==General information== '''VMmanager''' is a virtualization management software, which presents a perfect tool for creating virtual machines, providing VPS hosting services and building cloud infrastructure. '''VMmanager''' can use one or multiple physical servers to create virtual machines making it possible to manage a cluster with unlimited number of machines. . The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libvirt Libvirt] library is used for managing the virtualization system. If you encounter problems and cannot find possible causes in VMmanager KVM logs, try locating them in the libvirt logs (/var/log/libvirt) and the system log. All the operations performed by VMmanager can be performed by executing [http://libvirt.org/virshcmdref.html virsh]. The control panel will install all the programs it requires, during the setup process. You don't need to perform any other server configuration. Hosting providers can use '''VMmanager''' to provide virtual machines to their clients. Developers, educational institutions, commercial organizations can use VMmanager to divide a physical server into several isolated virtual machines. ==Main features== * Creation of virtual machines * Reboot, activation, suspension of virtual machines * Migration of virtual machines between cluster nodes * OS deployment on virtual machines * Boot virtual machines from ISO-image * Service resources report ==Characteristics== *One control panel can be used manage a number of physical servers (cluster nodes); *When you connect a cluster node, required software applications will be installed and configured automatically; *Live migration of virtual machines allows to unload cluster node; *Analytics and notifications system allows to get information about errors. ==Differences between versions== * '''[[:Category:VMmanager OVZ|VMmanager OVZ]]''' - software version which runs on OpenVZ virtualization. * '''[[:Category:VMmanager KVM|VMmanager KVM]]''' - software version which runs on KVM virtualization. Unlike OVZ, this version can use [[Storage templates|network storages]] to create disks of virtual machines. * '''[[:Category:VMmanager Cloud|VMmanager Cloud]]''' - software version which runs on KVM virtualization, and enables to build a [[VMmanager Cloud at work|fail-over cluster]] of virtual machines.


HENLEY put in a spirited display to draw with London Wayfarers at Jubilee Park last Saturday.
Despite conceding the first goal after 10 minutes, the hosts dominated much of the first half and equalised through Luke Gupta, after Henley captain Ed Foster's astute reverse stick strike was parried by the visitors' goal keeper, but Gupta was on hand at the far post to deflect the ball into the corner of the goal.
The home side doubled their lead through Tom Walter, who found himself in space in the Wayfarers D, and despatched a well-taken drag flick past into the corner of the net. Despite chances at either end of the pitch, the score remained 2-1 to Henley going into half-time.
In the second half Henley played some good hockey and added their third goal on 45 minutes. Following some determined play from Jonny Taylor down the left wing, the ball fell to Foster in the Wayfarers D, who slid the ball past the goalkeeper, for Steve Harding to pass the ball into the unguarded goal.
At 3-1, Wayfarers changed their formation to three in defence, which allowed four high forwards to apply pressure to the Henley back line.
With 15 minutes of play remaining the visitors pulled a goal back after a scrappy long corner fell to the Wayfarers' centre forward, who drilled the ball past the helpless Roy Cox in goal.
Minutes later the scores were level, after a broken down short corner resulted in a penalty flick being awarded after Robbie Mortimer was adjudged to have fouled a Wayfarers attacker on the goal line. Alex Penney stepped up for the away side and made sure that the points were shared, as his flick nestled into the corner of the home side's goal.
Despite being unable to hold on for the win, Henley will be buoyed by their strong performance and will hope to replicate such displays in the second half of the season and move up the league table.
HENLEY 3rds lost 2-0 at home in a tight battle with fellow promotion contenders Aylesbury 2nds. The hosts boasted a strong side but struggled to develop their normal fluency under the floodlights at Jubilee Park on a bitterly cold day.
the corner of the Henley goal.
Galvanised by this, the home side pushed higher up the pitch and built more attacking moves, winning a series of penalty corners which went unconverted.
Winning their own penalty corner following a fast break, Aylesbury doubled their lead with a sharp straight strike. With 10 minutes remaining Henley continued to press and build dangerous moves, but none were converted.
Henley end the first half of the season in third place in the league, just three points behind the leaders.
HENLEY 5ths' Andy Farrow netted a hat-trick as the amber and blues defeated Witney 5-1 at Jubilee Park.
Henley were on the offensive from the start, pushing up into Witney's half and creating an opportunity for centre forward Farrow to open the scoring.
Stepping up the pressure against Witney, midfielders Max Hems and Henry Davis once again took the ball up in to Witney's 25 yard area and a concise pass via Alan Mortimer was fed in to the D and expertly dispatched into Witney's goal by Farrow.
Henley made it 3-0 when centre back James Moore charged up through the midfield culminating in a concise and accurate strike into Witney's goal.
Witney upped their pace in the second half and came back with a couple of fast charges on Henley's goal that were seen off by goalkeeper Joe Selvester and fullback Nick Shuttleworth. Despite their best defensive efforts Witney eventually managed to score to reduce the arrears to 3-1.
game when centre-forward Farrow completed his hat-trick.


text:
Zac Brown Band Hits BB&T Pavilion in Camden in August
Joe Kelly Published: January 14, 2022
Getty Images for Entercom
The Zac Brown Band will be returning to South Jersey this summer.
The band will be playing the BB&T Pavilion in Camden on Friday, August 26th.
Zac Brown last played in the area last summer when it closed out the Barefoot Country Music Fest on the beach in Wildwood.
Tickets for the Zac Brown Band's "Out in the Middle" tour go on sale Friday, January 21st at 10. Here's the link for tickets.
Zac Brown's latest album is called "The Comeback."
Country Music's Top 10 Albums of 2021
Billboard released its year-end chart for the top-selling country albums artists of 2021, and Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton and Carrie Underwood are all among the acts who made the list.
See Pictures From the '1883' World Premiere in Las Vegas
The stars of 1883 walk the red carpet and socialize during before and after the world premiere of the series at the Wynn Las Vegas on Saturday, Dec. 11, 2021. See pictures of Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Sam Elliott, Billy Bob Thornton, Isabela May and more.
PICTURES: See Inside Patsy Cline's Dream Home in Nashville
Patsy Cline's former "dream home" in Nashville is for sale, and pictures show a piece of country music history. The 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom, 2,770-square-foot house in a Nashville suburb comes with an asking price of $549,900, and pictures show that it's been restored to the same condition it was in when it was first built in 1965.
Source: Zac Brown Band Hits BB&T Pavilion in Camden in August
Filed Under: BB&T Pavilion, Camden, concert, Zac Brown Band, ZBB
Categories: Concerts, Country

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
BREAKING NEWS: London to host the semi-finals and final of the 'EURO for Europe' championships in 2020
You are here: Home / Latest news / BREAKING NEWS: London to host the semi-finals and final of the 'EURO for Europe' championships in 2020
Tags: EURO 2020, UEFA
London's Wembley Stadium will host the final and semi-finals of UEFA's EURO 2020 championships, while Baku, Munich, Rome, Saint Petersburg, Copenhagen, Bucharest, Amsterdam, Dublin, Bilbao, Budapest, Brussels and Glasgow will host the events group matches.
The staging of UEFA's EURO 2020 across Europe promises to provide a memorable football festival throughout the continent – and provides some countries and cities with the opportunity to be part of a tournament they may otherwise not be able to host.
UEFA's Executive Committee decided in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 6 December 2012 to stage a "EURO for Europe" in 2020, rather than a tournament in one or two host countries. The move followed an initial idea revealed by UEFA President Michel Platini at the end of UEFA EURO 2012. The Executive Committee also took its decision in the wake of positive feedback from its member national associations as part of a consultation process that took place in recent months.
Back in January 2013, the Executive Committee decided that the UEFA EURO 2020 final round would be staged in 13 cities around Europe, and approved the key event and football principles for the "EURO for Europe", which include:
• The matches will be split into 13 different packages, with 12 ordinary packages including three group matches and one knockout round game (round of 16 or quarter-final) apiece, and one package for the semi-finals and the final
• There will be a maximum of one venue per country, meaning one stadium for each of the available 13 packages. Both semi-finals and the final will be played in one stadium
Following today's decision by UEFA's Executive Committee, the UEFA EURO 2020 hosts have been confirmed as folows:
England/London – semi-finals and final
Azerbaijan/Baku – three group games, one quarter-final
Belgium/Brussels – three group games, one round of 16 game
Denmark/Copenhagen – three group games, one round of 16 game
Germany/Munich – three group games, one quarter-final
Hungary/Budapest – three group games, one round of 16 game
Italy/Rome – three group games, one quarter-final
Netherlands/Amsterdam – three group games, one round of 16 game
Republic of Ireland/Dublin – three group games, one round of 16 game
Romania/Bucharest – three group games, one round of 16 game
Russia/Saint Petersburg – three group games, one quarter-final
Scotland/Glasgow – three group games, one round of 16 game
Spain/Bilbao – three group games, one round of 16 game
England previously staged EURO '96, with Germany beating the Czech Republic 2-1 in the final at Wembley. Of the other host cities announced in Geneva today, Munich (1988), Rome (1968, 1980) and Brussels (1972) have all held UEFA European Championship final matches in the past.
UEFA General Secretary, Gianni Infantino, pointed to the fact that a number of reflections had led to the Executive Committee's decision, as he explained:
Let me say it is a decision only about 2020. 2020 is the 60th anniversary of the European Football Championship. Obviously the fact that the EURO will feature 24 teams instead of 16 puts an additional burden on countries hosting such an event. It becomes much more difficult for many countries – the requirements are becoming bigger and bigger.
An opportunity like this, to give many cities and many countries the possibility to host even just one part of a EURO, is certainly an excellent thing, especially in times when you have an economic situation where you cannot expect countries to invest in the facilities such an event requires. Certainly one of the purposes of this decision is to help countries who are perhaps not sure today whether they should build a national stadium – giving them the impetus to build such a stadium. Instead of having a party in one country, we will have a party all over Europe in 2020.
At the XXXVII Ordinary UEFA Congress in London last year, UEFA President Michel Platini, the initiator of the idea, expressed great anticipation for UEFA EURO 2020:
In 2020, the EURO will never have better lived up to its name. It will be decidedly continental and profoundly European. It will be a EURO of unity and shared experiences. It will, of course, be a new challenge – a challenge of a new kind … [and with] one single language: football.
Source: UEFA.com
Image credits & caption: The Henri Delaunay Cup at today's UEFA EURO 2020 hosts announcement in Geneva. ©UEFA.com
Aramark and Tampa Bay Buccaneers unveil USD$7m concessions renovation
Q&A with Stéphanie Fortin, Executive Director – International Business Development at Skyfold


Publication information: Article title: Your Next 48 Hours North EastHot List. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). Publication date: July 22, 2017. Page number: 2. © MGN Ltd. COPYRIGHT 2017 Gale Group.


