text:
Operation Smokescreen was an American interagency counterterrorist operation to disrupt fundraising by Hezbollah, that took place in early 1995, ending in 2002. The operation involved the Sheriff's Office in Iredell County, North Carolina, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF), Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), and the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

Detective Sergeant Robert Fromme made repeated observations of a group of men purchasing large quantities of cigarettes, often with $20,000 - $30,000 in cash. The joint counterterrorism operation ended the fundraising operation, resulting in the arrest, trial, and conviction of the cell members. The operation led to the creation of the North Carolina Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).

Hezbollah operations
Hezbollah cell leader Mohamad Youssef Hammoud was denied a travel visa by the US embassy in Syria, after which he traveled to Venezuela. After purchasing a forged travel visa, arrived in New York City in 1992. By 1995, Hammoud set up operations in Charlotte, North Carolina, working at a local pizza restaurant. At least two additional members of the Hezbollah Charlotte cell entered the United States with false travel visas from Venezuela purchased for $200, and three had travel visas issued in Cyprus. Half the cell members were born in Lebanon, and the other half were US-born, of Lebanese descent. Early in the spring of 1995, Detective Robert Fromme, working a second job at the tobacco wholesaler JR Discount (in Statesville, North Carolina) observed the cell purchasing massive quantities of cigarettes, paying for them in cash. The cash was usually carried in large grocery bags, containing as much as $20,000 to $30,000 at a time.

Surveillance
Detective Fromme continued to monitor the purchases for several months, and determined cell members were transporting the cigarette cartons across state lines, in violation of federal laws. Each of the four men Fromme was watching purchased 299 cartons of cigarettes, the legal limit permitted without filing legal paperwork. Cigarettes were moved from North Carolina to Tennessee and Virginia. Fromme notified John Lorick, of the Charlotte ATF. ATF officials informed Fromme that cigarette trafficking was likely an attempt to sell the merchandise for as much as twice the price in states such as Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania - which had considerably higher taxes on tobacco. North Carolina's tax on cigarettes was five cents, whereas it was seventy-five cents in Michigan at the time. The Hezbollah cell was selling the cigarettes through "front store" operations, and to local convenience stores in Dearborn, Michigan, with a price difference between North Carolina and Michigan ranging from $8.00 - $10.00 per carton. Each 680-mile cigarette smuggling trip to Michigan carried between 800 and 1,500 cartons of cigarettes, worth between $3,000 and $10,000. Some cell members fraudulently secured a $1.6 million loan from the federal government's Small Business Administration, which funded the opening of a gas station.

The Iredell County Sheriff's Office signed a memorandum of understanding with the Charlotte ATF, permitting the formal collaboration between the two agencies. As a result, Detective Fromme was officially reassigned to the ATF. Additional federal agencies were assigned to the case, including the Diplomatic Security Service, and Immigration and Naturalization Service. The FBI, which had already been wiretapping communications of two of the cell members, apparently without the knowledge of local law enforcement, also participated in the joint operations. In all, sixteen law enforcement and intelligence services from state, local, and federal agencies contributed to the operation, including the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). Surveillance was run from an empty storefront across from the JR Discount wholesaler building. The cell was secretly followed by a team of five vehicles, which took turns driving behind the cigarette smugglers. "As an extra precaution, the agents sometimes changed clothes and switched license plates during pit stops."

Raid
The assembled joint task force penetrated the Hezbollah cell, developing more than ten informants from within the group, as well as from a pool of witnesses. Informants were gleaned from cell staff members, including drivers, smugglers, and even spouses. Simultaneous raids in North Carolina and Michigan at 6:00 a.m. on July 20, 2000 captured many cell members and accomplices. A total of 18 arrest warrants were executed. The arrest of Said Muhammad Harb provided invaluable insights into the structure of the Hezbollah cell, its members, and operations. In exchange for his cooperation, Harb received a lighter sentence, and his family was relocated from Lebanon to the United States. At least 230 local, state, and federal agents participated in the raids.

Outcome
Hezbollah members from the Charlotte cell were arrested, tried, and convicted in a federal court in Charlotte, North Carolina. The case brought against the cell included "copyright violations, cigarette tax violations, counterfeit violations... bank scams, bribery, credit card fraud, immigration fraud, identity theft, tax evasion, and money laundering," and "material support to a terrorist organization." Federal courts estimate the cell collected a total of $8 million, funneled through some 500 different bank accounts. The Hezbollah cell also purchased and shipped "Night vision goggles and scopes, Surveying equipment, Global Positioning Systems, Metal detection equipment, Video equipment, Aircraft analysis & design software, Military compasses, Binoculars, Naval equipment, Ultrasonic dog repellers, Laser range finders, Digital cameras, zoom lenses, Computer equipment (laptops, high-speed modems; processors, joysticks, plotters, scanners, and printers), Stun guns, Handheld radios & receivers, Cellular telephones, Nitrogen cutters, Mining, drilling & blasting equipment" to the Middle East, for use by Hezbollah, mostly purchased by Harb. Mohamad Youssef Hammoud, the cell's leader, was sentenced to 155 years in federal prison. Hammoud's older brother, Shawqi Youssef, (a.k.a. "Bassem"), and "right-hand man" received a prison sentence of 70 years. Overall, 26 people were indicted in the operation. The Operation Smokescreen case is the first conviction for the violation of federal code 2339B, "Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations". Similar cases were later uncovered in Asheville, North Carolina, and Louisville, Kentucky.

Footnotes

Sources

Lightning Out of Lebanon: Hizballah Terrorists on American Soil, Tom Diaz and Barbara Newman, 2006.
''Federal and State Authorities in North Carolina Announce 'Operation Smokescreen', CNN, July 21, 2000.
U.S. authorities bust cigarette-smuggling ring linked to Hezbollah, CNN, July 21, 2000.
Hezbollah suspects arrested, BBC News, July 22, 2000.
Blood Money: A Hezbollah Terrorist Cell in Charlotte, N.C., Reader's Digest, February 2004.
"An Assessment of the Tools Needed to Fight the Financing of Terrorism.", Robert J. Conrad Jr., November 20, 2002.
American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us, Steven Emerson, 2002.

Federal Bureau of Investigation operations
Hezbollah


Difference between revisions of "Fantasy-Times" - ZineWiki - the history and culture of zines, independent media and the small press.
Difference between revisions of "Fantasy-Times"
Artwork was by John Guinta, and others.
Artwork was by John Guinta, Frank R. Paul,and others.
A Spanish language edition, ''Tiempo de Fantasia'' was published during 1948. Starting in 1958, a German language edition, ''SF Times'', was published.
Other editors at various times included Sam Moskowitz (Helios, New Fandom), John Guinta (Amazing Wonder Tales, Cosmic Tales), and Ray Lester, Jr.
Contributors of writing included Forrest J. Ackerman (Voice of the Imagi-Nation, Novacious), with the column "The Ackerman Report"; William Blackbeard; James Blish (The Planeteer) reviewed books in the 1950s; Michael Corper, Arthur Jean Cox, Roger Dard (Perhaps), Donald E. Ford, Thomas S. Gardner, Robert Loednes, Lester Mayer, Jr., Rex Meyer, Robert P. Mills, Sam Moskowitz, Raymond Palmer (The Comet), Julian Parr, Frank R. Prieto, Jr., George Nims Raybin, Lane Stannard, Ken Slater (Vector), Graham B. Stone, Stephen J. Takacs, Herman Von Tokken, and J. Harry Vincent.
Raymond Van Hounten has previously edited Tesseract from 1937 till 1938, stepping in for departing editor C. Hamilton Bloomer. James Taurasi had previously published Cosmic Tales from 1937 till 1941. During the run of Fantasy-Times, Taurasi and Van Houten, with Frank R. Prieto, Jr., also published The Science Fiction Yearbook 1957. Later, the three editors would go on to publish Science Fiction Times.


text:
Inflation rate up to 9.7 percent in March
© Hollandse Hoogte / Patricia Rehe
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that the consumer price index (CPI) was 9.7 percent higher in March than in the same month last year. In February, the inflation rate stood at 6.2 percent. The inflation in March is the highest since May 1976.
Show datatableConsumer price index (CPI)
Year-on-year change (year-on-year % change)
Increase in energy prices
The significant increase in inflation was mainly due to the price development of energy (electricity, gas and district heating). In March, energy was 157 percent more expensive than in the same month one year previously. In February, this was 77 percent.
Energy currently makes a significant contribution to overall inflation. The price development of energy is measured by CBS on the basis of new contracts. CBS has started research on the measurement of energy prices in the CPI.
Show datatablePrice index electricity, gas and heat energy
Price index electricity, gas and heat energy
2022 (2015=100)
Motor fuels and food more expensive
Aside from energy, the price development of motor fuels had an upward effect on the inflation rate. The price increase of motor fuels amounted to 36.5 percent relative to March 2021. In February, motor fuels were 24 percent more expensive than one year previously. The average price for a litre of petrol at the pump rose from 2.05 in February to 2.29 euros in March. For diesel, the price went up from 1.74 to 2.12 euros.
Furthermore, the price development of food also had an upward effect on inflation. This is mainly due to the price development of meat and vegetables. Food was 6.2 percent more expensive in March than one year previously. In February, food prices were up by 4.9 percent.
Show datatableCPI: Major contributions to year-on-year change
CPI: Major contributions to year-on-year change
March 2022 (percentage point)
February 2022 (percentage point)
Housing, water and
Food and non-alcoholic
Furnishing and household
Euro area inflation continues to rise
Since 1996, CBS has published two different inflation rates: one based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and one based on the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP). According to the European HICP, consumer goods and services in the Netherlands were 11.7 percent more expensive in March than in the same month last year, up from 7.3 percent in February. In the first estimate on 1 April, the price increase was 11.9 percent. Inflation in the euro area rose from 5.9 percent in February to 7.5 percent in March. This is the highest inflation rate ever recorded in the euro area.
Show datatableHarmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP)
Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP)
The Netherlands (year-on-year % change)
Euro area (year-on-year % change)
1 -0.3
Difference between CPI and HICP
In order to facilitate comparison between countries, EU member states calculate a consumer price index according to internationally agreed definitions and methods. The European Central Bank (ECB) uses the HICP to formulate its monetary policies in the euro area. In addition, most countries produce their own national consumer price index.
The main conceptual difference between the CPI and the HICP for the Netherlands is that, unlike the CPI, the HICP does not take into account the costs related to home ownership. In the Dutch CPI, these costs are calculated based on developments in rental property prices.
Implications of the coronavirus crisis for consumer price measurements
Due to the government's COVID-19 countermeasures, several services have been either limited or unavailable since April 2020. As a result, there were no transactions that allowed for price measurements for some of the services. In accordance with the Eurostat guidelines, CBS has opted for the most appropriate estimation method in each situation.
StatLine - Consumer prices; price index 2015=100
Custom - CPI; Overview COVID-19 adjustments, as from April 2020
Dossier - Business cycle
Share this page on Twitter Share this page on Facebook Share this page on LinkedIn Mail this page Print
Green Deal: CBS working with partners for sustainable development data
CBS video
Women's emancipation
Monthly economic review
Retail turnover
CPI Flash estimate
Arable crop production, 2022
Over 40 percent more asylum applications in 2022
Manufacturing output prices levelled off further in December
Producer confidence up slightly again

