text:
Features Indexes
Books, Magazines Reviewed
Movies Reviewed
Sunday 2 July 2006
Interplanetary Man of Mystery:
A Review of Superman Returns
by Gary Westfahl
Directed by Bryan Singer
Screenplay by Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris, story by Bryan Singer & Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris, based on characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster
Starring Brandon Routh, Kate Bosworth, Kevin Spacey, Frank Langella, Sam Huntington, Eva Marie Saint, Parker Posey
For people looking for a quick recommendation before they head to the movie theaters this holiday weekend, the message to deliver about Superman Returns is simple enough: if you enjoyed the first two Christopher Reeve films Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980) then you will enjoy this new Superman film, since its creators have endeavored both to maintain consistency with their storylines and to replicate their appearance and tone. (Indeed, the fact that the film fails to give official credit to any of those previous films' creative personnel — especially writer Mario Puzo and cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth — is a mystery that warrants investigation, and perhaps litigation.) One can even describe this film as more seamless and thoughtful than its predecessors, inasmuch as director Bryan Singer and writers Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris, amidst all the inevitable thrills, also artfully contrive to offer some stimulating insights regarding why this durable superhero keeps coming back — and why he keeps leaving.
An analysis of this film's commentary on the Man of Steel will require the early revelation of some "spoilers," of varying degrees of significance. If you don't already know that the plot centers upon the mad scheme of scientist Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) to dominate the world, and the ultimately successful efforts of Superman (Brandon Routh) to thwart that scheme, then you, like Superman, have been spending a lot of time in outer space, not on Earth.� And thanks to the film's ubiquitous publicity, groundpounders must also have learned by now that the film opens with Superman's return to Earth after devoting five years to a fruitless quest for his destroyed homeworld of Krypton. What is genuinely surprising about the film is its one significant departure from the Superman canon: during his absence, star reporter Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has found a live-in boyfriend — editor Perry White's nephew, Richard White (James Marsden) — and has given birth to a son, Jason White (Tristan Lake Leabu), initially presented as Richard's child but ultimately revealed to be the true son of Superman, presumably conceived in a moment of passion just before he vanished without saying goodbye.
While he did not know what he was doing, we can see that Superman was following the typical behavior pattern of a heartless cad, impregnating a girl and then running away, forcing her to find another man to assume the responsibilities of fatherhood. And attentive viewers can discern that Superman was not simply cruelly abandoning his girlfriend: near the end of the film, when Superman is hovering between life and death, a close-up of one of the two headlines Perry White has prepared for the next edition of the Daily Planet — SUPERMAN IS DEAD and SUPERMAN LIVES — shows the date of Friday, September 29, 2006.� We know that Superman was gone for five years, and while we cannot be precisely sure when he returned, he surely spent some down time on the family farm with adoptive mother Martha Kent (Eva Marie Saint) before going back to Metropolis, so we can assume that he has been back for at least a few weeks. Doing the math reveals that not only did Superman leave Earth right after Lois's pregnancy, but he also left America right before September 11, 2001 — a day when we really could have used a Superman. If the connection seems fanciful, the film includes a scene in which Luthor's machinations shake Metropolis's skyscrapers and cause a man to fall off a high building and plummet down to certain death, only to be caught by Superman. We are surely being invited to recall the harrowing footage from September 11 of the man who fell from a skyscraper and didn't have a Superman to rescue him. No wonder, then, that at one point an anguished Lois asks Superman, "How could you leave us like that?"
In fact, although Superman Returns accurately describes the film's premise, a title which would better describe its characteristic recurring event would be Superman Leaves. He briefly stays at Martha's farm before going away and, in the film, never seeing her again. After saving the victims of a botched space shuttle mission (recalling another disaster that Superman wasn't around to prevent), Superman waves goodbye to a cheering crowd and flies away. He visits Lois when she steps outside for a cigarette, briefly chats with her, and departs. He rescues Luthor's girlfriend, Kitty Kowalski (Parker Posey), and literally flies out of her clutches. At the end of the film, he first leaves the room of his son and then, seeing Lois outside, gives the film's final line of dialogue — "Goodnight, Lois" — and soars off into outer space, all by himself. It is transparently ironic that Superman twice tells Lois, "I'm always around," when everything about the film reveals that Superman, in fact, is not always around.
In contrast to Superman's pattern of feckless departures, the two other male stars of the film are models of dependability, always around to assist and nurture the women in their lives. Upon first learning that Lois has a new boyfriend, filmgoers assume that he will soon be revealed as an unworthy scoundrel, to be given his comeuppance and shoved aside to make room for the vastly superior Superman. In fact, Richard turns out to be, as Lois says, "a good man," an attentive companion and doting father who also does his heroic bit to assist Superman, and the film concludes with his relationship with Lois firmly intact. And Lex Luthor, despite his villainous motives, does provide the dying Gertrude Vanderworth (significantly portrayed by the Lois Lane of the 1950s series The Adventures of Superman, Noel Neill) with some genuinely appreciated love and affection, which is more than the Superman of the 1950s, George Reeves, ever did for his Lois Lane. Luthor also remains in the constant company of his girlfriend Kitty, and he must be likeably supportive in some fashion since she remains loyal to him, despite some definite character flaws (like plotting to kill billions of people).
So, what is it that makes Superman the "hello, I must be going" superhero? Certainly, one can say that the father figures in Superman's life trained him in the art of abandonment. There were mitigating circumstances, of course, but Superman's birth father Jor-El did put his infant son in a rocketship and sent him to an alien planet many light years away. And in the 1978 film's retelling of the mythos, adoptive father Jonathan Kent, played by Glenn Ford, after giving the teenage Clark a few words of fatherly advice, drops dead of a heart attack. Left with only images of his male parents — holograms of Jor-El (archival footage of Marlon Brando) and a photograph of Glenn Ford (I think) on the Kent family piano — Superman's abrupt decision to leave Earth in search of remnants of Krypton can be attributed in part to a desperate yearning for an absent father figure, inspiring him to unknowingly follow in his fathers' footsteps and to become an absent father figure himself.� Still, it seems that Lex Luthor also had a less than ideal father — Kitty tells us that one of his last words to his son was "Get out" — without becoming a man who so frequently comes and goes without warning, forcing the critic to search for other explanations.
If a man keeps inching away from beautiful women apparently ready to succumb to his charms, contemporary observers might suspect that he is gay — and some Warner Brothers publicists may be advancing the notion that this film has a "gay Superman," although they are doing so very quietly, as if unsure whether the number of seats filled by viewers anxious to see a gay Superman would be greater or fewer than the number of seats left empty by viewers appalled by the whole idea. And in one scene, after Lois leaves with her boyfriend and son, Superman as Clark Kent does go off with youthful admirer Jimmy Olsen (Sam Huntington) to get a beer from Bo the Bartender, played by Jack Larson, the Jimmy Olsen of the 1950s series and, for decades, an openly gay actor — providing several reasons for raised eyebrows. It's also suspicious, I suppose, that the cake Jimmy gives Clark as a present has a piece cut out, so that its message reads "Welcome Back, Lark." Ultimately, however, I think the gay Superman idea must be regarded more as an innovative marketing tool than as a defensible interpretation of the film.
Then there is the theory that Superman avoids women due to the fact that, like a little boy, he would rather have fun adventures with other boys than to endure the stifling domesticity of female company. He would be like Humphrey Bogart at the end of Casablanca (1943), who walks off with Claude Rains not because he is lusting after him, but because he knows that fighting Nazis with the guys will be much more enjoyable than hanging around in salons with the demure, delicate Ingrid Bergman. And his masculinity remains unquestioned because we know, as Jules Feiffer notes in his introduction to The Great Comic Book Heroes (1965), that heroes like Superman and Bogart can still get women if they want to, even though they don't want to. But this represents, in the feminist era, a hopelessly old-fashioned attitude. As is amply demonstrated by the series Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997) and by this film, hanging around with a modern woman like Lois Lane hardly means limiting oneself to helping to cook dinner and clean the house, because she is perfectly willing to go off on exciting adventures as the need arises (and this film's Lois even gets to rescue the wounded Superman, hauling him to the water's surface with a lifeguard's maneuver). And in any event, Superman is not rejecting women in order to enjoy male camaraderie: when he says goodbye to Lois at the end of the film, he doesn't go back to Bo's bar to hang out with the guys — he goes off by himself, soaring through space until he flies offscreen to make room for the credits.
We are left to conclude that Superman leaves all of the time simply because he would rather be by himself. He suffers from Asperger's Syndrome — or, if you prefer, "avoidant personality disorder," or shyness; as suggested by that conspicuous word on Martha Kent's Scrabble board, perhaps, he feels a sense of "ALIENATION" in human society, usually preferring to stay at his Fortress of Solitude. As such, as I have argued, he would be a character strongly attuned with science fiction, created by science fiction fans (Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster) and long supervised by science fiction fans (editors Mort Weisinger and Julius Schwartz). But he is also — undoubtedly to the distress of Warner Brothers executives, to whom the phrase "Superman returns" really means "the money we can make off of Superman" — a deeply problematic centerpiece for any projected film franchise.
When Superman is in the hospital, son Jason says, "I like him," and Lois responds, "I like him too." Indeed, everybody likes Superman. He's handsome, he's charming, he's self-effacing, and he's eager to help other people in any way he can. Yet because he always runs away from human company at the earliest opportunity, nobody really gets to know Superman, which means, ultimately, that nobody loves Superman.� Out of all the super-powers that Superman has displayed over the decades, his strongest and most consistent power is his super-impenetrability. Taking on a life of his own as a fictional icon, Superman has successfully resisted the efforts of hundreds of writers to figure him out, get under his skin, find out what really makes him tick. Even the talented Singer, Dougherty, and Harris, who did so well with the X-Men, ultimately fail to discern what is really going on inside of Superman's head. When he flies into space in the final scene, with an expression of serene contentment on his face, what is Superman thinking about? We don't have the slightest idea.
It may have been his overly stylized suit, or too much makeup, but there were two times during the film when I would have sworn that I was not looking at Brandon Routh, the living actor playing Superman, but was looking at a computer animation of Brandon Routh as Superman. Not simply because of his amazing powers, but also because of his elusive personality, Superman does not always seem like a real person.
And, because he is so very likeable, and so ultimately unlovable, Superman on film and television is generally popular for a while, but he can never achieve lasting popularity. Every television series starring Superman has lasted at least four seasons, but unless Smallville overcomes the odds, none of them has lasted more than six seasons. Superman cartoons were made for three years; after a hiatus, there were two Kirk Alyn Superman serials; and much later, there were the four Christopher Reeve films. There may be a second Brandon Routh Superman film, maybe even a third, but it's hard to imagine this new franchise lasting longer than that. Superman returns to the screen, Superman stays for a while, and Superman leaves.
If there is a genuine emotion that this incarnation of Superman inspires, it is pity, since there are also intimations that he has returned to a world which is now so vast and so complex as to render him increasingly irrelevant. The crisis that occurs again and again throughout the film is a massive power failure — the sort of problem that cannot be resolved by a Superman. Changing the channels at the Kent family farm, Superman observes a disaster on every channel, a disaster in every part of the world; when he flies in orbital space, he hears a babel of voices all crying out for "a savior," far too many for even a Superman to respond to. Expertly distracted by Kitty's out-of-control car, Superman fails to prevent the museum burglary that ultimately leads to his, and America's, near-demise; he can't deal with every crisis that comes up. We are not privy to the arguments made by Lois Lane in her Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial, "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman," but one might logically maintain that, in a complicated world with so many problems, and so many different kinds of problems, even the assistance provided by a Superman amounts to little more than a drop in the bucket. (Later, when she tries to write another editorial entitled "Why the World Needs Superman," she can't think of a thing to say.) At least a hero like Spider-Man limits his ambitions to the protection of New York City; Superman, like the Atlas he resembles when he holds up the fallen globe of the Daily Planet building, aspires to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. One could assign an undergraduate English major to write a ten-page essay about the various ways that this film portrays Superman as a Christ figure (he even dies and comes back to life twice), but this Superman knows that he cannot save the world, which may be another reason that he keeps running away from the people who so often expect him to do exactly that.
Superman Returns is a rich film, with many themes and references that a single review cannot thoroughly explore. Luthor foregrounds the issue of the uses and misuses of technology by likening himself to Prometheus, a scientist who will benefit the world's peoples by bringing them advanced Kryptonian technology (and making a cunning reference to Arthur C. Clarke's Third Law — "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" — to account for the fact that the advanced Kryptonian technology subsequently on display does not always make a great deal of sense). In an era of globalization, there are efforts to downplay patriotic linkages between Superman and the United States: he is observed performing heroic deeds throughout the world, and when Perry White (Frank Langella) asks his reporters to investigate whether Superman still stands for "truth" and "justice," recalling the famed introduction to the first television series, he conspicuously does not add "and the American way." There are other knowing references to the long history of Superman, including an image of Superman holding up a car that recalls the cover of the first issue of Action Comics. And there are imaginative visual touches as well: we have repeatedly seen bullets bouncing off of Superman's invulnerable chest, but this is the first film to show a bullet bouncing off of Superman's invulnerable eye. Still, when Jason keeps going to the piano to play "Heart and Soul," he may be ironically referencing the one desirable quality that this admirable film about an enigmatic superhero so conspicuously lacks.
Gary Westfahl's recent projects include the Hugo-nominated Science Fiction Quotations: From the Inner Mind to the Outer Limits and The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy; samples from these and his other works are available at his World of Westfahl website.


