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Public Relations Tactics — Current Issue | Public Relations Tactics — March 2015 Issue
Leading by Example and Looking for Opportunity
By Ken Jacobs
David Landis
I recently spoke with David Landis, president and CEO of Landis Communications, one of the oldest communications firms in San Francisco, about his leadership missteps and successes.
What were your biggest leadership missteps during your career?
I promoted someone before they were ready. Many millennials want to be on the fast track and desire defined direction, while being told of the milestones along the way. They want more money and promotions fast. At one point, I gave into pressure and promoted someone into a position way above their skill set. The person wasn't ready, so we all failed. Now if we're considering hiring someone, but they want a position for which we don't think they're ready, we offer them the slot for which we think they're right, and agree to an early review. But we don't give into pressure.
Another was not being as demanding as I should have been when it came to contracts and terms of payment, particularly with foreign clients. It's easy for our people-pleasing DNA to prevent us from acting as solid business owners, and when that occurs, we're not being leaders. While the big multi-nationals with outpost operations can fight the fight after the fact, if you're an American-based small or medium-sized firm, international law doesn't really support you. So you've got to show bravery upfront by having honest, fiscal discussions, being demanding and willing to walk away.
And a third instance was years ago, when the founders of Airbnb showed up on our doorstep. We saw two young kids who were filled with enthusiasm about their offering, the sharing economy, etc. I thought it was one of the stupidest ideas I'd ever heard! I asked "What will you do when someone trashes someone's apartment?" They said that would never happen, and I said "Goodbye and good luck!" Lesson learned: It's easy to focus on the negative, on the challenge, on what can go wrong. But if you want opportunity, you have to look for it.
What were some of your best leadership moments?
Three come to mind. The first was during the 2001 downturn, we went from $3.2 million to $800,000 in billings. That's because we had placed all our eggs in the retail and consumer technology baskets. Of course, many other San Francisco-based agencies went out of business, and many national agencies closed their Bay Area offices. I made a commitment to our people that we'd get through it. I didn't take a salary for two years, but I paid our people so that we'd be ready when the economy rebounded. And I made the decision to diversify, to never be category-dependent again. We also actively addressed the issue of quantifying ROI, by creating a measurement program called Promised Results, to quantify metrics tied to our clients' business. As a result of those decisions, we survived the last recession with nary a blip. But I'm never going to forgo my salary again!
The second was when I had serious health issues last year and was out of the office for a long time. This forced me to delegate in a way that I never had before, and it gave our people the opportunity to rise to the occasion. It ended up being our best year ever.
Finally, 10 years ago I had a huge fear of not knowing digital and social. I felt almost immobilized. I decided that I'll learn it, I'll make mistakes [and] it will be OK, and I dove in. Now, every one of our client programs includes a major social media component. We've won numerous awards for digital and social work, even going up against the big guys. We now offer a full suite of services, of course traditional PR and media relations, but also search engine marketing, SEO, email marketing campaigns and online newsletters.
How do you prepare your team members to enhance their leadership skills?
Mostly, you do it by example. Get to know your employees as individuals and what their needs are. We had a prospect come in who is a staff executive director at a nonprofit and was talking about pro bono work. I remembered that one of our employees had once asked me about serving on boards. So I connected them. In that moment, the employee saw me not just as a boss, but someone concerned about her having a fulfilling life.
Also, know when to put the staffer first. Our digital guy is in his mid-twenties and has already run two companies. He's constantly being asked to speak at various tech conferences, and sometimes with little warning. It's not always the best for our business that he goes on short notice, but it's important for him, and we want him to know that we want him to follow his passions. That will ultimately have a positive impact on our business.
And third, encourage them to embrace who they are, acknowledge that they're different from me and applaud that they'll have different solutions. Rather than get them to conform, I try to understand their leadership styles and support them. Hire smart people and encourage them to do it their way. Leadership has to be true to who you are. It doesn't come from someone telling you what to do.
Ken Jacobs is principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching. Visit his website (www.jacobscomm.com) and contact him by email (ken@jacobscomm.com) or Twitter (@KensViews).
Public Relations Tactics — March 2015 Issue
Stephane Billiet says:
Very inspiring!


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INTERVIEWSsub-menu-pass-arrowCreated with Sketch.
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ABOUT BEST FRIENDS FOREVER
Sara Feio
Illustration by: Mariana Cáceres
Interview by: João Miguel Fernandes
Occupation: Illustrator
Click here to read the interview in Portuguese
1 – Tell me about someone who influenced you a lot in your life.
My grandmother, no doubt about it. When I was a kid, I was always behind the scenes in the theatre, because my mom would take me to work, or at my grandmother's place, because my parents worked during the weekend and then I stayed there many times. She was an art teacher, so I always had lots of art books and materials to make collages. Her living room floor is made of an easy-to-draw, tile-like material, so she would let me scratch the whole floor, things like that that were always connected to the arts.
From a more professional point of view, a teacher I had in London, Paul Bowman, influenced me a lot. He had a really specific humor, the Gordon Ramsay type. In Portugal there is a common habit of apologizing when you arrive late to a class, but for an English, this is unthinkable. They expect you to come fifteen minutes early and they won't let you make an apology if you arrive late. And this teacher was quite rigid, you couldn't fail at all. I was scared to go to school because I was afraid of failing at something, but when someone praises your work, it's an incredible feeling.
2 – Tell me about a moment in your life that has been particularly challenging.
Coming back to Portugal was a great challenge. I didn't exactly return because I wanted to, although it was my decision, I came back because my family. Until a little while ago I was always wondering if it was time to return to London. I like Lisbon very much, there are incredible things here, the social part, the fact that everything is more accessible, since it's the culture in which I was born, but London gave me something professionally that I can't find here.
The first question that my friends who live in London do me when I go back is what exhibitions I have been going to, while here in Portugal, my friends usually don't ask that and that's something I miss, this cultural communication. There are incredible people in Portugal, a lot of things happening, but in London, obviously, there are more challenges, it's a different market, it's different realities. In Portugal there is a great popular pride in the musical area, but illustration and photography are recent phenomena for the masses (the visual arts) , in London these two areas have been valued for much longer. People are more interested and curious in Portugal, things are happening, but of course we still don't have the same habits and interests which countries like England, for example, have.
3 – Do you think that the economic crisis in Portugal boosts, to a certain extent, the artistic production? Do you think people find other ways when they are more limited?
I think the more you castrate the more need you have to express yourself, I mean, you have to find a more creative way of expressing yourself. It's interesting that the crisis is not necessarily a bad thing, creatively. Maybe you have moments when you can't invest in specific materials, but you can use recycled materials or other alternatives that boost your creativity. It's not random that there was a big creative boom in music in times of crisis. It's good not to be living in a vicious world where the big money manages the creative area.
4 – If you could rule Portugal what would you do?
On a cultural level, you have a huge number of tourists coming to Lisbon for being the city it is and for having the things it has, but there is not enough investment in the city's genuine culture. It shouldn't be only gourmet stores or handmade hamburgers that should open in Portugal, this is worldwide. It's good to travel and to know other things, but it's good to be proud of our identity and to support our artists. In other more political aspects, I don't see why it's even an option to discuss what I consider basic human rights, such as the adoption of children by homosexual couples, sex change, or other topics that belong to each individual's life, such as abortion. How is it better to have children in institutions often without conditions, than having two parents or two mothers who will love, educate and protect them? People are afraid of changing, but change is often a positive thing.
"I don't want to just do drawings within illustration. I like to explore other paths. I consider myself an illustrator because I think it's a very comprehensive term that is not contained only in drawing per se."
5 – Do you think that the concept of agency has still a purpose or the artist can do the same work as an agency?
I think an agency is very important, but with common sense. I mean, if you are going to be managed by someone who will take 50% of everything you do, I think it doesn't make sense. I think that an agency can and has time to reach places when you don't have time, considering that you are an artist you want to focus on your work and I speak from experience, because I waste a lot of time in bureaucracies. It also gets you frustrated, because if you get many "no" and you start to become unmotivated, while an agency deals with all this and helps your work. I don't know many agencies in Portugal that do a job with the same quality as the ones outside, possibly because here there isn't a demand as big as there and the budgets are not enough.
6 – How did you decide you wanted to be an illustrator?
I don' know if I ever decided to be an illustrator, I've always been a very hesitant person. I don't think I've ever completely decided it, although I've studied illustration and always made drawings. I have always been very good at visual arts classes and less good at memorising stuff, so it helped me to follow a path. I studied at "Antonio Arroio" for a year and a half and at "ETIC". At that time I was trying to decide between audiovisual and graphic design, but since you had to choose a specific area of audiovisuals, I chose graphic design, because I knew that I couldn't compromise myself to something so specific as, for example, just video. Then I ended up doing a lot of illustration within this course and when the possibility of going to study out of the country came I applied to Amsterdam and London. When I visited Amsterdam, I thought the city was very small, kind of the same size of Lisbon, and I wanted something more chaotic, so I chose London.
One of the problems I faced in London when I tried to look for an agent was that they were looking for people who knew how to do something specific and I work in various artistic areas. One of the replies I got at the time was that it didn't make sense to promote my work because they were going to spend a lot of money promoting the various things I worked for. I haven't been able to fit in very well because I don't have just one area, but it's part of me, it's how I am, I can't be still and do only one thing. I don't want to just do drawings within illustration. I like to explore other paths. I consider myself an illustrator because I think it's a very comprehensive term that is not contained only in drawing per se.
7 – Tell me a little about your experience in Los Angeles/Hollywood.
After the course at ETIC, we had the opportunity to do a 3-month internship somewhere and I spoke with a girl who worked on dubbing with my mother and I got an internship at a company that basically did all the Harry Potter mupis, Spider Man, etc. This internship turned out to be not official, because at that time the internships had to be paid and this implied a visa that was very difficult to obtain, so I ended up with a tourist visa and stayed with a friend of my mother who lived near Venice Beach. I was about 18/19 when I went there and this was my first serious experience living outside of my country and I hated everything. First, I hate to drive, I love to walk, and LA is not made for walking. Any normal road is a big avenue and things are far away, plus it was a dangerous city for someone so new to just walk alone. Secondly, I was always dependent on someone to give me a ride, I couldn't search the city as I wanted, and I hate being dependent on someone and I was always dependent on it. Another thing is the fact that in Portugal I was used to going out and drinking and there you couldn't drink under 21 years old, although there were specific clubs for those over 18 years old, but they were full of only 16 year olds with fake IDs.
From a cultural/social level I thought we were way ahead of them, there were a lot of people talking randomly to me in many places, but overall the conversations didn't had any interest. It's a city where you are dependent on who you know or who you want to meet and I didn't like it. Luckily I knew two Brazilians in São Francisco and I went to visit them and I loved it, I found the city very relaxed and Lisbon-like. I didn't learn that much, because I wasn't very motivated. The most positive things were the fact that I visited San Francisco and went on tour with an emo band of a guy who worked with me.
"As much as you try to learn other ways of working it doesn't mean that you are stealing their style, the content will always be different, no matter how you use the same technique. It's not easy for people to relax, they are afraid that their work will be stolen, but there must be more teamwork."
8 – Several of your work pieces revolve around scientific illustration. Is this something you really like or has happened by chance?
A few years ago I started a master's degree in Fine Arts, but the university was really bad in terms of organization, so decided to look for something else. I ended up taking a course with Pedro Salgado, which is a big name in Portuguese scientific illustration, and with which I loved learning. Cláudia Guerreiro was the one introducing me to the course and she showed me some drawings and I ended up liking it a lot. Then I did some research about related projects, which is something I like to do. In scientific illustration you have to investigate, research and I think this process helped me a lot. I think there is a lot of quality in Portugal in the scientific illustration area, a lot thanks to Pedro Salgado.
9 – How was the challenge with "Pernas de Alicate"? Given that it mixes music with illustration, something quite innovative.
I don't think it's as innovative as that. There are several projects that already do this, such as Octa Push, in the theater it's also very common to mix both genres with visual projections. What I found innovative about the project was the process of rotating collaborations. It's very rare to have a project where it's the drummer that invites other musicians, and also the visual part is quite independent. Overall it was a great challenge, sometimes more frustrating for me than for BB because you have several magazines focused on music, but they ignore the visual part and this was tricky to process at first. Obviously I don't need to be the focus, but you have to understand that illustration in this project was as important as music.
The problem is that I think there are few magazines talking about the visual side, or they only talk about street art (which is an incredible area) or more more contemporary art with a great concept. I wished that the visual side of the project had reached more people, for me to get criticism and learn more how to grow. But it was incredible to collaborate with other artists, some quite different. It was a challenge to mix music with images, but the bureaucratic part as well. BB does the music, I do illustrations, but then there is the website, the social networks, the texts, and this has taken a lot of time away from us. We were fortunate to have a lot of support from a lot of people, but we liked to have had more time to focus on creation. It was interesting to understand a little bit more how music works and to understand that sometimes projects fail not because of lack of talent, but because the path was not the right one.
10 – Do you think illustration, in general, has improved in Portugal?
I think there are new people with a lot of quality and the national panorama has had a huge boom in recent years. Portugal is having its moment, mainly thanks to street artists like Vhils and ± maismenos ±, that have taken the name of Portugal everywhere, or illustrators that have internationalized like André Carrilho and Braulio Amado. But I still feel lack of creative critical mass, other than just in the circuit of Fine Arts where your name matters a lot. First of all I think the visual part has to communicate something, to move you, be it good or bad, if it doesn't move you it's not worth it. The work should not be the artist, it should speak for itself. More technical tips should be exchanged, open debate, not only to pat each other on the back, but to evolve technically and to the level of knowledge. There is nothing wrong with getting together with people you admire and learn from.
As much as you try to learn other ways of working it doesn't mean that you are stealing their style, the content will always be different, no matter how you use the same technique. It's not easy for people to relax, they are afraid that their work will be stolen, but there must be more teamwork. I feel this is one of the reasons why a country like England works so well creatively because people come together, they openly criticize themselves in order to evolve without fear. It would also be important to discuss values and budgets. Otherwise, I think people have done an incredible job and I feel that at the moment there is a great dissemination of national illustration. There is no longer that idea that only artists from outside are good. I'm very fond of the works of André Carrilho, Susa Monteiro, Mariana Cáceres and André da Loba, but there are many other incredible illustrators in Portugal.
Watching. Sara FeioPrev. Cláudia GuerreiroP Next. Sara FeioN
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This entry was posted in Personal, Shoes, Uncategorized and tagged Antonia Kastilahn, Brittney Christie, Chanel, Cole Haan, Isabel Toledo, Katie Reed, Prada, Stephanie Lew by tenoutfits. Bookmark the permalink.
Wow, I am so impressed, Monica. I will have to take a serious look at my shoes when I get back to Tucson. Loved the Isabel Toledos the best. Will do some careful shoe hunting from now on.
Thanks Judy, I forget to check wordpress comments- sorry for the delay. Yes those Isabel Toledos are delicious!


