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Everything I Know About Arena Cube's Return On MTG Arena
Arena Cube is back on MTG Arena for a two-week run. Ryan Overturf gets you ready to run this leg of The Decathlon with strategies, top picks, and traps to avoid.
By Ryan Overturf
Embercleave, illustrated by Joe Slucher
The Vintage Cube is still running on Magic Online (MTGO) for another week, but if Magic Arena is more your speed, then you'll be happy to know that Arena Cube is returning from January 6th through the 20th. Given the nature of the timelines for these sorts of things, I've actually never done a breakdown article for the regular Arena Cube, so today will be a full on crash course in the Cube. While I don't have any previous written content on Arena Cube, we did discuss a previous iteration of the Cube on The 540 during a Cube retrospective episode that I believe holds up regarding the Cube's fundamentals.
I've ported the updated Arena Cube list over to Cube Cobra as per usual, and in the process of doing so noticed that the change log for this update is fairly long. This is unsurprising with how much has been going on with Arena lately, and the Arena Cube is indeed prone to see more updates over time than something like the MTGO Vintage Cube for multiple reasons.
Again, the fundaments of the Cube look more or less the same if you've drafted the Cube before, but many of the cards have changed. The most significant change to the Arena Cube for this iteration is the introduction of Arena-only cards. I expected that this was only a matter of time, but this will make it more difficult to jump into this Cube as a more general Cube enthusiast than as an Arena player. I imagine that this is what's best for the client, though it will also catch some players off guard. Luckily, the list of Arena exclusions in the Cube isn't terribly long, so this shouldn't disrupt the experience all that much.
You'll be able to tell from the fancy "A" on the card names, but keep in mind that these cards won't be functioning like their paper counterparts:
Cosmos Elixir is a card that I wouldn't generally play one way or the other, though I do believe that the three nerfed cards here all make them much more appropriate for the Cube. If we could get a nerfed Sublime Epiphany while we're at it, I'd be all for that for the Arena Cubes, too.
Additionally, you'll find the following cards that only exist on Arena in the Cube:
Again, not the longest list, but you will want to be aware of these cards. The cards that draft cards from a spellbook aren't generally good outside of being raw two-for-ones, with the exception of Key to the Archive. That one gives you looks at a lot of historically powerful Cube cards, and while sometimes it won't give you anything that you want, it will at least serve as a mana rock. The ceiling on the card is incredibly high, with this being the list of potential spells that you can generate:
Not every deck will be interested in a four-mana rock, but the ceiling on the card makes it be far the most powerful four-mana rock of all time. Discover the Formula is similarly busted for any deck in the market for a six-mana draw spell. It's notable that the card only draws spells, and that the mana reduction on the card is a bigger deal than it might seem at a glance. Both Key to the Archive and Discover the Formula will be first-pickable in many packs.
Digital specifics aside, let's get to the usual breakdown by color!
Similar to the MTGO Vintage Cube, Mono-White Aggro is among the winningest archetypes in the Arena Cube. As a contrast to Vintage Cube, it's far more reasonable to branch into a second color in Arena Cube. The relative strength of a two-mana 3/1 is just higher and you'll have a little bit more time to fumble with your mana if that's a problem.
As per usual you'll want to bias towards a low curve with cards like Usher of the Fallen and Thraben inspector, but Arena Cube will put a little more pressure on you to have some heavy hitters on your roster. I'm looking for one of the following cards to really push me to play a white aggressive deck:
Luminarch Aspirant used to be a consideration here, but the nerfed version just doesn't have nearly as much power. I discount the card for very similar reasons as to why I have Angel of Invention on my list but not Venerated Loxodon. The Loxodon and the Aspirant are both fine and I will play them (the Aspirant more so than the Loxodon) but they simply give up too much tempo before you see the increase in your ability to make good attacks to be very high picks.
Beyond the aggressive strategies, white also has a solid roster of midrange and control cards. These are the standouts:
These are simply some of the best rates in the Cube, and Arena Cube really is largely a "good stuff"-style Cube, so good rates are a huge part of drafting successful decks in the Cube. My preference for drafting white in Arena Cube lies on the extremes of either hyper-aggressive white decks or splashing white for some of these excellent cards in more controlling shells.
Lastly, you'll want to be aware that Settle the Wreckage is in the Cube. I think it's among the most overrated cards of all time on power level and that it also has horrible play patterns, and that's why I'm warning you to play your games with the knowledge that the card exists. Don't fall for any of that preemptive "good game" bush league nonsense and make informed attacks.
Unlike white but in tune with the typical nature of blue, blue's aggressive options are the worst cards in the spread. Also unlike white but in tune with the typical nature of blue, there's a long roster of playable role-player cards. Tons of card selection and a healthy volume of counterspells contribute to blue being the most powerful individual color in this and many other Cubes.
The Mystical Archive was a significant boon to blue with Memory Lapse and Counterspell proper being introduced to Arena, and the aforementioned Discover the Formula is also significant.
I would also like to take this opportunity to talk about how messed up Hullbreaker Horror is in Cube. It's an absolute monster in the current run of Vintage Cube, and it's difficult to imagine beating the card if you can't answer it immediately. Just getting to seven mana is a much easier ask in Arena Cube than in Vintage Cube, and Hullbreaker Horror absolutely gets better the more likely you are to just be able to hard-cast the card. If you haven't played with Hullbreaker Horror yet, you really only need to see it on the battlefield once to be convinced.
In the average case, my goal when drafting Arena Cube is either to be aggressive or to be blue. I don't know what I can really say about that matter with regard to midrange Cubes like this that I haven't already said many times. You'd have to scale back blue pretty dramatically in this and similar Cubes before I'd give this notion a second thought.
Black is kind of funny in Arena Cube, because there's explicit support for Mono-Black Devotion but these decks function much worse than mono-white or mono-red decks. On occasion I get hooked by Gray Merchant of Asphodel, but as is often the case with black in Cube, the average case for these decks is much lower than the ceiling.
