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Ethiopia's PM Abiy admits Eritrean forces are in Tigray
Reuters , Tuesday 23 Mar 2021
Abiy said Eritrean troops had crossed the border because they were concerned they would be attacked by TPLF forces, he also acknowledged for the first time that atrocities like rape had been committed during the fighting
File Photo: Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed responds to questions from members of parliament at the prime minister's office in the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia taken on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020. AFP
Ethiopian leader warns fugitive Tigray leaders to surrender
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UN rights chief agrees to Ethiopia request for joint Tigray inquiry
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed for the first time on Tuesday that troops from neighbouring Eritrea entered the northern Tigray region during the five-month-old conflict, the first such acknowledgement after months of denials.
In a parliamentary address, he also acknowledged for the first time that atrocities like rape had been committed during the fighting, and promised perpetrators would be punished.
Fighting erupted in Tigray after forces loyal to the then-governing party there - the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) - attacked army bases across the region overnight and in the early hours of Nov. 4.
The attacks initially overwhelmed the federal military, which later launched a counter-offensive alongside Eritrean soldiers and forces from the neighbouring region of Amhara.
The TPLF, which dominated Ethiopia's government for nearly three decades until Abiy came to power in 2018, has long been an archenemy of Eritrea.
Abiy said Eritrean troops had crossed the border because they were concerned they would be attacked by TPLF forces, but the Eritreans had promised to leave when Ethiopia's military was able to control the border. The TPLF repeatedly fired rockets at Eritrea after the conflict began.
The governments of both Eritrea and Ethiopia repeatedly denied Eritrea's involvement in the war, despite reports from rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Annesty International, which documented the killings of hundreds of civilians by Eritrean soldiers in the holy city of Axum.
Reuters journalists on a trip to Tigray last week saw hundreds of men wearing Eritrean uniforms in buses with Eritrean plates on the main road between the regional capital Mekelle and Shire, and on the main streets of Shire.
Abiy quoted the Eritreans as saying to Ethiopian authorities: "You left the trenches while searching for the enemy in central Tigray. So, while you attacked them, they might come to us. We controlled areas along the border because we have our national security concerns. But if your army can control the trenches, we will leave the next day."
He said the Ethiopian government had also raised accusations of widespread looting and rights abuses by Eritrean soldiers in Tigray.
"The Eritrean government has highly condemned it and said they will be accountable if any of their army participated in this," he said.
Dozens of witnesses in Tigray told Reuters that Eritrean soldiers routinely killed civilians, gang-raped and tortured women and looted civilian households and crops. Some provided images of Eritrean trucks loaded with household goods.
Eritrea's minister of information was not immediately available for comment.
ATROCITIES
Abiy also addressed reports of abuses by Ethiopian soldiers.
"There were atrocities that were committed in Tigray region ... reports indicate that atrocities were being committed by raping women and looting properties," he said, without naming the forces accused.
"Any member of the national defence who committed rape and looting against our Tigrayan sisters will be held accountable."
But Tigray's police service is not functioning and civilian authorities told Reuters they have no ability to investigate the military.
The United Nations has raised concerns about atrocities committed in Tigray during the conflict, while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has described acts carried out in the region as ethnic cleansing, accusations that Ethiopia has denied.
Abiy also addressed a border dispute with Sudan, which is hosting around 60,000 refugees from Tigray and which is in dispute with Ethiopia over a giant hydropower dam that Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile.
Abiy sought to cool tensions over disputed farmland on the border, where dozens have been killed in low-level clashes.
"Sudan is a brotherly country. We don't want to fight with Sudan," Abiy said. "Sudan is not in a position to fight against any neighbours, it has many problems. Ethiopia has also many problems, we are not ready to go to battle so we don't need war. It is better to settle it in a peaceful manner."
Tigray
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South African indigenous 'king' released on warning
Abiy has 'special responsibility' to end Tigray conflict: Nobel panel


