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Size:S/M/L/XL/XXL/XXL S=(US XS)--Bust:33.54",Waist:28.08",Length:58.5",Hip:34.32" M(US S)--Bust:35.1",Waist:29.64",Length:58.89",Hip:35.88" L(US M)--Bust:36.66",Waist:31.2",Length:59.28",Hip:37.44" XL(US L)--Bust:38.22",Waist:32.76",Length:59.67",Hip:39" XXL(US XL)--Bust:39.78",Waist:34.32",Length:60.06",Hip:40.56" XXXL(US XXL)--Bust:41.34",Waist:35.88",Length:60.45",Hip:42.12" Note:Pls allow 1-2inch differs.Because of the manual measurement.
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Elon Musk's SpaceX successfully launches spy satellite
Take two, taking to the skies this morning from launchpad 39A. After a last minute scrub yesterday the Falcon-9 rocket's second attempt bringing back crowds of eager watchers to Jenny Park. Seeing it in person is a totally different thing, definitely worth while. What's on board though is surrounded in secrecy. The classified US intelligence mission in SpaceX's first dedicated launch for the National Reconnaissance Office. Known as the nation's eyes and ears in space. But what has everyone here talking is what happened minutes after lift off. It looked like a rocket coming down in reverse. The first stage booster returning to Canaveral Air Force Station to be reused in a later mission. It's the tenth time the company has successfully stuck the landing. [APPLAUSE] And we have touched down Resulting in a sonic boom, and signaling a success for SpaceX along the coast. And I feel like it was really cool because of the big boom. The next launch for SpaceX is scheduled for May 15th. Reporting on the space coast, Mark Layman. CBS 12 news. [BLANK_AUDIO]
Apollo: Missions to the Moon clip shows rare footage of the world...
Apple cuts new MacBook Air price, but kills off $999 classic...
Loads of Android apps are skirting privacy controls
Here's what Amazon revealed about Alexa privacy to a US senator
Here's how genetic genealogist CeCe Moore finds potential criminal...
As Amazon pushes into AI smarts, worries about job losses grow

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Here's one excerpt:-
...key Democrats and Republicans are maneuvering for applause lines in Herzliya as much as in Iowa. There remains a policy-expert consensus that attacking Iran would be very foolish, but it is hardly loud and far from powerful. It has no political force behind it.
That's why the truth defense floated on behalf of Wes Clark was important, and that's why the mockery that has greeted the AJC's claim that Jews who criticize Israel are "anti-Semites" are such hopeful signs: they offer the possibility of a movement rising that could save the United States from compounding the errors it has already made.
Here's another:-
Both Jews and gentiles have been raising the volume of discussion about the American-Israeli relationship and Israeli policies. On the Jewish side, there is a profusion of important peace-oriented websites. The explosion of interest in the Walt-Mearsheimer essay and Jimmy Carter's book evince a Christian awakening of the Mideast's critical importance. The perilous present geopolitical context explains this: a great many people wouldn't risk the opprobrium of the lobby for the sake of the Palestinians, who often wage their struggle far less impressively than one might wish. But letting the lobby influence American foreign policy toward Iraq raises the stakes mightily. Allowing Bibi Netanyahu and his American allies to call the tune of U.S. policy toward Iran is far too much to bear.
And a third:-
But what of Edwards, what of Hillary Clinton—both eager to be on the record for keeping all options on the table? It's a question that cannot be truthfully answered without reference to the neuralgic subject of the Israel lobby.
It is a tough issue to address, as Gen. Wesley Clark, a middle-of-the-pack Democratic presidential contender in 2004, recently discovered. Upon reading an Arnaud de Borchgrave column that discussed a then incipient Israeli campaign to pressure Hillary Clinton and other Democrats to "publicly support immediate action by Bush against Iran," he lost his cool, saying to Arianna Huffington, "How can you talk about bombing a country when you won't even talk to them? It's outrageous. We're the United States of America; we don't do that." Pressed by Huffington to explain why he was sure Bush would attack Iran, he answered, "You just have to read what's in the Israeli press. The Jewish community is divided but there is so much pressure being channeled from the New York money people to the office seekers."
This was an awkward way to put it; the euphemism surely sounded more contentious than anything Clark might have said straightforwardly. And of course some people chose to ignore Clark's correct assertion that the Jewish community was very divided on the Iran issue. Within days, the general was in caught in a familiar crossfire, smeared as an instigator of anti-Semitism by some Republican Jewish organizations, his remarks headlined as "Protocols of the New York Money People" by a Wall Street Journal columnist. Soon he was engaged in a humiliating apology and repentance ritual with Abe Foxman of the ADL.
The whole piece is here.
Labels: conservatism


text:
export STRATUSLAB_ENDPOINT=http://localhost:2633/RPC2
export STRATUSLAB_USERNAME=oneadmin
export STRATUSLAB_PASSWORD=oneadmin
export STRATUSLAB_LOCATION=/tmp/stratuslab-remote-install

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home » Blog of Thomas Law Offices » Petrochemical Industry Hiding Benzene Dangers
Petrochemical Industry Hiding Benzene Dangers
Published on Feb 4, 2015 at 10:57 am in Dangerous Drugs.
The petrochemical industry has spent at least $36 million to fund scientific research trying to minimize the dangers of benzene. This effort comes after independent studies have linked benzene to leukemia and other cancers. In 2004, the National Cancer Institute reported a study finding there's no safe exposure level for people working with benzene.
Exposure dangers
Workers in the petrochemical industry have been among the most exposed to benzene and its effects. Benzene is a component of crude oil, and is used to make plastics, lubricants, dyes, pesticides, and adhesives. Over the last 10 years, lawsuits have been filed on behalf of workers who were sickened or died from benzene-related exposure, yet the industry is still trying to debate whether benzene is causing these rare cancers and other illnesses.
Federal regulators have instituted limits on benzene exposure. Peter Infante, a former director at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, told the Center for Public Integrity: "You're still seeing elevated risks of leukemias and lymphomas among occupational groups exposed to benzene, as well as populations being polluted from these benzene sources."
The Center for Public Integrity investigated the efforts of oil and chemical corporations, working with their trade association, the American Petroleum Institute, to cover-up or minimize the dangers of benzene. Their review of internal records, produced in part during lawsuits, "reveals the petrochemical industry went to great lengths to rebut studies showing harmful effects of benzene in low doses."
Five major companies paid for research in China, where Benzene is still being used in workplaces: British Petroleum, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell Chemical. One study, called the Shanghai Health Study, was supposed to look at how benzene exposure affects workers' health; however, reports indicate the study, overseen by the American Petroleum Institute, is not objective.
The Center for Public Integrity notes this is a similar strategy undertaken by the tobacco, asbestos, and plastics industries — trying to buy their own "science" in the face of growing evidence of the dangers of benzene exposure.
"The more they feel threatened by the outcome of independent research, the more they will quote-unquote invest in their own," Celeste Monforton, a public health researcher at George Washington University told the Center for Public Integrity. "Litigation is continuing and potential for environmental exposures is still significant," she said. "They need to protect their economic interests."
Thomas Law Offices Files Class Action for Defective Airbags
First Risperdal Trial Starts In Mass Tort Action


text:
Q: Can't detect item click in a listview from dialog in Android I'm trying to detect click on a ListView item which is inside a Dialog, which takes elements from an array. The array works fine, it displays correctly my results, however, when I try to click on an item, I don't receive any feedback.
Java code:
 public void createConstDialog(String[] textstring){
        AlertDialog.Builder builder =
                new AlertDialog.Builder(this, R.style.AppCompatAlertDialogStyle);
        LayoutInflater inflater = this.getLayoutInflater();
        final View dialogView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.dialog_editconstantformula, null);
        builder.setView(dialogView);
        builder.setTitle("Edit Values");
        builder.setCancelable(false);

        ArrayAdapter<String> adapter = new ArrayAdapter<String>(this, R.layout.activity_view_calculator_formula, R.id.constid, textstring);
        lv = (ListView)dialogView.findViewById(R.id.list_view1);
        lv.setAdapter(adapter);
        lv.setOnItemClickListener(new AdapterView.OnItemClickListener() {

            @Override
            public void onItemClick(AdapterView<?> parent, View view, final int position, long viewId) {
                Log.d("touched", "true");

                mConstid = (TextView)view.findViewById(R.id.constid);
                mConstid.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
                    @Override
                    public void onClick(View view) {
                        Log.d("touched", "true");
                    }
                });
                mConstvalue = (EditText)view.findViewById(R.id.constvaluez);

                mConstvalue.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
                    @Override
                    public void onClick(View view) {
                        Log.d("touched", "true");
                    }
                });

            }
        });
        builder.setPositiveButton("OK", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
                dialog.dismiss();
            }
        });

        builder.show();
    }

XML File R.layout.dialog_editconstantformula
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content">
    <ListView
        android:id="@+id/list_view1"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:dividerHeight="1dp"
        android:padding="10dp" >
    </ListView>
</LinearLayout>

R.layout.activity_view_calculator_formula
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:orientation="horizontal" >

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/constid"
        android:textColorHint="#afafaf"
        android:textColor="#000"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginTop="4dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="4dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="4dp"
        android:layout_weight="1"
        android:layout_marginBottom="16dp"
        android:fontFamily="sans-serif"
        android:hint="Variable"
        />

    <EditText
        android:id="@+id/constvaluez"
        android:textColorHint="#afafaf"
        android:textColor="#000"
        android:layout_width="0dp"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_marginTop="4dp"
        android:layout_marginLeft="4dp"
        android:layout_marginRight="4dp"
        android:layout_weight="1"
        android:inputType="numberDecimal"
        android:layout_marginBottom="16dp"
        android:fontFamily="sans-serif"
        android:hint="Value"
        />