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Anoplodactylus muelleri är en havsspindelart som beskrevs av Stock, J.H. 1994. Anoplodactylus muelleri ingår i släktet Anoplodactylus och familjen Phoxichilidiidae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Havsspindlar
muelleri

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
'Indian Americans have made a great contribution...": Biden spokesperson defends his statement
US President Joe Biden's spokesperson has defended his assertion that Indian Americans are "taking over the country" against criticism that it could play into the hands of racists
By Arul Louis Mar 12, 2021
US President Joe Biden's spokesperson has defended his assertion that Indian Americans are "taking over the country" against criticism that it could play into the hands of racists.
Jen Psaki said on Thursday, "The President was just recognizing and honouring and valuing -- or this was his intention -- the incredible contribution of Indian Americans to science."
Asked by a reporter at her briefing in Washington about the criticism, she said that what he had said "was a reflection of his belief that Indian Americans have made a great contribution to the fabric of society, whether it's science or education or the government and that was what he was trying to convey."
Biden had told Swati Mohan, the NASA engineer who guided the Mars rover Perseverance to a soft landing on the Red Planet, during a virtual meeting last week, "It's amazing. Indian of descent Americans are taking over this country. You, my Vice President, my speechwriter Vinay (Reddy). But I tell you what, thanks. You guys are incredible."
For context, while Biden's statement is taken as a compliment in India and by many Indians, in the ethnic cauldron of the US such comments are viewed with caution as they could lead to a backlash against Indian Americans, who are a minority.
For example, any such statements about Jews, however well-intentioned, are considered anti-Semitic as these claims have historically been used to foment violent attacks against them leading up to the holocaust in Europe.
In the US, such assertions about Jews have led to physical attacks and institutional measures like elite educational institutions imposing quotas to limit the admission of Jews and are, therefore, considered anti-Semitic.
The US State Department's definition of anti-Semitism includes "stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective – such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions."
Criticising Biden, a rightwing publication RedState said that if former President Donald Trump had made such a statement about Indian Americans he would have been denounced as "racist."
RedState said, "Show me one sane person who believes an unknown group of Indian Americans are immediately going to assume control of the federal government, or is stupid enough to believe Indian Americans are the majority of America."
Trying to introduce context, Psaki said, "He was speaking to an Indian American woman who is, of course, a scientist and an important part of the NASA team."
She added, "And he also was, of course, recognising the incredible contribution of his own Vice President" Kamala Harris.
Indians and other Asians are already facing a backlash in academia because of their outstanding performance. Many elite universities require them to score as much as 140 points more than Whites in the entrance exams while also rating them low on subjective evaluations like personality by marking them as less "widely respected" to lower their rankings.
Four Indian American organisations joined other Asian groups that sued Harvard University alleging that it violated the Constitution and Supreme Court rulings by discriminating against Asians in admissions.
A federal appeals court ruled against them last year and the groiups plan to appeal to the Supreme court.
In New York City, the former Schools Chancellor Richard Carrenza campaigned against Asians accusing them of dominating the high-performing schools by outperforming them on admissions tests and tried to abolish the tests and created ill-will against them.
Asians have been subjected to violent attacks in the city and elsewhere in recent months by mostly other non-Whites. The situation got so bad in New York that a special police unit has been set up to tackle anti-Asian violence.
In 2008, Biden faced criticism for the opposite reason. He had played into another stereotype of Indian Americans as low-level store employees when he said, "You cannot go to a 7-11 or Dunkin Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent."
A pathbreaking critique of the rise of Kamala Harris and Indian Americanism
Biden nominates Indian American Seema Nanda as Labour Department solicitor
US Senate confirms Indian American Vivek Murthy as 'Nation's Doctor' for second time
Biden appoints two more Indian Americans, a Pakistani American to his administration
Indian Americans are 'incredible'; taking over this country: Biden
Biden appoints Indian-American director of White House Military Office
Biden names China as main adversary, but silent on India, Indo-Pacific
Strategic relationship with India will continue, says ranking US Congressman
Indian Americans must remain politically engaged
NFIA elects Ajoy Dube as new president