text:
Q: Joomla 1.5 font page blank page I am new to the Joomla CMS I would like to say first. The server the website was being hosted on just updated their PHP the 5.4. It worked correctly for a time then the front page stopped displaying anything. I have tried almost everything that's suggested to fix the problem but nothing seems to work. From checking the error_log, exporting the website and re installing it on a new hosting service that still supports PHP 5.2, viewed the PHP errors and made small changes to the file's code that logged as syntax errors so they wouldn't occur and nothing, still blank. Starting from scratch is not on options for me because I need to keep that template intact since I was not the one that created it. If anyone out there has any suggestion it would be appreciated.
When turning on the error reporting in the configuration file I get
Beginning error messages
Strict Standards: Non-static method JLoader::import() should not be called statically in C:\xampp\htdocs\restore\libraries\loader.php on line 186
Strict Standards: Non-static method JLoader::register() should not be called statically in C:\xampp\htdocs\restore\libraries\loader.php on line 71
Strict Standards: Non-static method JFactory::getApplication() should not be called statically in C:\xampp\htdocs\restore\index.php on line 31
Strict Standards: Declaration of JSite::getPathWay() should be compatible with that of JApplication::getPathway() in C:\xampp\htdocs\restore\includes\application.php on line 377
Strict Standards: Non-static method JRegistryFormat::getInstance() should not be called statically, assuming $this from incompatible context in C:\xampp\htdocs\restore\libraries\joomla\registry\registry.php on line 373
Ending error messages
just list a few. I have tried going through and editing them with now luck.

A: I have found the problem. On if its modules was causing the blank page error in some way.
I was able to find this out by first making a copy of the current site using Akeeba Backup plugin.
Installed is on my localhost.
Installed a fresh version of Joomla 1.5 (with out default data)
Then edited the configuration.php file's database connection settings
/* Database Settings */
var $dbtype = 'mysql';
var $host = 'localhost';
var $user = 'root';
var $password = 'password';
var $db = 'dbname';
var $dbprefix = 'jos_';

to use the database created from the copied version of the website I installed on my localhost.
With that being done the fresh version of joomla I created had all the database information
I needed to recreate a new website with the same content.
I then started copying the components, modules, plugins, template, and modules from the copied
version to the fresh version.
Note: Some of the plugins and modules needed to be re-installed.
I would check to see if the fresh version was still functioning correctly every time I copied a directory over. Then, bam I got a blank front end page on the fresh version after I copies over a certain module.
So I found a version of the module that worked for 1.5  on the W3 and re-installed it.
Solving the mystery of my blank front end page.
It took quite a few hours to pinpoint the problem but I'm thankful for the people that responded to my question on the forums I posted it on. And I hope this can help anyone out there that comes across a mysterious blank front end page.

A: This issue really isn't a Joomla specific one, but PHP. To learn more about troubleshooting these issues in PHP, there is a good discussion at How to get useful error messages in PHP and What is the recommended error_reporting() setting for development? What about E_STRICT?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


A driver registration form is required prior to using a University owned vehicle. This has to be done each time your driver's license is renewed.
The University offers a driver registration certification system that is online. Users can electronically complete their driver registration form but must first be "initiated" by someone with system access.
This form will be sent to Shirley Lin in the CFAES Finance Service Center. Shirley will then submit an initiation request in the driver registration system and an email will be sent to the driver to complete the registration process.
Yes, I have a vehicle assigned to me at all times.
No, I sign out a vehicle as needed.
Employee Signature and Supervisor Signature required - remaining signatures will be obtained by the CFAES Finance Service Center.