</LinearLayout>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


AUSTIN, TX— The State Executive Committee of the University Interscholastic League will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24 at the Austin Marriott North in Round Rock to determine the eligibility of student athletes.
Goliad High School: Appeal of District 15-3A Executive Committee Decision Regarding Eligibility of a Student Athlete, Section 443, Changing Schools for Athletic Reasons.
West Columbia High School: Appeal of District 12-4A Executive Committee Decision Regarding Eligibility of a Student Athlete, Section 443, Changing Schools for Athletic Reasons.
May High School: Appeal of District 10-1A Executive Committee Decision Regarding Eligibility of a Student Athlete, Section 443, Changing Schools for Athletic Reasons.
Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco High School: Appeal of District 16-2A Division 1 Executive Committee Decision Regarding Eligibility of a Student Athlete, Section 443, Changing Schools for Athletic Reasons.
Early High School: Appeal of District 3-3A Executive Committee Decision Regarding Eligibility of a Student Athlete, Section 443, Changing Schools for Athletic Reasons.


text:
Home Mirza Uddin Blockhain Industry profile on CryptoDiffer
Mirza Uddin
Mirza is a venture capitalist who focuses on a wide array of early-stage technologies. He has previously worked at Two Sigma, one of the largest quantitative hedge funds. While at Two Sigma he was heavily involved in researching Blockchain startups and analyzed hundreds of investment opportunities in the sector. He has also worked for Index Ventures, a global multistage VC that has previously invested in companies such as Dropbox and Facebook. Prior to that, he worked for The Boston Consulting Group, where he helped advise one of the largest Fortune 500 tech conglomerates. He began his career at East Ventures, a prominent Japanese VC that was an early investor in OmiseGo. Mirza attended Harvard University, where he simultaneously enrolled in several courses at both MIT and Harvard Law School.
Goal: 24,000,000
NOIA Network
Perlin


Mass Media 06/19/09 – Part 1!
Hoping that this next gig will make things all better, Marvelous Interactive has promised a plethora of changes in the upcoming makeover of Valhalla Knights 2, branded as Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance. These changes were recently outlined in a lengthy feature in Famitsu.
Marvelous Entertainment announced today that Japanese gamers will be getting a new release of Valhalla Knights 2. Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance for the PSP promises new gameplay elements, but little is known in the way of specifics. It's due out in Japan on June 25 for 3,990 yen and already has its own teaser site.
A couple of new RPG announcements have come out of the the latest issue of Famitsu — and shockingly, they're not for the DS! Marvelous Entertainment is working on Valhalla Knights : Eldar Saga for the Nintendo Wii. The games promises real-time battles, character customization, and a co-op mode via Nintendo Wi-Fi. The game is 70% complete and is due out sometime in 2009 in Japan.
Also due out in 2009 is Demon's Souls for the PlayStation 3. Developed by From Software, the game will allow players to create their own hero with a range of customization options. Not much else is known, save that it's an action RPG featuring shape-shifting monsters, but if you happen to be heading for the Tokyo Game Show, you can try it out first hand.