Black does have a good clip of strong cards in both the answer and threat departments, I'd just make a point to pair it with at least one other color. These are the cream of the crop for individual black cards in Arena Cube:
I find Demonic Tutor's inclusion in the Cube amusing. Quietly making its way onto Arena through the Mystical Archive and immediately banned for Historic play, Demonic Tutor is apparently still part of the Arena experience. I suppose it gives Vintage Cube enthusiasts a relatable game piece.
In addition to the list of the very best black cards, there's a good amount of role-players such as removal spells and support for a sacrifice theme, but overwhelmingly I'm looking to add black to my deck when it's open and as a support color. It's pretty convincingly the least powerful color in the Cube.
Now we get to why I really like Arena Cube. Mono-Red Aggro totally rules in this environment. When we discussed the Cube on The 540, Justin Parnell has a significant preference for Mono-White Aggro over Mono-Red Aggro, whereas I had a slightly preference for red. With Lightning Bolt making its way onto Arena via the Mystical Archive, I continue to have a slight preference for red.
The funny thing about looking at red in this Cube is that there are so few individual cards that are worth writing home about, but the power level of the Cube is such that a motley crew of red creatures with power and toughness and a decent mana curve is capable of performing very well. There are some great midrange options like Bonecrusher Giant, Seasoned Pyromancer, and Glorybringer, but the best thing about these cards is that they're also good in the aggressive deck. Overwhelmingly I'm looking to play red as my primary color in an aggressive deck, and as with black I'll move in on it if it's open for my midrange and controlling decks.
For the most part, I've been highly successful in forcing Mono-Red Aggro in the Cube because so many of the individual cards appear so underwhelming. I can always count on Scorch Spitter to wheel. Being able to wheel cards and paying heavy mind to your curve will be the most important factors to succeeding with red in the Arena Cube, though if you're lucky you could also assemble the Magic Arena equivalent of Splinter Twin combo:
Embercleave is easy mode, and Anax is a resilient threat that closes immediately with The Cleave. If the amount of time the draft is going to take is part of your calculus for making a first pick, then Embercleave is my Pack 1, Pick 1 overall. In absolute terms there's competition with cards like Sublime Epiphany and Field of the Dead, but if you're playing on mobile then there's really no question here. You'll have to get your hands dirty with filth like Goblin Banneret, so this path is not for the faint of heart, but I can't endorse this approach strongly enough. If you're unable to wheel these draft chaff one-drops though, you will need to pivot in a hurry.
More of the usual when it comes to green. The green aggressive creatures are generally undesirable, mana accelerants like Llanowar Elves are busted, and if I'm not playing an aggressive deck, then I want to be playing with a lot of green and blue cards in this Cube.
Green doesn't really have standout cards in Arena Cube as compared to other Cubes; the names and abilities at different points of the curve vary slightly. One- and two-mana ramp cards are great, and cards that cost five or more and generate value are great. Tendershoot Dryad and Biogenic Ooze are different cards, but the fundamentals here translate perfectly. They're both huge threats that you want to get online ahead of schedule.
There's nothing in the Cube list with the game-ending potential of Craterhoof Behemoth, and that's part of why I like pairing green with blue. The goal is to get ahead on mana and cards, and then to use counterspells or other blue disruptive effects to keep the opponent from somehow stealing the game from you. It's the quintessential "Mana and Stuff" archetype.
Dryad Greenseeker is better than it looks, but cheap mana ramp and even three-mana ramp spells like Cultivate will be your bread and butter here. Get to a point where you're just doing something bigger than your opponent and then do what you can to stop them from returning the favor.
The decks that I draft in Arena Cube are overwhelmingly one- or two-color aggressive decks or Simic decks that are willing to play the full five colors if possible. In either case, I tend to take lands in this Cube higher than gold spells, but I would give the following serious consideration as first picks:
These are just some of the highest-value-over-replacement threats in the Cube, and of this list, the card that I'm happiest to see by far is Golos, Tireless Pilgrim. When Justin Parnell and I discussed previous iterations of this Cube, we strongly agreed that making Field of the Dead work is one of the most powerful things that you can do in this Cube, and if you're not playing an aggressive deck, then getting Golos and Field of the Dead simply is the most powerful thing to have going for you. Additionally, being able to activate Golos is a huge deal against the sorts of decks that you'll play against in this Cube. The 3/5 is solid against the aggressive decks and the card advantage will put you way over against whatever else your opponent might be getting up to.
The roster of high picks here is going to mostly be cards that I've mentioned before specifically or tangentially. We're mostly looking at the usual suspects.
While not a serious consideration for a first pick, I'd also like to say that Crystalline Giant basically always makes my aggressive decks in this Cube. It never does exactly what you want it to, but it's always a 3/3 for three.
Mana-fixing in the Cube is plentiful, with five cycles of two-color lands, allied cycling lands, and Triomes all featured.
Triomes really just make it easy to draft the Golos deck and make the five-color mana work, so long as you're mindful of the number of pips in the spells you're trying to cast. Fabled Passage and Forsaken Crossroads are also great mana-fixing options.
Outside of Field of the Dead the other colorless options are pretty lackluster, but I'm a huge fan of the monocolor creature-lands. I anticipate attacking with a lot of Den of the Bugbears in this run.
I'll be playing at least three Arena Cube drafts with this iteration of the Cube to finish up The Decathlon, and I'm sure I'll be in the queues otherwise. It's a solid Cube experience, whether you're beating down with modest creatures or assembling Zombie tokens with one of the most broken lands of all time.
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We thought you would like to see this photo of our regular work rider, Lauren Sissons who took a holiday last week to compete at the big Stonleigh horse Show in the National final BSJA classes. She got some top placings with her horse Super Haribo competing against the UK's best riders, the Whittakers and all the big names – it was a great achievment. We are proud to have such very experienced riders at our yard – as the old saying goes 'good riders make good horses' and our team at home have years of experience between them.


