The President's Fiscal Year 2010 Budget provides $18.7 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) which, when combined with the $1 billion provided for NASA in the Recovery Act, is more than $2.4 billion above the 2008 level. The Budget funds a program of space-based research to advance our understanding of climate change and its effects, as well as human and robotic space exploration. It also supports the use of the Space Shuttle to complete assembly of the International Space Station.
Advances global climate change research and monitoring. Using the National Research Council's recommended priorities for space-based Earth science research as its guide, the agency will develop new space-based research sensors in support of the Administration's goal to deploy a global climate research and monitoring system. NASA will work to deploy these new sensors expeditiously while coordinating with other federal agencies to ensure continuity of measurements that have long-term research and applications benefits.
Funds a robust program of space exploration involving humans and robots. The agency will create a new chapter of this legacy as it works to return Americans to the Moon. NASA also will send a broad suite of robotic missions to destinations throughout the solar system and develop a bold new set of astronomical observatories to probe the mysteries of the universe, increasing investment in research, data analysis, and technology development in support of these goals.
Completes the International Space Station and advances the development of new space transportation systems. NASA will fly the Space Shuttle to complete the International Space Station and then retire it in 2010; an additional flight may be conducted if it can safely and affordably be flown by the end of 2010. Funds freed from the Shuttle's retirement will enable the agency to support development of systems to return humans to the Moon. As a part of this effort, NASA will stimulate private sector development and demonstration of vehicles that will support the agency's space flight requirements. Continues support of the International Space Station. NASA will continue to assemble and utilize the International Space Station. NASA also will continue to coordinate with international partners to make this platform available for other government entities, commercial industry, and academic institutions to conduct research.
Renews NASA's commitment to aeronautics research. NASA will renew its commitment to cutting-edge, fundamental research in traditional and emerging disciplines to help transform the nation's air transportation system and to support future aircraft. NASA research will increase airspace capacity and mobility, enhance aviation safety, and improve aircraft performance while reducing noise, emissions, and fuel consumption.
Provides $18.7 billion for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Combined with the $1 billion provided to the agency in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, this represents a total increase of more than $2.4 billion over the 2008 level.
Funds a program of space-based research that supports the Administration's commitment to deploy a global climate change research and monitoring system.
Funds a robust program of space exploration involving humans and robots. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will return humans to the Moon while also supporting a vigorous program of robotic exploration of the solar system and universe.
Funds the safe flight of the Space Shuttle through the vehicle's retirement at the end of 2010. An additional flight will be conducted if it can be completed safely before the end of 2010.
Funds the development of new space flight systems for carrying American crews and supplies to space.
Funds continued use of the International Space Station to support the agency and other Federal, commercial, and academic research and technology testing needs.
Funds aeronautics research to address aviation safety, air traffic control, noise and emissions reduction, and fuel efficiency.
Advances Global Climate Change Research and Monitoring.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) investment in Earth science research satellites, airborne sensors, computer models, and analysis has revolutionized scientific knowledge and prediction of climate change and its effects. Using the National research Council's recommended priorities for space-based Earth science research as its guide, NASA will develop new space-based research sensors in support of the Administration's goal to deploy a global climate research and monitoring system. NASA will work to deploy these new sensors expeditiously while coordinating with other Federal agencies to ensure continuity of measurements that have long-term research and applications benefits.
Funds a Robust Program of Space Exploration involving humans and Robots.
NASA's astronauts and robotic spacecraft have been exploring our solar system and the universe for more than 50 years. The Agency will create a new chapter of this legacy as it works to return Americans to the Moon by 2020 as part of a robust human and robotic space exploration program. NASA also will send a broad suite of robotic missions to destinations throughout the solar system and develop a bold new set of astronomical observatories to probe the mysteries of the universe, increasing investment in research, data analysis, and technology development in support of these goals.
Completes the international Space Station and Advances the development of New Space Transportation Systems.
NASA will fly the Space Shuttle to complete the International Space Station and then retire the Shuttle in 2010; an additional flight may be conducted if it can safely and affordably be flown by the end of 2010. Funds freed from the Shuttle's retirement will enable the Agency to support development of systems to deliver people and cargo to the International Space Station and the Moon. As part of this effort, NASA will stimulate private-sector development and demonstration of vehicles that may support the Agency's human crew and cargo space flight requirements.
Continues Support of the international Space Station.
NASA will continue to assemble and utilize the International Space Station, the permanently crewed facility orbiting Earth that enables the Agency to develop, test, and validate critical space exploration technologies and processes. NASA also will continue to coordinate with international partners to make this platform available for other government entities, commercial industry, and academic institutions to conduct research.
of aeronautics research and technology contributes to the economic well-being and quality of life of American citizens. NASA will renew its commitment to cutting-edge, fundamental research in traditional and emerging disciplines to help transform the Nation's air transportation system and to support future aircraft. NASA research will increase airspace capacity and mobility, enhance aviation safety, and improve aircraft performance while reducing noise, emissions, and fuel consumption.


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NEW YORK -- A mom sits at her kitchen table writing something down when her grade schooler saunters up with a big box of Cheerios.
"Mom," says the girl. "Yes, honey?" mom responds. "Dad told me Cheerios is good for your heart. Is that true?"
Mom glances at the box, noting that it says the whole-grain oats inside are "heart healthy."
The message is in line with the company's long-running Heart Healthy campaign, except this 30-second ad features a black dad, white mom and biracial child and produced enough vitriol on YouTube last week that Cheerios requested the comments section be turned off.
"The reality is that in general most big companies don't want to take a lot of risks," said Laura Ries, who has written five books on marketing and brand strategy and consults for companies large, small and in between.
"The ability for nameless, faceless people to get on the Internet is out there, and companies don't like it when people yell at them," she said.
Camille Gibson, vice president of marketing for Cheerios, said it's the first time the ad campaign that focuses on family moments has featured an interracial couple, with General Mills Inc. casting the actors to reflect the changing U.S. population.
"We felt like we were reflecting an American family," Gibson said.
As a large company, Minneapolis-based General Mills is used to getting some degree of negative feedback and wasn't surprised by the comments on YouTube, she said, but it was the first time the company requested the site turn the comments section off because of the vitriol.
Another site, Reddit, filtered out negative comments on a thread started with a comment in support of the ad. The site left Cheerios defenders' remarks online.
The national ad will continue running as scheduled for several more months and Cheerios isn't planning any changes, Gibson said. She declined to say whether the campaign would feature interracial ads going forward.
Overall, Gibson said, the feedback has been overwhelmingly supportive: "Consumers are actually responding very positively to the ad."
"Advertisers for many years always took the safe route, which was to try to ruffle no feathers and in doing so became less and less authentic and real," he said. "To succeed today, big brands like Cheerios need to be in touch with what's authentic and true about American families."
"The traditional approach depicting the old 'Leave it to Beaver' family, while offending no one, is not very realistic," Adamson said.
Cheerios is not the first brand to show a black and white couple with a biracial child. A TV commercial for Blockbuster recently featured a white mom, black dad and biracial son enjoying a rental on the couch. As far back as 2009, Philadelphia Cream Cheese and its "spread a little joy" campaign had a black man and white woman (no wedding bands) enjoying a bagel breakfast in bed.
"It's important for brands to take risks in line with what their brand is about," she said. "In this case Cheerios is the first food of children everywhere."
AP Food Industry Writer Candice Choi in New York contributed to this report.


text:
Coc Modern Day Game 0
This was a Call of Cthulhu story arc which began in 2005 and ended in 2006, before the GM left Chester. Various PCs ended up dead (as is often the case in Call of Cthulhu) or 'on-the-run' so whether they are seen again is anyone's guess.
The GM was [[[player Steff | Steff]].
The first story introduced three characters:
Marcus Bradbury (an antiques dealer played by Andy)
Dr Owen McKenzie (a surgeon played by Matt)
John Varney (an artist played by Simon)
These three characters, originally strangers introduced to each other via an invitation to the same party (a charity fund-raiser), were asked to investigate why the hosts' nephew(?) hadn't turned up, since it was on their route back. The story involved finding a strange portal into an exotic alternative dimension, encountering monstrous giant toad-like beings in a ruined city, and finally discovering the missing man, who had become unhealthily obsessed with the world he had discovered through advanced mathematical equations…
The big story arc. Having been introduced to each other already, Dr McKenzie invited his two partners in weird experiences to the hospital where he worked, where a man with brief-case handcuffed to his arm had been brought in, and from which some weird insectoid alien creature had apparently flown from, and into the head of another doctor. Helping with the investigations were Dr Evelyn Grey (a psychologist/psychoanalyst played by Heather).
To cut a long story short, the game drew on many elements of the Delta Green supplements. The characters, in attempting to restrain the alien-infected doctor, were kidnapped by a 'terrorist' organisation called The Army of the Third Eye. When released, to aid in their cause, they retrieved the briefcase previously handcuffed to the dead man. There-in they discovered papers transcribing events in Russia at the end of the Second World War.
Cue several sessions of a flashback scenario, where the players played Soviet soldiers who ended up finding out about the strange insectoid aliens, not to mention a disturbing fertility cult and temporarilly forming an 'alliance' with an immortal shape-shifting psychopath who needed the PCs to retrieve an item of occult importance.
Jump back to the present day and the PCs had a choice of what to do - and ended up deciding to follow a trail mentioned in the russian papers - the aliens having some sort of stronghold or base under Goatswood, near the River Severn. And so Dr McKenzie and John Varney headed up to investigate, elisting the help of one of John's old friends, a mechanic in Bristol called Eddie Clay (played by Jamie).
After lots of investigations around Goatswood, and the Severn Aerospace base that had been built there, the characters ended up back in London, breaking into the London headquarters of the company, with much prompting from someone with ties to an American black ops outfit. Tooled up with guns, bullet-proof armour and fake IDs, but no military experience (and having picked up journalist Richard Chambers, played by Steve for this final climatic scene), the characters blundered into the offices, caught easily by heavily armed security. John Varney was killed quickly - having been knocked down by initial gun-fire he failed to convince them that he was actually dead until they'd shot him a bit more.
Marcus Bradbury flipped into Matrix mode, whilst Dr McKenzie fled, closely followed by Eddie Clay. I think Marcus Bradbury and Richard Chambers managed to escape too, but they all ran their seperate ways, as far as I can remember.
John Varney's disappearance has never been solved.
Future games?
Nothing is immediately planned off the back of the previous story-arc, but…
Henry wouldn't mind running a few short games
Simon would like to run a 1920s campaign, although based on Steff's flashback technique in his game would like to combine it with a modern day campaign, so that the 1920s scenes don't drag…
page revision: 11, last edited: 19 Sep 2006 18:54

