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Northwest Coal & Oil Exports
Northwest Utility Rejects Kinder Morgan's Coal Pollution
Northwest Utility Rejects Kinder Morgan's Coal Pollution
PGE says coal dust too risky at Columbia River site.
Photo courtesy of Paul K Anderson. Used with permission.
(@Eric_deP) on May 3, 2012 at 12:21 pm
This article is part of the series Northwest Coal & Oil Exports
Huge news yesterday: Portland General Electric slammed the door on Kinder Morgan's scheme to build a giant coal export facility on the Columbia River.
The reason? Because PGE agrees with what Sightline has been arguing: coal terminals mean coal dust pollution. And coal dust pollution, Sightline has shown, jeopardizes local health, environment, and economies.
Kinder Morgan, in particular, should not be trusted with coal-handling. The company's track record is one of pollution, law-breaking, and cover-ups.
So PGE deserves a standing ovation for thwarting Kinder Morgan's plans to build a coal terminal on port land for which PGE holds a long-term lease. But PGE's decision is probably less about environmental responsibility than about plain business sense. The utility operates a natural gas plant near the proposed coal site and company officials worry that coal dust would foul the generating equipment. And PGE is right to worry: as Sightline has documented extensively, Kinder Morgan's coal operations are plagued by escaping coal dust.
If PGE is right that coal dust is too risky for power plants, what might it mean for our lungs? Or for Columbia River fish?
Remember, PGE knows coal. They've been handling and burning it for decades at the Boardman Coal Plant in eastern Oregon. They know first-hand how dirty and dangerous it is. Presumably, they know too that coal terminals make terrible neighbors.
Today, we can watch Kinder Morgan's PR flaks scramble to spin the story, like so:
"The PGE leasehold is only one of those sites. … Nothing has changed. We don't have a site identified, and we have not put forth a proposal," Fore said.
Really, Kinder Morgan?
Then why do Kinder Morgan's own publicity materials identify a specific site? And why do they include a photograph of it labeled "proposed terminal development"?
PGE also raised concerns about coal trains causing congestion around its port sites. It's an issue that will plague any large coal export plans for the Northwest, and it's good to see big business begin to draw attention to the problem.
Media coverage today suggests that Kinder Morgan and the Port of St. Helens, Oregon will continue looking for useable coal terminal space, but port officials acknowledge that PGE's decision is a big step backward for their plans.
Coal terminals are a dirty business as a general matter, but Kinder Morgan is surely among the worst actors in the modern fossil fuel economy:
In Louisiana, Kinder Morgan's coal export facilities are so dirty that satellite photos clearly show coal dust pollution spewing into the Mississippi River.
In South Carolina, coal dust from Kinder Morgan's terminal contaminates oysters, pilings, and boats. Locals have even caught the company on video washing coal directly into sensitive waterways.
In Virginia, Kinder Morgan's coal export terminal is an open sore on the neighborhood, coating nearby homes in dust so frequently that even the mayor is speaking out about the problem.
In Portland, Kinder Morgan officials bribed a ship captain to illegally dump contaminated material at sea, and their operations have repeatedly polluted the Willamette River.
Kinder Morgan has been fined by the US government for stealing coal from customer's stockpiles, lying to air pollution regulators, illegally mixing hazardous waste into gasoline, and many other crimes.
Kinder Morgan would likely make a bad neighbor, so PGE is turning them away. But PGE's concerns are really broader concerns shared across the Northwest: regardless of who operates them, coal export terminals bring risks of pollution, congestion, and economic impairment.
Tagged in: Carbon pollution, Coal, Kinder Morgan
Previous article in series: « Coal Dust in South Africa
Next article in series: Railroad Union Stretches Truth About Coal Dust »
Stand up against Coal! Sign petitions at no coal eugene, powerpastcoal.org. "Get up, Stand up…Don't give up the fight"-Marley
Erin Greeson
Excellent piece! Thank you.
just another electricity user
Yes coal is not the best or cleanest source of electricity but >50% of the electricty you and everyone viewing your website comes from coal. To replace that, what immediate solutions would you suggest? Do you want electricity to "skyrocket" as Pres. Obama said? Don't you think the poor would be hit very hard by very high energy.
Better to push for stringent dust reclamation methods and clean high heat, gasification of coal processing. Along with many current technologies, coal can be better that tar sands and on par with some crude oil extraction.
Less strident preaching and more pragmatism.
Actually, coal only powers about 42% of American electricity — and that number is dropping like a rock for a variety of reasons. Natural gas and some renewable technologies are beating it on price in the marketplace, and coal plants are facing a huge and costly overhang of liabilities stemming from their numerous threats to public health and the environment.
Any number of immediate solutions come to mind, but all of them would transition the US power sector away from coal at a rate of, say, 2 to 4 percentage points per year until it was all gone. Nothing radical, just a firm commitment to replace the world's dirtiest fossil fuel with resources we have in abundance such as efficiency, solar, wind, and geothermal.
Would prices skyrocket? Hardly. In fact, ratepayers can even save money by making the cost-effective investments in efficiency that Big Coal is so worried about.
But do you know what does hit poor people hard? Coal.
http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_in_the_united_states
Firm commitment is great and nice to see coal coming down in numbers but I don't see the "dropping like a rock" at 2 to 4% per year. I want to see your data about renewables beating coal for price per kilowatt/hour. Excepting advanced coal, most renewables are more expensive. But hopefully the renewables downward trend will continue and this will bea moot point.
Have prices come down where you are at? Not here nor anywhere I have seen and once coal's "huge and costly overhang" is passed to consumers or they go out of business, then your "hardly" statement is dreaming. Driving companies out of business and the subsequent post-employees is not a great method to make us energy independant.
The huge cost is government driven for cleaner emmissions which is fine to a degree as long incentives are in place to get them there.
Your last sentence means nothing without an arguement attached to it.
Natural gas is no panacea as it has its own problems and a short window of usage per well. I like renewables but we certainly can't drop coal now until we have capacity in other realms. Which we don't.
My bet is on Thorium reactors in every neighborhood and used onboard ships to transit the seas. Fairly cheap and relatively light load on environment. We'll see and keep our fingers crossed.
Studying up on some oil and gas news, I was transported to your site.. I'm not for oil and gas companies polluting at will with no repercussions.
I went to every one of the Louisiana terminal sites according to Kinder Morgan's website, and what I found was pretty much what I expected.
Nothing… No signs of "coal dust pollution spewing into the Mississippi River". I'm not sure where the author of this article got his info, but, after looking into the river pollution statement, I didn't even look into the statements about the other facilities.
I'm ever bit for whistle blowers calling out companies who don't play by the rules, but, I'm ever bit against people not checking facts before engaging in slanderous articles.
I wouldn't take Kinder Morgan's word on the matter. Instead, just take a look at satellite imagery of Kinder Morgan's facility in Louisiana, here: http://www.sightline.org/2012/04/05/the-facts-about-kinder-morgan/.
Eric Hess
In addition to Eric's comment, the point of this post is that PGE, a coal handler themselves, has decided that, because of coal dust, a Kinder Morgan terminal would make a bad neighbor.
Darrel Whipple
Your second paragraph misrepresents Portland General Electric's position as reported in the Portland Daily Tribune, the South County Spotlight,The (Longview)Daily News and other sources. PGE made a point of saying they are not commenting on the broader issues, only on the likely deleterious effect that coal dust would have on their power generation equipment and possible problems with railroad congestion at the Clatskanie site. If you are aware of statements by PGE about threats to health, the environment, climate stability, etc., posed by coal dust or coal use, please share those quotes.
I wish I'd written that paragraph differently the first time around. I've gone back and amended it to more accurately reflect PGE's position.,
Thanks to Maureen K. Hinkle for supporting a sustainable Northwest.


SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 5, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Arasan Chip Systems, Inc. ("Arasan"), a leading provider of Total Intellectual Property (IP) Core Solutions, announced that it continues to experience strong growth, fueled by its SuperSpeed USB 3.0 IP cores. Arasan's portfolio of SuperSpeed USB IP will be featured in the USB Techzone [Booth #30769] at the 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas. The portfolio consists of a complete range of USB 3.0 Host, Hub and Device IP, verification IP, software stacks, hardware development kits and associated collateral that make up a Total IP Solution offering.
Arasan has over a decade of experience in USB IP development and has a team focused exclusively on the USB protocol. It has a comprehensive IP portfolio covering USB 1.1, 2.0 and now SuperSpeed USB 3.0. With a peak bandwidth of 5 Gbps, USB 3.0 will be deployed in new applications that were constrained by the lower bandwidth of USB 2.0. In particular, USB 3.0 will benefit connectivity to mass storage drives, transfer of HD content in consumer electronics, and rapid two-way data synchronization. USB 3.0 includes new features to reduce power and improve the protocol efficiency which would benefit portable applications as well.
The first systems integrated with USB 3.0 ports are anticipated to appear in mid to late 2010. In order to ramp production by that time-frame, designers at fabless companies and OEMs have started integrating this IP into their SoC designs. Arasan has already licensed its SuperSpeed USB IP cores to some of the largest semiconductor companies and Tier 1 OEMs in the world. These discerning customers have chosen Arasan's USB IP based on Arasan's domain expertise and thoroughly validated IP. In addition, Arasan has started development of a SuperSpeed USB PHY.
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Arasan provides a "Total IP Solution" for its USB IP Portfolio consisting of RTL source code for IP cores, PHYs, Verification IP, software stacks, hardware development kits and documentation all backed by world-class customer support.