Lush Fab Glam Inspired Lifestyle For The Modern Woman: First Look: Super Model Kate Moss Weds in a John Galliano Dress!
First Look: Super Model Kate Moss Weds in a John Galliano Dress!
Here is your first look at super model Kate Moss's wedding dress which was custom designed by John Galliano. The sleeveless vintage style dress is made of oyster silk chiffon and embroidered with rhinestones.
Kate also wore a vintage style John Galliano veil and Manolo shoes to wed her groom Jamie Hince in Cotswold, England today. See photos of Kate Moss's wedding below.
Kate Moss arriving for her wedding.
What do you think of Kate Moss's wedding dress? Is it Fab or Flub? Leave a comment below.
I like that she used all flower girls.


In today's day our careers take up a big space in our lives. Essentially, they're what we go to school for and work up towards our entire life.
procrastinate little in your role, here are some of the ways you can improve your prospects and reach your career goals.
Where do you want to be in the future, what's your ultimate career goal? Once you know this, you can then work out what you need to do to get there. Maybe you need to gain more experience, work towards a promotion or think about moving companies.
When you're in work, it's easy to fall into a rut and get comfortable. But if where you are now isn't getting you closer to where you want to be, you need to set some new goals and work out your next move. Come up with a one, three and five-year career plan and go from there.
Just because you're already in work doesn't mean you can't improve further. Taking a course could boost your skills or knowledge, improve your resume and will give you the best chance at success. It might mean doing some voluntary work, whatever it is- put in the extra hours if you need to.
It's true that we only get so many hours in the day, so find a way to work this around your other commitments. Your social life may have to take a back seat for a while, but it's worth it to get to where you want to be. There are many courses and classes that can be taken online, so at least with something like this you won't have to factor in travel time to attend.
Psychics are highly intuitive and are great for offering advice and guidance on things like careers. If you have a question or are undecided about anything in your career or job role, having an online psychic reading could be helpful. If you read this post, you'll know I called a psychic myself and had a fantastic experience, so it's something I'd recommend if you're in need of a little guidance.
When opportunity comes knocking, be ready to answer the door. Keeping a good career network both in real life and on social media can keep you clued in to when things crop up. It could be a chance to improve your skills, move up in your current company or transfer somewhere else. Whatever it is, know your worth and keep an eye out for opportunities that will best fit your skills and experience.
Uncomfortable with something? That's great- now you know where to improve! Whether it's public speaking, running meetings or networking, you can use whatever you see as a weakness now as a chance to push yourself and improve. If you stay within the confines of what you find safe and comfortable you never really improve and grow.
Being able to work quickly and efficiently is key. If you're in the habit of putting things off, leaving things until the last minute and making deadlines by the skin of your teeth, it could be worth making a change. Improve your focus, and take control of your work day by planning out a schedule. Doing your most difficult tasks in the morning when your motivation is at its highest has shown to be a useful technique. Generally just being able to power through and get things done is a great way to get ahead.
Eat healthily, take the opportunity to relax and unwind when you can, get enough sleep and treat your body well. Maintaining good physical and mental health means you're more likely to be motivated and work to the best of your ability.
Times can get stressful for all of us at times, but developing healthy coping techniques means you're not being burdened by anxiety or worry which could have a detrimental effect on your performance at work. A healthy body means less sick days. Find a good work/ life balance that suits you and your lifestyle.


In 2015, bales of tobacco in Malawi sell for about US$200 each. This represents about three months' labor for a smallholder farmer. The 160 m.kg of air- and heat-cured tobacco expected to sell in the next month outside the capital Lilongwe, will earn the country about $350 m.
According to the World Bank, Malawi is now the poorest country in the world and tobacco is central to its economy.
International sales have been stable so far, but the government recently hit out at anti-smoking campaigners, saying tobacco played a vital role in the development of African countries like Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and warning that the western anti-smoking lobby risked plunging some of the poorest people in the world into further economic peril.
However, as people in rich countries cut back on smoking, and developing countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brazil place higher taxes on cigarette sales, Malawi faces declining demand for its "green gold".
According to Graham Kunimba, head of the Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA), tobacco is considered a strategic crop for some African countries. In Malawi, the industry is the second largest employer, with more than 350,000 farmers and their families, 70,000 hired laborers, and 10,000 people in leaf-processing factories dependent on it, he said.
Malawi devotes more than 5% of its farming land to the crop.
According to Philip Morris, one of the largest buyers of Malawian tobacco, it takes 10kg of wood to dry 1kg of tobacco. In a statement, the company, based in Switzerland, said: "The average amount of wood needed to dry tobacco is currently 10kg of wood/kg of dry tobacco. PMI and [local NGO] Total Land Care have created cooperatives to plant more than 90m trees and bamboo on farms and communal lands, helping to reduce Malawi's deforestation.
"Together with our suppliers we are actively promoting the introduction of rocket barns that reduce fuel-wood consumption by 40%, to below 6kg of wood/kg of dry tobacco. We aim to convert standard curing barns to improved/rocket barns in both Malawi and Mozambique by 2017, which will result in saving the equivalent of 25 million trees by 2018," the company said.


The Mini Motion Cam Go Steadicam Stabilizer by Hague Camera Supports is a smooth camera stabilizer designed to work with small cameras such as the GoPro or similar models. This small glidecam unit will allow the user to get brilliant moving shots. Designed specifically for these lightweight cameras the Hague Mini Motion Cam has been a very popular stabilizer since it was first brought to market and this version is the most advanced yet.
The Hague Motion Cam Go is a handheld stabilizing system which enables action cameras such as the GoPro to be used to give super smooth "Steadicam type" shots. The Hague MMC Mini Motion Cam is the original small handheld camera stabilizer designed and manufactured by Hague Camera Supports in Nottingham, England. The new version of the MMC-GO is our most advanced and exciting model incorporating a new streamlined design, the highly advanced H2 gimble, and it now supports action cameras and standard cameras up to 1kg (2.2lbs) straight out the box. The original MMC set a precedent as the world's first low cost, yet highly effective, stabilizer and the current model just takes it to the next level. This compact unit eliminates camera shake and allows the user to create those true floating shots.
The most important part of a stabilizer is its gimble as it essential that the handle is totally free moving. The MMC has always had the smoothest moving gimble of its type making it far superior and more effective than any other ball type stabilizer on the market. The new Hague H2 advanced gimble maintains the free moving capabilities of its predecessor but has now been housed in a more secure socket which prevents the risk of the handle becoming loose if misused. The gimble has a highly polished ball enclosed in a nylon socket ensuring super free movement and enhanced security.
The MMC stabilizer now supports cameras from 300g (0.7lbs) – 1kg (2.2lbs) as standard straight out the box and this version is supplied with the Go adaptor which allows action cameras, such as the GoPro or Drift, to be used on the stabilizer. Cameras below 300g (0.7lbs) or above 1kg (2.2lbs) can also be balanced with the additional accessories offered. The MMC can now support up to a maximum of 1.5kg (3.3lbs) with the MINWK Additional Weight Kit. The Mini Motion Cam is ideal for DSLR cameras, small camcorders, SLR cameras, phones, action cameras and compact cameras.
The stabilizer is a counterbalance system with the camera attached directly to the top by a standard 1/4" camera screw with adjustment for moving the camera forwards and back for balancing. At the bottom of the Mini Motion Cam there is an adjustable counterbalance platform to which the weights are attached. This original Hague design allows you to adjust the positioning of the weights to help counterbalance the camera and helps make setting up the stabilizer a much more simple process than other stabilizing systems. Once balanced it is quick and simple to level off the camera. A selection of weights are supplied for balancing the different weights of camera. Our MMC set-up guide video will quickly take you through the steps required to get you balanced and ready for filming.
The Mini Motion Cam Go is designed and manufactured in England and utilises the highest quality materials available to ensure it remains the best stabilizer of its type on the market. The reason it has become the most popular stabilizer of its type is quite simply because its performance is second to none and we remain passionate about ensuring this does not change. The MMC is made from lightweight aluminium with zinc plated counterbalance weights. Suitable for all makes of cameras within the weight limits specified.
Approx size: - Length 19cm. x Width 3.5cm. x Height 27cm. Weight: - 300g. plus counterbalance weights. Colour Black.
Price includes:- MMC Mini Motion Cam Stabilizer & the GO adaptor. Price does not include the GoPro camera or any of the other accessories shown.
Tried another brand stabiliser (Polaroid) because it was available to me at a cheaper price than this one. What a mistake that was. Just couldn't get it to balance because it's shape was wrong.
Bought this one and by direct comparison it was balanced within five minutes - remember that this was first time and is now even quicker to set up.
Have managed to use with a Canon 550D (without the extra top weight of course!) and with a GoPro Session camera. With the GoPro it is possible to position it so that there is non of the stabiliser's frame in view - something that was impossible with the other piece of sh... - sorry - kit.
Hopefully you can tell just how pleased I am with the Hague MMC.
Excellent product, easy to use, well made, comes with instructions and arrived on time.
I use it with Panasonic x920, plan to use it with gopro later.
Fortunately, I ordered extra weights.
I'm moderately happy with this product.
I ordered the Hague MMC-GO MINI MOTION CAM from my home in Portugal. It arrived within four days and has proved to be an excellent product. It does need a little time to set up correctly and also a little practice to be able to use it to it's best advantage. I am looking forward to using it on my next holiday with my GoPro 3+.
I use MMC with a GOPRO 3. It' s important to spend a while finding the correct position on the sliding mount. Once the camera is balanced it's extremely stable. Only a little practice is needed to obtain smoother movement. Simple design and well built. I reccomend it!!!
this product is awesome for the price. it is rock solid and steady with my Gopro Hero 4 with lcd touchscreen. I highly recommend this product. to all who are thinking of purchasing this stabilizer. do not hesitate to grab it.


text:
Q: "Twig_Error_Loader Unable to find template", due to slashes added to template name After upgrading macOS server, Twig seems to have broken. For some reason, the function normalizeName($name) in lib/Twig/Loader/Filesystem.php is breaking, and returning the template name with a slash before every character. For example, "index.html" becomes "/i/n/d/e/x/./h/t/m/l".
So when I try and use Twig's render() function that calls normalizeName(), I get the following error:

Fatal error: Uncaught exception 'Twig_Error_Loader' with message 'Unable to find template "/l/o/g/i/n/./h/t/m/l/" (looked into: /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/templates).'

