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Wisconsin's Safer at Home Order Prohibits Non-Essential Business, Travel
By Elizabeth A. Erickson and Dorothy Parson McDermott
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and a significant increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers has issued Emergency Order # 12 to limit Wisconsinites' activities. This is in addition to previous orders banning mass gatherings.
The Order became effective as of 8:00 a.m. on March 25, 2020, and will remain in effect through 8:00 a.m. April 24, 2020, unless announced otherwise.
Violation of the Order is subject to up to 30 days imprisonment, a fine of $250, or both.
With limited exceptions, the Order directs all individuals residing in Wisconsin to stay at home or their place of residence. Homes or residences include hotels, motels, shared rental units, dormitories, shelters and similar facilities.
Moreover, elderly and those with underlying health conditions that make them vulnerable to COVID-19, are urged to stay at home or in their place of residence as much as possible, except to seek medical care.
If individuals go outside, they must, as reasonably possible, maintain Social Distancing of at least six feet from others, except family members living in a single unit or household. The Order reminds the public to follow Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health recommendations on hand washing, use of sanitizers, and so on.
The homeless are exempt from the stay-at-home aspect of the Order, but they are strongly encouraged to seek shelter. Individuals who feel unsafe or become unsafe in their homes (such as because of domestic violence), are allowed to and urged to leave their home and go to a safe location.
Individuals may leave their home for the following reasons:
Essential Activities (e.g., to engage in health and safety services, to seek necessary supplies and services, to engage in outdoor activity, to take care of others, or to perform work for Essential Businesses and Operations or support Minimum Basic Operations);
Essential Governmental Functions (e.g., those who are first responders, law enforcement, firefighters, court personnel, and so on);
Essential Businesses and Operations (discussed below);
To Perform Non-Essential Minimum Basic Operations and practicing Social Distancing to the greatest extent possible (e.g., activities to maintain value of business inventory, preserve business equipment, ensure security, process payroll and benefits, and help facilitate remote work);
Essential Travel and practicing Social Distancing to the greatest extent possible (to support provision of or access to Essential Activities, Special Situations, Essential Governmental Functions, Essential Businesses and Operations, or Minimum Basic Operations); and
Special Situations (discussed below).
Essential Businesses and Operations
Essential Businesses and Operations are encouraged to remain open, but, to the greatest extent possible, are encouraged to comply with Social Distancing Requirements and ensure employees and the public maintain a social distancing of at least six feet apart, including, significantly, when customers are standing in line. They also are encouraged to use technology to the greatest extent possible.
The Order allows an entity to confirm its status as an essential business by seeking such a designation through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's website.
Essential Businesses and Operations mentioned in the Order include any business or worker in the following:
DHS Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) List (Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers During COVID-19 Response);
Stores that sell groceries and medicine;
Food and beverage production, transport, and agriculture;
Restaurants and bars for take-out and delivery only with no seating or consumption of food or beverage on the premises (except, no salad bars/buffets or self-dispensing permitted) and practicing Social Distancing;
Childcare settings;
Charitable and social services organizations;
Weddings, funerals, and religious entities (except, any gathering must be fewer than 10 people in a room or confined space at a time and practicing Social Distancing);
Gas stations and businesses needed for transportation;
Transportation (airlines, taxis, rideshare, and the like);
Financial institutions and services;
Hardware and supplies stores;
Critical trades (building and construction, plumbers, electricians, and so on)
Mail, post, shipping, logistics, delivery, and pick-up services and businesses;
Laundry services;
Businesses that sell supplies to work from home;
Supplies for Essential Businesses and Operations and Essential Governmental Functions;
Home-based care and services;
Professional services (legal, accounting, insurance, and so on, except, technology must be used to the greatest extent possible);
Manufacture, distribution, and supply chain for critical products and industries;
Critical labor union functions (except, technology must be used where possible);
Hotels and motels; and
Higher educational institutions.
The Order provides that individuals may leave their homes or residences to work for or obtain services at the following:
Healthcare and Public Health Operations
Human Service Operations
Essential Infrastructure
Non-Essential Businesses and Operations Must Cease
Any for-profit and non-profit business, except Essential Business and Operations, must cease all activities at facilities located in Wisconsin, except for Minimum Basic Operations and any operations done by employees or contractors working from home.
Travel Restricted
All travel, except Essential Travel, is prohibited. Individuals using public transit must comply with Social Distancing Requirements to the greatest extent possible.
All businesses, including Essential Businesses and Operations, are ordered to use technology to avoid meeting in person to the greatest extent possible, which includes virtual meetings, teleconferences, and working from home. No business of any kind, including an Essential Business and Operation, is permitted to engage in door-to-door solicitation.
The Order expressly prohibits all public and private gatherings of any number of people that are not part of a single household or living unit.
Moreover, rental property landlords and property managers may not enter leased residential premises unless emergency maintenance is required.
All public and private K-12 schools and libraries are closed for in-person student instruction and extracurricular activities. Both, however, are permitted to offer distance or virtual learning and on-line services and programming. Both are also allowed to be used for Essential Governmental Functions and food distribution.
The Order excluded the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Department of Military Affairs, and the Challenge Academy.
All places of indoor and outdoor public amusement and activity are closed, including:
Licensed public or private swimming pools
Splash pads
Children's play centers
Funplexes
Movie and other theatres
Concert and music halls
Gyms and fitness centers
All salons and spas are also closed, including hair, barber, nail, day spas, electrolysis providers, waxing salons, eyebrow-care establishments, tattoo parlors, body art establishments, and tanning facilities.
CDC and DHS Compliance Required
The Order also requires compliance with DHS public guidelines and DHS employer guidelines.
The COVID-19 situation remains fluid. If you need guidance in handling the complicated issues pertaining to COVID-19, please contact a Jackson Lewis attorney.
©2020 Jackson Lewis P.C. This material is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute legal advice nor does it create a client-lawyer relationship between Jackson Lewis and any recipient. Recipients should consult with counsel before taking any actions based on the information contained within this material. This material may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Focused on labor and employment law since 1958, Jackson Lewis P.C.'s 950+ attorneys located in major cities nationwide consistently identify and respond to new ways workplace law intersects business. We help employers develop proactive strategies, strong policies and business-oriented solutions to cultivate high-functioning workforces that are engaged, stable and diverse, and share our clients' goals to emphasize inclusivity and respect for the contribution of every employee. For more information, visit https://www.jacksonlewis.com.
Elizabeth A. Erickson
Madison 608-807-5272
Dorothy Parson McDermott
Indianapolis 317-489-6940
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City venues to stage celebrations of Glasgow 2014 Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Posted by PosAbility | Jun 4, 2014
Thousands are expected to celebrate the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games at venues including Glasgow Green and the newly refurbished Kelvingrove Bandstand. The special celebratory events will include live music, special guests and will allow revellers to watch all the action from the Opening and Closing Ceremonies at Celtic Park and Hampden live on big screens.
Lulu will lead the line-up at Glasgow Green for the Opening Ceremony, with a host of Scotland's finest musicians, including Eddi Reader, James Grant, Rab Noakes, Sarah Hayes, Roddy Hart & the Lonesome Fire, Emma Pollock and RM Hubbert. Visitors will also be able to enjoy the very best Scottish food and drink at Glasgow Green with Scotland's finest ingredients being showcased at a food village.
Lulu, who is headlining the Opening Ceremony Celebration at Glasgow Green said: "The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games are going to be amazing. Glasgow has much to shout about this year – and I look forward to cheering our sporting heroes on to success at the Games.
I am delighted to join thousands of Glaswegians and those from across the Commonwealth on Glasgow Green to celebrate the opening of such a momentous event. My home city has an incredible, worldwide reputation for friendliness and enjoying a good-old get together. The Opening Ceremony Celebration on Glasgow Green is the perfect occasion to invite everyone to join the party."
To reflect the Commonwealth Games' partnership with UNICEF, the leading children's organisation, for every ticket bought for the Opening Ceremony celebration at Glasgow Green, £1 will be donated to the charity to support its work with children in Scotland and throughout the Commonwealth.
The Closing Ceremony celebration will give everyone a chance to relive the highlights of the Games in an enormous, outdoor occasion with Treacherous Orchestra leading a rousing party on Glasgow Green, along with surprise and special guests to see out the Games in style.
The recently reopened Kelvingrove Bandstand will be the focus of celebrations in the west of the city, with an Opening Ceremony party featuring Belle and Sebastian. The band was instrumental in calling for the £2.1 million refurbishment of the historic bandstand.
The Closing Ceremony at the bandstand opens with a new commission from Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, performing with Tam Dean Burn and multi-instrumentalist, Corey Mwamba. There will also be rousing classical music from Scottish Opera and others before the screening of the Closing Ceremony.
Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch, said: "The bandstand at Kelvingrove Park is like a dream within a dream. We are very pleased to be playing there."
The Opening Ceremony celebrations at Glasgow Green and Kelvingrove Bandstand will mark the start of 12 days of live entertainment at both venues with hundreds of performers appearing throughout the duration of the Games. Outwith the Opening and Closing Ceremony events at these venues, access will be free. For the latest information about performances, locations and times, please go to www.glasgow2014.com/culture
The Festival 2014 Opening Ceremony Parties will come just days after the Queen's Baton Relay travels around every part of the city on a three-day journey. At the end of each day, there will be Finish Line Community Celebrations, the first of which will be in Springburn Park on 20th July, followed by Victoria Park (21 July) and finally Queen's Park Recreational Ground (22 July). Each night, up to 8,000 people will be able to enjoy free events.
Tickets are on sale from 10 am on Wednesday June 4 and are available via www.glasgowlife.org.uk or by calling 0844 844 0444.
Tickets for the Festival 2014 Opening and Closing Ceremony Parties start at £5, with concession and family ticket packages available. Adult tickets for the Opening Ceremony on Glasgow Green are £20, £10 (conc), family tickets from £40. The Kelvingrove Bandstand Opening Ceremony Party, with Belle and Sebastian are £25 (adult), £12.50 (conc), family tickets from £55.
Glasgow Green Closing Ceremony Celebration tickets are priced at £10 (adult), £5 (conc), family tickets from £20. Kelvingrove Bandstand Closing Ceremony Celebration tickets are priced at £10 (adult), £5 (conc), with family tickets from £20.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Home CELESTRON STAR DIAGONAL 1.25"
CELESTRON STAR DIAGONAL 1 1/4"
The Celestron 1.25" Star Diagonal slides into the focuser (1.25") of your refractor or catadioptric telescope and accepts standard 1.25" eyepieces, allowing you to view objects more comfortably. A diagonal that is angled at 90º helps avoid neck strain when looking through through the eyepiece.
Accepts standard 1.25" eyepieces, Barlow lenses, and other accessories with a 1.25" insert barrel.


