text:
Q: Sending a POST request: System.Net.WebException This is not the first time I'm using this method to send a POST request, and I never had any problems:
    public static Stream SendPostRequest(Uri uri, byte[] postData)
    {
        var request = WebRequest.Create(uri);
        request.Method = "POST";
        request.ContentType = "application/x-www-form-urlencoded";
        request.ContentLength = postData.Length;
        Stream requestStream = request.GetRequestStream();
        requestStream.Write(postData, 0, postData.Length);
        requestStream.Close();
        return request.GetResponse().GetResponseStream();
    }

On request.GetRequestStream() I'm getting a System.Net.WebException: The underlying connection was closed: An unexpected error occured on a send.
Even more interesting, it works perfectly well on some machines, but doesn't work on my machine (Windows 7 Beta) and production server (Windows Server 2008). More information:
Works - Windows Xp - .NET 2.0
Works - Windows Xp - .NET 3.5
Works - Windows Server 2003 - .NET 3.0
Doesn't work - Windows Vista - .NET 3.5
Doesn't work - Windows Server 2008 - .NET 3.5
Doesn't work - Windows 7 Beta - .NET 3.5 SP1
Tried:

*

*Bunch of stuff from here, nothing helped.

*Using WebClient, nothing changed.

*Tweaking these options, but didn't notice any notable difference.

*Tried WireShark. A very good tool.

[Solved. Kinda]
I forgot to mention, but Uri was https... I tried http and it worked. Can't believe, I didn't try that sooner...
Still, I would appreciate, if someone would shine a light on this whole situation.

A: My first plan of attack would be to use WireShark to see what's happening at the network level in each case. See what each machine is sending.
Also, you've noted differences between operating systems, but do they all have the exact same version of .NET (down to SP) installed?

A: Do GETs work? Perhaps it is a proxy config issue (proxycfg etc).
Also - to simplify things (reduce the number of unknowns), consider using WebClient to do the post:
using (WebClient client = new WebClient())
{
    client.Headers.Add("content-type","application/x-www-form-urlencoded");
    client.UploadData(address, data);
    // or more simply
    client.UploadValues(address, nameValuePairs);
}

A: Try tweaking one or more of the following options:

*

*SendChucked

*AllowAutoRedirect

*TransferEncoding

Also try to note differences between them with your various configurations.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


1. A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard - WFTM will be part of Ms. Dennard's blog tour in July, but even if we weren't, this would be absolutely top of my list because of how much I loved the first book in the series.
2. vN and iD by Madeline Ashby - Ms. Ashby is going to be visiting WFTM later this summer and her android-tastic series belongs on this site. I can't wait to read these.
3. Monster by Ilsa J Bick - I got an eARC last week and am having a hard time getting things accomplished knowing this book is in my hands. I must know what happens to Tom. I doubt there will be any happy endings, but a girl can dream right? Review of Ashes is here and Shadows here.
4. Before Watchmen collections - Technically this is four different books, but I'm counting them as one. I'm going to be featuring a Before Watchman collection each Monday starting next week in preparation to Comic Con in July. These books are going to have a hard time even getting close to the original, but I'll give them a try.
5. Three by Joe Posey - This is another book from my new best friends at Angry Robot publishing. Mr. Posey will be stopping by around the time his book will be published at the end of July. This sounds like a really exciting hero adventure in post-apocalyptic times.
6. Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger - It doesn't make sense that I haven't read this book yet. I must read this and soon because it has me written all over it.
7. The Jenna Fox series by Mary Pearson - The second book in the series is on its way to me right now, which means I'll have the entire trilogy at my finger tips. I've heard such great things about this series and the short published at Tor.com so long ago has stuck with me.
8. Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas - Throne of Glass was a surprise to me and I'm really eager to see where the story of Celaena goes. Plus more Chaol is always good.
9. The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau - A copy of this book arrived in my mailbox a few weeks ago and the cover has been taunting me from around the blogosphere.
So I cheated. This is way more than 10 books, and of course with Comic Con in a few weeks, this could drastically change. What books are on your TBR list this summer?


Yeah. GMA's Alyas Robin Hood was revealed, along with not-so-subtle similarities to a certain show airing on the CW called Arrow.
How is it possible for @gmanetwork to greenlight (get it?) Alyas Robinhood knowing all too well that it's a brazen rip-off of Arrow?
Seriously though – local network imitates popular IP. In other news, water is wet and the sky is blue. We've seen this over and over again, and it's honestly tiring to see a lot of local creatives struggling to promote their local ideas on the indie circuit, while safe and blatant unoriginal shows get greenlit.
We just needed a bunch of salty nerds to make something out of the nerd rage.
Thank you, Internet. You are the best.
What are your favorite #PitchAShowToGMA tweets and ideas? Come on share 'em with us in the comments!


Russian giants Dinamo Moscow are on the brink of a historic relegation. Michael Yokhin walks us through the storied club's collapse.
Kobelev claims he had a say in rejecting the loan bid but hinted Arsenal may have been more successful had they attempted to sign Kokorin permanently.
The career of Luke Wilkshire, who played two World Cups and was Australia's richest footballer, is in limbo after his exit from Feyenoord last month.
The Russian Football Union has hit Dinamo Moscow with a transfer embargo over unpaid fees.
Roma have completed the signing of William Vainqueur from Dinamo Moscow, the Serie A club announced on Monday.
Mathieu Valbuena says the opportunity to feature in the Champions League this season was a major factor in convincing him to sign for Lyon.
Valbuena, 30, arrived in Lyon on Monday evening, according to Le Progres, and will undergo a medical on Tuesday morning.
Lyon, runners-up to PSG in Ligue 1 last season, are without Clement Grenier, who has been ruled out for four months after rupturing a thigh tendon.
Dinamo Moscow say they have been excluded from European competition by UEFA for breaking financial fair play rules.
Dinamo Moscow have placed Russia midfielder Igor Denisov on the transfer list and suspended him from all first-team activity following a clash with the coach.
Gonzalo Higuain plundered a hat trick as Napoli recovered from an early fright to seize a commanding advantage against 10-man Dinamo Moscow in the Europa League.
Gignac, who has scored 13 Ligue 1 goals this season, has suggested he would remain at Marseille -- the club he supported as a boy -- if they offer him an acceptable deal.


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The latest numbers on home sales and prices show a continued slide, but not as bad as the state overall.
The Peruvian community in Sacramento is gathering donations to send down to victims of last week's magnitude 8.0 earthquake.
One of Sacramento's best-known hotels will undergo an extensive expansion and renovation.


This graph depicts the attendance of the 20 most visited theme and amusement parks in the Asia-Pacific region in 2017. Lotte World in Seoul, South Korea was visited by 6.71 million people in 2017.
In 2017, Universal Studios Japan's sister park Universal Studios Hollywood had 9.06 million visitors.