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Facebook Uses Facial Recognition Technology to Make "Tagging" Easier
Seattle: Facebook has gone on to enhance its face detection feature, launched in July 2010, and has come up with a new feature called "tag suggestions". The new feature makes use of face recognition technology (FRT) to suggest which friend is probably featured in which photo.
How it works is, say you have uploaded a huge number of photographs, Facebook will group together the faces that look similar, based on the premise that they are photos of the same person. Facebook also goes and looks into the past photo tags and suggests who in the picture.
Facebook believes the new feature will simplify the process of photo sharing. Also for users who want to maintain their privacy and not have their name suggested, they can use the privacy settings of the site and turn off the feature.
The earlier face detection feature allowed users to only tag the photos and not suggest the faces. This feature is included with the recent profile update of facebook.
Entire Article: http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/12/16/5660488-facebooks-facial-recognition-knows-who-your-friends-are-
buy Facebook likes link

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Freelance work in a CV – where?
Eric asks: Where should I put freelance work on my medical writing CV? Should I added to regular work experience or keep it in a seperate section? I usually engage in freelance work outside of my full time permanent position. But adding the freelance work to the chronological listing of my full time positions has caused confusion in the past. At first glance it looks like I jump around a great deal. Can you recommend a method of organizing my CV to avoid this issue?
Simply, if you miss out positions – be they temporary or permanent – then recruiters and HR people get suspicious: and that then means more questions and less chance of being hired.
Secondary to that, is then how you address those periods, to not make it look like you are a difficult employee. So hence in cases of freelance work, I list all freelance work as ONE position – and all the freelance assignments as projects or engagements under the one job. Where this goes in the resume depends on the rest of your job history. This eliminates showing you as a job-hopper – since your goal as a Freelance is to complete and finish each job.
If you have done part-time full employment alongside periods of temporary work outside of that, then position that as a separate piece of work. The issue you will then have to address is will you be dedicated to this piece of work? If you can address that in a CV/Resume, then expect a question on it at interview.
But number one remit of any CV/Resume is – don't lie, and don't leave gaps. Good Luck!
How do you improve your leverage when you have been out of work for one year?
What is the best way to describe periods of independent consulting/contracting?


Cutting-edge VR/AR display technologies (gaze-, accommodation-, motion-aware and HDR-enabled). / Koulieris, George Alex; Akşit, Kaan; Richardt, Christian; Mantiuk, Rafał.
2018. SIGGRAPH Asia 2018, Tokyo, Japan.
Koulieris, George Alex ; Akşit, Kaan ; Richardt, Christian ; Mantiuk, Rafał. / Cutting-edge VR/AR display technologies (gaze-, accommodation-, motion-aware and HDR-enabled). SIGGRAPH Asia 2018, Tokyo, Japan.341 p.


Why require proof of the specific intent to harm?
Is such an instruction necessary?
Guidance on warrantless search of "abandoned" trailer house based on the consent of the trailer park owner.
Anyone know of an accredited private lab that will test feces from a murder scene for DNA?
Why condition threat of increased punishment on a final conviction?
Where does the "possession" occur?
Can insurance company get restitution?
The SPA has taken a position on many issues associated with art. 39.14.
Is a restitution order same as a civil judgment?
Pulled over invalidly for "suspicious vehicle" but the highmount brake light was out. Can we justify the detention with the highmount brake light even though deputy didn't notice it?
Does anybody have a voir dire and jury charge for a competency trial?
Are DA employees being squeezed out of the middle class?
Can a juvenile adjudication for Indecency with a Child be admitted in the guilt phase of a Sexual Assault trial as an adult?
We have a defendant that was convicted in Louisiana of Aggrevated Sexual Assault of a Child with the requirement that he register.
Is this as sneaky and underhanded as it seems?
Subbing chemist from out of state lab?
What are my options with my OOS lab results?
jury charge for official oppression?
Can law enforcement transport a child from school for a forensic interview without the parent's consent?
Child V has an STD and I need to know if perp gave it to her.