Pillars of Eternity PC gamers who have been playing since the 90s will remember all the fuss made about the Baldur's Gate titles. Some of their biggest fans will get teary telling you about the... Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is as close to the perfect RPG as one can get. The fantastic setting, grand story, exceptional writing and voice acting, engaging combat all coalesce into an exemplar of its kind. This is the game that sets the bar. This is the game that needs to be aspired to.
Act 3 starts immediately after the hearing at the palace, so make sure you've completed all your business before you go there as it can lock you out of some quests. I auto- failed one quest after a certain plot twist occured at the very end of Ch.2, but then I was able to go back to town and finish the rest.
There is still more to find in the last Act of Pillars of Eternity – Act III, complete all 9 side quest to complete the game 100% if you already beat the game.
This is because the game has several adventures and advanced graphics, which are almost surreal. Equipped with the Dark Souls 3 Black Screen on Startup Fix, you can easily remedy this problem.
10/01/2019 · Best Narrative: Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Rich, mature storytelling is a hallmark of Pillars of Eternity, and this sequel doesn't disappoint in that areas. Between the fantastic dialogue and intriguing character arcs, Obsidian crafted an impressive tale, featuring deep relationship-building and a plethora of choices and consequences.
Speakers sit on six of the pillars with a centre pillar holding up a solar-powered MP3 player, the little device ensuring one of the greatest '80s songs plays for eternity.


The best I could do was try to soften the glare.
This marsh was almost dry and the sun really reflected off the rough bottom. The time of day and angle were wrong, somehow the Avocets didn't much care.
There were plenty of Avocets taking advantage of the mud flats which were usually in deep water.
They found all types of small 'thingies' to eat.
Their plumage is so pretty!
Their colors will become more vibrant soon, very sharp rust colors. Unfortunately that's right about the time they head north.
They migrate different than many birds. North, way northwest is where they breed.


The landscape of development finance is changing rapidly. Traditionally, international financial flows moved from developed countries to developing countries. In the last decade, however, major emerging economies such as China and Brazil have fueled a growing trend of South-South development flows by increasingly channeling their overseas investments to other developing countries.
China and Brazil are surfacing as major international investors through nationally owned financial institutions such as the Export-Import Bank of China, the China Development Bank and the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). These "emerging actors" are financing major initiatives to acquire natural resources, open markets, and forge strategic political ties. They are increasingly financing large-scale, high impact projects beyond their borders—such as hydropower plants and gas pipelines—which may pose new challenges for environmental and social sustainability.
This preliminary research focuses on Chinese and Brazilian overseas investments and begins to look at the growth drivers and geographic trends of those investments.
Expanding South-South trade and investment provides welcome and needed sources of capital for countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. At the same time, these financial flows – coupled with the emergence of powerful financial actors from China, India, Brazil, and other economies – may pose new challenges for environmental and social sustainability.
Trends indicate that developing economies will "account for 57% of world GDP [Gross Domestic Product] by 2030."3 Despite sharp differences among members, the G-20 is supplanting the G-8 as the primary vehicle for global economic policy coordination.4 Large emerging market economies are defining their own approaches to development cooperation, governance issues, and environmental and social sustainability outside of many existing normative frameworks.
In 2001, China's tenth Five-Year Plan (2001-2005) formalized the directive for Chinese companies to "Go Global," a strategy to gain access to needed resources, stimulate the export of goods, and grow China's multinational businesses and brands. Beijing has provided diplomatic support, favorable tax exemptions, insurance, and, critically, access to low-cost finance.
Chinese authorities have simplified regulations to facilitate investment abroad. Three governmental bodies – MOFCOM, SAFE, and the NDRC – have primary but not sole oversight of China's overseas investment (separate from foreign assistance) regime. MOFCOM is responsible for developing regulations for outbound investment and for coordinating activities with commercial counselors posted at Chinese embassies. SAFE issued new regulations in 2009 that reduced qualification requirements for offshore foreign currency lending and expanded the sources of funds for lending (including access to government foreign exchange reserves).11 The NDRC reviews large outbound investments to ensure they align with the country's political interest and overall economic development policy.
In addition, CBRC and SASAC also play an oversight role. Risk management guidelines issued by the CBRC in 2008 opened the door for Chinese banks to provide loans for merger and acquisition purposes (previously forbidden under a 1996 regulation.) They require "banks to perform due diligence regarding compliance, operational, and commercial risks relating to the parties and the transaction."12 There is no mention of social and environmental risks.
Rather than seeking financing primarily through the capital markets, Chinese companies obtain 80-90% of their funding from Chinese banks.13 As part of the Go Global strategy, China's state-owned policy banks, largely the Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim) and the China Development Bank (CDB), were mobilized to facilitate international capital flows and support mergers and acquisitions of foreign companies. Although not the largest in terms of total assets and domestic investment, China Exim Bank and CDB play the leading role in overseas investment. Other state-owned banks, such as the export and credit insurance company (Sinosure), have also contributed on a lesser scale.
The Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim) was formed in 1994 along with two other "policy banks," the China Development Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank of China, "as tools of the government, allowing Beijing to allocate preferential or targeted finance through a hybrid of planning and market means."14 As a policy bank, China Exim finances and implements the government's trade and overseas investment policies.15 The Bank is under the direct leadership of the State Council.
China Exim has exhibited phenomenal growth over the past decade. It has increased lending volumes by 30% to 40% year-on-year – an indicator of the accelerating nature of the "Go Global" strategy. China Exim is by far the largest export credit agency in the world. It approved over $70 billion in new lending in 2009, more than U.S. Exim, JBIC, and BNDES Exim combined.
Why is China Going Global?
Increasing demand for energy and natural resources is a major driver behind China's foreign direct investments. In 2010, China was the world's leading consumer of several major commodities including copper, steel, coal, lead and iron ore. As China's economy experiences unprecedented growth, there is a growing need for new markets, technology, and brands.
The bulk of China's imports from Africa originate from relatively few countries. While investments are spread across 48 African countries, over 70% of Chinese OFDI stock in 2008 was concentrated in five resource rich countries: South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, Sudan, and Algeria.
However, by international comparison, China's investments in Africa's natural resources match well-established patterns. 50%-80% percent of all FDI to Africa goes to natural resource exploitation.21 Despite the rapid scale-up in Chinese investment in Africa, most foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa originates from OECD countries – 91.6% of total inward FDI stock in Africa in 2008.22 Similarly, the bulk of U.S. imports from Africa are sourced from relatively few resource rich countries; 77% of total imports in 2009 came from five countries: Nigeria (30.5%), Algeria (17.3%), Angola (15%,) South Africa (9.2%), and Congo-B. (4.9%).23 The top three African oil exporters – Nigeria, Angola, Algeria for the U.S. and Angola, Sudan, Libya for China – provided a quarter of each country's total imports (27.6% or the U.S., 25.1% for China).
China has executed a number of resources-for-infrastructure deals in Africa in recent years, backed not just by oil but also bauxite, chromium, iron ore, and even cocoa. In these deals, China provides loans for infrastructure development, which are repaid by delivery or sales of the borrowing country's natural resources. This structure is used most commonly when a country does not have the financial capacity to guarantee and/or service a loan commitment but has a natural resource (such as oil) to offer as repayment. This approach follows a long history of natural resource-based transactions and is far from unique to China.
BNDES – originally Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Economico e Social (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) but rebranded as "El banco de desarrollo de Brasil," ("The Brazilian Development Bank") – is a wholly owned federal government company.26 It is the largest provider of funding for capital investment in Brazil. As a key source for long-term financing and subsidized interest rates, the bank is normally responsible for almost 20% of total credit granted by Brazilian banks to the private sector.
In 2009, BNDES estimates that it provided nearly 40% of financing for all investments in Brazilian manufacturing and infrastructure.27 BNDES provides direct credit, fund distribution through financial intermediaries, and equity investment. It also provides grants for social, cultural, and technological development. With total assets of $285 billion (as of September 2010), BNDES is Brazil's fourth largest bank.
Not only did China displace the U.S. as Brazil's biggest trade partner in 2009, but it was also Brazil's largest foreign investor, investing in a wide range of areas, from iron ore mines to vast tracts of farmland and the electricity grid.
China and Brazil: A Strategic Partnership?
China and Brazil seek similar relationships with Africa, sharing a strong proclivity to oil and mining activities. China's trade and investment relationship with Africa, however, is far more diverse than Brazil's, encompassing energy, manufacturing, retail and agriculture in addition to oil and mining. This makes it less likely that the two countries will compete over investment opportunities. A key challenge is to ensure these trade flows result in clear benefits to the host government and local communities, and safeguard the environment.
With our record of independent research, our experience convening a wide range of stakeholders, and our close partnerships with organizations in China, Brazil, and several host countries in Africa and Asia, WRI's International Financial Flows and the Environment (IFFE) initiative supports efforts by both investors and host countries to move towards environmentally and socially responsible development.
IFFE works to help these countries to apply the highest climate change, environmental and social standards to their investment overseas, report publicly on these standards, and respond to the concerns of NGOs and local communities.
For additional information on WRI's Emerging Actors in Development Finance work, contact WRI Senior Associate Xiaomei Tan xtan@wri.org.
Note: All currencies are quotes in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated.
This collection of figures and charts is based on preliminary research conducted by Bruce Jenkins, WRI consultant, and Xiaomei Tan, WRI Senior Associate. The scoping research concluded in April 2011 and includes data from various sources that are updated frequently. The data is circulated to stimulate timely discussion and critical feedback and to influence ongoing debate on emerging issues. WRI has not verified the data, and figures and charts are meant to be used for illustrative purposes. WRI will continue to update the data as our research moves forward.


