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by adventurers
About Wejugo
There's something special about heading off into the wild under our own steam, the sense of freedom, anticipation and adventure cannot be replicated by sticking to the bitumen. Whether it's walking, running, climbing, skiing, riding or paddling, using our bodies to travel through nature is one of life's fundamental gifts.
Whenever you've gone on an adventure, whether you followed in the steps of others or forged your own path in your chosen arena and mode of travel, you will have started by wondering where to go and most likely will have finished with rich memories and tales to tell when others asked 'where'd you go?'
While you push the boundaries of your own explorations, we're striving to push the boundaries of innovation with our Make Your Own Adventure platform, allowing people like us or you – to plan, embark on and share your remote trips easily with friends and the adventure community.
From planning your itinerary using our route planner to organizing gear, inviting friends, discreetly notifying those who need to know your plan should things go wrong and sharing your trip, we've made the whole process of planning an adventure more fun, more efficient and less tedious.
Born out of a passion for
protecting wilderness
In late 2015 Wejugo was founded by a committed team of adventurers driven by a passion for protecting wilderness areas and an inspired desire to use emerging technologies to create a comprehensive planning solution for remote travel.
The light bulb moment happened when the founder, Mike Welling, went on a canyoning trip where he became involved in a rescue involving another group. Their leader had taken a fall and needed emergency assistance. Having experienced difficulties in locating trip intent forms, off-grid itineraries and limited tracking of the group while on the trip, he realised a real need for a solution that combined educating people around safe and responsible travel, with a platform that housed end-to-end trip planning and management solutions. Hence the idea for Wejugo (Where'd you go) was born, which combined responsible outdoor practices including options for tracking people, itinerary planning and safety management, with the team's passion for the preservation of wilderness areas.
"I believe the tool we have created will help the long-term protection of our wilderness areas, improve the safety of outdoor activities and reduce the impacts of over-tourism."
- Mike Welling - Founder and CEO
It all began
with the meeting of two minds
When Mike met Tim Macartney Snape, world-renowned mountaineer, explorer and Leave No Trace advocate, it was a meeting of like minds with complementary talents. They both believe in the power of the outdoors to positively affect lives, relationships and the environment itself – and the importance of educating people on how to travel responsibly in the outdoors. Mike's professional expertise in information technology and Tim's vast experience in a wide range of adventures, forms the solid foundation for this exciting new adventure.
By offering outdoor travellers an alternative to the paper map, excel sheet and the plethora of other planning tools in a single, seamless digital platform, he not only wanted to change the way people planned their remote trips but had the ambition to improve the safety of remote travel and its impact on the wilderness forever.
"The possibility of creating a digital platform that could be an umbrella for adventure activities is really exciting. Having a tool that could be used for planning, mapping, informing, tracking, recording and sharing adventurers activities is the holy grail of digital technology for adventurous travellers."
- Tim Macartney Snape - Chairman
Our team at Wejugo is a melting pot of passionate and motivated people dedicated to integrating the details that will enable travellers to have safer, more sustainable and enjoyable experiences outdoors.
Mike Welling
Founder, CEO
Tim Macartney Snape
Sheenagh Welling
Jacky Lo
Paul Coe
Stuart Judd
James Angsioco
Head of Data Engineering
Larissa Duncombe
Justin Barry
Ezequiel Muns
Mandy Armstrong
Sustainability and Innovation Advisor
Sustainability Partnerships
Peach Welling
Adventure Kelpie and Head of Fun
A passionate adventurer, biologist and environmental advocate, Mike founded Wejugo to encourage community participation in responsible outdoor recreation as a means to reinforce the human value of wild places.
"I've always believed that to protect wilderness areas you need a way to place a value on them. I believe that community participation in responsible outdoor recreation reinforces the human value of wild places; The most valued things in life are the ones you have a close personal connection to."
Mike founded Wejugo to apply his knowledge of the transformative value of data and technology to the natural resources sector. The Make Your Own Adventure platform allows the outdoor community to develop meaningful relationships with outdoor brands and destination marketers, with data used to measure the impact that tourism has on our economy, society and environment.
"I believe the contribution we are making will help towards the long-term protection of our wilderness areas, improve the safety of outdoor activities and reduce the impacts of over-tourism."
Wejugo is chaired by Tim Macartney Snape, world renowned mountaineer, explorer, international speaker, author, entrepreneur and twice honoured Order of Australia recipient. His mountaineering success stems from his passion and talent for exploration. Tim is a committed supporter of the power of the outdoors to positively affect lives, relationships and the environment itself, and this with his deep interest and knowledge of responsible travel in his dealings with Wejugo.
"Because of our modern human disconnection from nature, most people do not inherently know and realise that their activities in the natural world can have a damaging impact and so as increasing numbers travel into nature there is a growing need to inform people on how to behave. Accidents and rescues are also an ever present risk that are the result of poor planning and inadequate sharing of information.
The possibility of creating a digital platform that could be an umbrella for adventure activities really appealed to me. It struck me that having a digital tool that could be used for planning, mapping, informing, tracking, recording and sharing adventurers activities would be the holy grail of digital technology for adventurous travellers."
More about Tim
Sheenagh is an experienced media and communications specialist working across global network and boutique agencies. Having developed, recommended and implemented innovative and effective communications strategies and plans, she has an integrated communications approach managing relationships with clients and key stakeholders to ensure business objectives are achieved. Her experience spans across various client sectors including telco, auto, finance, FMCG, travel & tourism, retail (Beauty), consumer electronics, and alcohol.
Sheenagh loves getting out into remote areas and experiencing the stillness and beauty of the first morning light while sipping on a coffee before a full day of hiking.
Jacky is a passionate and entrepreneurial-minded product expert, with practical industry knowledge and versatile experience in product development, software development and digital advertising. In his 12 years experience he has developed a range of products for organisations of SME and large enterprises in finance and advertising industries, used by millions of users in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Alongside his passion for data science and entrepreneurship, he dedicates his spare time to run his self-established non-profit organisation, the Joy Of Giving Network, with a mission to provide an effortless and convenient method of donating and exchanging preloved toys.
Paul brings more than 20 years' experience in large transformation programs that delivered complete enterprise business end-to-solutions, achieved major cost savings and enabled businesses to own their technology direction. He has held senior technology roles, CTO and CIO, at ASX listed companies and been technically responsible for multiple enterprise platform development programs in media, education, health, and secure data. Recently he has been focussed on security, privacy and compliance in enterprise solutions but without compromising functionality, performance or scalability as well as leading programs to obtain and retain organisation/platform security certifications including PCI-DSS, ISO-27001 and SOC-2.
Paul is passionate about youth soccer and helps coach and support his daughter and her team. He is also an avid video gamer, highly ranked in Australia and Sony development partner building Indie games with young developers to mentor them at the start of their IT career.
Stuart has over 20 years of IT experience specializing in web development. His career includes having worked for tier 1 corporations, not for profit companies and numerous start-ups. He is an early adopter of new technology, and continues to search for the best solutions for today's problems.
James has been in the data space for more than 20 years. Throughout his career, he has covered the full data spectrum: from management, to integration and dimensional modelling, and from data mining to business intelligence. He has always welcomed technical challenges, working with columnar databases even before it became mainstream, stretched the capabilities of virtualization, end then tapped into the power of cloud computing, whilst deriving insights from terabytes and even petabytes of data. Working for Wejugo, has enabled him to apply his knowledge in big data to delve into the realm of geospatial advanced analytics
Outside of work, James is a family man who loves to explore the great outdoors. An avid photographer, he is at his happiest when he can practice his craft while travelling with his family. He believes that we can do more in combatting climate change and leave a better planet for future generations by having a minimalist lifestyle, and through recycling and conservation.
Larissa is a strategic marketer with a focus on digital marketing within the travel and tourism industry. She thrives in building relationships with travellers from the awareness stage of their customer journey, through to consideration, conversion, loyalty and finally advocacy. In her spare time, Larissa has extensively traveled around the world, and enjoys the remoteness of some of the world's best multi day treks, including Everest Base Camp, Mount Kilimanjaro, Salkantay Trek, as well Australia's very own Overland Track, Larapinta Trail and Jatbula trail.
Justin has considerable international experience spanning the US, UK, Singapore and Australia across strategy and sales. He has deep engagement with ASX tech and has helped early stage start-ups with business development. His role at Wejugo is to develop partner and client relationships.
He is a keen tennis player and avid bush walker
Eze was the first developer to join the Wejugo team back in 2015, keen on the project because of his passion for the outdoors, travel and adventure, and after having spent a couple of years being a digital nomad around Europe. Technically speaking he's big into high-scalability, cloud-native development and data-centric applications. Eze enjoys tapping deeply into theoretical knowledge together with iterative practical experience to perform R&D, and his main motivation stems from a thirst for constant learning to solve new technical challenges. Lately he's taken an interest in the social aspects of engineering great software, particularly in the context of distributed teams. Born in Argentina, raised in Australia where he completed his computer science studies at Sydney Uni, and now also calling Berlin home, he very much sees himself as a border-transcending world-citizen.
David is a Software Engineer from UNSW with expansive experience across multiple software development life-cycles. A problem solver at heart with a keen analytical mind focused on achieving elegant, well engineered solutions. He is also passionate about technology, gastronomy and an activist for LGBT rights. David enjoys rock climbing, bushwalking, immersing himself in nature and the occasional streak of adventure such as canyoning in the Crystal Cascades of northern Queensland.
Mandy is a New Zealand-based process engineer with a passion for the outdoors and a wide interest in sustainability. She has innovation, strategy and business development experience in a range of sectors including water, manufacturing, land use, indigenous economic development, outdoor
education, adventure tourism and renewable energy.
Mandy has been a Board member & an advisor of Leave No Trace NZ since 2012 including coordinating a multi-stakeholder project with LNT Australia, indigenous owners, commercial operators & Department of Conservation in Tongariro National Park (World Heritage Site) aiming to mitigate user impacts from tourism.
When time allows, Mandy enjoys skiing, tramping, sea kayaking & biking – followed by a good coffee or a craft dark beer.
Cameron has a broad interest in sustainability that originates from growing up in what is now recognised as the The Southwest Australia Ecoregion - one of 34 global biodiversity hotspots recognised by Conservation International.
The extraordinary diversity of flora and fauna and its vulnerability to threatening processes from agriculture and now dieback from human activities, including travel and recreation, and his affinity with the region has lead him to be the current Chair of Dieback Working Group Inc which among other tasks seeks to promote awareness of biosecurity issues and educate people on good hygiene practices. This work is intrinsic to the stewardship values fostered by the Leave No Trace program which he initiated in Australia and he also collaborates on the New Zealand Leave No Trace program.
Talk about an underdog: when Peach joined the team, she was a pup with about as much adventure kudos as a pomeranian. Now, she's top dog and responsible for morale and fun at the company.
"My job is to sniff out who has brought in the tastiest lunch, ensure all visitors are made to feel very welcome and also make sure the team get plenty of fresh air and play ball with me. When I'm not rounding up my work colleagues in the office you can find me running round the best trail runs in Sydney and occasionally going on road trips in the back of the old land rover with my big brother Claude with the wind in our ears!"
to the community
We believe that technology plus ethics can be powerful forces to create a future for us all that's sustainable and safe and supports the preservation of precious wilderness for future generations. Welcome to the Beta launch of our new platform. Wejugo is a place for anyone who wishes to plan and experience an adventure, share stories and tips and receive hyper-local, personally tailored adventure recommendations. Our aim is to encourage members to build a powerful community with sustainability and ethics as an overriding guiding principle, and to contribute to creating more exhilarating and enriching responsible adventure experiences.
Technology, when used for good, can help transform how we travel, how tourism can operate sustainably and how the wild places we love are preserved for the common good. At Wejugo, we are committed to using our expertise by harnessing the power of AI, geospatial analytics and IoT to make a positive difference and – together – create a better world.
We hope that, like us, you will be excited by the possibilities and join us at the start of our new adventure as together we prepare for out there.
Preparing for out there with the Wejugo perentie o
Reminiscencing on isolation in the outdoors. Can't
What a peach of a view. Amazing bushland bounce ba
4 legs are better than 2 on wet trail runs. Go pea
Nature's new years eve fireworks in the sunshine c
12 years of adventure have finally taken their tol
@timmacartneysnape leading a solid effort through
Great days adventure climbing in the blueys, despi
Meandering through the Pagoda's of the Northern Wo
Beautiful Wollongambe river in the Wollemi wildern
Office 4, Bay 8, 6 Middlemiss St
Lavender Bay NSW
Wejugo ™ ©2021 Wejugo Pty Ltd - All rights Reserved. [v2.4]


