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Business|Low Rates, Cheap Gas and Deeper Debt Sustain Car Buying Boom
https://nyti.ms/39GwYhR
Low Rates, Cheap Gas and Deeper Debt Sustain Car Buying Boom
Americans are also continuing to buy ever bigger cars, at prices escalating faster than the overall inflation rate.
Ram pickup trucks, made by Fiat Chrysler, at a dealership in Littleton, Colo. Ram became the No. 2 vehicle in nationwide sales last year, trailing only Ford's F-150.Credit...David Zalubowski/Associated Press
By Neal E. Boudette
Published Jan. 4, 2020 Updated Jan. 6, 2020
The auto industry has been on a roll for a decade, and its resurgence shows few signs of coming to a halt — at least for now.
Strong employment, low interest rates and robust consumer confidence combined last year to extend a record run of auto sales.
Americans are also continuing to buy ever bigger cars, at prices escalating faster than the overall inflation rate. And they are taking on more debt to do so.
Nationwide, automakers sold more than 17 million new cars and light trucks in 2019, the market-research firm Edmunds estimated Friday. It was the fifth straight year of sales exceeding that figure, a distinction never achieved before.
Some automakers, notably Ford, have yet to report their final figures for the year. When they do, the total is likely to be slightly below the 17.3 million vehicles sold in 2018.
"We are past the peak," said Mark Wakefield, a managing director at AlixPartners, a consulting firm with a large automotive practice. "But we are better off than we thought we would be going into 2019," he added, largely because of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.
Low fuel prices have also helped. The average retail price of regular gasoline was at $2.57 this week and has not been above $3 in more than five years, according to the Energy Information Administration.
That helps explain why consumers continued gravitating toward pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and other roomy models, offsetting another steep fall in sales of sedans and compacts. Nearly two out of every three new models purchased last year were classified as light trucks — which includes minivans and even some small, S.U.V.-shaped cars.
Better Sales, Bigger Prices
Despite a steady increase in the average sales price, auto sales have topped 17 million for five years in a row.
AVERAGE U.S. AUTO PRICE*
Inflation-adjusted
U.S. AUTO SALES
million vehicles
*Average transaction price for new vehicles.
Source: Edmunds
At the same time, the average new vehicle sold for $37,183, according to Edmunds. That represents an increase of 30 percent since 2009, a period in which overall consumer prices rose 20 percent. Much of the rise stems from increasing sales of trucks and larger vehicles, which sell for higher prices than cars. Many new cars also include elaborate technology like large touch screens, radar and other advanced safety systems, adding to the cost.
The shift to trucks, which generate more profit than cars, has powered General Motors and Fiat Chrysler in barely a decade from bankruptcy to near-record financial results. Ford's profit has been less stellar as it pushes to reorganize. Rivals that have traditionally been stronger in compacts and sedans — like Toyota and Honda — have also had bottom-line difficulties in North America, although they continue to make money.
Fiat Chrysler cashed in last year on the demand for pickups, with sales of its Ram jumping 18 percent to more than 633,000. That made it the nation's second-best selling vehicle after the Ford F-150 pickup, surpassing the Chevrolet Silverado from General Motors. (G.M.'s overall sales of full-size pickups still outpace the Ram, thanks to the Sierra sold by its GMC brand.)
Another winner was Tesla. Though electric cars made up less than 3 percent of overall car sales, Tesla dominated the category, and reported Friday that its worldwide deliveries were up 50 percent for the year. It did not break out sales in the United States.
Among the few companies to suffer significant declines were Mazda and Nissan, both of which have been slow to expand the range of their S.U.V.s. Mazda's 2019 sales in the United States fell 7 percent, and Nissan's were down 10 percent.
Auto executives remain confident about the industry outlook, yet mindful that a slump will come at some point.
"I feel positive about the market in 2020," said Mike Manley, chief executive of Fiat Chrysler. "It's very difficult to tell exactly because it's an election year and you never know what's going to happen."
Mr. Manley said he did not expect a huge downturn like the one that hit the industry in 2008 and 2009. "But the reality is, the market is cyclical," he said. "At some stage, the industry is going to drop off on its own."
Most analysts see auto sales slipping only slightly in 2020, to a range of roughly 16.5 million to 16.9 million vehicles. "With the overall strength in the economy, with full employment, you've got consumer confidence at an all-time high," said Jack Hollis, group vice president and general manager of Toyota in North America.
In addition, the three big American automakers bought four years of labor peace in the fall with new union contracts, though at the cost of a 40-day strike against General Motors.
Nevertheless, the industry still faces some risks. The Trump administration's trade war with China remains unresolved. And the rising tensions between the United States and Iran are a reminder of the potential volatility of oil prices.
The new trade deal by the United States, Mexico and Canada is likely to increase domestic production and auto employment slightly and cause automakers to think hard before adding new plants in Mexico. "The question is whether it raises prices, and if that hits demand," Mr. Wakefield said.
One worry is whether the steady rise in prices is sustainable, along with the increasing debt that owners have taken on to buy those more expensive cars.
More than one-third of Americans now have auto loans, up from 20 percent in 1999, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The share of consumer debt going to auto loans climbed to 9.4 percent in the third quarter of 2019, compared with 6 percent in the same period 10 years ago.
Many consumers are dealing with the higher prices by borrowing over longer terms. Auto loans approved in December had an average term of 69 months, compared with 62 months a decade earlier, Edmunds found.
That has helped keep monthly car payments from climbing as fast as sales prices. Still, those payments for loans generated in December averaged $577, up from $499 in 2014.
"That's really the number to watch," Mr. Wakefield of AlixPartners said, and so far the consumer can handle it.
For Mr. Manley's company, Fiat Chrysler, consumer concerns about affordability have paid off. Last year, it introduced a brawnier Ram pickup available with a large touch screen and other advanced technologies. But Fiat Chrysler has continued making a more basic version, which can sell for $6,000 to $8,000 less than competing models. "We have a truck that is a great value," Mr. Manley said.
Whatever the value, though, the cost is pushing some buyers away from new cars.
Last August, when Pete Krupsky went to look to replace his high-mileage Honda Civic, he headed straight to his dealer's used-car lot. "I didn't want a new car because I can't afford the $25,000 or whatever the price is," said Mr. Krupsky, a hockey play-by-play announcer in Rockwood, Mich.
He found a 2017 Honda Accord with 19,000 on its odometer — for $18,000. "It's the most luxurious car I've ever had," he added.
Susan Beachy contributed research.


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Car News Electric Tesla
Tesla vehicles not reliable enough, company looks to reduce warranty costs
Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, has taken to the stage to address its stakeholders about concerns related to warranty costs, ahead of the company's first-quarter results which are due on May 4.
Tesla has been forced to divest funds away from the company to addressing quality control issues that have plagued a considerable amount of its vehicles.
As it stands, Tesla spends on average around twice as much as the likes of Ford and General Motors on warranty repair services on its vehicles, according to analysis from Reuters.
On average, last year Tesla spent US$1043 on physical repairs, and set aside a further $2036 on problems that may arise down the road on recently-purchases vehicles. In contrast, General Motors spent around $400 on repairs, with another $332 saved for future work.
The figure represents the amount of capital set aside for future problematic repairs, and suggests that Tesla products more than others need a helping-hand after their purchase.
Tesla managed to edge out even above premium brands like Mercedes Benz, with Daimler spending $970 per vehicle on repairs, and setting aside $1294.
Tesla has begun addressing this spending with annual spending figures down from 17 per cent on repairs and 34 per cent on warranty accruals from 2014 to 2015.
The major problems that have plagued Tesla are customers complaining of malfunctioning doors on the Model X and faulty sensors. Tesla has since instructed technicians how to address these issues, as well as releasing bug fixes through its over-the-air updates sent out to every vehicle.
InTesla Model S, Tesla Model X

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
#ifndef V8LazyEventListener_h
#define V8LazyEventListener_h

#include "PlatformString.h"
#include "V8AbstractEventListener.h"
#include <v8.h>
#include <wtf/text/TextPosition.h>
#include <wtf/PassRefPtr.h>

namespace WebCore {

    class Event;
    class Frame;

    // V8LazyEventListener is a wrapper for a JavaScript code string that is compiled and evaluated when an event is fired.
    // A V8LazyEventListener is always a HTML event handler.
    class V8LazyEventListener : public V8AbstractEventListener {
    public:
        static PassRefPtr<V8LazyEventListener> create(const String& functionName, bool isSVGEvent, const String& code, const String& sourceURL, const TextPosition0& position, const WorldContextHandle& worldContext)
        {
            return adoptRef(new V8LazyEventListener(functionName, isSVGEvent, code, sourceURL, position, worldContext));
        }

        virtual bool isLazy() const { return true; }

    protected:
        virtual void prepareListenerObject(ScriptExecutionContext*);

    private:
        V8LazyEventListener(const String& functionName, bool isSVGEvent, const String& code, const String sourceURL, const TextPosition0& position, const WorldContextHandle& worldContext);

        virtual v8::Local<v8::Value> callListenerFunction(ScriptExecutionContext*, v8::Handle<v8::Value> jsEvent, Event*);

