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Joaquin Phoenix Tells Rooney Mara 'I Love You' in Golden Globes 2020 Acceptance Speech
By Nicholas Hautman
Love is in the air! Joaquin Phoenix gave a special shout-out to his fiancée, Rooney Mara, at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 5.
Golden Globes 2020 Red Carpet Fashion
While accepting Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for his titular role in Joker, Phoenix, 45, looked over at Mara, 34, and said, "I love you" before wiping away tears.
Throughout his acceptance speech, the actor dropped multiple F-bombs, all of which NBC managed to censor during the broadcast. He also took a moment to praise his fellow nominees for their "beautiful, mesmerizing work," and called Joker director Todd Phillips an "amazing friend and collaborator."
Joaquin Phoenix accepts the award for Best Actor – Motion Picture, Drama for "Joker" at the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 5, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Paul Drinkwater/NBC
Golden Globes 2020: Couples on the Red Carpet
Phoenix later thanked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for making "a very bold move" by serving only plant-based food at the 77th annual ceremony. He also urged people to take action and help those who have been affected by the devastating wildfires in Australia.
"It's really nice that so many people come up and sent their well-wishes, but we have to do more than that, right?" he said. "I have not always been a virtuous man. I'm learning so much. So many of you in this room have given me multiple opportunities to get it right. … I'll try to do better and I hope you will too."
In the press room later on Sunday, Phoenix reiterated that he was "so moved by the decision to make tonight plant-based," adding, "Animal culture is the third leading cause of climate change, uses 70 percent of the water and pollutes the most water. The statistics are staggering. And I think we're coming to a point now where the evidence is irrefutable and undeniable. … And so I think that it was totally brave and compassionate of the HFPA to make that bold decision. I really commend them for that. I've never been so proud to attend an awards ceremony as tonight."
The Walk the Line star became the second actor to win a Golden Globe for portraying the Joker. The late Heath Ledger posthumously won in 2009 for his role in The Dark Knight.
Golden Globes 2020: Full List of Winners
Phoenix and Mara started dating in 2016 after meeting on the set of the movie Mary Magdalene, which was released in 2018. They made their red carpet debut as a couple at the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.
Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix attend the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 5, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. Shutterstock
Us Weekly confirmed in July 2019 that the pair are engaged. The news came nearly two months after they sparked engagement rumors when the Carol actress was spotted wearing a diamond ring on her left hand.
Phoenix and Mara have been living together in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles since 2017. A source previously told Us, "They don't really like to go out. They mainly just like to be with each other as the two of them. They're in their own bubble."


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A model agency without a minimum size? This question is asked by many models who are among the classic sizes of Haute Couture and High Fashion. The minimum sizes for haute couture and fashion are 1.75 m for models and 1.85 m for men. Don't you stand a chance as a model when you're smaller?
Here we have some practical tips for you on how to do it as a model, even without a minimum size.
What jobs can I do as a model without minimum size?
Which models did it without minimum size?
Can I apply to Cocaine Models as a smaller model?
Before you apply online in a model agency, take a look at the current models. Probably you will find a few models without a minimum size at most model agencies. Because it is not always about fashion shows or high fashion, many customers, e.g. in the online shop or Instagram area, pay less attention to the minimum size of the model. This is more about the facial expressions and the emotions you master as a model. Many model agencies therefore also represent smaller models. That's why our first tip to you is to take a look at the models of the agencies! If you also discover models that are a bit smaller, then you should send your application online!
Many who want to be models think it would be clever to cheat yourself a few inches taller. Always be honest! If you are booked for a job later on, many customers will recognize the difference very quickly and will not book you again accordingly. The negative criticism goes naturally also to your agent and/or to your model agency. Therefore you as a model should be honest from the beginning with the measurements and your height. Your modeling agency will appreciate you for who you are!
Job opportunities you have many. As mentioned above you could work for an Instagram photo shoot, but also for online shops. It is also possible that you will be booked for a commercial, or for a campaign. Your chances are usually much lower when it comes to running a fashion show. Especially at fashion shows it depends on a harmonious overall picture and accordingly the body sizes of the models must harmonize with each other. In addition, the audience, sometimes sitting and sometimes standing. The larger the models are, the more space the product, the fashion collection, occupies.
Many models were, or are also without minimum size successfully active as models. They have also made it onto the magazine covers of the international fashion magazines around Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, but also Cosmopolitan, or Marie Claire.
What you may lack in body size makes you well again with charm and energy! Especially in advertising, good mood and friendliness play a very important role. After all, you should like the new car, or even the new smartphone. If the model already looks bored on the advertising poster, how should the customer develop joy and desire to buy the product? That's exactly why you have great chances for jobs even as a smaller model, because many customers are particularly concerned with the charisma that you bring along and radiate.
More about sizes for models? Here you can read our article on the subject: Sizes & Requirements for Models.
We are looking forward to your application even if you do not have the minimum size for Haute Couture and High Fashion. After all, we as an agency also do a lot of jobs in the field of advertising, commercials, but also shootings for social media. Whether photos for Instagram, or videos for YouTube. Especially in a media production many different characters are in demand. With diligence, motivation, stamina and the necessary willpower you can go far as a model!


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Inspector general urges more transparency, accountability for MTA Police
By Kevin Duggan Posted on July 1, 2021
A MTA PD officer at Grand Central Terminal.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Police Department must increase transparency and accountability for officer misconduct investigations, according to a newly-released report by the transit agency's inspector general.
"Transparency and accountability are vital to building and maintaining public trust – especially when it comes to handling complaints of possible police misconduct," said MTA Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny on Wednesday, June 30.
MTA PD has 905 members — a fraction compared to the 36,000 officers serving in the NYPD — who are deployed to Grand Central Terminal, Penn Station, and along the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad, and Staten Island Railway.
During the three-year period OIG examined between July 1, 2017–June 30, 2020, there were 155 complaints, or about four per month.
The inspector general formally gained an oversight role of the department after New York state lawmakers passed legislation as part of a package of police reform bills in the aftermath of the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last summer.
Investigators are also looking into complaint procedures at MTA Bridges and Tunnels and plan to release a report on that division in the "near future," according to OIG.
The OIG's report gives MTA PD 15 recommendations to bring the transit cops up to snuff with other law enforcement agencies. Those include formalizing the Department's investigations into complaints, by providing timelines and better communicating with victims.
The watchdog noted that the MTA PD's Internal Affairs Bureau — which handles more serious allegations — currently relies too much on paper records, which OIG often found to be "ineligible."
The agency should also establish an early intervention system to quickly detect patterns of complaints about an officer's misconduct.
To increase transparency and create a better relationship with riders, MTA PD should also publish the outcomes of its investigations in an annual report and scale up its community outreach, according to the report.
MTA PD accepted 14 of the 15 recommendations, taking exception only to developing and publishing a disciplinary matrix, which the Department said would go against existing union agreements.
In a statement, MTA spokesperson Michael Cortez said the police department will improve its transparency and better community relations.
"The MTA PD continuously seeks to improve transparency and build upon existing relationships with the communities we serve," Cortez said. "MTA PD appreciates the Inspector General's recommendations and is working to streamline accountability processes within the coming year."
NYC education advocates call on mayor to boost pre-k special education teacher salaries
Serena Williams to skip Tokyo Olympics, declines to explain reasons
Schumer wants feds to better target gun trafficking to help combat NYC shootings
Crunching the COVID-19 numbers: Even with cases falling, Delta variant starting to spread further in NYC

