text:
Wealthy Opponents Of San Francisco Homeless Services Tax Bankrolled 2016 Tent Ban
Andrew Perez |	November 06, 2018
A homeless man sleeps in front of his tent along Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco in 2016.
Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images.
Donors opposing a ballot measure to fund more homeless services in San Francisco with a new tax on its wealthiest companies previously bankrolled a successful 2016 initiative to ban tent encampments in the city.
Proposition C, which will be on San Francisco ballots on Tuesday, would almost double the city's annual homelessness budget by increasing the gross receipts tax by an average of .5 percent for businesses with more than $50 million in annual revenue each year. Supporters contend the initiative would provide housing and new shelter beds for thousands of homeless people over 10 years. It also would fund mental health and drug addiction programs. Some financial services companies could pay a higher tax than other businesses under the proposal and have come out against the measure.
The campaign against Proposition C has received almost $550,000 from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce's political action committee; the Hotel Council of San Francisco PAC; venture capitalist Michael Moritz; and the Committee on Jobs Government Reform Fund, which represents business interests in the city. Those same donors contributed almost $600,000 to support Proposition Q, a 2016 initiative that allows the city to clear homeless encampments from sidewalks as long as residents are offered a bed at a shelter or a bus ticket to leave San Francisco.
"Proposition C opponents can easily be described as wealthy, tone-deaf, self-interested, and heartless, even if they have been longtime donors to homeless causes," Moritz, a billionaire, wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal column. In 2016, he donated $49,999 in support of Proposition Q.
California is one of the wealthiest states in the country and also has the highest poverty rate in the United States when cost of living is considered. The disparity is especially pronounced in the Bay Area, home to the nation's tech booming industry and a spectacular housing shortage. Despite San Francisco's reputation as a liberal utopia, a United Nations special report published in September found that the city's efforts to criminalize homelessness and break up encampments constitute "cruel and inhuman treatment" and violate human rights.
While Proposition C's proponents have significantly outraised their opponents, the measure has split San Francisco's business community. Marc Benioff, the CEO of Salesforce, a major San Francisco employer, has donated more than $2 million to support the initiative, while his company has given $5.9 million. Local payment processing companies Square and Stripe have opposed the initiative, arguing they would be hit hard because the city classifies them as financial services companies -- which would be taxed at higher rates -- and not as tech companies.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed was elected this summer on a pledge to clean up the city's streets, but she said last month that Proposition C "puts the cart before the horse and then sends both down a dead-end street."
Several top Breed supporters also oppose Proposition C. Progress San Francisco, a super PAC that supported Breed, received $335,000 from investor Paul Graham and the Committee on Jobs Government Reform Fund. Graham and the committee have donated $260,000 to a committee opposing Proposition C.
Venture capitalist Matt Cohler, who donated $80,000 to Progress San Francisco, has contributed $5,000 to fight the measure. Safe & Affordable San Francisco, a PAC that gave $20,000 to Breed's campaign, also has contributed $7,500 to the anti-Proposition C effort.
This story was produced by MapLight and published in partnership with the San Francisco Public Press.


In accordance with the express terms of an agency agreement, a company which distributed financial products to independent financial advisers was entitled to override commission at a rate of 0.2 per cent of the value of all business placed by a large distributor with an organisation engaged in setting up and selling property funds, the company having introduced the distributor to that organisation.
The claimants (C and Q) brought proceedings for unpaid commission and damages against the defendant (M).
M had been incorporated in 2007. Its business involved setting up and selling property funds. C and Q had been established in 2009 and 2010 respectively as corporate vehicles for a business involved in the distribution of financial products to independent financial advisers. In 2009, M and C had met to discuss C's interest in introducing property funds and other products to independent financial advisers. C thought that it could interest overseas distributors in one of M's funds, including one very large distributor (G). During protracted negotiations between the parties, an officer of C and Q emailed M, referring to a meeting that they had all attended, asking M to confirm that it was happy with the attached draft agency agreement which they had discussed at the meeting. That agreement set out commission rates of 1.5 per cent initial commission plus 0.5 per cent trail commission, and 0.2 per cent override on all business produced by G and others. M subsequently terminated the agreement without notice. The court was required to determine various issues in relation to the parties' agreement, including: whether they had reached an agreement in the terms of the draft agency agreement, or on terms agreed on a more ad hoc basis; whether C or Q was the party to any such agreement with M; whether the parties had agreed that there would be an entitlement to override commission on funds placed via G, and if so whether C and/or Q had effected an introduction between M and G for the purposes of that commission; whether C and/or Q had repudiated the agreement by marketing a competing property fund; and what, if any, trail commission was payable in relation to two other independent financial advisers which had been introduced to M.
(1) The terms of the contract between the parties had been agreed at the meeting referred to in the email, and those terms were embodied in the draft attached to that email. C, rather than Q, was the relevant party to that agreement. C had had no reason to doubt the authority of M's officer to enter the agreement; it was probable that he had had actual authority to do so, but in any event he had had ostensible authority to agree to those terms. On the basis of those agreed terms, it was both parties' expectation that C would be paid for introducing business to M. M's evidence in support of an ad hoc agreement was untrue and had been produced at the last minute to plug an otherwise visible hole in its case. Further, C and Q had in fact introduced G to M. Accordingly, the agreed terms about the override commission related back to that introduction, and so C was entitled to override commission for that introduction at a rate of 0.2 per cent of the value of all business placed by G with M. That sum was not subject to any cap. C had not repudiated the agreement: M had had no contractual right to demand that C and Q cease marketing the competing property fund, and so the fact that they had marketed the fund did not constitute a breach of contract, still less a repudiatory breach. It followed that M could only terminate the agreement on giving the appropriate contractual notice in accordance with the agreement. M had not done so, and that failure constituted a breach of the agreement in respect of which C was entitled to damages. C also continued to be entitled to trail commission in respect of the other two independent financial advisers which it had introduced to M (see paras 47, 56, 64, 66, 75, 113 of judgment). (2) The agreement did not give rise either to fiduciary obligations on C's part or to a "relational contract"; neither suggestion was grounded in the commercial reality of the parties' relationship, nor in the express terms which had been agreed. Neither party saw the relationship as an exclusive one, and the sorts of obligations and commitments that would be expected in a relational contract were absent: it was a long-term relationship which either party could end by giving relatively short notice, and neither party was required to spend significant sums in reliance on the continuation of the relationship. There was no scope for the implication of a term of good faith on C's part. The agreement's terms made it impossible to conclude that C owed any relevant fiduciary duties to M, and even if it was a fiduciary, the express and implied terms of the agreement excluded any relevant fiduciary duties. Even if there was a requirement of good faith, C and Q had not committed a repudiatory breach of that requirement (paras 107, 109, 112).


text:
package peer

import proto "github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
import fmt "fmt"
import math "math"
import google_protobuf1 "github.com/golang/protobuf/ptypes/timestamp"

// Reference imports to suppress errors if they are not otherwise used.
var _ = proto.Marshal
var _ = fmt.Errorf
var _ = math.Inf