It was a beautiful day in Ponyland. But that's not what the Witches from the Volcano of Gloom would think.
"What a disgustingly beautiful day outside today!" Hydia shouted. "Smell that fresh air!"
Reeka and Draggle breathed in the fresh air, and began coughing and wheezing.
"Smells awful, Hydia!" Reeka shouted. "How can those little ponies stand it?!"
"You know those little ponies," Hydia grumbled. "They think everything is just wonderful! Well, I'll put a stop to that! Where's my spell book?!"
Hydia began scrounging through the house on top of the volcano, throwing things everywhere. She had finally unearthed her spell book when the doorbell rang. Hydia was less than please.
"Dooooohhhhh!" she shouted. "DRAGGLE! Get the door!"
"What . . . . . did you . . . . CALL ME?!" Hydia yelled at the top of her voice.
"Hydia! Hydia! I mean Hydia!"
Draggle ran to answer the door before she could make Hydia madder than she was now! She opened the door, and something came zooming in at an alarmingly fast pace.
"Whoooaaaa!" Draggle shouted as she stumbled backwards, and landed on top of her sister.
"Hey!" Reeka shouted. "Watch where you're falling!"
Draggle didn't say anything. The flying object came back and began knocking things off the walls. The noise brought Hydia upstairs.
"What's going on up here?!" she shouted. "Good grief. A witch tries to get a little dishonest day's work done . . . . ."
Before Hydia could go on, she was clobbered right in the face by whatever it was that was flying by. She ended up flat on her back, and whatever it was that was flying around stopped.
"Hi, Aunt Hydia," a little witch, about ten years old, said. She had red hair in a pageboy cut, and freckles. She wore a purple dress with a black belt and gold buckle, purple tights, black shoes with gold buckles on them, and a purple pointed hat.
"Not cousin Winnie!" Draggle moaned.
"Winnie, what are you doing here?!" Hydia shouted.
"Mama wrote and said I'd be dropping in," Winnie said. "Didn't you get her letter?"
"No, we don't get mail," Hydia said. "We keep a live alligator in the mailbox."
Suddenly, the quartet heard growling, and a scream from outside.
The scream stopped abruptly, and was followed by the licking of lips, and a small burp.
"That's the fifth mailman we lost this week," Hydia said with a cackle.
"Yeah, and it's only Tuesday," Draggle said.
"Oh well," Winnie said. "So are the little ponies still givin' ya trouble, Aunt Hydia?"
"Never you mind, Winnie," Hydia said. "Go play with Reeka and Draggle. I've got work to do! I've got to make Ponyland dark, dank, and dreary!"
Hydia left the room, leaving her niece with her daughters. Winnie looked at Reeka and Draggle, and gave them a sneaky look.
"Oh boy, we're gonna have fun!" she shouted.
Reeka and Draggle looked at each other, nervously. They never liked to be put in charge of their baby cousin. Winnie was fun loving, and very reckless. She liked to use her magic to annoy her cousins, and this time was no exception. Right away, she began zapping at Reeka and Draggle until they ran out of the house. Winnie jumped on her broom and followed them.
"You can run, but you can't hide!" she shouted as she sped off.
Meanwhile in Ponyland, Julie raced out of the Estate. She began singing and skipping outside.
"Julie, where are you going?" Megan asked, leaning out the window of the Estate.
"I'm going to pick flowers, Megan!" Julie called to her older cousin. "Is that okay?"
"Sure, it's okay. Just stay away from the Haunted Forest!"
Megan waved good-bye to her cousin, and then went back inside to help Cupcake do some baking.
Julie skipped along the forest and began picking flowers of all kind. She liked to pick the flowers, but she knew she'd have to do it in certain places. She once tried to pick the flowers in Posey's garden, but that didn't go over too well with Posey.
As Julie picked the flowers, Winnie flew overhead on her broom, looking for Reeka and Draggle.
"Oh dear sweet cousins!" she shouted. "Come out, come out wherever you are!"
Winnie continued circling until her broom ran out of gas. It sputtered, and then started to go down.
"Oh darn it!" she shouted. She landed in the bushes with a loud CRASH!
Julie jumped and dropped the flowers she had picked. She looked over at the bushes, and walked over, thinking it was a bird, or maybe a Pegasus pony. Actually, she was hoping it was Firefly, making one of her not so perfect landings from her Double Inside Out Loop. She pushed the bushes away and saw Winnie sitting on the ground, holding her broom in her hand.
"That's the last time I use unleaded broom juice," she said.
"Are you okay?" Julie asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay. My broom ran out of juice."
"But . . . . but I always thought all witches are ugly!"
"My mama and my auntie and my cousins are ugly. But not all witches are ugly. My name's Winnie. Winnie Witch. What's yours?"
"Julie. Julie Olsen. How old are you?"
"I was looking for my cousins but I can't find them. Wanna play?"
Winnie took Julie's hand and the two of them ran into the forest.
Winnie and Julie went to the edge of the forest, that just led into the Haunted Forest. This was the first time Julie had seen it, but she knew it not only led to Skull Mountain, but also to the Volcano of Gloom. She stopped.
"What's the matter?" Winnie asked.
"I'm not allowed to go in the Haunted Forest by myself," Julie said.
"But you're not by yourself! You're with me!"
"No, Megan will be mad if I go in there. It's scary in there!"
"Oh all right. We'll play out here. What do you want to do?"
"I don't know. You're a witch, right?"
"Can you do any magic tricks!"
"Sure I can! Watch this!"
Winnie pulled a small magic wand out of thin air, and waved it. Sparkles flew out of the sky and created a fireworks display. Julie giggled and clapped her hands.
"That's not all I can do!" Winnie shouted! "Look at this!"
Winnie waved her wand again, and bubbles came out of nowhere. Julie began popping a few of them. Every time Winnie waved her wand, something new would come out of it. Soon, both girls were giggling among the bubbles, feathers, and other things Winnie was making out of her wand. The two of them then laid back in the grass and watched the clouds go by, just talking about things.
"I live over the rainbow," Julie said. "And I've got a little brother and a dog. But I like to visit Ponyland a lot, and play with Twinkles. She's an orange kitten."
"I have a kitten," Winnie said. "Her name is Midnight. She's black and she's got green eyes, and she wears a green witch's hat. I'll bring her over some time."
"And I'll bring Twinkles with me some time. Maybe our cats will be friends."
Julie and Winnie giggled, and continued watching the clouds, and talking. They weren't keeping track of the time at all. Megan was leaning out the windows of the Estate, calling her cousin. It was almost time to go home. Medley and Firefly were looking for her, too.
"Come out, come out wherever you are!" Firefly shouted.
"She's never strayed far from home before," Megan said.
"Maybe she's still playing in the forest," Gusty said, coming out of the Estate.
"We'd better go look for her," Megan said. "Or else her mother will be plenty mad!"
Megan, Firefly, and Gusty started for the woods. Medley was going to stay behind, just in case Julie came back while they were gone.
While Megan and the two ponies were looking for Julie, Hydia, Reeka, and Draggle were skulking through the forest, looking for Winnie.
"You were supposed to be watching her!" Hydia yelled. "I've got better things to do with my time than look for my niece! I've got to find a way to turn Ponyland dark, dank, and dreary!"
"It was Draggle's fault, Hydia!" Reeka shouted. "She was supposed to be watching Winnie!"
"No, you were supposed to be watching her, Reeka!" Draggle retorted.
"Shut up!" Hydia yelled. "And come on! The sooner we find Winnie, the sooner we can get back home and turn Ponyland dark, dank, and dreary!"
The two groups walked on. Julie and Winnie were drawing in the dirt with sticks when they heard rustling in the bushes. Both of them stood up straight and alert.
"What was that?" Julie asked.
"Get behind me!" Winnie hissed. She held up her magic wand. "I'll scare them off!"
Suddenly, the ponies and the witches jumped out from opposite bushes.
"Ponies!" Reeka and Draggle shouted at the same time.
"Witches!" Firefly and Gusty shouted.
"I'll save you Julie!" Gusty yelled, lowering her head. She was about to light up her horn, but Julie stopped her.
"No, Gusty! It's okay!" Julie shouted. "Winnie's my friend."
"Winnie?" Firefly asked. She turned to the little red haired girl and gave her a suspicious glance. "Are you a witch?"
"Darn tootin' she is, sister!" Hydia shouted. "Winifred Hogatha, you naughty little witch! What is the meaning of socializing with a friend of those puny little ponies?!"
"And what are you doing with a witch, Julie?" Gusty asked.
"We were just playing," Julie said. "Winnie's really nice."
"No witch is ever nice!" Gusty shouted.
"And nothing good can come from a little pony!" Hydia shouted. "You're a witch! You're supposed to like dark, dank, and dreary!"
"But I don't like dark, dank, and dreary," Winnie said. "I like picking flowers, and playing with Julie. She's my friend."
"What have you done to my niece?!" Hydia yelled at Megan and the little ponies. "That little brat put a bad influence on her!"
"Don't call my cousin a brat!" Megan shouted.
"Yeah, unless you want a taste of the Rainbow of Light!" Firefly threatened.
"Besides, all witches are mean and nasty!" Gusty shouted.
"But Winnie's not that bad!" Julie protested.
"Not that bad?!" Gusty yelled. "The witches only tried to bury us in Smooze and tried to take over Flutter Valley! And you're telling me a witch is not that bad?!"
"Come on, Julie, it's time to go home anyway," Megan said. She grabbed Julie's hand, and glared at the witches. Then she walked off. Firefly and Gusty glared at the witches as well and started back to Paradise Estate.
"Winifred Hogatha, I don't ever want you to see that goody two shoes again!" Hydia yelled, as she, Draggle, and Reeka began to take Winnie back to the Volcano of Gloom.
"But I like Julie!" Winnie shouted. "She's my friend!"
"Witches don't have friends!" Reeka shouted.
"You're a witch, and witches don't make friends!" Hydia shouted. "Especially not with little girls who are friends with little ponies!"
"That's not fair!" Winnie yelled, stamping her foot. "I like Julie! I want her to be my friend!"
"You'll thank me for this when you're an evil mean old witch like me!" Hydia shouted.
Winnie pouted. She started to brew a thunderstorm to take out her frustrations, but it was only affective in the Haunted Forest and at the Volcano of Gloom.
Meanwhile, back at Paradise Estate, Firefly and Medley were getting ready to take Megan and Julie back over the rainbow. Julie was crying her eyes out.
"Julie, witches are bad and that's all there is to it," Gusty said, trying to explain.
"Glinda the Good Witch wasn't bad!" Julie cried. "She was a good witch!"
"Glinda the Good Witch wasn't real," Megan explained, calmly.
"Not all witches are bad!" Julie shouted.
"All of them around here are," Gusty said. "I think it would be best if you stayed away from that little witch."
"But she's my friend!" Julie wailed.
"Julie, the Witches from the Volcano of Gloom aren't anyone's friends," Firefly said. "I agree with Gusty. Even their relatives must be mean and evil and nasty."
"I happen to agree with Gusty," Megan replied. "We've had too much trouble from those witches."
"But . . . . but Morning Glory . . . . Morning Glory said you have to find the good in people!" Julie protested.
"Yeah, but there's no good in those witches!" Gusty shouted. "You'll thank us for this someday, Julie."
"It's all for the best, anyway," Medley said. "Witches can be dangerous."
And with that, Firefly and Medley flew into the air, and over the rainbow. Julie cried all the way home. She thought everyone was being so unfair. She didn't think it was fair she couldn't be friends with Winnie, just because she was a witch.
The next morning, Megan and Julie returned to Ponyland. Julie was still upset that no one would let her play with Winnie. She spent the day holed up in the Estate, with only Twinkles the cat to comfort her.
"Julie, we're all going over to Flutter Valley," Buttons said, walking into Medley's room. "Want to come?"
Normally, Julie would have jumped at the chance. She loved Flutter Valley. It was one of her favorite places in Ponyland. She loved Morning Glory and Peach Blossom almost as much as she loved Medley. But that day, she didn't want to go.
"I wanna play with Winnie," she said, tearfully.
"Winnie is a witch," Gusty said. "And witches are dangerous. That's all there is to it."
"But Glinda was a good witch," Julie said. "She . . . . she gave Dorothy the ruby slippers."
"Julie, that was a movie," Buttons said. "That wasn't real. This is real life."
"But Winnie's really nice!" Julie continued.
"Forget it, Julie," Gusty said. "There's no way you're gonna convince me that the little witchlette you met is good."
"See you later, Julie," Buttons said, and she followed Gusty out the door, and they were on their way to Flutter Valley. Julie threw herself face first on Medley's bed and cried into her pillow. Twinkles jumped up on the bed, and rubbed against her hair.
"Mew," she said, and the purred a little, as if to say "don't cry, Julie. It'll be all right."
"It isn't fair, Twinkles!" Julie shouted, leaning up. She sniffled. "Winnie's not a bad witch. Why can't I be friends with her, just 'cause she's a witch?"
Twinkles mewed again, and leaned against Julie.
Back at the Volcano of Gloom, Winnie was throwing a temper tantrum. She was stomping on the floor, and screaming at the top of her lungs.
"I WANNA PLAY WITH JULIE!" she shrieked. "I WANNA GO BACK TO PONYLAND!"
"Yeah, Hydia will never let you go to Ponyland," Draggle said. "Witches hate little ponies, and we hate people who like little ponies."
"But that's just plain stupid!" Winnie shouted.
"We're witches, and that's the way it goes!" Hydia said. "You're a witch, and you're not supposed to like little ponies or their friends!"
"What am I supposed to like?" Winnie asked, with a pout.
Hydia, Reeka, and Draggle looked at each other, and then burst into song.
Dark and dirty - isn't it wonderful?
Dank and dingy - isn't it grand?
Hey, watch out - the ketchup spilt!
Draggle: Shirts unlaundered - gardens weedy!
Hydia: Why bother making things look neat?
How we wished that dark and dirty flourished everywhere!
Dark and dirty - yeah!
"You guys would make a fortune in laundry soap," Winnie grumbled. "But I still wanna go to Ponyland and play with Julie! I WANNA, I WANNA, I WANNA!"
"She takes after our side of the family," Hydia said with a sigh. "Oh how I love to hear children throwing temper tantrums. Winnie makes me so proud!"
Winnie realized throwing a tantrum wasn't getting her what she wanted. So she tried another tactic.
"Dear, sweet, Auntie Hydia," she said as sweetly as she could muster. "May I please go to Ponyland and play?"
"AAAHHHHH!" Hydia shouted, horrified. "Young lady, I ought to wash your mouth out with soap!"
"She said the P word!" Draggle gasped.
"Boy, is she gonna get it!" Reeka shouted.
That's the way it is with some witches. The word "please" was considered as bad as any bad word in the book, maybe even worse. And throwing a temper tantrum was the equivalent of a child asking nicely and politely for something to witches.
"Please, please, please?" Winnie asked. "I won't stop 'til you let me play with Julie!"
"Winifred Hogatha Witch, I will not tolerate that word on my volcano!" Hydia yelled. "NOW GO TO YOUR ROOM AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST SAID!"
Winnie began muttering under her breath and she stomped off to her room. Hydia sighed.
"Where do kids learn to be nice and polite?" she asked. "Such language! I ought to give her ice cream and cake for dinner tonight!"
"Eeewww, yuck!" Reeka shouted. "How disgusting!"
Hydia grumbled and went back to searching for spells to turn Ponyland dark, dank, and dreary.
In the meantime, Winnie was hopping on her broom, followed by her little black kitten, Midnight.
"If Aunt Hydia won't let me see Julie," she said. "I'll just go to Ponyland by myself!"
Winnie and Midnight took off. They flew to Paradise Estate, and tapped on the bedroom window. Julie sniffled, and looked up. She saw Winnie hovering on her broom, and raced to open the window.
"Winnie!" she shouted. "You shouldn't be here!"
"I know," Winnie said. "Aunt Hydia won't let me play with you."
"Megan and Gusty won't let me play with you. They say all witches are bad."
"I'm not bad! I don't like dark, dank, and dreary like my aunt and cousins do."
"I know you're not bad. But what can we do?"
"I know! Let's go someplace where we can play together and no one will ever know!"
Julie thought it over. Then she grabbed Twinkles, and climbed onto Winnie's broom. She didn't care what Megan was going to think. She didn't think it was fair that she couldn't play with Winnie just because her aunt happened to be Hydia. Once the girls and their kittens were on the broom, Winnie took off towards the forest.
A few hours later, Megan, and some of the ponies returned from Ponyland. Peachy was waiting for them.
"Peachy, you look worried about something," Buttons said.
"It's good news bad news time," Peachy said.
"Uh oh," Fizzy said. "That doesn't sound good!"
"What's the good news?" Megan asked.
"Julie finally left Medley's room," Peachy said.
"What's the bad news?" Buttons asked.
"I can't find her anywhere."
"Twinkles is gone, too," Peachy said.
"Let's not panic," Wind Whistler said. "There must be a logical explination for this. I propose we go search for Julie and Twinkles and interrogate anyone who might have seen them."
The others agreed, and went off. They ran across the Bushwoolies in the forest and asked them if they had seen Julie.
"Yeah, we did," one said.
"We did, yeah, yeah, we did, yeah," the others chimed in.
"She was flying on a broom with a witch."
"Yeah, witch, yeah, yeah, witch, yeah, witch!"
"What did the witch look like?" Megan asked.
"And where were they going?" Gusty asked.
"The witch had red hair," the Bushwoolie said. "And she was little!"
"Yeah, little, little, yeah, little," the other Bushwoolies said.
"Then it had to be Winnie," Megan said.
"They went thattaway!" the Bushwoolies all shouted at once, pointing to the left.
Megan and the little ponies ran off in that direction.
In the meantime, Winnie and Julie had landed the broom in a small valley. The grass was green, flowers were in bloom, birds were singing, and butterflies were fluttering. The only thing about it was that the sky was a mix between pink and orange, like a sunset. Winnie was playing with her magic wand, and Julie was picking flowers and making chains out of them. Twinkles and Midnight were frolicking about, chasing the butterflies.
"Isn't this great?" Winnie asked. "I could stay here forever!"
"It's nice," Julie said. "But I don't know if I'd want to stay forever."
"Aw, come on! Nobody will let you play with me 'cause I'm a witch! But here we can play together forever and ever! We'll have lots of fun!"
Julie nodded, and sat down with a sigh. Twinkles and Midnight stopped chasing the butterflies, and walked over to Julie. Twinkles rubbed up against her. Julie picked up the little orange kitten and held her in her arms.
"What's the matter, Julie?" Winnie asked.
"I want to go home!" Julie shouted, and she started to cry. "I miss Megan and Medley! I don't want to run away anymore!"
Winnie felt bad. She hadn't meant to make her friend cry. She sighed, and started up her broom.
"Let's go back to Paradise Estate," she said. "The ponies are probably worried."
Julie sniffled, and climbed onto the broom with Twinkles. Midnight was about to jump onto the broom, when she turned around suddenly. She let out a hiss, and the fur on her back bristled, and her tail puffed out.
"What's the matter, Midnight?" Winnie asked.
Midnight let out a growl, and the girls looked up. There was the biggest dragon Julie had ever seen in her life! It was as big as Dream Castle's highest tower! He didn't look very friendly, either, not at all like little Spike. The dragon let out a roar, and swiped at the girls.
"Let's get out of here!" Winnie shouted, and her broom soared off into the sky at top speed.
The dragon growled and chased after the girls, trying to grab them for a snack. Winnie increased the speed, and Twinkles and Midnight flew off the broom.
"We'll go back for them!" Winnie shouted. "Once we lose the dragon!"
"Hurry, Winnie, hurry!" Julie yelled. "It's right on top of us!"
"We need a place to hide!"
Winnie looked around, and spotted a cave. She smiled, and sailed inside of it.
"We should be safe in here," she said.
Suddenly, the girls heard the pounding of footsteps, and then they saw a big, green eye looking in on them. They screamed.
"It's the dragon!" Winnie shouted.
The dragon growled and reached his paw into the cave, trying to grab the girls. They began screaming and backing farther into the cave, until they couldn't go in anymore. They were trapped, and they couldn't do anything about the dragon. Midnight and Twinkles watched from outside the cave, and looked at each other.
"What can we do?" Twinkles asked.
"I don't know," Midnight said. "We can't get them out!"
"Wait! I've got an idea! The little ponies! We have to get the little ponies!"
"What can the little ponies do?"
Twinkles ran off. Midnight shrugged, and followed. The two kittens began mewing at the tops of their voices, trying to imitate an emergency siren.
Megan and the ponies continued along the path, looking for Julie and Winnie. So far, they had come to a standstill.
"The girls have got to be around here somewhere," Wind Whistler said. "It's impossible for them to disappear into thin air."
"Hey listen!" Buttons shouted. "Do you guys hear something?"
Everyone stopped in their tracks as they listened carefully to whatever it was Buttons was hearing.
"Sounds like a siren," Fizzy said.
"Sounds more like a couple of cats to me," Gusty replied.
Out from behind a rock ran Twinkles and Midnight, mewing like sirens. They were jumping all over the place, trying to lead Megan and the ponies to the cave.
"What are they saying?" Fizzy asked.
"I think they're trying to lead us somewhere," Megan said. "Come on!"
Megan, Wind Whistler, Buttons, Fizzy, Gusty, and Peachy followed the two kittens down the path until they reached the cave.
"That's the biggest dragon I've ever seen!" Peachy commented.
"How do we get rid of it, Megan?" Buttons asked.
"Wind Whistler, you go and distract it," Megan said. "We'll get the girls out of the cave."
"Will do, Megan," Wind Whistler said, flying into the air.
Wind Whistler flew in front of the dragon's face and began tickling his nose with her tail. The dragon growled and began making grabs for the flying pony. Wind Whistler led him away from the cave. Winnie and Julie ran out of it, and directly to the little ponies, cheering.
"Let's get out of here before the dragon comes back!" Gusty shouted.
"Good idea!" Wind Whistler shouted from the skies.
The little ponies and their friends ran away from the woods as fast as they could and they didn't stop until they reached Paradise Estate. By the time they got back, it was time for Megan and Julie to go back over the rainbow, and it was time for Winnie to go back to where she came from.
"I have to go home now," she said. "Mama will be worried."
"You mean you don't live at the Volcano of Gloom?" Gusty asked.
"Nope," Winnie said. "I come from the Cauldron Caves. Hydia's just my aunt."
"Oh," Gusty said. But she didn't say anymore.
"Will you come back to play one day, Winnie?" Julie asked.
"I hope so," Winnie said. "You're really a great friend, Julie."
Winnie pulled up her magic wand, and waved her hand. A gold bracelet appeared on her wrist. Half a gold heart charm was on it. An identical bracelet appeared on Julie's wrist, complete with the half heart charm.
"If you keep your half, and I keep my half," Winnie said. "That means we'll be friends forever."
"Friends forever," Julie repeated, and she gave Winnie a hug.
Winnie climbed on her broom, and Julie climbed on Medley. The two of them went their separate ways, but waved goodbye to each other, both knowing that they would meet again, someday.


