text:
Book Review: Stump
Book Review Stump By Christopher Anderson Reviewed by Colin Pantall There's a section in Oliver Sacks' book, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, where the author visits of ward full of people with aphasia; a disorder where people have difficulty understanding the meaning of words. As he visits the ward Ronald Reagan, the president of the United States of America, appears on the TV. Suddenly the ward breaks into laughter.
Stump. By Christopher Anderson.
RM, 2013.
See it Their Faces
A review by Colin Pantall
RM, 2013. 96 pp., 84 color illustrations, 9¼x12".
There's a section in Oliver Sacks' book, The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, where the author visits of ward full of people with aphasia; a disorder where people have difficulty understanding the meaning of words. As he visits the ward Ronald Reagan, the president of the United States of America, appears on the TV. Suddenly the ward breaks into laughter. These people who cannot understand individual words or sentences are laughing at the speech that Reagan is giving?
How so if they don't understand the words that he is saying? Sacks points out that understanding spoken language does not consist of words alone. There is also the emotional delivery of the words. Reagan was full of that. He had his 'rhetoric, his histrionisms, his emotional appeal.' It was this that the patients were laughing at. Stripped of the deceptive power of the words they could see a ham actor delivering his ham lines in the most transparent way. It was literally laughable and for all their disability, this ward full of aphasics could see it better than most. Sacks sums up the experience with a quote from Nietzche; 'One can lie with the mouth, but with the accompanying grimace, one nevertheless tells the truth.'
Stump. By Christopher Anderson. RM, 2013.
Which leads us very nicely on to Christopher Anderson's Stump. It's a book of faces, all of which were taken at American presidential primaries and political conventions over the previous 6 years. The pictures are, for the most part, full faces show in extreme close up, clipped nose hairs and all. They say that politics is show business for the ugly and never was that more true than in Stump.
The first spread shows Mitt and Josh Romney staring off into space. If their lips were moving, you might say they were lying. But really they don't need to speak because these are faces that are performing for the camera. Romney Senior has perfected the politician's look of concern, his craggy features (made even craggier by the cranked up printing) knotted into his Mount Rushmore expression. But Mount Rushmore is never going to happen for Romney Senior, nor is it to Romney Junior. This member of the Romney clan has a slightly less studied look. His eyes are lupine, greedy, voracious. In the Picture of Dorian Grey, Oscar Wilde describes a man who has a portrait that ages while he stays forever young. The two Romneys are the flipside of Dorian Grey. The old Romney has learned to disguise his lust and ambition, the young Romney less so.
Flick through the book and the facial patterns are repeated across the political divide. There's ruthlessness written all over Rahm Emmanuel's face, vanity on Bill Clinton's and distrust on Jesse Jackson's. Turn the page and a common theme emerges; these are self-centred faces, egos from which (and I might be projecting here) venality, dishonesty, corruption and delusion shine through.
They are (like all full face pictures) reminiscent of Ken Ohara's One. But where that epic in monotony emphasised the blank similarity of cropped faces, and came up with the conclusion that we are all the same, Anderson's faces state that all politicians are morally suspect but they differ wildly depending on the vice that you choose to see in their Botoxed brows and white capped canines.
These are anti-campaign photographs. Rather than showing who you should vote for and why, these show you who you shouldn't vote for. They show (albeit on a projected and very superficial level) why some people say that America is more of an oligarchy than a functioning democracy. They say why representation across both political parties has become limited to the ridiculously connected and rich. It's because of these people! Don't vote for them again. Any of them. Ever.—COLIN PANTALL
COLIN PANTALL is a UK-based writer and photographer. He is a contributing writer for the British Journal of Photography and a Senior Lecturer in Photography at the University of Wales, Newport. http://colinpantall.blogspot.com
Labels: Book Reviews, Books, Colin Pantall