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India-Vietnam Defense Ties in the Spotlight With Naval Exercise
Recent engagements confirm the uptick in activity in the defense realm.
Credit: Flickr/Narendra Modi
On May 21, three Indian naval ships began a five-day visit to the Vietnamese city of Da Nang, which is expected to culminate in a naval exercise between the two sides. Though this is just one of a series of scheduled defense engagements by the two sides expected in 2018, it has nonetheless once again put the spotlight on the growing security ties between the two Asian powers, including in the maritime realm.
Vietnam and India have looked to advance their existing defense relationship as part of their wider ties, which were elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016. Both sides want to take advantage of opportunities in bilateral ties as well as address a series of shared challenges, including China's growing maritime assertiveness. Defense ties have grown in recent years to include not just the traditional components in this realm of ties like exchanges and port calls but also the training of personnel, capacity-building funding and equipment, coast guard collaboration, and pacts on areas such as white shipping and outer space.
That trend in defense ties has continued on into 2018. Defense issues were also on the agenda during Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang's visit to India back in March, where the two sides said they would look to enhance cooperation in areas such as coproduction and technology transfer and also to work on addressing common challenges such as maritime security and cybersecurity. And a series of high-level defense visits is already in the works by both sides, with Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman expected to be visiting Vietnam in June.
On May 21, three Indian naval ships, with 913 crew members on board, officially began a five-day visit to Da Nang. The three Indian ships – the frigate INS Sahyadri, oil tanker INS Shakti, and corvette INS Kamorta – arrived at Tien Sa Port led by Rear Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, the commander of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet. This was the first such official public visit of Indian Navy vessels since September 2017, when INS Satpura and INS Kadmatt visited Hai Phong port.
According to the Vietnamese defense ministry, upon their arrival, the Indian crew members were received at the port by several Vietnamese representatives from Naval Region 3, the Department of Foreign Relations under the Ministry of National Defense, the Office of the Military Region 5 Command, the Da Nang provincial Border Guard and Military Commands, and the Department of External Affairs of Da Nang.
The visit is expected to see a range of activities by the two sides, including courtesy calls to leaders of the city's People's Committee and the Naval Region 3 Command, exchanges such as a friendly volleyball match with troops of Naval Region 3, meeting with students of Danang University, a band concert, and guided tours for Indian Navy personnel.
But the focus has mainly been on the exercise that both sides are expected to undertake, in spite of the scant details that have been publicly released so far. The Indian Navy just mentioned that "an exercise" would be held and contextualized the visit as part of a broader ongoing operational deployment to Southeast Asia and the northwest Pacific. Vietnam's defense ministry said that the visit would culminate in what it termed a "bilateral maritime field training exercise" between the two sides before the Indian warships depart Da Nang.
Ahead of the visit, some media headlines focused on the fact that the exercise would be a show of force by India and Vietnam in the South China Sea in the wake of China's continued maritime assertiveness. Though the South China Sea no doubt features as a concern for both sides, such interactions ought to be framed not as single-issue or single-event headlines but as part of heightened activity between the two sides across the defense realm. That activity and the broader defense relationship will be in the spotlight in the coming weeks, not just with the exercise but also in other forthcoming engagements such as Sitharaman's expected visit.
China assertiveness
India South China Sea
India Vietnam
India Vietnam defense
India Vietnam military
India-Vietnam Relations
Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership
Vietnam navy
Vietnam People's Navy
Vietnam South China Sea
India-Vietnam Coast Guard Ties in the Spotlight with First Visit
A recent interaction put the focus on the developing maritime ties between the two states.
Navy Chief Visit Highlights India-Vietnam Military Relations
A look at the broader significance of a recent interaction between the two countries.
What's Next for Vietnam-India Defense Relations?
A recent engagement was just the latest engagement held by the two sides in this realm.
Defense Dialogue Highlights Vietnam-India Security Ties
The interaction spotlighted the ongoing activity in the defense aspect of the broader bilateral relationship.


