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Park Pits Protesters Against Powerful Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church turns up the heat on Muscovites opposing new church construction in local park.
By	Eva Hartog
Katerina Lobanova
On the edge of a park in a sleepy neighborhood in northern Moscow, a Russian Orthodox priest is giving an outdoor sermon to a small congregation huddled together in the November cold. Facing them on the opposite side of a flimsy wire fence, is an altogether angrier gathering of about 100 protesters. "Get out of our park," they chant. "Out!"
The standoff between the group of believers and protesters has become a weekly Sunday fixture at Torfyanka Park. At stake is the proposed construction of an Orthodox church. The protesters say they are just defending their local park from an illegal land grab.The Orthodox Church has branded them "church and cross haters."
More than a year and a half after the protest began, the conflict is no nearer to resolution. In fact, this month the fight seems to be escalating to new heights after protesters' homes were raided by riot police. It was a lesson to grassroots protesters throughout Russia: When you take up an adversary as powerful as the Russian Orthodox Church, you should get ready for a long and difficult fight.
"It was around 6 a.m. when our doorbell rang over and over again, rrring, rrring, rrring!" says pensioner Alexandra Trofimovna, 68, gesturing emotionally. "We kept asking: who is it? There was no answer. Then they forced the door open with an angle grinder, and a group of officers stormed in."
Trofimovna's family was among roughly a dozen Torfyanka protesters who received unannounced visits from masked riot police on Nov. 14. During the raids, phones and computers were confiscated and searched. "They kept asking: where is the money? They think we're being paid by the U.S. State Department or the British intelligence service," she says.
Her daughter played an active role in the Torfyanka protest and law enforcement now consider her "an instigator," Trofimovna says. "But there is no organizer. People come themselves, they want their park."
Many Muscovites have not welcomed the Church's expansion boom, especially in parks. The sign says: "Give us back our Torfyanka!" Artur Novosiltsev / TASS
The protesters have been called as "witnesses" in a criminal case on charges of "insulting the feelings of religious believers," in which as of yet no one has been charged. According to media reports, prosecutors opened the case after receiving complaints from various religious figures and Orthodox activists, who claim the Torfyanka protesters are violating their religious rights.
When asked about that accusation, a middle-aged woman at Torfyanka reacts with a mix of offense and incredulity, befitting of a country where about 70 percent of people identify as Russian Orthodox. "We are all believers here!" she says.
200 Churches
The protest over Torfyanka stretches back to early summer 2015, when construction of a new Orthodox Church began on the edge of the park. The future place of worship was part of the "200 churches" program, launched in 2010 by former mayor Yury Luzhkov and Patriarch Kirill.
The plan was as simple as it was ambitious: to bring Moscow closer to the national average of one Orthodox church per 11,000 people. Upon completion, Luzkhov said, Moscow would be a city where there would "not be a place without God's church within walking distance."
Many Muscovites, however, have not welcomed the Church's expansion boom, especially when it comes at the expense of local parks and squares. In many cases, residents have been presented with a fait accompli. "They started building in the middle of the night, like thieves," says Viktoria Mironova, a Torfyanka local. "It came as a complete shock." Over the past years, various local protest movements have sprung up around the capital — some pushing for new locations, others questioning the need for more Orthodox churches in a multi-faith city.
At least 27 planned churches have been forced to find a new location after meeting a wall of local resistance, according to the Vedomosti business daily. After several months of confrontation at Torfyanka, the Church announced in August last year that it was willing to move. It had reason to compromise. Clashes between local residents and ultra-orthodox activists of the "40x40" movement — a vigilante group whose name refers to the supposed 1,600 churches that existed in pre-revolution Moscow — had resulted in various broken bones and much negative publicity.
Under public pressure, prosecutors had also started a probe into the legality of the construction plans. After a majority of residents backed relocation in an online vote on the authorities' Aktivny Grazhdanin platform, the church was offered a different plot nearby. In April, a new church opened its doors two kilometers away — but conflict never left Torfyanka.
Protesters gather in the park in northern Moscow and one protester holds a placard describing local priest Oleg Shalimov as a 'snitch.' Eva Hartog / MT
Information War
At the center of current tensions is a two-meter-high Orthodox cross left behind in the park on a plot surrounded by a wire fence. Here, a small congregation of activists continues to hold a weekly service. In the eyes of the residents, it is a deliberate provocation and presents a continuous threat that construction will resume once the protesters let down their guard. "Why can't they just leave the park?" asks Mironova, adding that she, an Orthodox believer, was refused admission to the service for being a "church hater."
Such demonizing language has become more widespread, especially from state media, protesters complain. A camera crew belonging to the Kremlin-sympathetic NTV television station filmed the early morning raids by law enforcement — much to the residents' surprise and annoyance — and aired the segment under the heading: "Raids on neo-pagans." The pro-Kremlin Life.ru tabloid has also recently run stories branding the protesters as "extremists."
Some residents blame the wave of negative coverage on Patriarch Kirill, whose public statement last month put an end to their hopes of peaceful reconciliation. "Today, the cross is being fought with the same fury as the construction of the church. Maybe it wasn't about the defense of the park from the start, but a battle against the cross, a symbol of Christianity?" he said at a religious forum. "We can't take our cue from people who have an ideological hatred of the Lord's cross."
He also dismissed the Torfyanka movement as consisting of "representatives of sects and pagan communities" and opposition politicians. As the Torfyanka protest has grown, it has inevitably become a rallying point for those who oppose the growing influence of the Orthodox Church on society, such as the introduction of a 2013 law criminalizing "offending the feelings of believers."
The protest is a rallying point for those who oppose the growing influence of the Church. Sergei Shakhidzhanyan / TASS
"The authorities could solve this problem in ten minutes if they wanted to," the leader of the Moscow branch of the opposition Yabloko party, Sergei Mitrokhin, said at the Sunday protest. "But in today's Russia, the Patriarch calls the shots and authorities fear him."
Though many of the protesters welcome any support they can get, they are keen to emphasize the initial apolitical nature of the conflict. "This started as a peaceful, civilian protest, it's a conflict over urban planning," says Mironova. "Many of us are believers, too, but we're being branded traitors!"
Analyst Yekaterina Schulmann says the religious rhetoric acts as a smokescreen for the vested financial interests of developers' plans to exploit valuable Moscow land. "This is not so much about the church as about the Moscow developers industry," she says. "The church is in it, too, of course, but mostly for PR-support: Haters of the Cross sounds better than enemies of developers."
Without mediation, however, the conflict at Torfyanka looks set to escalate. At the most recent Sunday service, a busload of police officers was forced to intervene as angry protesters tried to stop a priest from driving away from the scene.
"It only needs a spark to set off this barrel of gunpowder," a Torfyanka activist warned earlier this month at an urban forum in the capital. "The two sides are prepared to kill each other."
Such local anger is unlikely to faze the religious activists, however. They see the protest as an attack on religion itself and categorically deny there are believers and local residents among the protesters.
"No believer would ever resist a church or a cross," says 40x40 member Yury Shubin. "In the past, Russian Orthodox believers have been thrown to the lions, Christians have been burned alive and yet we did not deny our faith," he adds. "If the Patriarch wants a cross at Torfyanka, we will defend it to the end. Even if they start tearing us to pieces."
Eva Hartog
@EvaHartog
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Data science is all the rage lately. Harvard Business Review even named it the sexiest job of the 21st century. Even though the term is rapidly gaining mind share, many are still confused about what data science actually is. When you cut through the hype, the core of data science is actually pretty simple: it's the study of data. What kind of data is being studied, how it is being studied, and what the individual data scientist is looking for all depend on the specific case. Data science is just another field of study using digital methods, putting it firmly under the umbrella of Digital Scholarship.


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Entertainment, Historical Figures, Leeds Central Library, Leeds History, Leeds Public Libraries
Stories, Songs and Proclamations
Posted by Leeds Libraries on October 20, 2016 November 23, 2016
By Karen Downham, Local & Family History Library
This week in the blog we will be looking at Broadsides, and exploring some of those in the Local & Family History Collection.
A broadside, in its simplest definition, is a sheet of paper printed only on one side. They were often posters announcing events, proclamations, and advertisements, sometimes with a song, rhyme, or news.
They may sometimes have had woodcut illustrations, but were mostly textual, and were printed to be read unfolded or posted in public places, although they could also be cut in half lengthways, making a 'broadslip', or folded to make something called a 'chapbook'.
For early, primitive printing presses, it was easiest and cheapest to print a single sheet of paper, and these could be sold for as little as a penny. They were designed to be a temporary document for a particular purpose, and intended to be thrown away after use. These broadsides were one of the most common forms of printed material in Britain & Ireland.
Huge numbers of broadsides were produced in England & Ireland, particularly with the mechanisation of the printing industry at the start of the 19th century, and many were sold by travelling chapmen (traders or itinerant pedlars) or balladeers in the streets and at fairs. The balladeers would sing the songs printed on their broadsides, hoping to attract customers.
In the times before newspapers, and before the internet and 24 hour news channels, the public had to look to street literature to find out what was happening. For some 300 years, the broadsides were the most popular form of street literature – in a way the tabloid newspapers of their day. They were sometimes pinned up on walls in houses and ale-houses. In later years they were used for political agitation, and also for scaffold speeches. Broadside were often sold at public executions, and would feature a crude image of the crime or criminal, an account of the crime and trial, and sometimes a confession of guilt. There was often some sort of verse warning others not to follow the same course and suffer the same fate!
By the middle of the 19th century the broadside began to be taken over by the cheap newspapers and by sensational novels known as 'penny dreadfuls', and by 1850 the penny used to buy a broadside ballad could buy part of a novel, or a cheap newspaper or magazine.