Modifying normalizeName() so it simply returns what it was passed results in PHP terminating the script due to memory exhaustion (at about 125MB) in lib/Twig/Lexer.php on line 107.
The code with the problem is below.
require_once '/Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Twig/lib/Twig/autoloader.php';

Twig_Autoloader::register();

$loader = new Twig_Loader_Filesystem('/Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/templates/');

$twig = new Twig_Environment($loader, array(
    'cache' => '/Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/cache/',
    'auto_reload' => 1
));

$twig -> render('login.html');

The full stack trace:

Fatal error: Uncaught exception 'Twig_Error_Loader' with message 'Unable to find template "/l/o/g/i/n/./h/t/m/l/" (looked into: /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/sccs_templates).' in /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Twig/lib/Twig/Loader/Filesystem.php:247
Stack trace:
  #0/Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Twig/lib/Twig/Loader/Filesystem.php(159): Twig_Loader_Filesystem->findTemplate('login.html')
#1 /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Twig/lib/Twig/Environment.php(329): Twig_Loader_Filesystem->getCacheKey('login.html')
#2 /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Twig/lib/Twig/Environment.php(418): Twig_Environment->getTemplateClass('login.html', NULL)
#3 /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Twig/lib/Twig/Environment.php(362): Twig_Environment->loadTemplate('login.html')
#4 /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/sccs_includes/setup.php(252): Twig_Environment->render('login.html', Array)
#5 /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Default/sccs/index.php(3): require_once('/Library/Server...')
#6 {main} thrown in /Library/Server/Web/Data/Sites/Twig/lib/Twig/Loader/Filesystem.php on line 247

I'm running Yosemite with Apache 2.4.23 and PHP 5.5.36, Twig 1.28.2.
Many thanks for any help!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


School The governors of this school represent various elements of the local community and are appointed for a four-year term of office. The governing body has a legal responsibility for the school and takes an active part in its life. The governing body has a responsibility for overseeing the ethos of the school. Governors are consulted about matters such as policies for the curriculum, behaviour and equal opportunities and for considering the overall aims of the school. The full governing body meets twice a term. Governors visit the school on a regular basis and have links with a particular class. Governors also lead and support committees which focus on school improvement and curriculum, finance and personnel, and site and buildings. The school welcomes the support they give to both teachers and the life of the school.


text:
Q&A: Lexi Kurzawinski talks art and music
Lexi Kurzawinski works on a piece of art in Ms. Govic's 5th period art class.
Ms. Govic
Kate McKinley, Scribe Reporter
When I sat down for the interview, I was really nervous. Lexi Kurzawinski is a senior; I am a freshmen. Lexi has performed in the SHS Variety Show, in the school band, and has exhibited her art in our schowcase hallways, so I already knew she was talented.
When we met, however, it quickly became clear that while Lexi expresses a mix of emotions through her arts, she is not defined by her art. Lexi is confident but not egotistical. She carries a quiet intelligence beyond many high school students. Her ability to use art as an outlet gives her the chance to reveal and share her different passions.
Saxon Scribe: What kinds of art you do?
I love to paint! I also play the flute and piccolo in the school band and play guitar.
Scribe: How did you get started?
I started painting in eighth grade. I starting music in fifth grade because that's when everyone was starting.
Saxon Scribe: Why do you do what you do?
I love art! It also gives me a chance to be me. It gives me the opportunity to show myself to the world without any limits. Also all the friendships and connections you make, they are special. Through the artwork, you can connect on a deeper level because you're showing them a part of you that not everyone recognizes or sees and I think other artists understand each other a lot better because of that.
Saxon Scribe: What are the struggles you have faced?
Finding time to do everything, meaning every deadline and prepare for every audition. But also as an artist, I almost always feel any painting is never done there is always something to add to it or fix. I think the perfectionism comes from the fact that you're showing the world who you are. When you have a performance or a job interview, you want to give it your all, and finishing an art piece is a lot like that. You don't want any flaws or misinterpretation because it's representing to the world your best and who you are.
MusicSpeaks
Saxon Scribe: How do you balance the arts and school?
For me, it's through the school. I'm in band and take art classes. Other than that, just prioritizing. If I have a deadline coming up for a piece of art or homework, I won't practice, I'll just work on that piece or assignment for a half day. I just sat and worked on a piece for six hours. But, if an audition is coming up and the deadline is kind of far away, I'll practice and do the piece later.
Saxon Scribe: What emotions do you like to express?
With music I love to express sadness. It's much harder to get sadness across to your audience than it is to covey happiness. Art is the opposite. There, I like happiness. It's really fun to use bright colors and other symbols while painting.
Saxon Scribe: Where do you hope to take art?
At this point, I'm not planning on doing this professionally because it's so hard to make a living. I know don't want to teach art, but I would love to do this on the side, for myself. I thinking about pursuing forensic facial reconstruction. That way, I get to use my art for something really interesting.
Saxon Scribe: What do you want the student body to understand about the arts?
Most people think that this is something that we do as a hobby when we have free time. They don't realize that this is almost a lifestyle for us. Many people create as a hobby or a side job, but for others, it's how they survive. I know people who wouldn't be as healthy or as happy as they are now if they didn't get the chance to create. It's a way to just let out everything that is inside of you and to cope with anything life throws your way. People don't always realize that.
Saxon Scribe: Why should others explore art?
It gives me a chance to express emotions, and I think that everyone should be able to have the chance to do that. I think it is important because people have a hard time verbalizing the thoughts they have, and to make sense of their feelings. The thing about art is that it doesn't need to make sense. If you're confused about what you're feeling you can just throw some colors on a canvas that you're drawn to, and the result can really help you as well as other as to understand what you're feeling inside
Art teacher Ms. Govic said of Lexi, "What makes Lexi an exceptional art student also makes her an exceptional human being. She is self-motivated, hardworking, creative, kind, caring, inquisitive, and has a drive to contribute to the greater good of humanity. Lexi has always been a talented artist; the most significant growth I have seen is her desire to put meaning in her work and to make it 100% original."
I have no doubt that Lexi will continue to grow as an artist and as a person. For me, as a freshmen who plays flute in the school band, she serves as a role model. It's really cool to see that effort pays off, and I look forward to seeing where her art will take her.
Coming Soon: Senior Kate Barmen talks about her art, her awards, and more.
Winter Formal Under the Big Top
Joint choir concert brings warmth to winter
Hackers unite at Code211 Hackathon
Engineer club decimates the competition
Q&A: Kate Barmen


