text:
Nine Inch Nails tour announces final U.S. dates to 'Wave Goodbye'
Top StoryTours July 14, 2009 By Allison Reitz
Nine Inch Nails27 Ticket Industry Secondary921
Nine Inch Nails is inching closer to its indefinite hiatus with date and ticket sale confirmations for its three-city Wave Goodbye Tour. Ten concerts...
Nine Inch Nails is inching closer to its indefinite hiatus with date and ticket sale confirmations for its three-city Wave Goodbye Tour. Ten concerts have been confirmed for the trek, which opens August 22 at Bowery Ballroom in New York, NY, and closes September 6 at Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA.
As part of the brief farewell jaunt, NIN will perform a total of four nights in New York, spending its additional nights in the city at Webster Hall and Terminal 5. A two-night stand at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago precedes the band's closing four-night stand in Los Angeles, which also features engagements at Hollywood Palladium, Henry Fonda Theater and the Wiltern Theatre.
British rock troupe The Horrors will open the Wave Goodbye Tour on August 22-23 and 25. Danish indie band Mew will provide support on August 26, 28-29 and September 2-3.
Ticketing for several of the shows will be handled exclusively through NIN.com. Sales for these shows — August 22 and 23, and September 3 and 6 — are facilitated by MusicToday and begin July 17.
As usual, NIN will also handle presales for its other U.S. tour dates starting on July 17. Public onsales for these dates begin July 31. All presales and regular sales start at 5 p.m. local time.
To access the exclusive sales and presales, ticket buyers must be registered with and logged in to NIN.com. Fans are also encouraged to set up a payment account beforehand with MusicToday to save time during the checkout process.
NIN has used this self-ticketing process for presales on its tours in recent years, including the 2008-2009 Lights in the Sky Tour and the summer 2009 NIN/JA Tour. The process restricts buyers to two tickets per order and requires a valid ID for pick-up on the night of the show.
Band founder and frontman Trent Reznor developed the process to help combat ticket scalping and ensure an equal opportunity for fans trying to purchase concert tickets. Reznor has also been an outspoken opponent of Ticketmaster in recent years, blasting the company's proposed merger with Live Nation earlier this year.
"Ticketmaster has essentially been a monopoly for many years — certainly up until Live Nation's exclusive deal ran out. They could have (and can right now) stop the secondary market dead in its tracks by doing the following: limit the amount of sales per customer, print names on the tickets and require ID / ticket matches at the venue," Reznor said in his statement. "We know this works because we do it for our presales. Why don't THEY do it? It's obvious — they make a lot of money fueling the secondary market. Ticketmaster even bought a re-seller site and often bounces you over to that site to buy tickets (TicketsNow.com)!"
Late in 2008, Reznor announced that NIN would enter an indefinite hiatus sometime in 2009. A few months later, he explained that the veteran industrial rock band's final U.S. performances would come over the summer during the band's co-headline run with Jane's Addiction.
However, in a statement last week, Reznor changed his mind and decided to extend NIN's final touring plans with this new small club tour of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
"Upon reflection, the NIN/JA tour felt like we had to rush through sets due to a limited allotted set length and many shows were in daylight," Reznor explained the reasoning behind his decision, adding, "it just didn't feel right to end NIN that way."
Nine Inch Nails itinerary:
August 22 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom *
August 23 New York, NY Webster Hall *
August 25 – 26 New York, NY Terminal 5
August 28 – 29 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom
September 2 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium
September 3 Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theater *
September 5 Los Angeles, CA Wiltern Theatre
September 6 Los Angeles, CA Echoplex *
* tickets available exclusively through NIN.com


text:
#include <sys/param.h>
#include <sys/file.h>
#include <sys/malloc.h>
#include <sys/proc.h>
#include <sys/socketvar.h>
#include <sys/syscallsubr.h>
#include <sys/syslog.h>
#include <sys/systm.h>

#include <fsyscall/private/fmaster.h>
#include <sys/fmaster/fmaster_proto.h>

/*******************************************************************************
 * shared code
 */

static const char *sysname = "accept4";

/*******************************************************************************
 * code for master
 */

static int
accept4_master(struct thread *td, int s /* local */, struct sockaddr *name,
	       socklen_t *anamelen, int flags)
{
	struct sockaddr *addr;
	socklen_t addrlen;
	int error;

	if ((name == NULL) || (anamelen == NULL))
		return (kern_accept4(td, s, NULL, NULL, flags, NULL));

	error = copyin(anamelen, &addrlen, sizeof(addrlen));
	if (error != 0)
		return (error);
	error = kern_accept4(td, s, &addr, &addrlen, flags, NULL);
	if (error != 0)
		return (error);
	error = copyout(&addrlen, anamelen, sizeof(addrlen));
	if (error != 0)
		goto exit;

	error = 0;
exit:
	free(addr, M_SONAME);

	return (error);
}

/*******************************************************************************
 * code for slave
 */

static int
execute_call(struct thread *td, int s /* local */, socklen_t namelen, int flags)
{
	struct payload *payload;
	int error;

	payload = fsyscall_payload_create();
	if (payload == NULL)
		return (ENOMEM);

	error = fsyscall_payload_add_int(payload, s);
	if (error != 0)
		goto exit;
	error = fsyscall_payload_add_socklen(payload, namelen);
	if (error != 0)
		goto exit;
	error = fsyscall_payload_add_int(payload, flags);
	if (error != 0)
		goto exit;

	error = fmaster_write_payloaded_command(td, ACCEPT4_CALL, payload);
	if (error != 0)
		goto exit;

exit:
	fsyscall_payload_dispose(payload);

	return (error);
}

static int
accept4_slave(struct thread *td, int s /* local */, struct sockaddr *name,
	      socklen_t *anamelen, int flags)
{
	int error;

	error = execute_call(td, s, sizeof(struct sockaddr_storage), flags);
	if (error != 0)
		return (error);
	error = fmaster_execute_accept_return(td, ACCEPT4_RETURN, name,
					      anamelen);
	if (error != 0)
		return (error);

	return (0);
}

/*******************************************************************************
 * entry point
 */

static int
accept4_main(struct thread *td, int s, struct sockaddr *name,
	     socklen_t *anamelen, int flags)
{
	enum fmaster_file_place place;
	int error, f, fd, lfd;
	char desc[VNODE_DESC_LEN];

	error = fmaster_get_vnode_info(td, s, &place, &lfd);
	if (error != 0)
		return (error);
	f = ~SOCK_CLOEXEC & flags;
	switch (place) {
	case FFP_MASTER:
		error = accept4_master(td, lfd, name, anamelen, f);
		break;
	case FFP_SLAVE:
		error = accept4_slave(td, lfd, name, anamelen, f);
		break;
	case FFP_PENDING_SOCKET:
	default:
		return (EINVAL);
	}
	if (error != 0)
		return (error);

	fd = td->td_retval[0];
	snprintf(desc, sizeof(desc), "%s(s=%d)", sysname, s);
	error = fmaster_return_fd(td, DTYPE_SOCKET, place, fd, desc);
	if (error != 0)
		return (error);
	/* fmaster_return_fd() overwrote td->td_retval[0] with the virtual fd */
	error = fmaster_set_close_on_exec(td, td->td_retval[0],
					  (SOCK_CLOEXEC & flags) != 0);
	if (error != 0)
		return (error);

	return (0);
}

static struct flag_definition flag_defs[] = {
	DEFINE_FLAG(SOCK_CLOEXEC),
	DEFINE_FLAG(SOCK_NONBLOCK)
};

int
sys_fmaster_accept4(struct thread *td, struct fmaster_accept4_args *uap)
{
	struct sockaddr *name;
	struct timeval time_start;
	socklen_t *anamelen;
	int error, flags, s;
	const char *fmt = "%s: started: s=%d, name=%p, anamelen=%p, flags=0x%x "
			  "(%s)";
	char buf[256];

	s = uap->s;
	name = uap->name;
	anamelen = uap->anamelen;
	flags = uap->flags;
	fmaster_chain_flags(buf, sizeof(buf), flags, flag_defs,
			    array_sizeof(flag_defs));
	fmaster_log(td, LOG_DEBUG, fmt, sysname, s, name, anamelen, flags, buf);
	microtime(&time_start);

	error = accept4_main(td, s, name, anamelen, flags);

	fmaster_log_syscall_end(td, sysname, &time_start, error);

	return (error);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Consolidating two dictionaries with the same keys and different values I have two collection.Counter()s, both of which of the same keys, so they look something like this:
01: 3
02: 2
03: 4

01: 8
02: 10
03: 13

I want the final result to look a bit more like this:
01: [3, 8]
02: [2, 10]
03:  [4, 13]

How would I go about merging them?

A: You can use a dict comprehension:
dict1 = {1: 3, 2:  2, 3:  4 }
dict2 = {1: 8, 2: 10, 3: 13 }
dict3 = { k: [ dict1[k], dict2[k] ] for k in dict1 }
# Result:
# dict3 = {1: [3, 8], 2: [2, 10], 3: [4, 13]}

A: There aren't any automatic ways of doing this, you would have to manually loop through the arrays and combine them to a final output array yourself.

