2 blondes went to work in a brand new car that nobody else had. But when they left work every car in the parking lot was the same. So the 2 blondes waited untill all the cars were gone and only theirs was left.
As they were driving home..one blonde says to the other: we have to go to work tommorow in something that nobody else has."
"Well, on the way to work today i heard someone say, look at those two assholes on that camel"


Congrats on your win, I love your whimsical design.
sooooooooooo cute and just loved all the little quilts together!
Congrats on winning..... love the little house on the hill..... the little quilts are so fun..... thanks for sharing.
So cute! I love the little cottage. Too precious!


Starting a business requires that you have adequate financing and for this reason, people always consider finding out if they have exact finances for that particular business, they want to begin. This is mainly because the size of business will always depend on the amount of capital you have for business. Different individuals will always consider different finances such as savings or even business loans. Getting a good business loan requires that you consider going for a specific institution that will be ready to provide you with the specific amount of money you need to start your business. The only way you can be able to get your project funded effectively is when you consider looking for the best business loan that will guarantee you the finances that you need. There are so many companies today that are known to be providing different kinds of business loans for different kinds of individuals that want to venture in various business sectors. There are some very vital guidelines that can prove to be very essential anytime you are planning to apply for a particular business loan. When you are planning to apply for a specific business loan, you need to ensure that you consider following some of the tips that have been discussed in this article below.
The first factor that you need to ensure that you focus on anytime you are planning to apply for a business loan is the interest rate that the company puts on the loan. You need to ensure that you go for a particular company that will provide you with a business loan at an affordable interest rate. You need to understand that if you go for an interest rate that is manageable, you will not find it very difficult to repay the loan.


If this is your first time visiting us, please visit our Story Guidelines page, which will answer many of your questions about subject matter, length, and style. Following our guidelines will give you the best possible chance of being accepted.
Please complete all fields in the form below. If you live outside the United States please fill in the parts of the form that pertain to you and where you live. Even if you are a past contributor and we have your information on file for a past book, we need your complete information again. If you have changed your contact information and you have a submission still outstanding for a book that is in process, please let us know your new information and the book you submitted for by alerting our webmaster@chickensoupforthesoul.com.
Welcome to the Chicken Soup for the Soul family!
We love our writers, and we look forward to reading your stories and poems. On this part of the website, you'll find a list of our new book topics, our writing guidelines and our submission form. Thanks for sharing!


? Copyright 2004. Hindustan Times. All rights reserved.
Iowa Rep. Steve King applauded Chairman Thomas today for agreeing to hold a hearing on major tax reforms, including the FairTax.
As news sources reported yesterday, Representative Bill Thomas, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced that his committee would consider replacing the federal income tax with a national sales tax.
Speaker Hastert has recently called for monumental tax reform in his new book, including consideration of a national sales tax.


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żwacz – jeden z przedżołądków u przeżuwaczy
 żwacz – mięsień żuchwy
 żwacz – odcinek jelita tylnego u owadów

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


High School All-Americans (HSAA) are rugby players in 7s or 15s who fit within the ages of 17-18 years old and currently participate in a high school rugby program. Selections for USA Rugby's High School All-American assemblies and competitions are primarily made from Regional Cup Tournaments across the nation. All camps and competitions are focused on long-term player development.
Registered USA Rugby members who have competed in Regional Cup Tournaments and feel they have been overlooked for an All-American assembly may submit their information through a nomination form at hiperforms.com.
To become a High School All-American, athletes should compete in one or more of the five Regional Cup Tournaments throughout the country. RCTs serve as the core talent identification competition for athletes at the high school level. All-American scouts attend the tournaments ever year to make selections for upcoming All-American camps and tours. For more information on how to join a participating team, contact your State Rugby Organization (SRO).
For more information regarding the team and selection process, please contact Director Martha Daines.
*2019 assembly dates and details to follow.
The rosters for USA Rugby's age-grade National Teams have been selected for the August 1-7 Can-Am Series to be held in Ottawa, Ontario.
In preparation for the upcoming Can-Am event in August, 36 players have been invited to the Girls High School All-American powered by Atavus selection camp, to be held June 27-30.
Rugby Canada announced Thursday a Can-Am Series between the country's under-18 and under-20 women's national teams and USA Rugby's, to be held at University of Ottawa Aug. 1-7.
The Girls High School All-Americans powered by Atavus are in Florida this weekend for the inaugural Tropical 7s tournament at Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate.
USA Rugby has announced the 2017 dates and locations for the USA Rugby Regional Cup Tournaments (RCTs). Two new locations, Indianapolis and Atlanta, join returning events in Denver and Portland as regional hosts.