Examples of collections of Broadsides are those held by the National Library of Scotland and by the Bodleian Library in Oxford
In the collections here at Local & Family History we have a small amount of broadside material, the main item being the collection of Leeds Printed Broadsides, collected by the Leeds song collector, historian & author Frank Kidson. They contain a selection of sheets, printed in Leeds, and covering items of local and national interest, and are held in a volume fully indexed by title and first line. There are news reports, poems, and songs, some of which are still well known today. A selection of them have been highlighted here:
A New Song on the Queen's Visit To Leeds, describes the visit of Queen Victoria to Leeds on 7th September 1858 to open the new Leeds Town Hall. The competition to win the commission to design & build the Town Hall was won by Hull architect Cuthbert Broderick.
"A New Song on the Leeds Election; Vote For Barran" concerns the Leeds North by-election on 29th July 1902, caused by the sitting MP William Jackson being elevated to the peerage. Jackson had held the seat since 1885. The candidates were Sir Arthur Lawson, businessman and President of Leeds Conservative Association, and Rowland Hirst Barran, prominent in a local clothing manufacturing firm, and son of Sir John Barran, former MP for Leeds. Barran won the by-election, turning a Tory majority of 2,517 to a Liberal majority of 758. He held the seat until 1918 when he stood down from Parliament.
The broadside titled Terrible Accident at Bradford is bringing news of the Newlands Mill Disaster on 28th December 1882, when a chimney of one of the large factories owned by the late Sir Henry William Ripley, fell without any warning, killing and injuring many. In total 54 workpeople were killed, 26 of them being below the age of 16, and the youngest only 8 years old.
Another disaster broadcast by broadside, but further afield this time, was the Abergele Rail Disaster, on the coast of North Wales, and at the time the worst railway disaster in Britain. On the 20th August 1868, The Irish Mail train, bound for Holyhead, and also pulling passenger carriages, crashed into runaway goods wagons carrying wooden barrels of paraffin oil, and derailed the engine, tended and guard's van. The resulting fire from some of the barrels breaking up in the collision prevented any attempts to rescue people in the carriages and added further to the death toll.
Death of the Prince Imperial – Prince Louis Napoleon was killed in the Anglo-Zulu War, on 1st June 1879. After taking charge of a scouting party, without full escort or lookouts, the Prince was charged and fired at by a group of Zulus. He was trampled beneath his horse, and suffered eighteen wounds from assegais (Zulu spears), one of which burst his eye. His death caused something of an international sensation with a variety of rumours abounding as to the cause of his death.
The Soldiers Prayer Book is a song concerning a soldier playing cards in church, and popularised in Country and Popular music in the 1940s. It first became a hit in the U.S. with the recording The Deck of Cards by T.Texas Tyler. The story is in fact much older than that, the earliest known reference being in a book belonging to Mary Bacon, a British farmer's wife in 1762, and later recorded in a the 19th century British publication The Soldier's Almanack, Bible and Prayer Book.
The two broadsides below contain two songs which are well known today – Oh Susannah, and The Wild Rover. The song sheets show how the broadsides may have been folded lengthways down the middle, to make a Chapbook with a different song on each side.
We also hold copies of Broadsides printed at Jacobs printers of Halifax, in a book of notes from Bankfield Museum, Halifax, in the chapter War Ballads and Broadsides of Previous Wars, 1779 – 1795. A few examples are shown below.
The two proclamations show support for, and feeling against, William Pitt the Younger, during the period of constitutional crisis when King George III was suffering a temporary but incapacitating mental disorder , requiring Parliament to appoint a regent to rule in his place.
The third broadside here would seem to be announcing a meeting concerned with raising a local fund to help families affected by war.
Linking in with this topic, the Leeds-based Commoners Choir will be performing in Leeds Central Library on Sunday 13th November in an event titled "Literacy, Books and the Print Revolution". There will be a free concert and exhibition with a hand-printed souvenir for all who attend. More details and ticket booking are available on the Leeds Inspired website.
Roth, Henry Ling, 1855-1925. . – Bankfield museum notes ;, second series, no. 1-11 . – Halifax : Bankfield Museum, 1912
Kidson, Frank – Leeds Printed Broadsides – collection of Leeds Street Literature
Henderson, William, writer on ballads . – Victorian street ballads : a selection of popular ballads sold in the street . – London : Country Life, 1937
#yearinarchivesBankfield MuseumbroadsidesFrank KidsonKaren DownhamLeeds
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Home Futurism Starship stacking produces world's tallest rocket
Starship stacking produces world's tallest rocket
Earlier this month, SpaceX briefly stacked its latest Starship prototype on top of a Super Heavy rocket booster. The exercise gave us a glimpse of the scale of what's now being called the world's tallest rocket, taller than the giant Saturn V rockets that propelled the Apollo astronauts to the moon in the late 1960s and early '70s. Engineers performed the stacking test on August 6, 2021, at the private company's Starbase facility in South Texas.
Elon Musk – SpaceX founder and CEO – said on Twitter it was his "dream come true" to see the vehicle stacked for launch. And the process – and fully stacked rockets – are impressive, as you can see in the video above.
The Starship stacked on August 6 was SpaceX's SN20 (Serial Number 20) prototype. By itself, it measures around 160 feet (49 m) tall. The Super Heavy booster to which Starship was secured – known as Booster 4 – by itself stands at 230 feet (70 m) tall. Together, they soar a towering 390 feet (120 m) into the sky. For comparison, NASA's Saturn V rocket stood 363 feet (111 m) tall. And if the launch stand is taken into account, the number grows to about 475 feet (145 m) high. Do you feel small yet?
Workers performed a fit check with Starship (above) and the Super Heavy booster (below). Image via Elon Musk.
Capturing the action
There was no official SpaceX livestream of the stacking, but NASA Spaceflight and Spadre captured the action on their 24/7 live cams of the testing site. Spaceflight communicator Tim Dodd, popularly known as the Everyday Astronaut, also caught the excitement on video following a tour of Starbase last week. Watch a crowd gather, clap, and cheer for the mighty stacking in the video here.
SpaceX hasn't taken to Twitter to share any official comments with the public. But Musk has shared plenty of photos on Twitter. After writing that the two stages are "fully stacked," he added that it's "an honor to work with such a great team."
An honor to work with such a great team
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2021
Three rather fascinating pictures came earlier in the week. One included the big Super Heavy crane lift and an up-close look at the 29 Raptor engines fitted to its base.
Moving rocket to orbital launch pad pic.twitter.com/zZLiXIPD6M
Testing before takeoff
Starship prototypes have flown before. In May, for instance, the SN15 model aced a 6-mile-high (10-km-high) test flight, which soared upward and then returned to Earth, landing upright. Super Heavy has yet to fly, but SpaceX aims to change that soon.
When that day will come, though, remains unforeseen at the moment. The Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy booster need essential testing on their thermal shields and other equipment before they'll be ready for liftoff. SpaceX is also awaiting a review of its launch operations by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and there's no word yet on when that will be finished.
Musk has also shared that at least "four significant items" are required for the two to be fully operational. He mentioned some final heat shield tiles, thermal protection of the engines, and more ground propellant storage tanks on Twitter. According to CNBC, Starship also needs a quick disconnect arm, which connects power and fuel lines to the rocket before launch. He concluded his comments with: "two weeks."
4 significant items:
– Final heat shield tiles for ship
– Thermal protection of booster engines
– Ground propellant storage tanks
– QD arm for ship
2 weeks.
Starship: Moon, Mars and beyond
It's clear that SpaceX expects Starship and Super Heavy to be up and running soon, and who could doubt it? The date often mentioned for the final system to be fully operational is 2023.
SpaceX calls Starship a two-stage, "fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the moon, Mars and beyond." NASA has chosen this system as the moon lander for its crewed Artemis program, intended to carry the first man since the 1970s, and the first woman ever, to the moon. That decision has been publicly fought and criticized by SpaceX's competitor, Blue Origin, which claims that Starship's refueling launches are "a danger to NASA's lunar mission integrity." Nevertheless, NASA has maintained its selection and shot for boots on the lunar surface by 2024 during Trump's presidency. President Biden – after one year in office – has still not committed to a timeline.
Bottom line: SpaceX briefly stacked its latest Starship prototype on top of a Super Heavy rocket booster on August 6, 2021, giving a glimpse at the scale of what's now called the world's tallest rocket. Engineers performed the stacking test at the company's Starbase facility in South Texas.
Read more from EarthSky: SpaceX Starship prototype soars 6 miles up, then lands upright
Via Space.com
Lia De La Cruz
Lia De La Cruz is a Physics graduate and Editorial Assistant of EarthSky, contributing also as a field correspondent with a long-time passion for space exploration that began early in her college career. She started her blog SkyFeed in 2018, which earned a mention in Feedspot's "Top 50 Space Blogs to Follow," has been published in Smore Magazine, and led her to launch a communications career in tandem with her planetary passion. She currently resides in Southern California with her husband and small pug pup.
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Q: Value of $S$ in a polygon Consider $A_1A_2A_3\dots A_n$ regular polygon is inscribed  in circle with $r$ radius. I want to find $S$ versus $r$ and angles if needed.
\begin{align}
S = & (A_1A_2 + A_1A_3 +A_1A_4 + \dots+ A_1A_n) \\
& {} +  (A_2A_3 + A_2A_4 +A_2A_5 + \dots + A_2A_n)+\dots +A_{n-1}A_n
\end{align}
Note : $A_1A_2, A_2A_3 ,\dots ,A_{n-1}A_n$ are sides of polygon and $A_1A_3, A_1A_4,\dots$ are diagonals of it.
I tried many ways but didn't get result.
Please Help!

A: OK, so we want to find the sum of all sides and all diagonals of a regular $n$-gon with circumradius $r$. How do we go about that?