Oh, I just love to say it: WE GOT WORMS ! And you bet we got a lot of 'em! Around 3,000, and of course we named each and every one of them. Nah, not true, we didn't name them. We are bad with names so we didn't bother.
I am talking about our worm bin – in the kitchen! All they do is to linger in there and eat, poop, and multiply. What a life !
What is this worm bin and doesn't it smell bad?
A worm bin is a so-called vermicomposting system: A composting system using worms to turn organic waste into fertilizer. It's literally a bin with composting worms inside LOL . You put your kitchen scraps and some paper into the bin and the worms will help to make compost out of these things.
However, both hubby and I are, um, not the most talented people when it comes to taking care of plants… So we will give the worm castings (= the fertilizer) to Vany, who has an allotment garden AND a green thumb, and who by the way wrote this cool guest post on using chestnuts as laundry detergent on my blog.
A teeny tiny worm baby ❤!
Why would you want to compost in your apartment?
Not every city offers curb-side collection of organic waste. So most of the time organic waste ends up in the general trash, lowering the caloric value of the waste if incinerated. Being able to compost right where you live means your organic waste doesn't go to waste and neither does it need to be transported, which means this will not add to its carbon footprint. Also, you get to use the compost to fertilize your live plants.
Well, if you are anything like us, you wouldn't fertilize your live plants either way… Give the worm castings to a friend or post it in a local group on Facebook.
So what can I feed the worms with?
I like to say that the worms are raw vegans, only making exceptions for tea and coffee (grounds) . No animal producs like bones, meat, or dairy (they do love egg shells though), and no leftovers if cooked, oily or salted. These things tend to spoil very quickly and this would destroy the climate in the bin the worms need to survive. Banana peels also rot pretty quickly and should only put in in moderation. Worm also dislike citrus fruits, onions, and garlic; these strong smells just make them want to move house, so definitely don't put too much of these bad boys in . To round it off, don't forget to mix in some paper and/or cardboard to ensure your roomies get a balanced diet.
Let me let you in on a little secret… We do put banana peels (never add non-organic banana peel because the pesticides can kill off an entire worm bin!), citrus fruits, onions, garlic and sometimes even a scoop of cooked leftovers (which is super dooper uber rare in our home) into our worm bin, because a up-and-running worm population can handle a bit of this and that now and then, and it really is quite the exception in our case. In fact, we now have such a thriving worm community that they process more than we can feed them! When I told the vegan Café we frequent about it they started giving me coffee grounds because they were afraid my poor worm friends would have to starve to death. The worms did appreciate the coffee grounds (they LOVE coffee grounds!) but as a matter of fact, the worm population will adjust to the bin environment and at some point the population growth will stop and stay constant.
Right now we have two hankies in our worm bin. We got our hands on some old hankies, but some of them had quite some nasty blood stains on them, so we decided to compost them .
You can compost cotton, linen, lufahs as well as the handles of bamboo toothbrushes (and sometimes even the bristles, but that depends on the manufacturer really). Egg shells are supposed to be really good for the worm bin, but of course, as vegans, we don't have any for our little wigglers . But on the other hand pretty much all of our kitchen waste can go into the bin, so that's still cool .
Whatever still has life in it cannot be composted. We have had avocado and pumpkin seeds sprouting out of our worm bin. If you want to grow these, awesome. If you don't, just chop them up before you put them into the bin.
Bird droppings and your pet gnawer's poop, but keep dog and cat poop out of your worm bin!
Click here for even more compostables.
Do not compost bioplastics. They take YEARS to break down even in a hot composting system. You might consider burying it in your yard though if you happen to have one. Glossy paper like magazines should also go into paper recycling, not your composting system.
Vertical worm bins are usually made from plastic and sold as "worm factories". They are very good for beginners because there is a drainage system so it is easier to regulate the moisture level. Usually the bottom tier collects the worm tea and there is a spigot for you to harvest the worm tea.
The vertical migration worm bin consists of different trays stack on top of each other. The bottom part of the tray consists of a mesh screen, so the worms can move from one tray to another. You start out by filling the bottom tray with your scraps until it's full. Then you add another tray on top of it and start filling up that tray. The worms eventually move up to the next tray because there is more food. After a while, the tray at the very bottom only contains compost, also called worm castings, and can be harvested.
You can see an infographic of how this works here.
This is what we went for. Horizontal worm bins are usually made from wood and are pretty much a chest with a grid in the middle. It is said to be for the more advanced worm farmer, since you have to monitor your bin more closely so it doesn't get too wet or too dry. The wood helps to regulate the moisture in the bin and lets everything breathe though.
You fill your kitchen scraps + paper/cardboard in one side, until it is full after maybe 1 1/2 years. Yep, I'm serious. It takes about 1.5 years to fill half a worm bin. That's because a big bucket full of kitchen scraps will shrink into only a handful of worm castings. Once you have filled one side, you switch to the other side. The worms will migrate to where the food is, so after the first side has been completely processed, they will move to the new side where the food is. After another 3-4 months the first side will be dried up and all you have to do is to scoop up the worm castings without having to pick out any worms like with a vertical worm bin.
However, after 5-6 years the wooden worm bin will have to be replaced since the wood, of course, will slowly be eaten up by the worms .
Click here for more info on horizontal worm bins.
Oh right, you have a bin, but of course you still need worms to populate it.
It is actually possible to go to a park or a forest on a rainy day to collect some worms. However, please don't go for the common earthworm. The common earth worm is pale and pretty long, and isn't a very good composter. It also lives deeper in the ground, so it isn't suitable to be kept in a box.
Go for the worms that look like the common earthworm, but are red and smaller. Worms that are red are usually pretty decent composters.
The most common compost worm is the red wiggler, which actually is a name for two kinds of composting worms. We have both kinds of red wigglers in our worm bins by the way. They have really charming latin names like Eisenia andrei and Eisenia foetida. We also have European Nightcrawlers, called Dendrobaena veneta or Eisenia hortensis. There are also Lumbricus rubellus, the Read Earthworms, living in our bin.
If you live in a warm and humid area, you might want to go for the African Nightcrawlers or Blue Worms instead, since the other species will die when exposed to temperatures over 86ºF/30ºC for too long.
It is often advised to get a worm mix when starting a worm bin. After a while the worm species most suitable to the environment in your bin will come out on top. We have had our worm bin set up and running for over a year now, and I can still find all species in the bin (at least that is what I assume, since the two kinds of Red Wigglers are hard to tell apart, and so are the Red Earthworm and European Nightcrawler, even though I do believe I can tell the two latter apart). So seems like so far they don't mind sharing the food?
So where can I get my hands on WOOOOORMS??
Well, like I said, you can go and collect worms outside. Or you can ask around if somebody has a compost pile in their yard or sniff out an urban gardening project in your city. Because – tadaaa – if there's a compost pile, there will be compost worms you can dig up. If you live in the middle of nowhere and there is a ranch or a farm with horses, ask them for horse manure. Composting worms LOVE horse manure. And if you are especially lucky you might even know somebody with a worm bin willing to share some worm love with you.
Ooooor you can order them online. No kidding. The most common way people get worms is from online shopping LOL! Well, the non-parasitic kind at least . Not zero waste, but usually you can ask them to cut down on packaging and to send the worms as plastic-free as possible.
Prior to setting up your worm bin you should prepare by collecting some food scraps. Keep them in your fridge or even freezer. Just make sure they are room temperature before you put them into the bin. You don't want to freeze your worms to death now do you?
Shred some paper and briefly soak them in water. When I set up our worm bin, I put the dry paper into the bin and then sprayed the paper. I don't remember where I read this, but it didn't work out well. Go for the soaking method instead, trust me.
Now let the worms move in. Some soil or whatever they came with will add the necessary microorganisms. Mine came in horse manure, yum.
Worm like it moist and dark. You can spray your bin from time to time to not get it too wet. If your bin gets too wet, mix in some paper or cardboard. If you have a vertical system, just drain the bin by opening the spigot. The liquid that comes out is called "worm tea" and is an excellent fertilizer.
When putting in your scraps you should slightly bury it to prevent flies from laying eggs. You should also add paper regularly and always cover everything with a towel or newspaper to keep the moisture in.
From time to time your worm bin will need a handful of egg shells and some mineral rock dust. The worms usually get the minerals they need from the ground, but since they live in a bin you will have to supply these minerals, or you will find your worm population suddenly disappearing after around three years, because they simply lack the nutrients they need to multiply.
So these are the basics. You can go crazy over vermicomposting, but in my humble opinion this is enough to let you set up a bin and keep it running and your worms healthy and happy.
Do keep in mind though, that a small worm population is more prone to mistakes than a stable large population, which is why I would advise to start with a big population. However, if you are careful, you can also start with a small population, and with good care and a bit of patience you will have a thriving worm bin in a couple of months.
Less is more when it comes to feeding. One worm weighs less than 1 gram, which is less than 0.035 ounzes! We started with 500 worms, so even though 500 worms sounds like a lot, it's not even a pound of worms. Each worm can eat up to half its own body weight each day. So if you start out with 500 worms, only feed them half a pound of kitchen waste a day at most. It is a lot easier to kill your worm population by overfeeding then by underfeeding, because if you put in more than what they can process, it will start to go bad and this will tip off the balance of your bin.
Always put in enough bedding (paper and cardboard), so oxygen can get to the food scraps. This will prevent foul odors, which are a sign of a disturbed worm bin balance.
If something smells bad, find the culprit. Most of the times you only have to mix in a bit more paper/cardboard, but sometimes you will have to remove the culprit to keep a worm-friendly climate in your worm bin.
Do remember to add mineral rock dust from time to time. We do this whenever we remember, so maybe once a month?
Leave the worm bin alone when not putting in your kitchen scraps. Don't check ever-so-often. Checking your bin once a week to add moisture or mix in some more bedding is more than enough. Your worms will appreciate the privacy and reward you by doing a great job, which in their case is eating and pooping a lot. Oh, and making lots of worm babies. What a life!
too many banana peels, meat, dairy of leftovers being added (come on, you knew better, didn't cha?) ➡ remove the culprit and mix in some bedding.
overfeeding, meaning you put in more than what your worms can process and the kitchen scraps you put in start to spoil ➡ remove what you put in immediately. If the box has already turned foul or sour, all you can do is to save the worms, get rid of whatever is left in your worm bin, and set up a new worm bin.
My worms are escaping from my bin!
Worm usually only escape when they fear for their life. They like it dark and moist, and it's usually pretty dry and bright outside, so why would they want to leave their bin?
It's too hot. This happened to us last summer when it was around 95ºF/35ºC for a couple of days. Considering the fact that worms will die when exposed to temperatures over 86ºF/30ºC for too long it does make sense that they tried to escape. However, it wasn't a mass break out. I guess most worms were already too exhausted to escape. All we could do was to pick them up and to put them back into the bin. If you have a cool basement you could move the bin there or turn on the AC (which we don't have).
It's too cold. As long as you keep your worm bin inside this probably won't happen. However, if you keep your worm bin on the balcony you should wrap it in a blanket for a bit of insulation, but still, keep in mind that the adorable wigglers cannot tolerate temperatures below 58ºF/15ºC for very long. If you have a lot in your worm bin, they can migrate to the core where it's warmer since composting as such does generate a bit of heat. But really, don't let the poor things freeze to death.
Having a big population and suddenly feeding too little over a long period of time (> 4 weeks). Obviously they will want to look for a new source of food.
Putting in too many non-organic banana peels or conventional produce. The pesticides in there will kill the ecosystem in your worm bin. If your worms still can, they will try to escape the poison.
Puttin in too many citrus fruits/onions/garlic. I said it before. Your wiggly friends do not like aggressive smells. They will try to flee when there's more than what they can stand.
Definitely check out Red Worm Composting, it's a great website with all the answers on vermicomposting and really funny and cool articles as well, like "Can you compost human waste?" or "Will a red worm population double in three months?", highly recommended, really! They also sell worms, but I mainly like to read the articles lol.
You can of course keep your worm bin outside, but do make sure it is not exposed to direct sunlight, rain, and you also have to wrap it in a blanket if it gets too cold (which is why I keep it inside, because it's just so much easier and more convenient to keep it inside ;)).
I used to have it on my washing room but, which is inside the apartment next to the kitchen, and though it never smell there were lots of tiny flies that's why I move it to the balcony. The flies are still there specially on warm and sunny days but at least they are not inside my home.
Do you anything to get rid of flies or prevent to show up ?
Thanks! All the best from Canada!
Do you know https://plus2vers.fr website ?
It's a "social network" that helps you to easily start worm composting, by finding worms and advice near you for free !
The website is being translate in several language (it's actually only in French).
Hello! Thenk you for this article! I was wondering how is the draining system in the horizontal system you use?
Before I came across your article, I knew nothing about vermicomposting. Thanks to this awesome and super detailed post, I walk away as a worm bin expert . I currently have a simple backyard compost but will be moving soon and wanted to give a worm bin a try. I felt scared about starting one because I didn't want to accidentally kill the worms (and cry about it like I did when my tropical fish died.) Thank you Shia! I can't wait to try this out!


Whether you're trekking to an art festival in the desert or just want to be easily seen as you ride your bike through city traffic at night, the Versalume Bike Kit has everything you need to brilliantly light up your bike. If you've tried EL wire and just aren't satisfied with the brightness, try Versalume - which is literally powered by lasers.
The Versalume Bike Kit is available in three primary colors: red, green and blue. This compact module has an integrated laser and a microcontroller that operates in a variety of modes. Each Versalume USB Module comes with 1 meter of Fibrance® Light-Diffusing Fiber and all the accessories you need to easily attach it to your bike.
Setup is easy: Program your Versalume module with our app to one of the three operation modes (continuous, blink, or fade), install the module on your bike, attach it to the battery, and then hit the road in style!
Visit the Single Color USB Module page for the most up to date specification sheet and download the Mac and Windows app here.


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Food + Drink » Food News
Country Kitchen Café Opens in Williamstown
by Hannah Palmer Egan
Published March 2, 2016 at 10:00 a.m.
Updated March 8, 2016 at 3:58 p.m.
When Williamstown's Behind the Scenes Café & Pub became Pub 7 last year, the liquor kept flowing, but locals were left without a place to meet for a sit-down meal.* Aside from the Pump & Pantry convenience store, which offers deli sandwiches, the cozy downtown restaurant was the town's only dining spot.
But even as they exited their pub, married co-owners Wayne Emmons and Denise O'Neill — two career teachers who took over Behind the Scenes in late 2014 — were already working on a new restaurant, Emmons tells Seven Days. Last November, they leased the old Williamstown fire station, which had been vacant since the fire department relocated to a new building two years ago.
After three months of renovations and prep, Emmons and O'Neill will open Country Kitchen Café this Thursday, March 3, in the low-slung white-clapboard building just around the corner from their original restaurant. Like the old outpost, the new café will offer pizzas and subs to go during evening hours, including a popular steak-and-cheese sub. But Emmons says the firehouse's ample layout allows them to do a lot more in the kitchen — and to serve more people.
"Before, we didn't have a big enough area for many people to sit down," Emmons says. Country Kitchen will offer home-style small plates, sides and entrées, such as stuffed pork chops and chicken breasts, various lasagnas and other family-friendly foods.
At breakfast and lunch, the café will offer an extensive selection of baked goods, including cakes, cookies and pies, many of which O'Neill will bake herself, using as many local ingredients as possible. Morning bagels will come from Maria's Bagels, which opened in downtown Barre last fall.
Later this spring, the two plan to open a bar in an adjoining space, where they'll offer their full dinner menu in addition to cocktails, wines and local beers on draft. They're currently finishing the conversion of part of that space into an expansive banquet room for group dining and community events.
Located at 154 Depot Street, Country Kitchen Café will be open seven days a week, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
*Correction, March 2, 2016: An earlier version of this story stated that Behind the Scenes Cafe & Pub closed in December. In fact, Pub 7 took its place and remains open.
The original print version of this article was headlined "Firehouse Eats"
First Bite: Three Ways to Brunch at the Grey Jay in Burlington
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Food News Williamstown breakfast lunch Country Kitchen Café

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This list is by no means complete as many New Build homes are not even listed on the mls by the home builder.
You need to contact me because I know where all the New Build subdivisions are in Gilbert. Just describe to me what you want and I will find it for you. Please call me at 602-418-8045. I know how to negotiate with the home builder on your behalf and I can save you a lot of money. Thanks!!