text:
Cutting Edge Medical News
Should euthanasia be legalised as a method of treatment for terminal illnesses?
Jun 24, 2019 R.Shah News Comments Off on Should euthanasia be legalised as a method of treatment for terminal illnesses?
Euthanasia is the painless termination of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease in a bid to end their suffering. This is becoming more and more widely discussed among medical professionals, even though it is illegal in the majority of places across the globe, such as here in the UK. Currently, instances in the UK described as euthanasia are treated as murder or manslaughter and could lead to a minimum of 14 years in prison for even discussing this matter, due to the Suicide Act 1961, directly contradicting the whole idea of assisted suicide. There have since been reviews on the 1961 Act but no significant changes, even after the Human Rights Act 1998, with campaigners claiming the law denies the right to release oneself from unbearable pain. However, this is not a clear-cut subject with many religious, moral and professional standpoints deployed against euthanasia, dividing opinions worldwide. I will aim to discuss these and many more views on whether it is, and should be, a viable treatment option. Personally, I believe that voluntary assisted dying (a case where the sick person themselves makes the choice rather than someone else) should be made legal simply because there are a huge number of incurable maladies – Parkinson's disease and ALS – that force the patient to endure a life of pain and prolonged palliative care, which could be averted with the legalisation of euthanasia.
In an article presented by Courtney S. Campbell, the Hundere Professor in Religion and Culture at Oregon State University, he states there is little scope for religion to become lenient towards physician-assisted suicide. This can be summarised in his claim that all religions "begin with a strong predisposition to favour the preservation of life". In all major religions we owe our lives to God, which thus "bestows a sacredness upon human life". For example, in Roman Catholicism and Judaism euthanasia is seen as a sin and is a strong reason as to why countries such as the Republic of Ireland have stronger views for not legalising it. This article is very convincing in showing just how the majority of religions do not intend to incorporate such beliefs, and this is partly due to the credible nature of Courtney S. Campbell who is a Religious professor in a state where euthanasia is legalised, showing the clear knowledge he possesses. Campbell also states the other viewpoint that few people (such as Buddhism) see it as "mercy killing" and compassion to end suffering, but identifies that it is only a select few compared to the dominating religious idea.
On the face of it, from an economic standpoint, euthanasia can seem like something to be praised about, as it is far cheaper than keeping someone in a hospital for pointless treatments. However, in an article presented by J. Pereira, he states this has led to a long term negative impact whereby patients are almost pressured into undergoing euthanasia as it is a cheaper option for them and there healthcare system. This can be summed up in his claim of the Netherlands moving from it being regulated to "people who are terminally ill, to euthanasia of those who are chronically ill, physically ill, mentally ill – and now simply if a person is over the age of 70 and 'tired of living'". Although this is the case in the Netherlands and many other places where it has been legalised, and I do not agree with this broader range and less-restrictive form of assisted suicide, with heavy restrictive laws in place it will stop it from leading to this slippery slope. Pereira does not identify those places where it has led to success and is only used on terminally ill patients, such as Switzerland, and cherry picking facts from the countries such as Netherlands and Belgium, leading to skewed facts. Although this is a potential problem, it can be negated by following the structures that successful countries have shown.
As euthanasia is defined as the painless termination of a patient suffering, I think this is the main benefit for legalising euthanasia – the idea of showing compassion towards a patient and respecting their wishes. Ethically, this is the role of a doctor rather than just being a healer, and with the many people who have and will be diagnosed with a terminal illness, a large proportion of them will be in a position where the pain the face is too much to take. That is where physician-assisted suicide comes in. It allows patients to decide when and how they want to end their life, painlessly. Currently in the UK 300 people linked with a terminal illness end their own lives. This would be in a far more painful way than a lethal injection, and definitely not how they wanted it to end. Euthanasia gives people this option to do so, surrounded by family and doing so peacefully. Although many would argue the right to live is important, it is not because man (or woman) has a body, but because man lives like a human being, and certainly some diseases stop this basic necessity. Life is a beautiful thing, but a terminal illness may change that into agony and worry, and for some euthanasia is the only relieve the pains.
Some may argue that there are other options such as palliative care and hospices, which allow the final years, months or weeks of a patient to be tolerable. Firstly, is tolerable a life we want people to live? Secondly, even after all the advancements in medicine the ability of modern medical care is limited.
However, there is the religious argument that prevents a majority of states from legalising this 'sinful' act. It is deemed that God created life and it should be celebrated by living it to its fullest and not ending it. The right to live is important in all religions, such as Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism. The most vigorous opposition has come from Pope John Paul II who describes it as example of the "culture of death" and it abandons the protection of life.
Although few in number, there are individual theologians within both the Jewish and Christian traditions for whom euthanasia is not a contradiction but a culmination of religious values such as compassion, mercy and love.
Another moral stance for why euthanasia should not be legalised is the fact that many people who contemplate assisted suicide are in so much pain that they are not mentally capable to make such as important decision. Yet the decision they are making is based upon a valid justification, and it is affecting their judgement, but all decisions are made upon a reason, and living in such excruciating pain is as justified a reason as one can get. Also, that is why in certain states and countries where it is legalised, the patient is given plenty of time to reflect on their emphatic decision, so they are able to make a capable and justified decision, weighing out all the risks and benefits it would entail.
Finally, the economic argument provides a good reason as to why euthanasia should be legalised. Euthanasia provides a very cheap alternative to patients who would not be benefitting from expensive treatment. Not only is it a financial burden to the individuals, but mainly to the healthcare system. This allows resources to be distributed to patients that would actually benefit from it, rather than those who only need it for palliative care. Likewise, terminally ill patients can help others who need organ transplants, again showing the same idea of distributing resources to where they are needed most. Especially with the donor crisis the NHS is experiences, with many people having to wait years before they get a transplant, this could certainly alleviate some of the stress.
However, this could lead to a situation where many more people are abusing this 'cheap' system simply because they cannot afford the treatment. For example, in Oregon they displayed pressures when the state Medicaid informed patients that many prescriptions and painkillers would not be covered but assisted suicide would. In effect this indirectly pushed them towards this option, simply because they cannot afford the high costs of drugs that are not associated with physician-assisted suicide. Another potential problem that could once it has been implemented is the 'slippery slope effect'. Because patients with certain illnesses are viable to undergo assisted suicide, why aren't others? Eventually it could get to that stage where it will be practiced on individuals who are not terminally ill, but suffer from depression and other psychiatric illnesses, and is just another option for suicide.
But there is one simple solution to negate this. That is to maintain strong laws and a very good regulatory system to ensure that only terminally ill people who have the mental capacity to decide are eligible, benefitting those who won't benefit from any other method of treatment.
To conclude, I would say that euthanasia should be legalised as a method of treatment for terminal illnesses. As mentioned, the question of legalising physician-assisted suicide is a very complex matter, as there are a plethora of different opinions, not only between countries, but individuals within a country. This in turn stops any real push towards any legislation being made about this topic, predominantly due to the huge backlash that will be evident no matter what the outcome. For example in a survey to determine attitudes among NHS doctors about moving the law on euthanasia towards how it currently is in Netherlands, 146 agreed with the statement, 103 disagreed and 60 were undecided. This clearly shows how many health professionals differ on what the law should be, and only takes us many steps back in deciding what to do. On the other hand, it has been successfully done in Switzerland and other countries, showing how it can work well to achieve the aim of giving someone the choice to end their life in extreme circumstances. I believe that this is necessary and part of the reasons why people chose to become doctors – to show compassion to the patients situation and empathise with the difficult position they have unfortunately been put in. Looking at the many personal stories of people who have been diagnosed with motor-neurone diseases, ALS, Parkinson's, terminal cancer, and have to suffer their last years in pain, it only strengthens the argument for having euthanasia as an applicable treatment option. Although there are other arguments for doing so, such as economic reasons, the morals and personal stories behind it are what aligns my view towards the way it is. However, there are huge barriers towards setting it up, and once it is set up there must be a fixed procedure to stop many people that are not terminally ill to undergo euthanasia. The current steps in Netherlands, Washington, California and Oregon are vital in doing so, and would have to be implemented in the UK if we were to legalise euthanasia. They are only limited to terminally ill AND mentally competent adults, with the cases assessed by doctors and a high court judge, to ensure that patients aren't undergoing euthanasia themselves as they are too poor to afford treatment or because they don't have the mental capacity to make a wise decision. It also doesn't force doctors who do not want to perform euthanasia to do so, respecting their views and interests. Although it is an extremely difficult subject to implement into the NHS, I believe doing so (with a heavily restricted regime, limiting it to only terminally ill patients) would only fruit benefits to the 300 dying people who end their own lives in this country every year and many others.
Euthanasia and Religion by Courtney S. Campbell
The Economic Incentive for Assisted Suicide: Life is Expensive, But Death Is Free by Hans von Spakovsky
https://www.bmj.com/content/assisted-dying
https://www.dignityindying.org.uk
Attitudes Among NHS Doctors to Requests for Euthanasia by P A Tate
The Ethical Considerations of Physician-Assisted Suicide by Madeline Jordan
Legalising Euthanasia: The Illusion of Safeguards and Control by J. Pereira
Photo Credits due to: https://dailytimes.com.pk/261370/the-emerging-debate-on-euthanasia/
Rushil Shah
Previous Post: Should technology be used more in both dental diagnosis and treatment on the NHS?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Behind The Scenes: Hilary Grist NEW Video "Swallow Me Up"
Hilary Grist NEW Video "Swallow Me Up"
Hilary Grist is a talented musician in her own right, has had a number of albums out and her recent album "Tomorrow Is A Chance to Start Over" will be released in the next couple of months, here is a sneak peak at her video which she shared today on her Facebook page.
She is from Maple Ridge BC, Canada who currently resides in Kitsalano with her husband. I had the pleasure of meeting her earlier this year-I wish her all the best with her new album.