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Career Opportunities In Human Resource Management
Human Resource Manager Job Description
Human Resource Management Jobs
Human Resources Management Consulting
Human Resources Salary
Human Resources Hr
What is Orthopedic Foam?
C.B. Fox
Orthopedic foam, or memory foam, is a material that was developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States in the 1970s. Originally used to cushion aircraft landings, NASA released the technology to the public domain in the 1980s. Since that time, the technology has been adapted for use in the mattress industry, as inserts in shoes and as a material for pet beds.
Orthopedic foam is made of open-cell polyurethane-silicon plastic. This form of plastic excels at distributing weight and pressure evenly, which makes it an excellent shock absorber. For years, the material was used exclusively by NASA because its ability to absorb pressure protected aircraft during high-impact landings. The foam has the ability to return to its original shape even after being compressed down to 10% of its normal size. In its early days, memory foam did not hold up well after many uses, but developments in the technology have greatly increased its longevity.
Orthopedic foam can be used to make thin, yet supportive mattresses for hospital beds.
Hospitals were one of the first industries to use memory foam after it was released to the public. The foam's ability to absorb pressure and distribute weight evenly provided relief for bedridden patients. On a traditional mattress, pressure points develop where the body contacts the mattress, which can lead to bed sores. The even weight distribution on an orthopedic foam mattress eases these pressure points, increasing comfort for ill patients. After gaining popularity in hospitals, mattress companies began marketing memory foam pads and mattresses for commercial use.
Orthopedic foam may help support the spine and alleviate back pain.
The materials in an orthopedic foam mattress are quite temperature sensitive, remaining firmer in cooler temperatures and becoming softer when warmed. This is the reason a person experiences a sinking sensation when they first lie down on the mattress, as the foam is still conforming to the shape and weight of the body. Though the material makes a comfortable sleeping surface, a mattress made entirely of memory foam is does not provide adequate support for the back or joints. Most quality memory foam mattresses are made of a firmer material that is topped with 2 to 3 inches (about 5 to 8 cm) of memory foam.
Bedridden patients may benefit from orthopedic foam.
Widespread use of memory foam has reduced the costs of manufacturing. This has opened up the industry to other uses of orthopedic foam, including shoe inserts and pet beds. With the expansion of the memory foam industry, there is a wide array of qualities in the composition of the material. Buyers should research the available products carefully before investing in orthopedic foam products.
What is an Orthopedic Bed?
What is an Orthopedic Mattress?
What is Urethane Foam?
What Are the Advantages of Memory Foam Slippers?
What is an Orthopedic Pillow?
What is a Memory Foam Pillow?
What is a Knee Pillow?
By: Agence DER
By: Syda Productions
By: charlyedo
By: vichie81
Orthopedic foam mattresses may help reduce the risk of bed sores.
By: WavebreakMediaMicro
Orthopedic mattresses are sometimes referred to as memory foam mattresses.
By: vladimirfloyd
Sleeping on memory foam may help provide back support for individuals suffering from neck pain.
Hospitals were one of the first industries to use memory foam after it was released to the public.


Step up your footwear fashion with Demetra. Pull-up leather uppers are given a visual pop thanks to contrast straps and woodgrain block heels. All-day comfort is courtesy of molded footbeds and lightweight designs. Decatur collection.


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People: CRISPR Therapeutics AG (CRSP.OQ)
CRSP.OQ on NASDAQ Stock Exchange Global Market
Kasinger, James
Mr. Jim Kasinger serves as General Counsel and Secretary to the Board of Directors at CRISPR Therapeutics Ltd. He has nearly 20 years of experience advising and counseling private and public companies in the biotechnology and technology sectors. Prior to joining the Company, he was the General Counsel and Secretary of Moderna Therapeutics, a Cambridge-based biotechnology company, where, among other things, he helped lead two equity financings and several collaborations including with AZ, Merck and Vertex. Before that, he was the General Counsel at PlumChoice, Inc., a provider of technical support services to Fortune 1000 companies. Before going in-house, he was a partner in the Business Practice Group at the global law firm, Goodwin Procter LLP, where he represented life sciences, technology and other high-growth companies in all stages of their life cycles, from formation, to obtaining seed and growth financings, to initial public offering, merger or sale. He started his legal career as an associate at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault. He received his J.D. from Boston College Law School, graduating cum laude, and a B.A. from Wheaton College, graduating magna cum laude.
Rodger Novak
Kala Subramanian
Megan Wherry Menner
Sven Lundberg