// A ProposalResponse is returned from an endorser to the proposal submitter.
// The idea is that this message contains the endorser's response to the
// request of a client to perform an action over a chaincode (or more
// generically on the ledger); the response might be success/error (conveyed in
// the Response field) together with a description of the action and a
// signature over it by that endorser.  If a sufficient number of distinct
// endorsers agree on the same action and produce signature to that effect, a
// transaction can be generated and sent for ordering.
type ProposalResponse struct {
	// Version indicates message protocol version
	Version int32 `protobuf:"varint,1,opt,name=version" json:"version,omitempty"`
	// Timestamp is the time that the message
	// was created as  defined by the sender
	Timestamp *google_protobuf1.Timestamp `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=timestamp" json:"timestamp,omitempty"`
	// A response message indicating whether the
	// endorsement of the action was successful
	Response *Response `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=response" json:"response,omitempty"`
	// The payload of response. It is the bytes of ProposalResponsePayload
	Payload []byte `protobuf:"bytes,5,opt,name=payload,proto3" json:"payload,omitempty"`
	// The endorsement of the proposal, basically
	// the endorser's signature over the payload
	Endorsement *Endorsement `protobuf:"bytes,6,opt,name=endorsement" json:"endorsement,omitempty"`
}

func (m *ProposalResponse) Reset()                    { *m = ProposalResponse{} }
func (m *ProposalResponse) String() string            { return proto.CompactTextString(m) }
func (*ProposalResponse) ProtoMessage()               {}
func (*ProposalResponse) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) { return fileDescriptor8, []int{0} }

func (m *ProposalResponse) GetVersion() int32 {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Version
	}
	return 0
}

func (m *ProposalResponse) GetTimestamp() *google_protobuf1.Timestamp {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Timestamp
	}
	return nil
}

func (m *ProposalResponse) GetResponse() *Response {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Response
	}
	return nil
}

func (m *ProposalResponse) GetPayload() []byte {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Payload
	}
	return nil
}

func (m *ProposalResponse) GetEndorsement() *Endorsement {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Endorsement
	}
	return nil
}

// A response with a representation similar to an HTTP response that can
// be used within another message.
type Response struct {
	// A status code that should follow the HTTP status codes.
	Status int32 `protobuf:"varint,1,opt,name=status" json:"status,omitempty"`
	// A message associated with the response code.
	Message string `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=message" json:"message,omitempty"`
	// A payload that can be used to include metadata with this response.
	Payload []byte `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=payload,proto3" json:"payload,omitempty"`
}

func (m *Response) Reset()                    { *m = Response{} }
func (m *Response) String() string            { return proto.CompactTextString(m) }
func (*Response) ProtoMessage()               {}
func (*Response) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) { return fileDescriptor8, []int{1} }

func (m *Response) GetStatus() int32 {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Status
	}
	return 0
}

func (m *Response) GetMessage() string {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Message
	}
	return ""
}

func (m *Response) GetPayload() []byte {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Payload
	}
	return nil
}

// ProposalResponsePayload is the payload of a proposal response.  This message
// is the "bridge" between the client's request and the endorser's action in
// response to that request. Concretely, for chaincodes, it contains a hashed
// representation of the proposal (proposalHash) and a representation of the
// chaincode state changes and events inside the extension field.
type ProposalResponsePayload struct {
	// Hash of the proposal that triggered this response. The hash is used to
	// link a response with its proposal, both for bookeeping purposes on an
	// asynchronous system and for security reasons (accountability,
	// non-repudiation). The hash usually covers the entire Proposal message
	// (byte-by-byte). However this implies that the hash can only be verified
	// if the entire proposal message is available when ProposalResponsePayload is
	// included in a transaction or stored in the ledger. For confidentiality
	// reasons, with chaincodes it might be undesirable to store the proposal
	// payload in the ledger.  If the type is CHAINCODE, this is handled by
	// separating the proposal's header and
	// the payload: the header is always hashed in its entirety whereas the
	// payload can either be hashed fully, or only its hash may be hashed, or
	// nothing from the payload can be hashed. The PayloadVisibility field in the
	// Header's extension controls to which extent the proposal payload is
	// "visible" in the sense that was just explained.
	ProposalHash []byte `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=proposal_hash,json=proposalHash,proto3" json:"proposal_hash,omitempty"`
	// Extension should be unmarshaled to a type-specific message. The type of
	// the extension in any proposal response depends on the type of the proposal
	// that the client selected when the proposal was initially sent out.  In
	// particular, this information is stored in the type field of a Header.  For
	// chaincode, it's a ChaincodeAction message
	Extension []byte `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=extension,proto3" json:"extension,omitempty"`
}

func (m *ProposalResponsePayload) Reset()                    { *m = ProposalResponsePayload{} }
func (m *ProposalResponsePayload) String() string            { return proto.CompactTextString(m) }
func (*ProposalResponsePayload) ProtoMessage()               {}
func (*ProposalResponsePayload) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) { return fileDescriptor8, []int{2} }

func (m *ProposalResponsePayload) GetProposalHash() []byte {
	if m != nil {
		return m.ProposalHash
	}
	return nil
}

func (m *ProposalResponsePayload) GetExtension() []byte {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Extension
	}
	return nil
}

// An endorsement is a signature of an endorser over a proposal response.  By
// producing an endorsement message, an endorser implicitly "approves" that
// proposal response and the actions contained therein. When enough
// endorsements have been collected, a transaction can be generated out of a
// set of proposal responses.  Note that this message only contains an identity
// and a signature but no signed payload. This is intentional because
// endorsements are supposed to be collected in a transaction, and they are all
// expected to endorse a single proposal response/action (many endorsements
// over a single proposal response)
type Endorsement struct {
	// Identity of the endorser (e.g. its certificate)
	Endorser []byte `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=endorser,proto3" json:"endorser,omitempty"`
	// Signature of the payload included in ProposalResponse concatenated with
	// the endorser's certificate; ie, sign(ProposalResponse.payload + endorser)
	Signature []byte `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=signature,proto3" json:"signature,omitempty"`
}

func (m *Endorsement) Reset()                    { *m = Endorsement{} }
func (m *Endorsement) String() string            { return proto.CompactTextString(m) }
func (*Endorsement) ProtoMessage()               {}
func (*Endorsement) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) { return fileDescriptor8, []int{3} }

func (m *Endorsement) GetEndorser() []byte {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Endorser
	}
	return nil
}

func (m *Endorsement) GetSignature() []byte {
	if m != nil {
		return m.Signature
	}
	return nil
}

func init() {
	proto.RegisterType((*ProposalResponse)(nil), "protos.ProposalResponse")
	proto.RegisterType((*Response)(nil), "protos.Response")
	proto.RegisterType((*ProposalResponsePayload)(nil), "protos.ProposalResponsePayload")
	proto.RegisterType((*Endorsement)(nil), "protos.Endorsement")
}

func init() { proto.RegisterFile("peer/proposal_response.proto", fileDescriptor8) }