A suspected suicide attack blew apart a well-known tourist cafe in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Thursday killing at least 15 people, including 11 tourists, and injuring at least 20 more. There were unconfirmed reports that one of the dead was a British tourist.
If the bombing is the work of Islamists, it will be their first major attack in Morocco since 2003, when a spate of suicide bombings in the commercial capital, Casablanca, killed more than 45 people.
At around 11.50am the blast ripped through the second story of a cafe overlooking Marrakech's Jamaa-el-Fnaa square, the most popular tourist spot in the old imperial city at the foot of the Atlas mountains.
The Argana cafe, lauded in guidebooks for its panoramic view, was blown apart by the force of the explosion, its second storey reduced to mangled wreckage. Witnesses described the blast sending people flying from their chairs.
The square, normally full of tourists and local vendors and storytellers, was swept up in panic as ambulance crews recovered dismembered bodies from the debris. A photographer described "shredded bodies" being pulled from the cafe. There were gruesome injuries at the city's main hospital, where at least 20 wounded were being treated.
Boris Thiolay, a journalist for the French weekly L'Express who was in the square at the time, described a deafening explosion. "We all jumped, then we saw a plume of black smoke rise above the restaurant and the souk."
A local hotel worker told France-Info she heard a great boom and everything in the square suddenly went grey.
"I heard a massive blast. The first and second floors of the building were destroyed," one local woman told Reuters. "Some witnesses said they had seen a man carrying a bag entering the cafe before the blast occurred."
The Moroccan interior ministry said early evidence collected from the scene confirmed it was a bomb attack. Other local officials said indications were of a suicide attack and traces of nails were found in one of the bodies at the hospital. Initially, within moments of the explosion, officials had blamed a gas canister catching fire.
Eleven of the dead were believed to be tourists, around half were women and at least six were French, according to Moroccan television. The Elysée confirmed that many of the dead and injured were French.
President Nicolas Sarkozy condemned a "hateful, cruel and cowardly attack".
An unconfirmed report on Le Figaro's website claimed a couple from Marseille were among the dead, as well as one Briton.
Marrakech is Morocco's top city-break destination and the blast came during French school holidays and at the start of the UK's extended bank holiday.
"You can't find a more emblematic target than Jamaa-el-Fnaa square," said one restaurant owner in the city.
"With this attack and amid the worrying unrest in the region, tourism will hit the doldrums."
The Moroccan government did not say whether the attack was thought to have been carried out by Islamists. In January, the Moroccan interior ministry said 27 suspected terrorists recently arrested in the south of the country had links to al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, a regional offshoot of the group. Last week, men claiming to be Moroccan members of al-Qaida's north African wing appeared in a video posted on YouTube threatening to attack Moroccan interests.
Two weeks ago the king, Mohammed VI, pardoned or cut the sentences of 190 detainees, including Islamists and Sahrawi political prisoners, as part of his promised concessions on rights and judicial independence.
Last month he announced political changes and promised constitutional reform in an attempt to stave off a knock-on effect from the Arab popular uprisings that have overthrown Tunisia's dictator and Egypt's autocratic regime.
Since 20 February, there have been three nationwide mass demonstrations for democracy and equality in Morocco, which is plagued by massive social injustice and a growing gap between the rich and the very poor.
The Marrakech blast is likely to hurt Morocco's tourist trade, a major source of revenue, which is already struggling to recover from the effects of the global downturn.
Morocco's main stock exchange, the Casablanca bourse, was down 3.3% by early afternoon.
"People are panicking," said a trader on the bourse. "This is a terrorist act and it will affect the economy and tarnish the country's image. Local investors are selling."


text:
// This class has been generated, DO NOT EDIT!

package org.tensorflow.op.risc;

import java.util.Arrays;
import org.tensorflow.GraphOperation;
import org.tensorflow.Operand;
import org.tensorflow.Operation;
import org.tensorflow.OperationBuilder;
import org.tensorflow.Output;
import org.tensorflow.op.RawOp;
import org.tensorflow.op.RawOpInputs;
import org.tensorflow.op.Scope;
import org.tensorflow.op.annotation.Endpoint;
import org.tensorflow.op.annotation.OpInputsMetadata;
import org.tensorflow.op.annotation.OpMetadata;
import org.tensorflow.proto.framework.DataType;
import org.tensorflow.types.family.TNumber;

/**
 * The RiscUnary operation
 *
 * @param <T> data type for {@code y} output
 */
@OpMetadata(
    opType = RiscUnary.OP_NAME,
    inputsClass = RiscUnary.Inputs.class
)
public final class RiscUnary<T extends TNumber> extends RawOp implements Operand<T> {
  /**
   * The name of this op, as known by TensorFlow core engine
   */
  public static final String OP_NAME = "RiscUnary";

  private Output<T> y;

  public RiscUnary(Operation operation) {
    super(operation, OP_NAME);
    int outputIdx = 0;
    y = operation.output(outputIdx++);
  }

  /**
   * Factory method to create a class wrapping a new RiscUnary operation.
   *
   * @param scope current scope
   * @param x The x value
   * @param opType The value of the opType attribute
   * @param <T> data type for {@code RiscUnary} output and operands
   * @return a new instance of RiscUnary
   */
  @Endpoint(
      describeByClass = true
  )
  public static <T extends TNumber> RiscUnary<T> create(Scope scope, Operand<T> x, String opType) {
    OperationBuilder opBuilder = scope.opBuilder(OP_NAME, "RiscUnary");
    opBuilder.addInput(x.asOutput());
    opBuilder.setAttr("op_type", opType);
    return new RiscUnary<>(opBuilder.build());
  }