First, what is the length of the side (say, $A_1A_2$)? It subtends an angle of $2\pi\over n$, so by the law of cosines $A_1A_2=\sqrt{r^2+r^2-2r^2\cos{2\pi\over n}}=2r\sin{\pi\over n}$. By similar reasoning, the length of the smallest diagonal $A_1A_3=2r\sin{2\pi\over n}$, then comes $A_1A_4=2r\sin{3\pi\over n}$, etc.
Now how many of each kind of diagonals are there? Again, that's simple: we have a set of $A_iA_j$ with both indexes running from 1 to $n$ (inclusive). For every fixed $i$, by varying $j$ we get each angle exactly once. Note that we've counted each chord twice (first as $A_iA_j$, then as $A_jA_i$), so we'll have to divide by 2. All in all, it is $n\cdot r\cdot\sum\limits_{i=1}^n\sin{\pi i\over n}$.
So how do we find a closed form of this? There are different approaches; one is based on representation of all these sines via complex exponents, and another is given below:
$$\sin1+\sin2+\dots+\sin n={1\over\sin{1\over2}}\left(\sin{1\over2}\sin1+\sin{1\over2}\sin2+\dots+\sin{1\over2}\sin n\right)=\\
={1\over2\sin{1\over2}}\left(\Big(\cos{1\over2}-\cos{3\over2}\Big)+\Big(\cos{3\over2}-\cos{5\over2}\Big)+\dots+\Big(\cos{2n-1\over2}-\cos{2n+1\over2}\Big)\right)=\\
={1\over2\sin{1\over2}}\left(\cos{1\over2}-\cos{2n+1\over2}\right)=
{\sin{n\over2}\sin{n+1\over2}\over\sin{1\over2}}$$
Putting all together, we have
$$S
=n\cdot r\cdot{\sin{\pi n\over2n}\sin{\pi(n+1)\over2n}\over\sin{\pi\over2n}}
=n\cdot r\cdot{\sin{\pi(n+1)\over2n}\over\sin{\pi\over2n}}
=n\cdot r\cdot{\cos{\pi\over2n}\over\sin{\pi\over2n}}
=n\cdot r\cdot\cot{\pi\over2n}$$
So it goes.

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Study finds pedestrian fatalities remain high in 2014
(February 27, 2015) WASHINGTON — The number of pedestrians killed on U.S. roadways last year is expected to remain relatively unchanged from 2013 and approximately 15 percent higher than it was in 2009. Spotlight on Highway Safety: Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State is the first look at 2014 pedestrian fatality data.
Released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the report stresses the need for continued vigilance as more Americans continue to choose walking as their preferred mode of transportation.
Lexus, Buick rank one-two in J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study
(February 26, 2015) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Lexus was ranked highest in vehicle dependability among all nameplates for a fourth consecutive year in the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) released Tuesday.
Consumer Reports names its used car picks from $10,000 to $25,000
(February 26, 2015) YONKERS, N.Y. — Consumer Reports has long advocated buying used as a way for consumers to get the biggest bang for their buck — but picking out a good used car from a sea of bad ones has never been easy. Consumer Reports has compiled a handy list of reliable, affordable, and safe used cars for model years 2005 through 2014 to help consumers find the best small car, sedan, or SUV.
Domestic cars clinch three spots in Consumer Reports' Top Picks list
(February 25, 2015) YONKERS, N.Y. — In its annual Top Picks list, Consumer Reports has crowned four new vehicles — the Buick Regal, Chevrolet Impala, Subaru Legacy, and Toyota Highlander — with the top honor in each of their respective categories. Domestic automakers picked up two new spots.
Beware — The dreaded pothole season is about to begin
(February 24, 2015) NORTHBROOK, Ill. — Pothole season is officially underway, which means drivers are navigating roads filled with hazards. But a few tips from Allstate may help drivers avoid flats, crashes, and enjoy a much smoother ride.
TrueCar forecasts sustained auto sales expansion in February
(February 23, 2015) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar projects the pace of February auto sales expanded to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate (SAAR) of 16.7 million new units on continued strong consumer demand.
New light vehicle sales, including fleet, should reach 1,295,600 units for the month, up 8.5 percent over a year ago. This same increase is expected on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis with 24 selling days this February versus a year ago.
Low oil prices will continue shift to larger vehicles, IHS Automotive predicts
(February 20, 2015) SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — Low oil prices will contribute to upside potential for the U.S. automotive market in the near term, according to a recent report from IHS Automotive. Fueled by reduced prices at the gas pump, U.S. consumer confidence is expected to continue to rise, resulting in a potential shift to larger vehicles in the U.S. and Canada as these vehicles will be more affordable to own and the value of fuel economy becomes less important to consumers.
AutoPacific forecasts three more years of growth for light vehicle sales
(February 19, 2015) TUSTIN, Calif. — AutoPacific today announced its forecast for 2015 U.S. light vehicle sales. Predicting a 547,000 unit increase over 2014, AutoPacific forecasts a 2015 year-end total just shy of 17 million units. If sales reach the forecast, it will mark the highest sales year since 2006.
"U.S. sales recovery has been steady since hitting the bottom of the decline in 2009, though recent years have seen things taper off from 11% growth in 2010 to 6% in 2014, and a forecasted 3% growth this year," says Ed Kim, vice president of Industry Analysis at AutoPacific.
Certified pre-owned car sales at all-time high, Edmunds reports
(February 18, 2015) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Certified pre-owned (CPO) car sales are at an all-time high, say analysts at Edmunds.com. In the company's latest Used Vehicle Market Report, Edmunds.com analysts noted that in 2014 CPO sales hit an all-time high of 2.3 million — even though it was not a record year for used car sales overall.
Last year, CPO made up 20.8 percent of total used car sales at franchised dealerships, the highest percentage since certified pre-owned programs were introduced.
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Subaru won the 2015 Kelley Blue Book 5-Year Cost to Own Award for the Brand category. These awards are based on Kelley Blue Book's 5-Year Cost to Own data for new cars for the initial five-year ownership period.


Forget about ones dining room with all the ideal eating table. The dining area is one's heart of your home, in places you serve up meals and laughter along with spouse and children along with friends. Opt for eating furniture that suits your requirements and makes all the area a more comfortable position to spend time. This kind of Pottery Barn guide will help you feel about exactly how expressing your own good taste for home design because you adorn your dining area together with operation plus style.
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Round furniture: Your pedestal basic allows for added calf area over a family table having typical legs. Although the 5' around dining room table with feet helps with nearly some diners, exactly the same dining room table by using a stand car seats right up to people.
Length: Many food dining tables are generally 30" excessive, and a lot chair car seats are generally 17"–19" high. For comfort and ease along with lower calf living space, look at permitting not less than 12" through the table top to help the top recliners'seats.
Settlement: Diners will be able to maneuver the actual stand, grab ergonomic chairs and sit down comfortably. Allow for at the very least 42" between table side and also the wall space or perhaps the table side and then any furniture.
Getting the check correct among the length of your living area fixtures and also how much obtainable room enhances the style in addition to features from the room. A smaller stand in a very massive place won't end up being the center point you want, although some sort of table that's much larger may make the place think cramped. When you scale the particular kitchen table to be able to the size of the bedroom, you sustain balance while also guaranteeing there is a lot of space.


For sale are Audi OEM 20" 10 spoke alloy wheels and tires from my 2013 Audi A8L with 78k miles.
I upgraded to chrome OEM wheels and these are excess to my needs.
These wheels are not "showroom" condition. All have some flaws, but look good compared to many I've seen. I photographed them from left to right starting from very good to good condition.
They were cleaned, but not waxed during photos (waxed now and ready to go), wheel weight adhesive removed (your tire guy will like that if they have to balance them) and no issues with the wheels/tires that I am aware of.
I accept cash, PayPal (after any fees, I must get my selling price), or check (after full payment and funds clear).
Will meet buyer at I-65 south, exit 37 for exchange if desired.
Will ship, but prefer a local buyer with cash transaction.
hey there.. do you have a preferred shipper? just trying to figure out shipping costs before making a choice..
USPS (maybe - weight?), UPS or FEDEX are local to me.
You might try U-Ship since I am close to I-65 in TN. I could meet a "hotshot" driver at exit 37, I-65 South.
mike can you pm or email to discuss a purchase?


text:
Quizzes › Education › Subject › Economics
Hardest Exam On Economics: Quiz!
42 Questions | By Uisnech | Updated: Mar 22, 2022 | Attempts: 445
Questions All questions 5 questions6 questions7 questions8 questions9 questions10 questions11 questions12 questions13 questions14 questions15 questions16 questions17 questions18 questions19 questions20 questions21 questions22 questions23 questions24 questions25 questions26 questions27 questions28 questions29 questions30 questions31 questions32 questions33 questions34 questions35 questions36 questions37 questions38 questions39 questions40 questions41 questions42 questions
Can you pass the most challenging exam on economics? For this quiz, you should recognize what public choice refers to, what is a public choice theorist, what tends to happen with the left side in politics, and would a person take the right amount of time and consideration when learning about the issues of the United States Senate. This economics quiz has a political angle to it. You must take this quiz.
Public choice refers to:
The decisions and decision-making processes that individuals go through to solve public problems.
Political decisions made in the interest of the public at large.
The application of economic principles and tools to public-sector decision making.
The process that individuals undergo to decide what goods and services they will purchase and consume.
The process that individuals undergo to decide whether or not they will pursue a career government service.
Public choice is concerned with:
Relative prices.
Government decision making.
Marketing techniques.
Consumer surveying.
According to public choice theorists, people in the market sector and people in the public sector behave differently because:
People in the two sectors have different motives.
The two sectors have different institutional arrangements.
Government employees do not act in their own self-interest.
