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Upgraded SpaceX Falcon 9 certified for National Security Space launches
Jason Rhian
Photo Credit: SpaceX
The United States Air Force's Program Executive Officer for Space and Space and Missile Systems Center, Lt. Gen Samuel Greaves, has approved the newly-upgraded SpaceX "Full Thrust" Falcon 9 rocket for use on National Security Space (NSS) missions.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket has been repeatedly upgraded since it first took to the skies in June of 2010. The Jan. 25 announcement by the U.S. Air Force address the latest change from the baseline configuration of the rocket to its latest iteration.
"The certification process provides a path for launch-service providers to demonstrate the capability to design, produce, qualify, and deliver a new launch system and provide the mission assurance support required to deliver NSS satellites to orbit," Greaves said. "This gives the Air Force confidence that the national security satellites will safely achieve the intended orbits with full mission capability."
SpaceX is now eligible to receive contract awards to launch missions on behalf of the NSS. They join Colorado-based United Launch Alliance as certified launch service providers.
U.S. Air Force and SpaceX technical teams will now work together to have the Falcon 9 ferry NSS payloads to orbit.
Lt. Gen. Greaves is the final approving authority in terms of granting certification. The process that culminated with today's announcement means that the recommendations of the Spring 2015 Independent Review Committee were considered.
Being allowed to launch payloads on behalf of the DoD is a serious subject, one which requires any organization allowed to do so to prove the launch vehicle's design is able to be reliable and deliver critical spacecraft to orbit. Stringent requirements are in place for all potential LSPs seeking to carry out NSS missions.
Each booster must demonstrate that it has the capability to provide the required payload mass to orbit specifications, the ability to insert payloads into precise orbits – as well as a range of other necessities.
After some legal wrangling, SpaceX, in May of 2015, received approval to move forward and have the Falcon 9 actively compete under contracts through the lucrative Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.
"SpaceX's emergence as a viable commercial launch provider provides the opportunity to compete launch services for the first time in almost a decade. Ultimately, leveraging of the commercial space market drives down cost to the American taxpayer and improves our military's resiliency," said the Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James via a release issued at that time.
Tagged: Falcon 9 SpaceX The Range United States Air Force
Jason Rhian spent several years honing his skills with internships at NASA, the National Space Society and other organizations. He has provided content for outlets such as: Aviation Week & Space Technology, Space.com, The Mars Society and Universe Today.


Accessorizing is a fun part of getting dressed for many people. If your little one wants to play dress-up, you want them wearing pieces that are safe and appropriate for their age. Earrings especially should be evaluated for quality. When your child wants to get dolled up, don't panic, we've got you covered. Consult our guide for the top ten earrings for kids right here!
We know quality is as important as variety on our guides. In our latest update, we've added three new products to replace under-performing items. There's a little something for everyone here.
Young girls--and even some boys--are eager to wear earrings like their parents. You don't want to purchase just any earrings for your child's potentially sensitive ears. We have recently updated our list with a number of new pairs (and even sets of pairs!) that are hypoallergenic and nickel-free so they are safe for children to wear. In addition, we have reviewed all pertinent production information to ensure that it is accurate and up to date.
Can't decide on just one pair? You don't need to. The Tamhoo Variety Pack features 30 different pairs of earrings perfect for young ones. These styles include cute animals, elegant simulated pearls, and more! All earrings are made of alloy and stainless crystal. They've been produced using eco-friendly materials and are hypoallergenic so little ones can safely show them off. Umbrellas, hearts, flowers, foxes, gems: there's a whole lot to work with here, so your child is bound to be thrilled with all of their options.
Children are often still figuring out their style. Fashion allows them to express themselves! This variety pack gives them plenty of choices to model for their adoring fans.
It's just nice to have so many options, and all of them kid-friendly. The designs are cute and colorful and there's a wide spread of interests, from flowers to animals to gems.
If your daughter loves owls, she will absolutely fall in love with these elegant, sparkly but cute studded owl earrings. Not only do owls symbolize justice and wisdom, but they are also an excellent gift for any occasion! Whether your daughter is a fan of silver, gold or the popular rose gold, these stainless-steel earrings are made of nothing but the highest quality materials. They won't rust or tarnish no matter how often your child wears them. Your daughter will even get a cute little gift box along with it! Not only is this cute and fun for a young child, but it's also fun for teens, young adults and adults to wear as well!
These owls are stainless steel and come in three choices of metal color: gold, silver or rose gold. They are nickel- and lead-free, making them completely safe for anyone with allergies. They are elegant and perfect for any occasion to wear whether it's for everyday use, weddings, birthdays or anniversaries.
We love this product not only because owls give of the symbolic meaning of wisdom, but these owls are so elegant that they'll make anyone want to show off their new earrings. These earrings are perfect for any occasion whether or not you want to dress up or down.
These heart hoops are for mini fashionistas all over. Designed in the vein of Swarovski, they're modern and elegant (but nowhere near as expensive). Made from premium 925 sterling silver, they're built to last and great for sensitive skin. Chanteur is a company comprised of parents so they understand how important it is to be using high-quality materials when it comes to your children. Additionally, they offer a 30-day money back guarantee so if you're unsatisfied, you can contact their customer service for a refund.
These are truly nice earrings (and at a nice price). If you have a little one looking for something more elegant, give these swarovski-inspired heart hoops a whirl.
They're delicate in aesthetic, but they're pretty durable by all accounts. They seem to stay securely fastened and hold up even when slept and showered in.
Let's talk unicorns. If your daughter is obsessed with unicorns, these are for her. This package comes with nine choices, all with a unique style relating to unicorns. These earrings are hypoallergenic and come in a little cute box which is perfect if your child doesn't have a jewelry box just yet.
These earrings are hypoallergenic and come in nine cute styles to match your child's mood. They are lead- and nickel-free and perfect for your daughter if she has sensitive ears.
We love this product because they are so cute, stylish and some even have sparkles. This is the perfect little studded earring for your child if she is obsessed with unicorns. It even comes with a gift box which is convenient for storage and gifting.
These stainless-steel birthstone studs are the perfect gift if you're still trying to figure out what to get your child, a niece or granddaughter for her birthday or for this upcoming holiday season. They come in size 5MM with a zirconia diamond. They are also hypoallergenic, so they are perfect for those ears that are a little bit more sensitive than others.
These earrings are nothing but high quality and also come in individual packaging. These are the perfect gift for a young pre-teen wanting bling to show off to her friends. They have unique, elegant style and are available for all 12 months.
Not universal for all ages especially for young children.
We love this product because not only are they simple and to the point, but they create a memory. Whether you give these just because, on a birthday or anniversary, any gemstone for whatever the occasion will hold that special memory.
For the kids who have a little more punky style, you should definitely consider a pair of stainless steel studs. These are great for kids who want to express themselves but in a subtle way, without dangly pieces or hoops. They're hypoallergenic and will fit snugly in the ear and don't worry -- Your child doesn't need to have gauged ears to wear them, but they do have several sizing options. Each comes in a different, cool metallic color so your child has the freedom to show off their style.
Simple yet totally cool is what we call these earrings. They're perfect for kids who don't want anything too flashy but still like to show off their pierced ears.
These earrings are super versatile and if there's anything kids love, it's options. With a set of five different earrings all in various colors, they'll never get bored of swapping them out.
Available in nine different color tones, these precious little flower studs are somehow simultaneously adorable and rather understated. They might look simple, but they're well-crafted. Guaranteed as an anti-tarnish piece, these studs are made from hypoallergenic lead and nickel safe surgical steel which is then electroplated with 24K gold that won't tarnish even when exposed to water. They're made with genuine swarovski crystals and feature sturdy, reliable backings making them fit for everyday use. Pretty enough to be worn at any age and simple enough to compliment most sense of style, these earrings are a great gift for a special someone in your life.
These earrings are a great addition to any collection. They're simple but beautifully made and constructed from high-quality materials that won't irritate your child's skin or tarnish when exposed to the elements.
It's a cute design and well-executed. Beyond that, the company seems to genuinely care about customer feedback and endeavors to provide high-quality products.
These pearl cat earrings are freshwater cultured pearls, sterling silver and 18k white gold plated, making them very high-quality earrings. These earrings are hypoallergenic and nickel-free. They're perfect for any crazy cat lover and any occasion. They come in a variety of metal colors: silver rose gold and gold. Each color has its own special traits, creating a unique look for whatever your style may be.
These cat earrings are so cute and not just for the younger generation either. They can be worn by any age with their elegant but simple style. They can even be worn for any occasion whether you want to dress up or down and will appeal to those who are cat lovers. If you have sensitive ears, these are also perfect for you as they are carefully made without any harmful ingredients.
We love these cat earrings because they are beautiful, sassy and perfect to wear for dressing up or more casual looks. They're comfortable enough to even forget throughout the day that you have earrings in! They're 100 percent nickel-free like most of our products on our list and perfect for anyone who has sensitive ears.
These next earrings on the list will introduce your child's playful side to the world. These colorful earrings are in the shape of sweet treats! Your child will look more adorable than ever wearing mini popsicles in their ears. This purchase comes with 6 pairs of sweet treats earrings. Included are 2 pairs of popsicles and 1 pair of donuts, cupcakes, an ice cream cone, and wrapped candy. The treats are made out of High-Grade polymer clay, which is eco-friendly. The set will arrive wrapped in an adorable candy shaped gift box. These handcrafted earrings are sure to get tons of compliments!
These are lightweight studs which are great for young girls, specifically for girls over the age of three. The earrings come with plastic backs, which will not hurt your child's lobes. Furthermore, they are hypoallergenic.
These earrings are absolutely adorable.The attention to detail adds a "WOW" factor to each pair. Also, we love that they are handcrafted using an eco friendly material.
Opals are beautiful and there isn't a more stunning way to show them off than through a pair of earrings. These would be ideal for preteens or teenagers who are looking for that special pair of earrings for a big occasion. They're excellent quality and catch the light in just the right way to show off every color that opals are known for. You'll have six different options, several of which also include diamond-encrusted interior bands.
For birthdays, celebrations, graduation parties, prom, etc., these earrings will make a beautiful addition to any outfit. They're subtle enough that they won't clash with other colors, but give off just enough elegance.
These earrings, while not great for everyday wear, are the perfect affordable option for special occasions. They're pretty, comfortable for short-term wear, and easy to put on for those who are relatively new to wearing ear jewelry.
Seeing as how your child will be wearing the earrings from this list fairly often, we took our time when doing research. We made sure that the jewelry on this list is safe, trendy, and affordable.
Safety is always our top priority when making the "Best" lists. With earrings, there were a couple of safety factors to take into consideration. The first is the material of the earrings. It is not uncommon for children to have allergic reactions to the metal used in earrings.
If your child has metal allergies, they should look for earrings without nickel. We included a variety of hypoallergenic and nickel-free earrings on this list. 14k gold, surgical steel, and sterling silver are all good options for earrings that will leave your child's ears free of irritation.
Secondly, we also paid close attention to the backs of the earrings. For babies and toddlers, we strongly suggest using screw backs on every pair of earrings your child owns. Backs that screw on guarantee that the earring will stay on. Babies flail their arms and move their heads a lot. If they have push backs on their earrings, the backs could easily slide off and become a choking hazard.
When making this list we were dedicated to finding earrings that your children would love to wear and feel confident in. The list includes a wide variety of earrings but all are super trendy. We have several studs that can be worn with everyday outfits. We included dangly earrings that will make your child feel elegant. While they are super classy, we made sure the dangly earrings were an appropriate length as to not make your child look too mature. We also listed handcrafted earrings with a fun design that will have all of your child's friends begging their parents for a pair.
Parenting is expensive, we know. Between expenses for daycare, clothes, and food, we're sure the last thing on your priority list for your child is a pair of earrings. There are plenty of earrings on this list that are under $15, which makes them very affordable. In fact, a lot of the listings include sets so your child will receive more than one pair. Yay, more bang for your buck! The earrings are also durable, which means you won't have to spend money on buying a new pair of earrings every week.
Q: What should my child's first set of earring be?
A: For babies, we recommend starting with 18k or 14k gold. Gold is best for sensitive ears.
Q: Should my child have screw-on backs or pushbacks?
A: For younger children, you should get screw-on backs. Push backs can easily be taken off and become a choking hazard.
Q: How long will it take for the piercing to heal?
A: Healing time is four to six weeks and the earrings must stay in the entire time.
Q: What is a good age for my child to get their ears pierced?
A: While this is a personal choice, doctors advise waiting until your child is at least 6 months old, as piercing the skin can risk infection. If you wait until the child is old enough to make this decision, they may be able to keep their ears and new piercings clean themselves.
Q: How will I know if my child's ears get infected?
A: Pain, itching, swelling, redness, and drainage are signs of infection. If you notice any of these signs you should contact your child's doctor. Your doctor will treat your child with antibiotics.
Q: After the infection is treated can I put the earrings back in my child's ears?
A: Doctors recommend waiting at least six months or longer before getting the ear repierced.
Q: Where should I get my child's ears pierced?
A: Some pediatricians offer ear-piercing services. If your mall has a Claire's, they are known for their ear-piercing services. Tattoo parlors are also an idea as they offer clean and safe equipment.