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The Indonesia Earthquake And Tsunami Death Toll Has Reached More Than A Thousand, As "Nightmarish" Conditions Continue
Witnesses have reported seeing cases of "liquefaction," where soil turns to liquid and swallows up entire buildings.
by Patrick Smith
Updated on October 3, 2018, 7:21 am Posted on October 1, 2018, 2:22 pm
At least 1,407 people have been killed after a strong earthquake and tsunami hit Indonesia on Friday evening, authorities said on Wednesday, as rescuers continued to battle extremely difficult conditions in their search for survivors.
Indonesia's disaster agency, BNPB, confirmed the latest death toll in a news conference in Jakarta, adding that at least 2,500 people are severely injured as a result of the double natural disaster.
The magnitude 7.5 earthquake and 10-foot tsunami hit the island of Sulawesi, devastating the city of Palu, where most of the confirmed deaths occurred. For safety and religious reasons, hundreds of the dead have already been buried in mass graves. A single mass grave at Poboya, near Palu, is reported to have been prepared to hold 1,300 bodies.
"The situation in the affected areas is nightmarish," said Jan Gelfand, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) country cluster support office in Jakarta on Monday.
Glimmers of hope remain, however: people were still being pulled from the wreckage of hotels on Monday. But a lack of heavy-lifting machinery has hindered the rescue effort.
Jewel Samad / AFP / Getty Images
BNPB said that hundreds of thousands of people were still in need of urgent help.
Countless buildings, including an entire housing development inhabited by some 900 people, have been destroyed. The Red Cross estimated that 60% of the buildings in Palu, a city of 350,000 people, were destroyed. The number of refugees from Palu alone is thought to be at least 50,000.
There are also multiple reports of looting in Palu, as the government strains to airlift in supplies and assistance.
Adek Berry / AFP / Getty Images
Some areas are still to be reached by rescuers.
The BNPB emphasized that hundreds of thousands of people have also been displaced on the neighboring islands of Lombok and Sumbawa.
"Red Cross and other teams are working round the clock," said Gelfand with the IFRC, "but the biggest challenge at the moment is getting access to all communities, and then bringing large quantities of vital relief supplies into the disaster zone. Transport links, power, and communications are still down."
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Rescuers and survivors are now faced with another natural phenomenon: liquefaction, where soil turns to liquid and swallows up entire buildings.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the head of communications at the BNPB, tweeted footage of houses sinking into the ground in Palu, adding: "The ground surface moves and sinks so that all buildings are destroyed. The geological process is very terrible. It is estimated that victims are trapped in this area."
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho @Sutopo_PN
Detik-detik saat rumah-rumah bergerak dan roboh disebabkan proses likuifaksi dan amblesan akibat gempa 7,4 SR di Kota Palu. Permukaan tanah bergerak dan ambles sehingga semua bangunan hancur. Proses geologi yang sangat mengerikan. Diperkirakan korban terjebak di daerah ini. https://t.co/Vf5McUaaSG
05:01 PM - 30 Sep 2018
Mika McKinnon @mikamckinnon
This is the most unusual earthquake-triggered landslide I've seen. Looks like an earth flow (relatively slow, mostly soil, moving like a fluid), likely enhanced by liquefaction & shaking. Video from yesterday's Indonesian earthquake. Tip via @janinekrippner Paging @davepetley https://t.co/U0zv6KNGq3
Patrick Smith is a senior reporter for BuzzFeed News and is based in London.
Contact Patrick Smith at patrick.smith@buzzfeed.com.