A: You might run into some problems if one dictionary does not have the same key. It will throw a KeyField Error, otherwise this will work.
d1 = {01 : 3, 02: 2, 03: 4}
d2 = {01: 8, 02: 10, 03: 13}
d3 = {}
for key in d1.keys():
    d3[key] = [d1[key], d2[key]]

and d3 will contain
{ 1 : [3, 8], 2: [2, 10], 3: [4, 13] }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Tenth Meeting of the EAST Expert Group on ATM Fraud (EAST EGAF) took place on Wednesday 11th May 2016 at ING Domestic Bank in Amsterdam.
EAST EGAF is a regional expert group that focuses on regional and global ATM crime and fraud related issues, threats and counter-measures.
The meeting was chaired by Mr Otto de Jong and was attended by key representatives from ATM Deployers, ATM Networks, ATM Vendors, Security Equipment Vendors, Law Enforcement and Forensic Analysts.
EAST EGAF, which meets three times a year in advance of each of the meetings of EAST National Members, enables in-depth and technical discussion to take place on ATM Skimming, ATM Card Trapping, ATM Cash Trapping, ATM Reversal Fraud and ATM Logical Fraud.
The focus of EAST EGAF is on topics and issues raised by EAST National Members, which represent 34 countries with a total deployment of 1,332,228 ATMs. Outputs from the group are presented to all meetings of EAST National Members.
In addition EAST EGAF generates EAST ATM Fraud Alerts for all EAST Members (National and Associate). In total 93 EAST ATM Fraud Alerts have been issued, 18 to date in 2016.


European Meeting of People experiencing Poverty – "It is necessary to listen to the people concerned who have a real desire to participate in finding solutions"
National delegations from 30 European countries – comprising people experiencing poverty and social workers – met in Brussels on 19 and 20 November 2015 in order to participate in the two days of the 13th edition of the European Meeting of People experiencing Poverty, organised by the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) with the support of the European Commission and the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU).
With the focus this year on the issue of social standards in the EU, through the organisation of conferences and themed workshops, the meeting aimed to offer people experiencing poverty the opportunity to share their experiences, obtain recognition and give visibility to this highly sensitive matter, with almost 122 million people considered to be at risk of poverty in the EU. In this context, the meeting also aimed to establish a strategic dialogue by allowing direct exchanges with political leaders with a view to provide food for thought on the subject.
For the occasion, the Presidency's website met several members of the Luxembourg delegation, who, on their return from Brussels, gave an account of their experience of these two days of work.
No fewer than 30 national delegations met in Brussels on 19 and 20 November 2015 in order to participate in the European Meeting. According to Charles Berrang, Research Officer at the R&D service of the Caritas Foundation and National Coordinator of the Luxembourg delegation for EAPN Luxembourg, the watchword of the meeting was exchange.
Through several workshops and round tables, the delegations shared their experiences on a national level, ranging from the situation of people experiencing poverty to the work of associations involved in this context, and including the political support which exists or not in this field. It was an exercise which helped to show that there are "very great differences from one government to another" and that "although all is not perfect in Luxembourg, a great deal is, nevertheless, being done", he continued.
In this context, one of the conference's main messages is that the definition of poverty cannot be restricted to financial poverty, but that it is necessary to take account of all its aspects. "Poverty can also be cultural", recalled Charles Berrang, who noted that the debate largely concerned the need "to not organise poor people on a hierarchical basis, to not say that one poor person has a priority over another", with the conference welcoming a very large variety of people – victims of sexual abuse, the unemployed, single parents – i.e. "a very wide spectrum".
Pitting poor people against one another, in particular those who work and those are unable to work, as is often the case, poses a great risk, explained Nadia Dondelinger, Head of the Schlaifmillen Workshop and the ACT! service for the Inter-Actions association and member of the Executive Committee of EAPN Luxembourg. "When we say that one poor person deserves more help than another and, as a consequence, we refuse the latter help, there is a risk of finding that person three months later in a much more serious situation, requiring help for several years", she explained.
The decline into poverty can be very quick and can affect everybody, continued Charles Berrang. A video presented by the Dutch delegation gave an account of a young "happy, married" man whose life was turned upside down when he divorced, an event quickly followed by the death of his father which "resulted in his complete collapse". "People who lead a normal life can sink into poverty as a result of personal or professional setbacks", he indicated.
Also, another key aspect in this context is that it is not poverty that defines the person, added Nadia Dondelinger. "Human dignity and character are much more important than the fact of finding oneself in a situation of poverty", she said. Human dignity should be at the heart of all legislative projects on this subject, she declared.
It was precisely this type of setback suffered by Tahar, one of the members of the Luxembourg delegation. At the age of 55, this trained maître d'hôtel has been working for three years at the Vollekskichen of the National Committee of Social Defence (CNDS) in the framework of the guaranteed minimum wage (RMG), after losing his job following a "very difficult" divorce, which, in particular, meant that he could only see his child three hours a week.
This forced him into a highly unstable situation "overnight", with not only the question of work but also that of housing becoming a problem for him: although he works 40 hours a week, his status as a beneficiary of RMG, which is evaluated regularly and is subject to revision, does not entitle him to the advantages of a fixed-term contract which, very often, is required in Luxembourg to obtain housing. Also, returning to the job market is made more difficult by his age, as he is often deemed to be too old by recruiters.
If Tahar chose to participate in the European Meeting, it was in order to give an account of the fact that "poverty can affect anyone at any time". "After listening to the other delegations, we can see that things are alright here and that Luxembourg does a great deal to help, but it is necessary to raise the alarm about certain problems, firstly employment and housing", he stressed, insisting on the fact that, although the country's image is one of the best in Europe, things are not all that easy in the Grand Duchy. "Housing is a matter of precariousness in Luxembourg", he added, especially for those who benefit from the RMG and for single-parent families.
People experiencing poverty have a "real desire to participate and be heard"
In this context, the European Meeting of People experiencing Poverty aims, above all, to provide people in these situations with a platform for direct exchange with political leaders. "When you are experiencing a situation and nobody is listening to you, it is very hard; this meeting therefore offers these people the respect they deserve by listening to them and passing on their message to the institutions", explained Nadia Dondelinger. On this subject, Charles Berrang insisted on these people's "real desire to participate and be heard", as "there is often a feeling that politicians are disconnected from realities" and that "as one participant said, the best discussions are always face-to-face".
"There is a real added value in political leaders seeing real people", continued Charles Berrang, according to whom such opportunities for direct contact sometimes help things to progress in more concrete terms. "They are two completely different worlds, but seeing the person and listening to what they have to say is quite different from reading about it in a report", with these people's reality, something about which those working with them can only give an account, often being "extremely hard", added Nadia Dondelinger.
"Everyone deserves a decent life"
In the summary of its participation in the workshops, the Luxembourg delegation highlighted several messages.
The first point recalls that "everyone deserves a decent life" and that, in this context, the aim is to "break down the walls of differences in poverty and stop creating a hierarchy among poor people". "Poverty in all its forms is something that we all have to deal with, and we must be united in fighting it", stressed Charles Berrang.
Secondly, "we have to listen to the people concerned". "It is something that was strongly expressed by the public. There is a real desire to participate in finding solutions". Finally, the aim is to "look at the potential" of people, without limiting ourselves to their situation or their appearance. "The idea is to say: I have skills, I can do things, do not limit yourself to my current situation", concluded Charles Berrang.


Reflection, proclamation, and dialogue led to the formulation of the doctrine that was felt to correspond to the data in the Bible.While scripture does not contain the word Trinity, an indication of three distinct persons can be found in 1 John 5:7 for the validity of which exist a controversy known as Johannine Comma. Early Christian belief in the deity of Jesus Christ existed since the first century in the writings of John the Apostle (John 1:1, 20:28), Paul the Apostle (Titus 2:13, Romans 9:5, Hebrews 1:8-10), Peter the Apostle (2 Peter 1:1), as well as in the writings of Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of John who was born about the beginning of the Apostolic age (c. 35). Jesus is also quoted as attesting to being one with and equal with the Father, sharing in the glory of the Father before the world began. (John 8:58, 10:30, 17:5).
Romans 8:9-11 implies the interdependency or interrelatedness of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while examining the redeemed individual, saved by grace, as evidenced by the indwelling Spirit of God.
Subsequently, in the understanding of Trinitarian theology, Scripture "bears witness to" the activity of a God who can only be understood in Trinitarian terms. The doctrine did not take its definitive shape until late in the fourth century. During the intervening period, various tentative solutions, some more and some less satisfactory, were proposed.Trinitarianism contrasts with positions such as Binitarianism (one deity in two persons, or two deities) and Monarchianism (no pluratity of persons within God), of which Modalistic Monarchianism (one deity revealed in three modes) and Unitarianism (one deity in one person) are subsets. Additionally, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings, two of which possess separate bodies of flesh and bones, while the Holy Ghost has only a body of spirit; and that their unity is not physical, but in purpose.


text:
Home Tech News Intel to open design and engineering centre in Hyderabad next week
Intel to open design and engineering centre in Hyderabad next week
Intel has set up the huge facility at Salarpuria Knowledge City in the IT corridor of Madhapur.
| Updated on Nov 29 2019, 06:00 PM IST
The Intel logo is shown at E3, the world's largest video game industry convention in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 12, 2018. (REUTERS)
Global chip maker giant Intel Corporation will open its new design and engineering centre in Hyderabad on December 2.
"Happy to share that global tech leader Intel will be unveiling their new design and engineering centre in Hyderabad on December 2. Excited that this will further boost Hyderabad's position as a key product innovation destination," Telangana's Information Technology Minister K. T. Rama Rao tweeted on Thursday.
The US-based firm has set up the huge facility at Salarpuria Knowledge City in the IT corridor of Madhapur. The firm is reported to have taken four floors on lease for the centre, which will have seating capacity of 1,500. It was in November last year that the minister had made the announcement of Intel setting up shop here after Intel India country head Nivruti Rai had met him.
Intel, which has completed 20 years in India, earlier this year acquired part of Ineda Systems, a Hyderabad-based semiconductor design startup. The US-based firm acquired 100 engineers of Ineda for their skills in graphics, an area on which the design and engineering centre is likely to focus along with Artificial Intelligence and 5G.
Intel facility will be the latest addition to the list of marquee names in Hyderabad that includes Microsoft, Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon. Intel facility has come up three months after US-based e-commerce giant Amazon opened its largest office building anywhere in the world.
Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus also launched its largest R&D centre in Hyderabad. Last year, US-based semiconductor and telecommunications equipment company Qualcom announced $400 million investment in setting up its largest outside the US in Hyderabad.
First Published Date: 29 Nov, 06:00 PM IST
Tags: Intel
https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/intel-to-open-design-and-engineering-centre-in-hyderabad-next-week-story-MkdAlgJCDXZajboGWzzdJM.html
https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/blockchain-powered-smartphone-bob-running-two-os-goes-on-sale-price-specifications-features-story-QyTYP1RnrTg68tnQxtXBCL.html
https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/apple-turns-to-china-to-ramp-up-airpods-airpods-pro-production-story-KF6WDFrgpOoe2UIp9jxU3N.html
https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/browser-push-notification-scams-tripled-in-first-3-quarters-kaspersky-story-WT0Xi9klyokmdXdN3Se9AP.html