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


As Tara would say: fierce eyes!
we love you to Smooch.
I don't like to use this expression but OMG OMG OMG!!! This post is adorable, cute and delightful on so many levels! Thank you, Smooch and Carson, for your great teamwork!
Smooch knows she is very photogenic!
Thank you for the chuckles on another frigid day in WI. Needed that!
Smooch, you make excellent blog entertainment. Thank you.
You know how the Dallas Cowboys was dubbed America's Team? (way back in the day) I say make Smooch, America's Dog. She is that special, but you already know that. She is so photogentic....she could have been a show dog or better yet, an Oscar WINNER!
Smooch's eyes are gorgeous and are so expressive. She always brings joy to my heart.
I could just give him a big smooch!
Smooch, any angle you are a darling!
She is just so DANG CUTE!
Smooch is a good baby. Love the ones hiding his neck rolls.


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text:
Iowa receiver and Mississippi native Brandon Smith gets unique chance in Outback Bowl
Hawk Central
TAMPA, Fla. — There are 56 native sons on the Mississippi State football roster.
Brandon Smith is not one of them. His father, Roy, and older sister, Brianna, competed in track and field for the Bulldogs. But Mississippi State's football coaches had shown only tepid interest in Brandon.
So Brandon Smith ended up at Iowa, an 8 ½-hour drive from his small hometown of Lake Cormorant, Mississippi. The sophomore wide receiver was content with what he considered a business decision that he made, never expecting his worlds to collide. The Hawkeyes have never faced the Bulldogs in football, after all.
That changes Tuesday. Iowa (8-4) will tangle with No. 18 Mississippi State (8-4) in the Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m.; the game will be broadcast on ESPN2.
The Smith family will be on hand to witness a matchup they never envisioned.
"It's weird it's happening on his watch," Roy Smith said of Iowa's inaugural game against his alma mater, with his son a key participant. "It's karma, because I think they missed out on a great player."
Heading north to Iowa: 'I'm a receiver, and that's all I want to do'
Brandon Smith grew up an Ole Miss fan. That's where his mother, Tyjauna, ran track. It's closer to Lake Cormorant than Mississippi State. He visited the campus often.
The Rebels saw the 6-foot-3, 219-pound Smith as a defensive back. They were stacked at wideout. He had no interest in playing defense.
Brandon told Tyjauna: "I'm a receiver, and that's what I want to do."
His parents left the decision up to him.
Tyjauna, a teacher, was in her classroom one day when Brandon texted that he had received a scholarship offer from Iowa.
"Oh my God, that's the team that looks like the Steelers!" Tyjauna remembers thinking, a reference to her favorite NFL team. "That's the first connection that I had — that's all I knew about the University of Iowa."
The family drove up to visit Iowa City; they loved its small-town feel. Brandon soon committed. Mississippi State finally came in with a scholarship offer of its own.
It was too late. Brandon had found a home.
Brandon Smith, Year 2: Marked improvement on and off the field
Brandon Smith's freshman season was nothing to write home about: He caught three passes, none longer than 8 yards — he struggled to adjust to the demands of the college game, Iowa wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland said.
Brandon was too worried about failing, Roy Smith said.
"He's just so concerned about making a mistake," Roy Smith said of his son. "I told him, 'That's part of it; you're going to be making mistakes until the day you die.'"
Coaches and parents alike noticed a significant change in Brandon Smith this season. Tyjauna said he has learned to stop fretting over every minor occurrence in his life. Copeland said Smith has gotten serious about the off-the-field work required to excel against other top-notch athletes.
"He's probably the most improved receiver and, I would argue to say, one of the most improved on the offense as a whole," Copeland said. "His day-to-day preparation, the meetings and walk-throughs and practice, has improved tenfold.
"We had many conversations, some more positive than others, last season when he was a true freshman, (about) having the right mindset, having the right approach. … And I think he is definitely understanding that. He has embraced that. Now, you see the product of that."
There was never a question about Smith's physical gifts. He is a state champion high jumper with hands so big they dwarf the football when it lands in them.
In Week 2, against Iowa State, it was Smith's 30-yard reception near the goal line that helped the Hawkeyes secure a 13-3 win. Quarterback Nate Stanley saw it as a turning point.
"(It) really showed how physical of a player he is and just his natural ability, as well. After that, he made a lot of plays for us," Stanley said.
"(He's) a big receiver that's fast and physical and can go up and make a play on a fade ball or a conversion."
Smith's first touchdown catch came as he backpedaled in the north end zone at Kinnick Stadium and snared a pass with one hand just before landing on his backside in a win over Maryland. He added a 15-yard scoring catch on the opening drive of Iowa's last game, a victory against Nebraska.
In all, Smith caught 25 passes for 328 yards. He has a 10-game streak with at least one reception.
That is modest production for a player of Smith's skills. But he could soon be the Hawkeyes' most important pass-catcher.
Wide receiver Nick Easley (44 catches) is playing his final college game Tuesday. Tight end Noah Fant (39) is heading to the NFL draft early and skipping the bowl game. Tight end T.J. Hockenson (46) may also pursue the NFL, with an announcement expected early in January.
That would leave Smith as Stanley's top returning target. He is on the verge of becoming as important an offensive player as Iowa will have in 2019.
A snake named Rufus, growing independence, and a bowl game with extra meaning
Six months ago, Brandon Smith wandered into Petland and emerged with a ball python. He knew instantly that the snake should be named Rufus.
After the victory against Nebraska, Smith brought Rufus home to Mississippi, to the dismay of his mother, in particular.
"I'm terrified of it — I'm sorry — I'm never gonna hold it," Tyjauna said.
Roy Smith would rather hang out with the family's German shepherd, King.
The snake is Brandon's thing, a symbol of his growing independence.
Roy texts Brandon before every game: "You're the man. Go hard every play."
His parents say they are watching Brandon become a man, excited by the changes they've seen in him since moving to Iowa, far from their SEC roots.
Roy, Tyjauna and Brianna will be wearing their Hawkeye gear Tuesday, soaking in the latest chapter in that transformation. This one will feel more personal, surrounded by thousands of fans clad in the familiar Mississippi State maroon and white.
Roy said he's not in the least conflicted.
"I done had my day in the sun," he said.
Tyjauna said Sunday morning she was sitting in church shaking her head in wonder about Tuesday's game.
"This is unbelievable," she thought.
Brandon is publicly taking a low-key approach to the improbable matchup with his home state school.
"I feel like I have to take this opportunity and do my best," he told reporters last week.
"I wouldn't say (it's) motivation, because football is a business. It was a long time ago, so I really got over it."
Smith's teammates and family can tell it means more than he's letting on.
The Bulldogs never gave Brandon Smith much of a look in the recruiting process.
"But they'll get to look at him Tuesday," Roy Smith said.