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Historic 2008 Election Brings Uncertainty for History (revised 11/21/08)
The election of Barack Obama is undoubtedly one of the most historical moments of our time. Vitally important to the historical community is the president-elect's commitment to nullify President Bush's Executive Order 13233, which made it more difficult to gain access to records after a president leaves office. President-elect Obama was a co-sponsor of the bill in the Senate to overturn the executive order. Senator Obama's campaign website cites the revocation of the executive order as a priority for his new administration's government transparency agenda.
John Podesta, the head of the Obama transition team, has already stated that one of the first acts the president-elect will engage in is to review, and where appropriate, reverse executive orders from the Bush administration. The AHA, the Organization of American Historians, the National Coalition for History, and a number of prominent historians signed on to a letter sent earlier this fall by the Center for American Progress, the think tank that Podesta heads, urging Congress to strengthen the Presidential Records Act.
Although the new president will be appointing the members of his cabinet, the leadership of the National Archives and Records Administration will remain unchanged. Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein's term neither expires nor is subject to resignation upon the end of a President's term of office. The Archivist may be removed from office by the President. However, he President is required to communicate the reasons for any such removal to each House of the Congress.
Dr. Bruce Cole, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities has announced he will be leaving his post in January 2009. Cole's term was set to expire in December 2009. Since the post requires Senate confirmation, President Obama will be selecting his successor.
While there is clarity concerning the impact of the election on the executive branch on the historical community, there remain a host of uncertainties on Capitol Hill. The outcome of the three remaining undecided Senate races will have significant impacts on the membership, and seniority, of some committees.
Before consideration of the impact of the election on the membership of congressional committees, one item of good news is the ascension of a true friend of the historical community to a senior leadership position in the House. Earlier this year, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Congressman John B. Larson (D-CT) as that body's representative on the NHPRC. With the departure of Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) to become President-elect Obama's chief of staff, Larson will very likely move up to Chair the Democratic Caucus making him the fourth-ranking Democrat in the House. Among his other positions before entering Congress, Larson was a high school history teacher.
Perhaps the biggest impact on the Hill for historians did not directly result from the election, but was the decision of Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) to step down from the chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee due to his failing health. Senator Byrd has been history's most stalwart advocate in Congress for many years exemplified by his sponsorship of the Teaching American History grants program at the U.S. Department of Education. Despite numerous attempts by the Bush administration to drastically cut funding for the program, Senator Byrd has always ensured that the Teaching American History grants program received a constant and robust level of funding. Although his role may be diminished, Senator Byrd's influence will still be felt. Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) will be succeeding Senator Byrd.
There was no Democratic turnover on the Senate Appropriations Committee, so it is likely that Senator Richard Durbin (R-IL) will remain chairman of the Financial Services and General Government (FS&GG) subcommittee that provides funding for the National Archives and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). There was a great deal of turnover on the Republican side, so it is unclear whether Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) will remain as the Ranking Member on the subcommittee.
Likewise in the House, Representative Jose Serrano will likely retain his chairmanship of the FS&GG appropriations Subcommittee, although there will be a new Ranking Member to replace Republican Representative Ralph Regula who retired this year.
Senator Diane Feinstein will probably retain the chairmanship of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee that funds the National Park Service, National Endowment for the Humanities and the Smithsonian Institution. The current ranking member, Senator Wayne Allard (R-CO) retired, so it is unclear at this time who will take his place.
In the House, Congressman Norm Dicks will likely remain as chair of the Interior appropriations subcommittee although it is uncertain whether ranking member Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) will stay in his position.
Authorizing Committees
Over the past week, the leadership of two congressional committees with oversight over the National Archives and Records Administration and National Historical Publications and Records Commission was settled. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman (ID-CT) will retain his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee after efforts to oust him from the job because of his outspoken support of John McCain for president failed. In the House, Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA) won his battle to take the helm of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Chairman Waxman was perhaps the most vocal advocate of openness and transparency in the House and his leadership will be missed. Representative Waxman introduced the bill (H.R. 1255) to revoke President Bush's Executive Order 13233, which has made it more difficult to gain access to presidential records. Chairman Waxman then shepherded the bill through the House with a veto-proof margin. Waxman also took the lead on investigating millions of e-mails missing from the White House computer system and pushed legislation through the House to strengthen the preservation of federal and presidential records. Waxman was also a leader in efforts to prevent the overclassification, and to speed declassification, of federal and presidential records.
No clear successor has emerged to Waxman especially since seniority is no longer the guarantee that it once was that the member next in line will ascend to the chair. Representative Edolphus Towns (D-NY) is next in seniority. However, it is not yet clear whether Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD) will challenge Towns.
Although he was re-elected as an independent in 2006, Senator Lieberman has caucused with the Democrats and gave the party the razor thin 51-49 majority it needed to control the Senate in this Congress. However, his well-publicized support of Senator McCain and his criticism of president-elect Obama during the campaign caused a great deal of consternation among many Democrats. Once it became clear that the Democrats had enough new seats to ensure their majority, there was a great hue and cry for him to be stripped of his committee chair and perhaps throw him out of the Democratic Caucus.
In the end, a request from President-elect Obama that Lieberman be spared made the difference. By a vote of 42-13, the Democratic Caucus voted not to strip Lieberman of his chair.
During this Congress, Senator Lieberman was a stalwart supporter of legislation (H.R. 1255, S. 886) to revoke the Bush executive order on presidential records. Senator Lieberman pushed the bill through his committee and worked tirelessly behind the scenes negotiating with the Republicans to lift their hold and to allow the legislation to come to the floor for a vote. Lieberman will play a key role in the future of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission whose programs need to be reauthorized in 2009.
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sports Arena Las Vegas Announces HyperX as Official Peripheral and Arena Partner
LAS VEGAS, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Esports Arena Las Vegas, the first dedicated esports venue on the Strip and flagship of the Allied Esports global property network, has announced HyperX®, the gaming division of Kingston® Technology Company, Inc., as official peripheral and arena partner. In order to offer the most premium gaming experience, Esports Arena Las Vegas features HyperX gaming headsets, keyboards, mice and mouse pads to be used for their esports tournaments, events and gaming stations. HyperX gaming peripherals will also be available in the Arena's merchandise store, giving fans the opportunity to take home the same high-quality products as experienced in the arena.
Located at the Luxor Hotel & Casino, Esports Arena Las Vegas offers the latest in gaming and esports entertainment for daily play, high-stakes tournaments and special events. Spanning a total of 30,000-square feet, the new venue features a competition stage, over 100 gaming stations, a two-story video wall, telescopic seating, upper- and lower-level VIP gaming rooms, world-class production facilities and a first-of-its-kind gamer-inspired food and beverage offering created by world renowned chef Jose Andres. Additional experiences include an interactive history of gaming display, a dedicated streaming booth and a virtual reality station.
"Our vision for Esports Arena Las Vegas was to create the ultimate interactive entertainment experience for casual and competitive gamers," Simon Temperley, CMO of Allied Esports, said. "Providing HyperX peripherals to our customers and competitors will ensure we are offering an elite gaming experience that delivers superior performance to all in the arena."
In the arena, players will be wearing Cloud Revolver™ headsets, designed to meet the demands of the elite PC or console gamer, Cloud™ Alloy FPS keyboards with Cherry MX switches and an aluminum frame for accuracy and durability, and HyperX™ Pulsefire FPS mice with professional grade sensors and Omron switches for reliability.
HyperX headsets are worn by professional gamers around the world and are designed to be comfortable, sound great, and last. With a complete family of products including the HyperX Cloud Stinger™, reviewed as the best gaming headset under $50, the HyperX™ Cloud Alpha, with dual chamber technology for accurate sound, and the wireless HyperX Cloud Flight™, with up to 30 hours of battery life, HyperX has become a premier brand in the gaming headset and esports world. For the PC gamer, HyperX keyboards and mice are designed for professional play and meet the needs of all gamers.
"HyperX is proud to partner with Esports Arena at Luxor to bring a new premium and authentic gaming experience to Las Vegas," said Annie L. Gerard, HyperX strategic marketing manager. "Gamers and competitors will be experiencing the best in class comfort, quality and competitive advantage with the award-winning HyperX gaming gear."
About Esports Arena Las Vegas
Esports Arena Las Vegas, located at Luxor Hotel & Casino, is the first dedicated esports arena on the Strip and the flagship venue of Allied Esports' global property network spanning North America, Europe and China. The state-of-the-art arena, featuring a multi-level modular design with a two-story LED video wall, telescopic seating and a world-class production facility, is a ready-to-go championship destination and content studio for publishers, leagues, tournaments and high-stakes matchups in a setting designed to deliver an unparalleled live fan experience. The esports and entertainment venue, which also includes a one-of-a-kind food and beverage offering from Chef José Andrés and ThinkFoodGroup, an active virtual reality station, a classic video game bar and an interactive history of video gaming display, is open daily for walk-up play and features nightly competitions across all gaming communities. For competition schedules and more information, visit EsportsArenaVegas.comand follow @ESALasVegas. For more information about Allied Esports and its global network of properties, visit AlliedEsports.gg and follow @AlliedEsports.
HyperX is the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the world's largest independent memory manufacturer, with the goal of providing gamers, PC builders, and power users with high-performance components. For 15 years, the HyperX mission has been to develop gaming products for gamers – high-speed memory, solid state drives, headsets, keyboards, mice, USB flash drives, and mouse pads – to the gaming community and beyond. The award-winning HyperX brand has carved its name atop the leaderboard by consistently delivering products that deliver superior comfort, aesthetics, performance, and reliability. HyperX gear is the choice of pro gamers, tech enthusiasts, and overclockers worldwide because it meets the most stringent product specifications and is built with best-in-class components. HyperX has shipped over 4 million headsets worldwide.
How to Get Geforce Shadowplay to Record Discord Chat Audio for Arctis 7 Headset
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text:
\section{Introduction}
\label{sec:intro}
Electromagnetic metagratings (MGs), which consist of sparse arrays of polarizable ``meta-wires", have been explored as an efficient platform for realizing diffractive wave-transformation devices~\cite{PCBMG}. For certain applications, their simplicity can make them more desirable than conventional gradient metasurfaces (MTSs)~\cite{DBMG}, which are composed of dense lattices of subwavelength meta-atoms.

In this work, we leverage the diffraction engineering capabilities afforded by MGs to design a low-profile planar antenna for 1D beam-forming. A schematic for the proposed three-layer metagrating-assisted antenna (MGA) is shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:schematic_model}(a). An MG consisting of printed meta-wires resides on the top layer, while a line source is embedded in the middle layer to excite the MG. The bottom layer is a ground plane.

To analyze and design the MGA, we develop a volume-surface integral equation framework which is highly suitable for modelling non-homogenizable diffractive devices. With the proposed design method, we forego the conventionally used local periodic assumption, and explicitly model the mutual coupling between adjacent meta-wires. Furthermore, we can rigorously account for complications associated with realistic devices such as edge diffraction and compact illuminations.

\section{Theory}
To efficiently model and design the MGA, we consider a simplified 2D representation shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:schematic_model}(b), with the assumption of an $x$-invariant and $x$-polarized (transverse-electric) electric field. We model the $N$ meta-wires with narrow homogeneous strips whose surface electric impedances $Z_n~[\Omega/\mathrm{sq}]$ ($n\in[1,N]$) correspond to the effective distributed meta-wire loads. To avoid the need for controlled power gain and/or loss which can lead to implementation challenges, we assume that the meta-wires are purely reactive ($Z_n=jX_n$). For now, the electric field from the line source ($E_i$) is modelled by a cylindrical wave with frequency $\omega=2\pi f$. We discretize the wires into~$N_w$ segments, and the ground plane into~$N_g$ segments. The dielectric is divided into~$N_v$ rectangular cells.

\begin{figure}
  \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{Antenna_architecture_V4.pdf}
  \caption{(a) Schematic and (b) theoretical model for the MGA.}
  \label{fig:schematic_model}
\end{figure}

Under illumination by $E^i$, the meta-wires and the ground plane will carry induced conduction surface current densities $J_w$ and $J_g$ respectively, and produce scattered fields
\begin{equation}
\label{eqn:SIE}
E^s_{\iota}\left(\pvec{\rho}'\right) = -\sum_{n=1}^{N_\iota}~\int\limits_{\mathrm{seg}~n}\frac{k\eta}{4}H^{(2)}_0\left(k\left|\vec{\rho}-\pvec{\rho}'\right|\right)J_\iota(\pvec{\rho}')dy',
\end{equation}
with $\iota\in\left\{w,g\right\}$,  $\pvec{\rho}=\hat{x}x+\hat{y}y$ and $\pvec{\rho}'=\hat{x}x'+\hat{y}y'$.
The dielectric substrate will carry a polarization volume current density $J_v$ which has the following contribution to the scattered field:

\begin{equation}
\label{eqn:VIE}
E^s_{v}\left(\pvec{\rho}'\right) = -\sum_{n=1}^{N_v}~\iint\limits_{\mathrm{cell}~n}\frac{k\eta}{4}H^{(2)}_0\left(k\left|\vec{\rho}-\pvec{\rho}'\right|\right)J_v(\pvec{\rho}')dx'dy'.
\end{equation}

The total (incident plus scattered) electric field must satisfy

\begin{equation}
\label{eqn:constraints}
E^s_w+E^s_g+E^s_v +E^i= \begin{cases} 0 &\mbox{on ground plane }\\
jX_nJ_w & \mbox{on meta-wire $n$}\\
\frac{J_v}{j\omega\left(\epsilon_r-\epsilon_o\right)} & \mbox{in dielectric}\end{cases}.
\end{equation}

The system of equations formed by (\ref{eqn:SIE}), (\ref{eqn:VIE}) and (\ref{eqn:constraints}) can be solved, using the method of moments (by point-matching with pulse basis functions), for the unknown current densities. The total fields everywhere can be subsequently evaluated. Therefore, we can establish a closed-form relationship between the far-field radiation pattern ($E^{ff}$) and the  meta-wire loads, the latter of which can be written into a vector $\bar{X}$. Then, a variety of approaches can be taken to shape the radiation pattern of the MGA~\cite{inversion}. As a proof of concept, we maximize the 2D directivity of the MGA in the desired direction~$\theta_o$ using the sequential quadratic programming method:

\begin{equation}
\label{eqn:optimization_problem}
\begin{aligned}
& \underset{\bar{X}}{\text{maximize}}
& &  D_{2D}=\frac{\left|E^{ff}(\theta_o,\bar{X})\right|^2}{\int\limits_0^\pi \left|E^{ff}(\theta,\bar{X})\right|^2 d\theta} \\
& \text{subject to}
& & X_{min}\leq\bar{X}[i]\leq X_{max}, \; i = 1, \ldots, m.
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
The constraint here limits the effective impedances to values that are practically obtainable using printed meta-wires.