text:
Arms trafficking
Arms trafficking, also known as gunrunning, is broadly defined as the illicit trade of contraband small arms and ammunition, which constitutes part of a broad range of illegal activities often associated with transnational criminal organizations. The illegal trade of small arms, unlike other organized crime commodities, is more closely associated with exercising power in communities instead of achieving economic gain.[1] Scholars estimate illegal arms transactions amount to over US$1 billion annually.[2]
"Gun Runner" redirects here. For other uses, see Gun Runner (disambiguation).
To keep track of imports and exports of several of the most dangerous armament categories, the United Nations, in 1991, created a Register for Conventional Arms, however participation is not compulsory and lacks comprehensive data in regions outside of Europe.[3][2] Africa, due to a prevalence of corrupt officials and loosely enforced trade regulations, is a region with extensive illicit arms activity.[4] In a resolution to complement the Register with legally binding obligations, a Firearms Protocol was incorporated into the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, which requires states to improve systems that control trafficked ammunition and firearms.[2]
The 1999 Report of the UN Panel of Governmental Experts on Small Arms provides a more refined and precise definition, which has become internationally accepted. This distinguishes between small arms (revolvers and self-loading pistols, rifles and carbines, submachine guns, assault rifles, and light machine guns), which are weapons designed for personal use, and light weapons (heavy machine guns, hand-held under-barrel and mounted grenade launchers, portable anti-aircraft guns, portable anti-tank guns, recoilless rifles, portable launchers of anti-aircraft missile systems, and mortars of calibres less than 100 mm), which are designed for use by several persons serving as a unit. Ammunition and explosives also form an integral part of small arms and light weapons used in conflict.[5]
Although arms trafficking is widespread in regions of political turmoil, it is not limited to such areas, and for example, in South Asia, an estimated 63 million guns have been trafficked into India and Pakistan.[6]
The suppression of gunrunning is one of the areas of increasing interest in the context of international law. Examples of past and current gunrunning include:
Larne gun-running
Provisional Irish Republican Army arms importation
In the United States, the term "Iron Pipeline" is sometimes used to describe Interstate Highway 95 and its connector highways as a corridor for arms trafficking into New York City.[7]
Liberia and Sierra Leone conflicts
The civil war in Sierra Leone lasted from 1991-2002, and left 75,000 people dead. Arms Trafficking played a significant role in this conflict. Both small and large arms were shipped to all sides in both Sierra Leone, and Liberia from outside actors. Small arms being any handheld gun (pistol, assault rifle, sub machine gun, shotgun,) and other items such as grenades, claymores, knives, machetes, etc. Large arms indicates large amounts of explosives, missiles, light machine guns, mortars, anti tank missiles, tanks, planes, etc. During this time a civil war was occurring in nearby Liberia. The Liberian Civil Wars took place from 1989 through 1997. The war was between the existing government and the National Patriotic Front. Leader of the National Patriotic front of Liberia, Charles Taylor, helped to create the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone. Taylor was the recipient of thousands of illegally trafficked arms from eastern Europe (mostly the Ukraine). Taylor then sold some of these weapons to the RUF in exchange for diamonds.[8] President of Burkina Faso, Blaise Compaore, "directly facilitated Liberia's arms-for-diamonds trade" with Liberia and Sierra Leone.[8] Compaore would give guns to Taylor, who would then sell them to the RUF in exchange for diamonds. These blood diamonds would then be sold back to Compaore for more guns. The cyclical exchange allowed Compaore the ability to deny directly sending arms to Sierra Leone.
The Liberian government received arms through an elaborate front company in Guinea. The arms were intended to be shipped (legally) from Uganda to Slovakia. However, the arms were diverted to Guinea as a part of "an elaborate bait and switch."[8] Additionally the British government "encouraged Sandline International, a private security firm and non state entity, to supply arms and ammunitions to the loyal forces of the exiled government of President Kabbah."[9] Sandline proceeded 35 tons of arms from Bulgaria, to Kabbah's forces.[8]
Why traffickers choose Africa
Kimberly Thachuk and Karen Saunders argue that arms trafficking is no different from any other illegal business in their work Under the Radar: Airborne Arms Trafficking Operations in Africa. Traffickers first need a headquarters, or somewhere to base their operations. A headquarters needs several aspects to make it an ideal place to traffic weapons. First, the headquarters should have appropriate infrastructure. For a weapons trafficking this would include a landing strip for both importation and exportation. Additionally, warehouses are needed to "store product awaiting delivery."[10] Once the product has arrived and been stored it needs to be delivered to the customer, thus, the headquarters should be in somewhat of a central location near each customer. While not the primary reason traffickers choose Africa, it has multitudes of unoccupied land that can be used by traffickers, as is asserted by Thachuk and Saunders.
Physical space is important but the rules and regulations of said space are also relevant. Traffickers look for places with corrupt, supply side, officials that can either be bribed, or blackmailed. This allows the trafficker to "circumvent the regulatory and oversight systems" put in place by the government.[10] Furthermore, a "lax financial system" is key so the large amounts of money moved by the trafficker are not seen as suspicious.[10]
Thachuk and Saunders finish their argument, a stable, and highly centralized government, is important. They then point out that 10 different African countries have leaders that have been in power for more than 20 years, which they argue meets the criteria a highly centralized and stable government.[10]
Since 1996, countries throughout Europe have taken notice of arms trafficking. Europe has been an overall large exporter of illicit weapons with the United Kingdom, Germany, and France in the national lead for the most exports. Imports to Europe in from 2004-2013 have decreased by 25%, with the United Kingdom importing the most overall in Europe.[11] The firearms that are imported and passed around are commonly small arms and lighter weapons (SALW) compared to large machinery, such as tanks and aircraft.[12] The SALW bought in Europe tends to be secondhand weapons that are cheap and regularly available. Gun cultures, such as in Germany, where the "taken-for-granted cultural practice of carrying a handgun,"[11] increases illicit SALW because guns are viewed as a way to enhance masculinity and status. In 2000, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) started on regional solutions and security measures to address the firearms trafficking problem.[12]
Global market value
The total value of the global arms market is estimated around $60 billion a year, with around $8 billion attributed to pistols, rifles, machine guns, and bullets.[13]
Due to a lack of legal transparency, estimating the market value of the arms trafficking industry is sometimes difficult. In 2001 alone, the value of legal Small Arms and Light Weapons exports was US$2.4 Billion. After being processed by customs, that number increases to somewhere between US$5–7 Billion, according to Small Arms and Light Weapons (1994-2001).[14] An additional 10-20% (US$1 Billion) are suspected to be added to that number from black market transactions.[15] The Kalashnikov AK-47 is the most appealing weapon to the illegal weapons trade due to its low cost. With a surplus of AK-47s flooding the market from post-cold war armies, the prices of this firearm sunk as low as US$15 in 2000.[14] Trends have shown that the price of the AK-47 have stayed constant in countries with current civil wars, while stable countries prices for the AK-47 have been on the rise. Even biker gangs have gotten in on profitable arms trafficking. United States Law enforcement agencies started investigating bike gangs in the late 90s, and started classifying them as organized criminal organizations. This was mainly due to the fact that they were able to get control of the prostitution market and the smuggling of stolen goods such as weapons, motorcycles, and car parts.[16]
Notable arms dealers
Ali Fayad
Monzer al-Kassar
Pierre Beaumarchais
Viktor Bout
Samuel Cummings
Arcadi Gaydamak
Adnan Khashoggi
Leonid Minin
Sarkis Soghanalian
Dale Stoffel
Gerhard Mertins
John Nardi
Basil Zaharoff
Efraim Diveroli
Patrick Nee
Related theories
In the international criminal scholarly community, rational choice theory is commonly referenced in explanations as to why individuals engage in and justify criminal activity.[17] According to Jana Arsovska and Panos Kostakos, leading scholars on organized crime, the causes of arms trafficking are not solely based on rational choice theory but rather have been more closely linked to the intimacy of one's personal social networks as well as the "perception of risks, effort and rewards in violating criminal laws."[1]
Lord of War (2005), a fictional crime war film in which Nicolas Cage plays an illegal arms dealer similar to the post-Soviet arms dealer Viktor Bout; the film was endorsed by Amnesty International for highlighting the arms trafficking by the international arms industry
Making a Killing: Inside the International Arms Trade (2006), a 15-minute documentary included in the two-Disc Special Edition DVD of Lord of War (2005).[18] Numerous other documentaries about arms trafficking are linked on this film's YouTube page.[19]
Iron Man (2008), a superhero film in which based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, centering inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) discovers his company has been arms trafficking weapons of his own designs to criminals worldwide, and seeks to stop his corrupt executives and other employees by becoming the technologically advanced superhero Iron Man.
War Dogs (2016), a black comedy-drama biographical film based on the true story of two young men, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who won a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan who later became involved in arms trafficking.
Shot Caller (2017), a crime thriller in which recently paroled felon Jacob "Money" Harlon, is forced by the shot caller of his prison gang to orchestrate a major arms deal with an allied Sureno gang.
The Chosen (1981), in one scene, Reuven, an Orthodox Jew in 1940s New York, and some classmates are seen smuggling into the docks at New York Harbor and placing crates full of rifles labeled "Farm Equipment" on a ship bound for Haifa for the Israeli terrorists in the Arab-Israeli War. This scene also occurs in the book on which the movie is based.
Sons of Anarchy, a FX-TV series about a fictional outlaw motorcycle club whose main source of income is trafficking arms to a variety of criminal enterprises domestically and internationally.
Death in Paradise Series 3, Episode 5, features Simon Shepherd as Jacob Doran, Saint Marie's Minister for Commerce, who is later found out by Humphrey Goodman to be a gunrunner.
Jormungand, an anime television series based on the manga series by Keitarō Takahashi, produced by White Fox, which addresses the issue of arms trafficking in the Middle East and throughout the European continent.
The Night Manager, a BBC miniseries where a former British soldier who is currently a night manager in hotels infiltrates the inner circle of an arms dealer.
Mayans M.C., a spinoff of Sons Of Anarchy, also has a subplot revolving around the illegal weapons trade left off from it's predecessor.
Grand Theft Auto V's multiplayer platform, GTA Online, has a downloadable content pack revolving around manufacturing and distributing illegal arms through smuggling operations and missions included in "Gunrunning".
Mafia III, one of Lincoln Clay's underbosses, Haitian crime lord Cassandra, operates gunrunning rackets.
The King of Fighters 94, featured a black market arms dealer known as Rugal Bernstein who defeats and captures fighters ro include them in his collection of previous defeated fighters.
Annie Larsen affair
Arms Control Association
Arms industry
ATF gunwalking scandal (Operation Fast and Furious)
Gun politics
International Action Network on Small Arms
Project Gunrunner
Purulia arms drop case
Small Arms Survey
Small arms trade
List of most-produced firearms
Kostakos, Panos A.; Arsovska, Jana (2008). "Illicit arms trafficking and the limits of rational choice theory: the case of the Balkans". Trends in Organized Crime. 11 (4): 352–378. doi:10.1007/s12117-008-9052-y. ISSN 1936-4830.
"The Global Regime for Transnational Crime". Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
"UN-Register". www.un-register.org. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
Thachuk, Kimberley; Saunders, Karen (2014-09-01). "Under the Radar: Airborne Arms Trafficking Operations in Africa". European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research. 20 (3): 361–378. doi:10.1007/s10610-014-9247-5. ISSN 1572-9869.
Greene, O. (2000). "Examining international responses to illicit arms trafficking" (PDF). Crime, Law and Social Change. 33: 151–190. doi:10.1023/A:1008398420612. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-23.
Staff Correspondent (May 30, 2006). "Bangladesh turned into arms smuggling route; Experts critical of govt's indifference". The Daily Star.
Enos, Sandra L. (2012). "Iron Pipeline". In Gregg Lee Carter (ed.). Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law. ABC-CLIO. pp. 440–44. ISBN 9780313386701. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
Rothe, Dawn L.; Ross, Jeffrey Ian (2012). "How States Facilitate Small Arms Trafficking in Africa: A Theoretical and Juristic Interpretation". doi:10.2139/ssrn.2427762. ISSN 1556-5068. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
Schabas, William (2004), "A Synergistic Relationship: The Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Special Court for Sierra Leone", in Schabas, William; Darcy, Shane (eds.), Truth Commissions and Courts, Springer Netherlands, pp. 3–54, doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-3237-0_1, ISBN 9781402032233
Thachuk, Kimberley; Saunders, Karen (September 2014). "Under the Radar: Airborne Arms Trafficking Operations in Africa". European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research. 20 (3): 361–378. doi:10.1007/s10610-014-9247-5. ISSN 0928-1371.
Arsovska, Jana. "Introduction: Illicit Firearms Market in Europe and Beyond."European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, vol. 20, no. 3, 2014, pp. 295-305. ProQuest, doi:10.1007/s10610-014-9254-6.
Greene, Owen (2000), "Examining international responses to illicit arms trafficking", Under the Counter and over the Border, Springer Netherlands, pp. 151–190, doi:10.1007/978-94-015-9335-9_6, ISBN 9789048155699
Whitney, Craig R. (December 2012). "Ruling Arms". World Policy Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
Brauer, Jurgen (2007), "Chapter 30 Arms Industries, Arms Trade, and Developing Countries", Handbook of Defense Economics - Defense in a Globalized World, Handbook of Defense Economics, 2, Elsevier, pp. 973–1015, doi:10.1016/s1574-0013(06)02030-8, ISBN 9780444519108, retrieved 2019-04-08
Costa, Antonio Maria (2010). "The economics of crime: A discipline to be invented and a Nobel Prize to be awarded". Journal of Policy Modeling. 32 (5): 648–661. doi:10.1016/j.jpolmod.2010.07.010.
Piano, Ennio E. (2018-08-01). "Outlaw and economics: Biker gangs and club goods". Rationality and Society. 30 (3): 350–376. doi:10.1177/1043463117743242. ISSN 1043-4631.
Masucci, David J. (2013). "Mexican Drug Activity, Economic Development, and Unemployment in a Rational Choice Framework". Inquiries Journal. 5 (9).
"Making a Killing: Inside the International Arms Trade". IMDb.
Making a Killing: Inside the International Arms Trade. YouTube.
"Arms Sales Monitoring Project". Federation of American Scientists.
"Arms Trafficking Data and Market". Havocscope Black Markets.
CIA (1980). Central American Arms Trafficking Report (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-27. Retrieved 2012-05-18.
"Illicit Trafficking". Small Arms Survey.
"Official website". Small Arms Survey.


Brakes Plus was set up as a brakes specialist back in the 1990's. In recent years, its' offering had shifted to full service one, however, most consumers were unaware of this. Dramatic change was needed. New name, new logo, new essence. New beginning.
We needed to introduce a new brand that gave a 'nod' to the heritage of the existing business, combined with a promise of a modern new entity that is a complete offering for all automotive servicing solutions. Hence the birth of Auto Plus.
We named and created all elements for the new Auto Plus brand – from the core brandmark through to collateral, corporate material, store design, uniforms, vehicles, launch campaign.