text:
Mr. Holland's Opus
more trailers Mr. Holland's Opus
A frustrated composer finds fulfillment as a high school music teacher.
Director: Stephen Herek
Stars: Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly, Jay Thomas
Glenn Holland is a musician and composer who takes a teaching job to pay the rent while, in his 'spare time', he can strive to achieve his true goal - compose one memorable piece of music to leave his mark on the world. As Holland discovers 'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans' and as the years unfold the joy of sharing his contagious passion for music with his students becomes his new definition of success.
Richard Dreyfuss - Glenn Holland
Glenne Headly - Iris Holland
Jay Thomas - Bill Meister
Olympia Dukakis - Principal Jacobs
William H. Macy - Vice Principal Wolters (as W.H. Macy)
Alicia Witt - Gertrude Lang
Terrence Howard - Louis Russ
Damon Whitaker - Bobby Tidd
Jean Louisa Kelly - Rowena Morgan
Alexandra Boyd - Sarah Olmstead
Nicholas John Renner - Cole at 6 Years Old
Joseph Anderson - Cole at 15 Years Old
Anthony Natale - Cole at 28 Years Old
Joanna Gleason - Adult Gertrude
Beth Maitland - Deaf School Principal
Taglines: Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
Filming Locations: Christie School - Highway 43, Marylhurst, Oregon, USA
Gross: $82,528,097 (USA) (28 July 1996)
An old cold storage building that was part of an abandoned fruit cannery in Gresham, Oregon was used for the construction of props (John F. Kennedy High School road sign) The interior and exterior of the apartment they lived in as well as the house seen later in the film. The apartment exterior was recreated after an actual building located in Portland, Or.
Continuity: During the final performance, a close-up of Iris shows her preparing to take a snapshot. In the next wide shot of the crowd, Iris is seen with her hands down.
Louis Russ: Tubas are for fat guys with pimples.
Oh for the love of crumbcake...
So many people have complained about the Gertrude Lang character (Alicia Witt), Holland's interaction with her, and the purpose of the character, and I am simply amazed at the hostility.
1) "Playing the sunset" was Holland's way of getting Gertrude to relax so she could play the notes fluidly. They both knew that she didn't sound professional, and wasn't going to. The idea was to get her just above the level of making a fool of herself as she did the first time he called on her in class. Then she could, and did, perform in the band without dragging down the whole ensemble.
2) Her goal was not to be a professional musician. Did no one else hear her speech about "I just wanted to be good at *something*"? She listed all the fabulous achievements of her parents and siblings, and concluded, "I'm the only one who's..." The missing word would have been "useless" or "worthless". Or "a failure". Thirty years later she's the governor (not the mayor!), because in 1966, Holland helped her gain confidence for the first time.
3) She wasn't "wasting" Holland's efforts by going into politics. Art, music and theater education don't exist solely to create professional artists, musicians and actors. They also exist to give young people an opportunity for change and growth, even if they never use a paintbrush again.
I liked that plot twist. Almost every high school has an alumnus who has achieved something in art or entertainment, but a lot of people sell one painting or appear in one film and become a hero to their home town. But there are only fifty states, and it takes an extraordinary amount of drive to become governor of one of them. It's unlikely that she would have taken that first step towards empowerment without Holland.


President Barack Obama air-raided two villages and killed innocent civilians today.
The CIA's bombing campaign against al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan continued with two more attacks today, an indication, senior officials say, that President Barack Obama has approved the U.S. strategy that has killed at least eight of al Qaeda's top 20 leaders since July 2008.
It looks like the Barack Obama Administration is determined to start a civil war in nuclear Pakistan.
During the campaign Barack Obama said he would invade American ally Pakistan.
Maybe he's putting that off until week two.


The Forge has a large forecourt with secure off road parking and private rear garden and patio.
The back door opens on to a large paved patio which has wrought iron table and chairs and parasol. There is a gas BBQ and cylinder with cooking equipment for the BBQ stored in the kitchen. Behind the patio is a small private lawn, teak steamers and cushions are available.


text:
J. Lawrence Cook (July 14, 1899 – April 2, 1976) was the most prolific piano roll artist in history. His output has been estimated at between 10,000 and 20,000 different roll recordings.

Cook was born in Athens, Tennessee, the son of a preacher. He was orphaned before his fourth birthday, and raised by relatives who introduced him to music.  He went on to become the most famous name in the history of the music roll industry.

The young black pianist arrived in New York in March 1920 and recorded some rolls for the US Music Roll Company. In May 1923, he was engaged by the QRS Music Roll Company (QRS Records), where he remained for nearly 50 years.

As a result of his prolific output, he also used pseudonyms and some rolls were released under names such as Sid Laney, "Pep" Doyle, and Walter Redding. He also produced some rolls that were marketed as being played by Fats Waller.

Cook was known to produce over two piano rolls each day, along with his other jobs, such as at the B.A.B Organ Company.

J. Lawrence Cook's arranging piano is on display at the American Treasure Tour in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

Work at B.A.B Organ Company
Cook, along with his piano rolls, also produced band organ rolls for the B.A.B Organ Company.  In an interview with Cook in the 1970s, he was the sole arranger for B.A.B, which had produced over 800 master rolls at the time of its closure. Some of Cook's arranging for B.A.B was never released, and is in storage in Virginia City, Montana.

The organ scales that Cook arranged for included, but are not limited to:
 46 Key Scale
 61 Key Scale (for Artizan D band organs)
 66 Key Scale
 82 Key Scale
 87 Key Scale
Cook's work is identifiable by its switching between the counter melody (trumpet) and melody sections to play the melody, and is also known for "borrowing" notes from other sections to create a more chromatic scale.

His work has also been transcribed to the three standardized Wurlitzer band organ scales by the Play-Rite Music Co. with 46-key arrangements being transcribed to 125, 48-key to 150 and 66-key to 165, and along with being heard on Artizan and converted European organs, can also be commonly heard on Wurlitzer band organs, such as the Wurlitzer 165 at Glen Echo Park.

Recordings
In 1950 and 1951 Cook made phonograph records for the Abbey label, always billed as "Lawrence (Piano Roll) Cook" and sometimes accompanied by a small jazz combo. Most of his selections were ragtime and Tin Pan Alley standards (Tiger Rag, Dizzy Fingers, etc.) as well as novelty songs (How Many G's in Peggy, Paw?). In addition to his work as the featured artist, Cook was  the pianist for vocalists Jerry Cooper and Dorothy Loudon, who also recorded for Abbey. Cook's Abbey records were issued in Canada under the Quality label.

References

External links
J. Lawrence Cook Very extensive site
J. Lawrence Cook WWI Draft Registration Card and essay

1899 births
1976 deaths
People from Athens, Tennessee
Abbey Records artists

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Master Sealer is a water-based acrylic, adhesion promoting primer and sealer designed for very porous exposed roof tiles and masonry surfaces. It has excellent weatherproofing, adhesion and durability performance. Surfaces primed with Master Sealer and top coated with a suitable Nutech system perform exceptionally under conditions of hot, cold and wet weather.
Do not apply Master Sealer in very cold temperatures.
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Do not apply Master Sealer on tiles with a powdery loose oxidised surfaces.


Darcy Lee Donate Me Money So I Can Buy A House VirTual ReaLity Artificial Intelligence 911: Fallout Boy - Centuries.
Centuries - Fallout boy. Heard this on the radio and thought it was cool. Took a little while to learn the name to look it up. Adding to Music.


If you love hockey, you're in luck. The Charlotte Checkers is a minor league professional hockey team. They play in the Midwest Davison of the Western Conference in the AHL or American Hockey League. They are an affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes from the NHL. All Checkers home games are played at Time Warner Cable Arena.
While the NBA and the NFL teams may be the most well-known, Charlotte is home to several other professional sports teams. The Charlotte Hounds is one of those teams. The Hounds are a member of Major League Lacrosse and began playing in 2012. They play their home games at American Legion Memorial Stadium.
Another sports team in the city is the Charlotte Independence. This team is a soccer team and a member of the United Soccer League. They began to play in 2014 and they are based out of Matthews, North Carolina, which is very close to Charlotte.
Baseball fans are not without a team to root for in Charlotte. The Knights are a member of the International League of Minor League Baseball. They are the Triple-A affiliate team for the Chicago White Sox.
The Charlotte Knights relocated to BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte Center City in 2014. Now, they play all of their home games at the ballpark.
Along with the many professional sports teams, Charlotte is home to several college sports teams to enjoy. If you're planning to move to Charlotte and you love sports, you will have plenty to keep you entertained year-round.


text:
Q: Replacing more than one substring value with pandas str.replace I'm looking for a way to simplify my code:
# Dataset
categorical_data = pd.Series(["dog", "lion", "cat", "crustacean", "dog", "insect", "insect", "cat", "crustacean"])

What I wanna do is to replace dogs, lions & cats with "animal". I can do them by writing this:
categorical_data = categorical_data.str.replace("dog", "animal")
categorical_data = categorical_data.str.replace("cat", "animal")
categorical_data = categorical_data.str.replace("lion", "animal")

Is there a way for the str.replace() function to accept a list of strings instead of just one?
Example:
categorical_data = categorical_data.str.replace([dog, lion, cat], "animal")

A: You could instead use a regex with str.replace, separating the strings to match with | which will be replacing any match among the specified strings:
categorical_data.str.replace(r'(dog|cat|lion)', 'animal', regex=True)

0        animal
1        animal
2        animal
3    crustacean
4        animal
5        insect
6        insect
7        animal
8    crustacean
dtype: object

A: For replace by list is possible use Series.replace:
categorical_data = categorical_data.replace(['dog', 'lion', 'cat'], "animal")
print (categorical_data)
0        animal
1        animal
2        animal
3    crustacean
4        animal
5        insect
6        insect
7        animal
8    crustacean
dtype: object

Difference between answers is with subtrings replacement:
categorical_data = pd.Series(["dog gorilla", "lion", "cat", "crustacean"])

print (categorical_data.replace(['dog', 'lion', 'cat'], "animal"))
0    dog gorilla
1         animal
2         animal
3     crustacean
dtype: object

print (categorical_data.str.replace(r'(dog|cat|lion)', 'animal', regex=True))
0    animal gorilla
1            animal
2            animal
3        crustacean
dtype: object

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
BRADFORD PROGRAMME PREVIEW
Here's our guide to what's coming up in tomorrow's match day magazine
The Gills will be looking to record their first home win in skyBET League One tomorrow when Bradford City visit MEMS Priestfield Stadium and here's our guide to what's inside tomorrow's match day programme.
Wing wizard Myles Weston is our cover star while inside Chairman Paul Scally and Manager Martin Allen gives us their thoughts on the season so far and the challenges to come.
We talk exclusively to loan star Michael Harriman on life with the Republic of Ireland Under-12's, his Q.P.R. debut against Liverpool at Anfield and how he's enjoying life at Priestfield.
Meanwhile, midfield dynamo Charlie Lee answers our fans twitter questions in #AskChaz, while the centre pages are a pull-out souvenir poster of "England's No.1" and recent birthday boy Stuart Nelson.
There's a comprehensive guide to tomorrow's visitors, The Bantams, including Nigel Clark's look at the history of Valley Parade, while Chris Lynham recalls a turbulent afternoon for Ronnie Jepson's Gills at Bradford City.
Plus we profile tomorrow's legend, Gillingham's toughest centre-half Alan Walker and you can read Phill Catterick's exclusive interview with former Gills keeper Jason Brown.
All this and much, much more for just £3.00, the programme is on sale in the club shop now and from sellers all around the ground tomorrow so make sure you don't miss out.