We're vested in your success!
From concept to completion, we're truly vested in your success in everything we do. Whether you're planning a conference, meeting, show or banquet, each event is unique and requires a strong foundation to make it a success. We provide the strategy and tools needed to plan an event that's an unquestionable achievement.
Our on-site Event Coordinators are with you every step of the way ensuring your event is impressive, flawless and on point.


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Creating a plastic-light future
In Singapore, about 700 million kg of plastic waste is discarded every year, but less than 10% of plastics are being recycled.
Plastic is durable, light and versatile. However, a piece of plastic in nature can take up to 400 years to break down. Our excessive use of plastics impacts ocean health and biodiversity. By 2050, there could be more plastics in the ocean than fish by weight. A study has found that shoppers in Singapore take 820 million plastic bags from supermarkets each year – an average of 146 plastic bags used by each person!
In support of WWF-Singapore's PACT (Plastic Action), The Body Shop Singapore appointed the organisation as the benefiting charity for the Kick The Bag initiative. Part of an industry pledge to reduce single-use plastic bags, there will be a 10 cent bag charge for every single-use bag taken at any of its 38 outlets across Singapore. To encourage shoppers to bring their own bags, The Body Shop will contribute an additional 10 cents for every single-use bag saved. Full proceeds from this initiative will be donated to WWF-Singapore's conservation efforts.
Return. Recycle. Repeat.
Drop off your cleaned beauty empties at any of The Body Shop's stores for recycling.
© The Body Shop Singapore
To account for plastics used in their products, The Body Shop also runs an in-store recycling scheme called Return.Recycle.Repeat. This scheme allows customers to return their clean plastic bottles after use. More details about Return.Recycle.Repeat here.
For Corporate Bookings or for more information on this partnership, please contact:
Mayj C. Tolentino
Head of Corporate Partnerships and Engagement
E-mail: mtolentino@wwf.sg

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


An order entails the buyer's ipso jure and unconditional acceptance of all conditions specified in this document and such party's waiver of any stipulation in its own conditions which does not comply with our clauses.
Prices are understood as excluding taxes, departure from our workshops, equipment packed, as specified on our price list at the time of delivery. They may be modified according to economic conditions even when an acknowledgement of receipt has been drawn up. For low value orders, the minimum invoicing amount specified on the current price list shall be applied.
Our deadlines are provided for information purposes only, they shall not commit us or give rise to cancellation or penalties and are understood as "Ex-works". We do not accept any late delivery penalty for any reason whatsoever which is beyond our control. Orders placed by telephone will only be taken into account once confirmation is received using a normal order form.
Deliveries are made using the means we decide are the best adapted. If a carriage method is specified on the order, possible additional costs shall be paid by the consignee. In all events, sold equipment travels at the consignee's risk who will be responsible for any reservations or filing any claims with the carrier.
Unless specifically agreed with the buyer, our invoices shall be paid within 60 days net, without discount, by accepted bill to be returned within 8 days. In all events, invoices for small amounts (contact us) shall be paid net, cash on delivery or at pick-up, or by cheque enclosed with the order. We do not grant any discount for payments whatever the initially specified payment method; we reserve the right to dispatch solely cash on delivery.
Sold equipment is guaranteed against any manufacturing defect during one year starting on the delivery date from our workshops, insofar as normal conditions of use have been complied with. This warranty excludes any deterioration due to incorrect use. The warranty is restricted to repairing, in our plants, sold equipment that is acknowledged as defective by our technical department.
In all events, Hydreka's liability as regards the customer shall be restricted to replacing, or if this is impossible, refunding amounts collected further to the relevant sale or rental. Hydreka refuses any liability other than as specified here above relating to the consequences of late delivery or equipment dysfunction.
Our products' characteristics, as indicated in our technical data sheets in particular, are provided for information purposes only; they may be modified without notice either due to reasons beyond our control, or to take account of subsequently finalised improvements.
No returns of sold equipment shall be accepted without our prior agreement and, in all cases, we will refuse any 'carriage forward'returns. If a return is agreed to, we may apply loss of value for product control and return to stock costs.
9) CODE OF GOODCONDUCT : As the Company Hydreka is part of the Halma Group, this agreement is enter into in compliance with the Group's code of good conduct, accessible on the www.halma.com website.
We expressly reserve ownership of sold goods until full payment of the price thereof including interest. If the buyer defaults payment on a single due date, and fifteen days subsequently to serving notice to perform to no avail by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, this agreement shall be ipso jure terminated. Sold or rented goods should then be returned to Hydreka, either amicably or, failing which, further to application to and order from the President of the Commercial Court.
In the event of judicial administration or liquidation of assets, such goods may be claimed within 4 months as of publication of the decision which opens the procedure, in application of the law.
The goods shall remain Hydreka's property and the buyer shall not be entitled to resell them without Hydreka's agreement. As of delivery, the buyer holds liability for any damages suffered by the sold goods.
In compliance with Article 800 of the French Commercial Code, the buyer also holds liability in the event of total or partial loss for any reason whatsoever. The latter will henceforth contract an insurance policy covering loss, theft or destruction with a solvent company.
In the event of a dispute relating to a supply or the payment thereof, the Commercial Court where Hydreka's registered office is located shall alone hold power of jurisdiction, whatever the sales conditions or accepted payment method. These General Conditions and all specified operations are governed by French law.