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


2)Vicharo ko vicharo say katana.
3)Benefit of yellow dress and sanyam.
1)विचारो की सेना ,विचारो को विचारो से कांटो !
2)संकल्प का परिणाम ,पिले कपड़ो का महत्व ,संयम का महत्व !.
Inspirational thoughts of param pujya shri ram sharma ji (Gurudev) about Thinking.


text:
Edward Snowden: Facebook is a surveillance company rebranded as 'social media'
Updated on May 12, 2018 By Mexico_b Leave a comment
Edward Snowden blames Facebook and other social media companies for data harvesting gone awry. – Jack Plunkett
by Daniel Chaitin
| March 17, 2018 09:28 PM
Former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden ripped Facebook in a tweet Saturday after the social media giant suspended Cambridge Analytica, a data analytics firm which worked worked for President Trump's campaign.
Facebook accused the firm on Friday of not deleting data it had improperly harvested from Facebook users, which number in the tens of millions, but Snowden pinned the blame squarely on Facebook and lumped in other social media companies for being just as reckless.
"Businesses that make money by collecting and selling detailed records of private lives were once plainly described as 'surveillance companies,'" Snowden said. "Their rebranding as 'social media' is the most successful deception since the Department of War became the Department of Defense."
Businesses that make money by collecting and selling detailed records of private lives were once plainly described as "surveillance companies." Their rebranding as "social media" is the most successful deception since the Department of War became the Department of Defense.
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) March 17, 2018
"Facebook makes their money by exploiting and selling intimate details about the private lives of millions, far beyond the scant details you voluntarily post," Snowden said earlier in the day. "They are not victims. They are accomplices."
Cambridge Analytica on Saturday denied any wrongdoing, issuing a statement that said the firm "fully complies" with Facebook's terms of service,
The ensuing uproar has prompted at least one lawmaker, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to call on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, reportedly asked Cambridge Analytica last fall to surrender emails from any of its employees who worked for the Trump campaign. The firm complied to the request.
Facebook has already taken heat for spreading "fake news" during the election and promised changes.
Last year Facebook handed Mueller its findings regarding Russian Facebook ads, revealed when the company announced $100,000 was purchased for ads from June 2015 to May 2017 by a Russian "troll farm" called the Internet Research Agency, which has promoted pro-Russian propaganda. The money was connected to approximately 3,000 ads and 470 "inauthentic accounts and pages."
Mueller later indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities for meddling in the 2016 presidential election, those who were part of the Internet Research Agency.
Snowden was granted asylum in Russia back in 2013 after he leaked secret information from the National Security Agency's surveillance programs and has been there ever since.
via : washingtonexaminer
Tags: #Edward Snowden Surveillance


The longer a business is established the more common it is that external finance has been used along the way to fund growth. Often entrepreneurs will have used a variety of finance products to get the business from A to B.
In this article we explore whether consolidating multiple smaller debts into one larger facility is a smart move.
When is a single, bigger debt a good option?
It can be incredibly difficult to keep on top of multiple payments, interest rates and due dates. Refinancing helps you keep track because you just have one payment instead of several – and this means your time and resources are freed up, allowing you to budget ahead instead.
It's one of the biggest reasons businesses choose to refinance: switching to a lower interest rate can save you money. High interest rates will keep you paying debts for longer – but if you can decrease that rate even slightly, you're on your way to being able to reinvest any savings, thereby paying off your principal even sooner.
In some situations, debt can be refinanced with a longer repayment profile, meaning the monthly repayments are lower. With improved cashflow more money can be invested in the business where it really matters. Consolidating your debts into a single solution means you have more capital each month, so you can focus on the important stuff – and slow debtors or payroll runs may no longer create the pinch points they once did.
Your business' debt situation: is refinancing the right choice?
Considering the points above, you may be realising that consolidating your debts could really give you the flexibility to gain back control of your finances – and save you money. It's a common reason why people choose to refinance their business debts: the benefit of reduced monthly payments or lower interest rates, both improving cashflow. But what else makes it a good option?
Refinancing can also reduce risk because it's easier to manage in terms of admin. You'll only be making one payment instead of several, and therefore only dealing with one contact – so there's less risk of you missing a payment, which could land you in serious trouble (CCJs can be issued to businesses that default on payments to creditors).
The key to making sure that refinancing will work for you is to find a lender with terms and rates that truly suit your needs. Finding the best lender to refinance your borrowing is difficult and time-consuming, so it's worth using a commercial finance broker or business finance comparison platform such a BIZL. Be sure to get at least 2 quotes from different lenders and not just from your main current account provider. Sometimes high street banks are competitive but it's certainly not guaranteed.


text:
Moscato di Scanzo
Savour this intense red wine from Bergamo
Moscato di Scanzo should be
savoured like a good port
A small area of vineyards near Bergamo covering just 31 hectares is the only territory where the grapes can be grown for the prestigious wine, Moscato di Scanzo.
A red wine that has earned the status Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG), the highest grade given to a wine in Italy, Moscato di Scanzo is made from grapes harvested solely from the fields around Scanzorosciate, a town about six kilometres (four miles) to the northeast of Bergamo in the foothills of the southern Alps.
The dark-skinned Moscato di Scanzo grape variety was probably brought to Lombardy by the Romans, who evicted the Gauls from the area in about 50 BC. By the Renaissance period, Moscato di Scanzo was known to be a favourite wine among the northern Italian nobility.
During the 18th century, the Czarina Catherine II of Russia - commonly known as Catherine the Great - received Moscato di Scanzo wine as a gift from the Bergamo architect Giacomo Quarenghi, who designed many magnificent buildings in St Petersburg.
In 1850, it was the only Italian wine to be listed on London's stock exchange for 50 guineas per barrel.
In 2012, the Italian mail decided to pay tribute to Moscato di Scanzo DOCG by dedicating a stamp to it.
The grapes for Moscato di Scanzo are grown
on the hills overlooking Scanzorosciate
The wine produced today is an intense, deep, ruby red colour, with a full body and powerful aromas, said to be reminiscent of dried sage and wild rose, maraschino cherries and plums, acacia honey and marmalade and with even a hint of sweet spice, leaning towards cinnamon, clove and liquorice. The new wine is characterised by hints of tobacco and chocolate, which later evolve with ageing. It is said to have a rich intensity similar to port.
The wine became a DOC in 2002 and was upgraded to full DOCG status in 2009. The upgrade brought in stricter production conditions, which stipulate not only the maximum yields and ripeness levels at harvest, but also minimum alcohol levels and residual sugar in the finished wine.
Moscato di Scanzo is an expensive wine because of the production process required to make it. The manual harvest takes place between late September and mid-October. The grapes are carefully selected and dried on special racks for at least three weeks. They lose about 30 percent of their harvest weight through evaporation, concentrating both their natural sugars and flavours. Afterwards, careful pressing extracts as much of the juice as possible.
Once fermented, the wine is aged for a minimum of two years in steel or glass containers. It cannot go on sale until 1 November two years after the harvest and should be served at 15 degrees centigrade in large glasses.
The wine is said to go well with the cheeses produced in Bergamo, such as Strachitunt and Formai de Mut, and with dark chocolate and dry pastries.
If you get the chance to try a glass of the precious Moscato di Scanzo, savour every sip of the soft, smooth, full-bodied ruby red wine.
Picture credits: Wine in glass by nonnoant via Wiki Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); Scanzorosciate by Dans via Wiki Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)


4 large, well shaped and flat bottomed red capsicum or tomatoes.
along with some crumbled cheese if you wish.
Save the tomato insides for a sauce.
Pre-heat oven to 180ºc or 160ºc for a fan oven.
Pre-prepare your mashed sweet potato. I use Gold sweet potato. Take care not to over cook them and drain them well before mashing, they can be lumpy!
Cut the tops of the Capsicum and Tomato so they can be used as a lid during cook. Carefully take out all the seeds and flesh and membranes to give you a suitable container to take the stuffing.
Heat a splash of Olive oil in a fry pan over a moderate heat and then add all the ingredients except the sweet potato and cook to gently soften everything down. Stir them well. This should only take about 5 minutes.
Add the mashed sweet potato to the pan and stir thoroughly to mix everything together.
Take off the heat and spoon into the capsicum or tomato cases, finishing of with a sprinkle of nuts and cheese if using.
Place them careful in a small pan that they can stand up in and place the tops back on them. Pop in the oven and they should be cooked in about 40 minutes, when the skin is starting to wrinkle.
Serve with a good dollop of yoghurt on the top (or riata) and a sprinkle of fresh coriander.
Tip: I use the flesh and seeds taken from the tomatoes to make a quick sauce. In a pan with some water, diced onion, sugar and balsamic vinegar…simmer till soft, blitz in a vitamise then back in the saucepan to reduce and its ready to serve!