text:
The Pamphleteer, Volume 19
edited by Abraham John Valpy
it was necessary because this arbitrary government was ruining the state by the defects of its administration. Unfortunately the want of any institution, even of an imperfect one, which might have furnished the means of enlightening the government by peaceable measures, made it every day more to be feared that the Parliamentary system could only be established in Piedmont, through the aid of a revolution; and however legitimate such a revolution might be, many persons who were impatient under their arbitrary yoke, yet shrunk from the thought of lacerating the heart of their prince, and agitated themselves between the chagrin of not being able to undeceive him, and their reluctance to constrain him by revolutionary movements. They might have remained long in this harassing and painful suspense, if the most imminent political considerations had not decided the question at once, and plainly laid down the line of conduct which they ought to pursue, in order to acquit themselves at the same time. of their duties towards the throne, and towards their country. The manner in which the allied powers had disposed of Italy' at the congress of Vienna, far from augmenting the real strength of the house of Savoy, had deprived it of all preponderance in the affairs of Italy, and consequently of its place in the system of Europe. Before the French revolution, the King of Sardinia was the principal power in the Peninsula, both by the position and the population of his dominions. The house of Austria possessed in it only the duchies of Milan and Mantua, almost separated by two rich Venetian provinces, Brescia and Bergamo. Since the congress of Vienna which sanctioned the annihilation of the republic of Venice, one of the most perfidious acts of Buonaparte's policy, the empire of Austria has most alarmingly extended itself in Italy, by the possession of Lombardy, that rich and populous district, siezing its hereditary property on every point of its long northern frontier. Add to this, Parma and Placentia, placed under the authority of an Austrian general, the gaoler of an unfortunate princess, Modena and Tuscany given up to Austrian princes, and Ferrara guarded by an Austrian garrison, which leaves the states of the church at the mercy of the Emperor ; surely for any one, after considering this, to say that the king of Sardinia is enabled by the mere acquisition of Genoa to counterbalance the power of Austria in Italy, would be to add insult to our other injuries. Genoa moreover does not augment the strength of the house of Savoy so much as some may imagine. The city requires a larger Piedmontese garrison than the number of inhabitants in the duchy can furnish; the conscription is forced to spare such of the population as are des. tined for the sea. The Genoese nobility, depressed, discontented, and, with very few exceptions, not soothed by ribbands, and chamberlains' keys, will for a long time be a dangerous element in the state. The middling ranks, well-informed, and liberal in their ideas, cannot accommodate their spirits to an absolute government, any more than the mountaineers can forget the times when the lands paid scarcely any thing. Genoa can only become a source of prosperity to the monarchy, by a liberal constitution, the only possible tie between two people, held in habitual disunion by the remembrance of long and unfortunate feuds.
Every thinking person in Europe saw that, after the division by the congress at Vienna, the house of Savoy could no longer be considered with reference to what she had been, but what she must become, in endeavoring by force to oppose the will of Italy. Her very being could only be a transient one. Pressed between two great powers, the King of Sardinia saw himself compelled to choose whether he would become the vassal of Austria, or contend for the crown of Italy. The remembrance of the warlike deeds of so many of the Princes of Savoy, of the fortitude of Emmanuel Philibert in misfortune, the undaunted resolution of Victor Amadeus, and the firmness of Charles Emmanuel III., excited an expectation that this house would fulfil its destiny, on the first occasion that should occur. The Lombards were dis-, contented with their subjugation to the Emperor of Austria, the measures he observed towards them were of so dubious a nature as showed that they would be changed or thrown aside, as soon as the motives which dictated them should cease; and even whilst they lasted, the deserted state of Venice, and the thousands who were in want of bread, the remnant of a brave
humbled and neglected, the commercial welfare of the country sacrificed for the interests of Austrian industry, all made the unhappiness of a foreign sway bitterly felt.
In Piedmont a grand revolution had already taken place in the public mind. Emmanuel Philibert in removing his seat of Government to Turin, and Charles Emmanuel II. by his conduct, had long shown that their house and kingdom were no longer French; but it was not till the reign of Victor Emmanuel that the Piedmontese became fully convinced of this truth. A race of young people who had imbibed the sentiments of Victor Alfieri, and a host of brave men, from the ranks of Napoleon's armies, concurred to give this impulse to opinion, and it was strengthened by that hatred of the Austrian name, which is instinctive both in the Piedmontese and Genoese, coeval with their existence, and which will end only with it. A hatred which the Austrians themselves have taken care to nourish, every time they have appeared among us, by the insolence of their deportment, their extortions, and the hardships they impose upon the people.
Victor Emmanuel has been reproached with not having availed himself of the opportunity afforded him in 1814, to place the crown of Lombardy upon his head. I doubt whether this reproach be just, and whether the enterprise would have succeeded at that time. What has been said of it, however, both in Piedmont, and throughout the rest of Italy, sufficiently shows the state of public opinion. Meanwhile it would be wrong to accuse Victor Emmanuel of not answering, by his sentiments, these wishes of the Piedmontese. Happy times, cherished in memory, when throughout my country we were all united by the same hopes, and all felt called to the same vocation! Then all eyes were turned towards this same Lombardy, which we called the land of our brothers; we had then no Piedmontese deafened with the noise of their chains, or with their blood boiling at the sight of a Milanese bending under the stick of an Austrian corporal. We might differ as to the means of remedying our internal evils, but we all agreed in the desire, and the necessity, of retaining that interest in Italy which formed the sole strength of our state, the only guarantee of its independence, the only reasonable motive for our national sacrifices. We eagerly repeated to each other the answers made by the King to the Ministers from Austria to Turin; we cherished every word which expressed how much he felt the patriotism of the Italians, and if at that time it had been asked who was at the head of the vague, but universal conspiracy which Italy contained within her bosom, the name of Victor Emmanuel would have burst from every lip.
But when reasonable men were constrained to abandon the sweet illusions of enthusiasm, they were reluctantly compelled to acknowlege that the noble chief of the Italian conspiracy entertained a repugnance to one of the measures best calculated to ensure its success. I have already said, that Victor Emmanuel was startled at the idea of a constitutional government. Nevertheless the rectitude of his heart was such, that the reunion of those loyal and courageous servants who had represented to him the duties which his political situation, and the welfare of his people imposed upon him, would have surmounted all his objections. Yes, this good prince would have yielded, notwithstanding the influence of the Queen and his affection for her. Victor Emmanuel loved his subjects also, and the honor of the nation above every thing. He only wanted to know the truth ; but how was he to know it? What king can ever flatter himself with knowing it, in a country where the absence of every liberal institution raises clouds of impenetrable darkness between the throne and the people. These clouds, however, were dispersed when the Revolution in Spain sounded like a clap of thunder throughout Europe ; and taught
sions appointed, and project on project formed, without advancing a step. The King, by a sort of instinct, hereditary in his family, knew best the situation of his country: he wished for a strong army, in which he was perfectly right: but he might have had it without oppressing his people. Undoubtedly some serious reformation should have been adopted in regard to the Etats-Majors, as well as several of the more expensive corps : but these could not be touched without rousing a powerful band of courtiers, and affecting the most favored families; and Victor Emmanuel was not sufficiently enlightened to see through the veil, under which certain interested servants of the throne took care to conceal their personal views, nor firm enough to repel the solicitations of those whom he believed to be attached to him.
The King had done either too little or too much for his army. The Marquis de St. Marsan, Minister at War, had organised the infantry on a good system. This system was attacked, defended, deranged, modified, and yet continued to exist, but unsupported by institutions calculated to obviate its inconveniences, such as were eminently in the spirit of the Government of the House of Savoy, but diametrically opposed to our mazims of policy: for in this respect our policy resembles that of the rest of the world, who are apt to exclaim furiously against every popular idea. The system of conscription had been fully acted on by Bonaparte. It was severe, but just, and presented extensive resources. Much had been expended on the artillery, but without discretion. The supply of the most indispensable kind of stores was defective ; whilst the accoutrements were. ill adapted to the wants of the individual and the situation of the country.
The hopes of the better informed among the army were besides nearly destroyed when the Marquis de St. Marsan was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whence the Count de Vallesa had retired amidst the applauses of the public, whose esteem for him was heightened by the noble intrepidity with which he retired from office. The new War Minister, a man of good and upright intentions, either neglected or changed most of the useful arrangements of his predecessor, and followed directly opposite principles. The improvements and retrenchments which the Marquis de St. Marsan had begun or projected, not having been carried into effect, the consequence was, that Piedmont, though overloaded with military expenses, was without an army; for no real army exists but in that country where the troops can be instantly put on a war footing
An event occurred, which appeared to revive the hopes of the nation--the appointment of Count de Balbe to be Home Minister.
' In August or September, 1819.
A worthy man, well versed in political economy, acquainted with the spirit of the age, but not duly estimating the force of public opinion ; a man who, in fact, from his turn of mind, appeared to belong to the period which produced a Turgot, a Malesherbes, and a Grand Duke Leopold. His name might have been placed beside theirs, had he been born in a country more suited to his genius, or had he not been wanting in energy of character. Piedmont stood in need of a civil and criminal code of laws, of a system of public education, provincial administrations, charitable establishments, &c.; and the Count de Balbe could not accomplish any essential or solid amelioration, unless he had effected considerable changes in other departments of Government, for he could not obtain the necessary funds without re-modelling the whole administration of the State, and fixing it on a more simple basis. Stopped in the outset, he perceived not the necessity of either removing the obstacles to his measures, or retiring: he imagined that the reformation of some matters of routine might satisfy public opinion and lead to more important benefits; he thought to elude the greatest difficulties by managing with address the interests or prejudices which stood in his way. Strange infatuation, in a man of his sense! but which shows that faults must necessarily be committed, in the present state of society, even by those entrusted with the administration, unless they acquaint themselves with public opinion. And how were we to arrive at a knowledge of public opinion in Piedmont, where no institutions existed that could convey the sentiments of the people ? They spoke with much freedom, it is true; but the public, ill informed in political affairs, in its censure confounded good with evil, launched forth the bitterest reproaches on the acts of Government, with so little discrimination, that such an opposition could carry no weight with the Ministers, or indeed acquire the smallest degree of consistency.
The Government considered that they had taken an important step for the public good by instituting a permanent council of conference, at which the King presided, and which consisted of his Ministers in actual employment. The Count de Roburent, master of the horse, and a friend of the King, generally attended. The Chevalier César de Saluces, one of the most distinguished men in the country, was secretary to the council. How they could expect by such means to impart unity to the movements of Government, I know not. To effect this, we should have had a Prince endowed with a knowlege of business, and of an energetic character, like Louis XIV., for instance, or Victor Amadeus II. Victor Emmanuel, in the council of his ministers, only found reasons for hesitating and fearing to do wrong. There was no Minister of