text:
Pemberley as Elizabeth Bennet's Fool's Paradise (Hall) Lost & Regained
In my post earlier this week… http://tinyurl.com/jkqvv8m …I made the case that Jane Austen, whose genius gave us her unforgettable comic depiction of the nerves, tremblings, and vexations of Mrs. Bennet, also used that same comic figure, Mrs. Bennet, for a much more serious purpose. I.e., Austen wished to subtly point to the Nurse in Romeo & Juliet uttering the following line to the Capulet servant Peter about Mercutio's sexually provocative remarks about her:
"Now, afore God, I AM SO VEXED, THAT EVERY PART ABOUT ME QUIVERS. Scurvy knave! …"
I ended that post with the following summation:
"I see Elizabeth's married life with Darcy as a parody of Juliet's tragic death, because it will be no walk in the park for her to be married to the dark Darcy of the shadow story, who does not actually repent and reform after she rejects his first proposal, but merely pretends to do so, because he is a man who cannot take no for an answer, and who does not hesitate to use his considerable resources to stage an extended experience for Elizabeth during the latter half of P&P, which destroys her (healthy) resistance to him."
However, it was only today that I took a second look at the rest of that speech by Juliet's Nurse, and, as you'll see below, that led me right to a scholar's paradise: Jane Austen's three-tiered allusion in Pride & Prejudice, to (chronologically in literary history) Romeo & Juliet (1599), Paradise Lost (1667), and Tom Jones (1749)! It takes my breath away, much as Elizabeth's breath is taken away by her first views of Pemberley –except mine is not a "fool's paradise", it's for real----I hope you'll agree!
PART ONE: Pride & Prejudice (1813) Allusion to Romeo & Juliet (1599):
To begin, here's the rest of the Nurse's speech, when she abruptly shifts from addressing Peter, to issuing a stern warning to the amorous Romeo:
"…but first let me tell ye, if ye should lead her into A FOOL'S PARADISE, as they say, it were a very GROSS kind of behavior, as they say: for the gentlewoman is young; and, therefore, if you should DEAL DOUBLE with her, truly it were an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewoman, and very weak dealing."
In other words, watching out for Juliet, the fiercely maternal Nurse warns Romeo to love Juliet faithfully, and not to break her 12-year old heart. I now suggest that when Mrs. Bennet (to Elizabeth's great distress and bewilderment) repeatedly makes hostile jabs at Darcy in the Netherfield salon, she's actually giving him a similar maternal warning not to try to exploit his high status and lead any Bennet girl into a fool's paradise. She does this because, as I've previously suggested, Mrs. Bennet and Darcy (but not Elizabeth) know that Darcy is the unnamed suitor who wrote a sonnet while six years earlier wooing the then 16-year old Jane Bennet in London.
However, Elizabeth's ear is not tuned to the frequency of her mother's warning, and so, when Elizabeth first sees Pemberley, she indeed enters a "fool's paradise". I.e. its Edenic majesty mesmerizes Elizabeth, with such powerful effect that she later jokes to sister Jane (but the joke is actually on Elizabeth) about dating her own falling in love with Darcy from her "first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley."
And, once we think about Pemberley as a "fool's paradise" for Elizabeth, we find that the idea of a single female's reactions to being wooed as being "foolish", is a motif that pops up at key points during P&P.
First, we read this exchange between Mrs. Bennet and Mr. Collins, in which Elizabeth is called "foolish" by both of them, for rejecting his proposal:
"But, depend upon it, Mr. Collins," she added, "that Lizzy shall be brought to reason. I will speak to her about it directly. She is a very headstrong, FOOLISH girl, and does not know her own interest but I will make her know it."
"Pardon me for interrupting you, madam," cried Mr. Collins; "but if she is really headstrong and FOOLISH, I know not whether she would altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state…."
Then, we read these contradictory comments regarding the foolishness of Miss King's flip flop in responses to Wickham's sudden courtship:
[first, to Mrs. Gardiner, when Miss King appears receptive toWickham's advances]
"Well," cried Elizabeth, "have it as you choose. He shall be mercenary, and she shall be FOOLISH."
[then, after Miss King rejects Wickham's proposal]
"And Mary King is safe!" added Elizabeth; "safe from a connection imprudent as to fortune."
[Lydia] "She is a great FOOL for going away, if she liked him."
And then, after Elizabeth rejects Darcy's first proposal, we read this description of her struggle to make sense of what she reads in Darcy's letter. The word "fool" does not appear, but the Nurse's references to "gross" and "double dealing" are distinctly echoed. Elizabeth does not wish to be fooled, but doesn't at that moment know who is trying to fool her, Darcy or Wickham:
"What Wickham had said of the living was fresh in her memory, and as she recalled his very words, it was impossible not to feel that there was GROSS DUPLICITY on one side or the other; and, for a few moments, she flattered herself that her wishes did not err…."
And finally, here are Elizabeth's private thoughts as she steals glances at Darcy at Longbourn, after she has already fully and irreversibly entered the "fool's paradise" while at Pemberley:
"If he does not come to me, then," said she, "I shall give him up for ever."
The gentlemen came; and she thought he looked as if he would have answered her hopes; but, alas! the ladies had crowded round the table, where Miss Bennet was making tea, and Elizabeth pouring out the coffee, in so close a confederacy that there was not a single vacancy near her which would admit of a chair. And on the gentlemen's approaching, one of the girls moved closer to her than ever, and said, in a whisper: "The men shan't come and part us, I am determined. We want none of them; do we?"
Darcy had walked away to another part of the room. She followed him with her eyes, envied everyone to whom he spoke, had scarcely patience enough to help anybody to coffee; and then was enraged against herself for being so silly!
"A man who has once been refused! How could I ever be FOOLISH enough to expect a renewal of his love? Is there one among the sex, who would not protest against such a weakness as a second proposal to the same woman? There is no indignity so abhorrent to their feelings!"
Despite the feminist warnings of the unnamed whisperer (whom I identified 6 years ago as Elizabeth's sister Mary!), Elizabeth by this point is so far lost wandering in her fool's paradise, that she now defines being "foolish" as holding out hope for a second proposal from Darcy she now desperately yearns for.
So there you have a brief tour of Jane Austen's veiled allusion to the fool's paradise of Elizabeth's conversion to loving Darcy, which, I suggest, is the very same fool's paradise that the Nurse warned Romeo against. Now, let's dig another layer deeper.
TWO: Pride & Prejudice Allusion to Paradise Lost (1667)/Romeo & Juliet (1599)
I've written on various occasions since 2014 about the allusion to Romeo & Juliet, such as here…. http://tinyurl.com/mlap3do http://tinyurl.com/k4gxf2t ….that Milton wove into the deepest fabric of Paradise Lost, most strikingly of all in the "SATAN" acrostic in Book 8, which I claim points to the "SATAN" acrostic in Friar Laurence's speech to Juliet.
Today, I see that the Nurse's warning reference to a "fool's paradise" was also alluded to by Milton in plain sight in Book 3 of Paradise Lost, in the description of Satan's journey leading up to his arrival in Eden. The following-quoted passage not only contains "The Paradise of Fools", it's also peppered with scathing insulting descriptions of Catholicism, particularly Franciscan friars ---like "SATAN" Friar Laurence in R&J—whom Satan encounters in his Danteesque journey:
So, on this windy sea of land, the Fiend
Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey;
Alone, for other creature in this place,
Living or lifeless, to be found was none;
None yet, but store hereafter from the earth
Up hither like aereal vapours flew
Of all things transitory and vain, when sin
With vanity had filled the works of men:
Both all things vain, and all who in vain things
Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame,
Or happiness in this or the other life;
All who have their reward on earth, the fruits
Of PAINFUL SUPERSTITION AND BLIND ZEAL,
Nought seeking but the praise of men, here find
Fit retribution, empty as their deeds;
All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand,
Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed,
Dissolved on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,
Till final dissolution, wander here;
Not in the neighbouring moon as some have dreamed;
Those argent fields more likely habitants,
Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold
Betwixt the angelical and human kind.
Hither of ill-joined sons and daughters born
First from the ancient world those giants came
With many a vain exploit, though then renowned:
The builders next of Babel on the plain
Of Sennaar, and still with vain design,
New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build:
Others came single; he, who, to be deemed
A God, leaped fondly into Aetna flames,
Empedocles; and he, who, to enjoy
Plato's Elysium, leaped into the sea,
Cleombrotus; and many more too long,
Embryos, and idiots, eremites, and FRIARS
White, black, and gray, WITH ALL THEIR TRUMPERY, [as in Donald Trumpery!]
Here pilgrims roam, that strayed so far to seek
In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven;
And THEY, WHO to be sure of Paradise,
Dying, put on the weeds of Dominick,
Or IN FRANCISCAN THINK TO PASS DISGUISED;
They pass the planets seven, and pass the fixed,
And that crystalling sphere whose balance weighs
The trepidation talked, and that first moved;
And now Saint Peter at Heaven's wicket seems
To wait them with his keys, and now at foot
Of Heaven's ascent they lift their feet, when lo
A violent cross wind from either coast
Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry
Into the devious air: THEN MIGHT YE SEE
COWLS, HOODS, AND HABITS, with their wearers, tost
And fluttered into rags; then RELIQUES, BEADS,
INDULGENCES, DISPENSES, PARDONS, BULLS,
The sport of winds: ALL THESE, upwhirled aloft,
FLY O'ER THE BACKSIDE OF THE WORLD far off
Into a Limbo large and broad, since called
THE PARADISE OF FOOLS, to few unknown
Long after; now unpeopled, and untrod.
All this dark globe the Fiend found as he passed,
And long he wandered, till at last a gleam
Of dawning light turned thither-ward in haste
His travelled steps: far distant he descries
Ascending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a structure high….
In short, then, I believe that the above was yet another clue left by Milton in Paradise Lost, telling us that he recognized that Friar Laurence was the SATAN whose meddling actually brings about fatal consequences for Juliet far worse even that the Nurse feared when she warned Romeo!
And, I believe Jane Austen, brilliant literary scholar that she had to have been, spotted and understood Milton's profound engagement with Shakespeare, and then showed it, by weaving both Paradise Lost and Romeo & Juliet into the subtext of Pride & Prejudice, most of all via her portrayal of Elizabeth as Juliet/Eve, and Darcy as Romeo/Friar Laurence/Satan. And the Nurse's speech is one key linchpin which unites these three of the greatest works in English literature. But guess what, there's a fourth, too!
Pride & Prejudice Allusion to Romeo & Juliet (1599) /Paradise Lost (1667)/Tom Jones (1749):
In this section, I'll explain how I see Jane Austen layering Tom Jones on top of R&J and Paradise Lost in the subtext of P&P.
First, there are several overt references to Paradise Lost by Henry Fielding's intrusive narrator in Tom Jones, most notably:
"And now having taken a resolution to leave the country, [Tom Jones] began to debate with himself whither he should go. The world, as Milton phrases it, lay all before him; and Jones, no more than Adam, had any man to whom he might resort for comfort or assistance."
And, to add a deeper layer, here is an excellent, orthodox unpacking of the veiled allusion to Tom Jones in Pride & Prejudice, courtesy of Jo Alyson Parker in her article "Pride & Prejudice: Jane Austen's Double Inheritance Plot" (1988):
"Austen's Pride & Prejudice serves as Austen's revision of Tom Jones from a woman's perspective, with Elizabeth filling the Tom Jones role and Pemberley serving as Austen's version of Paradise Hall. Just as the fact of his bastardy, coupled with the machinations of Blifil, deprives Tom Jones of any claim to Paradise Hall, so does the Longbourn entail cut Elizabeth off from what may seem to be her 'rightful' inheritance. And Elizabeth's state of dispossession, like Tom's, causes her to embark on what will become a quest for self knowledge and position. Elizabeth is not, like Tom Jones, an actual foundling, but the romantic aura of that condition nevertheless clings to her.
…The family setup at Pemberley bears a curious affinity to the setup at Paradise Hall, so much so that we might regard such allusions as deliberate. In his first appearance early in the novel, Darcy, with his coldness and reserve, might almost be mistaken for Blifil. He is responsible for banishing Wickham from the family estate, just as Blifil is responsible for getting Tom banished. Although legitimate, Wickham is, like Tom Jones, a foster son; Darcy's father treated him like one of his own children…Wickham also resembles Fielding's hero in appearance…We come to find out that Wickham shares another quality with Fielding's hero-an ungoverned sexuality …In eloping with Lydia, he displays a disregard for sexual restraint worthy of the unreformed Tom Jones.
Unlike Tom Jones, however, Wickham does not reform…As Elizabeth discovers, he is prodigal, mercenary, revengeful and mendacious. Murray Krieger points out that Austen turns the TJ model on its head: "Wickham is not permitted to make it: it is as if, in Tom Jones, Blifil turned out to be the good guy. For it is Darcy, the wealthiest and most highly placed character in the novel, who is its hero and who gets the girl … Wickham does not, like Tom Jones, make the discovery which makes him the worthy hero; rather, the discovery is made about him to make him the worthless villain.'
In regards to the respective fates of her two leading men, Austen certainly rewrites the plot of Tom Jones, even to the extent that the worthless Wickham ends up, like Blifil, permanently banished from 'paradise.'
….the rewriting is also a decentering, Austen's real focus being not on the heroes but on the heroine. In effect, Elizabeth replaces Wickham as the Tom Jones figure…." END QUOTE FROM PARKER
I call the above excellent analysis "orthodox" because Parker lacked the outside-the-box perspective on P&P that I have, which is that it is a double story. While her explanation is very plausible for the overt story of P&P, my understanding provides a powerful explanation for what puzzled Parker—i.e., why "Darcy, with his coldness and reserve, might almost be mistaken for Blifil" ---my answer is that, in the shadow story of P&P, Darcy really is Blifil, and Wickham really is Tom Jones!
In any event, what Parker does not get into, but I will now, is to first point out that Tom Jones also points to (what a surprise!) Romeo and Juliet:
Per Fredson Bower in his 1975 edition of Tom Jones:
"Sophia's situation at this point in the novel recalls that of Shakespeare's heroine in R&J. As Juliet loves Romeo but is intended by her family for Paris, so Sophia loves Jones while her family arranges her marriage to Blifil. With the present scene between Honour and Sophia, compare, in particular, R&J 3.2: when the Nurse brings news that Romeo has been banished for killing Tybalt, Juliet at first condemns her faithless lover, then reproves her companion for echoing her sentiments."
While it all may take a while to absorb, if you reread the above a few times over a few days, the dazzling superstructure of layered Shakespeare/Milton/Fielding allusions upon which Pride & Prejudice rests will, I hope, come more and more into focus for you.
P.S.: My Subject Line ends with Paradise Regained, because of my earlier claim that Elizabeth Bennet is actually the true heiress of Pemberley, who (like Tom Jones) was banished.
"It is an honour that I dream not of"—Juliet & the...
"wheel within wheel." Sanditon's "unaccountable" D...
Pemberley as Elizabeth Bennet's Fool's Paradise (H...
Curtis Sittenfeld's Eligible as Mainstream Modern ...
Juliet's Nurse & Mrs. Bennet: Shakespeare's & Aust...
Even more on Iago disguised as Othello's Clown
"We are FORCED TO Rejoice" about Colonel FORSTER's...
Darcy as Iago: A Condensed Summary
"I am not what I am" is Iago's code for his being,...
Darcy's ungentlemanlike triumph at his Iago-esque ...
"eight and twenty years" & "four times seven years...
The baddest Iago of Pride & Prejudice ain't Wickha...
Iago's "enematic" Clyster-Pipes, the Clown's wit r...