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Employment / Labor Law
Want to Arbitrate? Not So Fast. California Court of Appeals Decision Illustrates Limits to Contractual Obligation to Arbitrate
On December 27, 2016, the California Court of Appeals published a decision on the enforceability of an Alternative Dispute Resolution Agreement (the "Agreement") in the context of an employee-employer relationship. The issue before the California Court of Appeals was whether or not a former employer could compel arbitration under the Agreement signed by the employee. The Court's decision further illustrates California's history of closely examining agreements to arbitrate in the context of employee-employer relationships, and its reticence to enforce such agreements.
In its published opinion, Flores v. Nature's Best Distribution, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's order denying defendants' (plaintiff's former employer) petition to compel arbitration. Defendants' appeal contended that the trial court erroneously concluded that defendants failed to establish an agreement to arbitrate existed and that the arbitration provision was unconscionable and therefore unenforceable.
The matter arose after plaintiff Julie Flores ("plaintiff") was terminated from employment at Nature's Best. She subsequently sued Nature's Best and affiliated companies ("defendants") for wrongful termination and violations of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. In response to the suit, defendants filed a petition to compel arbitration pursuant to the Agreement.
The provision at issue provided for a multi-step alternative dispute resolution process, which is common in many agreements, employment and otherwise. The dispute resolution process involved an initial internal resolution process, followed by mediation, and ending with arbitration. As to the arbitration provision, it stated that either party may elect arbitration and that the cost was to be shared equally by the parties. It further provided that the arbitration was to be conducted in accordance with rules of the American Arbitration Association ("AAA").
In opposition to defendant's petition to compel arbitration, plaintiff argued that: 1) she did not recall signing the Agreement; 2) the Agreement was ambiguous because it did not specify which set of AAA rules applied; and 3) that the Agreement was unconscionable because it was a take-it-or-leave it condition of employment, plaintiff was required to pay unlawful fees, and denied plaintiff's appeal rights.
The Court of Appeals' analysis started and ended with the following: "[W]hen a petition to compel arbitration is filed and accompanied by prima facie evidence of a written agreement to arbitrate the controversy, the court itself must determine whether the agreement exists." (Rosenthal v. Great Western Fin. Securities Corp.) In this case, the Court of Appeals found that no Agreement was reached on multiple levels. While the Agreement seemingly bore the contested signature of the plaintiff, a signature from a company representative was absent from the Agreement. This would seemingly be sufficient because the employer never signed the Agreement to which it was a party, but the Court went further in its analysis. The Court of Appeals went on to find that the agreement was ambiguous because it failed to: 1) specify which disputes would be subject to arbitration; and 2) which of the multiple sets of AAA rules would apply to arbitration. In affirming the trial court's order, the Fourth District Court of Appeals found that the Agreement was ambiguous at best and that defendants failed to prove that the parties reached a "final and binding" agreement on arbitration of claims. The Court of Appeals declined to analyze the issue of unconscionability because there was no agreement to begin with.
Although some may consider such an arbitration provision to be boilerplate in the context of the overall agreement, this case illustrates the importance of consulting an attorney to facilitate and assist in the execution of your company's standard employee agreements in an effort to avoid situations such as this.


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Home » No imminent threat of recession
Leadership GAC20 Monday
No imminent threat of recession
Economists examine 7 indicators of a slowdown.
Bill Merrick
Mike Schenk, CUNA chief economist and deputy chief advocacy officer
While the U.S. economy faces no imminent threat of recession, economic growth will slow. Labor markets will remain near full employment, consumer finances are in relatively good shape, and inflation will remain below 2%.
These are the top takeaways from Monday's Economic Update, presented by Mike Schenk, CUNA chief economist and deputy chief advocacy officer, and Jordan van Rijn, CUNA senior economist.
Most economists are less concerned about an imminent recession now than in the past, van Rijn says. He examines seven recession indicators:
1. Yield curve. Typically, an inverted yield indicates a recession will occur within three to six months. But that's not necessarily the case anymore, he says.
While the U.S. economy had a yield curve inversion for a few months, it no longer does.
2. Unemployment rate changes. Whenever the unemployment gap rises sharply, a recession typically follows. "There's no indication of that," van Rijn says.
3. Consumer sentiment. Consumers, whose spending accounts for 70% of economic activity, remain confident. "There are no negative signs here," he says.
4. Manufacturing index. While this has been an area of concern, this index has improved in recent months. Plus, manufacturing activity comprises a smaller percentage of economic activity now than in the past.
5. Auto sales, which have dropped 4.3% over the past year. This is concerning because auto loans make up one-third of credit union loan portfolios, van Rijn says.
6. New housing starts. This leading economic indicator grew substantially in 2019 and remains strong.
7. Stock market. Despite Monday's substantial drop due to the coronavirus, the stock market remains strong.
The verdict? "Add up all of these indicators and they point to no imminent recession," van Rijn says.
Expect economic growth of 1.8% in 2020, down from 2.3% in 2019 and 2.9% in 2018, he adds.
Continued economic strength is good news for credit unions and members, Schenk says, although he foresees slowdowns in membership and loan growth, higher savings growth and funding costs, and easing liquidity pressures.
He predicts membership growth will be 2.5% in 2020, down from 3.3% in 2019. "These still are impressive numbers," Schenk says. "They're much higher than population growth."
Loan growth should slow to 5.5% this year from 6.6% last year, and savings growth will increase from 8.2% to 9%.
Expect continued "high and steady" asset quality, and climbing net interest margins, he says.
►Visit CUNA News for more conference coverage and get live updates on Twitter via @CUNA_News, @cumagazine, @CUNA, and #CUNAGAC. Follow the conference on Facebook and Instagram, and visit cuna.org/gac for more information.
KEYWORDS CUNA GAC


Profitability A continuous income/profit is received by parties during project operation.
coordination are instituted among stakeholders.
need for a public facility and/or service.
project risks are allocated to the private sector.
safety of residents or the environment.
enhances the project's value for the money.
standards and/or requirements and delivery.
lack of transparency, corruption, and so forth.
Table 1: A set of 15 success criteria for PPP projects (Osei-Kyei et al., 2017).


Originally printed in NEW TEEN TITANS #3 (Nov 1984).
DC Comics has announced five new titles to its roster of collected editions for 2003, including the first collected edition from The New Teen Titans Volume 2 (1984).
One of the most popular series of the early 1980s is collected in The New Teen Titans: The Terror of Trigon, starting with The New Teen Titans Volume 2 #1-5. The classic tales, written by Marv Wolfman with art by George Pérez and Romeo Tanghal and a cover by Pérez, tell of Trigon's coming to Earth, intent on becoming master of this realm - with only the New Teen Titans and Trigon's own daughter, Raven, standing against him! The New Teen Titans: The Terror of Trigon is a 144-page collected edition scheduled to arrive in stores in May.


Festivities start Friday, September 21 at 7pm in Hopewell's Gazebo Park at the Harvest Moon Concert. Pennington band BOXOROX will perform to benefit the Hopewell Harvest Fair Community Grant Program. The Hopewell Fire Department will sell food and drinks. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy!
Activities for kids of all ages: Games, Petting Zoo with Mercer County 4H Clever Clovers, Pony Rides (12-3), inflatables, make-your-own scarecrows, face-painting, free demos with Hopewell Fire Dept., and more!
Old-fashioned country fun: A bake-off, homegrown vegetable displays, a straw maze and more.
Entertainment: Live music all day! www.hopewellharvestfair.org for complete line-up.
Contests for all: Kids' art and LEGOs, photography, doggie dress-up, costume, homegrown (including Ugliest Carrot!) & bake-off. Visit www.hopewellharvestfair.org/contests to register – free to enter!
Living scavenger hunt: Find Freddy the Frog and his friends at our unique live scavenger hunt! VOLUNTEERS needed to serve as our living clues. Visit www.hopewellharvestfair.org/contests.
Crafters' Tent: Explore the work of talented artists from Hopewell Valley and beyond!
Farmers' Market: Flowers and produce from many of our local farms will be for sale.
Business Alley & Exhibitors' Row: Learn about local businesses and fair sponsors, non-profit organizations, and those committed to sustainability at "Green Lane".
The new artwork created especially for the 2018 Fair by Cover Art Contest winner Sarah Keeler of Pennington is so beautiful, and is commemorated on tee shirts for sale at Seeds to Sew on Seminary Avenue in Hopewell for $15. Proceeds benefit the Hopewell Harvest Fair Community Grant Program.
The Hopewell Harvest Fair brings together residents of the Hopewell Valley each year. It is also a fundraiser for a community grant program that provides support for local nonprofit organizations. Since its inception 32 years ago, over $200,000 has been distributed to deserving local groups.
Nonprofit organizations wishing to apply for 2018 grants can apply online at www.hopewellharvestfair.org/grants or at Hopewell Public Library. Applications due October 5, 2018.
The Board of Trustees and Planning Committee would like to extend a huge thank-you to our sponsors, whose generosity makes the Fair and the Community Grant program possible.
Platinum Sponsor (Pony Rides): Morgan R. Sayre, State Farm Insurance.
To learn more about the activities and contests or how to volunteer at the Hopewell Harvest Fair, look for the printed Almanac around town, follow @HopewellHarvestFair on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.hopewellharvestfair.org.