There are economies of scale in the market sector.
A public choice theorist would argue that:
There is no such thing as a "good" or "bad" person.
It does not matter whether a person is "good" or "bad."
There are both "good" and "bad" persons, and some of each work for government and for business.
Generally "good" persons work for government because they want to serve the public, and generally "bad" persons work for business because they are greedy and want to make profits at the expense of consumers.
Generally "bad" persons work for government because they want to serve the needs of special-interest groups, and generally "good" persons work for business because they want to produce goods that people consume.
Public choice theorists assert that persons who change jobs from, say, a government position to a business position, sometimes alter their work behavior and attitudes because:
They want to fit in and be liked by their fellow workers.
They are acting rationally by weighing the costs and benefits of certain behavior in different work settings.
They feel that if they change jobs, they should also change their behavior.
Their new boss tells them it is in their best interest.
In a political election, a candidate whose positions are on the left will tend to be labeled __________ by his or her opponent.
Too far to the left
Too far to the right
Too much of a middle-of-the-roader
An unknown quantity
During an election, a candidate who is not doing as well in the polls as his or her opponent will
Modify his or her position so that it is more like that of his or her opponent.
Modify his or her position so that it is less like that of his or her opponent.
Become more specific in discussing the issues.
Label his or her opponent as a middle-of-the-roader.
In a simple majority vote on a public project,
The project will never be undertaken if the costs exceed the benefits.
The project may be undertaken even though the total costs exceed the total benefits.
The intensity of individual preferences is taken into account.
The project will always be undertaken if the total benefits exceed the total costs.
(1) (2) (3) Individual Dollar benefits to individual Tax levied on individual A $333 $180 B $175 $180 C $160 $180 D $150 $180 Refer to Exhibit 32-1. The exhibit shows the breakdown of benefits and costs for a four-person town of a proposed $720 addition in books to the public library. How will each of the four persons, A-D, vote? (The first answer in the list is how person A would vote, the second is how person B would vote, and so on, so that "for" indicates that the voter would be in favor of having the additional books purchased by the library.)
For; for; for; for
Against; for; against; against
For; against; against; against
For; against; for; for
(1) (2) (3) Individual Dollar benefits to individual Tax levied on individual A $333 $180 B $175 $180 C $160 $180 D $150 $180 Refer to Exhibit 32-l. The exhibit shows the breakdown of benefits and costs for a four-person town of a proposed $720 addition in books to the public library. The members of the community get to vote on the project at hand, and the majority rules. Given the data, the $720 will
Be spent, even though the total benefits are less than the total costs.
Not be spent, since more persons are against the project than are for it.
Be spent, since the total benefits are greater than the total costs.
Not be spent, since the total benefits are less than the total costs.
(1) (2) (3) Individual Dollar benefits to individual Tax levied on individual A $333 $180 B $175 $180 C $160 $180 D $150 $180 Refer to Exhibit 32-1. The exhibit shows the breakdown of benefits and costs for a four-person town considering the purchase of an additional $720 worth of books for the public library. If simple majority voting determines the outcome, the books will
Be purchased because more persons are for it than against it.
Be purchased because the total benefits are greater than the total costs.
Not be purchased even though total benefits exceed total costs.
Not be purchased because the total costs are greater than the total benefits.
Persons who choose not to become informed on political and governmental matters because they feel that the costs of becoming informed exceed the benefits of becoming informed are
Rationally ignorant.
Not acting in their own best interests.
Members of special-interest groups.
Shortsighted.
Would we expect the "average" person to take more time to learn about the car he or she is considering purchasing or about the issues in the upcoming U.S. Senate race in his or her state?
The Senate race, because it is critical that we elect the right people to government.
The car, but there is no rational reason for this.
The Senate race, because the person who is elected senator today may become president tomorrow.
The car, because a mistake here can potentially cause him or her more harm on a day-to-day basis; in addition, a person is unlikely to be able to determine the outcome of a Senate race.
Special-interest groups are subsets of the general population that
Attempt to influence government officials for the benefit of the general population.
Choose to be rationally ignorant because they are interested only in things that the government is not concerned with.
Are on the fringes of the political spectrum.
A and c
Competition for votes between two political parties will cause those parties to
Produce quite different policy proposals.
Have very similar policy proposals.
Find ways to clearly distinguish themselves in order to give voters a clear choice.
Logrolling refers to
Choosing political platforms to appeal to special interests.
Trading votes to gain support for legislation.
Choosing political platforms to appeal to the "middle-of-the-road" voter.
Gathering votes by pretending to support policies that appeal to voters.
C and d
If it is assumed that people vote for the candidate who comes closer to matching their own views, to win votes in a two-person race
One candidate will move to the far right of the political spectrum while the other moves to the far left.
One candidate will move between the middle and far right end of the political spectrum while the other moves between the middle and the far left end.
Both candidates will move to the far right end of the political spectrum.
Both candidates will move to the far left end of the political spectrum.
Both candidates will move toward the middle of the political spectrum.
Rational ignorance refers to voter-citizens choosing to be uninformed about politics and government on an individual basis because
Of apathy.
Of ignorance.
Of laziness.
They believe the benefits of becoming informed are greater than the costs.
They believe the benefits of becoming informed are less than the costs.
Special-interest groups are subsets of __________ that hold (usually) intense preferences for or against a particular government service, activity, or policy.
The general population
Bureaucrats
Candidates for political office
Congressman A promises to vote for a bill that Congressmen B and C are sponsoring, and in return both B and C promise to vote for a future bill that A is sponsoring. This practice is called
Cutting "red tape."
Chasing the median voter.
Rational ignorance.
Logrolling.
Refer to Exhibit 32-2-(a). Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 9 voters labeled A-I shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)
Of voter A.
Halfway between that of voter G and that of voter A.
Of voter C.
Of voter B.
Of voter G and voter I, respectively.
Refer to Exhibit 32-2-(b). Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 3 voters labeled A, B, and C shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)
Of voters C and A, respectively.
Halfway between voter C and voter A.
Halfway between voter B and voter A.
Halfway between voter C and voter B, for one candidate, and of voter A for the other.
Refer to Exhibit 32-2-(c). Two candidates are competing for an electorate consisting of 11 voters labeled A-K shown positioned with respect to their ideological stands on issues. The median voter theory would predict that candidates will assume the ideological position(s)
Of voters K and G, respectively.
Of voters H and J, respectively.
Of voters I and A, respectively.
Of voter E.
An example of a government bureaucrat is
A U.S. senator.
A worker at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The head of the National Park Service.
Most government bureaus provide services in a setting that is similar to which market structure?
Monopoly.
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Current Research in Speculative Fiction Liverpool, UK, (CRSF) Conference was June 27, 2016
Current Research in Speculative Fiction Liverpool, England, UK (CRSF) Conference was Monday, June 27, 2016, at the University of Liverpool!
Here is their report:
CRSF 2016 Post-conference Report
Posted: 04 Jul 2016 05:26 AM PDT
The sixth annual Current Research in Speculative Fiction [CRSF] conference was held last week on Monday 27th June and was a great success.
As usual, the papers delivered were of a high quality and a diverse range of topics from D&D bestiaries to feminist utopia, ecological disaster to Harry Potter, medieval English horror to Japanese dystopian YA and far more besides. As usual huge thanks go to those who presented a paper: thank you for the enthusiasm with which you approached the task and for the hard work you did preparing for the conference, a conference – no matter how the organising goes – is nothing without its delegates.
CRSF 2016 represents a record year for number of delegates, with non-presenting delegates outnumbering presenters for the first time. This was in no small part thanks to the excellent Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA) conference also held in Liverpool on the 28th-30th June, a number of whose delegates came along to see CRSF in action. There were, however, a number of non-presenting delegates, including former presenters from previous years, who made the trip to Liverpool especially to see CRSF, I cannot think of a better endorsement for the atmosphere and organisation of the conference than for those who have been before to want to come back, even if they're no longer eligible to present.
In total we had fifty-six attendees and thirty papers presented, over three parallel streams, by delegates from institutions throughout the UK, as well as Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Finland, Spain, Russia, Israel, Canada, and the United States, among others.
Thank you to all who attended. Additional thanks to all those who engaged with the conference on social media. I'm a firm believer in the Twitter back channel for conferences, and CRSF performed ably in this regard too. If you're not on Twitter and you want to (re)discover the tweet-by-tweet coverage of the conference it's been conveniently archived on Storify here for you.
Thanks also to our wonderful keynote speakers: Dr. Caroline Edwards (Birkbeck University of London) and Dr. Pat Wheeler (University of Hertfordshire) who not only gave fascinating and insightful keynote lectures, but also attended numerous panels, asking insightful and constructive questions throughout, and offering many a kind and supportive word for delegates in the breaks and more informal moments of the conference. Caroline's paper opened the conference and was entitled '"But there is still such beauty": Post-Apocalyptic Fiction and Eco-Eschatological Time in the 21st-Century', it took us through such post-apocalyptic novels as Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven and Maggie Gee's The Flood, highlighting the pastoral beauty often found in these texts and the implications of that for our vision of the apocalypse and the future (if any) of humanity's role on the Earth. Pat's keynote was entitled '"She can't love you, she's just a machine': Metal-fevered Boys and their Passion for New Eves', which challenged how we should read gynoids in the twenty-first century: as either challenge or constriction to women's agency.
Thanks as ever to the University of Liverpool staff who provided support both in the build up to, and during, the conference: the Rendall Building staff, and Filomena Saltao, the Administrator of the School of the Arts, and Siobhan Quinn. Thanks also to Andy Sawyer, academic librarian for the Science Fiction Foundation collection at the University of Liverpool's Sydney Jones Library, for once again arranging for all delegates to receive free copies of Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction. Thanks also to the staff at Il Forno, our traditional restaurant of choice, who once again dealt with our large numbers with aplomb.