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Detroit orchestra names Jader Bignamini next music director
Discredited conversion therapy banned in conservative Utah
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Cargo mission to space station is set to launch this week
WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (AP) — An unmanned cargo rocket is scheduled to blast off this week from Virginia's coast to the International Space Station. The Daily Press reports that the launch is scheduled for shortly before 5 a.m. Thursday at the spaceport on Wallops Island along the Eastern Shore. The...
FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2016, file photo, a friend's basket of clams sit in the water as Mike Suprin, of Rollinsford, N.H., calls it a day after filling his basket with softshell clams at Cape Porpoise in Kennebunkport, Maine. A study by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists released in 2018 concluded that valuable species of shellfish, including softshell clams, have become harder to find on the East Coast because of degraded habitats caused by a warming environment. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)
Warming hurting shellfish, aiding predators, ruining habitat
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Valuable species of shellfish have become harder to find on the East Coast because of degraded habitat caused by a warming environment, according to a pair of scientists that sought to find out whether environmental factors or overfishing was the source of the decline. The...
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Valuable species of shellfish have become harder to find on the East Coast because of degraded habitat caused by a warming environment. That's the conclusion a pair of scientists reached in studying the decline in harvest of four commercially important species of shellfish in...
In this image from video made available by NASA, U.S. astronaut Anne McClain speaks during an interview in Star City, Russia on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. She is set to blast off Dec. 3 on her first spaceflight, with a Russian and Canadian. (NASA via AP)
Next US astronaut on Russian rocket confident after mishaps
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A U.S. astronaut said Friday she has no qualms about riding a Russian rocket next month despite back-to-back mishaps. Army Lt. Col. Anne McClain said spaceflight is never 100 percent safe and it's coincidental that the last two Soyuz missions to the International Space...
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A U.S. astronaut says she has no qualms about riding a Russian rocket next month despite back-to-back mishaps. NASA astronaut Anne McClain said Friday that spaceflight is never 100 percent safe and it's coincidental the last two Soyuz missions to the International Space...
This composite image from the book "Borneo, Memory of the Caves" shows the world's oldest figurative artwork dated to a minimum of 40,000 years, in a limestone cave in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo. Scientists say the red silhouette of a bull-like beast, upper left, is the oldest known example of animal art. (Luc-Henri Fage/kalimanthrope.com via AP)
Red bull drawn in Indonesian cave dated to 40,000 years ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists have found the oldest known example of an animal drawing: a red silhouette of a bull-like beast on the wall of an Indonesian cave. The sketch is at least 40,000 years old, slightly older than similar animal paintings found in famous caves in France and Spain. Until a...
Russia reports computer bug on International Space Station
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's space agency says that one of the International Space Station's computers has malfunctioned, but the glitch doesn't pose any risks to the crew. Roscosmos said Tuesday that one of three computers in the station's Russian module has failed. It said Russian flight controllers...
This combination of images made available by NASA shows areas of low ozone above Antarctica on September 2000, left, and September 2018. The purple and blue colors are where there is the least ozone, and the yellows and reds are where there is more ozone. A United Nations report released on Monday, Nov. 5, 2018 says Earth's protective ozone layer is finally healing after aerosol sprays and coolants ate away at it. (NASA via AP)
More protection: UN says Earth's ozone layer is healing
WASHINGTON (AP) — Earth's protective ozone layer is finally healing from damage caused by aerosol sprays and coolants, a new United Nations report said. The ozone layer had been thinning since the late 1970s. Scientists raised the alarm and ozone-depleting chemicals were phased out worldwide. As a...
High court declines to extend halt to climate change lawsuit
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday declined for now to stop a lawsuit filed by young activists who say the government isn't doing enough to prevent climate change. But the high court told the Trump administration that the government can still petition a lower court to dismiss the case as...


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Robert Dyrdek Wife | 10 Stunning Pictures
Sidra Mamoon
Robert Stanley Dyrdek is an American entrepreneur, actor, producer, reality TV personality, and former professional skateboarder. He married American model Bryiana Noelle Flores after proposing to her at Disneyland. Scroll down to know about Dyrdek lovely wife, Briyana Flores.
Bryiana Noelle Flores
Flores was born on 21st July 1991 in Salinas and raised in Los Banos, California. She is of Chinese, Blackfoot, Caucasian, Filipino, and Cherokee descent. In her childhood Bryiana Noelle was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. Due to her illness, the Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfilled her wish of swimming with dolphins in Hawaii. Luckily, she recovered from the sickness after taking consistent medications. Her school memories were not so pleasant. She was continuously bullied by her fellows. Whenever she talked about her dream of becoming a model people would always criticized her. Despite of all the criticism and hurtful comments she didn't lose heart and pursued her modeling career soon after completing her studies.
She won the Nation in 2008 and Miss California Teen in 2010. These competitions paved her way for establishing a remarkable career. After winning the World's Perfect Pageant she became a much known personality. She rose to fame when was featured in the Playboy magazine and became the Playmate of the Month.
Rob met the model at an event in 2013 and instantly felt a strong connection with the beauty. Later, Rob proposed to Noelle during a trip to Disneyland when they were seeing the Aladdin show.
During the performance, he left to "go to the bathroom" and returned riding a huge elephant prop. Then he brought her on stage and got down on one knee to make things official. They went on to tie the knot in 2015 and have been madly in love ever since. A year into their marriage, the couple welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Kodah. It seems like the little boy got Rob's personality from the look of his playful grin.
Shortly after the birth of their son, the Dyrdeks welcomed a baby girl, Nala Ryan. One thing is for sure, Rob will definitely spoil his little princess. On Valentine's Day this year, Dyrdek posted on Instagram:
"Happy Valentine's Day to my one true love, @bryianadyrdek. When you are blessed with true love, you create love and love love. The Dyrdek Family loves love, so we celebrate this day of love."
Briyana post a beautiful picture of her wedding day and wrote a beautiful note for her husband. She wrote:
"We love with a love that's more than love. There's always been a mutual understanding between us that's only shared when two people love each other truly. You love me in love and complete me in ways I never knew possible.. and in ways that can't be described in words. Every single day I am so incredibly proud to be your wife and raise our children together. I love doing life with you and already can't wait to marry you again ❤".
Bryiana is surely an inspiration to many. Her life story proves that as long as you've decided to fight and have faith, you will surely overcome even your hardest battle in life.
We are loving this duo. What are your thoughts on the same? Don't forget to share your views with us.
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Алекса́ндар Стойми́рович (; 11 декабря 1982, Крагуевац, СФРЮ) — сербский футболист, полузащитник.