Compared to similar design methods which have previously been used to design reflectarray antennas~\cite{IE}, the proposed method rigoriously account for the dielectric substrate which has a non-negligible impact  on the performance of printed antennas.

\section{Results and Discussions}
For illustrative purpose, we design and investigate an MGA operating at 10~GHz, with aperture size $W=7\lambda$ and meta-wire spacing $\Lambda=\lambda/4$. The substrate has a thickness of 0.0085$\lambda$ and relative permittivity $\epsilon_r=3$. We verify the performance of the antenna with finite element simulations in Ansys HFSS, in which the meta-wires are implemented using impedance boundary conditions. The source is modelled as an electric line current. A sub-wavelength slice of the $x$-invariant MGA is placed inside parallel plate waveguides with radiation boundary terminations in order to emulate a 2D environment.

We optimize the meta-wire impedances of the MGA following (\ref{eqn:optimization_problem}) for several different values of $\theta_o$. The resultant 2D directivities for the considered cases (normalized against the maximum directivity for $\theta_o=0^\circ$) are plotted in Fig.~\ref{fig:FF_plot}. Contrary to an infinitely periodic MG which can only produce beams at discrete angles corresponding to the supported Floquet harmonics~\cite{PCBMG}, the proposed finite and  aperiodic device has a continuous scan range. The increased versatility comes at the cost of performance-deteriorating non-idealities such as spurious diffraction, which are especially severe with large scan angles. However, as demonstrated by Fig.~\ref{fig:FF_plot}, we can still achieve a wide scan range of $\pm70^\circ$  while maintaining a very low -10~dB maximum sidelobe level.

\begin{figure}[t]
     \centering
         \centering
         \includegraphics[width=\linewidth]{beam_plots_V2.pdf}
         \caption{Simulated normalized 2D directivity of the MGA.}
         \label{fig:FF_plot}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[t]
     \centering
     \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.48\linewidth}
         \centering
         \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{0deg_NF.pdf}
         \caption{}
         \label{fig:design_a_nf}
     \end{subfigure}
     \hfill
     \begin{subfigure}[b]{0.48\linewidth}
         \centering
         \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{45deg_NF.pdf}
         \caption{}
         \label{fig:design_a_ff}
     \end{subfigure}
        \caption{Simulated near-field electric field distribution Re$\{E_x\}$ for \mbox{(a) $\theta_o=0^\circ$} and \mbox{(b) $\theta_o = 45^\circ$}.}
        \label{fig:NF_plot}
\end{figure}

To gain a better understanding of the working principle of the MGA, we plot the near-field electric field distribution (Re$\{E_x\}$) for $\theta_o=0^\circ$ and $\theta_o=45^\circ$ in Fig.~\ref{fig:NF_plot}(a) and (b) respectively. It can be seen that the MGA exhibits excellent aperture illumination despite the highly localized line source, regardless of the scan angle. This can be attributed to the reactive MG, which supports and modulates a transverse-electric leaky surface wave that distributes the source power throughout the arbitrarily large aperture, while radiating with the most optimal non-uniform power leakage. Unlike previous works on MTS antennas, we eschew the explicit engineering of the aperture fields in favor of a less informative, but dramatically simpler optimization-based approach. Thus, we circumvent the need to meticulously craft the local phase and leakage constants. Furthermore, since the mutual coupling between all components of the MGA is explicitly modelled, performance degradation due to edge reflections and diffractions, as well as the violation of the local periodic assumption, is inherently minimized.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


text:
Games + Apps // DECEMBER 20, 2018
Save on Classic Star Wars Games During Steam's Winter Sale!
Get up to 65% off all-time greats including Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords and many more!
StarWars.com Team
Want to get yourself — or the gamer in your life — a gift for the holidays? Now's your chance: the entire catalogue of classic Star Wars games on Steam are currently on sale for up to 65% off, making for some amazing Star Wars deals that would even impress Lando Calrissian. You can save on critically-acclaimed hits like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (65% off), Star Wars Episode I: Racer (25% off), Star Wars: Empire at War — Gold Pack (60% off), and many, many more — as well as some other Lucasfilm-produced gems of yesteryear. The sale ends January 3, so punch it and check out the full list below!
Star Wars: Empire at War – Gold Pack
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Battlefront II (Classic, 2005)
Plus these other amazing titles:
Star Wars : The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes
Star Wars: Dark Forces
Star Wars Episode I: Racer
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II
Star Wars: Jedi Knight – Jedi Academy
Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith
Star Wars: Jedi Knight II – Jedi Outcast
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
Star Wars: Rebel Assault I
Star Wars: Rebel Assault II
Star Wars: Republic Commando
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 3D
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Star Wars: Starfighter
Star Wars: TIE Fighter Special Edition
Star Wars: X-Wing Alliance
Star Wars: X-Wing Special Edition
Star Wars : X-Wing vs TIE Fighter – Balance of Power Campaigns
The Curse of Monkey Island
Escape from Monkey Island
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Lucidity
Maniac Mansion
Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge
Outlaws + A Handful of Missions
Sam & Max Hit the Road
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
Thrillville: Off the Rails
Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
StarWars.com. All Star Wars, all the time.
TAGS: games, Steam
Star Wars at San Diego Comic-Con 2019: Everything You Need to Know
Poll: Which Droid Is Your Favorite – R2-D2 or BB-8?
The Mandalorian Headed to D23 Expo
At SDCC, Go Behind the Scenes of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Save on Classic Star Wars Games During Steam's Summer Sale!
BioWare and Capital Games on Bringing KotOR Fan Favorites into Galaxy of Heroes
Replaying the Classics: Knights of the Old Republic
The Stars of The Clone Wars on Lending Their Voices to Battlefront II


I quite enjoy writing these 'snapshot' posts of things I am using at the moment-the only problem for me is keeping them as a snapshot and not rambling on and on...but I'll try.
First up is a moisturiser I bought when I was in Vegas last year and it was my first Dr Dennis Gross product. I've just actually finished this up and it was quite a nice moisturiser-especially if you live in a hot climate or have oily skin. The moisturiser is more of a light gel formula and reminded me of Origins Ginzing and it feels hydrating without being overbearing on the skin. My hormonal acne prone skin always prefers gel/water based formulas to creams so this was the perfect light, non greasy solution. The formula contains Hyaluronic Acid which keeps moisture locked into skin, Glycolic Acid to improve tone and texture, Aloe to soothe and Collagen to plump and firm. I do think I prefer the Origins Ginzing and I probably wouldn't repurchase this particular product. It was just nice, not wow.
Next is a much hyped up in the bloggersphere product and it's the Nivea for Men sensitive aftershave balm which I picked up from my local supermarket. Nikki Tutorials started this trend of using this as a primer because it's main ingredient is glycerin which helps make up 'stick' to it, meaning your make up lasts longer. I use a version produced in the Middle East so I don't know if the ingredients differ to that in the UK/US but I struggle to get this product to go 'tacky' which is the main tip given-rub into your skin until it goes tacky, which I guess means the glycerin is activated. However, that being said, I have been using this a lot as a moisturiser/primer hybrid. It's very liquidy so I tip a 10p piece size out and then rub into my face and make up does apply nicely over it. I've had no problems with it breaking me out but again I have not been wowed by it-I don't notice a huge difference in the longevity of my make up when I use it.
Next up is the NARS Sheer Glow. I have used NARS Sheer Glow before and I really liked it. I repurchased it and this time I just didn't feel at first like it was doing anything for me on its own. So I tried amping up the longevity and coverage by mixing it with Estee Lauder Double Wear. I found this gave a much higher coverage finish than just using Sheer Glow on it's own but by mid afternoon I did find that there was a lot of settling into pores at the bottom of my cheeks and forehead. But this last week my skin has been a lot better and so I have been using this alone and really liking it! Medium coverage, no settling into pores, a satin finish on the skin. I've been using it on top of the Nivea 'primer' and I have been much happier with it.
Finally, a newly launched product from a brand I love but initially I really hated it-and yet people were raving about it. It's the Dior Forever and Ever Control loose powder. I was so excited to try this as I had heard amazing things but I felt like when I used it, it looked like sand on my skin. No matter how I applied it, my face looked 'gritty' and it seemed to sit on my skin. I also hated the packaging-the cushion protecting the powder makes it really difficult to dispense the powder and the fact the lid sits 'into' the powder is great for travelling as it means the powder is prevented from escaping and spilling everywhere, but you can't tip the powder into the lid so you have to press your brush directly onto the cushion to try and get the powder out and oh it's just such a faff. But.....every review I read was really positive so I went back to it to retry and now I actually kinda really like it. My personal tips for applying it are: use a very dense powder brush and hold it upright and tap the cushion directly onto it to dispense the product and then press the powder onto your skin. By pressing it in you don't get the 'sand' effect and the powder does instantly 'blur' your skin which is quite a nice effect. It also does keep me matte longer than anything I have used recently. It is a universal shade so adds no colour but I do wonder if this will be too pale for darker skin tones. I also recommend you don't use this under the eyes as it makes your skin look very dry and crepe-y. I was sure this was getting blog-saled but it can stay for now. And I am glad I gave it a second chance!