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Eating Smoke — a question and answer with the author, Chris Thrall – Part 5/5
Guest-Post by Tom Carter
Interview with Chris Thrall, author of Eating Smoke continued…
CARTER: Let's talk about the publishing of Eating Smoke, because I'm sure there are dozens of expats across Asia reading this who feel that they, too, have exciting stories which deserve a place on bookshelves, yet are unsure of how to go about getting published.
So once Blacksmith Books expressed an interest in your proposal what kind of writing process did you embark on to complete the book?
THRALL: After six months of writing, when Blacksmith Books contacted me, I had pretty much the first draft written – 230,000 words at the time. The problem was I'd never studied English above high school level, so I spent a year referring to books, websites and online forums, teaching myself proper punctuation (not what we were taught at school!), grammar, and the art of self-editing.
CARTER: What kind of final editing was done to Eating Smoke? Were there any major changes to it and, overall, was it a hostile or pleasant experience? I ask because editors and authors don't usually see eye-to-eye.
THRALL: According to Blacksmith's editor, the manuscript was structurally sound. I'd pretty much worked out for myself what did and did not need to be in there.
Any anecdote not taking the story forward or adding to the understanding of a character or situation, I took out.
As far as the end result is concerned, it was great to see the manuscript polished, with some incorrectly used words amended, some over-ripe humor taken out, and some excess sentences deleted. That's not to say it wasn't a stressful experience at the time.
Editors are good at spotting mistakes and cutting out excess lines. But that can leave un-poetic passages that don't flow well on the page. My editor and publisher were completely accommodating, allowing me to rewrite any amendments myself in my own writing style – or understanding when I insisted that certain lines were left in the book, for continuity, or sentimental reasons because the story is true-life.
Chris Thrall
CARTER: The literary landscape is changing, some say deteriorating.
Where once New York publishers actually sought out quality literature that would last through the ages (John Steinbeck, Pearl Buck), today they only seem interested in boardroom-created-blockbusters like "Twilight" or throwaway celebrity memoires.
To add insult to injury, newspapers like the "New York Times" are notoriously anti-POD (Print on Demand) and will only review Big 6-published books despite the recent sales surge of self-published titles.
What's your advice, then, for aspiring authors who lack literary connections but feel that their book is too good for CreateSpace?
THRALL: If you truly believe you have a story that will be of interest to many people, think carefully about sending your manuscript to a busy executive in a publishing house that probably has fifty other manuscripts land on their desk everyday and no time to read them.
Instead, consider hiring (or find) an agent that has some influence with the big players or simply send your first chapter to an author in a similar genre. Authors tend to be very kind and approachable people – as I found out, Tom! – and having been through the process themselves, they know what a publisher is looking for. If they like what they read then there's a good chance they'll recommend you.
Writers want other writers to have success. In addition, you'll get pointers if your writing is lacking in any area. I'm currently writing a free e-book that will be available to download soon from http://www.christhrall.com to guide people through the process of writing a memoir and getting it published.
CARTER: What's next for Chris Thrall? Tales from your time with the Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines? Or perhaps some fiction?
THRALL: Not sure. You'll have to ask the readers of Eating Smoke that question!
Return to Eating Smoke – Part 4, start with Part 1, or or if you have the time and do not want to wait for the five-part series to finish posting, click View as Single Page.
Chris Thrall was born in the UK. At eighteen, he joined the Royal Marine Commandos. Following active service in the Northern Ireland Conflict and training in Arctic warfare and survival, he earned his parachutist's 'wings' and went on to serve as part of a high-security detachment onboard an aircraft carrier. In 1995, Chris moved to Hong Kong to oversee the Asia-Pacific expansion of a successful network-marketing operation he'd built, part-time, while serving in the Forces. Less than a year later, he was homeless, hooked on crystal methamphetamine and working for the 14K, Hong Kong's largest triad crime family, as a doorman in Wanchai's infamous red-light district. Eating Smoke, a humorous yet deeply moving first book, is his account of what happened.
Travel photographer Tom Carter is the author of CHINA: Portrait of a People, a 600-page book of photography from the 33 provinces of China, which may be found on Amazon.com.
To subscribe to "iLook China", sign up for an E-mail Subscription at the top right-hand side of this page and then follow directions.
Leave a Comment »	| business, capitalism, China, Chinese Culture, crime, cultural differences, expatriates, expatriots	| Tagged: 14K, Addiction, Alex Garland, Amazon.com, Authors, Autobiography, Blacksmith Books, Books, Cantonese, China, China Books, China Expats, Chinese, Chris Thrall, Chungking Mansions, Commando, crime, crime in China, Crystal Meth, Danny Boyle, Drug Abuse, Drug Addiction, Drug Psychosis, drugs, Drugs in China, Eating Smoke, England, expats, Film, Gregory David Roberts, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Publishers, John Steinbeck, Literature, mafia, Memoir, Methamphetamine, Movies, New York Times, Non-fiction, Organized Crime, Pearl Buck, Pete Spurrier, prostitution, Publishing, Royal Marines, Shantaram, The Beach, Tom Carter, triads, True Crime, UK, Wan Chai	| Permalink
CARTER: A really interesting observation I felt you made in Eating Smoke was of those expatriates who come to places like China looking to assert their dominance over the culture, and those expats who "go native" and completely immerse themselves in the language and customs, sometimes to the point of arrogance towards other foreigners.
Why do westerners behave like this in other countries, and why, in your opinion, do Asian immigrants in America or the UK have seemingly the exact opposite attitude?
THRALL: That's a good question but probably a long-winded answer. It's important to remember that not all westerners misbehave when abroad and not all Asian immigrants immerse themselves in or accept western culture and etiquette.
When you consider the West's history and of colonialism and capitalism – arguably practices that require the population of one country to believe they are racially superior to another's – it's not hard to appreciate why some westerners behave this way.
Add to that a "functionalist" education system, a class system, a one-sided record of history…I could go on, couldn't I?
CARTER: Comparisons are being made between "Eating Smoke" and Gregory David Roberts' "Shantaram" (about a drug-addicted escaped convict who joins a crime family in Mumbai, India) and Alex Garland's "The Beach" (young backpackers living on an isolated island in Thailand who goes mad from solitude and drugs).
Have you read either of these, and how does Eating Smoke stand apart in this genre?
THRALL: "Eating Smoke" is 100% true life – whereas "Shantaram" and "The Beach" are fiction, though loosely based on their authors' travel experiences, no doubt.
Although it's on my shelf, I haven't read "Shantaram", but "The Beach" is one of my all-time favorites.
The reason "Eating Smoke" stands apart in this genre is that it works – or so the reviewers say – on so many levels and therefore appeals to readers of all ages, sex and genre.
I'm told my story is unique and an eye-opener and that my writing style – honesty, humor, originality, and pacing – makes the book impossible to put down. Even though it is over 500 pages as a traditional paperback, I often receive Facebook messages and emails from people who have read it in two days.
CARTER: I'd like to go on record as saying that I think "Eating Smoke" has "Hollywood" written all over it, and I expect your story to be optioned for film rights. Johnny Depp is slated to play the lead role in "Shantaram", and Leo DiCaprio starred in "The Beach".
Do you have any preference for actors to play yourself in "Eating Smoke": The Motion Picture, like Shia LaBeouf or Justin Bieber (just joking!)? Who would you want to direct?
THRALL: *laughing* So long as the guy was English, a good actor, and resembled my character at the time, I wouldn't mind. I don't have a preference – I'm not that clued up on 25-year old English actors, to be honest!
As for a director, Danny Boyle would be my choice. I loved "The Beach", "Trainspotting", "Slumdog Millionaire" and "127 Hours". It would require someone with his perception to be able replicate the psychosis that I experienced, accurately.
Continued on October 20, 2011 in Eating Smoke – Part 5, return to Part 3, or if you have the time and do not want to wait for the five-part series to finish posting, click View as Single Page.
1 Comment	| business, capitalism, China, Chinese Culture, crime, expatriates, expatriots	| Tagged: 14K, Addiction, Alex Garland, Authors, Autobiography, Beach, Blacksmith Books, Books, Cantonese, China, China Books, China Expats, Chinese, Chris Thrall, Chungking Mansions, Commando, crime, crime in China, Crystal Meth, Danny Boyle, Drug Abuse, Drug Addiction, Drug Psychosis, drugs, Drugs in China, Eating Smoke, England, expats, Film, Gregory David Roberts, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Publishers, Literature, mafia, Memoir, Methamphetamine, Movies, Non-fiction, Organized Crime, Pete Spurrier, prostitution, Publishing, Royal Marines, Shantaram, Shia LaBeouf, Slumdog Millionaire, The Beach, Tom Carter, triads, True Crime, UK, Wan Chai	| Permalink
CARTER: One of the main characters in "Eating Smoke" is a Filipina prostitute named Apple who, after being your friend, sells you out to the triads. Filipinos are the second largest ethnic group in Hong Kong, however their career paths seem to be limited as nannies for wealthy families, cover bands, or bar girls.
Why is that, and do you think their situation will ever improve?
THRALL: I think it's because the Philippines' economy is relatively poor when compared to Hong Kong's. Even with the pittance they receive in wages, these women are able to send a lot of hard-earned dollars home to their families, while getting a travel experience they likely otherwise ill afford.
As to whether their situation will improve, Filipinos are generally humble, in my experience. They don't complain and seem to appreciate the chance to earn money abroad.
Of course, wherever there is inequality, they'll be incidents of exploitation, which isn't nice. But if their union – if there is such a thing – pushed for higher pay then perhaps the demand for their services would drop off as there are Hong Kong locals who could fill these jobs.
CARTER: Another reoccurring character in Eating Smoke is an expatriate named Cameron who insists on trying crystal meth despite your warnings of its highly addictive nature. Cameron shows up later in the book exclaiming how much he loves the drug even though it's obvious that he, too, is now addicted. To quote a passage in your book, "Unable to stop and not wanting to anyway."
What about methamphetamine makes it so popular even though everyone knows that it can, nay, will destroy you?
THRALL: I can only speak from my own experience. Some people try meth and say, "Ah. It's OK. But nothing special." Then get on with their life. For others it seems to be the key in lock, the answer to all of life's insecurities and problems. Perhaps people in the former category have had more stable upbringings and hence less insecurity and the resultant need to feel "right" for a change.
A drug that makes you feel cool, calm and supremely confident, in addition to giving you a massive surge of creative energy – allowing you to discover abilities you were told you were a failure at in school – is always going to be in demand.
The problem is, like Superman with his Kryptonite, you begin to crave that feeling more and more to the point where you no longer feel normal without it. That's called addiction. Either you beat it or it destroys you.
Continued on October 19, 2011 in Eating Smoke – Part 4, return to Part 2 or if you have the time and do not want to wait for the five-part series to finish posting, click View as Single Page.
1 Comment	| business, capitalism, China, Chinese Culture, crime, cultural differences, expatriates, expatriots	| Tagged: 14K, Addiction, Alex Garland, Asia, Asia-Pacific, Authors, Autobiography, Blacksmith Books, Books, Cantonese, China, China Books, China Expats, Chinese, Chris Thrall, Chungking Mansions, Commando, crime, crime in China, Crystal Meth, Danny Boyle, Drug Abuse, Drug Addiction, Drug Psychosis, drugs, Drugs in China, Eating Smoke, England, expats, Filipino, Filipino people, Film, Gregory David Roberts, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Publishers, Literature, mafia, Memoir, Methamphetamine, Movies, Non-fiction, Organized Crime, Pete Spurrier, Philippines, prostitution, Publishing, Royal Marines, Shantaram, The Beach, Tom Carter, triads, True Crime, UK, Wan Chai	| Permalink
On October 16, 2011, nearly two years since Chris Thrall originally contacted me, his long-awaited book, "Eating Smoke", will be released in America and Amazon.com.
Advanced sales have already brought the title to the top of the Hong Kong bestseller list (patting my own back for my prediction) while Eating Smoke has achieved a massive cult following on Facebook. Hailed as a "Sin – Shantaram" in a review by the South China Morning Post, and being compared by fans to Alex Garland's The Beach for its drug-adelic theme, we can now confidently predict that Eating Smoke will, too, be optioned for film rights and follow those popular books to Hollywood.