SOUTHINGTON - A Manchester man has pleaded guilty to leaving a child unsupervised in a local restaurant before being found with heroin and cocaine.
Wallace Hart, 29, accepted a plea deal Friday that included no jail or period of supervision, such as probation. During the hearing, in Bristol Superior Court, Hart pleaded guilty to one count of leaving a child unsupervised - a misdemeanor. Charges of risk of injury to a minor and possession of a controlled substance were not pursued.
Hart was sentenced to unconditional discharge, meaning he did not see jail time, a period of supervision or any other conditions.
According to police, Hart was at the McDonald's restaurant on Queen Street on Sept. 16, when police were called about a man who appeared to be under the influence of drugs while he was watching a 6-year-old. Officers were told the man, who was later identified as Hart, left the child at a table in McDonald's at one point while he sat in his vehicle, police said.
During the investigation, Hart was found with heroin and cocaine, according to police.
A family member was contacted by police to take custody of the child.
While his case was pending, prosecutors said Friday, Hart completed inpatient treatment. The state's Department of Children and Families closed out its case on the incident, prosecutors said.
Posted in New Britain Herald, Southington Herald on Friday, 29 March 2019 14:36. Updated: Friday, 29 March 2019 14:39.


Southern California is known for its fresh foods and amazing eateries, and Carlsbad is no exception. From high-end cuisine at PAON to trendy sushi at Blue Ocean, some of the best dining in Carlsbad is just outside our door. Village Kitchen and Pie Shoppe, a local favorite, is a short walk away and a great family-friendly option. Other restaurants and bars located in the pedestrian-friendly streets of Carlsbad Village are also a quick drive from our hotel. Whether you're in the mood for a healthy, fresh start to your day or want to wind down with a tasting of California's most famous wines, it's all within easy reach when you stay at our hotel in Carlsbad.
This down-home diner serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily in a cozy old-school setting. Favorites include honey fried chicken, homemade soups, and their incredible selection of freshly-baked pies.
Offering fine California cuisine and a vast selection of wines, PAON is the perfect choice for a celebratory meal or a romantic night out. Menu highlights include their herb-crusted leg of lamb and decadent brioche bread pudding.
You'll feel as if you've landed in Tokyo at this trendy spot! Blue Ocean offers creatively prepared sushi, sashimi and robata grilled skewers in a lively atmosphere. It's the best sushi in town.
This bright and charming gelateria brings an authentic taste of Italy to Carlsbad Village. Stop in for a taste of one of their many flavors, from Amaretto to Zabaione, a heavenly Sicilian custard.
The Stag & Lion offers classic pub fare and a wide variety of beers on tap, including a good selection of local craft beers. Plenty of TVs playing sports, pool tables, and dart boards will keep everyone entertained.
This healthy spot in Carlsbad Village offers a fresh menu of salads, soups, sandwiches, and kid-friendly options. Breakfast in their sunny courtyard is a special treat, with a huge selection of pancakes and eggs to choose from.


Double hit today with poetry. This one I know is from my Poetry Workshop class that I took in college. I'm currently working on editing it, but this is fairly close to the original version with a few minor changes.
Let me know what you think of "Crossing."
deciding the right time to cross.
of the one who would be his tonight.
of rubber separating from metal.
Time for another poem. I think this was from a class, but I don't remember specifically. Please enjoy "The Violinist."
You can see such sights all over.
I can't help but wonder, does he have children?
waiting for a bone and a fresh bowl of water.
he seems to need them more than I.
before he can pack his life away.
the black streak of a limousine.
In travels around the internet recently I came across a retailer that sells "high end" jeans for prices that start around $180 a pair. I got to wondering how many families in need could be fed for the price of one of these pairs of jeans.
There are millions of people who will be out at Black Thursday(?) store openings tonight instead of spending time with their families on Thanksgiving.
As we enter the holiday season this year, ask yourself two questions.
Am I giving the important gifts or just the expensive ones?
Can my time and money be put to better use for someone else?
What gifts do you have to give, that you hold for just yourself? Make an effort to give more of yourself this holiday season and help those who might not have things as easy as you do.
In the box of old papers that I found over the weekend, one of the poems that I found was one I had completely forgotten about but as soon as I saw it brought back so many memories of writing it.
I can't remember the specific assignment that led me to write this poem, but I do remember being at a loss for anything creative when I heard a faucet dripping in the bathroom at school.
And well, this is what came out.
Please enjoy the poem and check out the other poems I have posted on the Poetry Page. Any comments on any of the stuff posted there are always welcome.
more than the individual parts that make it up.
I Found The Mother Lode!
I wrote here a few months back that I had found a stash of old papers from my college days and would be posting a bunch of my old stories and poems.
I had been a bit hasty with that proclamation. The papers I had found were important, but not from any of my creative writing classes.
I picked up a box of more old papers at my parents' house this weekend and it contained about two thirds of the stuff I've been looking for. This included a dozen or so poems, some more finished than others, as well as two different creative non-fiction works that I had done for class.
While I will of course continue to work on Lose Your Senses and the stories contained therein, I plan on sprinkling a few of these oldies into the blog over the next few weeks, hopefully giving everyone something to be thankful for and making Christmas just a bit merrier.
I hope that these pieces of writing will show you what I am capable of.


text:
> Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland Electricity Northern Ireland Gas
New customer plans
Existing customer plans
All news, News
SSE TELLS OIREACHTAS THAT OFFSHORE WIND CAN POWER THE FUTURE
SSE Ireland has set out its vision of the opportunity that offshore wind energy presents to meet Ireland's 2020 renewable energy targets, saying the technology is an efficient and realistic way to take the big strides Ireland needs to hit its targets and avoid EU fines for failing to do so.
Stephen Wheeler, Managing Director of SSE Ireland, was appearing this morning before the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment on the efforts required to meet Ireland's targets under the 2020 Climate and Energy Package.
Addressing the committee Stephen Wheeler said Ireland right now has a window of opportunity to transform the way in which we generate power, and to do so in a way that reaffirms Ireland's commitment to EU targets and accelerates the deployment of new and diverse energy technology. From a cost perspective, following several years of innovation and de-risking, Stephen added that offshore wind is now a scalable, proven and maturing technology which offers considerable benefits to consumers and society.
"We believe that offshore wind can play a key part in bridging the gap to Ireland's 2020 targets and beyond. Onshore technologies have served us extremely well to date, but we must be realistic that social acceptance to onshore energy developments is challenging, and greater grid and planning constraints are now in place. What has been successful for us in the past, does not guarantee future success," Stephen Wheeler told the Committee.
"If we are to make up ground on 2020 and beyond – and we believe we can – then we need to fast-forward the build-out of large-scale renewable energy capacity. Offshore wind energy can deliver large volumes of renewable electricity in the short term and also set us on the right trajectory for more ambitious 2030 targets.
"For our part at SSE, we're actively progressing plans to fully develop our Arklow Bank Wind Park project. It would represent an investment of over €1bn and deliver a minimum of 520MW of capacity. Most importantly, our project can be delivered in a timescale from construction through to commercial operation that will qualify towards Ireland's 2020 targets – offsetting and potentially eliminating any fines."
Stephen warned however that delivering in this timescale will only be achieved if the right market conditions are in place for the energy industry to respond.
"As this committee knows, the Department [of Communications, Climate Action and Environment] has consulted recently on the design of a new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme. In our response, SSE called for the inclusion of offshore wind as a separate category in the first of the new Support Scheme Auctions. The technology-neutral approach proposed will not give offshore wind projects investment clarity in the timeframe that we need, or enable a local supply chain to develop. We fear that it will result in an over-reliance on onshore technology, and we have doubts that a sufficient quantity of that technology can be delivered in the timeframe required," Stephen said.
As well as being the largest renewable energy developer and generator in Ireland, SSE is also a leading developer and operator of offshore wind energy. The company is involved in over 8,000MW of offshore wind projects in waters around Great Britain, around 900MWs of which are already generating, providing energy to customers and contributing to the achievement of the UK's 2020 targets.
Closer to home in Irish waters, SSE co-developed Ireland's first and only operational offshore wind farm in 2004 – the 7-turbine, 25MW Arklow Bank Phase 1 – which was delivered at the time with GE Energy as a 'demonstrator project' to prove the opportunity that offshore wind energy could represent for Ireland.
You can read the full transcript of Stephen Wheeler's address here.
Find out what SSE Airtricity
can do for your business
> Preferred day
> Preferred time
We're sorry, we've not been able to process your request. Please try again later.