text:
Reduce Illegal Immigration at Borders
H.R. 2522:
HUMANE Act of 2019
Published: Tue, Dec 10th 2019 @ 11:57 am EST
Sponsored by: Rep. Henry Cuellar [D-TX28] in the 116th congress
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to address the protective custody of alien children accompanied by parents, and for other purposes.
Read more about HUMANE Act of 2019
Published: Tue, Jan 21st 2020 @ 12:05 pm EST
Sponsored by: Sen. John Cornyn [R-TX] in the 116th congress
A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to address the protective custody of alien children accompanied by parents, and for other purposes.
Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2019
Sponsored by: Rep. Pramila Jayapal [D-WA7] in the 116th congress
To provide standards for facilities at which aliens in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security are detained, and for other purposes.
Read more about Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act of 2019
Sponsored by: Sen. Cory Booker [D-NJ] in the 116th congress
A bill to provide standards for facilities at which aliens in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security are detained, and for other purposes.
Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act
Published: Tue, Feb 25th 2020 @ 3:21 pm EST
Sponsored by: Sen. Robert "Rob" Portman [R-OH] in the 116th congress
A bill to clarify responsibilities related to unaccompanied alien children, to provide additional protections and tracking mechanisms for such children, and for other purposes.
Read more about Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act
S. 811:
Published: Tue, Jul 2nd 2019 @ 2:10 pm EDT
Sponsored by: Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL] in the 116th congress
A bill to provide for additional supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, for border security and disaster relief.
Read more about S. 811
Elimination of Double Subsidies for the Hardrock Mining Industry Act of 2019
Sponsored by: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH] in the 116th congress
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the percentage depletion allowance for certain hardrock mines.
Read more about Elimination of Double Subsidies for the Hardrock Mining Industry Act of 2019
Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act
Published: Tue, May 19th 2020 @ 7:45 am EDT
Sponsored by: Sen. Patty Murray [D-WA] in the 116th congress
A bill to ensure the humane treatment of pregnant women by reinstating the presumption of release and prohibiting shackling, restraining, and other inhumane treatment of pregnant detainees, and for other purposes.
Read more about Stop Shackling and Detaining Pregnant Women Act
BE SAFE Act
Published: Fri, Jun 21st 2019 @ 1:05 pm EDT
Sponsored by: Sen. Rand Paul [R-KY] in the 116th congress
A bill to require all new legal permanent residents to pay an additional fee, which shall be used for improving immigration and enhancing the security of the United States border.
Read more about BE SAFE Act
Protecting Disaster Relief Funds Act
Sponsored by: Sen. Elizabeth Warren [D-MA] in the 116th congress
A bill to prohibit certain funds from being transferred or reprogrammed to plan, develop, or construct a new physical barrier along the southwest border, and for other purposes.
Read more about Protecting Disaster Relief Funds Act
(-) Remove Reduce Illegal Immigration at Borders filter Reduce Illegal Immigration at Borders
Apply Senate filter
Apply Split filter


Home » Ask The Expert » How do I test my data normality?
Before applying statistical methods that assume normality, it is necessary to perform a normality test on the data (with some of the above methods we check residuals for normality). We hypothesize that our data follows a normal distribution, and only reject this hypothesis if we have strong evidence to the contrary.
While it may be tempting to judge the normality of the data by simply creating a histogram of the data, this is not an objective method to test for normality – especially with sample sizes that are not very large. With small sample sizes, discerning the shape of the histogram is difficult. Furthermore, the shape of the histogram can change significantly by simply changing the interval width of the histogram bars.
Normal probability plotting may be used to objectively assess whether data comes from a normal distribution, even with small sample sizes. On a normal probability plot, data that follows a normal distribution will appear linear (a straight line). For example, a random sample of 30 data points from a normal distribution results in the first normal probability plot (Figure 2). Here, the data points fall close to the straight line. The second normal probability plot (Figure 3) illustrates data that does not come from a normal distribution.
Many methods are available to handle non-normal data and these should be utilized when necessary. Applying methods which assume the normal distribution when this assumption is not valid often results in incorrect conclusions.


Colorful Recycle Pedal Bin is one of the modern design Trash Can. It have the soft close function, Various colors to choose,fresh and beautiful.No matter where you are placed, you can add a landscape.Sealed design, it can cut off the odor effectively.Hidden bag ring fix design, makes the trash bin more beautiful and clean.The base is equipped with a rubber anti-skid foot pad to avoid trampling and causing slippage and scratches.
Looking for ideal Household Recycle Bin Manufacturer & supplier ? We have a wide selection at great prices to help you get creative. All the Colorful Recycling Bin are quality guaranteed. We are China Origin Factory of Metal Compost Bin. If you have any question, please feel free to contact us.


Jamie and Laura's wedding was one full of fun, laughter and glorious sunshine. Both the couple and their guests had an amazing time and I am sure it will be a day to remember for everyone who attended. A special mention must go to Jamie and Laura's beautiful boutique wedding venue – East Close Hotel. A venue that really knows how to take care of their guests and provide a superb atmosphere for a wedding day.
This wedding was a joy to photograph and I really loved every minute of it. Here are just a small collection of the beautiful day that Laura and Jamie shared.
If you are an engaged couple and are looking for a wedding photographer for your special day, please take a look at my website gallery for samples of my work and the photography packages that I offer. Alternatively you can get in touch to check on my availability, it would be lovely to hear from you.
These pictures are gorgeous! Was the perfect wedding!