Биография
Начал профессиональную карьеру в клубе «Раднички» (Обреновац). После играл за «Хайдук» (Кула). В ноябре 2006 года перешёл в полтавскую «Ворсклу». В чемпионате Украины дебютировал 5 ноября 2006 года в матче против харьковского «Металлиста» (2:1). В команде не смог закрепиться в основном составе. Летом 2008 года покинул «Ворсклу» и перешёл в болгарский «Черноморец» из города Бургас. В октябре 2009 года получил приглашение пройти просмотр в немецком «Шальке».

Примечания

Ссылки

Футболисты Сербии и Черногории
Футболисты Сербии
Игроки ФК «Раднички» Обреновац
Игроки ФК «Хайдук» Кула
Игроки ФК «Ворскла»
Игроки ФК «Черноморец» Бургас
Игроки ФК «Чукарички»
Игроки ФК «Борац» Чачак
Игроки ФК «Петролул»
Игроки ФК «Раднички» Крагуевац
Игроки ФК «Ягодина»
Игроки ФК «Динамо» Вране

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Links: Slavery in the News
FRANCE FORCIBLY REMOVES THOUSANDS OF ROMA PEOPLE, SAYS ROMA COMMUNITIES ARE 'BREEDING GROUNDS' FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING. EU THREATENS LEGAL ACTION
ABC News: EU taking France to court over Roma expulsions: France's "controversial expulsions of thousands of Roma [or gypsy people] has led to a row between Brussels and Paris. French president Nicolas Sarkozy has said the illegal Roma camps are breeding grounds for [human] trafficking, prostitution and child exploitation. But the EU's justice commissioner recently compared France's actions to events during World War II."
Human Rights Watch: France: Reject Anti-Roma Bill: The bill expands France's power "to expel foreigners deemed to pose a threat to public order, including those liable to prosecution for… drug trafficking, human trafficking, profiting from prostitution by others, exploitation of begging, certain kinds of aggravated theft, and abusive occupation of land under the terms of a 2000 law regulating sites for gens de voyage (the French community known as 'travelers')." But, the AFP reports that of the "hundreds of Romanian Roma expelled, none had a criminal record."
Actress Fairuza Balk, herself of Roma descent, recently decried the forced expulsion of Roma people from France. On her blog, Balk pointed her followers to two online Roma rights resources: RomaRights.net and Roma Rights Centre.
OTHER NEWS:
Guardian: 'Slavery' uncovered on trawlers fishing for Europe: "Forced labour and human rights abuses involving African crews have been uncovered on trawlers fishing illegally for the European market by investigators for an environmental campaign group. The Environmental Justice Foundation found conditions on board including incarceration, violence, withholding of pay, confiscation of documents, confinement on board for months or even years, and lack of clean water."
MSNBC: Canadian court strikes down prostitution law: "The sex-trade workers who launched the constitutional challenge argued the restrictions forced them to work in secrecy and on the street, and thus made them more vulnerable to violence from both clients and pimps… 'This means that we no longer have to be afraid. That we can work with the appropriate authorities,' said Valerie Scott, an advocate for sex-trade workers' rights in Toronto.
Tags: canada, expulsion, fairuza balk, fishing, france, immigration, repatriation, roma


Listing the museum or any club is not a big deal. It's just a way for Carlisle to identify who has the largest club in attendance. And I believe the club with the largest attendance gets recognition at the event and the club gets a trophy. But there's no "special parking" or anything else that goes along with it unless the club itself reserves space. If the museum was recognized as a "club" it would take away from the true clubs who enjoy attending and vying for that recognition year after year. Let's face it, nearly EVERYONE belongs to the museum. Just walk through and look at the windshields with the decals on year after year! Including me!
If listing the museum or any club is not a big deal, then as part of the drop down menu they should have the category of "other" and let you write in your affiliation. That would solve the problem for those of us not associated with a local club. And no, not everyone belongs to the museum. And I really don't think there is a risk of Carlisle giving the NCM a trophy for the largest club in attendance -- it would be easy for them to simply exclude the NCM (or any other "write in") from the attendance trophy competition. That would solve the problem and make everyone happy including me.
I don't belong to ANY club either. But it sure doesn't bother me if I don't have a "box" to click when I register for Carlisle. Guess we'll just have to leave it up to Carlisle to decide.
Hi guys, I'll be coming back for just my second ever Carlisle, but I loved it and can't wait! Curious what the best registration scenario is: last year I did the $75 Fun Field and brought a friend, this year I'm bring a few friends each with our own car. Is there Fun Field still the best option? We'll be staying Friday morning to Sunday morning (might leave in the morning and not visit the show Sunday). Basically looking for how much parking inside the event costs if we just showed up and paid admission each day.
Thanks, and look forward to seeing everyone there!
Up on the hill Sunday morning before leaving.
For me, the fun field is always the best option because I don't have to drive or walk the hill. Drawbacks are that you need to be there early to find spots together. By early, I mean before 8 a.m. and you're not guaranteed the same spots each day. So you would be looking for spots every day. We started doing the reserved parking because I don't have to worry about my stuff being moved or removed from day to day. That's MY spot, and nobody can park there except me.
Consider your budget as well. There is a 10% discount (I think) still for the fun field, and if not, I read in one of the programs that there's a $5 discount if you attended any show in 2017.
I have no idea how you go about just parking on Corvette only parking, but not the fun field. It's been 14 years since I did that. Hopefully Lance will chime in here with that info.
It really just depends on what you and your buddies want. The goody bags aren't any big deal any more, but you do get a dash plaque and t shirt, so that's still cool. And your car on the fun field is eligible for a celebrity pick on Saturday. And you don't have to have a brand new, or rare car to be picked. I've seen barn finds get picked, and super ridiculous modded ones too. Plus fun field is closest to where the midway is, the food vendors, and the swap meet. If you bring a pop up canopy and chairs, it's a lot less walking to get there when you're tired too, and if it's super hot (like it normally is, last year was a fluke) it's always good to have somewhere to rest and cool off.
I'd discuss it with your buddies, and if you can't get your answer here, give Carlisle events a call. They're friendly and will answer your questions.
Financially I'm pretty sure it's cheaper to do the Fun Field. I haven't priced it out recently, but even if it was a couple of bucks more, you're going to have much better parking and a better place to "hang out" when not walking around. If you have a passenger and/or you'll be there for more than one day, my advice would be to go with the Fun Field.
Been going since 1989 and again in 2018! Will be with Eastern Shore Corvette Club.
We're staying at the Days Inn Carlisle North -- made the reservations a couple of months ago. Not sure if they have any rooms left. You need to maks your reservations earlier -- Hotels fill up quick for this.
Days Inn Carlisle South has rooms. They run around $179 a night. The Super 8 Carlisle South (right across the street) also has rooms. Both are about a 5 minute drive from the fairgrounds. And the Days Inn has free breakfast, not sure about the Super 8. Check www.wyndhamhotels.com or check www.choicehotels.com . We're at the Country Inn and Suites just down the road from both of those. I also have a room reserved in Shippensburg in case my finances don't hold up to cover the pricier Country Inn.
Last edited by USA1 427; 02-18-2018 at 10:04 PM.
I have friends in that club. Barb and Bill . They have a C5 Z06 and a C6 ZR1. Tell them "Rich with the anniversary 427" said hi.
Our group stays at the Clarion in New Cumberland every year.
My wife and I have been going for the last 6 years with our 96 CE. Two weeks after the show last year we bought a 12 GS so this year will be our first year with our new car. We also get a great Carlisle discount for having a Carlisle Blue car (Thanks Lance). Our club is the Original Garden State Corvette Club and we are always up at the top of the hill.
Last edited by BigT2; 03-12-2018 at 04:04 PM.
Now that will make for an amazing event for you, certainly memorable!
• Admission for two people for the action packed weekend (est. value: $160).
• Parking spot on the Fun Field with easy in/out access (est. value: $30).
Corvette Only Parking is available on a first come/first serve basis and does fill up quickly. Meaning you could have to park outside of the fairgrounds at various other parking lots around the area. Not an issue if you arrive prior to 9am or so. - fee is $10/per Corvette per day.
You can purchase your entry tickets directly online by clicking here. -$20/day per person day of show discounted by purchasing earlier.
You can park off grounds in whatever vehicle you'd like to bring and purchase daily entry tickets for the entire crew. Parking fees vary off-site from free to $15/day.
Hope this helps! Again, my apologies for not answering this earlier.
I'm ready for my 11 straight year !