A watershed is the geographic region that drains into a body of water and is defined by the land forms and water flow. Hills and valleys direct water to a drainage basin such as a river or lake.
Shaded waterways contribute to healthier ecosystems through cooler water temperatures.
Local Watersheds by Percent Impervious: Watersheds are shaded according to the percentage of impervious surface, a key indicator of watershed health and guide for appropriate practices.
Protecting the unique geography and natural history of the county.
Contributing to the aesthetic beauty of a community, making the County a more desirable place to live, work and visit.
Develop a state endorsed Balanced Growth Watershed Plan.
Limit soil erosion on construction sites through best management practices (minimize extent of disturbance, temporary seeding, etc.) to keep soil particles in place, reducing the amount of sediment in a stream.
Re-establishing natural infiltration, e.g. allowing water to filter through the soil as it does naturally through creation of rain gardens or bioswales.
Separate storm sewers and sanitary sewers to eliminate the combined sewer overflow problems.
Restore the natural biological and physical systems of a watershed through tree plantings, bioengineering, floodplain enhancement, etc.
Remove invasive species and plant native species to help increase biodiversity.
Develop green connections between various beneficial natural areas (e.g. parks) to ensure wildlife movement and migration throughout the County.
Utilize Low-Impact Development practices that help to mimic the natural environment and ensure pre-development hydrology is reached at site completion.
Cuyahoga River Restoration – Cuyahoga River Restoration works to restore and protect the environmental quality of the Cuyahoga River, nearshore Lake Erie, and select Lake Erie tributary watersheds. It provides information on the watershed and subwatersheds.
The Center for Watershed Protection – An Integrated Framework to Restore Small Urban Watersheds (2005).
Ohio Balanced Growth Program Watershed Planning – provides a watershed planning framework.


How to Become a Stockbroker in Maine - ME | Career | Series 7, 63, 66 Exam | License Requirements | What is a Financial Planner? | What does a Financial Planner do?
This step-by-step guide will provide you with clear instructions on how to satisfy all requirements so as to begin your career as a securities sales agent in Maine.
Although not compulsory for licensing in Maine, most potential sponsoring broker-dealer firms will require you to have a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline.
Your application to take the required exams is submitted by your sponsoring firm on your behalf. Your sponsoring firm will become your employer upon successful completion of the exams. Pursue sponsorship directly through the broker-dealer firms registered in Maine, including the many smaller independent firms located in the state.
The most common exam is the Series 7 General Securities Representative Examination, which is the most comprehensive of its kind and qualifies you as a general securities agent.
The Maine Department of Professional & Financial Regulation, Office of Securities requires you to pass either the Series 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam) OR the Series 66 (Uniform Combined State Law Exam). The respective passing scores for these examinations are 72% and 75%.
When your application for the exam is approved, you are authorized to schedule the exams. Your firm will be contacted if there are any missing or additional documents required. Schedule directly with the Prometric or Pearson exam center in Maine that is nearest you.
Some firms offer training and/or other resources for exam preparation. Make use of these resources and prepare thoroughly. Arrive on time ready to test.
You get to see the outcome of the exam immediately after you are done.
Your Maine BD agent license expires on December 31st of every year. If you have complied with the Continuing Education (CE) requirements, your firm's compliance department will renew your license through the Central Registration Depository (CRD) system, paying Maine's $30 renewal fee on your behalf.
Compliance with the regulatory element involves attending a CBT (computer based training) session within 120 days of your second license renewal. After that, the CBT training session is required only once every three years. The regulatory element was created through the joint effort of the Continuing Education Council and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The topics presented are relevant to virtually all registered reps and include regulations, compliance, disciplinary actions, and ethics. As part of this element, Series 7 licensees complete the General Program called S101 while Series 6 licensees fulfill the requirements of the S106 (Variable Products Program).
Most firm element programs are based on recommendations put forth by FINRA's Firm Element Advisory. Firm element training may include firm specific products and sales protocols in the context of regulatory compliance.


Automatic transmissions in the 1.4 and 1.7 engines were notoriously weak, and have cost past $1200, and UP to repair. If you get an automatic trans now—and it still holds gear, then put on a trans cooler immidiately BEFORE the Radiator and do not connect it to the radiator anymore. Also change the auto trans immediately—and flush and fill it every 8 to 10,000 miles. Also check it for any burn smell on a regular basis. Use dextron 3 trans fluid, good stuff too... not cheapie crap!
Replace the torn rubber boots immediately of the front half drive shafts- or have them re-built at a local shop, then put them back in.


Completely Remodeled! Perched along the foothills in Hastings Ranch is this beautiful home with an open floor plan filled with natural light. A long driveway greets you as you enter onto the property. Inside, new oak wood floors are found throughout the home. The Living Room has expansive glass sliders and a stone fireplace. The gourmet kitchen with center island has all new cabinetry, quartz countertops, and stainless steel appliances, which includes a chef's Bertazzoni stove. The master bedroom suite with custom vanity, double sinks and shower, is privately situated on its own wing from the other bedrooms. The hall bath has custom cabinetry, designer tiles, and a quartz countertop. The fourth bedroom which opens onto the rear yard has a secondary fireplace and can also be used as a den or office. The low maintenance backyard includes a lush lawn for playing and a concrete stone patio for entertaining. New HVAC and New Roof, Dual pane windows! A two car attached garage with washer and dryer inside is also included in this sale. It's time to call this your home!


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The Original Comedy and Pop Culture. A multi-fandom show with Doc Brown/Indiana Jones, The Shark from Jaws, Yoda and the Slightly Evil Dead. We can mix in Dr Who and Potter characters to this show if it is the only show we are doing at your con.
These are completely new Comedy shows unlike anything you will see anywhere on the planet. I combine my love of Nerd Culture with Comedy and with Magic. It is really a Comedy show about Pop Culture, Potter Or Dr Who that just happens to feature magic and illusion. It is designed for Comic Cons and Pop Culture Events but also can be performed at Corporate Events. We can perform one of the shows or different shows during your event.
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Algoma Steel Has a new CEO
by john.murtha on March 13, 2019, 10:03am. EDT
Algoma Steel news release…
Algoma Steel Inc. (with its affiliates, 'Algoma' or the 'company') is pleased to announce the appointment today of Michael McQuade as Chief Executive Officer of the company. Mr. McQuade, who is currently a director of Algoma, has more than 35 years of steel industry experience in a number of senior leadership positions.
"On behalf of the board of directors, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Michael McQuade as Chief Executive Officer of Algoma" stated Andy Harshaw, Chairman of Algoma. "Mike has the skills and experience to lead Algoma in the next stage of its evolution as a leading Canadian steel company and globally competitive producer. Mike and the other members of Algoma's leadership team will build on the Company's financial and operational strengths and oversee the Company's CDN $300 million facility modernization program. This program will expand the Company's capacity and grade capability and position Algoma to meet the growing demand for advanced grades of steel. As our new Chief Executive Officer, Mike McQuade will work closely with our employees and business partners to build on Algoma's strengths, generate value, and maintain Algoma as the industrial cornerstone of Sault Ste. Marie."
Prior to becoming a director of Algoma in 2018, Mr. McQuade gained more than 35 years of progressive experience at Stelco Inc., a Canadian steelmaker, where he held a variety of roles in finance, accounting, operations, and sales. Mr. McQuade became chief financial officer of Stelco in 2010 and its President in 2014. Michael McQuade holds a bachelor of mathematics degree as well as the CPA, CMA and Chartered Director designations.
Mr. McQuade succeeds Kalyan Ghosh, who served as Chief Executive Officer prior to and during the successful restructuring of Algoma's business in 2018 and has resigned from the company to pursue other opportunities. Mr. Ghosh remarked, "I am proud of all that we have accomplished in Algoma's turnaround and excited about its future, but I believe the time is right for me to move on to the next phase of my professional life. I have full confidence in the leadership team and their ability to execute the Company's business plan and create lasting value". The board of directors wishes to thank Mr. Ghosh for his leadership and significant contribution to Algoma and its recent successful emergence from creditor protection.
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I believe we do. While no passage addresses this question specifically, several point us in that direction.
Jesus said we are to be salt and light, and like cities set on hills (Matthew 5:13-16). This means our lives are to have an obvious impact for good. Our vote, especially collectively, has great potential to impact our world for good when we elect those who will govern with justice and equity.
Jesus' apostle Paul wrote that God ordains governments with authority as his ministers ("deacons" would be an accurate translation, Romans 13:1-7). If God ordains governments to do good, it follows that his children would do well to take part in government in order to do good.
Can you even imagine the apostle Paul turning down an opportunity for Christians to run for office, or to have a say in who governs communities, even nations, in the first century?
Christians should remember Jude's words telling us to contend earnestly for the faith, meaning that we should stand up as well as speak up for it (Jude 3). Nothing in his statement limits standing up for the faith to the church. Jesus said, "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops" (Matthew 10:27). It is the devil, not Jesus, who desires to limit Christians to speaking only among themselves.
Some say that we are not to force our religion on others. In so saying, however, they are trying to force us to conform to what they believe. Why is that any different? We should all be free to exchange ideas and beliefs in the public arena rather than be coerced into silence, or censored.
God put Joseph in power in Egypt. He sent Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to Babylon where they all served in influential offices under foreign kings. Esther, was made queen of Persian as a young lady and saved her people. Her uncle Mordecai was also given a high position.
Jesus said that even Pilate had no power over him except what had been given him from heaven (John 19:10-11). What power, what authority does each Christian citizen have, but to vote?
If the Good Lord delays his coming, future generations will look back on our day and see the church's impact on our society. Will they look back and see that we did everything within our power to influence our communities and our nation for good?
The ball is in our court this coming Tuesday. Remember the "one talent" man? Don't bury what you have. Use it to God's glory.