        // Needs to return true for all event handlers implemented in JavaScript so that
        // the SVG code does not add the event handler in both
        // SVGUseElement::buildShadowTree and again in
        // SVGUseElement::transferEventListenersToShadowTree
        virtual bool wasCreatedFromMarkup() const { return true; }

        String m_functionName;
        bool m_isSVGEvent;
        String m_code;
        String m_sourceURL;
        TextPosition0 m_position;
    };

} // namespace WebCore

#endif // V8LazyEventListener_h

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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This timely and lucid guide is intended for students and scholars working on all historical periods and topics in the humanities and social sciences--especially for those who do not think of themselves as experts in quantification, "big data," or "digital humanities."
The authors reveal quantification to be a powerful and versatile tool, applicable to a myriad of materials from the past. Their book, accessible to complete beginners, offers detailed advice and practical tips on how to build a dataset from historical sources and how to categorize it according to specific research questions. Drawing on examples from works in social, political, economic, and cultural history, the book guides readers through a wide range of methods, including sampling, cross-tabulations, statistical tests, regression, factor analysis, network analysis, sequence analysis, event history analysis, geographical information systems, text analysis, and visualization. The requirements, advantages, and pitfalls of these techniques are presented in layperson's terms, avoiding mathematical terminology.
Conceived primarily for historians, the book will prove invaluable to other humanists, as well as to social scientists looking for a nontechnical introduction to quantitative methods. Covering the most recent techniques, in addition to others not often enough discussed, the book will also have much to offer to the most seasoned practitioners of quantification.


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Gangbyeon est une station sur la ligne 2 du métro de Séoul, dans l'arrondissement de Gwangjin-gu. Dû à son emplacement au bord du Han, son nom veut dire la rive, ou plus littéralement le bord du fleuve. Elle est aussi appelée Terminal des bus de Séoul-Est.

Situation sur le réseau

Histoire

Services aux voyageurs

Accès et accueil

Desserte

Intermodalité

Projets

À proximité

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Métro de Séoul

Liens externes

Station du métro de Séoul
Ligne 2 du métro de Séoul

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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FIXER SERVICE
Your Trip Supports Children's Park Project & Scholarship Fund
Bhutan Park Project is a social initiative of our sister establishment Tiny Toes Daycare, based in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan. The project aims to build and maintain safe and modern children's parks in urban centers across Bhutan.
Bhutan Park Project started as a pilot study in 2011 when Tiny Toes Daycare, after securing funds from the King of Bhutan's office, built the first modern children's park in the country in Thimphu, with branded, molded plastic equipment from India. It replaced the old dilapidated park which was made from makeshift wood and iron, and which was abandoned after it had caused injuries to children.
Since then the project has built similar parks in 9 districts, out of 20, with financial support from the government.
But convincing the government on the wisdom of building children's parks is not easy. It takes months of communications and persuasions, and many of our proposals wind up in bins because of budget constraints. The project has yet to cover 11 more districts.
Bhutan Spicy Shangri-La was, therefore, born out of this need to build a 'sustainable funding scheme' for the Bhutan Park Project. Proceeds from your trip go to our Bhutan Park Project fund.
By booking your trip with Bhutan Spicy Shangri-La, you also help our 'scholarship fund' initiated by Tiny Toes Daycare to help children from disadvantaged families in urban areas attend daycares and schools.
WHAT IS THE COST
HOW TO GET VISA
Our clients have fantastic things to say about us.
Read Their Testimonials
Many travellers say Bhutan is one of the best things about Asia.
Bhutan Spicy Shangri-La
Bhutan Spicy Shangri-La was born out of the need for a sustainable funding scheme to build and maintain children's parks in urban areas across Bhutan. Proceeds from your trip supports our Bhutan Park Project.
+975-176-035-07 OR 777-297-57 +61-452-372-781 (Sydney, Australia) hello@bhutanspicyshangrila.com
Address (Bhutan) :
Yarkay Complex
Norzin Lam
Thimphu 11001
© Bhutan Spicy Shangri-La 2021. All rights reserved. Design & Hosted By The Bhutan Web


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s03.e06 | Richmond Webb: Big Guys Love Small Cars
The Miami Dolphins had high hopes for Richmond Webb when they selected him out of Texas A&M with the ninth overall pick of the 1990 draft and the left tackle not only met, but greatly exceeded all expectations. Charged with protecting Dan Marino's blindside, Webb was an instant starter on the Dolphins offensive line. He played every offensive snap during his rookie year, only giving up two sacks and instantly proving he could go toe-to-toe with divisional rival, Bruce Smith. Webb was so dominant that he was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons, landing a spot on the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. In The Tank, Richmond reveals the great advice he was given by Buddy Ryan at the Senior Bowl, vividly recalls getting sensitive after being taken to task by Dolphins coaching icon Don Shula, shares why he and guard Keith Sims were such a formidable duo, and provides an in the huddle perspective on the greatness of Dan Marino.
s03.e05 | Ray Lucas: Split You To The White Meat
One of the more outspoken and boisterous players to don a Dolphins uniform in the past 25 years, Ray Lucas' story always comes back to his native Harrison, New Jersey. A heavily recruited high school athlete, Lucas turned away the suitors to stay home and attend Rutgers University. From 1992-95, Lucas became one of the most prolific Scarlet Knights signal callers in school history, ultimately being inducted in the Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017. Despite his success in college, however, Lucas went undrafted in 1996, eventually signing with the New England Patriots as a free agent and beginning his NFL career as a wide receiver and on special teams. After one season with the Patriots, Lucas followed Bill Parcells to the New York Jets where he moved back into the quarterback room. In 1999, replacing an injured Vinny Testaverde, Ray finally got his shot under center, winning 6 of his 8 starts to lead the struggling Jets to an 8-8 finish. In 2001, Lucas joined the Dolphins where he backed up starter Jay Fiedler for two seasons and quickly became a popular personality in the Miami locker room. In The Tank, Ray discusses his love for all things New Jersey, his experiences with the Dolphins-Jets rivalry from both sides of the fence, his fondness for his Dolphins teammates, and his appreciation for current Fins Head Coach Brian Flores. He also candidly details his struggles with a pain killer addition that nearly cost him his life.


Ahoy friends. It's been a while. I've half-finished a new album. I'm really proud of the material I've completed so far, it's just that things were getting a bit intense. I found myself going down rabbit holes and losing perspective a bit. It's a hard thing to articulate, but I decided I needed to step back from it and take a little breather in order to return refreshed.
Til next time, be well!


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Woof. Yesterday was not good and the Conductor is leaving Los Alamitos as fast as possible this morning. The train headed back to Gulfstream Park today to see if we kind find our form from mid-week. We don't want a big day today Conductor, we need one. Let's Ride.
#1 Mjolnir (10/1) – Throw out his last race on a sloppy track, he's run some very competitive numbers on turf for this level in his last few starts. With the blinkers coming off, he should be able to sit off ha hot pace and come running late.
#1 Ledecky (3/1) – In her first dirt start last time, she ran her best career race and won nicely. The dirt may be what she's wanted all along.
#7 Champagne Bliss (4/1) – Dropping in for a tag for the first-time last start, she ran a solid 2nd after stumbling at the start. She should get a perfect trip today from the outside post.
*Atom Bomb Shot of the Day #2 Artesian (20/1) – Winner of her last start on synthetic, this mare will get another chance on turf, which she hasn't gotten in years. This is a weak group for this level and if she can translate her form to the grass she'll have a chance. The Conductor will key her in the trifecta as a bomb.
*Sunday Night Scary Preventer Lock of the Day #8 Southern Toddy (4/1) – The Conductor will go with this 1st time starter as there is no form to like in this race. Trainer Armando De La Cerda is 27% with a +0.27 ROI debuting maiden claimers this year, and we get red hot Luis Saez in the irons.
*Gullet Shot of the Day #5 Nephew Howard D (20/1) – Pressing scorching paces at this level in his last two starts, he's still hung around to hold for 2nd and 4th. He's improving in the Bobby Dibona barn and posted a nice work last week. He's another bomb the Conductor will key in the trifecta.
#8 Uno Emayo (8/1) – He won at this level two starts back and last time he ran a terrific 2nd, closing into a slow pace. He loves this distance and has a hot jockey/trainer combo.
*Double Atom Bomb Shot of the Day #1 Killa Dee (20/1) – Bullet works and a trainer that can surprise with 1st time starters, the Conductor is trying to rip out Gulfstream's soul today.
#11 Run Blondie Run (4/1) – Much improved now in the Yvon Belsoeur barn, she's in good form and a repeat effort of her last start will be tough to beat in here.
#6 Indurate (8/1) – He's been off since the summer, but he's plunging in class and received the ultimate equipment change. Nothing like a good clipping to wake a horse up.


