checking with old records and hope to complete the investigations within a week. "For now, I can confirm that they are from the Philippines, aged 50 and 42, with one possessing an international passport, while the other was carrying a MyKad, but using another person's identity," he told reporters during a press conference at the Sabah police headquarters in Kepayan. He, however, urged the people to stop listening or spreading rumours, as well as speculating on the issue, to avoid creating unnecessary panic. Initial investigations revealed that the two were involved in at least three major armed robbery cases this month — Seng Heng Electrical in Penampang on Oct 6; Tailored Seng Supermarket Sdn Bhd in Kota Kinabalu (Oct 9); and Kedai Emas Man-Man in Tuaran (Oct 16). "We believe their main purpose was to obtain money, but for what, we are not sure. In the three robberies, they had carted away over a million ringgit in jewelleries and cash," he said. A special task force was immediately set up to investigate these armed robberies, and according to Jalaluddin, they have been monitoring the duo's movements for the last three months. On the incident, he said police received information about the duo and had been tailing them for an hour before approaching their four-wheel Isuzu DMax at the shoplots area within Penampang Baru around 4pm. "We opened fire upon seeing them pulling out a Browning pistol, leading to a shoot-out. Later, we found two bullet shells in the car and one in the chamber of the gun," he said. The case is being investigated under Section 307 of the Penal Code for attempted murder and Section 395/397 of the same Code for gang armed robbery. In the last 24 hours, people have been speculating on the shoot-out, linking it to be part of the Sultan Sulu's operation to conquer Sabah. "We are investigating them, and while I am not denying about their links with Sulu, I would rather investigate their intentions and background to avoid any speculations." In February last year, the Sulu militants made their way into Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu and fought with our security forces to claim Sabah, which they believe is rightfully theirs. Ten Malaysian security forces perished while fighting to defend the state.


The Winnipeg Free Press has signed a national advertising sales representation agreement with Canadian Primedia Sales and Marketing. The deal also includes the newspaper's associated properties the Brandon Sun, Steinbach Carillon, its community weekly newspapers and the Carberry News Express.
In a statement, the newspaper said: "After a long relationship with Canwest and then Postmedia, we feel it is time, as an independent group in the Canadian media landscape, to separate ourselves and join with Canadian Primedia to focus on the strong reach and market presence we have in the Winnipeg and Manitoba market through our print and digital properties."


Many business owners use newsletters for so many reasons. It has plenty of benefits, and one of the main reasons newsletters are sent out is to increase traffic – just like the olden days. Remember how companies used to send out flyers, brochures and newsletters in the mailbox? Well, those are in hopes to increase exposure which converts to traffic to the store. Newsletters help to build traffic as well, however there is one simple formula to ensure this. Quality information + free = traffic.
First, let's talk about quality information. What defines quality information? When writing newsletters, it is important to have quality information to keep your subscribers wanting more. Quality information is any information which is considered to be helpful to your subscribers according to your niche, and it also considered to be somewhat exclusive and not generally known by everyone.
You do not want to share with them the obvious. You want to share with them something they do not know, or even if they do know, add in something additional which could help them. Tips, expert insights, scientific explanation and many more are examples of quality information. Your newsletters will help you gain traffic with this.
Well, free, is quite self explanatory. People sign up for newsletters are the first place is to get free information. So keep it that way. Do not try to sell all the time in your newsletters. Instead, you want to keep them teased with quality information, which could even be explained more in-depth at your website (hence the traffic generation) or in your products (this helps to generate sales).
So if you want to generate traffic from your newsletters, be sure to keep on offering your subscribers with free quality information, and keep them wanting more.


text:
package com.epam.ta.reportportal.entity.enums.converter;

import com.epam.ta.reportportal.entity.project.ProjectRole;
import com.epam.ta.reportportal.exception.ReportPortalException;

import javax.persistence.AttributeConverter;
import javax.persistence.Converter;

/**
 * @author Ivan Budayeu
 */
@Converter(autoApply = true)
public class ProjectRoleConverter implements AttributeConverter<ProjectRole, String> {
	@Override
	public String convertToDatabaseColumn(ProjectRole attribute) {
		return attribute.toString();
	}