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Mariensztat est un quartier de l'arrondissement de Śródmieście (Centre-ville) à Varsovie.

Sources

Références

Quartier de Varsovie

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


"Call for urgent help after our dishwasher shorted and we lost all power. They responded promptly and went out of there way to send assistance swiftly. They were knowledgeable., professional and reasonable priced. Highly recommended this service."


text:
Monte Cristo grófja (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) Alexandre Dumas 1844-46-ban folytatásokban megjelent regénye.

Cselekménye
A világirodalmi klasszikussá nőtt mű Edmond Dantès tengerészről szól, akit börtönbe zártak és megvádoltak minden ok nélkül. 14 év várfogság után szökött meg kalandos úton If várából, a félelmetes szigetbörtönből. Kiszabadulása után bosszút állt azokon a személyeken, akik hamisan vádolták. Kalandja során több barátra is szert tett. Egykori rabtársa, a tudós Faria abbé jóvoltából mesés kincs birtokába jutott. Így gazdag emberként térhetett vissza, Monte-Cristo grófja néven.

Hatása
A regény nagyon híres mű az egész világon, mindenhol alapműnek és klasszikusnak számít. A világ számtalan iskolájában kötelező olvasmányként is szerepel.

A siker hatására több tévéfilm és mozifilm is készült a regényből (1934, 1943, 1954, 1961, 1975, 2002, valamint 1998-ban egy sorozat, Gérard Depardieu főszereplésével). A 2002-ben készült verzió, a Monte Cristo grófja a leghíresebb. Musical és színházi darabok formájában is feldolgozták a művet.

Kínában   című webregényét és a belőle készült sorozatot tartják a "kínai Monte Cristo-grófjának".