What goes into the making of a new SQL Sam story- besides blood, sweat, tears, and an over-active imagination? Find out how the stories are created, and learn the inside jokes hidden in each story.
Watch how SQL Sam unravels why Tulsa Jone's query is running slow.


There's plenty of hullabaloo surrounding the idea of creativity in the workplace.
... Recently, Karl Moore of the Desautels Faculty of Management at McGill University sat down to talk about this very subject with INSEAD's Andrew Shipilov, and his insights might surprise you.


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Woman Killed, 12 Injured in Knife Attack at Beijing Shopping Mall
Февраля 11, 2018
The suspect has claimed responsibility for the attack and said he was motivated by personal grievances, police officials said. Police provided only the alleged assailant's surname, Zhu, and said he confessed to the authorities that he carried out the attack at Joy City, a mall in Beijing's Xidan district, to "vent his personal discontent".
Winter Olympics: Earthquake hits roughly 100 miles from Games site
Mr Moon's office said the two Koreas "shared an understanding that they should continue the positive mood for peace and recognition" from the Olympic Games. The 2018 Winter Games are underway in PyeongChang, South Korea . Meanwhile, Japan and the US are trying to keep up the worldwide pressure on Pyongyang.
Emery: Confident PSG ready for Real Madrid
I believe in my team and will do so until the end. Madrid fans voted Wales forward Gareth Bale their player of the month for Janaury but the other member of their famous attacking trident, Karim Benzema , has fallen on hard times in terms of form and goals.
Pence didn't snub North Koreans deliberately, officials say
Earlier on Friday, Pence and second lady Karen Pence met with North Korean defectors at the Cheonan Memorial, which is located outside of Seoul, South Korea. Before leaving South Korea on Saturday evening, Pence watched short track speed skating games, with Fred Warmbier seated behind him. Vice President Mike Pence did not deliberately snub North Koreans at an Olympic reception, according to USA officials who pushed back on South Korean reports that Pence deliberately came late to a VIP ...
Meeting ends between SKorean leader, N. Koreans
Kim's sister Kim Yo Jong , who is visiting South Korea as his special envoy for the Winter Olympics, conveyed her brother's invitation during a meeting at the presidential Blue House, officials from the Blue House said . According to press reports, White House strategists have argued that "limited strike on a missile launch site or other select targets" might convince North Korea about the seriousness of U.S.
BJP President to address three public meetings today
Among the candidates who accused of grave charges include BJP vice president Subal Bhowmik, senior leaders Ratan Lal Nath and Sudip Roy Barman, IPFT leaders Dhirendra Debbarma, Dhananjoy Tripura and senior Congress leader Gopal Chandra Roy.
Gonzaga snaps Saint Mary's 19-game win streak, 78-65
Updates with new lede. Looking to strengthen their grip on the WCC, No. 11 Saint Mary's (24-2, 13-0 WCC) puts it 19-game winning streak on the line Saturday night against No. The Gaels responded and cut the deficit to seven before going into the half down 42-30. One of the biggest reasons that Gonzaga swept all three matchups against Saint Mary's in convincing fashion last season was that the Zags were able to hold Landale in check.
Passenger airplane with 71 aboard crashes near Moscow soon after takeoff
The local emergency services are investigating the information about the crash of the Russian An-148 in Moscow region, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said Sunday. A report said that the plane fell near Argunovo, about 88 kn of south-east of Moscow. Sixty-five passengers and six crew were believed to be onboard.
Pence skips Olympic dinner with North Koreans
The highest profile member of the North Korean delegation to the Games, Yo-jong is the first immediate member of the North's ruling family to visit the South since the 1950-1953 Korean war. Analysts say that the missiles, which were successfully flight tested three times previous year, could potentially reach deep into the USA mainland when perfected.
South Korean president hosts lunch for Kim Jong Un's sister
The invitation came during talks and a lunch Moon hosted with Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of the North Korean leader, at the presidential Blue House in Seoul. Moon's office says the North Korean delegates were served traditional food from the Gangwon province, a mountainous coastal area that's home to the Olympic towns of Pyeongchang and Gangneung.
Two Turkish troops killed as helicopter downed
Prime Minister Binali Yildirim told reporters the downed chopper was a T129 ATAK helicopter, and was shot down in Kirikhan district of Hatay province, killing two soldiers. At least 17 Turkish military personnel have been killed in the three-week offensive to clear Afrin of the Kurdish YPG militia. She added that around 60,000 had been displaced.
Winter Olympics: North Korean cheerleaders mesmerise crowds
We can not guarantee that it is suitable for the visually or hearing impaired. The North Korean delegation was invited to lunch with South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon at the five-star Walkerhill Hotel in eastern Seoul on Sunday, an official at the prime minister's office told Reuters.
North's 'army of beauties' seduces as Koreans suffer hockey rout
The last member of the Kim family to set foot in Seoul was Yo Jong's grandfather Kim Il Sung, the North's founder, after his forces invaded in 1950 and the capital fell. In a freakish stunt, two men dressed as Kim Jong-un and United States president Donald Trump were led from the premises, down in the bowels of the arena.
Olympics Opening Ceremony highlights: A unified Korea, oiled-up Tongan, fake Trump
Any meeting would represent a diplomatic coup for Moon, who swept to power previous year on a policy of engaging more with the reclusive North. She is the first immediate family member of North Korea's founder Kim Il Sung to ever set foot in the South.
Over 40 settlements liberated in Syria's Afrin
But the agency later tweeted that the helicopter was downed in Syria itself, citing the Turkish prime minister, Binali Yildirim. The number of liberated settlements in Syria's Afrin as part of the Operation Olive Branch has reached 42, the Turkish media reported February 9.
Second White House aide resigns over domestic abuse allegations
David Sorensen , a speechwriter who worked closely with Stephen Miller, a top advisor to President Donald Trump , resigned Friday after his wife accused him of being abusive during their marriage. "It should be able to focus on continuing President Trump's historic accomplishments for the American People", Sorensen reportedly said in his text message.
North Korea invites South president
The recent detente, dramatic evidence of which was on show at the opening of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, came despite an acceleration in the North's weapons programme a year ago and pressure from Seoul's allies in Washington. Analysts say Kim Jong Un's decision to send his sister to the South reflected an eagerness to break out of diplomatic isolation by improving ties with the South, which the country could eventually use as a bridge to approach the United States.
Massive fire breaks out in shop near Maya Hotel in Mankhurd
Twenty fire tenders, eight water tanks and one ambulance was sent to douse the flames. There have been no reports of any casualty so far, media reports said. Further information remains awaited. It may contain error, bugs and other limitations. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
Pence: 'No daylight' between U.S., allies on North Korea
North Korea's delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics , including its leader Kim Jong Un's younger sister, had "frank and candid" talks with South Korean President Moon Jae In , official media said Sunday. President Trump's right-hand man was at the Gangneung Ice Arena on Saturday night to watch the opening session of short-track speedskating and, for the second evening in succession, he was unable to avoid a connection to North Korea.
Trump Tweets About Not Declassifying 'Very Political' Democratic Memo
McGahn offered that invitation in a letter to the committee's Republican chair, Devin Nunes , saying that the "Executive Branch stands ready to review any subsequent draft" for release . So. The Democratic response was overseen by ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). Mr. Trump asked the committee to review the Democratic memo and, with the help of Justice Department officials, work on a revised version.
(Olympics) Joint Korean hockey coach wishes team came together sooner
Speculation is rife that during Saturday's luncheon meeting between Moon and the North Korean delegation led by Kim Yong Nam, the president could be invited to Pyongyang sometime this year. The apparent thaw has not been reflected in Washington, however. Yesterday, Kim's sister was photographed at the Winter Olympics sitting just rows behind US Vice President Mike Pence.
France calls for opening of humanitarian corridors in Syria
As Turkey's military intervention in Kurdish-majority Afrin , Syria , entered its third week, a parallel public relations battle has raged on airwaves and social media, with varying messages tailored to Armenian and Azerbaijani audiences.
Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition party to elect new co-leader
At least two Turkish troops were killed on Saturday as a military helicopter was shot down in the mountainous border region between Turkey and Syria, prompting the country's president to promise that those responsible will pay a "heavy price".
Turkish General Staff Reports Seven Soldiers Killed During Afrin Operation
Turkey has lost 30 soldiers in the operation in Afrin, according to data compiled from the military statements. According to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Office, at least 277 civilians were killed last week including 230 in air strikes by Syrian government and allied forces, the statement said.
Human rights activist Asma Jahangir dies at 66
Born in January 1952 in Lahore, Asma co-founded and chaired the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Jahangir, who previously served as a UN Rapporteur of Freedom of religion or belief, was shifted on Saturday to a private hospital in Lahore, where she breathed her last, The News International reported.
Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ:CASY) Downgraded to "Buy" at BidaskClub
After $1.28 actual EPS reported by Casey's General Stores, Inc . for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts -54.69% negative EPS growth. The firm serves the commercial insurance needs of owner-operated businesses in the markets, such as hospitality, which include restaurants, bars, taverns, and bowling centers, as well as small grocery and convenience stores; artisan contractors comprising plumbers, painters, carpenters, electricians, and other independent contractors; and security ...
Winter Olympics: North Korea invites South president to Pyongyang
South Korean President Moon Jae-in's office says his lunch meeting with senior North Korean officials including leader Kim Jong Un's daughter has ended. South and North Koreans marched together under a unified flag at the games' opening ceremony. While Moon and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe both shook hands with Kim, the US Vice-President did not, South Korean officials said.
Modi becomes first Indian PM in history to visit Palestine
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, led an entourage of UAE senior officials to welcome Modi upon arrival at the Presidential Airport, reported state news agency Wam .
Trump Declines to Declassify Democratic Memo, Citing DOJ and FBI Objections
That explanation stands in stark contrast to his release of the GOP memo last Friday. Several of the allegations in the Nunes memo are already falling apart. It also alleges that DOJ official did not disclose to the court that the dossier was funded in part by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, and that the Page surveillance application contained information about Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos, which "triggered" the opening of the FBI's ...
RNC spokeswoman says her 'heart goes out to' victims of domestic abuse
Kelly, the White House chief of staff, told officials in the West Wing on Friday that he was willing to step down over his handling of allegations of spousal abuse against Rob Porter , the staff secretary who resigned in disgrace this week over the accusations, according to two officials aware of the discussions.
North Korea's Kim Jung Un invites South Korean president for summit
They said Pence could have opted to sit with the U.S. delegation and avoided the box that included the North Koreans. Moon and Kim Yong Nam planned to return to the Games venue to watch the joint Korean women's ice hockey team - the first ever combined team at the Olympics - take on Switzerland, the Blue House said.
Snow warning for across Ireland as temperatures to plummet to -2
Separately there is a rainfall warning for the day for Connaught, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal . "There will also be further rainfall this afternoon and evening will give a total 24 hour rainfall accumulation for today of between 25 and 35mm".
The Finest Photographs/Video from Inside Tim Tebow's 'Night time to Shine' Promenade
Parker Hill Church is one of almost 500 churches that took part this year. This was the 3rd year they hosted their "Night to Shine" prom. WISN 12 News' Terry Sater also emceed the Night to Shine event Friday night in Oconomowoc. At Legacy Christian Church in Menomonee Falls., guests arrived in limos to a red-carpet entrance. Inside, Marcatonio said, each guest had a buddy to help navigate through the stations devoted to hair-styling, makeup, shoeshines and boutonnieres.
Pyongyang invita a sopresa il presidente della Corea del Sud
Ryom e Kim - 19 e 25 anni - a gennaio si sono aggiudicati il terzo posto al Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, portando per la prima volta la bandiera nordcoreana sul podio di questa competizione internazionale che coinvolge tutti i continenti tranne l'Europa.
Kim Jong Un Invites South Korea's President To North Korea
Saturday's meeting, the most significant diplomatic encounter between the two sides in more than a decade, could now be surpassed should Moon accept Kim's invitation to visit Pyongyang later this year. The apparent thaw has not been reflected in Washington, however. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence left South Korea Saturday saying the U.S. and its allies are more committed than ever to dismantle North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs.
Olimpiadi PyeongChang 2018 - il programma di giovedì 8 febbraio
Finalmente ci siamo, nella notte tra mercoledì 7 e giovedì 8 febbraio, avranno inizio ufficialmente le prime gare delle Olimpiadi invernali 2018 che si disputano in Corea del Sud . Il team italiano si presenta molto competitivo con i seguenti nomi a meno di cambiamenti dell'ultimo minuto: Lisa Vittozzi , Dorothea Wierer , Dominik Windisch e Lukas Hofer proveranno a farci sognare.
Trump 'weighing options' for Democrat memo
A majority of Americans say President TrumpDonald John TrumpSchiff: Nunes gave Trump "secretly altered" version of memo Davis: " Deep state " existed in '16 - but it elected Trump Former Trump legal spokesman to testify to Mueller about undisclosed call: report MORE has tried to derail or obstruct special counsel Robert MuellerRobert Swan MuellerSasse: US should applaud choice of Mueller to lead Russian Federation probe MORE's investigation into Russia's election interference, according ...
Sweden wins 1st gold medal in PyeongChang
Bjoergen captured her 11th career medal Saturday, breaking a three-way tie with Russian Raisa Smetanina and Italian Stefania Belmondo. Holland's Carlijn Achtereekte won in a time of 3 minutes, 59.21 seconds, just 0.08 of a second ahead of pre-race favorite and defending champion Ireen Wust, to claim her first Olympic title.