FRASERS HILL + BUKIT TINGGI - All you can ride!
Ride one of the best cycling loop in SE Asia, the Frasers Gap Loop.
Grade: 3-4 (coach can support you up to Frasers if need be). * if you use some coach support, can be just a relax holiday trip too!!
100% cycling but supported with coach (our bags & transfer).
max. 20cyclists per coach ONLY!
Day01 - nite coach up to KKB (departs about 0005hrs). arrives KKB, breakfast & start climb up Frasers (38km). rest of the afternoon is free to trek & simply chill out at this nice quiet highland resort!
Day02 - descend towards Bentong (60km), & the complete the full Fraser's Gap Loop. Continue cycle up Bukit Tinggi (40km). Overnight atop Tinggi.
Day03 - descend down to Genting Sempah (20km) & late morning coach back to SG.


Get the foundational knowledge you'll need to effectively pursue Social Security disability claims! Our experienced faculty will provide you with a practical walkthrough - from a practical examination of the laws and definitions to client intake, claim evaluation, electronic filing procedures and the hearing process. You will also learn how to effectively deal with fee complications and find out how disability benefits will impact a client's receipt of Medicaid, workers' comp and other benefits. Pick up both practical how-to's and creative tips so you can successfully and confidently represent Social Security claimants. Register today!
Understand key definitions and examine the guidelines for proving various disabilities.
Learn what initial questions you need to ask clients to get the case started on the right foot.
Discover what necessary information needs to be gathered and learn hard-won tips for dealing with weaknesses in the case.
Find out what to expect from the hearing process and gain essential strategies for briefs, exhibits, cross-examinations and more.
This legal guide is designed for attorneys. It will also benefit disability representatives and paralegals.
Is Billing Paralegal and Admin Worker Time on Fee Petitions Allowed?


text:
Customer Commons
Bringing manners to marketing
The Cluetrain Manifesto was a success, and remains so, because it gives lessons in manners to marketing. Thus Cluetrain is also highly sourced by manners-minded marketing folk, who have eagerly leveraged Cluetrain's first thesis: "markets are conversations."
It is now almost fourteen years since the Cluetrain website went up, thirteen since the original book came out, and three since the 10th anniversary edition hit the streets.Here are some stats, as of today:
"Cluetrain," a word that did not exist before 1999, appears in 9,689 books
"cluetrain", "#cluetrain", "cluetrainmanifesto" "thecluetrainmanifesto" and other tags get tweeted every day, sometimes many times per day
Searches for "cluetrain" bring up about a half million results on Google
Add "conversation" and the results top a million
"conversational marketing" brings up about a hundred thousand results
Most of those results are generated by polite marketers. Unfortunately, there are still too many marketers of the rude sort. To these marketers, customers are "targets" to be "captured," "controlled," "managed," "locked in" and otherwise treated without the full respect we grant human beings we interact with personally, in actual conversation. These marketers are the types about which the great Bill Hicks said this:
That was in 1992. Imagine what Bill would say about marketing at the dawn of 2013. Here's how that picture looks to Luma Partners:
Rotate that thing 90° to the right, so the movement is top to bottom, rather than left to right. Then think about the combined weight of all that marketing, pressing down on the consumer.
No doubt some small pieces of that great mess of marketing are respectful of the consumer. And some of these categories (such as, for example, "publisher tools") are comprised of companies providing tools for actually interacting with customers, rather than just for targeting at consumers. (The distinction is critical. Doug Rauch, retired President of Trader Joe's, calls consumer "a statistical category." He says, "We say customer, person, or individual.")
Cluetrain was written in 1999, when — compared to the above — digital marketing was still in its Precambrian stage, and was essentially a declaration of independence from marketing. As Jakob Nielsen told me later, Cluetrain's four authors essentially defected from marketing and sided with markets against marketing. This was made clear by the Manifesto's alpha clue, which was written by Chris Locke. Though less quoted than the 95 numbered theses below, it remains the most important:
if you only have time for one clue this year, this is the one to get…
Unfortunately, that clue was not yet true. Our reach did not exceed marketers' grasp. That much became clear after Cluetrain became a favorite of clueful marketers, but remained largely unheard-of by the rest of us — who were the ones Cluetrain spoke for, and who actually needed help against marketing's persistent bad manners.
So, in 2006, I launched ProjectVRM to foster development of tools and services that would provide the reach to exceed marketing's grasp. As of today there are dozens of VRM developers working on the customers' side.
We have a model for that reach in the brick & mortar world, in the form of well-mannered one-to-one interactions between vendors and customers, in what the CRM business calls the buy cycle and the own cycle. As I wrote here, "Nobody from a store on Main Street would follow you around with a hand in your pocket and tell you 'I'm only doing this so I can give you a better shopping experience.'" But online, and through our mobile devices, we are being tracked like animals by a business that often rationalizes the (almost literal) hell out of it.
It would seem a lot worse if surveillance-fed "big data" advertising algorithms didn't also suck at it, most of the time. One case in point: Facebook. Here is my Facebook profile picture and top-level data, plus some screen shots of ads Facebook has presented to me in the last few minutes:
Here Facebook fails to respect a fact recorded in my Facebook profile — that I'm married — and assumes I'm cool with being reminded of my age (which has edged into the final demographic). There is zero evidence that I have (or am interested in) foot fungus. (Is that something old people get? If so, is this ad how one would want to find out about it?) There is no evidence, on Facebook or anywhere in the world, that I might be interested in referral marketing, home security, or a career in hospital medicine (much less in Ohio, to which I have been just once since 1963), or that I'm up for a place in South Beach (where I've been just twice, long ago). I've also told Facebook, back when its ads came with a feedback mechanism, that I consider Classmates.com a rude pain in the ass. (I am sure they are the source of "classof1996.net" — a year off from my actual high school graduation, by the way.)
So, almost across the board, the ads I see on Facebook are rude, wrong, or both. And I'm sure, in this respect, that I'm no exception.
A couple years ago, the top guy at one of the advertising companies told me something interesting about Facebook and Google. He said they were extremely jealous of what the other could do with advertising, but that they could not do themselves — or, at least, not yet. Facebook was jealous of Google, he said, because Google could advertise all over the Web. And Google was jealous of Facebook, because Facebook could get far more personal with its advertising than Google could. Yet, because we are consumers of those companies' services, rather than customers, we have no direct, money-backed, truly conversational mechanisms for giving them useful feedback. Such as, "Excuse me, but your manners really suck here."
Although I am not a heavy Facebook user, I have been on the thing since 2006, and have hundreds of friends there. I am also a highly public person and not hard to figure out if you want to get personal with me. Yet I have never seen a personalized ad that appealed to me with anything I'd call accuracy. Once in awhile I'll see an ad for something photographic, but I don't know whether that's because I do a lot of photography, or because the advertiser is carpet-bombing some large population, or… whatever. As Don Marti eloquently points out, the targeted individual in the system diagramed above doesn't know what's actually going on. Should he or she bother to care about an ad, the thought balloon over his or her head would say "I don't know if your company is really spending a lot on advertising, or if you're just targeting me."
In Facebook and Google may be forced to ask permission to use personal data, The Guardian visits the prospect of regulatory relief. My problem with that approach is that it assumes that we, as poor "consumers," are naturally weak. But I don't think we are. I think we are strong, and only bound to get stronger. That's why I invite everybody reading this to join Customer Commons, and to start using VRM tools and services. Let's demonstrate genuine market power, for our good, for the health of the Internet we share, and to give real help to every business that wants to treat real customers with real respect.
January 12, 2013 April 7, 2016
by Doc Searls
Posted in Developments, Featured Post, Issues, VRM
The Personal Revolution
Wallets are personal
2 thoughts on "Bringing manners to marketing"
Don Marti says:
Wow — it's like all the creepiness of targeted ads with all the irrelevance of random ads.
(Facebook wants to sell me:
"Retargeting on Facebook? Reconnect with your website audience with Facebook Connect advertising"
and a Zynga game that won't play on my Flash-free browser)
Nathan Schor says:
Great insight:
I've been using that diagram as part of a VC pitch to show the friction in ad-technology; hence the need for the alternative that VRM offers. But, it never occurred to me to view it vertically and as a weight customer's bear, which is much more effective way to make the point.
Even more, despite the Luma schematic ubiquitous presence in the media, it likely did not occur to anyone else to view it other than horizontally. Flipping it vertically adds a new layer of meaning and instantly exposes why VRM exists, so deserves exposure. I hope you use it again in future posts.
© 2020 Customer Commons. Designed by Quema Labs.


Novartis' hopes of a boost for under-performing breast cancer drug Kisqali have been hit by a negative verdict from NICE.
Draft guidance from the cost-effectiveness watchdog has concluded CDK 4/6 inhibitor Kisqali (ribociclib) plus fulvestrant should not be offered routinely on the NHS in England for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have had previous endocrine therapy.
It's a blow to the company that is likely harder to take because a rival drug in the CDK 4/6 inhibitor class – Eli Lilly's Verzenio (abemaciclib) – was backed by NICE alongside fulvestrant for this patient group last week, albeit via the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).
The draft guidance is subject to a public consultation until 9 May, but says that the decision was made because it is not known whether Kisqali increases the length of time people live, because the final trial results are not available yet.
"Because of the uncertainties in the clinical evidence, and cost-effectiveness estimates that are much higher than NICE normally considers to be an acceptable use of NHS resources, Kisqali with fulvestrant cannot be recommended for routine use in the NHS," says the guidance.
"More data may address the uncertainties in the clinical trial evidence but because ribociclib with fulvestrant does not have the plausible potential to be cost-effective at the offered price, it cannot be recommended for use within the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF)," it adds.
Kisqali, Verzenio as well as Pfizer's market-leading CDK 4/6 inhibitor Ibrance (palbociclib) are already recommended for first-line use in HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer in combination with aromatase inhibitors.
Novartis has struggled to gain traction in the CDK 4/6 inhibitor category, with sales falling from $71m in the third quarter of 2018 to $60m in the last three months of the year.
Ibrance was the first of these drugs to reach the market and has already achieved blockbuster status worldwide, earning around $4bn in 2018, with forecasts of $6bn in 2022 revenues.
That leaves Kisqali and Verzenio jostling for second position, and some analysts says Verzenio has an advantage over Kisqali thanks to its continuous dosing regimen, which means patients don't have to take treatment holidays to avoid toxicity such as neutropenia.
Early signs are that Lilly's drug is starting to accelerate even as Kisqali slows down, with fourth quarter revenues reaching $83m in the fourth quarter of 2018.