Szereplők

Magyar kiadások
 Gróf Monte-Cristo, 1-6.; fordította: Sió [Cholnoky László]; Ramazetter, Veszprém, 1861–1862
 Monte-Christo grófnak csodás története. Igen szép és mulattató elbeszélés; Rózsa Kálmán és neje, Budapest, 1878
 Gróf Monte-Christo. Regény, 1-2.; fordította: Mártonffy Frigyes; Méhner, Budapest, 1878–1879
 Gróf Monte-Cristo. Regény, 1-4.; fordította: Harsányi Kálmán; Révai, Budapest, 1908
 Gróf Monte Christo. Regény, 1-2.; Tolnai Világlapja, Budapest, 1922
 Gróf Monte Krisztó. Regény, 1-4.; Otthon, Budapest, 1928 (Dumas legszebb regényei)
 Monte-Cristo gróf, 1-5.; fordította: Németh Andor, bev. Szép Ernő; Gutenberg, Budapest, 1930 (A Gutenberg Könyvkiadó Vállalat könyvei)
Gróf Monte Christo; átdolgozta: Dánielné Lengyel Laura; Béta, Budapest, 1932
Gróf Monte Christo. Regény; fordította: Nagy Béla; Palladis Ny., Budapest, 1942 (Palladis regénytár)
Gróf Monte Cristo; a serdültebb ifjúság számára franciából átdolgozta: Gálszécsi István; Péchyné, Budapest, 1943
Gróf Monte Christo; fordította: Tábori Kornél, Illés Jenő; Nova, Budapest, 1943
Gróf Monte Christo. Regény; Forrás, Budapest, 1944
Gróf Monte Christo, 1-2.; átdolgozta: Hornyik János; Testvériség-Egység, Újvidék, 1952
Monte-Cristo grófja, 1-3.; fordította: Csetényi Erzsi; Európa, Budapest, 1957
Monte Cristo grófja; fordította: Törőné Tóth Katalin; Új Ex Libris, Budapest, 2002 (Klasszikus ifjúsági regénytár)
Monte Cristo grófja. Regény; fordította: Csetényi Erzsi, átdolgozta: Majtényi Zoltán; Könyvmolyképző, Szeged, 2007 (Jonatán könyvmolyképző)

Jegyzetek

Források
 Monte Cristo grófja (szövege) Magyar Elektronikus Könyvtár
 Monte Cristo grófja (letöltési lehetőségek) MEK
 Legeza Ilona könyvismertetője
 A regény adatlapja Moly.hu

További információk
 Litera | Az irodalmi portál - Alexandre Dumas: Monte Cristo grófja

19. századi francia regények


So my brand new computer had to be completely replaced by Dell. In the process, the dell dude and my husband backed up all my files (pictures and office documents) to a toshiba 3.0 port. I figured out how to restore everything to the new computer, however, it restored it to c:user/erin but I think I am not erin on the new computer (I must have put myself as something else, I named the new new computer Iris, what I would have named a daughter but I only had sons). But I think it is all there on the new computer I just can't find it because when I go to the search (on the right hand side when I move my arrow over- what do you call that bar that pops up?) and I search for my files, they are there. How do I figure out what my user is now and how do I transfer them to my current user? If they are in the right user how do I find them without using search...they aren't in my documents or on my desktop as the user I am now.
Thank you in advance! I sure appreciate these forums even when I don't understand 99% of them!!!!


I have updated the league table with last weeks scores.
Only one weeks matches to go, its going to be hard to catch DRANOMIS. Lead at the top is now 35 points so tulip really needs to work on this weeks predictions if he is again going to lift the trophy.


When shopping for a new luxury car, it's normal to rack your brain over whether you should buy or lease. And while buying certainly has its perks, the benefits of leasing can be ideal for those who have a certain time-frame and budget in mind.
Take a look below to discover the many benefits of leasing, so you can see if this option is right for you.
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Some people like being able to drive a new car every few years, making leasing the perfect option for them. Leases generally last up to three years, giving drivers the ability to switch to a different model that has all the newest gadgets and powertrains. This is also great for families who want to drive new cars with the latest safety tech.
If you're thinking of leasing your next BMW car in Lincoln, then you'll be happy to know that your repair and maintenance costs should be fairly low. This is due to the fact that your car should always be under its new car warranties during its entire lease, allowing you to save on basic maintenance services.
To see our full selection of new luxury cars, visit us at BMW of Lincoln. For more information about how to lease your next new car and the many leasing incentives we offer, click here.


3-room cottage on 2 levels. Beautiful and cosy furnishings: open living/dining room with TV and DVD. Exit to the garden. Open kitchen (4 hot plates, oven, dishwasher, microwave, freezer). Oil heating. On the lower ground floor: 1 double bedroom with 1 double bed and TV (flat screen). 1 room with 1 bed and 1 pull-out bed. Bath/shower/WC. Oil heating. Garden, lawn. Terrace furniture. Beautiful view of the countryside. Facilities: washing machine, dryer, children's high chair, baby cot for up to 2 year olds. Internet (WiFi, free). Reserved parking. Please note: non-smoking house. Maximum 2 pets/ dogs allowed.
Muddiford 8 km from Barnstaple: Beautiful, cosy cottage "Crockers Lane", detached. In a quiet, sunny position, in the countryside. Private: garden with lawn. Patio, garden furniture, parking at the house. Shop, restaurant, bar 800 m, sandy beach "Saunton Sands" 15 km. Golf course (18 hole) 13 km, walking paths from the house 250 m. Nearby attractions: Arlington Court, National Trust Carriage 11 m, Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park 13 km, Watermouth Castle 15 km, Exmoor Zoo 19 km. Please note: car recommended.


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Pierre-Charles L'Enfant, "Plan of the City intended for the Permanent Seat of the Government of the United States...," August 1791. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Facsimile reproduction of Pierre-Charles L'Enfant's "Plan of the City intended for the Permanent Seat of the Government of the United States...," made in 1887 by the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
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Hunter's Point Campus. Photo © David Sundberg / Esto Photography.
Communities around the world recognize New York City's track record of high profile Active Design projects that spark neighborhood transformation and support healthy behaviors—from the High Line, to Brooklyn Bridge Park, to a pedestrianized Times Square. While these celebrated initiatives are certainly laudable, new conversations are emerging about how Active Design can be leveraged to address social equity—particularly in neighborhoods that grapple with the greatest health and economic disparities.
Click here to download an audio podcast of the discussion. Presentation slides are available for download at the right.


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How much time is needed in order for you to complete my link building campaign?
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Randy Malone has extensive experience in alcoholic beverage sales and licensing matters and regularly advises manufacturers, distributors and retailers on legal matters relating to alcoholic beverages. Mr. Malone's numerous contacts with state, federal and local agencies allow him to assist clients in obtaining all necessary licenses and permits required for sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages. Mr. Malone's experience with national and local restaurants, hotels, manufacturers, brewers, retail and entertainment venue clients allow Randy to efficiently assist clients to stay compliant in this highly regulated industry.
Mr. Malone also represents licensees in alcoholic beverage enforcement actions, both at the local and state level.


TAGUM CITY, Philippines — The International Youth Fellowship in partnership with the City Government of Tagum conducted the Asian Conference on Dangerous Drug Abuse Prevention and Recovery Program on April 17-18, 2018 held at the Big 8 Corporate Hotel, Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
The conference was participated by representatives of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Army, Bureau of Corrections, Department of Education, Department of Health, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Local Government Unit of Tagum, Religious Organization and the Barangay Officials.
The conference presented various operational programs against illegal abuse.
With the theme "Mind Education: New Approach to Drug War", the conference presented new techniques in eradicating drug abuse in the Philippine through mental health programs.
International Youth Fellowship President in the Philippines Kyung Hyun Nam said, Mind Education is the key in strengthening the nations fight against illegal drugs.


And the unusual ways he communicated urgency.
They're making defensive moves while waiting to see what happens.
Executives should consider four key ideas.
One is a pragmatist, the other was an idealist — but their mistakes are similar.
The U.S., the UK, China, and Switzerland are at the top.
Bolsonaro will face many of the same challenges as his predecessors.
They present different opportunities for multinationals — and different challenges.
Research Shows Immigrants Help Businesses Grow. Here's Why.
Adaptiveness and cross-cultural awareness are in-demand traits.
The majority of its revenue now comes from outside the U.S.
Corruption costs the global economy over $1 trillion each year.
A comprehensive five-year study reveals a set of common mistakes.
You'll have to partner with Alibaba or Tencent.
Your personal credibility is your greatest asset.
It's not realistic to think the same regulations will work everywhere.
Tell us what you think the protagonist should do.
When Should Multinationals Move Back into Venezuela?
Companies should hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
What multinationals need to know.
By targeting groups of emigrants abroad, emerging-market companies are building international brands.
The postcrisis world demands a much more flexible approach to global strategy and organization.
Think joint ventures are the only way to go? Think again.
China: "To Get Rich Is Glorious"


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Shantaram Episode 12 Preview: Release Date, Time & Where To Watch
Shantaram Episode 12
Shantaram is based on the epic book by Gregory David Roberts, and is quite the wild ride. For those unaware, the plot centers on a heroin addict incarcerated for a robbery, who escapes prison and reinvents himself as a doctor in the slums of Bombay. In doing so, this also gives him ties to the criminal underworld and eventually on to Afghanistan, where our protagonist, Lin, partners with a mob boss locked in a battle of his own.
Here is everything you need to know about Shantaram Episode 12, including its release date, time and where you can watch this.
Where Can I Watch Shantaram?
Shantaram is available to stream on AppleTV+. This is an exclusive original series, meaning this is the only place you're going to be able to watch this show.
Shantaram Episode 12 Release Date
Shantaram Episode 12 will release on Friday 16th December at approximately 12am (ET)/(PT) and 5am (GMT). Of course, it's really dependent on how quickly Apple upload new episodes. Expect this to be pretty close to the release time though.
Shantaram Episode 12 is also available with subtitles from its release, with the chapter scheduled to clock in at 55 minutes long.
How Many Episodes Will Shantaram Season 1 Have?
Season 1 of Shantaram is scheduled for 12 episodes, so that's it, we're onto the finale now!
Is There A Trailer For Shantaram Season 1?
There is indeed! You can find a trailer for Shantaram Season 1 below:
What Happened In Episode 11?
We'll have the whole episode covered with our handy (and lengthy) recap, detailing all the big plot points and discussing the chapter at length. You can find that below after release:
Read More: Shantaram – Episode 11 Recap & Review (coming soon!)
What do you hope to see as the series progresses? What's been your favorite moment of Shantaram so far? Let us know in the comments below!shantaram episode 11 release date


Published to coincide with the 60th anniversary of liberation of Hong Kong and VJ Day, this is the authoritative account of how the British, Canadian, Indian and Chinese defenders surrendered Hong Kong to the Japanese after 18 days of intense fighting, on Christmas Day, 1941. The nightmare of the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong and a remarkable story of endurance and courage under appalling conditions, with vivid descriptions of life as a prisoner of the Japanese. Illuminated by a then architectural student's extraordinary story: a 'civilian's' insight of war although pitch-forked into battles as a young subaltern in the Royal Engineers. The award of one VC and four George Crosses in one small theatre of war is unique. A story of espionage, betrayal and heroism - was the senior British Intelligence office helping the Japanese?