At the recent Homelessness and Affordable Housing debate (Nov 7, St. Andrew's–Wesley Church), mayoral candidates Gregor Robertson and Suzanne Anton said a lot of things, but they didn't debate much. They both admitted that they will not slow down or pause destructive market development in the Downtown Eastside (DTES). They agreed that a municipal tax on real estate speculation and non-resident property ownership would not be appropriate. They also agreed that inclusionary zoning, a soft and widely used development permit mechanism that forces developers to include affordable housing in all market developments, would not be good for Vancouver. They even agreed that the solution to the affordable rental housing and homelessness crisis caused by the real estate market is to be found back in the market itself. Put simply, their differences were of degree, not principle.
1) Buy 10 sites a year in the DTES for 5 years and dedicate these sites for social housing to replace all 5,000 units of unsafe, unstable, unhealthy SRO hotel housing.
With new social housing construction, the city's responsibility is to buy and provide land. In addition to buying available properties, the city should buy any SRO hotel that comes up for sale in order to protect low-income housing from the hostile waters of the real estate market. City Council has not purchased one single new property in the DTES for social housing in more than three years. Everyone recognizes that there is a housing and homelessness crisis in Vancouver and in the DTES in particular, but neither mayoral candidate has yet indicated they are willing to buy the land necessary to build the housing.
2) The city must close the loopholes in the SRA bylaw: Define "conversion" of SRO hotels as raising rents above welfare and pension-affordable rates of $375/month.
The DTES low-income community is losing SRO hotel rooms — the last stop for most residents before the street — to developer greed. Unfortunately, the City facilitates this by leaving loopholes in the SRA anti-conversion bylaw big enough to drop entire buildings through. By tying SRO hotel conversion to a dollar rent value, City Council could force those landlords who may be trying to squeeze more rent monies out of their investment properties to go through public application processes for exemptions to this bylaw. This simple action would cost Vancouver taxpayers nothing and would save thousands of units of low-income housing, like the formerly low-income rooms in the Columbia, Lotus, Alexander Court, and Golden Crown hotels which are now renting to students and young workers for more than double welfare shelter rates. It would also provide leadership needed to pressure the provincial government to create more effective rent controls in the Residential Tenancy Act, including putting an end to rent-increases without ceiling after evictions.
3) Implement an immediate moratorium on market development in the DTES to allow the DTES Local Area Planning process, not developers and market forces, to direct the future of the neighbourhood.
This solution will also cost taxpayers nothing and will have more than one powerful meaning for the low-income community in the DTES. Low-income residents of the DTES rely on low-income affordable housing, nearby services, and on affordable shopping options for food, clothes, and other necessities of life. Gentrification transforms the neighbourhood block-by-block into higher-end shops, raises rents, upscales hotels to students and young worker housing, and introduces more policing, threatening all these low income neighbourhood essentials. The City's policy has been to encourage, reward, and even directly subsidize gentrifying developments: the uber-high-end Keefer bar and celebrity hotel received a $50,000 heritage grant and an award from city council; mega-corporations London Drugs and Nesters Market received a 10-year tax holiday from the City for setting up shop in the Woodward's condo complex; and the London Pub and Brixton Cafe received $1.4Million in taxbreaks and heritage and density bonuses from Council for their heritage development on the corner of Main and Georgia. A moratorium on market development would give the low-income community the breathing room necessary to work on getting the secure, safe, healthy social housing we all need rather than having to work to defend the substandard but affordable SRO hotel housing we currently have. A market development moratorium would send a powerful signal to the DTES low-income community that their needs, interests, and future are being taken seriously by Council and that the local area planning process is more than a token or placating gesture.
Amidst all the bombast about housing and all the claims about ending homelessness, the DNC hopes that these top-three solutions get some attention. The mayoral candidates can take three real steps to end homelessness and take on the Vancouver housing crisis, and two of them don't require spending a dime… but they will hurt the profit margins of the richest people in the city. This is, as they say, where the rubber hits the road. Homelessness may, yet again, be the issue of this election, but is ending it the priority of either major candidate? We await their responses to these challenges.
Ivan Drury is a member of the Board of Directors of the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council, and works with the Carnegie Community Action Project.
Posted in City Hall, Downtown Eastside, Election 2011, Gentrification, Homelessness, Housing. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
EntertainmentMusicBilly Joel
Billy Joel's 69th Madison Square Garden residency show set for October
Billy Joel plays his 100th show at Madison Square Garden on July 18, 2018. Credit: Bruce Gilbert
By Frank Lovece Special to Newsday Updated April 4, 2019 2:50 PM
It's still rock and roll to him: Billy Joel will continue his Madison Square Garden residency with a 69th monthly concert in October.
The Garden announced Thursday that the Hicksville-raised Joel, 69, will perform Friday, Oct. 25, his 115th overall date at the venue. Tickets go on sale for Citi cardmembers Monday at 9 a.m., with general-public tickets available Friday, April 12, at 9 a.m. via Ticketmaster.com or by phone at (866) 858-0008.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and six-time Grammy Award-winner has played a monthly residency at Madison Square Garden since January 2014. His upcoming May 9 show will be a 70th-birthday celebration.
Joel has sold an estimated 150 million records, including such No. 1 albums as "52nd Street" (1978), "Glass Houses" (1980), "Storm Front" (1989) and "River of Dreams" (1993), as well as numerous hit songs including "Piano Man," "Just the Way You Are," "Uptown Girl," "A Matter of Trust" and "We Didn't Start the Fire."
In December 2013, Joel was a recipient of The Kennedy Center Honors, and the following year received The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
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By Frank Lovece Special to Newsday
These are the biggest box office hits of all time
Rose Williams talks 'Sanditon,' skinny-dipping, more
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2:03 + FOR OUR SUBSCRIBERS What ever happened to TV meteorologist Storm Field?
'Avenue 5': Bland satire that's lost in space


text:
Q: Doing db.find with non primary key So what im trying to do is im trying to get an user from my database where the email im trying to find matches an email in my database. If i had the id instead of the email i could just do an db.user.find(id) but i only have the email so im trying to use where but without success.
this is my code
// POST: api/User_Agendapunt1
        [ResponseType(typeof(User))]
        public IHttpActionResult PostUser_Agendapunt(User user1)
        {
            if (!ModelState.IsValid)
            {
                return BadRequest(ModelState);
            }
            User user = db.User.Where(o => o.Email== user1.Email);

            var user_dagpunten = from s in db.User_agendapunt
                                 where s.UserId == user.IdUser
                                 select s;

            return Ok(user_dagpunten.ToList());
        }

EDIT1:

A: User user= db.User.Where(x=> x.Email==user1.Email).FirstOrDefault();

 if(user !=null)
  {
   // do your stuff
  }
  else{
   //return no user exist with given email
  }

Hope this solves your issue ...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: update python list of lists on multithreaded I have this simple python code:
from threading import Lock, Condition, Thread

n_threads = 5
global_list = [[]]*n_threads

def update_list(t_id, lock):
    global global_list
    for i in range(t_id, t_id+4, 1):
        lock.acquire()
        global_list[t_id].append(i)
        lock.release()
    print('finishing', t_id)

all_threads = []
l = Lock()

for i in range(n_threads):
    c = Thread(name='name %s' % i, target=update_list, args=(i,l,))
    all_threads.append(c)
    c.start()

for my_thread in all_threads:
    my_thread.join()

Basically what I am trying to do is that each thread updates one of the lists and by the end of my code each list inside of the variable global_list will have elments from a single thread, like this:
global_list[0] = [0,1,2,3]
global_list[1] = [1,2,3,4]
...

Instead what I get is :
global_list[0] = [0, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 4, 5, 6, 7]
global_list[1] = [0, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 4, 5, 6, 7]
...

I am using a mutex to protect the operation, so basically I am clueless about why it wont work for lists in python and if threre is something I can use to achieve this.