Pair of superior & highly detailed Marauder Task Force FEMALE Valkyries legs WITH Waist Section. RIGHT and LEFT pair of legs & Waist are tooled in black pvc plastic. Legs are articulated at knees and ankles. Legs have modular mounting points on thighs and calves to accommodate a wide variety of interchangeable modular accessories (sold separately). Included waist section can mount to ALL Female Marauder Task Force Valkyries torso sections AND also works well with SEVERAL other 1:18 scale female action figure lines. Each leg & waist section approximately 2-1/2 inches tall.
Pair of superior & highly detailed Marauder Task Force FEMALE Valkyries legs WITH Waist Section. RIGHT and LEFT pair of legs & Waist are tooled in red pvc plastic with paint details. Legs are articulated at knees and ankles. Legs have modular mounting points on thighs and calves to accommodate a wide variety of interchangeable modular accessories (sold separately). Included waist section can mount to ALL Female Marauder Task Force Valkyries torso sections AND also works well with SEVERAL other 1:18 scale female action figure lines. Each leg & waist section approximately 2-1/2 inches tall.
Pair of superior & highly detailed Marauder Task Force FEMALE Valkyries legs WITH Waist Section. RIGHT and LEFT pair of legs & Waist are tooled in gray pvc plastic with camo paint details. Legs are articulated at knees and ankles. Legs have modular mounting points on thighs and calves to accommodate a wide variety of interchangeable modular accessories (sold separately). Included waist section can mount to ALL Female Marauder Task Force Valkyries torso sections AND also works well with SEVERAL other 1:18 scale female action figure lines. Each leg & waist section approximately 2-1/2 inches tall.
Pair of superior & highly detailed Marauder Task Force FEMALE Valkyries legs WITH Waist Section. RIGHT and LEFT pair of legs & Waist are tooled in white pvc plastic with camo paint details. Legs are articulated at knees and ankles. Legs have modular mounting points on thighs and calves to accommodate a wide variety of interchangeable modular accessories (sold separately). Included waist section can mount to ALL Female Marauder Task Force Valkyries torso sections AND also works well with SEVERAL other 1:18 scale female action figure lines. Each leg & waist section approximately 2-1/2 inches tall.
Pair of superior & highly detailed Marauder Task Force FEMALE Valkyries legs WITH Waist Section. RIGHT and LEFT pair of legs & Waist are tooled in tan pvc plastic with camo paint details. Legs are articulated at knees and ankles. Legs have modular mounting points on thighs and calves to accommodate a wide variety of interchangeable modular accessories (sold separately). Included waist section can mount to ALL Female Marauder Task Force Valkyries torso sections AND also works well with SEVERAL other 1:18 scale female action figure lines. Each leg & waist section approximately 2-1/2 inches tall.
Pair of superior & highly detailed Marauder Task Force FEMALE Valkyries legs WITH Waist Section. RIGHT and LEFT pair of legs & Waist are tooled in dark green pvc plastic with camo paint details. Legs are articulated at knees and ankles. Legs have modular mounting points on thighs and calves to accommodate a wide variety of interchangeable modular accessories (sold separately). Included waist section can mount to ALL Female Marauder Task Force Valkyries torso sections AND also works well with SEVERAL other 1:18 scale female action figure lines. Each leg & waist section approximately 2-1/2 inches tall.
Pair of superior & highly detailed Marauder Task Force FEMALE Valkyries legs WITH Waist Section. RIGHT and LEFT pair of legs & Waist are tooled in tan pvc plastic with green & brown camo paint details. Legs are articulated at knees and ankles. Legs have modular mounting points on thighs and calves to accommodate a wide variety of interchangeable modular accessories (sold separately). Included waist section can mount to ALL Female Marauder Task Force Valkyries torso sections AND also works well with SEVERAL other 1:18 scale female action figure lines. Each leg & waist section approximately 2-1/2 inches tall.
Pair of superior & highly detailed Marauder Task Force FEMALE Valkyries legs WITH Waist Section. RIGHT and LEFT pair of legs & Waist are tooled in green pvc plastic with brown paint details. Legs are articulated at knees and ankles. Legs have modular mounting points on thighs and calves to accommodate a wide variety of interchangeable modular accessories (sold separately). Included waist section can mount to ALL Female Marauder Task Force Valkyries torso sections AND also works well with SEVERAL other 1:18 scale female action figure lines. Each leg & waist section approximately 2-1/2 inches tall.
Pair of superior & highly detailed Marauder Task Force FEMALE Valkyries legs WITH Waist Section. RIGHT and LEFT pair of legs & Waist are tooled in PURPLE pvc plastic with paint details. Legs are articulated at knees and ankles. Legs have modular mounting points on thighs and calves to accommodate a wide variety of interchangeable modular accessories (sold separately). Included waist section can mount to ALL Female Marauder Task Force Valkyries torso sections AND also works well with SEVERAL other 1:18 scale female action figure lines. Each leg & waist section approximately 2-1/2 inches tall.


text:
namespace network {

// Represents a value from the Origin-Policy header's allowed=() list.
//
// Values can be a string, or the special tokens `latest` or `null`.
class COMPONENT_EXPORT(NETWORK_SERVICE) OriginPolicyAllowedValue final {
 public:
  ~OriginPolicyAllowedValue();
  OriginPolicyAllowedValue(const OriginPolicyAllowedValue&);

  // The caller is expected to a string that is a valid origin policy ID:
  // https://wicg.github.io/origin-policy/#valid-origin-policy-id
  static const OriginPolicyAllowedValue FromString(const std::string&);
  static const OriginPolicyAllowedValue Null();
  static const OriginPolicyAllowedValue Latest();

  bool operator==(const OriginPolicyAllowedValue& other) const {
    return state_ == other.state_ && string_ == other.string_;
  }
  bool operator!=(const OriginPolicyAllowedValue& other) const {
    return !(*this == other);
  }

  bool is_latest() const {
    return state_ == OriginPolicyAllowedValue::State::kLatestToken;
  }
  bool is_null() const {
    return state_ == OriginPolicyAllowedValue::State::kNullToken;
  }
  bool is_string() const {
    return state_ == OriginPolicyAllowedValue::State::kString;
  }

  const std::string& string() const {
    DCHECK(is_string());
    DCHECK(string_.has_value());
    return *string_;
  }

 private:
  enum class State { kString, kLatestToken, kNullToken };

  OriginPolicyAllowedValue(State, const absl::optional<std::string>&);

  State state_;
  absl::optional<std::string> string_;
};

// Represents a value from the Origin-Policy header's preferred= entry.
//
// Values can be a string, or the special token `latest-from-network`.
class COMPONENT_EXPORT(NETWORK_SERVICE) OriginPolicyPreferredValue final {
 public:
  ~OriginPolicyPreferredValue();
  OriginPolicyPreferredValue(const OriginPolicyPreferredValue&);

  // The caller is expected to a string that is a valid origin policy ID:
  // https://wicg.github.io/origin-policy/#valid-origin-policy-id
  static const OriginPolicyPreferredValue FromString(const std::string&);
  static const OriginPolicyPreferredValue LatestFromNetwork();

  bool operator==(const OriginPolicyPreferredValue& other) const {
    return string_ == other.string_;
  }
  bool operator!=(const OriginPolicyPreferredValue& other) const {
    return !(*this == other);
  }

  bool is_latest_from_network() const { return !string_.has_value(); }
  bool is_string() const { return string_.has_value(); }

  const std::string& string() const {
    DCHECK(is_string());
    return *string_;
  }

 private:
  explicit OriginPolicyPreferredValue(const absl::optional<std::string>&);

  // If string_ is absl::nullopt, then this is latest-from-network. This is a
  // small optimization compared to the State enum used for
  // OriginPolicyAllowedValue.
  absl::optional<std::string> string_;
};

}  // namespace network

#endif  // SERVICES_NETWORK_ORIGIN_POLICY_ORIGIN_POLICY_HEADER_VALUES_H_

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


No matching events listed under The rose festival. Please try viewing the full calendar for a complete list of events.
There's even more to Casacocò than accommodations, good cooking, and wedding receptions. At Casacocò, you can experience nature first-hand and participate in courses for the care and pruning of roses, hydrangeas, and olive trees, with the excellent guidance of experts in the field. Or you can take part in a Wellness Day, or come experience the Festival of Roses in late May. At Casacocò, our aim is to create moments which bring well-being to the mind and body – special moments that you can share with your family, friends, or just enjoy on your own.