Originated in South America. It is a distinct race and not a true duck. When crossed with other races its progeny is sterile. Incubation period is 35 days instead of 28 as with other races of ducks. The power to raise or lower the crest on the head like a parrot is unique to this race of waterfowl.


Are you looking for a great car hire deal in Anaheim? We'll do all the comparing for you and help you find the best car from well known brands like Avis, Budget and Thrifty. There's also popular USA providers such as Fox, National, E-Z Rent a Car and Alamo. It's easy and free – compare and save!
Q: Can I extend my rental after I've picked up my car?
A: Yes, but it is important to apply for a vehicle rental extension as soon as possible. The rental company may charge a different rate for extended rentals.
Q: Are there any car rental fees not included in the quote?
A: When searching for car rental prices, the given quote is generally complete, there may however be extra charges in certain circumstances. For example optional excess insurance is not included, neither are supplemental charges for drivers under 25. Car rentals will charge you additionally if you need extra equipment for the road (such as seats for children or GPS devices), decide to prepay for fuel or if you don't fill the tank up on return, if you need to extend your rental, or if you travel through toll passes.
Some additional credit card fees may apply, although this will depend on both the car rental and credit card companies. You can avoid additional some add-on fees by bringing the things you know you will need!
Q: Do you offer 7 or 8-seater cars or minivans?
A: Yes! When selecting a vehicle online, you can sort vehicles by passenger occupancy (large, medium, or small). There is generally a variety of family-sized automobiles available for rent, although usually larger cars or minivans will get rented more quickly during holiday periods. Be sure to book the car online early to avoid a scenario of not finding the necessary vehicle for your family!


Review: Farhan-Shraddha Starrer 'Rock On 2' Might Upset You!
Home News Review: Farhan-Shraddha Starrer 'Rock On 2' Might Upset You!
Review: Farhan-Shraddha Starrer 'Rock On 2' Might Upset You!
It was never about the singing, but it was always about the music. Eight years after "Rock On" rocked audiences all over the country, "Rock On 2″ is in theatres.
It has been 8 years since the first film and the sequel takes off exactly from there.
It's been five years Adi (Farhan Akhtar), Joe (Arjun Rampal), KD (Purab Kohli) and Robb (Luke Kenny) rocked the audience with their Magik, the band at the core of Rock On. A tragedy forces Adi to quit Magik and Mumbai, and move to Meghalaya. Joe is a reality show judge and runs his own club in Mumbai while Robb has passed away.
KD (Purab Kohli) is still in the hope that there may be a chance for the band to reconcile. He gets a ray hope when he listens to a recording sent by Uday (Shashank Arora) which has Jiah's (Shraddha Kapoorr) composition.
Will KD's plan to include Jiah ant Uday in the reinvented Magik work? Can Adi cope up with his personal problems and once again return to Music? To know the answers you have to watch the film.
The film "Rock On" was directed by Abhishek Kapoor and it's sequel is directed by Shujaat Saudagar. His work is praiseworthy in parts, but has glaring flaws. The film feels patchy and inconsistent. There is not a way to feel invested in the characters. There are times the story is so excruciatingly slow that you want to stab someone.
Farhan Akhtar: Farhan Akhtar as Adi gives a mediocre performance. He tries his best to give his Adi the emotions and confidence (lack of it, actually) that he did in Rock On. The torn, battling, reticent Adi from the first film, however, is not very visible in the second.
Arjun Rampal: Arjun tries his best to infuse feelings and expressions into his Joe… but the less said, the better there. He had done a much better job in the prequel.
Shraddha Kapoor: Shraddha seems she has sleep-walked from the sets of Aashiqui 2 to Rock On 2. She tries to look like a rockstar alright, and full marks to her stylist for that, but there's no rockstar feel about her.
Purab Kohli: Purab's KD is convincing in parts, but the character lacks depth this time around.
Shashank Arora: He doesn't get much time or scope to display his acting prowess.
Music of the film: The one part Rock On 2 loses miserably to Rock On is the music. Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy's songs are barely passable. None of the songs is as worthy of creating a cult as any of the songs of the first film did.
Watch or Not? Rock On 2's band Magik is completely tragic! But if you are a die-heart fan of Farhan and Shraddha or want to see picturesque locales of Meghalaya you can watch the film. Else skip it.
Birthday special: Horrific incidents in Amitabh Bachchan's life!