	@Override
	public ProjectRole convertToEntityAttribute(String dbProjectRoleName) {
		return ProjectRole.forName(dbProjectRoleName)
				.orElseThrow(() -> new ReportPortalException("Can not convert project role name from database."));
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Summer Sky Campus DJ Contest, Coming to the South!
What's a better way to cap off the school season? Join Summer Sky's Campus DJ Contest!
You will encounter DJ contests everywhere in your life as a DJ. There are, of course, the typical DJ competitions held in a nightclub or concert hall where DJs are set up to perform one-by-one in short sets. There are also the recent online DJ contests where each contestant posts a mix or video. And there are just basic contests where a DJ really just gives up information in the hopes of winning a big prize.
This contest however isn't like any of those. Created to lift the vibe up as summer ends, AfterParty collaborated with Summer Sky with Stone Bar & Grill to bring you a Campus DJ Battle like no other! Are you excited? I know I am.
It is of no question that EDM's power is mainly built on how the crowd would respond to their rhythm; so we decided to pattern it after that. The contest itself will generate a couple of qualified campus DJ's to join and all they have to do to win and join their idols into the amazing Summer Sky line-up is to invite as many friends as they can to vote for them by gaining points through our unique point system. That Simple. But to make things easier, here's the step by step How to's.
*Reminders: Voting Starts June 1 , at 10 AM, ends June 8 , midnight. Announcement of WINNER is on the Morning of June 9.
Registration will end for the CAMPUS DJ Contenders on the eve of June 1, so what are you waiting for? Go to Summer Sky's Official FB Page and Register by Downloading AfterParty. Get the ball rollin! Do not miss this chance to play and be with the best of the best DJ's in the country!


Woodland Group Properties, Greenfield, Ind.
Woodland Group Properties, LP is owned by Brad and Mary Arthur. Brad manages the properties, oversees maintenance, and manages leases while Mary keeps the books and creates marketing materials. Together, they keep the properties neat, well-maintained, and running smoothly.


Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer Robin Smith examines the kestrel.
The kestrel's black-streaked facial markings made it look like it was weeping.
It certainly was in distress when it flapped its one healthy wing frantically in a futile attempt to fly away when it was discovered this week in Hanover, a small town southeast of Colorado Springs.
With a broken left wing, the bird couldn't flee predators and certainly would have become a meal for some animal, said Bill Vogrin, spokesman for the southeast region of Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
An unknown homeowner rescued the bird, which measures less than a foot in length, and brought it to the CPW's Pueblo office.
A member of the falcon family, kestrels subsist on small mammals, lizards and insects, Vogrin said.
"It's a beautiful bird," he said.
It's unknown how the raptor was injured but there are many ways it could have happened, Vogrin said. The birds get hit by hail or cars, maimed by predators, blown into trees during storms, he said.
"It would have died in that person's yard," he said.
CPW officer Robin Smith examined the bird and then transported it to the non-profit Nature and Wildlife Discovery Center of Pueblo.
"This is our main mission. Whenever we can save an animal like this we do what we can," Vogrin said.
The Pueblo center is covering the costs of the kestrel's recuperation.
They'll rehabilitate the kestrel and take it back to the area where it was found once it is healed, Vogrin said.
The kestrel was brought in with a broken left wing, so it couldn't flee predators.