  /**
   * Gets y.
   *
   * @return y.
   */
  public Output<T> y() {
    return y;
  }

  @Override
  public Output<T> asOutput() {
    return y;
  }

  @OpInputsMetadata(
      outputsClass = RiscUnary.class
  )
  public static class Inputs<T extends TNumber> extends RawOpInputs<RiscUnary<T>> {
    /**
     * The x input
     */
    public final Operand<T> x;

    /**
     * The opType attribute
     */
    public final String opType;

    /**
     * The T attribute
     */
    public final DataType T;

    public Inputs(GraphOperation op) {
      super(new RiscUnary<>(op), op, Arrays.asList("op_type", "T"));
      int inputIndex = 0;
      x = (Operand<T>) op.input(inputIndex++);
      opType = op.attributes().getAttrString("op_type");
      T = op.attributes().getAttrType("T");
    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


We have been very privileged to have been asked to provide cleaning operations manuals and documentation, and dedicated training to organisations that employ or support people with learning disabilities. The valuable service these organisations provide help deliver the necessary and life-changing skills that enable people to enjoy complete independence.
The provision of cleaning services is a vital part, either directly or indirectly, of any commercial or public enterprise, particularly as it can have a direct impact on the health and wellbeing of staff, customers and the general public. And yet with such a close connection to the running of enterprise there is no universally agreed system of quality control of cleaning processes. Poor cleaning affects everyone: from lingering dirt and poor cleaning standards which has a subconscious effect on everyone, to a health and safety incident like an outbreak of an infectious microorganism, or even a slip on a wet floor.
This article starts with a true story about a tragic incident on a wet floor that resulted in severe head injuries and chronic mobility disabilities. This is a story which mirrors many incidences of the 1000-plus reported slips on wet floors every year.
Known as 5S this comes from the Japanese Kaizen in Gemba system of working and it's ideally suited to the cleaning industry if it's applied as it should be. The lean concept has been used in manufacturing for a number of years and is now beginning to find application in other industries, including the cleaning industry. However it seems to be being promoted and often misunderstood as a way of saving money by not needing to employ so many people.
Introducing change into your cleaning system is a managed process of a series of critical steps, taken one stage at a time. With Futureclean as your expert partner, we will, for example, identify the key constraints within your cleaning operations and implement tailored solutions to drive effective and efficient change.
Putting change management into your hands Oh we are proud of this one! Change Management can be tricky, now how difficult can change management be for the cleaning? No-one likes change and it is usually incredibly difficult to get it right, but it's do-able when you know how to do it! And Futureclean does.
A brand new concept, called 'Cleaning Interaction', brings together all our services in one complete package, everything from our custom quality cleaning systems to our consultancy and training services.
The domestic cleaning market in the UK is estimated to be worth nearly £3 billion, with more than 2.45 million households using some form of paid assistance in their home It is highly likely that these figures seriously underestimate the true extent of the breadth of the market Since a significant proportion of the domestic cleaning market is comprised of small family-run sole traders or individual self-employed persons for tax purposes, there may not be any reliable numbers of persons actually engaged in domestic cleaning tasks. Now we come to the core problem of this very substantial market.


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Team Accent
Our Scientific Focus
Accent Therapeutics
Accent's approach integrates novel target space with the most successful approach to therapeutic intervention in the history of medicine: small, synthetic molecules. We are focusing on inhibitory small molecule drugs (SMDs) for their:
Extreme flexibility in design due to limitless diversity of structure and associated characteristics
Ease of analysis, aiding feedback in the development process
Dosing simplicity (oral dosing is commonplace for small molecule drugs)
Ease and cost-efficiency of manufacturing
While to date there have been relatively few inhibitors of RMPs reported, analogs for related protein families have already been described. These include small molecule inhibitors with favorable pharmacological properties, consistent with acceptable safety profiles, good oral bioavailability and pharmacokinetic characteristics that allow for convenient dosing schedules. Accent is undertaking the systematic chemical biology and drug discovery efforts required to characterize and target compelling RNA modifications as new approaches to precision cancer therapeutics.
Multi-parametric lead optimization
The Accent team applies a multi-parametric approach to lead optimization to rapidly create clinic-ready molecules as investigational new drugs.
The Accent team is uniquely qualified to practice SMD discovery and development in the area of RMP inhibitors, building on a track record of success in delivering novel SMDs to the clinic. Among the executive team, scientific advisory board and board of directors, the Accent team has previously delivered more than 200 SMDs to the clinic and, collectively, have contributed to more than 40 approved drugs that are in clinical use today.
At Accent, we are combining cutting-edge approaches to target identification with a robust chemical biology platform and more traditional drug discovery approaches. This approach allows us to identify and prioritize the most critical RMP targets for specific human cancer indications and to swiftly match these targets with novel small molecule inhibitors that serve as powerful starting points for our drug optimization efforts. In partnership with trusted contract research organizations, we are building a model that encourages a diversity of approaches and can respond quickly to identified opportunities.
Our mission is to translate extraordinary science to life-changing therapies for patients in need. We are looking for driven, creative individuals to accentuate our team: learn more about our values and the benefits of a career at Accent Therapeutics!
» Join Accent
©2023 ACCENT THERAPEUTICS