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Climate Change Could Devastate Midwest Agriculture by Century's End | Civil Eats
Climate Change Could Devastate Midwest Agriculture by Century's End
A new report shows how rising heat in America's Heartland could wreak havoc in the decades to come.
By Leilani Clark
Devastating crop losses, over-heated cows, and major changes to farm infrastructure. According to a new report from the Risky Business Project, these are just a few of the problems that will arise in the coming decades as the climate warms.
In fact, rising heat triggered by greenhouse gas emissions could lower crop yields in parts of the Midwest as much as 90 percent by the end of the century, the report warns. With over half a million farms valued at $135 billion per year, commodity agriculture dominates the Midwest economy. The region produces 65 percent of the nation's soybeans and corn and nearly as much of the wheat. But without significant adaptations for infrastructure and livestock housing, climate change could have devastating economic impacts on the agriculture industry.
Heat in the Heartland: Climate Change and Economic Risk in the Midwest is the first regional study from the Risky Business Project, which launched with a comprehensive national climate report last June. According to the data, the number of days with temperatures ranging above 95 degrees could double or triple in Midwestern states, rivaling Arizona's heat records in the coming years. Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana will be hit hardest. By end of century, Illinois alone could lose between $1.5 billion to $13 billion a year because of lowered yields for the three major commodity crops: corn, soybeans, and wheat.
At the same time, actual impact will vary depending on state, county, and crop. Corn, for example, is more susceptible to heat than wheat. That means major corn producing states like Missouri and Iowa, could be hit harder than Michigan to the north, where farmers could choose to practice methods such as double-cropping, or harvesting more than one crop in a single year, as warmer temperatures allow for longer growing seasons.
Increased heat and humidity will also impact livestock. Higher body temperatures in poultry and cows can disrupt their performance, production, and fertility and result in less meat, milk, or eggs, the report notes. Premature, heat-related animal deaths are another possible outcome, along with higher feed and water costs, and changed animal disease patterns.
One risk that hasn't received as much attention, according to the report, is the impact of rising temperatures on the productivity of agricultural workers. Agriculture falls into the same "high-risk" category as construction, manufacturing, and transportation, where the work tends to take place outside. As heat rises, labor productivity, not surprisingly, falls. Some Midwest states could see a 3 percent decline in productivity by 2100, especially in agriculture, where workers are necessarily outdoors for a good part of the day.
The Risky Business Project is co-chaired by an unlikely bipartisan trio of wealthy investors: Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York; Tom Steyer, a hedge fund manager turned environmental activist; and Henry Paulson, the retired Goldman Sachs executive and former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, who was named by TIME magazine as one of 25 people to blame for the 2008 financial crisis.
The "Risk" committee includes Cargill's executive chairman and four former U.S. cabinet members. Their goal is to shift the discussion on climate change from the domain of environmentalists to the front page of the business section by using risk assessment language and analysis techniques familiar to the business world.
The report urges the business community to resist complacency in the face of climate change. For some regions, looking the other way is no longer an option and the same will soon be true of the Midwest. In fact, the southeastern U.S. is already feeling the heat, says Kate Gordon, executive director at the Risky Business Project and lead author on Heat in the Heartland. "Those states are at the leading edge of heat-related impacts due to climate change, and we are seeing yield declines in commodity crops like cotton and soy," she told Civil Eats.
These threats aren't looming in the far off future, warns Gordon. Over next five to 25 years, Missouri is looking at a 25 percent crop decline; that number could jump from between 37 percent to 90 percent by the end of the century.
"We'd like to see the agricultural community and business leaders going beyond thinking about crop-level adaptations into thinking about where they are making the big investments," Gordon says. "Where are they putting grain elevators? Where are they putting chicken farm facilities? How are they housing livestock? How do different animals respond to heat and humidity? We'd love to see them incorporating the Risky Business Project data into decisions about big infrastructure investments."
Ultimately, Gordon wants to see climate risk assessment integrated into daily investment decisions made by farmers, agriculture companies, and other public and private sector stakeholders.
"It should be part of the DNA of business and government when they are making investments in infrastructure, supply chains, and facilities, as well as where to spend vital government dollars," Gordon adds.
The report stops short of suggesting policy pathways for public and private sector interests, though it does urge damage control for economic choices made decades ago. And while the report acknowledges that Midwest farmers can mitigate the impact of climate change through seed modification, double-cropping, and crop switching, it stops short of recommending organic or agroecological solutions, despite their proven environmental benefits.
"We didn't go into those issues in the report since we focused only on past or traditional adaptation and did not model potential future adaptation or mitigation," says Gordon.
At a talk to the Economic Club of Minnesota, where Heat in the Heartland debuted in January, Greg Page, executive chairman of Cargill and a vocal member of the "Risk" committee, told the audience that adaptation and resilience would be the key to weathering climate change for the Midwest agricultural industry. Farmers must be resilient and adaptive by nature, so it shouldn't be much of a stretch to take the next logical steps to shore up against climate change, goes the argument.
The report's conclusion buttresses Cargill's assertion: "Armed with the right information, Midwest farmers can, and will, mitigate some of these impacts through double-cropping, seed modification, crop-switching, and other adaptive practices." Other possibilities are energy audits for farms and agribusinesses, and nutrient management to optimize fertilizer use and reduce emissions.
Not everyone agrees. Jon Doggett, executive vice president of the National Corn Growers Association, told the New York Times that he was skeptical about how much the report will influence farmers, who have pressing immediate financial concerns and don't have the luxury of thinking 15 years into the future.
But Kate Gordon says that the agricultural community in the Midwest has already begun doing this type of analysis on their own, especially as it relates to energy efficiency. Moreover, as leaders in the industry, they understand the very real economic risks of a changing climate, she says.
Ultimately, Gordon would like to see climate projection data integrated into all regional public and private sector decisions on where to invest in infrastructure, supply chains, and agricultural facilities. "[Risk assessment on climate] should be part of the DNA of business and government," she adds.
Leilani Clark is the editor of Made Local Magazine, a print publication that tells the stories behind the Sonoma County food system. Her work has been published at The Guardian, Mother Jones, and Edible Marin & Wine Country. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Read more >
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Our Best Climate Reporting of 2022


The Macon Resources Community Employment Services (CES) Program provides people with the tools they need to find a job within the community. We represent people with a wide-range of abilities, education, and experience and assist them in community integrated work settings. Our Employment Specialists provide one-on-one assistance throughout the job search process. All services provided through the Community Employment program are free, but you must get a referral through the Illinois Department of Human Services' Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS).
What do I need to do to be able to receive Community Employment Services (CES)?
You will need a referral for MRI CES services from the Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitation Services (DHS/DRS). Contact their office by telephone at (217) 875-8703 or in person at 757 W. Pershing Road, Decatur, IL. You will need to specify that you want a referral to MRI (Macon Resources, Inc.) for Community Employment Services. They will work with you and make the referral.
What information do I need in order to work with DHS/DRS to get into Community Employment Services?
You will need documentation proving that you have a disability. Contact DHS/DRS at (217) 362-6509 for information on the specific documentation they will need.
Your 100% tax-deductible donation supports the more than 800 local children and adults.