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On Imran Khan's birthday, Juhi Chawla reveals the actor was her 'youngest suitor', proposed to her when he was 6
Imran Khan who played young Aamir Khan in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak propsed to the film's leading lady Juhi Chawla when he was just six years old. The actor turns 39 today.
Juhi Chawla extended birthday greeting to actor Imran Khan as he turned 39 today. Known for films like Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na, Delhi Belhi, Ek Main Aur Ek Tu, Imran has quit acting much to the disappointment of his fans but he still continues to enjoy a special place in their hearts.
Imran who is Aamir Khan's nephew started young in the industry and as a child actor played the younger version of the Bollywood superstar in his 90's films like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar. In the former, Juhi was Aamir's co-star.
The actress shared a picture collage featuring Imran's childhood photo too and revealed that the actor was her 'youngest suitor' in her birthday post dedicated to him. She wrote, "Imran proposed to me when he was 6 years old..!!!!…. heere ki pehchaan tab se hai usmein..!!!! Happy Happy Birthday to my youngest suitor ever..!!!! A 100 trees for you Imran…"
Iman made some out of the box choices during his career as an actor in Bollywood and but eventually gave up acting in favour of becoming a director. He was last seen opposite Kangana Ranaut in the 2015 film Katti Batti which was a romantic comedy.
It has been seven years since and Imran's personal and professional appearances have become a rarity since. He directed a short film called Mission Mars: Keep Walking India, under Karan Johar's Dharma 2.0 which told the tale of India's first venture to launch a satellite on planet Mars.
Imran who was apparently always keen on direction is yet to make a full feature length movie and we hope that it happens soon enough.
Hridayam trailer is out and this could be Pranav Mohanlal's breakout role
The Batman star Robert Pattinson set to work with Parasite director Bong Joon-ho to collaborate on a sci-fi movie
Are Siddhant Chaturvedi and Navya Naveli Nanda dating? This viral fan theory is attracting a lot of attention