As always we welcome your feedback on CRSF 2016, all comments are useful and appreciated. Please leave a comment on our website's post at http://currentresearchinspeculativefiction.blogspot.com, or e-mail them to us at crsf.team@gmail.com.
CRSF will return in 2017….
Glyn Morgan,
Molly Cobb,
Leimar Garcia-Siino,
Chris Pak
I wish I could have been there.
To refresh, if you missed my explanatory pre-conference post, read below:
CRSF is a postgraduate conference designed to promote the research of speculative fictions including, but not limited to, science fiction, fantasy and horror.
Our aim is to showcase some of the latest developments in this dynamic and evolving field, by providing a platform for the presentation of current research by postgraduates. The conference will also encourage the discussion of this research and the construction of crucial networks with fellow researchers.
The planned schedule was as follows:
9:00-9:30: Registration and Refreshments
9:30-10:30: Keynote Lecture #1: Dr Caroline Edwards,
"But there is still such beauty": Post-Apocalyptic Fiction and Eco-Eschatological Time in the 21st-Century
10:30 -12:00: First Round of Panels
1.1: Press START to Play
– Andrew Ferguson – Clipping Out of Bounds: Reading House of Leaves Through Portal
Britanny Kuhn – [Awaiting Title]
Ivaylo Shmilev – Oppression, Warfare and Transcultural Memory in the Complex Post- Apocalyptic Environments of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Game Series
1.2: Horrific Narratives
– Travis Gasque – The New Cosmic Horror: A Genre Molded by Tabletop Roleplaying Games and Postmodern Horror
– Matthew McCall – "My manez mynde to maddyng malte": Tracing Horror in the Middle English Pearl
Selena Middleton – Climate Collapse and the Uncontained Body in James Tiptree Jr.'s A Momentary Taste of Being
(in the 1975 anthology, The New Atlantis and Other Novellas of Science-Fiction)
1.3: You're Only Young Once
– Lan Ma – Censorship and Resistance: Information Control in Japanese Dystopian Young Adult Fiction in the 21st Century
– Alison Baker – Protocols for the education of young witches and wizards
– Arunima Dey – The Grotesque in the Harry Potter Series
12:00 -13:00: Second Round of Panels
2.1: Beasts and Bestiaries
– Rob O'Connor – "The History of All Hitherto-Existing Societies is the History of Monsters": The Bestiary and the Depiction of Monsters as Social Commentary
– Sandra Mänty – Representation and function of animals in the world of Harry Potter
2.2: The Greater Good
– Maxine Gee – "If something stinks put a lid on it, don't see it": Self-censorship and the brave new world of Psycho Pass
Jonathan Ferguson – Crimes Against The Greater Good are Victimless Crimes?
2.3: Character Studies
– Beata Gubacsi – Monstrous Transformations: Becoming posthuman through art in Vandermeer's Ambergris novels
Matteo Barbagallo – Do we have a deal? Petyr Baelish, Varys, Rumpelstiltskin and their role as Doppelganger
13:00 -13:45: Lunch Break
13:45 -14:45: Keynote Lecture #2: Dr Patricia Wheeler
"She can't love you, she's just a machine": Metal-fevered Boys and their Passion for New Eves
14:45 -16:15: Third Round of Panels
3.1: Revenge of the Film
– Pablo Gómez Muñoz – Greening Apocalypse: Eco-Conscious Disaster in Twenty-First Century Science-Fiction Cinema
– Josephine Swarbrick – Monstrous Men and Masculine Monsters: Gender and the Cyborg in Paul Verhoeven's Robocop (1987) and José Padilha's Robocop (2014)
David Contreras – Gothic Surrealism in Mexican Cyberpunk Short Film: The Borderlands Strike Back
3.2: Theoretically Speaking
– Jo Lindsay Walton – The Dystopian Glimpse
– Artem Zubov – Science-fiction studies and genre theory
– Pascal Lemaire – Fans of history first, fans of S-F more distantly ? Alternate History as a form of History's fan fiction
3.3: Tell Me a Tale
– Kanta Dihal – Science and Religion in Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials
Rina Jean Baroukh – "Your Light Has Come" : Fantasy and Reality in Shimon Adaf's Sunburnt Faces
Laura-Marie von Czarnowsky – Re-Defining the Bildungsroman: Traumatic Journeys as a Trend in Contemporary Fantasy Fiction
16:15 -16:30: Refreshment Break [YES: English Tea Time!]
16:30 -18:00: Fourth Round of Panels
4.1: Perceptions of the Female Self
– Sonya Dyer – aPOCalypso: Janelle Monae and (Science) Fictional Black Feminisms
– Sarah Lohmann – "Solar Loyalties": The Utopian Ethics of Posthumanism in Naomi Mitchison's Memoirs of a Spacewoman
Mylène Branco – The Construction of the Female Self in L.P. Hartley's Facial Justice
4.2: Alternate Beings
– Tom Kewin – 'A Society of Screens': The State of Digital Surveillance and the Repercussions for the Humanist Subject
– Mattia Petricola – From mesmeric trance to living avatars: Rethinking consciousness and death after Mr. Valdemar
4.3: Dystopian Time, Resurgent Space
– Gabrielle Bunn – Future Ruins: The intersection of nature and culture in the post-apocalyptic landscape of J. G. Ballard's The Drowned World (1962)
Hollie Johnson – Anarchy, Nostalgia, and Resistance: The Role of Nature in We, Brave New World, Nineteen Eighty-Four
Thomas Connolly – "There was a thing called Heaven": The end of time in Huxley's Brave New World
18.00 -19.00: Post-Conference Wine Reception and Official Conference Group Photo
Download a PDF of the entire schedule here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4DNnD_AmJQmeWdEREJfemd1YWs/view
Want to present or attend next year? The "Call for Papers" usually occurs in early December for the following June's annual conference. Check out past conferences/calls and get more information here and visit their
website: http://currentresearchinspeculativefiction.blogspot.com/ or contact their team (the team members' list has not been recently updated, yet: CRSF.team@gmail.com and follow their Tweets: @CRSFteam
Their website is not very "interesting," IMHO, but the topics ARE. Here is a sampling of Q & A from their FAQs…
What is CRSF?
CRSF is short for Current Research in Speculative Fiction, an annual conference organised by postgraduate students for postgraduate students. The conference was first held in 2010 at the University of Liverpool and has been held annually since, attracting an international selection of speakers from as far afield as Turkey and the USA. The conference aims to provide a welcoming and friendly atmosphere for researchers who are at the very beginnings of their fields to test ideas, network with others, and gain valuable conference experience.
What is Speculative Fiction?
Simply put, we consider speculative fiction to be the collective name for the non-mimetic genres of science-fiction, fantasy, horror, and their related sub-genres. Essentially, if it's a bit weird, it's probably eligible. If in doubt, feel free to run your idea by us. At this juncture, it's probably also worth us pointing out that the conference doesn't discriminate among media: papers on television, film, video games, music, fan culture, etc., are as welcome at CRSF as papers on literature.
I'm an undergraduate student/ university faculty member/ speculative fiction fan/ author, can I attend?
We welcome non-presenting delegates from all aspects of speculative fiction whether you be a non-academic fan or a professor at a university.
How much does CRSF cost to attend?
Since CRSF is funded entirely off the delegate fees we can never be 100% sure of our budget until we know how many papers we will be accepting for the conference. As such, confirmed fees are not available until after abstracts have been processed and invitations to present accepted. However, as a guide, past conferences have charged £30 (about $44 USA) for the day with an early bird discount available for those who register early. This fee includes lunch and refreshments.
This entry was posted in Science Fiction and Fantasy, Writing and tagged authors, conference, CRSF, Current Research on Speculative Fiction, dystopia, fantasy, fiction, graduate students, horror, Liverpool, research, researchers, scifi, Specfic, speculative fiction. Bookmark the permalink.
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Winner: To Benjamin Burtt, Jr. for the creation of the alien, creature and robot voices featured in "Star Wars."
Presenter: Mark Hamill, "R2-D2", "C3PO"
Thank you very much. I'd like to specifically thank Ken Mura of USC Cinema, and producer Gary Kurtz for giving me a start on this film. And for associate producer Jim Nelson, whose great friendship and encourage me, and encouragement–Whew, help me out, fellas–was, helped me a lot during the film. And I'd like to, of course, thank George Lucas, who had all the great ideas and provided all the inspiration for the things in "Star Wars." Thank you very much.


Elk season is approaching, how do you best prepare? Start scouting.
Preseason scouting is imperative, especially when hunting a new area. What you learn in preseason could be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful season.
The best place to start is at your laptop. Google Earth should be your best friend as you identify the area(s) you wish to hunt during the upcoming season. The object is to understand the lay of the land. You will want to identify ridges with 360 degree views. These will be fantastic areas to glass.
Once you have done your homework and marked your vantage points head out into nature to start exploring. You will want to head straight to those vantage points to locate water holes and feed areas, and gain an understanding of where the elk may migrate when hunting pressures arise.
So you have studied the lay of the land, but what about the elk? While it is awesome to see large bulls preseason, you want to focus on locating large, undisturbed groups of cows. Remember, September 1, when archery season kicks off, elk go into a transition period. Those monster bulls you are looking for are now looking for large groups of cows as their urge to breed grows.
You have found the cows, now what? Determine where they are going to head to once hunting season starts. Chances are you will not be the only hunter out in your "secret spot". Hunting pressure is going to cause the elk to relocate. Study the countryside and anticipate where they will head, it may become your new hot spot.
By now you know the lay of the land, you know where the elk are hanging out (right now), you have guessed where they may head, now it's time to cover some ground and look for sign. You are looking for places the elk might hang out during the rut. Check out places with plenty of water, wallows, and rubs and be sure to mark these areas on your maps.