Beautiful marsh views from the back of this E Second Street lot. Easy walk to the beach from this great spot. Build your dream home here and enjoy all the beach has to offer. Ocean Isle Beach is situated between Wilmington to the north and Myrtle Beach, SC to the south for fun day trips.


exceed the needs of all of our members.
Manville Water Supply Corporation is a non-profit corporation that is owned by you, our customers. As a customer within Manville's service area, you are a member of our corporation. Manville is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors who are elected by you at the annual membership meeting. This meeting is held in April of every year. The Directors serve for a three year term.
Immediately following an extensive drought in Travis County in April, 1967, a group of interested farm families met to discuss the feasibility of organizing a Farmers Home Administration Water System to serve the rural areas outside Manor, Pflugerville, Richland, Cele, New Sweden and other communities in the northeastern section of Travis County. This forward thinking group along with the help of the Farmers Home Administration secured design expertise and financing and this plan was put into motion.
Since that time, our membership has grown to over 8000 members and the service area has been extended to include rural areas as well as urban areas in the cities and towns listed above. We have made a very significant investment in the long-term planning and currently, capital improvement and expansion projects are in progress to ensure that Manville Water Supply Corporation stays ahead of the growth curve in Central Texas.


text:
Q: Canon Pixma multifunction not detecting scanner via network I have a multifunction Canon Pixma MX725.
I've connected it to the local network via wireless, same as my laptop.
I installed the drivers from the Canon site.
I added it to "Printers & Scanners", both trying the "Bonjour" and the "Canon IJ Network" kinds.
The printer works, but Image Capture fails to detect the scanner at all, and I'm clueless about what to do to fix it.
The scanner itself works, as I've tried to make a Copy and it just worked normally, so it's just the computer that fails to find it for some reason.
I'm on MacOS 12.6 Monterey.

PS: even connecting it via USB makes no difference. A new printer appears there, but Image Capture still can't find it. Not that it matters, since I need it to work wirelessly anyway.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Looking for some top hacks to get more Facebook Likes on your business page? Then this post is going to unravel the mystery behind having a huge number of Facebook likes from the most relevant audiences.
Actually, when it comes to Facebook marketing & advertising, it is just that you get likes from the relevant and genuine people who are ready to engage with you. Such audiences will ultimately help you generate profits for your business via your Facebook Page.
You need to engage with your audiences in manners that make your brand amiable, credible and likable.
We are not going to tell you any tricks that just increase page likes (does not matter who is behind those likes).
This post is tied in with getting more likes by targeting, pulling in and converting the most relevant audiences.
It is very important to start your campaign with a result Facebook Marketing Strategy.
Your strategy would also be dependent on your business objectives. This will enable you to make durable brand awareness on Facebook.
Page owners who need to get Facebook Likes should always have an extraordinary Fb Page.
In addition, they should use reliably incredible posts. Actually, a Facebook Page is comprised of numerous parts that make it imperative to ensure that all of them are complete, effective, as per your niche and brand story.
Your prospects would never be able to like your Fb page if they cannot discover it. You need to make sure your visibility is well optimized on Fb. For this, you need to pick a simple-to-find Fb Page name. Prospects searching for your business on Facebook will look for your brand name.
Facebook suggests its users share short, entertaining, engaging copy and appealing visuals to get consideration. You should always opt for convincing and intriguing visuals. Fb posts that have photographs get altogether more Facebook Likes than posts that only have texts.
To get more Facebook likes, being reliable and consistent in the types of posts you make can enable individuals to recognize what sorts of messages to anticipate from you, plus it also tells them how your page is going to affect their day-to-day lives. Maintaining your standard in your content quality is also significant here.
Having a proper timetable and calendar for your content on Fb lets your Fb posts be well organized, consistent and predictable in front of your audiences.
It is important to engage with your audiences to get some productive response from them. Answering their queries is one such powerful way to engage with your audience in an interactive fashion.
As per a survey by the Content Marketing Institute, more than 80 % of advertisers said that content like the contest is preferable for pulling in more number of relevant users over other static content.
In addition, asking the participant to like a Post on Fb is a well-known type of entryway in Fb contests. You can also ask contest participants to like your Fb page that will easily increase Facebook likes of your business page.
Contests are also good at engaging audiences. In addition, it lets users visit your page repeatedly to see the results of that contest.
While getting more Facebook Likes, you ought to keep in mind that Facebook is fundamentally a Social Network and you need to get social and begin connecting with different brands that are applicable to your specialty here.
It does not mean that you should engage with your immediate rivals.
You can just go with simple Like or remark on another brand's post. This can help you draw their consideration and open up chances to cooperate to cross advance your organizations, so you both acquire more Facebook Likes on their respective Fb pages.
Tagging other brands will also help you widen your reach by targeting new audiences.
You should also search for communities of potential supporters to draw in them. You should engage with them over there. Facebook Groups are such places to discover individuals who are having some sorts of interest in your kind of products and services.
Knowing how the Facebook algorithm can be utilized in your favor is very important to get more Facebook Likes. This will help in expanding the organic reach of your Fb page. It will let your Page and your posts reach more individuals who could conceivably give you a Like.
As per Facebook algorithm, a Quality substance that is not excessively promotional will always be prioritized. Facebook always prefers that individuals appreciate going through their News Feeds that implies, it needs to surface the best content to the best position in news feeds.
You need to come up with quality, valuable posts and you should never try to spam it with automated posts. Facebook particularly features posts that illuminate and engage with audiences higher in newsfeeds, as algorithm considers such posts more valuable.
Trying live video is another good thing to use the Facebook algorithm for your benefit.
Live videos are placed higher in the news feeds and that is making live videos one latest tricks that can help you reach into the newsfeeds of your target audiences.
Facebook offers you an advantage of using Ads that have awesome targeting and advertising options for you. Ads let you laser-center your advertising endeavors and capitalize on your investments. Ads put your brand before your optimal audiences that is an awesome method to get more Facebook Likes.
You can use Facebook Ads to run Boosted Posts and Ad Campaigns.
This will let you expand your audience group past individuals who officially like your Page. You will widen the reach of your page and can get Facebook Likes from the people who follow your page.
You can run Facebook Ads as per your business objective. To increase Facebook Likes, you can ring an ad campaign with Engagement objective. This will increase your post and Facebook Likes.
Using Facebook Insights will help you gauge the performance of your page and the behaviors of your existing and potential audiences. You will get a clear picture of the inclinations of your audiences that will enable you to run a more result driven campaign in the future.
You will likewise have the capacity to distinguish the sorts of posts that have the most noteworthy organic reach and engagement. Then, you should utilize that data to make a greater amount of the content that your audiences anticipate from your page.
All things considered, it is always good to learn from your mistakes, as this will increase your victories.
It will let you work upon those kinds of content that you know your audiences will appreciate. This will enable you to to get the expected response from your audiences that will ultimately increase Facebook Likes of your page.
How do you increase Facebook Likes of your page? Needing personalized suggestions for your Facebook page? -Write to us in comments and our experts will guide you in the process.
Hii There! We are the Content team of Marketing91 and we love writing awesome content so that it can useful for you. Do follow this website and we will keep updating it with some amazing Marketing Articles. God Bless!


text:
EXHIBITIONS / PROJECTS
BINARY (An Exploration of the In-Between)
BINARY (Who Do You Belong To?)
Drag is My Light and My Salvation
ALEXIS HUNTER
Exhibition dates: September 13, 2021- September 19, 2021
BINARY (Who Do You Belong To?) is an exploration of the liminal space between cultures. This solo exhibition features a portion of the artist's larger ongoing series, BINARY. BINARY (Who Do You Belong To?) includes a combination of 2D and 3D works that provide an intimate look into the insecurities of an outsider. Utilizing materials like spray foam, resin, and charcoal, the artist displays two life size soft sculptures of the abstract figures from her BINARY series and one accompanying large format drawing.
Biracial people are often fetishized and looked at as erotic sources of exoticism. Historically, biracial people have been regarded as abominations. In truth, biracial people often feel isolated, embarrassed, and excluded. According to the Maslow hierarchy of needs, belonging is a base level of psychological need. Using social psychology concepts like in group vs out group effects and the basic human psychology of Othering, BINARY (Who Do You Belong To?) challenges the dominant narratives and stereotypes that dictate the biracial social experience.
https://glasstire.com/events/2021/09/07/alexis-hunter-binary-who-do-you-belong-to/
https://www.icosacollective.com/window-dressings/window-dressing-xiv-binary-who-do-you-belong-to


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text:
using System;
using System.CodeDom.Compiler;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;

namespace Tsu.Buffers
{
    /// <summary>
    /// A class with helpers to deal with Spans and Arrays being used as bit vectors.
    /// </summary>
    [GeneratedCode("BitVectorHelpers.Generated.tt", "1.0")]
    public static partial class BitVectorHelpers
    {
        #region byte

        /// <summary>
        /// The amount we shift by to convert to/from bits in a <see cref="byte"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        public const int ByteShiftAmount = 3;

        /// <summary>
        /// The bitmask we bitwise and with to get the remainder bit count in a <see cref="byte"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        public const int ByteRemainderMask = 0b111;

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the index and the offset of the provided bit on a <see cref="byte"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="offset"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static int GetByteVectorIndexAndOffset(int bitIndex, out int offset)
        {
            offset = bitIndex & ByteRemainderMask;
            return bitIndex >> ByteShiftAmount;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the value of a bit in a <see cref="byte"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="bytes"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static bool GetByteVectorBitValue(IReadOnlyList<byte> bytes, int bitIndex)
        {
            if (bytes is null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(bytes));
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));

            var index = GetByteVectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            return (bytes[index] & (1U << offset)) != 0;
        }