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Lisnagar Oscar (foaled 9 May 2013) is an Irish-bred, British-trained racehorse best known for his achievements in National Hunt racing. He won his only Point-to-point race and then showed very promising form as a Novice hurdler in the 2018/19 National Hunt season, winning the Prestige Novices' Hurdle and being placed in both the Prestige Novices' Hurdle and the Sefton Novices' Hurdle. In the following season he raced unsuccessfully in Steeplechases before returning to smaller obstacles and recording his biggest win in the Stayers' Hurdle. He failed to win in his first four start of the 2020/21 season, when he underwent surgery to correct his breathing.

Background
Lisnagar Oscar is a bay horse with a small white star bred in Ireland by Denis Fitzgerald who named the horse after his residence at Lisnagar near Fermoy in County Cork. The horse was gelded before the start of his racing career.

He was sired by Oscar, a horse who finished second to Peintre Celebre in the Prix du Jockey Club before becoming a leading sire of National Hunt horses. His other major winners have included Lord Windermere, Rock On Ruby, Oscar Whisky Paisley Park and Big Zeb. Lisnagar Oscar's dam Asta Belle was an unraced daughter of the Prix Ganay winner Astarabad. She was a full-sister to Whisper, a two-time winner of the Liverpool Hurdle. Asta Belle was a female-line descendant of the British broodmare Sunny Belle, a half-sister to the dam of Windsor Lad.

Racing career

2017/18 Point-to-point season
Lisnagar Oscar began his career on the amateur Point-to-point circuit. On 25 March 2018 he started 9/4 favourite for a three-mile maiden hurdle on soft to heavy ground at Liscarroll and won by eight lengths.

On 12 April he was consigned to the Goffs UK Aintree Sale where he was not auctioned but was bought privately for £105,000 by the trainer Rebecca Curtis. The horse was taken into training by Curtis at Newport, Pembrokeshire and entered the ownership of the Racing For Fun syndicate.

2018/19 National Hunt season
On his first appearance under National Hunt rules, Lisnagar Oscar finished third to the Paul Nicholls-trained McFabulous in a National Hunt Flat race over two miles at Chepstow Racecourse on 14 October. For the rest of the season the gelding was campaigned in Novice hurdle races. He ran second in a minor event at Ffos Las Racecourse in November and was then stepped up in class for the Grade 2 Bristol Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse in December and finished second again, beaten two and three quarter lengths by Rockpoint. On 18 January Lisnagar Oscar started favourite for a minor event at Chepstow in which he was ridden by Sean Bowen and recorded his first success under rules as he took the lead at the second last obstacle and held off the challenge of Dickie Diver to prevail by a head. Bowen was again in the saddle when the gelding started at odds of 6/1 for the Grade 2 Prestige Novices' Hurdle over three miles at Haydock Park on 16 February. After tracking the front-running Ask Ben, Lisnagar Oscar gained the advantage at the penultimate flight of hurdles and drew away to win by ten lengths despite being eased down in the closing stages.

For his last two races of the season Lisnagar Oscar moved up to the highest class to compete in Grade 1 events and acquitted himself well despite failing to win. At the Cheltenham Festival in March he finished fifth to the 50/1 outsider Minella Indo in the Spa Novices' Hurdle and in the following month he came home third behind Champ and Emitom in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree Racecourse.

2019/20 National Hunt season
Lisnagar Oscar began the 2019/20 National Hunt season by competing in novice chases. He made his debut over the bigger obstacles at Chepstow on 11 October when he started favourite but was beaten a neck Ardlethen  after failing to recover from a mistake at the final fence. The gelding went off the 4/6 favourite at Stratford Racecourse three weeks later but after tracking the front-running winner Black Op he made a jumping error at the third last and then faded badly to come home third, beaten more than thirty-three lengths. At Haydock in November he reverted to hurdles but was never in contention as he finished ninth of the thirteen finishers behind Stoney Mountain in the Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle. The new year saw no improvement as he fell at the second flight of a handicap hurdle at Warwick Racecourse on 11 January. Two weeks later he started a 50/1 outsider for the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham and produced a much improved performance to take third place behind Paisley Park and Summerville Boy.