Turkey gives you opportunity to live four seasons together with its different types of climate. You can see some people swimming in the sea whereas some skiing on top of a mountain at the same time of the year. During your long term tours or vacation there are so many places that you can go for skiing here in Turkey.
ULUDAĞ: This ski center is 36 km south of Bursa. The ski area lies between 1800-1900 m and the best season is from December to April. At the resort there are chair-lifts, three ski-lifts, slalom and giant slalom courses, beginner's slopes and a small hospital. Skis, equipment, and instructors are available for hire.
SAKLIKENT: Situated north east of Bakirli Dağı the Beydag mountain range, 50 km northwest of Antalya, at a height of 2000 m. The best season is from January to April. The special attraction of this centre is that in March and April one can ski in the morning then drive down to the coast and swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean in the afternoons.
KARTALKAYA: This resort situated on the Istanbul - Ankara highway 50 km from Bolu is surrounded by pinewoods, the ski area lying between 1500 and 2200 m.
PALANDÖKEN: This center is 6 km from Erzurum at an altitude of 2200 to 3100 meters with some of the longest and most difficult courses and best snow conditions in Turkey, making it an ideal location for international ski competitions. December to April is the most suitable season. According to the development plans of the Government, Palandöken will soon reach at 87,000 people per hour capacity on its tracks.
SARIKAMIS: Situated near Kars at 2250 m, this ski center also has good courses and ideal snow conditions. Best season is December to April.
ERCIYES: This ski centre lies at 2150 m, 25 km from Kayseri just an hour drive from Cappadocia. The season is from November to May.
ELMADAĞ: This center 23 km out of Ankara, to get fresh air and to dine far away from the chaos and air pollution of the city. Best season is between January and March. Skiing track is 900 meters long and 250 meters wide, with a 548 meters long teleski having a capacity of 720 people per hour.
ILGAZ MOUNTAIN: Situated between Kastamonu and Cankiri at the junction of the Istanbul - Kastamonu, Ankara - Kastamonu roads. In the Ilgaz National Park amidst beautiful woodlands the slopes lie at 1820-2000m.


When the 240,00- square-foot Levine Children's Hospital opened its doors, it became the largest children's hospital between Atlanta and Washington, D.C. The hospital, located at Carolinas Medical Center, boasts 234 beds, a dedicated pediatric cardiac intensive-care unit and a 24-hour pediatric emergency department. Also notable are its family-centered amenities like a family dining room and a business center for working parents.
The other half of this project was a major expansion to the ICU of the main hospital, Carolinas Medical Center. The concrete construction project created 193,000 square feet and can be defined in two parts: a new 13-story tower (including two stories for mechanical equipment) built between an existing stair tower and an existing seven-story hospital building; and an over-build structure that added six stories (including two stories for mechanical equipment) to the existing seven-story hospital building.Eighty-seven new ICU rooms were added during this process.


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Willie Nelson isn't the only musician sticking around after concerts to talk to fans.
Willie Nelson isn't the only musician sticking around after concerts to talk to fans. Willie Nelson isn't the only musician sticking around after concerts to talk to fans. Check out this story on DemocratandChronicle.com: http://on.rocne.ws/17VgJJb
Jane Sutter, ROC Published 1:01 p.m. ET June 24, 2013
Willie Nelson isn't the only musician sticking around after concerts to talk to fans. Sunday night I got to meet Michael Doucet, the talented fiddler of Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet
. He's a down-to-earth guy who not only cheers on Louisiana State Football but also The Crimson Tide of Alabama, to the delight of my husband and me. (My stepson is a 'Bama grad.)
I heard Doucet about 20 years ago in Sarasota, Fla., and the concert on Sunday night at Harro East was really fun. Doucet is excellent on fiddle and accordion. He did a great job making it clear he was happy to be back in Rochester. He said he and his band love Rochester, lilacs and all, and he thinks the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival is the best festival north of the Maxon-Dixon line. He said all that in English, but he sang several songs in French/Cajun or whatever it is, the lyrics sound magical so who cares if you don't understand them.
Je t'aime, BeauSoleil!
Read or Share this story: http://on.rocne.ws/17VgJJb

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


When you visit the Brompton Cafe at Rough Trade NYC, you'll receive a loyalty card that makes your 10th coffee free! And this summer, you can also take your Brompton Cafe loyalty card to any Brompton retailer for a free test ride and to redeem a free Brompton t-shirt. Just show them your card, give them your email address and telephone number, and we will contact you to ship you your t-shirt*.
You can see and test ride our bikes at any of our many dealers, whose knowledgeable staff will be happy to demonstrate the bike, discuss all the custom options and help you place your order. In the meantime, visit our Bike Builder and configure your dream Brompton.
You need 9 stamps on your card for a free coffee, but just one for a Brompton test ride and t-shirt!
*We are only able to ship free gifts to an address in the US. The free gift can only be redeemed if a test ride is taken; the free gift is subject to availability, if the item advertised is not available then a substitution may be made.


Another country is adopting robotics to assist in postal deliveries — at least on a trial basis.
Brisbane, Australia, is now planning to test after-hour deliveries by an autonomous robot from 6 p.m. to midnight for four weeks starting in mid-November. Essentially a mobile locker, the robot will be accompanied by an Australia Post employee and carry just one parcel at a time, the Courier Mail newspaper reported today.
Prospective customers who are required to register and request a delivery at a time would receive a text message when the robot arrives at their door. The newspaper didn't identify the robot's manufacturer.
Last year, the Australia Post was testing $10,000 drones developed by ARI Labs for delivering medication and online retail items, RoboticsTrends reported.
Meanwhile, six-wheeled robots developed by London-based Starship Technologies were tested for mail delivery in Switzerland, England and Washington, D.C., Business Insider reported in 2016.
German postal officials are also testing a delivery robot, according to The Robot Report.
The French-made PostBot is being tested southeast of Bonn during a six-week pilot program. Mail carriers who will initially just use the robots for delivery between the city administrative offices are then expected to employ the technology for conventional delivery routes.
The robots, developed by France-based Effidence SAS, are capable of carrying up to 330 pounds and track the movements of the letter carrier. PostBots are designed to automatically follow carriers making deliveries to reduce workloads for carriers and free up their hands free for other tasks, according to SlashGear.