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Voudon in Benin (2000)
17 December 2008 on travel, mysticism, benin, africa, voudon
'If they attack you, you must run away.' Gaston says it urgently, in rapid French patois, and at first I'm not sure if I've heard him correctly. The village drummers of Ngbecon are sweating over their instruments, and the féticheurs, about forty of them, are kicking up the dust in the little square. It is obvious that the possession ritual is coming to some kind of climax, and if that climax is going to involve me, I want to know about it. 'Are they likely to do that?' I ask. He nods. 'They are going to bring down the angry spirits, and some of them can be very violent.'
Over the last two hours, as the sun set and a light wind started to blow off the sea, the people of Ngbecon, just one of countless fishing villages strung along the coast of Benin, have gradually worked up to this moment. In twos and threes, the féticheurs, shaven headed women dressed in wax-print cloth wraps and cowrie-shell jewellery, have wandered through the space, genuflecting to the drums, singing snatches of eerie harmonies, and eyeing me with a certain lofty detachment as I sat on my little wooden chair, waiting for something to happen. The women, who have undergone long training to become the channels by which Ngbecon contacts the supernatural, are watched wide-eyed by the gang of village children who have assembled to find out what will happen when the 'yovo' visitor meets the 'vévé', the spirits.
This is voudon, the traditional religion of Benin, which despite slavery, years of Portuguese and French colonisation and the influx of Islam from the North, has survived into the twenty-first century as a major cultural force in this tiny country. About 70 % of Beninois still practice voudon, often blending it with elements from the various Christian and Muslim creeds which have footholds along the former 'slave coast'. While sophisticates from Cotonou, Benin's biggest city, may go to work in their 4x4's and dance to Zairean pop music in the clubs of the Jonquet district, a few miles down the road African village life continues much as it has done for centuries. Early tomorrow morning the Ngbecon drummers, the best and strongest of the village's young men, will get up and paddle their fishing boats out into the fierce Atlantic surf, casting their nets for sea bass, or paying out thick lines to catch shark and barracuda. Others will check the shrimp baskets in the lagoon, or the ingenious fish traps set around the tangles of submerged mangrove roots near the ferry crossing. Even the little children will set crab traps, made from wooden hinges and old tin cans, while the women load baskets of produce into dug-out pirogues to take to market.
A mile or two down the coast is Grand Popo, a beach resort of elegant Portuguese colonial buildings where French and German tourists come to sample the good life at the elegant Auberge, and Beninois industrialists and politicians maintain splendid villas, shielded from the harmattan by stands of coconut palms. These days Benin is, by West African standards, doing well. Since the dark times of the seventies, when successive postcolonial governments were toppled by military coups, the country has established a democracy and is working hard to improve the lot of its people, most of whom, like the fishers of Ngbecon, are desperately poor. Town centre billboards exhort the populace to patriotic action ('Women of Benin! Spare your children the misery of war!' , 'Let us struggle together to combat air pollution!') and the national TV station plays stirring folk songs over pictures of workmen laying paved roads and water mains. True, the current president, Matthieu Kérékou, did have a spell as Marxist dictator during the 'folklorique' craziness of the seventies, but last time he lost an election he went quietly, and although local politics are still murky ('c'est compliqué, m'sieu' is as much as locals tend to say), Benin appears to be tackling its problems and attracting much-needed foreign investment and visitors.
In the South, the sea and series of huge freshwater lakes dominate the life of the country. A national landmark is Ganvié, the biggest of many stilt villages built by the Tofinu in the middle of lake Nokoué to protect themselves from the predations of their Fon neighbours, who had a religious taboo against crossing water. Life on the lakes, even a trip to the post office or the shops, is conducted entirely by pirogue, and children learn to pole their way across the glassy water almost as soon as they learn to walk.
Only a narrow sandbar separates the lakes from the Atlantic, which smashes up against it to form a white beach that seems to run the entire length of the coastline. The ocean has, as well as wealth, also brought its fair share of sorrow to Benin. Between the sixteenth and nineteenth century, an average of ten thousand slaves a year were shipped through the port of Ouidah, and whether you find yourself picking your way round a crumbling slaver's fort, or staring at a gradually-oxidising set of shackles in a local museum, the legacy of those times is never far away. In Ouidah itself, now a sleepy market town, you can walk the 'route des esclaves', starting at the huge frangipani tree under which the auctions were held, and following a dusty five kilometre road to the water. These days the route is lined with fetishes - the rainbow serpent, the siren and other figures of the local voudon pantheon - and a plaque marks the spot where the 'forgetting tree' once stood, round which the slaves were marched nine times, to wipe their memories clean of their old life and prepare them for the horrific time ahead. At the beach is a moving monument known as The Point of No Return, an arch decorated with images of manacled figures and voudon symbols through which you can walk down to the shore. It is a place to think about Brazil and Haiti, which were to be the destinations of the majority of the captives who were brought here. The slaves took with them their religion, which mutated into Haitian voodoo, and the Brazilian cults of Santeria and Candomblé. Many followers of these faiths make pilgrimages to Ouidah in search of their spiritual roots, and in town one of the old slaver's mansions holds a museum of modern voodoo art, with pieces from around the world.
To the North of the lakes, Benin is a long strip of heavily forested plateau, stretching out towards the Atakora mountains, on the border with Burkina Faso. Travelling this way in a bush taxi, usually a 1970's-vintage Peugeot estate into which are crammed up to a dozen adults, plus small children, livestock and trade goods, can be a gruelling experience, but it is undoubtedly a fine way to meet people. At one point I find myself explaining the reasons for British resistance to the Euro to a Guinean hajji, while by the side of the road our driver performs the impromptu halal slaughter of a sheep, which (surprise, surprise) is dying after spending six hours tied to the roof rack in the blazing sun. Our destination is the town of Naititongou, the jumping-off point for safaris into the nature reserve of the Parc de la Pendjari, and for roaming around the country of the Somba, a tribal people who live in extraordinary compounds that look like mud and thatch Loire chateaux, and are famous for their skill at hunting with bow and arrow. Though Benin is a small country, perhaps a couple of hundred languages are spoken here, and the Somba are just one of myriad tribal groupings. Travelling through the countryside, you meet high-cheekboned women with indigo tattooing on their foreheads, men etched like printing plates with intricate patterns of facial scars, and little children with red beauty marks and charms tied to their necks to ward off illness. By contrast, in town you can find markets which seem uncannily like Shepherds Bush or Brixton, zoom around on the back of a 'zemijohn' scooter taxi or hang out in music shops which for a few quid will sell you a stack of excellent cassettes, in every musical style from Africando to High Life, Juju to Makossa.
In Ngbecon I quickly realise Gaston was serious. The angry spirits make the possessed féticheurs snarl and writhe, and several of them produce little beaten metal blades, with which they slash at the air, groaning and spitting very angrily indeed. Suddenly a determined middle-aged lady whirls towards me and Gaston jerks me out of the way, six inches of ritual blade carving up the space previously occupied by my face. Luckily for my nerves, the angry spirits are soon superceded by the mocking spirits, who produce a carnivalesque frenzy of dirty dancing. Hips grind, tongues protrude lasciviously, and when the drums pause, everyone piles on top of each other, miming orgiastic group sex. At the second break the inevitable happens and, like a rugby scrum, I am buried beneath a mound of wobbling mock-copulating African womanhood. I emerge to find the entire village convulsed by hysterical laughter, as my assailants victoriously waggle yam phalluses at me I can, I reckon, consider myself well and truly mocked.
This article first appeared in Time Out magazine.
Hari Kunzru cannot believe this is still going on.
Making Friends with the Mail (2003)
Statement read by Jonny Geller on behalf of Hari Kunzru: November 20th 2003. My apologies for not being present…
Donna Haraway (1997)
For Donna Haraway, we are already assimilated. The monster opens the curtains of Victor Frankenstein's bed. Schwarzenegger tears back…