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Download YouTube videos: That's how it works!
|In YouTube
|By blogger4
Download YouTube videos: That's how it works!
YouTube is already an indispensable content platform in many people's lives. After all, every day, millions of users record and upload videos on numerous subjects, generating a wide variety of relevant content. Virtually all the videos uploaded to the site are free and can be accessed at any time by anyone. All it needs is an active internet connection to enjoy the great videos available on the platform. However, there are times when you want to watch a video, but can't make it out then due to other engagements or maybe connection issues. But you don't need to worry anymore! Now, with a number of wonderful tools or applications, you can download YouTube videos on your preferred devices including mobile, MacBook, lappy, or whatever it is.
ByClick Downloader
SaveFromNet – One of the most used tools to download YouTube videos
Y2Mate
Freemake.com
ClipConverter – Popular with users who download YouTube videos
Things to keep in mind while you Download Youtube videos
Perform downloads safely
Pay attention to video usage
Here's how the entire things work. Keep reading!
YouTube ByClick is one of the most sought-after applications that can help you download YouTube videos and music effortlessly. In addition, the application also allows you to download content from more than 40 sites such as Facebook, Dailymotion, Vimeo, and more.
One of the differentials that the program offers is the possibility to download high-quality videos: 720p, 1080p, 4K, and even 8K. Besides, you can convert these files to many different formats such as MP3, MP4, AVI, and several other options.
The most enticing feature worth highlighting is the ability to download complete playlists and even channel videos in just one click.
Watching YouTube videos is free. But, what about downloading them? Well, with a 4k Video downloader you get to download 30 videos per day, 10 videos per playlist, and 5 videos per channel. The user-friendly interface and simple process to download YouTube videos serve the purpose to the point.
With a wide range of video resolution options such as 360°, 3D, 8K, 4K, 1080p, 720p HD, you can also enjoy features such as the ability to download video subtitles and download private content from YouTube.
However, to get access to all the exclusive features you would require choosing from one of the plans offered. Furthermore, 4K Video Downloader has already received positive reviews from Product Hunt, TechRadar, TechAdvisor, and several other portals, making it an excellent choice for those who want to download YouTube videos.
SaveFromNet is a site created exclusively for downloading videos from YouTube. The files downloaded through the tool are converted to MP4 format and can have the lowest quality, from 360p up to HD videos with limitations such as lack of audio.
One of the great advantages of using this tool is the possibility to download videos from other sites such as Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Vimeo, and others.
The process to download YouTube videos with SaveFromNet is pretty effortless. All you need to do is to copy the URL of the video you want to download, and then paste it in the text box and click "Download". The video will load, select the quality you want and click the "Download" button next to the thumbnail.
Y2Mate is another excellent option to download videos from YouTube without having to install any software. It is quite user-friendly and the platform also allows you to download videos and content from other sites such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, and others.
Downloading videos with Y2Mate is very simple. Copy the URL of the desired video, paste it into the text box, then click start. After the video is uploaded to the site, select the quality you want to download and click "Download".
Looking for a quick and handy solution to download YouTube videos? Well, Freemake.com is the one you are looking for. Just like the previous one, you wouldn't even require to download any application to perform downloads, which makes it a time savior too.
In addition to YouTube, it's also feasible for downloading videos from other sites such as Facebook, Dailymotion, and even Twitch. Talking about formats, it allows you to download MP4, AVI, MKV, WMB, and many more.
To download with FreeMake, copy the URL of the video, paste it into the text box, and press the "Enter" key. Wait while the site loads the content, then select the desired download format and click the "Download Now" button.
The ClipConverter is favored well for downloading and converting to different formats of videos from YouTube and plenty of other sites. Using the tool, you can convert videos to MP3, MP4, 3GP, AVI, MOV, and various other options. Now, there's a reason behind its popularity, the possibility to choose the exact part of the video that you want to download. Interesting, right?
Indeed, at times, the entire content might not interest you and you may want to download a part of the entire video. ClipConverter allows you to do the same. With this unique downloader, you can crop the required part of the video that you want to download.
To download YouTube videos, simply copy the URL of your desired content, paste it into the text box, select the desired format and click download.
CatchVideo is a great alternative for downloading videos from YouTube. It requires no software installation. Moreover, it's fast and convenient.
Like other options on the list, the tool also converts content from other platforms such as Facebook, Tumblr, and Vimeo. People who download videos frequently can use its extension in Google Chrome to download the content with just one click.
To download your video, copy the URL of the desired content and paste it into the site text box. After that, you need to click the "Catch" button. Click the option just below the text box to disable site notifications and make your experience smoother.
Free YouTube Download is a video downloader that needs to be installed on your computer. Besides downloading, it is also possible to convert videos to MP4, AVI, and MP3 formats. Yes, at times, it might not interest you if you wish to download via mobile. However, in the case of your PC and Mac, the application is pretty viable.
Once installed, you would love the simplicity and ease of downloading. All you would need to do is to copy the URL of the desired video and click the "+ Paste" button. Once done, simply click the "Download" button and select the folder where the video will be saved.
Well, now that you're well-informed with the ways and tools to download YouTube videos, let's share some tips and precautions to be taken into consideration.
Yes, you will be enjoying downloads and watching the videos whenever and where you want. But, you need to be aware of the security of your device and data. Therefore, download only from trusted sites that have a padlock icon before their URL, indicating the use of an SSL certificate and certifying their security.
Therefore, to ensure a good experience when downloading your content, check for updates in your browser or operating system, do not share your files or personal information in exchange for downloads, and choose only reliable programs, if doubts appear, look for another option.
YouTube has very strict rules regarding the use of the content that is broadcast on its platform. These rules are accepted when using the site and breaking them can even lead to legal action. To understand this better, you need to take a look at the copyright-related guidelines.
Hope you enjoyed this post. What are you waiting for? Choose from any of the sites from the mentioned ones and get going to download YouTube videos.
Hope this helps! Need help in increasing the viewer/follower/subscriber count of your channel? We'll be more than happy to help.
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How to Get Verified on YouTube
Getting verified on YouTube opens up more doors for opportunity and can even help you make money off the platform. In this article, we will teach you how to get verified on YouTube, so keep on reading!
The Best Sites to Buy YouTube Views
Do you know the best sites to buy YouTube views from? Keep reading to find out where to purchase YouTube views, likes and subscribers from.
Adfluencer: Germany's Leading Influencer Marketing Agency
Find out why Adfluencer is making waves with social media campaigns for small local companies and is easily Germany's leading influencer marketing agency.
YouTuber Meme: The Top 10 Best Channels to Follow
YouTube has dozens of meme channels, as well as Youtubers who have accidentally become celebrated YouTuber memes. We will be listing the best meme channels that you should be following, so keep reading!
How to Become a YouTuber
Want to learn how to become a YouTuber? Do you have a talent that you can show the world? Well don't waste any time and sign up to be a creator on YouTube. It's the best career path in today's age!
How much does YouTube Pay for 1 million views
That's a major milestone but how lucrative is hitting the 1 million marks. If you want to know more about it keep on reading.
How to Turn Off Autoplay on YouTube
The autoplay feature plays videos automatically. Sometimes you can come across new content but usually it becomes annoying. Read this article to learn how to turn it off.
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Ask anybody, and they'll say they want to be a YouTuber. Why has YouTube become such a big deal? Find out how having your own YouTube channel can be great for you or your business!
What Do You Need to Know About COPPA on Youtube
Are you a content creator on Youtube? If yes, then you've to know about COPPA on Youtube that's creating a lot of buzzes.
How to Start a YouTube Gaming Channel
Do you have a knack for video games and want to start a YouTube gaming channel? This article covers all the basics.
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How to Loop a YouTube Video
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Host France Beats Norway 2-1 to Make It 2 Wins Out of 2
France moved three points ahead of Norway in Group A
By Daniella Matar	• Published June 12, 2019 • Updated on June 12, 2019 at 5:21 pm
France recovered from a terrible own goal to beat Norway 2-1 on Wednesday as the host nation remained undefeated at the Women's World Cup.
Eugenie Le Sommer scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute after video review determined Ingrid Syrstad Engen had fouled Marion Torrent in the area.
Valerie Gauvin, benched in France's opening 4-0 win over South Korea, broke the deadlock after halftime but Norway tied when Wendie Renard turned a cross into her own net.
Renard, considered one of the best defenders in the world, appeared to be in tears as she raised her face to the sky in anguish.
France moved three points ahead of Norway in Group A. Nigeria was also three points behind France, which is vying to become the first nation to hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles at the same time.
Norway, which won the competition in 1995, is playing without Ada Hegerberg. The 2018 FIFA Ballon d'Or winner stepped down from the national team because of what she says are differences in the way the federation treats the men's and women's teams.


Welcome to SCHC, your headquarters for state-of-the-art Packaging and Third-Party Logistics Solutions. SCHC is a leading provider of Wax Packaging, Folding Cartons and Shipping Corrugated Boxes headquartered in Houston, TX. Our knowledgeable and experienced staff will work closely with you to develop reliable solutions to package and ship your non-perishable and perishable goods insuring they arrive at their destination safe and sound!
Our Logistics Division provides a full suite of Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Solutions, such as Warehousing, Drayage, Transloading, Inventory Management, and Distribution. We are specialized in Handling Natural Stone slabs, and engineered stone slabs, such as quartz, marble, granite, and limestone.
SCHC warehouses are located in Southwest/ Central region of the United States, in a prime area between the Port of Houston and the greater Houston area. SCHC is a member of the International Warehouse & Logistics Association (IWLA), which means we are able to provide your business with Logistics services across North America. SCHC is a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating since we joined in 1999.
SCHC also offers Integrated Services of Packaging and Logistics that come with the expertise of decades of combined experience that we have on our staff. Talk to us today. We will be thrilled to help your business with all your Packaging and Logistics needs!
SCHC implements a proprietary wax treatment that allows our packaging to last longer when exposed to moisture. Our wax corrugated seafood boxes are perfect for the wet environments where fish are processed and packaged.
SCHC's wax corrugated seafood boxes are not only highly functional, but our team can work closely with you to brand the boxes with a company logo, custom messaging, custom color scheme and more. Custom Boxes help to increase brand recognition at the Point of Sale, as well as to spread your marketing message.
Our wax packaging solutions are just one area of specialization for our team. We work with beer, wine and spirits manufacturers and retailers, providing the needed packaging solutions to create a convenient experience for their customers.
Clients can team with SCHC and take advantage of our six pack beer carrier wholesale manufacturer and distribution. We provide a number of solutions — carriers that accommodate either traditional or non-traditional (i.e. bombers, growlers, etc.) beer bottles or wine and spirit containers.
As a six pack beer carrier distributor, we know that branding is also key in the crowded world of brewing, wine-making and beverage sales. That's why our creative team works closely with clients to deliver branded carriers that grab the attention of customers and are also functional.
SCHC has served the Natural Stone and Engineered Stone Industry for years. We provide unmatchable Third-Party Logistics Services, such as the Drayage of ocean containers filled with stone slabs from the Port of Houston, Unloading of containers in our facility, Transloading, Warehousing, Inventory Management, and Distribution of Stone Slabs.
Given our prime localization in the Southwest/Central region of the United States of America, we are able to work as a Distribution Center for your business, delivering your quartz, marble, granite, limestone, soapstone, and travertine stone slabs all over the country, as well as in Canada and Mexico. We service natural stone distributors, stone slabs importers, and stone slabs exporters.
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text:
import numpy as np
import astropy.units as u

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


AIRLINE delivers two new Single Pickup Models – 1P DLX and the '59 Custom. The original Airline's were made of Res-O-Glas and had a floating bridge. Eastwood has upgraded the design to a tone-chambered mahogany body / fixed bridge and reduced the signal path to a single pickup/volume control, allowing for crystal clear roll off tones to full on power crunch.
Features tone-chambered mahogany body, bolt-on maple neck. Single Alnico HOT-10 Humbucker.
Adds the Airline Vintage Voiced Single Coil pickup, striped pickguard, rubber body binding, Tone Pro's Bridge, Wilkinson tuners, and the Airline DLX hardshell case.
The new 1P model is a rock and roll machine. With direct signal path from the powerful Airline VVSC pickup to your amp, the single volume controls allows for crystal clear roll off tones to full on power crunch.
Like the Airline 1P and want to see it in the Hall of Fame? Rate this guitar now (click on the stars below)… at least 10 votes with over 75% average rating gets this guitar into The HOF – the Guitar Planet Hall of Fame and from there into the 2011 Guitar of the Year award.