Wall Street analysts are responding to Tesla's announcement last week that it would lay off about 7% of its staff because of pressure on profits and Model 3 production challenges.
RBC Capital Markets on Tuesday slashed its price target and downgraded the stock, saying Tesla was "waking up from the dream" it sells to investors.
Tesla has long promised its Model 3 sedan will be a vehicle for the masses, eventually reaching a price point more affordable than those of the company's luxury cars. But it has had difficulty keeping up production, which has some analysts concerned about its sustainability.
Last week, CEO Elon Musk said the company would lay off approximately 7% of its staff — about 3,000 employees — because of pressure on profits and the Model 3's production challenges. Wall Street, perhaps predictably, has largely responded negatively, and on Tuesday another firm said it was lowering its rating on Tesla shares.
"While the strategy of fulfilling the high end to bring cost down for the low end had good intentions, we believe Tesla underestimated the cost curves and manufacturing side of the equation," the RBC Capital Markets analyst Joseph Spak told clients on Tuesday under the headline "Waking up from the dream."
"34 months post Tesla offering the promise of a $35k M3, the car still does not exist and Tesla admits they can't make it profitably."
In addition to slapping an "underperform" rating on the stock, Spak slashed his price target to $245 a share from $290, implying a drop of nearly 17% from current levels. Tesla fell 2% in premarket trading Tuesday, to about $293.90 a share.
"It's not that we don't believe Tesla can grow over time," Spak said, adding that RBC's model predicted solid long-term growth. "But the current valuation already considers overly lofty expectations."
Still, at a difficult moment for the company, Tesla received approval this week to begin selling its Model 3 in Europe, which, along with China, is expected to be an important source of sales growth.
Other experts covering Tesla have echoed a similarly dim outlook. On Monday, Goldman Sachs analysts led by David Tamberrino reiterated the firm's bearish 12-month price target of $225 a share and "sell" rating.
"Altogether, we believe that 2019 is shaping up to be another choppy year for Tesla and its shares as it navigates the US Federal Tax Credit phase-out and mix-down of its Model 3 program," Tamberrino said. "Ultimately we continue to see downside to consensus expectations over the coming years and expect the company's shares to follow."
Citi analysts maintained their "sell/high risk" rating on the stock, pointing to the company's latest update as a confirmation of "sustainability concerns."
Some Tesla observers say the company slashing its workforce is no reason to grow negative on the name. Jefferies analysts said it's "part of the process of reducing Model 3 price point." And Oppenheimer said job cuts pointed to the Tesla's maturation as a company.
Tesla shares have fallen 16% over the past year. Shareholders will receive a fuller picture of the company's financial health when the company reports fourth-quarter earnings next Wednesday.


text:
Steven J Trzepacz, OD223 E Main St Streator, IL 61364 815-673-591
Steven J Trzepacz, OD
223 E Main St Streator, IL 61365 815-673-1591
Practice History
Location History
My Exam
CL Training
Order CLs by Email
Gas Explosion in Streator
It was the coldest day of the year, with temperatures at 20 below. At 7:50 am, while getting ready for work, I received a phone call at home. My office wasn't opening until 9:00 am. It was Mike Gulo. His office is located caddy corner to my parents building. "Hey Steve, you need to get down here right away" he said. "Why?" I replied. "There's a problem with your building" he stated. He did not want to explain any further, but after repeated probing by me he stated "Something must have exploded, because one of your windows broke out."
I hurriedly got dressed and headed downtown. I was in shock when I turned the corner to see the rear end of the building completely collapsed, and the front portion of my office blown out onto the Main St sidewalk. A window blew out, Really? I immediately called my wife Julie, and she quickly arrived .
At 7:00 am, someone had reported a strong gas smell at Steve's Bakery. NI Gas was notified, and the Streator Fire Dept showed up. The fire truck parked in the parking lot adjacent to Gulo's Law Office. The gas company is required to respond within 60 minutes. At approximately 7:45, fireman Ken Berta had been investigating our middle office, LaSalle Textiles. He had his nose pushed up against the window. Not seeing anything questionable, he walked back across Monroe St. After reaching the opposite sidewalk, our building exploded. I have been told by several people, they heard the noise from several blocks away! A small fire erupted in our basement, and the fire dept quickly put it out. 5 minutes later, NI Gas showed up.
A two block circumference from our office was immediately shut down (gas and electric) and evacuated, which included most of the downtown area. Viewing the action from a distant barrier, the gas odor was so strong, it felt like we were standing right over the gas leak. Starting at our building, the gas company worked backwards, trying to find the gas leak. It took them 2 hours, before they found the leak below the road, at the intersection of Monroe St and the alley. I was in awe, as these workers sent sparks flying with jackhammers directly above the leaking gas, breaking through the concrete, in order to reach the damaged pipe.
There were two other tenants in our building at the time of the explosion. The upstairs was vacant. The rear office (the single story portion of the building) was occupied by Pavlick Tax and Business Services (Elisa Pavlick). That section was completely destroyed. They lost all records and computers. The first floor center office was occupied by LaSalle Textiles (Dr. Baumissamy). They were able to salvage their computers. And my office was in the front. The pressure of the explosion went through the center office and released through our front walls onto the front sidewalks.
At this time we were blessed with great support from our family and friends. The first person to show up at the sight was Merle Vissering, my State Farm Insurance Agent. He quickly consoled us, "Don't worry Doc, you have excellent replacement cost insurance. Right now, you are distressed, but trust me, it will all work out in the long run!" He was correct. State Farm was quick to dispatch the claims. We were able to replace all our equipment with new models. We eventually were able to build a beautiful new office on that site.
Next, my friend Scott Bulthuis showed up. He took off work to support us. I told him there was nothing we could do but watch, but he stayed. About noon, we were allowed to go into the building to start salvaging. My parents John and Cai, my sister Pam, and my friend Alice Kielar showed up all the way from Calumet City. Julie's parents Karen and Jerry Burcar, her sister and brother-in-law Debbie and Bob Hoskins were there. My staff including Carole Brust and Lori Topolski also helped. I also believe some Lions Club members showed up, including Jerry Vandemark and Jim Olmsted. So many people helped during this hectic time, I apologize if I am forgetting someone. Dr. Baumissamy (LaSalle Textiles) quickly procured the vacant JC Penny's building. Everyone fought the bitter cold to help us move whatever we could into the temporary location. We saved all of our computers. After 3 months, we were only missing two patient charts, and we eventually found those two charts!
It was determined that the leaking gas had entered the three building's basements surrounding this alley intersection. My building was unoccupied, A few employees were in Christoff's Appliance, and 20-30 people were in Steve's Bakery. All three basements were full of gas, but fortunately, my building was the one to blow. Miraculously, no one was injured in the blast!
Later on that week, I had to meet with the State Fire Marshall at the building. He determined that the explosion started in our basement. The weather was so cold, the ground was frozen solid. The underground gas leak had nowhere to go but into our basements. Gas explosions are actually quite rare, because the gas has to reach a high concentration (6%) before it becomes ignitable. An enclosed area with a continuous gas leak is required to reach these conditions. (That is why opening a window is recommended anytime you smell gas). This is what occurred in our non-ventilated basement. The gas concentrated to the ideal level, and the furnace sparked the explosion.
The Fire Marshall showed me that my basement posts were not anchored to the basement floor. Anchoring them could have limited some of the damage. Then he took me upstairs. He showed me a faint line on the wall, about 6 foot above the floor, that went completely around each room. He stated that the basement explosion had raised my floor up to that point! Everything in my office, even heavy equipment, had been briefly raised 6 feet, and the dropped back down!
The good news was that the explosion was so intense, it used up all the available oxygen. That meant a very small fire, and very little water damage by the Fire Dept to put out the fire. The Fire Marshall also said we were very lucky, because while we were salvaging everything, the only thing holding up the floor we were walking on was the frozen water from the Fire Department!
It was later determined that a gas pipe at the intersection of Monroe and the alley had been damaged a few years earlier, during the construction of the new sewer lines going through the alleys. These gas pipes have a protective rubber cover. If the cover is nicked by a bulldozer, it will slowly corrode the pipe. The gas leak may not occur for a couple of years.
Julie & I were blessed to have such great support from our family and friends during this stressful time.
Thank God no one was injured. Thanks everyone for your support.
Call for an appointment 815-673-1591


Mumbai: Stability of the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena alliance has been questioned by political pundits after they failed to disagree on anything over the past 1 week. Shiv Sena has always taken the lead when it comes to criticizing BJP over any issue but they have kept quiet for an incredible 7 days now. No BJP leader has made a snide remark about Shiv Sena either during this period and that has given birth to several questions.
"BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is like an Indian marriage. They fight, they argue, they disagree but ultimately, they stay together. In fact, greater their disagreements, stronger is their alliance. However, we haven't heard about any disagreement over the past week and as any married person knows, silent treatment means a big storm is brewing. Shiv Sena isn't criticizing state or national government and that must be causing a lot of concern to the BJP leadership", noted political expert Yoginder Jadhav said.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena sources have denied any rift between the two partners and have confirmed that they will soon start a massive fight with BJP confirming the strength of the alliance.


The Apogia Lloyd Hotel is a 3 star hotel that enjoys a privileged position in Rome and we are happy to show how you can reach your favorite destinations from our hotel. We can advise you on the characteristic places and restaurants, with competitive price that will make you taste the precious local specialties.
The hotel is easy to reach because it is located only fifteen minutes from Roma Termini train station and close to the metro stations: Hospital and Castro Praetorio. The public transport service is efficient and is recommended for those who want to reach the main places of the capital without the stress of traffic and parking .