text:
COVID-19/News/World
Global Covid caseload tops 279.4 mn
The global coronavirus caseload has topped 279.4 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 5.39 million and vaccinations to over 8.92 billion, according to Johns Hopkins University…reports Asian Lite News
In its latest update on Sunday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and the death toll stood at 279,454,484 and 5,396,449, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses administered has increased to 8,922,657,773.
The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 52,092,894 and 816,463, according to the CSSE.
The second worst hit country in terms of cases is India (34,779,815 infections and 479,520 deaths), followed by Brazil (22,238,369 infections and 618,686 deaths).
ALSO READ: Global Covid caseload tops 278 mn
The other countries with over 5 million cases are the UK (11,958,928), Russia (10,189,722), Turkey (9,268,486), France (9,192,843), Germany (6,999,476), Iran (6,182,905), Spain (5,718,007), Italy (5,622,431), Argentina (5,452,419) and Colombia (5,121,668), the CSSE figures showed.
The nations with a death toll of over 100,000 are Mexico (298,670), Russia (297,223), Peru (202,424), the UK (148,324), Indonesia (144,053), Italy (136,530), Iran (131,348), Colombia (129,729), France (123,531), Argentina (117,020) and Germany (110,317).
Team Boris say sorry to Queen
Swarm of Flying Ants Spotted from Space; Heading towards UK
Sanskruti's webinar on Ottan Thullal captivates UK audiences