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Steelrising Receives A New Five-Minute Gameplay Video
By Other News Posted in News on April 22, 2022 0 Comments 2 min read
A Closer Look at the Weapons and Customization in Sniper Elite 5 Previous Join the Multiplayer Mayhem of Lumberhill , Now Available on Nintendo Switch! Next
NACON and Spiders are pleased to share the first gameplay video of Steelrising, an alternative version of the French Revolution history in 1789. The player embodies Aegis, the master chief automaton of Eugene Vaucauson, an engineer working for Louis XVI. The game will be available on September 8th, 2022, on PC, PlayStation5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The video reveals for the first time more than 5 min of gameplay and several levels, highlighting the combat. This trailer also reveals many enemies and illustrates the first bosses that Aegis must face in Steelrising.
In one of the levels, the player is in the workshop of Vaucanson, where the automatons that make up the king's army are invented. Confronted with several types of mobs, Aegis can select her weapons and objects to try to defeat each enemy. After a carriage ride, the next level is revealed, and with it, the customization options for Aegis' outfits. The player will also discover the possibilities offered by the grappling hook in the vertical exploration of Parisian buildings. The dash – a system of boosts to be activated at the most opportune moment – also allows the player to move less conventionally and to reveal other facets of the Paris of 1789.
1789 is the year of the storming of the Bastille and the start of the fall of the Monarchy. Steelrising shows us an alternative version of history, asking: what if King Louis XVI, passionate about watchmaking, had conceived an army of automatons capable of putting down this insurrection? Powerful and cruel this army spares no one and violently punishes rebels. Paris is on fire: men, women, and children are systematically massacred.
Aegis, once an automaton dedicated to dancing for the pleasure of the Court, is now a warrior, Marie Antoinette's bodyguard. Appointed by the Queen, Aegis will have to navigate through a Paris crawling with machines. Each fight with these mechanical enemies is a challenge where the player's skills are subjected to a tremendous ordeal. Such is the price to pay for those who want to change the course of history.
About NACON:
NACON is a company of the BIGBEN Group founded in 2019 to optimize its know-how through strong synergies in the video game market. By bringing together its 16 development studios, the publishing of AA video games, and the design and distribution of premium gaming devices, NACON focuses on 20 years of expertise in the service of players.
About Spiders:
Spiders is a videogame development studio created in 2008, specializing in RPGs and the original universe. Its last game was the million-seller Greedfall (2019)
#actiongame #adventure #rpg

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


MYERS-A. Howard. On March 6, 1998, after a long illness in Boca Raton, FL., at age 93. Formerly of Boston, and worked for the Department of Labor during the Roosevelt years, was Professor Emeritus of Industrial Relations at Northeastern University (1948-1978). Held faculty posts at Boston College, Harvard University, the University of Michigan, and Florida Atlantic University. Married Ethel Myers who predeceased him in 1977. Devoted husband of Elisa M. Myers. Father of Natalie B. Kalette of Syracuse, NY; Joy M. Silverman of Tenafly, NJ; and Howard N. Myers of Milwaukee, WI. Grandfather of nine and great-grandfather of ten.


A few days ago we told you about the special merchandise events at Disney Springs this month, and now we have news about more merchandise events at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
On December 5, Uptown Jewelers at the Magic Kingdom is hosting modern day calligrapher Singling Lee from 11:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Guests who purchase a minimum of $125 in Pandora Jewelry that day will receive a personalized calligraphy on a commemorative item.
The Walt Disney World Resort has announced the special merchandise events for the month of September.
Artist David Doss is returning to the Art of Disney in Disney Springs on September 7-11 from 1-9 p.m. each day. Greg McCullough is scheduled to be at the Art of Disney in Disney Springs from September 14-18 and again from September 28-October 2.
Doss will also be at the Art of Disney in Epcot on September 1-5 from 1-8 p.m. each day.
If you're visiting the Walt Disney World Resort in May there is a great slate of special merchandise events lined up.
Representatives from Precious Moments will be at Marketplace Fun Finds in Disney Springs from May 5-22. Doll designer Linda Rick will make a special appearance May 20-22.
On May 6-8, ACME artist Rodel Gonzalez will take part in an artist showcase from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Art of Disney in Disney Springs.
Spring is most definitely in the air at the Walt Disney World Resort and to celebrate there's a brand new month of special merchandise events planned.
Guests visiting the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival will find merchandise at the artisan showcase pergolas including Boiled Books, Growmanji, Elemental Nursery, EyeCatchers, Haf2Paitn, Reinhard Herzog, Noah's Ark Topiaries, and Swaying in the Breeze.
March 1 is just a few days away and that means there's a whole new slate of special merchandise events planned at the Walt Disney World Resort.
Over at Epcot, fan favorite artist Larry Dotson is stopping by the Art of Disney on March 2 through March 6 and again from March 17 through March 20. Also on March 2-6, guests can stop by La Signature in the France pavilion to see the newest fragrances from Guerlain.
The New Year is almost here and that also means a brand new month of special merchandise events at the Walt Disney World Resort.
The WonderGround Gallery in the Marketplace Co-Op in Disney Springs is hosting artist Bryan Fyffe on January 1 and 2 from 5-8 p.m. and on January 3 from 12-3 p.m.
It's time to get your holiday shopping started and the Walt Disney World Resort has a month full of special merchandise events to help you out!
Artist Greg McCullough is appearing at the Art of Disney in Disney Springs for a special artist showcase from now through December 10 from 1-8 p.m. each day. Greg will be back for another appearance from December 26 through January 3.


It's an thrilling time in Wales for schooling. In the wake of a variety of excessive-profile experiences by the OECD and leading worldwide specialists urging change in instructor education , Wales is implementing a wave of reforms designed to improve delivery of instructor training. There is a new curriculum; new instructor and leadership requirements for lecturers; and new accreditation requirements for providers of preliminary teacher training.
Instead of simply taking a look at a nonetheless illustration of an atom, on the Exploration Education (EE) bodily science program students get to really see the electrons moving across the nucleus. Students view animations of atoms being attracted to one one other, as well as repelled. They grasp the way electrical energy works by viewing electrons push each other along a closed circuit. They observe two atoms sharing electrons in a covalent bond. There's even a moving model of a working combustion engine! Some pages embody sounds or short movies as effectively. For example, there is a quick video from NASA in regards to the Wright Brothers.
P&C Day on 12 May is the time to publicly thank our hardworking P&C members for the tireless work they do every year to improve instructional facilities, sources and student outcomes in Queensland state faculties. #PandCDay2017. How can we create an training system that works for teenagers, instead of in opposition to them? Watch eight inspiring talks from TED's May 2013 PBS special, given of their entirety.
In this seminar Malcolm Elliott, former faculty principal and present president of the Tasmanian Principals Association, will concentrate on points in academic leadership now and for the longer term, and the affect of leadership on student attainment. Recommendation #2a: If you do not already, invest in journalism. I repeat: learn, assist, and pay for journalism, especially investigative journalism. Demand that journalists be of various backgrounds and teams and that coverage replicate that variety.
The drawback with Common Core testing is that it's evaluating the school, which puts enormous pressure on academics to have students do properly. It wastes numerous educating time however there's actually nothing in it for the student. Whether they do properly or not has no personal affect. That's not the case with exams in different international locations. Students have an incentive to do nicely because it could possibly impact their entry to larger education and sure careers.