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Subtracting Insult from Injury
A Buddheo-Christian Art of Transmuting Pain
by Dr. Alan Cooper D.C.
Astrophysicists have conclusively established that once upon the timeless place, afore the Big Bang t'was even a twinkle in the Infinite Eye, all that existed was constrained into an unfathomably, solitary, dense Black Hole-like singularity. Unitary and imploding as it was, they have aptly baptized it the Primordial Compression. As such, it initially harbored seeds of but a single primal sensation: quintessentially dense, contracting, penetratingly gravitational. If we were to anthropomorphize, it is fair to say we might dare christen the experiential perception of this feeling, pain. After eons of unconditional immobility, following a fundamental law of physics, there was an equal and opposite reaction to the ostensibly never-ending dark contraction; Let there be light! A hallowed birth! A Big Bang! The here-to-fore eternal Black Hole ruptured into trillions of smaller particles of dark matter and energy. With many of them wedded to nascent bits of the exploding expansiveness we know as Light, the pain had been divided into exponentially more manageable, healable and illumined increments. That which we call God, Goddess, The Infinite, or Cosmic Consciousness, had hatched a sacred curative design. In this burgeoning strategy, much of these newly expanding specks of dark matter and energy ultimately came to rest in the divine creation of human beings. Replete with a qualified modicum of God's capacity for insight and expansive soothing, each of these souls was requisitioned to thus alchemically lighten an allocated portion of the original dense dark Primordial Pain. As 'The Plan' entailed, each individual's allotment of Primordial Compression emerged from their gut/soul, in karmic unconscious, time-encrypted rhythms. These increments of Dark Matter and Energy (Dukkha), were thus to be healed through daily living, loving, art, work, and our noble quests to make life vibrant and meaningful. A cosmic miracle was afoot, except….. As astronomers note, our universe consists of roughly 90% dark matter and dark energy, and but 10% our cherished Light and visible matter. Accordingly, when massive waves of Primordial Compression first emerged to be rehabilitated through the soul portals of the earliest prototypical human beings, these ultra-dense sensations predominantly overwhelmed the relatively limited capacity of the skimpy Light. Though God had done the best He initially could, the human contraption was by nature impeccably flawed, and the precarious Plan began to falter. Infinite Consciousness deemed that "Knowing What The Gods Know" of the daunting task of healing something nine times bigger than Light, was turning out to be a fruit too extreme to bear. Alack and alas, with a tad of tinkering and celestial sleight of hand, Ego was thus conceived to play a shell game with the dark, heavy Reality. The Tree of Knowledge was forbidden, and humans were re-designed with Alice in Wonderland trapdoors to a house of mirrors, in Ego-ville. Like a modern day game of Laser Tag, in Ego-ville the Light in a human soul no longer was compelled to drearily shine on its own voluminous mountain of Darkness. Instead, it shot its beams outwards at one another, and by cognizance of the shafts of light that returned in reaction, an Ego initiated generating a biography. Immersed in this fresh holographic potpourri of imagery, a human was suddenly at liberty to behold oneself as an amalgamation of all the light beam impressions others shot their way. With beams bouncing off the walls of our minds and hearts, it was cool to forget the painful reality of our Origin and the dispiriting task we had been created to carry out. By moving the seat of consciousness out of the Gut/Soul and into the Mind/Ego, Light could thoroughly pre-occupy itself with juicy skullduggery and illusory points of view. With a colossal sigh of relief, humankind dug in for the long journey, opinions proving to be much more palatable than the nuisance of cumbersome energy and feelings. With these capricious deliberations in tact, Egoic Ignorance was institutionally cast in stone, as bliss. But like all potent intoxicants, the bliss was fleeting. As history has appallingly exposed, to keep the Laser Tag adequately powerful, the dominant ego-matrix has had to remain fervent in veiling the truth. It accomplishes this by pigeonholing all emergent sensations of Primordial Compression, into dominions of failure, vengeance, and tragedy. We were, and are still therefore reduced to living in a near constant state of 'Adding Insults to Injuries.' We are beholden to fallaciously categorize every opportunity our earmarked portion of density arises to be mended, as sad, victim-tainted, presumably needless and avoidable occurrences. As our relatively unsophisticated minds clumsily trample on the delicate enigma that is at the roots of the Forbidden Tree of Knowledge, we live immersed in the child-like shelter of dualistic 'Good' and 'Bad.' If something we deem as bad happens, we full-heartedly ascribe goodness as its implicit opposite antidote. Assessed as such, inquiry dies. The gifts of complexity and nuance are lost. The good guys will beat the bad guys. Those we perceive to be misbehaving will eventually comprehend our martyred pleas and listen to our self-righteous complaints about their malfeasance. And, above all, the Good God will wipe away the pesky bad parts of humanity. "Daddy save us, destroy the bad guys (and win me the lottery while you're at it if you have a sec)." And since the Ego exclusively communicates in this Morse Code of good-good-bad-good-bad-bad, virtually every pain is, by nature, deemed dangerous. A punch-drunk boxer bobbing and weaving and having been created solely to hide the adversity of the truth, the ego flourishes by vilifying that and those it deems to be the cause of our pains. And when the weight of primal density invariably breaks through our egoic dam and floods us despite our best efforts, we castigate ourselves as being beneath contempt. "Woe is me; I am far too feeble and frail to resist the evil ones." Insults, insults, what to do?
Dimensions : 5.5x8.5
When a bear, eagle, whale, elephant, camel, and other creatures experience pain, they react sanely. Instead of getting hysterical, they find a safe, calm place to heal and be gently settled, which fosters their natural restorative, pain-relieving endorphins and potent immune stimulators to be released into their bloodstreams. Without a pharmacy, medical clinic, hospital, surgeon, or psychotherapist, they instinctively lay still and start to heal. Humans, on the other hand, add to their anguish by entering a fight, fright, or flight mode, which should only be reserved for life-or-death moments. We spook ourselves and compound the problem at hand by thinking things such as: • Crap always happens to me. God must hate me. • I bet this pain in my armpit is cancer. • These pains will never go away. I'm just a loser. • If they force me into less pain meds, I can't make it. Break free from those thoughts and discover an endorphin paradise with the insights in this pain-relieving guide. Dr. Alan Cooper explores why humanity has lost its natural pain-abating ability and how trusting our guts—literally—can help us overcome our fears, pains, and personal traumas to heal ourselves.
Dr. Alan Cooper is a practicing Doctor Of Chiropractic, Chronic Pain Specialist, and Medical Hypnotherapist. In this, his latest book, Cooper first caresses those presently plagued by the opiate epidemic, before challenging us all in the final analysis to behold clues Buddha and Christ planted to clear our last impediment to enlightenment; our erroneous dualistic resentment of pain.
Australia United States United Kingdom


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An Oz Epiphany
Peter Anthony, author of Key Master
I had the pleasure of meeting Peter last summer when he came to share his story. His book, Key Master, was a delight to read. Towards the end, when reviewing his lessons, he has an epiphany, shared below, where he uses the Wizard of Oz as his analogy for understanding. Again, Oz, whether you acknowledge it or not, has affected your life in one way or another. Peter's entire story is delightful!
Enjoy! And let me know your thoughts!
Suddenly an epiphany takes hold. I realize that, like [when in] St. Thomas, this trip has become a turning point in my life. I am living through one of the all-time greatest American films, with four of the main characters put to a contemporary setting. No other movie in our history has had a bigger effect on young and old people alike; moving every generation with its heart-tugging story, The Wizard of Oz. Meeting Nora was the first encounter at the crossroads of my life. Just like the Scarecrow's character, Nora's wisdom will keep us safe as we travel down the yellow-brick road of life. TJ's big heart qualifies him to be the Tin Man, leading us back to ourselves when it is time for our tune-up. Lindsey's greatest role is not one from her glamorous career; it's the role of Dorothy. "There's no place like home" will become her motto, or will "Surrender Dorothy" become her epitaph? And last but not least, courage underscores my role as the Lion.
The Indian and his Hawk
My days lay before me in this odd road map with cryptic codes, locations, and names that will surely make appearances in my life, leading me to places I dare not go alone. Raziel made sure I understood every word, every passage, and every clue so that when trouble came, my foundation was built on solid ground. No one could be better suited to play the Wizard than the Indian man. His gift to each one of us is our destiny, painted on yellow sandstone. We are off to a place called OZ, also known as, The City of Angels, which many in our television industry also refer to as Sodom and Gomorrah. Our task at hand is to find the Wicked Witch of the West and bring back her heart and not her hat. Raziel should have warned us. But if he did, I would not come to know the guardians of the city of Los Angeles that will change my life forever.
City of Angels direction signs, gold stars of Hollywood Walk of Fame
and Into the Universe
Tagged on: epiphany Peter Anthony
Ozwisdom November 13, 2016 November 13, 2016 Epiphanies
← The Most Magical Slippers of All Time


text:
package machat

import (
	"fmt"
	"log"
	"net/http"

	"github.com/minaandrawos/machat/chatapi"

	"github.com/gorilla/websocket"
)

type websocketConnWrapper struct {
	*websocket.Conn
	msgType int
}

func (wsWrapper *websocketConnWrapper) Read(b []byte) (int, error) {
	t, r, err := wsWrapper.NextReader()
	wsWrapper.msgType = t
	if err != nil {
		log.Println("Websocket err:", err)
		return 0, err
	}
	return r.Read(b)
}

func (wsWrapper *websocketConnWrapper) Write(p []byte) (int, error) {
	err := wsWrapper.WriteMessage(wsWrapper.msgType, p)
	if err != nil {
		return 0, err
	}
	return len(p), nil
}

func (wsWrapper *websocketConnWrapper) Close() error {
	return wsWrapper.Conn.Close()
}

type wsChatHandler struct {
	*websocket.Upgrader
	*chatapi.ChatAPI
}

//RunWSChatWithExistingAPI starts a websocket chat server with an existing chat api session
func RunWSChatWithExistingAPI(url, address string, Rbsize, Wbsize int, chat *chatapi.ChatAPI) error {
	wsHandler := &wsChatHandler{
		Upgrader: &websocket.Upgrader{
			ReadBufferSize:  Rbsize,
			WriteBufferSize: Wbsize,
		},
		ChatAPI: chat,
	}
	http.HandleFunc(url, wsHandler.wshandler)
	return http.ListenAndServe(address, nil)
}

//RunWSChat starts a websocket chat server
func RunWSChat(url, address string, Rbsize, Wbsize int) error {
	return RunWSChatWithExistingAPI(url, address, Rbsize, Wbsize, chatapi.New())
}

func (wh *wsChatHandler) wshandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
	conn, err := wh.Upgrade(w, r, nil)
	if err != nil {
		log.Println("Error occured while trying to upgrade websocket", err)
		fmt.Fprintf(w, "Error occured while trying to upgrade websocket: %v", err)
		return
	}

	wsWrapper := &websocketConnWrapper{Conn: conn}
	wh.AddClient(wsWrapper)
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Dawn Okoro news
What Lies Within Us: Meet the Artists
Our latest exhibition, What Lies Within Us, reveals what lies beneath an artist's way of expressing their self-exploratory journey in visuals. How does a painter discover their identity? How do they uncover unheard stories and amplify silenced voices? In celebration of one of the most culturally exciting shows on the London art scene, we explore the exhibiting artists. From an artist who describes his work as "infantile semi-abstraction" to one who uses old family photos as references for their work, let's take a look at these unique painters.
Dawn Okoro Dawn Okoro's past was a rollercoaster journey to find her truest self. Originally trained in psychology, and later on in law, she finally pursued a…
A Guide To Collecting Figurative Painting
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5 Things You Didn't Know About Dawn Okoro
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Creating vibrant portraits of Black creatives, Dawn Okoro's practice combines fashion illustration, photography and painting to produce one-of-a-kind canvases …
6 Artist Resolutions to Inspire And Motivate You in 2022
From refining their social media use to perfecting a work life balance, we asked our artists to tell us their goals for the New Year.
In 2019, Strava, the social network for athletes, conducted research that showed that the 12th of January marks the day when most people are likely to give up their …
5 Artists To Watch In 2022
As 2021 draws to a close, we look to the year ahead to outline the artists every collector should take note of.
From up-and-coming artists who are emerging on to the scene to established creatives who are increasing in global popularity, we look at five artists every art-enthu…
Why Figurative Painting Will Be One Of The Biggest Trends Of 2022
As 2021 saw the art world embrace technology with the rise of NFTs and digital art, experts are predicting that 2022 will see a return to representation. Here's why . . .
With collectors confined to their homes due to a global pandemic, 2021 saw an increased popularity in art that could be easily acquired and consumed online including…
Curating The Perfect Art Portfolio By Maddox CEO, John Russo
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Radiant Colours and Immediate Narratives: 6 Contemporary Artists Inspired By David Hockney
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It's really a shame you can't tell scale from a picture. This particular heron is over six-feet-tall and was designed to decorate the façade of a rustic home. The nice thing about our gallery is, we make everything to order. So, you could have your heron 3-feet-tall, or four-feet-tall, or five. Let us know the size you want.