September brings a bumper crop of new publications and resources which I hope you will find of interest. A selection of beginner's volumes, great little elementary pieces, anthologies and fascinating piano related books as well as a novel, which should provide reading and playing material for the new school term. Enjoy!
Earlier this year The Lang Lang Piano Method (volumes 1, 2 & 3), written by Chinese star pianist Lang Lang, was launched by Faber, and now volumes four and five have been released. A cartoon Lang Lang appears throughout these books providing encouragement, taking young pianists step by step through every section.These books build on the learning process already established in the first three publications, introducing new keys, rhythms, extending technique through repertoire which includes original pieces and famous tunes. Find out more and purchase here.
This is a new collection of 111 original easy piano pieces published by Schott and collated by the excellent German composer, teacher and arranger, Hans-Günter Heumann. Including popular repertoire as well as many less known works, over 60 composers from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern periods are featured. This books comes from the Pianissimo series, designed as an introduction to the collection, Für Elise. You can find out much more and purchase here.
Piano Train Trips is the first book written by Spanish pianist, teacher and composer Juan Cabeza. The book includes 18 Études and 9 Exercises with duet accompaniment, downloadable audio recordings of the pieces and play-along accompaniment for the exercises. Each étude covers a particular technique: scales, intervals, arpeggios and chords, which are all presented in an original and attractive way. They are fresh, modern and exciting pattern-based pieces. These pieces can be enjoyed by children or adult students, and are of a late elementary level. The book is available for Europe here and a digital edition can be purchased here. Soon, It will also be released in the US by Piano Safari (pianosafari.com) and a German edition will be published by zauberklavier.de.
New this past month, Sonorous is an original collection of Piano Solos by Colombian pianist and educator Harold Gutiérrez. The books take students from beginner to intermediate level (Book 1), and intermediate to advanced level (Book 2) adopting the 21st century view of music education, in which enjoyment of performance is first and foremost. Each piece presented in this book has been composed as complementary material for young players and their teachers, encouraging students to perform and experience their musical achievements on stage. There are two books in the series so far, and the first is designated 'for little hands' with plenty of interesting melodies and technical exercises at the end of the book. You can find out much more, hear some of the pieces, and purchase here.
A collection of 23 pieces by Irish composer June Armstrong. Intended for elementary level students, June's music is predominantly educational with emphasis on interpretative qualities, engaging a pupil's imagination. This is certainly evident in these works, which rely heavily on atmospheric harmonies. Safari charts the course of a day in Africa, starting with African Dawn and ending with Night Sky with Stars. Meet all the animals along the way – gazelles, flamingos, lions, giraffes, hyenas, monkeys, elephants and many others. Pieces often use specific hand positions, suitable for less experienced players. You can hear each piece here, and find out more and purchase here.
Containing 78 piano pieces, this large volume is suitable for those from Grade 2 – 8 (elementary to advanced), and has been designed as a gift book; a luxury hardback edition featuring high-quality premium paper and 'The Concerto' linocut cover image by Cyril Edward Power. Published by Faber, it has been compiled by myself and will hopefully interest a variety of levels and abilities. Many pieces are very well-known penned by the great composers, but there is also a cohort of less familiar works (and composers). From late Renaissance music through to mid to late Twentieth century, piano lovers can enjoy reading through (and learning) a much-loved repertoire of core pieces. Out later this month, you can find out more and purchase here.
Published by Schott and containing 25 traditional tunes, this book is sure to be popular with all those who appreciate and enjoy playing traditional music. A selection of melodies including Russian folk tunes, Russian Gypsy music and Russian Jewish music, as well as folk music from the Ukraine. The pieces have been edited and arranged by British bandoneonist, composer and arranger Julian Rowlands, who performs them on an accompanying CD. There is also a brief history of Russian music as well as notes on the pieces (which are also available in French and German). The arrangements are from approximately Grades 4-8 level. You can find out more and purchase here.
A new collection published by Schott, written by British jazz composer and writer Tim Richards. This volume contains 13 original works for piano by Richards and 2 arrangements (a traditional song and another by Jelly Roll Morton). There are copious interpretation, technique, theory and performance notes, accompanying each piece and a helpful CD of all the pieces (played by Tim). Chord symbols are provided to aid improvisation, and in my opinion, the volume complements other books in the series; Improvising Blues Piano, Exploring Latin Piano and Exploring Jazz Piano (all Richards' publications). For more and to purchase click here.
Written by British pianist, teacher, writer and composer Mark Tanner and published by Faber in conjunction with EPTA (European Piano Teachers Association), this book is sure to be a winner for all pianists, presenting a fresh perspective on playing and performing. Applying the concept of mindfulness to the piano, this text explores the crucial connection between mind and body: how an alert, focussed mind fosters playing which is more compelling, refined and ultimately more rewarding. It also tackles the issues encountered by pianists when practising, performing, improvising and preparing for an exam too. Drawing on the expert advice of 25 leading pianists and educationalists (I'm delighted to be amongst those mentioned!), this unique book offers a wealth of exercises and musical examples to help every player succeed in becoming a Mindful Pianist. Out later this month, you can pre-order here.
A delightful little book written by British piano tuner Peter Tryon (cousin of concert pianist Valerie Tryon) and published by Austin Macauley. This volume is essentially an autobiographical tale of a life spent tuning the pianos of those in East Anglia (in rural UK). It's full of anecdotal tales from boyhood piano lessons and moving pianos in all kinds of situations, to ghostly tunings (my favourite stories!), there is much to enjoy in this publication. You can purchase it for kindle and as a hard copy, on Amazon here.
A thick non-fiction volume written by British historian and biographer Nigel Cliff, and published by Harper Collins, this book tells the story of Van Cliburn, who, as a young pianist from Texas in 1958, travelled to Moscow to compete in the First International Tchaikovsky Competition. An unknown pianist, Van Cliburn was not the favourite to win, indeed a Russian had already been selected, but his playing captivated the nation. The novel brings together the drama and tension of the Cold War era, with a gifted musician whose music would temporarily bridge the divide between two dangerously hostile powers. You can find out more and purchase here.


text:
import React, { Component } from 'react'
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
import configureStore from './store/configureStore'
import { Provider } from 'react-redux'
import AppRouter from './routes'

const initialState = { cars: [ { name: 'First Car', type: 'Tesla', hp: 600 } ] }

const store = configureStore(initialState)

class Root extends Component {
  render () {
    return (
      <div>
        <Provider store={store}>
          <AppRouter />
        </Provider>
      </div>
    )
  }
}

let rootElement = document.getElementById('root')

ReactDOM.render(
  <Root />, rootElement
)


From now until April 26th just click your way to our EZ Rock Kootenay Boundary's Facebook Page. Like and comment on the Show Us Your FIT Facebook Contest Post of the Day (9 days in total). We'll ask you to post a specific picture for that day…ALL you need to do is post it and you could be chosen as that day's qualifier! Out of the 9 winners over the 9 days of the contest, 3 Finalists will be chosen and announced on the Wayne and Jayne Show, Monday April 29th!
These 3 Finalists will compete for an amazing prize package in the "Show Us Your Fit" obstacle course at The Kootenay Healthy Lifestyles Expo May 4th! You'll also be able to take part in the Brain, Brawn, and Brisk Challenge which includes: a Health Facts Trivia (10 questions), a Fitness Challenge (PLANK OFF). as well as a Scavenger Hunt!
Day 1: Post your workout selfie!
Day 2: Post a pic of your healthy meal!
Day 3: What do you listen to when you're working out?
Day 4: Post a pic of your workout buddy!
Day 5: Where's your favourite place to workout?
Day 6: What is your go to post-workout snack?
Day 7: Post a pic of your favourite running shoes!
Day 8: Post a pic of your cool workout water bottle!
Day 9: Take a picture of yourself at one of our amazing sponsors business location, post it in the comments and tag that business' Facebook page and the Kootenays Healthy Lifestyles Expo Facebook page.
There's a different picture challenge every day so be sure to keep coming back! The more you enter the better your chances!
It's the Show Us Your Fit Facebook contest presented by The Kootenay Healthy Lifestyles Expo, our sponsors, and Today's Best Variety EZ Rock.


Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Jeju Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you'll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Jeju Airport.
Jeju Airport has two terminals: Domestic and International. Each terminal has a variety of shops and eateries, offering both Asian and Western fare. WiFi is free but reportedly has poor connectivity. For added comfort while you wait, there are a few airport lounges. See Airport Lounges in the airport guide below for location and access information.
Spending the night here is not possible, as the airport closes nightly from 11:00PM until 5:00AM. (The airport may be flexible in cases of severe delays or cancellations.) For uninterrupted sleep, hotels are nearby. See our Airport Hotels section below for more info.
To see more options there is a list of hotels near Jeju Airport on Tripadvisor that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Free WiFI is available at Jeju Airport. An Internet lounge is located on 3F.
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so be sure to check your bank's fee schedule and your daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: 1F and 3F.
Children's Play Area – When you want to ensure your kids burn off all their energy before their flight, take them to the children's play area. Location: Domestic Terminal, 4th Floor, beside the Drop Top Coffee Shop.
Currency Exchange – Jeju Bank operates a currency exchange on 1F and 3F.
Disabled Services – The airport provides raised blocks, 9 elevators, 24 parking spaces and 14 disabled bathrooms.
Duty Free & Shopping – Duty free shopping is available, along with a wide variety of retail shops and gift boutiques including two convenience shops with one on the 1st Floor which is open 6:00AM – 10:00PM.
Family Services – Nursing rooms are available including a baby changing table, sink and a sofa. Location: Domestic Terminal, 3rd Floor • International Terminal, 3rd Floor, Airside. Strollers can be borrowed while Landside, see the Information Desks on the 1st or 2nd Floor, Domestic Terminal.
Food & Drink – Food concessions throughout the airport operate with varying schedules, with most open from 7:00AM – 9:00PM (Domestic Terminal) • 7:00AM – 11:00PM (International Terminal). At the time of this update, there are no 24-hour dining options.
Information Desk – Need help getting around or have an airport question? Information Desk are available. Locations: 1F and 3F.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – A left luggage facility offers temporary storage of luggage at a rate of 5,000 – 10,000 KRW per bag, per 24-hour period. Location: 1F, landside. Hours: 6:30AM – 9:00PM.
Postal Services – Drop off your last minute postcards at the airport's mailbox. Location: Landside, 1F.
Medical Services – If you feel unwell or injure yourself, a medical center can be found in the Domestic Terminal, 1st Floor, near Gate 3. Hours: 7:00AM – 10:00PM.
Mobile Charging – Recharge your mobile devices free of charge. Paid services are also available, presumably for faster charging. Locations: unknown.
Pharmacy – Location: 3F, next to the Dunkin Donuts. Hours:7:00AM – 11:00PM.
The airport is open from 5:00AM – 11:00PM, and the terminal building is locked for the night. Overnight stays are not permitted at this airport.
As of March 2019, Jeju airport is served by the following airlines: Air Busan • Air Pohang • Air Asia • Asiana Air • Cathay Pacific • China Eastern Jet • Delta • Eastar Jet • HK Express • Far Eastern Air Transport • Japan Airlines • Jeju Air • Jin Air • Korean Air • Loong Air • Spring Airlines • T'way Air • Tigerair Taiwan.
Car rentals are available on the first floor, Domestic Arrivals (1F). Companies include: AJ Car • Jeju Car Rental • Jeju Island Rental • Lotte Car Rental.
The bus station is located outside of Gate 2, and is serviced by a variety of bus routes that travel throughout the city. For more information, please visit the Jeju Airport website.
A limousine shuttle bus also connects the airport with various nearby hotels and convention centers. It picked up passengers outside of Gate 5 in the arrival hall. The rate depends on your destination. For more information regarding the limousine shuttle bus schedule, visit the Jeju bus information website.
Taxis are available outside the airport, no reservation is required. A ride to Jeju City Hall takes about 30 minutes and costs approximately KRW 9,000. For more estimated fares based on destination, visit the Jeju Airport website.


text:
Cyclones see season end at Catholic
Elizabethton could see overtime. However, a great interception ended the Cyclones' season.
Knoxville Catholic pulled out a 24-17 victory over Elizabethton in the Class 4A playoffs on Friday night in Knoxville. The loss ends a stellar 2014 campaign for the Cyclones with a 8-3 record.
On the game's opening drive, Elizabethton marched down the field, but the Irish held strong on fourth down and one at the goal line. However, Jeremiah Turner pounced on an Irish fumble at the Knox Catholic 16. That set Logan Birchfield up for a 32-yard field goal to put the game's first points on the board by giving the Cyclones a 3-0 lead.
Knoxville Catholic answered on their next drive as they quickly moved down the field, and Logan Lacey capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown to give the Irish a 7-3 lead after a quarter of play.
The teams traded punts to open the second quarter, and the Cyclones fell short on another fourth down at midfield. Knox Catholic threatened but could only add a 25-yard field goal.
After the Cyclones went three-and-out, the Irish struck again as Zac Jancek found Arari Rodgers for a 70-yard touchdown pass to take a two-score lead on the Cyclones with 3:50 to play in the half. Caleb Armstrong, however, found some holes and led Elizabethton on a touchdown drive that was capped by a one-yard sneak by Armstrong.
The Irish moved quickly down the field, but a 36-yard field goal was partially blocked as Elizabethton trailed 17-10 at the half.
The Irish received the ball to open the second half, but Marcus Olds blocked a field goal to end the drive. After both teams traded punts, Elizabethton saw another promising drive stopped when Chase Kuerschen grabbed a one-handed interception. On the first play after the interception, Jancek found Kuerschen for a 46-yard touchdown pass to go up 24-10 entering the fourth quarter.
Elizabethton was stopped on fourth down on their next drive, but Olds jumped in front of a Jancek pass for the interception. However, the Cyclones saw the drive stall on fourth down inside the 20.
The Elizabethton defense rose to the occasion as they forced a three-and out on the next Irish drive, and Armstrong found Turner for a 23-yard touchdown strike to pull within seven with 5:59 to play.
After the Cyclones forced the Knox Catholic offense off the field on fourth down, Elizabethton marched inside the 20. However, an interception at the Knox Catholic 10 ended the comeback with 32 seconds remaining on the clock.
Senior Ethan Thomas finished the game with 70 yards on 25 carries after the Irish keyed on him the entire game. Armstrong had 14 carries for 122 yards rushing, and went 14-of-24 for 162 yards through the air. Caleb Jones added 29 yards on eight carries.
Olds had five catches for 62 yards.
Jancek led the Irish as he passed for 307 yards on 18-of-29 passing. Rodgers finished with 12 carries for 85 yards and 132 receiving on six catches.
"It was what we preached all week – mentally getting ready, going to take a gutsy effort and the kids are going have to fight. It was a relentless effort by our kids tonight. When we needed them the most, our kids came through clutch with guys stepping up through the game. In the second half, we knew it was going to be tight, and our defense got stops. We hung in there and we battled. That is a tremendous effort by our football team."
"It was a total team effort. We had different guys stepping up. We had big runs by Jones, and we were just one play away. It was an awesome performance by our kids."
"Their defensive front is pretty stout. The offensive line did a great job of hanging in there. The kids executed the game plan, but it was just tough. When you go against a good football team in the playoffs, it is going to be tough to get yards at times. Don't take it away from our kids, tonight was a relentless battle for our kids."
-Elizabethton Head Coach Shawn Witten
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="8″ gal_title="Elizabethton_KnoxCatholic_11-7-14"]


Every year French water company Evian launches a special edition bottle and eminent designers have been invited to work their magic. So how cool would it be if the phone rang and a brand as famous as Evian asked you to come up with a design for a range of exclusive bottles. I suppose when you are as cool and famous as Christian Lacroix, Paul Smith, Issey Miyake and Jean Paul Gaultier these things do happen.
My pick of the bunch is this lace pattern design by fashion designer Christian Lacroix – it is chic and elegant and provides the bottle with a classic frosted feel reminiscent of an icy window pane. Oh, and if you were wondering, Prêt-à-Porter translates as 'Ready to Wear' or 'Off the Peg'.


text:
New Synthetic Biomaterial Can Repair Hearts, Muscles, and Vocal Cords
Posted By: baltazar December 5, 2021
A rendered image of the vocal cord bioreactor for testing the hydrogels. Credit: Zixin He
Scientists from McGill University develop new biomaterial for wound repair.
Combining knowledge of chemistry, physics, biology, and engineering, scientists from McGill University develop a biomaterial tough enough to repair the heart, muscles, and vocal cords, representing a major advance in regenerative medicine.
"People recovering from heart damage often face a long and tricky journey. Healing is challenging because of the constant movement tissues must withstand as the heart beats. The same is true for vocal cords. Until now there was no injectable material strong enough for the job," says Guangyu Bao, a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McGill University.
Illustration shows the use of injectable hydrogel as an implant to fill a wound and to restore the voice. Credit: Sepideh Mohammadi
The team, led by Professor Luc Mongeau and Assistant Professor Jianyu Li, developed a new injectable hydrogel for wound repair. The hydrogel is a type of biomaterial that provides room for cells to live and grow. Once injected into the body, the biomaterial forms a stable, porous structure allowing live cells to grow or pass through to repair the injured organs.
"The results are promising, and we hope that one day the new hydrogel will be used as an implant to restore the voice of people with damaged vocal cords, for example laryngeal cancer survivors," says Guangyu Bao.
The flow, mimicking the blood in the human body, passes through 6 centimeter-long hydrogels in the vocal cord bioreactor during testing. Credit: Guangyu Bao
Putting it to the test
The scientists tested the durability of their hydrogel in a machine they developed to simulate the extreme biomechanics of human vocal cords. Vibrating at 120 times a second for over 6 million cycles, the new biomaterial remained intact while other standard hydrogels fractured into pieces, unable to deal with the stress of the load.
"We were incredibly excited to see it worked perfectly in our test. Before our work, no injectable hydrogels possessed both high porosity and toughness at the same time. To solve this issue, we introduced a pore-forming polymer to our formula," says Guangyu Bao.
The researchers tested three different hydrogels using the vocal cord bioreactor. While the new hydrogel remained stable, the two standard hydrogels, which represent most existing injectable hydrogels, did not survive the test. Credit: Sareh Taheri
The innovation also opens new avenues for other applications like drug delivery, tissue engineering, and the creation of model tissues for drug screening, the scientists say. The team is even looking to use the hydrogel technology to create lungs to test <span aria-describedby="tt" class="glossaryLink" data-cmtooltip="
First identified in 2019 in Wuhan, China, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It has spread globally, resulting in the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.
">COVID-19 drugs.
"Our work highlights the synergy of materials science, mechanical engineering, and bioengineering in creating novel biomaterials with unprecedented performance. We are looking forward to translating them into the clinic", said Professor Jianyu Li, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Biomaterials and Musculoskeletal Health.
The vocal cord bioreactor simulates the biomechanics of vocal cords to test the hydrogels. Credit: Guangyu Bao
Reference: "Injectable, Pore-Forming, Perfusable Double-Network Hydrogels Resilient to Extreme Biomechanical Stimulations" by Sareh Taheri, Guangyu Bao, Zixin He, Sepideh Mohammadi, Hossein Ravanbakhsh, Larry Lessard, Jianyu Li and Luc Mongeau, 22 November 2021, Advanced Science.
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202102627


text:
Die Liste der Museen im Oberbergischen Kreis umfasst aktuelle und ehemalige Museen im Oberbergischen Kreis. Sie haben unter anderem die Heimatgeschichte, den Bergbau und die industrielle Entwicklung zum Schwerpunkt.