Despite his past connections with Chinese triads, and in spite of his newfound celebrity as a bestselling author, Thrall remains one of the nicest and humblest people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing…even though I have yet to actually meet the man in person. So it wasn't too hard to twist his arm into putting my Q&A at the top of his to-do list of media interview requests (ah, the fame!).
TOM CARTER: My first and most pressing question, Chris, is if you are at all worried that the 14K will be hitting you up for a percentage of your book royalties once word of Eating Smoke's success trickles up the Wan Chai gangland hierarchy?
CHRIS THRALL: Ha ha! The news from Hong Kong is that "serious players" are reading my book as we speak. But I'm not worried as it's not a tell-all on Hong Kong organized crime. It's more the story of a former Royal Marine Commando who thought he knew a bit about life, who then moves to Asia to run what was a successful business but spirals down into psychosis from drug addiction.
In that respect, Eating Smoke is unique. I'm not aware of any other book that gives the reader the opportunity to experience what it's actually like to descend into mental illness through the eyes of someone as they do. I just happened to work for the 14K as a nightclub doorman – moreover, their "East-West go-between" – when it happened.
CARTER: Eating Smoke is about your decent into drug psychosis in Hong Kong's triad heartland, but it's also about the series of unfortunate, albeit hilarious, events that prevented you from ever finding your financial footing in Hong Kong, ironically Asia's wealthiest city; a "testament to the stark reality and ephemeral nature of the relationship between people, drugs and profit," as you wrote in the book.
Do you have anything to say to all those coked-out rich white bankers that Hong Kong is notorious for?
THRALL: No! I have nothing to say to anyone – coked-out rich white bankers included. If people truly enjoy what they do, they should carry on doing it.
Personally, I didn't want to see my youth slipping away in a suit as I chased dollar signs at the expense of more fulfilling experiences. So having overcome addiction, I made an inventory of what I wanted to get out of life. Then I set out across six continents through seventy-five countries to get it. Writing a book was the last thing on my bucket list.
CARTER: China is adamantly anti-drugs, and the court system does not hesitate to execute drug traffickers, even foreigners.
In fact, China even blames foreigners for being responsible for a majority of its drug trade, a grudge no doubt held over from the Opium Wars. Even though there are arguments to be made against the death penalty, the fact remains that, due to their zero-tolerance policy, China has one of the world's lowest crime rates, a statistic that, all things considered, I'm sure America and the UK envy.
As a former drug user, what's your take on criminalization of drugs, and do you think the west should follow China's example?
THRALL: I don't have a take on it. I'm not a spokesperson on substance use or the law surrounding it. I just told my own story.
However, research would likely show that mankind has always taken drugs in various forms and continues to do so (alcohol and cigarettes often cited as the most damaging), which might suggest that education on their usage and dangers is the way forward, in addition to harm-prevention strategies.
As for crime, a sociologist once said that a zero crime rate would make society a frightening place to be. I think Orwell's 1984 was meant to imply this. I take no stance on drugs per se or cast judgment on people who choose to buy, sell, or use them.
It was addiction that I battled and that's a separate issue. It's a psychological condition that could relate to gambling, sex or food. It makes you wonder how prohibition could ever fix this.
3 Comments	| capitalism, China, Chinese Culture, crime, expatriates, expatriots, legal system	| Tagged: 14K, Addiction, Alex Garland, Asia, Authors, Autobiography, Blacksmith Books, Books, Cantonese, China, China Books, China Expats, Chinese, Chris Thrall, Chungking Mansions, Commando, crime, crime in China, Crystal Meth, Danny Boyle, Drug Abuse, Drug Addiction, Drug Psychosis, drugs, Drugs in China, Eating Smoke, England, expats, Film, Gregory David Roberts, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Publishers, Literature, mafia, Memoir, Methamphetamine, Movies, Non-fiction, opium wars, Organized Crime, Pete Spurrier, prostitution, Publishing, Royal Marine Commando, Royal Marines, Shantaram, South China Morning Post, The Beach, Tom Carter, triads, True Crime, UK, Wan Chai	| Permalink
Interview with Chris Thrall, author of Eating Smoke
Tom Carter, author of "CHINA: Portrait of a People", catches up with Chris Thrall to discuss his new book "Eating Smoke", a memoir about Thrall's descent into drug psychosis in Hong Kong's triad heartland.
In the fall of 2009, whilst traveling in India to create my next photography book, I was contacted via email by a British writer who had read Down and out in Hong Kong, one of my online travel articles, which described this poor, dusty backpacker's real-time impressions of Asia's wealthiest city.
Chris Thrall said he connected with my article's conclusion that, in spite of my western heritage, and due to my personal circumstances, I ultimately had more in common with the destitute third-world inhabitants of the Chungking Mansions, the infamous immigrant ghetto of Kowloon, than I did with the rich white bankers et al who comprise the other half of Hong Kong's multinational population.
Chris went on to explain that he was writing a book about his own experiences living in Hong Kong, which was dramatically different from mine or any other expatriate I ever knew, and that he once worked for the 14K, the world's largest Chinese crime family.
Attached to his email was the first chapter of his memoir, a gripping opening salvo that finds the narrator hiding from pursuing henchmen on a roof top—alongside two corpses, a disemboweled mother and child.
As a voracious reader, I know a bestseller when I see it. I immediately forwarded Chris's manuscript to my publisher in Hong Kong, Pete Spurrier, who runs the iconic Blacksmith Books, which specializes in Asian-themed literature.
Pete likewise was knocked off his feet by Chris's incredible story; the next I heard, Chris was a fellow Blacksmith label mate with a book deal.
Chris Thrall was born in the UK. At eighteen, he joined the Royal Marine Commandos. Following active service in the Northern Ireland Conflict and training in Arctic warfare and survival, he earned his parachutist's 'wings' and went on to serve as part of a high-security detachment onboard an aircraft carrier. In 1995, Chris moved to Hong Kong to oversee the Asia-Pacific expansion of a successful network-marketing operation he'd built, part-time, while serving in the Forces. Less than a year later, he was homeless, hooked on crystal methamphetamine and working for the 14K, Hong Kong's largest triad crime family, as a doorman in Wanchai's infamous red-light district.
"Eating Smoke", a humorous yet deeply moving first book, is his account of what happened.
Continued on October 17, 2011 in Eating Smoke – Part 2, or if you have time and do not want to wait for the five-part series to finish posting daily, click View as Single Page.
4 Comments	| business, capitalism, China, Chinese Culture, crime, cultural differences, expatriates, expatriots	| Tagged: 14K, Addiction, Alex Garland, Asia, Asia-Pacific, Authors, Autobiography, Blacksmith Books, Books, Cantonese, China, China Books, China Expats, Chinese, ChrisThrall, Chungking Mansions, Commando, crime, crime in China, Crystal Meth, Danny Boyle, Drug Abuse, Drug Addiction, Drug Psychosis, drugs, Drugs in China, Eating Smoke, England, expatriate, expatriots in China, expats, Film, Gregory DavidRoberts, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Publishers, Literature, mafia, Memoir, Methamphetamine, Movies, Non-fiction, Organized Crime, Pete Spurrier, Philippines, prostitution, Publishing, Royal Marines, Shantaram, The Beach, Tom Carter, triads, True Crime, UK, Wan Chai	| Permalink
The China Law Blog had an interesting discussion about China's Mafia…. Whaddya know?
The questions were: "So what is going on out there? How big is China's mafia? Does it steer clear of foreign companies, particularly those from the West? Is it big in Chongqing, yet far less so elsewhere? What do you know? Let's get a discussion going…."
To offer more information, the five video clips embedded in this post are about organized crime in today's China.
When I arrived at the China Law Blog, there were twenty-one comments. A few said the Communist Party was the most powerful mob in China.
I don't agree.
However, to be fair, that would fit most governments, which is the reason why America's wise Founding Fathers created a Republic with checks and balances in an attempt to avoid the US being taken over by organized criminals voted into office by the democratic majority.
Occasionally in the US, city or regional political machines have become organized and involved in criminal activities. Chicago and New York are the first two cities that come to mind that have had a history of political corruption linked to organized crime.
Then comes along a Bo Xilai in China or government agents such as Eliot Ness or Frank J. Wilson in the US with the support and backing of forces more powerful than the criminals.
I'm sure that the growth of organized crime in China is no different from what we've seen in the US, Mexico, Europe, etc., and a few of the better comments at the China Law Blog support that opinion.
I found Blue Lantern's comment informative. "In China the organized gangs are called Triads, and they are very strong in the North-East and South of China. They are also far stronger than the Mafia, and control much of the global drug trade."
Several comments said most "loan sharking" in China was done by rather small and disorganized groups.
I found Sun Kim's comment interesting. "The difference between organized crime "syndicates" in China and elsewhere is that the CCP has the power, will, and the might to crush any syndicate that it deems "inappropriate" virtually overnight. These "mafia" u describe are ragtag groups that undoubtedly operate with the unspoken approval of the provincial government and/or the CCP as they ultimately help support the economy, albeit in shady terms."
In fact, the US Federal government has the power that Sun talks about, which is why the US mafia was crushed. All it takes is a concerted, focused effort. Macmillan published a book on this topic— Bringing Down the Mob, The War Against the America Mafia.
I found Laobaixing's comment to be the most informative. He cited a source at Rutgers that studies this topic. "He describes a lot of mom and pop organizations working with each other, rather than some well integrated crime family."
The opinions that most organized crime starts at the city and provincial level is the best answer. That's how organized crime started in the US. However, I do not doubt that the Chinese Triads have returned to mainland China since Deng Xiaoping opened China to world trade.
Wherever there is a capitalist economy and a democracy, there will be fertile ground for organized crime to take root.
If you are interested in this discussion, I recommend you click over to the China Law Blog and read the rest of the comments. I also plan to launch a series of posts on organized crime in China soon.
Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of the concubine saga, My Splendid Concubine & Our Hart. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too.
If you want to subscribe to iLook China, there is a "Subscribe" button at the top of the screen in the menu bar.
2 Comments	| China, Chinese police, crime, legal system	| Tagged: Bo Xilai, China's mafia, Chinese Triads, criminals, Eliot Ness, Frank J. Wilson, gangs, global drug trade, global organized crime, loan sharking in China, mafia, organized crime in America, organized crime in China	| Permalink
Eating Smoke — a question and answer with author, Chris Thrall (Viewed as Single Page)
"In the fall of 2009," says Tom Carter, "whilst traveling in India to create my next photography book, I was contacted via email by a British writer who had read Down and out in Hong Kong, one of my online travel articles, which described this poor, dusty backpacker's real-time impressions of Asia's wealthiest city."
For more guest posts by Tom Carter, discover Daughter of Xanadu, Teaching English in the Middle Kingdom, China's Real Karate Kids, or On Crime in China.
Subscribe to "iLook China"
Sign up for an E-mail Subscription at the top of this page.
Note: This "Guest Post" by Tom Carter originally appeared as a five-part series starting October 16, 2011 in Eating Smoke – a question and answer with author Chris Thrall – Part 1
16 Comments	| business, capitalism, China, Chinese Culture, Chinese literature, Chinese police, crime, cultural differences, expatriates, expatriots, legal system, military, tourism	| Tagged: 14K, Addiction, Alex Garland, Asia, Authors, Autobiography, Blacksmith Books, Books, Cantonese, China, China Books, China Expats, Chinese, Chris Thrall, Chris Thrall author of Eating Smoke, Chungking Mansions, Commando, crime, crime in China, Crystal Meth, Danny Boyle, Drug Abuse, Drug Addiction, Drug Psychosis, drugs, Drugs in China, Eating Smoke, England, expats, Film, Gregory David Roberts, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Publishers, HongKong, Kowloon, Literature, mafia, Memoir, Methamphetamine, Movies, Non-fiction, opium wars, Organized Crime, Pete Spurrier, prostitution, Publishing, Royal Marines, Shantaram, South ChinaMorning Post, The Beach, Tom Carter, triads, True Crime, UK, Wan Chai	| Permalink
Ugg Boots - Where they come from