The fashion industry this morning paid its respects to late designer Lee Alexander McQueen at St Paul's Cathedral in the capital.
McQueen's family, friends and key industry figures gathered in the Cathedral to remember the designer and his creative genius on the fourth day of London Fashion Week.
McQueen's nephew Mark McQueen led the readings, followed by an address from American Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who had written a tribute celebrating the designer's life and career.
"There was no comfort zone with Alexander McQueen," she began, before recalling vivid memories of the designer, from the beginnings of his career when Wintour said she was frustrated by the young designer's disdain for American Vogue, to the height of his career when Wintour would be invited to preview the collections created by the "complex and gifted young man".
UK industry buyers including Harrods' fashion and beauty director Marigay McKee and Tom Chapman, of London-based premium independent Matches, attended the service as did long term friends of the designer, models Kate Moss, and Naomi Campbell.
Alexander McQueen chief executive Jonathan Akeroyd contributed to the Prayers of Intercession and singer Bjork sang a haunting version of Gloomy Sunday dressed as a McQueen angel. The London Community Gospel Choir also performed before the service ended with Scottish pipers leading out the congregation.
Alexander Lee McQueen died on February 11, 2010.


NEXT THURSDAY 16 February: Junior Boys sleep in.
NEXT THURSDAY 16 February: SENIOR GIRLS Come to the morning practice so we can take the Senior Portrait. We will use this for concert tour promotion in the summer of 2018.
OLD JUNIORS – Girls in the 5th grade, it's time to start scheduling your audition for senior chorister! I'm really looking forward to hearing you all. The best times are Wednesday and Thursday after School. It takes about 50 minutes.
NOW SENIORS, it's time to get your concert material prepared – it needs to be finished and ready to go prior to Spring Break in March.
Parents I've put three thinks to an amazing pronunciation guide for the Bernstein piece in the attached newsletter. Please give them to your senior chorister to use. It will help them learn the Hebrew and offer the pieces with greater confidence.
1. The Novices are now called NEW JUNIORS.
2. The NEW JUNIOR SCHEDULE does not change at all. The time and day commitments remain the same to support all the complicated schedules that we all live through.
3. In a week or so, the 5th grade Juniors will get their invitation to audition for Senior Chorister. DON'T WORRY! They know the music already, it is not something they must be coached on or need special preparation for. The concert Sunday was the climax of that preparation. DON'T WORRY about rushing to schedule their appointment, we have all the way until Mother's Day to do it.
4. The fifth graders becoming Senior Choristers for 2017-2018 will be promoted to Senior on Mother's Day. Sometimes one or two are away visiting grandparents. They will be promoted in spirit.
A NEW FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY! Thank you Cara Wall. Cara has offered the Choir Community a new long term fundraising opportunity through her store Clementine Consignment. A letter from her is attached with the details of how it works. She will have a fill in the blank tax donation letter for you to receive and fill in the amount you think the clothes are worth for your tax purposes. You receive the letter when you drop off the donations at the store. Again Thank you Cara for suggesting this great opportunity for the choir community. The choir will receive money from the store based on a percentage of what the clothes sell for. These monies will go into the Choir Special Projects Fund.
•	February 10 (Friday) – Regular Afternoon Rehearsal Boy Novices 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
(New Juniors) DROP OFF AND DISMISSAL FROM THE HONOR ROOM.
Senior Treble Rehearsal and Lunch after church until 3:00 p.m.
•	February 14 (Tuesday) –Senior Boys, 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
•	February 15 (Wednesday) –Senior Girls, 7:00 – 8:10 a.m.
•	February 15 (Wednesday) After School Vocal Coaching.
Sign up in advance for each session. 3:20 – 4:30 p.m.
•	February 16 (Thursday) After School Vocal Coaching.
•	February 22 Wednesday, Choir Activities resume regular schedule.


If either you or your spouse is a service member, your divorce will require a legal team experienced in handling the special challenges of a military divorce. The attorneys at Travers & Travers are uniquely qualified to help you since one of the founding partners, Mack Travers, is retired from the United States Air Force.
Military personnel and spouses face unique challenges, including in a divorce. Besides identifying the appropriate jurisdiction in which to file, you must consider military retirement benefits as well as customized custody and visitation plans. If you are faced with a military divorce, you need the experienced attorneys at Travers & Travers to assist you.
Our family of attorneys is ready to help your family with your military divorce. Please call our office at 832-391-8824 to make an appointment or use our online form.


Evilon Sign With Wormholedeath and Announce "Leviathan" Album Release Date!
Swedish Melodic Folk-Death Metal act Evilon are pleased to announce that they have signed with WormHoleDeath for the release of their debut album "Leviathan".
"Leviathan" will be out on 28 September 2018 via Wormholedeath / Aural Music Group / The Orchard.
The band was created in 2015 by Kenneth Evstrand and Jonny Sjödin. In the beginning the musicstyle was Melodic Death Metal in the style of At The Gates, Amon Amarth and In Flames among others. During 2016 the music evolved and is now inspired by Celtic and Nordic folkmusic with alot of heavy riffs and capturing melodies. We found our bassplayer and our lead/growler early on, it then took some time before the band was complete but in August 2016 we finally found a drummer that met our requirements and we could really start our journey. During the winter of 2016 Evilon recorded its first EP called "Shores Of Evilon". It contains five songs written in 2016. The EP was recorded independently by Evilon and it was mixed and mastered by Big Balls Productions. It was then released in January 2017 on Spotify, Itunes, Google Play, Youtube and Soundcloud. In June 2017, the recordings for a full length album began. Now, one year later it's finished and the name is "Leviathan". The album contains ten new songs, full of great melodies, awesome vocals and heavy riffs! In February 2018 we signed a worldwide distribution contract with the Italian recordlabel Wormholedeath Records for the release of the album Leviathan. The album will be released the 28th of September in Europe, USA and Japan.


If you are reading this then it's safe to say your organization is looking for an oil tank removal NJ company, or you are in the early stages of simply considering the idea of having a provider come to your place of business to search for buried oil tanks.
More New Jersey based corporations and businesses are calling local oil tank removal companies to come perform oil tank inspection services and remove any buried tanks that are detected. First, it shows your customers and employees that you are about safety, and when you can show this you promote greater trust in your brand's reputation. Second, by dealing with any potential leaking oil tank contaminating your soil, you are avoiding state and government fines, as well as a potential lawsuit from customers, employees or visitors to your property. Finally, if your company leads to the removal of one more oil tank in NJ, you are making the Garden State all the more green while supporting the environment, and that's something you can write about in a PR piece. Just make sure you work with the right oil tank removal company to avoid any unnecessary problems.
Some of these simply testify to the oil tank removal company's commitment to full transparency and community, while other certifications are essential for performing tasks safely. In fact, there have been instances where organizations hire oil tank removal companies that aren't certified or licensed in the appropriate areas, and as a result their insurance won't cover them for property damage. Working with true certified and bonded oil tank removal specialists is crucial to protecting your business.
In order to really gauge if the oil tank removal company is an industry leader offering only the best quality services in the state of New Jersey, take a look at their past projects and industries served. A good company will have their name stamped in the petroleum industry, environmental construction, manufacturing plants, and other areas. Specific jobs in a solid portfolio should include AST compliance testing, tank installation, soil remediation, shoring and site remediation. When an oil tank removal company has an expansive range of experience, it shows their skills are broad and they are trusted by multiple industries.


she know? And who can she trust? As she struggles to piece together her memories of the event, she discovers that Zach Robson, the young diplomat she's been falling for all summer, went missing during the attack. Now his boss at the CIA, Christina Ekdahl, wants people to believe that Zach was a traitor. Only one person stands in her way: Penny. And Christina will do anything to silence her.
In a race to stay alive and uncover the truth, Penny reluctantly partners with Connor Beauregard, a rookie CIA officer on his first overseas assignment. But the two won't survive unless they can outwit--and outmaneuver--everyone from the Turkish president and his daughter to Islamic extremists, the US State Department, and the CIA itself.