#if HAS_SPAN
        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the value of a bit in a <see cref="byte"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="bytes"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static bool GetByteVectorBitValue(ReadOnlySpan<byte> bytes, int bitIndex)
        {
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));

            var index = GetByteVectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            return (bytes[index] & (1U << offset)) != 0;
        }
#endif

        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value of a bit in a <see cref="byte"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="bytes"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="value"></param>
        [MethodImpl (MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static void SetByteVectorBitValue(IList<byte> bytes, int bitIndex, bool value)
        {
            if (bytes is null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(bytes));
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));
            var index = GetByteVectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            if (value)
                bytes[index] |= (byte) (1U << offset);
            else
                bytes[index] &= (byte) ~(1U << offset);
        }

#if HAS_SPAN
        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value of a bit in a <see cref="byte"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="bytes"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="value"></param>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static void SetByteVectorBitValue(Span<byte> bytes, int bitIndex, bool value)
        {
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));
            var index = GetByteVectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            if (value)
                bytes[index] |= (byte) (1U << offset);
            else
                bytes[index] &= (byte) ~(1U << offset);
        }
#endif

        #endregion byte

        #region ushort

        /// <summary>
        /// The amount we shift by to convert to/from bits in a <see cref="ushort"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        public const int UInt16ShiftAmount = 4;

        /// <summary>
        /// The bitmask we bitwise and with to get the remainder bit count in a <see cref="ushort"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        public const int UInt16RemainderMask = 0b1111;

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the index and the offset of the provided bit on a <see cref="ushort"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="offset"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static int GetUInt16VectorIndexAndOffset(int bitIndex, out int offset)
        {
            offset = bitIndex & UInt16RemainderMask;
            return bitIndex >> UInt16ShiftAmount;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the value of a bit in a <see cref="ushort"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint16s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static bool GetUInt16VectorBitValue(IReadOnlyList<ushort> uint16s, int bitIndex)
        {
            if (uint16s is null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(uint16s));
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));

            var index = GetUInt16VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            return (uint16s[index] & (1U << offset)) != 0;
        }

#if HAS_SPAN
        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the value of a bit in a <see cref="ushort"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint16s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static bool GetUInt16VectorBitValue(ReadOnlySpan<ushort> uint16s, int bitIndex)
        {
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));

            var index = GetUInt16VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            return (uint16s[index] & (1U << offset)) != 0;
        }
#endif

        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value of a bit in a <see cref="ushort"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint16s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="value"></param>
        [MethodImpl (MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static void SetUInt16VectorBitValue(IList<ushort> uint16s, int bitIndex, bool value)
        {
            if (uint16s is null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(uint16s));
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));
            var index = GetUInt16VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            if (value)
                uint16s[index] |= (ushort) (1U << offset);
            else
                uint16s[index] &= (ushort) ~(1U << offset);
        }

#if HAS_SPAN
        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value of a bit in a <see cref="ushort"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint16s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="value"></param>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static void SetUInt16VectorBitValue(Span<ushort> uint16s, int bitIndex, bool value)
        {
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));
            var index = GetUInt16VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            if (value)
                uint16s[index] |= (ushort) (1U << offset);
            else
                uint16s[index] &= (ushort) ~(1U << offset);
        }
#endif

        #endregion ushort

        #region uint

        /// <summary>
        /// The amount we shift by to convert to/from bits in a <see cref="uint"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        public const int UInt32ShiftAmount = 5;

        /// <summary>
        /// The bitmask we bitwise and with to get the remainder bit count in a <see cref="uint"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        public const int UInt32RemainderMask = 0b11111;

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the index and the offset of the provided bit on a <see cref="uint"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="offset"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static int GetUInt32VectorIndexAndOffset(int bitIndex, out int offset)
        {
            offset = bitIndex & UInt32RemainderMask;
            return bitIndex >> UInt32ShiftAmount;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the value of a bit in a <see cref="uint"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint32s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static bool GetUInt32VectorBitValue(IReadOnlyList<uint> uint32s, int bitIndex)
        {
            if (uint32s is null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(uint32s));
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));

            var index = GetUInt32VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            return (uint32s[index] & (1U << offset)) != 0;
        }

#if HAS_SPAN
        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the value of a bit in a <see cref="uint"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint32s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static bool GetUInt32VectorBitValue(ReadOnlySpan<uint> uint32s, int bitIndex)
        {
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));

            var index = GetUInt32VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            return (uint32s[index] & (1U << offset)) != 0;
        }
#endif

        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value of a bit in a <see cref="uint"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint32s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="value"></param>
        [MethodImpl (MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static void SetUInt32VectorBitValue(IList<uint> uint32s, int bitIndex, bool value)
        {
            if (uint32s is null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(uint32s));
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));
            var index = GetUInt32VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            if (value)
                uint32s[index] |= (uint) (1U << offset);
            else
                uint32s[index] &= (uint) ~(1U << offset);
        }

#if HAS_SPAN
        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value of a bit in a <see cref="uint"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint32s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="value"></param>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static void SetUInt32VectorBitValue(Span<uint> uint32s, int bitIndex, bool value)
        {
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));
            var index = GetUInt32VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            if (value)
                uint32s[index] |= (uint) (1U << offset);
            else
                uint32s[index] &= (uint) ~(1U << offset);
        }
#endif

        #endregion uint

        #region ulong

        /// <summary>
        /// The amount we shift by to convert to/from bits in a <see cref="ulong"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        public const int UInt64ShiftAmount = 6;

        /// <summary>
        /// The bitmask we bitwise and with to get the remainder bit count in a <see cref="ulong"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        public const int UInt64RemainderMask = 0b111111;

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the index and the offset of the provided bit on a <see cref="ulong"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="offset"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static int GetUInt64VectorIndexAndOffset(int bitIndex, out int offset)
        {
            offset = bitIndex & UInt64RemainderMask;
            return bitIndex >> UInt64ShiftAmount;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the value of a bit in a <see cref="ulong"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint64s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static bool GetUInt64VectorBitValue(IReadOnlyList<ulong> uint64s, int bitIndex)
        {
            if (uint64s is null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(uint64s));
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));

            var index = GetUInt64VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            return (uint64s[index] & (1U << offset)) != 0;
        }

#if HAS_SPAN
        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the value of a bit in a <see cref="ulong"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint64s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <returns></returns>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static bool GetUInt64VectorBitValue(ReadOnlySpan<ulong> uint64s, int bitIndex)
        {
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));

            var index = GetUInt64VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            return (uint64s[index] & (1U << offset)) != 0;
        }
#endif

        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value of a bit in a <see cref="ulong"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint64s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="value"></param>
        [MethodImpl (MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static void SetUInt64VectorBitValue(IList<ulong> uint64s, int bitIndex, bool value)
        {
            if (uint64s is null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(uint64s));
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));
            var index = GetUInt64VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            if (value)
                uint64s[index] |= (ulong) (1U << offset);
            else
                uint64s[index] &= (ulong) ~(1U << offset);
        }

#if HAS_SPAN
        /// <summary>
        /// Sets the value of a bit in a <see cref="ulong"/>-backed bit vector.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="uint64s"></param>
        /// <param name="bitIndex"></param>
        /// <param name="value"></param>
        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
        public static void SetUInt64VectorBitValue(Span<ulong> uint64s, int bitIndex, bool value)
        {
            if (bitIndex < 0)
                throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException(nameof(bitIndex));
            var index = GetUInt64VectorIndexAndOffset(bitIndex, out var offset);
            if (value)
                uint64s[index] |= (ulong) (1U << offset);
            else
                uint64s[index] &= (ulong) ~(1U << offset);
        }
#endif

        #endregion ulong

    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


My cat Let's me Live here!
Spotted at my mother-in-law's home in Galion, OH. I don't have the heart to tell her. Capitalization is a nightmare, too.
Good call not to say anything. Sometimes that is the kindest thing you can do in a day…and it's really really hard to do!


First Lieutenant Shaun D. Chaplin is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies, AFROTC, Detachment 005, Auburn, AL. In this capacity, he instructs freshman courses on leadership and Air Force standards, and has responsibility for training and mentoring more than 120 students preparing to become Air Force officers.
Lt Chaplin is prior enlisted and received his commission through Officer Training School. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Flight Commander of the Financial Analysis Flight, Luke AFB, AZ. Home to 24 squadrons with both F-16 and F-35A Lightning II aircraft, the 56th is the largest fighter wing in the U.S. Air Force and graduates more than 70 F-35 pilots, 300 F-16 pilots, and 300 air control professionals annually. He oversaw the execution of Luke's $168 million dollar budget and $8 billion dollar enterprise that supports the wing's 11,500 Airmen. Additionally, he provided decision support to the wing commander on all financial matters. Lt Chaplin has deployed multiple times in support of operations IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN, and INHERENT RESOLVE.