var fileDescriptor8 = []byte{
	// 367 bytes of a gzipped FileDescriptorProto
	0x1f, 0x8b, 0x08, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x02, 0xff, 0x6c, 0x92, 0x51, 0x4b, 0xfb, 0x30,
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}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
15-year-old girl fights off would-be kidnapper outside Encinitas home
Posted 6:15 PM, July 27, 2017, by Christy Simeral and Jaime Chambers, Updated at 09:06AM, July 28, 2017
ENCINITAS, Calif. – Sheriff's deputies are on the lookout for two men wanted for trying to kidnap a 15-year-old girl in Encinitas.
A sketch of one of two men wanted for trying to kidnap a teenage girl in Encinitas.
Around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the girl was waxing her surfboard in the driveway of her home in the 1600 block of Neptune Avenue. She told deputies a man came up from behind her, pinned her to the ground and tried to drag her toward a pickup truck parked on Grandview Street, where another man was waiting inside.
She fought back and ran inside her home, uninjured.
Attempted kidnapping reported near Encinitas school
The two men drove off in a blue older model pickup truck with a suspension lift, metal racks and possibly an extended cab.
The girl described the man who grabbed her as white, between 20 and 30 years old and approximately 5-foot-10-inches tall with a skinny build. He was wearing board shorts.
The man waiting in the truck, seen in the sketch, was described as white, between 20 and 30 years old and approximately 5-foot-11-inches tall with a medium build. He has light brown hair and a long brown beard.
Deputies say the attempted kidnapping appears to be an isolated incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers. Call 888-580-8477 to remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
Video: SoCal kidnapper forcibly pushes woman into van
Teen fights off would-be abductor
Topics: attempted kidnapping, Crime, Encinitas
Red giant stars create new way to measure how quickly universe is expanding
Man tried to kidnap teen at bus stop: police
Man sentenced to nearly 650 years for kidnapping, burglary spree in North County
Police release sketch of suspect in Oceanside kidnapping attempt
Man accused of trying to kidnap teen at bus stop faces judge
Father stops man trying to kidnap young daughter from home
25 pounds of meth found in trunk after pursuit
'Prank gone wrong': Man admits lighting firecrackers under child's bed
Sketch released of white-haired man who tried to lure 9-year-old into car
Stepdad of missing 4-year-old girl says he was abducted and knocked unconscious when she disappeared
Rape case against ex-NFL player headed for retrial
Police: Husband mistakes wife for intruder, kills her
Ex-NFL player guilty of rape, indecent exposure, lewd conduct
Jayme Closs kidnapper gets 2 life sentences for murders, 40 years for abduction

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The problems and achievements of the Council of Europe
Home/Europe, Latest News/The problems and achievements of the Council of Europe
By Richard| 2017-09-02T18:55:09+00:00	March 18th, 2012|Europe, Latest News|1 Comment
Martyn Bond
By John Parry
Review of "The Council of Europe" by Martyn Bond (Routledge Global Institutions Series, price £75 hardback)
It was summer 1949. In the village of Le Hohwald, tucked away in the heart of the Vosges pine forests, the staff of the Grand Hotel were busily clambering over the roof putting up a variety of national flags to celebrate the first meeting of the Council of Europe's consultative parliamentary assembly which was about to take place in Strasbourg. Most of those working at the hotel were from Alsace, a province which four times over the past hundred years had changed hands in wars between France and Germany. Others came from Yugoslavia, Russia, and even one from Britain. For all of them the creation of this new Council of Europe offered hope for the future.
The public enthusiasm which greeted this step towards a united Europe is now largely forgotten yet at the time it was seen to offer our continent and its citizens a glimpse of a better, more democratic future. World War II – the second such conflict in one generation – had ended only four years earlier. In most countries – those not under Soviet occupation and where free discussion was possible – there had already been much debate over the future of our continent and even talk of a European federation. In 1948 at a large-scale Congress of Europe in The Hague chaired by Winston Churchill and attended by 700 delegate – civil society representatives as well as politicians – a resolution was table calling for a United Europe with 'free movement for persons, ideas and goods', a Charter of Human Rights enforced by a Court of Justice, and a European Assembly. It received overwhelming support.
Within a few weeks the participating governments had agreed and the Council of Europe was born. It was to be an intergovernmental body headed by a Committee of member states' ministers but with a Consultative Assembly made up of representatives of the member states' parliaments. Its stated purpose was to promote democracy and human rights in Europe.
Unsurprisingly – for memories of the Gestapo and Hitler's concentration camps were still vivid – its first tasks were to draw up a European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and to establish a Court of Human Rights whose judgements would be binding on its member states. For those who had suffered under fascism this move was particularly meaningful. Moreover, with most of eastern and central Europe then occupied by the Soviet Union it was also intended as a demonstration of the superiority of democratic institutions based on respect for the individual as compared to the restrictive practices of communism.
Popular attitudes to "Europe" have changed since those heady days, perhaps largely because of inadequate coverage of European issues in the popular press and other media. Or else because, to put it bluntly, over half a century without a major European war has dulled the previous sense of urgency. To make matters worse, the distinctive functions of the Council of Europe on the one hand and the European Union on the other seem at times not always to be understood even among the cognoscenti.
Martyn Bond's recently published book, entitled simply "The Council of Europe" and covering both its origins and later developments, is therefore particularly welcome. In it he outlines the Council's intergovernmental structure with its political decisions being the responsibility of the Committee of Ministers – that is, ministers nominated by and acting on behalf of member states' governments. He also makes some interesting observations on the role of the Council's parliamentary assembly which may freely discuss and vote on political issues but has no legislative power. Yet since the collapse of communism it has played a valuable role in assisting ex-Warsaw Pact countries to develop their own democratic institutions and been particularly active in forming personal links with parliamentarians in eastern and central Europe including Russia.
He also points out that today the Council has become "a forum where Russia and Ukraine are important, active members along with other states which belong to the EU and NATO. It also offers an arena where Turkey has a major and independent role to play alongside other states."
Moreover, the European Union which came into existence originally as an economic community now insists that all countries applying for membership should first join the Council of Europe and adhere to the principles of human rights and democracy as set out in its Conventions whose provisions must be incorporated into their domestic legislation. The European Union itself has also signed the Convention on Human rights and there is talk that it might wish to join the Council, a move which would have an interesting impact on Europe's political architecture.
Martyn Bond is especially thorough in his treatment of the political context within which the Council has had to operate. In particular, he is critical of the west's failure to react adequately to what he calls "the destabilizing effects of national minorities" in recent crises following the collapse of communism. The shifting of the political tectonic plates of central and eastern Europe, visible in events such as the Serb/Kosovar conflict and other problems in ex-Yugoslavia or the tensions between Russia and Georgia which have yet again demonstrated our continent's need for an authority able to monitor and safeguard the fundamentals of democracy and human rights. On present evidence it is questionable whether an organisation such as the Council of Europe can continue – as now organised – to continue to fulfil this role effectively. As he points out, only 33 of the Council's 47 member states have so far recognised Kosovo's independence, and hardly any have recognised South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland once said: "Our aim should be to build a pan-European network of cooperation that involves all member countries and fosters greater unity, on the basis of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. This cooperation should be based on the principles of equality and respect for every member state, and on the strict observance of all the commitments the member states have undertaken."
This book spells out in practical terms some of the problems of establishing a multinational political authority in post-World War II Europe and of maintaining its effectiveness. It is probably the most thorough account of how the Council of Europe works and its achievements to date. Federalists might wish for a more closely integrated structure. In the long run that might still emerge. Meanwhile, no-one reading this book can doubt the giant steps which Europe has already taken towards that goal.
FINAL NOTE: While clearly aimed at the USA's academic market, hence the American spelling, this book should find a place on every federalist's (and every student's) bookshelf. It also contains so much of interest to readers in Britain and the rest of Europe that the publishers would be well advised to consider bringing out a cheaper edition.
¤ ¤ ¤
Buy the book from Amazon here
A democratic scandal
Punished by the EU
Can MPs vote against article 50?
See you in court
Lawrence Fullick 01/04/2012 at 13:24	- Reply
Your reviewer is too modest about his role in putting up flags to mark the launch of the Council of Europe.