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Southwest Airlines passenger said Jesus told her to open plane door, feds say
In court: A woman who allegedly caused a disturbance on a Southwest Airlines flight appeared in federal court on Tuesday. (Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
December 01, 2022 at 3:06 pm CST
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A woman who caused a disturbance on a Southwest Airlines flight over the weekend told passengers that Jesus told her to open the door of the aircraft after it left Houston, according to court documents.
According to the FBI, Southwest Airlines Flight 192, which was headed to Columbus, Ohio, from Houston's William P. Hobby Airport on Saturday made an emergency landing at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas KARK-TV reported.
Flight attendants said that Elom Agbegninou, 34, tried to pull the handle of the door exit at the rear of the aircraft during the flight, KTRK-TV reported. Agbegninou appeared in federal court on Tuesday morning, and in a federal complaint, prosecutors said she committed assault within maritime and territorial jurisdictions and interfered with flight crew members and attendants, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Feds: Woman tried to open door, bit passenger on plane diverted to Little Rock https://t.co/1V17eWTf10
— AR Democrat-Gazette (@ArkansasOnline) November 29, 2022
The disturbance reportedly started when Agbegninou attempted to open an exit door at the rear of the plane during the flight, according to court documents. At the time, the aircraft was flying at 37,000 feet, KARK reported.
Flight attendants told officers that Agbegninou shoved one of them and began pulling at the exit door handle before being restrained, KTHV-TV reported. A passenger who helped restrain Agbegninou was bitten on the right thigh, according to the television station.
Southwest flight bound for Ohio diverted to Little Rock after assault
Court documents state that Agbegninou allegedly told the victim that "Jesus told her to fly to Ohio" and to open the plane door, KTHV reported.
Local authorities met the plane once it landed in Little Rock and Agbegninou was removed from the aircraft, according to KTRK.
The victim was taken to a Little Rock hospital for treatment of the bite, the Democrat-Gazette reported. The federal complaint states that the victim is a military veteran with PTSD and anxiety; the victim called a veterans' crisis hotline after the incident, according to the newspaper.
Agbegninou told investigators she was traveling to Maryland to stay with a family friend, the Democrat-Gazette reported. She bought a ticket that same day without telling her husband and boarded the plane without any luggage, according to the newspaper.
During Tuesday's hearing, Agbegninou's attorney expressed concern over the defendant's mental ability to stand trial, according to court records. She has been turned over to U.S. Marshals Service custody until an evaluation is completed, according to the Democrat-Gazette.
NHL Hall of Famer Bobby Hull dies


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Global Teacher Prize
A US $1 million award presented annually to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession.
About the Global Teacher Prize
The Judging Academy
Global Student Prize
The Chegg.org Global Student Prize is a US$100,000 award presented to an exceptional student, making a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on society beyond.
Jeremiah Thoronka - 2021 Winner
About the Global Student Prize
Criteria and Eligibility
Meet our incredible Global Teacher Prize winners and find out about the inspiring work they do.
Keishia Thorpe 2021
Ranjitsinh Disale 2020
Peter Tabichi 2019
Andria Zafirakou 2018
Maggie MacDonnell 2017
Hanan Al Hroub 2016
Nancie Atwell 2015
Meet the extraordinary top 50 finalists of the Global Teacher Prize. They are paving the way to ensure that all children get a good education.
National Teacher Prizes
The success of the Global Teacher Prize has inspired countries around the world to set up their own awards to find and honour their best teachers.
Jennifer Zhu Scott
@jenzhuscott
Jennifer Zhu Scott is the Founding Principal of Radian and Radian Blockchain Ventures. Prior, she was head of business development and strategy in APAC for Thomson Reuters. She co-founded one of the first education companies in China and sold her shares when she was 26 before moving to the UK as a senior advisor to the education subsidiary of Daily Mail & General Trust. Jennifer is a judge for New York Design Awards, London Design Awards and an Academy Member of Global Teacher Prize. In 2014, she was appointed as one of the 18 council members of China Council convened by the Global Agenda Council, the World Economic Forum's think tank and was reappointed to be one of the 20 The Future of Blockchain Council in 2016. In 2013, Jennifer was honored by WEF as a Young Global Leader. Jennifer studied Applied Mathematics at Sichuan University and holds an MBA in Finance with Manchester Business School. In 2013, she completes the public policy and leadership program at Yale University and at Harvard Kennedy School in 2014. Jennifer is a China Fellow of Aspen Institute and a permanent member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
"Education helped me to break barriers and remains as an important part of my career and passion. Without the encouragements, challenges, and inspirations by all the enlightened and courageous teachers I have so fortunately encountered, I would have never arrived at the place I find myself now. The mission of The Global Teacher Prize is critical to our future generations, thus it is an honour to support."
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Two years ago, we did a program about a mysterious business in Texas that threatens companies with lawsuits for violating its patents. But the world of patent lawsuits is so secretive, there were basic questions we could not answer. Now we can. And we get a glimpse why people say our patent system may be discouraging, not encouraging, innovation.
Perhaps the biggest proponent of smaller government in the United States is lobbyist and activist Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform.
The last day of the month begins.
After Huma Abedin's emails were discovered on her husband's computer by the FBI, and after FBI Director James Comey publicly declared the agency would be investigating those emails, Hillary Clinton's poll numbers dropped.


A digital & modular video game platform for individualized therapy. For inpatient, outpatient and home therapy.
reFit Systems GmbH is a Munich-based company specialising in digital solutions for healthcare and medical technology. By combining modern software technology, motivational video games, and cutting-edge monitoring and analysis tools, we provide a modular video game platform for the rehabilitation of patients with movement disorders – reFit Gamo.
With reFit Gamo, therapists can easily define individual therapy requirements, constantly monitor patient progress, and access medical analysis. Patients are motivated to do their individual exercises by entertaining, motion-based video games that train core strength, balance, and coordination skills. The controls of the games are defined by each patient's individual therapy plan. At the same time, the reFit Gamo system monitors movements via biofeedback algorithms and stores relevant information in a secure cloud for analysis and visualisation.
Our solution is developed for inpatient, outpatient as well as for home therapy.
Test our digital therapy system with two different modules: balance and coordination, and hand therapy direct at out booth!


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Link to website: Crown Zellerbach's National Paper Products Mill in Port Townsend starts operation on October 6, 1928.
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7475
History Link.org
"On Monday, October 6, 1928, the new Crown Zellerbach kraft paper mill, doing business as the National Paper Products Company, starts operation. The citizens of Port Townsend fought hard to be the site of the new mill and, after they nearly lose the bid to Aberdeen, construction begins at Glen Cove in September 1927. As a side benefit, the city gains a new, reliable water supply, needed to sustain the production of paper and the increase in population. The new National Paper Products Mill infuses new life into the languishing city and immediately becomes the backbone of Port Townsend's economy." Article written by Daryl C. McClary, online, 09/22/2005.
Zellerbach Corporation, National Paper Products Company, Paper Mill, Glen Cove, Port Townsend, WA


OMG. Emily and I absolutely had a *ball* at the Spark*Con street painting event. We were pressed for time so we weren't able to spend the weekend and take in all the fantastic performers and artists through the rest of the sparks, but I assure you, we will not miss a minute next year! It's a beautiful event and such a joy to see all types of artists in all age groups getting out there and building an amazing community. Without further ado, here's our finished square!
This is all Emily's design. I did draw the sketch to help get her started, but then I just followed her directions. It's supposed to be an Alien eating a hamburger. When someone walked by and noted that it is a lovely frog – Emily was a bit miffed. I asked her how you could tell it was an alien and not a frog and she indignantly looked at me and said, "Mama, Frogs don't eat hamburgers". We thought it was funny and the title was born!
It just so happened we were working right outside our local news station, ABC11. One of the camera men stopped by to use Emily as an ad teaser. She didnt even realize he was there, but after she figured out what was happening, she was over the moon. I think he made her year!
Another funny thing happened, while talking to people walking by, we met a lovely couple, Bud and Corrine. Bud told us that he had missed the deadline to sign up. He seemed to be interested in doing some artwork and truly bummed he missed it. He made few comments on what could be added to our alien. Since I love collaboration and this event is about community, I thought it would be fantastic if he adopted our alien for Saturday and took it wherever he saw fit. He agreed! We gave him the chalk we had left and I hoped with all my insides he'd send me a picture of what he'd with it. Guess what? He did! Check THIS out!
See that orange banner up there? We won an award!! We had best design in family category!
We really went out to have lots of fun and didnt know they would be judged. The experience was awesome and Emily is just thrilled to have an award. Seriously? How cool is that?!
Thank you Spark*Con. You've created an amazing community event. I love everything about it from street painting all the way to swear*spark. We are already thinking of what to put in our street square next year and can't wait to spend a whole weekend rather than the rush we had this year. I'm going to do my best to visit you some through the year and promise to wear my new art spark t-shirt with pride!
What an amazing picture and a fabulous idea for a family collaboration. Well done to both of you.
Awesome job you two!! Congrats on the win!, best. alien. ever.
Looks like you two had lots of fun and made some good memories.
What a cool thing to do! They look amazing and I bet you guys had so much fun. You are the best family ever, it's official!
Oh my gosh she is adorable, and so right, frogs don't eat hamburgers! Congratulations on your award! Sounds like a blast!
What a lovely day you had, and congrats to you both!
Sew great to see you two working together! You guys did an awesome job. Love the title, too! Congrats on the win!
Yeah for getting to be a part of such a great event! And to win an award – how wonderful is that! I can see your daughter is as creative as you – What a team!!


It is as deadly for a mind to have a system as to have none. Therefore it will have to decide to combine both.
A so-called happy marriage corresponds to love as a correct poem to an improvised song.
Man is a creative retrospection of nature upon itself.
Man is free whenever he produces or manifests God, and through this he becomes immortal.
There are writers in Germany who drink the Absolute like water; and there are books in which even the dogs make references to the Infinite.
He who has religion will speak poetry. But philosophy is the tool with which to seek and discover religion.
God is each truly and exalted thing, therefore the individual himself to the highest degree. But are not nature and the world individuals?
Novels tend to end as the Paternoster begins: with the kingdom of God on earth.
No idea is isolated, but is only what it is among all ideas.
All the classical genres are now ridiculous in their rigorous purity.
Nothing is more witty and grotesque than ancient mythology and Christianity; that is because they are so mystical.
In true prose everything must be underlined.
In the world of language, or in other words in the world of art and liberal education, religion necessarily appears as mythology or as Bible.
Mathematics is, as it were, a sensuous logic, and relates to philosophy as do the arts, music, and plastic art to poetry.
From what the moderns want, we must learn what poetry should become; from what the ancients did, what poetry must be.
Like Leibniz's possible worlds, most men are only equally entitled pretenders to existence. There are few existences.
Novels are the Socratic dialogues of our time. Practical wisdom fled from school wisdom into this liberal form.
The difference between religion and morality lies simply in the classical division of things into the divine and the human, if one only interprets this correctly.
A classical work doesn't ever have to be understood entirely. But those who are educated and who are still educating themselves must desire to learn more and more from it.
The main thing is to know something and to say it.
The subject of history is the gradual realization of all that is practically necessary.
Religion is absolutely unfathomable. Always and everywhere one can dig more deeply into infinities.


Description: Harold Zinke is a business categorized under lessors of real property nec, which is part of the larger category lessors of real property nec. Harold Zinke is located at the address 638 Church Rd in Compton, Illinois 61318-9627. The Owner is Harold Zinke who can be contacted at (815)497-4241.
Location & access map for "Harold Zinke"


The Jog falls waterfall is one of the major tourist attractions of Karnataka and it is in the midst of attractive beauty. At the Jog falls from a altitude of 292 m, 4 streams of the river Sharavathy go down. The names of the 4 streams are Raja, Royar, Rocket and Rani (or White Lady). Raja falls straight and in the midway meets with Royar.
The natural attraction of the Jog falls is beyond imagination. During monsoons and after monsoon is the time when the Jog falls looks most attractive. The reflection of the rainbow colors can be seen in the water.
From 10 am to 6 pm on every second Sunday of the month water is released to the falls from the dam and at that time the full splendor of the falls can be seen.
On the river Sharavathy is built a hydro-electric plant on Jog. The Sharavathy Valley Project can be visited by taking permission from the Karnataka Power Corporation and in South Asia it is the largest and first of its kind.
The Lingamukhi Dam, Reservoir and Power House are situated at a distance of 13 km from Jog Falls and the Mahatma Gandhi Hydro-Electric Plant is situated at less than a kilometer from here. Sharavathy is their 3rd project which 10 km from here. These places can be visited by use of private vans.
At 16 km to the East of the Jog falls, the nearest railway station, Talguppa is situated. Shimoga, which is connected by many trains from Bangalore, Hubli and Mysore, is 98 km from Talguppa.
Vatkal can be visited on the way. Vatkal is an ancient port city and many temples built by the Vijayanagar kings can be seen here and displays of Jainism can also be found.
Mudreshwar is another holy city at 16 km from Jog falls. At Mudreshwar beach, Temple and Pigeon island must be visited.
For more than 100 years during winter, migrating birds from all parts of the world have been assembling at this 74 hectare bird sanctuary which is a marshland.
It was in the year 1985 that this place started emerging and established as a bird sanctuary. It can be visited by bus from Talguppa via Sidhapur (32 km).
Sandal wood and ivory industries are the fame of Sagar. Sagar is located 31 km from Jog and 340 km from Mysore. Sagar-Jambagaru is the station's name on the railway route of Talguppa-Shimoga. The commercial city of Sagar is visited by every bus going to Jog.
The Aghoreswar Temple at Ikkeri, which was built by the Nayak kings in the 16th century which is 3 km from the city, is one of Sagar's major attractions. Sagar is 72 km from Shimoga town.
At a distance of 115 km from Shimoga is present Chandragutti which is a remote village of Malnad.
On 20th March every year, millions of male and female devotees go naked to the Benukomba or Matangi temple after taking a holy dip in the Baroda river which is 4 km from the temple. This is a big occasion here and is called Betele Seve, which means naked worship.


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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=573&body=H
Home / Historical Biographies / NICHOLAS A. PUCCIARELLI
NICHOLAS A. PUCCIARELLI
1979 192 Democrat
PUCCIARELLI, Nicholas A., a Representative from Philadelphia County; born in the city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pa., January 1, 1923; graduated, Dobbins Vocational High School; graduated, Drexel University; attended, Spring Garden Institute of Technology; served, United States Army (1944-1946, World War II); automobile service, auto body repairs; revenue examiner, city of Philadelphia (1972-1978); chair, 34th Ward Democratic Executive Committee; member, 34th Ward Division Committee; elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Democrat for the 1979 and 1981 terms; unsuccessful campaign for reelection to the House (1982); died, September 18, 1983 in the city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interred, Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
#PaHouse APPROPRIATIONS meets today, 1/22/2020: http://tinyurl.com/y343hzuu today at 6:17 AM
House Scholarship Program
House of Representatives Legislative Fellowship Program
House Archival Internship Program


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The Arrangement Renewed for Season 2
By Andy Swift / April 13 2017, 6:46 AM PDT
Courtesy of E!
Kyle West and Megan Morrison will need to extend their little contract — E! on Thursday announced that The Arrangement has been renewed for Season 2.
The network's second scripted drama — the first being The Royals, heading into its fourth season — The Arrangement follows a young actress named Megan (played by Christine Evangelista) who becomes involved with a Scientology-esque organization after meeting big-time movie star Kyle (played by Josh Henderson).
"We are thrilled to see the show resonate with viewers and gain momentum throughout the season," Adam Stotsky, President of E! Entertainment and Esquire Network, said in a statement. "Continuing to fuel our audience's passion for pop culture and celebrity, The Arrangement allows us to reveal a darker side of Hollywood that has never been seen before."
New episodes of The Arrangement air Sundays at 10/9c. Are you excited for Season 2? Drop a comment with your thoughts below.
TAGS: E!, The Arrangement
GET MORE: Renewals


Ours is a sole proprietorship firm, which comprises a number of departments and entities. We are supported by the services of highly proficient members including some of the advanced knowledgeable minds in the drug & pharmaceutical industries. Our pharmacists and chemists have many years of prior experience in their respective domains and are therefore, able to formulate the most effective range of Bulk Drug / API's , Intermediates & Chemicals and Excipients. Furthermore, we ensure that our professionals are assisted with the appropriate apparatus and technology, so that they can perform their tasks in a proper manner.


Catch all rays and shine in our new Jagger Mirror Dress. In collaboration with the Naked Tiger, this long dress is intricately hand-made cotton crochet with shiny mirror sequin sewn in to the crochet.
Long Dress with shoulder straps to tie at back.
Wear as a cover up on the beach or as a party dress.
This dress is hand-made and must be treated delicately. Getting the dress caught or harsh pulling, will cause the work to come undone. We recommend hand-washing and lying flat and in the shade to dry.


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The Books Must Go Out
Utah's state library shipped books for the blind all over the country during the pandemic
By Ellen Fagg Weist | Photography by Todd Anderson
On the phone, Ruth Levi, a 97-year-old reader from Chicago, admitted she was a little bit desperate.
In the middle of the pandemic, the Midwestern warehouse of the National Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled had shut its doors. Yet Levi, who is visually impaired, was routed to the phone of Lisa Nelson, manager of Utah's Program for the Blind & Disabled, which remained open.
"She called one day out of the blue," Nelson recalls. "I'm calling Utah because I've just got to have some books. I feel like I've been on a desert island for the past little while because I don't have a thing to read and I don't want to watch TV.'"
On March 11, as libraries across the country were considering closing due to the spread of the virus, Utah officials classified as "essential" the staff of the Multistate Center West — located at the state library complex on the west side of Salt Lake City. (The warehouse, which operates under a contract from the Library of Congress, was only closed for a one-day building safety check after Magna's 5.7 magnitude earthquake on March 18.)
Due to the pandemic, volunteers and public visitors haven't been allowed to enter the Library for the Blind facilities, but staff kept shipping out book requests. In contrast, the country's Multistate Center East, in Cincinnati, closed on March 23 and remained shuttered until June 1.
Utah library managers upgraded sanitation and safety routines while mandating masks for workers, and began quarantining materials for three days after they were returned. Nelson says her Canadian-reared husband lent her a hockey stick as a visual reminder of what the distance of 6 feet looks like.
Library staff took orders via an online catalog or by telephone, then shipped Braille and digital books all over the country. From March to June, Utah staffers shipped three times as many volumes as usual through the state's interlibrary program, says Joe Ballard, director of the Multistate Center West. "I do think it came at some sacrifice on my staff's side," says Colleen Eggett, Utah State Library director.
Some readers were so grateful they tucked thank-you notes in returned books. In a May letter, Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert commended state library workers for their service, underscoring how books can provide comfort and escape during times of crisis.
Back in March, readers — who were allowed to check out 30 books at a time — were hoarding books, worried the Utah warehouse would soon shut down. When the limit was increased to 60, readers were willing to return books before they had read them for the second or third time, Nelson says.
Photograph by Todd Anderson
"At first, they wanted everything we had on pandemics or plagues or catastrophic events through history," says Nelson, adding that by June, readers were again requesting more entertaining books by favorite authors.
Listening to digital books has been invaluable during the pandemic, says Sharon Hinson of St. George, in the way the stories allowed her to go into her own "wonderland." She became friends with state librarians as she regularly placed her book orders by phone. "I appreciate them so much for keeping me going, because I would have gone stir crazy" without new books to listen to, says Hinson, who added that she had lost her sight gradually over the past 24 years.
Even after the Midwestern warehouse reopened in June, Ruth Levi continued to call Utah to request new books and ask questions, most recently inquiring about writer Wallace Stegner's time living in Utah. Nelson says she was always happy to talk with her new friend, and happy to contact her counterpart in Cincinnati to fulfill Levi's book orders.
MORE: Visit blindlibrary.utah.gov to learn more about available services and resources.


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Morris Robinson
From: Atlanta, Georgia. LA Opera: Sarastro in The Magic Flute (2009, debut); Fasolt in Das Rheingold (2009, 2010); Oroveso in Norma (2015); Osmin in The Abduction from the Seraglio (2017); Zaccaria in Nabucco (2017); Sparafucile in Rigoletto (2018); Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlo (2018); Parsi Rustomji in Satyagraha (2018); Ferrando in Il Trovatore (2021); Hermann in Tannhäuser (2021). Upcoming: Ramfis in Aida (2022) and Lodovico in Otello (2023).
Morris Robinson is considered one the most interesting and sought-after basses performing today.
He regularly appears at the Metropolitan Opera, where he is a graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Program. He debuted there in a production of Fidelio and has since appeared as Sarastro in The Magic Flute (both in the original production and in the children's English version), Ferrando in Il Trovatore, the King in Aida, and in roles in Nabucco, Tannhäuser, and the new productions of Les Troyens and Salome. He has also appeared at the San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Seattle Opera, LA Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Teatro alla Scala, Volksoper Wien, Opera Australia, and the Aix-en-Provence Festival. His many roles include the title role in Porgy and Bess, Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Osmin in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Ramfis in Aida, Zaccaria in Nabucco, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlo, Timur in Turandot, the Bonze in Madama Butterfly, Padre Guardiano in La Forza del Destino, Ferrando in Il Trovatore, and Fasolt in Das Rheingold.
Also a prolific concert singer, Mr. Robinson's recently made his debut with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in performances of the Mahler Symphony No. 8 with its music director, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyl. His many concert engagements have included appearances with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (where he was the 2015/16 Artist in Residence), San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Met Chamber Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, New England String Ensemble, and at the BBC Proms and the Ravinia, Mostly Mozart, Tanglewood, Cincinnati May, Verbier, and Aspen Music Festivals. He also appeared in Carnegie Hall as part of Jessye Norman's HONOR! Festival. In recital he has been presented by Spivey Hall in Atlanta, the Savannah Music Festival, the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Mr. Robinson's solo album, Going Home, was released on the Decca label. He also appears as Joe in the DVD of the San Francisco Opera production of Show Boat, and in the DVDs of the Metropolitan Opera's production of Salome and the Aix-en-Provence Festival's production of Mozart's Zaide.
For the reduced 2020/21 season, Mr. Robinson returns to both the Michigan Opera Theater and the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Haggen in Twilight: Gods, an innovative production of Gotterdämmerung created by Yuval Sharon. He also sings Sparafucile in a special performance of Rigolettto produced by the Tulsa Opera. He is also a member of the Atlanta Opera's Company Players for the 2020/21 season where he will appear in various concerts, recitals, and educations outreach events throughout the year.
An Atlanta native, Mr. Robinson is a graduate of The Citadel and received his musical training from the Boston University Opera Institute. He was recently named Artistic Advisor to the Cincinnati Opera.
To learn more, visit MorrisRobinson.com.
Don Carlo


See also Coatbridge on Wikipedia; and our 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica disclaimer.
COATBRIDGE, a municipal and police burgh, having the privileges of a royal burgh, of Lanarkshire, Scotland. Pop. (1891) 15,212; (1901) 36,991. It is situated on the Monkland Canal, 8 m. E. of Glasgow, with stations on the Caledonian and North British railways. Until about 1825 it was only a village, but since then its vast stores of coal and iron have been developed, and it is now the centre of the iron trade of Scotland. Its prosperity was largely due to the ironmaster James Baird (q.v.), who erected as many as sixteen blast-furnaces in the immediate neighbourhood between 1830 and 1842. The industries of Coatbridge produce malleable iron, boilers, tubes, wire, tinplates and railway wagons, tiles, fire-bricks and fire-clay goods. There are two public parks in the town, and its public buildings include a theatre, a technical school and mining college, hospitals, and the academy and Baird Institute at Gartsherrie. Janet Hamilton, the poetess (1795–1873), spent most of her life at Langloan—now a part of Coatbridge—and a fountain has been erected to her memory near the cottage in which she lived. For parliamentary purposes the town, which became a municipal burgh in 1885, is included in the north-west division of Lanarkshire. About 4 m. west by south lies the mining town of Baillieston (pop. 3784), with a station on the Caledonian railway. It has numerous collieries, a nursery and market garden.
This page was last edited on 27 November 2016, at 20:35.


People want to preserve their youth and look young, despite of the fact that a person continues to age. As time passes by, the skin shows cellular aging in two ways.
According to Healthista, the skin may undergo intrinsic aging, which is the natural or biological process that happen it the skin. The publication also said that this process involves the reduction of the body's estrogen levels, collagen and elastin production, and melanin formation. The loss of estrogen, which is the female hormone, makes the skin drier. The decrease in collagen and elastin formation also leads to the reduction of the skin's firmness while the low amount of melanin, the pigment that gives color to the skin, may leave a person susceptible to ultra-violet ray damage, sun spots, and wrinkles.
The skin may also undergo extrinsic aging, as per Healthista. According to the publication, extrinsic aging refers to the external or environmental factors that may damage the skin, such as free radicals, which are described as organic molecules that cause tissue damage, and other skin damaging factors brought about by pollution, smoke, sunlight, and food.
While a person's genetic make-up remains vital in figuring out the speed of aging, researchers have found that up to 40 percent of how a person ages can be modified, as per Healthista.
Liver oil can help one look younger without surgery. According to The Guardian, liver oil is beneficial for dry and aging skin, in addition to the hair, nails, joints, and digestive system. The publication mentioned that liver oil in capsule form is much recommended that the bottle oil form, since it is "repellent" to a person and those around her.
Facial exercises can also be done as effective ways to tone the face and look younger. According to Facelift Without Surgery, facial exercises serve as the ultimate natural facelift. These also incorporate a facial toning system that utilizes simple facelift exercises to tighten wrinkly and saggy skin and remove wrinkles. The publication also claimed that one could easily look ten years younger within 30 days with acupressure and massage regimens, instead of needles and scalpel.
While people know that exercising boosts the body's strength and immune system, exercise is also another way to look younger without surgery. According to Now Loss, exercise activates collagen production, which results to the formation of younger skin tissue, which degenerates as a person becomes older. In addition, exercise also promotes proper blood circulation, providing adequate nutrients and oxygen to the skin and making a person look more radiant. Exercise also aids a person have a better sleep, which entails having less or absence of dark circles and puffy eyes, along with the natural boost of human growth hormones, which removes spending thousands on injections from the list.
Chemical peels also serve as cosmetic fixes without knives involved. According to Web MD, chemical peels use an acid solution to get rid of the old and dead cells from the external skin layers. In addition, the solution usually contains a blend of glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, phenol, and trichloroacetic acid or TCA. The solution can be applied for 15 minutes and stinging and mild skin irritation is expected. The solution will cause the upper layers of the skin to peel and reveal newer and smoother skin, which can be noticed in few days.
Some people undergo non-surgical facial rejuvenation as a way to look younger. According to Daily Mail, the treatment often utilizes radio frequency (RF) energy. As the energy penetrates the skin layers, it damages then collagen, leaving it to recoil, tighten, and repair. Therefore, its effects to the skin surface are both tightening and plumping.
With these natural ways of looking younger laid down, a person will not have to go to the dermatologist for surgery. After all, it is still a healthy lifestyle that gives a person her fullest potential.