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Home Podcasts The Yishai Fleisher Show on JewishPress.com Conversion Conversation
Conversion Conversation
Moshe Herman
(((CLICK BELOW TO HEAR AUDIO)))
Yishai is joined by David Isaac Simpkins, a convert and former US soldier. Meet David Issac Simpkins, who spent ten years in the US military, including fighting in Afghanistan, and four years becoming an officer in West Point where he became interested in Judaism and subsequently converted. Hear Simpkins along with Rabbi Kenny Cohen, the founding rabbi of the Young Israel Century City, Los Angeles ( who helped Simpkins convert) tell Yishai about David's remarkable journey.
Yishai Fleisher on Twitter: @YishaiFleisher
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Moshe Herman has been actively involved in Israel activism since founding the first pro-Israel student organization at Boise State University in 2007. He has been a member of several panels and discussion groups with topics ranging from interfaith dialogue in the Middle East to Israel's importance as a Jewish state and holds dual US/Israeli citizenship. Herman joined The Yishai Fleisher Show at the beginning of 2012 and currently resides in Boise, Idaho.
Israel's Ambassador to France Resigns in Protest Against Netanyahu Government
Thomas Friedman Announces a New, Stronger Israel
"Peace" Process / Normalization / Abraham Accords
Israel Observes its First UAE National Day
Printed from: https://www.jewishpress.com/multimedia/radio/yishai-fleisher-on-jewishpress/conversion-conversation/2015/08/20/


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How Much Does HGTV Pay Flip Or Flop?
How much did HGTV pay the Baeumlers per episode?
Did Chip and Joanna sell their farmhouse?
What is Christina El Moussa's net worth?
Who is Tarek with now?
Who is HGTV Christina dating?
Why did Christina leave ant?
Is Linda Phan Scott pregnant?
Do fixer upper clients keep Clint's furniture?
How much do Tarek and Christina make per episode?
Who is the richest HGTV star?
Is flip or flop Cancelled for 2020?
How long does it take chip and Joanna to flip a house?
Who died on HGTV?
Is flip or flop staged?
Is HGTV staged?
Does Tarek have a girlfriend?
Are flip flop stars back together?
How much does HGTV pay hosts?
Who is worth more Christina or ant?
What is Joanna Gaines networth?
Do the Baeumlers still live in the Bahamas?
Using this measure of production, it's safe to assume that HGTV forked over at least $50,000 per episode of Renovation Island — but it could very well be more (Bryan needs to turn a profit on these, anyway)..
Late last month, "Fixer Upper" couple Chip and Joanna Gaines announced that they were ending their HGTV show. … Now comes word that they have sold their beloved farm house, which was featured in nearly every episode of their show.
How much is Christina Haack Worth? Christina Haack Net Worth and Salary: Christina Anstead, formerly known as Christina El Moussa and Christina Anstead, is an American real estate investor and television personality who has a net worth of $12 million.
Heather Rae Young (2019–)Tarek El Moussa/PartnerTarek El Moussa and Heather Rae Young are ready to walk down the aisle. The couple recently threw a lavish engagement party to celebrate their love. It included their closest friends, family and the Flipping 101 star's two children; Taylor, 10, and Brayden, 5, whom he shares with his ex-wife, Christina Haack.
Ant AnsteadOctober 2017: Christina Haack and Ant Anstead start dating.
I never gave up on us, I pray Christina's decision brings her happiness." Neither TV host has confirmed what the real reason for their breakup was, but a bold troll claimed that there was cheating involved. "Maybe he has cheated on her," the person replied on an Ant post.
An insider tells OK! that Drew and his wife of two years, Linda Phan, are finally expecting — and Jonathan recently learned that his girlfriend, actress Zooey Deschanel, 40, is also pregnant. "The fact that both brothers are expecting is shocking! But Jonathan and Drew are thrilled," shares the insider.
In short, the answer is no. The couple (or person) is required to either purchase the pieces from HGTV or return them after filming wraps.
According to The Orange County Register, the pair were said to be earning $10,000 per episode. However, Celebrity Net Worth reported they earned $10,000 per episode total which later worked out to around $130,000 for the season.
When it comes to the richest HGTV stars, that would be Jonathan and Drew Scott with their $200 million net worth. According to The List, the hosts of Property Brothers have more money than Mike Holmes, whose net worth is $30 million, and Chip and Joanna Gaines, who has $20 million in the bank.
Flip or Flop is no flop! The series has been renewed for another season by HGTV. The series will return in August 2020 with its ninth season. Season eight just wrapped on the network last week.
But renovations are done extremely quickly. Chip, Joanna, and their team transformed Lindy's home in about three months, Teodoro revealed.
Suzanne WhangSuzanne Whang, an actress, comedian and former host of HGTV's "House Hunters," died Tuesday after a long battle with breast cancer, her longtime agent, Eddie Culbertson, said Friday. She was 56.
A lot of Flip or Flop is staged But as far as Flip or Flop is concerned, the show is just about as real as can be. Well, as far as the real-estate aspect goes. According to a thread posted to TalkIrvine.com, Tarek El Moussa himself set the record straight regarding the dramatics seen on the show.
"The show is scripted, with 'roles' and reactions assigned to the various performers and participants, including the homeowners," the suit stated.
yesTarek El Moussa/Has Current PartnerTarek El Moussa and Heather Rae Young Are Engaged — All the Details on His Romantic Proposal. Flip or Flop star Tarek El Moussa proposed to his girlfriend of one year, Selling Sunset realtor Heather Rae Young, on Saturday — and she said yes! It's official: Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae Young are engaged!
Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa Will Return for Season 10 of Flip or Flop in 2021. … "Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead are stars who appeal to a wide audience and their triumphs and challenges are real and relatable.
The hosts of Flip or Flop charge as much as $40,000, reports Starcasm. In addition, Tarek and Christina receive an appearance fee for each Flip or Flop episode (their last reported fee was $10,000 per episode, according to Starcasm).
Per reports, Christina is worth $12 million, which accounts for the paychecks she receives from HGTV shows like Christina on the Coast and, of course, Flip or Flop. Ant Anstead's net worth is also about half what Christina's ex-husband Tarek is worth.
What is Chip and Joanna Gaines' net worth? Chip and Joanna Gaines have an estimated net worth of $10 million each, making them worth an impressive $20 million together.
HGTV fans watched married couple Bryan and Sarah Baeumler renovate a rundown resort in the Bahamas. They bickered along the way but based on their respective social media accounts, the Baeumler are still together. … The family of six even shared a one-bedroom villa as renovations got underway.
Quick Answer: Is An Americano The Same As Black Coffee?
Is Americano coffee healthy? Healthiest: 3.
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Why is gold still valuable? Gold is valuable because
Quick Answer: How Do You Prevent Migraine Auras?
How do you stop a migraine aura naturally?
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How can a person become fair? Teaching Guide: FairnessTake Turns.