Is Your Brand Ready for the New Year?
It's far more important than changing postage meter and hanging new calendars in your offices, yet few companies take the time to dust off their "brand" before the end of the year. Here are five "must dos" and the reasons they are important.
Change the copyright year on all publications especially those that are digital. Not only is this important legally, but it tells prospects and customers that your presence is current and your company is on top of things for the good of the company as well as the clients you serve. Competence in small but important steps such as this builds trust and credibility.
Walk through the office with the eyes of a client or customer. What do you see? Magazines that are months, even years old, coffee rings on conference tables, cartoons in poor taste on bulletin boards? All of these reflect on your brand and how you are rolling out the welcome mat to those who walk through your door.
Take a few minutes to see who is new. Who has been hired this year? Are they familiar with what you do and how you do it? No one can discount the impression made by the first person at your company to whom a prospect speaks. Do all your "firsts" represent your brand, your culture and your way of doing business? Double check this with some longer-term employees as well. If you can, secret shop your own company so you know exactly what customers experience.
It's wonderful when employees are proud to wear your logo on their clothing. It's equally important that those employees remember they represent the company when doing so or driving the company vehicle on local streets. So, remind employees that their behavior should match the company's brand whether on the clock or not. Cutting off the president of your largest client in traffic can come back to haunt them . . . and you.
Recommit to walking the talk. All companies have branding lulls or even branding setbacks. Don't use that as an excuse to fail but as a reason to innovate. Make sure everyone on your team feels that way as well. Look for innovation from everyone – from the boardroom to the mailroom.
Beyond these five vital steps, ask employees to suggest other brand checkups. As an example, I once found a two-year-old (outdated) bill stuffer still being mailed out by an accounting department in another company, perhaps one of the last places anyone might think to look.


These internet videos of inspirational speakers are truly a gift of their wealth of experience and wisdom and have created ideas that have inspired a whole generation. Whenever you might 'hit a brick wall' in your thoughts and need action to break down the barriers – these people and their videos are an invaluable tool to move you forward.
If you'd like this help in a more face to face way, then please call Patricia today on 01273 422009 or 07733 275830 or click here to email her.


Each semester, I post an advertisement for the open undergrad research positions in my lab. The ad includes a description of the project, methods my lab uses, and overall objectives of my lab's research focus. Yet, each semester, several undergrads with interests completely unrelated to my research program apply for a position in my lab. To be happy and successful during their research experience, I know that these students should choose a research project in a lab that aligns with their interests.
The bottom line is this: if you want to get an interview (and be offered a position), only apply to research positions that are interesting to you. If you really dislike working with computers, then don't apply to a bioinformatics lab, and likewise, if you want to do medically-related research, don't apply to a lab that focuses on freshwater ecology. When you're genuinely interested in a research area, or the techniques a lab does, it's much easier to demonstrate your enthusiasm, and everyone wants to work with someone who is excited to learn.
Your enthusiasm is the key to your short term success (getting an interview and offer to join the lab), and your long-term success (being both productive and happy in the lab). It is definitely NOT true that just any random research opportunity is acceptable. You want to find the right research experience for you. So search for one that will be meaningful to you and foster your curiosity.


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The Screen | Stephanie Long
A Dr. Dre & Jimmy Iovine Documentary Series Is Coming To HBO
HBO has announced a four-part documentary series about Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. The Defiant Ones — directed by Allen Hughes (Menace II Society, Dead Presidents) — will feature interviews with Ice Cube, Eminem, and more. From HBO: "Set amid many of the defining events of the past four decades, THE DEFIANT ONES tells the stories of Jimmy […]
The Sound | ionetudstaff
Watch: Travis Scott, Pharrell Williams, DJ Khaled, & More Star In New Beats By Dre Ad
The famed producer is back to business with the release of a new Beats by Dre commercial.
Prime | ionetudstaff
Yikes: Twitter Drags Dr. Dre After Premiere Of Lifetime's Michel'le Biopic 'Surviving Compton'
The Lifetime biopic Surviving Compton — also known as Dr. Dre's ex-girlfriend Michel'le's attempt to write herself back into history after she was literally erased from Straight Outta Compton — aired last night, despite Dre's many attempts to get it shut down. The rap mogul's vicious abuse of Michel'le was front and center in the […]
These 12 Rappers Lost Weight & Look Better Than Ever
Word? | Bruce Goodwin II, Deputy Editor
Dr. Dre Handcuffed Outside His Malibu Home After Man Accuses Him Of Pointing Gun
Rapper and entrepreneur Dr. Dre was cuffed outside of his Malibu home on Monday after an apparent road rage incident. Sources close to the Hip-Hop icon told TMZ that when Dre arrived at his home there was a car parked in his driveway. Dre requested that the man move, which he did, but not before yelling obscenities at the rapper. Dre […]
Word? | ionetudstaff
Dr. Dre & 50 Cent Reportedly Sued Over "P.I.M.P"
Music producer Brandon Parrott is allegedly suing 50 Cent and Dr. Dre for their song "P.I.M.P."
Listen To T.I.'s Single "Dope" Featuring Marsha Ambrosius (NEW MUSIC)
Looks like T.I. wants a hand in making "Summer Sixteen" great. As he readies the arrival of his tenth studio album, the Atlanta veteran releases a new single titled "Dope" featuring Marsha Ambrosius. The Dr. Dre-produced track includes a sample of the late Aaliyah's 2001 classic "Rock The Boat." T.I. is planning to release the visual […]
The Life | ionetudstaff
The Forbes Five: Drake Joins Elite Club Of Hip-Hop's Wealthiest Artists
After 50 Cent filed for bankruptcy this year, Drake finds himself in the elite club of hip-hop's top five wealthiest artists.
DMX Is Working With Kanye West & Dr. Dre On New Music
First Snapchat, now new music. DMX is making a real return to our lives. After creating a new Snapchat account, DMX is getting back in the music scene, and he's working with the industry's best. Swizz Beatz, who's been a longtime friend of DMX, praised the Ruff Ryders rapper on Instagram with a gem-filled heartfelt […]
R&B Singer-Songwriter Leon Haywood Has Died
R&B singer and songwriter Leon Haywood died in his sleep.
Suge Knight Alleges Dr. Dre Ordered A Hit Man To Kill Him
Suge Knight may currently be in jail on murder charges, but his lawyer is claiming that Dr. Dre tried to put a hit out on him, notes Pitchfork.
Arts & Entertainment, Podcasts, Transfer1 | ionetudstaff
Ed Lover Hilariously Talks About The Accuracy Of A Dr. Dre Lyric [EXCLUSIVE AUDIO]
Ed Lover hilariously talks about the accuracy of the Dr. Dre lyric "funky on the mic like a old batch of collard greens" from his song "Nothin But A 'G' Thing." Click on the audio player to hear what he said in this exclusive clip from The Ed Lover Show.


I was wondering if universe selection via coarse function (about 5000 assets available on quantconnect) would work with paper trading which has limitation on assets like 100, 500 etc.
Let me make Gurumeher's answer clear: there is no limit in backtesting and QuantConnect paper trading.
The 100 assets limit is set for IB real and paper trading because IB by default only includes 100 subscriptions in their data package.