At Cheltenham on 12 March, ridden as on his previous start by Adam Wedge, Lisnagar Oscar started a 50/1 outsider in a fifteen-runner field for the Stayers' Hurdle. Paisley Park started favourite while the other contenders included Apple's Jade, Penhill, Summerville Boy, Emitom (Rendlesham Hurdle), City Island (Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle), L'Ami Serge (Aintree Hurdle) and Bacardys (Champion Novice Hurdle). He raced in mid-division before moving up to overtake the front-running Apple's Jade between the last two hurdles. He stayed on well up the run in and prevailed by two lengths from Ronald Pump, with three lengths back to Bacardys in third. After the race Rebecca Curtis said "It's a shock he's won. I didn't think he'd beat Paisley Park, but I was hoping we'd have a good run here after the last time. It was like he'd just got his confidence back the last time. I'm just speechless... I thought he'd make a lovely chaser, but he didn't take to fences. He's quite small and is quick and neat over his hurdles. We tried fences early in the season. It all went wrong. Whether that put him off racing for a bit, I don't know. Something just wasn't quite right with him... He just sprung to form six weeks ago and we fancied him to run well today."

2020/21 National Hunt season
At Wetherby Racecourse on 31 October Lisnagar Oscar made his first appearance since this Stayers' Hurdle win, Lisnagar Oscar carried top weight of 160 pounds in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle in which he took the lead approaching the second last before fading in the closing stages and finishing fourth behind the mare Roksana. In the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November he went to the front at the third last hurdle but as at Wetherby, he tired badly and came home seventh of the ten runners behind Thyme Hill, beaten more than twenty lengths by the winner. After the race the gelding underwent surgery to correct a breathing problem.

In the Rendlesham Hurdle at Haydock in January Lisnagar Oscar produced a better effort, taking the lead at the eighth flight and then rallying after being overtaken by Third Wind at the last to finish second by three quarters of a length. At Cheltenham on 18 March the gelding attempted to repeat his 2020 victory in the Stayers' Hurdle and started at odds of 11/1 in a fifteen-runner field. Ridden by Harry Skelton he appeared to be going well when he fell "heavily" at the seventh hurdle.

Pedigree

References

2013 racehorse births
Racehorses bred in Ireland
Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom
Thoroughbred family 19-b