text:
Sony Xperia Z5 — флагман компании Sony, представленный 2 сентября 2015 года на выставке IFA 2015 в Берлине.

История
Sony Xperia Z5 был представлен 2 сентября 2015 года на выставке IFA 2015. Вместе с ним были представлены Z5 Compact и Z5 Premium.

Новинка отличается от своего предшественника стальными краями, немного измененным дизайном и более мощной аппаратной составляющей.

В продажу Sony Xperia Z5 поступил в начале октября 2015 года.

Особенности
В кнопку включения встроен сканер отпечатка пальцев, производящий идентификацию с помощью ультразвука. Отпечаток пальца может использоваться для разблокировки устройства, авторизации в веб-сервисах и совершения платежей в них.

Оптика в основной камере состоит из шести компонентов, что позволяет наводить резкость на объект за 0,03 секунды.

Смартфон имеет защиту от пыли и влаги по стандарту IP65 / IP68.

В начале февраля 2016 года первые пользователи начали получать обновление до Android 6.0 Marshmallow.

Технические характеристики

Аппаратное обеспечение
Sony Xperia Z5 основан на процессоре Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 с графическим ядром Adreno 430 в сочетании с 3 Гб оперативной памяти.

Основная камера имеет разрешение 23 Мп с размером матрицы Exmor 1/2,3 дюйма. Присутствует функция быстрой наводки на объект. Фронтальная камера имеет разрешение 5 Мп без автофокуса.

Экран имеет диагональ 5,2 дюйма при разрешении 1920 × 1080 пикселей и плотности пикселей 424 ppi.

Ёмкость аккумулятора составляет 2900 мАч чего, по словам производителя, хватает на 2 дня использования.

Программное обеспечение
В Xperia Z5 установлен Android 5.1.1 c фирменной оболочкой Sony Xperia UI.

В смартфоне предустановлено приложение PS4 Remote Play, позволяющее удаленно играть на Sony PlayStation 4 с помощью телефона.

Возможна запись 4К видео с помощью основной камеры и FullHD видео с помощью фронтальной камеры.

Для экономии заряда аккумулятора предусмотрен режим  Ultra STAMINA.

Доступные варианты
Sony Xperia Z5 доступен в белом, графитовом чёрном, золотом, темно-зелёном и пепельно-розовом цвете.

Внутренняя память может составлять только 32 Гб, но с возможностью расширения картой памяти MicroSD до 200 ГБ.

Sony Xperia Z5 Compact
Одновременно с основным флагманом была представлена и уменьшенная модель «Xperia Z5 Compact».

Она отличается от основной модели уменьшенными весом, размером, экраном - 4,6 дюйма с пониженным до 1280 х 720 разрешением, материалом корпуса (полимер) и немного уменьшенной ёмкостью аккумулятора 2700 мАч.

Sony Xperia Z5 Premium

Вместе с Xperia Z5 Compact был представлен Sony Xperia Z5 Premium, отличающийся от основной модели увеличенной емкостью аккумулятора и экраном, размером 5.5 дюйма с разрешением 4К. Грани у смартфона выполнены из окрашенной стали.

Еще одной особенностью Z5 Premium стало использование в смартфоне тепловых трубок для охлаждения процессора Qualcomm Snapdragon 810. В продаже смартфон появился в начале октября 2015 года.

Примечания

Ссылки
 Обзор Sony Xperia Z5. За цвет можно простить почти все hi-tech.mail.ru (23 октября 2015)

Устройства на базе Android
Мобильные телефоны Sony


Columbine is a group of 22 native species, European native and innumerable hybrids. The plant's Latin genus name, Aquilegia, is derived from the flower's five long sepals, which resemble eagle talons. Many species of native columbine are hybrids of other wild columbine species and are extremely isolated, especially where they occur in desert areas. Red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is the most widespread native species; hybrid varieties are available in every imaginable color and size.
The leaves of the columbine give it away as a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae): Leaves are narrow at the base, flaring outward towards flat, scalloped edges. Many species have a characteristic blue-green leaf color. The unique inverted flowers appear in early to mid-spring; the long tubes of the sepals extend upward beyond the base of the flower. Plants form loose clumps, growing to from 12 to 30 inches tall. Columbine reseeds freely, but individual plants are relatively short-lived, usually lasting only three or four years.
In the wild, columbine typically grows in sunny to partly shaded settings in well-drained soil, though it tolerates a fairly wide range of soil and sun conditions. Colonies have been known to grow in full sun on hills and cliffs, but the usual setting is along woodland or meadow borders and near stream banks. Pinch back flowers after flowering to encourage re-blooming, or allow plants to form seed-pods to reproduce.
Columbine is an excellent choice for bird lovers, as hummingbirds are drawn to the flowers of any variety and other birds seek out the columbine's seed pods for food in the fall. The unusual foliage color makes it an interesting addition to the perennial or woodland garden, and once flowers have faded the fern-like habit of the plant retains its general interest. As a buttercup relative, columbine is also more deer-resistant than other types of garden perennials.
Most types of hybrid columbines are crosses of European and western strains that are distinguished by their larger size and upward-facing flowers. Hybrid flowers are frequently bicolored; that is, the inner petals are a different but related hue from the outer sepals. The largest group of hybrids belong to the so-called McKana Group, occurring as white, red, yellow, blue, pink, purple and maroon-flowered forms. Hybrids prefer a bit more shade than their native cousins.
Wild species of columbine are generally easy to grow and relatively pest-free, though leaf miners may attack in the summer. Leaf miner damage is strictly cosmetic and the white, looping trails the larvae leave in the foliage will not injure the plant. Hybrid columbine varieties are especially susceptible leaf miner damage, as well as attacks by stem borers, caterpillars and aphids. Cutting back damaged foliage is recommended for especially bad infestations. Hybrids are also subject to several diseases, such as powdery mildew, rust, leaf spot and blight.


These gorgeous little mid & baby blue stripey booties are super soft, reversible and a great gift for a surprise arrival. Lovingly recycled from cashmere jumpers they are size 0-6 months & they make a perfect new baby gift. They are made from gorgeous striped pure cashmere jumpers in a range of colours and come in a stylish, recycled (of course!) presentation box.


X-Yachts continue to take the lead with 1st and 2nd!
Round Ireland Race on 30th June 2018 Starting and Finishing at Wicklow, leaving Ireland and all its islands excluding Rockall to starboard. The distance is approximately 704 nautical miles.
X-Yachts had notable results with "Xtra Staerk" and "British Soldier/Team Fujitsu".
Then watch Xtra Staerk collect their trophy!


text:
import * as React from 'react';
import is from 'shared/objectIs';
import {useSyncExternalStore} from 'use-sync-external-store/src/useSyncExternalStore';

// Intentionally not using named imports because Rollup uses dynamic dispatch
// for CommonJS interop.
const {useRef, useEffect, useMemo, useDebugValue} = React;

// Same as useSyncExternalStore, but supports selector and isEqual arguments.
export function useSyncExternalStoreWithSelector<Snapshot, Selection>(
  subscribe: (() => void) => () => void,
  getSnapshot: () => Snapshot,
  getServerSnapshot: void | null | (() => Snapshot),
  selector: (snapshot: Snapshot) => Selection,
  isEqual?: (a: Selection, b: Selection) => boolean,
): Selection {
  // Use this to track the rendered snapshot.
  const instRef = useRef(null);
  let inst;
  if (instRef.current === null) {
    inst = {
      hasValue: false,
      value: (null: Selection | null),
    };
    instRef.current = inst;
  } else {
    inst = instRef.current;
  }

  const [getSelection, getServerSelection] = useMemo(() => {
    // Track the memoized state using closure variables that are local to this
    // memoized instance of a getSnapshot function. Intentionally not using a
    // useRef hook, because that state would be shared across all concurrent
    // copies of the hook/component.
    let hasMemo = false;
    let memoizedSnapshot;
    let memoizedSelection: Selection;
    const memoizedSelector = nextSnapshot => {
      if (!hasMemo) {
        // The first time the hook is called, there is no memoized result.
        hasMemo = true;
        memoizedSnapshot = nextSnapshot;
        const nextSelection = selector(nextSnapshot);
        if (isEqual !== undefined) {
          // Even if the selector has changed, the currently rendered selection
          // may be equal to the new selection. We should attempt to reuse the
          // current value if possible, to preserve downstream memoizations.
          if (inst.hasValue) {
            const currentSelection = inst.value;
            if (isEqual(currentSelection, nextSelection)) {
              memoizedSelection = currentSelection;
              return currentSelection;
            }
          }
        }
        memoizedSelection = nextSelection;
        return nextSelection;
      }