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Tag Archives: retirement
Hill Street Blues
The Drop: A Harry Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown and Company; $27.99; 416 pages)
"It was a city where not enough people cared about making it a better and safe place to live."
Michael Connelly, author of the tremendously successful Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer, The Reversal, The Fifth Witness) and Harry Bosch novels, returns with what is likely his strongest tale yet. The Drop stands for the Los Angeles Police Department's Deferred Retirement Options Plan, which allows police officers and detectives to stay on as retired annuitants working past their normal scheduled retirement dates. As we join the story, Bosch is bored, underworked, underappreciated and counting the months until the day of his departure from the Hall of Justice.
"Two days ago he didn't think he could leg out the last thirty-one months of his career. Now he wanted the full five years."
Then, suddenly, Bosch is given not one, but two major cases to solve. One assignment comes to him directly from the police chief. Without explanation, a powerful city councilman who is a foe of the LAPD in general – and a long-time enemy of Detective Bosch – requests Harry's services in resolving the death of his son. The son's death appears, at first blush, to be a suicide but is it something more? And will the powers that be in the city permit Bosch to pull the strings even if it unravels a major political power broking scandal?
The second matter is a cold case investigation into a murderer, seemingly lost somewhere in southern California, who may be a rival to Ted Bundy as a dangerous serial killer. While spending virtually every minute of the first 48 hours cracking the first case, Bosch and his partner also find and create the time to solve the mystery of the second.
Boomers will identify with Bosch, who is conflicted over whether he should remain on the job, retire immediately or stay on longer. It will be familiar territory for some mature readers. As Harry says to his 15-year-old wise, prospective-detective daughter, "I've been chasing my tail all week… and you know what? I think you were right. You called it at the start and I didn't. I must be getting old."
In this 22nd novel from Connelly, we find a protagonist who has never seemed more likable, more flawed and more human. This is about as good as it gets when it comes to fiction set in the City of Angels. And don't just take my word for it:
Thank God for Michael Connelly… (He) retains his journalistic gifts; his eye for detail is spot on… his 22 novels form an indispensable, compelling chronicle of L.A." Los Angeles Times
A review copy was provided by the publisher. The Drop will be released on November 28, 2011, and will also be available in e-reader form (Kindle Edition and Nook Book), and as an unabridged audiobook on CDs. "Connelly is a master of building suspense." The Wall Street Journal
Tagged as 22nd novel, A Harry Bosch Novel, a novel, audiobook, baby boomers, book preview, book review, Boomers, cold case investigation, crime novel, criminal investigators, father and daughter, fiction, Hall of Justice, Hill Street Blues, Joseph Arellano, Joseph's Reviews, Kindle Edition, L.A., LAPD, Lem Cariou, Little Brown, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Hall of Justice, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Times, male protagonist, mature readers, Michael Connelly, mystery, New York Times bestselling author, Nook Book, political conspiracy, pre-released book review, recommended books, retirement, review copy, serial killer, suspense thriller, The Fifth Witness, The Lincoln Lawyer, The Los Angeles Times, The Reversal, The Wall Street Journal, unabridged audiobook
June 19, 2011 · 11:57 am
Win The Piano Player
On May 27, 2011 on this site we reviewed The Upright Piano Player: A Novel by David Abbott ("Lonely Days") and we concluded that it is highly recommended. Now, thanks to Doubleday, we're offering you a chance to win one of two (2) copies of Piano Player, which has a value of $22.95. Here is the official synopsis of this book:
Henry Cage seems to have it all: a successful career, money, a beautiful home, and a reputation for being a just and principled man. But public virtues can conceal private failings, and as Henry faces retirement, his well-ordered life begins to unravel. His ex-wife is ill, his relationship with his son is strained to point of estrangement, and on the eve of the new millennium he is the victim of a random violent act which soon escalates into prolonged harassment.
As his ex-wife's illness becomes grave, it is apparent that there is little time to redress the mistakes of the past. But the man stalking Henry remains at large. Who is doing this? And why? David Abbott brilliantly pulls this thread of tension ever tighter until the surprising and emotionally impactful conclusion. The Upright Piano Player is a wise and acutely observed novel about the myriad ways in which life tests us – no matter how carefully we have constructed our own little fortresses.
And in a review in The Huffington Post ("Upright Piano Player is gracefully constructed"), Michelle Wiener called this: "(A) quietly devastating debut novel… It moves slowly and deliberately in delicate prose, gracefully and wholly consuming."
In order to enter this giveaway, just post a comment below with your name and e-mail address, or send an e-mail message with the heading Piano Player to Josephsreviews@gmail.com . This will count as a first entry. For a second entry, tell us when you encountered a test in your life (literal or otherwise) and how you got past it.
In order to be eligible to enter this contest, you must live in the continental U.S. or in Canada, and be able to supply a residential address if you're contacted as a winner. Books will not be shipped to a P. O. box or to a business-related address. You have until 12:00 Midnight PST on Tuesday, July 19, 2011 to submit your entry or entries. The winners names will be drawn at random on July 20th, and those contacted by e-mail will have 72 hours within which to supply their residential mailing addresses.
This is it for the complex contest rules. Good luck and good reading!
Tagged as a novel, book contest, book giveaway, book synopsis, contest rules, David Abbott, debut novel, delicate prose, Doubleday, fiction, free books, free stuff, Joseph's Reviews, life's challenges, life's tests, Lonely Days, Michelle Wiener, Nan A. Talese, recommended books, retirement, The Huffington Post, The Upright Piano Player, violence, win free stuff, Win The Piano Player, win this book
Lonely Days
The Upright Piano Player: A Novel by David Abbott (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday, $22.95, 264 pages)
"In the old days he would inspire them, lift their spirits, and send them back to their desks with renewed energy and enthusiasm. Now he simply wanted to say goodbye and slip away."
Henry Cage is a man who has earned the right to enjoy a quiet life. At least it appears this way before his life turns into a series of explosions. Cage, the founder of a highly successful international advertising firm based in London, is suddenly forced into retirement in November of 1999 – outfoxed by a legion of new, young and restless (rudely ambitious) partners who cannot wait for him to ride off into the sunset.
Henry Cage is barely out the door of the advertising firm when he learns that his ex-wife, Nessa, is gravely ill. Nessa lives in Florida. She does not have much time left and would like to see Henry. Henry very much loved Nessa until she had a well-publicized affair with an actor, something that brought shame and ridicule to Henry once it was mentioned in London's daily papers. Although decades have passed, Henry's not sure that he's forgiven Nessa and he certainly has no desire to revisit past events.
And then there's an angry young man out there on the streets of the city, a failure in life – a man with a broken arm (broken like his future) – who seeks to take his anger out on a symbol of success. By chance, this man happens to pick Henry as the person whose life he will make miserable… So miserable does he make Henry that it appears a confrontation between the two is inevitable; it's likely to be a confrontation so dramatic that only one of them will survive.
The reader also learns, through a non-chronological device, that Henry will have even more to deal with – the loss of the one thing that he sees as irreplaceable. This is a morality tale about good versus evil, hope versus surrender, and love versus despair. You'll want to root for Henry to survive as he's a representation of us all as we battle the unexpected (and often undeserved) events in our lives.
If you've read and loved the novels of Catherine O'Flynn (What Was Lost, The News Where You Are), you will no doubt also love this work. Like O'Flynn, Abbott writes in a quiet, reserved English voice. Although you may rush through it, the impression is given that the writer had all of the time in the world to construct the tale – there is never a sense of modern-day impatience.
Abbot's ability to capture and make meaningful the small details in life calls to mind John Burnham Schwartz (Reservation Road, The Commoner), whose novels are always engaging. Further, there's a tragedy in Piano Player that mirrors something that happened in Reservation Road.
David Abbott, whose real life just happened to be a lot like the life of Henry Cage, has fashioned a wonderful debut novel. I certainly look forward to reading his next story. Highly recommended.
A review copy was received from the publisher. The Upright Piano Player will be released on June 7, 2011.
"David Abbott's The Upright Piano Player is a wise and moving debut, an accomplished novel of quiet depths and resonant shadows." John Burnham Schwartz
Tagged as a novel, advertising firm, Bee Gees, book preview, book review, Catherine O'Flynn, confrontations, crime, David Abbott, debut novel, despair, Doubleday, England, evil, family, fiction, Florida, good, hardbound release, Henry Cage, hope, John Burnham Schwartz, Joseph Arellano, Joseph's Reviews, Kindle Edition, London, Lonely Days, love story, morality tale, Nan A. Talese, NookBook, November 1999, recommended books, Reservation Road, retirement, ridicule, shame, surrender, The Bee Gees, The Commoner, The News Where You Are, The Upright Piano Player, violence


"Abnormal Psychology" by Sarah K. Sifers, Timothy W. Costello et al.
The Collins College Outline for Abnormal Psychology examines the symptoms, causes, and common treatments of the most frequently noted disorders, including personality, mood, psychotic, anxiety, gender, and organic conditions. This comprehensive guide also provides essential information on the history of abnormal psychology, legal issues, social policies, and major advances in research, as well as detailed explanations of behavioral, cognitive, biogenic, and sociocultural perspectives. Completely revised and updated by Dr. Sarah Sifers, this book includes a test yourself section with answers and complete explanations at the end of each chapter. Also included are bibliographies for further reading, as well as numerous graphs, charts, and examples.
Sifers, S.K., Costello, T.W., & Costello, J.T. (2006). Abnormal Psychology. New York: Harper Collins.


Until very recently the traditional wine producers such as Germany and France enjoyed a virtual monopoly in the Northern Ireland wine market. Changes are beginning to take place with New World Countries having a growing impact in this market place. This paper presents an overview of the Northern Ireland wine market as well as a more indepth look at eleven case studies. Particular emphasis is placed on the source of the wine and the relative importance of each wine producing country. The paper suggests some factors which have contributed to the increasing popularity of New World wines in Northern Ireland.


About me I believe in people and that I will meet here the worthy person who needs love and support. I will give to the man with whom I will fall in love all the care and tenderness.
My ideal partner must be I look for the strong and careful man, who would be kind, understanding and interested in creation of a family.