Once you have located an area you think the elk may be during the rut bring in some mineral/salt, set up a trail camera and test your theory.
We wish you the best of luck this upcoming archery season and look forward to hearing your success stories.


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Opinions Mon, 21 Jan 2013
How do you Evaluate Nana Akuffo-Addo ....
..in Ghanaian politics of today?
"In the beginning of a change the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his course succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot", said Mark Twain.
The above statement is a perfect description of the situation in which Nana Akuffo-Addo currently finds himself. He, with Dr Bawumia and Obetsebi Lamptey has taken the bull (Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, and now His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama) by the horn. The defendants, in which case are Dr. Afari-Gyan and John Dramani Mahama are accused of favourably benefiting from Election 2012 through electoral fraud at the expense of Nana Akuffo-Addo and the majority of Ghanaians who genuinely cast their votes hoping for a change in government.
As gentlemen as the plaintiffs are, they are pursuing justice and peace in accordance with the tenets or the clausal stipulations of the country's Constitution. By their lawful pursuit of a cause that will eventually end vote buying and electoral fraud through rigging, in not only Ghana but probably in entire Africa, some lawless entities without integrity see their course of action as weak and lacks credibility.
Some people, especially those belonging in the NDC, do not only hate Nana Akuffo-Addo but also, scorn his action to ensuring justice and tranquility do prevail in Ghana. Let these NDC people alone, this scarce man of a patriot, brave Nana Akuffo-Addo, is left to brood the electoral fraud that cost him the presidency. Out of the abundance of their ignorance, they do forget that Nana Addo is fighting a battle with consequential benefit to Ghana and Africa of which posterity will not only judge us favourably, but also be proud of the great feat.
Why should Nana Addo with the named plaintiffs remain silent on a gargantuan daylight electoral robbery visited on the good people of Ghana by Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan to benefit John Dramani Mahama? Is it a big deal to investigate the alleged crime? Is it a crime for them to petition the Supreme Court to investigate the alleged electoral malpractices intended to favour John Dramani Mahama? Why should we not rather praise these individuals with foresight to changing the political outlook of Ghana in particular, and Africa in general, through their courageous action taken vis-à-vis election 2012 results?
I call on all the good people of Ghana to rally support for our mentioned patriots. I want us to identify with them now that the going is tough rather than nonchalantly sitting on the fence twirling our fingers. We do not have to stay timid, only to join them when their action has succeeded.
Do we want the NDC to continue to deplete the coffers of the country through unrepentant visitations of unprecedented gargantuan robberies masqueraded as judgment debt payments or out-of-court settlements? Do we accept the election results having established that major electoral irregularities did take place? We cannot. We all agree that the best option is to allow the Supreme Court to investigate to confirm the results as they are now, or invalidate, or overturn the declaration of verdict as pronounced by Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan in favour of John Mahama.
I want to be one of those scarce patriots agitating for the right thing to be done now, rather than timidly sharing in the success after the few brave ones have sacrificed all they have to achieve their prosperous objective for Mother Ghana.
I will unceasingly remind you of KOFI BASOAH'S dream where an invisible face with audible voice tasked the "NPPians" to remain RESOLUTE, the very requirement that Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo-Addo and his colleagues are upholding. Without resolute determination on your part to ensure justice is done, the "NDCians" by their usual lawless acts will stay in power on the alleged fraudulent election results.
Let there be justice and peace! There will surely be, by the grace of God and through your purpose of reason and dedication to duty as a discerning Ghanaian.


text:
Ecological conversion and cultural transformation
Posted on: 20th July 2015 |
Author: Donal Dorr
Category: Social justice and environment, Church and Papacy
Tags: environment, Ecology, pope francis, Laudato si', encyclical
Photo by Pennsylvania National Guard at flickr.com
Running through the whole of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' is a call to ecological conversion, says Donal Dorr. This must take place, first and foremost, on a personal level, but there must also be conversion at the community level in order for any effects to be felt. How does Francis call us to transform our culture in order to care for our common home?
There is so much valuable material in almost every paragraph of Laudato si' that any attempt to provide an adequate summary of the document is in danger of becoming almost as long as the 40,000 word encyclical itself. So I find it more helpful to focus on the central theme which runs right through the encyclical – the theme of ecological conversion. For Francis this conversion is primarily a personal, spiritual change in people, 'whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them' (§217). But he goes on to say, 'The ecological conversion needed to bring about lasting change is also a community conversion' (§219). A large part of the encyclical is devoted to describing how the community dimension of an ecological conversion should be given expression or embodied in the economic, political, social and cultural institutions of our world. In this short article I propose to focus on just the cultural aspect.[i]
Francis reminds us that 'culture is … a living, dynamic and participatory present reality, which cannot be excluded as we rethink the relationship between human beings and the environment' (§143). He acknowledges the various ways in which technology has not only enabled humans to live more comfortably but has also contributed to human artistic achievements (§103). But he goes on to speak out strongly against what he calls a 'technocratic paradigm' which gives rise to the 'tendency to believe that every increase in power means "an increase of 'progress'"' (§105). This mistaken idea 'has made it easy to accept the idea of infinite or unlimited growth … based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth's goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry beyond every limit' (§106).
The technocratic mindset 'ends up conditioning lifestyles and shaping social possibilities along the lines dictated by the interests of certain powerful groups' (§107). Towards the end of the encyclical Francis returns to this issue. He says:
Since the market tends to promote extreme consumerism in an effort to sell its products, people can easily get caught up in a whirlwind of needless buying and spending. Compulsive consumerism is one example of how the techno-economic paradigm affects individuals (§203).
The kernel of the problem is that, 'the economy accepts every advance in technology with a view to profit, without concern for its potentially negative impact on human beings. Finance overwhelms the real economy.' This happens because groups whose only interest is in maximising profits do not prioritise 'better distribution of wealth, concern for the environment and the rights of future generations' (§109). Later in the encyclical Francis puts forward an even stronger criticism of this mindset: 'Where profits alone count, there can be no thinking about … the complexity of ecosystems which may be gravely upset by human intervention. Moreover, biodiversity is considered at most a deposit of economic resources available for exploitation' (§190).
According to Francis, if we are to create an ecological culture we need to adopt an alternative 'distinctive way of looking at things, a way of thinking, policies, an educational programme, a lifestyle and a spirituality which together generate resistance to the assault of the technocratic paradigm' (§111). He even goes so far as to borrow a notorious phrase from Mao Zedong when he writes that there is an 'urgent need for us to move forward in a bold cultural revolution' (§114.) A cultural transformation of this kind is the only way to counter 'the mindset of those who say: Let us allow the invisible forces of the market to regulate the economy, and consider their impact on society and nature as collateral damage' (§123).
Alongside our efforts to bring about a shift from the technocratic mindset, we need to work for the protection of non-Western cultures which have managed to preserve a healthier, more ecologically-oriented culture. Francis insists that 'it is essential to show special care for indigenous communities and their cultural traditions' (§146; cf. §179).
The whole question of employment and unemployment is, of course, a crucial economic issue. So Francis devotes several paragraphs to this topic, insisting strongly on the importance of safeguarding people's employment (§124-129). However, it is important to note that Francis also sees work as a fundamental cultural issue. He maintains that a proper appreciation of the role and value of human work is an important element in the cultural change which he is calling for. This is because, 'Work is a necessity, part of the meaning of life on this earth, a path to growth, human development and personal fulfilment' (§128). Towards the end of the encyclical Francis notes a further important dimension to his understanding of work: 'Christian spirituality incorporates the value of relaxation and festivity. … We are called to include in our work a dimension of receptivity and gratuity, which is quite different from mere inactivity' (§237).
It is clear that, for Francis, the crucial element in an ecological conversion is a willingness to resist the present-day consumer culture. Referring to those who adopt a simpler lifestyle, he says, 'Even living on little, they can live a lot, above all when they cultivate other pleasures and find satisfaction in fraternal encounters, in service, in developing their gifts, in music and art, in contact with nature, in prayer' (§223).
Furthermore, he stresses the importance of the 'historic, artistic and cultural patrimony which is … a part of the shared identity of each place and a foundation upon which to build a habitable city' (§143). He maintains that this patrimony is under threat from the technocratic mindset. So an important aspect of the ecological conversion which he calls for is a serious commitment to preserve and develop people's rich cultural heritage:
If architecture reflects the spirit of an age, our megastructures and drab apartment blocks express the spirit of globalized technology, where a constant flood of new products coexists with a tedious monotony. Let us refuse to resign ourselves to this. (§113)
We are being invited not just to change our mentality and mindsets but to find ways of embodying a new way of thinking, feeling and valuing in our buildings and our cities. Francis quotes from his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium: 'How attractive are those cities which, even in their architectural design, are full of spaces which connect, relate and favour the recognition of others!' (§152).
As though to ensure that his concern about the design of cities could not be dismissed as elitist, Francis goes on immediately to address the very practical issue of the transport systems in modern cities. He agrees with those who insist on 'the need to give priority to public transportation.' But he also points out that this will not be widely acceptable if people have to 'put up with undignified conditions due to crowding, inconvenience, infrequent service and lack of safety' (§153).