The animal inside us, the wild and the civil, and the sea-shifting currents of journey were each explored by three new performance works in Brisbane: Circa's Beyond, which premiered in Berlin before landing at the Brisbane Powerhouse; Sally Lewry's powerful physical theatre work Cimmarón; and Julie Vulcan's new live art work, Drift, the two latter works commissioned by Metro Arts.
I have to admit that I am a shameless fangirl of Julie Vulcan's work. I say this as a caveat for those readers who are perhaps less engaged with the fragile experience of live art, or who are not as attracted as I am to the indubitably feminine aesthetic explored in Vulcan's arresting body of work. Drift is a follow-up to I Stand In, an intimate piece where spectators witnessed Vulcan massaging volunteers, a private act in a warm, communal space (RT116). She brings that same quality of shamanic intensity to Drift, where the audience can watch or participate. You are invited to lie on a lime-green, inflatable lilo with a nest of shredded paper atop, which looks inviting but has a disconcerting texture and an unpredictable waterbed motion. Vulcan attends to each of the lilo-layers with precise dignity, providing a face-mask and an ear-bud for the sound-scape. She then massages your hand with a firm and sensual stroke until you relax. Your interaction ends with her photographing you, wrapping you in a metallic blanket and then folding the massaged hand around a delicate, palm-sized origami boat. Participants stay for as long as they want within the confines of the two hourly sessions.
The work's gentle thematic is a commentary on passage and the precarious nature of boats as refuges, which has such a charged history for Australian immigration, not just in the latest brutal incarnation of White Australia in our refugee policies, but for the waves of immigrants who have come to our shores in vessels of all shapes and sizes. I could see many a traditional theatre patron at Metro struggle with an anxiety about time: when should I leave the lilo? This is partly the thematic of the work, but also a clue that some aspect of the timing isn't quite fully formed. Perhaps this is a result of programming two short sessions daily that re-set, rather than a longer durational work that accretes over days. Paradoxically, in her artist's talk Vulcan noted she had attracted a number of repeat, city-commuter walk-in spectators, who were coming back in their lunch hours. I think this is testament to how Vulcan as a performer and artist can hold a space, elevating and deepening it into a profound experience: sensorially, politically and, dare I say, spiritually.
In contrast to the delicacy of Vulcan's live art practice was the earthy and engulfing experience of Sally Lewry's new work Cimmarón. Lewry is a familiar face to Melbourne audiences but this was her debut in Brisbane. The intense, almost wordless piece played out on dirt, lit by the delicate shadow-play of lighting designer Paula Van Beek.
The trajectory of the work follows two bodies. The first is Lewry, dirt-strewn in a shapeless hessian sack: a grunting, pawing, howling wild beast but in no way aggressive or out of control, simply wild, tender and vulnerable, like a brumby or a new-born bird. She encounters Tamara Natt, a statuesque dominator, hair pulled back tightly into a plait at the top of her head, clad in dark, narrow clothes, with echoes of the military and dressage. The moment of first contact includes a full range of emotion: curiosity, distrust, potential seduction, but in what seems like an inevitability given the history of these binaries of centre and margin, dominant and abject, the wild is brutalised in what was for me the most powerful sequence in the whole show, bleeding in and out of Patti Smith's "Wild Horses," as Lewry's figure was whipped and broken, made to dance in circles, to learn to obey and be remade in the image of her dominator.
The work reads beautifully across a range of political, feminist and historical contexts as well as conjuring a detailed immersive world. My only hesitation was around the journey of the dominator. This wasn't about the quality of Natt's performance, but a sense that the trajectory had been less interrogated and was less specific in movement vocabulary, in design choices, even in the objects allowed her in the space which were clichéd (whips/red carpets/sunglasses) compared to the genuinely surprising and satisfying nature of Lewry's initial hessian attire, her naked torso revealed under pressure and her wild ram skull. When Lewry unburies this in the final third of the show it pulls the whole thematic of the piece together: the wild that is now dead, fossilised and curated and what was once pulsing and irresistible is lost but still encodes for us an involuntary and simultaneous attraction and repulsion.
Ironically, the piece with the most dialogue and literary pedigree was CIRCA's new show Beyond. This Brisbane company is an absolute international juggernaut, perpetually on-tour and cycling through stages of formal experimentation—from digital technology to text-based collaboration. Beyond signals a back-to-basics circus form with a simple stage, traditional skills and a delightful, show-stopping premise: the animal inside us all. Drawing from a range of cultural references as varied as Alice in Wonderland, Donnie Darko and Cats the show is a smile-a-minute experience. You could take your most belligerently anti-theatre friend to see Beyond and they would thank you. That isn't to say that the work is lightweight, quite the contrary, its magic lies in the way the death-defying skills of the tightly bonded ensemble skim across sophisticated cultural references to a charming soundtrack of Broadway standards and classic songs. The image of the supple bodies of the circus performers under their enlarged fluffy bunny heads says it all: the surreal and secret pleasures to be found in releasing our inner beasts.


Yes, Clarissa thinks, it's time for the day to be over. We throw our parties; we abandon our families to live alone in Canada; we struggle to write books that do not change the world, despite our gifts and unstinting efforts, our most extravagant hopes. We live our lives, do whatever we do, and then we sleep — it's as simple and ordinary as that. A few jump out of windows or drown themselves or take pills; more die by accident; and most of us, the vast majority, are slowly devoured by some disease or, if we're very fortunate, by time itself. There's just this for consolation: an hour here or there when our lives seem, against all odds and expectations, to burst open and give us everything we've ever imagined, though everyone but children (and perhaps even they) knows these hours will inevitabily be followed by others, far darker and more difficult. Still, we cherish the city, the morning; we hope, more than anything, for more.
Heaven only knows why we love it so.
Here, then, is the party, still laid; here are the flowers, still fresh; everything ready for the guests, who have turned out to be only four. Forgive us, Richard. It is, in fact , a party, after all. It is a party for the not-yet-dead; for the relatively un-damaged; for those who for mysterious reasons have the fortune to be alive.
It is, in fact, great good fortune.
…It matters. It shines. Much of the world, whole countries, have been decimated, but a force that feels unambiguourly like goodness has prevailed; even Kitty, it seems, will be healed by medical science. She will be healed. And if she's not, if she's past help, Dan and Laura and their son and the promise of the second child will all still be here, in the room, where a little boy frowns in concentration over the job of removing the candles and where his father holds one up to his mouth and exhorts him to lick off the frosting.
Laura reads the moment as it passes. Here it is, she thinks; there it goes. The page is about to turn.


Students use creative tools in the Seesaw app or website to complete classroom activities like "4.5 Fact vs Opinion 1"
1. Watch the video. 2. Tap Read the story. 3. Tap Type two facts from the story and two opinions. Use complete sentences (capital letters and punctuation). 4. Tap to add to your journal.