There is something symbolic about opening up a fresh box of crayons. Perfectly placed row by row, the crayons remind us of the bright possibilities of a new school year. Unfortunately, not every child has the opportunity to unzip a backpack and find freshly stocked supplies for their first day of school. For children and families in crisis who come to Foothill Family for treatment and healing, going back to school in the fall can be difficult emotionally and also financially.
Without help, many of our client families would not be able to prepare their children for the school year ahead and many of our young clients would return to school without the tools they need to succeed.
In 2017 the generosity of corporations and individuals like you sent hundreds of students back to school with not only the supplies they needed but a boost in self-esteem that helped them achieve and succeed in the classroom!
You can help be part of a positive start to the school year by becoming a Backpacks for Brighter Futures corporate sponsor, individual supporter, or a volunteer. Sign up online or download a printable form to mail, email, or fax.
To simply volunteer your time, please contact Katrina Corbosiero using the information below.
If you would like to become a backpack sponsor or volunteer to stuff and/or distribute backpacks, please contact Katrina Corbosiero, Director of Development, at (626) 993-3013 or kcorbosiero@foothillfamily.org. Thank you!
Started in 2001 by the Friends of Foothill Family, the Backpacks for Brighter Futures program provides backpacks filled with books, crayons, pencils, markers, paper and other supplies to 1,000 young low-income Foothill Family clients each year.
Thanks to the generosity of local volunteers and donors, Backpacks for Brighter Futures has grown from serving only children from the Pasadena Unified School District to a comprehensive effort reaching students from elementary, middle, and high schools in Pasadena, Duarte, El Monte, Pomona, West Covina and surrounding areas. Making a difference for families in need, our Backpacks for Brighter Futures program brings together the generosity of local individuals and corporations willing to bridge the gap for local children.


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Home / Software & Gaming / StarCraft 2 gets 5 star rating on KG gaming – on track for record sales
StarCraft 2 gets 5 star rating on KG gaming – on track for record sales
Allan 'Zardon' Campbell July 29, 2010 Software & Gaming
KitGuru has been covering StarCraft 2 news for the last couple of weeks, in what is assuredly one of the biggest games to be released in 2010. We were even at the crazy launch event in London days ago.
If you haven't seen our review of the game yet, then be sure to check it out on our gaming section over here. Our reviewer Terry Franklin has almost ran out of superlatives to describe this almost religious modern day gaming experience.
In his own words : "StarCraft 2 is assuredly a masterpiece, there is no other way to describe it. You can kiss days and weeks away of your life once you get into the game and while the gameplay itself hasn't evolved much, this is a deliberate decision from Blizzard which we admire. Why should everything always be 'new' and 'fresh' to be good ?"
StarCraft was released by Blizzard over a decade ago and the sales figures have been staggering, with over 11 million copies of the game sold since it was released. People are STILL playing it, namely in South Korea, where it is not just a game, but more a way of life … a modern day cult phenomenon. With the more recent success of World Of Warcraft and the continual staffing demands many people wondered if Starcraft 2 would in fact even be released this year.
Well it seems as if the wait was worth it and we would love to hear your views if you are playing the game right now. It isn't often we get such a high caliber title on the PC platform, which is infested with run of the mill first person war game shooters.
KitGuru says: Analysts have guessed that StarCraft 2 will sell 7 million copies by the end of 2010, so we wonder if it will surpass the 11 million mark of its forefather!
Tags news starcraft 2 starcraft 2 sales starcraft 2 sells millions starcraft 2 units
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It's like clockwork. A disaster occurs and the airwaves are full of appeals for help from all of us who are clearly more fortunate than those who have been stricken.
It seems natural, and the right thing to do. For anyone with an ounce of empathy, responding with some form of help is the correct thing to do.
But the carnage of Hurricane Harvey once again raises a fundamental question. Why are we so accepting of the concept of being so charitable in response to a disaster, all the while we accept an unjust government which is sluggish to respond.
Only the government has the resources to provide all that is needed. Not only does the government have the capacity to raise and spend the necessary $100 billion or more, it can provide ongoing support because if necessary, it can borrow more money. Please don't say that it is improper or impossible for the government to borrow. After all, we've already gone in the red to the tune of over $19 trillion to fight wars of questionable benefit and to ensure that the wealthy not pay their fair share of taxes.
The government has the infrastructure through FEMA, the EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers and other agencies to properly respond. The government also has a long history of partnering with non-profits such as the Red Cross to bring more resources on board to deal with disasters.
Donations from the private sector can be helpful, primarily to those who give and then feel a sense of connectedness and having done "the right thing." They can supplement.
But to have the government stuck in quagmire because Republican legislators say that the only way that the money can be spent is to have off-set spending elsewhere is mean, counter-productive and not in the interests of either those struck by the disaster or those who are removed from the initial consequences.
This is nothing new. House Majority Leader opposed aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Former Congressman and now Director of the Budget Mick Mulvaney opposed similar aid to those struck by Super-storm Sandy in 2012 (as did the two current senators from Texas where Harvey did its most damage).
If they have such objections to deficit spending, then raise taxes on the wealthy. Also, put in place a reasonable plan whereby the federal government literally and figuratively has a rainy-day fund for such occurrences. While we're at it, we better give it funding on steroids to pay for the consequences of ignoring the effects of climate change.
Let's not fool ourselves and say that responses by the federal government are without troubles. The more than two million non-military employees of the federal government include many who are not effective workers, or who do not always have concerns with the common good. Our maze of bureaucracies often makes coordination difficult.
But if it is more clearly understood that the way to respond to a Harvey is through a well-prepared and well-funded federal government, we can provide the most comprehensive response to these disasters.
The federal government must also take steps to help communities take necessary steps to minimize future disasters. This includes recognizing the reality of climate change, insisting in urban planning be integrated with environmental planning, and simply not over-building in vulnerable areas.
Do not hesitate to give to charities, particularly if it gives you a good feeling. But do not forget that the only reasonable, responsible and realistic way to react to the disasters is through a comprehensive federal response. It's called democracy.


text:
Q: Elasticsearch similarity discount_overlaps I'm using Elasticsearch 5.3.1 and I'm evaluating BM25 and Classic TF/IDF.
I came across the discount_overlaps property which is optional.

Determines whether overlap tokens (Tokens with 0 position increment)
  are ignored when computing norm. By default this is true, meaning
  overlap tokens do not count when computing norms.

Can someone explain what the above means with an example if possible.

A: First off, the norm is calculated as boost / √length, and this value is stored at index time. This causes matches on shorter fields to get a higher score (because 1 in 10 is generally a better match than 1 in 1000).
For an example, let's say we have a synonym filter on our analyzer, that is going index a bunch of synonyms in the indexed form of our field. Then we index this text:

The man threw a frisbee

Once the analyzer adds all the synonyms to the field, it looks like this:

Now when we search for "The dude pitched a disc", we'll get a match.
The question is, for the purposes the norm calculation above, what is the length?