Communication – Joy M. Pedersen, Ph.D.
As Student Affairs professionals, we are often faced with some tough personal and professional decisions. In my career, I have had to decide whether to pick up part-time teaching work, when was the best time to start my family, would I consider relocating for career advancement, was I ready to get my PhD, should I accept a time-consuming volunteer role, and should I take on my family's business. I firmly believe we cannot be satisfied with someone else's answer to these tough questions – we must make these decisions on our own.
Friends and family can offer advice, but the best thing they can do is ask you the right questions. A big decision can feel…well, BIG. But like a big goal, it can be more easily achieved by breaking it down into smaller pieces.
1. What would you do if you couldn't fail?
Fear of failure often keeps us paralyzed. It prevents us from maximizing our full potential and fully exercising our strengths. When I was considering a Ph.D. program, the fear of failure was my biggest limitation. I have come to accept and embrace failure as an essential part of learning. Often our failures are not as irreversible or detrimental as we make them out to be in our minds.
2. How does this decision fit into your greater purpose?
Indecisiveness or resistance to making a decision can often be rooted in an underlying value or belief. When a choice seems logical and clear, yet we are still resistant, there may be some deeper inner conflict going on. When my mom approached me about being more involved in our family business, I wanted to honor her and was attracted to the earning potential of a career in real estate; however, real estate was not my calling. There were aspects that I would have enjoyed, and I could probably have been successful, but my passion is working in education with students.
3. Is this the right time?
Some decisions seem crystal clear, except for the timing. One of my toughest decisions was declining the invitation to be the volunteer coordinator for my friend's mayoral campaign. I wanted to do it, it felt aligned with my greater purpose, and it was a great match for my skill set, but the timing was terrible. I was a full-time working mom, struggling in my relationship, and had several other commitments. On the other hand, there isn't always a perfect time. Timing is an important factor, but it's not the only factor. When an opportunity arises, you may not feel fully prepared but it may be the time to take a risk.
4. How will you feel after you have made this decision?
Visualizing the outcome of the two or more scenarios when trying to make a decision can help us tap into our "gut" reaction. The power of intuition is discussed in a lot of decision-making research, including Malcolm Gladwell's Blink. According to Gladwell, the more expertise you have on a topic, the more likely your gut will predict the most accurate outcome.
5. What role does your ego play in this decision?
Fear, anxiety, expectation, regret, guilt, and anger are the manifestations of the ego. Ego causes us to compare ourselves to others. Ego takes everything personally. It wants to be right. It needs to feel superior. And, it can lead us to make poor decisions. When we make a decision because we want what someone else has, or we think something will make us happy, the ego is in control.


An old fashioned flower gets a fun and fabulous update in our Lilac Time clear polymer stamp set. Featuring two large focal images (the single Lilac measures 3.75" from stem to stern) and a single tuft of buds and blooms, PLUS five swoopy, fresh spring sentiments. You'll find yourself turning to this set to give any project an air of relaxing, joyful elan. The Lilac vignette has a vintage pitcher, a good book overflowing with lilac flowers, and citrus fruits on a handkerchief, and it colors up to be a very sweet scene indeed.
Illustrated while enjoying the moment from start to finish by Marcella Hawley.
This super-deluxe photopolymer clear stamp set includes all 8 images shown.


text:
Q: WMI commands returning error: ClassFactory cannot supply requested class I try to get Description, DeviceID and VolumeName of USB devices connected to my PC using the following cmd command:
C:\Users\user>wmic logicaldisk get deviceid, volumename, description
The output I get is:

ERROR: ClassFactory cannot supply requested class

On all other machines I've try the request is as expected without the error.

Can someone help me please?


LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears have released tight end Dion Sims.
Signed by Chicago in 2017 after spending his first four years with Miami, Sims caught 17 passes for 189 yards over 22 games the past two years. But he went from making 14 starts to playing in just eight games last season — Chicago's first under coach Matt Nagy.
Sims suffered a concussion at Buffalo on Nov. 4 and was placed on injured reserve two weeks later. Chicago has Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen and Ben Braunecker under contract at tight end.
The Bears announced the move on Thursday.


Watch the video of Rob Hopkins' keynote at the Northern Building Resilient Communities Convergence.
"This is an historic opportunity to rethink the way we do things."
We are on the lookout for volunteer interns to work remotely or in our Sebastopol office 10-20 hours per week during the spring semester. Contact marissa@transitionus.org for more information.
This month's newsletter is packed with tools and opportunities to scale up and build capacity in Transition. Read on for project ideas, funding and outreach strategies, and more!
This month at Transition Culture, Rob Hopkins has been profiling strategies for scaling up Transition, including discussing Transition with new audiences, organizing at the regional level, working with local government, and more.
To get started, check out Rob's piece on 5 factors that will enable Transition to scale up (hint - avoiding the "doughnut effect" is key), and read below on how Transition Laguna Beach is engaging surprising new audiences.
Transition US is part of a unique crowdfunding campaign organized by Transition Trainer Beverly Markiewicz and Tree Ring Productions.
Read more about the campaign's paradigm-shifting approach, and please consider supporting the campaign or helping spread the word!
From adding new team members to rolling out advanced leadership trainings and hosting Rob Hopkins' whirlwind US tour, 2013 was a big year for Transition US. Read more in our 2013 Year in Review, and learn more about the directions Transition US will take in 2014.
Welcome to the 147th Official Transition Initiative: Transition Aromas, California!
Transition Healdsburg Launches Seed Library.
Housed in an old card catalog, a curated seed collection is available free to the public at the Healdsburg, CA public library. Read more here.
Want to start your own seed library? Check out this webinar from Center for a New American Dream on how to get started!
Transition Laguna Beach, CA on How to Discuss Transition with Conservative/Republicans.
From finding common ground to entering a red, white, & blue organic float in the holiday parade, Transition Laguna Beach is successfully reaching out to conservative allies.
Read more in this great interview with Chris Prelitz of Transition Laguna Beach, part of Rob Hopkins' series on Scaling Up Transition.
Introducing Transition Howard County, MD.
In the two years since getting started, Transition Howard County has been busy - building rain gardens, timebanking, fighting to stop a LNG processing plant in their community, and much more. Read more about Maryland's first Transition Town.
Let's look at creative ways of building our network funding capacity; locally, regionally, and nationally. Imagine linking up with other Transition Initiatives that have a similar area of interest, like creating a robust local food system. We work together to develop a regional or even national proposals that might interest new funders. Or, we focus geographically and pull together proposals that address the resilience needs of a region, of a state, or of a cluster of states.
Our collective social capital can be leveraged to boost our impacts. If you're ready to explore taking this kind of leap, please join us.
Look at how financial capital has been transformed from a tool fostering economic growth to a self-perpetuating pool growing through trading activities progressively divorced from productive economic activities.
Talk about the importance of divesting form the old economy and the emergence of four powerful trends that will transform the world of investing.
Look at ways communities at the forefront of this transformation are democratizing and relocalizing investments and building a world that is more equitable and sustainable.
Join us to learn about the model of Transition Milwaukee's successful Power Down Week, now in its 4th year, a weeklong event to raise awareness of energy consumption and promote powered-down alternatives.
Hear the story of how ideas got put in to motion, the challenges, growth and future vision for powering down Milwaukee. Join us to learn, get ideas on how to take Power Down week to your own community, and power down together!


These beautiful necklaces contain an opalite stone that has been polished and shaped into a crescent moon. The moon is further adorned with a gemmed streak that sparkles and shines in the light. These are the perfect necklaces for stargazers and space lovers!
These pendants hang on an 18 inch, Sterling Silver Chain + 2-inch extension.