A: for i in [[]]*5:
    print(id(i))

output
139972923894208
139972923894208
139972923894208
139972923894208
139972923894208

So, as you can see [[]]*5 doesn't create 5 lists, only one list.All other 4 are just representative of the first one.
So when you do
list[0].append(1)

it makes the list as
[[1],[1],[1],[1],[1]]

try
global_list = [[], [], [], [], []]

or
global_list = [[] for i in range(n_threads)]


Only show council services by Houghton on the Hill Parish Council.
Services provided by Houghton on the Hill Parish Council, Harborough District Council, Leicestershire County Council.
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text:
Shirley Ballas, 62, is thrown around by her ANKLES by Anton Du Beke, 56
World War III is the only way to stop Putin, warns Russia's former richest man
Home/Tech/Types Of Computers And Their Components
Types Of Computers And Their Components
Huynh NguyenDecember 22, 2022
The world has changed a lot since the first computers were invented. The first electronic computer was built in the 1940s and weighed several tons, but today's computers are much smaller and faster. So in this article, you'll take a look at the different types of computers that are used today and what makes each type unique.
Supercomputers are extremely powerful computers, capable of performing at the speed of thousands of personal computers. Supercomputers are used for complex calculations and simulations that require more power than any single computer can provide.
An 80's supercomputer was used for a variety of tasks, such as weather forecasting, military modeling, or physical simulations in automotive design. Supercomputers tend to cost millions of dollars and take up entire rooms full of machinery to perform their functions; however, they typically outperform smaller computers in completing tasks faster than those machines could ever hope to do on their own.
Adobe Acrobat professionals say, "CRAY-2 gave way to the next, more potent generation of supercomputers."
A desktop computer is a personal computer designed for regular use at a single location. It's bigger than a laptop and has a casing containing most components, including the motherboard, power supply, CPU and memory modules.
The keyboard and mouse are usually attached to the unit's base so they can be used on your desk.
A laptop computer is a portable, self-contained device with a built-in keyboard, mouse, screen and battery. If you have ever watched a movie or played a game on your phone or tablet, you have seen the basic layout of laptops. Laptops are easy to use and very convenient for people who often travel or work in different places.
Laptops can be used anywhere as long as they are plugged into an external power source that gives them access to electricity. However, there are other ways to use them without being plugged in by using Wi-Fi networks when they travel around town.
Tablet computer
A tablet computer is a portable computer that has a touchscreen and no physical keyboard. Tablet computers are similar to laptop computers, but they have touchscreens and can be used as a personal digital assistant (PDA). They are more portable than laptops and have lower power consumption.
Mainframe computers
Mainframe computers are not just large; they are also powerful and expensive. They can perform multiple tasks at once, making them ideal for complex business processes. For example, mainframe computers can be used for things like databases and transaction processing in banking institutions.
In addition to being expensive, mainframe computers are also difficult to maintain because they require a lot of space and power. For this reason, many companies prefer smaller personal computers or laptops over mainframes because of their lower costs and easier maintenance requirements.
A desktop computer is the most common type of computer. It has a monitor, keyboard and mouse that you use to interact with the computer. A laptop is similar to a desktop but smaller and more portable. A tablet computer has no physical keyboard or mouse but uses touchscreens for input. Mainframes are large computers used by large organizations like banks or governments.
Supercomputers are extremely powerful machines made up of thousands of smaller computers working together as one system to solve complex problems faster than any single machine could do on its own (like playing chess).
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I got back yesterday from my mystery book group meeting in Vermont, and it was a lovely time. Hobgoblin and I arrived on Friday afternoon and had some time to hang out, rest, and chat with our hosts (I guzzled limeade while the others drank martinis — I will certainly enjoy getting back to my moderate social drinking when this pregnancy is over!). Saturday involved a trip to the local farmer's market in the morning, complete with bluegrass music, and a group excursion to Northshire Bookstore in the afternoon. We all brought home something; in my case, I found a used copy of Mark Doty's memoir Heaven's Coast, which I was thrilled to find after falling in love with his book Dog Years. We also bought our first children's book, Tales from Old Ireland. The first of many more to come, I'm sure!
The book discussion Saturday evening was good, as it always is. Feelings were mixed about Sara Paretsky's novel Hard Time, some really liking it and others finding it difficult to get through. Many people felt that Paretsky's depiction of the prison system was the most powerful part of the book and the place where her writing really took off. It was clear that she has a passion for social justice, and when this passion lets loose, the writing gets stronger. The plot felt contrived, though, and we spent a lot of time talking about various plot points that seemed absurd. The mystery itself didn't seem to work very well.
We also spent a lot of time talking about the news that John Banville/Benjamin Black will write a new Philip Marlowe book. Opinion here is very mixed as well, largely because many, although not all of us, strongly disliked Black's novel Christine Falls and got the feeling that Black doesn't have a whole lot of respect for the mystery genre. It's my feeling that I might like John Banville's version of Marlowe better than Benjamin Black's, but we'll see what happens.
And then Sunday morning we all headed home and back to regular life, which for me includes finalizing my classes for this fall. I will spend some time today thinking about how I will teach E.M. Forster's Passage to India in my new online class.
As for other reading from the past week, I finished Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and liked it very much. I don't want to say very much about it, as it's a book that should be read with no preconceptions, but it was extremely absorbing, entertaining, and satisfying. I liked that it had a focus on writing and how writing shapes our identity and how other people think about us (and on how crime cases are solved). It's a book that gets you to think about narration and how much to trust what you are told. The book reminded me a bit of Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley in the sense that it left me with a vague sense of dread and anxiety the entire time I was reading it — a feeling that sounds bad, but isn't entirely. It's a sign of a powerful book, I suppose, that it can grip the reader so tightly.
I also began reading Tove Jansson's novel The True Deceiver and am about a third of the way through it. It's similar to The Summer Book (which I loved) in its simple, pared-down writing style that is also very beautiful, although in other ways it's an entirely different story. It's set in a small Scandinavian village (I'm not sure if it's in Sweden or Finland) and is about a young woman at odds with her fellow villagers, trying to take care of her younger brother, and developing a sketchy plan that involves a vulnerable older woman. I'm enjoying the writing, and also the detached, non-judgmental tone with which Jansson tells the story. She simply lets it unfold and allows you to draw your own conclusions.
That's it for me for now — have a great week everyone!


text:
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The BlogGenocideCambodiaEducation
'You Will Survive': Reflections on Surviving the Killing Fields in Cambodia and the Power of Education
After surviving the Cambodian Genocide orchestrated by Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979, Ponheary Ly returned to Siem Reap, Cambodia with what was left of her family.
Advice Project Media, Contributor
Educating and empowering youth, women, and indigenous peoples through media workshops, classes and publishing opportunities.
Jul 22, 2014, 03:18 PM EDT | Updated Dec 6, 2017
After surviving the Cambodian Genocide orchestrated by Pol Pot, leader of the Khmer Rouge regime from 1975-1979, Ponheary Ly returned to Siem Reap, Cambodia with what was left of her family. They had lost everything, including her father, an educator. Her family was thrown into a post-genocidal poverty that lasted a decade. During the time of the Vietnamese-installed regime, Ponheary became a teacher and in secret learned how to speak French and English. She was sent to Moscow to learn Russian during the occupation.
In 1998 when Cambodia once again opened up to Westerners, Ponheary, being by then trilingual, became a much sought-after tour guide. During her rounds at the temples, and as tourism grew, she began seeing more and more children who were working instead of going to school. The teacher in Ponheary forced her to investigate.
Ponheary began leveraging her relationships with those who toured with her and started a project to support the return of rural children back to school and help them stay there, to do what she could to help the teachers by providing encouragement and some food here and there. Today the Ponheary Ly Foundation has grown to serve 2,500 students, offering a wide-range of programs at public schools. In 2010, Ponheary was awarded CNN Hero.
Below is a letter Ponheary contributed to Advice to My 13-Year-Old Self, an anthology of advice letters by 50 women around the world to their teenage selves.
(Ponheary Ly, 17-years-old, after being liberated from the Khmer Rouge Camps. There are no family records or photos of Ponheary prior to this one, as they were destroyed or lost during the wars. Permission to use photo given by Ponheary Ly.)
Dear 13-Year-Old Ponheary,
It is true, your love for school defines much of your young life right now. I can see your passion to learn in the way that you sit in the front of the classroom, learn the French language and listen when your father tells you stories at night. Indeed, your father is a huge influence in making you such a wonderful student. By day, he's a teacher at a secondary school in Siem Reap, Cambodia. By night, he's an excellent mentor for his own children. He makes you a happy girl.
As you turn 13 years old, being with your father makes you feel safe, but you'll be learning all too soon the horror this world has to offer. You'll see it as the mortar shells fall in front of your school and at the market, while the grenades explode in the cinema and as the air fighters drop bombs over the forests and villages. You'll survive a bloody civil war. This is your Cambodia. This is home.
As you look around, it doesn't make sense to you now. The politics are so very complicated. China, Vietnam, the United States, the Vietkong, and something you're hearing more and more about called the Khmer Rouge. I'm so sorry from the bottom of my heart to say that none of it will ever make much sense. Not at 13, and not even when you're 53 years old.
It will never make sense why after the bombs stopped and peace seemed to come, only then did the terror really begin. I don't want to tell you what I have to say next, but I need to tell you because you must know that you are strong enough to deal with what will come. You have to know that you will survive, even though what you'll see may make you want to die. You need to survive because there is a future that needs you.
Remember the strength you have inside yourself, the strength your family has given you. Remember it in a few months, when the Khmer Rouge forces your entire family to flee your city life and leave everything you have behind as you head out into the countryside. Remember it when those soldiers push you into the field to do grueling, body-breaking work with no food, no rest and no sleep. Remember your strength when you're forced to eat whatever you can find in the forest whether it is leaves or insects. Remember it when 2 million of Cambodia's smartest people are taken away forever. Know this: You will survive.
You are still a girl, and as you head into womanhood, you shouldn't have to deal with the terrible consequences adults have dealt you. Unfortunately, I haven't yet described the worst parts. I know what you're about to read is unimaginable at the moment, but as you absorb these words, remember that the future holds a peaceful world that needs you. As much as it may seem, the world will not end, although it might feel like the end when the Khmer Rouge soldiers take your father and kill him because he's a teacher and when your infant sister dies of starvation in your arms. And you will be nearly convinced that the end is near when they come to try to take you away. But, Ponheary, your long life is just beginning. Please hold on to this thought and remember that you are strong enough to make it to the future. I will be here to meet you.
Yes, I will be here to meet you in a world where your dreams come true. You will get to move back to the city of Siem Reap. You will help with the seemingly impossible work of bringing education back to this land where it was obliterated. You will be the reason many children go back to school and become the first in their families to graduate. You will give students the boost they need to help Cambodia recreate an educated population. The death of your father, an educator, will not be in vain.
My dear Ponheary, I will be waiting for you alongside your mother and surviving brothers and sisters. You will not be alone. Your many nieces and nephews who will never know the pain of war, who will never have to see what you've seen, will surround you with love. We'll all be here for you. Even now, we're waiting for you even though it's going to be a long, long journey for you to get here.
Please go forward. The world is a beautiful place and I want you to see it.
I love you,
Ponheary
(Photo used by permission of The Ponheary Ly Foundation)
Originally posted on Advice to My 13-Year-Old Self (The Advice Project) by Melissa Banigan. Learn more about the Ponheary Ly Foundation, here.
GenocideCambodiaEducationimpactSiem Reap