*

*if discount_overlaps = false, then length = 12

*if discount_overlaps = true, then length = 5

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Kenya Resumes Export To Gulf States After 16-Year Ban
On Monday, the first shipment of 11,449 mixed-breed goats and sheep worth Sh226 million left Mombasa for the Port of Salalah in Oman.
The livestock shipment is the first to any of the Gulf States – Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – in the last 16 years.
The countries banned livestock exports from Kenya after an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever.
Kenyan envoy to Oman Sheikh Mahmud Dor said the ship that set sail from Mombasa Port berth 12 will also find its way to the other Gulf States that have lifted the ban.
"Oman has said it has the potential to import more than 500,000 heads annually. This is a guaranteed market for Kenyan livestock," Mr Dor said during a ceremony at the port.
The Gulf States also form a big part of Kenya's horticulture and floriculture export market.
Dor said the ship carrying the animals will take six days to reach Salalah. They are being ferried aboard a specially built livestock vessel christened Farah-1 that is flying the Zanzibar flag.
Ghalib Al Saidi, chief executive of Al Bashayer Meat Company that is coordinating the export, said his firm would work with Kenya's Department of Veterinary Service to ensure healthy and quality animals are exported.
He said there is also a plan to export camels.
"Oman is the food basket of the Gulf region. Both Kenya and Oman stand to benefit from this livestock deal," Mr Saidi said.
Jack Onyango, a manager for international trade at Al Bashayer, said the company intends to be undertaking two shipments every month to Oman from Mombasa.
"We are looking at volumes of between 15,000 and 25,000 animals, including cattle and camels, on a monthly basis," he said.
Dor said major infrastructure projects that have upgraded Mombasa port, as well as a robust financial system in Kenya, have become attractive to the Gulf traders.
Two local suppliers, Zuridi Africa and Najib's Livestock International, are working with the government to collect animals across the country for export.
The government is also aiming to make Lamu Port a major hub for livestock export, given its proximity to the North Eastern counties that are major producers of animal products.
Meanwhile, there was no Christmas celebration for 1O foreign crew members of a Kenyan-flagged fishing vessel abandoned at the Liwatoni Jetty at the Port of Mombasa.
The crew has been stuck at the jetty for a year now. Seo Hyundo, the vessel master for FV Ra Horathy, yesterday said the abandoned crew last received their salaries 10 months ago.
"My wife and children who live in Pusan, Korea, have been calling and telling me to go home for Christmas. I cannot abandon my crew," Mr Hyundo said.
The crew comprises of Koreans, Indonesians and Vietnamese.
"Since being abandoned at Liwatoni jetty, we have had to rely on well-wishers for food and other provisions," Hyundo said. Catholic church-owned Stella Maris, a maritime charity organisation, has been giving the crew food after it was informed of the plight of the crew by the International Transport Workers Federation.
According to data from the International Labour Organisation, 66 ships were abandoned around the world last year. Port authorities and shipping insurers keep exchanging blame for the distress while abandoned seafarers suffer.


Stonyfield has launched YoKids Greek yogurt, and announced tie-ins with "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax," a 3D CG movie from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment to be released March 2.
YoKids Greek, billed as the first organic Greek yogurt designed specifically to please kids' "choosy palates" (mild taste and no "puckering tang"), comes in two flavors: raspberry and strawberry. Four-packs have a suggested retail of $2.89.
The Greek line joins Stonyfield's existing kids' organic yogurt lines, including YoKids lowfat organic and YoKids Squeezes.
On the Lorax movie front, kids can visit YoKidsYogurt.com to enage with the movie's characters, read tips about taking care of the planet, and play a movie-themed game. Parents can sign up for their families to receive coupons, seed packets and enter a sweeps that offers prizes of a private screening of the film and a community garden.
YoKids is also launching its own Facebook page, which will kick off by offering a sweeps to win coupons and grand prizes of up to $2,000 worth of organic groceries. The Facebook page, featuring information about "organic, kid-centric topics" and healthy lunch ideas, joins the company's existing Stonyfield and YoBaby Facebook pages.


OUR UNIQUE BLEND OF VIRGIN COCONUT OIL AND ESSENTIAL OILS HAS AN INVIGORATING TROPICAL FRESHNESS AND PURE MASCULINITY THAT IS SUBTLE, YET DISTINCT. THE BLEND OF CEDARWOOD, OAKMOSS, AND LIME WILL REMIND YOU OF A WALK THROUGH LUSH TROPICAL RAINFOREST, WHILE THE OCCASIONAL HINT OF SMOKEY CADE, MORINGA, AND COCONUT WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO THE MOONLIGHT BEACH BONFIRE. IT'S A COMBINATION UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
Put out razor-burn fire and enjoy a smooth shave and comfortable touchable beard! Reduce the sensation of irritation. Enriched with moringa complex and organic coconut andvegetable oils, the Shaving Oil: - softens coarse facial hair and nourishes the skin underneath- enables the razor to glide easily for a fast shave- helps reduce the sensation of irritation- an earthly blend of fresh Cedarwood, Rosemary, and oakmoss essential oils. The shave is close and precise (goatee, sideburns…). Skin is soft and supple and has a "clean feel". Ideal for men who are in a hurry or are travelling. This lightweight formula may be used for about 50 shavings. Perfect for all skin types. All-Natural and organic.
Massage 1 dropper of clean shave oil over damp skin before shaving. Rinse razor often.
Use 1 dropper to moisturize and sooth skin.


Jane Frances Hubbard passed away Wednesday August 8th 2018 at her home in Cornelius, North Carolina. Jane was born in New York City on March 4th 1955 to Ann and Robert Stott of Rockaway NY. She is survived by her two sisters, Barbara Reen and Ellen Persad, and her beloved daughter Josephine Hubbard. Jane brought high energy to all that she did in life. Most important to her was being a loving devoted mother. All who knew her felt her love and her vitality in living. A memorial gathering is planned for Saturday October 6, 2018 from 2pm-4pm at Decker Funeral Home, 5312 Main Street, Windham, NY.


text:
Q: Edge Screen nav drawer button show white box android [Nav bar hamburger Button show white box][it only happens on curve screen like Samsung s8 s9 etc works fine on plain screen]
this is a screenshot below.

private void getViewsReference() {
    toolbar = (Toolbar) findViewById(R.id.mainActivityAppBar);
    drawerLayout=findViewById(R.id.drawer_layout);
}

private void setAppBar() {
    setSupportActionBar(toolbar);
    getSupportActionBar().setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true);
    getSupportActionBar().setHomeAsUpIndicator(R.drawable.menu); //working
}


text:
Scooby-Doo! Return to Zombie Island (no Brasil, Scooby-Doo! De Volta à Ilha dos Zumbis) é um filme de animação de comédia e mistério sobrenatural. É uma sequência direta do primeiro filme da franquia de Scooby-Doo diretamente em vídeo.

Enredo
Alguns meses se passaram desde os eventos do último filme, e Fred ainda está deprimido por ter vendido a Máquina de Mistério. Um programa de TV apresentado por Elvira anuncia que Salsicha ganhou uma viagem a um paraíso tropical em uma ilha e pode levar seus amigos junto. Devido às suas experiências anteriores e ao xerife forçar a turma a se aposentar da solução de mistérios, Salsicha e Scooby-Doo fazem a turma prometer que não vão resolver mais nenhum mistério e vão realmente relaxar nestas férias.

Enquanto a turma navega em direção à ilha, eles percebem que os arredores são mais parecidos com um pântano do que um paraíso tropical. O capitão conta que zumbis habitam a ilha em que eles estão indo, o que os lembra da última vez, anos atrás, quando visitaram uma ilha com zumbis. Duas pessoas os cumprimentam fora do barco, mas os avisam para irem embora. Uma misteriosa criatura felina corta uma das palmeiras, que quase esmaga a van que os leva para o hotel. A turma continuamente nota coisas estranhas, como marcas de garras em um dos pneus, mas devido à sua promessa, recusam-se a investigar, determinados a relaxar. No entanto, o hotel, chamado de "Resort da Ilha Moonstar", é estranhamente semelhante a "Ilha Moonscar" com os zumbis, e o hotel em si se parece exatamente com a casa de campo em que eles se hospedaram.

Eles conhecem o gerente do hotel, Alan Smithee, e outros funcionários que se parecem com as pessoas que conheceram na Ilha Moonscar. Scooby e Salsicha mais tarde são atacados por zumbis e se escondem em um armário na cozinha. No armário, eles acidentalmente pressionam um botão, fazendo com que caiam em uma caverna abaixo da casa. Naquela noite, zumbis começam a atacar o hotel. Scooby e Salsicha finalmente dão ao resto da turma permissão para resolver mistérios novamente. Depois de capturar os zumbis, revelados serem os outros funcionários do hotel, Velma afirma que a ilha é de fato a Ilha Moonscar e que eles foram atraídos para lá para gravar um filme. Alan é na verdade um diretor de cinema famoso, e os funcionários do hotel são atores. Alan havia atraído a turma de volta com a competição que Salsicha venceu para recriar um filme semelhante à verdadeira aventura zumbi da gangue. A turma concorda em continuar fazendo o filme por diversão. Eles também descobrem uma versão atualizada da Máquina de Mistério, conduzida pelo dublê de Fred.

Alan revela que tem o pingente de Simone, que ele encontrou na ilha. Vários gatos da ilha e três criaturas felinas os atacam. Eles tentam escapar de balsa, mas Alan a queima em um momento de loucura, afirmando que eles devem terminar o filme primeiro. Eles entram na Máquina de Mistério e Fred afugenta as criaturas, até mesmo saltando sobre um rio. As criaturas felinas tentam pegar o pingente de Simone, fazendo com que Velma suspeite que eles estão atrás do tesouro do pirata Morgan Moonscar. Eles atraem as três criaturas felinas para dentro da caverna com uma armadilha, o que acaba revelando ser o capitão da balsa e as duas pessoas que os saudaram na entrada da ilha; eles realmente estavam procurando o tesouro de Moonscar. No entanto, a identidade da quarta criatura felina, responsável por cortar a árvore que quase os atingiu, permanece um mistério, fazendo com que Alan suspeite que essa criatura seja real.