text:
The Not So Modern Militia
Taken at a historical re-enactment a few years back.
Labels: Modern Militia
4 legs vs 2 legs
Some of you may remember me writing about this on the now defunct Brady Blog. I'm reposting here for those who missed reading about it there or on the cover of the New York Times. Ok, that's a huge lie, the NYT never covered it, but they should have.
For those who read my welcome post, this happened during one of our camping trips in Idaho with Grandma and Grandpa. I stated that that story spawned many others; this is but one of them.
The Grands were a funny bunch; we had access to the .22's and ammo at age 10 but couldn't take the Honda Enduro 250 motorcycles out for a spin until we reached the ripe old age of 12 because motorcycles were dangerous. Their concept was that transportation to the best hunting grounds was more hazardous than our shooting activities once we arrived as long as we followed the 4 basic rules of gun safety. It was explained to us that if we violated any safety rules with the gun or the bike, both would be denied to us. Grandpa taught me how to ride and seemed ever so delighted in taking me down steep hills and through creek beds at high speeds. I wrecked a few times before I realized that I could follow his tracks at a slower speed and still reach the destination. That was exactly what he was trying to teach me but he knew it would have a bigger impact if I discovered it myself. So he let me wreck and the lesson burned in.
2 years later, at the age of 14, my "vacation" started as it had before. I gorged on breakfast, slammed my fork on the table and asked for Grandpa's Marlin Golden 39A lever action .22 and keys to the motorcycle. I slung the rifle cross chest and left the adult camp behind.
The cool thing about trail riding in Idaho is that all the pine needles makes the soil too acidic for most underbrush to grow. Pick a line and hit the gas.
So I'm cruising along hoping to end up where the jack rabbits stand still and I hear a noise off to my left side that I knew didn't come from the bike, even though it was close enough to make me think twice. It wasn't a snort, it wasn't a grunt…it was like the devil himself attempting to blow out an eternity of candles on a cake he hated.
I had just disturbed a sleeping black bear, and apparently, he was kinda pissed.
At first, I really wasn't that concerned. I figured that the Honda could outpace him with a flick of the wrist. The problem was that even though I didn't have underbrush to deal with, I was still "off-trail" and dodging pine trees both standing and sprawled on the ground.
I'm now doing 40mph through the woods and looking over my shoulder and seeing him pace me. All the classic crap happened. Time slowed down, adrenaline pumped, my butt hole puckered a bit. I was scared.
I spent a little too much time looking over my shoulder and clipped a grand old pine tree with my left handle bar. The plastic hand guard saved me some broken fingers but I still ate a mouthful of dirt on impact.
With everything still in slow-mo, I knew I couldn't get back to the bike and escape in time. It was go time. I ripped the .22 off my back and fired it into the ground before I even realized I was cocking the rifle again.
I managed to get off 3-5 shots before he stopped his advance. He looked at me with eyes I can not describe. On one hand, he looked at me like I was easy prey, and the next glance was something akin to "don't ever do that again."
I knew a .22 wasn't the ideal bear load and I played my bluff. Thankfully, he/she didn't want to come any closer to my boom stick.
For those who argue that 2-legger scum don't respect the laws against violence, I would like to add the fact that 4-leggers can't even comprehend the nature of laws to begin with.
Stay safe, stay armed. Your life may depend upon it.
Posted by kaveman at 1:16 AM 3 comments
On the latest Helmke Huffpo rant, a new batch of drive-by posters repeat talking points from Moore's "Bowling for Columbine", Bellesiles "Arming America", and the classic "Assault Weapon = Machineguns firing hi velocity AP ammo" meme's along with all the usual nonsense.
Goebbels was right.
Police Support
I was talking to a local police officer the other day. He told me that his department is working on several ideas to get more involved with the community and to show their support for firearm rights.
One is the offering of Basic Pistol courses that would include two days of training including at least 10 hours of shooting. Areas of emphasis would be maintenance, assembly/disasembly, proper stances, grip, etc. They're planning on offering both co-ed classes and classes for women. While this wouldn't make one qualified for a CCW (which the officer I spoke to also supported) an additional benefit that they're tossing around is then to open up the police pistol range once or twice a month to 'graduates'.
The other idea that is being worked on is to upgrade their ranges for IDPA and other competitions since there are none in our area.
As he said, these are not "if" they're going to happen but "when".
A very successful day. Make sure to visit IllinoisCarry for a liveblog version of the events as well as more photos. ISRA has added a media and photo/video roundup.
Off to meet the IGOLD bus in Champaign. As of last count, there are buses from 30 locations heading to Springfield for the event, nearly all of them full. Meeting up w/ LonghornJeff and ArmedSchoolteacher (really wish 45Superman could be there), I will be taking photos and notes while there and will update throughout the day if possible. For the impatient, there will be a LiveFeed on Illinois Carry here as well as several Twitter accounts of attendees.
On Bus #1 (of 2) from Champaign/Urbana:
There were a total of 24 buses w/ an average of 45 people per bus.
John Naese of GunsSaveLife.com giving instructions:
Lunch at Golden Corral:
Arrival at Convention Center:
At Convention Center.
ArmedSchoolTeacher got me registered:
LongHornJeff directed me to the media table where I met Slappy from IllinoisCarry:
Representatives from the ISRA, Mike Weisman and Mr. Pearson have spoken and have introduced Joe Tartaro, KABA rep.
Just introduced. Brandon Phelps, legistator of the year who introduced HB2257.
Todd Vandermyde. NRA Il lobbyist. Stated CCW bill was killed in Senate Committee before the attendees arrived. Wonder how many of those legislators were endorsed by the Brady Campaign?
Just met Mike Weisman of the ISRA.
Frank Wright of GunsSaveLife: Play nice w/ the legislator and Jackson Counter protestors.
Valinda Rowe, IllinoisCarry, Women's rights in Illinois:
The ISP state that a woman should use these following items to defend herself instead of a gun: Comb, Key, or Tongue Depressor (to induce vomiting on oneself).
Colleen Lawson:
Tom Shafer, local advocate and media personality:
I currently sitting next to Slappy from Illinois Carry as we liveblog the event. I will continue as long as I have WiFi and power.
The March:
On the Way to the Capitol Building:
Expressing our View:
View from the March:
View From the Steps of the Capitol:
Don Moran, President, ISRA.
Cameron Grey of NRANews.com was there to cover the event:
In The Capitol:
Most of the Legislators were running around in committees or on the floor. Some (mostly those opposed to progressive firearm laws) were actively avoiding their constituents. I managed to surprise Rep. Chapin Rose in the hallway:
Sen. Dale Righter I found in a committee and spoke with him for a few minutes:
I'm lucky in that both are very strong 2A supporters both in words and in their voting record.
The Reception:
Candidate Rosanna Pulido and Sen. Dan Rutherford both spoke at the reception before the attendees headed home.
Some IGOLD stats:
Budget for Event: $25,000
24 buses picking up people from 30 locations
Packets Distributed: 5,100
Estimate of Attendance: 4,000-5,000 people.
Next year will be even bigger.
More photos here.
Commentary here.
Labels: Blogger Bash, IGOLD
AHSA Trying to Rewrite Their Past
Once again the new spokesperson for the AHSA, Colin Rogero distorts the history of the AHSA and it's leadership's role in anti-gun activities.
He states:
Ray's foundation "THE RAY AND NANCY FOUNDATION" donated to the Brady Campaign. Ray's wife Nancy was a board member. She has separated from the Brady Group and is no longer involved with their organization. Ray never supported, nor donated to the organization. Ray, and Nancy have different views on gun ownership, as many families do.
Apparently Nancy used Ray's checkbook and signed his name then because according to OpenSecrets.org Ray donated $5,000 to Handgun Control Inc. in 2000.
Darn those meddling facts.
Labels: ahsa, RealFacts
IGOLD: The Movie
IGOLD 2009. March 11th.
Watch the video.
More at the Armed School Teacher.
Labels: IGOLD, RealFacts
The Confederate State of New York
New York, in a court brief, said the 2005 law violates state rights under the U.S. Constitution. "This congressional effort to control how states make law raises important questions about the Tenth Amendment's protections of state sovereignty," New York said.
Wasn't that the same argument used to defend slavery?
I seem to recall a certain reactionary lawyer claiming that "the NRA is getting its butt kicked in court". Is this what she meant?
How They Roll
So on appearances, we are dealing with a largely uniformed and easily persuaded electorate if terms are couched in misleading soundbites. We know that they will work to sway and target women and seniors. Nice of them to lay out the ground rules and battlefields for us.
-Todd Vandermyde, IL NRA Rep. on the latest anti-gun bills
This is not a new tactic. The VPC openly admits to using misdirection to push for their agenda. Classic terms such as 'cop killer bullets', 'Saturday Night Specials', 'plastic guns', etc. are the bread and butter to anti-gun groups because they sound scary to the majority of people who, unfortunately, don't pay attention.
Ask an 'average person' if they know what an 'assault weapon' is. You'll be told it's a 'high powered machinegun' or some variation thereof.
We rely on educating the public to persuade them to our way of thinking. They rely on and cultivate ignorance.
Labels: Better Debating, RealFacts, Reasoned Discourse
This Gun Free Zone Brought to you by the Brady Campaign
Stripping citizens of their rights since 1974.
MARYVILLE, Ill. (March 8) -- A gunman walked down the aisle of a church during a Sunday service and killed the pastor, then stabbed himself and slashed two other people as congregants wrestled him to the ground, authorities said.
The man walked into the sprawling red brick First Baptist Church shortly after 8 a.m. and briefly spoke with The Rev. Fred Winters before pulling out a .45-caliber handgun and shooting Winters once in the chest, said Illinois State Police Master Trooper Ralph Timmins.
A gunman stopped not by by the police, who citizen disarmament advocates state we should rely exclusively on, but by members of the congregation who risked their own lives to stop this killer. Think of how better it would have been for them if they hadn't needed to come withing slashing distance.
Update from Uncle: The shooter has a history of mental illness due to Lyme disease.
Air-humping the Mexican Drug Cartel
So my 9 year old nephew has been bugging me to take him to the next gun show ever since I took him to his first show late last year(before the election). He naturally gravitated to the .22 Chipmunks and Crickets at that show and I mentioned that I would buy him one when he's older, can recite and demonstrate the basic safety rules, learns how to disassemble, clean and reassemble one of my guns. I got him a tool set of wrenches and screw drivers several years ago so I'm not too worried about the latter half. My brother would regularly buy old toasters and other random appliances at garage sales for him to take apart and put back together and his mad lego skills have improved dramatically lately.
He does however need some serious work on the basic safety rules. More on that in a sec.
Gun Show…Saturday, March 7th.
I left the house at 8am and picked up my buddy, where to my delight, my other buddy, his wife, gave each of us a Church of G.O.D.(Gun Owning Disciples) T-shirt to wear to the show which she had made the night before. The certificate of membership is complete. The wallet cards are complete. The basic tenets of the faith is in rough draft form and the "Holey Book" will be a collaborative work in progress which I will detail in a future post.
Then off to pick up my nephew and my brother's work place. I found him finishing up some chores that the other staff had given him to do for the handsome sum of $3. He's been doing odd jobs for whatever money he can get so he CAN BUY HIS OWN CHIPMUNK. I was a bit proud to say the least. So I walk into the gun show with $87 in cash and my nephew is sporting $120 neatly folded into a money clip I had given him 2 years ago. Ya, I had the checkbook and plastic, but I was still impressed.
We arrived at the show ½ hour after the doors opened and the parking lot was bat-shit crazy full. The number of staff giving admission had doubled, the number of staff checking firearms had tripled and the line was still outside the door and into the parking lot. I've been to a lot of gun shows in my day and I had never seen a turn-out like that.
My dad was waiting for us near the entrance and we starting looking for a good gopher gun for him. He had mentioned that he liked the sound of the 45 LC/.410 Taurus Judge. He wants to hang a holster on the John Deere and shoot rodents as he mows the lawn in some kind of mechanized Wild Wild West re-enactment.
The price tag of the Judge turned him off in a hurry and I suggested that he switch his focus to an H & R Model 88 single shot .410 and a full length scabbard he can mount on the engine cover. His eyebrows raised in approval.
We were there a good hour before we even glanced at the price of ammo. Ouch. My next gun purchase will probably be in 5.45 X 39 so I can go to the range with something more than a .22. Talked to one of the vendors and he said he brought in a full pallet of 7.62 X 39 and sold it all in the first 20 minutes of the show.
Due to the booming economy and the rock solid security I have at my job, I knew I wasn't going to buy anything other than accessories for the guns I already have.
EBR's were outrageous and still flying off the tables. AK's, AR's, and FN's were understandably a bit more scarce and demanding a premium. Makes me glad I bought most of mine during the ban, when they were cheap.
Saw a few choice pieces that caught my eye:
Beretta wheel gun rifle in .45 LC.
Hakim with a 7.62 X 39 barrel sleeve.
Nagant revolver with a spare .32 cylinder for dirt cheap.
Saiga AK 12 gauge.
There were probably a few more that escaped my attention but it's kinda hard to do a thorough sweep when you have to air-hump at least two other people to get close to the table. I assume that all the RPG's had sold out before we got in since I didn't see any.
After the show, my nephew has the opportunity to shoot a real gun and display his safety skills. He failed. Does fine with keeping the gun pointed in a safe direction but can't keep his finger off the trigger. I remind him repeatedly about the seriousness of his actions and he repeatedly jams his finger inside the trigger guard. I scold him and take the rifle away, telling him again why. I then get the silent treatment for the next 2 hours.
I have at least 3 more years to work with him before I consider buying him a .22, he has at least 3 years to contemplate his actions and correct them. If being in the dog house in his eyes will accelerate his maturity, then that is a house I will gladly occupy. I'd rather be his mentor than his friend since it's obvious his foot steps are landing inside mine.
He'll understsand when he's older, and then I can be both.
This Gun Free Zone Brought to you by the Brady Cam...