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LCBs
Women in Technology: Daniela Dung, SAP Germany
"As soon as they were sure that they were addressed by a woman that understood and conversed in the language of international trade, collaboration was easy."
Product Classification Codes: How The Most Efficient Importers Use Them
As an importer, product classification codes are both a vital part of your daily trade operations and an ongoing challenge. Here's why.
Internal Audits and GRC: What You Need To Know
The Institute of Internal Auditors North America (a group whose conventions are, we are sure, absolutely lit) has quite a bit to say about the purpose of internal audits. They've even boiled it down to a mission statement: the purpose of audit is to "enhance and protect organizational value by providing risk-based and objective assurance, advice, and insight." What does that mean? It means looking at yourself and figuring out what's wrong, and what you can be doing better to minimize risk, streamline operations, and reduce the chances of error.
Free Trade Agreement Opportunities: Avoiding the Pitfalls
Participating in global trade opens up an abundance of opportunities for your business. The potential market for your products is, on the surface, limited only by the constraints of your industry. When you trade in a country that fits your market, your revenue will grow. Simple. However, there is another aspect to global trade that causes many international businesses to miss out on potential revenue.
11 Reasons to Include a Global Trade Compliance Consultant on Your SAP GTS Team
Global trade requires speed, to be sure: you have to be able to react quickly and appropriately to any situation. It also takes reliability. Understanding that time is money requires reliable responsiveness.
3 Ways SAP GRC Helps Reduce Compliance Costs
Businesses are facing a growing need of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) -related regulatory and security pitfalls. The costs of meeting and maintaining a GRC and security program with the wide range of compliance and security regulations are increasing in pace, volume, and absolute dollars—with no signs of slowing down. The challenge has global organizations looking for ways to reduce the costs and risks associated with increasing regulations and security requirements.
How Well Are You Managing Your Export Licenses?
In global trade, complexity has a way of multiplying. As national and supranational regulations change, as trade agreements are negotiated and renegotiated, and as products fall in and out of regulatory regimes, it becomes more and more of a challenge to keep track.
Enterprise GRC Strategy: 7 Reasons You Need One
There is an old truism about war: "Wars are not won on battlefields, but on the supply lines." The same applies to any large-scale operation.
How SAP GRC Helps Efficiently Manage Global Compliance Policies
An SAP GTS Module Overview with PI CEO Greta Villagran
Greta Villagran, CEO and Founder of Pinary, Inc. (PI) is one of the world's leading experts on SAP GTS implementations, having overseen them in North America, the European Union, and throughout Asia. After steering through a planetful of trade rules and regulations, she has a surprisingly positive view of them: Regulations don't have to be a burden.
Pinary, Inc. has been a leading SAP integrator for over twenty years. Whether you require an enhancement, upgrade, or full ERP deployment, partner with a firm with a proven track record of successful implementations.
Global Trade Trends and Automation
Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCN) in SAP: What They Can Do For You
Partner Government Agencies (PGAs): Who's Looking Over Your Shoulder?
Navigating Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) with SAP GTS
Assessing Your Compliance Management System: Global Compliance with SAP GRC and GTS
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After four years of attacks and controversies, Attorney General appears to be finally settling in during his second term under President Obama.
Here's what he's done: shortened prison sentences, pursued mega-banks for fraud and plans to ban federal agents from basing investigations on discriminatory practices.
Posted: 2/17/14 at 9:11 AM under News Story.


Fresh apricot lip scrub that softly exfoliates and smoothens rough lips.
- Apricot Seed and Sugar element neatly remove old dead skin cells on the lips.
- Shea Butter and 3 kinds of natural Nutri Oil (Jojoba Seed/Argan/Camellia Japonica Seed Oil) help maintain the moistness on the lips even after exfoliation.
- Portable tube type makes exfoliation simple and easy anytime or anywhere.
Take an appropriate amount on the lips and gently roll like massaging. Wash off with lukewarm water.


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WWE SmackDown Live results : WWE SmackDown Live Stream Online TV (Jan. 8, 2019): Finding top contenders
WWE SmackDown Live returns dancing into our lives this evening (Jan. 8, 2019) from the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, including all the most recent form to the forthcoming Royal Rumble pay-per-see (PPV) booked for in the not so distant future in Phoenix.
Promoted for today: A triple danger to decide Asuka's next title challenger, The Usos challenge The Bar for the privilege to test The Bar, and that's just the beginning!
Return appropriate here at 8 p.m. ET when the SmackDown live blog commences once the show begins on USA. It will be beneath this line here. (Update: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. Guilty parties WILL BE BANNED.). WWE SmackDown
Tags: 2019): Finding top contenders, WWE SmackDown, WWE SmackDown Live results, WWE SmackDown Live Stream, WWE SmackDown Live Stream Online TV, WWE SmackDown Live Stream Online TV (Jan. 8
Previous Watch WWE SmackDown Live Stream, preview (Jan. 8, 2019): Challengers
Next Boxing: Jose Zepeda vs. Jose Carlos Ramirez Live Stream Online TV