Velma, que está obcecada em criar uma explicação racional para o que aconteceu na ilha da última vez, conclui que as criaturas felinas sempre foram falsas e os zumbis eram uma alucinação causada pelo gás do pântano. Fred e Daphne hesitam em acreditar nessa teoria, já que decapitaram um zumbi da última vez, o que provou que era real. No entanto, eles decidem deixar Velma ter seu momento.

Quando as autoridades chegam para prender o capitão da balsa e seus cúmplices, o xerife pergunta por que eles estão resolvendo mistérios novamente. A turma faz um apelo apaixonado, dizendo que esta é sua verdadeira vocação na vida, fazendo com que o xerife permita que a Mistério S.A. volte aos negócios mais uma vez.

Ligações externas

Filmes de Scooby-Doo
Filmes ambientados em ilhas
Filmes de mistério dos Estados Unidos

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Cloudant: Filtering and aggregation at multiple levels I have a documents collection in cloudant
{
    "id" : String

    "state": String
    "city": String
    "zipcode": int

    "productType": String
    "make": String
    "model": String
    "sku": String

    "usedOn": Date
    "energyUSed": int
    "durationUsed": int
}

I would like to filter on multiple criterias - state, city, zipcode, make, model, sku etc and aggregate energyUsed and durationUsed
I looked at querying cloudant using map/reduce, query indexes and _find target. However none of these is flexible enough to filter and aggregate at multiple levels.
For example, I would like to filter based on make and model, and aggregate at state or city level. In another case, I would like to filter based on state, city, make and model and aggregate at month level (using usedOn).
Any help is much appreciated.

A: You can achieve quite a lot by defining the right views (map/reduce functions).
Let's say you want to find energy used and filter by make model and aggregate at state or city, you could define a following map:
var makeModelKey = doc.make + '_' + doc.model;
emit([makeModelKey, doc.state, doc.city], doc.energyUsed);

The reduce function is simply the built in _sum one.
Now querying by a specific make and model and adjusting the group level for reduce, you will be able to get energy used per make_model, then split by state and then further split by city.
If you only want to group by state and city, simply define a different view without the make_model part of the key.
You cannot have one view to achieve all, couch dB is not a RDB. You need a different approach.
Your other queries may require defining slightly different map/reduce functions but all of that is achievable.
One thing that was hard for me initially, was to break out of the 'relational' way of thinking - switching from SQL world to doc dbs and map/reduce world requires a different approach to data and query modelling.


Bub and Bob are back, baby!
Very few classic arcade games hold up as well as Bubble Bobble. Believe it or not, it's been thirty years since its initial release so let's pay Bub and Bob a visit and see how the years have treated them.
Before I start this review, I should say that I'm a huge Bubble Bobble fan. Not only that, Taito is probably my favourite old-school arcade developer. Therefore, I'll try my best to stay objective throughout this review but keep in mind that while writing this, I'm incredibly excited that I can finally play this gem on my PlayStation 4. Anyway, if you don't know what Bubble Bobble is then let me explain. You and a friend play as Bub and Bob who have been transformed into dragons and their girlfriends have been kidnapped. You control them by jumping and blowing bubbles to trap all of the enemies on each single-screen stage. Upon popping a trapped enemy, they perish and transform into a random object that grants you points when you pick it up. These items add a lot to the fun because you never know what'll show up next. There are so many things that after all these years, I still come across stuff that I don't recognize. Some items act as power-ups that allow you to breathe fire or warp to a later level. The bubbles slowly move along preset paths and pop automatically after a while. If this happens when an enemy is inside then watch out because it's going to be angry. You could always pop a bubble with water in it and ride the waves to success. In the end, what's not to love about this game? It's addictive cooperative arcade gameplay at its best.
It goes without saying that Bubble Bobble is one of the cutest looking games ever created. Bub and Bob are perfect protagonists with their persistent buck-toothed smiles and close-together eyes. Watching their mouths open wide while they shoot bubbles out is pure joy. The variety of enemies is rather impressive, too. Being able to spot them all and know just how they'll behave is a must if you want to achieve that much sought after high score. The stages themselves have a lot of personality with many zany layouts that spell words and form shapes. However, the most impressive part of the presentation is the music. The theme tune that plays throughout most of the journey is the catchiest piece of music ever composed for a video game. You'll be whistling it for days and days. Finally, the adorable and fitting sound effects help round out the presentation. If an indie developer made this game today, it would be praised.
Thankfully, a couple of modes that I enjoyed in my previous Arcade Archives experience (TwinBee) are available here, too. Specifically, I'm talking about "Hi Score Mode" which is a competitive mode for climbing the leaderboard and "Caravan Mode" which is the same except you're limited to five minutes. You won't find much else here but you really don't need anything because the original arcade mode is enough to keep you and a friend entertained for hours. Of course, you could always play by yourself although that's not even half as fun. It could use a gallery with images, history, interviews, and such but I own all of the Taito Legends compilations so I'm set.
It's difficult for me to think of negative points for Bubble Bobble, so here I go. The adventure contains many difficulty spikes which can be downright infuriating. At first, being forced to jump on your own bubbles to reach higher ground is an enjoyable skill to master. However, when you're faced with seemingly impossible situations with enemies rapidly running back and forth overhead, it's hard not to swear like Q*bert. In some stages, it's even possible to get completely stuck. After a while, the "Hurry Up" enemy will eventually take your life but just waiting in a narrow pit in the meantime is nothing short of irritating. Finally, while playing by yourself, you'd think that there's no way to continue. This is due to the fact that you get the game over screen shortly after you lose your last life. I found out that you actually can continue if you hold the start button before the screen changes, but how is anyone supposed to know that?
Sure, I'll jump, but I can't jump that high!
Bubble Bobble remains one of the best arcade games from the '80s and it holds up beautifully today. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a Bub to go with your Bob and start blowing some bubbles!
You may also be interested in these: Bubble Bobble vs. Bust-A-Move, ACA NeoGeo: Puzzle Bobble Review, ACA NeoGeo: Puzzle Bobble 2 Review, Top 10 Games of 1986, Arcade Archives: TwinBee Review, Arcade Archives: Life Force Review, ACA NeoGeo: Twinkle Star Sprites Review, ACA NeoGeo: Money Puzzle Exchanger Review, Arcade Archives: Renegade Review, and ACA NeoGeo: Magical Drop III Review.
Discover more Arcade Archives games.
A.J. Maciejewski (crazyaejay): Thanks for reading my review of Arcade Archives: Bubble Bobble. Man, this is one awesome game. Really brings back memories. Anyway, feel free to ask any questions about the game or provide feedback and I'll gladly reply.
Eh Ah Ken (ehahken): too excited to discover this. just wish my childhood pal was still around to play it with. cant think of anyone else who will be excited that i know.
Stuart: Why can't we use credits to continue? Why?
A.J. Maciejewski (crazyaejay): You can, it's just tricky. Quote from the review: "I found out that you actually can continue if you hold the start button before the screen changes, but how is anyone supposed to know that?"
Stuart: Cheers for that. Yes as soon as you lose your last life hold option button. It's a bit of a silly thing to keep secret in the documentation.
Ben: Can you play offline with a friend?
Martin Lonn (martinlnn): Does the credits cost real money to add?
Stuart: Can you imagine? That would be awful. Just press triangle as many times as you like.
Tommy Johansen: You press start button to continue? Ps4 does not have a start button.
A.J. Maciejewski (crazyaejay): I meant the "Options" button :P Sony really should've stuck with "Start". Then again, the Xbox One just has odd symbols where Start and Select usually are.
Tommy Johansen: It worked thank you.
meshmarketer: Where do you buy it?
A.J. Maciejewski (crazyaejay): Hi. On the PlayStation Store as a digital download.


As crawl spaces can have many different issues, they also have many different options for solutions to fix those issues. Given their unique features, crawl spaces require specifically-designed products and solutions in order to be properly repaired.
Trust the crawl space experts at Total Foundation Solutions to provide you with the best possible crawl space solutions. It is our duty to fix your crawl space damage and provide solutions to prevent future problems.
If you notice any symptoms of crawl space damage, contact our experts to get your free estimate.
Catching problems early is critical. Unfortunately, any problems with your crawl space will only get worse over time if they're ignored. As a homeowner, make it a point to regularly check your crawl space for any signs of issues to make sure you can catch it early.
Even the subtlest signs of damage should be taken seriously. Although it may not seem like an issue at the time, you'll be glad you got it taken care of early. Putting off crawl space repairs will only result in more headaches and bigger expenses.
Water damage that is left untreated can result in mold growth, wood rot, or musty odors that can impact the air quality inside your home. It can also weaken the wooden floor boards and joists and compromise the structural integrity of your home.
If you notice any signs of water damage, whether big or small, contact our experts right away.
How do you know what's best for your crawl space? Leave that up to our experts. We will provide a free inspection to come assess your issue and see what's causing the problem.
Our team has extensive training to identify these crawl space problems to know what's causing the issue and how to properly fix it.
If our team finds any symptoms of water damage in your crawl space, we will pinpoint why it's happening and where it's coming from in order to provide the best possible solution.
We will also search for any structural issues provide a solution to stabilize your crawl space.
When it comes to crawl space issues, not every home is treated equal. At Total Foundation Solutions, we offer customized crawl space solutions to repair the issues and maintain a dry, healthy, and functional space.
A common problem in crawl spaces is that the wooden floor boards and joists become weak. As they weaken, the floor above is no longer supported and can cause uneven floors inside your home.
At Total Foundation Solutions, we use The SmartJack® System to lift your sunken floors back into place for permanent stability. The SmartJack® comes with many different benefits to protect your home from structural damage and is adjustable for additional support over time.
Learn more about our crawl space support posts.
Encapsulating your crawl space is a quick and easy way to eliminate most crawl space problems. Our team can install a thick vapor barrier that completely covers the inside of your crawl space and protects it from water damage, mold growth, and pest infestation.
Crawl space encapsulation also provides you with extra storage and creates a dry and healthy space.
Total Foundation Solutions has proudly provided residents of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York with crawl space solutions for over 30 years.
We don't want you waiting long for your crawl space to become a clean, functional space, which is why we are able to install most crawl space solutions in just 1-2 days. Prevent your crawl space problems from getting worse and contact our experts today for a solution.
Contact us today for your free crawl space solutions estimate!