The last time I wrote a live report, I went to the United States for the first time to see B'z for the first time. This year, I finally had saved enough money to be able to go to Japan. It was a huge dream of mine to be able to attend the PLEASURE 2013 tour. And so I made my way to Japan on September 6th. First time in Japan, first ever Pleasure concert experience. I was so excited.
Read on after the break as it's incredibly long!
On the day of the concert I met up with a very dear friend of mine and we went to the Hard Rock Cafe in Osaka to have lunch before we would head to the Kyocera Dome. This was actually the very first time in a Hard Rock Cafe for me. I really enjoyed it, though, because this Hard Rock Cafe in Osaka is very special: It has Tak Matsumoto's guitar on display! And also autographs by Tak Matsumoto Group (TMG) are on display. We weren't the only B'z fans to make their way to this particular Hard Rock Cafe. A lot of fans took pictures in front of the entrance.
Once we had finished lunch, we made our way to the Kyocera Dome by train. Although it was about 1PM, a lot of people already gathered at the venue to buy merchandise and try their luck at the Gacha-gacha slot machine. We also got in line for the merchandise and it was very tough because it was very hot that day. Fortunately, the line moved very quickly so we were waiting in the shadows until we got to the merchandise booth. Next to the merchandise booth was the CD/DVD booth. You could buy B'z albums, singles and live dvds there. Additionally, you could buy the support member's solo works such as Shane Gaalaas latest album "Ascend".
After we bought the merchandise we wanted, we made our way around the dome to find the infamous tour trucks! It took us quite a while but we were able to locate them. Unfortunately they were parked across the street so we had to take pictures from afar.
Before we entered the actual venue, we went to the shopping mall in Kyocera Dome to take pictures of Tak's and Koshi's handprints! They are put on display there.
Once the doors opened at 4:45PM, we made our way to the gate specified on our ticket. As we entered, the person at the gate scanned our tickets and handed us our seat reservation ticket. Luckily we got tickets for the arena! But we were in block E, so we wondered where that would be… and, although it was not very close to the stage, we were still satisfied with our seats. It was not too far away. And the screens provided us a chance to see everything up close.
While we waited for the show to start, they were showing old performances by B'z on the big screens. Even some rare ones! That was my first time seeing footage of the opening of B'z LIVE-GYM 2003 BIG MACHINE!! Hopefully they will release that footage someday… As time passed, the dome began to fill up with people and soon enough, the announcer would proclaim that the band would be on stage in just a few minutes! That alone already got the crowd excited as hell.
A couple of moments later, the lights went dark and everyone was on their feet. As usual with huge B'z LIVE-GYM productions, we watched the opening to the show. The song that was played during the opening is called "OVERTURE" and was composed by Tak Matsumoto himself. It was a very playful melody. Some say it sounded a bit like Disney music. As the music played and lights flashed and changed colors, poles would move up which would later form "XXV".
Then the lights went dark again and we could hear Tak Matsumoto's guitar as he plays the intro to Endless Summer, a new song composed for the tour. Koshi would make his way to the stage by an elevator and at the same time, the "XXV" would be set on fire and Koshi began singing the new song. Endless Summer is a hard-rock song and is unlike previous B'z songs. I liked it very much! Also, Endless Summer is a very fitting title in my opinion as "heat" came to my mind when I heard the melody.
Endless Summer was followed by ZERO and after that, Koshi would start to do the usual "B'z no~", but he wasn't able to shout the whole "B'z no LIVE-GYM ni Youkoso!". Why? Well, because Tak was always interrupting him! It's kind of the same setting as during Ain't no Magic. It was still funny as hell, though. Tak was then swinging some thing around, tempting Koshi to pull on the other side. When he decided to pull it out, it would reveal the text "B'z no LIVE-GYM ni Youkoso!". He would throw it off stage and shout B'z no LIVE-GYM ni Youkoso! which then transitioned into Pleasure 2013 ~Jinsei no Kairaku~. The lyrics for that particular song changed again, but I couldn't make them out, unfortunately. We will have to wait for the official DVD/Blu-ray release!
Further into the show, Tak debuted one of his new solo songs, "Rain" as an interlude between songs. It sounded very nice and has an Asian touch to it. Also, it sounded very mysterious. In addition to that, they showed footage of what could possibly be the music video to the song in the future. After performing Kakushin, Koshi asked the audience what comes to mind when they think of summer. Everybody was screaming different things such as "Ocean", "Fireworks", etc. But what Koshi actually wanted to hear was "camp fire"! And so they had a little camp fire lit up on stage with every band member on an acoustic guitar. And so they would perform Aikawarazu na Bokura. Even Shane and Barry would sing parts in Japanese. It was really great! And a rare song, too!
Later on, an airship made an appearance during Ai no Bakudan to distribute hearts within the dome. I tried to catch one, but it flew farther away. Too bad! When the band performed Q&A, Samurai and Ninja made it onto the stage. The performance was very awesome, indeed! Flames shot out of the edge of the stage for maximum hype.
Before breaking out into RUN, Koshi declared that we, the fans, are the band's motivation to keep going and that he is very thankful to us fans! And that concluded the main part of the show.
While we were waiting for the encore to start, everyone was doing the waves. It was really fun! After a couple of minutes, the lights went back on and the band came back on stage… Koshi shouted "OSAKA!!! DO YOU STILL HAVE SOME ENERGY LEFT?" and we would reply to his question with a loud "YEAH!!!". Koshi then shouted "SO LET'S HAVE SOME MORE FUN!!" and the intro to juice started. But this time, Koshi did not have us shout "HEY HEY HEY" but "YO YO YO". That was kind of funny, haha. The show then concluded with ultra soul as the last song.
After the show ended, we made our way to the train station to get back to central Osaka. However, there were so many people and, additionally, the train was delayed indefinitely due to a blackout. What a bummer! So we had to find a different route home since we didn't feel like waiting forever at the station. But eventually we made it home!
All in all, I have to say that a dome concert is a whole different experience compared to the small hall shows. The production is completely different and it doesn't matter where you are in the dome, B'z does everything so that every person in the dome enjoys the show as much as the ones in the first row right in front of the stage. I would definitely go again!
Congratulations!! What a beautiful trip! Thank you for this report! And I hope you can fly back soon to Japan!
Awesome report. Glad to see you had fun. Congrats.
I want to hype for a new single or album with Endless Summer and Overture on it! Hype! Hype!
I am happy you could go see them live!
BUT I feel sorry for the poory guitar – such a beauty encaged behind glass and beeing tortured by light – I know it should be on display but that looks so damn painful to me.
Now I am waiting for the date of this Live-Gym BluRay. I will preorder it as soon as it's available.
Oh yeah and any infos about Tak's new solo stuff ?
No news on his new solo works so far, but we will post them as soon as we know something!


Gangling, earnest Mort is not a likely candidate for any of the professionals who show up to choose apprentices at the Discworld's version of a job fair. His father isn't surprised when his son is the last person remaining - but then Mort watches in astonishment as a living skeleton appears, riding an enormous horse (whose name, he later discovers, is Binky). It is Death, and Mort agrees (after ascertaining that being dead is not a requirement) to become his apprentice.
Poets have tried to describe Ankh-Morpork. They have failed. Perhaps it's the sheer zestful vitality of the place, or maybe it's just that a city with a million inhabitants and no sewers is rather robust for poets, who prefer daffodils and no wonder. So let's just say that Ankh-Morpork is as full of life as an old cheese on a hot day, as loud as a curse in a cathedral, as colourful as a bruise and as full of activity, industry, bustle and sheer exuberant busyness as a dead dog on a termite mound.
The characters are delightful. It is fun to watch Mort coming of age amidst all the chaotic events of the novel, and Death himself has a thing or two to learn along the way. There are surprising turns of events, appearances of characters from previous books in the series, and a sweet and funny romance. And there is substance beneath the humor, as the novel examines what it means to be human, how death influences the living, and how our beliefs shape our destinies. The books in this series are so clever and deftly written, with such memorable and compelling characters, that as I finish each one, I'm already planning to reread it some day.
Just Add Books: "It's a fast, funny ride through the Discworld, and the afterlife..."
Just One More Page: "I love any book where Death himself is a character, but I think that Terry Pratchett's Death is coming to be my favourite (maybe he and the others I love can battle it out) and as such, this is my favourite Discworld novel to date."
The Wertzone: "But it's the serious thinking about life and the place of people within it that makes Mort stand out a little bit more than some of the other early books."
I haven't read any of the earlier Discworld books (I've only read the Tiffany Achings books). This one sounds like a good one to start with.
Sharry - Thanks! It's a good one, isn't it?!
RR2 - The Tiffany Achings are my favorites, but this is wonderful, too. It can be read without reading the earlier ones, but there is some payoff (insider jokes and insights, which are incidental but fun) if you start with the first one.
Kiirstin - How did that happen? I have so many books out from the library that I think you'll find it easy to catch up. :-) I'll be looking forward to your thoughts on this one.
This sounds very neat! Again, I have to say I really do need to pick these up!
Ladytink - I'll do what you did to me with the Jaz Parks series. I'll just keep reading them and reviewing them until you give up and start reading them too. :-) You won't regret it!


In this edition of the Travel News Brief: rising concerns about the government shutdown, new transatlantic route in 2019, TSA confirms REAL ID extension, passport fees to rise, biometric car rentals, new hotels opening, Phoenix airport remodel, traveler tips, the best Navigator blog posts of 2018, what makes a great travel management RFP and more!
What Makes a Great Travel Management RFP?
Which Countries Have the Highest State Department Threat Levels for Traveling?


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Trisetum projectum är en gräsart som beskrevs av Louis-marie. Trisetum projectum ingår i släktet glanshavren, och familjen gräs. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Glanshavren
projectum


MP4 video format is a very popular video format right now. Actually, MP4 file is multimedia file, which is a container format that can store video, audio and subtitle data. MP4 format is really popular because many stores like iTunes are using this container format, iPod and Playstation Portable (PSP) and other popular devices support MP4 format.
This guide aims to show you how to convert videos to MP4 format on Windows and Mac.
To convert videos to MP4 format I use Aiseesoft MP4 Video Converter.
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This powerful MP4 video converter allows you to do many video editings.
b. You can preview the video first and when you want to start trim click the left one of the pair buttons when you want to end click the right one.
c. You can set the exact start and end time at the buttom of the pop-up window.
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There are 2 ways that you can crop your video.
Mac users can also enjoy Mp4 video at will.
Here you just need Aiseesoft MP4 Video Converter for Mac.
Click "Add File" to load the video/movie that you want to convert to MP4 format.
You can choose your output profile on a drop-down list.