For thirty years, Superfest: The International Disability Film Festival has given the disabled a much needed and well deserved voice. Though the disabled are the country's largest minority group, encompassing people from all racial, ethnic, economic and LGBT backgrounds, people with disabilities are all but invisible in popular culture and in the news media.
On Saturday October 22, Superfest kicks off at the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life in Berkeley. Superfest continues on Sunday October 23 at San Francisco's Contemporary Jewish Museum. A dozen films will be shown. There will also be moderated discussions and filmmaker Q & As.
The Superfest line-up was revealed at a recent press conference inside the Lighthouse's headquarters. It was indeed a diverse line-up. Two of the festival's short films were screened at the press opening.
In Michael Achtman's Awake, two blind women enter into an unlikely friendship. Anna is a white lesbian with a chronic illness. Doreen is a black evangelist. Both characters are played by blind actors–not something we often see in the movies.
In the documentary Yam's Journey, Yam, an Israeli boy who lives with cerebral palsy, journey's across Europe with his dad. With humor and grace, father and son deal with the realities of countries which are often inaccessible to persons with disabilities. The film was made by Rubi Gat, Yam's father.
Still from Yam's Journey, which screens October 22 at 1pm at Superfest.
A number of feature length films will also be shown. Countries represented include Israel, USA, Canada, England, Italy, Belgium and France. All films will be fully accessible to the disabled, and will include descriptive audio tracks for the blind as well as subtitles for the deaf. Naturally both venues are wheelchair accessible.
Will Butler explains the importance of making these films available to the public.
"At the end of the day, everyone needs role models, and the average person gets those from the movies we watch and the stories we tell," he said.
Check out the complete Superfest line-up here.
Buy your tickets for Superfest here.


Prints Publications Pvt. Ltd. formerly Prints India the largest book distributor in India. Actively exports books to over 100 countries from over 5,000 Indian Publishers. The exceptional performance and high standards set and continuously maintained by Prints Publications has enabled it to win many awards for quality and export performance from many organisations, including prestigious awards from the Government of India. We are holding an extensive database of Indian Publications on various subjects and supply all the Indian Publications based on any subject. Prints Publications is the leading exporter of original English Language books from India with an exceptional network in South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa.
The Company is capable of handling bulk, big, medium, small and even individual customers orders as it is managed by team with more than 25 years of experience in the Indian Book Publishing.
The Company has a strong data base of Indian Publishing to help, buyers to select their requirements in any subject. Subject wise lists and publishers catalogue can be provided on request.
www.buybooksindia.com : Your favorite book is just a click away! Buy Books India is an online bookstore that allows all the bibliophiles to indulge in a wide variety of books. Not only does it offer information, knowledge and reviews, but it also offers you books at an unbeatable discounted price. Buy Books will surprise you with the variety of stocks that it has. From romantic novels for the young-at-heart to educative books that help students to prepare for competitive exams, buy books has it all. Facilities like Return and Exchange policy makes it easier for customers to replace the books if they are not satisfied with the purchase. Buy Books consistently tries to make the customer shop and order easily. Since its inception it has gathered a lot of recognition by featuring books and novels by famous authors and their work.


A metal professional standard floor microphone stand with boom arm that is adjustable for height, angle and extension. The product features tripod style foldaway legs and has a remarkable stability when in use. Boom extensions of 760 mm.


text:
University Structure (16327)
Academy of Islamic Studies (384)
Academy of Malay Studies (162)
Centre for Foundation Studies in Science (48)
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (281)
Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology (850)
Faculty of Dentistry (794)
Faculty of Economics & Administration (279)
Faculty of Education (420)
Faculty of Languages and Linguistics (117)
Faculty of Law (194)
Faculty of Medicine (3528)
Faculty of Science (4556)
Faculty of the Built Environment (229)
Museum of Asian Art (4)
Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre (101)
Sports Centre (59)
UM Centre Innovation and Commercialization (30)
Centre of Excellence for Research in AIDS (CERiA) (18)
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & International) Office (37)
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Office (434)
Faculty of Business and Accountancy (325)


Services for Susan Renee Davis Howell will be Friday, July 20 at 1 p.m. at Westside Baptist Church with Bro. Steve McAlister and Johnny Dunn, officiating.
Susan, 61, passed into the presence of her Heavenly Father Tuesday, July 17, 2018, in Natchitoches surrounded by her family. She was born in Bossier City, June 30, 1957, to her parents, William "Bill" and Elise Davis.
Susan was much loved and will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Everyone who knew her knew her love for animals. She was a volunteer at Hope for Paws for many years.
She is survived by her husband, Gary Howell; son, Brett Mayeaux and wife Rachel of Ludowici, Ga.; daughters, Amber Howell of Natchitoches and Alicia Howell Angelle and husband Caleb of Breaux Bridge; six grandchildren, Kate, Anna and Ryan Mayeaux, and Jaxon, Greyson and Sutton Angelle; her brothers, Randy and wife Cammie of Baton Rouge and Jimmy and wife Beverly of San Antonio, Texas; mother-in-law, Juanita Howell; and a host of nieces and nephews as well as close friends who are like family.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Elise Davis; and Troy Mayeaux.
The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Natchitoches Community Care Center and the Hospice of Natchitoches and all the wonderful caregivers for their love and exceptional care of Susan.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hope for Paws or a charity of your choice.


text:
using namespace std;

extern "C"
{
#ifndef PERSON_TRACKING_DATA_FILES
#define PERSON_TRACKING_DATA_FILES "/usr/share/librealsense/pt/data/"
#endif

#define ESC_KEY 27

    // Forward declarations
    namespace rs
    {
    namespace core
    {
    class context_interface;
    class correlated_sample_set;
    }
    class device;
    }

    class pt_utils
    {
    public:
        pt_utils()
        {

        }
        ~pt_utils()
        {

        }

        std::wstring GetDataFilesPath()
        {
            struct stat stat_struct;
            if(stat(PERSON_TRACKING_DATA_FILES, &stat_struct) != 0)
            {
                cerr <<  "Failed to find person tracking data files at " <<  PERSON_TRACKING_DATA_FILES << endl;
                cerr <<  "Please check that you run sample from correct directory" << endl;
                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
            }

            string person_tracking_data_files = PERSON_TRACKING_DATA_FILES;
            int size = person_tracking_data_files.length();
            wchar_t wc_person_tracking_data_files[size + 1];
            mbstowcs(wc_person_tracking_data_files, person_tracking_data_files.c_str(), size + 1);

            return wstring(wc_person_tracking_data_files);
        }

        bool IsStreamCompatible(rs::core::stream_type stream, rs::format  format,
                                int width, int height, int frameRate)
        {
            bool frameRateOK = (frameRate == 30);
            bool colorFormatOK = false;
            bool resolutionOK = false;
            switch (stream)
            {
            case rs::core::stream_type::color:
                colorFormatOK = (format == rs::format::rgb8);
                resolutionOK = (width == get_resolution_width(color_resolution)) && (height == get_resolution_height(color_resolution)); //VGA resolution for color
                break;
            case rs::core::stream_type::depth:
                colorFormatOK =  (format == rs::format::z16);
                resolutionOK = (width == get_resolution_width(depth_resolution)) && (height == get_resolution_height(depth_resolution)); //QVGA resolution for depth
                break;
            default:
                return  false;
            }

            return  colorFormatOK && resolutionOK && frameRateOK;
        }

        // Config Camera device with recommended configuration from PT
        rs::core::video_module_interface::actual_module_config ConfigureCamera (rs::device* device)
        {
            rs::core::video_module_interface::actual_module_config actualModuleConfig = {};

            vector<rs::core::stream_type> possible_streams = {rs::core::stream_type::depth,
                                                              rs::core::stream_type::color //person tracking uses only color & depth
                                                             };
            for (auto &stream : possible_streams)
            {
                rs::stream librealsenseStream = rs::utils::convert_stream_type(stream);
                int streamModeCount = device->get_stream_mode_count(librealsenseStream);
                int streamModeNb = 0;
                for(streamModeNb = 0; streamModeNb < streamModeCount; ++streamModeNb)
                {
                    //add logic for choosing of stream mode
                    int width, height, frame_rate;
                    rs::format format;
                    device->get_stream_mode(librealsenseStream, streamModeNb, width, height, format, frame_rate);

                    if (IsStreamCompatible(stream, format, width, height, frame_rate))
                    {
                        cout << "\nenabling: stream:" << librealsenseStream << ", "<< width << "x" << height << "x" << frame_rate << ", format:" << format << endl;
                        device->enable_stream(librealsenseStream, width, height, format, frame_rate);
                        rs::core::video_module_interface::actual_image_stream_config &actualStreamConfig = actualModuleConfig[stream];
                        actualStreamConfig.size.width = width;
                        actualStreamConfig.size.height = height;
                        actualStreamConfig.frame_rate = frame_rate;
                        actualStreamConfig.intrinsics = rs::utils::convert_intrinsics(
                                                            device->get_stream_intrinsics(librealsenseStream));
                        actualStreamConfig.extrinsics = rs::utils::convert_extrinsics(
                                                            device->get_extrinsics(rs::stream::depth, librealsenseStream));
                        actualStreamConfig.is_enabled = true;
                        break;
                    }