This is a e-books and magazines database with 2,140,813 records by 48 categories, such as activity & game books, business books, computers, etc. from Nook. Each record is comprised of title, author, overview, isbn, publisher, publication date, pages, dimension, description, about author,format, size, price, series, edition description, etc. The whole Nook e-books and magazines database consists of 5 tables.


text:
Frederick Newman House, Springfield, Mass
March 10, 2017 by Derek Strahan
The house at 37 George Street, at the corner of Dexter Street, around 1938-1939. Image courtesy of the Springfield Preservation Trust.
This house was designed by its own resident, Frederick Newman, a prominent local architect who had designed a number of important commercial buildings in downtown Springfield, including the Chicopee Bank Building and the Court Square Building. The house was completed in 1896, and in the 1900 census he was living here with his wife Caroline, along with his niece and two servants. However, the Newmans only remained here until 1903, when they moved to New Hampshire. By 1910, the house was owned by Joseph Shattuck, Jr., a banker who worked as the treasurer of the Springfield Institute for Savings. He was 39 at the time, and lived here with his wife Fannie, their four daughters, and three servants.
Yet another wealthy family owned the house in 1920, when Frank Fuller owned the house. He was the general manager and later president of Springfield's Moore Drop Forging Company, and in 1920 he lived here with his wife Jessie, three young children, and two servants. They were still here in 1930, and still with two servants living with them, although Frank died by the mid-1930s, and the family appears to have left soon after; this would explain the "For Sale" sign in front of the house in the first photo.
Now over 120 years old, the house is still standing, although it has seen better days. It is part of the Maple Hill Local Historic District, but it was damaged in the June 1, 2011 tornado, and is currently uninhabited. Both neglect and vandalism have taken their toll on the historic house, and several years ago it was listed by the Springfield Preservation Trust as one of the city's most endangered historic resources.
Categories 1930s, Colonial Revival, Houses, Massachusetts, Springfield Massachusetts Tags George Street Springfield, WPA
Andrew J. Flanagan House, Springfield, Mass
John Carroll House, Springfield, Mass


text:
Often asked: How Did Early Christian Monks Pray To God With Beads?
Prayer beads, also known as chotki in Eastern Orthodoxy and the rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Latin Christianity, are a type of beadwork used to count the repetitions of prayers, chants, or mantras by members of various religions.
Origins and etymology
Beads are among the earliest human ornaments, with ostrich shell beads dating back to 10,000 BC in Africa. The English word "bead" comes from the Old English noun "bede," which means "prayer." Although the exact origins of prayer beads are unknown, their earliest historical use most likely dates back to Hindu prayers.
The number of beads in an Islamic prayer bead, known as a misbaha or Tasbih, is usually 100, while Buddhists and Hindus use the Japa Mala, which has 108 beads, and Eastern Orthodox Christians use a knotted prayer rope with 100 knots.
Many religions use prayer beads to keep track of how many prayers have been said; however, prayer beads did not enter Judaism until recently. Many Jews touch the knots on the tzitzits attached to their tallit (prayer shawl) at specific points in their prayers.
The term rosary comes from the Latin rosarium, which means "rose garden." The Eastern Orthodox Church uses prayer ropes with 33, 50, or 100 knots; among Russian Old Believers, a leather prayer rope called "lestovka" is more common. Many Anglo-Catholics use the Catholic rosary and may also be using Anglican prayer beads.
The beads traditionally used to keep count while saying the prayer are 99 normal-sized beads (corresponding to the Names of God in Islam) and two smaller or mini beads separated every 33 beads.
We recommend reading: Quick Answer: Happy Birthday Today May God Bless You We Pray?
Sikhs may use mala (prayer beads) while reciting verses from the Guru Granth Sahib, and these prayer beads may be worn around turbans or wrists as part of Sikh attire.
Rudraksha seeds and Ocimum tenuiflorum stems are the most common materials used to make the beads, which are known as japamala in Hinduism. Japa is the repetition of a deity's name or a mantra.
Many forms of Mahayana Buddhism use prayer beads, often with fewer beads (usually a divisor of 108), though 27-bead malas are common in Pure Land Buddhism. Mala beads are made from a variety of materials.
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahu00e1'u00ed Faith requires that the verse Allu00e1h-u-Abhu00e1 "God the All-Glorious" be recited 95 times daily after ablutions, though it is not required. Bahu00e1'u00eds frequently use prayer beads to help with this recitation, though it is not required.
Seeds and fruitstones
Afzelia species Choerospondias axillaris Dracontomelon dao Rudraksha Vyjanti Afzelia species Choerospondias axillaris Dracontomelon dao Rudraksha Vyjanti Afzelia species Choerospondias axillaris Dracontomelon dao Rudraksha Vyjanti Afzelia species Choerospondias axi
The Catholic Encyclopedia has an article titled "Use of Beads at Prayers" about the use of beads for prayer beads in the Catholic Church.
How do prayer beads work?
The prayer is considered a form of dhikr, which involves the repetitive utterances of short sentences in the praise and glorification of Allah in Islam, and the beads are traditionally used to keep count while saying the prayer.
When did Christians start using prayer beads?
The Roman Catholic Church introduced prayer beads into the Christian faith in 1350 AD, based on a visitation by "The Blessed Virgin Mary," according to popular belief. Thomas Cantimpre gave the rosary its name.
We recommend reading: Once Im Sanctified Will I Hear God When I Pray?
How do you pray with tasbih beads?
Hold the misbaha between your thumb and index finger and feed it through your fingers 33 times until your fingers meet the next divider bead. u201cAlhamdulillahu201d means u201call thanks and praises be to Allah,u201d and it's a common prayer to express gratitude.
What are Christian prayer beads called?
Rosary, also known as prayer beads, is a religious practice in which prayers are recited and counted on a string of beads or a knotted cord, with the beads or cord being called a rosary by extension.
Is it disrespectful to wear mala beads?
Many common practices, such as wearing mala beads, bindis, and clothing printed with gods/goddesses, can be considered cultural appropriation depending on the circumstances and the intent of the person doing it.
What does it mean when someone gives you rosary beads?
A rosary is made up of a central cross, followed by sets of beads that guide the faithful through each part of the cycle, according to the logic of faith. Having a rosary at home means that your home is constantly offering a prayer to God through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.
Is the rosary mentioned in the Bible?
A: As you may be aware, the bible does not "tell" us to pray the Rosary because it was only developed during the Middle Ages; however, important elements of the Rosary are biblical and/or belong to common Christian beliefs.
Who highly recommended the rosary?
Many popes and saints have urged us to pray the rosary throughout Church history, with St. Louis de Montfort stating, "When the Holy Rosary is said well, it gives Jesus and Mary more glory and is more meritorious than any other prayer."
We recommend reading: If I Pray For Forgiveness From God Am I Healed?
How does rosary connect you to God?
Because of her special connection with Him and with us, we approach Christ through Mary, His Mother and our Mother, when we pray the Rosary. When we turn to her in prayer, she will immediately guide us to Christ, because she has never had a thought that was not an act of worship for God.
How do you pray dhikr?
Dhikr is a form of remembrance in which you repeat Allah's name 33 times each and "Allahu akbar" 34 times. You can perform dhikr aloud or silently, and you can keep track of your recitations by using your hand or a string of prayer beads.
What are worry beads used for?
Worry beads are used in Greek culture for a variety of purposes, including relaxation, enjoyment, and simply passing the time; as an amulet to ward off bad luck; and by people who want to quit smoking.
Do Protestants use prayer beads?
The Catholic rosary, which is an important part of Catholic worship, is well-known, but many people are unaware that Protestants also have prayer beads in the form of the Anglican rosary, which is a simple combination of the cross and numbered beads that represents Jesus' own journey on earth.
Why is the Rosary called the rosary?
People are said to have carried small stones or pebbles in their pockets to count prayers, and the term rosary refers to both the string of beads and the prayer said with that string of beads in the Roman Catholic tradition.