A club for figure and miniature painters across Southwestern Ontario!
SWOFC is a group of miniature figure painters from all across Southwestern Ontario with a huge scope of interest and experience. The group's objective is to grow the community and bring everyone together to share their in-progress and completed work, as well as a platform for local retailers to reach out to their customer base. We host an annual figure show called the Sword & Brush as well as several seminars and workshops by the worlds top artists!


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https://apnews.com/article/fad5e3352ca04edb9d11c8f4ce804e25
Authorities: Several demonstrators killed in Kabul protest
By AMIR SHAHJune 2, 2017 GMT
A woman tries to stop police from firing on protesters during a demonstration in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, June 2, 2017. Hundreds of demonstrators demanded better security in the Afghan capital in the wake of a powerful truck bomb attack that killed scores of people. (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A demonstration in downtown Kabul turned violent Friday as police fired at rock-throwing protesters demanding better security in the Afghan capital in the wake of a powerful truck bomb attack that killed 90 people. Several demonstrators were killed and police injured, authorities said.
More than 1,000 people demonstrated as Afghans mourned the victims of a massive truck bomb that also wounded more than 450 on Wednesday. It was one of the worst extremist attacks since the drawdown of foreign forces in 2014 and raised fears about the government's ability to protect its citizens nearly 16 years into a war with insurgents.
Police fired their weapons — into the air as a warning at first— as about a hundred of the demonstrators rushed toward them, some throwing rocks. As the protesters attempted to move closer to the Presidential Palace, police sprayed them with hoses from a water tanker and later fired tear gas.
Reports of casualties varied, with Abdul Hafiz Mansur, a member of Parliament from Kabul, saying eight protesters were shot dead by police.
However, Gen. Hassan Shah Froogh, Kabul police chief, said two protesters were killed and 25 police were wounded by rocks thrown from demonstrators. He said some protesters were carrying weapons and shooting toward police and four armed demonstrators were arrested.
Protesters held pictures of destruction from the truck bomb blast and of government leaders. Shopkeeper Mohammad Anwar said four members of his family were killed in the bombing and he wanted a change of leadership.
"We are calling on President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to resign," he said. Demonstrators also called for Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah to step down.
Ghani's office issued a statement expressing condolences for the families of people who died in the protest but urged protesters not to allow "other opportunists" to use their demonstrations as an opportunity for violence for their own goals.
"The government of Afghanistan assures that the culprits of crimes against people will be brought to justice and also the leadership of the government promises that all those security officials who have neglected in their duty to provide security for the people will be punished in accordance to the Afghan laws and will be brought to justice," the statement reads.
Protester Amir Arya said a number of his friends were wounded by police as they tried to block the protesters from advancing.
"Some of them were beaten by police with sticks and some others detained," he said. "This act of police and government proves that peaceful demonstration would not be useful anymore."
Most of the casualties from the truck bombing were civilians, including women and children, officials have said. But the dead also included Afghan security guards at the facilities, including the U.S. Embassy, and 11 American contractors were wounded — none with life-threatening injuries, a U.S. State Department official said.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which came in the first week of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Associated Press writer Ahmad Seir in Kabul contributed to this report.


Professor Henning Schulzrinne, Levi Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University, received his Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts. He was an MTS at AT&T Bell Laboratories and an associate department head at GMD-Fokus (Berlin), before joining the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering departments at Columbia University. He served as chair of the Department of Computer Science from 2004 to 2009, as Engineering Fellow at the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2010 and 2011, and as Chief Technology Officer at the FCC since 2012.
He has published more than 250 journal and conference papers, and more than 70 Internet RFCs. Protocols co-developed by him, such as RTP, RTSP and SIP, are now Internet standards, used by almost all Internet telephony and multimedia applications. His research interests include Internet multimedia systems, ubiquitous computing, and mobile systems.
He is a Fellow of the IEEE, has received the New York City Mayor's Award for Excellence in Science and Technology, the VON Pioneer Award, TCCC service award, the IEEE Region 1 William Terry Award for Lifetime Distinguished Service to IEEE and the UMass Computer Science Outstanding Alumni recognition.


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Latest News > School Becomes Multi-Award Winner
1. West Buckland has been recognised twice in the last two weeks, for the quality of its boarding provision and for its innovation.
School Innovation and Boarding Recognised
West Buckland has been recognised twice in the last two weeks, for the quality of its boarding provision and for its innovation.
Shortlisted in the Independent School Awards for Boarding School of the Year 2020, the school is recognised for the high standard of boarding across all ages, together with our outstanding boarding facilities in Sixth Form and for the wide ranging activities available for our boarders.
In addition, Corporate Vision magazine has awarded the school 'Most Inspirational Day and Boarding School – South West' for its approach to learning, our newly shaped curriculum offering students a better balance between academic and extra-curricular activities and our response to the COVID-19 outbreak which has won universal praise for its student-teacher interaction and engagement.
Headmaster, Phillip Stapleton, sees this as just deserves for his hard-working staff. "The staff have always put the interests and needs of the students first in all our decision-making and I'm delighted that we have been recognised for this. We have always believed that we are a forward thinking school and that we offer a boarding provision that is both happy and active, ensuring our students have the right environment to learn and to thrive."


accused by the government of committing a crime.
with decades of experience before federal and state courts and government agencies.
offering a wide range of professional services no matter the problem posed.
As a Washington, D.C., law firm, Themis is well positioned to solve every client's issues, whether governmental or commercial. Themis obtains the right result in the right venue for its clients involved in commercial disputes, and approaches the proper governmental agency with the most appropriate resolution when its clients face issues with the government, be it at the federal, state or local levels. Whether a client needs a vigorous defense against government allegations of wrongdoing, or a whistleblower needs to bring claims on behalf of a defrauded governmental unit, or a client needs a solution to a commercial problem, Themis is there to deliver the right result.
For those targeted by the government, we begin with a thorough analysis of the unique circumstances surrounding each situation. We conduct internal investigations that often reveal alleged criminal wrongdoing as mistakes rather than intentional misconduct. When necessary, Themis mounts a determined defense against government accusations.
At the first hint of a government investigation, the subjects of those investigations should call an attorney. Delays can and do result in further complications that can lead to a bad ending – severe fines, loss of reputation and business, debarment, and possible imprisonment. Themis will help avoid the consequences that will unfold if you do not call.


text:
package org.pipservices.commons.data;

/**
 * Interface for data objects that can be identified by an id
 */
public interface IIdentifiable<K> {
	/**
	 * Gets the object id
	 * @return object id
	 */
	K getId();

	/**
	 * Sets the object id
	 * @param value a new object id
	 */
	void setId(K value);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Concatenate two file pointers I am looking for a function FILE * join (FILE * a, FILE * b) that is equivalent to popen("cat a b", "r");. That is, calling join should produce a new file pointer that contains all of file a, then all of file b.
Preferably join should be lazy such that file b is not read until all of file a has been consumed.

A: You cannot create a portable function for this. It is possible to do with fopencookie with Linux/Glibc or funopen on BSD. See: Is it possible to use functions that acts on FILE* on custom structures?  I am unaware of any method for this on Windows though.
You'd just need to provide a method for reading that would just try to read the given number of bytes from the first file handle that so far doesn't have end-of-file condition.