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The Refit On This 45 Year Old Chris-Craft Will Blow You Away
April 28, 2015 by Ocean of News
Walsh has been boating since he was a teenager, driving ski boats and sailing Hobie Cats out of Wilmette. He and his wife, also 44, met in college and lived for a year on a Sea Ray 450 Sundancer. When it came time for them to captain a boat that would carry their five children, they decided on a classic motor yacht made of fiberglass. On Lake Huron, they found the Chris-Craft they eventually bought, in 2010, for $100,000. Forty-five years old, the boat's interior had suffered from a fire and its exterior was coated in thick layers of black paint. But the hull and engines were in good shape, says Walsh, who shares the boat, Dig Deep, with his best friend, Nick Kadjan, who owns medical spas in Chicago and also has children.
They fixed it up for about $200,000 with the help of Marine Service in Dolton and Michael. They blasted off the black paint, kept the original mahogany strip ceiling, added seating and tables, combined beds, updated bathrooms and laid plastic flooring for ease of cleaning.
Michael used marine-grade materials that prevent mold, mildew and fading for every surface. For Michael, who grew up on the same model boat, bringing one back was a trip down memory lane. The blues, teals and whites he chose were inspired by the 1960s, when the boat was made, he says.
The restored Chris-Craft (American-made since 1874) gives the Walshes harbor cred wherever they go, even though the yacht crawls along at a mere 14 miles per hour. [via Chicago Business]


Google has rolled out a new feature allowing Gmail users to edit Microsoft Office documents sent as email attachments from within your inbox. A new edit icon has been added to Gmail attachments, clicking on which automatically converts Office files to Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.
The feature, Google says, gives you the additional benefit of a single document to keep track of, access from anywhere (even offline), and revision history.
Should there arise the need to open and edit an Office file (that you've received as an email attachment) without changing the file type, Google is suggesting you to install the Office Editing Chrome extension that gives you the option to edit the file as is by clicking on the attachment card and selecting open from the top of the file preview.
In addition to the new feature, Google has also updated its cloud-based file storage service Google Drive with support for 15 new Office file types, including presentation show files (pps, ppsx), macro-enabled files, and template files. The company is also promising improved charts, images, and tables support.
For more information about all newly added options, head to Google's help center.
Today's announcement comes nearly a month after Microsoft announced that it's joining forces with Dropbox to integrate the latter's cloud storage service more closely with Office.


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The best desktop computers of 2020
Make working from home easier!
Getty Images stock
March 27, 2020, 10:02 PM UTC
By Camryn La Sala
In a new world of quarantine and social distancing, working from home has become the new norm for many. And having a good setup and working environment at home can make all the difference when it comes to a productive workday.
One way to achieve this is by investing in a great desktop computer.
Consumer Reports rounded up 20 of the best desktop computers on the market, so we turned to two experts on what you should know about these highly recommended options. Whether you're looking for an all-in-one desktop or a tower desktop, we're bound to have at least one option that meets your needs.
If you're looking for something specific and want to shop this article by category, simply click on each link below:
Best desktop computers
Tower desktops
1. Apple 21.5-inch iMac Computer
Apple 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display
B&H Photo
If you want a sleek, easy-to-use computer, the Apple iMac is a solid option.
"This is a beautiful all in one PC, and by far one of the best desktops today for the general-purpose home user," said Kenneth Hale, co-owner of IT Group Technology Consulting. "The 5k screen is stunning and supports up to 1 billion colors. For streaming movies, web browsing, photos, and other general use the Apple iMac can't be beaten."
"This 'all-in-one' computer packs all its hardware into the display itself, so you don't need a big tower on your desk," added Whitson Gordon, a tech writer with over a decade of experience. "They're a bit more expensive for the performance you get, but for many, it's well worth it."
2. Dell Inspiron 27 All-in-One
Dell Inspiron 27 All-in-One
This Dell all-in-one desktop is comparable to the iMac but slightly less expensive.
"This is a good choice for someone who doesn't want to spend the additional money on an iMac," noted Hale. "It's a decent computer in a brown paper bag. Its chassis design is passable, and the hardware specs are good for your everyday computing."
"The Dell Inspiron is a great way to save space on your desk if you don't have room for a desktop tower," added Gordon. "It's also much less money than a comparable iMac, if Apple's offerings cost too much for your taste."
3. HP Envy Curved All-in-One Desktop Computer
HP ENVY Curved All-in-One Desktop Computer
If you're not interested in using multiple monitors but want the extra screen space, this is a match made in heaven.
"The HP Curved Envy is both beautiful in design an immersive due to the 34-inch curved display," said Hale. "Working on larger screens for many hours makes a world of difference in both productivity and ergonomics."
"Ultrawide monitors, like the one on HP's Envy Curved All-in-One, are amazing," said Gordon. "You get a whole lot more real estate on your screen for putting multiple windows side-by-side, which is great for getting work done. On top of that, HP offers some solid configurations with great performance."
4. Microsoft Surface Studio
Microsoft Surface Studio
This is by far the most expensive desktop on the list but Gordon says it's worth the upgrade if you're into graphic design and illustrations.
"An all-in-one similar to the iMac or HP Envy, but targeted directly at artists and creatives," said Gordon. "With a gorgeous touch screen that folds down horizontally, you can use the Surface Pen or Surface Dial for art and design in a way few desktop PCs can match. It's more expensive than most, but it's also extremely unique and has great performance to boot."
ShoppingHow to choose the best laptop for your needs
1. HP ProDesk G5
HP ProDesk G5
The HP ProDesk GF is perfect for those who use a lot of different applications or programs, says Hale.
"For the office and remote worker, I highly recommend the HPProDesk G5," he said. "Having a solid-state drive, the HP Pro Desk will fly you through Microsoft Office documents and websites in a flash. It's as small as a box of tissues, quiet, and gives off minimal heat, all at a budget-friendly price."
2. Apple Mac Mini
The Apple Mac Mini is a good way to get the support of a desktop computer without shelling out a ton of money and saving some extra desk space.
"If you're on more of a budget, the Mac Mini is a great alternative but you'll need to provide your own mouse, keyboard, and monitor," said Gordon.
"The Mac Mini by Apple is iconic in its design. Small, fast, and starting at $699, it provides everything the home or productivity user needs who prefers the Apple macOS to work and play in," Hale added.
ShoppingHow to pick a computer monitor for remote work
1. Dell XPS Tower
Dell XPS Tower
If you want more computer storage and have space at your desk, a tower desktop may be a good choice for you.
"This desktop definitely isn't the prettiest of the bunch. But the Dell XPS Tower packs enough horsepower for the user into casual gaming and creative work," said Hale. "You get a strong system with enough room to expand (hardware) with its voluminous case for years to come."
2. HP Omen Obelisk Desktop
HP Omen Obelisk Desktop
The HP Omen Obelisk Desktop is perfect if you like to play video games. You'll have more than enough space for all of your favorite games and plenty of more room for all your important documents and photos.
"The design of the case looks like it was left behind by an alien mothership," Hale said. "The HP Omen will give you out of this world gaming performance with plenty of room to expand. It will get you through all of the new games with ease."
"There are a ton of desktop PCs on the market geared toward gaming, but HP has one of the frontrunners with is Omen line of products," added Gordon. "The HP Omen Obelisk packs a lot of performance into a decently-sized case, with customizable RGB lighting and a transparent side panel. The interior uses a tool-less design, so you can easily upgrade your parts down the road."
ShoppingWant to extend your Wi-Fi network at home? Here's how.
For more tech recommendations, check out:
Working from home? Here are 6 tech products to make it easier, according to consumer reports
These noise-canceling headphones are my secret to being productive at home
14 bathroom gadgets you didn't know you needed
To discover more deals, shopping tips and budget-friendly product recommendations, download the new TODAY app and subscribe to our Stuff We Love newsletter!
Camryn La Sala


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Q: How to dynamically create download links to files saved on server? I generate and save .pdf bills on my server.
The files are saved in a "reciept" folder and they look like this:
vydej38_1.pdf
vydej38_2.pdf
vydej38_3.pdf

I create them dynamically by connecting a contract id (38) to the string and then adding "_1". If I create the file again and it exists, I increment the 1 so I get "_2" etc. I do all of this in controller in PHP.
But now I need to create download links for those files. I can do it for just one file like this
Download

But how can I create the download links dynamically according to the number of files and their names?