      // We may be able to reuse the previous invocation's result.
      const prevSnapshot: Snapshot = (memoizedSnapshot: any);
      const prevSelection: Selection = (memoizedSelection: any);

      if (is(prevSnapshot, nextSnapshot)) {
        // The snapshot is the same as last time. Reuse the previous selection.
        return prevSelection;
      }

      // The snapshot has changed, so we need to compute a new selection.
      const nextSelection = selector(nextSnapshot);

      // If a custom isEqual function is provided, use that to check if the data
      // has changed. If it hasn't, return the previous selection. That signals
      // to React that the selections are conceptually equal, and we can bail
      // out of rendering.
      if (isEqual !== undefined && isEqual(prevSelection, nextSelection)) {
        return prevSelection;
      }

      memoizedSnapshot = nextSnapshot;
      memoizedSelection = nextSelection;
      return nextSelection;
    };
    // Assigning this to a constant so that Flow knows it can't change.
    const maybeGetServerSnapshot =
      getServerSnapshot === undefined ? null : getServerSnapshot;
    const getSnapshotWithSelector = () => memoizedSelector(getSnapshot());
    const getServerSnapshotWithSelector =
      maybeGetServerSnapshot === null
        ? undefined
        : () => memoizedSelector(maybeGetServerSnapshot());
    return [getSnapshotWithSelector, getServerSnapshotWithSelector];
  }, [getSnapshot, getServerSnapshot, selector, isEqual]);

  const value = useSyncExternalStore(
    subscribe,
    getSelection,
    getServerSelection,
  );

  useEffect(() => {
    inst.hasValue = true;
    inst.value = value;
  }, [value]);

  useDebugValue(value);
  return value;
}


text:
Amazon Employees' Union Drive Reaches Far Past Alabama
March 2, 2021 7 min read
National Football League players were among the first to express their support. Then came Stacey Abrams, the Democratic star who helped turn Georgia blue in the 2020 election.
Actor Danny Glover traveled to Bessemer, Ala. For a press conference last week, where he spoke about the union-friendly leanings of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called to urge workers in the Amazon warehouse there to organize. Tina Fey weighed, as did Senator Bernie Sanders.
And on Sunday, President Biden made a resounding declaration of solidarity with the workers who are now voting on whether to form a union in Amazon's Bessemer camp without naming the company. His video, posted on his official Twitter account, was one of the most haunting statements in recent history in support of union formation by an American president.
"Every worker should have a free and fair choice to join a union," said Biden.
A union campaign that had purposely stayed under the radar for months has turned into a showdown with stars in recent days to influence workers at Amazon, one of the world's dominant corporations whose power has grown exponentially during the pandemic. On one side is the retail, wholesale and department store union and its many work-friendly allies in politics, sports and Hollywood. On the flip side, it's an e-commerce behemoth that has fought off previous union efforts in its U.S. facilities in its more than 25-year history.
This union vote in a referendum not only draws attention to the working conditions in the Bessemer camp, which employs 5,800 people, but also, in particular, to the plight of low-wage and color workers. Many of the workers at the Alabama camp are black, a fact that union organizers highlighted in their campaign to link the vote to the struggle for civil rights in the south.
The Retail Workers Union has a long history of organizing black workers in the poultry and food industries and helping them obtain basic benefits such as paid time off and safety protection, as well as a means of economic security. The union portrays its efforts in Bessemer as part of that legacy.
"This is an organizing campaign on the right to work in the south during the pandemic at one of the largest companies in the world," said Benjamin Sachs, professor of work and industry at Harvard Law School. "The importance of a union victory there really couldn't be emphasized enough."
Warehouse workers began voting by post on February 8, and ballots are due by the end of that month. A union can be formed if a majority of the votes cast is in favor of such a move.
Amazon's counter-campaign, both inside the warehouse and nationally, has focused on pure economics: the starting wage is $ 15 an hour plus benefits. That's far more than the competition in Alabama, where the minimum wage is $ 7.25 an hour.
"It is important that employees understand the facts of union membership," said Heather Knox, an Amazon spokeswoman, in a statement. "We will provide information about this and the electoral process so that you can make an informed decision. If the union vote is successful, it will affect all local employees, and it is important that employees understand what this means for them and their daily lives at Amazon. "The company, which went through a major hiring frenzy last year when domestic customers had sales of $ 386 billion, posted profits of more than $ 22 billion.
In Alabama, some workers are getting tired of the process. One employee recently posted on Facebook: "This union stuff is getting on my nerves. Let it be March 30th !!! "
The situation is getting worse and union leaders accuse Amazon of a number of "anti-union" tactics.
The company has posted signs throughout the warehouse, next to hand disinfection stations and even in toilet cubicles. It sends texts and emails regularly and draws attention to the problems with the unions. The internal company app publishes photos of employees in Bessemer showing how much they love Amazon.
During certain training sessions, company representatives have pointed out the cost of union dues. If some workers asked specific questions in the meetings, then the representatives from Amazon followed them in their workplaces and again emphasized the disadvantages of unions, say employees and organizers. The meetings were called off when the voting began, but the signs are still there, said Jennifer Bates, a union-friendly worker at the warehouse.
In this charged atmosphere, even routine matters have become suspicious. The union has raised questions about changing the timing of a traffic light near the warehouse where work organizers try to speak to workers if they are stopped in their vehicles as they exit the facility.
Amazon asked district officials to change the timing of the light in mid-December, although there is no evidence in the district's records that the change was made to thwart the union. "Traffic for Amazon is secured by changing shifts," said the public records as the reason the district changed the light.
Amazon regularly navigates to traffic issues at its facilities, and wasting unpaid time in congested parking lots is a common complaint from Amazon employees on Facebook groups.
However, retail workers union president Stuart Appelbaum questioned the timing of the request in Bessemer, as it did at the height of the organization. "When the light was red, we could answer questions and have a quick chat with the workers," he said.
Last week the union questioned an offer by the company to Alabama warehouse workers to pay them at least $ 1,000 if they quit by the end of March.
"They are trying to remove the most likely union supporters from their workforce by bribing them to leave and giving up their vote," said Appelbaum.
But "The Offer," as it is known among employees, was the same thing Amazon made to workers in all of its warehouses across the country. It's an annual program that allows the company to reduce its headcount without layoffs after the busy season. It's been around since at least 2014 when Jeff Bezos wrote about it in a letter to shareholders.
"Once a year we offer our employees to pay for the termination," said Bezos at the time.
Mr. Appelbaum was not influenced. He said he believed Amazon decided to make the offer in all camps to rule out possible yes votes in Bessemer.
Mr Biden stopped pushing Amazon workers to unionize, but his testimony immediately increased the streak of an already momentous campaign.
"Let me be really clear," said Mr Biden. "It's not up to me to decide whether anyone should join a union. But let me be even more clear: It is not up to an employer to decide either. The decision to join a union rests with the workers. Point."
He added, "Workers in Alabama and across America are voting on whether to unionize in their workplace. This is critical – an extremely important decision. "And it is one, he said, that should be done without intimidation or threats.
Despite the union's suspicions, she has not filed any formal complaints with the National Labor Relations Board, Appelbaum said. Typically, unions can object to a company's tactics before an election and the labor authority can intervene.
Should a complaint be filed, the labor authority may find that the election is invalid due to Amazon's actions. After months of working to build support inside and outside the Amazon camp, the union's last thing they want is for the labor authority to step in and decide that the elections must be held again.
Harvard Law School's Mr Sachs said that, despite Mr Biden's admonitions to meddle in elections, the current labor law allows Amazon to hold certain mandatory meetings with workers to discuss why they should not union and this enables the company to post anti-union messages in the workplace.
By aggressively targeting the union, Amazon risks angering the Washington Democrats, many of whom are already calling for greater antitrust control over large tech companies. Amazon launched a public campaign in support of legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour and bought prominent ads in the New York Times, Washington Post, and other publications.
In his video on Sunday, President Biden specifically mentioned how unions can help "black and brown workers" and vulnerable workers struggling during the economic crisis sparked by the pandemic.
Ms. Bates, 48, one of the leaders of the union action, started working in the Bessemer camp in May.
She said she was offended by some anti-union efforts by Amazon, particularly what the company told employees that they had to pay nearly $ 500 in union dues every year. Because Alabama is a right to work, there is no such requirement that an employee pay dues in a unionized workplace.
"It annoys me a little because I feel like they know the truth and they are not telling the truth and they take advantage of them because they know that employees come from a community that is considered black and low-income," said Mrs. Bates, who is black. "It felt really horrible that you were standing there deliberately misleading people. Give them the facts and let them decide. "
Tags: Alabama Amazon drive Reaches union Workers
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How often does your business use conference calls? And, are you wondering what people are really doing during your conference call?
Ooma wanted to learn more about how people are using conference calls and what the friction points were — dropped calls, poor quality, or maybe something else. The infographic below shows the results of our conference call survey.