Valentine's Day can induce its own kind of stress as we try to create a very special event for that special someone. But, it can be easy to create a wonderful celebration and become a celebrity chef in that special someone's eye all in one fell swoop. Nothing shows your Valentine that you care like a home-cooked meal, so here is some help to increase your confidence in the kitchen. These tips will help you add some flavor to your Valentine's Day meal and win the heart – and stomach – of your date this February 14.
Plan ahead. First thing's first; make dinner arrangements ahead of time by planning out your menu. After all, it's the thought that counts. A home-cooked meal is more personal than going out to dinner. Do some subtle research well in advance to assure that your meal choices will have a warm reception. Friends and family can be very helpful in steering you in the right direction.
Find a recipe. Try recipes such as the ones listed below to woo your loved one this Valentine's Day. More recipes are available at www.hormelfoodsrecipes.com.
Don't forget dessert. When planning your menu, make sure to account for the most romantic part of the meal: dessert. Chocolate is always a safe bet, so find your partner's favorite type and drizzle it over fresh fruit.
Breakfast in bed. A great start to the day, surprise your significant other with breakfast in bed, using quick meal ideas like topping off toasted frozen waffles with CURE 81® ham, strawberries and maple syrup. Or, spread toast with cream cheese, make a heart in the center of the toast with blueberries and spoon strawberry jam in the middle of the heart.
Sweet and spicy. The more flavor the better. Try whipping up something spicy and finishing it off with a sweet treat to please the palate. Spices and seasonings such as cayenne pepper, cloves and vanilla can add a lot of flavor and may be readily available in your kitchen cupboard. Spices can also go a long way in improving the visual appeal of your meal. Use them to add color and texture, giving your dish that gourmet look.
Favorites. Embrace what you know and show your significant other that you actually do listen by throwing in a couple of their favorite dishes, or including some favorite spices.
Test the unexpected. Try making something you know neither of you have never had; impress with your creativity in the kitchen.
Thoughtful gifts. Consider sending a gift or card to your Valentine a few days early to get them excited about the upcoming feast.
Ambiance counts. Set the tone by creating a romantic atmosphere with wine, candles and music. Take it a step further and research a wine pairing that will complement your meal.


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Home Music Reviews Dub Reviews Sherwood and Pinch: Music Killer – single review
Dub Reviews
Electronic Music Reviews
Reggae Reviews
Sherwood and Pinch: Music Killer – single review
Paul Scott-Bates
Sherwood and Pinch – Music Killer (On-U Sound)
On-U Sound supremo Adrian Sherwood, and dubstep artist DJ Pinch release their second collaboration. Louder Than War's Paul Scott-Bates reviews.
Slightly biased, but for me Sherwood can really do no wrong. After over thirty years at the helm of one of the most underrated record labels around today, he constantly hits us with tracks that are always new and innovative, and above all, bloody good.
The pairing with Bristonian DJ Pinch is yet another master stroke, as the man known for his dubstep fusions with reggae and jazz, toasts over an unmistakable sound.
The follow up to debut 'Bring Me Weed' has heavy bass and wobbles more than a mighty Jah, the drum beat is unmistakably On-U with its clinical snared edge and a more dancehall orientated sound which will blow you away when played with any decent volume. There are also several Sherwood tricks and sounds thrown in along the way which will appease his fan base.
It's catchy enough to attract new fans and its drive is certainly appealing and addictive. It's pacey and powerful and deserves to be heard all over the place, and if you're in the right clubs, then you'll be bound to hear it.
There are dubs as you'd expect and the accompanying 'Dubplate Pressure' version does exactly what it says on the sleeve, which displays a wry sense of humour with an adaptation of the Spotify logo. Having a dig at Nu Skool? You better believe it.
The combination of the two artists may've initially raised eyebrows in some circles, but the pairing has proved that it is exciting, and with an album promised for 2014 it may possibly also have some longevity.
More info about Adrian Sherwood can be found here and DJ Pinch i on Soundcloud here.
Follow Sherwood on Twitter here and Pinch here. Sherwood and Pinch can be found on Facebook together here, or on their here (Sherwood) and here (Pinch).
All words by Paul Scott-Bates. More of Paul's writing on Louder Than War can be found here. Paul's website is hiapop Blog. Paul is working hard to save Radio Lancashire's On The Wire, the BBCs longest running alternative music programme. Follow him on twitter as @saveonthewire for all On The Wire news or follow hiapop Blog on Twitter, @hiapop.
Music Killer
Sherwood & Pinch
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https://www.hiapop.com
Born and bred in Lancashire, currently residing in the Rossendale Valley. Father, Husband, Blogger, Home-Brewer, Poet, Chicken-Keeper, Tweeter, Socialist - @hiapop. Keen to be green. Childhood ambitions to be a pop-star thwarted due to being unable to sing. Instead, began listening to music of every type. Everything deserves one listen, but, not necessarily a second. Only (ex-Community) DJ to ever play Nat 'King'Cole followed by Nine Inch Nails, and, eat Fish and Chips live on air. http://www.hiapop.com


Vegetarian substitutions are available for some dishes. Please specify any food allergies or dietary restrictions in the special instructions box.
If you're looking for tasty Asian food (Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese) in Omaha, Nebraska, then look no further! Come to Ling's Asian Cuisine on 157th Street! We serve Pho, Jampong, and Bun Bo Hue! Some of our main dishes include Grilled Pork Chop, Pan-Fried Noodles, and Red Curry Chicken. Located in the strip mall next to Fantasy's Food & Fuel, at the corner of 156th and Harrison. Order online for carryout today!


The life story of a Serbian woman over a period of more than 70 years, preserved in memoirs, letters and mostly diaries, recounts the triumphs and tragedies of a life that takes place against the backdrop of extraordinary turbulence in the Balkans. It covers more than half a century, five wars (including the two world wars), and four ideologies. This is a time of excitement in Serbia as its leaders carve an independent state out of the Ottoman Empire and attempt to modernize a largely rural and "backward" corner of Europe. A time of opportunity for many who join in the effort to build the infrastructure of a modern economy, as well as the growing number of middle class families who send their children, in rare cases even girls, to the emerging system of state schools. Above all, a time of war, as the expanding Serbian state comes into conflict with its neighbors and, ultimately, the Great Powers of Europe. Accompanied by an introductory study, Natalija's diary provides a rich background to understanding the on-going conflict in the Balkans today.


Great opportunity to own in Menlo Park. Completely remodeled in 2017, this charming home is perfectly located in desirable Belle Haven. Kitchen with stainless steel appliances and marble counters. Dual pane windows and recessed lighting. Master bedroom has access to the stone paved backyard, perfect for entertaining. Within walking distance to Facebook campus, restaurants, schools and the Belle Haven Community Garden. Centrally located near Highway 101 with convenient access to the Bayfront Expressway and Dumbarton Bridge. Short drive to Downtown Palo Alto, Downtown Menlo Park and Redwood City.


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Turkey – Flood Warning : 23 - 24 September 2016 - ECMWF HRES Model
Two people died yesterday, 21 September, after torrential rain triggered a landslide in the Beşikdüzü district of the Black Sea province of Trabzon in Turkey. Turkish State Meteorological Service reported that over 26cm (10.24 inches) of rain fell in one day in Beşikdüzü. Wide areas of the district have been flooded as a result. Rescues were required for numerous people trapped in homes, vehicles and schools
Flooding also affected parts of the neighbouring province of Giresun. Local media report that three bridges were destroyed by the flooding in Giresun's Eynesil district. In a statement made late yesterday, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said that roads and buildings have been severely damaged in Beşikdüzü. AFAD have sent search and rescue teams to the area and said "work is underway to take control of the situation." Turkey's Black Sea Region is extremely vulnerable to flash flooding and landslides, with coastal towns and cities surrounded by steep mountains. Deadly floods affected Ordu Province in July this year, where two people died. Artvin Province was twice hit by deadly floods in the space of a few months between August and November last year. Research by Russian and German scientists last year revealed a connection between warming seas and major flood events in the Black Sea region of Russia. Their study showed that warmer sea surface temperatures can lead to an increase in precipitation intensity – in some cases of over 300% – for communities and regions neighbouring warm seas. Rainfall Turkish State Meteorological Service (TSMS) reports that 269.4 mm of rain fell in Beşikdüzü in 24 hours from 06:00 on 21 to 06:00 on 22 September. Carşıbaşı recorded 108.8 mm of rain during the same period. The heavy rain appears to have been extremely localized in the province. Only 3 other locations recorded significant rainfall (more than 30 mm) during that period. Most areas saw rainfall figures in the mid to high teens. In Giresun province, Çanakçı recorded 76.3 mm, Güce 73.5 mm and Eynesil 48.6 mm during the 24 hours from 06:00 on 21 to 06:00 on 22 September, according to TSMS figures
Flood List
ECMWF EPS EFI Forecast .. 23-24 Sep 2016
Run: 12z 22 Sep 2016
Total Precipitation Extreme Forecast Index