HP ENVY 5539 Printer Driver and Software For 64-bit/32-bit Windows and For Macintosh Operating System.
To make sure your HP ENVY 5539 printer always work well with your Windows operating system or Macintosh OS, it very important to keep your HP ENVY 5539 Driver and Software up to date. So below are The latest Drivers and Software of HP ENVY 5539, and including the manual guide of HP ENVY 5539 too. All you need to do is to choose which one is compatible with your Operating System and hit the download button.
All HP ENVY 5539 Drivers, Software, and Manual Document listed above are original from HP, So with this HP ENVY 5539 latest drivers and software you can run your HP ENVY 5539 printer with OS like Windows or Macintosh OS, and if you need more information about this HP ENVY 5539 Printer you can Visit HP Official Site Here.
Note: When you open the Manual Document of HP ENVY 5539 you will find the document for HP ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One Printer, Keep in mind that HP ENVY 5539 is part of HP ENVY 5530 e-All-in-One Printer Series, so the guide will work well for your HP ENVY 5539 Printer too.


'Stronghold x Space Colony' adds Space Colony characters Stig Svensson and Tami La Belle as AI opponents alongside The Wolf, The Pig, The Snake and The Rat. The new DLC replaces wolf dens with Protoraptor nests, adds Hovermines and laser turrets to your selection of castle defences and intro-duces an all-new campaign in which these new characters invade medieval England!
Two new AI opponents from the Space Colony universe, Tami and Stig.
Six multiplayer maps set on planets from the original game.
A brand new campaign complete with with twelve missions, set in medieval England and on planets in the Ussvald System.
Futuristic structures and new castle defences using advanced tech.
Alien lifeforms to destroy or tame, turning them against their mas-ters!
The Stronghold x Space Colony DLC will be made available as a free download on the official Firefly Studios website on April 30th, when Space Colony: Steam Edition is set to launch.


The Edward Snowden incident highlights the dangers that an organization could be exposed to due to insiders with ill intent. You know; the very people you've entrusted with the organisation's well-being and have assumed to this point that everything they do is on the up and up.
According to a recent Clearswift/Loudhouse report, 58% of security incidents are attributed to insiders. Other studies, such as the 2013 Verizon Data Breach Investigations, claim smaller numbers. One thing is certain though; you have users and things on your network right now that are creating business risks. There are too many people with access and too much to lose to ignore the problem.
Top Insider Threat #1: Management mindset.
Management's mindset that "we don't have anything of value the bad guys would want" is a ridiculous yet pervasive problem.
Top Insider Threat #2: Users assumed to have been properly vetted.
As in Snowden's case, information is coming out now that his background check was inadequate. On the other hand however, never overlook the potential for someone with a flawless background and references to still be able to commit crimes.
Top Insider Threat #3: Entities assumed to have no access.
Be it business partners, contractors, or similarly "less visible" users, it's not uncommon for people with no business need to have full access to whatever they desire on your network. Who are they and what do they have access to?
Top Insider Threat #4: Lack of information.
If you're not focusing on the right target then you're not going to hit your mark. Many people aren't even aware of where to look. In a lot of situations, this can be due to information systems complexity – something that hampers security at most enterprises. In other situations, it's people ignoring key information right under their noses.
Top Insider Threat #5: Improper tools.
Lack of information is often related to lack of good tools. You cannot secure what you don't acknowledge. Just as critical, you cannot acknowledge what's important when you don't have the proper insight and means for making informed decisions. Whether they're open source or paid commercial products – get the tools you need to properly manage the security of your network.
Top Insider Threat #6: Limited expertise.
Even with the right tools and the right information, it's still not easy sifting through nor is it easy to know what you should be looking for. Training and experience are great for this. So is outsourcing to a third-party that can do it better than you can.
Top Insider Threat #7: Non-existent patching of third-party software.
Unpatched workstations running versions of Java and Adobe that are known to be vulnerable continue to plague most businesses I see.
Top Insider Threat #8: Data loss via mobile devices.
The mere lack of passwords and encryption on phones, tablets, and laptops in your mobile environment is arguably your greatest threat.
Top Insider Threat #9: Data exposure via improperly secured software.
Be it file-sharing in the cloud, malware-infected websites, or improperly secured (and untested) applications, your users and their information are at risk right now.
Top Insider Threat #10: Careless use of Wi-Fi.
A threat worthy of its own designation is wireless network usage. The mindset of "I just need to connect to send some emails or browse to some websites" is the very essence of why insiders create so many problems for IT and security.
Many of these are of a more general IT nature but they can all be tied back to web security. The way you manage IT and information security as a whole will impact web security and vice versa.
Putting some basic security controls in place – some of which we've known about for decades – will buy you another 45 percent or so. Look at critical areas including passwords, patches, system logging and monitoring, as well as your practices for actual enforcement and incident response. If you look hard enough, you may be surprised by the gaps that exist.
Regardless of the size of your business, anything can and will happen. Do what it takes to get the basic controls in place. Know your network. Know your users. Understand your risks and do something about them.
By following this formula, you'll save yourself from embarrassment or worse.