LCPD will hold its Fun Day on June 14 at the Civic Center (Source: Lake Charles Police Department). LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) -. The Lake Charles Police Department will hold its Fun Day on June 14, according to Deputy Chief Mark Kraus.


text:
Foundation Annual Report
Student Research Forum
Amount $500
Awards Per Year 5
Graduate Students in audiology and recent audiology graduates are invited to submit proposals for presentation of their original research completed while a graduate student in audiology at the AAA annual conference. Award recipients will present a 15-minute summary of their research including the question and answer period. The American Academy of Audiology Foundation (AAAF) will award $500 to each of the five selected student presenters.
This program is generously sponsored by Plural Publishing.
Qualifications for submission are outlined in the presenter packet for the corresponding conference; submission system opens late summer for AAA 2021.
More Scholarships
Music and Hearing Research Grant Program
The purpose of this program is to support research that will shape best practices in audiology to benefit musicians and others in the music industry. Funded by the American Academy of Audiology Foundation and the generous funding of Dr. Michael Santucci, this program complements the Academy's clinical consensus document Audiological Services for Musicians and Music Industry Personnel. Call for applications closed on July 29, 2022. A grant award notification was made in fall 2022.
Amount $10,000
Deadline CLOSED
Student Investigator Research Grant
The American Academy of Audiology and the American Academy of Audiology Foundation wish to support basic and applied research in hearing and balance. Such research will benefit persons with hearing loss and/or balance deficits by improving the ability of professionals in audiology to evaluate and manage hearing and balance disorders.
Amount Up to $5,000; vestibular focus in 2023
Deadline February 27, 2023
Investigator Research Grant
The American Academy of Audiology and the American Academy of Audiology Foundation wish to support basic and applied research in hearing and balance. Such research will benefit persons with hearing loss and/or balance deficits by improving the ability of professionals in audiology to evaluate and manage hearing and balance disorders. The American Academy of Audiology Foundation and the American Academy of Audiology will make grants for research projects with duration of one year. Grants of up to $20,000 will be made based on the merit of the research project and application. Grants may be made for basic research or clinical/applied research.


Quantitative assessment of the scientific merit of journals and articles is being used increasingly to assess and compare researchers and institutions. The most commonly used measure is the 2 year Impact Factor, which broadly reflects the number of times each article in the journal has been cited over the previous 2 years. There are clear limitations to the use of such measures – not least, Impact Factors reflect the journal not the article, vary with time and correlate only poorly with perceived excellence. Simple comparison of impact factors in different specialties may be misleading. Review journals often have higher Impact Factors than those with original data. Both authors and editors can try to manipulate journal Impact Factors. However, despite valid concerns, Impact Factors are widely used and offer, at present, the best simple tool for comparison of output. Like all measures, the use of Impact Factors has to be tempered with knowledge of their limitations and common sense used in interpreting any data based on any analysis.
Just as most people will know what a duck is but few will be able to define it, so similar considerations apply to scientific or clinical quality. It is inevitably difficult to quantify qualitative measures such as scientific excellence, but once a measure has been developed and has acquired common usage, it will take on a life of its own. Once you have a figure that reflects, say, scientific excellence, you can use it for all sorts of purposes, such as the production of rankings of individuals, institutions or countries, or the evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of research grants. You can, of course, also abuse the figures to draw inappropriate conclusions. It is easy to apply statistics to figures, but conclusions from these statistics can be misleading or even useless. Whichever option is chosen, the impact factor has become the common currency of 'scientific quality'. Understanding the strengths as well as the limitations of the measure is important to all those who publish articles as well as those who use the factor as a surrogate marker of quality.
The journal impact factor is based on information obtained from citation indexes. The most commonly used index is the Science Citation Index, which was devised by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and has been published by them since 1963. All original articles, technical notes and reviews (but not letters or abstracts) published in a set of core journals are scanned, and all publications cited as references are recorded. It is assumed that one measure of the importance of an article is reflected by the number of times that the article is quoted in a given period of time. Although it is possible to determine the impact factor of any individual article, other measures are usually employed because of logistic problems. The most commonly used measure is the journal impact factor, which assesses the citation rates of articles within a journal rather than of any given article. The impact can be defined over a period of time, but the most commonly used period is the 2-year impact factor. Thus, for a journal with an impact factor of 10 in, say, 1999, articles published in that journal in 1997 and 1998 were cited, on average, 10 times.
Scientific journals rank higher than clinical journals.
English-language journals score higher than those in other languages.
American journals tend to have higher impact factors than European journals.
Review journals tend to score higher than those containing original articles.
Review articles tend to score higher than the articles they cite.
The most prestigious journals in different specialist areas may have very different impact factors.
Methodological papers may score much higher than those that provide new data.
Free electronic access tends to raise the impact factor of a journal.
Journal impact factors reflect the journal rather than the article. Assuming that all articles in the journal are of a similar quality is, of course, wrong. Indeed, the distribution of impact factors of articles within a journal is skewed quite heavily . Thus, a case report, which may be no more than a clinically important observation, will be associated with the same impact factor as a major therapeutic study; a review, which may contain no new data, will have the same impact factor as a piece of work. The authorship of a review may reflect the experience, status or authority of the writer (does this editorial refute this assumption?), but it cannot readily be compared with the novel scientific discovery.
Journal impact factors will vary with time in both absolute numbers and rankings. It could be argued that within a discipline, rankings of journals are a better reflection of quality than absolute number.
Changes in clinical interest will affect impact factors. Thus, it is likely that the association between Helicobacter pylori and duodenal ulcers, and the impact on therapy, will have raised the impact factor of gastroenterological journals.
Impact factors say nothing about the stringency of the peer review process.
Editors, who will be judged in part on the change in journal impact factor, may take into account the future citation rates of a manuscript in deciding whether to offer publication.
Impact factors may be manipulated by both authors and editors. I recently received a letter from one editor suggesting that, where possible, references to that journal should be included in manuscripts submitted to the journal. It has been shown that a high rate of self-citing can affect the impact factor . There are other ways in which impact factors can be improved. Thus, mini-reviews can attract citations rapidly and in large numbers and, without counting these as a denominator, research letters and abstracts can act as numerators. When meeting abstracts published in the FASEB Journal were classified as non-source items in 1988, the impact factor of the journal leapt from 0.24 in 1988 to 18.3 in 1989 . Indeed, a letter to the Lancet about non-O1 cholera is a citation classic.
The increasing use of the very-high-quality biomedical library search engines (such as PubMed or Ovid) means that researchers have access to more and more information. This does not necessarily mean that the most appropriate references (such as the first clinical observation or demonstration of a new scientific concept) will be cited. Greater availability of the journal can increase the impact factor substantially [4,5].
A paper that is retracted later may continue to be cited  (and not necessarily with the retraction), so adding little to the scientific validity of the journal.
Citation practices are inconsistent. Scientific articles tend to cite only scientific articles, whereas clinical articles cite both scientific and clinical articles, thus increasing the impact factor of scientific journals compared with clinical journals.
The 2-year period for the impact factor is arbitrary and not based on any robust, published data, as far as the authors are aware.
On the whole, the range of impact factors does reflect approximately the scientific standing of a journal. Thus, Nature (current impact factor 25.8) is perceived to be a scientifically 'better' journal than, say, Gastroenterology (impact factor 12.2). The use of inverted commas for concepts such as scientific standing and scientific quality is to emphasize that although most people will understand these concepts, they are difficult to define and even more difficult to quantitate. Can Nature Medicine be considered better than Nature (impact factors 27.9 and 25.8, respectively)? However, impact factors do not reflect fully the perceived quality of the journal (at least as perceived by the authors of this editorial). Thus, Foster reports the findings of when 50 scientists from the National Institutes of Health were asked to rank the most prestigious scientific and clinical journals : the scientific journals were in the order Science, Nature, Cell, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Clinical Biology, and Biochemistry; the main clinical journals were ranked in the order New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Investigation, the Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association, Annals of Internal Medicine, and the British Medical Journal. At that time, the rankings by impact factor were, for the scientific journals, 10, 8, 3, 37, 67, 35 and 111, respectively, and for the clinical journals, 5, 49, 16, 97, 38 and 168, respectively. There are, of course, several conflicting conclusions that could be drawn: who is to say which group reflects standing better?
Furthermore, while comparisons between journals can be made, over-interpretation leads to potentially inappropriate conclusions. For example, is the New England Journal of Medicine (impact factor 29.5) a better journal than Nature (25.8)? Clearly, a crude comparison is invalid since the two journals are not competing for the same articles. In the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology, is Gastroenterology twice as good as Gut (impact factors 12.2 and 5.4, respectively), and does this mean that one article, say a case report in Gastroenterology, is worth two multicentre, randomized studies in the Journal of Hepatology (impact factor 3.8)? Comparisons between different specialty journals may lead to even more bizarre conclusions. The impact factor for Gastroenterology (the highest-impact-factor journal in the fields of gastroenterology and hepatology at 12.2) compares with the highest impact factors in gerontology and ageing (Neurobiology Ageing, impact factor 4.2) or nursing (Nursing Research, impact factor 1.1). Of the 43 nursing journals in the analysis, only three have an impact factor greater than 1; compare this with gastroenterological journals, where 30 of the 45 journals have impact factors greater than 1. Does this mean that gerontology research is less good than gastroenterology research, and that nursing research is hopeless? It may be that this is the case, but comparisons of impact factors will neither prove nor disprove the point. High-quality nursing articles may be published in the general literature (such as the New England Journal of Medicine) and not in the specialty journals, or maybe articles in nursing journals do not use many citations.
On the whole, those articles that are funded by external funders using peer review are in higher-impact-factor journals than those for which there is no external funding. Does this mean that the very cumbersome and expensive processes adopted (rightly) by these charitable or state bodies are justified, or merely that these bodies work to a self-fulfilling premise? Of course, the fact that impact factors are used to assess quality of output will distort the pattern of submissions, and authors may chose to submit an article to a journal with a high impact factor rather than one with a readership more appropriate for the article.
However, these limitations should not detract from their value. These measures are, at least, objective and are capable of only modest manipulation, and in most instances they follow intuition and experience. One of the reasons why impact factors have stayed in use is, in part, because they are the best currently available measure. Another reason is that attention to the quality of the journal will further encourage researchers to concentrate their output on high quality rather than high quantity. Authors need to consider the message they wish to pass on to the reader, and then decide the best vehicle. Others have tried to overcome the shortfalls by, for example, assuming that the quality of the specialty journal is similar, and so adjusting for the fact that variations in factors may affect the number of citations of an article (such as, for example, the number of journals and published articles in that field or the current scientific or clinical interest). However, these methodologies are, themselves, subject to limitations.
Impact factors were designed to provide an objective comparison between journals, and, within limitations, they do this well. Like all other measures, the transition from qualitative to quantitative measures can result in inappropriate conclusions being drawn. Provided the users of impact factors understand the strengths and weaknesses of the impact factors and do not over-interpret data from their analysis, then there is no problem. It is when data are misused that mistakes occur.
1. Hansson S. Impact factor as a misleading tool in evaluation of medical journals. Lancet 1995; 346: 1300–1301.
2. Fassoulaki A, Paraskeva A, Papilas K, Karabinis G. Self-citations in six anaesthesia journals and their significance in determining impact factor. Br J Anaesth 2000; 84: 266–269.
3. Gowrishankar J, Divakar P. Sprucing up one's impact factor. Nature 1999; 401: 321–322.
4. Lawrence S. Free online availability substantially increases a paper's impact. Nature 2001; 411: 521.521.
5. Brunstein J. End of impact factors? Nature 2000; 403: 478.478.
6. Campanario JM. Fraud: retracted articles are still being cited. Nature 2000; 408: 288.288.
7. Foster WR. Impact factors as the best operational measure of medical journals. Lancet 1995; 346: 1301.1301.
European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology14(3):209-211, March 2002.