If you're determined that 2017 is the year you're finally going to become more confident, this is the post for you. While it seems like every magazine is full of articles trying to convince you that if you only had this gadget or that makeup, you'd feel instantly hotter, you should take these with a grain of salt.
No…not a real tan! Those will give you cancer and turn your skin into leather. The professionals can check out Ellisons, which has a range of St Tropez tanning equipment and lotions available. When you have a tan, you naturally look healthier and slimmer, and seem to glow from within. Many people assume that using these types of self-tanners is complicated, but the truth is, no longer are self tanners going to give you huge orange streaks down your arms and legs (as long as you follow instructions). Today's tanners are better than ever, so make sure you exfoliate, and enjoy the glow.
It's hard to glow your brightest when you have bags under your eyes. When you don't get enough sleep, it affects your skin and moods, making you more likely to reach for junk, and less likely to work out. If you want to glow like a model this year, make it the year you set yourself an alarm reminder to go to bed early. It turns out that the hours before midnight are also the most important for your sleeping habits, so aim to be in bed by 10 or so- your skin will thank you!
Yeah, yeah, we've all heard it all before. But if you're not drinking enough water, your skin is going to show it. Water is crucial for every system in our bodies, and if you want glowing skin, you need that H20. If you're the type to reach for a soda when you're thirsty, now is the time to stop. All that sugar rots your teeth, makes you gain weight, and is terrible for your skin. Instead, switch to water and add some flavouring if you need to. One great trick is to keep water in the fridge with some cut fruit inside. Try this with sparkling water for a great alternative to soda.
That post-exercise glow is due to all the endorphins floating around your body. The more you exercise, the more better your skin will look as the circulates through your body and into your face. If you're not committing to exercising at least 3 times a week, make it happen and you'll be amazed at the transformation of your skin and body. Remember, consistency is key here, so find a type of exercise that you love and look forward to, and create healthy, skin-benefiting habits for life.


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Life Connected
Sharing the connections among Southern Californians | Sunday at 11PM on NBC4 News
Program Helps Train Vets For The Workforce
Man veterans have difficulty finding jobs when they return home from war, but United Way of Greater Los Angeles started a program to help vets find employment.
By Angie Crouch
Published Aug 3, 2015 at 12:15 AM
Program Helps Train Vets For New Jobs
//www.nbclosangeles.com/on-air/as-seen-on/Program-Helps-Train-Vets-For-New-Jobs_Los-Angeles-320456682.html
Many veterans have difficulty finding jobs when they return home from war, but United Way of Greater Los Angeles started a program to help vets find employment. Angie Crouch reports for the NBC4 News on Sunday Aug. 2, 2015. (Published Monday, Aug. 3, 2015)
More and more veterans are returning from war only to find they can't find jobs or permanent housing.
Los Angeles has more homeless vets than any other place in America.
Twenty-nine-year-old Antonio Salazar is one of those veterans. He has been sleeping in his van on and off since he got out of the military in 2011. The former marine, who fought in Iraq, thought when he returned home to Los Angeles his military skills would help him land a great job.
"But, it didn't work out like that.. So I had to make ends meet however I could," Salazar said.
Southern California Crimes Caught on Camera
Placentia Police Department
Salazar says his family is there for him, but his pride won't let him ask for help. He had no idea the transition from military to civilian life would be this tough.
"You get thrown out there and you feel kind of lost. All you knew was military life and you always got taken care of.. Now you're kind of on your own," Salazar said.
Salazar is among more than 4,600 homeless vets in LA County. Former marine Ricardo Reyes was so disturbed by the state of his fellow vets he decided to do something about it.
Fundraiser For Boy Killed By Stray Bullet
"I decided to go undercover and check into a homeless shelter so I could get a first hand experience as to what services are being offered," Reyes said.
Reyes spent six months living at a shelter in South Los Angeles. He was shocked at how many post 9/11 veterans he found without stable jobs or housing.
"I feel I have that responsibility to my fellow brothers and sisters who I served with who have given a lot of themselves and ideals of protecting and supporting America," Reyes said.
2015 Southern California Images in the News
Reyes went to work for United Way of Greater Los Angeles. In January they launched a new program with local unions to help vets like Antonio Salazar get job training in the construction industry.
Salazar is among 200 veterans enrolled in the pre-apprenticeship program with the heat and frost insulators union in Azusa.
They're learning skills that will allow them to start working in good paying jobs that offer a real future.
Westwood Village Overnight Shooting
Tom Gutierrez manages the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers. He says the program helps veterans reclaim their sense of pride.
"As a vet we are deployed all over the world to destroy cities and cultures.. We do this to protect.. Now we're asking when they come back we want them to build the cities now and build families.. It's the best thing I believe that helps with PTSD .. When you can walk down the street with your son or daughter and say I built that," Gutierrez said.
For vets like Salazar--the program is life saving. He says he can't wait to start working. He's looking forward to getting out of his van and into his own home.
The federally funded program will help five-hundred local veterans this year.
If you'd like more information go to www.unitedwayla.org


Adventures in Breastfeeding: Wordless Wednesday: Breastfeeding...you're doing it wrong.
Wordless Wednesday: Breastfeeding...you're doing it wrong.
Leann is a mother to one daughter, "Bugs". She is a professional entertainer trying to figure out this mom thing while traveling the country, living in an RV with her husband (Josh), mother in law (Mama K), Bugs and 2 dogs (Maeby & Gob), and performing multiple shows daily. You can find Leann at extremeillusionsandesapes.com or on Facebook at Extreme Illusions & Escapes.


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Q: Ubuntu mySQL server administrator GUI - how can I view actual database tables data in the gui? I can see the various dataabases ('catalogs'). I was hoping for the ability to also see a visual view of the data, similar to what I can get in pgadmin for postgres.
I know I can use the command prompt and I am confident in that.  However I would like to use a gui for ease of use when debugging and reviewing data in applications

A: You can download phpMyadmin / mysql workbench free

A: In terminal type sudo apt-get install phpmyadmin
Then goto http://localhost/phpmyadmin/ in browser
login using , MySQL username & password