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Each Team is permitted to dress a maximum of 16 Players (including Goaltenders) for any game.
A team can play a game without a goalie but there will be a 6 goal mercy rule at which point the game will be called.
Rosters will be frozen on the dates outlined under "Team Deadlines and Pricing" and random ID checks will be performed to ensure teams aren't playing with ineligible and unregistered players.
All Players participating in a League game must be 18 years of age or older. Any Player under the age of 18 must acquire the League Manager's approval and sign an underage waiver along with written parental consent prior to participation in any League game.
All players will require matching jerseys with unique numbers on the back (we can provide information for jerseys if needed). All jerseys MUST be the same colour and have a pressed number on the back. Players using tape to alter or make a number will not be allowed to play.
In the event of a conflict of team colours, the visiting team will have to wear alternate jerseys. A 2 minute delay of game penalty will be issued to the away team if they are unable to resolve the jersey conflict.
If a goaltender chooses to use a non-CSA approved cage, the player will waive the league responsibility for any injury incurred.
Face shields or visors are strongly recommended for all divisions of play. In order to qualify for facial injury or dental reimbursement under the League's national sport accident insurance policy, Players will be required to wear a CSA approved full face shield OR a CSA approved half visor AND mouth guard combination. Players who do not meet these facial protection requirements will forfeit their right to reimbursement for any facial injury or loss (including dental).
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Playing with an ineligible player during regular season will result in a 5 minute major penalty and a game misconduct and corresponding fine (goals and assists by this player will also be removed) . Playing with an ineligible player during playoffs will result in a forfeit of the game and corresponding fine.
League Management will analyze teams on a team by team basis and we will identify imports and look at the effect of import players (along with gameplay) when internally tiering teams.
A tiering committee will provide additional feedback on what tiers a team should be in. We will also allow team reps and refs to submit tiering recommendations using the online form.
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Goalies must play a minimum of 3 regular season games as a goalie for a team to qualify for the playoffs. If you need to bring in a non-roster goalie for playoffs due to injury or other unforeseen circumstances, it must be approved by league management first.
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Players playing on teams 0 - 2 tiers apart: Require only the 7 games on each team to qualify for playoffs.
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If you do not plan to play for playoffs on a higher tiered team, then that can reduce your requirements to qualify for a lower tiered team.
Players playing on teams in the same tier: Require only the 8 games on each team to qualify for playoffs.
Players playing on teams 1 - 2 tiers apart: Require 11 games on the lower tiered team and 8 games on the higher tiered team to qualify for playoffs.


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PHILIP GLASS AND AMERICAN REPETITIVE MUSIC
September 28, 1976. The Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. On the program: Einstein on the Beach. It is our first introduction to Philip Glass. The opera lasts about five hours. Note in the program book: there is no intermission; the spectators are free to go in and out of the hall during the performance. The buffets remain open throughout the performance.
This immediately struck us as a suspicious announcement! An opera performance where one can just walk in and out…. ?
We had not yet heard of "minimal music" and, unprepared as we were, after a good hour the endlessly repetitive movements of the characters and the equally endlessly repetitive simple note blocks in the orchestra began to get on our nerves. On the pretext of not letting ourselves be fooled, we took the liberty of leaving the theater and went to drink a few beers on Brussels' Grote Markt. But somewhere this music had got a hold of us, and we walked back to La Monnaie where Einstein on the Beach had been going on for several hours.
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And then it happened! Upon entering the hall, there was a sultry, quasi-religious atmosphere. The entire hall was in a trance and we felt like an intruder in a sanctuary. Until the end of the performance we sat on the entrance stairs so as not to disturb anyone! On the one hand, we were disappointed that we had not been carried away, but on the other hand, we were happy that as "outsiders" we could study the power of this repetitive music on the audience.
WHAT IS MINIMAL MUSIC?
The structural principle of this music is as simple as it gets: a sustained repetition of simple short motifs and chords. For the listener, it can be said that he does not experience this deliberately simple music, but undergoes it in a passive way. If he dozes off for a moment he misses nothing, for everything is repeated often enough, and as soon as there is a change in this monotonous flood of sounds he automatically pricks up his ear again.
Einstein on the Beach | 22 mei | de Doelen, Rotterdam
No tension curve is built up and the music has neither beginning nor end, so to speak; but beginning and end, as if one were hearing a fragment from a musical continuum that is always there and of which one hears only a part.
Ethnic music, Western European polyphony and pop groups (Oldfield, Vangelis…) with repetitive tendencies will not be considered here. We do want to mention La Monte Young (born 1935), Terry Riley (born 1935) and Steve Reich (born 1936), who together with Philip Glass represent the repetitive "school". These guys were not always serious in their early days. La Monte Young has some crazy "compositions" to his name from the 1960s.
In Composition 1960 No. 3, Young asks to announce when the piece begins and ends. He further informs that there is total freedom of action during the anticipated time.
In Composition 1960 No. 4, the audience does not know at all when the work begins, how it proceeds, and when it ends. The lights are turned off and after a certain amount of time – when the lights come back on – one announces that the subject of the piece consists of the actions and reactions of the audience.
Composition 1960 No. 6 best visualizes the audience's idea of participation: not the audience watching the performer but the latter carefully watching the audience.
Terry Riley was concerned with multiplication systems on tape loop and continuous repetitions while Steve Reich with his phase-shifting process and his repetitive dualism cannot always be taken seriously.
OPERA AND FILM TRILOGY
Philip Glass, born in Baltimore in 1937 and largely schooled in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, is by far the most popular of the minimalists.
That he has put his skills at the service of the opera and film industries is certainly no surprise. His opera trilogy Einstein on the Beach (Avignon, 1976), (Einstein = science), Satyagraha (Rotterdam, 1980) (Gandhi = politics) and Akhnathen (Stuttgart, 1983) (the pharaoh who wanted to introduce monotheism = religion) now enjoy worldwide fame.
When we attended the creation of Akhnaten at the Staatsoper in Stuttgart in 1983, Philip Glass was still a modest figure. During the interval he wandered around alone among the audience. Two girls asked him to sign their program booklet, but what did he say? He didn't even have a pen or a pencil. With a smile we lent him our Bic, which he used to sign the booklets and then humbly thanked me.
The film soundtracks by Mishima and especially Koyaanisquatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi three one-and-a-half-hour films whose compositions are not interrupted at any point by commentary, have also established him definitively in this medium.
ABANDONMENT OF SIMPLICITY
However, Philip Glass is increasingly deviating from a basic principle of minimal music: simplicity. In Akhnathen, the small ensemble of his early days (Einstein on the Beach) has grown into a full-fledged opera ensemble with a strongly manned orchestra, soloists singing arias, duos and ensembles, and choral interventions with a close dramatic bond. A return to traditional Western music.
Since then, the list of his operas has grown considerably. We count more than twenty of them and have seen most of them performed: Civil Wars, The Perfect American, Kepler, In the Penal Colony, The Juniper Tree….
However, what is more important than the number of works that flow from his pen is that, after their creation, they are regularly performed in opera houses. In 2014, for example, the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris staged a magnificent revival of Einstein on the Beach, directed by Robert Wilson in much the same way as the 1976 creation. Lucinda Childs, who was also there in the creation, now did the choreography.
CREATION ON THE WAY
Despite his advanced age, Philip Glass continues to seek new opera forms and challenges. Circus Days and Nights, is the title of a new opera he composed in collaboration with the librettist David Henry Hwang and circus director Tilde Björfors. The work is based on a collection of poems by the American poet Robert Lax. Co-produced by Cirkus Cirkör and Malmö Opera, the collaboration will feature a unique, never-before-seen fusion of circus and opera.
"I've had the rights to the poem for about ten years, but I couldn't write the piece because I hadn't found my circus. When I saw Tilde's staging of Satyagraha, I knew immediately: here is my circus " – Philip Glass.
The cast includes soprano Elin Rombo, known for her Eritea in Cavallis Eliogabalo at the Opéra National de Paris and her Queen of the Night in Mozart's Zauberflöte at the Berliner Staatsoper. Last fall, she sang the title role in Rufus Wainwright's Callas-inspired opera Prima Donna at The Royal Opera in Stockholm.
Streaming from May 29 to June 13, 2021! Click HERE. We look forward to it!
Tags: Philip Glass, Recensie 2021, Steve Reich
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Ad Middendorp
Good story, Guillaume. Speaking for myself I would say: I better bring my encounters with this alien minimal music, to a minimum too. But thanks for the education.
ADRIANA LECOUVREUR in Bologna
Marina Boagno 17 November 2021
L'ITALIANA IN LONDRA in Frankfurt
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TANNHÄUSER in Los Angeles
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TURANDOT at the MET
Robert Levine 24 October 2021