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Tennessee Voices: Making the case for bus rapid transit
Jay Everett
As members of the Amp Citizens Advisory Committee created by Mayor Karl Dean prepare for their first meeting today, I think it's important to reiterate why supporters believe this project is crucial for Middle Tennessee's overall well-being and future growth.
Nashville and Midstate need rapid transit
If there's one statement that has emerged from the debate as a point of agreement, it is this one. Even Amp opponents say this is true. The discussion about transit solutions for our region has been elevated, and earlier this month the state legislature voted to move forward on a study to evaluate whether a monorail connecting Murfreesboro and Nashville is a good solution for the growing congestion on I-24. If projects like the monorail come to fruition in some form, they will need to connect to something in Nashville. That's why we're starting with the Amp connecting East and West Nashville along a corridor with the greatest concentration of jobs and residents in our region to serve as the spine of our future transit system.
Our city — and our region — are growing at a rapid rate, and our roads don't have the capacity to take a lot more vehicles. Without rapid transit options, we face the threat of inescapable gridlock. For that reason we need a transit alternative of some kind. And — this is a very important point — we need it to be successful. If it's not successful, and if it doesn't attract a lot of riders — then it won't help alleviate the gridlock we otherwise will face.
The success of any transit project is measured by ridership. The more riders travel via transit, the more cars are removed from the road. And ridership is a function of convenience. In other words, if it's more convenient to ride transit than to drive a car, then people will choose transit. When traffic is reasonable, and parking is plentiful, it's hard to beat the convenience of a car. That's why most of us drive. But when traffic becomes worse, and parking becomes scarce, transit can actually become more convenient than driving. The key is speed.
Dedicated lanes work
Some argue that BRT Lite — i.e., buses moving in traffic making fewer stops, such as what now exists on Gallatin and Murfreesboro roads — is the answer. But as traffic gets worse, those buses slow down. They also add to traffic congestion by bringing an entire lane of traffic to a standstill at every bus stop. It is only when transit vehicles are removed from traffic that they are able to maintain the speed that is needed to have a successful transit system and allow other vehicles to flow with less interruption. And BRT provides an effective way to do that at a much lower cost than projects like rail.
The original plans for the Amp called for buses running in dedicated lanes along most of the 7.1-mile route, and now Mayor Dean has asked the MTA's engineers to consider alternatives to center lanes to address issues related to traffic.
If we're going to make a dent in traffic, we need a rapid transit system that can take cars off the road and move riders efficiently through the busy corridor. Because the Amp will operate in dedicated lanes during portions of the route, it will be able to bypass the congested corridor, making it an effective and attractive alternative to sitting in traffic in your car.
Shorter travel times
According to MTA, the estimated average travel time during peak periods from Saint Thomas Hospital to Bridgestone Arena in a car will rise from 16:30 minutes in 2012 to 32:35 in 2016 and 37:10 minutes in 2022. Taking the Amp is projected to take about half of that time (16:57 minutes).
We're seeing encouraging results from similar systems. A 2012 report by the Government Accountability Office found that "all BRT projects that replaced existing transit service reported travel times savings during peak hours ranging from about 10 percent to 35 percent." In fact, riders on Cleveland's Healthline BRT system, widely regarded as one of the most successful, have seen commute times cut from 46 minutes to 34. That has helped increase the line's ridership, which has grown 60 percent since its inception, to 5 million annually.
The Amp will cut travel times for riders, and that's why having dedicated lanes on a significant portion of the route is vital to the future success of the project.
Jay Everett is a board member of Transit Now Nashville.


Piech: A "gifted car and engine developer whose attention to detail is limitless."
Ferdinand Piech, who celebrates his 80th birthday Monday, can look back at a lifetime of accomplishments that put Volkswagen Group on the path to becoming the world's largest automaker.
Piech's relationship with VW Group is ending bitterly after he lost influence and power. During his career, Piech was regarded as ruthless and uncompromising, an image he did nothing to counter, but his achievements are indisputable.
An engineer by training, Piech rose to become VW Group's CEO and later chairman. Along the way he turned VW's Audi brand into a true rival to Mercedes-Benz and BMW, rescued VW from the threat of bankruptcy and added brands such as Bentley and Bugatti.
Piech began his career with Porsche, the sports car company founded by his grandfather Ferdinand Porsche, where as chief engineer he developed its first Le Mans winning car, the Porsche 917. He nearly bankrupted the company in the process, leading to the Porsche-Piech clan banning family members from operational roles in the automaker.
Looking for a new start, Piech arrived at Audi in 1972 as an engineer for special projects. At the time Audi had a conservative image and was regarded as a mass-market automaker on the same level as Opel. Piech, who rose to become Audi CEO, took the brand upmarket by focusing on technological innovation.
Piech engineered the first five-cylinder gasoline engine and later the first permanent all-wheel drive for road-going cars in the Audi Quattro, which debuted at the 1980 Geneva auto show. In 1989 Audi unveiled at the Frankfurt show the world's first production TDI (turbocharged direct injection) five-cylinder diesel engine in the Audi 100.
Piech also moved the brand into lightweight construction very early on, developing Audi's A8 flagship sedan to be the first car to use an all-aluminum body frame in 1993. Audi today continues to be a leader in lightweight construction and its aluminum A2, which was axed in 2005 because of poor sales, is seeing a renaissance in the used-vehicle market.
When he was appointed Volkswagen CEO in January 1993, Piech inherited a company in crisis. That year VW posted what was its heaviest loss until its diesel emissions scandal plunged it to a 4.1-billion-euro deficit for 2015.
Under his leadership, VW introduced a then-revolutionary platform sharing strategy, in which various cars competing in the same segment under different brands were built off the same architecture to save costs.
Toyota won a reputation for green cars with the Prius hybrid but Piech was one of the first to experiment on ultra-low consumption cars earlier. In 1999, VW introduced a Lupo minicar with pioneering technologies to reduce fuel consumption to 3 liters per 100km (78 mpg U.S.; 94 mpg Imperial). Piech developed its successor, the experimental "1-Liter-Auto," which used just under 1 liter of diesel per 100km. He drove one to his final annual meeting as VW's CEO in 2002. More than ten years later the idea was made reality in a small series production vehicle called the XL1.
In the driving seat: Piech at the wheel of a 1-Liter Auto with former VW CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder in the passenger seat.
Piech continually sought to make game-changing deals, not always with success. A consummate collector of automotive brands, his thirst for acquisitions never seemed to be stilled as long as one target was still in play.
Bugatti, Bentley and Lamborghini were all purchased in 1998. Piech convinced fellow billionaire Jacob Wallenberg in March 2008 to sell his family's stake in Swedish truckmaker Scania to Volkswagen, laying the foundation for its heavy commercial vehicle business. Piech also used personal connections to persuade Osamu Suzuki to ally with Volkswagen to improve VW's market position in the Indian subcontinent and southeast Asia. The automakers' alliance collapsed amid claims from Suzuki about VW's arrogant approach to the partnership.
Five years ago, Piech grabbed Italian premium motorcycle manufacturer Ducati but his repeated overtures for Alfa Romeo were rebuffed by Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne.
He insisted on building the Phaeton, a luxury sedan that could match German rival Mercedes-Benz, complete with its own showcase factory. The Phaeton cost more than Mercedes' flagship S class. Analysts Bernstein Research said it was a financial black hole that lost 28,000 euros per unit sold. Piech also pushed the development of the Bugatti Veyron to be the world's fastest street-legal production car, with a top speed of 431kph (268 mph). Bernstein Research said VW lost 4.6 million euros on every unit sold.
Piech told Automobilwoche, a sister publication of Automotive News Europe, that the five most important cars he was responsible for were (in this order): the Porsche 917, Audi Quattro, VW Phaeton, Bugatti Chiron, and VW XL1. Piech picked the 1,500-hp Chiron over its 1,000-hp Veyron predecessor because it pushed speed boundaries even further than the Veyron.
Former Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking told Handelsblatt, a German business paper, last week that Piech is a "gifted car and engine developer whose attention to detail is limitless." Nothing left the production line that Piech had not personally closely inspected, Wiedeking said, but this was not always sensible from a business perspective. Piech was not consistent and "it was always a high risk gamble to guess if you had his support," said Wiedeking, who stepped down as Porsche CEO in 2009 after losing a power struggle with Piech.
When asked about Piech's accomplishments last month, Hans Dieter Poetsch, Piech's successor as VW chairman, said: "There is not enough time here to sufficiently pay homage to him. The short version is personally I think Ferdinand Piech set unforgettable milestones in automotive industry and he played a material role in the existence of the Volkswagen Group in its current state."
Piech's brilliance is almost overshadowed by his ruthless ego that tolerated no dissent and created an atmosphere of fear.
Almost as soon as he arrived as VW CEO of the group in January 1993, heads started to roll in VW Group's headquarters in Wolfsburg, beginning with Daniel Goudevert, head of brands at Volkswagen.
Piech fired three Audi CEOs in sucession: Franz-Josef Kortuem, who had succeeded him at Audi when Piech moved to the parent VW Group; then Kortuem's successor Herbert Demel. The third, Franz-Josef Paefgen, was shunted to Bentley shortly after Piech told the media he found Audi in a state of "inertia."
Former BMW CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder was a high profile victim. Piech picked Pischetsrieder to succeed him as VW CEO in 2002 after Pischetsrieder impressed him by winning a bidding battle between BMW and VW to buy Rolls-Royce. But the two clashed after Pischetsrieder pushed for an aggressive restructuring at VW. Pischetsrieder stepped down in 2006 and was replaced by Piech's then-protege Martin Winterkorn, who was head of Audi.
Porsche's Wiedeking fell foul to Piech's scheming partly because of his own poor judgement. Wiedeking attempted to use Porsche's small VW stake for a hostile acquisition of VW Group using VW's big cash pile to finance the takeover. When the Lehman crisis struck and banks refused refinacing, Porsche was saddled with 12 billion euros in debt. Unable to gain control over VW's cash reserves, Porsche almost collapsed.
Piech, left, clashed with Porsche CEO Wiedeking, right. The two are pictured in 2007.
Piech convinced his family to get rid of Wiedeking and sell the sports car maker to VW Group to pay down its financial obligations.
As Piech was celebrating his victory, the German media printed front page pictures of his cousin and rival Wolfgang Porsche tearfully informing Porsche employees in Stuttgart that after decades of independence, the carmaker would become a cog in the massive Volkswagen machine.
Even Piech's closest allies eventually lose favor. Piech tried to remove Winterkorn as VW CEO but other supervisory board members including Wolfgang Porsche supported Winterkorn and Piech quit as board chairman in April 2015. Five months later Winterkorn, who was about to get a contract extension as CEO and was expected eventually to succeed Piech as VW chairman, stepped down when VW's emissions-rigging scandal was made public by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.