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Calls to Reform CAS That Justified Russian Athletes, Discredit Trust in Int'l Law - Medvedev
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has expressed his view on the problem of quality of international justice in the wake of a major doping scandal in Russia.
IOC to Appeal CAS Decisions on Russian Athletes - President
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will appeal the decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding Russian athletes in an effort to prevent other Olympians from being impacted, President of the IOC Thomas Bach said on Thursday.
Kremlin: We Hope Rodchenkov Testimony to Make Int'l Orgs Reconsider Decisions on Russian Athletes
The Kremlin has commented on the withdrawal of WADA informant Grigory Rodchenkov's testimony against Russian athletes during the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearings.
Sports Arbitration Court Cancels Doping Hearing for Russian Curler
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday canceled a hearing for Russian curler Aleksandr Krushelnitckii who failed a doping test at South Korea's Winter Olympics.
Russian Curler Denies Meldonium Use at Olympics, Asks for Thorough Probe
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian curler and 2018 Olympics bronze medalist Aleksandr Krushelnitckii, whose doping probe turned out positive, said on Tuesday that he had never taken prohibited chemicals, pointing out that he was interested in a thorough investigation of his case.
Slovenian Ice Hockey Player Jeglic Tests Positive for Doping, Suspended From Games - CAS
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Slovenian ice hockey player Ziga Jeglic has failed a doping test at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang and is now suspended from the remainder of the Olympics, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said in a statement.
CAS Anti-Doping Division Registers Case Involving Russian Curling Athlete
The Anti-doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS ADD) has initiated a procedure involving Russian curler Aleksandr Krushelnitsky, winner of the bronze medal at mixed doubles curling at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in South Korea's Pyeongchang, CAS said in a press release.
Russian Athletes' Actions, Comments to Be Analyzed by IOC - Spokesman
PYEONGCHANG (Sputnik) - The actions and comments of Russian athletes participating in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics will be analyzed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), IOC Director of Communications Mark Adams said Sunday.
CAS Secretary General Denies Pressure to Exclude 45 Russians from South Korea Olympics
ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - Matthieu Reeb, the secretary general of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) denied on Saturday being pressured to dismiss appeals by 45 Russian athletes against the International Olympic Committee's decision not to invite them to the Pyeongchang Olympics.
IOC Discriminates Against Russian Athletes - Former French Swimmer
French former swimming champion Antoine Galavtine, a gold and silver medal winner in international championships, told Sputnik that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is discriminating against Russian athletes.
CAS Justifies Rejecting Russian Athletes' Ban Appeals With ROC Suspension
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday explained its decision on 47 Russian athletes and coaches who were banned from Winter Olympics, stressing the Russian Olympic Committee's (ROC) suspension meant that they could not compete by default.
The Decision Would Have Been Different If Russia Was Not Concerned - Lawyer
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has rejected appeals by forty five Russian athletes and two coaches challenging the decision to exclude them from the Olympics. Radio Sputnik discussed this with Christof Wieschemann, the lawyer for skiing gold medallist Alexander Legkov, whose disqualification was overturned.
Olympic Steamroller
The Court of Arbitration for Sport effectively upheld the decision made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to bar 45 Russian athletes and two coaches from participating in 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in a move which Swiss lawyers have already described as "disguised sanctions."
Scapegoating and Russian Olympic Athletes
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) lifted bans on 27 Russian athletes in February meaning that they could have taken part in the Winter Olympics, but the IOC was not satisfied with CAS's decision. What does this mean for the objectivity of the IOC?
Kremlin Regrets CAS Decision on Russian Athletes' Appeals
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kremlin regrets the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to dismiss the appeals of Russian athletes, and will take the ruling into account, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
Russia May Initiate Reforms of WADA, IOC After 2018 Games – Lower House Sports Committee
MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia together with other countries may initiate a reform of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mikhail Degtyarev, the head of the lower house's sports committee, said Friday.
CAS Dismisses Appeals by 47 Russian Athletes and Coaches Against IOC
PYEONGCHANG (Sputnik) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Friday dismissed appeals filed by 45 Russian athletes and two coaches who challenged the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s decision to exclude them from South Korean Olympics.
Son of Soviet Olympic Champion Hopes for Settlement of Russian Olympic Ban Case
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Alexander Belov, a son of 1972 Soviet Olympic Champion Sergei Belov, told Sputnik that he hoped that the developments surrounding the Russian athletes banned from Olympics over alleged doping rules' violations, but later acquitted of the charges would normalize and the athletes would be able to compete and win.
Only Right Thing for IOC to Do Is to Allow Russian Athletes to Compete – Lawyer
The International Olympic Committee has decided against inviting 13 Russian athletes and two coaches, acquitted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Dr Gregory Ioannidis, sports lawyer and anti-doping litigation expert, shared his views on the matter with Sputnik.
CAS Registers Two Appeals by Russians Against IOC Olympic Bans
PYEONGCHANG (Sputnik) - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday opened two new cases after six more Russians appealed the International Olympic Committee decision to ban them from South Korea Olympics.
14:15 Ex-Diplomat: India Must Flag Concern Over Likely US Support of Removing Pakistan from FATF Grey List
13:45 Zarif Says Iran Open to Talks With Neighbours as Saudi Arabia Sends Same Signals
13:34 France, US Strike Deal to Proceed With OECD Digital Tax Talks - French Finance Minister


If you are facing charges for theft, fraud, breaking and entering or property crimes it is important to speak with a lawyer right away so you can understand the charges and your options. Being found guilty can come with serious consequences such as financial repercussions, employment consequences, your ability to travel, and professional designations being revoked. Some charges, such as theft from an employee, may seem minor at first. However, these charges can carry a starting point of jail even if the offender does not have a criminal record. Michelle has a very strong record with negotiating and arguing for favourable sentences for her clients.
If you are facing these charges contact Michelle Parhar today at 403-835-4010 to answer all your legal questions so you can make an informed decision on how to proceed with your case.


The GW Cancer Institute created core competencies for non-clinically licensed patient navigators using a highly collaborative, multi‐stage process from January 2013 through August 2014. In 2013, the GW Cancer Institute conducted a comprehensive literature and curriculum review and established a framework of functional areas for patient navigation reviewed by an external advisory panel. In 2014, we conducted focus groups with patient navigators across the U.S., worked with expert reviewers and conducted a national survey of health care professionals who self-identified as working in the field of oncology patient navigation to validate the competency statements. We adopted the common framework for health professional competencies supported by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The final 45 statements resulted from this 18 month study.
Download the overview and competencies.
With the competencies established, the GW Cancer Institute developed a comprehensive competency-based training for Oncology Patient Navigators. The training uses interactive web-based presentations to discuss evidence-based information and case studies to prepare patient navigators to effectively address barriers to care for cancer patients and survivors. To enroll in the course, visit the Online Academy and use enrollment code PNTrain(note, this is case sensitive).


$0.00 White Oak Tavern is named after the tall white oak trees of Kentucky, and is inspired by the art of the cooper who carefully handcrafts each cask, protecting and enhancing the flavors of the region's prized bounty: bourbon. So, as you can imagine, we have a passion for brown liquor!
Each month, our team will handpick a premium bourbon, rye, or whiskey from around the world for you to enjoy in the restaurant whenever you like. You will receive an email with interesting facts and tasting notes about the featured bottle. We encourage you to sip our selections neat or on the rocks, to fully experience the unique aromas and flavors. And if you'd like to try the spirit in a cocktail, we'd be happy to have one of our bartenders create any of your favorite whiskey-based libations (or surprise you with something new!).
Membership includes your monthly bottle, along with access to specially curated experiences including private tastings with brand ambassadors, fun and educational meet-ups, distillery and brewery tours, our amazing whiskey pairing dinners, and more.
The cost of membership is on a monthly basis: 1 month for $175pp or 3 months at a reduced rate of $450pp. The months don't have to be consecutive and can be picked at your leisure throughout the year—whenever it's convenient for you (example: a few current members are only in the NYC area six months out of the year, so they just tell me which months work best for them).