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Prime A Long Way to Vienna
A Long Way to Vienna
By Rafael Hoffman
Sunday, November 28, 2021 at 7:42 am | כ"ד כסלו תשפ"ב
This photo released last month by the Iranian Army shows a missile being fired during a military drill at an undisclosed location. (Iranian Army via AP)
When President Joseph Biden won his bid for the White House, many assumed that America's and Iran's recommitment to the nuclear deal sealed in 2015 was only a matter of time. The President had campaigned on return to the agreement (known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) and Iran was reportedly suffering significant economic hardships as a result of the maximum pressure sanction regime instituted by former President Donald Trump when he abandoned the deal in 2018.
Yet, that does not seem to be the case.
Several rounds of talks last spring in Vienna between Iranian diplomats and European counterparts (acting as go-betweens for the U.S.) failed to produce a road map back to compliance that was acceptable to either side.
In June, shortly before the election of ultra-hardline President Ebrahim Raisi, talks broke off totally and efforts to restart stalled for five months. During that time, Iran made many announcements that it would re-engage imminently, but refused to commit to a date. At the same time, the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog released several reports showing Iran advancing rapidly toward producing the material that would be needed for an atomic weapon.
Now, Iran has committed to return to the negotiation table by the end of November, but many questions remain as to what, if anything, they will yield.
Hamodia spoke with Daniel Roth, research director for United Against a Nuclear Iran, which has taken a skeptical view of the JCPOA since its inception.
Iran has been seemingly stalling a return to the negotiating table in Vienna for several months. What motivated their delay?
Firstly, they needed time for the pieces of the new government to fall into place. Ebrahim Raisi, who is now President, is an extreme hard-liner and is a potential successor to the Ayatollah. They've been taking their time to develop their own strategy and to determine under what conditions they want to go back to the JCPOA or if they want to go back at all.
My feeling is that the new cabinet is split on that question. None are particularly keen on it, but I presume half of them feel that sanction relief is worth going back to what they committed to in 2015. The other half feels that it's not worth it.
The other thing that they have used their time to do is to make more advancements with their nuclear program, with the view that getting closer to a weapon will help extract greater concessions from the other JCPOA participants.
Iran seems to be in no rush to return to the JCPOA and you say they are divided over whether they want to at all. Does that reveal that the U.S. sanctions are not as effective of a motivator as their proponents had hoped?
Sanctions generally work as well as authorities are willing to enforce them. At the moment, Iran is to a large extent successfully undermining the sanctions because China is importing millions of barrels of Iranian oil and completely ignoring U.S. sanctions.
Since Iran has few customers, there's a huge discount on Iranian oil, which China is taking advantage of.
We've been doing a lot of research on Chinese imports of Iranian oil and have come to the conclusion that this is the main thing keeping the Iranian regime afloat. All those revenues from Beijing can now be spent on Iran pursuing its illicit nuclear program, drones attacks, and funding all its terrorist proxies around the Middle East.
Without China, U.S. sanctions would be far more efficacious.
Does America have a way to shore up that hole and make it a lot harder for China to be Iran's oil trade partner?
Under the Trump administration, they did start sanctioning oil entities in China. One of the large Chinese energy companies was sanctioned, but those were more or less lifted by the U.S. now.
There are options for other targets that could be effective. One would be shipping. These tankers are not Iranian vessels, but foreign-flagged ships, so these shipping companies could be sanctioned.
Chinese port authorities could be sanctioned as well as the refineries in China.
Another important target would be Chinese banks who are financing refineries and who provide the money for these transactions with Iran to take place. Banks are making money off these transactions, but they also need access to U.S. markets.
When the Trump administration threatened sanctions after leaving the JCPOA, the Bank of Kunlun, which had been financing most Iranian imports, pulled back and there was a time when China stopped importing so much Iranian oil.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)
What changed now that, after months of delay, the Iranians have agreed to return to the talks by the end of November?
My guess is that there have been some increasing warnings from the European partners. Germany, the U.K., and France are getting slightly irritated that Iranian breaches have been ongoing while they are all still party to the JCPOA.
If Iran is to have a viable economic future, it does need to have much better trade relations with Europe and is wary of endangering that.
At this point, notwithstanding the fact that those three countries are still in the JCPOA, their trade with Iran is pretty minimal. Potentially, it could be in the billions, but Iran sees that under the present circumstances that is not going to happen.
Iran wants Germany on its side, especially since a lot of its manufacturing and engineering goods come from there. France in particular has called out many of Iran's recent nuclear violations.
I think that Europeans being more vocal about Iranian transgressions may have played a part in getting them back to negotiations.
There was a common way of thinking that Raisi's presidency would not mean major change since the Supreme Leader is the one who holds real power. Does the last few months of inaction on talks belie that approach?
It is true that the ultimate arbiter is the Supreme Leader; there's no disputing that. Still, I think some other things have changed in the intervening five years since Iran signed the JCPOA.
Iran itself may have decided that the concessions under JCPOA simply weren't worth it. It would prefer to continue having its own indigenous nuclear program within the range of breakout.
I think Iran feels like it's learned certain things from five years under JCPOA and seen the limitations of the deal from its perspective. We were tracking trade under JCPOA and it was mainly conducted through Memoranda of Understanding rather than full-fledged deals. Trade partners were aware that things could change easily, especially in the U.S. with a new President that had explicitly said he would rip up the deal.
I can imagine the Supreme Leader may have had a change of heart and I think we'll soon know whether Iran is really serious about returning to the deal.
Asuspected nuclear enrichment facility under construction inside a mountain located north of Qom, Iran. (AP Photo/DigitalGlobe, File)