text:
NCVOA JULY-AUGUST 2017 NEWSLETTER
Published by the NCVOA
P O Box 484, New Hyde Park, NY 11040
516-437-1455 F 516-437-1456
ncvoa.org
2017-2018 Testimonial Dinner
Honoring Mayor Bernard Ryba
NCVOA Immediate Past President
and Mayor of the Village of
Westbury Manor, Westbury, NY
Cocktail Hour 6:30PM -7:30PM
Dinner Program -8:00PM
HONORABLE THOMAS SUOZZI
NY 3rd Congressional District
HONORABLE ELAINE PHILLIPS
NY State 7th Senate District
For more information on this event please contact
NCVOA Co-Director Warren Tackenberg at 516-437-1455
From the President's Desk:
I am honored to have been elected NCVOA President for 2017-2018. I have been an active member of our organization for the past several years. During this time, I have been fortunate to collaborate with so many talented and dedicated public servants. I would like to publicly thank Mayor Bernie Ryba for his outstanding leadership as NCVOA President this past year. I look forward to working with the Executive Committee as we continue to build on the accomplishments of Mayor Ryba and our previous presidents.
I also would like to thank New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli for taking time from his busy schedule to administer the oath of office to me and Mayors Celender, Ekstrand and Lieberman. Tom is one of our state's most highly regarded and respected elected officials and has been a longtime supporter of village government.
For the past 17 years Warren Tackenberg has admirably and effectively served the NCVOA as Executive Director. His passion for our organization is unwavering as Warren has been known as the NCVOA's heart and soul. I have enjoyed working with him and learning from his vast experience. Warren recently decided it was time to reduce his hectic schedule and retire from the Executive Director position. Accordingly, the Executive Committee met prior to the June 29 General Membership meeting and selected Ralph Kreitzman as the next Executive Director. Ralph is a former Great Neck Mayor, NCVOA past president and former member of NYCOM's Executive Committee. He has a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience and we are confident he will capably serve our organization. Ralph and Warren will serve as co-Executive Directors during a transition period that will continue until December 2017. I thank Warren for his dedicated service and wish Ralph success in his new role.
The Year Ahead
As I begin my term as president, there are several issues I believe should be our focus for the upcoming year. First and foremost, I would like to continue the outstanding effort initiated by Mayor Ryba in making the need to increase AIM funding a highly visible objective for municipalities across the state. There has been no AIM increase for the past eight years, yet increasing unfunded mandates have placed unfair burdens on local governments. Now that the AIM funding increase has become an issue, I am confident we can make it a reality in the next state budget.
Additionally, I am looking to address the following:
1. Increase Nassau County's sharing of sales tax revenue with villages. Nassau County's 64 incorporated villages annually generate hundreds of millions of sales tax revenue yet had only received a mere $1.2 million annually to share. This past year, the county budget did not include any sales tax revenue for villages. This is unacceptable. We need to increase the percentage we receive and make the distribution permanent and not subject to County discretion.
2. Install surge barrier gates at Jones Inlet and Reynolds Channel to prevent the devastating effects of a future storm of the magnitude of super storm Sandy. Retractable surge barriers have been successfully operating in New Bedford, Massachusetts and Stanford ,Connecticut for the past forty years. The installation costs far outweigh the costs of potential property destruction.
3. Create new revenue sources to support NCVOA programs and activities.
4. Increase the participation of member villages. American journalist Mark Shields once said, "There is always strength in numbers. The more individuals or organizations that you can rally to your cause, the better." The NCVOA can become a legitimate force with our county and state elected officials if we have the support of every Nassau County village. I understand we all maintain hectic and demanding schedules. The small amount of time you invest in the NCVOA can pay huge dividends for your village. I encourage every village to have a presence at our meetings and participate in the activities we develop to further the village perspective in the eyes of our state colleagues. I hope we can count on your support during the upcoming year.
Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Mayor Robert T. Kennedy
Former Great Neck Mayor Named Co-Executive Director of Nassau County Village Officials Association:
Ralph Kreitzman
The Honorable Ralph J. Kreitzman, former mayor of the Village of Great Neck, has been named co-executive director of the Nassau County Village Officials Association (NCVOA). The NCVOA represents 64 incorporated villages with more than 450,000 residents.
The NCVOA Executive Committee selected Kreitzman to replace as a co-Executive Director along with Warren Tackenberg, who recently announced his plans to retire at the end of 2017. Kreitzman and Tackenberg will serve as co-executive directors during the transition period.
A resident of the Village of Great Neck, Mayor Kreitzman is a long-time public servant in his community, having served as trustee, deputy mayor, member of the Architectural Review Committee, and chair of the Village of Great Neck Planning Board. He was mayor from 2007-2014. He also was a director of the Water Authority of Great Neck North and president of the Great Neck Village Officials Association.
While mayor of the Village of Great Neck, Kreitzman served two years as NCVOA president and also was a member of the executive committee of the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM). With more than 590 municipalities and 7,000 local officials, NYCOM advocates for city and village interests in the state legislature and with state agencies.
Mayor Kreitzman currently serves as vice chair of the Water Authority of Great Neck North, a director of the Town of North Hempstead Community Development Agency and a member of the Great Neck Board of Education Building Advisory Committee.
Mayor Kreitzman has been associated with the international law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, based in Manhattan, for the past four decades, having served as associate, partner, past chair of the worldwide Real Estate Group, and currently senior counsel. He has been active in New York City and State bar associations, authored articles and has lectured regarding real estate and related areas of law and municipal matters.
JUNE 2017 MEETING ATTENDEES
Bernie Ryba delivers his final remarks as he concludes his term as NCVOA president.
NCVOA president-elect Robert Kennedy addresses the membership following the installation ceremony.
NCVOA president Bernie Ryba with NCVOA Albany lobbyist John Kiernan.
NYS Comptroller Thomas Dinapoli administered the oath of office to the newly elected NCVOA officers and served as the evenings keynote speaker.
NCVOA counsel Gary Fishberg with Sea Cliff mayor and NCVOA Treasurer-elect Ed Lieberman
Farmingdale mayor and NCVOA 1st vice president-elect Ralph Ekstrand with Lynbrook village clerk John Giordano
Former Great Neck mayor and NCVOA ncvoa past president Ralph Kreitzman with Great Neck Plaza mayor and NCVOA 2nd vice president-elect Jean Celendar
Kings Point village clerk Gomie Persaud secretary to the board Maltie Velez and building department representative Mara Mignott
NCVOA executive director Warren Tackenberg NYS Comptroller Thomas Dinapoli and North Hills mayor and NCVOA past president Marvin Natiss
North Hills trustee Elliott Arnold and Great Neck Plaza trustee Jerry Schneiderman
Old Westbury mayor Fred Carillo North Hills mayor and NCVOA past president Marvin Natiss, former Westbury mayor and NCVOA past president Ernie Strada and North Hills deputy mayor Dennis Sgambati
Plandome Heights trustee Al Solomon and mayor Ken Riscica
Plandome Manor mayor and NCVOA past president Barbara Donno with Plandome mayor Lloyd Williams
The Last Word:
"If you don't climb the mountain,you cant see the view."


text:
Install `urbanjs-tools-cli` **globally**:

```
npm install -g urbanjs-tools-cli
urbanjs --help
```

### Project template generation
It can be useful to generate a project template by urbanjs when you start a new project. You can use the ```generate``` command for this purpose :

```
urbanjs generate -n project-name
```

This command creates the project template under the `project-name` folder.

*Use ```--help``` option to get more information about the command.*

#### Generated files & folders
- **.editorconfig**
    - sets default editor settings with regard to code style checkers (eslint & jscs)
- **.gitattributes**
    - handles line endings based on [github recommendations](https://help.github.com/articles/dealing-with-line-endings/)
- **.gitignore**
    - sets paths to ignore from the repository based on the defaults settings of the gulp tasks
- **.npmignore**
    - sets paths to ignore from published package based on the defaults settings of the gulp tasks
- **gulpfile.json**
    - enables default gulp tasks
- **package.json**
    - defines scripts for [development phases](https://github.com/urbanjs/urbanjs-tools/wiki/3---Usage#available-presets) (```pre-commit```, ```pre-release```, ```start```, ```test```)
    - registers necessary production and development dependencies
- **README.md**
    - placeholder for documentation
- **/src**
    - folder for source code including test files
- **/docs**
    - folder for jsdoc documentation files (style & template is configurable within the ```__fixtures__``` folder)

#### Runtime files & folders
- **/coverage**
    Used by ```mocha``` to store code coverage data by default,
excluded from the repository and from the published package
- **/help**
    Used by ```jsdoc``` to store the generated documentation,
excluded from the repository by defaults
- **/dist**
    Used by ```babel``` and ```webpack``` to store the generated output

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Reverse osmosis (RO) is one of several processes that enables the removal of salt from seawater, rendering it potentially fit for human use. It is a popular method utilized in recycling and wastewater treatment, as well as consumer water filtration systems. It was back in the 1950s that scientists first considered the use of RO to desalinate ocean water, and although it worked, it was not practical due to the small volume produced. This changed when two UCLA scientists created hand-cast membranes made from cellular acetate, allowing larger quantities of water to move through the RO process more efficiently. In 1965, the first commercial RO desalination plant began running a small scale operation in Coalinga, California.
Osmosis, without the reversal part of the equation, is when a solvent of low concentrated solute solution moves through a membrane to get to the higher concentrated solution, thus weakening it. To explain the process of RO, let's start with a saltwater solution on one side of a tank and pure water on the other side, separated by a semi-permeable membrane. Pressure is applied to the saltwater side of the tank, counteracting the natural osmotic pressure from the pure water side, thereby pushing the saltwater through the filter. Due to the size of the salt molecules, only the smaller water molecules make it to the other side, thereby adding fresh water to the water side, and leaving the salt on the other side.
The production of maple syrup uses RO to separate the sugary concentrate from water in the sap.
The dairy industry uses RO filtration to concentrate whey and milk.
Wastewater goes through the RO process to create something drinkable, thereby earning the nickname, "toilet to tap" which may be unappealing, but provides developing nations with the ability to produce drinkable water.
Consumer RO filtration systems generally do a good job of stripping out harmful contaminants, chemicals, minerals, and salt, but in the process, also strip the water of essential minerals. There is some disagreement on this issue, with some health experts stating that the amount of minerals in water is negligible anyway, so RO systems are a great option. However, the venerable World Health Organization and many other health experts have stated that water is an important source of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, especially for people in developing countries. The best water filter system is one that removes all the harmful particulates while remineralizing the water. That assures that it not only tastes great, but has the health benefits that essential minerals provide.