text: Q: Area Under the Curve in triplicate Python I conducted an experiment in triplicate (so each wavelength has 3 corresponding values). I need to get the total area under the curve (one value) for each wavelength. How would I go about doing this in python using pandas?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Tokyo — Pioneer's overseas CE revenue increased by 8.2 percent during its first fiscal quarter, hitting $352.9 million, up from $317.5 million, helped by rising sales of plasma displays and DVD recorders, which offset falling sales of DVD players, audio products and cable set-top boxes.
Overall CE sales at Pioneer were flat in its fiscal first quarter, for the period ending June 30, up 1.7 percent to $481.2 million from $460.4 million in the same three months last year.
The operating loss for the first quarter in Pioneer's CE segment narrowed to $34.2 million, down from a loss of $39.3 million in the same three months a year earlier.
In Pioneer's car electronics segment, fiscal first-quarter overseas sales jumped 8.8 percent to $437.3 million from $391.1 million year-on-year, due mainly to the growth of car navigation systems in North America.
Overall first-quarter car electronics sales increased 6.4 percent, reaching $736.6 million, up from $673.7 million in the same three months a year ago.
However, operating income for the car electronics segment decreased nearly 21 percent during the first three months, down to $56.4 million from $71.3 million in the same period in 2003.
Consolidated Pioneer sales climbed 7.2 percent in the first quarter, hitting $1.5 billion, up from $1.4 billion year-over-year.
Operating income, however, decreased nearly 35 percent to $46.3 million, down from $69.2 million in the first three months of the previous year. Net income was nearly cut in half, sliding 49 percent to $13.9 million in the first quarter, from a year-over-year $26.5 million.
The drop in income, despite increased sales, was due primarily to increased competition and adverse affects of a stronger yen vs. major currencies. The average value of the yen was up 7.9 percent against the U.S. dollar and 1.8 percent against the euro in the three months.