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20130271-005a.tif, digital camera
Artist / Maker / Manufacturer Roden Brothers
Inscription B.100001 CPL. A.L. ANDERSON / R / STERLING
Materials Silver
Measurements Length 6.1 cm, Width 4.9 cm, Thickness 1.0 cm
Caption Medals Project- Anderson, Albert Leonard
Albert Leonard Anderson was born 27 June 1893 in Kent, United Kingdom, to Walter and Jane Anderson. The family emigrated to Canada, and by the time Albert Anderson joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, they were living in Humber Bay near Toronto. Albert, who at the time listed his occupation as gardener, was assigned to the No. 2 Overseas Canadian Army Service Corps on 22 May 1916 in Toronto.
Private Anderson left Canada for the United Kingdom on 27 September 1916 for training, and then shipped to France to join the Canadian Army Service Corps pool in the 3rd Canadian Division Train in November 1916. By the end of the year he had been assigned to the headquarters of the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. At this time the 7th Brigade, which included the Royal Canadian Regiment and Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry regiments as well as the 42nd (Black Watch) and 49th Canadian Infantry Battalions, was operating in the Arras sector in France. The 7th Brigade, a part of the 3rd Canadian Division, spent the rest of the war in Northern France and Flanders and took part in most of the major campaigns of the Canadian Corps until the Armistice. Anderson appeared to suffer from poor eyesight and was assigned medical category "B" by the army, which meant that he was fit for service in a supporting role at the front but not for front line duty. Private Anderson returned to Canada aboard the SS Carmenia in 1919 and was discharged on 20 March of that year.
Upon discharge from his First World War service, he returned to his residence in Weston, Ontario, where, on 28 June 1920, he married a widow, Emily Castledine (née Pinder). The couple had one son, Lorne. His marriage certificate lists his occupation at the time as lineman helper. Anderson also enlisted in the Second World War and served as a Gunner with the 15th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery, service number B403611. According to his discharge certificate, he served from 2 September 1940 to 2 June 1941. A second discharge certificate shows Corporal Anderson under a different service number, B-100001, in October of 1946 on demobilization. Corporal Anderson passed away on 7 August 1950. As a Memorial Cross was issued in his name, it seems that his death must have been attributed to injuries or illness received during one of the two wars.