                }
                if (streamModeNb >= streamModeCount)
                {
                    throw  runtime_error("camera is not support requested format");
                }
            }
            return actualModuleConfig;
        }

        int GetNextFrame(rs::core::correlated_sample_set& sample_set)
        {
            m_dev->wait_for_frames();

            for(auto &stream :
                    {
                        rs::core::stream_type::color,  rs::core::stream_type::depth
                    })
            {
                rs::stream librealsense_stream = rs::utils::convert_stream_type(stream);
                int height = m_dev->get_stream_height(librealsense_stream);
                int width = m_dev->get_stream_width(librealsense_stream);
                rs::core::image_info info =
                {
                    width,
                    height,
                    rs::utils::convert_pixel_format(m_dev->get_stream_format(librealsense_stream)),
                    get_pixel_size(m_dev->get_stream_format(librealsense_stream)) * width
                };

                const void* frameData = m_dev->get_frame_data(librealsense_stream);
                if (!frameData)
                {
                    cerr << "frame data for " << librealsense_stream << "is null" << endl;
                    return -1;
                }

                sample_set[stream] = rs::core::image_interface::create_instance_from_raw_data(
                                         &info,
                                         frameData,
                                         stream,
                                         rs::core::image_interface::flag::any,
                                         m_dev->get_frame_timestamp(librealsense_stream),
                                         m_dev->get_frame_number(librealsense_stream));

            }
            return 0;
        }

        int8_t get_pixel_size(rs::format format)
        {
            switch(format)
            {
            case rs::format::any:
                return 0;
            case rs::format::z16:
                return 2;
            case rs::format::disparity16:
                return 2;
            case rs::format::xyz32f:
                return 4;
            case rs::format::yuyv:
                return 2;
            case rs::format::rgb8:
                return 3;
            case rs::format::bgr8:
                return 3;
            case rs::format::rgba8:
                return 4;
            case rs::format::bgra8:
                return 4;
            case rs::format::y8:
                return 1;
            case rs::format::y16:
                return 2;
            case rs::format::raw8:
                return 1;
            case rs::format::raw10:
                return 0;//not supported
            case rs::format::raw16:
                return 2;
            }
            return 0;
        }

        rs::core::status init_camera(rs::core::image_info& colorInfo, rs::core::image_info& depthInfo,rs::core::video_module_interface::actual_module_config& actualModuleConfig, rs::object_recognition::or_video_module_impl& impl,rs::object_recognition::or_data_interface** or_data, rs::object_recognition::or_configuration_interface** or_configuration)
        {
            //Initializing depth resolution and color resolution
            color_resolution = RESOLUTION_VGA;
            depth_resolution = RESOLUTION_QVGA;

            rs::core::status st;
            m_frame_number=0;

            //create context object
            m_ctx.reset(new rs::core::context);

            if (m_ctx == nullptr)
                return rs::core::status_process_failed;

            int deviceCount = m_ctx->get_device_count();
            if (deviceCount  == 0)
            {
                printf("No RealSense device connected.\n\n");
                return rs::core::status_process_failed;
            }

            //get pointer the the camera
            m_dev = m_ctx->get_device(0);

            //request the first (index 0) supported module config.
            rs::core::video_module_interface::supported_module_config cfg;
            st = impl.query_supported_module_config(0, cfg);
            if (st != rs::core::status_no_error)
            {
                printf("Failed to query OR supported module config.\n");
                exit(EXIT_FAILURE);
            }

            //configure camera to fit supported MW configuration
            actualModuleConfig = ConfigureCamera(m_dev);

            //configure projection
            rs::core::intrinsics color_intrin = rs::utils::convert_intrinsics(m_dev->get_stream_intrinsics(rs::stream::color));
            rs::core::intrinsics depth_intrin = rs::utils::convert_intrinsics(m_dev->get_stream_intrinsics(rs::stream::depth));
            rs::core::extrinsics extrinsics = rs::utils::convert_extrinsics(m_dev   ->get_extrinsics(rs::stream::depth, rs::stream::color));
            actualModuleConfig.projection = rs::core::projection_interface::create_instance(&color_intrin, &depth_intrin, &extrinsics);

            //setting the selected configuration (after projection)
            st=impl.set_module_config(actualModuleConfig);
            if (st != rs::core::status_no_error)
                return st;

            //create or data object
            *or_data = impl.create_output();

            //create or data object
            *or_configuration = impl.create_active_configuration();

            //handling color image info (for later using)
            colorInfo.width = get_resolution_width(color_resolution);
            colorInfo.height = get_resolution_height(color_resolution);
            colorInfo.format = rs::core::pixel_format::rgb8;
            colorInfo.pitch = colorInfo.width * 3;
            m_colorInfo = colorInfo;

            //handling depth image info (for later using)
            depthInfo.width = get_resolution_width(depth_resolution);
            depthInfo.height = get_resolution_height(depth_resolution);
            depthInfo.format = rs::core::pixel_format::z16;
            depthInfo.pitch = depthInfo.width * 2;

            m_dev->start();

            //enable auto exposure for color stream
            m_dev->set_option(rs::option::color_enable_auto_exposure, 1);

            //enable auto exposure for Depth camera stream
            m_dev->set_option(rs::option::r200_lr_auto_exposure_enabled, 1);

            m_sample_set = new rs::core::correlated_sample_set();

            m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::color]=nullptr;
            m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::depth]=nullptr;

            return rs::core::status_no_error;
        }

        rs::core::status init_camera( rs::core::video_module_interface::actual_module_config& actualConfig)
        {
            //Initializing depth resolution and color resolution
            color_resolution = RESOLUTION_QVGA;
            depth_resolution = RESOLUTION_QVGA;

            //create context object
            m_ctx.reset(new rs::core::context);

            if (m_ctx == nullptr)
                return rs::core::status_process_failed;

            int deviceCount = m_ctx->get_device_count();
            if (deviceCount  == 0)
            {
                cerr << endl << "There are no RealSense devices connected" << endl;
                return rs::core::status_process_failed;
            }

            m_dev = m_ctx->get_device(0); //device memory managed by the context

            //configure camera and get parameters for person tracking video module
            actualConfig = ConfigureCamera(m_dev);

            //configure projection
            rs::core::intrinsics color_intrin = rs::utils::convert_intrinsics(m_dev->get_stream_intrinsics(rs::stream::color));
            rs::core::intrinsics depth_intrin = rs::utils::convert_intrinsics(m_dev->get_stream_intrinsics(rs::stream::depth));
            rs::core::extrinsics extrinsics = rs::utils::convert_extrinsics(m_dev->get_extrinsics(rs::stream::depth, rs::stream::color));
            actualConfig.projection = rs::core::projection_interface::create_instance(&color_intrin, &depth_intrin, &extrinsics);

            //enable auto exposure for color stream
            m_dev->set_option(rs::option::color_enable_auto_exposure, 1);

            //enable auto exposure for Depth camera stream
            m_dev->set_option(rs::option::r200_lr_auto_exposure_enabled, 1);

            return rs::core::status_no_error;
        }

        void init_person_tracking(rs::person_tracking::person_tracking_video_module_interface **ptModule)
        {
            wstring dataDir = GetDataFilesPath();
            *ptModule = rs::person_tracking::person_tracking_video_module_factory::create_person_tracking_video_module(dataDir.c_str());
        }

        int user_request_exit(void)
        {
            static const int STDIN = 0;
            static int initialized = 0;

            if (0 == initialized)
            {
                //Use termios to turn off line buffering
                struct termios term;
                tcgetattr(STDIN, &term);
                term.c_lflag &= ~ICANON;
                tcsetattr(STDIN, TCSANOW, &term);
                setbuf(stdin, NULL);
                initialized = 1;
            }

            int bytesWaiting=0,data=0;
            ioctl(STDIN, FIONREAD, &bytesWaiting);
            if(bytesWaiting)
                data=getc(stdin);
            return data == ESC_KEY;
        }

        //start the device
        void start_camera()
        {
            m_dev->start();
        }

        //stop the device
        void stop_camera()
        {
            m_dev->stop();
        }

        rs::core::correlated_sample_set* get_sample_set(rs::core::image_info& colorInfo,rs::core::image_info& depthInfo)
        {
            m_dev->wait_for_frames();

            //get color and depth buffers
            const void* colorBuffer =  m_dev->get_frame_data(rs::stream::color);
            const void* depthBuffer = m_dev->get_frame_data(rs::stream::depth);
            m_color_buffer = const_cast<void*>(colorBuffer);

            //release images from the previous frame
            release_images();