A: I don't think you could: at least while not creating a temporary file and wrapping the result in a FILE* that let you use the "normal" file-access functions like fread() etc.
The logic is easy enough: read from a until end-of-file, then read from b but you cannot "get inside" the FILE* handling routines (at least in a portable way, according to Antti's answer) to get them to make the switch from one file to the other.
You could write a function(s) that replaced specific file-handling functions that took two FILE* arguments, e.g. you could define fread2(void *ptr, size_t size, size_t nmemb, FILE *stream1, FILE* stream2) that accepted two streams, and read from one until it was exhausted, then switched to the other.
Or you could create your own FILEPAIR structure (returned/filled-in by join()) that held the references to the two FILE*s and then create dedicated reading functions that operated on that structure (e.g. fread2(void *ptr, size_t size, size_t nmemb, FILEPAIR *filePair).

A: Here is my join function, please see Antti Haapala's answer for compability issues.
typedef struct {
  FILE * a;
  FILE * b;
} myCookie;

ssize_t join_read(myCookie * cookie, char *buf, size_t size) {
  size_t s = fread(buf, 1, size, cookie->a);

  if (s < size)
    s += fread(buf+s, 1, size-s, cookie->b);

  return s;
}

int join_close(myCookie * cookie) {
  return fclose(cookie->a) | fclose(cookie->b);
}

FILE * join (FILE * a, FILE * b) {
  myCookie * cookie = malloc(sizeof(myCookie));
  cookie->a = a;
  cookie->b = b;
  return fopencookie(cookie, "r", (cookie_io_functions_t)
      { join_read
      , NULL
      , NULL
      , join_close });
}

Since this is already Linux specific, we can also define a function:
FILE * empty () {
  return fopen("/dev/null", "r");
}

Now file pointers form a monoid under join and empty!

A: There is no such function. You need it to write yourself.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


What would you do in another life?
… I would live in a village.
I would be part of the community and not be annoyed that everyone knows each other. I would wave at people in recognition while walking down the street. I would drive a small car (stick, naturally) to do my weekly grocery shopping. Go into town and buy flowers and cards for friends and family on a whim. Then send them or even better drop the flowers off, just to say hello.
My home would have a huge kitchen and it would be lovely and organised. Ha that's a lie, not even in another life. My home would be messy but in a charming and hygienic kind of way. Maybe there would be a guy, maybe there would be a baby.
Maybe two, or four. Babies that is, not guys – unless they all turn out male. Hmpf.
Four girls would be a nightmare too, imagine cycles synchronising, so preferably a mix.
Maybe I should start with one and take it from there. I digress, in any case: the house won't be organised.
Ooh maybe I would have a cafe, that would be fun.
A coffee place with liquor license (what else would the bloody point of a bar?) It would a cosy arty little place where people could hang out and eat. Nice simple, enjoyable food and pretty desserts of course.
What else would there be?
Back at the house, I'd have a garden with a lawn and a pond, and big trees for tree houses and swings. Maybe chickens.
It would be full of colourful flowers in spring, a big garden table for BBQs in summer. Autumn would be pretty and winters would have snow – always. Not the traffic stopping annoying kind of snow of course, just the idyllic pretty sort. At night the garden would light up with Christmas lights, that miraculously appear.
I'd look at the garden from my desk, surrounded by bookshelves full of books and trinkets from travels. I would close the door, sip my tea, open my laptop and I would write.
There are two things that seem to remain in both my "other life" and my reality: I write and I am happy.
Ten reasons why moving back home is Option Z.
1. I had to make apple-pie to keep myself busy. Eating is as much entertainment you can get. I would be the size of a house. Be it a very small one. Still, a house.
2. Being with my parents still evokes the child in me. My mother who does my dishes, two seconds after I put my plate aside to just get another cup of coffee. You get the picture. Sweet, for about 24hrs.
3. My room has a single bed. Hope would sink further below sea-level.
4. Small town politics- part 1 " Have you heard that such and such has moved out from the family home. He lives on the camping right now." No Way!" "And you know that she has been seeing X" " X? From the family by the church? I always say hello to him." etc. I don't know these people. I don't care.
5. There is no one who can cut my hair.
6. The way people can look at you. To be more specific, to the lady on the bicycle this afternoon: Looking me up and down like that, pulling that face really was unbecoming. (Unless that just was the way your face sits naturally, in which case I apologise and commiserate.) I was just wearing a dress, with tights and boots in October and if you judge me for it being short you obviously aint seen nothing yet!
7. Small town politics -part 2. If I am friends with the family of Baker A, can I still shop with Baker B? Computer says No.
8. I have no car, I will go nowhere. Car is crucial for sanity.
9. My friends here, god love them, have settled. They have houses, they have mortgages, they play board games. Nights out need to be planned, weeks if not months ahead.
10. Because I'm lucky enough that I can try all the other options first, knowing I can always come back home.


Only available in Japan, and only for a limited time. Unless it's a big hit, of course.
Starting next Friday, and for a limited time only, Burger King Japan customers can treat themselves to a seasonal BK Pumpkin Burger — two slices of fried kabocha squash (AKA Japanese pumpkin) stacked atop bacon, lettuce, a beef patty, and a generous helping of a special sauce made from sesame seeds, peanuts, almonds, cashews, and hazelnuts.
Even the bun is pumpkin-shaped, and asking for a "pumpkin bomb" will get you eight extra slices of kabocha.


text:
FBI WARNING – Criminals Are Using Terrifying New Tactic!
FBI Issues Warning Over Disturbing Ride Share Trend Ride-sharing companies are generally a great way to get around when someone…
By admin , in News , at November 11, 2022
FBI Issues Warning Over Disturbing Ride Share Trend
Ride-sharing companies are generally a great way to get around when someone doesn't want to drive themselves or plans on drinking while out. People of all ages use the convenient way to travel. Now, the FBI has issued a warning about it.
In October, the FBI issued a public service announcement, telling parents rideshare companies have been used to abduct children since the beginning of the pandemic. The vehicles are being used to "lower likelihood of detection and ease of facilitation."
The agency discussed a 16-year-old boy in Texas who called for an Uber and was abducted. During the trip, the driver offered the child a drink, which he accepted. He passed out, and when he woke up, he fled and managed to call the authorities.
A North Carolina teenager was recently hospitalized after she jumped out of a moving vehicle to get away from a Lyft driver. WBTV reported Eziya Bowden, 17, said the driver picked her up from work and immediately made her uncomfortable by commenting on her body. She claimed he then sprayed something in the vehicle, and she believed he was trying to drug her. At that point, she jumped out of the car while it was moving. The company is cooperating with the police.
Disgraced Tycoon FOUND DEAD!
Real Estate Developer Found Hanging in His Home A wealthy real estate developer caught up in a 2019 college admissions…
Artemis 1 and America's Return to the Moon
A new NASA program is laying the groundwork for future lunar exploration and beyond. The Orion capsule launched from NASA's…
Judge DIES In Act Of Heroism!
Former Gubernatorial Candidate Dies a Hero Saving His Wife There is an average of 358,000 house fires in the US…
This shocking poll left Mitch McConnell reeling
RINO Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is on track for a defeat he never saw coming. McConnell set himself up…
Paul Pelosi, Nancy Pelosi's Husband, Assaulted Inside Their Home
The House speaker's husband was hospitalized but is expected to recover. The motive for the attack is under investigation. Someone…