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
What is a Green Card, Explained [2021]
John Carter
Green cards are officially named a "U.S. Permanent Resident Card."
These United States Immigration green cards are issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Your green card grants you permission to live and work in the United States.
Planning to file an immigration application? Check out our 10 immigration forms preparation tips in this video.
You may apply for U.S. citizenship after three or five years.
Types of Green Cards
Permanent Resident (Green Card) Benefits
How Can You Lose Your Permanent Resident (Green Card) Status
When Can You Apply for United States Citizenship
To get a green card, you must qualify under one of these eligibility categories:
You may be eligible for a U.S. permanent resident card if you are an immigrant worker, meaning:
You have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics;
You are a member of a profession requiring an advanced degree; or
You are a skilled worker, a professional, or you are an unskilled worker.
Family based categories of applicants who are eligible to apply for US green card include:
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens:
A spouse of a U.S. citizen;
A minor child (under 21) of a U.S. citizen; or
A parent of a U.S. citizen over the age of 21.
Other family members are also eligible for green card permanent resident status under the "preference immigrant" group, which (in order of preference) includes:
Unmarried children of U.S. citizens over the age of 21;
Spouses and unmarried minor (under 21) children of lawful permanent U.S. residents;
Married children of U.S. citizens; and
Siblings of U.S. citizens, if that citizen is over the age of 21.
Marriage After Obtaining a Fiancé(e) Visa
You or your alien fiancé(e) may apply for a nonimmigrant visa to travel to the United States and seek admission.
Within 90-days after entry, you and your fiancé(e) must enter into a legal marriage with the U.S. citizen who made the application.
You or your lawfully married spouse may then apply for a green card.
Special Immigration
You might meet green card requirements if you:
Are a member of a religious denomination coming to the United States to work in a nonprofit religious organization;
Are a child whose parent abused, abandoned, or neglected you, and you have Special Immigrant Juvenile status;
Served as an Afghan or Iraqi translator for the U.S. government;
Were employed by the U.S. government in Iraq for at least one year on or after March 20, 2003; or
Were an Afghan employed by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
Seeking Refuge or Asylum
You may seek permanent United States resident status if asylum status was granted at least one year ago, or admitted as a refugee at least one year ago.
Human Trafficking and Victims of Crime
If you were a human trafficking victim or a victim of a crime and have a nonimmigrant visa, you may apply for United States of America permanent residency.
Victim of Abuse
Under the Violence Against Women Act, you may complete a green card application if you were the victim of extreme cruelty from a spouse, a former spouse, or a child of a U.S. citizen.
Diversity Immigrant Visa Program
The United States Department of State issues permanent resident cards through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program.
Also known as the U.S. Visa Lottery, every year 50,000 names are randomly drawn from applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
Most lottery winners live outside the United States and are granted permanent U.S. resident status.
Once you have obtained your green card you have the right to:
Live anywhere in the United States;
Enjoy most legal rights under the laws and Constitution of the United States;
Work in any job, for as many hours as you would like, including jobs that need special licensing or security clearances;
Sponsor a spouse and minor children (under 21) in obtaining their own permanent resident Green Cards;
Apply for U.S. citizenship five years after reviving your Green Card, or three years if married to a U.S. citizen;
Purchase a home, get a mortgage, and get insurance;
Participate in the U.S. election process through campaign contributions (but you must be a U.S. citizen to vote);
Own business, start a corporation, and apply for government help from the Small Business Administration;
Receive Social Security benefits when you retire;
Leave and re-enter the United States without the risk of being denied re-entry by the United States Immigration and Customs Service;
Apply for government aid for educational purposes;
Pay less in tuition at state and private colleges and universities;
To own property, a car, and firearms; and
Be immune from future changes in U.S. immigration law.
Once you become a green card holder, you maintain permanent resident status until you:
Apply for and complete your naturalization process; or
Lose or abandon your status.
There are several ways you can lose your green card status:
Living outside the United States for a period of six months or more;
Voluntarily surrendering your green card and reject your residency status; or
Commit any type of fraud or lie to any governmental agency, including the police.
The two most common ways green card residents lose their cards are by marriage fraud and criminal conviction.
Marriage Fraud
One way people lose their green card is through marriage fraud, which comes in many forms:
When a U.S. citizen is paid to marry a foreign national;
When a U.S. citizen marries a foreign national as a favor;
When a foreign national and U.S. citizen enter into false marriage; and
Any marriage entered into for the purpose of getting around U.S. immigration law.
Criminal Conviction
Renewing your green card after any arrest is problematic. In general, any felony offense in which you can be sentenced to jail for one year or more may lead to the loss of your green card and result in deportation. Some of these crimes include:
Murder;
Voluntary manslaughter;
Involuntary manslaughter (in some cases);
Rape;
Spousal abuse;
Child abuse;
Incest;
Kidnaping;
Robbery;
Aggravated assault;
Mayhem;
Theft;
Fraud; and
Conspiracy, attempt, or acting as an accessory to any of these offenses.
Ideally, the proper way to lose your green card residency status is to get citizenship.
In general, the only way a U.S. citizen can be deported is if his/her original Green Card was obtained through fraud or misrepresentation.
Once you become a naturalized U.S. citizen, the following benefits apply to you:
You no longer have to renew your green card;
You're at a reduced risk of deportation;
You have easier travel outside the United States and reentry upon retiring;
You will not lose your citizenship on long trips abroad;
You can apply for green cards for family members;
You can pass your citizenship status to your children who have green cards;
You have the right to vote and run for public office;
You have the ability to receive government loans, grants, and other benefits;
You have tax and estate planning benefits; and
You have the right to obtain a U.S. passport.
For green card holders, there are five ways to naturalization and becoming a citizen of the United States of America.
Be a Green Card Permanent Resident for at Least Five Years Prior to Filing for Citizenship
The most common way for a United States permanent resident holder to become a naturalized U.S. citizen is by holding their green card status for five years. To apply for naturalization in this way you must:
Be 18 years of age on the date your citizenship application is filed;
Have been a green card permanent resident for at least five years before the date of your application;
Lived in the state for at least three years;
Students may apply for naturalization either where they go to school or where their parents live;
Maintained a continuous residence for at least five years immediately preceding the application;
Have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the five years before your application;
Have been continuously living in the United States from the time of your application until naturalized;
Be able to read and write English, and have knowledge of U.S. history and government; and
Be a person of good moral character, committed to the principles of the United States Constitution.
Naturalization for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
To be eligible for citizenship as a spouse of a U.S. citizen, you must meet the following criteria:
Be at least 18 years of age when the application is filed;
Been a green card holder for at least three years before applying;
Continuously live in lawful marriage to the same spouse for the three years preceding your application;
Your spouse must have been a U.S. citizen for three years before applying;
Lived in the state for at least three months before applying;
Been physically present in the United States for at least 18 months of the three years preceding your application;
Maintained a continuous residence for at least five years immediately preceding your application;
Continuously lived in the United States from the date of your application until naturalized;
Naturalization Through Military Service
If you are a current or former member of the United States armed forces, you can apply for naturalization. As a current or former member of the military, other naturalization requirements do not apply to you.
The criteria for former military service members include:
Served honorably during a period of peacetime for a period(s) equaling one year;
Show proof of honorable discharge;
Be a lawful permanent resident at the time of your naturalization interview;
Meet certain physical and residency requirements;
Demonstrate the ability to read, write, and speak English;
Demonstrate knowledge of U.S. history and government;
Demonstrate good moral character; and
Demonstrate an attachment to the principles of the United States Constitution.
If you are currently serving in the military, the United States Customs and Immigration Service requests that you contact the USCIS agent assigned to your base or your superior officer for information.
Citizenship for Spouses and Children of Members Serving in the U.S. Military
Spouses and children of service members of the U.S. military may be eligible for expedited and/or overseas naturalization.
Citizenship Through a Parent
There are two ways to get citizenship through a parent: at birth, and after birth before the child reaches 18. The law in effect at the time of birth determines whether someone born to a parent or parents outside the United States is a citizen.