Culture is largely shaped by formal education in schools, colleges and church-run programmes, as well as by informal education at home and through the media. Not surprisingly then, Francis has a lot to say about the 'educational challenge' which is required if we are to avoid environmental disaster (§202, 209). In a particularly valuable passage he says:
Environmental education has broadened its goals. Whereas in the beginning it was mainly centred on scientific information, consciousness-raising and the prevention of environmental risks, it tends now to include a critique of the 'myths' of a modernity grounded in a utilitarian mindset (individualism, unlimited progress, competition, consumerism, the unregulated market). It seeks also to restore the various levels of ecological equilibrium, establishing harmony within ourselves, with others, with nature and other living creatures, and with God. Environmental education should facilitate making the leap towards the transcendent which gives ecological ethics its deepest meaning. (§210)
An important component in a genuine ecological education is helping people to appreciate literature, poetry, art and the beauty of nature. Francis says, 'By learning to see and appreciate beauty, we learn to reject self-interested pragmatism' (§215). He also insists that the aim of education must be not merely to provide information but also to instil good habits, to cultivate sound virtues (§211). An ecologically-oriented education is integral: it seeks to shape more enlightened and responsible ways of thinking, of feeling, and of behaving.
I ask myself how significant and relevant to the world we live in is this call of Pope Francis to cultural transformation. In doing so, I remind myself that Francis maintains that concern for the environment and concern for the poorest in our world are intimately linked. He calls on us to 'hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor' (§49, emphasis in original).
So I reflect on how my government is responding to the catastrophic situation in the countries on either side of the Mediterranean – and in the middle of that sea itself. Day after day the media calls my attention to the thousands of desperate migrants who have drowned; to the thousands who, having crossed, are now marooned in hugely overcrowded camps in Greece and Italy; and to the hundreds of thousands who wait their turn to attempt the perilous crossing.
I go on to reflect on my role as a citizen of a eurozone country in northern Europe, faced with the demand of the democratically-elected government in Athens for relief from an austerity programme which has obviously failed. I experience the historical irony of the fact that ancient Athens had a chequered history of struggle between democrats, oligarchs and monarchs – and that the still-relevant, classic texts of Greek philosophy and drama were the works of people who were immersed in that history. Are there similarities between the long-ago oligarchs of Athens and the privileged elites in Brussels, Frankfurt and Washington who believe they know best what is good for the poor in Greece? In a moment of fantasy, I might be tempted to suggest that the German chancellor and finance minister have deluded themselves into thinking that they are playing the role of the benign monarch of Plato's Republic. But more sober reflection indicates that their position is based on a liberal capitalist ideology and a pragmatic awareness that they depend on the votes of the citizens in their own democracy.
These reflections lead me to see the relevance and the urgency of the call of Pope Francis for radical conversion in all the different spheres of our lives. I am beginning to realise that the major economic and political changes so challengingly outlined in other parts of the encyclical can never take place unless they are underpinned by widespread personal and community conversion and the kind of cultural transformation which Pope Francis is calling for. So before I 'cast the first stone' (Jn 8: 7) at our political leaders, I reflect on the challenge of Jesus to 'remove first the plank from your own eye' (Mt. 7:5). Now I ask myself to what extent I have become an unquestioning and complicit citizen of a small group of oligarchical countries where our comforts and luxuries come at the cost of the poverty of vast numbers of people in the rest of the world – and of the exploitation of their environmental resources.
Donal Dorr is a theologian and a member of St Patrick's Missionary Society. He is the author of numerous books and articles on spirituality social justice and Catholic Social Teaching.
[i] I leave my reflections on the additional ways in which an ecological conversion is to transform our society to other publications, including the July 2015 issue of The Furrow.
Driving the Poor to Starvation
Coping With Insecurity, Uncertainty and Risk
The eight works of mercy


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Posted on Feb. 9, 2018, 5:00 am by Christopher Tyner
As the Associated press reports, last week United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a new policy regarding immigration arrests at courthouses. The policy appears to suggest that ICE primarily will enter courthouses to arrest specific "targeted aliens" who have criminal convictions, are gang members, pose a threat to public safety, have been ordered removed from the United States, or have illegally re-entered the country after being removed. The policy says that aliens encountered in the process of making an arrest of a targeted person, such as the target's family members or friends, will not be arrested "absent special circumstances." Keep reading for more news.
Bradsher Motions. There were new developments in the district attorney wife swap saga this week, with former Person-Caswell District Attorney Wallace Bradsher arguing in a motions hearing that Wake Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway should recuse himself. Bradsher argued that there was a possibility that Ridgeway would be called as a character witness in the criminal case or an associated civil case, and also argued that Ridgeway has a close relationship with Wake District Attorney Lorrin Freeman. Freeman at one time was prosecuting the case and Bradsher has accused her of prosecutorial misconduct. Ridgeway declined to recuse himself.
Keith Resigns. Former Forsyth County District Attorney Tom Keith announced Friday that he will resign from serving as the interim Rockingham County District Attorney, a position he took after Craig Blitzer resigned due to his involvement in the wife swap saga. Keith told the Greensboro News & Record that he was resigning because of a disagreement with the Administrative Office of the Court regarding reimbursement or use of a state car for his travel from his home in Forsyth County to Rockingham.
Buchanan Resigns. Last year the News Roundup noted that Ashe County Sheriff Terry Buchanan had been indicted on criminal charges arising from alleged efforts to prevent county employees from complying with a public records request for his emails, text messages, and other communications. The Winston-Salem Journal reports that those criminal charges have been dropped as part of an agreement that Buchanan resign and release claims against the county.
Manager Tackles. It's not a good idea to attempt armed robbery anywhere, but WRAL reports that it's a particularly bad idea at a CVS in Cary. When a man in a mask pointed a gun at a cashier at the store and demanded money, an assistant manager emerged to firmly explain to the robber that he would have to allow cashiers and customers to leave the store before any money would be handed over. When the robber balked at this arrangement, the manager tackled and disarmed him while a witness called 911. Two suspects now are in custody.
Deputy Robs. Again, it's not a good idea to attempt armed robbery under any circumstance, but it's a particularly bad idea when you're a Davidson County Sheriff's Deputy. The Lexington Dispatch reports that Sheriff David Grice was "as shocked and appalled as anyone else" to learn that Deputy Jeffrey Athey allegedly stole $1,000 from F&M Bank in an armed robbery on Tuesday afternoon. Athey, who had been scheduled to work later that day, was immediately terminated from the Sheriff's Office.


The Spider-Man reboot is currently casting, and director Marc Webb is on record as going for an actor much lower profile than Tobey Maguire to take the titular, masked role. Sci-fi blog io9 suggested that the next Spidey be a non-caucasian. Some commenters threw out the name Donald Glover from the TV show Community and the comedy troupe Derrick Comedy, perhaps in part because Glover jokingly tweeted that he wouldn't fight a movement to get him the part a few months earlier.
Glover happened across the article and the comment, and he tweeted again that he would love to be considered for the part. He started to push the twitter tag "#donald4spiderman" and it went mildly viral. After organizing two twitter-bombs to get the tag as a trending topic (though he didn't reach his goal of cracking the worldwide top ten, #donald4spiderman peaked at #3 in the US and #1 in Chicago), the blogs are ablaze with discussion about whether such a casting — and, more generally, a non-white Peter Parker — would be a good thing.
He's focused on funny roles so far in his career, but his characters have occasionally had moments of drama. Glover's always nailed them. Plus, he's an incredibly gifted physical actor. Unlike Tobey Maguire, who always felt a bit stiff in his set pieces, Glover would be a natural with the running and jumping and flying.
The awful fan reaction to Spider-Man 3 coupled with the gushing love for The Dark Knight has rendered the Spider-Man franchise virtually irrelevant. Coming back with smaller names, a smaller budget, and a director best known for a Zooey Deschanel film wouldn't help; there's almost no way it will gain any box office traction… unless, of course, you give the public a reason for a reboot. For example, changing the race of the character.
Think of some of the most memorable blockbuster roles of the past few years: Downey in Iron Man, Rourke in The Wrestler, Bridges in Crazy Heart, etc. Most of them have had some sort of connection between actor and character. Glover's connection to Parker is that he, too, is a nerd from a New York. It's not particularly poignant, but these little touches matter.
There's nothing distinctly white about Spider-Man, aside from the fact that he's always been white. In fact, there's nothing about Spider-Man that has any notable ethnic or racial element to it. He's not defined by his race or his background. Basically, Glover's blackness does nothing to contradict or affect his legitimacy as Parker.
Unlike Superman and Captain America, Spider-Man isn't much of a patriotic symbol. If anything, he's symbolic of the dismissed and struggling lower class being more powerful and meaningful than commonly recognized. That's why I think it makes good sense to have a minority Spidey: Many of the character's underlying themes match the traditional challenges of upward mobility for urban, minority youth.
He's not quite Will Smith or Denzel Washington, but he's got that inherent likability and energy about him usually reserved for much more polished stars. Throw in his good looks, his popularity with the people he works with, his obvious passion for entertaining (he's also a rapper), and you have someone who could be headlining movies for decades to come, provided his acting chops grow as his resume does.
Glover not only works with a comedy troupe, he does a lot of non-mainstream standup and improv. He's a part of a network of entertainers — starting with his comedy troupe — that are ripe with talent. A major film studio tapping into that network could earn great dividends and acquire a large pool of new talent. This happened with the former Freaks and Geeks cast not long ago when Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen started making it big, and their whole posse found their way into leading roles and big-time popularity, not to mention huge bucks for the lucky studios who found that gold mine.
Maybe I'm off on this assessment, but I think some people are starting to grow weary of the "gritty reboot." Iron Man spiced it up with the dynamic, energetic Downey, but Hulk was a downer, and I get the impression that most of the upcoming superhero movies will focus on the dark elements to cash in on The Dark Knight's popularity. And while I think establishing high stakes is important, and a solid focus on the struggles of characters makes for compelling storytelling, I don't want to lose the fun-ness of comics. With a comedian but gem of a talent like Glover, you have a real shot to blend the serious with the fun instead of trying to out-Nolan The Dark Knight.