What would you conjecture was accomplished in the talks that took place over the summer?
I do not think that much was accomplished. Iran has been very consistent that it is not going to concede anything, that it is only willing to return to the exact parameters of the 2015 JCPOA, and the U.S. must lift all sanctions.
What do you anticipate will happen when talks resume?
I can't see any bridging of the gap. I don't think the Iranians are willing to concede anything significant. At most what you will get is something small or symbolic. They might be willing to release some Western prisoners, but nothing regarding the nuclear program itself.
The possibility for a deal happening has more to do with how far the U.S. is willing to concede.
From my point of view, the U.S. looks like they have become weaker on what they are willing to accept. Candidate Joe Biden's initial formula was to get a "longer and stronger deal." That was the line and it was repeated by his Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
I actually tracked how many times the phrase was used on the campaign trail and in the first few months of the administration, and the number was in the hundreds. But then it dropped off and you never hear it anymore.
Even so, in terms of whether there will be an actual deal, I don't see it; partially because there is so much opposition domestically in Congress. I certainly can't see it happening quickly.
Iran has much to gain by sanction relief and they presumably know that the Biden administration is anxious to return to the JCPOA. As such, why are they having such trouble finding a road back? Does the impasse they have reached show that the President and his team are holding their ground stronger than skeptics assumed they would?
In the last couple of months, it seems that they have held their ground and sent signals that, to use their phrase, "Our patience is not unlimited." That might have been a factor as well in getting Iran back to the table.
In terms of "longer and stronger," it doesn't look like it was ever explained what that would even mean. If I were to design a JCPOA I would have a long wishlist of what would be on it like no sunset, zero enrichment, it has to be a treaty with bipartisan approval, it has to have input for regional allies like Israel, and so on. I don't expect the Biden team's idea of new terms were along those lines, but we never heard what they were, and I presume the Iranians didn't either.
Missiles in an underground storage facility in an undisclosed location in Iran. (Sepahnews via AP/File)
In terms of the administration's line that you mentioned that the U.S.'s patience is not unlimited, do you think there is a point at which the Biden team is likely to walk away from the possibility of rejoining the JCPOA?
Iran has continually breached the JCPOA. There might be a line at which all partners agree that the deal has been irreparably broken. That might be if Iran would enrich uranium at 90% or something extreme like that. It could be some new, undeclared nuclear facility that was never discovered. It would have to be something that says very clearly that Iran is rushing towards a nuclear weapon.
Should Iran really cross the line, you would hope the Europeans and even Russia and China would be willing to take action.
As much as China might enjoy seeing Iran rattle America, it is not in their interests either to have a nuclear Iran.
There are several conflicting opinions as to how far off Iran is from producing a nuclear weapon. What is your view and what are the key factors to look at?
Most estimates put their breakout time at about two to three months right now. I don't think it's so much their stockpiling of uranium that puts them so close, as much as the experience they've gained in working with advanced centrifuges. In 2015 they were working with generation- one centrifuges. At the underground Fordow Enrichment Facility, they now are up to what they've labeled IR-6. That is probably the most important factor to look at.
Add to that a stockpile of 25 kilos of 60% enriched uranium; 90% is weapons-grade. The IAEA Inspector General said clearly that only countries that want bombs do that.
Does Iran have delivery systems in place for a nuclear weapon? How far off are they from developing them?
They have the largest stockpile of ballistic missiles in the Middle East and I believe the most technologically advanced program as well in the region, but I am not sure if they could now equip them with a nuclear tip.
President Joe Biden speaking at the White House earlier this month. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)
During the long gap in talks, the Biden administration repeatedly said that if negotiations fail, other options will be considered for dealing with the Iran nuclear threat. What other options do you think the U.S. is seriously considering?
Increasing sanctions and returning to maximum deterrence would be the most important move. Reducing Iran's oil export to zero would be a high priority as well as other energy exports that they are carrying out. Anything that Iran exports in big amounts contributes to its coffers and should be targeted.
If the administration is serious about other options that would curb Iran's behavior, it would also have to reestablish a credible military dimension. I don't see the administration being willing to do that and the Trump administration wasn't particularly willing either. The one exception was taking out General Soleimani, which put Tehran on notice and, for about six months, the Iranians pulled back on their mischief across the Middle East. That credible deterrent has not been restored.
What strategy do you think the U.S. should be pursuing now toward Iran?
I would advise a return to what the Trump administration called maximum economic pressure. I am sure the Biden administration would want to rebrand it to wash off any tainting from the Trump years, but that would be the way to go. Since 1979, history has shown that Iran responds when it feels threatened.
When the U.S. went into Iraq, and Iran saw how quickly that regime fell there, that's when Iran opened up to concessions and negotiation about the nuclear program. Even the JCPOA negotiations began after President Obama implemented a very strong sanctions regime together with Europe, China, and Russia.
Ultimately, do you feel the goal of Iran's nuclear program is leverage or a weapon?
I think it wants to get as close as possible to a weapon, to a point where if they choose, they could produce one very quickly. At the same time, the Iranians understand that if they actually produced a nuclear weapon, the entire world, not just the U.S. and Israel, would be against it. At that point, there would be unanimity about the need for sanctions which would cut Iran off from the world like North Korea is today.
That would be a major blow economically, but perhaps more than that, it would wound Iran's pride. Iran does not see itself as a pariah state. The regime thinks of itself as a great power and is on a mission to restore its glorious imperial past. That is what lies behind a lot of their proxy wars and intervention in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and other locations.