High Noon Solar has a passion for community involvement. We want to be engaged in order to help and strengthen the community for years to come. We do this by donating solar systems to community partners, participating in regional events, and offering educational programs throughout the community.
High Noon Solar backs many local programs such as "The Mountain Film Fest" ,"Mountain and Desert Racing", "The Fruita Fall Fest", "The Farmers Market", and many others.
Join us for a presentation on Solar 101 where we dispel the myths about solar, share the differences between types of panels, and teach you how to find the best providers. Do you have a group that might be interested? Please let us know by completing the form below.
High Noon Solar is an innovative, community-based solar sales, installation, and maintenance company located in Grand Junction on Colorado's Western Slope since 2005.


text:
Athletes In Christ
Torch Staff October 1, 2016 2 min read
Athletes In Action [AIA] is not just a Wittenberg club made up of 15 students, but a world-wide ministry that supports athlete relationships with God.
As a branch of Cru, the organization has goals that are specific to reaching every team on every campus in every nation. Their aim is to specifically reach athletes who enjoy serving other athletes.
"My favorite thing about AIA is the way I have seen sports create connections between students on our campus," Kelsey Mack, senior and AIA president, said. "I have seen these connections first hand in my own life, and I love seeing the connections that a love for sports can bring others as well."
Mack began serving as the president of AIA this semester, and is also serving as the Wittenberg Sportlinc representative with AIA headquarters in Xenia, Ohio. Because Xenia is so close to Wittenberg, the campus club gets to go to the headquarters for retreats and other events. However, opportunities extend much farther than that.
There are mission opportunities over spring break to locations such as South Africa, East Asia and Puerto Rico. Mack participated in the Ultimate Training Camp for AIA during a past summer where 200 athletes from across the United States traveled to Colorado.
"It was a physically intense camp focused on building connections with other athletes as well as intersecting sport with Christianity," Mack said.
Members are encouraged to participate in retreats where AIA members from surrounding campuses come together to connect with each other, listen to speakers and traditionally play some late night dodgeball.
Wittenberg's AIA meets on Monday nights in Blair 101 from nine p.m. to 10 p.m., and those involved are excited to welcome any new members at any time. In the past, Mack admits, AIA has not been successful at recruiting members, and she would love to change that as president. The ministry is using this semester to revamp AIA by increasing their advertising as well as changing the meeting format.
The number of participants is growing each week. Currently, all leadership positions are filled by seniors who will be graduating after the coming semester. They are looking for strong, devoted leaders to fill positions early in the spring semester. One does not have to be an athlete on campus to fit the criteria of a club member, but must be sport-minded.
During a typical meeting night, AIA likes to kick things off with an activity such as a "minute to win it" game. They then move into a Bible study that is typically aimed at helping sport-minded people think and live at the intersection of sport and Christianity.
Stop by Blair Hall on Monday nights to join the group of students in exploring the connection between athletics and Christianity.
TigerThon Plans To Roar Again In March
Mac Miller's "The Divine Feminine"


After several years, however, friction developed between Pendergrass and Melvin.
In several interviews after launching his solo career, Pendergrass said people often called him Harold, thinking Harold Melvin was the lead singer of the group. Melvin renamed the group to Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, featuring Theodore Pendergrass, but tensions remained. Pendergrass split with the group in 1976 and formed his own group, called The Blue Notes, featuring Teddy Pendergrass. Sometime that year or in early 1977, Pendergrass went solo and signed a new contract with Philadelphia International. His first solo album, "Teddy Pendergrass," went platinum and featured the hit singles, "I Don't Love You Anymore" and "The More I Get the More I Want."
Throughout the remainder of the '70s and the early '80s, Pendergrass was a hit machine. He was the first black American singer to sell five platinum albums in a row: 1977's "Teddy Pendergrass," "Life Is A Song Worth Singing" in 1978, 1979's "Teddy" and "Live! Coast to Coast," and "TP" in 1980. He was nominated five times for a Grammy and racked up a string of awards, including Billboard's 1977 Pop Album New Artist Award, an American Music Award for best R&B performer of 1978 and an NAACP award.
According to several biographies, Pendergrass' success was not just predictable; it seemed ordained.
He was born March 26, 1950 in Philadelphia to Ida and Jesse Pendergrass. Ida Pendergrass discovered her son's vocal gifts when he was just two years old and began singing in church. By age six, he was selected for the All-City Elementary School Boys Choir. He became an ordained minister at the age of 10. In his early teens, he had become an accomplished, self-taught drummer, capable of picking up complicated rhythms by ear. He led a teen band when he was 15.
As a teenager, Pendergrass would sometimes accompany his mother to her job at a local supper club, where he would slip into the dining room and watch such performers such as Chubby Checker.
Pendergrass caught his first break while working as a waiter in an Atlantic City club, where singer Little Royal was performing. An audition was held to replace Little Royal's drummer, who was leaving at the end of the booking in Atlantic City. Pendergrass won the spot and joined the band's tour. He developed a reputation as popular drummer and picked up gigs easily. In 1969, he landed a gig with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and moved up to lead vocalist a year later.
In 1982, at the height of his career, Pendergrass was paralyzed from the waist down in an automobile accident at 1:30 in the morning in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, when the brakes failed on his Rolls Royce and the car struck a tree. His passenger, Tenika Watson, a transvestite exotic dancer, was treated and released from the hospital. Pendergrass spent six months in rehabilitation.
Many thought Pendergrass would never sing again, much less perform. But after completing physical therapy, he returned to the studio. In 1984, the album "Love Language," was released, featuring a duet called "Hold Me," with Whitney Houston. A year later, Pendergrass appeared in Philadelphia at Live Aid, a famine-relief fundraising concert with 60 of the world's major rock stars performing free over a 16-hour period simultaneously in Philadelphia and London and broadcast to nearly 2 billion viewers in 150 countries.
He continued recording through 2002. His 1988 album, "Joy," and a track on each of his next two albums, "Truly Blessed" and "A Little More Magic," were nominated for Grammys. In 1991, with author Patricia Romanowski, he penned his autobiography, "Truly Blessed."
Last year, he announced he was retiring from the music business. In May, however, in an interview on WBLS-FM in New York, Pendergrass said he would perform live at a concert on June 10 to benefit The Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, a foundation formed to assist survivors of spinal cord injuries.
"Teddy 25: A Celebration of Life, Hope and Possibilities," will be a star-studded gala hosted by comedienne Mo'Nique and will feature performances from a range of celebrities, including Patti LaBelle, Stephanie Mills and Ruben Studdard.


On this page, we will share the information we have on the latest BenQ Drivers for Windows 10.
You can find BenQ's homepage on this link.
How to scan for missing BenQ Windows 10 Drivers and optimize your system performance!
So usually the best way to handle hardware issues and install BenQ drivers is through the Device Manager.


text:
Evaluate the key perspectives on British policy towards Northern Ireland during the recent conflict.
ssay question: Evaluate the key perspectives on British policy towards Northern Ireland during the recent conflict.
(Please, I know you guys work your hardest, but I really need to get marked at least 75% in this essay. And also, last time I ordered from here I was caught with plagiarism, so please, if you can, be careful with the sources. Thank you so much.)
Notes from my teacher: The British state is a key actor in the Norther Irish drama. How can we characterise Britain's constitutional policy towards Northern Ireland over the whole period of the recent conflict? Republicans have traditionally argued that the British have a 'selfish, strategic or economic' interest and therefore want to retain their first and last colony. Nationalists have tended to argue that the British have no great interest in Northern Ireland beyond finding a settlement. Unionists to varying degrees have trusted British governments, while loyalists have tended to argue that the British are withdrawing from Northern Ireland. Professor Brendan O'Leary has argued that British policy is marked by 'inconsistencies and contradictions' which have been ironed out by 'painfully slow ethnonational policy learning'. Professor O'Malley argues that there is no British strategy towards Northern Ireland just ambiguity, inconsistency and crisis management. Cunningham, Dixon and others have suggested that British policy is marked more by continuity and constraint.
Also, try and agree with Paul Dixon.
Use these sources if need:
Paul Dixon, Northern Ireland: The Politics of War and Peace, Palsgrave Macmillan, 2nd Edition, 2008
Paul Dixon and Eamonn O'Kane, Northern Ireland since 1969, Longman, 2011.
Padraig O'Malley, The Uncivil Wars: Ireland Today, Beacon Press, Boston, 1997
John McGarry and Brendan O'Leary (eds.), The Future of Northern Ireland, Oxford University Press, 1995
Paul Dixon, (2009), '"A tragedy Beyond Words": Interpretations of British government policy and the Northern Ireland Peace Process' in A. Edwards and Stephen Bloomer (eds.) Transforming the peace process in Northern Ireland: from terrrorism to democratic politics. Dublin, Ireland: Irish Academic Press. pp. 175 – 194
M. J. Cunningham, (2001) 2nd Edition. British Government policy in Northern Ireland 1969-2000, Manchester University Press. (See his conclusion in particular where he discusses different perspectives on British policy.
Paul Dixon (2001) Northern Ireland: The Politics of War and Peace. (see particularly the chapters 7, 8, 9 and pp. 292-304 of chapter 11.
J. McGarry and B. O'Leary (1995) Explaining Northern Ireland, Oxford, Blackwell. (see also for contrasting interpretations of British Policy)
Paul Arthur (2001) Special Relationships: Britain, Ireland and the Northern Ireland Problem, Blackstaff. (this may be worth dipping into)
Peter R. Neumann, Britain's Longest War: British Strategy in Northern Ireland Conflict, 1969-98, Palsgrave, 2003


A group of eight students from different universities and academic backgrounds came together to tackle the challenge of improving patient care for cardiac and respiratory patients at the rehabilitation ward of Södertälje Hospital.
believed would be game-changing; Step-Up!, the visual planning tool, to refine and improve for the final project delivery.
While working on the final solution, the team realized that they could not provide a 'one-size- fits-all' solution to both patient categories. Thus, the team focused on the cardiac patients as they tend to have an end date to their rehabilitation, which helped limit the scope of the project.


text:
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