A: Thanks Dagon for his advice, it was really that simple :)
<?php foreach (glob("receipt/*.pdf") as $key => $value): ?>

        <a href="../../<?=$value?>" download="vydejka.pdf">Download n. <?=$key?>

<?php endforeach; ?>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Because different art festivals have different submission and notification dates, it's hard to list a complete schedule for the year, often until late Spring. The list below indicates those shows I've been accepted to or plan to hear from soon.
If you're in the area and able to attend one of these festivals I hope you'll stop by the booth, say Hello and check out some of the newest works.
As art festivals notify me of the results I'll add them to this schedule.
All content of this site is copyright © 2009-2019 Rick Braveheart. All Rights Reserved.


The following Terms & Conditions are a legal and binding document, applicable to all products and/or services undertaken by Dezines Creative Thinking (Pty) Ltd t/a Dezines, for and on behalf of any Client(s) who have duly signed Dezines' quotation(s) for any such products and/or services, and therefore authorised Dezines to render the aforementioned products and deliver said services.
1.1. The Client must supply the Project Specifications to Dezines in order for Dezines to issue an accurate and binding quotation.
1.2. If the Client requires further assistance with creating Project Specifications, Dezines are willing to assist the Client. This time may be billed to the Client at the discretion of Dezines.
1.3. Any Additional Work (Terms and Conditions 19.) must be supplied as additional Project Specifications.
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26.2. These Terms and Conditions are legally binding in accordance with the publishing date hereof, as incorporated on Dezines own website , and date of signing a product and/or service delivery Agreement(s) with Dezines.


text:
Pete Buttigieg Suggests Quid Pro Quo with Israeli Military Aid to Promote Palestinian Interests
Shane Trejo |
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Nam Y Huh/AP/REX/Shutterstock (10067708c) Mayor Pete Buttigieg talks with an AP reporter at Farmers Market in South Bend, Ind., . Few people know Buttigieg's name outside the Indiana town where he's mayor, but none of that has deterred him from contemplating a 2020 Democratic presidential bid. He's among the potential candidates who believe 2016 and 2018 showed voters are looking for fresh faces US Election 2020 Fresh Faces, South Bend, USA – 10 Jan 2019
South Bend, IN Mayor Pete Buttigieg made a remark last month that received little attention from the mainstream media when he suggested that foreign military aid to Israel should be used as a bargaining chip to impact public policy in the pro-Jewish state.
The openly gay Democratic presidential contender told an audience at the University of Chicago that he would hold foreign aid over the heads of the Israelis in order to coerce them into refusing to annex settlements on the West Bank.
"I think that the aid is leverage to guide Israel in the right direction," Buttigieg said. "If, for example, there is follow-through on these threats of annexation, I'm committed to ensuring that the US is not footing the bill for that."
"It is in the American interest, as well as the Palestinian and ultimately the Israeli Jewish interest, that Israel not reach the point where there will have to be a choice between either being a Jewish state or a democracy," he added, "and there is a trajectory toward that going on right now."
Buttigieg also suggested that aid to Israel could be reduced as well while making his pro-Palestinian statement.
"I'm not going to commit now to all of the ways that that leverage can and should be used, but I will say that our policy goal will be to do what we do when a friend is moving in a way that you're worried about, which is to put your arm around them and guide them somewhere better," he said.
According to the logic of the Democratic Party in the age of Trump, Buttigieg is suggesting for an illicit quid pro quo to be used against Israel. By their standards, he is advocating for an impeachable and illegal offense within his hypothetical administration.
Of course, consistency is not exactly a strong suit of the Democrats. They completely ignore that former Vice President Joe Biden admitted abusing his power to stop a corruption probe in the Ukraine involving his son, Hunter.
Joe Biden brags about how he threatened to pull $1 billion in loan guarantees from Ukraine if it didn't immediately fire Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin.
The prosecutor, who was fired, was leading a corruption investigation into a company that employed Biden's son, Hunter pic.twitter.com/xZd3vIMbuL
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) September 20, 2019
While the Democrats remain gung ho regarding their ongoing impeachment inquiry against the President, it may completely backfire against them as Republicans get ready to question witnesses of their own:
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) issued a letter to House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) on Thursday demanding that the minority party be allowed to call witnesses to testify during the impeachment proceedings.
Nunes cited House Rule XI, Clause 1(a)(1)(A) and House Rule XI, Clause 2(j)(1) in order to make the case that it is germane for Republicans to bring forth witnesses for questioning at an upcoming hearing.
"As the Committee continues to conduct the Democrats' partisan and one-sided "impeachment inquiry," there are still important perspectives and serious issues that you have prevented the Committee from examining," Nunes explained in the letter.
"We will inform you of the witnesses we intend to call once you have provided a hearing date and time to which we agree. Your failure to schedule this hearing shall constitute evidence of your denial of fundamental fairness and due process," he added.
Buttigieg's rhetoric shows that the Democrats cannot even keep their own story straight about what is permissible from the President. It is not looking good for them in next year's election.


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Celebrating Shark Week 2021 live with Shark Stewards and Jacks Diving Locker, Kona
Shark films and talk on sharks and marine protection.
Join Shark Stewards founder David McGuire and Jack's Diving Locker in Kona (Harbor Location) for a live, in-person event or join us live on Shark Stewards Facebook page to learn about sharks and the 15th year anniversary of the Papahanaumokuakea, the largest marine protected area in the world at the time. The first Marine National Monument established by Presidential Proclamation in 2006.
We will be screening the film Sharks Stewards of the Reef, co-produced by Shark Stewards to advocate for the establishment of this monument under President GW Bush, and advocate for state shark fin trade bans.
With 77% of oceanic sharks and rays threatened with extinction, Shark Stewards are proud to have led conservation efforts to protect marine habitats and drive meaningful legislative change. This event recognizes Hawaii's unique role in ushering in a new era of marine conservation protecting sharks and the habitat they live in.
Please donate here to support our valuable shark conservation work and join us at this In-person dive event .
Location 74-381 Kealakehe Pkwy, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 from 6 to 8PM. Sign up here for this free event.
SUPPORT THE CHUMASH HERITAGE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY
Currently the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is in the process of collecting public comments to support the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. This Sanctuary will protect a remote and lightly …
Driven largely by the shark fin trade, many species of sharks are threatened with extinction. As a major shipper between the USA and Asia, Fed Ex is responsible for killing …