Lot 149, Greystone IV, 'Evanston' plan features 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, den, rec room, designed for today's lifestyle! Standard features include stunning slab quartz in kitchen and baths, innovative Kitchen-aid appliance package, 7' wide plank floors, 8' doors, mud set shower pan and tiled bath wall in master. Full wall of windows allow for natural light! Covered patio overlooking park! Beautiful community with several parks and trails in the Tech heavy corridor of Redmond! Award winning schools!


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Alternative Titles: Oporto, Portucale, Portus Cale
Porto, Portuguese Oporto, city and port, northern Portugal. The city lies along the Douro River, 2 miles (3 km) from the river's mouth on the Atlantic Ocean and 175 miles (280 km) north of Lisbon. World-famous for its port wine, Porto is Portugal's second largest city and is the commercial and industrial centre for the zone north of the Mondego River. The historic centre of Porto was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996. Pop. (2001) city, 263,131; metro. area, 1,647,469; (2011) city, 237,591; metro. area, 1,672,670.
Porto: Dom Luís I BridgeThe Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River, Porto, Portugal. © jimmy_bierzo/Fotolia
Porto Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Porto was called Portus Cale in Roman times and was earlier a flourishing settlement on the Douro's south bank; the nomadic Alani tribe later founded the city of Castrum Novum on the north bank. The Visigoths took possession of the site about 540 ce but yielded in 716 to the Moors. In 997 Christian forces recaptured Porto, which for a time became the capital of the counts of Portucalense (northern Portugal) during Moorish rule in the southern part of the kingdom. The Moors again held the city briefly, but in 1092 it was brought finally under Christian domination. In the 14th century the city became an important port, and Prince Henry the Navigator was born there in 1394. During the Peninsular War, British forces under Arthur Wellesley (later the duke of Wellington) there crossed the Douro, routed the French, and captured the city on May 12, 1809.
Porto's cathedral, on the site of the Visigothic citadel, was originally a 12th-century Romanesque building with 14th-century Gothic cloisters, but it was largely rebuilt in the 17th–18th century. The Romanesque and early Gothic Church of São Martinho de Cedofeita, notable for the curiously carved capitals of its pillars, occupies the site of a church said to have been built by Theodomir, king of the Visigoths, in 559 to receive relics of St. Martin from France. Also notable are the Torre dos Clérigos, an 18th-century granite tower, 246 feet (75 metres) high; the Gothic Church of São Francisco (from 1410); and the stock exchange, with its ornately designed Salão Arabe ("Arabic Hall"; 19th century).
Porto: cathedralCathedral of Porto, Portugal. sara sangalli—iStock/Thinkstock
Porto: church of Santa ClaraInterior of the church of Santa Clara, Porto, Portugal. © neirfy/Fotolia
The contemporary city
The present-day city lies chiefly on the Douro's north (right) bank, sprawling outward from the older riverside district known as the Ribeira. The red-tiled warehouses of the town of Vila Nova de Gaia, where vast quantities of port wine are blended and stored, are on the south bank of the Douro; other suburbs include Matosinhos, Leça da Palmeira, and Aguas Santas to the north and Gondomar and Oliveira do Douro to the southeast. The region's narrow coastal plain quickly rises eastward to an inland undulating plateau. A mild, moist climate and generally fertile soils have encouraged intensive farming in the region, including winter and summer cereals, vegetables, and tree crops (cork oak and olive). Timber and its associated industries and the production of vinho verde (an effervescent wine) are also important.
Porto: Ribeira districtTypical dwellings in the Ribeira district of Porto, Portugal. © Inna Felker/Fotolia
Porto is chiefly famous for the export of the wine named for it, a popular fortified wine usually served after meals. The trade in port was begun in 1678 and was firmly established under the terms of the Methuen Treaty (1703) between England and Portugal. An act of 1906 defined port as a wine produced in the Douro district and exported from Porto with an alcoholic strength of more than 16.5 percent. A sizable proportion of the population is engaged in manufacturing, and fisheries and tourism are also important. Just northwest of Porto, on the Atlantic coast in Matosinhos, is the deepwater artificial Port of Leixões.
Boat loaded with kegs of port wine on the Douro River at Porto, Portugal. Eric Carle/Shostal Associates
Porto has a high population density, and overcrowding is common. Large-scale planning and residential development improved conditions beginning in the latter part of the 20th century. The Douro River is spanned in central Porto by several bridges, notably the Dom Luís I Bridge (591 feet [180 metres]), which was built in 1881–85 from a design by a disciple of the French civil engineer Gustave Eiffel, and the Maria Pia Bridge (1876–77), designed by Eiffel himself. Porto has an international airport and is connected with Lisbon by highway and high-speed rail. The first line of a municipal subway system opened in 2002, and second and third lines began service in 2005. Three more lines were subsequently added. The Crestuma hydroelectric project on the Douro River is located about 19 miles (30 km) from the city.
An episcopal see, Porto has a university (founded 1911), district archives, museums including the Soares do Reis National Museum (prehistoric and Roman artifacts, sculpture, paintings, and numismatics) and one for contemporary art in a striking Art Deco building, an opera house, a fine-arts school, a symphony orchestra, and several scientific institutes. A concert hall, designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, opened in 2005. Other contemporary public buildings include the county hall, university hospital, and football (soccer) stadium.
Porto: Salão ArabeThe Salão Arabe ("Arabic Hall"), part of the stock exchange, Porto, Portugal. Josep Renalias
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kenneth Pletcher, Senior Editor.
Alfonso III
Under him, Porto (Oporto) was occupied in 868, and Castile took shape around Burgos, drawing on his Basque allies. He claimed to be reviving the Visigothic monarchy, while making the church of St. James at Santiago de Compostela the shrine of the Christian kingdom. Alfonso's territorial advances…
Portugal, country lying along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe. Once continental Europe's greatest power, Portugal shares commonalities—geographic and cultural—with the countries of both northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Its cold, rocky northern coast and mountainous interior are sparsely settled,…
Douro River, third longest river of the Iberian Peninsula, draining a catchment area of 30,539 square miles (79,096 square km). Rising in the Sierra de Urbión in Spain, the river crosses the Numantian Plateau in a pronounced bend and flows generally westward…
Lisbon, city, port, capital of Portugal, and the centre of the Lisbon metropolitan area. Located in western Portugal on the estuary of the Tagus (Tejo) River, it is the westernmost capital city in continental Europe and serves as the country's chief port, largest city, and commercial, political, and…
Arrábida Highway Bridge
Arrábida Highway Bridge, in Porto, Port., bridge (completed in 1963) spanning the gorge of the Douro River. The bridge carries a roadway 82 feet (25 m) wide, supported 170 feet (52 m) above the river; its overall length of 1,617 feet (493 m) includes a reinforced-concrete arch 885 feet (270 m)…
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Q: Palatisation in "liked your" We can palatise don't you or what ya (as in What ya doing?), but it doesn't apply to liked your.
I was thinking that palatisation occurs in the first two since there's a voiced sound before the t unlike liked your.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Ukraine is a beautiful country and one of the largest in the territory, with a very developed culture, rich folk traditions, and diverse nature. Ukraine is a state in Eastern Europe, bordering Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Russia and Belarus. Its population is about 45 million people. Every year, the number of students seeking admission to UKRAINE.
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• Three Months Summer Jobs during a vacation in countries like U.K., SWEDEN, etc.
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• Medical Universities in Ukraine are recognized as TOP in the world and offer an opportunity to students to complete their Ph.D. degree at less than 50% of the cost incurred in Universities of India, UK, USA, New Zealand and other countries.