text:
Elyzabeth M. VaLey's "Dance for Me, Princess"
February 21, 2014 1:00 am / Leave a comment
I'm more than pleased to have Elyzabeth M. VaLey back on the Spicy Butterfly Garden promoting her story, Dance for me, Princess, from the Evernight Publishing Anthology, Alpha's Claim. She was one of the very talented authors that I had the pleasure of joining in that anthology and I loved her story. Enjoy!
Many of my stories wouldn't have been born without music. The beautiful, harmonious combination of notes, regardless of the musical genre, appeal to my muse and have sparked the beginning of more than one romance.
Sometimes, the music comes first, but other times it appears half way through the story. Dance for me, Princess was an example of the latter. I knew the characters and I was simply looking for some music for Sophia to dance to. I started out with some of the more upbeat themes of Diary of Dreams, but something was off. Youtube then suggested Blutengel. I'd never heard the German music group before, so I thought, why not? The first song that came up and called my attention was When I feel you.
I still remember hearing the lyrics and grinning like a fool. That was the song. It was exactly how Markus felt. Furthermore, it had a good beat to which Sophia could dance.
Sophia has her own song too. I had already baptized her as Frost Princess when I found that Blutengel had a song titled Ice Princess. The lyrics have little to do with Sophia, except that indeed there is no coldness in her soul, but the song had an exceptional rhythm.
With the music set, some visual inspiration (check out the Pinterest board), and a whole lot of demanding whispers from the characters, the story of Markus and Sophia became Dance for me, Princess. I hope you enjoy it!
Anthology Blurb:
Strength. Power. Domination.
The shifters in our Alpha's Claim anthology have one thing in common—they won't take "no" for an answer. Whether they lead packs of their own, or whether they walk a solitary path, these alphas won't let anyone stop them from claiming their women.
Lose yourself in these ten sinfully delicious love stories. After all, who could deny an Alpha's Claim?
Dance for me, Princess by Elyzabeth M. VaLey blurb:
When ruthless businessman and shifter Markus Topponiem sets his eyes on something he likes, he pursues it until he gets it. No exceptions. That's why when he catches a sniff of the delicious scent emanating from a girl with blue hair, he doesn't think twice about following her and making her his.
Sophia, a.k.a. Frost Princess, dances to forget and keep her demons at bay. Then Markus comes into her life, and in the wake of his passion he revives the monsters of her past, causing her to flee.
Will Markus be able to persuade her to give herself to him or will her fear destroy their future?
Amazon.com || Amazon.uk || Evernight Publishing || AllRomanceEbooks || Bookstrand
Excerpt from Dance for me, Princess
Markus Topponiem tugged at the cuffs of his white shirt, adjusting it. He crossed his right leg over the left, resting the ankle on the knee. His hands on his lap, he waited. His gaze slid around the room, and his cock twitched in expectation of what he hoped was to come. His heart thundered in his chest, following the lead of his male organ and anticipating the thing that could change his life forever.
However, even though nerves danced across every pore in his flesh, he played the part of calm and relaxed. No one who saw him could have guessed that he was on the verge of breaking down. Naturally aloof, as was usual among his species, he had been taught from a young age that expressing emotions openly was risky. His mother's early death had made him unnaturally cold, and his ability to remain poised and under control in any situation had, not surprisingly, earned him nicknames such as "Ice King" or "Cold Hearted". Animals didn't hunt by being rash and irrational; they sat and waited. Everything in life, including the building of financial empires, did well to follow the same rule. Sit, wait, and strike when the prey was weakest. With that in mind, he conducted business in what some called a ruthless, heartless way. Perhaps that was why he was single. He hadn't found the woman who stirred his predatory instincts. Until today.
About Elyzabeth:
Defined as weird since she was about eight, Elyzabeth honors the title by making up songs about her chores, doodling stars and flowers on any blank sheet of paper and talking to her dog whenever he feigns interest.
Losing the battle to the voices in her head is her favorite pastime after annoying her younger sister with her singing. Writing stories full of passion and emotion where love conquers all is her happy pill and she'll forgo sleep to make her readers live the dream.
Stalk me at:


Hello loves! Hope you're having a wonderful Monday! Today I want to share with you another outfit of the day, which includes some really cute, vintage inspired pieces.
My top in this post is from Shein. When I saw it online, I wasn't 100% sure about it, but I thought it would go cute with the skirt. My instinct to get it was right! It's super cute! I loved the pattern, and the material was really comfortable. It came a little bit big, but again, it's still adorable.
I paired this with a gorgeous Ruby Rae Gathered Skirt that they sent me. Ruby Rae is a unique handmade brand with a vintage twist. Each of their products are made with supreme quality. I LOVED this skirt! The fathers were so pretty, and it flared out just right! I'm kinda obsessed, and it's definitely one of my new favorite skirts. Ruby Rae custom designs item too, so if you're looking to purchase a unique piece, visit their site.
My lipstick is my one of my favorite reds Lime Crime's New Americana(I've included this in so many posts). Here's the link to a full post on that liquid lipstick.
For anyone asking, these pictures were shot at Woody's Diner Huntington Beach.
Anyways, thank you loves for stopping by and reading! Don't forget to follow and comment! Bye loves!
Disclaimer: The products from Shein and Ruby Rae were sent complimentary to review. All opinions are my own.
How did you like the service from Shein? I am curious about their business but I hear that sizes are a little off and that it takes a long time until your orders come in. How was your experience with them and would you recommend it?
I am PRd with them, so I don't know if it would be any different as a normal buyer. However, they are always pretty good for me, and their sizes are usually pretty accurate. They always arrive quickly too. My sister actually ordered from them once too, and she liked everything. It also came quickly. So I think it probably depends on where you are located. Also, something I would recommend is reading the reviews on each item(they have a review section) before buying it. They do have some AMAZING, super affordable items! It may be a bit or miss though.
I love this set of photos and this outfit!
I love this shoot! That green skirt is liiiiife 😍 seriously that color!


text:
Andrzej Kudelski (1931–1980) – polski dziennikarz
 Andrzej Kudelski (ur. 1952) – polski zapaśnik
 Andrzej Kudelski – polski profesor nauk chemicznych

Przypisy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Storing results in var returned from stored procedure which uses temp table in mvc Entityframework showing error I have Created Stored Procedure which uses Temp Table to store some fields and update those fields based on condition.
when i import this stored procedure in report data set fields are not displayed..
this i got solved this problem using illogical code
IF 1=0 BEGIN
    SET FMTONLY OFF
END

but when i call this stored procedure like
var details = db.storedprocedure(param1,param2,param3);

i got error use data table or IEnumerable to store data
and i tried to store in data table and IEnumerable It shows error cannot convert int to Ienumerable or datatable


text:
Liquidar Deudas MX
https://www.solcredito.mx/
1,15 EUR per approved lead Target audience: M/F +23y. With a debt of +35,000 MXN Pesos willing to reduce/pay it. The debt must fall in the financial institutions listed on solcredito.mx/resolver-deudas
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30 days 100%
Solcredito is a bank service that gives a user payday credits max 30 days
50 000Mex$
We help to pay the debts
Free and without obligations
solcredito.mx/resolver-deudas
Promoting on websites with the following content is prohibited: pornography, erotic content, gambling, moneyback projects, and torrents.
No incentivized traffic allowed.
Direct links from Google Adwords ads is forbidden. The term "Solcredito.es" is forbidden as a domain name or part of a domain name, and as a Google Adword keyword in ad content (including display URL).
12/10/2020, 08:38 Attention! Liquidar Deudas MX is live again!
You can resume traffic to the campaign.
03/07/2020, 17:30 Liquidar Deudas MX is live again!
CPL: 1.15 EUR per lead
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25/03/2020, 14:02 Suspend offer Liquidar Deudas MX
Dear publishers, Liquidar Deudas has been stopped. Please, direct your traffic to other offers. We will update you as son as there are any changes.
21/11/2019, 13:10 New campaign Liquidar Deudas MX is launched!
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Metallica have been named as the recipients of this year's Polar Music Prize.
Every year, two artists – one from contemporary music and one from the classical genre – are celebrated for their significant achievements in music.
The awards ceremony will take place at Stockholm's Grand Hotel on June 14, with Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and members of the royal family in attendance on the night.
It will be broadcast live on Swedish national television and throughout Europe via TV4 Play.
Bassist Robert Trujillo adds: "Receiving the Polar Music Prize is such an honour, especially sharing it with artists such as Joni Mitchell, Keith Jarrett and Wayne Shorter, who I admire dearly.
Meanwhile, the first picture of Metallica vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield, taken on the set of the upcoming biopic about serial killer Ted Bundy, has emerged.
Hetfield will play the role of Officer Bob Hayward in the Joe Berlinger-directed film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil And Vile.
Metallica's European leg of their WorldWired tour in support of 10th studio album Hardwired… To Self-Destruct, continues tonight in Bologna.