As if the Dallas Cowboys didn't already have enough talent on their offensive line, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys managed to sign former LSU OT La'el Collins. Collins was recently questioned about the death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, causing him to not be selected during the course of the 2015 NFL Draft.
The scandal of the untimely death of Collins'ex-girlfriend had a huge impact on his draft stock, going from a top fifteen pick, to not drafted whatsoever.
Jerry Jones has been no stranger to signing high risk players throughout the off-season, as he recently drafted OLB Randy Gregory, as well as signing DE Greg Hardy. The Cowboys as an organization have a generally solid reputation as a team that can take troubled athletes and turn them into great players, on and off the field.
The Cowboys dominant offensive line was referred to as "The Great Wall of Dallas", and with the signing of Collins, could either hurt or help their biggest strength. There has been speculation that Dallas would be forced to slide Collins in the right tackle or left guard position, depending on the route the Cowboys plan to take.
The pick overall secures the offensive line in the long run, proving the Cowboys could become a team containing one of the best offensive lines in recent NFL years, allowing running backs Darren McFadden, Lance Dunbar, and Joseph Randle to find big running gaps within the defense.
With all of the off-season risks that the Cowboys have committed, it will become interesting to see if their strategy pays off.


Two years ago, California voters amended state law to legalize access to cannabis. And yet cities and counties throughout the state have banned its sale.
Delivery services have stepped in to fill the void between retailer and consumer, but that may soon change.
California's cannabis regulator, the Bureau of Cannabis Control, may adopt permanent rules this fall allowing legal cannabis deliveries to continue to any municipality throughout the state. Opponents of those rules, though, are working hard to change them—and institute a regulatory scheme that would allow local towns and counties to stop legal cannabis delivery at their borders.
What's the State of Delivery Now?
Right now, you can get recreational and medical cannabis delivery pretty much anywhere in the state. But choices and quality vary. There are multiple markets: licensed recreational or medical cannabis deliverers, unlicensed medical deliverers, and a thriving illicit market. Many consumers are confused.
You can go on Leafly, for example, search for recreational cannabis delivery services in your area, and order from them. Some deliver same-day. Others offer next-day, or two-day delivery, depending on the area.
Many licensed brick-and-mortar stores that sell recreational marijuana will also deliver it to you. They advertise delivery on their websites and elsewhere.
Beyond the recreational market, there are the licensed and unlicensed medical markets.
Licensed medical-only dispensaries and delivery services will deliver to you if you have a California ID and a valid doctor's recommendation for medical cannabis.
Unlicensed medical marijuana collectives are also popular. The state has given them until Jan. 2019 to either obtain state and local licenses or cease commercial operations.
Beyond licensed recreational deliveries, and licensed or unlicensed medical deliveries, there is also the wide-open illicit market.
Anyone with cannabis, a car, and a smartphone can enter the illicit cannabis delivery business, and business is popping. Delivery services are very hard to interdict. Police report it's like playing a game of whack-a-mole. There are thousands of them in California.
Illicit market couriers don't follow any rules. Some couriers get robbed, police reports show. And the products they sell have not been tested for pesticides or mold.
California's recreational and medical cannabis regulations are currently in flux.
Right now, licensees operate under so-called emergency rules, which remain in place while the state's final rules are being written. Therein lies the kerfuffle. State regulators at the Bureau of Cannabis Control proposed a rule this summer clarifying that licensed recreational cannabis delivery services may deliver to any city or county in the state. Opposition interests want to prevent that rule from taking effect.
On Aug. 31, the lobbying arm of California police chiefs, as well as city governments, and a cannabis-affiliated union, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, started a campaign to drum up support for banning recreational cannabis delivery in California. The New York Times and other media outlets picked it up. They've started a petition called Stop Wandering Weed.
Police say it's a public safety issue. "The proposed regulations … open the floodgates to a number of public safety risks," California Police Chiefs Association President David Swing said in a prepared media release.
Licensed delivery services must follow three pages of state regulations and all local rules on time, place, and manner of delivery.
Cannabis couriers have stricter rules on storing cannabis in a car (in a locked box welded to the vehicle frame) than police officers do with their guns (which get stolen from glove compartments, under car seats, and trunks fairly regularly in California).
Part of this battle is about local control. The League of California Cities, one of the state's most powerful lobbying groups, rejects any infringement on what they consider police powers properly vested with cities and counties, not the state.
"By allowing delivery to any jurisdiction, the Bureau's proposed regulations eviscerate many cities' local decisions on commercial cannabis," the organization said in a release.
Delivery proponents argue that local control has gotten out of control in California. More than 57% of statewide voters approved of Proposition 64, which legalized the adult use of cannabis. Yet only 25% of California's cities and counties allow legal cannabis deliveries.
Individuals also have a right to possess, purchase and consume cannabis under Proposition 64. If a person has to drive 100 miles to access cannabis, said delivery lobbyist Mikalonis, those rights seem meaningless.
Leaders at UFCW, the cannabis union, said they signed on to ban deliveries out of a concern for public safety.
"If marijuana can be delivered anywhere with virtually no regulation, California will lose these safeguards that protect communities and children," said James Araby, executive director of the UFCW Western States Council.
The idea that licensed delivery companies operate "with virtually no regulation" doesn't exactly ring true, though. Licensed deliveries are highly regulated under current BCC rules, and that wouldn't change under the proposed final rules.
What a delivery ban really seems designed to do is not increase public safety but decrease competition to brick-and-mortar stores, a number of which have aligned themselves with the UFCW, some experts said.
UFCW director Araby called Allen's charge unfair. "We don't just represent brick-and-mortar retail," he said. UFCW also represents some delivery services who want access to the state market.
Araby said forcing all cities and counties to accept legal deliveries could result in a backlash and ultimately slow local efforts to end bans.
The BCC rule allowing deliveries in all jurisdictions is likely to become final this fall. The public comment period will re-open in the coming weeks.
Once it becomes final, opponents could sue to stop the rule.
According to some experts, existing legal precedent may support delivery bans, but the law is not settled. Cities and counties have extremely wide latitude to determine local types of business activity. "It appears as though cities and counties have a heck of a lot of authority," said Allen.
One major issue is the legal definition of the "place of transaction." Under previous tax law rulings pertaining to Amazon.com sales, courts have found that the "place of transaction" is the residence to which the product is delivered.
How is cannabis delivered where you live in California? Are you in a ban county? Share your delivery knowledge in the comments.
"Cannabis couriers have stricter rules on storing cannabis in a car (in a locked box welded to the vehicle frame)"– This is misleading. Nowhere in the regulations is this stated. Instead, it says "Cannabis goods shall be locked in a box, container, or cage that is secured on the inside of the vehicle … the inside of the vehicle includes the trunk." I've hear that the box needs to be attached to the car in some way (like via a bike lock), but I've also hear that a box with it's own locking device simply in the trunk (not ATTACHED TO the trunk) is fine. That said, "welded to the vehicle frame" is still misleading and incorrect. If anyone has any clarity, please share.
I was very upset on Sunday evening when I placed an online order with Eaze.com to help me with a horrible migraine, paid, and then received a phone call stating they've cancelled my order because they cannot deliver to this zip code. I'm staying with friends while recovering from a brain injury and had no idea I'd be unable to get my medications delivered to me here. This has to change. Legalization has been mostly negative for medical users. We are generally better off returning to the black market at this point.


text:
Epic Games paid €9.49 million for PC-exclusivity rights to Control
Epic Games paid 505 Games' parent company a large sum of money for exclusivity rights to Remedy's Control.
The sum of €9.49 million was paid out to Digital Bros, the parent company of publisher 505 Games, for Control according to a recent financial report. That's quite a sum of money for distribution rights.
News of the payout was reported by Daniel Ahmad, senior analyst at Niko Partners.
Digital Bros, parent company of 505 Games, has disclosed that they received a payment of 9.49 million euro from Epic Games for Control.
Which I would imagine is for exclusivity.
55% of that payment going to 505 Games.
Report here: https://t.co/ocmbIQeOfJ
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) September 20, 2019
The €9.49 ($10.44 million) sum was listed as "revenues generated on the Epic Games marketplace relate to the recognition of revenues deriving from the PC version of the video game Control," reads the document (Google translate).
"The revenues deriving from the personal computer version of the video game Control were significant. The game in different versions, for personal computers and consoles, was launched on the 27th August 2019, but the contractual structure with the digital marketplace that required the exclusivity of the video game of the personal computer version has allowed the recognition of revenues already starting from this agreement."
In other words, the company is acknowledging the money derived from the deal as revenue. This is not to be confused with revenue acquired through sales of the game.
Control is also available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Unit sales or ship figures have not been disclosed for any version of the game as of press time.
The post Epic Games paid €9.49 million for PC-exclusivity rights to Control appeared first on VG247.


1. Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add carrots and onion; stir, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and just beginning to brown, 6 to 7 minutes.
2. Stir in garlic and rosemary and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
3. Stir in broth and zucchini; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is beginning to soften, about 3 minutes.
4. Add tortellini and tomatoes and simmer until the tortellini are plump and the tomatoes are beginning to break down, 6 to 10 minutes. Stir vinegar into the hot soup just before serving.