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Lessons must be learned from failed commissioner hearings
Now that the dust has settled on the hearings of the commissioners-designate in the European Parliament, it is time for some critical reflections on the messy, partisan and in several other ways fundamentally flawed process for appointing arguably the most powerful people in the whole EU infrastructure.
We will put aside for now the manner in which member states nominate their specific Commission nominee; clearly the process in Slovenia, and probably in many other countries too, needs reform. It was not always easy to understand the logic of some nominations and taking the Commission as a whole, Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) was shocked about the number of new commissioners with corporate backgrounds or other aspects of their careers which in our view, make them unsuitable to act as commissioner and promote the interests of 500 million EU citizens.
Yet aside from MEPs' oversight, and a rubber-stamping by the European Council, there is no other body charged with looking at the suitability of individual commissioner candidates or reviewing their declarations of interest. The Commission's ad hoc ethical committee has oversight over the code of conduct for commissioners but seemingly has no remit to look at the commissioners-designate or their declarations of interest. The European Ombudsman also has no role in the process.
So MEPs are left with this task and in 2014 they did a mixed job. In some committee hearings, MEPs posed thoughtful questions and where they were not properly answered, other MEPs asked follow-ups. But the format of a one-minute MEP question and a two-minute commissioner-designate response allows for bluff and bluster (on both sides) and can let commissioners off the hook. Surely a better system would allow for shorter questions, the opportunity to ask immediate follow-ups and a hearing which prioritises key topics and issues, rather than a system which instead prioritises all MEPs having their turn?
And the partisan nature of the hearings also left much to be desired. Bizarre clapping and cheer-leading by some MEPs at even the most anodyne utterance by the commissioner-designate at some committee hearings served to mask some important issues and made MEPs look like super-keen parents at a school football game rather than forensic interviewers.
Meanwhile, the code of conduct for commissioners and the declarations of interest forms which the candidates filled out were also shown to be inadequate to the job of effectively exposing possible conflicts of interests.
The declarations of interest for all commissioners were looked at by the European Parliament's legal affairs committee but that was in a closed session, with apparently no external advice, and no detailed record of these discussions has been made public. According to Green MEP Bart Staes, MEPs from the centre-right EPP political group prevented a broader, thorough assessment by the committee of the conflicts of interest of the candidate commissioners. This shows the need for an independent body to analyse conflicts of interests and other ethics issues.
In the hearing for Miguel Arias Cañete, the Spanish nominee as climate action and energy commissioner, substantial issues were raised about his own interests and those of his close family, but Cañete hid behind the ambiguity between the code of conduct and the declaration of interest form. The form asks for spouse/ partners' professional activities but the code itself refers to family interests which potentially are rather different. At stake was the extent of involvement of Cañete's brother-in-law in two petroleum companies Petrolífera Dúcar SL and Petrologis Canaris SL in which Cañete had recently sold his shares. Cañete still has not placed this highly relevant information in the public domain.
In the end, a secret political deal between Juncker and senior MEPs satisfied the Socialist group sufficiently that they did not oppose Cañete; this in turn led to the centre-right EPP group to not oppose Pierre Moscovici. And so the pieces on the chess board fell into place and the Juncker Commission was approved, pretty much intact.
According to Socialist MEP Kathleen van Brempt, the deal means Cañete has been put under permanent supervision by a "watchdog" in the shape of Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans. Timmermans, according to van Brempt, also has the "special mission to watch over possible conflicts of interest within the Commission", which means he will be watching over Cañete's possible conflicts of interest. "Cañete must also refrain from policy decisions that are directly related to his former interests in the oil sector," Van Brempt wrote on the S&D website. There is, however, no document in the public domain that clarifies any of these arrangements, and in fact Timmermans' office has told CEO by email that it is President Juncker or Vice-President Georgieva who are responsible for the commissioners' code of conduct. These issue really need urgent clarification; as it is, it is impossible to assess how far this deal will really prevent conflicts of interest.
CEO is today writing to Juncker to demand that the content of this deal are made public and to ask for clarification about how Cañete and his declaration of interest will be monitored. The code of conduct for commissioners says that commissioners should not deal with matters in their portfolio where they have a personal, family or financial interest and Juncker should make clear what issues Cañete will and will not work on. He should also be required to fill in a more complete declaration of interest form which lists his wider family interests.
But Cañete was not the only commissioner-designate who raised significant questions about possible conflicts of interest.
Ex-lobbyist, UK nominee and now financial services commissioner Jonathan Hill was challenged by some MEPs about his previous lobby clients and his recent shareholding in the lobby firm he co-founded in the 1990s. Hill stuck to the line that as he had sold his shares (apparently soon after being nominated as EU commissioner, although he had happily held onto them during his previous four year career as a UK government minister) that therefore there was no risk of a conflict of interest.
CEO begs to differ. Hill had no fewer than four trips through the revolving door between UK government and politics and the lobby/ PR industry. When he left Quiller Consultants in May 2010 to join the UK government, 55 per cent of Quiller's then declared clients (five out of nine) were either banks or finance firms. Quiller is owned by Huntsworth which also owns the EU lobby firm Grayling and UK firm Citigate, yet MEPs failed to secure any additional lobby safeguards on Hill ie. that he would not meet with Quiller, Huntsworth, Grayling, Citigate or any of their clients while commissioner. And because the commissioners' declaration of interest form only requires commissioners to declare current interests, Hill was not required to declare his recent shareholding.
All in all, the recent commissioners-designate hearings have indicated a number of additional areas where reform of the commissioner code of conduct is required. A recent report for the European Parliament has also produced a shopping list of required changes. This report said that the current code for commissioners has "fallen short of a comprehensive alignment with EU and international best practice" and "appears tilted towards the Commissioners' political and career interests".
But reform of the wider commissioner confirmation process will be required too. MEPs should carry out their own reflections on the recent hearings and with the benefit of hindsight ask themselves whether they really did the best job possible, on behalf of their voters, to hold the new EU executive to account.


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2 'pushers' fall in Mandaue
Dawn violence. The body of drug surrenderer Lemuel Guardiana is carried out of his house in Barangay Tabok after he was shot several times by unidentified men around 4 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 7. (SunStar Foto / Alan Tangcawan)
TWO suspected drug pushers were killed in separate incidents in Mandaue City.
Past 7 p.m. last Thursday, Dec. 6, Eduardo Baclohan, 32, died in an alleged shootout with anti-narcotics operatives in a drug bust in Sitio Villamanga, Barangay Umapad. He was a former member of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team).
Chief Insp. Mercy Villaro, the Mandaue City Police Office spokesperson, said the Opao Police Station conducted the operation after receiving reports about the suspect's alleged involvement in selling shabu.
Team dismissed Baclohan early this year after he went absent without official leave. He reportedly stopped working after he refused to undergo a drug test.
During the drug bust, Baclohan ran after realizing he was dealing with the police. He allegedly pulled out a gun and aimed at the poseur buyer.
The officer's fellow operative shot and killed Baclohan. Seized from him were 11 packs of "shabu."
In Barangay Tabok, former drug surrenderer Lemuel Guardiana, 28, was shot several times inside his house by two masked men around 4 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 7.
The victim had just arrived from a bingo game when the attack took place.
Initial investigation showed that Guardiana may have been killed by a drug group for frequently failing to remit proceeds from his drug sale. From FMD of Superbalita Cebu / KAL
P1M reward offered for arrest of 3 who 'duped' businessman


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Palazzo Valenzano
Palazzo Valenzano is a palace in Trani. Palazzo Valenzano is situated nearby to Trani and is close to Palazzo Palmieri (palace).
Cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino
Trani Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim in Trani, Apulia, south-eastern Italy.
Sinagoga Scolanova
The Scolanova Synagogue is a medieval synagogue in Trani, Italy.
Trani is a railway station in the Italian town of Trani, in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia.
Concattedrale di San Pietro Apostolo
Bisceglie Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Bisceglie, Apulia, Italy.
Bisceglie is a railway station in the Italian town of Bisceglie, in the Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia.
Bisceglie is a city and municipality on the Adriatic Sea of 55,251 inhabitants in the province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, in the Apulia region, in southern Italy.
Type: palace
Location: Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Southern Italy, Italy, Europe
Latitude: 41.2815° or 41° 16' 53.3" north
Longitude: 16.419° or 16° 25' 8.4" east
Elevation: 8 meters (26 feet)
GeoNames ID: 10292506
Capirro3 km south
Bisceglie8 km southeast
Palazzo PalmieriPalace
Diocesan MuseumMuseum, 110 meters west
Piazza DuomoSquare, 110 meters northwest
Palazzo della PrefetturaPalace, 120 meters west
Landmarks from OpenStreetMap
Palazzo CaccettaTourist attraction, 120 meters south
Sinagoga Museo Sant'AnnaMuseum, 150 meters southwest
Castello SvevoCastle, 330 meters west
Camper Park TraniMotorhome stopover, 740 meters west
Tourists don't know where they've been, travelers don't know where they're going. - Paul Theroux
Popular Destinations in Apulia
Torre Vado
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I replied. "O mother," he said, "I can smell a pleasing scent as if it is the scent of my grandfather the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him and his Household."
"Yes, it is," I answered, "Your grandfather is now under the cloak."
After the exchange of pure greetings between the Master Lady of the Universe and the Master Youth of Paradise, Imam Hasan (AS) remarks that he smells a pleasant scent at home which resembles the fragrance of his grandfather - the Prophet (SA). This is the second time in the Tradition of the Cloak that the Holy Prophet (SA) is described physically with a positive attribute.
The first being his shining face that resembles a full moon, and the second being the good scent which emanates from his pure being.
It is not surprising as all the prophets and messengers have good fragrance and there was never anything shameful or humiliating ever displayed from them. Then one can imagine the Seal of Prophets and Messengers who is the best of creation! Surely, he must enjoy physical and materialistic purity that complements the spiritual purity.
Every person in this world has two aspects of his life, apparent and concealed which are physical and spiritual, respectively. The balance in the development of a good human being is obligatory for both activities. Islam is a clean religion and prefers a person to be clean physically and have pure thoughts. Physical purity provides a person respect and honor in the eyes of the world.
Allah (SWT) advises the believers to clean themselves for such a condition suits their spiritual state and nature. Cleanliness is considered a form of worship by believers, and is therefore a source of great relief and pleasure to them. In many verses of the Qur'an, Allah (SWT) draws attention to the believers' spiritual and physical purity.
Furthermore, physical cleanliness is important because it shows one's respect for other people. Indeed, respecting other people requires taking care of one's physical appearance.
So Imam Hasan (AS) recognized his grandfather's presence at home just by his purified scent. Sure enough, Lady Fatima (AS) confirms that deduction and informs Hasan that his grandfather is indeed under the cloak.