text:
The ObserverWorld news
Olympic torch too heavy for athletes
Barbara McMahon in Rome
Hailed as a masterpiece of design and technology and created by Italy's top engineers, there's just one problem with the torch for this year's Winter Olympics in Turin. Many of the torchbearers say it is too heavy.
At nearly 2 kilos (4.4lb), runners carrying the aluminium torch in relay across Italy to the opening ceremony say it is difficult to hold aloft for long.
'Running with it is quite tough,' said Greek pole vault champion Kostas Filippidis, 19, one of the first torchbearers. 'I don't think it's possible to run even 100 metres with your arm outstretched, and if you bend your arm you risk the flame coming too near your body.'
'The torch is a bit too heavy and you can't run as you would like,' said Italian former boxing champion Nino Benvenuti. 'I had to keep changing it from arm to arm in order to hold it up.'
The Olympic flame - brought from Athens to Rome on 7 December - is on a two-month journey across Italy in the torch, which resembles the point of a ski. Produced by a team at the renowned Pininfarina design factory in Turin, it weighs 1.97 kilos (4.3lb).
Only two other torches have been heavier - that for the Innsbruck games in 1964 weighed 2.25 kilos (nearly 5lb) and the torch for the London games in 1948 weighed in at 2.15 kilos (4.74lb).
Francesco Lovo, head of the design team, said the torch had to be 'very robust' to cope with extremes of weather. 'We were working to specifications given to us by the Winter Olympics Committee,' he said. Committee members wanted to avoid problems afflicting the Athens 2004 torch, which weighed 770 grams (under 2lb), and was deemed too fragile.
Lovo denied a report in the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero that the torch was dangerous because runners were forced to hold it too close to their bodies. 'It's a real flame, not a flashing light, so of course people have to be careful and hold it at a distance,' he said.
'Everything is a trade-off, but we felt it was important to have a torch that was safe, resistant to weather and strong enough to withstand human error, such as someone dropping it. There is no protocol about how it's carried. You can walk with it, run with it, hold it high or at waist level. It's up to the individual runners.'
The flame is a symbol of the Olympics, dating from the games held in Ancient Greece when athletes competed in a relay race using a torch. The modern custom of runners carrying a torch to the opening ceremony began at the 1936 Berlin Games.