As noted in the introductory post 'SAP and Precision or Personalized Medicine', SAP Health and Life Sciences has made a substantial commitment to the emerging precision and personalized medicine ecosystem via its connected health group.
In this video interview I chat with Dr. Werner Eberhardt, General Manager Connected Health, SAP. Dr. Eberhardt details SAP's vision for the connected health ecosystem and the value added role SAP plays enabling the vision of personalized medicine. The interview was recorded at SAPPHIRE held annually in Orlando, Florida – a massive gathering of SAP's ecosystem partners.
For more information on SAP Connected Health, see:'SAP Connected Health Platform'.
SAP Connected Health platform serves as a platform for personalized-medicine applications by enabling the processing and real-time analysis of big medical data from various sources, in a single system. The platform provides a common database schema, functional libraries, and algorithms for diverse health-associated applications built on top of it. In addition, the platform provides user interfaces for monitoring and administering various aspects of the platform, such as data integration and the clinical data warehouse, as well as end-user applications that provide standard features used separately or together with applications built on top of the platform.
Next up is my chat with Kevin Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) subsidiary CancerLinQ.


text:
Home › Advice
Motorhome brand family trees – Part 1 – Erwin Hymer Group (EHG)
Here we unravel the various motorhome manufacturers' and brands' family trees - in this article, Erwin Hymer Group
With so many motorhome brands and manufacturers to choose from and various acquisitions that have taken place, it can be unclear which company built which model and where each motorhome manufacturer is based. Here we unravel the various motorhome manufacturers and brands family trees – in this article, Erwin Hymer Group (EHG)
You might have thought that that shiny new motorhome you have just bought has been carefully designed, manufactured and supplied by one small family-owned company with a history stretching back many decades.
If so, you'd be right about the history, but these days a motorhome brand is much more likely to be a subsidiary of a small number of multinational conglomerates than a standalone outfit. This partly explains why many are starting to look remarkably similar – and not just because of the base vehicles they use.
If you find all this confusing, we are here to help, with a breakdown of exactly who owns what, and who is still battling it out as a solo operator out there.
Let's start with perhaps the best known manufacturing group – you can also read our guide to the best motorhome manufacturers out there to find out about the other different brands.
Erwin Hymer Group (EHG)
The Erwin Hymer Group, named after the founder of its founding brand, gained a much more significant profile in the UK at the end of the last decade when it acquired what had been the Explorer Group, including Elddis motorhomes. Shortly after that the German group became American when it was bought by Thor Industries. Group headquarters, however, remain at Bad Waldsee in southern Germany.
You can head to our motorhome reviews section to read our impartial reviews of motorhomes made by brands in the Erwin Hymer Group.
If you're enjoying this article why not SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things motorhome related.
Located in Kehl, so close to the French border that half its workforce are French, Bürstner was founded in 1958, started producing motorhomes in 1986, and became part of EHG in 1998. This season the new Bürstner Elegance became the first motorhome to feature Thetford's new INDUS toilet system.
Bürstner was awarded the best motorhome for innovation at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2022, with our expert judging panel giving it to the Lyseo Gallery.
www.buerstner.com
Carado was founded in 2006 as a budget brand for Hymer – although it has since developed to become a standalone company offering van conversions, low-profiles and A-classes. All models are produced in EHG's Neustadt factory near Dresden in former East Germany. The brand had a successful performance at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2022, with our judging panel awarding the best van conversion under £50,000 to the Carado CV600 Edition 15
www.carado.com
Based in Isny-im-Allgӓu in southern Germany, Dethleffs is 90 years old this year – although it only started producing motorhomes in 1983. Perhaps its best known recent model is the Alpa – a motorhome designed mainly on the back of an idea from a customer. Dethleffs only joined EHG as recently as 2015.
The brand is going from strength to strength, with the Dethleffs Globetrotter XLi-7850-2 DBM awarded the best motorhome for full-time living by our judging panel at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2022.
www.dethleffs.co.uk
The youngest member of the EHG family was only founded in 2016, but already offers the full range of A-classes, overcabs, low-profiles and (on the Continent only) van conversions. It's rapid development is no doubt partly due to the factory's location in San Casciano in Tuscany, the epicentre of Italian motorhome manufacturing. www.etrusco.com
ELDDIS (including Compass)
When EHG bought what was then the Explorer Group in 2017, the only motorhome brand the County Durham-based group produced was Elddis. Shortly after that it resurrected the Compass name that had lain dormant for many years. Now there is a Compass motorhome to match an Elddis motorhome in every range the company produces, including the winner of the best motorhome under £60,000 at the Practical Motorhome Awards 2022, the Elddis Autoquest 150. www.elddis.co.uk
The brand from which the whole group takes its name was founded by Erwin Hymer in 1957 and was already making motorhomes by 1961. Today's models are instantly recognisable on the road, thanks to their ergonomic exterior, and often include innovations such as the SLC chassis developed in partnership with Mercedes Benz. Visit the factory at Bad Waldsee in southern Germany and you can take in the Erwin Hymer Museum too. www.hymer.com
Taking its name from the famous Soviet space dog, who is also immortalised on its branding, Italian brand Laika is known for its luxury vehicles that show fine attention to detail. Based, like Etrusco, in San Casciano in Tuscany, the company became part of EHG in 2000. Its state of the art new factory was opened in 2016 by then Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi. www.laika.it/en
NIESMANN + BISCHOFF
NIESMANN+BISCHOFF – Flair – Flair 920 LW – front side
We are talking serious luxury here. Niesmann + Bischoff is a niche manufacturer, producing Arto and Flair A-classes that in some cases would rival the value of your home if bought new. The launch of Smove low-profiles has brought the brand marginally closer to ordinary mortals, but you still get a highly individualised product. The company was founded in 1981 and became part of EHG in 1996. www.niesmann-bischoff.com/en
Just as Carado started life as Hymer's budget brand, Sunlight was initially a budget brand from Dethleffs, but has since separated out to become a standalone brand with its own factory within EHG. It offers the full range of A-classes, overcabs and low-profiles, but has been directing much of its marketing attention recently on its Cliff van conversions. www.sunlight.de/en
If you liked this… READ THESE:
Motorhome brand family trees – Part 2 – Trigano
Motorhome brand family trees – Part 3 – Knaus, Rapido & Groupe Pilote
Motorhome brand family trees – Part 4 – Independents
20 Best Motorhome Brands
10 Best Caravan Brands
If you've enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Motorhome magazine SUBSCRIBERS' OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things motorhome related.
These days a motorhome brand is much more likely to be a subsidiary of a small number of multinational conglomerates than a standalone outfit.
Thor Industries buys Erwin Hymer Group
Hymer Group makes a bid for UK budget motorhome market
Erwin Hymer Group pulls out of shows
Van Live! Hall 1 British Manufacturers
Erwin Hymer Group UK
Used 'van buyer – Hymer A-class motorhome


text:
Thursday, January 20, 2022,
Planning Minister for joint efforts to face COVID19 challenge
ISLAMABAD-Planning Minister Asad Umar has stressed the need for joint efforts of the nation to face the challenge of COVID-19 pandemic.
Briefing media, after the meeting of National Command and Control Centre, in Islamabad on Thursday evening, flanked with Information Minister Syed Shibli Faraz, Asad Umar said federal and provincial governments are jointly working to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic.
PM Imran Khan approved radical reforms in the criminal justice system of the country
He said federal government is extending its full support to provinces in acquiring oxygen beds for the Coronavirus affected people. He expressed the belief that 2150 oxygen beds will be provided by the end of next month.
The Planning Minister said lockdown strategy about corona hotspots in 20 cities of has been shared with the provinces. He said implementation of this strategy has started in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir, while its implementation in Balochistan will begin in one or two days.
Pakistan desires meaningful partnership with Spain and other EU countries: FM Qureshi
Asad Umar said the NCOC meeting discussed implementation on standard operating procedure to prevent the spread of the contagion, along with administrative measures in this regard.
Copyright 2022 © Times of Islamabad (Pvt) Limited


7th – Ian Moss performs in Unseasonal Beasts project with Simon "Ding" Archer at the Castle Hotel, Manchester as part of the MASS assembly event.
15th – Paul Winter from The Mind Sweepers is supporting JD Meatyard at Leith Depot Edinburgh tickets are £5 with £1 going to local homeless charity.
24th – The Junta plays The Peer Hat, Manchester with Lucky + Love.