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As is the case all over the country, electric utilities in Maine are increasingly being confronted with problems that could potentially be solved through innovative renewable energy solutions. But "there's a whole cultural shift that would have to occur" for that to happen, says David Littell, former commissioner of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Photo by Gabe Souza.
As users demand cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy, electric utilities examine antiquated ways of operating. In Maine, that may lead to a consumer-driven utility.
by Marina Schauffler | February 14, 2019
A single week late last month offered a startling snapshot of a once-staid electrical utility industry now swept up in turbulent change:
California's largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, declared bankruptcy and faces billions in liability following the state's 2018 wildfires.
All-time low temperatures in the Midwest strained the capacity of its power grids, forcing utility customers to lower thermostats and temporarily close several manufacturing plants.
In a "Worldwide Threat Assessment" report, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coates acknowledged that both Russia and China already possess the capacity to temporarily disrupt U.S. power networks.
CEO James Robo of NextEra Energy (the nation's largest utility) predicted that cheaper electricity from solar power and growing battery storage capacity will be "massively disruptive" and will "create significant opportunities for renewable growth well into the next decade," Clean Economy Weekly reported.
Here in Maine, Rep. Seth Berry (D-Bowdoinham) proposed a bill to create a consumer-owned utility that would – with fair compensation – take over the electric transmission and distribution assets of Central Maine Power and Emera Maine, investor-owned utilities that transmit 96 percent of the state's total power.
These events signal a new era for electric utilities, with threats and opportunities that challenge the industry's antiquated mode of operating.
A well-worn business model
Following a century of steady growth, electricity sales leveled off in 2007 – a trend expected to continue, given improved energy efficiency and more on-site power generation. Flat demand for electricity benefits the environment and can lower rates, but limits revenue sources for investor-owned utilities.
There's a concern that utilities overbuild or gold-plate their systems."
— Gordon Weil, a utility consultant who served as Maine's first public advocate
What buffers their bottom lines is a guaranteed rate of return (typically 9 percent to 13 percent) for infrastructure investments. Because that's the way utilities make money, "they love to build things," says David Littell, a former commissioner at the Maine Public Utilities Commission who is a principal at the international nonprofit Regulatory Assistance Project.
"There's a concern that utilities overbuild or gold-plate their systems," says Gordon Weil, a utility consultant who served as Maine's first public advocate. CMP's proposed transmission line through Maine, for example, is projected to net the company roughly $60 million each year. In confidential documents recently shared with the press, CMP proposed offering ratepayers annual benefits of less than a twelfth of that figure.
Investing in large-scale infrastructure assumes that power comes primarily from a few major generating stations. But the growing affordability of solar and wind technology is changing the economics of electricity generation and storage. Households and businesses now can generate "distributed" solar power that is either used on site, fed into the grid or stored in fixed or mobile (electric vehicle) batteries – which in turn can provide on-site power or help charge the grid.
Increasingly, utilities are confronted with problems that they could solve with conventional infrastructure or with distributed power sources like solar and wind. For them to choose the latter option, Littell says, "there's a whole cultural shift that would have to occur."
A model of innovation
Green Mountain Power, Vermont's largest utility, is a certified B Corporation, with a commitment to environment, employees, community and governance. It actively promotes solar panels, electric vehicles and battery storage – measures that not only lower greenhouse gas emissions but also improve reliability (reduce and shorten outages) and increase resilience (the system's capacity to bounce back from a disruption, such as a storm or a cyberattack).
Unlike Maine's deregulated utilities, which only handle power delivery, Green Mountain Power both produces and distributes power.
It also differs from Maine's two investor-owned utilities in being locally governed, and the vast majority of its board members are Vermont residents. (Its sole investor, an energy company in Quebec, supported its decision to become a B Corp, balancing profits with people and the planet.)
The growing affordability of solar and wind technology is changing the economics of electricity generation and storage. Photo by Gabe Souza.
CMP is a subsidiary of Connecticut-based Avangrid, whose controlling shareholder Iberdrola is a Spanish multinational corporation with operations on four continents. Emera Maine is part of a Nova Scotia-based utility with subsidiaries in Atlantic Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Green Mountain Power seeks to upend the traditional model of moving electricity only from generators to users by relying on power close to the source and making its transfer more of a "data network than a one-way flow," says Josh Castonguay, its vice president of innovation.
The utility encourages customers to install storage batteries that can be used during outages and that the utility can draw on in peak periods – to help lower costs for ratepayers. Last summer, for example, GMP was able to save its 265,000 customers $400,000 in a single day by relying on these batteries to avoid buying electricity when wholesale prices spiked.
"Solar plus storage," as it is known, is gaining traction in the power industry, but Maine's investor-owned utilities are not moving in that direction. Neither one actively promotes time-of-use (TOU) pricing either, a simpler measure that gives customers an incentive to use electricity outside peak periods, lowering their own rates and reducing the overall demand that can drive costly system upgrades.
For Emera Maine, TOU pricing is "not a large consideration going forward," says its media communications specialist Judy Long.
"CMP does … offer TOU rates for customers who seek them," Catharine Hartnett, the utility's corporate communications manager, wrote in a recent email. But she acknowledged that the PUC had ordered CMP to update those rates in 2014, and the company only submitted its revised rates to the PUC last October.
A Not So Smart System
CMP used customers' desire for greater control over electricity pricing to justify its installation of smart meters eight years ago, a $196 million investment (roughly half of which ratepayers covered, with the balance coming from federal stimulus funds). CMP also promised that the meters would improve outage responses.
Yet during a major windstorm in October 2017, nearly half a million CMP customers were left without power for days when much of the system crashed. "We were blind in a way we hadn't been in a very long time," CMP spokesperson John Carroll told the media at that time.
"People were sold a bill of goods (with automatic metering)," says Dick Rogers, business manager for IBEW Local 1837, the union representing 1,600 electrical workers at CMP and Emera Maine. "Meter readers were the company's eyes and ears" in the field, and provided backup support during storms. Now, he says, CMP uses "an incredible number of contractors who don't know the system like we do."
The erosion of CMP's workforce began in the mid-2000s with an exodus of experienced line workers following early-retirement offers. The union estimates the number of district service personnel – line workers, field planners and clerical staff in smaller regional offices – fell 15 percent between 2006 and 2018 (not counting the loss of meter readers when the company converted to automatic metering).
The staff cuts occurred just as more challenging weather patterns associated with climate change began to manifest; "we've definitely seen stronger and more frequent storms," Emera Maine's Long says.
Maine now has the dubious distinction of ranking first among states in both the average number of power interruptions and the average number of hours interrupted (42 hours, compared to 15 in Vermont and a national average of 7.8).
Those outages represent a significant loss for Maine businesses. In a column for Forbes, William Pentland, a vice president at the energy consulting firm Genbright LLC, estimated that even a 10 percent reduction in the length of CMP's annual outages could reduce the economic impacts for customers by more than $100 million annually.
Beyond worst-in-nation reliability and smart-meter challenges, CMP has lost public trust through persistent billing problems, poor customer service, a customer data breach and a contentious transmission line proposal that aggrieved ratepayers with service complaints consider – in the words of one Jackman resident – "salt in the wound."
While Maine's two investor-owned utilities, CMP and Emera Maine, transmit 96 percent of the state's power, there are nine publicly owned utilities in Maine that offer customers lower distribution rates on electric bills.
A different option
The PUC (with encouragement from the Public Advocate's Office) should be ratepayers' first line of defense in getting affordable and reliable service, and it did recently threaten enforcement action against CMP for a host of infractions.
However, the PUC's culture and decision-making process are not particularly accessible to the public.
More fundamentally, says Littell, the former Maine PUC commissioner, "the last administration politicized public servants simply doing good work for the public, and drummed talented and dedicated career civil servants out of state government." In some cases, this has blurred the lines between regulators and the entities they are supposed to scrutinize.
Several PUC decisions in recent years – such as a report that CMP responded "reasonably" to the October 2017 windstorm – have raised questions about whether the commission is favoring industry over public interest. The relationship with industry now appears so close that CMP CEO Doug Herling recently published an op-ed defending the PUC against a critical editorial.
Vermont's B Corp utility, while an intriguing model, could not be implemented in Maine's investor-owned utilities without the support of the multinational corporations that control them. GMP also has rates comparable to Maine's and – as is typical of investor-owned utilities – generously rewards shareholders and executives, with its CEO earning a salary of $576,000 in 2017.
A bill now before the Maine Legislature proposes a dramatic departure from the broken status quo: creation of a "Maine Power Delivery Authority" that would buy the assets of CMP and Emera Maine and contract for transmission and distribution of electric services with an entity required to hire those companies' workers. This independent authority would represent a fundamental shift in ownership (from investors to electricity consumers), in structure (from private to nonprofit) and in mission (from maximizing shareholder returns to meeting ratepayers' needs).
The bill's sponsor, Berry, co-chair of the state's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, says he wants to make Maine's primary transmission and distribution utilities "responsible to our priorities."
He also wants to ensure that rates are affordable and that Maine provides opportunities like on-bill financing to give lower-income ratepayers greater access to energy efficiency and solar power. Berry calculates that financing the purchase of utility assets with low-interest revenue bonds (not taxpayer-funded bonds) could reduce electric rates by 10 percent to 15 percent.
Maine already has nine publicly owned utilities operating on a smaller scale, a mix of municipal power districts and cooperatives that — excluding anomalous island utilities — typically have lower rates than CMP and Emera Maine.
The last administration politicized public servants simply doing good work for the public, and drummed talented and dedicated career civil servants out of state government."
— David Littell, former commissioner at the Maine Public Utilities Commission
Public ownership of utilities allows for greater participation and increased accountability, Berry notes, with meetings open to the public and all records subject to Maine's Freedom of Access legislation – conditions that don't currently apply to investor-owned utilities.
The proposed consumer-owned utility would be akin to the Maine Turnpike Authority in structure, being overseen by a nonpartisan independent board and not reliant on taxpayer dollars. That analogy might concern those who recall that the MTA's former executive director pleaded guilty to felony charges and served jail time for charging several hundred thousand dollars in unauthorized expenses.
"But it's easier to hold entities accountable when they're local," Berry says, pointing out that investigative work by the Legislature's Office of Program Evaluation and Government Accountability helped uncover that graft.
Establishing a public utility typically involves a feasibility study, a legal analysis, potentially a public referendum and finally an agreement on price, explains Ursula Schryver, vice president of education and customer programs at American Public Power Association. Over the last nine years, Boulder, Colorado has been inching closer to creating a municipal utility. In the process, it has pushed its current investor-owned utility (Xcel Energy) to commit to going 100 percent carbon-free by 2050.
Dozens of U.S. communities each year begin exploring public power ownership, Schryver reports, but only 68 have formed new utilities since 1980; "it's a difficult process," she adds, typically with "a lot of legal battles and communications campaigns."
Littell concurs with her assessment, adding that it's a "David and Goliath fight; there are not equal resources there."
Maine ratepayers might even end up footing the tab for the utilities' legal battle. When asked about that prospect, Harry Lanphear, the PUC's administrative director, acknowledges "the answer is not a straightforward one. We would evaluate legal costs (in the context of their impact on ratepayers) as part of a formal proceeding, and make a determination as to what we would allow or not allow. It would be adjudicated, with lawyers weighing in on both sides."
Public power supplies roughly one in seven American electricity customers, but Nebraska is the only state where it serves everyone (about 1.9 million people total). Rather than having a singular power authority as Maine is envisioning, it has 166 smaller entities.
In 2018, U.S. News ranked Nebraska first among states for "power grid reliability," 17th for electricity prices, and fourth overall. Maine's rankings in those categories were 40, 49 and 42.
Nebraska's conversion to public power dates to the 1930s, when Republican Sen. George Norris sought reform following a period of excess utility greed and corruption. As Weil wrote in his book "Blackout: How the Electric Industry Exploits America," Norris "came to believe that investor-owned utilities could never operate in the customer's interests … (he) simply removed the profit motive from the utility business."
Maine already took a step in that direction in forcing a major restructuring of the regional power industry in the late 1990s, when six New England states restricted utilities to T&D, opening energy supply to free-market forces. "Generation costs went down; competition worked," Weil says.
Maine considered a switch to public power as early as 1973, he notes, and 38 percent of voters favored the measure even though delivery costs then represented 20 percent of consumers' bills. Today, they have risen to 50 percent, he says; "generation-side savings were absorbed by increased transmission costs."
A time for discussion
Berry put forward his power proposal because after 10 years of service in the Legislature, he says he's "convinced Maine needs to reconsider the structure of our utilities." Rogers of the IBEW concurs that the idea "deserves to be vetted to see if this works better for the people of Maine."
The prospect of creating a consumer-owned utility may shift Maine ratepayers from a reactive stance – filing complaints with the PUC and logging social media gripes – to collective brainstorming on what might best serve consumers here. Many other states already have begun fostering constructive dialogue on grid modernization issues, with working groups tackling topics like electric vehicle charging and sharing of aggregate energy-use data.
When discussions involve a potential shift to public power, Schryver notes, there are often "concessions and incentives" made by utilities to better meet local needs. That's been the case in Minnesota, where a statewide initiative launched in 2014 has gotten parties talking informally outside the typical regulatory context, discussions that are yielding concrete benefits for ratepayers.
As conversations in Maine move forward, it's increasingly clear here – and across the nation – that "a whole cultural shift" (in Littell's words) may already be underway.
American Public Power AssociationAvangridCentral Maine PowerDavid LittellEmera MaineGreen Mountain PowerIBEW Local 1837Maine Public Utilities CommissionPubic utilitiesSeth Berry
Marina Schauffler
Marina Schauffler is a writer and editor who explores the complex interconnections between ecology and culture. Since 2014, she has written the column "Sea Change" about the challenges of living sustainably in Maine. She holds a Ph.D. in natural resources and a master's in creative nonfiction writing. Find more of her work at www.naturalchoices.com.
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I knew I wanted to braise something with bones… Anytime you take a cut of meat that has lots of fat and big bones in it, cook it for ten or twelve hours with some booze and vegetables, it will be awesome.
I bought some beautiful grass-fed beef short ribs from John Ford Ranch at the farmers market, and I knew I had found the ingredient I was looking for. In addition to having a velvety, luscious flavor and a beautiful rustic aesthetic, these red wine braised short ribs are also really simple to make and will make the people you're feeding have happy bellies. This is a great dish to make for entertaining (since you do all the work in the morning), it makes the house smell amazing all day, there's a really quick clean-up since it's basically a one pot meal, and the flavor only gets better if you let the sit in the fridge for a day or two.
This is the kind of dinner I like to start in the morning, when the kitchen is still cold and dark and the sun isn't even fully up. It starts the day off on the right foot, saying: today will be the kind of day that we will smell roasting things while we do our work, and we will take the extra care to sit down for a meal in the evening. If I wait to make dinner until the end of the day, it can be hard to find the energy and inspiration. Usually, my feet just hurt from working and I'd rather have a bowl of cornflakes. (Oh my god, we even had macaroni and cheese from a box this week! Shocking, right? I had turned about 100 lbs. of citrus into marmalade that day and the idea of cooking dinner made me want to stab myself in the eye.) This meal was so good and I think everyone should make it, so I'm forcing myself to write a recipe. I don't think braises should be precise recipes, though. They're more of a technique that you can adapt to pretty much anything.
Sear the meat in some kind of fat.
Take the meat out of the pan and saute some chopped vegetables in the fat.
Deglaze the pan with some kind of booze or stock.
Add the meat back in. Make sure everything is just covered with stock or some kind of cooking liquid.
Cook it in the oven for a really long time (5-10 hours) on low heat.
I love this technique of cooking, and I do it often during the winter. Osso Bucco is another one of my favorite braises, and so is this Wild Duck alla Cacciatora.
If your short ribs have any huge chunks of solid fat on them, trim it off. Don't go too crazy, though, because the fat is what makes these so good. Heat the olive oil in a fairly large pot or dutch oven on the stove top, on medium heat. Season the short ribs with salt in pepper and dredge in the flour. Sear the short ribs in the olive oil so they're nicely browned on all sides. Remove them from the pan and set on aside on a plate. Add the chopped vegetables, fresh herbs and garlic, season with a sprinkle of salt, and saute until everything is slightly translucent. Add extra olive oil or butter if the pan is too dry and they start to stick or burn. Turn the heat to high, and once everything is really sizzling like crazy, pour in the red wine. Add the short ribs back into the pot. Pour in enough stock to come to the top of the meat. Put in the oven, uncovered, for anywhere between 3 and 10 hours. At three hours they should be fine and tasty but by 10 hours you'll roll your eyes and make silly noises when you taste it.
Once you get to a point where you want to serve the meat soon, take the pot out of the oven. Use a slotted spoon to lift the short ribs out of the sauce and set them on a plate. Put the pot on the stove top and turn the heat to high to reduce the liquid down to just a couple cups. Once it's reduced, puree the vegetable/broth mixture with whatever tool you puree things with in your kitchen. (If you're working at the French Laundry or you have the Obamas over for dinner that night, you can strain this puree through a chinois to make it perfectly smooth.) Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Add the meat back in to the sauce and serve.
Serve over polenta and top with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. I like a simple butter lettuce salad with a basic mustard vinaigrette for the side dish; I think the sweet lightness of butter lettuce is a good counterpart to the richness of the short ribs.
Like I mentioned earlier, this dish holds incredibly well in the fridge. You could easily cook it for a dinner party the day before and then just heat it up when you're ready to serve your guests.
I really like this. I am a big fan of slow cooking the less popular cuts of meat.