text:
The October flower is Marigold.
They were first discovered in the 16th century by the Portuguese in Central America who then introduced the flower to parts of Europe and India.
In Aztec culture the marigold was believed to have magical religious and medicinal properties, which date back to 1552 when herbal records show they were used to cure hiccups and anyone injured from being struck by lightning.
A magical use of the flower was when it was used to protect sailors who carried it for safe passage over rivers and other bodies of water.
In ancient South Asia marigolds were popular and held great value. The bright golden colour of the flower resembled that of honourable people known as Ayra. The flower was so valuable that it was used as a decoration at various places of importance to the people of that day. As a result, it was common to find them lining ceremonial rooms and pavilions.
Early Spanish explorers were said to have taken marigold seeds from the Aztecs in Spain, where they were grown in monastery gardens. From there marigold seed went to France and Africa.
In Mexico marigolds are also used as a decorative flower and are popular during All Saints Day and All Souls Day. They are also used in Hindu religious ceremonies.
Marigolds were also made into garlands to decorate during harvest festivals and other items similar in colour, such as corn and peppers, were used in the ceremonial decorations.
The marigold is an everyday sight in modern day India where they continue to be used as a decorative plant. They are are used in various ceremonies from weddings to funerals and are used as offerings to gods, dried into a powder they are rubbed onto the exterior of village homes and oils extracted from the flower are used for the creation of numerous perfumes.
Marigolds did not arrive in North America until the time after the Revolutionary War. In the early 1900's both the sweet pea and marigold were gaining popularity in the United States. It was in the 1920's when breeding led to the introduction of hundreds of new varieties. Some of the new developed marigolds introduced at the time included the white marigold, the odourless marigold as well as hybrids and triploids.
Marigolds are still commonly used as a medicinal herb. The flower is said to remedy the swelling of a wasp or bee sting when rubbed on the affected area. A lotion created from the flower is considered useful for sprains and wounds and inflamed eyes are said to benefit from water distilled from marigolds.
Other medicinal qualities come from eating the leaves of the plant in a salad. They are believed to be useful in scrofula of children and the plant's acridness has made it a choice for the treatment of warts.
The word marigold is used to describe plants with golden yellow blossoms and the Calendula (marigold) symbolizes sorrow or sympathy, which explains the hidden message "My Thoughts Are With You", associated with this flower.
Want to know more information about Maarigolds?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendula_officinalis
The January birth flower is the Carnation. The carnation, also known by the nickname 'carn,' has


Discussion in 'Granny Flats' started by andrew_t, 28th May, 2016.
I thought i would share our current granny flat build, old garage knocked down and granny put in its place.
Peter P, dan_89 and S1mon like this.
I have a property with a garage like the one you had. I am looking to demolish it & extend the driveway to the back of the block adding a double garage with one side for the house & the other for the prefab GF.
Did your garage contain aspestos? If you don't mind me asking, in what state is the property & how much was the garage demo?
If it's for the in laws you should have just done a dodgy garage conversion.
Gingin and andrew_t like this.
Looks good bro the weatherboard look is better then colourbond look.
What sort of fence will you put up to keep the in laws out?
There was a recent granny flat project posted here by coconutwheels I think did it all on colourbond.
The garage contained asbestos, it was removed by an asbestos removal approved demolition company and was 10k all up. That includes digging up the concrete slab.