            //create images from buffers
            rs::core::image_interface::image_data_with_data_releaser color_container(colorBuffer);
            rs::core::image_interface::image_data_with_data_releaser depth_container(depthBuffer);
            auto colorImg = rs::core::image_interface::create_instance_from_raw_data( &colorInfo, color_container, rs::core::stream_type::color, rs::core::image_interface::any,m_frame_number, (uint64_t)m_dev->get_frame_timestamp(rs::stream::color) );
            auto depthImg = rs::core::image_interface::create_instance_from_raw_data( &depthInfo, depth_container, rs::core::stream_type::depth, rs::core::image_interface::any,m_frame_number, (uint64_t)m_dev->get_frame_timestamp(rs::stream::depth) );

            //create sample from both images
            m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::color] = colorImg;
            m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::depth] = depthImg;
            m_frame_number++;

            return m_sample_set;
        }

        void release_images()
        {
            if (m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::color])
            {
                m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::color]->release();
                m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::color]=nullptr;
            }

            if (m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::depth])
            {
                m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::depth]->release();
                m_sample_set->images[(int)rs::stream::depth] = nullptr;
            }
        }

        void copy_color_to_cvmat(cv::Mat& CVColor)
        {
            memcpy(CVColor.data,m_color_buffer, CVColor.elemSize() * CVColor.total());
        }

    protected:
        std::shared_ptr<rs::core::context_interface> m_ctx;
        rs::device* m_dev;
        rs::core::correlated_sample_set* m_sample_set;
        rs::core::image_info m_colorInfo;
        int m_frame_number;
        void* m_color_buffer;

        enum Resolution {RESOLUTION_QVGA, RESOLUTION_VGA, RESOLUTION_HD, RESOLUTION_FULLHD};
        Resolution depth_resolution, color_resolution;
        std::string m_filename;
        int get_resolution_width(Resolution res)
        {
            switch(res)
            {
            case RESOLUTION_QVGA:
                return 320;
            case RESOLUTION_VGA:
                return 640;
            case RESOLUTION_HD:
                return 1280;
            case RESOLUTION_FULLHD:
                return 1920;
            default:
                throw std::runtime_error("unknown value for resolution");
            }
        }
        int get_resolution_height(Resolution res)
        {
            switch(res)
            {
            case RESOLUTION_QVGA:
                return 240;
            case RESOLUTION_VGA:
                return 480;
            case RESOLUTION_HD:
                return 720;
            case RESOLUTION_FULLHD:
                return 1080;
            default:
                throw std::runtime_error("unknown value for resolution");
            }
        }
    };

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
ISIS Leader Injured in Air Strike, Iraqi Officials Say
By Nolan Feeney
November 9, 2014 3:31 PM EST
Iraqi authorities announced on Sunday that an air strike wounded Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the militant group the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS).
He was hit Saturday in the town of Qaim in Iraq's Anbar province during a meeting with militant forces, anonymous Iraqi officials told the Associated Press.
The Defense and Interior Ministries of Iraq said in statements that al-Baghdadi was injured, but they did not elaborate on the injury or the air strike. The Pentagon offered no additional information.
Since al-Baghdadi, thought to be in his early 40s, took over the militants in 2010, he has grown it from a local al-Qaeda branch into a powerful, independent Islamist extremist group.
The U.S. and allied forces began launching air strikes against ISIS targets in September.
[AP]
Write to Nolan Feeney at nolan.feeney@time.com.
Hundreds of Thousands of Protesters March in Iraq Amidst Growing Anti-U.S. Sentiment


Here is a great craft to make just in time for this romantic holiday. It has an elegant look to it, and can be used year after year. I really like mixing in the different materials. My little boys even helped cut out the circles for the newspaper rosettes.
Need: 1/4 yard of red felt, 1/4 yard of white felt, stack of black and white newspaper, large foam ball, hot glue/glue gun, large/wide candle sticks, valentine ribbon.
First cut a small piece off the end of the foam ball, to steady it while its resting in place.
1. Cut out four circle out of the newspaper, you can use a medium cup to trace the circle, it doesn't have to be perfect, just try to make the circle about the same size.
2. Fold each of the circled newspaper cutouts in fourths by creasing the outsides in with your fingers firmly inwards.
3. Hot glue the four creased cutouts together to form the rosette.
4. Secure rosette to foam ball by hot gluing bottom end to ball.
1. Take turns making different rosettes out of the different materials. You can get four easy different rosette tutorials here to make and add to this topiary for a stunning visual.
2. Stagger the different rosettes so that none of the same color of rosettes are touching.
3. Continue to cover the ball with rosettes. You can fill in any extra space with the newspaper rosettes. They are great to use for an easy fix.
1. Add a cute little valentine bow to give it a bit more romantic feel by hot gluing it to the bottom edge of foam ball.
2. Its all ready to prop up on some large wide candle sticks to give it that topiary look.
3. You can do so much with rosette balls, like covering the whole things and hanging it from a ceiling, or to make a centerpiece for a special dinner, or even to use if to make a bridesmaid bouquet.
Ingenious idea, Julia! romantic and very pretty!
Fantastic idea of mixing felt with newspaper - I love it!
I love the felt/newspaper combo. It is brilliant.


text:
Big Red Songbook
Big Red Songbook: 250+ IWW Songs! (The Charles H. Kerr Library), The Paperback
By Archie Green, Tom Morello, Utah Phillips, David Roediger, Franklin Rosemont and Salvatore Salerno
In 1905, representatives from dozens of radical labor groups came together in Chicago to form One Big Union—the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), known as the Wobblies. The union was a big presence in the labor movement and everywhere its members went, they sang. In The Big Red Songbook, the editors have gathered songs, rare artwork, personal recollections, discographies, and more into one big all-embracing book. In addition to the 250+ songs, writings are included from Archie Green, Franklin Rosemont, David Roediger, Salvatore Salerno, Judy Branfman, Richard Brazier, James Connell, Carlos Cortez, Bill Friedland, Virginia Martin, Harry McClintock, Fred Thompson, Adam Machado, and many more.
PM Press (5/1/16)
6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
Joe Hill: The IWW & the Making of a Revolutionary Workingclass Counterculture (The Charles H. Kerr Library)
By David Roediger
Haymarket Scrapbook: 125th Anniversary Edition
By Peter Linebaugh
Direct Action & Sabotage: Three Classic IWW Pamphlets from the 1910s
By Elizabeth Gurley Flynn
Continental Crucible: Big Business, Workers and Unions in the Transformation of North America
By Edur Velasco Arregui


text:
Racist yobs sing vile 'gas chamber' song on tram ahead of City game against Spurs
The passengers were heard shouting 'You're getting gassed in the morning, gassed in the morning' while travelling to the Ethiad
Beth Abbit
Shocking footage shows yobs singing vile racist chants on the tram ahead of Manchester City's clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
The footage - which was filmed by a shocked passenger - shows thugs on the tram singing sickening anti-Semitic slogans.
The passengers were filmed chanting 'You're getting gassed in the morning, gassed in the morning' on a tram to the Etihad stadium on Saturday afternoon.
One man can be heard shouting: "F*** off you f****** y***. F****** gas isn't good enough for ya."
You could face a much tougher sentence if you commit these crimes
Horrified City fan Anthony Fallon witnessed the incident while travelling on the Metrolink to watch Manchester City's Premier League clash against the London club, which has traditionally had a strong Jewish following.
He was so shocked that he whipped out his camera phone to film the abuse.
Anthony, a 50-year-old dad, says he will be sending the footage directly to GMP to investigate.
The vile abuse was filmed on the tram to the Etihad Stadium
He said: "I'm not sure if there were Tottenham fans on the tram or if it was just City fans trying to cause a melee between themselves or a raucous atmosphere, but they started saying 'come on you Spurs'.
"The City fans next to me, two men in their 50s, then started chanting 'You're getting gassed in the morning'.
Meet the former Manchester University student who shed HALF her body weight in a year
"It was making people very uncomfortable and there was a guy who obviously couldn't wait to get off the tram."
The footage shows a group of older men chanting while one man can be heard telling Anthony: "Ey mate, don't be f****** filming everybody. I'm f****** camera shy me, do you know what I mean?
"You need permission to film in public. It's a fact so don't do it."
Heung-Min Son of Tottenham Hotspur, right, celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the game at the Etihad on January 21
The incident happened on a tram travelling from Market Street, in the city centre, to the Etihad at around 5.10pm on Saturday afternoon (January 21).
Jeremy Kyle launches epic rant at guests calling them 'infantile trash' before booting them off the show
Anthony, from Whitefield, said he was stunned and ashamed by the behaviour, adding: "It was like being back in the 1980s. I went to a game in Leeds in 1983 where fans were throwing banana peels at a black player. This was like a throwback to the 1980s.
"I haven't heard anything like that, certainly not in the last decade. I was completely taken aback.
"They need to be identified. This was not just borderline racism, it was bile and hatred."
A TfGM spokesperson said: "We're extremely disappointed to see this kind of mindless behaviour taking place on a tram.
"This vile and hateful language has no place on football terraces, public transport or anywhere else. We will gladly work with police to bring these individuals to justice so we strongly urge anyone with any information about the incident to come forward."
A spokesman for Manchester City said: "Manchester City strongly condemns the use of any anti-Semitic language and we are co-operating with the investigation into this matter."
Barclay's Premier League
Greater Manchester PoliceWoman dies in horror crash on the A555 Manchester Airport relief roadThe road was closed for several hours this morning