No cord, no limited, free ear for any cable mess; At default, two mini earbuds will pair automatically when pick out from charger box or power on, never worry about two earbuds will lost connection; If just power on one earbud, also can use single mode if you need.
It's easy to use. Just long press the tap about 3 seconds you can activate the wireless earphone and long press the tap about 5 seconds you can shut down it. All operation can be made with the tap.
Light enough that you can't feel its existence, greatly reduce the cumbersome feeling of wearing for a long time. The charging case and earbuds are so small, your hands can hold it whole, you can carry it to anywhere you want, quite convenient.
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p38 MAPK has been the key therapeutic target for multiple inflammation diseases. However, the clinical applications of p38 inhibitors, most of which target on the ATP binding groove in the kinase, have been held back, largely because of their limited specificity and severe side-effects. An alternative strategy to generate highly selective p38 inhibitor is to block the specific interaction in the p38 signal pathway. Based on the hypothesis that specific binding peptides targeting on the docking groove would interfere the intrinsic interaction between p38 and its partners, we have designed a fusion peptide containing 12aa p38 docking sequence derived from MKK3b and 11aa HIV-TAT transmembrane sequence to form a cell permeable peptide. The peptide specifically binds to p38, and aborts its interaction with upstream kinase as well as downstream substrates, and thus to inhibit p38 phosphorylation and its signaling. Furthermore, the induction and secretion of TNFα and other inflammatory factors by LPS are blocked in peptide treated cells and mice. Finally the peptide has been shown to significantly inhibit ear oedema in mice. Therefore, the peptide holds great potential as an antiinflammation agent for the treatment of inflammation and its related diseases.
National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.


TeenHelp Something for the Soul Goals and Ambitions is it really possible to be 22 and a lawyer?
I don't know it seems far-fetched. My best friend has been dating a guy who says he's a crikinal defense lawyer. He works at one of those office firm thingies... I'm just wondering is it possible and how?
Níl a shíltear mar a bhítear.
You have to get a bachelor's, take the LSAT and then spend another 2 years in lawschool.
So while it's possible, this person would have to be a prodigy. Also there's no such specialty as a 'criminal defense lawyer'. That's basically freelancing but getting assignments from the state which the state doesn't have lawyers on-staff for.
Anyway. I highly doubt that this guy is a lawyer. Very, very much. He'd be a financial specialist working in a law firm or something, not a freelancer.
Now that we've got that done with, may I eat your brains?
there's no such specialty as a 'criminal defense lawyer'.
Would like to make a point here, if the original poster is from the UK, then yes, Criminal defense lawyers do exist. Although usually referred to as criminal lawyers/defense lawyers. In England smaller firms rely on legal aid cases, but all defense lawyers will also do private work. While some lawyers might specialise in more than one type of law, criminal lawyers specialise in criminal law. They may work for the prosecution or defense. I know this because my dad is a partner in his own criminal law firm. I also have an american aunt who is a lawyer, so know the the system works differently in the states compared to the UK.
As for whether he can be a criminal lawyer at 22, this is possible, in the UK. Some unis offer an 4 year integrated law course. I'm not sure of the details, and know there is further training after graduating, but if this guy started uni when he was 18 it is probable that he is now working as a trainee within a criminal law firm. It is possible he is trying to impress your friend and is exaggerating the truth slightly.
That would be pushing it though. From where I'm from (US/Canada), you would need to first get a bachelor's in something (4 years), and then apply into law school (which is another 4 years). Getting a law degree NORMALLY takes 8 years then. I don't see your friend getting that in 4 (assuming he started college at 18) unless he reeaaallyy flew (and I mean FLEW) through the degree. Again, this applies only to the colleges I talked to in the US and Canada, and not to the other ones.


They say to simply begin, from wherever you are, with whatever you have. Just begin.
No. I won't wait. Because I do have something. I CAN do this much right now. And when I have more, I will continue to do more. Today, I will do, give, think, speak this. Today, I will contribute my drop.
There was a lot of thought that went into where we wanted to contribute…what direction we hope the world will go. These are a few of the causes that tug at our hearts for various reasons.
We will donate a portion of our proceeds from every sale toward these things and more. Send us a message with your favorite causes, and we might add them.
As we grow, so will our opportunity to keep doing good in the world.
Born This Foundation declared 2017 the Year of Kindness because kindness is foundational to everything we do. How we treat one another impacts how we feel about ourselves, how we feel about each other, and how healthy our communities are. That's why we believe inspiring people to be kind is the key to building a more vibrant and productive world. We understand this is no easy task and we can't do it alone. That's why we're collaborating with a diverse group of partners and young people themselves to give youth the resources and opportunities need to build kinder communities.
We focus on working with local and national organizations who strive to empower young people in building a kinder and braver world.
They kinda had me at the tagline "Empowering Youth – Inspiring Bravery" and their mission couldn't be MORE in line with our passion. Strength and kindness create a life and world I want to be in. I couldn't agree more with their statement "How we treat one another impacts how we feel about ourselves, how we feel about each other, and how healthy our communities are." I think together, we can create a healthier world with healthier people. This organization seems to attract a wide variety of organizations that all feel the same and who are standing up doing something about it, in various ways…a little something for everyone. They are having fun while being both inspiring and empowering.
Standing up against hate, racism, and discrimination.
STOMP Out Bullying™ is the leading national nonprofit dedicated to changing the culture for all students. It works to reduce and prevent bullying, cyberbullying, sexting and other digital abuse educates against homophobia, LGBTQ discrimination, racism and hatred, and deters violence in schools, online and in communities across the country. In this diverse world, STOMP Out Bullying promotes civility, inclusion, and equality. It teaches effective solutions on how to respond to all forms of bullying, as well as educating kids and teens in school and online. It provides help for those in need and at risk of suicide, and raises awareness through peer mentoring programs in schools, public service announcements by noted celebrities, and social media campaigns.
On a personal note, bullying has affected someone I love. I'm furious. When you hear about someone who feels entitled to recklessly hurt another being, it is almost unfathomable. Especially if you so intimately know and love this amazing, beautiful, vibrant young soul that is getting damaged…watching depression, suicidal thoughts, and the shadow feeling unworthiness creep in. To be honest, I wanted to shake the bully with anger and despair. I want to scream, "why do you think this okay? Don't you realize the damage you are causing?" I want to inject this bully with a shot of compassion and respect. My dad always taught us that bullies are damaged. I believe that. We need to shine a light on both the bully and bullied. Heal the heart and mind of both, as well.
The only way we can change things is by spreading the word and letting everyone know IT IS NOT OKAY. We don't want to see bullies grown up into adult bullies and live around us, let alone raise smaller versions of themselves…and we don't want the ones who get bullied grow up depressed and damaged. We cannot allow it to continue. We need to spread kindness and compassion liberally throughout this world, stop this kind of disrespect and hurtfulness. We need to be better than this.
Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center's more than 600 employees provide services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy.
The essence of what is going on when someone comes out inspires the hell out of me. What I see is someone brave enough to finally step out of the darkness and into the light; reveal their truth and live authentically. That risk and bravery move me to tears because I believe that spirit lives in ALL of us in one way or another. There is sooooo much room in this world for a variety of humans – there is even a NEED for it. It is beneficial and beautiful. It doesn't matter, what shape, size, sexual identity, race, or age you are…the truth is we are simply human, and all part of the human race…truly more alike than different. We all deserve the same civil rights as one another. I want to support and live in a world where equality and the civil rights for the LGBTQ community flourish and become standard.
This is probably one of the causes I am most passionate about. How we treat others, especially the ones who are unable to give us anything in return, is a reflection of our own heart and soul. That is true of people AND animals. Nothing is more important than recognizing that you must stop abuse and cruelty when you realize it exists. It must never be tolerated.
This is a great shelter in Chatsworth. They have recently made the status of a no-kill shelter, which is fantastic and something I want to support. The rooms and areas they keep the pets are clean and well-kept. In general, in every city, we need more no-kill shelters and people willing to foster and adopt pets without homes. I happened to be turned onto this place by a social media post on Facebook and because it was so close I went in to see the animal they had mentioned with a co-worker who wanted to adopt this little dog. Never underestimate the power of social media or speaking up to see if anyone can do something! That post prompted 3 adoptions from people we know! Before purchasing a pet from a pet store or breeder, see if you can find a furry friend that desperately wants to be loved from here. Support ANY no-kill shelter in your area. They need money, marketing, supplies, and help.
OrcaBall's mission is to escalate global awareness to the plight of the captive Orca, and assist with financial aid towards their release, relocation and the creation of safeguarded ocean environments for their future care.
The OrcaBall antenna ball and OrcaBall stickers represent an Orca with a collapsed dorsal fin (which typically happens when male orca whales are in captivity, due to various causes like lack of space to swim, dietary changes, reduced activity patterns, and more ). The OrcaBall is an icon to further public awareness of the captive Orca issues on a daily basis. Please check out their site and donate to a wonderful cause.
We kind of have a crush on this company and their passion for sea-life and all animal-kind. When they explained the reason for the bent dorsal fin of male orcas in captivity, it broke my heart. We were all meant to be born wild and free. While having the chance to see such a beautiful creature up close, may an interesting 10 minutes of your day, that beautiful creature is still a being, and deserves to have a real life outside of captivity and do more than be something to gaze upon.
It's pretty great that if you feel inspired by this organization, you can join the cause, too! They have OrcaBalls and stickers that you can sell in your own retail space.