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14 April 2018 Terry Pratchett 10
An Alternative Cover For This ISBN Can Be Found HereAccording To The Nice And Accurate Prophecies Of Agnes Nutter, Witch The World S Only Completely Accurate Book Of Prophecies, Written In 1655, Before She Exploded , The World Will End On A Saturday Next Saturday, In Fact Just Before Dinner.So The Armies Of Good And Evil Are Amassing, Atlantis Is Rising, Frogs Are Falling, Tempers Are Flaring Everything Appears To Be Going According To Divine Plan Except A Somewhat Fussy Angel And A Fast Living Demon Both Of Whom Have Lived Amongst Earth S Mortals Since The Beginning And Have Grown Rather Fond Of The Lifestyle Are Not Actually Looking Forward To The Coming Rapture.And Someone Seems To Have Misplaced The Antichrist.
Sir Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was thirteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second hand typewriter His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, Sir Terry Pratchett sold his first story when he was thirteen, which earned him enough money to buy a second hand typewriter His first novel, a humorous fantasy entitled The Carpet People, appeared in 1971 from the publisher Colin Smythe Terry worked for many years as a journalist and press officer, writing in his spare time and publishing a number of novels, including his first Discworld novel, The Color of Magic, in 1983 In 1987, he turned to writing full time There are over 40 books in the Discworld series, of which four are written for children The first of these, The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents, won the Carnegie Medal A non Discworld book, Good Omens, his 1990 collaboration with Neil Gaiman, has been a longtime bestseller and was reissued in hardcover by William Morrow in early 2006 it is also available as a mass market paperback Harper Torch, 2006 and trade paperback Harper Paperbacks, 2006 In 2008, Harper Children s published Terry s standalone non Discworld YA novel, Nation Terry published Snuff in October 2011 Regarded as one of the most significant contemporary English language satirists, Pratchett has won numerous literary awards, was named an Officer of the British Empire for services to literature in 1998, and has received honorary doctorates from the University of Warwick in 1999, the University of Portsmouth in 2001, the University of Bath in 2003, the University of Bristol in 2004, Buckinghamshire New University in 2008, the University of Dublin in 2008, Bradford University in 2009, the University of Winchester in 2009, and The Open University in 2013 for his contribution to Public Service.In Dec of 2007, Pratchett disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer s disease On 18 Feb, 2009, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.He was awarded the World Fantasy Life Achievement Award in 2010.Sir Terry Pratchett passed away on 12th March 2015
10 thoughts on "Good Omens "
Jeremy Zerbe says:
[Reading] ➬ Good Omens ➳ Terry Pratchett – Josephfedericonjmet.us
Remember back when funny books were funny Back before you went to college and found out that Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen weren t funny after all, but Samuel Beckett and Charles Dickens were hilarious Remember when the words on the page didn t just make you smile wryly and shake your head in shame for humanity, but actually mad...
Manny says:
I somehow ended up reading them both simultaneously So I couldn t help wonderingWhat Madam Bovary Might Have Thought Of Good OmensThree days later, a package arrived there was no return address, but she immediately recognised Rodolphe s hand It contained a paperback novel, whose title was Good Omens Feverishly, she cast herself over it Her English was poor, but, with the aid of a dictionary, she persevered and soon made great progress.Theshe...
Overall, this book was a huge disappointment for me I d heard so many good things about it and had been meaning to read it for years When I finally started it, I was about 20 pages into it and thought, Yes This is going to be one of the most entertaining books I ve ever read It was like reading The Hitchhiker s Guide for the first time again It was witty and fast paced and had so many brilliant things to say about society and religion And then about halfway through, I realized that I jus Overall, this book was a huge disappointment for me I d heard so many good things about it and had been meaning to read it for years When I finally started it, I was about 20 pages into it and though...
Nataliya says:
In my personal hierarchy of books, this one comes a close second after Bulgakov s The Master and Margarita What can I say like diabolical father, like infernal son It may help to understand human affairs to be clear that most of the great triumphs and tragedies of history are caused not by people being fundamentally good or fundamentally bad, but by people being fundamentally people. In a way, I can view this book as my own personal therapy session that is, in addition to it being a h In my personal hierar...
Don t be misled by those who class this as fantasy, humour, or just fiction This is actually a profound philosophical and theological treatise, exploring good and evil, nature versus nurture, free will, war, pollution, and organised religion But it s cleverly disguised as a madcap caper featuring angels, demons, the M25 motorway, Manchester, raining fish, dolphins, Atlantis, aliens, the Apocalypse, the young Antichrist, Americans,...
One of my all time favorite books Up there with Hitchhiker s Guide.
Miranda Reads says:
DON T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSHThe Apocalypse is not off to a good start.Ten years ago, Crowley a demon brought the infant Anti Christ to a group of Satanic Nuns who swapped the Anti Christ with a human child For ten years, Aziraphale an Angel and Crowley educate the child on the finer points of good and evilPeople couldn t become truly holy, he said, unless they also had the opportunity to be definitively wicked DON T THINK OF IT AS DYING, said Death JUST THINK OF IT AS LEAVING EARLY TO AVOID THE RUSHThe Apocalypse is not off to a good start.Ten years ago, Crowley a demon brought the infant Anti Christ to a group of Satanic Nuns who swapped the Anti Christ with a human child For ten years, Aziraphale an Angel and Crowley educate the child on the finer points of good and evilPeople couldn t become truly holy,...
The year is 2114 and in an upstairs apartment in Lower Tadfield, Oxfordshire, England four people Marge, Ron, Neville and Madam Tracey sit around a table They are gathered for a s ance.Madam Tracey I can feel my spirit guide approaching.Marge Ooooo, this is exciting Madam Tracey In a dark brown voice How Then in her normal voice Geronimo is that you And again in the deep voice Yes, this n is me.Neville This is just like in that old book by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, Good O The year is 2114 and in an upstairs apartment in Lower Tadfield, Oxfordshire, England four people Marge, Ron, Neville and Madam Tracey...
Choko says:
4.75God does not play dice with the universe He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players i.e everybody , to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a pitch dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won t tell you the rules, and who smiles all the timeLoved every second of it A book about free choice and nature vs nurture, some good old pondering 4.75God does not play dice with the universe He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players i.e everybody , to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a...
Kyle Nakamura says:
This has got to be one of the funniest satires I ve ever read I suppose the closest comparison I could make is to describe it as a literary sibling to Dogma, but filtered through a distinctly British lense That description doesn t really do the story justice, but that film definitely hits me in the same place as the book The whole premise, and I m not giving much away here, begins with the accidental mis placement of the infant Antichrist during a complex baby swapping procedure intended t This has got to be one of the funniest satires I ve ever read I suppose the closest comparison I could make is to describe it as a literary sibling to Dogma, but filtered through a distinctly British lense That description doesn t really do the story justice, but that film definitely hits me in the same plac...
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New York City buskers look back on a pandemic summer
Michael Dobuski/ABC NewsBy MICHAEL DOBUSKI, ABC News
(NEW YORK) — Street performers are a common sight in New York City. Passersby can regularly catch a jazz performance on a Harlem street corner, a spoken word poet in the subway, or, as was the case on a warm Saturday afternoon last month, a punk rock concert in the East Village's Tompkins Square Park.
Claudi Love is a singer, guitarist, and kalimba player, alongside Raimundo Atal on keyboard and Mark Mosterin on bass guitar. Together they're Pinc Louds: a punk rock band known for New York City themed songs "Traffic Lights," "Magical Garbage," and "Sardines In A Can."
Pinc Louds are buskers — another word for street performers — and can often be found playing in downtown Manhattan. Claudi says Tompkins Square Park is one of their favorite locations on account of the neighborhood's long, punk rock history.
"The community here in the East Village is very, very special. There's a there's definitely something here. And an it comes from, I think, a lot of what happened in the in the 70s and 80s… It's still very much alive."
The band got started in 2015 after Claudi and Mark got to know each other while working as music teachers at a school in Brooklyn.
"I was, like, kind of the full time music teacher," says Mosterin. "Claudi was the after-school, like, rock and roll teacher who would hang out with the kids who, like, had nowhere to go after school."
Michael Dobuski/ABC NewsAt a party, Love met Atal, who was working on his Ph.D in sustainable development at Columbia University.
That same party is also where Pinc Louds got their name, according to Love.
"Somebody gave me a very pink and very loud dress all on the same night, and it kinda like just happened like that. It was really like — it felt like it was meant to be."
While Atal is working on his PhD and Mosterin continues to teach, for Love, busking became a full time gig.
"This is my day job. Like, this is what I do for a living. I'm lucky enough that I can be a musician for a living. And I do it mostly by playing in the subways and on the street."
Pink Louds aren't exclusively buskers. They've built up a substantial following in the five years they've been active, and have performed at some bars and festivals around the city. They were even planning to go on tour this year, until coronavirus lockdown orders came down in the city in March.
For a time the Pinc Louds relied on their fans on social media, hosting live shows over video chat while their normal venues were closed down. Love even decorated her apartment with the appropriate busking decor.
"I kind of turned my house into a TV studio. I had, like, a giant traffic light and a big subway map, because I wanted to, like, give the street feeling to the to the whole thing."
Love was able to make ends meet by collecting money through Venmo and Paypal. But money was only part of the equation, she says.
"Even though everything around me was falling down, I was able to, like, block a lot of the darkness out by doing that."
Michael Dobuski/ABC News
In June, as the weather got warmer, Pink Louds gradually began moving their performances back outside. Eventually they discovered Tompkins Square Park, which hadn't been an option pre-pandemic due to restrictions on amplifiers in public parks.
"I tried it and they didn't kick me out," says Love. "And I just fell in love with the place."
Charlie Crespo runs a blog called the Manhattan Beat, following the city's music scene. He says the Pinc Louds were pioneers in bringing music back to the streets of New York this summer.
"[Pinc Louds] pretty much saved the summer in downtown Manhattan by playing in Tompkins Square Park two or three times a week. They were probably the first," says Crespo. "Their music is energizing. It was exciting and for anybody who passed through the park, it was just the most wonderful experience to hear live music again."
Pinc Louds aren't alone. Crespo tells ABC Audio that buskers all over the city are filling a musical gap left by traditional concerts and stage performances.
"Live music, being the oldest form of entertainment — even before theater, even before sports — touches us in ways that none of these other activities can touch us. And right now we're very limited as to the opportunities that are open to us to hear live music."
Cloudy says their audiences can grow to over a hundred people, depending on the day, and they do their best to keep things safe.
"They keep socially distant. It's a really big space," says Love.
Pinc Louds' performances also occasionally feature dancers like Jamie Emerson: a visual artist and puppeteer who makes costumes themed around the band's music. For the song "Roaches In My Hair," Emerson, complete with a black rat mask and a hand painted cockroach cutout in each hand, weaves his way through the crowd and does jumping jacks behind the musicians. He says the performance used to go even further.
"It's a bit frustrating for us because a big part of the show – we were calling them 'immersive cabaret.' And so the idea was literally to invade the personal space of the audience, which we did and was great before the pandemic… It made the whole show, like, something that you don't see from other bands," he says. "Now it's a little bit more difficult. We kind of still do it, but do it from 5 or 6 feet away."
Michael Dobuski/ABC NewsNew York City reopened some indoor dining at the beginning of October following a summer of strict outdoor-only seating for restaurants. Charlie Crespo says the move provided a new opportunity for street musicians.
"Many sidewalk cafes that had never actually thought of having music in the past were approached by musicians who said 'Can I play here?'" says Crespo. "The sidewalk cafes opened up an area for the bands to play. And now New York has many venues for music that did not exist in just the recent past."
Though the future of indoor dining in New York City remains in doubt as coroanvirus cases rise, Crespo says the summer of street music made an impression on New Yorkers.
"We find street performers playing in parks and subway stations, and I find that we're listening more than we used to. We're listening closely, we're listening deeper, because it's touching us at a time when we really need this kind of soothing healing experience."
As for Claudi, she says playing in Tompkins Square Park reminds her of what makes busking in New York City such an attractive experience.
"You got all the weird, crazy people, and you got families," she says. "It's just like a wonderful mix of people, all kinda getting by, you know? Sometimes with a little bit of friction — but it's, like, that friction that makes life more special right? And it makes it more New York."
Hear ABC Audio's Mike Dobuski report on how Pinc Louds are reflecting on a summer of lockdowns in New York City.