Please join us as the Mount's April Poetry Series continues with a reading by Dr. James Finn Cotter, Professor of English in the MSMC Division of Arts and Letters.
James Cotter is an accomplished scholar, poet, author, critic, philosopher, and translator. He is the Mount's most senior faculty member, having taught at the college since 1963.
As poet and literary critic, Dr. Cotter has been published in America, Commonweal, The Hudson Review, The Nation, The New York Times, Sparrow, Spirit, Thought and other periodicals. He is the author of Inscape: The Christology and Poetry of Gerald Manley Hopkins; Beginnings: the First Twenty-Five Years of Mount Saint Mary College; and A New Life: Learning the Way of Omega. He has written on Hopkins, Dante, Geoffrey Chaucer, Sir Philip Sidney, and J.D. Salinger. Cotter is a celebrated translator of Dante's Commedia, a seasoned theater and arts reviewer, a Fulbright-Hays lecturer, and a recipient of a National Endowment for the Humanities grant.
James Finn Cotter's poetry reading will take place on Tuesday, April 16th, at 4 p.m. in Café of the Dominican Center. The April Poetry Series is co-sponsored by the MSMC Division of Arts & Letters and Kaplan Library. It is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.


Copter getting up above the city dump. Aerial panoramic view of trash, sanitation vehicle and waste recycling factory.
Aerial view of the pile of trash. Copter flying away from the urban dump outside the city, big pile of dirty waste.
Copter turning around the city dump and waste management plant. Aerial view of the pile of trash outside the city.
Aerial top view of the garbage dump and waste management plant. Copter flying over the big pile of trash.
Aerial top view of the garbage dump and waste management plant. Copter flying over the big pile of trash and factory.
Aerial view of garbage dump and waste management plant. outside the city. Copter moves around the big pile of trash.
Aerial view of the urban dump and waste recycling factory. Copter flying over the big piles of garbage trash.


text:
Glion Online MBA alumnus talks about personalized service
by Glion Institute of Higher Education | Jan 19, 2015 | Blog, Industry Insights | | Reading Time: 6 minutes
Glion alumnus Marc Reissinger is the Area General Manager of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Resorts in Port Ghalib, of which InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib resort won the "Zoover Highly Recommended" service excellence award for 2014. In this interview, Reissinger explains how the Glion Online MBA program has sharpened his leadership skills and how he inspires his teams to provide personalized service that meets the standards of the IHG brand and surpasses the expectations of their guests.
The Zoover awards were created in order to give recognition to the best rated accommodations in popular destinations worldwide. The outstanding ratings that were accomplished by InterContinental Hotels Group resorts in Port Ghalib were based on guests' reviews that were sent and shared by guests on the Zoover holiday review website.
1. Why do you think the IHG Port Ghalib resorts were awarded for service excellence?
As with most major hospitality companies these days, IHG is closely engaged with guest review websites, such as Trip Advisor, Holiday Check and Zoover. We are aware that travellers are using both social media and these review sites in tandem to find and evaluate possible holiday destinations. More specifically, we know that 20-30% of the clients at InterContinental The Palace Port Ghalib are from the Benelux countries and Zoover is a Dutch website, so it's not surprising that this esteemed award has come from a website that is frequented by significant percentage of our client base.
In terms of service excellence, at IHG, we aim to deliver the same quality of service to all clients, to meet guest expectations, and exceed them on a daily basis. In our area, we focus daily on standards and we aim to engage team members to make sure they uphold our high standards. From each colleague, we need commitment. We do a lot of training to make our collaborators extremely effective. We have Guest Relations that are running all day, talking to clients, so there is a permanent interconnection. On top of that, we try to have Guest Relations that speak many languages to speak with clients in their language.
2. As area manager how do you contribute to maintaining the level of service at these resorts?
Within IHG, we just had an international convention in Singapore about the role of leaders to inspire. One of the key assignments I have is to inspire my team leaders. Not to direct them, but to discuss global tasks and motivate and inspire them. We have a daily briefing and the majority is about inspiration. We discuss their tasks. It's a daily meeting of 4 hotels with 25 members around a round table. It's an interesting meeting, sometimes it can be tough and require solid reactivity, but it's about participation and being pro-active, instead of reactive. Amazingly, these meetings usually only last an average of 30-45 minutes, it's about intensity and quality.
3. IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) commissioned a Trends Study which highlighted many interesting findings about travellers reshaping their expectations of global hotel brands. Do you have any insight into what this means for your resorts specifically?
Brand standards are essential, and must be delivered daily. In general, it's all about personalized service, going above expectations. By upholding the brand standards of quality service, of meeting and exceeding every customer's expectations, we have already reached the personalized service level. We aim to answer all of their requests, and we tailor our services to meet the needs of every traveller. Whatever they need in terms of food or transportation, we do our best to deliver it. The same holds true for parties, anniversaries, and other events.
The goal of personalized services is to make the client feel looked-after and to encourage their loyalty. For example, for our clients who return regularly, we consider them as VIP guests and we organize a private breakfast for them in the presidential suites. They really appreciate this special treatment, and we have many loyal customers who return year after year.
4. You changed positions when you started the Online MBA, why is that?
I worked with Accor for 26 years and when I had the opportunity to change companies, and work for IHG, I took it as an ideal opportunity to study online and start in a new company. Starting the MBA was my own initiative, because there was the opportunity to do it. After 25 years as a manager, I wanted to validate the ways I was working.
The Glion Online MBA has changed my way of working because I systematically do research for everything now. It was quite a great experience to study the MBA. When you already have a lot of experience, the MBA is an eye-opener. You may be convinced sometimes about a lot of things in your work, but the MBA brings you back to the facts. It teaches you a way of systematic thinking about research and data. You find new methods, visions, and it changes the way you work. I shared this course with some people who had less experience, and they still contributed a lot. Especially in discussion topics, which is an essential part of the course where we discuss topics in the classroom. We also learned a lot about generation differences. For example, the difference between my generation of baby boomers and the expectations and career aspirations of generation X, and even more for the Gen Y and eventually Z.
© Photo credit: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
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Glion Institute of Higher Education | 511 Posts
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Glion Institute of Higher Education is a private Swiss institution offering bachelor's and master's degrees in hospitality, luxury and event management to an international student body across three campuses in Switzerland and London, UK.
#HeForSheGlion, by Students For Humanity
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text:
Joan Antoni Soler i Rafart, més conegut com a Toni Soler (Bassella, Alt Urgell, 15 de novembre de 1947 – 1998) fou un pilot de motocròs i enduro català que destacà en competicions estatals durant les dècades de 1960 i 1970. Mort en un accident d'automòbil prop de casa seva, a Bassella, el Moto Club Segre organitzà en aquesta població durant anys el "Memorial Toni Soler", una cursa en honor seu que comptà amb gran seguiment.

Resum biogràfic
Nascut al si d'una família estretament vinculada a la història del motociclisme català, Toni Soler era fill del conegut col·leccionista i restaurador de motocicletes Màrius Soler (l'obra del qual ha donat lloc als actuals museus de la moto de Bassella i de Barcelona) i germà del també ex-pilot Estanis Soler, l'actual administrador dels museus de la família.

Toni Soler aprengué a pilotar motocicletes a 6 anys, tot practicant amb la "Soler Ràpida" que li preparà el seu pare partint d'un motor Iresa de 50 cc. El 1964 debutà en competició al Motocròs de Figueres i hi aconseguí la victòria. Aviat, tant ell com son germà Estanis esdevingueren pilots oficials de Bultaco, equip amb el qual competiren als campionats estatals de motocròs i d'enduro (aleshores anomenat Tot Terreny). Tot i que Estanis arribà a esdevenir director dels equips de competició de Bultaco, qui més èxits obtingué dels dos germans fou Toni, especialment en Tot Terreny. Juntament amb companys d'equip com ara Narcís Casas, Josep Maria Pibernat i Joan Riudalbàs, Toni Soler fou un dels dominadors del campionat estatal i fins i tot estigué a punt de guanyar-lo el 1974, per bé que qui s'endugué el títol finalment fou Ton Marsinyach. El 1976, Soler aconseguí una medalla d'or als Sis Dies Internacionals d'Àustria tot pilotant un prototipus oficial creat especialment per a l'ocasió. Dos anys després, aconseguí la seva darrera medalla d'or als Sis Dies de Suècia amb un altre prototipus.