Leifheit's flexible Foam Broom is the perfect cleaning tool for pet owners and people with allergies. The flexible foam head glides easily over all smooth floors, attracting and trapping fine dust. The foam holds dust--and even fine hair--instead of simply brushing it around. This means a truly better clean, reducing allergens and dust in the air. And, of course, it is washable and reusable, so you clean better time and time again. The Foam Broom also comes with a telescoping handle so you can reach farther. The handle extends from 29 inches to 51 inches for an incredible reach. And the 13.4 inch foam gives you the broad stroke you want to make quick work of that kitchen, bathroom, and mudroom.
Leifheit is an anchor of European innovation. Now, Household Essentials® partners with them to bring you a superior array of cleaning, kitchen, and storage tools and gadgets. With precise design and engineering, Leifheit creates quality products that are worth the investment. And many of these products are an investment--they are cleaning and cooking systems that provide superior quality and performance. They combine technology with solid construction to make every item in their collection worthy of their name. Leifheit®, always a better idea. Brought to you exclusively by Household Essentials®, bringing you the best, from our Household to yours.
To clean your foam broom, simply rinse the foam head under running water. Let the broom dry completely before using it again.
Gathering up dust and lint from the floor is great. But so is gathering the bits left from your cleaning towels. Use a clean foam broom on mirrors to get rid of leftover lint from towels.


When you become a client of Ruby Rosen Travel you gain access to all our travel affiliates. What's ours is yours. We are a preferred agency with some of the best properties in the world. Our clients often receive special amenities and upgrades- the VIP treatment you deserve. Indulgence and luxury is our specialty. Our preferred partners have been rigorously vetted and have our utmost confidence in their quality and service. Trust is the cornerstone of our business. We would never expect our clients to put their trust in something that we did not already trust. Please, let our resources work for you.
Through our affiliations with Brownell and Virtuoso®, Ruby Rosen Travel can offer exclusive amenities at over 1,200 hotels around the world.
Check Your Inbox to Confirm. We respect your privacy.
Please Check Your Inbox to Confirm!


M/DB is a "plug-compatible" alternative to Amazon's SimpleDB database. Outwardly, M/DB behaves identically to SimpleDB, being accessed through the same REST APIs and returning identical responses. The only difference in use is that REST requests are directed at a different domain name or IP address. Note that M/DB isn't a mock service: it's a true database.
M/DB version 1.0 Beta is compatible with Amazon Simple DB version 2007-11-07.
M/DB has been built on top of the free Open Source GT.M schemaless, hierarchical database engine. GT.M is a tried and tested technology that delivers very high performance and scalability.
M/DB is provided free of charge, but it excludes any support. For support and consultancy services related to M/DB, contact Rob Tweed at rtweed@mgateway.com.


I'm in the lobby of the 'Olelo Building. Chatty Kathy's with David, her first guest, and Karen who greeted me when I first entered.
Karen takes care of Ming Ming as does the custodian who has been there as long as the cat. They came with the building.
Behind Karen there were 5 televisions broadcasting the 5 'Olelo channels. (You can see two of them).


text:
SICK: Fashion Retailer Creates Documentary Glamorizing Assisted Suicide
Written by Sir John, Eh! on November 28, 2022
Who had corporations romanticizing state-sanctioned suicide on their 2022 Bingo Card?
Quebec-based fashion retailer, Simons, has created a documentary called, "All Is Beauty" about the final days of Jennyfer Hatch, a woman from British Columbia who chose medically-assisted suicide.
The 3-minute artsy film was featured on the Simons website in the blog section.
The state-funded news organization reported on the documentary in glowing terms.
Jennyfer Hatch chose medical assistance in dying and Quebec-based retailer Simons captured her perspective on life and death in a new video titled All is Beauty. https://t.co/oAXWKqKc7z
— CBC News (@CBCNews) November 9, 2022
The 37-year-old died on Oct. 23 and chose medical assistance in dying (MAID) after dealing with complications and chronic pain associated with her diagnosis of Ehlers Danlos syndrome, a group of inherited disorders that affect the connective tissue supporting many body parts.
In the video, available on Simons's shopping website, viewers get a glimpse into some moments of Hatch's last month and hear her share her thoughts on life, death and her quest to fill her final days "with beauty, with nature and with connection."
Source: CBC Montreal
Let's be frank — Canada has government-run healthcare and its disturbing Medical Assistance in Death (MAiD) program is government-run. This is the state killing a woman with her consent.
But Simons doesn't talk about that.
You see, according to Simons, this project was taken on because after the last nearly three years of hell we need something "inspiring."
No, really. That's what Peter Simons, the chief merchant for Simons said.
"We really felt — after everything we've been through in the last two years and everyone's been through — maybe it would resonate more to do a project that's less commercially oriented and more focused on inspiration and values that we hold dear," said Peter Simons.
"This isn't about MAID, it's really a story. It's a celebration of Jennyfer's life, and I think she has a lot to teach us," Simons said.
Oh, so it's not about glorifying and glamorizing assisted suicide — it's about providing "inspiration" and the "values that we hold dear."
Here's a clip that has gone viral. See if you get the "inspiration" and "celebration of values" that Simon is talking about.
Canadian retailer Simons promotes assisted suicide in new ad campaign: pic.twitter.com/WUJbJ5kflr
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 27, 2022
The 30-second clip shared on Twitter has had over 878K views in just over 24 hours.
But that's just a clip, right? What is the entire video like?
The 3-minute video begins with a small hospital room and Jennyfer's voice saying that she doesn't want to die in a room like that. The room then floats away into the ocean while a caption appears that says, "The Most Beautiful Exit."
It then cuts to scenes from her last month of life at the beach, in the forest, and even getting a tattoo. Jennyfer is surrounded by her family and friends, she has musicians and singers performing a private concert on the beach for her, and beautifully-crafted replicas of a whale and jellyfish lit up from within held up by people dancing around.
The Simons blog post attempts to explain why a fashion brand is posting a documentary about a terminally-ill woman who chose to give the state the authority to end her life.
"When we met, Jennyfer had reached the terminal stage of her illness. In pain but driven by her unwavering courage, she chose to live fully until her very last breath and to see the immense beauty in her final moments," states the blog entry.
"While Jennyfer's story is not easy to tell, it is a testament to the exquisiteness and fragility of human life, a celebration of the extraordinary way in which she lived, and a powerful example of how one's bravery to act and see things differently can drastically change one's perspective. It poignantly proves that all is beauty," reads the Simons blog.
Simons created this documentary and brought all of these things together to make Jennyfer's last moments into something magical and beautiful.
Canada's MAiD program doesn't look like that for other people because they don't have the luxury of a corporate sponsor in their government-provided suicide.
While Jennyfer was terminally ill, MAiD is set to expand in Canada to include the mentally ill and "mature minors" — a term that doesn't have a clear definition.
But it's already expanded beyond those with a terminal illness or an imminently "foreseeable death" — the elderly tired of lockdowns, the poor, and the disabled are already being approved for MAiD.
yooooooooooooo cure for poverty just dropped!!!!! pic.twitter.com/W98v0dtaDX
— shoe (@shoe0nhead) November 14, 2022
Medically-Assisted Death Has Increased So Much In Canada Even JOURNOS Are Noticing
Just a few years after euthanasia was legalized in Canada, MAiD is already showing up as a significant portion of deaths.
Over 3% of deaths in Canada in 2021 were medically assisted deaths. 10,064 MAIDS of 307,000 total deaths
Let that sink in@JustinTrudeau's government directly administered 3.2% of all Canadian death in 2021
A criminal way of relieving pressure on a deficient healthcare system! pic.twitter.com/iQN5Ne0JKF
— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) August 21, 2022
Corporations are now celebrating the culture of death.
Each day, our modern society moves further and further away from God.
It ought not to be so.
The Wildman Devotional: A 50 Day Devotional for Men
Dear Warriors. The Wildman Devotional: A 50 Day Devotional for Men will fuel your inner wildman with solid meat from the scripture. In these 200+ pages, you'll feast on the wealth, the walk, and the warfare of the Christian that'll prepare you for maximum usefulness on this side of the grave. This book is fire! A great gift for all the men in your life. BTW, women will love this devotional as well.
Sir John, Eh!
Sir John, Eh! Is ClashDaily's Canadian Correspondent who occasionally weighs in on what's going on in America's hat.


Michelle Dee visits Race Cards by artist Selina Thompson, the highly visual work about identity politics currently housed in Hull Central Library. Pinned on the walls are a 1000 handwritten numbered cards.
Some of the questions point towards the constant reassessment of your favourites, after they have fallen from grace and proved themselves to be rather less savoury characters, than the bedroom poster promised.
Participants are invited to respond to one of the questions, exploring facets of race and racism in modern society, and add their answer to the provocative, ever-evolving, political and personal installation.
There are any number of ways to read the work, the overwhelming feeling I was left with was simply that I just didn't know enough of the names and cultural references, these aspects of identity politics are not on my radar. I recognised Rachel Dolezal, Morrissey and Andre 3000, but I didn't recognise the name Audre Lorde, so the question about her and her work, is left hanging. I wonder whether through the carrying of all these questions, Selina gets tired. I read the same question on the wall and determine she has provided the answer.
One of the recurring questions I'm prompted to think about surrounds authorship and authenticity, exemplified as my friend points out, by the rights and wrongs of the directorship of the film Paris is Burning. I had to stop myself from thinking there was something funereal about the sight of all those cards on the walls, how they reminded me of notices of the missing after a disaster.
The question I chose to answer was about the purpose of words such as diverse, multicultural, BAME I wrote about how they were convenient words used to promote inclusion but actually serve to remove individuality. These umbrella terms that group people together, that presume everyone assigned to that group will look the same, think the same, believe the same… I concluded by noting how labels can be reclaimed even used to empower, but are often the quick fix for lazy copywriters.
The question I left with was: 'Have you ever stopped yourself doing anything for fear of becoming a stereotype?' I took it home and stuck it on my fridge where I can see it every day, reminding me to never to be a sheep, to always swim against the crowd, to question everything and believe nothing.
Race Cards runs at Hull Central Library at various times until March 30. FREE and no booking required. Further info here.