text:
Is There Going To Be Another Avengers Movie?
Who is stronger Thor or Hulk?
Who was the third Avenger?
Who is the least powerful Avenger?
Who is next Thor?
Is Quicksilver coming back?
Does Black Widow come back?
Is Thor dead?
Is Falcon the new Captain America?
How old is Tom Holland?
Who is the new She-Hulk?
Will there be a Spiderman 4?
How many Marvel movies will there be?
How many Marvel movies are out?
Was Deadpool an avenger?
Who is the most popular Avenger?
What will wakanda forever be about?
Will there be a Black Panther 2?
Kevin Feige, Marvel's President and Chief Creative Officer, has even indicated that there would be no more Avengers films in the future.
Similarly, Will there be Avengers 5?
Kevin Feige Confirms That Avengers 5′ Will Not Be Made.
Also, it is asked, Are there going to be any more Avengers movies?
Given that "Avengers: Endgame" was released in 2019 and we'll be five years away, it's quite probable that another film will be a bigger "Avengers" team-up feature. For quite some time, we've been hearing indications about a "Young Avengers" film. Hopefully, we'll get to see more of the MCU's female heroes as well.
Secondly, Who is the strongest Avenger?
1 Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch That was enough to put her at the top, but Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff, is now the official most powerful Avenger.
Also, Is Thanos coming back?
Online speculations have been circulating that Thanos (Josh Brolin), the renowned Marvel Cinematic Universe villain, would be returning in a new prequel series set before the Infinity Saga.
People also ask, Is there going to be a she Hulk movie?
In March 2021, production began. Ms. Marvel will premiere on Disney+ in summer 2022, while Moon Knight will be released on March 30, 2022. As a result, we anticipate She-release Hulk's in the autumn of 2022.
These figures indicate that Thor and Hulk are relatively equally matched 35 out of 40 times (or only triumph or fail according to the circumstances). It's fair to say Hulk and Thor are on par, but for the time being, Hulk gets to boast about being "the strongest one there is."
original group Name of character Iron Man joined Stark, Anthony Edward 1st Avengers (Septem.) Thor Odinson, Thor Wasp Van Dyne, Janet Ant-Man, also known as Scott Lang, Giant-Man, Yellowjacket, Goliath, and other characters Henry Jonathan Pym, M.D. 1 more row
Who is the most vulnerable avenger? Winter Soldier is the most vulnerable. 4 Vision is the most powerful. Falcon is the weakest. Scarlet Witch is the strongest. Black Widow is the 7th weakest. Doctor Strange is the most powerful. Hawkeye is the weakest. Captain Marvel is the 10th strongest superhero.
Finally, Natalie Portman returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She hasn't been in the MCU since Thor: The Dark World, and she's armed with Mjolnir this time. Portman will play the Mighty Thor in the forthcoming film, according to director Taika Waititi.
With Evan Peters starring in Sony's Kraven the Hunter film, Aaron Taylor-Quicksilver Johnson's is likewise unlikely to return
Marvel fans, rejoice! Scarlett Johansson will reprise her role as Natasha Romanoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which she performed from 2010 through 2021. She will not, however, reprise her role as Black Widow, which makes sense given Avengers: Endgame's developments.
Thor officially died when he vanquished Those Who Sit Above In Shadow during the Final Ragnarok. During Fear Itself, he died battling his uncle Cul, God of Fear.
The end of Marvel's The Falcon & The Winter Soldier saw Falcon become the new Captain America, yet in the comics, things were a little different.
25 years (J) Age / Tom Holland
Maslany, Tatiana
Kevin Feige, the CEO of Marvel Studios, revealed that a new film is in the works shortly after, although development does not imply confirmation. "We've had discussions about Spider-possible Man's future, but they're still dialogues," Holland remarked in February 2022.
Marvel, on the other hand, is launching an avalanche of new shows and films. The studio has unveiled a schedule for the next five years that includes 23 series or features. Since the MCU's inception in 2008, there have been 23 films.
The Marvel Cinematic World (MCU) is the common universe in which all of the films are situated. The movies have been in development since 2007, and Marvel Studios has produced and released 28 films throughout that time, with at least 11 more in different stages of development.
So, no, Deadpool isn't an Avenger because they wouldn't allow him attach their name to his deeds. On a larger scale, there are hundreds of "Marvel" characters, and the great majority of them aren't "in The Avengers."
Spider-Man is the most popular Avenger of all, according to data from Marvel. Spider-Man. Thor. The Hulk. Iron Man. Captain America is a superhero. Spider-Man outperformed the other Avengers, with his name being googled the most in 67 percent of the nations studied.
The sequel to the "Black Panther" film series. Wakanda Forever (Black Panther) / Synopsis
The sequel to "Black Panther" will be released in November 2022, more than two years after Boseman's death from pancreatic cancer in August 2020. According to reports, Chadwick Boseman's iconic role as T'Challa will not be replaced, forcing writer-director Ryan Coogler to rewrite the original screenplay for the sequel.
The "who will be in avengers 5" is a question that has been asked for years. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had some ups and downs, but with the success of Avengers: Infinity War, it seems like there might be another one coming soon.
The "avengers 5 release date" is a question that has been on the minds of many fans. There have been rumors about the Avengers movie coming out in 2019, but Marvel has not confirmed anything yet.
marvel movies in order
the new avengers 2023
when is the next avengers movie coming out
avengers 5 trailer
What Movie Did Elvis First Appear In?
How To Download Movies On Amazon Prime?
What Movies Are Showing In Theaters?


Talend, the global leader in big data integration software, today announced the launch of an annual awards program to celebrate enterprises that are using Talend solutions to transform their data architectures and fuel overall business success. Finalists will be chosen from the more than 1,700 global Talend customers representing large public organizations and private firms across every major business sector such as retail, finance, healthcare and industrial goods. Winners of the inaugural Talend Data Masters Awards will be announced this November.
Award recipients will be judged on a range of criteria including market impact and innovation, project scale and complexity, big data technologies usage and innovation, as well as the overall business value achieved. Companies will be recognized across a number of different product categories including Master Data Management, Data Integration, Big Data, ESB, and Data Quality. In addition to acknowledging users of Talend's enterprise-class solutions, Talend will also be celebrating the outstanding work performed by some of the more than 2 million developers who are leveraging its open source integration products.
To learn more about the awards and to complete an entry form visit: datamasters. The submission period closes Aug. 31, 2015.


It's not a question, it's a practice.
Ease into it, take it with ease, be at ease, easy does it, easy peasy.
This week I switched my narrative, practicing ease helped.
It went from 'I don't know how' to 'what do I need to know' to 'this is what I need' and asking for it along the way. Guidance, answers, perhaps even some angels. I'm present to what is possible, asking for what I need, and trust everything will fall into place.


text:
Quidditch Gets Its New Name
JK Rowling's trans controversy makes its way to the sport
By John Johnson, Newser Staff
Posted Dec 20, 2021 1:35 PM CST
Updated Jul 20, 2022 3:00 AM CDT
Author J.K. Rowling appears at the world premiere of the film "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" in Paris in 2018. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Update: Quidditch is now quadball, or soon will be. After announcing last year that the sport, a real-life version of the magical game JK Rowling dreamed up for the Harry Potter book series, would change its name in part to distance itself from the allegedly transphobic author, the sport's governing bodies announced the new name Tuesday. Quadball, a reference to the number of balls and positions used in the game, was selected after players and fans were surveyed, NBC News reports. For US Quidditch, the name change is effective immediately; for Major League Quidditch, it will come following the 2022 championships in August. The International Quidditch Association will also adopt the name across the globe. Our original story from Dec. 20, 2021, follows:
JK Rowling has taken much flak over views perceived as anti-trans, and the fallout just emerged in the most unusual of places: quidditch leagues. Two leagues in the US that play a version of the sport from the Harry Potter books announced they were changing their names in part to distance themselves from the author, reports the Guardian. "Our sport has developed a reputation as one of the most progressive sports in the world on gender equality and inclusivity," says a joint statement from US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch. The statement notes that copyright concerns over the word "quidditch" is also a factor in the switch to new names, which have yet to be selected.
A spokesperson for the Blair Partnership literary agency, where Rowling is a client, points out that the author never endorsed the leagues in the first place, per the BBC. Rowling has been embroiled in the controversy since 2020, after posting tweets—starting with this one—and an essay on trans and gender issues. In the essay, for example, she wrote that she is a survivor of sexual assault and is troubled by the idea of "single sex spaces." As for the quidditch leagues, they say will pick new names after the results of a survey come in. Possibilities include Quickball, Quicker, Quidstrike, and Quadraball, per the London Times. (Read more JK Rowling stories.)