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Dangerous Cargo Now Has a Unified Portal to Help Avoid Misdeclaration of Freight
Mutual Insurers Back Hazardous Goods Check System
UK – WORLDWIDE – The misdeclaration of dangerous goods (DG) in the shipping industry always poses a major risk to crews, ships, other cargo and the environment. In order to help mitigate the risks associated with undeclared or misdeclared hazardous freight, Exis Technologies', a supplier of compliance systems for the management of dangerous cargo being transported by sea has, in collaboration with shipping and freight insurers the TT Club and the UK P&I Club, announced the next phase of implementation of its Hazcheck Restrictions Portal.
Exis Technologies' Hazcheck software has already been facilitating the operations of a number of major container shipping lines. Now streamlining of the processes required is now being offered through the development of a portal integrating port restrictions and is available as an extension of the Hazcheck Gateway, itself free to try. . This portal is designed to simplify the end-to-end management of dangerous goods booking processes, taking account also of carrier, ship and partner line restrictions.
Supported by the two insurance mutuals, and developed with the in-house IT expertise of Exis Technologies, the Hazcheck Restrictions Portal is now moving into a new implementation phase. This concentrates on urging container lines, ports and terminals to upload their DG handling policies and restrictions into the portal free of charge, allowing use by shippers, forwarders and others involved in the movement of such goods. TT Club's Risk Management Director, Peregrine Storrs-Fox commented:
"Varying estimates put declared DG at around 10% of all containerised shipments, with the result that some ships will have in excess of a thousand DG containers on any given voyage. As recent incidents of on-board fires have shown, the cocktail of DG can have catastrophic effects. There are numerous issues involved, but the business case to engage with a uniform data process is clear. All supply chain stakeholders benefit from improving clarity for carriage by sea; the most urgent need is for the port/terminal community to commit to upload and maintain the relevant data via the Exis portal."
There is a growing awareness among the shipping community that each carrier has been collating its own record of restrictions in relation to house policies, ship owner policies, ship constraints and restrictions applied at ports/terminals of loading, transit, transhipment and discharge. This inconsistent approach is complex, creating the possibility of error or failure to update, and is inefficient, this all in an area that is intended to achieve compliance and safety, but is hugely burdensome and delivers zero competitive advantage. UK P&I Club's Stuart Edmonston, said:
"We are delighted to collaborate with Exis in promoting the work on this portal. Clearer information on how DG should be correctly handled and shipped is vital in avoiding loss of life and damage to ships and cargo at sea. Our recently published guide 'Book it right and pack it tight' also encourages best practice for packing dangerous goods for carriage by sea."
The Exis Hazcheck Restrictions Portal is aimed at resolving these inefficiencies. Simple comparisons demonstrate that there are material differences in understanding and interpretation about the way that, in particular, port/terminal prohibitions, restrictions and additional requirements operate.


After trying to figure out why Illustrator CS3 kept crashing when savingfiles, I finally turned up this bit of information that pointed me in the right direction. It looks like if you have your Print Spooler service on Windows XP disabled when attempting to save, Illustrator dies.
One of the posters on the linked thread mentions setting your default printer to Adobe PDF if you still have problems when your printer is off (but your Spooler Service is on). I am able to save while my printer is off without a problem, but disabling the Spooler service and setting my default printer to Adobe PDF still results in a crash.
On Windows XP, your Print Spooler service must be active to avoid crashes.
I don't think your printer needs to be on (at least this was the case with mine).
If you do have problems with saving while your printer is in an abnormal state, set your default printer to Adobe PDF.
Hopefully this is useful to someone out there.