text:
Oregon Veteran Surprised with Gift
by Helen Cook | Sep 6, 2018 | COMMUNITY, NEWS | 0 comments
Local veteran, Charles Patrick, is a Purple Heart recipient who served in the Oregon Army National Guard for nearly six years. While deployed in Afghanistan in 2010, Charles hit an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) and suffered severe back problems that would lead to several surgeries and rehabilitation.
This Saturday, Charles received a special gift from the "Military Warriors Support Foundation" for his service: a new home in Jefferson that was mortgage-free along with a financial advisor for the next three years, all to help him adjust to civilian life and thrive as a honored veteran. Patrick aspires to attend Oregon State University to learn engineering.
In an interview with KATU2, Patrick stated, "Not only do I get a chance to have a house, but to really have a home. It's crazy, and it's just such an honor and it's amazing. Luckily I don't have to worry about buying the house, it's just able to be provided. And like I said, it's going to be life-alerting in a massively great way."
Lear more about Patrick's gift by watching the interview on KATU2.
Helen Cook
Helen Cook is a current honors student at Benedictine College, where she is studying History with a minor in Theology. She is heavily active in student life, participating in three music ensembles as a violinist and leading Ravens Respect Life as president. When she is not busy with school and student life activities, she is found reading the many classical works of literature.


Genie Garage Door and Gates Services repair any kind of obstacle. From welding to intercom and phone and admission to lightning attacks and other important repairs, we can easily help you get things back to you in position.
Genie Garage Door and Gates Repair's trained technicians will provide you with a premium Garage Door and Gates installation and repair services at a truly very affordable price and duration with assured client satisfaction .
Our credibility for decent quality also dependability is an awesome experience. We currently owe a huge portion of this good reputation to the large number of clients pleased with their delightful Garage doors. The high quality of our merchandise is only applicable one section of the formula clearing up our achievements, a super smooth installation, optimizing the application of your garage door for the following 25 years or so.
Acquiring a Garage is your trusty promise of a majority of pleasurable shopping for knowledge, even more significantly, your own peace of mind of an impressive acai product and installation.
The modern designs and the types of materials in today's garage doors provide you with significantly better insulating material rankings and seal up away outside air-driven, dust, and dampness. We are going to obtain your own garage door functioning pretty much completely new, or we could set up the latest door suitable for you, everywhere in the Genie location.
We are interested in your own protection. Quite often property owners don't give thought to their garage door or opener until there's any trouble.
They are amazing and I highly recommend for quality garage doors and gates repair services and most of all reliable service.
The service technician was able to safely repair my garage doors without charging me sky high prices. All of the staff members listened to my concerns and were able to give me options to fit my budget.
Quality Garage Door and Gates Services that truly meet the industry standards and suits the individual needs and financial capabilities of their customers. And a local business!
I was pleased to have received an appointment immediately when I called. The technician was on time and did a very nice job of fixing the garage door in a short amount of time!


TECHnalysis Research president and chief analyst Bob O'Donnell is regularly quoted in major online sites and print publications around the world and is a frequent guest or commentator for TV and other media. To contact Bob for a quote or commentary or to book him for a media interview/guest appearance, you can email him at bob@technalysisresearch.com or contact him directly on his mobile phone at 1 (650) 224-2355.
• Has smartphone innovation hit the dead-end?
• Are foldable smartphones an expensive fad or the future?
• How Smart Will AI Get?
• What's Next For US And China Trade Talks?


text:
European Curling Championships 2013 – C Group
Posted on 20 May 2013 by ICA admin
The World Curling Federation (WCF) has announced that Tårnby Curling Club in Denmark, will host the European C-Group Curling Championships from 7-13 October 2013.
From the C-Group Championships, two men's and two women's teams will qualify for the 2013 European Curling Championships B-Group event in Stavanger, Norway, which will take place from 23-30 November in the Sørmarka Arena, alongside the A-Group European Curling Championships.
Please do not make any travel or other arrangements until further information is sent out for both events after the deadline date for team registration on 31 May 2013.
Entry is open to all eligible WCF Member Associations in the European Zone whose subscriptions are fully paid and have not qualified for the ECC A & B Groups.
Posted in Announcements	| Leave a Reply
Savona Cup, Prague – Round Robin 2 & 3 …
Ireland v Savona5
0 0 0 0 0 1 [1]
Ireland followed up their promising first game in the Savona Cup, with an extremely poor second against a good local rink here in Prague. With basically the whole team playing poorly it was always going to be a struggle to get anything from the game but when that was coupled with markedly different ice conditions from the first game it was well nigh impossible.
Add in tiredness & dehydration and the team would probably have scored better staying in their beds. The only saving grace in an otherwise insipid match was drawing the pot lid for the score of one in the final end but it was a game best forgotten and to that end we will be looking to pull down this match report at this first available opportunity.
Ireland v Albatross
A mixed team of Russians with a smattering of internationalists including the current Russian Junior World Champion were Ireland's third opposition in the Prague-hosted Savona Cup. Rested after a poor display yesterday afternoon, the team played much better, but suffered from minor rubs and shots being off by a couple of inches in the early ends.
Ireland were one up with one to play going into the final end and both teams settled to play a 'proper' end with Ireland going for the steal and the Russians playing for two.
Ireland had their chances to claim the victory but very high tariff shots that were only just missed were their undoing. The Russian's final shot was a controlled weight push back on an Irish stone sitting shot in the four foot but unfortunately showing by a third. The Russian skip Jarkova, played the shot with confidence and took enough of the stone to claim victory.
A loss but a much better performance. The team now have one game to play though their interest in the tournament has effectively ceased.
Posted in Event Blog	| Leave a Reply
Savona Cup, Prague – Round Robin Game 1
Ireland v Kazahkstan (T)
0 1 0 1 0 [2]
Ireland opened up with a win in their first game against a mixed Kazahkstan team here in Prague today. Playing in the 22nd Savona Cup, the team started without hammer, and due to the 90 minute game limit and general slow play, stayed without hammer throughout the whole of the game.
The Irish play was generally solid, on fast, consistent ice and the two steals for one in the second and fourth ends could have been higher except for some mis-timed shot's from the Kazak team that somehow conspired against the Irish position.
Although the team never felt under any real pressure during the game, the failure to gain any real traction on the scoreboard meant it stayed tight to the very end.
The last end was probably the Irish team's worst as they allowed a head built up that could have threatened their slender lead but with four Irish shots in the four foot, the Kazak skipper's last shot, an inwick off an Irish stone after a long raise, was not only difficult but highly improbable.
Ireland win the game 2 to 1.
Posted in Event Blog	| 1 Reply
Petition by iPetitions
Diary Dates ...
all-day ICA National Championships @ Dumfries Ice Bowl
ICA National Championships @ Dumfries Ice Bowl
ICA Men's, Women's and Senior's Championships depending on entry numbers.
all-day Olympic Winter Games @ Beijing National Aquatics Center
Olympic Winter Games @ Beijing National Aquatics Center
Feb 3 – Feb 20 all-day
Olympic Winter Games; Beijing, China, 3rd-20th February 2022
all-day Spring Bonspiel @ Murrayfield Ice Rink
Spring Bonspiel @ Murrayfield Ice Rink
all-day Stranraer Weekend 2022 @ Stranraer Ice Rink
Stranraer Weekend 2022 @ Stranraer Ice Rink
The ICA decamp to the fabulous North West Castle hotel for a weekend of curling and other shenanigans ….
all-day Paralympic Winter Games
Paralympic Winter Games
Mar 5 – Mar 12 all-day
Paralympic Winter Games; Beijing, China, 5th-12th March 2022
all-day ICA Mixed Championship @ Dumfries Ice Bowl
ICA Mixed Championship @ Dumfries Ice Bowl
Mar 12 – Mar 13 all-day
ICA Mixed Championships depending on entry numbers.
all-day Four Nations @ Ayr Ice Rink
Four Nations @ Ayr Ice Rink
This Four Nations event will be organised by Scotland and held in Ayr Ice Rink, Scotland. The national associations for each country compete for seven trophies. The 2023 Four Nations will be hosted by Ireland. Ireland competes for the Hugh … Continue reading →
all-day European Curling Championships 2... @ Pramogų Arena
European Curling Championships 2... @ Pramogų Arena
May 1 – May 6 all-day
European Curling Championships 2022 C Division; Vilnius, Lithuania, 1st-6th May 2022. The European Curling Championships C-Division are for women's and men's teams from the World Curling Federation's European zone. From this event, three women's and men's teams are promoted to … Continue reading →
Play for Ireland
To all ICA members eligible to represent Ireland ... Are you aware eligibility has changed and grandchildren may now be eligible to play for Ireland.The Committee will consider entries for TEAMS wishing to represent Ireland to contact us