Qsymia from Vivus Inc. is the 2nd pill to be approved this summer. This is the first time the FDA has approved new diet drugs in 13 years.
This May I critiqued the expected approval of the first new weight loss drugs in thirteen years . And yes, it's happened. The FDA approved Arena Pharmaceutical's Belviq late last month, and Vivus Inc.'s Qsymia yesterday.
The one surprise? Vivus Inc. previously called their drug Qnexa. They changed it to Qsymia this month, apparently due to concerns over confusion with other drug names.
Qsymia is a combination of two existing drugs, one of which is phentermine, an appetite suppressant that is the component of the fen-phen combination that remained on the market. The other is topiramate, an epilepsy and migraine drug.
Together these drugs can make you desire food less (that's the stimulant phentermine at work, think Adderall) and feel more full.
Fen-phen, ephedra, sibutramine and phenylpropanolamine all had to be pulled from the market for safety concerns. A drug popular in Europe, rimonabant, was denied approval in the United States because of side effects. The lone prescription drug currently available in America for weight loss, orlistat, offers only minor weight loss with the trade-off of major stomach problems in the form of oily, greasy stools.
Qsymia too carries considerable side effects, the most troubling being birth defects. Pregnant women can't be prescribed the pill, women of child-bearing age who use it will have to use contraception, and it will only be offered through approved mail-order pharmacies.
Other possible side effects include mood disturbances, trouble thinking and increased heart rate (But at least you'll be thinner?! Eesh).
While Belviq promises only a 3-4% loss in body weight, studies suggest people on Qsymia lose an average of 8-10% of their weight over a year, more than any other weight loss drug.
The warnings in Vivus's packaging may benefit Arena's Belviq in the marketplace, said Atsushi Seki, a health- care analyst at Barclays Plc in Tokyo. The market for obesity treatments will probably reach $6 billion a year, and Barclays expects annual sales of Belviq to peak at $1.5 billion, he said.
As of this morning Vivus stock had jumped eleven percent to $29.39.
Vivus hopes to have their drug covered by insurance companies within a year, though they've declined to state its price.


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The Study Library - Advertise
Five COG youths garner top honors
TYLER, Texas--Three graduating high-school seniors and two eighth-grade graduates from Church of God families in Tyler and Big Sandy garnered top honors in their respective classes of 2002.
Jessica Wilson, 17-year-old daughter of Karl and Sharon Wilson of Tyler, is valedictorian of the senior class of John Tyler High School in Tyler.
Miss Wilson graduates with a 4.0 grade-point average at the top of a class of 289 seniors.
She plans to enter the University of Chicago's equivalent of a premed program (although her undergraduate major will be biology) to study for a career as a surgeon.
The Wilson family attends the Church of God Big Sandy.
The valedictorian of Big Sandy High School is Lecia Ferguson, daughter of David and Dana Ferguson of Big Sandy.
Miss Ferguson plans to attend the University of Texas at Tyler and will probably major in art. The Fergusons attend Sabbath services of the Worldwide Church of God in Big Sandy.
Big Sandy High School's salutatorian is Andrea Boettcher, daughter of Toby and Jean Shipman of Big Sandy.
Miss Boettcher plans to attend Kilgore (Texas) College and major in elementary education.
The Shipman family, including Miss Boettcher, is members of the United Church of God, which meets in nearby Gilmer.
The Big Sandy public school also has a graduation ceremony each year for the eighth-grade class. The eighth-grade valedictorian and salutatorian for 2002 both come from Church of God families.
Jessica Killingley of Big Sandy, daughter of Reg and Carol Killingley, is valedictorian. Matthew David Fisher, son of David and Lori Fisher of Pritchett, Texas, is salutatorian. Both families attend the Church of God Big Sandy.
The Journal: News of the Churches of God is available from P.O. Box 1020, Big Sandy, Texas 75755, U.S.A., and http://www.thejournal.org. For more information write . To comment on this article or any other article or feature in The Journal or Connections, write . The preceding article or feature is from The Journal, April 15, 2002.
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SpringHill Entertainment is gaining momentum coming off a summer of several successful projects and script sales. In the past two weeks, the entertainment and content company has sold two scripted series to broadcast network NBC. The first, a scripted comedy project titled "There Goes the Neighborhood," is a half-hour, single-camera series about the first white family to move into a predominantly black, newly gentrifying neighborhood in Cleveland. The project is executive produced by SpringHill Entertainment's LeBron James and Maverick Carter along with Bill Lawrence and Jeff Ingold from Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Neil Goldman, Garrett Donovan, and Ron Funches will also serve as executive producers and writers on the project.
The second SpringHill Entertainment broadcast network sale is an untitled sports medicine drama, also picked up by NBC. James and Carter will executive produce the untitled project about a doctor, specializing in treating the world's greatest sports stars, who undergoes a health crisis that forces him to rethink his approach to medicine with the help of a gifted sports psychologist. Renowned orthopedic/sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews will serve as executive consultant on the project that is also being produced in association with Warner Bros. Television.
In addition to the new scripted NBC projects in development, SpringHill Entertainment's first network primetime game show, "The Wall," is set to debut on NBC later this year.


text:
import sys

salesTotal = 0
transactions = 0

for line in sys.stdin:
    data_mapped = line.strip().split("\t")
    if len(data_mapped) != 2:
        # Something has gone wrong. Skip this line.
        continue

    salesTotal += float(data_mapped[1])
    transactions += 1

print transactions, "\t", salesTotal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub