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Please note: If your expected attendance exceeds the room capacity, we reserve the right to cancel your room reservation.
This room is an appropriate venue for group study, individual study, and any small meeting that involves conversation or collaboration. Room Two seats a maximum of four people and contains a table, four chairs, and has power outlets for electronic devices. The room is NOT soundproof and conversation or volume of speakers should be kept at a reasonably low level.
This room is an appropriate venue for group study, individual study, and any small meeting that involves conversation or collaboration. Room Three seats a maximum of four people and contains a table, four chairs, and has power outlets for electronic devices. The room is NOT soundproof and conversation or volume of speakers should be kept at a reasonably low level.
This room is an appropriate venue for group study, individual study, and any small meeting that involves conversation or collaboration. Room Four seats a maximum of four people and contains a table, four chairs, and has power outlets for electronic devices. The room is NOT soundproof and conversation or volume of speakers should be kept at a reasonably low level.
educational, and civic use of the Library's meeting rooms within the guidelines of this policy.
Please note: The Trustee's Room is not available for individual/small group study, please request a study room for this purpose.
First priority in the use of the Library meeting rooms will always be given to Library-sponsored and co-sponsored classes and events, and to such held in cooperation with the Library. Room Reservations are subject to cancellation with one week's notice if the room is needed for Library use.
Please note: If your expected attendance exceeds the room capacity, your request will be denied.
The Board of Library Trustees of the Tewksbury Public Library welcomes the cultural, educational, and civic use of the Library's meeting rooms within the guidelines of this policy.
Please note: First priority in the use of the Library meeting rooms will always be given to Library-sponsored and co-sponsored classes and events, and to such held in cooperation with the Library. Room Reservations are subject to cancellation with one week's notice if the room is needed for Library use.


text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


True Detective is one of those cultural monoliths that can seemingly only be produced by HBO, Netflix, or AMC. The show was an instant hit, using its semi-spiritual mystery to stay on the tips of everyone's tongues and provide a capstone for the McConaissance. We couldn't get enough of the Yellow King, the weird guy in his underwear, time being a flat circle, the True Detective season two joke pairings, and all the rest.
This scene pretty much sealed its status as an instant classic with staying power. This is masterful.
We didn't really think it was coming back. I first heard it was last Thursday, when an agent let slip that he had placed someone in the writer's room. Now we know more, and The Hollywood Reporter writes that horse racing enthusiast David Milch will co-write the season alongside showrunner Nic Pizzolatto.
Milch, if you're not excited about him, is a genius. He co-created NYPD Blue and HBO's masterpiece Deadwood. He's also quite the character, maybe one of the only writers with a personality big enough and a resume long enough to tell Pizzolatto he ought to sit down and shut up. Milch has had his share of trouble with HBO in the past, with the Dustin Hoffman horse racing drama Luck cancelled after horses kept dying, but this seems like the perfect re-entry into the HBO family. He'll shepherd a formerly dead show back to glory. If it works he gets all of the credit, if it fails he gets none of the blame.


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A lot of you really liked this idea of a garden vision board to help you find your garden style. I wish I had done this 27 years ago when we moved to this house. Though my style did change over the years (read about it here) I feel like a vision board would have helped me notice the evolution of my preferences sooner and not keep marching on so long in the wrong direction.
Let's keep that from happening to you. Oh, what's that? You have a Pinterest board with all your garden ideas? Yeah, me too. It's got hundreds of images. In my computer and on my phone. A vision board is up in your house where you see it every day so you don't lose sight of your goals. Of course, you can do it for anything. Here's what the rest of my vision board looks like.
Now! Let's make a vision board for your dream garden!
You can start with your Pinterest board if you want. But in that currently famous phrase, you are going to choose photos that spark JOY. Or make your mouth water, or make you want to throw your credit card at your nursery owner. You know what I mean. Pictures you cannot stop looking at. And honestly, that cuts it down a lot.
Now, this is important. PRINT THEM OUT. The exact photos you love the absolute most. Put them on your bulletin or poster board. You'll start to see themes emerge. You'll notice that some photos have things that are recurring. It seems obvious that you know what you like but when you do this exercise definite patterns appear.
Put your garden vision board in a prominent location so you have an overall goal. You probably aren't going to recreate a garden you have there exactly, but you will now be able to shop for things that feel like your vision board. If your dream garden is cool and contemporary you can avoid in one fell swoop all the red and yellow flowers on your shopping ventures. If you want romantic and rambly you'll know to leave the sleek square planter at the garden center. Again, seeing a version of your goal brings clarity. Anyone else just need some dang clarity in every area of life!
This is going to help you along as you move toward the creation of the things you need to do before you even get to planting like choose path layouts and materials, garden containers, and furniture.
Now grab some coffee, make sure the printer is full of ink, and head over to Pinterest to look for your personal backyard paradise.
During all this rethinking of the garden and what I wanted from it, I came to a conclusion about my gardening practices. I didn't have the garden I wanted. I wasn't even growing the things I wanted.
Remember this quote from Steel Magnolias?
Ouiser: "Because I'm an old Southern woman and we're supposed to wear funny looking hats and ugly clothes and grow vegetables in the dirt.
This was my thinking as I tried to grow tomatoes year after year only to have the roots eaten by chipmunks or voles. I appreciated the beautiful Trionfo Violetta bean vines but cared little about harvesting or cooking the end result.
What kind of Southern woman doesn't want to grow vegetables or "put up" beans? When I got real with myself and actually created a vision board of my dream garden guess what. No veggies were present except beautiful greens. Everything I really wanted to grow was either an herb, a fruit, or a flower. It was one of those things that I knew all along and didn't know at the same time.
Here's a section of the 2019 Garden vision board. It isn't what I'm trying to create in exact form but the feeling is perfect.
Clarity is such an important part of life. How can we get what we want if we don't know what it is?
So looking at the Pinterest photos I was most attracted to we can see some things. I like clearly defined paths. I love the mix of casual cottage sweetness and formal elements. I also like something trending toward a French feel. The biggest difference between the garden I started with and the one I dreamed of creating was order. Also, there's not a tomato vine to be found. My dream garden as it turns out would be one that feeds my soul and not necessarily my stomach.
See pictures and read about my original rambling cottage garden.
In addition to figuring out the aesthetics of your garden style you also need to come to grips with what kind of actual gardening you want to do and what you have to work with. If you are a weekend gardener and want to use your garden for recovering at the end of the work week you can do that with containers on your balcony or a garden that takes up your whole backyard. Do you want to till and dig or layer and compost? Do you want to grow food? Have a cutting garden? Or do you prefer low maintenance landscaping that needs little from you at all but looks nice from the window?
No matter what kind of garden you want you'll still have to choose a look you like. You can create the vibe you want by your choice of plants and style of containers and well as how you plant. Are you a wild and natural garden lover or do you want your plants to behave in neat rows? Doing some preliminary research can save you hours of toil later on if things have to be changed up.
Here's how the garden stands now, I'm ready for a delivery of garden soil to top off the beds and then a load of crushed limestone to finish off the section closest to the house. February isn't exactly the prettiest garden month.
I plan to change to no-till gardening, a way of gardening that leaves the soil structure undisturbed but takes some planning and gathering of supplies. I'll be talking a lot more about this as the season goes on but basically digging in the soil disturbs the complex web of animals and microorganisms that make up healthy soil. (Dust Bowl anyone?) No-till gardening also known as lasagna gardening is a way of recycling, composting, and creating a healthy planting medium all one place. Yes, please. Sign me up for anything that saves me time and trips to the recycling center.
With all this in mind, February has been spent laying out beds and paths and cleaning up excess garden supplies, old fencing, and broken or rotten stakes and timbers. See the last post. I also thinned out some of the blueberries and created a blueberry hedge along the edge of the garden extending past the beehives. I'm trying to make it a bit safer for my husband to cut near the hives as well as define the garden and create a sense of mystery about what lies beyond what you can see.
I pruned all the roses and spent a lot of time leaning on my pitchfork dreaming of what it will all look like in June while a frigid wind whipped around me but feeling intensely joyful.
Read about the scientific reason gardening makes you happy.
Here's where we are right now: I'm still collecting boxes and newspapers, and I need to order 2 more tons of crushed limestone and 2 yards of compost. Only after that will I be ready for planting anything. The frost date here is April 15th but my goal to have all of the pre-planting work done is March 20th, the first day of spring.
In the next post, we'll cover garden design and finding your gardening style. Meanwhile here are pictures of how the garden looks right now.
Last Saturday when the high was 39 I spent 3 hours in the garden trying to catch up. The weather has been unusually rainy and I have had so few decent days to get anything done that if the sun is shining I must use the day even if I have to wear 3 layers of clothes. It was all so ugly I didn't even take any pictures because the whole thing literally looked like a trash pit from a construction site.
I probably need to write a post about garden clutter because, Y'all, it's a thing! Old fencing, rotten stakes, things that had served a purpose but are busted or no longer needed. Can I just say it's a hard clean up because as any gardener knows you always really do need a piece of wire or a stake. The question becomes how much?
Here are some pictures from last August so you can see how ugly transition can be. August isn't a particularly pretty month for the garden anyway but dang, this was just sad!
Every project looks terrible in the middle and you might wonder why you even started it.
On this particular day last summer I was feeling overwhelmed and wondering if I shouldn't just rip it all out and put in sod.
When you are in the middle of a project and start to feel like maybe you've made a mistake, do not give up!
Keep going and doing the next logical thing. I feel like every project has that moment of despair. I have sat down on the floor many times in the middle of something and cried because I couldn't go back and I wasn't sure what to do next to move forward. In the end, I'm always so happy I didn't quit. I mean look at these photos. I had to keep going just to clean up the ginormous mess I'd made.
In the next post, I'll be sharing about how far I've come since this depressing day but I wanted to show you that things don't magically happen no matter how pretty the Instagram photo is. Don't be discouraged if you have a big vision.
Just keep taking baby steps to work toward your goal!
In the next post, I'll cover what I've gotten done since these photos were taken and what I've been working on in the cold weather.


text:
June 17, 2016 11:00am by David Farrar
UK MP murdered
Stuff reports:
British Labour MP Jo Cox has died after being shot and stabbed in her constituency in northern England on Thursday afternoon (Friday morning, NZ Time).
Cox was attacked on Market Street in Birstall, near Leeds, about 12.50pm as she prepared to hold a meeting with constituents.
A 77-year-old man was also attacked, but his injuries were not life-threatening.
Cox, a 41-year-old mother of two, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, but was pronounced dead at 1.48pm, police said.
Police arrested a 52-year-old man nearby, and recovered weapons, including a firearm.
British media have named the man arrested in connection with the attack as Thomas Mair.
The Telegraph reported Mair lived on a council estate in Bridsall.
A neighbour told the UK paper Mair was a "quiet bloke who keeps to himself".
Her family, friends and colleagues will be devastated.
The motive for the attack was not yet known.
A large number of police remained near the scene of the attack, and were speaking to many witnesses, Temporary Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police Dee Collins said.
At least one witness heard the suspect shout "Britain First" – the name of a right-wing, anti-immigrant group – before the shooting and during the arrest, Sky News and the Guardian reported.
Cox had been campaigning for Britain to remain in the European Union, but it was not immediately clear whether the attack was related.
Britain First denied any link to the shooting on their website, saying "Britain First obviously is NOT involved and would never encourage behaviour of this sort".
Too early to know whether the attack was politically motivated, or the assailant was just mad – or both. But for now, a husband has lost his wife, and two children their mother.
Jo Cox
A justified life sentence
Will Mair stop Brexit?
A disgusting attack
Horrific and disgusting.
Sadly, I expect all those with similar beliefs will be blamed regardless of what his motivation was. In other words, the opposite to any crime committed by a Muslim.
Caine9
Its times like these that the political side of matters becomes irellevant. This was a loving and loved family woman whose loss in this way is appalling. Sadly there are those who will seek to make political profit from it. Shame on them.
Garbageman
"Too early to know whether the attack was politically motivated, or the assailant was just mad – or both"
He isn't a Muslim so there wont be any "lone wolf" lets blame everything else except for the nut job defence for this loon
RIP Jo Cox you sounded like a good woman
Really? I'm sure it will soon be known to every Western citizen in the world – probably every citizen in the world.
Chuckle. The Orlando killer was not representative of Muslims – but this guy will be representative of every Brexit supporter (and Tory – probably Trump and the GOP as well). Oh – and gun owners too.
Count on it.
Liberal Minded Kiwi
The leftist newspapers and commentators are already framing the narrative that this was an attack against those who don't want Brexit. Today's Mirror is one of many giving oxygen to this theory.
Media will spin this for days, a week out from the election. Even the shouting of "Britain First" has been disputed.
Mighty_Kites
"Too early to know whether the attack was politically motivated, or the assailant was just mad – or both". But when the assailant happens to be Muslim and not white you throw all that out the window and make all sorts of assumptions and conclusions.
its already being shown that the man never said "britain first", had no political leanings, was a bit mental, and was known to the MP.
so a nutter, who is being used by the remain crowd to slur brexit, before her body was even cold.
All_on_Red
'Tommy Mair volunteered at the Oakwell Hall country park in Birstall in 2010 after being a patient of the Mirfield-based Pathways Day Centre for adults with mental illness, according to a Huddersfield Examiner report at the time.
He told the paper: "I can honestly say it has done me more good than all the psychotherapy and medication in the world.
"Many people who suffer from mental illness are socially isolated and disconnected from society, feelings of worthlessness are also common, mainly caused by long-term unemployment."
Pathways is described on the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust website as a "team that offers support to people experiencing mental health difficulties".
"But when the assailant happens to be Muslim and not white you throw all that out the window and make all sorts of assumptions and conclusions."
Well no, it's more the fact that they yell allahu ahkbar and call 911 and say it's for ISIS that gives people a clue about what the motivation is
@Grendel
Appalling to see how some fictitious eyewitness accounts have been created to exploit this MP's death to support a narrative.
In the bad days of old politicians would have either carried a sword or cudgel or have been accompanied by tough yokels who did.
Are we going into bad times where people in the public eye are going to have to wear kevlar-type bullet proof vests?
I doubt this murder will be able to be blamed on Britain's gun laws, though. They're pretty tight.
gump
First we had Anders Breivik, and now we have Thomas Mair.
Political extremism is an attack against us all. It doesn't matter which 'side' is responsible.
stephieboy
Just look at the spectacle pro Brexit apologists squirming and worming out of this one . Actually all we know is that a pro British MP was murdered by some crazed fanatic who I would say did not like what Jo Cox had to say on the issue !
Or was it the actions of a jilted lover ?
It doesn't matter which 'side' is responsible.
I well recall the Gabrielle Gifford shooting in the US a few years ago. I was informed by every left-winger online that there was definitely a side who was responsible.
And it's prime representative then was Sarah Palin and her "targeted" map of Democrat politicians.
Oh – and the "Toxic Environment" created by right-wingers. That was a goody and a repeated meme from the mid 1990's. Left-wingers never create Toxi Environments because they're such wonderful human beings.
I always love the shame and civility arguments. Funny how they turn out to be one-sided too.
Bob R
***Just look at the spectacle pro Brexit apologists squirming and worming out of this one .***
@ stephieboy,
Why should anyone have to apologise for a country wanting to be independent from the EU?
A passing thought: how does Winston feel about his war cry being usurped in this way? Does he identify with this fanatic? The principles seem alarmingly close if not as fanatical.
@ Tom Hunter,
The Left weren't so willing to embrace responsibility for the murder of Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn & the 'climate of hate' towards him. Similarly, the Left don't seem to have a problem with Geert Wilders requiring 24 hour security.
"The Narrative remains that Fortuyn was assassinated by some wacko animal rights activist, but that's a lot like saying Poland was invaded in 1939 by an animal rights activist. The assassin was a well-educated white leftist who was found sane by exhaustive inquiries. The only thing crazy about the killer was that he took seriously what the media was saying about the Fortuyn Menace. From Wikipedia:
In court at his trial, van der Graaf said he murdered Fortuyn to stop him from exploiting Muslims as "scapegoats" and targeting "the weak members of society" in seeking political power."
http://isteve.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/pym-fortuyn-rip.html
@ Caine9,
How do the anti-smoking lobby feel about Hitler being anti-smoking? Do they identify with Hitler? The principles seem alarmingly close if not as fanatical.
An interesting take on this …. YouTube Brexit vote Remain exploits Jo Cox murder. Paul Joseph Watson and Paul Molyneux.
Sounds like someone should be keeping a close eye on Stephieboy then. 😯
Berend de Boer
Apparently Thomas Mair was in the care of the state…
mikenmild
Yes Bob, anti-smokers and vegetarians are just like Hitler, maybe even more dangerous. Likewise, we should be suspicious of animal lovers, failed artists, wearers of lederhosen, and genocidal maniacs.
Stephie X, jubilant at last to find an apparently non-Muslim assassin in Britain, posted at 11.30 am;
Actually all we know is that a pro British MP was murdered by some crazed fanatic who I would say did not like what Jo Cox had to say on the issue !
Stephie, why do you bring Brevik into the picture? He seems to have been set off in his brutal madness by anger about demographic changes in his country. Are you guessing, or presuming, that somehow the murder of Jo Cox, a democratic MP going about her political business, is a reaction by a brutal nutter to the increasing number of Muslims in Britain?
The shooting of Jo Cox doesn't get Muslims off the hook for Orlando, or Paris, or Brussels.
tom hunter,
Or should that be "giggle " ( rather effeminate ) ? And our 50,000 Muslims endorse the actions of Omar Mateen ? How do you know that ?
Jackie 5 ,
Do you think those 50 -60 Syrian Refugees are responsible for Orlando , Paris and Brussels ?
I think its spurious to say that this was the fault of the 'leave' campaign or in any way attributable to them, even if this guy was a supporter of "Britain First' (or whatever they are called). It appears that he is a deranged nutter and we can't always protect ourselves from people like this.
This is in total contrast to Muslims who have REPEATEDLY attacked people for years in this and even worse ways. Thats the difference. Muslims are not being unfairly made into scapegoats.
Re STephie X 11.56:
Are you suggesting Christian Syrians and Yazidis got through the UN's pro-Muslim selection network, and Dunedinabad's new citizens from the Middle East aren't Muslims?
jackie 5, go and visit your Doctor !
June 17, 2016 12:04pm
Stephie X at 12.04….
I will, if you go home to Stephiestan, you Islamic troll. I want to see if my doctor can do the Stephiestani accent of Peter Sellars….
…. well, goodness, gracious me…
@stephieboy
At this stage the "evidence" that this bloke shouted "Britain First" or some such is disappearing like a morning mist.
It seems he was just fighting with the other person and the MP tried to intervene.
"Speaking to Britain's Press Association, Ben-Abdallah (eye witness) said it appeared Cox had intervened in a scuffle between two men."
Note there is no mention of Britain First.
If it had been politically motivated then why would he have attacked someone else first? He would have attacked her, not some other bloke. Even a complete nutter (like this bloke) would have focused on his primary target first.
From all the evidence here, she was a bystander who tried to intervene and unfortunately got killed – just like that good Samaratan in Auckland in 2010, and the other in Auckland in 2014. Unfortunately intervening in violent situations is highly dangerous.
It is all very sad, especially for the family. It is disgusting that people are trying to make political material out of it.
Fentex
A British MP is killed, with reports the attacker claimed British First allegiance, DPF writes when first reporting it…
Too early to know whether the attack was politically motivated, or the assailant was just mad
People in the US are killed with reports the attacker claimed ISIL allegiance, DPF writes when first reporting it…
Terrorism in the past had goals generally aligned to some sort of political or geographical dispute. It might be UK our of Northern Ireland, a civil war in Sri Lanka, even US foreign policy.
But Islamic State is different. There is nothing that will appease them, even if you wanted to. They want a global caliphate and have a message of hate that appeals to tens of thousands. Any target in any country is fair game. Their justification is people living a lifestyle that is at odds with their 7th century beliefs.
Now there's obviously a bigger impact in a mass shooting than a single killing (and we can put thoughts about what the killer in Britain might have done if AR-15's were easily available) but the idea of waiting to see, to think about things and not leap to conclusions holds true in either case.
But for some reason people just don't behave consistently. It's almost as if people have prejudices that change their reactions.
@stephieboy 11:30
What was your reasoning for posting the query.. was it the actions of a jilted lover?
What right have you got to post a nasty smear about the private life of a married woman you know nothing about?
Don the Kiwi
"british Labour MP Jo Cox has died after being shot and stabbed in her constituency"
That's an unusual place to get stabbed – what part of the anatomy is that again?
Lucia Maria
cmm,
What article are you sourcing? I've found <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/81162282"a Stuff article that contains your quote, minus the '(eye witness)', which does mention some witnesses hearing "Britain first" being shouted by the man.
This article gives the names of the witnesses who heard him:
Two separate named witnesses have said the attacker said "Britain First", including 38-year-old Graeme Howard, who told the Guardian the attacker "was shouting 'Britain first' when he was doing it and being arrested."
Clarke Rothwell, who was reportedly within yards of the attack in Birstall, told the Examiner that the man shouted "Britain First, Britain First".
I think going into denial mode at this point is counter-productive.
Semi Auto rifles are available in the UK. An AR15 is just a semi auto but made to look like a Military Style weapon…and the Orlando shooter didn't use an AR15
An AR15 is also usually .223 caliber. Very fast but light bullet,You would cause much more damage and be more deadly if you used a 9mm Pistol.
The US liked the M16, which is what the AR15 is made to look like, because the theory was if you just wounded someone, then two people had to carry them away and that removed three people from the battlefield. The old FN's 7.62 and other Carbines blew such big holes in people they died on the spot. Can't have that…Not very tactical
Maggy Wassilieff , I was alluding to the speculations and jumping to conclusions over Jo Cox's death and the kind of thing you are doing precisely now
Your comment is contemptible !
cmm, as I originally suggested we do not have all the information and facts on an unfolding tragedy !
It is disgusting that people are trying to make political material out of it.
Multiple eye witnesses report hearing a man who may or may not have ties to a shady group shout Britain first as he killed a former humanitarian aid worker and MP who was pro-immigration, pro-EU anti-Brexit during the height of the build up to a particularly contentious referendum.
But no, let's not politicise her death. That would be disrespectful.
http://springbokcybernewsletter.blogspot.co.nz/2006_01_01_archive.html
No stephieboy..
You need to own your own words.
You wrote that contemptible speculation without any thought as to how a third party could interpret it.
cha (6,141 comments) says:
cmm (1,420 comments) says:
Multiple eye witnesses report hearing a man with ties to a shady group shout Britain first…
@cmm
You see cmm? I think what you are missing is not that "It is disgusting that people are trying to make political material out of it" – but that it is disgusting when the wrong sort of people make political material out of it.
ToyDivision
For those still doubting the motives of the, er, alleged assailant, this article outlines his extensive links to and involvement with far right and white supremacist groups:
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/06/16/alleged-killer-british-mp-was-longtime-supporter-neo-nazi-national-alliance
It's not politicising a tragedy to point this out.
From this article, one of the witnesses, Clarke Rothwell, who had said that the attacker shouted "Britain first", also could describe in detail how the MP was attacked:
"There was a man stood there, in his 50s with a white baseball cap on and grey jacket with a gun, an old-fashioned looking gun in his hands. He shot this lady and then shot her again," said Rothwell.
"He lent down. Someone was wrestling with him and he was wielding a knife, like a hunting knife … He lunged forward, stabbing her straight in the stomach and that's when he tried to reload his gun. She was shot, three times she was shot. The initial time when she dropped to the floor and then two more times. He leant over and pointed the gun … he shot her … in the meantime he was just stabbing her with his knife."
While as the witness cmm mentioned came out of his restaurant to see what was going on, after hearing the commotion:
"All of a sudden, I heard people screaming and shouting," said Hicham Ben Abdallah, who runs the Azzurro restaurant. "I went outside and I saw this guy kicking something in between two cars. There was another man trying to restrain him and he was screaming and stabbed him." ."
He didn't even see the subject of the kicking, so can't have been as close as Clarke Rothwell. He heard him screaming, though.
So she was a traitor to her country.
Evaded the axe, but not the bullet.
lastmanstanding
Example 4387 of why I never ever trust the MSM. Lies half truths all fitted to their own agendas. No interest in reporting the truth to the citizens only their lies.
i So she was a traitor to her country.
i Evaded the axe, but not the bullet.
Classy, mate.
June 17, 2016 1:02pm
Haiji's comment at 12.52 is so brutal and crass that I suspect Haiji is an agent provocateur – someone who purports to be from a faction he hates so he can stir up feelings against that faction.
Haiji's reference to an "axe" supports that conclusion, in my view.
This was a revolting, brutal murder of a democratic politician who was also a young mother.
' And our 50,000 Muslims endorse the actions of Omar Mateen ? How do you know that ?'
Given Pew Reseach has shown a high % of Muslims are homophobic and mysogynist, how do you know the same % doesn't apply to the Muslims here?
Just look at the contrast of what Mateens father said in an interview to what was subsequently found out about him.
All On Red, never mind spurious references to Pew the evidence that our 50,000 Muslims support ISIS, Taliban , and are all homophobic and mysogynist ?
BTW , the Catholic church and Christian fundamentalists are not homophobic etc ?
AgentBallSack
Isnt Hajji another nom de plume for Padriv? And stephie you are a fuckwit. What an abysmal thing to say about a murdered wife and mother.
Pew Research is spurious? And I said %, not 'all' so stop being the liar you usually are by misrepresenting what people say.
No wonder you have the title of the dumbest commentator on Kiwiblog.
Gosh, you must be really tired from all the twisting, spinning and playing 'Look Squirrel!' over the past few days. Lucky you don't have a job eh.
All on Red , I repeat-
".. the evidence that our 50,000 Muslims support ISIS, Taliban , and are all homophobic and mysogynist ?"
Go for it !
KevinH
This murder is an awful tragedy for Jo Cox and her family, a mentally deranged man has committed murder in broad daylight in a public place.
A public servant has been brutally murdered and it goes without saying that the assailant was known to authorities which failed to heed his psychotic behaviour and now unfortunately a young woman, a wife, a mother and a valued member of the community is dead.
So was Anne Boleyn
Once again you lie about what I said. I said ' how do you know the same % doesn't apply to the Muslims here?'
But here you go, you liar.
http://www.pewresearch.org
labrator
Thoughts are of the family and the future of those two kids without their mother. Nobody should not come home from work under these circumstances.
Inandout
I saw one eyewitness account on The Sun site, but the guy (at this stage) didn't hear any shouting of 'Britain First'. To get those words in will require expert editing.
It's not my imagination.. stephieboy is definitely getting more obnoxious as time goes on.
Now has starting the shrieking hysterically phase.
All_on_Red, how do you know that it in fact does by merely extrapolating from Pew ?
BTW , your link cane up with nothing . You may try to use this link and show me the survey in question,
http://www.pewresearch.org//search/?query=Muslims
I think you're the one that could be telling porkies , not me !
Not my job to teach you how to use the Internet Stephieboy
The Research on Muslim attitudes has been widely published and discussed previously on KB
But this might help you.
https://www.amazon.com/English-Grammar-Dummies-Geraldine-Woods/dp/0470546646
And the way you misrepresent what people say makes you the biggest liar on here. You're a disgrace really
All on Red, dumbo .! Show me the Pew link ?
Now look at the one who is telling porkies !
DUH !
Lol, using google I found it in about 5 seconds.
You are so hopeless
All on Red ,
Donald Trump's use of grammar 'typical of children aged 11 and under'
The grammar used by Donald Trump in his speeches as he campaigns to become the Republican presidential candidate corresponds to that used by students aged 11 and under.
The 69-year-old businessman's language tailed his counterparts. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio – although he has now dropped out of the race – both used grammar corresponding to children aged between 11 and 14 – students between grades six and eight in the US…"
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-uses-language-typical-of-children-under-11-a6936256.html
Scott Chris
tom hunter (7,210 comments) says:
Not to any reasonable person.
The guy appears to be a nutter just like the Orlando nutter. Frame it how you will.
Children 11 and under is still better than you.
Sooo funny
And at least Trump has a job
But I can make the political point that one MP died at the hands of a nutter who appears to have fashioned a homemade gun.
Had he been able to purchase an assault rifle his murderous ambitions may have been greater.
Actually All in red say what you like about stephieboy but you are a bit of a ignominious your self
An AR15 is just a semi auto but made to look like a Military Style weapon…and the Orlando shooter didn't use an AR15
Nope its a modified version of an m16
The AR-15 is a military and civilian rifle that has been produced in many different versions. The term AR-15 was chosen by Colt for the civilian models it produced after selling the rifle to the U.S. military as the M16 rifle, and many people and references use the term AR-15 exclusively for civilian models. This article discusses the original design for military users and its major variants, however they are labeled. AR-15 rifles are lightweight, gas-operated, magazine-fed, and air-cooled. They fire an intermediate cartridge, and are manufactured with extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials.
The AR-15 was first built in 1959 by ArmaLite as a small arms rifle for the United States armed forces. Because of financial problems, ArmaLite sold the design to Colt. After some modifications, the redesigned rifle was adopted as the M16 rifle
The MCX that was used is a AR15 family weapon
To the extent that sigsuar sell a kit to covert any AR15 into a MCX
http://www.sigevolution.com/_includes/SIG-MCX-Brochure.pdf
Mair was and had been treated for mental illness. I realise we have have had some state that the Orlando killers ex wife said he was 'nuts'. But unless she is a Clinical Psychologist then that doesn't mean much so where is the evidence that the Orlando killer is insane. Had he had treatment too? Unless you are saying all killers are insane.
Although personally I think anyone who would follow such a mysogynistic and homophobic religion like Islam is 'nuts'.
Heck, just look at the way our Resident 'dumbest commentator on Kiwiblog' Stephie supports it!
Fentex (3,086 comments) says:
Yeah Muslims certainly appear to be society's new Jews. Sadly ironic.
'Made to look like' and modified are much the same. The AR15 is the civilian version. And Colt do a Military one. Semantics meh. Desparate point scoring.
' but you are a bit of a ignominious your self'
You meant ignorant and yourself but by getting it wrong you show you are ignorant yourself- now that's funny
All_on_Red (3,234 comments) says:
You strike me as quite a smart person AoR, but I suggest that where you go wrong is having very fixed ideas and using your intelligence to justify them in spite of other, more compelling evidence.
Hajji (600 comments) says:
God forbid a fucktard like you could get your hands on an assault rifle. Any suicidal thoughts?
He looks to be just a regular nutter. Care in the Community never worked, the mental hospitals were shut to cut costs and make money for developers.
Whe they go over the top these people usually end up killing ordinary members of the public so the political elite and MSM don't care so much.
David Farrar
MK at 1113: In the Orlando case, the killer rang the Police and said he is killing them in the name of the leader of Islamic State, to whom he has pledged allegiance.
In this case the killer has not been so helpful as to tell us his motivation. However more recent stories suggest it is both – he was mentally unwell but also politically motivated.
I think we can safely conclude politics had nothing to do with it:
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/06/16/revealed-mp-killer-psychotherapy-medication-never-spoke-europe-politics/
The whole "Britain First" line is fiction:
The original claim for the "Britain First" shout was Aamir Tahir, a local dry cleaner. And in the past few hours Mr. Tahir told other news outlets that he "wasn't there [at the scene]" and simply heard the allegation as second hand information.
David Farrar (1,726 comments) says:
All good mate.
Something I noticed recently is how a community comes together somehow through mutual suffering but also to a certain extent, through personal vulnerability.
Case in point; Christina Grimmie, Youtuber, Reality Star gunned down by nutcase fan. I follow a number of the prominent Youtube commentariat and it seemed to me that they unanimously felt initially saddened, then shocked and vulnerable.
I suspect many within our own political community would be feeling the same way in light of the recent tragedy. Perhaps blame can be allocated at a later date.
@haiji:
Yours was one of the most vile disgusting comments I have ever read on this blog. So revolting that I couldn't bring mydelf to even copy-and-paste it. This poor woman was in no way a traitor; she was an elected parliamentary representative campaigning in a democracy.
I try not to lower myself to name calling, but in your case I'll make an exception. You are a despicable cunt.
***Yeah Muslims certainly appear to be society's new Jews***
@ Scott Chris,
Well, not in terms of actual behaviours. I don't recall jews being overrepresented in crime stats, the way some in Europe currently are.
"France, between 60 and 70% of prison inmates are Muslims, mostly from North or West Africa, although they make up only 12% of the total population (Moore, 2008). In Spain, they account for 70% of prison inmates but only 2.3% of the total population. In Belgium, they make up 45% of prison inmates (Sudinfo.be, 2013)."
http://evoandproud.blogspot.co.nz/2013/05/can-antiracism-reform-itself.html
Scott Chris (7,851 comments) says:
The guy appears to be a nutter just like the Orlando nutter. Frame it …
… how you will.
This attack on a public official cannot be viewed in isolation. It occurs against a backdrop of an ugly public mood in which we have been told to despise the political class, to distrust those who serve, to dehumanise those with whom we do not readily identify.
Toxic enviroment.
Rude, crude, Nazi-style extremism is mercifully rare. But the leavers have lifted several stones. How recklessly the decades of careful work and anti-racist laws to make those sentiments unacceptable have been overturned.
Nazi!
When politicians from a mainstream party use immigration as their main weapon in a hotly fought campaign, they unleash something dark and hateful that in all countries always lurks not far beneath the surface.
Raaaaaccccciiiiiiiisssssttttt.
That's Polly Toynbee of everybody's favourite Lefty rag, The Guardian and I certainly agree that a left-wing nutter like her is not a reasonable person.
"It is critical that the United States and Britain, two of the world's oldest and greatest democracies, stand together against hatred and violence. This is how we must honor Jo Cox — by rejecting bigotry in all its forms….
That's your US fave, Ms Hillary, cashing in on the same themes.
And of course you saw Cha's link, where The Independent came up with a really solid link, where the dreaded Springbok Cyber Newsletter were trying to find out where he lived, ten years ago.
Tried. And nothing since. That's the best the Left has come up with so far, but remember, it's only disgusting when the wrong sort of people make political material out of it.
Left Right and Centre
She might've been planning her 42nd birthday on June 22
Could've been anyone attacked by a mental case, right ? hmmm – an MP. What are the chances ?
This is the UK, not the free gun with new business US – he had a gun.
One day – might work out how to stop these primitive killings with advanced technology. Not yet – but it could happen.
What do you do if you're an MP ? Bullet proof stab proof vest ? The cops wear them. SWAT wear them. There was a rapper that never took his off after 2Pac and Notorious BIG.
Far out – maybe we should all get bulletproof stabproof vests – the criminals have won at that point I know – sheesh – the old human race, eh ?
Yeah – got to work out who the nutters are and then remove them from society – sounds simple enough anyway.
Threats are everywhere – nowhere is safe. If you're homosxual, if you're an MP, if you're a Westerner . .. or sometimes just in the wrong place at the wrong time – on the tube, or taking a bus because the tube has been closed.
He's going to be locked up good now. What sentence can you possibly give for out and out murder ? Locked up for good – surely.
DifferentPerspective
How appalling for the Remain campaign to seek to use this as yet another outrageous scaremongering attempt to save their jobs. It's clear now that the murderer was mentally ill and made no mention at all of "Britain First" the witness who is reputed to say this has forcefully denied he did.
But still we're seeing a complicit media continuing to reference those words over and over and over again.
Small wonder that they're the least trusted profession !
It all came together so quickly – with this invented phrase flying around the world before the poor woman was dead – that you have to wonder if there wasn't some predetermination. After all we are talking about billions of billions of euros at stake here. It's the sort of thing you'd hear from those with KDS if it favoured the Nats here – and after all the Remainers in the UK are on the same side of the political fence as Key! I'll be back with more tinfoil hat theories tomorrow!
DifferentPerspective , what media sources to you use ? Daily Stormer , Daily Mail sleaze , Breitbart lies etc ???
Also sadly ironic is how increasingly anti-semitic Left politics is becoming. For example to equate Islam (a religion that preaches hate, murder, apostasy, sexism, racism and breeds violence faster than a striking trade union) with the Jewish faith (which doesn't do those things ascribed to Islam) is about as irrational as it is possible to be without needing to be institutionalized.
Islam breeds terrorism on an unprecedented scale – Jews do not. The vile hateful behaviour of muslims is why they are not welcomed by large tracts of society in general. Using your logic – you might as well bemoan how sad it is that society discriminates against pedophiles or rabid dogs!
You want to know why followers of Islam are not liked … look here (from 1.58) if you want to know what moderate muslims believe. This is why they're outcasts. Unlike the Jews – where it's all about the perpetuation of the politics of envy.
stephieboy (11,972 comments) says:
What about you? Do you inform your logical view of the world from such sources as:
– Polly Toynbee at the Guardian – preaching censorship and feminist gobblydegook?
– dog whistling from the Standard – I don't see any correction or retraction about the now discredited "Britain First" lie
Yes – I thought so. To answer your question – I search on topics of interest, analytically trying to work out what the truth is by viewing a range of different sources. So as to enable myself to make up my own mind about things – rather than parroting what untrustworthy politicians or MSM interests want me to think. You should try it – it is liberating!
« Or should we blame the father?
Little served »

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Виченцо Ланча () е италиански автомобилен състезател и предприемач, създател на автомобилната компания Ланча.

Биография
Винченцо е роден на 24 август 1881 г. в село Фобело, разположено в провинция Верчели, Италия, в семейството на Джузепе Ланча, заможен предприемач, натрупал състояние в Аржентина с производство на консервирани храни. Той е най-малкото от четирите деца в семейството (има още двама братя и една сестра).

В детството си Винченцо показва добри математически умения, но резултатите в училище са слаби. Желанието на баща му е той да стане или счетоводител или адвокат, но младежът е запленен от машините и създадените автомобили.

Впоследствие става чирак на Джовани Черано, вносител на велосипеди от Торино, а в брошура на компанията, издадена през 1898 г. Винченцо дори е обявен за счетоводител на фирмата. Скоро той усъвършенства уменията си в инженеринга, проектирането и изработката на машини и агрегати, работи с голямо търпение, упоритост и решителност. В резултат започва самостоятелно да се справя със сериозни проблеми.

През февруари 1899 г. Винченцо Ланча е изпратен да помогне на граф Карло Бискарети ди Руфия, който притежава един Бенц. Двамата бързо стават приятели. Това познанство придобива значение по-късно в кариерата му, тъй като Винченцо получава кредит от графа за предстоящия му бизнес, а последният дори проектира познатото лого на компанията през 1911 г.

Когато е на 19 години, Ланча става главен инспектор в големия производител на автомобили от Торино – ФИАТ, а същевременно е и тест пилот на компанията. Неговото умело управление на автомобилите впечатляват шефовете на ФИАТ и скоро той е поканен да управлява състезателен автомобил ФИАТ, като първият му успех идва през 1900 г. още във второто му състезание. Въпреки пилотските си качества, често изпитва механични проблеми. Любимец на публиката на състезанията Vanderbilt Cup Races през 1905 и 1906 г.

Първата кола, която създава е построена през 1907 г., притежава двигател с 12 к.с., и е обозначена като Alfa, а на основата на този модел по-късно са създадени "Ламбда" и "Aprilia".

Смърт
Умира от инфаркт на 15 февруари 1937 година, на 55-годишна възраст в Торино, точно преди "Aprilia" да бъде пусната в серийно производство. Той е погребан в родното Фобело.

Съпругата му Адел и техният син Джани Ланча продължават управлението на компанията (1937 – 1955).

Източници

Вижте също
 Ланча

Италиански индустриалци
Италиански бизнесмени
Ланча
Починали от инфаркт на миокарда
Починали в Торино

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Rosh Chodesh Groups Take off in Metro Detroit
Allison Jacobs
Rosh Chodesh groups help connect women on a monthly basis for spiritual inspiration, Jewish rituals and friendships.
By Jen Lovy
Featured photo by Jerry Zolynsky
Not that Jewish women need an excuse to get together and find inspiration but, if they did, the celebration of a new Jewish month offers such an opportunity through a variety of Detroit-area Rosh Chodesh groups.
"Participating in a Rosh Chodesh group is a great way to ground yourself once a month. Women are always busy, often doing so much for others. This is a unique opportunity to tap into something reflective and meaningful," said Itty Shemtov, who runs the Rosh Chodesh Society at The Shul in West Bloomfield.
"One of the greatest things I find about these gatherings is that during every meeting there is that aha moment where participants walk away in awe over what's presented. We could be discussing topics like Purim, where everyone knows about the holiday, or we could be talking about something more obscure like Jewish views on sleep; regardless of the topic, there is always that time where something really resonates."
These women-only gatherings have probably been done in some form for centuries, according to Shemtov. However, Rosh Chodesh groups really emerged in the 1960s and '70s, the same time the women's movement gained momentum.
According to biblical commentary, Rosh Chodesh is a particularly special day for women because while Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments, the women refused to relinquish their jewelry for the creation of the golden calf. God rewarded them by making the start of each new month a holiday where they did not have to work. Some explain that it's considered a holiday for women because the waxing and waning of the moon is connected to a woman's menstrual cycle.
Regardless of the reason, the celebration of Rosh Chodesh has evolved to include a time for women to meet regularly on or around the start of a new month to learn and explore themes related to women. The emphasis of these get-togethers is typically centered on spirituality, Jewish ritual and celebrations.
A Rosh Chodesh Circle from The Well: Meredith Dahlen, Southfield; Connie Gaines, Royal Oak; Mariel Schartz, Detroit; Lauren Rouff, Birmingham; Avery Drongowski, Madison Heights; Lauren Zeid, Birmingham; and Emiko Hayashi of Novi. Jerry Zolynsky
Groups in Detroit
These groups are popular around the globe and can be found in various forms throughout Metro Detroit. Some run under the auspice of congregations, others operate through Jewish organizations, and a few are organized and run independently by like-minded women.
The Rosh Chodesh group at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills started approximately six years ago as a one-time women's event. However, because it was so well received, it evolved into a series of gatherings held throughout the year.
Another began because the Downtown Synagogue didn't have a sisterhood and congregants wanted to get women of different ages together for discussions on Torah and relevant women's issues. Although no longer affiliated with the synagogue, the group is in its eighth year.
The most significant expansion of local groups began three years ago when the first Rosh Chodesh Circle was formed by The Well, an outreach organization for young Jewish adults in Metro Detroit. The Well now runs nine groups, thanks to funding provided by a local donor and educational material provided by, and often confused with, an international organization called At The Well.
These groups are a collection of like-minded women "open to trying new things and engaging more deeply with spirituality, wellness and friendship," according to Avery Drongowski, 26, The Well's community manager.
Drongowski said The Well groups are carefully put together based on a variety of factors including participants' shared interests, stages in life and careers.
Simply stated, their model for putting together groups is based on asking the question "could these women end up being best friends," according to Drongowski. "Our goal is to make strong, lasting relationships."
Brooke Bendix, 34, of Detroit said the Rosh Chodesh Circle has made a positive impact in her life by creating strong bonds with other like-minded young Jewish women.
"Once a month, in the Jewish tradition of Rosh Chodesh, our circle of nine young women comes together and re-connects on a more spiritual level and that has been something unique to be a part of," Bendix said.
Rosh Chodesh groups, like Bendix's, operating under the auspices of The Well, rotate between participants' homes where they gather for dinner followed by a discussion related to the monthly theme. It is up to the host to use the materials provided by At The Well and add her own spin when presenting on the topic. Cooking demonstrations, yoga sessions and art projects are among some of the more hands-on experiences groups have incorporated in their get-togethers.
Participants say what makes these groups work so well is the small sizes, which allow the women to really get to know each other and feel comfortable sharing deeper thought and ideas. For example, when a sex therapist spoke to one of The Well groups, the women were comfortable discussing intimate topics.
Rosh Chodesh group members generally look at the coming month and pick topics relatable to women. So, around the month of Nissan, when Passover occurs, talks with themes of freedom are typical. In Tishrei, when the High Holidays fall, repentance and redemption are popular.
At a Rosh Chodesh group started by Rabbi Dorit Edut, some of the women learned how to wrap head coverings in various ways from some invited experts. Dorit Edut
Chance for Renewal
Each fall, Adat Shalom holds its kick-off event. Then, throughout the year, Rabbi Rachel Shere leads five Rosh Chodesh study sessions that are free and open to the community.
"It's an opportunity for renewal and readjusting your perspective," said Rochelle Lieberman, who chairs the events. "Rabbi Shere does an incredible job of pulling together ancient texts and current situations for a meaningful and spiritual conversation."
Lieberman estimates an average of 25 women attend each session with some "regulars" participating and others coming when they can.
When the Downtown Synagogue didn't have a rabbi, Dorit Edut, a pluralistic rabbi, volunteered to help the congregation. It was then that she and congregant Sydney Skully started gathering women to meet for Rosh Chodesh.
While no longer affiliated with the synagogue, the group continues to gather monthly. It has a participant list of approximately 25 women, ranging in age from late 30s to early 70s. Typically, 10 to 15 women attend each month, rotating homes and picking topics a few months in advance.
Past discussions have included women in the Bible, modern women's issues and women in Jewish art, which including a visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Before delving into the monthly topic, each meeting begins with lighting candles and saying a blessing over the yuntif, according to Edut, a resident of Huntington Woods. They are also sure to have a goblet filled with water to signify Miriam's cup. This is done because, according to Midrash, Miriam was associated with finding wells in the desert and when she died, the water was said to have disappeared. The group also reads from The Jewish Book of Days, a work by Rabbi Jill Hammer, containing passages for each corresponding day of the Hebrew calendar.
"Often we add our own intentions or hopes and wishes for that month. And, then, of course, we eat," Edut said.
Adat Shalom's Rosh Chodesh Study Group led by Rachel Shere, left. Susie Steinberg
Adat Shalom will host a Rosh Chodesh event to welcome the month of Sivan with Torah study, prayer and light refreshments from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 4. For details, contact Rochelle Lieberman at Rochelle.r.lieberman@gmail.com.
For information about The Well's Rosh Chodesh Circles, contact Marisa Meyerson at marisa@meetyouatthewell.org. To learn more about The Shul's Rosh Chodesh Society, contact Itty Shemtov at itty@theshul.net. For details about Rabbi Dorit Edut's group, contact her at mutzim@aol.com or (248) 556-6316.
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text:
'Creed II' Review: Michael B. Jordan Rules Another Satisfying 'Rocky' Update
Sylvester Stallone also proves to be an effective and affecting anchor in this solid sequel to 2015's "Creed."
@erickohn
MGM/Youtube
Three years ago, Ryan Coogler's "Creed" pulled off an impossible gamble: It recontextualized the "Rocky" franchise by relegating its famous snarling boxer to the sidelines. As Adonis, the offspring of deceased boxer and Rocky pal Apollo Creed, Michael B. Jordan injected the franchise with fresh juice — as a sensitive, tortured soul with daddy issues to work through, Adonis made "Rocky" relevant again. Though Coogler later proved the commercial viability of blockbusters with black faces, "Creed" got the ball rolling on a comparatively intimate scale.
With "Creed II," it keeps rolling along: This slick and involving sequel finds Adonis continuing to work through the weight of his father's death in the ring, follows all the familiar motions revived with "Creed." But in the context of this resilient franchise, the movie hits each beat with the calculated precision of its tireless fighter.
With Coogler still journeying through Wakanda, he's handed the reigns to Steven Caple Jr. (Just as Coogler had only a single feature under his belt before "Creed" with "Fruitvale Station," former Coogler film-school classmate Caple's only prior directing credit was his understated 2016 crime drama "The Land," which premiered at Sundance 2016.) It appears to have been sufficient training for the challenge at hand. "Creed II," which credits Sylvester Stallone and Jewel Taylor as co-writers, contains plenty of bloody showdowns in the ring — but its central appeal lies in the quieter struggles that haunt Adonis whenever he steps away from the spotlight.
That's no easy task: Following his victory in "Creed," the sequel finds Adonis at the top of his game — scoring the heavyweight title in the opening minutes, while Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) barks his usual motivations from the sidelines, and his warm partner Bianca (Tessa Thompson) cheers him on. But the popularity leads Adonis to the usual crossroads: A cozy family life beckons, and while Bianca's singing career has taken off, the disease that cripples her hearing has only grown worse. A few too many new developments arrive right on schedule, but Caple frames the conversations between this believable couple with closeup intimacy that makes their bond resonate, and establishes genuine dread when Adonis naturally feels compelled to take one last battle — or die trying.
This is familiar stuff, but "Creed II" works overtime to create the tangible suspense that the worst possible outcome might actually come to pass. It's safe to say that no "Rocky" protagonist has never been more bruised and bloodied than Adonis becomes in this movie, but these are hectic times. The movie's bad guy, a Russian warrior resurrected from 1980s Cold War paranoia, arrives right on schedule.
The masterstroke of "Creed II" doesn't quite match the genius of reinventing this series in the first place, but it's still pretty shrewd: Remember Ivan Drago? The corny Russkie meathead played by corny Dolph Lundgren in 1985's "Rocky IV"? Since then, Drago's become a sturdy punchline in the "Rocky" mythos. Even though he was responsible for the death of Adonis' father, "Creed" kept the Drago references to a minimum, lest the cheesy antagonist hobble the movie's credible emotional foundation.
But "Creed II" drags Drago back into the picture and actually succeeds in making him credible, even if it's a bit silly. Of course, if Apollo had a kid, why not Drago, too? In "Creed II," Lundgren returns as the forlorn boxer, still smarting from his loss to Rocky in Russia over 30 years ago. And he has a monster truck of a son, Viktor (newcomer Florian Munteanu, a robotic mass of throbbing muscles), whom he's training for a revenge match.
Drago's still a cardboard villain, but Lundgren goes to great lengths to make the character into a pathetic, seething object of resentment. When he surfaces for a "Heat"-like face-off with Rocky at his cozy Philadelphia diner, there's a genuine thrill to the level of anger Drago feels after living as a punchline for decades. "That's like a million years ago!" Rocky counters. "But just yesterday to me," Drago shoots back, as Viktor sulks nearby.
Needless to say, the showdown's on — but initially, Rocky wants no part of it. The breach in his relationship with his disciple establishes a clever structural gimmick at the center of the movie, and gives Jordan the opportunity to act circles around this material until it settles back into the ring. As Jordan's stardom continues to launch beyond the stratosphere, "Creed II" is another reminder that he can guide that screen presence to genuine pathos.
But he's not alone. The glue that holds "Creed II" together is Caple's willingness to guide it into the terrain of a bittersweet melodrama. As his mother, Phylicia Rashad excels at conveying a parent's knowing smile with the slightest gestures. Thompson gets a handful of scenes to suggest that some of Adonis' rough intensity has rubbed off on her: She avoids the well-worn path of concerned damsel and actually empathizes with his struggle.
And then there's Stallone, the sturdy anchor that keeps this series rooted in its winding path through the decades. Peering out from beneath his iconic slanted fedora, Sly doesn't have that much to do this time around, but rises to the challenge whenever duty calls. In one pivotal moment, he gives Adonis family advice in a hospital corridor, mumbling his way to an emotional revelation. It's one of the actor's very best moments, and it creeps into the movie with the same unexpected appeal that "Creed" landed in the first place.
Ultimately, the bromance between these two men sets the stage for a finale that more or less operates on autopilot. Still, as "Rocky" training montage goes, this one — set in the sweltering desert heat — delivers the goods, thanks in large part to a vibrant reworking of the movie's pivotal theme. Rocky still drops nuggets of wisdom with the casual air of a half-asleep monk. ("You know there's only three steps into that ring, and it's going to look like a mountain.")
Kramer Morgenthau's cinematography lacks the showy steadicam acrobatics of "Creed," but the climactic battle between Adonis and Viktor still delivers a dazzling light show that dovetails right into the visceral mayhem of the battle, captured from so many angles some viewers may reel from the punches themselves. Still, while "Creed II" doesn't suffer from as much sequel-itis as other "Rocky" forebears, the virus of redundancy lingers.
Even so, it's fascinating to watch this series make the case for its existence. The closing moments feature a hilarious cameo that suggests another chapter around the corner as the "Rocky" EU continues its expansion, and there's enough substance in "Creed II" to justify its trajectory. We know what to expect from these stories, but both "Creed" and its sequel invite us to forget — so we can rediscover the thrill all over again.
"Creed II" opens nationally on November 21, 2018.
This Article is related to: Film and tagged Creed 2, Michael B. Jordan, Reviews, Tessa Thompson


Ask the Trade: Has Brexit influenced where and how people are spending money?
Has the referendum influenced your sourcing of goods, perhaps toward the introduction of more UK made goods?
Swap to UK made goods… do they exist in good numbers? Our sourcing of non-core goods has changed, though we buy more from other retailers. You pay a little bit more, (sometimes less) but the goods arrive quicker, with no minimum order value and it's all payment upfront, so less accounting work.
Not at this stage, but long-term our pricing and trading agreements with suppliers, as well as availability, may change where we source product.
As more of a bike accessories shop, not really. Looking around the trade shows and talking within the industry I think, bike-wise at least, UK designed brands like Forme and Orro have really upped their game. Each is really well priced, high quality and with good ranges.
No, the vast majority of products we sell are sourced from the Far East and that has not changed.
Have you seen, or do you anticipate a change in consumer spending habits as a result of any of the factors associated with Brexit?
Are people spending less? I'm not sure. Are they being more careful when they spend? Hell yes. We noticed a big shift in spending habits during the last quarter of 2017. Previously it was a case of pricing a job and getting an almost instant approval, even on the tasks we'd listed as advisable but not essential. Now we are asked more and more 'do I really need XYZ done?' Ultimately people are still spending, but every penny now needs to be justified.
Our Christmas pop up Muc-Off shop was a great example of this. During Christmas of 2016 there was little to no thinking involved in a purchase. People were buying two, maybe three gift packs at a time, without hesitation. Christmas 2017 was different. We had to work hard for every sale we got. We still saw good sales growth year-on-year, but it was much harder come by.
No, I don't see any change to consumer spending habits, but do believe that long-term Brexit may prove overall to be a good decision for the UK.
The uncertainty and worry running up to and around Brexit slowed sales, but as soon as a decision was made and people felt a bit more stable sales have grown. It has still been a bit bumpy. I think people's concerns and worries about spending have been hugely driven by the media as soon as it stopped getting mentioned quite as much in the news people started spending. Going forward the main concern is stability of the pound and the market.
The uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the UK economy is crateing a more cautious approach to spending. A lot of our customers are of an age whereby they are financially secure and spending a couple of grand is not significant. Despite this, I am detecting a more conservative approach to spending. Pre-referendum we were experiencing higher growth than post referendum. Sales on interest free credit have increased, indicating that my customers are more inclined to keep hold of their cash.
What's the importer's take on any pros and cons?
I think it's safe to say we're all now importers in some form. Whether you're a bike shop, a distributor, or even an end consumer, chances are you're buying products from elsewhere within the EU. We had a quick think in the office and the number of cycle brands supplied direct to UK shops from the EU is a lot longer than even we'd realised, so most readers of this title will now be importers.
Our primary role at FLi is currently working as KTM's UK agency. The bikes and all P&A are shipped from the factory in Austria direct to retailers in the UK. If we assume that Brexit means Brexit, means hard Brexit, and we're going to leave the Customs Union and Single Market (by the time this gets read things could have changed) then this means that all our dealers could potentially have to handle the import, which means paying the VAT, duty and handling fees up front before the goods are released. Added to this, there may be associated delays, as things have to pass through customs at the new border.
Worst case, this could mean that the current agency business model used by a lot of brands ceases to be viable and they have to move back to having UK-based distributors with the associated impact costs for everyone in the supply chain.
As a business owner I've spent a lot of time looking at the potential impacts of all the different shades of Brexit being discussed and there do appear to be a lot of potential challenges to a UK cycle industry that is so heavily dependent on EU-based brands and assembly lines. However, the list of pros and cons is very hard to pin down to anything meaningful while we currently have no idea what Brexit will look like.


Finally the biggest festival is almost here and we're ready with our gear. Cleaning – check, renovations – check, clothing – check, decorations – check, gifts – check; oh, really? Getting gifts for everyone isn't that easy as it seems. When it comes to gifting to families, we generally lay our hands on a variety of eatables, home appliances, decorative items and other such stuff. But when it's about a particular individual, the task gets tougher because you want to get something useful and to match the taste of the person.
So now when it's the festive time and you have donned the cap for buying gifts, you must fetch something that the receiver remembers for years. Of course, you can easily get chocolates and similar stuff, but a little effort in choosing the right gift can bring you praises too. Keeping the pitch of the article restricted to females, we have got something which would be absolutely loved by all girls and women alike.
For women, their physical appearance matters a lot. Whether it's about their clothing, make-up, figure, hairstyle, accessories or footwear, they make special efforts to ensure that they look just perfect. And most of the girls prefer buying dresses, knick-knacks or even footwear on their own due to specific preferences. Apart from these, the other thing they are quite obsessed with is their hairstyle. And here comes the answer to your gift hunt for her!
Every woman wants an appliance that could make her party ready within minutes. And for sure, even the prettiest dress or even perfect make-up could be a sheer waste if the hairstyle is not right. So, to address this throbbing issue of every female, Havells has come up with a Hair Dryer and Hair Straightener Combo Pack which is actually a boon in disguise. Made using the most advanced technology, both these personal grooming products are just right to meet every woman's hair styling needs.
Along with the trust of a brand like Havells, get swayed by the powerful 1200W hair dryer which can be used for everyday styling – providing you with smooth and shiny hair. Its gentle and strong dry options enable you to use the dryer as per your choice. Its optimum airflow offers long-lasting results to style your hair and create a smoother finish while using a roller comb. Moreover, this hair dryer has a foldable handle which ensures easy storage while travelling too.
Coming to the additional product of this combo pack, you are definitely going to swear by the results it can impart. Yes, the Havells Hair Straightener is absolutely amazing accompanied by ceramic coated plates which heat up at a consistent temperature and glide smoothly on hair to make them shiny. Suitable to be used on all hair types, this hair straightener features specially designed pin point shape which makes it easier to bend, flip and curl the fringes to get the desired results in lesser time. Since this hair styling product can attain the optimal temperature of 210 °C in just 45 seconds, one can get the preferred hairstyle right away.
So, when you have gone through the features and the utility of this Hair Dryer and Straightener Combo, there should be no glitch in buying one. In fact, seeing its usability, you can actually buy it for any woman – whether she is your friend, sister, wife or even mother. And since Havells is reliable brand, you need not worry about the quality or performance of the product. So, this Diwali, give the women in your life a gift to remember – a gift which lets her groom the best version and makes her feel that she is worth it!


Lola Brooks 18k yellow gold and green Umba sapphire station necklace. Nine sapphires are interspersed between lengths of delicate chain to create a necklace that measures approximately 22 1/2″. Each sapphire is set in Lola's signature gold-backed bezel.


The Finger Lakes East and West tennis leagues began tournament play Tuesday.
In Pool A — Emily Northup-Kelly McWilliams of Canandaigua, defeating Victor's Chrissy Martz-Tristan Turner, 7-0; in Pool B — Victor's Kourtney Passero-Ann vonLehm, beating Newark's Stacey Brooks-Tricia Santelli, 4-3; in Pool C — Mekenna Ramsey-Brittany Walker from CA, downing Emma Baker-Justine Smith from Wayne, 5-2; in Pool D — sisters Kayla and Grace Relph of Victor, defeating Nicole Benzinger-Katy Wilbur of CA 4-3.
All eight first- and second-place pool finishers qualify for the A flight tournament back at Pal-Mac on Thursday.
In Pool A — Midlakes Arian Burnett-Farrands claimed the top spot with a win over Whitman's Ellie Grabski; in Pool B — Penn Yan's Liz Rhode defeated Sarah Ryder of HAC 5-2; in Pool C — Kayla Kline of Mynderse defeated Brittany White of Bloomfield 5-2; in Pool D — Karisa Gage of Midlakes defeated Bloomfield's Emily Pettengill 5-3.
Play continues today and tomorrow in both leagues.


It's summer! And that means Facebook is full of vacation posts from faraway lands. It seems as though everyone you know is eating gelato in Italy or cruising in Alaska. If you're saving money to pay for fertility treatment and have resolved that the farthest you can travel this summer is your backyard, this post is for you. Melvin Thornton, MD of CT Fertility in Trumbull, CT offers great tips on how to scrimp and save this summer…without sacrificing fun in the sun.
Check the Facebook page for your town, and area towns, to see what's happening near you. Many are FREE!
Also, remember to utilize everything your town has to offer. Visits to local pools, beaches, campgrounds, and picnics in the park are a great way to while away the lazy days of summer without spending a fortune.
So maybe you're staycation-ed out and are feeling the travel bug. A quick overnight trip to a nearby destination can scratch that travel itch without breaking the bank. You can save a few dollars by packing snacks and drinks for the drive and booking a night in a small town rather than a large city. Also, if you can swing it, plan your trip mid-week. Rates are usually lower on Tuesday or Wednesday than Friday or Saturday. Or hold out until mid-August…it's easier to find travel deals when kids are back in school.
No, really. Garage sales and flea markets heat up during the summer months. Some people love the thrill of the hunt. Others love sharpening their bargaining skills. It can also be a great way to score some fantastic items at rock bottom prices. (How fabulous does it feel to pay next to nothing for an item that once sold for beaucoup bucks?!?) Check your local paper or online to find sales in your area.
There are all kinds of ways you can have fun on the cheap when the weather warms up. There are also lots of things you can do to save money on the more boring things in life, like utility bills. Read on for tips that patients at CT Fertility in Trumbull, CT have put into place to cut costs and save for fertility treatment.
Pull the plug on appliances you don't use much. Only plug them in when you need them.
Plant a garden to save money on fresh fruits and veggies.
If you pay someone to cut your lawn this may be the year to take it on yourself. It's great exercise and is a relatively easy way to add to your savings.
Save on air conditioning costs. Open windows at night and run fans on low. Close shades and curtains where the afternoon sun streams in.
Take a break from at least one screen this summer. Most people don't watch nearly as much TV when it warms up, and you'll likely find significant savings by canceling that costly bill.
Fun and summer have always gone hand in hand; setting money aside to help grow your family doesn't have to change that. Call Melvin Thornton, MD of CT Fertility in Trumbull, CT at 914-251-4151 or email ctfertilityinfo@integramed.com if you'd like more tips on the best way to plan for the financial impact of fertility treatment.


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Isochariesthes undulatovittata är en skalbaggsart som först beskrevs av Stefan von Breuning 1962.  Isochariesthes undulatovittata ingår i släktet Isochariesthes och familjen långhorningar. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Långhorningar
undulatovittata


The NFL owners meetings are coming to an end, but the week of PFT Live is rolling right along.
Mike Florio will be joined by Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday's edition of the show. Cole's most recent column deals with Andrew Luck still having the edge over Robert Griffin III when it comes to NFL executives and coaches, so we'll find out more about that as well as what Cole's hearing about the other big news around the league.
Dave Birkett, Lions beat writer for the Detroit Free Press, will also be on the program to talk about how 2012 is shaping up for one of last year's Wild Card teams. There's plenty to discuss there, from Cliff Avril's contract status to Ndamukong Suh's maturation process, and Birkett will let us know his thoughts.
You can watch it all live right here at noon ET.
Can jason cole comment on the worthlessness of Chris Chase's writing?
Does Dave birkett spend enough time with Suh to comment on his maturation process?….and if he does, how is he still alive?!?
Can Jason Cole comment on the worthlessness of Jason Cole's writing?


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For Southern Vermont College Students
All of Admissions >
Future Leader Camp FAQs
Q: Who can attend FLC?
A: Students entering the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, and incoming rooks.
Q: What is the deadline to apply?
A: There is no set deadline; however, we do cap each session at 96 participants.
Q: Is there financial assistance available?
A: FLC offers several scholarships. Contact us for more details.
Participants in the past have sought help from coaches and JROTC instructors in securing sponsorships from local businesses. Your local chapter of the American Legion may also provide scholarships.
Q: When is payment due?
A: There is a $25 application fee due when you apply, which is included in the total cost of camp. Once you have been accepted to camp, there is a $250 deposit to secure your spot. The final payment is due two weeks before your session's start date.
Q: Can I still come to camp if I have a medical condition?
A: Please call and ask. Each individual is reviewed on a case by case basis. Every participant must submit a health form signed by their physician before arriving at camp. Each participant is responsible for his or her medication while at camp.
Q: How many female participants attend camp?
A: Females make up approximately 25 percent of the camp participant and staff populations.
Q: Are there separate accommodations for the female participants?
A: Yes, female participants sleep on a separate floor and have a separate bathroom from the male participants.
Q: Can I use my cellphone during camp?
A: Cellphones are not allowed during training. Participants will be able to call home a few times during camp for 15 minutes.
Q: When can I expect my first phone call?
A: Participants will call home on the second or third night of camp.
Q: How do I apply?


Sign up and receive Property Email Alerts of Houses for sale in Community 20, Accra.
This is a grand 6 bedroom house located in Community 20, between Tema and Spintex. Tarred roads to the property complements easy access to many amenities as well as its quiet and family community adding to the benefits of the home.
The property has maximized use of space and presents a comfortable layout. Its 6 bedrooms are all ensuite, has a large kitchen, boys quarters, garden and ample parking. It is a beautiful home.
Contact us for a viewing.
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ASX rallies on sharp reversal of bank sell-off
TOPICS:via apinews.org
Posted By: onlinebiz 7th November 2019
Nov 7, 2019 — 4.52pm
Australian shares rallied on Thursday after a day of significant announcements that saw the banks and some tech companies post gains that gave the local market a notable boost.
The S&P/ASX 200 Index advanced 66.4 points, or 1 per cent, to 6726.6, after National Australia Bank surprised the market by announcing its full-year results without a capital raise.
"It's very stock-specific stuff going on today," said Atlas Funds Management chief investment officer Hugh Dive.
"I'm not going to read into this as the start of any particular rally — I think you could find a different move tomorrow."
NAB shares rose despitethe bank announcing a full-year net profit of $4.8 billion, down 13.6 per cent on 2018 and slightly below already low market expectations.
But after Westpac announced a $2 billion institutional raise last week, it was widely expected NAB would do the same.
When the bank did not, hedge funds who had taken a short position with a view to buy discounted NAB shares in a new raise were forced to re-enter the market to cover their positions, according to Mr Dive.
The big four banks took the top four spots for market movers by value, collectively adding almost to $1 billion.
NAB added 2.23 per cent to close at $28.42, Westpac climbed 0.73 per cent to finish the day at $27.45, the Commonwealth Bank rose 1.33 per cent to $79.04, and ANZ ended the day up 0.42 per cent at $26.11.
Tech leads sector gains
The tech sector climbed the most on percentage terms. Zip Co surging after announcing it had signed an agreement with Amazon. The deal will see Zip's point-of-sale credit payment option offered to customers shopping on Amazon.com.au.
As part of the deal, Zip will issue rights to $68.7 million in shares to Amazon, with the offering scheduled to go live on the e-commerce site from Thursday.
The news sent shares in the company spiking as high as 30 per cent before ending the day at $4.02, up 16.86 per cent.
Xero also led the IT sector higher on Thursday. The cloud-based accounting software provider rose 9.56 per cent to close at $73.95after the company released its first-half results.
In addition to revenue of $NZ338.7 million ($313.4 million), up 32 per cent on the prior half year, the company reported a 30 per cent lift in subscriber numbers compared to the same period last year.
The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index has lost more than 5 per cent since the middle of last month when concerns about valuations in the sector came to a headfollowing a hedge fund's critique of WiseTech.
However, Thursday's gains from Xero and Zip saw the sector reclaim some of that lost ground, with the IT index up 3.27 per cent on the day.
James Hardie was alsoa strong performer during the session following release of its half-year results.
The building products manufacturer reported a net profit after tax of $US189.6 million ($276 million), up 18 per cent on the previous first half.
The result saw the company raise its full-year profit guidance to between $US340 million and $US370 million ($495 million and $539 million) for the year ended March 31, 2020.
Shares in the company finished the day at $2.52, or 7.77 per cent above its previous close.
Flight Centre lost ground on Thursday after the company released its half-year results and gave an outlook update that fell below expectations. Its shares closed down 5.47 per cent at $40.07.
The only sector to finish the day in the red was energy, dragged down by a fall in oil prices overnight on Wednesday AEDT.
S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index fell 0.72 per cent to 11,056.4 points, with Beach Energy dropping 2 per cent to $2.36, Oil Search shedding 1.1 per cent to close at $7.34 and Santos losing 1.5 per cent to finish at $7.99.
The price of oil fell by up to 2 per cent after higher than expected crude oil inventory levels were reported.
Local investors seemed unperturbed by the incremental developments on the United States-China trade deal, noting the sharemarket gains on Thursday.
Hopes of an interim deal between the US and China waned after a senior White House official told Reuters an opportunity for the leaders to meet and sign any agreement was unlikely this month. It had been hoped a deal would be signed in the next couple of weeks.
Despite the trade war concerns, Australia's current account balance data released on Thursday surpassed expectations and showed exports in September had increased.
The trade surplus rose to $7.2 billion in September, far above the $5.1 billion expected by the market. The result was partly because of a rise in liquefied natural gas exports.
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Opinion When voters feel the world is broken, the Trumps rise
When voters feel the world is broken, the Trumps rise
Published February 11, 2017 Updated April 13, 2017
Do you believe, deep down, that the Western world is all but finished, its economic and cultural story in its final chapter? Or that the United States, or Britain or Europe are being eclipsed, or overtaken or invaded by stronger and more forceful countries, or peoples or civilizations?
Then you are probably very pleased with the angry new politics in the White House and in Europe's opposition parties. If there is one big intellectual idea that motivates people to vote for far-right movements, it is declinism: the notion that your country's best days are in the past and that its economy and culture are being defeated.
In a recent survey, Belgian sociologists Mark Elchardus and Bram Spruyt find that Europeans who support right-wing populists such as Marine Le Pen and Britain's Brexit movement are not motivated "by a weak or uncertain economic position" – they tend to be reasonably secure – but by "a very negative view of the evolution of society – declinism." This echoes exit polls that found that the biggest identifier of a Donald Trump voter was a belief that things were better in the past and that the United States' time of "greatness" was over.
Globe editorial: How Trump's 'America First' will end the American Century
Opinion: Trump's toxic world view is blind to history
Opinion: Countries that forget history become easy prey for demagogues
When people believe that their world has gone to hell – or, more to the point, that someone else's world has gotten better – they tend to vote for equally pessimistic people.
Take, for example, Stephen Bannon, the presidential adviser who is widely regarded as the intellectual force behind the Trump presidency. Journalists Eliana Johnson and Eli Stokols, writing for Politico this week, looked at the books and essays Mr. Bannon recommends to politicians and fellow staffers (which he does a lot). Most are works by obscure right-wing authors, all united around one theme: "the view that technocrats have put Western civilization on a downward trajectory and that only a shock to the system can reverse its decline."
Their authors include Curtis Yarvin (who argues that the Nazis weren't so bad) and Michael Anton, who now sits on the staff of the National Security Council, and became known for a 2016 essay, The Flight 93 Election, arguing that "America and the West are on a trajectory toward something very bad" unless radical-right politicians are elected and "the ceaseless importation of Third World foreigners" is stopped.
Mr. Trump's belief that the United States is being destroyed by the success of Mexico, China, Japan or "radical Islam" has brought a flood of declinists to Washington: Among those who now brief the White House are the authors of Stop the Islamization of America; The Post-American Presidency; Arab Winter Comes To America; and Adios, America.
Europe's far-right parties have been ushered into prominence – and given a better-than-usual shot in the French, German, Dutch and Italian elections this year – by a flood of bestsellers with titles such as Germany Abolishes Itself; The Last Days of Europe; After the Fall: The End of the European Dream and the Decline of a Continent; Reflections on the Revolution in Europe; Decline and Fall: Europe's Slow-Motion Suicide; and Submission. All argue that a weakened, feminized, coddled, birth-controlled Western culture has become too soft and impassive to resist invasion and dominance by supposedly more muscular, more fertile and more aggressive Asian and Islamic cultures.
History offers two lessons here.
The first is that declinism is never really about your own decline. Living standards and equality and security have all improved in most Western countries (or, if they've dipped, it's been part of a worldwide slowdown); 2017 is no more a moment of Western decline than was 1918, when The Decline of the West first became a bestseller.
Rather, it's about things getting better for other people. Mexicans, or Chinese, or immigrants and religious minorities in Europe and the United States, are having better lives, thriving, becoming more equal. For the declinist, their success must equate to our failure.
The second is that when Western countries actually do experience decline, it's because people have elected a declinist. Pessimistic leaders tend to respond by doing things – closing borders to trade and immigration, restricting minorities, ending international co-operation, starting wars – that end up fulfilling their prophecies of decline.
That is the basic paradox of declinism: It's simple-minded fiction, unless you believe in it and turn it into policy. Then, in your hands, it becomes history.
Editor's note: This column originally misidentified the Belgian scholars who wrote a study of influences on populist-party voting. The authors are Mark Elchardus and Bram Spruyt.
Stephen Bannon is President Trump's chief strategist and senior counsellor, but he hasn't always been in the political game
Globe editorial: Canadians may want a trade war with Trump, but Trudeau shouldn't
How Canada can take Trump's refugees
Persisting and resisting: Elizabeth Warren and the mouthy sisterhood
Follow Doug Saunders on Twitter @dougsaunders


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Home / Tweens / Matt Monroe and The Haunted House
Matt Monroe and The Haunted House
Matt Monroe seems like a typical, Mountain Dew-drinking high school freshman, but he is plagued with strange dreams, and his older brother Josh is acting weird. Both boys recently returned from an adventure in a parallel land called Paragon, where they and their friends battled a dragon and an evil elf named Damien. Having returned home, Matt assumed life would go back to normal.
While on his paper route, Matt finds a few dead livestock on a farmer's land. He then encounters two strange children named Nathaniel and Annabelle staying at the old abandoned Payne mansion. Later that night, Matt sees a mysterious stranger creeping around his backyard. Josh shows up with his clothes all shredded. To make matters worse, high school is off to a terrible start. The cheerleaders have a crush on his brother and are out to make trouble. The librarian isn't acting like a normal librarian: she can pass through mirrors. And there is a dragon flying around Matt's hometown. Life is never boring with the Monroe brothers.
Matt Monroe and the Haunted House by Edward Torba is the next book in the Matt Monroe series. With the help of their friends from Paragon, and a few new ones, the Monroe brothers must find out who is behind this new threat to their family. There are teachers and students who threaten to betray the heroes. Did they defeat Damien after all? Fortunately, Matt has many allies, adults and students alike.
Constant references to Matt's Paragon adventures make the first book a desired read, though it is not necessary to enjoy the follow-up book. A brief summary of the events catches the reader up early on in the story. The book starts off with some confusing head-hopping and time jumps. There are also aspects of Matt's life that come across as outdated for today's middle-grade reader. Who has a paper route in the twenty-first century? Plus, there are some flat characters. For example, the cheerleaders are vapid examples of the mean girl trope. But this is an action-packed story with no dull moments. The action goes at full speed and keeps the pages turning. Matt's funny teen persona shines through, and his relationship with Josh is authentic. The two don't always get along, but when their lives are in danger, their brotherly bond is strong. The love and loyalty of Matt's friends and family are a major theme that gives the story a positive tone and wholesome family values.
Reviewed By: Esther Wairimu
Edward Torba
All Points Press, LLC
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alumni trajectory
Distinguished Scholars
Ibrahim Insights
Ahmed Ali al-Mukhaini
The Ibrahim Student Leadership & Dialogue Middle East Program is honored to announce that Ahmed Ali al-Mukhaini has agreed to join our Ibrahim Distinguished Scholars.
Each of these scholars and thought leaders have been selected based on their uncommon courage, nuanced understanding and engagement in Middle East Matters that include combatting cultural, religious, ethnic and political prejudice and hostility in a strategically vital region that is in the midst of a tumultuous transition.
Ahmed Ali al-Mukhaini is currently serving as an advisor at the Office of the Executive President at the Capital Market Authority in the Sultanate of Oman. Prior to this, he chaired the SASLO Legal Training Center. Moreover, he served at the Omani Majlis Ash-Shura (elected chamber of the bicameral council of Oman) between 1999-2008 in several capacities, the last of which was Assistant Secretary General for Information. His other career stops included serving as the political advisor and assistant to two American ambassadors in Oman and head of the Hospital Information System at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital. He has been an active member of several civil society organizations and think tanks in Oman and abroad.
Researcher, Policy Analyst and Consultant
Active learner and an engaged team-member with wide experience in policy analysis, research, and development in the fields of socio-economic development, strategy, and governance.
Currently serving as an advisor on national economic, financial, fiscal and governance policies at the Office of the Executive President (EP) of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) in the Sultanate of Oman. He added value through providing support for, inter alia, policy and regulatory development within the securities and insurance sectors, the EP's membership in the Board of Governors of the Central Bank of Oman, and Oman 2040 (Economy and Development Track).
Avid expertise in in content development and in-depth participation in local, regional and international research programs, projects, seminars and forums.
Most Recent Projects
Bait al Mal and Endowments in Oman, a Case Study of Intentional Omission of Legibility in the Process of Modernizing in Oman, in progress. Expected date of publication May 2022.
Lead editor and principal investigator, Oman History since Antiquity, a 4-volume illustrated encyclopedic book on the history of Oman. Published by the Royal Court Affairs, December 2020.
Author, History of Mountains of Western and Eastern Hajar Jabal, introduction entry, in the Encyclopedia of the Mountains of Oman. A 3-volume book on the mountains of Oman's history, geology, flora and fauna, published by the Royal Court Affairs, December, 2020.
Co-author, History of Mountains of Dhofar, introduction entry, in the Encyclopedia of Mountains of Oman. A 3-volume book on the mountains of Oman's history, geology, flora and fauna, published by the Royal Court Affairs, December, 2020.
Lead engagement consultant and key urban-narrative developer, National Spatial Strategy and Muscat Regional Spatial Strategy, 2018-2020.
Mentor, British Alumni Network, British Council, 2019-2020.
Contributor and researcher on social epistemology in the Gulf Architecture Project, led by Liverpool University and Qatar National Library, 2018-2019.
Amichy (Ami) Ayalon
Dr. Samir Altaqi
Jefferson Hall, Room 306
Flushing, NY, 11367
info@ibrahimleadership.org
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