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Pro Bono Newsletter – Fall 2019
We are proud to showcase some of the pro bono awards and accolades the firm has received over the last few months, which reflect our impressive efforts. As we enter this season, we are especially grateful for the tireless efforts of Gibson Dunn attorneys around the world on behalf of our pro bono clients. Thank you for all of your incredible work. View Newsletter
Gibson Dunn Wins Excellence in Pro Bono Award at The Law Society Excellence Awards 2019
Gibson Dunn was named winner of the Excellence in Pro Bono Award at The Law Society Excellence Awards 2019. The firm was recognised for Ryan Whelan's work leading the legal and political campaign in the UK against "upskirting," the act of capturing images under a woman's skirt without her permission. The Law Society said of the firm's work: "Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher have achieved lasting and dramatic change in an area of significant public importance, by bringing the concerning trend of 'upskirting,' a practice of taking photos up someone's skirt without their consent, into the courts. The judges were especially impressed with the breadth of legal skills used and the ambition of the project – this firm have shown how much can be achieved when solicitors get creative with pro bono." The awards were presented on October 23, 2019.
Gibson Dunn Named to National Law Journal's 2019 Pro Bono Hot List
Gibson Dunn was one of 16 law firms featured on National Law Journal's 2019 Pro Bono Hot List, recognizing firms that "have used their legal expertise to take on some of the biggest issues of our time." The Firm was recognized for its work protecting a free press and successfully defending journalist Aaron Cantu who was arrested while covering the demonstrations at the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. The Firm's profile [PDF] ran on May 1, 2019. Gibson Dunn actively encourages robust participation in pro bono matters. We believe that lawyers have a special ability and duty to help ensure meaningful access to the justice system for everyone. We are dedicated to the idea that the most vulnerable in our society receive a fair opportunity to receive legal representation in times of need. Whether protecting constitutional rights, working on behalf of the LGBTQ community, spearheading anti-human trafficking efforts, battling slumlords, fighting on behalf of domestic violence victims, advocating on behalf of veterans, or engaging in extensive efforts on behalf of the immigrant community, our lawyers have provided access to justice for those who could not otherwise afford it. The uniting force behind our pro bono work has been – and continues to be – a shared commitment to protecting the Constitution, upholding the rule of law, and providing access to justice for all.
Gibson Dunn Announces Annual Pro Bono Award Winners
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is pleased to announce the winners of the firm's annual team and individual Frank Wheat Memorial Awards. The Frank Wheat Memorial Award is given annually to individual lawyers and teams that have demonstrated leadership and initiative in their pro bono work, obtained significant results for their pro bono clients, and served as a source of inspiration to others. This year, the team award is presented to a team of Gibson Dunn lawyers who fought on behalf of immigrants and refugees to challenge the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and to teams of lawyers who provided critical pro bono legal representation to asylum seekers and families separated at the border. The individual award is presented to London associate Ryan Whelan for his instrumental role in the criminalization of "upskirting" – the practice of taking photographs up women's skirts without their knowledge or consent – in England and Wales. "We are honored to congratulate our Frank Wheat award winners," said partner Scott Edelman, Chair of Gibson Dunn's Pro Bono Committee. "This year, our award recipients devoted their efforts to protecting and defending the immigrant community and creating a new law in the UK criminalizing a sexual offense. As a result of these efforts and the work of many others not recognized here, we had a fabulous year, averaging approximately 101 pro bono hours per attorney worldwide." "We are proud of the work accomplished by this year's award winners," said Pro Bono Counsel & Director Katherine Marquart. "Gibson Dunn's pro bono work on behalf of immigrants and refugees, a particularly vulnerable population, over the last several years, demonstrates the firm's continued commitment to justice and equality under the law. We are proud to help make a difference in the lives of our individual clients, and, in the case of the Dreamers, for thousands of inspirational young men and women throughout the country." About the Team Award Project – Gibson Dunn's DACA Termination Challenge Team When the Trump Administration announced that DACA would be terminated in September 2017, Gibson Dunn promptly filed suit on behalf of six young Dreamers, alleging that the Administration's termination of the program violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) because it was arbitrary, capricious, and an abuse of discretion, and further violated plaintiffs' due process and equal protection rights under the U.S. Constitution. On January 9, 2018, Gibson Dunn – working with plaintiffs in related cases – secured a nationwide preliminary injunction halting the termination of DACA. In November 2018, a three-judge panel in the Ninth Circuit upheld the injunction. Although the government has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit's decision, this ruling has kept the DACA program available for many thousands of exceptionally deserving young people who know no home other than the United States. It represents a crucial victory in an ongoing fight on behalf of the six individual DACA recipients in this case, as well as Dreamers across the country who face the loss of work authorization and the prospect of deportation and separation from their families following the Administration's sudden decision to terminate this program. The team is led