text:
Politics, World,
Gas them, kill them
So who really stood behind the gas attacks in Syria?
by NewsBot June 3, 2018, 1:55 am 19 Views
The war in Syria has been going on for almost seven years. During this time, reports on the use of chemical weapons by one side or another have appeared more than once. After that, in the media invariably there were active discussions of what had happened, and the diplomats expressed their indignation either by "using chemical weapons" or "a vile provocation with chemical weapons." The consequences of such incidents, if they existed, were not critical. Until now, the most dangerous for Bashar Assad "response" was the bombing of the air base Shairat from the US. The Americans conducted it after a chemical attack in the village of Khan-Sheikhun, the responsibility for which Washington placed on the official Damascus. However, after the incident in the city of the Douma on April 4, the consequences for the government of Syria were more serious.
Until 2012, Syria denied the existence of a chemical weapon. However, this did not prevent her from joining the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 1993. According to the CIA, in the 2000s, Syria produced several hundred tons of warfare agents a year. Among them – sarin, mustard and VX. The Israeli Air Force repeatedly struck at the facilities and infrastructure on which the development and production of poisonous substances were allegedly conducted.
For the first time official Damascus recognized the presence of "chemistry" already during the civil war. So, on July 23, 2012 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Syria stated that the country possesses chemical weapons, stressing that it will never apply it against its own people. A month later, US President Barack Obama said that the use of such weapons would become a "red line", the intersection of which would entail a military response from Washington. Subsequently, Obama repeatedly mentioned the "red line", but he did not dare to direct military intervention.
According to Human Rights Watch, chemical weapons in Syria were used 86 times. Other sources call smaller numbers, but in any case we are talking about more than 70 incidents.
The first to declare a chemical attack in Syria was officially announced by the French government. In March 2013, it sent two letters to the United Nations with reports of chemical attacks: on October 17, 2012, near the Turkish border in the settlement of Salkin, Idlib Province, and December 23 of the same year in Homs province. However, in both cases, the UN mission considered them unreliable. In December 2013, the UN submitted a report investigating 16 cases of using "chemistry" in Syria. Nine of them were recognized by the UN as false.
The first reliable case of the use of chemical weapons in Syria is the attack on Khan el-Asal on March 19, 2013.
Then the opposition fighters from the "Syrian Free Army" stormed the city of Khan el-Asal in the province of Aleppo. On March 19, the rocket with sarin was said to fall in the southern part of the city – it was controlled by government troops. As a result of the attack, 19 civilians and one soldier of the Syrian army were killed, 124 people were injured.
Both sides immediately blamed each other. Damascus said that the militants had manufactured a homemade missile and struck at positions of the Syrian troops. Opponents of Assad dispersed in the testimony. Some claimed that the rocket with sarin was launched by the Elbrus tactical missile system, others claimed that the missile was fired from the plane in front of them.
When it became known about the attack on Khan Sheikhune, the activists began actively spreading the first frames of the consequences of the attack. Any bombing in residential areas is absolutely always accompanied by photographs and video – smart phones with cameras are quite common in Syria. In addition, emergency services immediately arrive at the site, which also have cameras with them. Such reports are published by the so-called "White Helmets" – a rescue team consisting of Syrians who have taken special training courses abroad. Ironically, they are always recruited from areas where Assad traditionally is hated.
In the frames published from the site of the bombardment, the victims who are very choking are seen. Local residents and rescuers who arrived are trying to help them. Victims actively watered with water, trying to conduct an elementary decontamination.
However, most rescuers, with the exception of the White Helmets, do not have personal protective equipment. Their absence causes damage not only to the rescuers, but also to the medical staff, as was repeatedly noted in the reports of the OPCW. It happens that even journalists of opposition groups report using only a paper-gauze respirator.
It is necessary to mention one more case. A few hours after the bombing, a video appeared from hospitals in Binish, located 55 kilometers north of the chemical attack site. On the staff, the victims have symptomatic help, trying to stabilize their condition. The head physician of the hospital says that his institution is completely full of victims.
In general, almost all the bombings in Syria are covered in some detail. In addition to surveying the immediate consequences of attacks, local activists try to interview all witnesses and eyewitnesses of the incident and only then collect the initial evidence of the bombing: photograph funnels, remnants of ammunition, corners of the entrance of shells and so on. At the same time, absolutely all materials are laid out in the network for publicity. The proposed location for the shell with a chemical substance in the city of Dumagu.
During the time of the Syrian war, the targets of chemical bombardment bombings were different provinces of the country, but mostly its western part. Attacks were made on territories controlled by both militants and the government army in the provinces of Aleppo, Idlib, Ham and Damascus. In 2018, three chemical attacks were reported. In January, Rex Tillerson once again accused Russia of covering Syria. Allegedly, on January 22, the government army used chlorine in East Gut. February 5 reported the bombing of Sarakib (Idlib) ammunition with chlorine. And, finally, on April 7, reports appeared on the use of chemical weapons in the Douma, from which 43 people were killed. It is because of this attack that the US is preparing to launch a series of strikes against Syria. And this is despite the fact that the attack was after the victory of Assad's forces, which the president himself repeatedly stressed.
So who is profitable to poison the Syrians with gas or have they actually been attacked? The White Helmets have been long known as the organization founded by English mercenaries. They were convicted in deceptions more than once as well. The use of chemical weapons in Syria is a convenient topic for speculation. In addition to many human rights organizations working against the Syrian government.
Western politicians use the topic of chemical weapons in their rhetoric. Regardless of the reliability of the evidence presented (if any evidence is in principle presented), the topic of chemical weapons is used to inflame the situation and justify actions by the West. In addition, it is a convenient tool for pressure on Iran and Russia: "If you support Bashar Asada, then you are responsible for all his actions. " Therefore, often the topic of chemical weapons is being promoted not against the official Damascus (which for a long time has the status of one hundred percent evil), but against its allies. It's too early to sum up. It is obvious that in the future chemical weapons are used in Syria more than once. Practice shows that the simple bombing by the aircraft of the Syrian government troops, the US-led coalition, and the Russian military security services, which kill dozens and hundreds of civilians in Syria, do not cause much outrage of the "world community." Serious consequences can only be expected if , when someone uses weapons of mass destruction, in this case – chemical. One gas cylinder leads to the death of dozens of people, like a shot-off bomb, but the media effect is ten times stronger. This is why chemical weapons attacks were conducted throughout the war in Syria to obtain a tactical advantage, or to achieve the necessary effect in the form of headlines in the world media about the atrocities of the opposite side of the conflict. In this light, it is significant that the initiators of chemical attacks in most of the cases described have not been established. And it is unlikely to succeed.
Previous article The Israeli strikes again
Next article Long-term strategy against Islam


I need like 60 Gallant Emblems total (30 for a Rising Sun face accessory, 30 for an Agaras Headsplitter) and I know Hantz needs 30 for a Rising Sun Face thing too, would anyone be interested in joining us in farming emblems? I don't mind running two characters and repeatedly letting people kill me. Not sure if I'll need to have maxed crafting or if I can just let Hantz craft for me yet, but we'll work on that. Either way, I can be a kill mule if so!
Let me know if you want to join, because this is going to take AGES and I don't want it to be too miserable.
I can join, but I need emblems as well.
I can be on two characters too!
Cool! Does anyone already have level 10 Smithing? If so I can just throw myself in front of you for half the emblems I need and I can focus on dying instead of killing others. Want to start this weekend? It'd need to be all 4 of us online together since there's a 4 person minimum for PvP.
D:< i spent yesterday maxing smithing, mine's level 8 atm. i'll do it myself i guess, since i already have the recipe learned, but thanks anyway XD if i can get another laptop and am able to run my hs mule could we farm for a bit later today? or at least start with the daily repeatable quests for the free emblems.
I need to max crafting on my battle mage but after that I can help with crafting.
As long as we're in and out fast, it should only take about 12ish minutes per ffa pvp. And you get about ~150 BP. 2.5k BP = 7 emblems.
Calculation: 2 PQ's = 1 emblem * 30 = 60 PQ's = ~10 hours for each 130 thing.
It's long, but as long as we take it easy and do the daily quests it won't be anywhere near as much time.
^Yeah, definitely up for more of this, we were with what, 6 people? It went pretty smoothly. Shouldn't be unbearable! I'm gonna buy a few more 130 recipes if I see them in the FM, they're pretty cheap atm because of the random recipe event.