The 8th Annual Harvest Festival will be held on Sunday, October 18 from 11 AM to 5 PM at the Agriculture and Education Center. Activities include: Eastern Shore Jousters, pony rides, hay rides, bath tub rides, Mielke's exotic animals, live scarecrow, 50/50 Raffle, a silent auction, a farmers market including fresh apples, pumpkin painting, a wine tasting by Triple Creek Winery, and great food; hamburgers, hotdogs, pit beef, fried oysters, hand cut fries, pulled pork parfaits, apple dumplings, ownie sundae's, pies, etc. Admission is $1.00 per car for parking. For all activities see www.talbotagcenter.org. Rain date is Sunday, October 25.
The Fall into St. Michaels festivities begin with the town-wide scarecrow contest starting on Saturday, October 17, 2015.
On Sunday, October 18th, the Annual Jack Russell Races start at 11:00am and take place on the lawn in front of the Inn at Perry Cabin.
The following weekend, the fall into St. Michaels festivities go into full swing, Saturday, October 24th with the start of the Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest held at the St. Michaels Community Center early Saturday morning. Participating businesses sponsor the pumpkins, which are carved by experienced and novice carvers alike, each striving for the top spot in one of the four pumpkin categories. The pumpkins are judged from 1:00pm – 1:30pm and then will remain on display until 7:00pm on Saturday and 10:00am thru 2:00pm on Sunday. The Bay Hundred's Annual Pumpkin Pie Competition will be held during the Pumpkin Carving Contest at the St. Michaels Community Center. The Pumpkin Pie Competition is open to professionals, home bakers and children.
The St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary's Square will offer one of their signature walking tours, "Frederick Douglass, a slave, in St. Michaels 1833-36", at 10:00am on Saturday, October 24th.
Lastly, as a way to give back during the harvest months, the St Michaels Business Association is combining their "Fall into St. Michaels" festivities with their First Annual Food Drive for the St. Michaels Food Pantry.


A shooting star isn't just a streak in the sky. It's a fragment of our solar system, colliding with our planet at thousands of kilometres per hour.
If it survives its fiery trip through our atmosphere, it can be studied to help us understand the workings of our solar system. That's why researchers at Curtin University are keen to get their hands on them. By downloading the Fireballs in the Sky app and reporting the meteors you see, you can help them do it.
The key to finding a meteorite is knowing where to look. Not all meteors make it to the surface, and the ones that do might only be a fraction of their original size. Without a good idea of where that object landed, finding a meteorite is looking for a pebble in a desert.
But meteorite hunters have a few ways to improve their chances. As a meteor hurtles towards Earth, it generates a fireball. If researchers can get reports of the fireball's direction from more than one place, they can narrow down their search area using a mathematical process called triangulation. If they can get those reports while they're still fresh in peoples' minds, they'll be much more accurate than asking for details later.
That's exactly what Fireballs in the Sky does. The app records the location and time from the sensors in your phone. Then, to get the most accurate report possible, the app gives you a tiny window into a simulated night sky. There, you can trace out the path of your meteor while pointing your phone at exactly where you saw it, and tweak the timing, sound and colour of your recreated fireball until it looks exactly right. And if your sighting is later confirmed, you'll get updated on that as well.
This might just seem like a bit of fun, but it has a serious purpose. Humans aren't great at estimating angles or times of the things they remember seeing. Our memories of both height and direction, for example, can be out by up to 30 degrees. By making their reports visual and interactive, Fireballs in the Sky produces much more accurate data. Thanks to this unique approach, the app has had over 28,000 downloads and won both a Premier's Science Award and a Eureka Prize. It's also attracted the attention of NASA, with the team heading to Houston this year to launch the app worldwide.
Meteorites are free samples of the history and composition of our solar system. They can come from all kinds of objects, all over space. Some are debris from collisions in the asteroid belt, ejected towards earth. Some have been kicked up from even bigger collisions with planets like Mars, bringing us our only up-close examples of Martian geology. Others might never have been part of a larger object at all, preserving material from the very beginning of our solar system. Each meteorite is unique and tells us something new about our universe.
Your observations can help here too. Just as they can predict the meteor's path downwards to find its landing site, they can also be traced backwards to tell us what part of the solar system it came from.
Australia is a great place to hunt for meteorites. It has an enormous land area, increasing the chances that something falls here. Most of it is flat and very dry, making meteorites easier to find and preserving them where they land.
So far, reports from Fireballs in the Sky have helped spot at least one meteorite touching down. With the help of the researchers' automated cameras scattered across the desert, that meteorite was found – and got to meet Carol Redford, the stargazer who spotted it.
Who knows? Maybe your meteorite could be next.
It's a pretty confusing world out there when you try to find out what is the best telescope to buy for beginners.
When it comes to stargazing places in Western Australia, we are very lucky indeed! We have some of the best night skies in the world.