Durant tota la seva carrera, Toni Soler lluità per donar prestigi al Tot Terreny, la disciplina motociclista de fora d'asfalt més menystinguda a l'època. Entre altres iniciatives, fou ell qui va promoure el desenvolupament de la reeixida Bultaco Frontera tot partint de la Pursang de motocròs, un model que es presentà el 1975 i que superà àmpliament l'anterior model de la marca, la Matador.

Els Soler i el motociclisme

Els Soler, a banda de reunir una de les principals col·leccions de motocicletes d'Europa, impulsaren de manera determinant l'esport del motociclisme fora d'asfalt a la rodalia de l'Alt Urgell des de finals de la dècada de 1950. Entre altres iniciatives, Màrius va promoure la fundació del Moto Club Segre, un dels més actius del país, responsable de l'organització de curses internacionals com ara el Gran Premi d'Espanya de motocròs de 125cc (al circuit El Cluet i al de Bellpuig) o els Dos Dies del Segre de Tot Terreny. Des d'un bon començament, l'organització de les curses fou responsabilitat dels germans Estanis i Toni, fins que a finals de 1985 tots dos varen haver de deixar el Moto Club per motius laborals.

Els dos germans Soler varen fundar també l'empresa d'equipament esportiu per a motociclistes Clice, marca de referència durant les dècades de 1970 i 1980 en el sector del fora d'asfalt i, especialment, en trial. Amb seu al carrer Calàbria de Barcelona, Clice fou el primer fabricant català d'equipament esportiu amb presència directa en competició mitjançant pilots oficials de la marca (amb la mateixa estratègia de Bultaco, de manera que el desenvolupament dels equipaments es millorava amb els suggeriments dels propis pilots). Aquest fet atorgava gran visibilitat a la marca, el logo de la qual era conegut arreu del món gràcies a pilots com ara Narcís Casas, Manuel Soler, Martin Lampkin o Bernie Schreiber entre molts altres.

Toni Soler residí justament al carrer Calàbria durant anys, mentre dirigia la seva empresa.

Palmarès al Campionat d'Espanya d'enduro

Notes

Referències

Enllaços externs

 Reportatge sobre el "Memorial Toni Soler" del 2008

Empresaris catalans del sud contemporanis
Empresaris catalans del sector de la motocicleta
Pilots de motociclisme morts en accident
Catalans morts per accident de trànsit
Pilots catalans del sud d'enduro
Pilots catalans del sud de motocròs
Pilots de Bultaco
Pilots de Fantic
Pilots de motociclisme de l'Alt Urgell
Bassella
Medallistes als Sis Dies Internacionals d'Enduro
Industrials catalans
Morts a l'Alt Urgell

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It has been a trademark for Juki machines with its high-end durability quality. Its longevity and advancement in sewing and quilting features is what separates it from other machines. There's no other like Juki HZL F600 Computerized Sewing And Quilting Machine with the functions and features it provides. This is one of the best quilting machines that quilters would really enjoy and love.
1.1 What users say about Juki HZL F600?
3 What are Juki HZL F600 Computerized Sewing And Quilting Machine Accessories?
Believe it or not it can do 900 stitches per minute with 255 stitch patterns.
It can produce a professional quality sewing.
It is operated by a box feed technology.
You can feed both light and thick fabric.
You can enjoy a wide sewing space because of its extended sewing table.
You can do free motion sewing and do random stitching.
It has a dual LED lighting for clearer sewing area.
It has a foot control and knee lifting lever functions.
You can cut the width with adjustment and has a sensor method buttonhole with 16 types.
You can adjust it pressure and automatically thread the needle.
You can directly select the stitches depends on what your project needs.
What users say about Juki HZL F600?
It is a combo packed machine, from sewing to quilting functions it can offer. It can even handle fabrics of all thickness and easier to operate given its digital display adjustments. You might even want to start right away if you have this machine at hand already.
Here's how to easily setup the Juki HZL F600 Computerized Sewing And Quilting Machine.
First is to prepare the bobbin and set it without even pulling on the thread. If you want to wind your bobbin, its independent motor will quickly and effectively wind the bobbin and you can start your sewing project.
When using this machine, threading is also being simplified. An automatic threader is included that will thread your needle quickly and easily. You don't have to use your finger or look into a magnifying glass just to thread your needle.
Since this machine is capable of sewing different kinds of material and it's somehow difficult to handle or sew properly especially if there's no adjustment. But with this machine, it's not a problem anymore since there is a pressure foot pressure adjustment that helps you control the pressure needed while sewing. If you made adjustment just make sure that it matches on the material that you're sewing. You can adjust the stitch width up to 7mm, while the length can be adjusted up to 9mm.
Cutting Width: With just three easy steps you can adjust the cutting with of your buttonholes. You can match it with your buttonholes width for jeans, shirts and everything in between.
12mm without slowing down your sewing.
You'll love to quilt even more when you're using this machine because of its extended sewing table giving you a wider space for larger material. There is also a box feed system that refines the fabric feeding without causing it to shrink or shift. You can work on both light and thick fabrics with its accurate feeding system.
You can have a stable thread tension while working on your material because of its wider arm space and a free motion swing. Through the foot control you can control your sewing speed because of its own trim the needle thread and trim the bobbin thread features.
Do you know that you can trim your threads without moving your hands and all you have to do is to press the heel of the foot into the control. With this, you can save so much time in the process and is very helpful when you have longer projects.
In sewing project, speed and precision is very important and this machine can offer both. It can sew up to 900 stitches per minute and with just a flip you can switch and turn on the dual LED lights making your working area brightly lighted. However, precision is not only in width and speed adjustment but as well as buttonholes.
It has a buttonhole feature that has a sensor in making buttons through any type of material and on overlapping sections. You can do this even if you're not an expert in buttonhole sewing. It comes with 255 sewing patterns and four fonts, 16 types of buttonhole styles within the sewing machine along with one-finger automatic threading.
If you're concentrated into quilting you'll be more interested in its random stitch option. It's the one that gives life to your quilting materials just by randomly setting the width of the stitch, giving you a creative output. You can select a random stitch pattern and without having any duplicate design. Its versatility outshines others as well because of its quilt presser foot.
What are Juki HZL F600 Computerized Sewing And Quilting Machine Accessories?
If you have all those accessories you can start and enjoy sewing and quilting your project.
It acts as a computerized sewing machine and quilting machine that has more stitches and settings.
It has wide table extension for larger projects that most quilters is looking for.
However, this machine is observed as louder than expected during operation. It's a bit louder than other sewing machine but if you want to work in a quiet place then this is not a best choice to use.
What's the good thing when purchasing this machine is that, it has a 5 year warranty for mechanical defects and another 2 years for electrical problems. There is also a 90 day window to return it's a material or workmanship defect.
This Juki HZL F600 Computerized Sewing And Quilting Machine allows you to make sewing and quilting enjoyable and interesting even your grandmother would recommend you to have one. So what are you waiting for? Get one for yourself.


UK personal finance firm Bud is certainly popular as it has got the support of HSBC, ANZ and Goldman Sachs in its $20 million funding round.
Other investors include InnoCells (the corporate venture arm of Banco Sabadell), Investec's INVC fund (an existing investor alongside InnoCells), Lord Fink, the former chief executive of hedge fund Man Group, and 9Yards Capital (the VC firm to which George Osborne is an advisor).
"The investment proves that banks are looking seriously at how open banking can evolve beyond what regulation requires into something that genuinely puts customers first. It's just the beginning of a larger change for the finance industry but it's a significant step forward in helping people gain more control over their lives. The commitment of these investors indicates that they appreciate this and that they view a collaborative approach as the best way of delivering on it." says Ed Maslaveckas. co-founder and CEO of Bud.
According to the firm, banks use its platform to create apps and services, allowing customers to manage all their financial products within their main banking app.
The funding will be used for recruitment as the company moves to double its headcount. It also plans to enter new (unspecified) markets over the next 12 months.
Bud is working with 85 different companies – from fintech businesses such as Wealthify and PensionBee to "established" companies like Hiscox and AJ Bell.
The company is headquartered in London, with a team of 62 staff at a new expanded office space.


Miss South Dakota is part of the Miss America Organization, one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance.
Packed with thrills, romance, laughter, and immortal characters like Little John, Friar Tuck, and Maid Marian, Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood tells the enduring story of a hero of the people who takes on the ruthless powers that be. So get ready to duck a quarterstaff or two – you won't want to miss a moment of the swashbuckling fun! Rating - PG View showtimes and ticket information here.
Historic Adams House, 22 Van Buren St.
Adams Museum, 54 Sherman St.
In celebration of Wild Bill Days, Bob Boze Bell will sign copies of his book, The Illustrated Life and Times of Wild Bill Hickok. Chock full of great art, rare photos, authoritative history, and that unique dose of Boze whimsy that True West Magazine readers have come to expect. A must have addition to every Western collection. Adams Museum; 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.; admission by donation. Please call 605-722-4800 for more information.
Relax and unwind to the sounds of the Northern Hills Community Band. Historic Adams House lawn; 7:00 p.m.; admission by donation. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be moved to the Homestake Adams Research and Cultural Center (HARCC).