Utah State Representative Proposes Amusement Ride Safety Bill....The Sequel.
/ Utah State Representative Proposes Amusement Ride Safety Bill....The Sequel.
First, let me state that it's a slow news month, as September, November, February, and May are the only months TV News Stations actually do something. Second, the State Representative, Val Potter, was a "Sales and Marketing Manager for S&S Power Sports, Inc. (S&S Power/S&S Worldwide)," and had nothing to do with the Safety Aspect of any part of the Industry. Third, the events, as described by the Minor and Guardian CLEARLY misundstand the safety and operations of Amusement Rides and the Guardian misunderstood and misstated the conversation with a Lagoon Guest Services Representative. Finally, this "News Story," as based on the "Witness Accounts," fails to meet any form of Investigative Journalism Standards and shows a complete lack of due diligence on the part of the Reporter, KUTV, and is clearly in the same vain as other Sinclair Broadcast Group stations in regards to reporting people's Opinions as "News."
(01-16-2019, 11:29 PM)linearinduction Wrote: First, let me state that it's a slow news month, as September, November, February, and May are the only months TV News Stations actually do something. Second, the State Representative, Val Potter, was a "Sales and Marketing Manager for S&S Power Sports, Inc. (S&S Power/S&S Worldwide)," and had nothing to do with the Safety Aspect of any part of the Industry. Third, the events, as described by the Minor and Guardian CLEARLY misundstand the safety and operations of Amusement Rides and the Guardian misunderstood and misstated the conversation with a Lagoon Guest Services Representative. Finally, this "News Story," as based on the "Witness Accounts," fails to meet any form of Investigative Journalism Standards and shows a complete lack of due diligence on the part of the Reporter, KUTV, and is clearly in the same vain as other Sinclair Broadcast Group stations in regards to reporting people's Opinions as "News."
Oh My wife and I watched this story last night and were just in awe of how crappy and misleading it was. The boy in the story never said it opened up. He was just too preoccupied that they "picked" on him to double check his restraint and then it moved as the restraints on Rocket do! They don't realize how many times a day a seat is rechecked on that ride. I didn't know the details of what Val Potter had to do with the Amusement Industry when he said he had experience but as a sales and marketing manager you are not involved in safety aspect.
(01-16-2019, 11:34 PM)UtahCoasterEnth Wrote: Oh My wife and I watched this story last night and were just in awe of how crappy and misleading it was. The boy in the story never said it opened up. He was just too preoccupied that they "picked" on him to double check his restraint and then it moved as the restraints on Rocket do! They don't realize how many times a day a seat is rechecked on that ride. I didn't know the details of what Val Potter had to do with the Amusement Industry when he said he had experience but as a sales and marketing manager you are not involved in safety aspect.
Yes I found this story downright stupid. I have never felt anything but safe while on any of Lagoon's attractions. Anyone who spends any time in the park can clearly see how obsessed with safety they are.
(01-17-2019, 01:44 AM)crooks.mark Wrote: Yes I found this story downright stupid. I have never felt anything but safe while on any of Lagoon's attractions. Anyone who spends any time in the park can clearly see how obsessed with safety they are.
Up until a couple of years ago, I'd have gone along with that. It's clear there's still a safety culture in management, but there's a definite disconnect between the average employee, and I feel like a lot of the issues I've seen come from the Work & Travel crowd.
In the past few years, I've witnessed ride operators (and leads) turn away from their ride while it's operating to talk to other employees on more than one occasion. I've watched ride operators heads-down in their smartphone while the ride is operating. And, most egregiously, I watched a ride operator start a ride while a family member of mine was still inside the ride enclosure (after helping a child into a Kiddieland ride).
Never used to think so, but there definitely is a disquieting disconnect between training and operation that if left un-fixed, I fear will end with another fatality in the next few seasons. And I've been on the other side of the operator console, so I'm speaking from experience.
I didn't get to see the story (tried, but the FB link is dead) so I can't speak to its contents directly, I'm just speaking from own observations.
Lol everyone knows on S&S towers. The restraint always has 1 to 2 inch of play in it. As soon as the restraints limit switch on the back would have released the ride would have pulled a Estop immediately.
Lagoon is also the most safety-minded park that I've worked for.
I have seen Lagoon operators not operating a ride safely on at least one occasion, which I probably wouldn't have noticed if another poster in this thread hadn't also seen it and lost his doodie.
It looks like Lagoon doesn't oppose the legislation, so there's not much story here. I did notice that it said Lagoon was currently involved in 8 lawsuits over injuries. It makes me wonder what changed since the Fun House days. The Fun House was not completely safe like everything is now. There was a very real chance you were going to get hurt in there. People definitely got hurt in there. Was there more of an 'enter at your own risk' mentality then? Did people still sue but medical bills were reasonable enough back then that it wasn't a massive deal? I know there was some sort of change that made thngs like the fun house impossible to continue with, but what was it that changed exactly?
When they are talking about liability insurance... are they talking about the park or the operators?
Cause I can't imagine any park not having liability insurance.
Rocket was one ride that I didn't on last year (mainly because my 2 little ones are not tall enough and my oldest wouldn't ride it with me.
I have found that because of my "roundness" that they have had to move me to another seat or I have had to make sure that the restraint is down far enough for the ride to indicate "Safe to go"
so I am sure that if they restraint did move it was still way way in the safety zone of the ride just like CPrider said It would have stopped or not gone at all.
I will agree that there are some parks that need a little more oversight, but after the last few years of "incidents" that those holes are now been reviewed and is being watched now.
If I had a dollar for every time I heard a story like that kids... Lagoon is definitely a safe park and if you look at their track record it shows that. There's no possible way he could've held the restraint down against the force of rocket.
(01-17-2019, 10:18 AM)jetstar2 Wrote: Here's the story.
Pretty sure that was directed at me, and you bet I did! Fortunately I spoke with management about the situation and it was addressed, just as what I witnessed on Boomerang, Air Race, and Roller Coaster this year.
In my years in this industry, as Josh touched on, Lagoon's Management is Extremely Diligent concerning the Safety of Guests. If you see something, say something. Lagoon does not see "falling short" so to speak as part of any equation. They would rather address a situation immediately than just have it ignored.
The Training and Coaching of the Ops falls to the Area Leads and their Co-Ordinators. On the job Coaching is extremely important, and for the most part, when I've seen something and said something, it is usually the Area Lead that comes and takes care of the coaching. In more serious instances, it's been a Co-ordinator or Manager that has addressed the issue.


This patented technology has revolutionized the golf industry!
Night Sports Light-up LED Golf Ball provides the high performance aerodynamics, control, accuracy, feel and distance you expect from a professional quality ball.
Great for Night Golf Tournaments!


text:
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Dynamic;
using Telligent.Evolution.RestSDK.Json;
using Telligent.Evolution.RestSDK.Services;
using Telligent.Rest.SDK.Model;

namespace Telligent.Evolution.RestSDK.Implementations
{
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    {
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        {
            while (reader.Read())
            {
                switch (reader.Type)
                {
                    case JsonObject.JsonType.Object:
                        AddObject(element, reader);
                        break;
                    case JsonObject.JsonType.Array:
                        AddArray(element, reader);
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                    default:
                        AddProperty(element, reader.Value, reader.Property);
                        break;
                }
            }
        }

        private void AddArray(dynamic element, JsonReader reader)
        {
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            var list = reader.Value as IEnumerable<string>;

            if (list == null) return;

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            {
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                var itemChars = item.ToCharArray();
                var itemType = JsonObject.GetTypeFromValue(item);

                switch (itemType)
                {
                    case JsonObject.JsonType.String:
                        AddProperty(arrayElement, JsonParser.ReadAsString(itemChars), reader.Property);
                        break;
                    case JsonObject.JsonType.Number:
                        AddProperty(arrayElement, JsonParser.ReadAsNumber(itemChars), reader.Property);
                        break;
                    case JsonObject.JsonType.Boolean:
                        AddProperty(arrayElement, JsonParser.ReadAsBoolean(itemChars), reader.Property);
                        break;
                    case JsonObject.JsonType.Object:
                        Deserialize(arrayElement, new JsonReader(item));
                        break;
                    case JsonObject.JsonType.Array:
                        AddArray(arrayElement, new JsonReader(item)
                        {
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                            Text = item,
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                        });
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        }

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        {
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Django parallel for loop joblib warning: "Multiprocessing backed parallel loops cannot be nested below threads, setting n_jobs=1" from joblib import Parallel, delayed

def func(arg1, arg2, arg3):
    # do some processing and return result
    return result

def func2():
    arg1 = 'value1'
    arg2 = 'value2'
    elems = ['a','b','c','d','e']

    resultsList = Parallel(n_jobs=4)(delayed(func)(arg1, arg2, elem) for elem in elems)

Calling func2 in a django view throws the following warning:
"Multiprocessing backed parallel loops cannot be nested below threads, setting n_jobs=1"
There's a related question, but the workaround here is to rename the thread name to 'MainThread', which seems odd and won't work in my case.
Is it possible to use joblib to parallelize for loops in django views? Is there a better way to do this?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In 1917 the Russian Revolution started. The country was in turmoil with the Bolsheviks (Communists) fighting the White Russians (Non-Communists).
In 1919 a composite company of the Dorsetshire Regiment volunteered to serve in North Russia to help relieve the troops who had been in Russia since the summer of 1918. These troops had been trying to stop the Bolsheviks from supplying the Germans with ammunition and military equipment. The Dorsets came in to help the local Russians and also to advance to Kotlas to join up with thte Czech Division from Siberia who were fighting the Bolsheviks.
The Relief force from the 1st Battalion The Dorsetshire Regiment sailed in May 1919 as part of the 238 Special Brigade. This was a composite battalion made up of men from the Somerset Light Infantry, the 2nd Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire Regiments on a promise of 2 months leave on return. The Dorsets were known as Y Company. They disembarked in Bargs on 2nd June and travelled up the river Dwina to Kurgomen and relieved 339 United States Infantry.
The Battalion was involved in action to help the White Russians fight the Bolsheviks at Topsa-Trotza, but Y (Dorset) Company did not get involved in the attack.
Y Company made long, dreary marches up to 26th June in various areas helping the White Russians. Y Company became the rear guard for the British withdrawal on 17th September from Yentasa and then evacuated, leaving North Russia to its own devices on 27th September. They reached Crowborough on 8th October and on two months leave.
It was remembered by those who served as a time of poor food – mainly bully beef and biscuits – mosquitoes and the growing cold on leaving.
Thus ended the Dorsets adventure; not much fighting but some experience of another strange country.