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Iraq Dinar - Iraqi Dinar - Iraq Stock Exchange - Dinar Revaluation and Speculation - Investors Iraq > Iraq News > Iraq Business News > Details of Latest Counter-ISIS Strikes
View Full Version : Details of Latest Counter-ISIS Strikes
U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria on Monday, conducting 15 strikes consisting of 69 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported yesterday.
Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Strikes in Syria
In Syria, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 13 engagements against ISIS targets:
Near Raqqa, eight strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and destroyed 15 fighting positions and a vehicle.
Strikes in Iraq
In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 56 engagements against ISIS targets:
Near Huwayjah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a supply cache.
Near Beiji, a strike destroyed two ISIS bunkers.
Near Mosul, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed 36 fighting positions, 10 medium machine guns, four rocket-propelled grenade systems, four mortar systems, a supply cache, a vehicle and an anti-air artillery system; and damaged 12 fighting positions.
Near Tuz, a strike destroyed an ISIS supply route.
June 17-18 Strikes
Additionally, six strikes were conducted June 17-18 in Syria and Iraq that closed within the last 24 hours:
Near Raqqa, Syria, a June 17 strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and two snipers; destroyed two ISIS headquarters, two mortar systems, an anti-air artillery system, a vehicle bomb-making facility and an ISIS staging area; and damaged 11 fighting positions.
Near Raqqa, Syria, three June 18 strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, destroyed eight fighting positions and a mortar system, and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.
Near Mosul, Iraq, two June 18 strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed 30 vehicles, two fighting positions, a rocket-propelled grenade system and a medium machine gun; and damaged 18 ISIS supply routes.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve (https://www.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/0814_Inherent-Resolve), the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said.
The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted.
Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect.
For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said.
The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.
(Source: US Dept of Defense)
Source: Iraq-BusinessNews.com. (http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2017/06/21/details-of-latest-counter-isis-strikes-2/)


Ruidera is situated in Spain, in the Castilla-La Mancha region where it is within Ciudad Real. It is also a local administrative centre.
If you are planning a visit be sure to see the long range weather forecast for Ruidera and the Castilla-La Mancha region.
Natural highlights such as lakes, forests and mountains close to Ruidera.
Know Ruidera or operate a tourist attraction here?


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Paparazzi elevated to artists in new exhibition in France
February 25, 2014 /in Museums/by Tom Hoepf
Actor Mickey Hargitay, the husband of actress Jayne Mansfield, scuffles with 'the king of paparazzi' Rino Barillari, while model Vatussa Vitta hits him with her purse, in a 1963 photo taken in Rome. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
METZ, France (AFP) – Normally relegated to the bottom of the artistic heap, paparazzi are getting their own French art exhibition, just weeks after one of them managed to wreck the president's relationship.
By turns populist and subversive, the controversial exhibition at the Centre Pompidou-Metz opens on Wednesday, featuring the snaps of French President Francois Hollande leaving the home of actress Julie Gayet on a scooter.
The photos by Sebastien Valiela, published in Closer magazine in January, led to the president dumping his longtime partner Valerie Trierweiler.
The exhibition relives other notable scandals, including a snap from 1994 of former president Francois Mitterand with his secret daughter Mazarine Pingeot, who was born to a mistress.
Valiela joked to AFP that he had also offered his latest photos of Hollande with Gayet – who have not been seen together since "le scandale."
"But the organizers said it would not be possible. Maybe they came under pressure?"
News is not the theme of the exhibition, the Centre Pompidou-Metz said in a sober statement.
It is the first time Valiela is displaying his work, let alone in a renowned gallery. He said it was "one in the eye" for all those who look down on the genre.
"It never occurred to me that this was possible," he said. "I don't consider myself an artist, just a journalist. I'm not looking to make something beautiful, I'm trying to provide information in my photos."
Unlike many journalists and celebrities, "artists have never despised us," he added.
But Pingeot charged that Valiela was "proud of causing hurt" with his work and described the exhibition as a "form of complicity."
"I find it extremely disturbing that this is being considered art," she told French television station RTL. "We are witnessing an inversion of values today that is very destabilizing."
Another featured paparazzi, Pascal Rostain, said he was "just happy and astonished" to be considered for the exhibition.
"Art is about scandal, it is about provocation," he said. Paparazzi photos are "perhaps the last domain of photography which has not had the honor of appearing in such institutions."
He said the artistic value stems from the constraints put on the photographers that create a specific style.
"We are forced to use extreme exposures because we do not necessarily have the light conditions we want, or there is a lot of movement as we adapt to the situation, so that gives the pictures a certain texture," Valiela said.
The exhibition also highlights the specific locales of the genre – the backseat of the car, the beachfront, the exit door of the club or tribunal.
There are also the familiar gestures – the threatening fist, the hand over the face or the middle finger – that come when the prey spots her predator.
The ambiguous relationship between stars and paps – feeding their fame but potentially ruining their lives – is explored by looking at several icons: Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, Brigitte Bardot, Princess Diana, Paris Hilton and many more.
Of the 600 photos, half come from artists who have been inspired by paparazzi since the 1960s, from Andy Warhol to Gerhard Richter.
A great admirer of paparazzi, fashion photographer Helmut Newton once described the shots of Jackie Kennedy-Onassis naked on a Greek beach as "among the most troubling of the century."
Some have made the leap from pap to respected artist, like the veteran Ron Galella.
Rostain and his assistant Bruno Mouron gained renown for their series "Trash" featuring the contents of celebrities' rubbish bins.
The exhibition "Paparazzi! Photographes, Stars et Ertistes" runs to June 9.
ADDITIONAL IMAGE OF NOTE
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https://www.liveauctioneers.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/2014_0225_1280px-Barillari_rino_lead.jpg 233 300 Tom Hoepf https://www.liveauctioneers.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ACN-logo-2019-2.png Tom Hoepf2014-02-25 16:06:302014-02-25 16:06:30Paparazzi elevated to artists in new exhibition in France
Neb. quilt museum builds on Log Cabin exhibition
Museum flood gives students hands-on experience archiving


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Man City going back in for Virgil Van Dijk shows how much they have changed in 2017
Manchester City are keen on Virgil Van Dijk again, and they have never been in a stronger position
Simon BajkowskiSenior Manchester City writer
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Manchester City have been here twice before with Virgil Van Dijk, but this is easily their best chance of signing the centre back.
A year ago the player was posing for pictures in a City shirt as part of Southampton's unofficial secret Santa as the Blues sniffed around a January deal.
But Pep Guardiola had conceded the title race was over just a few weeks later and his beleaguered backline hauled itself to the end of the campaign.
When the interest was picked back up in summer, a number of factors put them off.
They were spending heavily elsewhere and bringing about considerable change to the defence, Southampton put a monster price tag on him and Liverpool seemed to be frontrunners right up until the point that it all went embarrassingly wrong for them.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola's priority position for summer transfer window
It wasn't an ideal situation, but City ended a second successive transfer window short of the defensive strength Guardiola wanted when a move for Jonny Evans broke down on deadline day.
The last few months have changed the whole landscape though.
Even if Vincent Kompany's fitness can still not be relied upon, Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones have both undergone transformations.
Surpassing all expectations, the centre-backs have reflected the best of Guardiola's skills as a coach with their levels of improvement.
Big fees that were doubted in summer now represent money extremely well spent, especially compared to their rivals.
And the man who spent most of the first six months of 2017 with his head in his hand is now instead seen punching the air at yet another goal or conducting fans to the sound of his own tune.
Both the manager and his team are reaping the rewards of sticking devoutly to their guns, and that confidence is now transposing to their transfer wishes.
Man City manager Pep Guardiola is celebrating a personal triumph
There can now be no reticence about spending big on a player Guardiola wants because he can be backed to get value out of them.
For City, bringing in Van Dijk would be a statement signing, sort the position for longer and tie in with the 18-month plan they are working on to transform the team.
And from a player's perspective - especially one who has come in for criticism this season for underwhelming performances - it cannot take much encouragement to be sold on the idea of being coached by Guardiola and his team, who have worked such wonders with Stones and Otamendi.
Evans will still be considered as a cheaper option while City should still face competition for the £70m Van Dijk, but their chances have never been better.
Manchester City Transfer News


What I Learned Today » See our Earth transit, too!
See our Earth transit, too!
Perhaps you saw the recent Venus transit of the Sun. But what about an Earth transit?
Obviously we can't see such a phenomenon while sitting on the Earth itself. But some clever astronomers have done calculations to work out when the Earth would transit the Sun from the perspective of other bodies in the solar system, including the Moon and Jupiter.
Next: What is Io's lava made of?
What I find particularly interesting is that from the point of view of the outer planets, sometimes Earth's moon will transit the Sun but Earth won't, thanks to the tilt of the lunar orbit. This is supposed to happen when viewed from Jupiter in 2060.