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text:
Portfolio > Videos
Original Painting by Sujata Tibrewala, inspired by Ghalib's couplet
Exploring the Artwork: "The Game of life"
This short videos features a short Hindi Couplet by the artist Sujata Tibrewala as she talks about the inspiration behind her self portrait "The Game of Life". The couplet by Ghalib "This world is but a playground for kids..." is also what inspired her to see the world as a game of chess with herself witnessing the idiosyncrasy of life as she carries a symbol of death within herself every moment of her life.


text:
Home > Study in Canada > Trinity Western University - Langley Campus > Bachelor of Arts in European Studies
Europe provides a fascinating area of study--a complex blend of states with a rich history of rivalries and alliances, obvious similarities and glaring distinctions, with religion playing a major role in shaping its art, culture, philosophy, and law.
TWU's Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a multidisciplinary major in European Studies for students interested in Europe's social, economic, political, and spiritual aspects. It's a stimulating interdisciplinary research environment for both faculty and students, promoting academic excellence in research, publications, and teaching on European issues. There are numerous travel study opportunities in places such as London, Geneva, Rome, and Paris. The European Studies major offers three streams of study: language, history, and English literature and fine arts.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University - Richmond Campus
Kwantlen Polytechnic University - Civic Plaza Campus
Kwantlen Polytechnic University - Tech Campus
Fairleigh Dickinson University - Vancouver Campus


text:
Q: C# Object variable not being returned correctly I have a simple list of Machine objects called loadedMachines. I add 2 new Machine objects to it, with the second argument being the machineName attribute.
loadedMachines.Add(new Machine("0", "My cool Yaris", "Toyota"));
loadedMachines.Add(new Machine("1", "My sporty car", "Ferrari"));

foreach (Machine m in loadedMachines)
   {
      Console.WriteLine("Machine being added is: " + m.machineName);
   }

For some reasons my foreach loop is outputting "Machine being added is: " and m.machineName seems to not be linking up with my machine objects.
What are the reasons for this? Here is my class definition:
public class Machine
{
    public Machine() { }

    public string Id { get; set; }
    public string machineName { set; get; }
    public string machineType { set; get; }
    public string category { set; get; }
    public string make { set; get; }
    public string modelNumber { set; get; }
    public string information { set; get; }
    public string ownersManualLocation { set; get; }
    public string safetyChecklistSchedule { set; get; }
    public string maintenanceService { set; get; }
    public DateTime registrationExpiry { set; get; }

    public Machine(string id, string machineName, string machineType)
    {
    }
}

A: In your constructor, you need to assign the properties from the input parameters, like this:
public Machine(string id, string machineName, string machineType)
{
    Id = id;
    this.machineName = machineName;
    this.machineType = machineType;
}

As a side note, you'll generally want to use a different name for the parameter than the property.  Microsoft's suggested naming standards use capitalized property names, so instead of public string machineName { set; get; }, you'd have public string MachineName { set; get; }
If you do that, the constructor doesn't need to prefix the properties with this.

A: You could also use property initializers instead of a constructor.  Something like this:
loadedMachines.Add(new Machine() {Id = "0", machineName = "My cool Yaris", machineType = "Toyota"});

This kind of syntax is common when using objects that are dynamically constructed, like entities, because many frameworks don't support calling constructors with parameters on dynamic creation.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
How will climate change-induced increases in extreme rainfall effect EQC liabilities?
Weather-related hazards have already cost the EQC $450 million in (inflation adjusted) payouts since the year 2000. New research by Jacob Pastor-Paz, Ilan Noy, Isabelle Sin, Abha Sood, David Fleming-Munoz and Sally Owen has found that climate change, and the expected increase in intensity and frequency of extreme weather-related events, is likely to translate into higher damages and thus an additional financial liability for the EQC.
"Our research shows that EQC should plan for future payouts for weather-related damage to be between 9% and 25% higher than current payouts," said Prof Ilan Noy, Chair in the Economics of Disasters at Victoria University of Wellington and one of the authors of the paper.
"We used past detailed insurance claims data together with climate projections in order to project future monetary losses from damages caused by extreme events under different climate change scenarios," said Prof Noy. "To get to that point we analysed more than 8,000 claims lodged to the EQC between 2000 and 2017. "
The level of increase in insurance liabilities is dependent on the level of future greenhouse gasses (GHG) that will be emitted, globally.
The model identifies a 'climate signal,' based on the percent change between projected and past damages. It rises from an increase of between 7% and 8% in 2020-40 to an increase of between 9% and 25% in 2080-2100, depending on the projected GHG concentration scenario.
For a future low emissions scenario, the climate signal, and therefore the expected change in damages, actually decreases toward the end of the century, when GHG concentrations in the atmosphere are assumed to decrease. In contrast, a scenario that uses the highest-emissions forecast sees the climate signal more than doubling between 2020-2040 and 2080-2100.
"The increase we have projected in the public insurer's liabilities can also inform private insurers and regulators," said Prof Ilan Noy. "Whether this increase necessitates a change to the amount of premiums the EQC collects annually, or in the types of risks it insures, are questions for future research and policy decisions."
New Zealand's population, and its residential building stock value, has been steadily growing over the past few decades. This suggests that future liabilities may be higher than what we predict.
The Motu Working Paper, "Projecting the effect of climate change-induced increases in extreme rainfall on residential property damages: A case study from New Zealand" by Jacob Pastor-Paz, Ilan Noy, Isabelle Sin, Abha Sood, David Fleming-Munoz and Sally Owen, co-funded by the Deep South Challenge and the Earthquake Commission (EQC), is now available.
The team's full suite of working papers is available at their project page here: https://www.deepsouthchallenge.co.nz/projects/extreme-weather-climate-change-eqc
News type: News
Programme type: Earth Systems Modelling and Prediction Engagement Impacts and Implications Processes and Observations Vision Mātauranga
Tweets by @DeepSouth_NZ


text:
Are Bond Gadgets Really Possible? Neil deGrasse Tyson Evaluates 007's Famous Toys
October 08, 2012 9:08am by Jordan Zakarin

Despite its provocative title, Octopussy was a relatively tame entry in the Bond series, as the longtime hero is on the hunt for a Faberge egg and subsequently races to stop the detonation of a nuclear warhead which is set to go off during a circus show as a U.S. Air Force base. the film went on to earn more than $187 million worldwide during its theatrical run.

Invisible cars? Man-slicing lasers? The famed astrophysicist tackles which of the famed futuristic devices are actually plausible.
While we marvel in 2012 over the longer screen and cool camera on our iPhone 5 (well, those of us that have them), James Bond has been flashing much more advanced tech for the past 50 years. He's amassed quite the enviable collection of gadgets and gizmos, thanks to his inventor friend Q, but how many of them would actually be plausible here in the real world?
According to astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, at least a few of them are possible (though getting someone to manufacture the items may be a bit of a challenge).
Speaking with NPR, Tyson ruled out Bond's magnetic wristwatch from Live and Let Die, at least in so much as it not actually being able to ward off bullets -- since they're made of lead, not metal. Thanks for that, Q.
PHOTOS: New Bond 'Skyfall' Photos Feature Daniel Craig and Javier Bardem
He did, however, say that Goldfinger's diabolical laser, which was meant to cut Bond in half with its steady stream of heat, would be something that could be made ("but why not just shoot him?" he asks).
As for the Vanishing Aston Martin, that's more of a work in progress.
"I want one of those. Whether or not it's an Aston Martin," he says. "I mean — so first of all, there are invisible things in the world, and they're called transparent, OK. Glass is essentially invisible to the light that we see with our eyes. It's not invisible to other forms of light, like ultraviolet or infrared. The cameras on the other side of the car have to look at every possible angle that you would be viewing the car, from your side. And we haven't figured out really how to do that yet."
Jordan Zakarin
thrnews@thr.com
Neil Mahoney, Emmy-Nominated Editor on 'Key & Peele,' Dies at 43
by Mike Barnes


Stakes in court cases which relate to commercial aspects of business are high. Specialization in multi-dimensional commercial law and trade and commerce disputes helps resolve disputes of commercial nature. Such complex court cases may adversely affect business interests. Extensive business know-how and in-depth understanding of industry, government and regulatory issues while handling court cases helps businesses win in court. Businesses must consider all the viable options available to them including an evaluation as to whether court cases should be avoided through alternate remedies like mediation. In case that is not possible, only then businesses should try to decide the most effective litigation method to reach a decision to resolve complex litigation matters spread across multiple jurisdictions.
Complex commercial and business matters may relate to contracts, specific performance of contract, guarantees and warranties, securities and financial disputes, real estate litigation and other court cases. Business priority, as ever, is to stay out of court and to go over litigation only as a last resort. Commercial issues may also arise out of breach of contract, company disputes, partnership disputes disputes in relation to joint ventures, non-disclosure agreements, non-compete agreements intellectual property rights, trademarks and shareholder disputes.


text:
The ever-popular 2048, but using [Fibonacci numbers](//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_number) instead of powers of two. In this version, instead of tiles with equal numbers being combinable, tiles with numbers that are consecutive in the Fibonacci sequence are combinable (and will create tiles with their sum).

A checker-free version of [2584](//joshlf13.github.io/2048-Fibonacci/), which is a small fork of [2048](//gabrielecirulli.github.io/2048/), which is a clone of [1024](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.veewo.a1024), based on [Saming's 2048](http://saming.fr/p/2048/) (also a clone).

Made just for fun. [Play it here!](//oxguy3.github.io/2048-Fibonacci/)

## Contributing
Changes and improvements are more than welcome! Feel free to fork and open a pull request. Please make your changes in a specific branch and request to pull into `master`! If you can, please make sure the game fully works before sending the PR, as that will help speed up the process.

You can find the same information in the [contributing guide.](https://github.com/joshlf13/2048-Fibonacci/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md)

## License
2584 is licensed under the [MIT license.](//github.com/oxguy3/2584/blob/master/LICENSE.txt)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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