by partners Theodore J. Boutrous., Jr. and Ethan Dettmer, and includes partners Stuart Delery and Kristin Linsley, of counsel Kirsten Galler, Pro Bono Counsel & Director Katherine Marquart, and associates Nathaniel Bach, Claudia Barrett, Soolean Choy, Naima Farrell, Patricia Herold, Kelsey Helland, Shailey Jain, Jillian London, Haley Morrisson, Matthew Rozen, David Schnitzer, Jonathan Soleimani, Andrew Wilhelm, and Kevin Yeh. About the Team Award Project – Gibson Dunn's Family Separation Crisis Teams On May 7, 2018, the Administration implemented a "zero tolerance policy," pursuant to which all adults found to be entering the United States without authorization would be subject to criminal prosecution and almost immediately separated from their minor child or children. By June, more than 2,300 children had been separated from their parents under this policy, leading to national and international outrage. On June 20, 2018, under intense public and political pressure, President Trump signed an Executive Order meant to end the separation of families crossing the border by requiring preservation of the "family unit" wherever possible, while still maintaining enforcement of immigration laws. However, the order did nothing to address reunification of the families who had already been separated or the crisis caused by tearing apart these families and scattering them across the country, often without adequate methods to ensure reunification. During this tumultuous time, several Gibson Dunn teams responded to the crisis: Associates Abiel Garcia, Eric Haitz, Patricia Herold, Rachel Robertson, Philip Shapiro, Sydney Sherman, and Ian Sprague assisted detainees on the ground at the Port Isabel Detention Center in Texas to represent them in their initial proceedings, including their asylum-related "credible fear" interviews. Associates Magan Haycock, Daniel Harris, Jesse Melman, Maya Nuland, and Matthew Porcelli traveled to detention centers, including Albany County Detention Center, where detained parents had been transferred, to aid in the preparation of asylum claims. Partner Hillary Holmes and associates Claudia Barrett, Josiah Clarke, Chelsea Glover, Ronald Gomez, Vivek Gopalan, Alina Iarve, Megan Kiernan, Kari Krusmark, Kimberly Lindsay Friedman, Amy Mersol-Barg, Margaret Miceli, Haley Morrisson, Jean Park, Tarana Riddick, Katy Sharp, and Samuel Spears helped identify the whereabouts of the parents of some of the 200 children who were relocated to New York City. Partner Rahim Moloo and associates Charline Yim and Ankita Ritwik led the representation of a father separated from his five-year-old son for eight weeks. Partner Katherine Smith, of counsel Lissa Percopo, and associates Michael Galas, Abiel Garcia, Timothy Zimmerman, Wesley Sze, Jordan Johnson, and Craig Streit handled the representation of a young Salvadoran mother and her four-year old son that were separated soon after crossing the border to seek asylum and were kept apart from each other for more than eight months. In November 2018, the team secured a court order mandating their reunification within 72 hours; they were subsequently released together and are now pursuing immigration relief in Chicago. About the Individual Award – Ryan Whelan London associate Ryan Whelan is honored for his efforts to criminalize "upskirting" in England and Wales. Upskirting is the practice of taking photographs up women's skirts without their consent. Whelan's efforts have resulted in a bill recognizing the act of upskirting as a sex offense that has now cleared the House of Commons, passed the final reading in the House of Lords and received Royal Assent (became law) on February 12, 2019. The bill includes tough sentencing guidelines for committing the crime, including up to two years in jail and registration as a sex offender. In 2017, Whelan began undertaking the representation of activist Gina Martin, herself a victim of upskirting. Among his first tasks was to craft a solid legal opinion, which he then had corroborated by the country's leading authorities on criminal law, detailing why the practice of upskirting should be recognized as a criminal offense, with serious penalties attached. With this legal opinion in hand, he fought for and secured meetings at the highest levels of Government, creating support for the Bill from every single political party. Whelan also demonstrated considerable media savvy in crafting a legal and political campaign to tackle the issue. Among other things, he advised and worked with Martin to orchestrate a thoughtful international media campaign that included the hashtag #StopSkirtingTheIssue. The campaign garnered widespread support, including celebrity endorsement, and a petition for the Government to take action was signed by over 100,000 people. The Government and opposition parties have called the work of Whelan and Martin incredible. About the Frank Wheat Award The award is named for the late Frank Wheat, a Gibson Dunn partner who was deeply committed to community service and pro bono work. A recognized leader in corporate transactions, Wheat served as a commissioner of the Securities Exchange Commission and as president of the Los Angeles County Bar. He also founded the Alliance for Children's Rights, served as a leader of the Sierra Club, and a board member of the Center of Law in the Public Interest, which established a fellowship in his name to train young lawyers in public interest litigation. Recipients of the Frank Wheat Memorial Award each receive a $2,500 prize to be donated to pro bono organizations designated by the recipients. View the Full Announcement
Gibson Dunn Honored by Capital Area Immigrants' Rights (CAIR) Coalition with the 2018 Impacting Justice Award
On October 2, 2018, Gibson Dunn was honored by long-time pro bono partner Capital Area Immigrants' Rights (CAIR) Coalition with the 2018 Impacting Justice Award. The firm was honored for its "stellar and innovative" pro bono work on behalf of CAIR Coalition and on behalf of detained immigrants in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. The recognition was given, at least in part, for the firm's work on behalf of CAIR Coalition and other legal service providers earlier this year when they were threatened with the termination of funding. The Executive Director of CAIR Coalition noted, "Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher has always been a stellar and innovative partner. When our clients and our work for our clients was put at stake this year, your attorneys and staff jumped to join us in their defense. With your dedication and creativity, we were able to fight back the attack and continue to represent the immigrant communities of the Capital Region."