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EGX 2019: 5 of the Best Games We Played
Were you at EGX this year?
W.B. Mason· October 25, 2019
Another year, another EGX. Myself and Cultured Vultures grandmaster Jimmy Donnellan spent a couple of days down at the event and, honestly, it didn't feel enough. That hall was jam-packed with a huge amount of current and future titles, as well as an abundance of amazing indie games to check out.
1. City Block Builder
I love tycoon games; you should all be aware of this by now. But I must admit I went into City Block Builder blind. The name doesn't give away that much, so I was curious to find out what exactly developer Tentworks were working on. As it happens, I wasn't disappointed.
City Block Builder is, well, what it says on the tin. It is a game about building a city block. You're given a block of land in a 1950s city and are tasked with developing it into a bustling city block. In the demo, I saw the likes of retail and entertainment units, which are placed down by constructing walls in a Sims-like fashion.
The game is very much an indie tycoon title, and the building aspect felt a little similar to Parkitect, seeing you building on a grid based system. It's early on in development but reminded me a little of Vegas: Make it Big, a similar concept based around casinos. I'll be keeping a close eye on this one.
2. Summerford
When people think of retro style indie games, they often think of those pre-32 bit, pixel art games. The likes or Fez, The Escapists and Stardew Valley have all excelled in that area. Very few developers have attempted to replicate the heady days of the PS1/2. That's why Summerford is different.
Summerford touts itself as 'classic survival horror', and it certainly shows. It has the likes of Silent Hill and Resident Evil written all over it. Filled with cinematic camera angles and tank(ish) controls galore, it feels like a real throwback to those 90s classics. It's also its own beast too, whereas games like Back In 1995 have attempted to recreate these games, Summerford feels like it's not just an homage to those old tropes, but also modernises them too.
Summerford is looking to be released on Steam sometime next year, all depending on development, and will hopefully contain around six hours of gameplay.
3. Snow
We've met the developers of Snow before. Back in 2017, we played a short demo of a potential game called Falling Sky. Sadly, Falling Sky was not to be and was never completed, but this has paved the way for a new game. Snow is a third person adventure-mystery title set in Norway.
You play as a 12 year old boy who has ASCII based dreams, these dreams are puzzle style levels which you'll need to traverse. Much of the game sees you exploring the snowbound Norwegian town and uncovering the mystery of what exactly is going on. For an indie title, Snow has some pretty impressive graphics and I loved the snow physics while running through the mounds.
Sadly, at the moment Snow is far from a finished game and is more of a tech demo which is intended to attract publishers. We'll have to wait and see where Snow goes from here, but from what I played, I really hope to see more of it.
4. Windjammers 2
I love Windjammers. Originally released in 1994, it debuted to middling reviews, and it's easy to see why. It's quite a limited game, with few changes in gameplay and a limited roster of characters to choose from. But damn, is it fun. It was recently released and found a cult following in the competitive gaming scene.
This has led to the development of a sequel, Windjammers 2. Windjammers 2 is more of the same, but with modernised cartoon graphics and built for a modern control system. I didn't get a chance to look at the full options of Windjammers 2, but the core gameplay is challenging and a lot of fun.
Windjammers 2 is still down for a 2019 Switch release and a 2020 console release, so keep an eye on this one, especially if you love online play.
5. Beyond a Steel Sky
I wasn't going to miss this opportunity to get my hands on a long awaited sequel, one that adventure game fans thought would never come. Beneath a Steel Sky was an early classic of the genre, even if developer Revolution was the David to LucasArts and Sierra's Goliath. Beneath managed to nail the Blade Runner style-dystopian future really before any others did, mixing wonderful graphics with witty, well written dialogue.
Beyond a Steel Sky has done away with the point and click interface that Revolution made their name on and is a third person style adventure game instead, similar to the style of Dreamfall Chapters. The graphics have taken a huge step up, as you'd expect from the sequel to a 25 year old game, but they retain the look and design of Dave Gibbons work.
It's great to see Revolution working on a modern adventure game. While I do still adore the point and click genre, Revolution are such great world builders that I'm looking forward to seeing what they create. Beyond a Steel Sky feels new, yet familiar. Playing those sort of games at an event only gives you the smallest inkling of what the main game will be like, so I've already wishlisted Beyond on Steam.
W.B. Mason
Ex-wrestler turned promoter. Videotronic game player and general media connoisseur.