text:
Taylor & Her Men
By Eileen Finan
Surrounded by half a dozen handsome men, Taylor Swift cracks a smile: "I don't hate it," she says of sitting amid the hunky crew. But good as the scenery may be, it was Swift's ears, not her eyes, that first took notice of the guys she chose as openers for the U.S. leg of her Speak Now tour. Swift scoured artists' Facebook and MySpace pages and picked up new-artist lists from record labels in search of promising opening acts. "I listened to groups, girls and guys, but it just so happened that the music I was really digging this year was all these boys," Swift, 21, says of the nine male artists she eventually tapped. Each will open several dates on her tour, along with pop band NEEDTOBREATHE. "My fans and I are really alike in our musical tastes, so I went by gut feeling when I was choosing the acts. They're all different from each other, which I like, but have songs about relationships and love that pulled me in. David Nail's 'Let it Rain' and Randy Montana's '1000 Faces' immediately became songs I put on repeat." As for the guys, she says, "I want them to have more fun on this tour than on any tour they'll ever be on."
CHARLIE WORSHAM
HOMETOWN: Grenada, Miss.
HIS SOUND: The former KingBilly guitar and banjo picker just launched his solo career. He doesn't have a record deal yet but is working on an album. "I like to do with my songs as a male vocalist what Taylor does, writing about life and relationships."
TOUR TAKEAWAY: "Taylor's a pioneer, and there's a lot to learn. I'll be out front every night taking notes."
HOMETOWN: Kennett, Mo.
WHY YOU KNOW HIM: He's already had a Top 10 with the soulful "Red Light" and has toured with Lady A.
ONE OF THE GUYS: "I'm one of the older ones on the tour, so I'm sure it's comforting to Taylor's dad that I'm a happily married man. He doesn't have to worry about me!"
FIRST UP: "Hopefully the fans will be so excited to see Taylor, they'll get there extra early. I want them to walk out saying, 'That guy was really good.'"
HOMETOWN: Battle Creek, Mich.
TOUR CRED: He's opened for Bob Seger and on Michigan dates for Kenny Chesney.
ROAD WISDOM: "I want them to like my music, but you're fooling yourself if you don't realize the fans are there to see Taylor and you're just standing in the way of that! My job is to get them fired up for her."
HOMETOWN: Breaux Bridge, La.
TEEN PRODIGY: A You Tube clip of him playing accordian at 4 had 11 million hits, and he wrote a cut for Rascal Flatts before he could vote.
ON TAYLOR'S RADAR: "I'm a Taylor fan, so the fact that she knows who I am is awesome. To be invited on the tour is unbelievable!"
ADAM BRAND
HOMETOWN: Perth, Australia
COMING TO AMERICA: Brand is a platinum-selling artist at home, but this is his first tour in North, America. "What a way to start!" he says, joking that he hopes Taylor's fans understand his accent. "My stories of growing up in Australia are no different to growing up in the States."
RANDY MONTANA
HOMETOWN: Nashville
MUSIC ROOTS: His father is songwriter Billy Montana ("Suds in the Bucket" and Garth's "More Than a Memory"). "I grew up next door to a stage."
HIS SOUND: "I write story songs with a rocking edge. My music isn't for one age group, so I think it'll work with Taylor's fans."
HOMETOWN: Mound Valley, Kans.
MUSIC MIX: "I've got a traditional sounding voice but a contemporary sound, so there's a little bit of everything," says Wesley, who toured with Josh Thompson last year. "I love doing classics like Marty Robbins and Elvis. I'll throw that into the show."
PROUD OF POP: "I've got a 7-year-old daughter who's so excited by this-thanks, Taylor!"
HOMETOWN: Milwaukee
IDOL EXPERIENCE: Gokey was the third-place finalist on American Idol in 2009 and is working on his second country album.
WHY HE FITS IN: "Taylor's not in a box. Every radio station plays her, and she has hits in every format. I'm not the typical voice on country radio, so I identify with an artist like her."
HOMETOWN: Augusta, Ga.
WHY YOU KNOW HIM: The brother of Lady A's Charles Kelley had pop hits ("Amazing" and "Only You") before his debut country CD this year.
TOUR BONUS: "My daughter and wife [actress Katherine Heigl] are Taylor fans too, so this earned me brownie points."
Taylor got her start opening for acts like GEORGE STRAIT and wanted to do the same for other up-and-comers. "BRAD PAISLEY taught me how to edit video, I watched KENNY CHESNEY with his fans, and FAITH and TIM welcomed me with a candle in my dressing room. You learn from that."


text:
Trailblazer: The Story of Ballerina Raven Wilkinson
By Leda Schubert, Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
$17.99 US / $23.99 CAN
This beautiful picture book tells the little-known story of Raven Wilkinson, the first African American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company and an inspiration to Misty Copeland.
Raven Wilkinson was born on February 2, 1935, in New York City. From the time she was a little girl, all she wanted to do was dance. On Raven's ninth birthday, her uncle gifted her with ballet lessons, and she completely fell in love with dance. While she was a student at Columbia University, Raven auditioned for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and was finally accepted on her third try, even after being told she couldn't dance with them because of her skin color. When she started touring with her troupe in the United States in 1955, Raven encountered much racism in the South, but the applause, alongside the opportunity to dance, made all the hardship worth it. Several years later she would dance for royalty with the Dutch National Ballet and regularly performed with the New York City Opera until she was fifty. This beautiful picture book tells the uplifting story of the first African American woman to dance for a major classical ballet company and how she became a huge inspiration for Misty Copeland. Theodore Taylor III's unique, heavy line style of illustration brings a deeper level of fluidity and life to the work, and Misty Copeland's beautifully written foreword will delight ballet and dance fans of all ages.
Purchase from Retailer Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million IndieBound
Format harcover
Age range 6-9
Publication date January 16, 2018
Publication season Spring 2018
Rights World
get the latest buzz!
© 2020 Little Bee Books. All Rights Reserved. Site by The Assembly


This coming Thursday, February 14, 2019 is Valentine's Day. Have you made your dinner reservations yet?
I've been calling around trying to figure out where to have dinner this year, and if you are looking for some dining options consider these.
Perhaps you're a true romantic and want a small restaurant setting, or maybe you want that big Lake Tahoe lake view to wow your better-half, but regardless of what spells out romance for you and your loved one, you'll have some great options in our area.
Here are some great choices for a nice night out in the greater North Lake Tahoe area for Valentine's Day that are always a big hit for dinner.
Graham's offers unique California cuisine with a European influence.
The atmosphere is always inviting and warm with white table linens, candle light, and during the winter you'll enjoy the warmth and glow of the wood burning fireplaces.
Graham's menu does vary with the seasons and they always have something special on the menu.
Graham's is located very close to the Village at Squaw Valley and the Resort at Squaw Creek. Reservations are highly recommended for this local area favorite, especially on the weekends and holidays.
Soule Domain offers a variety of California cuisine. This cozy and romantic restaurant is set in a Tahoe log cabin with a rock fireplace. You'll find the mountain charm of this place inviting and romantic.
Soule Domain is located just past Kings Beach, at the California / Nevada Stateline in Crystal Bay. Seating is very limited and reservations are highly recommended for this romantic local favorite.
Christy Hill offers a variety of seasonal California cuisine with a French influence. They have an extensive wine list and a nice selection of wines by the glass.
Dinner here is very romantic. If you get there early enough, you can enjoy the Alpenglow on Lake Tahoe.
If you want to see the Alpenglow (amazing colors of rose gold, violet, fuchsia, and sunset colors) on Valentine's Day, you need to be an early diner, which means there by 5 p.m. as sunset comes early to our area at this time of year.
If you find yourself reading this post this summer, for any lake view restaurant if you want to see the Alpenglow, try to get there at least 30 minutes before the sun is scheduled to set.
It happens quickly and doesn't last long, so being early is always better that arriving late if you want to watch the sky and lake turn into amazing colors.
This intimate lakeside restaurant offers wonderful views of Lake Tahoe perfect for a romantic evening.
Christy Hill is located in the heart of downtown Tahoe City, California. Reservations are highly recommended for this popular lake view restaurant.
The West Shore Cafe is a popular place in both the summer and winter. They offers a variety of seasonal California cuisine.
They have a full bar and a nice wine list – bottle, or glass.
The dining room is open, so it isn't as intimate as other restaurants, but the views of Lake Tahoe are spectacular.
Again, if you get there by 5 p.m. in the winter, you can enjoy the Alpenglow on Lake Tahoe.
The West Shore Cafe is located across from the Homewood Ski Resort in Homewood, CA. Reservations are highly recommended for this popular lake view restaurant.
The Lone Eagle Grille is a popular place and is part of the Hyatt Hotel organization.
This is a fine dining lakefront (lake view) restaurant that has a luxury lodge feel to it.
If you want the experience, but not the full dining experience, they do have a large bar area and you can have a drink or appetizer. Their bar area also has great lake views.
For Valentine's day they will have a set menu, which you can see on-line.
The Lone Eagle Grill is located across from the Hyatt hotel in Incline, Nevada. Reservations are highly recommended for this popular, high-end, lake view restaurant.
The Cottonwood Restaurant has a seasonal menu that is diverse and has fresh and local ingredients. This cozy and romantic restaurant has views of the downtown Truckee area.
For Valentine's Day they will have a special menu, and you will need reservations for this night.
The Cottonwood Restaurant is located on the hilltop in Truckee, California. Seating is very limited and reservations are highly recommended for this romantic local favorite.
We have a number of great restaurants in the North Lake Tahoe area, some are casual, some are high-end, and others are in-between. Everyone has their favorites, but maybe you'll want to try something new this year. There are no wrong choices, so make your reservations today.


text:
Oochya! is the twelfth studio album by Welsh rock band Stereophonics, released on 4 March 2022 on Ignition Records. It is scheduled to be supported by a 2022 arena tour.

Background
Oochya! originally began life when the band were planning a 25th anniversary compilation. Frontman Kelly Jones said, "I began rooting through hard drives to see what to put on it. As I did that, I was finding songs we'd never released. Three or four songs on Oochya! are built on those, and it led me to writing a bunch of new songs too." Jones also described the album as "90 percent" uptempo.

Release and promotion

Singles
On 6 September 2021 the band released the first single taken from the album, "Hanging on Your Hinges". The song premiered on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK. An official lyric video was also uploaded to YouTube. "Do Ya Feel My Love?" was released as the second single in November 2021. "Forever" was released as the third single from the album on 25th January 2022, followed by an official video a week later.

Critical reception

Oochya! received mixed to positive reviews from music critics, with a number of them praising several standout tracks but noting that the fifteen-song tracklist resulted in thematic exhaustion and cliché. Dave Simpson, writing for The Guardian, said that the band was "past their best nowadays" but the album was "a decent effort after a quarter of a century" and said that the album "offers an occasionally uneven mix of their trusty hit formula". Harrison Smith of Gigwise wrote that "Stereophonics have tended to serve up middle-of-the-road ballads in recent times and found themselves in the realms of predictability. Oochya!, whilst dishing up much of the same, is a much more robust and energised project than the previous few albums". Graeme Marsh wrote for musicOMH that the album was "better than expected" given its mix of old and new material and that the quality of its singles varied more than a typical Stereophonics album but concluded that "Oochya! is undoubtedly one of Stereophonics' better albums in recent times even if, at 15 tracks, it's a little too long".

Commercial performance
On 11 March 2022 Oochya! became Stereophonics' eighth number-one album on the UK Albums Chart, outselling their closest competition by 2:1. Oochya! sold just over 24,000 copies in its first week, including just under 4,000 copies on vinyl. The album spent five weeks on the chart. The album is also the band's second consecutive chart-topper after 2019's Kind.

Track listing
All tracks written by Kelly Jones.

Charts

Release history

References

2022 albums
Stereophonics albums
Albums produced by George Drakoulias