Americans are increasingly concerned that climate change is both real and manmade, and major fossil fuel industries are heeding the change in public sentiment by investing in green energy.
This story of environmental injustice in southern Wisconsin shows how we can make a difference on a local level to improve the lives of people all over the world.
Washington, D.C., recently committed to 100% renewable electricity, an achievement that should be the inspiration for other cities to pursue renewable energy.
At one of the most prominent institutions to make the commitment to divestment, students' dedication and a change in tactics proved successful — and garnered support from faculty and the college community along the way.
Communities outside of Chicago stifled by BP's largest oil refinery are taking defiant steps to end its expansion of production—and dangerous emissions.
Genevieve Cullen, president of the Electric Drive Transit Association, joined Frank Sesno in a conversation about the future of electric transit in the United States at our Planet Forward Salon: The Future of Electric Transit.
Blockchain technology could make the U.S. more energy efficient in the long run, but right now the cryptocurrency miners using blockchain actually are consuming large amounts electricity. Minghe Hu from Northwestern's Medill reports.
A GOP-lead House energy subcommittee is pushing legislation to require the DOE to lease some of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve facilities, and use the profits to update old equipment and infrastructure, as reported by Medill's Minghe Hu.
Proposed changes in the deadline for new wood-fired furnace regulations is causing tension between manufacturers, the EPA, and Congress; some argue the economic stability of the industry relies on a delay.


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France, Trusted Partner in Genocide
Gimgema January 20, 2023 January 20, 2023
Over the past few years, French president Macron engaged in an ambiguous campaign of recognizing France's rich record of imperial atrocities. While this hasn't included the peoples of Algeria, Vietnam, and other former colonized countries, in May 2021 Macron visited Kigali where he asked Rwandan authorities to forgive France's role in the postcolonial 1994 genocide – without formally apologizing.
Seasoned observers of Frances' policies across Africa were skeptical. France, as it has for decades, still hosts Rwandans involved in the genocide against the Tutsi. Some of these perpetrators were given residence permits under fake identities to conceal them from justice. The consequences of Paris' military involvement in Mali, the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso in the decades following the genocide against the Tutsi's are all cause for compounded concern.
Paris' latest endeavor to support a genocidal regime, however, isn't in a francophone country. It's in Ethiopia, now officially viewed within French foreign policy circles as a launch pad for renewed efforts to expand France's influence in Anglophone Africa.
French Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colona and her German counterpart visited Ethiopia on January 12th and 13th. Both countries expressed desire to play a leading role in Ethiopia's reconstruction, despite continued reports of atrocities being committed in Tigray and ongoing conflict in many of Ethiopia's regions. As the driving force of the European Union, the Franco-German pair will surely drag the EU into this hasty return to business as usual.
An assessment of the relationship between Macron and Abiy's administrations helps to understand France's rush to position itself as the architect of Ethiopia's "reconstruction".
Never Ending Abiy Mania
As with all Western governments, France's love affair with Abiy Ahmed was immediate. In March 2019, Macron visited Lalibela and Addis Ababa. In the forty-something, image conscious, 'liberal's', announcements of violent commitment to rapid reforms, Macron's advisors saw a double of their boss. Since then, Abiy uses every occasion to remind us that the French president is "a good friend". Confident of their mutual admiration, Abiy Ahmed followed up the visit by sending his French counterpart a wish list of weapons in July 2019. It included helicopters, jets, drones, and missiles.
The friendship extends beyond Abiy and Macron, Maréchaux, French Ambassador to Ethiopia, bores anyone who will listen with stories of his close friendship with Sahlework Zewdie, the Ethiopian president. Sahlework, who speaks French and studied in Montpellier, has played a primary role in recalibrating France's policy aspirations towards Ethiopia. She met Maréchaux as Ethiopia's ambassador to Paris, from 2002 to 2006. Maréchaux was serving as advisor to the French Minister for Francophonie, before becoming one of Sarkozy's "Africa advisors". He was eventually appointed as head of the "strategy" section of the French intelligence services, from 2010 to 2013 – at a time Sarkozy decided to bomb Libya.
These friendships have been fruitful. For instance, in the summer of 2020 a French satellite TV provider blocked Tigray TV and Dimtsi Woyanne, two Tigray-based channels, as part of a wider crackdown on media freedom that included the closure of OMN for airing the funeral procession of Hachalu Hundessa. The company acted on instruction of the French government, which was dutifully relaying orders from its Ethiopian counterpart. Hundessa's murder was used to neutralize Oromo opposition and intensify vilification of Tigrayan's, increasing the minatory polarization caused by two years of inflammatory rhetoric.
France's support for Ethiopia's genocidal regime isn't built on personal affinity alone, it emanates from shared interests and ideology. Macron systematically tore down France's welfare state, reforming labor laws, removing the wealth tax, going a step further towards the privatization of France's railways, and will soon launch "the mother of all reforms": pensions.
Abiy announced a similar set of far-reaching free market reforms in 2018, laying the groundwork to open telecoms, logistics, and banking sectors to foreign investors, while privatizing major state assets. He eventually backtracked only on the privatization of Ethiopian Airlines, but pressed for the opening of the banking sector when bankruptcy threatened his war adventures.
Between 2019 and 2021, France's biggest telecom firm Orange expressed its interest in taking part in the privatization of Ethio Telecom, while French soft power spread with Canal Plus starting operations in Ethiopia. Initial public concern over matters of economic policy and its relationship to sovereignty has waned with the extreme polarization of Ethiopian society; liberalization has thus taken place under the emotive distraction of conflict and genocide.
The two leaders also seem to have a similar blueprint for dealing with contestation: repression. In France, this resulted in unprecedented amounts of tear gas and rubber bullets shot at the Yellow Vests, the biggest social movement in decades. In Ethiopia, however, the political crackdown has seen a surge in the rise of armed groups and conflicts all over the country and what has been described as the biggest war of it's time in Tigray.
Along with repression, "reformist" leaders multiply ad hoc structures accountable only to themselves, enabling them to bypass existing institutions, regulated by pieces of legislation voted by parliaments. Macron responded to the Yellow Vests by touring the country to listen to citizens' claims in a tailored "Great Debate" – only to ignore what the infinitesimal number of participants had expressed.
Likewise, in February 2019, Abiy piloted the creation of an Administrative Boundary and Identity Issues Commission, involving only politicians already committed to his cause. In January 2022, as opposition forces repeatedly called for an inclusive national dialogue, a National Dialogue Commission comprised of veteran civil society figures was formed.
Neither of the commissions has achieved much since they were announced, and it is likely the boundary commission never even convened. Chances are high that both Commissions will share the fate of the 2018 Reconciliation Commission, whose mandate ended without any known achievement despite high expenditure. Although the permanent cessation of hostilities with the TPLF is now several months old, wider national dialogue remains at a standstill. Still, announcing commissions serves a purpose: neoliberal leaders need events to showcase their commitment to participatory democracy, paying lip service to democratic debate and consultative procedures. Their practice of politics is more personal than ever, but boxes for "participatory democracy" are checked.
Good friends remained good friends when came the wars, first in Oromia, and then, at a greater scale, in Tigray. Abiy's government, allied with Eritrea and the Amhara region, defined the whole Tigrayan population as the enemy. Insults and derogatory terms multiplied to refer to Tigrayans, relayed by diaspora campaigns and officials.
Two weeks into the war, Macron described Abiy as "a role model for Africa". Then, France aligned with other Western powers, to only denounce massacres officially admitted too by the Ethiopian government. Despite the death toll reaching at least half a million people in Tigray, Macron and his ambassador in Addis Ababa, Rémi Maréchaux, remain diehard Abiy fans.
In his latest interview in Capital, published on December 19th, 2022, Maréchaux gives details of France's expenditures in Ethiopia, starting with heritage conservation projects. The French government allocated €21 million to convert Arat Kilo Palace, heart of state power, into a museum. Given France's record of centralization, forced assimilation, and annihilation of difference, one has every reason to worry about the history of Ethiopia the museum will tell.
Another heritage conservation project is in Lalibela, with 12 million euros dedicated to the restoration of churches. Here again, France choses its side, not only by focusing on yet another site central to Ethiopia's imperial storytelling, but, above all, by ignoring the deliberate destruction of heritage sites in Tigray. Why restore only Lalibela when Debre Damo and Waldeba monasteries, Negash Mosque, and countless churches have been damaged and looted by Ethiopian and Eritrean troops? Lalibela used to attract thousands of Tigrayan pilgrims each year. How many of them were killed by France's allies?
Prosperity Party had littered the streets with banners announcing, "Prosperity will continue to be a light for Ethiopia" in the run-up to 2020-2021 election cycle. Maréchaux declared his faith in Abiy's regime by echoing PP sloganeering "The future of Ethiopia is of course bright", he's quoted as saying by Capital newspaper.
The European Union Foreign Affairs Council is set to discuss resuming budgetary support to Ethiopia, on January 23rd. For now, French and German MFAs have made it "conditional on the peace process continuing to deliver". However, they've found progress sufficient enough to announce a €42 million financial support agreement during the visit, out of which €10 million will fund the rehabilitation of Northern Amhara and Tigray power stations. The French are pushing for "transitional justice mechanisms" and might well content themselves with yet more empty shells.
Will Europeans content themselves with the draft of policy options for transitional justice that was recently published by the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice? Authors of the document seem more concerned by human rights abuses under the former EPRDF regime than by the genocidal attack on the people of Tigray orchestrated by the PP regime.
Arms Sales
Last March, famine was hitting Tigray, as no humanitarian aid had been allowed to the region for several months. By then, the genocidal nature of the war was undisputable. Ethiopian authorities had repeatedly stated their enemy was defined on an ethnic basis, and the government had clearly articulated its intention to bring Tigray regional government to heel by starving the population.
It took eight months after the start of the war for France to suspend its military cooperation with Ethiopia. The French embassy in Ethiopia was campaigning for a business-as-usual-response, hosting a business forum aimed at opening markets for French companies in Ethiopia. In Capital, Maréchaux "wish[es] to underline that it has always been for us a suspension and not an interruption". Diplomats remained obsessed with investment opportunities and French firms acted accordingly.
In early July 2022, an official from the Ethiopian Investment Commission travelled to Paris to meet a delegation from MEDEF, France's biggest employers' federation. In late July, three French tech companies, Aleph, Arinc, and Thales, specializing in digital surveillance, cameras, and other "security" gadgets, were hosted by the Ethiopian Ambassador in France to discuss investment opportunities in Ethiopia.
One hardly suspects Thales will refrain from selling arms to war-torn Ethiopia, as it has already provided Saudi Arabia with arms that wrecked Yemen. True, such tools had already helped European governments to transform Europe's borders, and notably the Mediterranean, into graveyards.
Aware of potential public embarrassment and legal action, the French embassy in Addis Ababa preemptively responded with a dishonest tweet in mid-2021 denying that any such transactions were taking place. Diplomats were refuting any arm export "over the last years". However, the 2021 Report to the French parliament on arms exports, issued by the Ministry of Defense, mentioned orders worth €900,000 and shipments worth €200,000 in 2019.
Anti-drone weapons approved for sale in 2021 Rapport au Parlement sur les exportations d'armes de la France
The 2022 edition of the same report reveals French firms and diplomats deepened their ties with the Ethiopian government throughout the war. This time, a license worth €325,614 was issued for the export of anti-drone systems. Of course, French authorities will answer potential critics: no material has been shipped yet. But once French authorities assess that 'conditions' are met, they "will restart the next day", as Maréchaux brags. Le Monde recently quoted an anonymous French Defense source that military cooperation was indeed about to resume. As the role of drones in the wars in Tigray and Oromia has been repeatedly documented, "protect yourself from what you do to others" remains a policy French and Ethiopian diplomats agree on.


Fortaleza is the capital of the state of Ceara which is the poorest state within Brazil's most deprived region (the North East).
The principal activity in Ceara is farming, but with continuous droughts and constant crop failure, many farmers are forced to leave their farms and come, with their families, to the capital in search of work, which they very rarely find. Their only option is to live in the Favelas (slums), in houses built from scraps of corrugated iron, pieces of wood or any other disregarded material they can find.
It is the children from the poorest of these families that we are helping to feed and educate through our project. We are providing a daily nutritious meal. This is the only meal these mal-nourished children receive. We also provide a basic education for these children, which they are not getting from the state.
We have four additional smaller feeding projects in other parts of Brazil. They are in the poor rural town of São Miguel do Araguaia, in the state of Goiás, and in the indigenous village of Barreira Branca, Mirindiba and Cachoeirinha on Bananal Island, in the state of Tocantins.
We have provided food for children from the two poor towns of Ipueiras and Macambira in rural Ceará. Due to a lack of funding this project is currently suspended.
We have supplied food for 60 children from the Celibradade favela in the city of Uberlandia. Due to a lack of funding this project is currently suspended.


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ron~ – Ota desho? ota desu!
How high will you pay for figurine?
Apparently this figurine is a very limited figurine from ichiban kuji series (you get the figurine by buying lottery tickets), I only saw 1 shop is selling this figurine in Akihabara..
Kuji Premium: Tsukasa x Ranka, Yay!
Here are the list of the Macross x Lucky Star lottery prizes www.1kuji.com/lucky_star each lottery ticket is 800 yen.
my 1st try I got F (the jet planes), I chose the one with tsukasa picture, since they don't have kagami's anymore…, then second try suddenly the shop keeper said omedetou, and gave me the tsukasa figurine (can't stop smiling at that time) hahaha!
That place up to yesterday was the XBox 360 Demo area, with big screen.
Been a while since my last post here, almost 3 months!


Vitiligo or Leukoderma is a common problem which is socially unacceptable.
A common myth about a Vitiligo/ Leukoderma/ White skin patch is- it always occurs because of internal genetic/blood problem. In reality, it may occur following external injury to the skin like trauma/ burn/ infection also. IPL skin treatment can be a good option for removing Vitiligo.
If Vitiligo is progressing, it should be treated first by medical treatment to make it stable or to reduce in size. After it is stable in size, we recommend surgical removal and skin grafting for a residual lesion. Some difficult Vitiligo patches not responding to medical treatment needs surgical removal. Excision is our preferred technique in a smaller area to give a best possible color match. We use Dermabrasion + Skin grafting for larger lesions.
White skin patch following Trauma or Burn or Infection (External origin) almost always needs surgical removal and suturing/ skin grafting.


April is usually a busy time for Brenda Palms-Barber. Bee season has started and that means tending to the beehives owned by her 2-year-old organization, Sweet Beginnings, LLC. What's unique about Palms-Barber's bees is that they are urban-raised, creating their honeycombs in the heart of Chicago. Once their honey is ripe, Palms-Barber and her employees convert it into a variety of skin care products sold under the brand name Beeline cosmetics.
But the true value of the honey is the opportunity it allows for ex-convicts to have a second chance.
Palms-Barber wasn't always a "bee lady." In 1999, she relocated from Denver to the North Lawndale area of Chicago to address the pressing employment needs in the area. More than 50 percent of the adult population in the predominantly black neighborhood, she discovered, had been in the criminal justice system, and few employers wanted to hire people with criminal records. "I needed to come up with a way to be their first employer," she says.
Since 2007, Sweet Beginnings has hired and trained 123 men and women—92 percent of whom have criminal record—in management, sales, marketing and the art of beekeeping.