Gibson Dunn Team Named Among California Lawyers of the Year
The Daily Journal named the Gibson Dunn team representing DACA recipients, cities, counties, the University of California, and states in Garcia v. USA among its 2018 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year. The list was announced on March 21, 2018. Gibson Dunn, Covington & Burling, Public Counsel, California's Justice Department, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, Altshuler Berzon, and professors from the University of California at Berkeley and Irvine worked together on consolidated cases. The Gibson Dunn team included Los Angeles partner Theodore Boutrous, San Francisco partner Ethan Dettmer, Washington, D.C. partners Stuart Delery and Nicole Saharsky, Los Angeles of counsel Kirsten Galler, Pro Bono Counsel & Director Katie Marquart, Los Angeles associates Nathaniel Bach, Jesse Gabriel, Jillian London, Theodore O'Reilly and Jonathan Soleimani, Washington, D.C. associates Douglas Drier, Aidan Grano, Haley Morrisson, Matthew Rozen and David Schnitzer, San Francisco associates Soolean Choy, Kelsey Helland and Shailey Jain, and Brussels associate Pablo Fekete. The list was published on March 21, 2018.
Gibson Dunn Scores Appellate Victory for U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
The UCI Law VA Benefits Project and Gibson Dunn successfully persuaded a federal appellate court to vacate and remand a Board of Veterans' Appeals decision that denied service-connected benefits to a U.S. Marine Corps veteran suffering from combat related post-traumatic stress disorder. The case marks the third successful appeal by the VA Benefits Project and Gibson Dunn partnership on behalf of veterans who have been denied benefits and compensation relating to military service. Briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims identified multiple errors in the Board's decision, including the Board's failure to account for substantial evidence of the severity and extent of the former marine's PTSD symptoms, which entitles him to a higher rating for his condition. After reviewing the briefs, the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of General Counsel conceded that the Board had erred in its decision, and the parties filed a joint petition to vacate the Board's decision. "I am delighted that we achieved another victory for a deserving client through the UCI project," said Sean S. Twomey, attorney at Gibson Dunn and supervisor of the VA Benefits Project. "The Board's decision wrongly downplayed and ignored evidence of the severity of our client's PTSD symptoms. The Court's action not only nullifies the Board's decision, but also specifically mandates that the VA readjudicate the claim giving due consideration to that evidence."
Fourth Circuit Win Changes Legal Landscape for Immigrant Defendants
On April 25, 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit vacated the order of removal of Gibson Dunn pro bono client Daniel Castendet-Lewis, a native of Panama who was deported after pleading guilty to Virginia statutory burglary. Growing up in Panama, Castendet-Lewis was repeatedly exposed to violence related to the criminal activities of his father and brother. He fled to the United States with his mother when he was 13.Though he was able to build a better life here, he was arrested and charged with burglary at age 18 after entering a house that his friends had broken into. He pleaded guilty and received only a suspended sentence, but the government initiated expedited removal proceedings on the argument that Virginia statutory burglary is an aggravated felony under the INA. When Castendet-Lewis's requests for administrative relief were denied, Gibson Dunn petitioned for review in the Fourth Circuit, urging that the removal order be vacated because Virginia statutory burglary is not an aggravated felony. The government responded by attempting to cancel the order of removal by handwriting the word "CANCELLED" on it (even though the government had already executed the order and removed Mr. Castendet-Lewis from the country), and then the government moved to dismiss the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. The Fourth Circuit denied the government's motion to dismiss. The Fourth Circuit held, in a published opinion by Judge King, that (1) Virginia statutory burglary does not qualify as an "aggravated felony" triggering expedited removal under the Immigration and Nationality Act ("INA"); and (2) the government cannot defeat a court of appeals' jurisdiction by purporting to "cancel" a removal order under review. The ruling will benefit numerous other immigrants (and federal criminal defendants). Michael Huston briefed and argued the case, assisted by Kevin Barber and with guidance from Tom Dupree.
We are proud to showcase some of the pro bono awards and accolades the firm has received over the last few months, which reflect our impressive efforts. As we enter this season, we are especially grateful for the tireless effor
Pro Bono Newsletter – Summer 2019
We are proud to showcase some of the pro bono awards and accolades the firm has received over the last few months, which reflect our impressive efforts. As reflected in our 2018 Pro Bono Annual Report, Gibson Dunn's pro bono
We are proud to showcase some of the pro bono awards and accolades the firm has received over the last few months, which reflect our impressive efforts. This year marks the 10th Annual National Celebration of Pro Bono, which ai
Gibson Dunn Tackles Family Separation at the Border
On May 7, 2018, the administration implemented a "zero tolerance policy," pursuant to which all adults found to be entering the United States illegally would be subject to criminal prosecution. Furthermore, all adults who cr