text:
Senate Passes DOD Authorization Bill, Tackles Acquisitions
The Senate passed its version of the bill 98-0 last night. The bill now heads to conference with the House so the legislative bodies can iron out their differences. The House version did not contain any of the same acquisition provisions. Both the Senate and House Armed Services committees passed their versions of the bill in May; the full House also passed its version in May.
Under the provision, the Defense secretary could realign the workforce to meet the top six skill gap priorities. The secretary also should assess how the agency recruits, retains, re-trains and provides professional development for acquisition professionals over a 10-year period beginning in 2006.
Congress cut DOD's acquisition workforce in half during the 1990s, and retirements and private-sector opportunities have continued to shrink the agency's contracting workforce.
Part of the reason for the Senate's action is recurring acquisition problems in DOD that have sprung up over the past year, including the Air Force scandal involving Boeing Co. and Darlene Druyun and DOD's aptitude for "parking" billions of dollars in the General Services Administration's Federal Technology Service's IT Fund and using it for non-IT purchases.
The Senate bill also would extend the share-in-savings program by two years until 2007 and gives employees bid protest rights to the Government Accountability Office under A-76. The share-in-saving provision expired in September after two years of inactivity because OMB never finalized the Federal Acquisition Regulation rule. And some members have been supportive of giving feds bid protest rights for more than a year.
In addition to increasing the number of acquisition professionals, the bill calls for DOD to move all purchasing for goods and services over $100,000 to Contract Support Acquisition Centers by Sept. 30, 2009. Each service would establish a center, and the director of the center would develop policies, procedures and guidelines for acquisition planning, solicitation and contract awards, requirements development and management, contracting tracking and oversight, performance evaluation and risk management.
"Creating a new organization will not solve the problems," said Stan Soloway, president of the Professional Services Council, an industry trade association in Arlington, Va., and former DOD acquisition official. "First and foremost, this is a workforce issue. Until we get serious about the many levels of workforce challenges, no rule, no policy or structural change will deliver the results we seek."
The bill also called for the Defense Acquisition University to review and report to the undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics and Congress the contracting structure of each service and defense agency. DAU will: Determine the current structure of the organization Review the evolution of the current structure and identify any areas that have been divested in the past 15 years Identify capabilities needed by the organization and assess the capability of the organization to provide those skills and Identify any gaps or shortfalls for each organization. DAU should start with the Air Force, and eventually perform an evaluation for every service and Defense agency.
"We keep tinkering with structure and policy, but we haven't really gotten our arms around the biggest issue: the workforce," Soloway said. "I think the fundamental issue here is our failure to meaningfully invest in the workforce and meaningfully resource the workforce to do the job we want them to do."
Senators also added a provision that would require the Army to buy any future pieces of its Future Combat System through the Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15, which insists on full and open competition and cost and pricing data, instead of under FAR Part 12, which is the streamlined method for commercial acquisitions.
"There are some on the Hill that think we should buy weapons systems using commercial buying methods. There are certain pieces [for which] you can [do it], but this is a continued evolution of the process. It has been a matter of contention. So they want DOD to use traditional buying authorities," Soloway said.
Finally, the secretary would set up a risk assessment team to assess the vulnerability of Defense contracts to waste, fraud and abuse. The team would include the inspector general and representatives of each of the services, the Defense Logistics Agency, the Defense Contract Management Agency and the Defense Contract Audit Agency. The risk assessment team would submit a report to the secretary and Congress within six months after the bill becomes law.


In what can be described as anticipated blunder, President Muhammadu Buhari continues his goofing spree.
The President today at the APC Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state presidential campaign rally, while addressing the people said, "We are very conscious of the promises we made when we were coming in 2005" instead of 2015.
And on Thursday, January 24th the president made another gaffe during the presidential campaign rally in Onitsha, Anambra state when he referred to "South-Eastern States" as "East Central State".


This is an optional short description for a controlled vocabulary field. It can be used to provide a brief introduction to a theme, collection, or facet of a collection. For example: The primary source documents collected in Tales from the Frontier help us to understand existence and consequences on the various frontiers that arose from the movement of Europeans to Africa, Australasia and North America.


Tucked back a little bit in Lambsdowne Subdivision sits Lot 2 that's 5.56 acres. On the corner of Lambsdowne Ln and Woolsley Ct. TSC Schools - Battle Ground Elementary and Middle School, Harrison High School. City utilities. Roads are paved and buried utility restrictions apply. Covenants & Restrictions - Any dwelling constructed on a parcel shall have a finished living area above-ground, exclusive of basement, porches, decks, patios, garages and similar areas not regarded as living areas, of not less than 2,200 square feet for a ranch home, and 2,500 square feet for a two story without the prior written approval of the owner or his duly designated representative. Each dwelling shall have a private garage for not less than two (2) cars. All driveways shall be hard-surfaced. See plot map and covenants & restrictions for details.


text:
Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani and the Nation's Youth
Dr. Rashid Askari
4th December, 2022 03:32:09 PM
When it comes to writing about Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani, the first thing that springs to my mind is that he was an ardent disciple of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his beloved mama (maternal uncle). As a matter of fact, the mama-bhagne (maternal uncle and nephew) partnership performed a highly instrumental role in the creation of Bangladesh and its development up until their death on that fateful August night in 1975. In all the watersheds marked in the independence struggle of , Sheikh Mani exerted himself and made a phenomenal contribution drawing inspiration from his mama Sheikh Mujib. Mani loved him and his politics so passionately that he rated him above many other world class politicians. As he puts it in one of his columns published in the then Banglar Bani under the title—Durbine Duradarshi: "The life of Bangabandhu is absolutely invaluable for the people of a newly independent country like ours. For the people of China, Russia, and even America, their leaders are not that important. Despite the absence of Mao Zedong, Nixon, Brezhnev or Kosygin, there is no problem today. Because their societies have come a long way. But we have just started. We are having to create our own roads to development by cleaning up the ills. Bangabandhu is that guide. God forbid, if we lose him, we don't know what lies in store for seven and a half crore hapless people of Bangladesh. So, stronger security measures should be taken for him for national interest," (transl. added). What could be a more realistic view of the security of the Father of the Nation than this? But unfortunately for us all, Sheikh Mani's suggestions went unheeded and the whole nation had to pay the price for it.
Sheikh Mani is perhaps the best embodiment of Poet Helal Hafiz's famous poetic utterance "Ekhon joubon jar, michhile jabar tar shreshtha samoy/ " Ekhon joubon jar, juddhe jabar tar shreshtha samoy/" (It's high time to march in procession for them who are in their youth/ It's high time to go to war for them who are in their youth/). Mani marched in procession a great many times against the military regimes of the notorious Khans—Ayub and Yahya and went to the 1971 Liberation War to ensure the independence of his country. He was full of youthful idealism which seems to have little/no place in today's politics. Poet Asad Chowdhury in his book—Chumbon Korini Aage Bhul Hoye Gechhe (Didn't Kiss before Made a Mistake) testifies to it. To quote: "The time was of the politics of sacrifice and commitment. Those who would associate with them had deep patriotism. They had the knowledge and idealism for doing politics and a sense of solidarity in their character. They would consider people's votes or politics something more than just the means of moving up the social ladder. Our brother Mani belonged to this group," (transl. added). What kind of politician he was and how he was furthest removed from the general run of the politicians motivated entirely by self-interest is best exemplified in his words: "When the liaison between three forces—the power-hungry military and civil bureaucracy, profit-hungry rising capitalists and fiercely ambitious political powers is forged, it must strike."
Sheikh Mani was a man of noble birth. On December 4, 1937 he was born in the traditional Sheikh family of Tungipara, one of the noblest families in the district. His mother—Asia Khatun was the elder sister of Sheikh Mujib. Mani was a natural leader. He showed a bent for politics from a young age which Bangabandhu noticed and advised him to go into politics. As a matter of fact, Mani drew his inspiration from Bangabandhu who remained his political mentor throughout his life. He was the general secretary of Chattra League from 1960 to 1963. As a student leader he had undergone arrest and incarceration but never suffered from low morale. In 1962 he was jailed for six months for leading the movement against the Sharif Education Commission Report. And as a mark of protest, he rejected his Dhaka University graduation certificate issued by the then Chancellor and Governor of East Pakistan, Abdul Monem Khan in the university's 1964 convocation. Later, the university cancelled his degree and he fought a legal battle in the courts and swept to a victory. Again, he was imprisoned for his involvement in 1966 Six-point Movement. Sheikh Mani can also be credited with organizing Mujib Bahini aka Bangladesh Liberation Force (BLF), a guerrilla force formed during the Liberation War which was comprised of activists from Bangladesh Awami League and its student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (Bangladesh Students League).
Sheikh Mani launched some major guerrilla operations in Dhaka, Comilla, Noakhali, Sylhet, Chittagong, and Chittagong Hill Tracts, which completely unnerved the occupation army. He had become an icon of thousands of young freedom fighters and a sworn enemy of the Pakistan Army. He was a star attraction among the youths of the country. He was smart, intelligent and much ahead of his time and his love of the country was legendary. He was the most far-sighted of young politicians.
Sheikh Mani had other strings to his bow. He was a journalist and writer, bilingual in Bengali and English. The publication of the Bengali weekly—Banglar Bani in the tumultuous days of 1970s can be considered as a journalistic front on which the Liberation War was fought.
Sheikh Mani has also founded Bangladesh Awami Jubo League, popularly known as Jubo League, the youth wing of the ruling Awami League in late 1972 with a view to involving the nation's youth in the struggle for building Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla—a progressive, democratic, non-communal and exploitation-free country in the light of the Liberation War ideals. When the youth of the country upon return from the Liberation War were aimlessly idling their days away, their leader Mani considered it absolutely imperative to organize them under the umbrella of the same ideology and the creation of a youth organization was seriously felt. Because there was no pro-liberation platform for the youth in between Awami League and Chattra League where the immediate past student leaders could join. Awami League was the organization for the elderly and Chattra League was for the students. Mani could realize that if these young folks were not organized under a political platform, they might go astray. From this realization was born Jubo League, the first youth organization in Bangladesh which was the brainchild of Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani.
Sheikh Mani's influence on the youth of today in general and on younger generation politicians in particular is his greatest legacy. He was an epitome of how best one's youth can be spent on the altar of the nation's welfare. It's reassuring to know that his son Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash has stepped into his father's shoes. It is an opportune time to discover more about him.
Dr. Rashid Askari is a freethinking writer, academic and translator. Email: [email protected]
Source: Sun Editorial
Sheikh Hasina Scripts Story of a New Bangladesh
Newly-appointed Director General of Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Major General AKM Aminul Haque along with others pays homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by giving a salute in front of his grave at Tungipara in Gopalganj on Monday. —ISPR PHOTO
BGB DG pays tribute to Bangabandhu
Assess Bangladesh's massive development by AL: PM urges countrymen
On behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Jatiya Sangsad Whip Iqbalur Rahim MP hands over warm clothes to union parishad chairmen for distribution among cold-hit people at a programme held at the conference room of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila Parishad Complex on Saturday. – Sun Photo
PM Hasina inaugurates 26 dev projects, worth around Tk 1,333 cr in Rajshahi
PM addresses public rally at Rajshahi venue
PM urges police to serve people with professionalism and sympathy
From Charter of Change to Smart Bangladesh
Choke counterfeit currency
Only Expulsion from Halls Will Never Stop Ragging
Gas leakage: Emphasis on awareness and publicity
ABG Bashundhara ushers in new era for women's football
Are errors in textbooks mere mistakes?
QR-based Transaction: A Big Move towards Smart Bangladesh
Outbound Medical Tourism from Bangladesh