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text:
Camila Cabello to Star In and Develop Music for Re-Imagined 'Cinderella' Film
Get the details on her latest project
Tiana Timmerberg
After a huge year for her solo career, Camila Cabello is stepping outside of her comfort zone to make her feature acting debut. If the shoe fits…
Related: Camila Cabello and Bazzi Share 'Romeo and Juliet'-Inspired "Beautiful" Video
And the shoe certainly does fit! As THR reports, the "Havana" singer will be taking on a re-imagined version of Cinderella. The upcoming movie comes after many adaptations of the hit princess story, and will be a modern take on the classic tale.
Late Late Show host James Corden came up with the original idea that's currently being kept under lock and key. While we anxiously await more details, THR reports that Camila will both star in the film and be heavily involved in developing the music. Pitch Perfect writer Kay Cannon is also behind the upcoming Cinderella adaptation.
As Camila has had serious princess vibes during her music videos and performances, we're beyond ready to see it translated onto the silver screen.


text:
Ellen Sharam's Olive Green Skirt
Griffith Pioneer Park Museum
This bustle-style skirt was made and worn in the late 1870s by Ellen Eleanore Sharam, nee Wennerbom. With its deep flounce and black, beaded braid, the skirt is a fine example of the elegance of the era and the importance of decoration on clothing, even for day wear. Born in Penola, South Australia in 1861, Ellen was the second child of Alison and Charles Wennerbom. Her father had emigrated from Sweden, and her mother from Paisley in Scotland ... more
Estonian child's National Costume
The Oaks Historical Society
This costume is representative of a traditional Estonian folk dress from Tallinn. It is particularly significant though as it was re-created under extraordinary circumstances: during the second world war by an Estonian inmate of a displaced persons camp in Geislingen, Germany. The intricate method of reconstructing the skirt by sewing repurposed threads onto a backing made out of linen flour bags, as well as using leftover flour bags to alter the shirt, demonstrates how the mentality of 'making do' pervaded ... more
Evening dress designed by Lisa Ho and worn by Delta Goodrem
Lisa Ho ran one of Australia's most popular and long-established fashion labels. A graduate of East Sydney Technical College, Ho produced her first collection in 1982 and by 1989 was recognised with a Fashion Industries of Australia Award. Ho has worked across all levels of the industry; designing, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing a wide range of womenswear designs including swimwear, jeans, daywear, active wear, evening wear and special occasion dresses. Ho's evening wear received prominent media coverage in ... more
Evening dress made by David Jones Limited
Born in Noumea, New Caledonia, in 1900, May Camille Dezarnaulds migrated to Sydney with her family in 1912 and lived in the harbour-side suburb of Double Bay until 1923 when she married the Hon. G.R.W. McDonald, local member for Bungara New South Wales. She purchased this custom-made dress from David Jones, probably to wear as her 'going-away' outfit when departing for her honeymoon. The garment would have been selected from a David Jones catalogue featuring a list and ... more
Evi's special occasion dress
West Australian, Evi Ferrier, is a well known Australian artist specialising in mosaic artwork. Evi's special occasion dress brings aesthetic brilliance together with social and economic awareness in a time of boom in the State of Western Australia. In the late 1970s Evi led a busy life as the wife of a Family Court Judge and mother. Through their daughters, she met Lyn Hughes, who imported top quality special occasion clothing from India. At this time, Melbourne artist, Bronwyn Baillieu ... more
Flapper Dress of Marjorie Florence Smith
The Cavalcade of History and Fashion Inc.
A Flapper Gown made of hand painted chiffon and beautifully embellished with sequins, beads and metallic threads. This softly flowing chiffon gown is known as "Autumn Butterflies" due to its patternation. Each butterfly is individually painted and embellished by hand. This gown is known in the Cavalcade collection as "Marnie". Marjorie (Marnie) grew up in a family that had status and privilege within the community. Her grandfather John Smith was not only one of the leading pastoralist but also held ... more
Flora Mason's rabbit fur coat
The Reg and Flora Mason collection (in the National Museum of Australia) comprises a rabbit fur coat gifted by Reg Mason to his wife Flora in 1945. The coat was tailored by Adelaide furrier Thomas Curtis Hunter from the skins of rabbits trapped by Reg Mason and his son, Murray, in the Reedy Creek area near Robe, South Australia. Introduction of the rabbit to Australia ranks as one of the most significant human interventions in this country's environmental history ... more
Florence Austral red & black blouse
"The Waters of the Rhine seem to mount high, and over all rides the triumphant voice of Florence Austral as Brunnhilde. Her singing can justly be called queenly. Even after hearing the glorious singing of Frida Leider on other records, Austral's triumphant voice remains in the mind." -Neville Cardus, Manchester Guardian, 1928. Florence Austral was a prominent figure in the opera world in the early 20th Century. It was in 1914 that Austral won first place in two voice ... more
Florence Porter's Wedding Dress
Miss Porter's House National Trust Newcastle
Florence Porter's wedding dress is one of the most significant items in the collection at Miss Potter's House as it marks the marriage of Florence and Herbert as the familial start point of the House and its people. Because there are exact details of the item's authenticity it is a good example of a wedding garment of the times. Florence and Herbert Porter were married on 12 January 1910 at All Saints Church, Singleton and lived at 434 King St ... more
Full dress tail coat and cocked hat worn by Jeremiah Linde Jones, Royal Navy Purser
Braidwood Museum
This Royal Navy officer's full dress coat and cocked hat was worn by Jeremiah Linde Jones (c.1796-1866), a ships Purser who settled in the Braidwood area between 1838 and 1845. The design of the uniform is typical of the highly stylised and regulated full dress uniforms of the Royal Navy during the 1800's. The cut, colours and trimmings reveal when it was worn and the officer's rank and branch. The blue/black wool tail coat has a white ... more


LGBT Catholics Westminster is part of the pastoral outreach of the Catholic Diocese of Westminster, London, for LGBT Catholics, parents, families and friends. With over 600 people on its e-mail list, it gathers at Farm Street Jesuit Church, Mayfair, London, for 17.30 Masses on 2nd & 4th Sundays. It also organises occasional Reflection Days, and evening discussions. It has a Music Group which accompanies some of the Masses and a lively Younger Adults Group.
LGBT Catholics Westminster also take part in London's LGBT Pride events.
The LGBT Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council is a member of the European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups, the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics, and City of Westminster LGBT Community Forum. All are welcome!
The Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception, also known as Farm Street Jesuit Church, is a stunning, neo-gothic building in the heart of Mayfair. The LGBT+ Catholic community, parents and families, gather for refreshments and social gathering after the 17.30 Mass on 2nd & 4th Sundays. Its own Beacon Music Group provides music at the 2nd Sunday 17.30 Mass.


The White House has yet to release the document's text.
"We're going to have a great discussion and I think tremendous success".
"Many people will think of this as a scene from a fantasy. science fiction movie", said North Korean president Kim Jong-un on Tuesday of his meeting with USA leader Donald Trump in Singapore.
Inside, they sat alongside each other against a backdrop of North Korean and USA flags, with Kim beaming broadly as the US president gave him a thumbs up.
But on the eve of the summit, the White House unexpectedly announced Trump would depart Singapore by Tuesday evening, raising questions about whether his aspirations for an ambitious outcome had been scaled back.
They first met Tuesday for about 40 minutes alone, except for their translators, before bringing in delegations from their respective sides for a working lunch.
"We sat down for lunch", Rodman said of a face-to-face meeting with Kim five years ago.
"It was not easy to get here", he said.
Mr Trump said he felt "really great" about the meeting.
And then Mr Trump ushers Mr Kim off the red carpet.
"We will be tremendously successful", Trump said before their private session. But no one can credibly suggest that a durable or verifiable denuclearization of the Korean peninsula can be achieved when North Korea remains a completely closed and totalitarian state.
But while Trump, and Kim, regularly stray off diplomatic scripts, a larger risk may be that there may be no full transcript, public or secret, of what the two leaders discussed.
But in return, Washington would offer "different and unique" guarantees "to provide them sufficient certainty that they can be comfortable that denuclearisation is not something that ends badly for them".
Trump said Saturday that he believes the North Korean leader will "surprise on the upside".
But a war would mean devastating casualties, including of American troops in South Korea, and American cities would also be at risk of suffering a nuclear strike because of the North's recent advances.
Outgunned and outnumbered - Lara must use everything she's learned from the brutal environment against Trinity. It's been teased in the past that Shadow of the Tomb Raider will be one of Lara's darkest adventures yet.


The Durham County Veteran Services would like to invite you to join them on Tuesday, November 11th as Durham County holds its annual Veterans' Day Recognition and Celebration Program from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Durham County Health and Human Services Building located at 414 East Main Street, 2nd Floor Public Meeting Room. Parking is available in the Human Services Parking Lot located on the corner of Main and Dillard Street.
The annual Veterans' Day program is an opportunity on behalf of a grateful nation to formally recognize all of our veterans in this community and across the nation for their service and sacrifice in the defense of our country. There will be a light lunch served following the program.
The Honorable Congressman, David E. Price will be Special Guest Speaker and will deliver introductory remarks for the citizenship portion of our program.
The Keynote Speaker for this event will be Cheryl Rawls, Director of the Winston-Salem, VA Regional Office Veterans Benefits Administration. She is a former Army Airborne Officer and a dynamic speaker who will bring an inspiring message.
Why not join other veteras as the Durham County Veteran Services Office extends their congratulations to our newest American citizens and to thank veterans for their service to our country.


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Kristin Cavallari's brother Michael, 30, found dead after 2-week search
Dec. 10, 2015, 9:53 PM UTC / Source: TODAY
By Chris Serico
Kristin Cavallari's older brother Michael has been found dead after a two-week search.
Kristin Cavallari's brother Michael found dead, no sign of foul play
Dec. 11, 201500:28
In a statement to People magazine, the 28-year-old reality star mourned the loss of her 30-year-old brother.
"We have just been informed by the authorities my brother's body has been found," Kristin said in the statement. "This is a very painful time and we are still processing it all. We kindly ask everyone please respect our privacy during our time of grieving."
Cavallari also posted a heart-wrenching tribute to Michael on Instagram Thursday afternoon.
https://www.instagram.com/p/_IHRPoNQzT
"My heart is in a million pieces. Mikey, I could always count on you to make me laugh. You had such a good heart and will be forever missed. I'm at a loss for words but I know u are in a better place and finally at peace. I love u so much RIP," she wrote.
Police had been searching for Michael since Nov. 27, when they discovered his Honda Civic abandoned about 100 feet off Interstate 70 in Utah. Prior to the discovery of Michael's body, Sheriff Steven White of the Grand County Sheriff's Office told TODAY that there appeared to be "no sign of foul play."
Kristin, who'd celebrated the birth of her third child with Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler just four days before Michael's disappearance, appeared to have her brother on her mind Monday, when a childhood beach photo of the siblings was posted to her Instagram feed.
https://www.instagram.com/p/-_uqhTNQzK
"I appreciate all the concern, thoughts, and prayers that have been extended to me and my family," reads the caption accompanying that image. "We remain hopeful and I will share any news that we receive. I have such gratitude for all those that have shared their support."
Follow TODAY.com writer Chris Serico on Twitter.
Reality-TV star Kristin Cavallari's brother Michael missing