There I found myself, in the unfortunate position of stumbling into a conversation with a Scientian (my word).
Stereotypically, they are the atheist type who claims they have no religion, are completely anti-establishment as relates to any formalized religion, are prone to outright mock the 'fantasy' of religion, and maybe they say they believe in 'spirituality alone' or other such similar things.
But then they start talking, and they eventually bring the subject around to science, and then you see what their real religion is.
The scientists they love are as Gods to them, their words heard as 'facts' so golden and untouchable as to be gospel.
Above all, they tolerate no other Gods before their true Gods.
Family of Cenarius. We have no doubts about this, because we could ask its creator.
So there I was, with this God-forsaking science worshiper bluntly telling me that the fools who were revered in The Age of Enlightenment had created racism in this world by creating the concept of separate races based on physiological differences.
I have to admit to being somewhat taken aback. It is not often, after all, that I hear someone throw around references to people like Voltaire, Newton, Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu, Descartes, Hobbes, and Adam Smith as… all fools in their view.
Of course I was curious.
"Why?" I wondered aloud, the burning question having been seated right besides the niggling curiosity over whether or not she was a bit touched.
Ah but perhaps I should have known, never to underestimate a Scientians' ability to state guesswork as certain truth.
"Because they have been proven wrong. We all emerged from South Africa. We are all black people. And apes." She retorted smugly.
"Mmhhm." I got mentally sidetracked contemplating whether or not it was considered politically correct or not to infer that black people were apes.
"What fossils??" She demanded to know with a sudden hitch to her voice.
"Yes yes, I know all that. It's how racism started." She jumped in impatiently.
No doubt, she will find some way to rationalize the discovery and fit it neatly into what she wants to believe about her religion.
The truth is that scientific 'fact' is being rewritten all the time.
Which is to say that it was clearly not fact, merely theory treated as such, but there seems to be a generational problem with being able to tell the difference.
For years now it has been the 'out of Africa, one origin ancestor' but this past year or so there has been much talk about the discovery of parts of an originating ancestor found which is the Asian precursor.
Of course, that discovery has ended up leading down a couple of roads of new unfounded assumptions.
Likewise there are others who are saying that it means we have found now 2 skeletal remains (one African, one Asian), in 2 different geographical locations, both ancient and different enough to be each their own origin piece, and that it means we have merely to locate yet the 3rd (that being the Caucasoid ancestor) because we have now found 2 early human origin ancestors.
Who knows. We may scrap all our racial designations and redo them all in another couple of hundred years. One of these days I'll write about the debacle that has been the different methods of dating artifacts and how much of a mess that is.
And on the whole bit about racism… no, I don't think it is offensive to say there are races.
If you can discern, from a skeleton, significant enough differences to classify people accurately according to their race, then the differences are real – at least on a biological/structural level.
It doesn't mean any one is better than another, and it is no more wrong than pointing out that a Labrador is physiologically different from a Collie, or that a boy is has physical variations from a girl.
The only thing I wish is that scientists would stop rushing to act as if the very first discovery is necessarily the last because it supports what they have already decided.
Even more concerning, does any discovery have a legitimate claim to be the ultimate proof of anything definitively, since we have no idea what we will discover in the future?
Of course, if nothing can be proven, and it is all belief, then Scientians have a good start to their religious texts.


But from a secular perspective, it seems like almost any behavior is condoned. No wonder these sexual assault charges arise when promiscuity and immorality are so prevalent in our culture.
I have been a supporter of Judge Roy Moore, and I respect the way he stands up for Judeo-Christian values. I even made a contribution to his campaign. Judge Moore, who will face a very serious battle for a U.S. Senate seat in Alabama in a special race on Dec. 5, has also been accused of sexual misconduct. When these rumors come to light, it makes you wonder about their validity.
There are conspiracy theories presented by some which say that Moore's opponents will do anything to see him defeated.
I admit that I wondered if the rumors were true. An old adage has it that where there is smoke, there is fire, but as I talk with friends such as Janet Porter and also with my friend Tom Ertl, there is reason to believe that the charges are completely false.
Below is a guest editorial by Tom that we published online. It has already been viewed by more than 40,000 people. If you know anyone in Alabama, please forward this to them or share it with your social media followers. He makes a very strong case for Judge Moore's innocence.