The comic book movie horizon has never been more crowded. With at least a dozen promising comic franchises coming to the silver screen in the next three or four years, it'll become harder and harder for individual comic movies to command buzz they have the past three or four years. Doing something bold like casting a black Spider-Man is a surefire way to get people talking about your film.
A self-avowed "black nerd," Donald Glover has said he loves Spider-Man. He'd leave everything he has out on the celluloid, and would probably do it for a lot less than the other actors being considered, even the unknowns. From his I Am Just a Rapper mix, to underground comedy gem Mystery Team, to his clever writing on 30 Rock, to his continued excellence on Community, Glover's projects tend to go for broke. All of his projects are passion projects, and Spider-Man would be no exception. You'd get 110%, day in and day out.
So this last reason isn't really an argument of why it would help Sony, but it would be a great side effect of the casting. The only reason The Office ever took off was because Steve Carell had a star-making turn in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and fans hungry for more of the actor started tuning in and telling their friends how funny the show was. For the brilliant Community to survive to graduation will probably require some lucky breaks. Buzz around Glover for being cast as Spider-Man would definitely be a start.
I'm not going to guarantee a Glover-starring Spider-Man movie would be great. I'm not even 100% sure he could pull off a role with that kind of emotional range; after all, he's done almost entirely comedy. But there's enough upside to seriously consider him. With the recent enthusiasm surrounding him and the buzz about whether Parker could be non-white, Sony would be smart to just give him an audition.
In the mean time, join the Glover-approved Facebook group. Or just go watch his La Bilbioteca rap with Danny Pudi again.
Hmm, a black Spidey. How about a hispanic Captain America, or an Asian Thor? While I have nothing against the concept, the character has always been, in all his decades of publishing, caucasian. Why a reboot? Because it needs one after Spidey 3. And because studios care about making money. There doesn't need to be a justification. And those who use their own agenda as one are as mis-guided as the racism they are trying to combat. Spiderman is an established character in the American Comic multi-verse. Marvel tried to switch stuff around with their "Ultimates" series, and it failed pretty miserably. That's why you don't mess with a known quantity. And yes, Toby did look out of place in the action set pieces, but that doesn't mean that someone else won't. As for Dark Knight, you have to chalk that up to the director and the star, both of whom decided that they would continue the decidedly dark tone they had set with Batman Begins. Spiderman is about teen anget, not about dark, shadowy intensity. In his heart, Spidey is light-hearted and fun, like a piece of bubble-gum as opposed to a plate of prime rib. Completely different characters. What works for one won't necessarily work for the other. Just give it a rest.
Your main argument seems to be "he's always been white," which is my least favorite type of argument. Change for the sake of change isn't a good thing, but if a change in Spider-Man's skin color would make the character more meaningful and interesting, which I believe, and there's no reason not to, I say why not give it a try.
As for the Ultimates series, the new Spidey reboot is going to be based off of the series if I'm not mistaken, so if anything, the Ultimates mixing up the race of characters is one more reason the movie should try it.
And I think we agree on the Dark Knight — I don't want Spider-Man to try and be as dark and gritty as that film. Early word, though, is that the new film is heading that direction, which I think is a mistake.
Really… you assign all of the popularity that the Office gained due to the fact that people were hungry for more of Steve Carrel, and not because of smart writing, good acting, and brilliant jokes. I'm not saying that Steve Carrel had little to do with the show's ratings, but there's a reason for the fact that Community is less popular than the Office. The Office is clearly better… better acting, more likeable characters, and has little of the predictability of Community, and less annoyance i might say.
So my wording here might have been a little harsh and not properly credited the quality of The Office (possibly my favorite show of all time, by the way). But my point was that Carell's popularity from the movie not only kept the show alive, but encouraged fans to tune in.
Second, with regards to the discussion of the quality of Community and The Office — they really have quite different goals. I don't think of either show as particularly predictable. They are different types of shows with different brands of comedy and different goals. I love them both.


Open to all medical assisting students, the goals of the Medical Assisting Club are to promote fellowship, provide service and to enhance knowledge of the profession.
Would you like to learn more about Medical Assisting as a profession? Click here to go to the official site of the American Association of Medical Assistants.


So, I don't use color correcting palettes a lot, to be honest, because I've never had good luck with them. There's obviously some inherent risk when you smear green powders or creams on your face, and it's just never worked quite right for me.
However, for about $4, this might be the best color correcting palette I've run across. The formula is a light weight, very thin cream texture that almost feels powdery when blended into the skin. It's so discreet I forget that I'm wearing it, which is always a bonus for me.
I tried the green to cancel out some redness, and it blended in well with my foundation and seemed to make it a bit more neutral. I also tried the yellow under my concealer, (because I have constant crack eyes-dark circles and huge bags. It's real pretty.), and saw some reduction in the purple-blue of my perma-dark circles. I haven't tried the purple or white yet, because I don't really need them, but I appreciate that you have all four colors in this palette.
My only gripes with this palette: I wish the dividers between each color were more prominent, because in my typical hot mess way, I've already accidentally mixed some of the colors a bit. I also noticed this palette was only available in one shade, whereas other brands sometimes have multiple options. This might limit some people based on their skin tone. Just some things to keep in mind, though for $4, it may not bother you all that much.
All in all, I don't know if this is a permanent inclusion in my daily makeup routine, but for those of you who do love a bit of color correcting, I think this is a great bargain.
Well, normally, I would agree with you. I rarely ever drink Pilsners because to me they are the vanilla ice cream of beer: pretty basic and boring. However, not so with Dogfish Head Piercing Pils!
The big difference here: there's a really lovely and subtle pear note that adds a bit of sweetness and a small, tart bite to the classic Pilsner taste. This is really well balanced with crisp and smooth flavors, that turns Piercing Pils into a easily drinkable, yet interesting Pilsner. I don't even like pears, but it comes across more as a soft fruit taste and blends so well with the mild hops and refreshing flavors, that I can see this being my go-to Summer beer. (And I know I've said that a lot lately, but I feel I really found the one this time!) Seriously. Bring it to a summer event, and see how many new friends you make.
I'm really happy with both of these products. In my imagined summer travels, (I don't actually have any set plans yet), I will be bringing this palette with me. And in my imagined summer parties, (I don't really have these set yet, either), I will bring this beer.
Can you tell I am so ready for the summer? SO READY.
-Have you guys tried Wet N' Wild's correcting palette?
-What's your experience with correcting palettes in general?
-How are you preparing for summer, which is technically a month away still, but whatever???
I'll be back for Subscription Saturday and Sunday! See you then!


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New cover art + excerpt
I've finalized the new cover for my re-release of Compass Hearts. Whaddaya think?
I'm super pleased with it!
My friend and critique partner is playing FLE for me on this manuscript. Making sure the small changes I made work and that I haven't missed any typos. (Serious fingers crossed there. I was not happy about the number of typos that were in there even after I, my editor, and the original FLE went over it. We're only human, but geez!)
Look for the re-release in the next week or so! In the meantime, here's an excerpt:
He barely recognized his own voice as he went on. "The human body is... fascinating." There was a question, an invitation, underlying his statement. He hoped Ash would hear it and understand. Despite this sudden swell of bravery, he knew he couldn't say that out loud.
A slow smile spread across Ash's face. Matthew grinned back, guessing his message had gotten through. His guess was confirmed when Ash asked, "Have you ever had a live model?"
"No." Matthew's cock strained at his breeches. He yearned to draw Ash, see him stripped and posed. He couldn't remember ever wanting anything so much or so urgently in his life.
Then reality crashed down on him. His face fell. "My materials are at my apartment." In the time it took to get there and back, the moment would be beyond lost. And there was no way he was taking Ash back to his flat. He didn't want Ash to see it. It was so unbearably grim, lacking in any charm or comfort, especially when compared to Ash's quirky and inviting room upstairs.
"What do you need?" Ash asked.
"Charcoal pencils, largish paper."
"I have that."
"You do?" Matthew perked up at this spark of hope. It was almost too good to believe. "How? Why?"
"Botany class. We do a lot of plant sketching. I not only have charcoal pencils, I have pressed pigment pencils."
Matthew's eyes lit up and Ash grinned and grabbed his hand. "Come on." Ash pulled him to his feet and toward the stairs.
Matthew's practical side asserted itself and, still clinging to sense, he asked, "What about our books?"
"No one will bother them. Come on!" He practically dragged Matthew from the parlor. By the time their feet hit the stairs, though, Matthew was plenty willing to follow him up.
Inside the cozy comfort of the little attic room, Ash went immediately to the window seat. He opened it and fished around inside, coming up a moment later with a large tablet and a tin box. "Here." He handed the box to Matthew who opened it and looked in wonder at the myriad colored pencils within.
"Where did you get these?" he asked, awed and envious.
"Some of them I bought in town. Some of them my dad gave me before I came here." Ash flipped through the tablet of his botany drawings, Matthew looking over his shoulder. The plants were barely recognizable, and then only because he'd labeled them. "They're awful, I know," said Ash. He pulled a disgusted face. "It's all right to say so."
"I just have one question," said Matthew.
"Yes?" Ash turned and looked up at him. "What?"
"Are you actually passing botany?"
Ash burst out laughing. "All right, Master Critical." He flipped to a blank sheet and shoved the tablet at Matthew. "Let's see you do better."
"That much I can guarantee."
"I've never been an artist's model." Ash's eyes shone deep blue in the lantern light and his voice was husky. "Tell me what to do."
Matthew swallowed hard once. The heat and tightness in his groin were intense, and he was glad for the tablet he held in front of him. What was he thinking? He'd never get through this! Panic began to rise in him, quelling his arousal. No. I want to do this, damn it! Steeling himself and taking control of his fear, he said with as much authority as he could muster, "Strip."
Labels: Compass Hearts, cover art, excerpt, rerelease