text:
Barze Addresses IADC International Corporate Counsel College
BTNL founding partner Bruce Barze spoke at the 2022 International Corporate Counsel College (ICCC) in Vienna, Austria on October 14, 2022. The ICCC is an annual program presented by the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) that brings in-house counsel and their law firm counterparts together to address the latest legal issues affecting global companies.
Barze spoke on a panel entitled, "See 'EU' On The Other Side — The Trans-Atlantic Data Privacy Framework Renewed." The other panelists were Timothy LaTulippe, Director of IDS Inc. in London, England; Cecilia Alvarez, EMEA Privacy Policy Director for Meta, Madrid, Spain; and Eleonor Duhs, a partner at Bates Wells LLP in London, England.
The panel discussed the state of European data privacy laws generally, potential forthcoming changes to UK laws, and the tension between American rules of civil procedure and European data privacy laws.
Barze, whose practice includes assisting European insurers and companies in the defense of U.S. litigation and insurance coverage issues, discussed recent rulings and best practices for European companies facing litigation and discovery requests in American lawsuits.
The IADC has been serving a distinguished membership of corporate and insurance defense attorneys and insurance executives since 1920. Its activities benefit the approximately 2,500 invitation-only, peer reviewed members and their clients, as well as the civil justice system and the legal profession.
About Barze Taylor Noles Lowther LLC: Barze Taylor Noles Lowther LLC is a Birmingham, Alabama-based law firm with a national practice focused on litigation, insurance coverage issues, and environmental matters. For more information, visit www.btnllaw.com or follow @BTNL_law_firm.
Lakeshore Park Plaza
Commercial Litigation
Drug and Medical Device Litigation
Environmental Law and Litigation
Product Liability and Casualty Litigation
© Barze Taylor Noles Lowther LLC
DISCLAIMER: No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.


When we think of our Digital Dealer 25 experience, we've only got one word to describe it: "WoW!". Our production team made this recap video JUST FOR YOU! Check it out! You will not believe it, until you see it!
Are you going to DD25? Paul Caldwell's got a secret he does not intend to keep!
Servicing our Community the #CKway !
This Doesn't Stay In Vegas!


HOTEL FACILITIES: The hotel has facilities that include: elevators, security surveillance cameras, well trained security personnel including the mobile police men for safety, computerized doors, swimming pools, gym services, wireless internet, L.C.D plasma screen televisions, N.V night club, Jacuzzi baths, laundry and sporty events like table tennis etc. it also has a 150KVA, 250KVA, 350KVA and 1000KVA, 24hours power generating equipment. The hotel also offers industrial outdoor catering services to its clients within and outside the state.
We also have a variety of ultra modern conference halls/rooms that can seat about 30, 50 and 70 persons with presentation tools for your business meetings. We also have a banquet hall that can seat over 1000 guests making it ideal for events such as weddings, book launching, conferences and more.
Business Meeting Our event services team is on hand to to ensure very business meeting need is met with our multilingual staff, modern business centres and catering services . Any of our halls or meeting rooms of your choice can be configured to meet your seating arrangement requirements.
Conferences, Annual General Meetings & Conventions Social occasions can also be tailor-made to your requirements at All Season's Hotel Owerri. We have the expertise to help you plan and hold all your event types such as weddings, book launchings, conferences, annual general meetings and more.
The hotel is about 60 minutes drive from Port Harcourt International Airport and 15minutes drive from Imo airport.


Can you work out the place names from the clues given below?
Our thanks to Bill Barwell for this quiz!
1. For kneeling on in church.
2. A crease in beef.
3. Bacon on the beach.
4. Enclosed area of heather.
6. Not much money for out of work.
10. Give them prior advice to the problem.


The long-awaited update for second-generation-hardware-equipped (HW2) Tesla Model S sedans and Model X SUVs is finally here. Basically, that just means if your Tesla was built after October 2016, you now have the Enhanced Autopilot system you were missing.
The system is, predictably, a modified version of the already capable Autopilot semi-autonomous system. Tesla's Autosteer system and Smart Summon system should both be better at managing curved roads without driver input. Tesla also includes an automatic lane-change system to help dodge slower cars during your commute.
Some cars might require a Tesla technician to adjust the car's various cameras to activate the update, but the car will let you know if that's the case. Also, Autopilot early adopters might be confused as to why the Autosteer function doesn't work like it did before. Apparently, according to the Verge, Musk and crew limited the automatic steering system's speed to 45 mph. Despite the limitations, this is still an upgrade over the traditional cruise control that Tesla buyers were stuck with while waiting for the update.
Downloading the update is as simple as connecting your Tesla to your home's Wi-Fi network and updating the car's software as you'd normally do.


Business cards can be used to communicate the benefits of using your product or service. This business card displays the advantages offered by Herbalife24 nutrition products. The background is black near the edges of the card and fades to grey toward the center. The Herbalife logo is printed in black as part of the background. Your name is printed near the top on the left side of the card in white lettering. Your position is printed in pale green beneath it. Your phone number, e-mail address and website address are printed in white letters below them. A list of advantages and services offered by the product line are printed in white beneath the contact information, bulleted with green checkmarks. The back of the card also has a black and gray background, and the Herbalife24 logo and slogan are printed in black. These cards are printed on 16 point, premium thick, card stock and are available in matte or gloss. Your cards should arrive in five business days or less.
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