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Dodgeball Rally A bi-annual supercar rally held around Europe, which takes place on public roads, with different routes through Europe, there is also a Winter event held finishing in Verbier. Initially started by Jonny Dodge  in 2009. The event is famed for showcasing the worlds rarest cars, such as Gold Bugatti Veyron, Chrome McLaren SLR, and several of the cars being banned from driving through France. The event had started from Many London hotels off Park Lane, including The Dorchester, Hilton Park Lane, and Intercon Park Lane.

2012 – Dodgeball has formed a partnership with SRO Group Who run the Blancpain Endurance Series to organise the rallies to finish at some of their races, such as the  Paul Ricard Circuit on June 30.

References

External links

Road rallying


Theo was at nursery with our son, Morgan. He and his family are trying to raise £45,000 to fund a specialist operation for Theo.
And help if you can!
This entry was posted in Mrs L's Musings! and tagged http://www.theosbigleap.org.uk/, theo bishop fundraising, Theos big leap, www.agratech.co.uk on November 28, 2011 by agratech.


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Written by Robert Barrington on Wednesday, 23 December 2015
There is change in the air in the world of tackling corruption. It's not just that Transparency International has itself started to change – for example, by inviting the public to vote on who should head a list of the world's most corrupt individuals and institutions. It's also that a host of things have happened in the past year to indicate that the global approach to corruption might be about to undergo a significant shift. Here's a look both backwards and forwards to identify what has contributed to that – and what the future might hold.
2015: a new hope
It was a year of vibrant activity in the anti-corruption sphere, all over the world, in which political will, the ingredient that has hitherto been missing seemed suddenly to be there…
Globally
A year of scandals: FIFA, Petrobras, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak – on all continents, there were significant scandals that helped to reinforce public anger about corruption.
A year of changing governments: in Nigeria, Sri Lanka, India and elsewhere, new governments were elected on an anti-corruption ticket – though we have still to see who will stick to their pledges. In Guatemala, the President resigned in a corruption scandal. The Commonwealth elected a new Secretary-General with an anti-corruption agenda. In China…the jury's out (see below – the Conundrum).
The UK's Prime Minister, after celebrating election victory, declared that it was his new 'mission' to 'begin a long battle against the corruption that threatens our security and prosperity across the world.'
A year of people power: the combination of outrageous corruption, open data and social media means that citizens are better informed than ever before. Across the world, people are seeing corruption as unjust and unacceptable, and making their voices heard. Governments and companies need to be alert to this.
A year of insecurity: as global instability mounted courtesy of Boko Haram, IS, the Taliban and others, the links became clearer between corruption and insecurity. For example, as the FT reported, IS gains traction in Syria among the local population because 'the group's comparative efficiency and lack of corruption was repeatedly mentioned by residents during the jihadis' takeover as a reason they were prepared to tolerate the group ; while Iraq's army, which has been supported by billions of dollars of foreign aid yet failed to stand up to IS, contained 50,000 ghost soldiers on its rolls rather than being a genuine fighting force.
When the world adopted the Millennium Development Goals in 2000, talk of corruption was nowhere to be seen. When the UK adopted the replacement Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, there was a goal on combatting corruption (number 16). We have come a long way – and now have a framework for action.
A new Champion: in addition to a Prime Minister that is serious about corruption, the UK has a new Anti-Corruption Champion in Sir Eric Pickles. He started well. The government promised to deliver transparency over property ownership, tighten the country's anti-money laundering loopholes, and look at introducing Unexplained Wealth Orders. Next year will be a test of whether he can deliver on this early promise.
A newly-confident Serious Fraud Office: Bribery Act prosecutions, the first-ever DPA and the re-appointment of the Director; there is some confusion about roles in respect of the National Crime Agency, and the Home Office remains studiously unsupportive of the SFO, but it looks a very different SFO to four years ago.
Straw, Rifkind, Yeo – three MPs who disgraced parliament, yet were let off by the parliamentary authorities, showing yet again why political corruption remains one of the big areas in which the UK establishment is in denial about corruption. But in Scotland, a new lobbying bill offers the opportunity for the country to show a lead to the rest of the UK.
Beneficial ownership transparency: legislation was passed to introduce a new public register, so we can all see who owns companies registered in the UK. The UK's Achilles Heel remains its recalcitrant Overseas Territories. They made some reluctant progress, but not nearly enough.
2016: will the force awaken?
This could be the year in which the promises made in 2016 are turned into action. If all goes well, we could see a turning point in the global fight against corruption, with a focus on ending impunity, strengthening global anti-corruption institutions, cross-border cooperation and enforcement, daring to name and shame the corrupt, legislation to close current loopholes, and holding individuals to account…
It needs to be a year of implementation – of all those areas promised in 2015, including plans for SDG16, action on asset recovery and enforcement of current legislation.
A big focus will be the Prime Minister's Anti-Corruption Summit in May. Can he really move the global agenda on this most sensitive of issues? Here are five measures by which success can be judged:
The Summit attracts the right people – governments that are serious about change, and governments that can influence the global agenda as well as their domestic settings.
The right subjects are on the agenda – the Summit needs to be an ambitious attempt to change, and not simply encompass some minor administrative reforms on a limited number of subjects dressed up as major reform.
Clear commitments or 'deliverables' are reached – it's not just another talking shop with the same old men talking the same platitudes.
Business and civil society are on board – and there is an acknowledgement that the Summit is ultimately about the victims of corruption.
The UK gets its own house in order so that it can speak to others with experience and authority – and a certain humility.
A conundrum that may reveal itself
China was notably upset that it slipped in the Corruption Perceptions Index, and some academics again questioned the methodology. But in a year of some spectacular anti-corruption activity, the bizarre and politicised nature of China's anti-corruption purge became ever more apparent. Play golf or support the Dalai Lama? That's you done for corruption. The plain truth is that in a country which suppresses the conventional and social media, locks up journalists, harasses anti-corruption activists and has an entirely non-independent judiciary, it is both difficult to know what is really happening and difficult to believe that an anti-corruption drive is anything other than a political purge under a new name. Perhaps the day will come when China's authorities address the serial corruption of Chinese companies operating overseas, for example in Africa. That might give China credibility as a country that is serious about tackling corruption.
TI research from 2015
My top five TI publications of the year from TI in the UK:
Corruption on your Doorstep: how corrupt capital is used to buy property in the UK
Corporate Political Engagement Index: an assessment of the political activities of the UK's 40 largest companies
Lifting the Lid on Lobbying: the hidden exercise of power and influence in the UK
Don't Look, Won't Find: weaknesses in the supervision of the UK's anti-money laundering rules
Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index – the MENA section highlighting the links between security, terrorism and defence procurement
Remembering our colleagues
In many countries around the wold, those in civil society are under threat. Sometimes it is harassment, sometimes it is physical threats, as in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Maldives, Montenegro, Venezuela and Yemen. Sometimes it is governments closing down the space for civil society to operate, as in Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kenya, Kuwait and Russia. I pay tribute to the courage and persistence of my colleagues working under such difficult conditions.
Read 653 times Last modified on Wednesday, 23 December 2015 13:13
Robert Barrington
Robert is TI-UK's Executive Director. You can view his full bio here, and tweet him @TIukED.


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