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Home Mobiles Google Pixel 4 spotted in a transparent case, will reportedly come in...
Google Pixel 4 spotted in a transparent case, will reportedly come in black, white and mint colour variants
Earlier, Google had showcases an image of the Pixel 4 on its own.
By Aman Singh
We see smartphone leaks all the time, but it is rare for a company to leak its own upcoming smartphone months before its launch. Google did just that as it leaked the rear design of its upcoming flagship smartphone – the Pixel 4 that is scheduled to launch later this year. Before Google's leak, several other leaks had surfaced online about the Pixel 4's design and camera placement. The California-based tech giant confirmed some of those leaks – like the camera placement.
But the leaks about Google's upcoming flagship, Pixel 4 just keeps on coming instead of slowing down, which is a surprise nonetheless. The most recent leaks of the Pixel 4 reveal the three colour variants the smartphone might come in. Reportedly, there will be a black and a white colour option of the Pixel 4. Some reports also claimed that there might be a mint coloured variant of the Pixel 4 as well. Other than that, there was also a live photo of the Pixel 4 leaked where a person was holding the smartphone's prototype unit. But now, another emergence showcases the Pixel 4 placed inside a clear and transparent casing.
The new leak of Pixel 4 inside a transparent case just shows the outline of the original device but one is not sure if it will be the final product or not. At the back, the square camera placement is visible on the top-left corner of the smartphone and it is similar to Google's leaked image. While on the right side one can see the power button and the volume rockers of the Pixel 4.
By the cuttings of the transparent case, there might be two speaker grille along with a USB port at the bottom of the Pixel 4. But the most important thing is that the smartphone case also has a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top. This means the Pixel 4 might be keeping the headphone jack. But unlike the previous Google Pixel devices, the Pixel 4 won't be coming with the coloured power buttons it was known for.
Before this, the leaked dimensions of the Pixel 4 stated that the device will have a thickness of 8.2mm and with the camera bump it will be of 9.3mm, adding a hump of 1.1mm. Since the design, renders and the case of the Pixel 4 has already been leaked it isn't far when the feature details, specifications and other camera details of the smartphone come to light. But since the launch of the Pixel 4 is still months away, nothing is certain if Google will maintain the same design concept or will it change.
Aman Singhhttps://www.gadgetbridge.com/
Aman Kumar Singh has a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication. He is a journalist, a photographer, a writer, a gamer, a movie addict and has a love for reading (everything). It's his love of reading that has brought him knowledge in various fields including technology and gadgets. Talking about which, he loves to tweak and play with gadgets, new and old. And when he finds time, if he finds time, he can be seen playing video games or taking a new gadget for a test run.
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Category: Author Interview
Why Pragmatism, Not Ideology Drives Chinese Economic Engagement in Africa
In these contentious times, China is often accused of exporting its statist economic model to Africa and other developing regions as part of a broader ideological agenda to create a new Sinocentric international order. But Tsinghua University Professor Tang Xiaoyang argues
Why Perceptions of China Vary So Much Depending on Where You Live
Public perceptions of China vary markedly depending on where you live in the world. In wealthy advanced economies in the Global North, negative sentiment towards China is now at all-time highs and ...
China's Role in the Burgeoning Debt Challenge in Africa
The debt situation in Africa is changing very quickly as some countries race to negotiate urgent bailouts with the IMF while others are struggling to service their debts amid the ongoing pandemic. Pretty much every country across the continent is struggling ...
A Peek Into the Mysterious World of Chinese Diplomacy
Chinese diplomats around the world are comprised of a mix of reclusive bureaucrats who strenuously avoid public engagement and a new generation of assertive, sometimes even downright aggressive so-called "Wolf Warriors" who wage combat with Beijing's critics.
The Pushback Against China's Coercive Diplomacy
Although China has successfully leveraged its strengths in COVID-19 vaccine production to replenish its reservoir of goodwill in many developing countries, elsewhere Beijing is facing growing resistance to its increasingly assertive foreign policy agenda. The ...
Analysis from Cobus van Staden
The Financial Times today published a deep dive into the issue of Chinese lending to African countries and what struck me was how it crystallizes some of the underlying issues that aren't necessarily made clear in the debt debate.
In the first place, it shows that Africa's need for financing far outstrips both the available financing options and the continent's current ability to repay them. The Calvinist logic that underlies much of ...
China's African Debt Experiment
The Back Rooms in Johannesburg's Chinatown
South Africa is home to the largest and one of the oldest Chinese diaspora populations in Africa, dating back hundreds of years. Although there are no precise figures, the ethnic Chinese population in the country is estimated to be at least ...
Deciphering China's Belt & Road Initiative
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a central theme of China's foreign policy, particularly in developing regions like Africa where it's linked to billions of dollars of infrastructure development. But when you ask Chinese officials "what exactly is the BRI?" ...
Relationships: China's Competitive Advantage in Africa
To many outside observers, Chinese engagement in Africa is often evaluated based on hard metrics like the amount of trade, the number of immigrants, investment figures. While those data points are no doubt important, Wake Forest University Assistant Professor Lina Benabdallah ...
The Bitter Life for Chinese Migrant Workers in Ethiopia
The presence of Chinese workers who are helping to build the billions of dollars of infrastructure across Africa is one of the most contentious points in the China-Africa relationship. These workers are often seen as unwelcome guests doing jobs that could ...
"The Belt and Road Is a Chinese Plan to Build a New World Order"
China's hugely ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is often described as being more of an idea than an actual policy. Depending on whom you speak with, BRI is characterized as an economic plan to outsource China's excess domestic industrial output. Other people, notably ...


This morning, I made my annual summer visit to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in northeast Washington, D.C.
The gardens are an extraordinary place, a haven of unmatched beauty in the middle of one the roughest neighbourhoods in Washington. Outside the gardens, the low, redbrick houses are dilapidated, the streets strewn with discarded beer cans and plastic bags. It's not the sort of place where most of the DC area photographers I know would normally venture but, each July, we make the trek up to the northeast corner of the city to photograph the thousands of lotuses that briefly bloom in Kenilworth's extensive lotus ponds.
Flower photography was my first love when I took up digital photography seriously about seven years ago. Although I have been doing mostly travel photography lately, it is always a pleasurable feeling to return to my first love.
Mike's advice is to look for what he calls the "Lady Gaga flower", the one that's weird and flamboyant and doesn't look like any of the others. I didn't find any Lady Gaga flowers this morning but I did spot a few lotuses that were at their peak, so I followed Josh's advice.
The principal challenge of photographing the lotuses at Kenilworth is finding order in the midst of chaos. It takes patience to spot pleasing compositions when the lotus beds are teaming with flowers in different stages of bud, bloom or decay; plus, of course, the green foliage that supports the flowers is massive and often impedes clean compositions. In the above image, I noticed that the way the light was reflecting off the outer rim of the pad was creating a circle of light, so I positioned the lotus bulb in the centre of the light circle as a way of framing the subject. This is the classic "frame within a frame" compositional device, so beloved by photographers.
Other than that, the compositions I found this morning were mostly simple portraits of the flowers. I'm fine with that. In flower photography, it takes a while a re-train the eye, once you've been away from it for a while, to seek out more complex compositions. I may go back to Kenilworth next weekend and challenge myself to do so.
On a recent trip to Buenos Aires, I had the good fortune to spend two afternoons in the imposing La Recoleta Cemetery, the final resting place of Argentina's great and good for the past two centuries, since it opened in 1822.
Interred here are almost all of the legendary figures of Argentina's past, most notably Eva Peron. Her tomb, in the Duarte family mausoleum, is surprisingly modest. While many of the tombs have open panels or glass panes, allowing one to look inside and see the coffins, Eva's tomb is sealed. Indeed, she is buried two floors below ground level, fifteen feet down, under two heavy slabs of marble, in order to forestall the possibility that some unreformed Peronist might exhume her remains and, with them, her still-powerful political legacy.
Far more than a cemetery, La Recoleta is an architectural marvel, containing some 6,400 elaborate mausoleums, monuments and statues. Some of the mausoleums are as large as churches, while others resemble Gothic chapels or Roman statuary. It is no surprise, therefore, that CNN lists La Recoleta as one of the ten most beautiful cemeteries in the world.
Resting here are the remains of several Presidents, high-ranking military officers, sportsmen, artists, musicians, poets, scientists, two Nobel laureates and an illegitimate granddaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte, Isabel Walewski Colonna. There is even an Irishman: William "Guillermo" Brown, born in Foxford, County Mayo in 1777, founded the Argentine Navy and was its first Admiral. He fought in the Argentine War of Independence in 1810-1818 and is still revered as a national hero. His mausoleum is made of the melted-down bronze of canons from ships he once commanded and painted green in honour of his country of birth.
Another notable occupant is Luis Angel Firpo (1894 – 1960), nicknamed The Wild Bull of the Pampas, a professional boxer who became the first South American ever to fight for the world heavyweight title. He fought the great American world champion Jack Dempsey in New York in 1923. Firpo was knocked down seven times in the first round alone but, in the second, he trapped Dempsey on the ropes and hit him with a punch so powerful that it knocked the champion clean out of the ring. While millions of South Americans, huddled around their radios, had already begun celebrating their first world heavyweight champion, Dempsey climbed back into the ring and knocked Firpo out in the same round. Boxing historians have described Dempsey versus Firpo as the greatest fight in the sport's history. Today, Firpo stands tall, handsome and unbowed in La Recoleta, his boxer's boots neatly laced up, his open dressing gown exposing his muscular chest; the sporting hero of an entire continent.
Each grave in La Recoleta is adorned by plaques, made of bronze, stone or slate, inscribed with the homage of loved ones, former colleagues, employees or simply devotees of the heroes buried within. One of the most touching, written by a wife to her late husband who died in 1914, read, "Luis, my love. Thank you for having loved me so. May Almighty God put light and peace in your repose." (I have translated the inscription from the Spanish.) She joined her husband in his tomb in 1923.
The intricacy of the decoration of many of the mausoleums is evidence to the extraordinary level of craftsmanship that went into their construction. Now that decades or, in some cases, centuries have passed since they were completed, many of the fixtures have rusted. To a photographer, this just adds to their charm, of course.
Although I spent a total of about six hours in La Recoleta over the course of two visits, I felt that I had only scratched the surface of what it offers the photographer. Indeed, I took relatively few photos, as I spent most of my time in awe-filled study of the inscriptions on the plaques, so intrigued was I by the life stories of the cemetery's many accomplished inhabitants: men who led armies into victorious battles, conquering huge swathes of territory and building a nation in the process; a woman who, without ever holding political office, inspired a powerful nation by sheer force of her charisma.
It was a humbling experience to stand there surrounded by the remains of people who achieved so much in their lives, by so many heroes, by people whose achievements in their lifetimes live on centuries after their passing. While my first impression of the mausoleums was that they were excessive, upon reflection and having researched the lives of several of their inhabitants, I concluded that they are entirely appropriate to memorialize people who achieved so much in their brief time on earth.