When I sat down to write this update, I couldn't figure out which direction to begin. So how about all of them?
Rhest of the Time (Rhest for the Wicked 2) is nearing completion. The manuscript is going through the last few edits and will be going to a copyeditor at the end of the week. Assuming that goes well, it will be off to the presses shortly thereafter. I don't have a release date yet, but I expect before the summer. Maybe even sooner?
My publisher and I are also working on a Rhest for the Wicked Omnibus. Originally intended as part of the Rhest for the Wicked Short Film Kickstarter (which you should totally donate to!), this will be Rhest for the Wicked re-released with a whole bunch of short stories. Right now, it will include short stories published here (or here, or here), but since the project is still being developed, who knows? Y'all might get a super-special Rhest story.
RocKaiju 2 is next on the docket, just FYI.
Next weekend is Katsucon! I have eight panels and will be hocking books at my table. Katsu 2019 is a big year for me so I'm planning on having a ball! I hope I'll see you there.
As mentioned above, the Rhest for the Wicked Short Film Kickstarter is still going. I plan to announce the results at Katsucon, and then go into pre-production. A lot of the work has already been done (script is written, production house short list compiled and contacts made). Now it's just about securing the funding (raising the money). If you're into cyberpunk, upbeat action, or just new fiction, please consider pledging to help make this movie happen.
Outside of that, things are chugging along. There's a lot of stuff in the pipeline, especially if this movie happens. Proton 2 and related stories are being developed and there are other surprises. I'll keep you posted but the next few weeks are going to be very exciting. Stay tuned!


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Main Blog > Lisbon's Parque das Nações
Lisbon's Parque das Nações
Miss Cellania • Sunday, January 28, 2018 at 9:59 PM
Intrepid travelers Mike Powell and Jurgen Horn are spending 91 Days in Lisbon, Portugal. They tell us about a modern marvel they visited that contrasts with the world famous classical architecture of the city. The Parque des Nacões (Park of Nations) was built for the 1998 World Expo, designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava.
The Estação do Oriente serves an appropriate entrance for the Parque des Nacões, where the architecture is unapologetically forward-looking. The 1998 World Expo was a major deal for Lisbon; with the theme of "Oceans, A Heritage for the Future", the city welcomed 143 participating countries, built a new metro line, and constructed the breathtaking Vasco da Gama Bridge — still the longest in Europe.
The new structures built for Lisbon's World Expo are all still in use as they were built, although many have been repurposed in creative ways. There's an aquarium, a concert hall, a casino, sports arenas, and public parks. See lots of pictures of the gorgeous Parque des Nacões at Lisbon for 91 Days.
Tags: For 91 Days, Lisbon, Architecture
Doorbells in Lisbon.
The Pickled Head of Diogo Alves
Super Mario Airbnb Rental
"Hand Of God" Cloud Formation Appears Over Portugal
The International Zip Line between Spain and Portugal
Portugal Pattern RGB
Babel architecture
Landscape with bridge and willow
dream streams
The Best Job in the World_ARCHITECT
"Lisbon's Parque das Nações"


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This week, I got this wonderful present from my fiancée. It's a collector edition set of six figures from the comic book "Tintin in the Congo" (sorry for the picture, does not do them justice).
Knowing that, according to a Belgian court ruling made public last week, these are not racist – will make them appreciate them even more !
Esta semana mi prometida me ha regalado este maravilloso set de coleccionista con seis figuras del cómic Tintin en el Congo (perdón por la foto, verdaderamente no les hace justicia).
Saber que, de acuerdo con la opinión de un tribunal belga conocida la semana pasada, no son figuras racistas – me hará apreciarlas mucho más !