Enjoy a sweeping view of the Sea of Cortez and its surrounding landscapes at Casa Luna Escondida, a massive, opulent home located in the exclusive Palmilla community of Villas del Mar. With carefully curated furnishings and extra amenities, such as complimentary chef services, Casa Luna Escondida will leave you pampered and entertained during every minute of your stay.
From the chandeliers and high ceilings, all the way down to the luxury furniture throughout the house, every room inside Casa Luna Escondida brims with style and sophistication. The neutral tones of the floors and walls create a calm, refreshing ambiance throughout the 12,000 square feet of interior space in this lavish home.
Sleeping at Casa Luna Escondida is an experience unto itself. Each of the ten exquisitely designed bedrooms in this villa come with satellite television, a private terrace, and large, comfortable beds (eight kings, one queen, and one twin). High-speed internet and wi-fi throughout Casa Luna Escondida make it easy to connect and get work done while in the privacy of your bedroom.
Even if you don't fancy taking a dip, the resort-like furnishings of Casa Luna Escondida's outdoor living area include plenty of deck chairs and comfortable leather couches, perfect for getting a tan while enjoying a good book during the day. Other amenities available at Casa Luna Escondida include a palapa, fire pit, barbeque, and stereo system, all of which are great for intimate gatherings especially at sunset.
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If your first thought upon seeing a G&L Bass is that it looks a lot like a Fender, you have a good eye.This company has the same builders behind its designs as the instruments that defined a generation of electric guitars and basses: Leo Fender, George Fullerton and Dale Hyatt.We are working on getting something up there, but with much going on, sometimes these things take a bit of time.jacksonjs30, your serial number traces back to an American Special Jazz Bass, Olympic White, Rosewood fingerboard, completed 1/5/2011 and shipped to a dealer in West Virginia 1/7/2011.While i'm here, please remember that the serial number itself will not "prove" that your guitar/bass is a real Fender....although it certainly is a good step in the right direction. I do know that when it comes to Guitar Dater Project output, garbage in/garbage out is often part of the problem, such as entering "O" for "0" for example.Nor will Custom Shop ones or "V" US vintage reissues. You posted elsewhere and the question was answered there also.
G&L basses also come with the Saddle-lock bridge design, which cuts down the side-to-side motion of each string's saddle to keep them from wandering.
Compared to many bigger Fender amps the Princeton Reverb (PR) wenr through the CBS/silverface periods with very little changes.
The rectifier tube was one of the tube and circuit changes where the 5U4GB was replaced by a GZ34.
Secondly, GDP was intended primarily to date vintage instruments, so the most recent serials might return unrecognized till the database is updated.
Sometimes "oddball serials" such as any specialized serial format including American Specials, won't work. Luciano thanx Yes Luciano, it is still a valid serial.
If you live in a small city this site works as well because it's very popular.


Textiles & Garments Trade Shows in Minsk - Textiles & Garments Trade Fairs, Conferences, Events & Business Exhibitions in Minsk.
Find out comprehensive information on Textiles & Garments trade shows, trade fairs, conferences, events & business exhibitions to be held in Minsk.
BELLEGMASH 2011 is the leading and most renowned trade fair dedicated to sewing, textile and light industry in Belarus.
Everything for Sewing Industry 2011 is the most significant trade exhibition dedicated to the sewing industry in Belarus.


There are many benefits to using a water softener in your home. But, did you know that installing a water softener could also help you save money on your household bills? In addition to reducing your energy bills you'll spend less money on cleaning products and prolong the life of your appliances. Let's take a close look at ways you can save money with a water softener in your home.
Washing clothes in soft water is more cost effective than washing them in hard water, according to a study carried out on behalf of the Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF). This study tested the ability of washing machines to remove nine different stains, including blood, red wine, chocolate ice cream, and barbecue sauce. In every case, clothes washed in soft water needed less detergent and a lower washing temperature to successfully remove the stain. The average household spends 18 percent of total energy costs on heating water, which means that washing clothes at a cooler temperature results in savings.
Soft water is better at cleaning dishes; with this, you don't have to spend hours scrubbing stubborn food residue from plates and pans. Plus, soft water requires less detergent, saving you money. Even if you use a dishwasher, a water softener reduces the need for extra detergent. Studies show that you need only 30 percent as much detergent to clean dishes when you wash them in a dishwasher with soft water compared to hard water.
No one likes spending hours scrubbing soap scum from the tub, but that is what can happen in homes with a hard water supply. Hard water reacts with shampoo and soap to form a scum that sticks to the sides of the bathtub (and to your skin). When you install a water softener, you will notice your bathroom fixtures looking cleaner even when you clean them less often. You will also notice that you don't have to use as many cleaning products to get the surfaces in your home sparkling clean. This is because soft water reacts with cleaning products to form a good lather, which you can use to get all your home's surfaces properly cleaned.
The minerals in hard water can take years off the lifespan of common household appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters. With a water softener, it's possible that your dishwasher will last 10 years, but homes with hard water can anticipate a lifespan of seven years, on average. Water heaters will experience increased maintenance to the heating element and decreased efficiency can be expected if you home has hard water.
If you are tired of spending money on replacing appliances, buying cleaning products, and paying high energy bills, consider installing a water softener. They don't cost much to run and can save you money in more ways than one over the long term.
Learn more about ways you can save money with a water softener in our video about soft water savings.


Evidence of Rickettsia helvetica infection in humans, eastern France.
A 37-year-old man living in eastern France seroconverted to Rickettsia helvetica in August 1997, 4 weeks after the onset of an unexplained febrile illness. Results of a serosurvey of forest workers from the area where the patient lived showed a 9.2% seroprevalence against R. helvetica. This organism may pose a threat for populations exposed to Ixodes ricinus ticks.


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Warhammer 40K Darktide writer is a franchise veteran
Warhammer 40K Darktide writer is Dan Abnett, the novelist who has launched a dozen books for the grimdark franchise. The announcement was made today during the Warhammer Skulls streaming event hosted by Games Workshop, the company that created and owns the long-running grimdark franchise.
While Abnett's official title is "writer," which conjures up images of him delivering fat reams of text to directors, designers and performers, what this actually means is that he'll be lending his vast experience with the universe to Fatshark, the studio developing Warhammer 40K Darktide.
Abnett's best known work within 40K is most likely Horus Rising, which started the Horus Heresy, a saga now on its 54th book. Beloved characters within the 40K universe such as Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt, leader of the ragtag infantry group known as Gaunt's Ghosts, and Inquisitor Eisenhorn find their origins from Abnett's pen.
Abnett's description of his duties as the Warhammer 40K Darktide writer sound more in line with those of a narrative designer, someone who helps come up with lore-based answers to design-based decisions for the game. It won't be his first time writing for videogames though. He co-wrote the critically acclaimed hiding under tables game Alien: Isolation for Creative Assembly back in 2014.
Darktide is one of those games we've not really heard much from since its announcement at the Xbox Games Showcase of July 2020. In it, players will control a unit of Imperial Guardsmen, considered the cannon fodder of the Imperium. They're tasked with exploring the hive city of Tertium under the direct orders of the Inquisition.
While some reporters have compared the game to Left 4 Dead, Darktide's lineage is more obvious: it's the dark science fiction successor of Fatshark's own Vermintide games. That means multi-player co-op action against hundreds of enemies, perhaps a swarm even, in a hostile landscape and possibly some of that satisfying heavy melee action that is Vermintide's signature.
Rather than playing as one of the vaunted (and overpowered) Space Marines, Darktide will task you to be a mere mortal against impossible odds. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide doesn't have a release date yet, but it was announced for Xbox Series X|S and as a launch title on Xbox Game Pass.
Games WorkshopSEGAWarhammer 40KXbox


According to a recent buzz from China, Apple has plans to come up with multiple variants of the budget friendly iPhone Lite. Reportedly there will be two versions code-named iPhone Zenvo and iPhone Zagato/Bertone.
Consumers waiting for a low priced iPhone might eventually end up buying an iPhone Zenvo or the iPhone Zagato/Bertone. Although these are just codenames, both these devices are expected to be on similar grounds to the Apple iPhone 5. A leaked document claims that they will both have a 4-inch display and will be available in multiple colors similar to the latest generation of Apple iPod Touch devices.
iPhone Zenvo is expected to have a dual-core H5P processor from Samsung, 1GB of RAM and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity whereas iPhone Zagato/Bertone will have an unidentified H6P processor and support for TDD-LTE. It is safe to assume that the latter one will be more powerful and expensive of the two. However both look similar to the iPhone 5 as far as design is concerned, but with a less powerful hardware configuration on the inside.
There have been numerous reports citing different color options that will be available for these devices. Although a majority of them, including the recently leaked image point out to five colors namely Red, Blue, Green, Yellow and White. Apart from colors, there have been clashes for the official name. Earlier it was the iPhone 5S, but now the battle has come down to iPhone Lite and iPhone Mini.
Even though these two variants might sound to be interesting, this could just be one of the many reports and rumors about the budget iPhone models. Till the time there's no official announcement from Apple, it's better to take this news with a grain of salt.