Liste

Weblinks

Einzelnachweise

!
Oberbergischer Kreis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Our awesome Pecker Straws now come in Hot Pink or Purple.
There are 10 Willy Straws in each pack. Choose either a pack or Hot Pink or pack of Purple. Please note we are unable to mix the colours so you will be sent one pack of your chosen colour.
Grab yourself a pack of Pink or Purple willy straws or how about both. They look great together and are a must for any Hens Party.


Argues that an excessive amount of suggestion may end up in coverage impasse counting on management type.
Ladies in government energy reviews the participation of ladies within the political govt round the world—notably in cupboard positions as ministers and sub-ministers and as heads of presidency and nation. offering a number of case stories in every one bankruptcy, the publication presents local overviews of 9 various international areas overlaying people with the fewest to the main ladies in govt energy.
Carrying on with the culture of the unique versions, the Fourth version of safety and Loss Prevention is designed to supply safeguard scholars and pros with an creation to loss prevention techniques and safety software implementation. Functioning as a bridge among actual safeguard and laptop defense, the Fourth variation offers confirmed thoughts to avoid and decrease incidents of loss as a result of crime, hearth, coincidence, mistakes, and mismanagement.
A lot of the literature on police corruption and police reforms is ruled by means of case reviews of societies categorized as built. in spite of the fact that, below the impression of globalization, constructing societies became a focus of scholarly curiosity and exam. Police Corruption and Police Reforms in constructing Societies offers serious analyses of the level and nature of police corruption and misconduct in constructing societies.
Typically, legislation enforcement businesses react to remoted crimes in insulated jurisdictions. With the increase of terrorism, legislations enforcement firms can not have the funds for to function blindly. the one method to preserve an side in this nebulous and insidious enemy is thru proactive intervention. legislation enforcement needs to assemble strong uncooked facts, rework it via proficient research, and converse prime quality intelligence to each proper employer.
Additional resources for Groupthink or Deadlock: When Do Leaders Learn from Their Advisors?
One of his most successful methods in dealing with individuals is to assume that he himself is lacking in detailed knowledge and liable to make an error and is seeking advice. "48 Just because a leader is open or curious, of course, should not cause us to predict that he or she will learn. Learning naturally depends on many other things, including the need for haste or secrecy, the importance of the decision, and—the factor most directly under a leader's control—the way advisors are used (or ignored).
71 44 Eisenhower and Reagan The National Security Council, in fact, was another important conduit of information to the president. "73 To be sure, the NSC served more as a sounding board for foreign policy debates than as a high-level policy-making body. 74 But even when the president made a final policy decision in a meeting with a few of his close advisors, he ordinarily heard first from larger deliberative groups such as the Cabinet or the NSC. Andrew Goodpaster summarized the president's access to advice as follows: "On the question of advisers, Eisenhower has a very large number.
Attorney General) Bill Rogers reported the Department's readiness to seek antitrust indictments of leading executives in the electrical equipment industry, including some known personally to Eisenhower. " Eisenhower asked. "Yes, Mr. "78 On domestic matters, in particular, Eisenhower preferred to let others shoulder the burden of routine decisions. Such issues were not in the realm of his expertise, and the details of domestic policy were often managed by Adams or by Hagerty. Vice President Nixon also played an important role in domestic policymaking.


Hiking down a mountain in Woodstock, VT, I was surrounded by the splendor of creation. Wild daisies and Sweet William intermixed with ferns and grasses vivid green against endless blue sky. A bluebird rested in an ancient maple above the tracks of doe and fawn in the soft forest loam.
My children, my father, my husband, my nephew –those surrounding me on the mountainside were the truest beauty of the scene and my enjoyment of them glorying in His creation was only natural. In fact, it was a form of worship.
God's creation gives a glimpse of His magnificent imagination, but His crowning glory, His magnum opus, is the creation of man.
For years I've played a simple game when standing in line or watching a crowd. I take a moment to really look at each person within the crowd and find the beauty there. A sweep of dark hair, a mischievous gleam in the eye, a slight smile on the lips. Seeking to see in each person the beauty that God placed there, a glimpse of the beauty He sees when He looks at them.
I sometimes find it in the stoop of the shoulder, the twist of a gnarled hand, or hair bleached white by the passing years. I wonder, what life experience has brought that stoop, caused that twist?
And from true observation of my fellow man prayer so naturally flows. Lord, put joy into those eyes. Lift up that head. Send Your Spirit to this person. Let them know of your redemption. When it becomes a habit to look for beauty, to offer a prayer, it is so much harder to stand in judgement.
I have the most difficult time applying this principle to myself. I look at the pictures my husband takes of me, pictures that tell the story of a man who sees beauty in his wife. All I see are wrinkles, baggy eyelids, bad posture, and skinny arms. Delete. Delete. Delete. Until no pictures remain.
Isn't this also a criticism of my creator? God, you put beauty in everyone else, but none into me. And so sometimes I force myself to look until I see beauty in me, too.
Man is God's greatest creation. He didn't send His Son to die for the trees and the flowers, no matter how magnificent. Only for man. He sees the beauty in every single person, including in me; He's the one who put it there. In looking for and finding this beauty, we honor Him. In glorying in the beauty we find, we worship Him.
Follow and read more from our Summer Family Discipleship series.
This blog was re-posted with permission from the author. To read the original post and more from this author's blog click here.


text:
Those who want to raise beer prices are nothing more than pickpockets: OPSEU President
LBED Anti-Privatization Committee
Toronto – A demand for new minimum beer prices by the Ontario Convenience Stores Association is nothing more than an attempt to pick the pockets of Ontarians, said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
"These efforts to change a system that is tried tested and true are for the benefit of private retailers, not consumers," said Thomas. "Now we're seeing the true price of Doug Ford's promise of greater convenience."
Thomas says the OCSA is pandering to craft brewers and craft beer consumers about greater access to the market, but there's a much darker side to the story.
"These are the same private interest groups pushing for changes to the alcohol pricing and markup structure to cut their costs and boost their profits," said Thomas. "That would mean less revenue to pay for public services like health care and education.
"As if the corner stores would ever pass along any savings to consumers. This isn't altruism, it's capitalism after all."
OPSEU First Vice-President/Treasurer Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida says the current uniform pricing system is among the most cost-effective in Canada and protects consumers and public health.
"We have among the lowest prices and great selection," said Almeida. "We've got a system that works well, and gives the best value to consumers.
"Corner stores are lobbying the government to put their profits before the people," said Almeida. "And at a great cost to the rest of us – at the checkout counter and in higher public health costs."
Almeida also wonders how rural consumers will fare if the uniform pricing system is scrapped.
"There are plenty of corner stores in Toronto so perhaps competition might keep everyone honest, but the story will be different in small, remote and northern communities where one store may have a monopoly and there is no uniform price."
Thomas also thinks the OCSA is naïve to believe the government will keep any if its promises on beer and wine.
"This government is prepared to rip up a bona fide contract just to get beer in their stores in the first place," said Thomas. "Not exactly the start of a trusting relationship if you ask me.
"There's always room for improvement, but when it comes to the low-cost, convenient and safe sale and consumption of alcohol, our current system is the gold standard and we'll keep fighting to protect it. You would think a government that's viewed as corrupt by 60 per cent of Ontarians might pay heed and reverse course before they're tainted by another scandal."
For more information: Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931


text:
cask :v1 => 'pycharm-ce' do
  version '5.0'
  sha256 'f7e2c972abdac467873df6d42705e46b7364211ea82e84974f5c81aebb82d589'

  url "https://download.jetbrains.com/python/pycharm-community-#{version}.dmg"
  name 'PyCharm'
  name 'PyCharm Community Edition'
  name 'PyCharm CE'
  homepage 'https://www.jetbrains.com/pycharm'
  license :apache

  app 'PyCharm CE.app'

  caveats <<-EOS.undent
    #{token} requires Java 6 like any other IntelliJ-based IDE.
    You can install it with

      brew cask install caskroom/homebrew-versions/java6

    The vendor (JetBrains) doesn't support newer versions of Java (yet)
    due to several critical issues, see details at
    https://intellij-support.jetbrains.com/entries/27854363
  EOS
end


Contact a Bankruptcy Attorney or Counselor - Peter Francis Geraci Law Bankruptcy Attorneys. Bankruptcy Infotapes.
Would you like a Geraci Law counselor to contact you? Fill out the form and let us know when is best to call!