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Special Olympics Georgia is sad to acknowledge the great loss of Special Olympics' founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Her incredible impact on people young and old with intellectual disabilities is outstanding and will carry on for years to come. We will all mourn the passing of this great human rights leader and founder of our organization. Our hearts are with the Shriver family in this most difficult of times.


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DNR Secretary pledges to 'lock arms' with DATCP
DNR secretary says he's encouraged by progress he's seen with farmer-led conservation groups.
DNR Secretary pledges to 'lock arms' with DATCP DNR secretary says he's encouraged by progress he's seen with farmer-led conservation groups. Check out this story on wisfarmer.com: https://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2019/05/20/dnr-secretary-more-staffer-assigned-work-backlogged-cafo-paperwork/3744844002/
Jan Shepel, Correspondent Published 2:21 p.m. CT May 20, 2019
DNR Secretary Preston Cole pledged to work with DATCP on matters ranging from CWD to water quality and says he's 'excited about what the future holds if we lock arms together.' (Photo: Paul A. Smith)
MADISON - Consistency in regulatory positions, action on chronic wasting disease and the regulation of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) were on the minds of board members at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection as they spoke with new Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole last week.
Cole's appearance was first on the agenda when the DATCP board met May 16 in Madison. He pledged to work with DATCP on matters ranging from CWD to water quality. "I'm excited about what the future holds if we lock arms together."
Board Chair Miranda Leis said she is concerned about consistency in DNR's regulatory stance, with one farm appearing to be regulated one way while another farm is regulated in another – even in the same region of the state. "They seem to be playing by a different rulebook," she said.
Cole noted that in the last eight years, Wisconsin has added 110 CAFOs to the landscape while at the same time the agency lost staff members who were needed to help with state permits and regulations. "If it doesn't make sense, we have to do something different. Let's find a way to bring people into compliance," he said, adding that he wants to make sure the environmental community is at the table to talk about common sense approaches.
Board member Dean Strauss, who is a dairy farmer, said farmers want to do the right thing. "When you, as a CAFO, have a permit that's expired and you had everything in on time, and that goes on a website as an expired permit, that's very frustrating.
"The general perception is that we're doing whatever we want," Strauss said, "and nothing could be further from the truth."
Cole, who spent 27 years in Public Works in Milwaukee, said the people who do the wrong things are easy to spot. "Most folks don't wake up in the morning wanting to do bad things," he added.
Strauss told Cole that it's going to be important, going forward, to have a dialogue between the two agencies.
Cole was appointed to the state's Natural Resources Board in 2007, by then-Governor Jim Doyle. Among the state's many agencies, only the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection have citizen boards to help shape and approve policies within the agency.
In 2013, then-Governor Scott Walker re-appointed Cole to the NR board; he served as chairman from 2013-2014.
Cole had served as city forester and parks supervisor in the city of Milwaukee and before that he was parks superintendent in St. Louis. Cole earned a degree in forestry and was an FFA member in southwest Michigan, where he grew up surrounded by orchards filled with cherries, apples, peaches and pears – grown to supply metropolitan Milwaukee and Chicago.
His FFA experience, he said, "helped me arrive to this chair."
In his brief tenure as DNR Secretary so far, Cole said he had traveled around the state and has been encouraged by progress he's seen with farmer-led conservation groups, like Yahara Pride in southern Wisconsin, which partners with the Clean Lakes Alliance. As this group and others like it promote continuous, living cover crops, along with no-till practices, scientific research is showing improved soil health, he told members of the DATCP board.
Watershed improvements
At a watershed conference earlier this spring, Yahara Pride Farm's resource manager Dennis Frame, said programs in the watershed, which covers parts of Dane, Columbia and Rock counties, have already made strides in reducing nitrogen, phosphorus and soil loss on participating farms.
What comes next, Frame said, is looking at projects to determine where farmers could make further improvements that may have incremental conservation benefits, even though they may not help the farm's bottom line. "We have to figure out how much we could do and how much we could pay farmers to do it. There's a bigger benefit to society for some incremental changes that may not help the farm that much," Frame said.
Low-disturbance manure injection, using equipment like this, showcased at a Yahara Pride field day last summer, is one of the ways farmers in the southern Wisconsin watershed are reducing phosphorus runoff and helping clean up area lakes. (Photo: Jan Shepel)
One pilot project in the watershed, which includes a small number of farms, is working to establish more information on cost and challenges to producers in implementing additional conservation practices. It will target farms that are already achieving losses below regulatory standards for nitrogen and sediment loss and work with them to establish targets for further reductions.
The project will also try to identify fields where changes could have the most impact on improving soil and water quality – two goals of the farmer-led initiative.
Clean Drinking Water
Cole told board members that Governor Tony Evers has set 2019 as the "Year of Clean Drinking Water" and has proposed $70 million for initiatives to help improve water quality in the state. Some bonding money has been designated for improving water systems in cities; other funding will hire five new water quality scientists at DNR, along with five more staffers to work on backlogged paperwork on the state's CAFOs.
The governor's plan calls for a five-fold increase – from $200,000 to $1 million annually – in resources to clean up contaminated water. The state will contribute $75,000 to a geology and groundwater study in southwest Wisconsin to determine levels and causes of groundwater contamination.
Jane Landretti of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources lays out the ground rules for a public hearing on CAFO permit applications in Luxemburg. (Photo: Paul Srubas/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)
"Legislators are concerned about clean water," said Cole. "They have heard families testifying over groundwater concerns from around the state. This legislature and this governor will get something done on clean water."
In an effort to get the two agencies to collaborate, Cole and DATCP Secretary designee Brad Pfaff are making plans to get their two boards to meet together in the coming months to talk about areas where the two agencies need better coordination on regulations.
CWD programs
One of those areas, brought up by DATCP board members, is the deer disease called chronic wasting disease or CWD. Cole said the state has spent $52 million on surveillance and testing in the years since the disease was discovered in the wild deer herd, and so far it has continued to spread.
The DNR is responsible for CWD programs in wild deer and DATCP is responsible for regulations related to captive deer farms. At times state deer farmers have been caught in between programs from the two agencies.
Paul Boehnlein prepares two young deer shot by his hunting partner Kristin Braziunas for testing for chronic wasting disease at the sample site behind the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources office in Fitchburg, Wis., on Nov. 17, 2018. The animals were shot in Iowa County, where CWD is prevalent in the wild deer herd. Braziunas said the couple will dispose of the meat if the deer are found to be infected. (Photo: Dee J. Hall/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism)
The DNR Secretary said one thing that is needed is a quick test for the disease. (Currently the only way to test for the disease is a microscopic exam of tissue from a dead animal.) One of his first goals, in this area, Cole said, is to determine who is doing what in terms of combating the disease. He learned that Michigan has allocated $5 million to Michigan State to develop a quick test and he hopes Wisconsin can be "surgical" in its approach to dealing with the disease.
"We have to talk about testing," he told board members. "Hunters took 400,000 deer and we had 17,000 tests. We hope to have better answers shortly."
In recent years the DATCP board has heard testimony from distraught deer farmers in the state who told them that the state's CWD strategy would put them out of business. One of their concerns was a requirement to put in double fencing on their deer farms.
Cole said it is "hard to force people to spend money when there's no proof" it's going to solve a problem. "I hope we can still have a cervid deer farm industry in Wisconsin," adding that he and Secretary designee Pfaff have had conversations on the subject.
"When we have an industry that is regulated by two bureaucracies, we probably should evolve those bureaucracies, not let them run amok," Cole said.
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