text:
Recordkeeping Tips from Legal Expert and LMHC Eric Strom
by Sara Oppler | Oct 26, 2016 | Recent News
We've gotten so many questions from our members on this issue, that we decided to add this article from WMYCA's Summer 2017 insights to our "Recent News" section for your reference...
How Long Must I Keep Counseling Records?
By Eric Strom, JD, MA, LMHC
Attorney & Licensed Mental Health Counselor; WMHCA Ethics Consultant & AMHCA Ethics Committee member
I've received several recent inquiries regarding the requirements for maintaining client records. Of course nearly all mental health professionals understand that we have an ethical and legal obligation to maintain client records safely and confidentially. What is often unclear is exactly how long these records must be kept.
In Washington there are a few different answers to this question. First, Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers must keep client records for five years after "the last visit." This rule can be found in WAC 246-809-035(4). The same five-year standard also applies to Certified Counselors, Certified Advisors, Agency Affiliated Counselors, and Hypnotherapists. Their rule can be found in WAC 246-810-035(4). The same five-year rule applies to both minor and adult clients.
MHC Designation Announcement
by Sara Oppler | Jul 8, 2016 | Recent News
Dear members of the mental health community:
On behalf of the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA), I am pleased to announce that, as of April 1, 2016, the new definition of MHP (Mental Health Professional) is effective!
This designation allows LMHCAs and LMFTAs that work with clients who are receiving Medicaid/Apple Health, to assess and diagnose clients.
Historically, two years of experience for Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associates (LMHCAs) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associates (LMFTAs) has been required prior to being granted the MHP designation. Yet, this same requirement did not apply to master's level social workers (MSWs). Despite the similarities in scope of practice among these three professional designations, the discrepancy created barriers to employment for graduates from mental health counseling programs and marriage and family therapy programs across the state of Washington.
You may recall that in October 2014,WMHCA and the Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (WAMFT)worked together to address this discrepancy by working with the Department of Social and Health Services to change the rule and make it equally applicable to all master's-prepared mental health professionals.
And our efforts have paid off! The Secretary of the State has accepted the request for rule-change, and, by April 1 of 2016, all graduates of mental health programs are eligible for an associate license, and, now, all graduates who elect to become licensure associates following their graduation will automatically be considered MHPs once the associate license is granted.
According to newly adopted WAC388-865-0238, the definition of a "Mental Health Professional" means:
A psychiatrist, psychologist,psychiatric nurse or social worker as defined in chapters 71.05 and 71.34 RCW;
A person who is licensed by the department of health as a mental health counselor, mental health counselor associate, marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist associate;
A person with a master's degree or further advanced degree in counseling or one of the behavioral sciences from an accredited college or university. Such person shall have, in addition, at least two years of experience in direct treatment of persons with mental illness or emotional disturbance, such experience gained under the supervision of a mental health professional;
A person who meets the waiver criteria of RCW 71.24.260, which was granted prior to 1986;
A person who had an approved waiver to perform the duties of a mental health professional that was requested by a regional support network and granted by the mental health division prior to July 1, 2001; or
A person who has been granted a time-limited exception of the minimum requirements of a mental health professional by the division of behavioral health and recovery.
Thanks to all who joined in this important effort.
Ellen K. Carruth, PhD, LMHC, NCC, ACS WMHCA President Emeritus
Take Action! Oppose Tennessee Senate Bill 1556/House Bill 1840
by Sara Oppler | Apr 30, 2016 | Recent News
Dear WMHCA members,
Please consider contacting Governor Bill Haslam's office to voice support for his veto of SB1556 and HB 1840. This is a last ditch effort to prevent legislation passing that would allow counselors to refuse services to clients on the basis of their personal beliefs and values, which runs contrary to the ACA (2016) Code of Ethics, section A.11.b. This legislation would allow counselors to refuse to see clients based on the counselor's personal beliefs, and to refer them elsewhere on the basis of issues such as identifying as LGBTQQIA. This bill has been described by the American Counseling Association as an "unprecedented attack" on the counseling profession. Tennessee is the only state to pass such a law.
It is fairly easy to voice your support for Governor Bill Haslam's veto. Please call his office at the phone number below, and ask for a message to be sent to his office in support of his veto of SB 1556/HB 1840. Remember that TN is 2-3 hours later (Central Time or Eastern Time, depending on the part of the state), so try calling no later than 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time. You can also email the Governor's office using a contact form available at the website below.
Phone number to Governor Haslam's office: (615) 741-2001
Email contact form: http://www.tn.gov/governor/topic/contact
Thanks for taking action on behalf of the counseling profession!
Thom Field, PhD, LMHC, NCC, ACS
WMHCA President, 2015-2017
Chemical Dependency Professional – an alternative route
We have some exciting news for counselors in Washington State! The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has proposed rule making for the CDP chapter in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). The DOH has written draft language to establish standards and procedures for alternative training programs so that licensed professionals (including LMHCs) whose scope of practice includes treatment of chemical dependency can obtain CDP certification via an expedited training process. The major change in the proposed legislation can be found in the new section WAC 246-811-077: Educational requirements to apply for chemical dependency certification with alternative training. Instead of requiring all CDPs to complete 30 semester/45 quarter credit hours at the associates-level, licensed professionals described in WAC 246-811-076 (including LMHCs) only require 10 semester/15 quarter credits in chemical dependency training, with course work that addresses specific topic areas described in WAC 246-811-077. This would assist LMHCs to obtain the CDP credential, hopefully resulting in more counselors specializing in the treatment of co-occurring disorders. Currently, mental health and substance abuse services are somewhat disconnected, and important Federal legislation such as the Affordable Care Act is mandating more integration of services. Thus, the DOH draft legislation is believe to help connect mental health and substance use services.
If you are in support of this legislation, WMHCA encourages you to make a public comment in support of the legislation. The comment period for the proposed rule will be open until the day of the public hearing. The public hearing on the proposed rule will be held at 9:30 a.m., April 28, 2016, at the Department of Health, Town Center 2, room 158 in Tumwater, WA 98501. The public is invited to review and provide comments on the proposed rule on the Department's Rules Comment webpage at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview/
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the WMHCA President, Thom Field, at [email protected].
Give an Hour Recruits Mental Health Professionals
by WMHCA | Mar 15, 2016 | Recent News
Give an Hour, founded in 2005, has created a network of volunteer mental health professionals pledging an hour a week of their services, free of charge, to members of the military—including active duty, reserve, and guard—veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq, their families, and their communities. Give an Hour offers an important option for the men, women and families who serve our country by providing services in the community at no cost to those in need. And, there is no limit to the number of sessions one can receive; help is available for as long as it is needed.
Give an Hour's current focus is on supplementing the mental health services provided by the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs and includes specific initiatives to reach rural veterans (telehealth) and the Army National Guard. Other programs include community Collaboratives, Got Your 6 Student Education Initiative ("Training the Next Generation of Mental Health Professionals"), Wins for Warriors, and Wounded Warrior Project.
Give an Hour's services expand beyond those groups who are typically eligible to receive mental health benefits, including parents, siblings, and unmarried partners who are often affected by a loved one's wartime service.
Give an Hour's mental health professionals provide services including one-on-one counseling, consultation with other organizations about the mental health issues affecting those who serve, presentations at community gatherings and reintegration events, and trainings in local communities. Providers choose how they "give their hour" in a way that fits their passion. We ask our providers to participate in our network for one year in order to provide continuity of care for these deserving families.
The approximately 7,000 licensed mental health professionals working with Give an Hour have contributed nearly 140,000 hours in support of our troops and their families, and the demand continues as we drawdown from current conflicts.
Volunteer mental health providers include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, pastoral counselors, and other mental health professionals. Additional opportunities are available for students in mental health programs.
While no additional training is required, Give an Hour also offers a variety of free training opportunities and gives providers the opportunity to interact with one another, to share information about their experience, and to seek feedback and additional resources.
Immediate Help Needed in Washington
There is a shortage of mental health professionals available to provide critical services in Washington. We are asking all mental health professionals to join in this effort. If you are currently licensed, please visit our website www.giveanhour.org to sign up for our national network and to learn more about our organization and initiatives.
Warning of Foreign Fraudulent Check Scams for Distance Counseling
by Sara Oppler | Feb 26, 2016 | Recent News
WMHCA members are encouraged to be diligent in accepting payment from clients who are outside of the country seeking counseling services. In general, WMHCA advises its members to carefully consider the situation when providing counseling services to clients who are not located within the U.S. state where the counselor holds an active license (some states have laws about this, and it may be unethical/illegal to practice in a state where you are not licensed or are unfamiliar with the laws around counseling services). The same applies to providing technology-assisted counseling services to persons residing in a foreign country. AMHCA members are encouraged to read the AMHCA Standards, which includes standards for the practice of technology-assisted counseling services.
In that context, a WMHCA member recently was involved in a situation whereby a faux-client claiming to reside in a foreign country attempted to scam the counselor through the use of fraudulent checks. This "client" sent the counselor a fake check for payment, and later claimed that they wanted their "money back" as they did not intend on coming to the U.S. after all. WMHCA members are encouraged to ignore any phishing emails from clients who are seeking services from abroad and attempt to pay via check. It is recommended that counselors accept payment only after services are rendered and those who are providing technology-assisted counseling services to foreign clients use a form of secure monetary transaction.
Transgender Rights regarding "Facility Use"
by Sara Oppler | Feb 9, 2016 | Recent News
Last week, a bill passed the House and is sitting in the Senate that would rescind a rule in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) that persons who identify as transgender may use facilities (such as bathrooms) that are consistent with their gender expression/identity rather than their birth gender. Currently, Washington is the only state that provides this right to transgender persons. The Bill SB 6443 seeks to rescind this rule and thus remove this right for transgender persons. More info can be found here:
http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2015-16/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/Senate/6443%20SBA%20CL%2016.pdf
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2016&bill=6443
If any WMHCA members feel strongly about this issue, they could email their legislative representatives and advocate for WAC 162-32-060 to not be rescinded. If members do contact their representatives, please voice your opinion as a public member (rather than represent yourself as a member of the WMHCA).
Research Participation Opportunity
Jacqueline Webster is a graduate student under the direction of Professor Andy Carpenter in the College of Doctoral Studies at Grand Canyon University. She is conducting a research study to evaluate the relationship between racial attitudes and cultural competency. She is recruiting behavioral health counselors, therapists, clinicians, or social workers working in a behavioral health agency or private practice that provides direct therapy or counseling to clientele to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire includes three survey instruments that will be accessed through the online survey software and questionnaire tool, SurveyMonkey. Completion of the full questionnaire that includes all three survey instruments typically takes no more than 30 minutes. Your participation in this study is voluntary. If you have any questions concerning the research study, please call Jacqueline Webster at (623) 670- 4792. If you are willing to participate, please click on the following link:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/racialattitudes_gcu
ICYMI: In Case You Missed It from AMHCA!
by Sara Oppler | Jan 26, 2016 | Recent News
Culled by Whitney Meyerhoeffer, AMHCA Director of State Chapter Relations
2016 Marks the 40th Anniversary of AMHCA
Watch our 40th Anniversary AMHCA Playlist on Youtube from Past President Dr. Stephen Giunta.
AMHCA Advocacy Update
President's New Gun Rules Alter HIPAA
On January 6, 2016 the Department of Health and Human Services issued final rules modifying the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). These final rules make explicit that certain HIPAA-covered entities may disclose certain information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a national data system maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to conduct background checks on persons who may be disqualified from receiving firearms based on prohibited categories under state or federal law. The FBI reports that more than 2 million guns sales have been prevented since NICS was created in 1998, and most records in the database come out of state civil court systems and are not protected by HIPAA. The information that would be disclosed would include the identities of individuals who are subject to a federal "mental health prohibitor" that disqualifies them from shipping, transporting, possessing, or receiving a firearm.
AMHCA will continue pressing for inclusion of our Medicare provider status bill in the broader "Murphy bill." The most effective way to make this happen is to generate more grassroots messages to congressional offices urging cosponsorship of our Medicare provider status bill (S. 1830/HR. 2759). Congressional offices tell us they need to hear more support from their constituents for these bills. AMHCA members should continue to use our action alert and resources to prepare grassroots messages in support of Medicare recognition.
AMHCA 2016 Annual Conference Registration is Now Open!
Preconference Workshops
Accelerated Resolution Therapy – with Kevin Kip, PhD, FAHA and Diego Hernandez, PhD
The Nature, Causes and Management of Suicidal Behavior and Related Disorders – Thomas Joiner, PhD
Thomas Joiner, PhD
Maureen Duffy, PhD
Conference Workshops
Art Therapy and Expressive Arts in Therapy in Trauma-Informed Practice and Integrative Approaches to Health – with Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPAT, LPCC, ATR-BC, REAT
Workplace Mobbing and School Bullying – with Maureen Duffy, PhD
BATC's Proposal Regarding Police Use of Force
Some of our members may wish to keep abreast of proposed legislation regarding police involvement with the mentally ill. We post this submission from Lynn Grotsky of LICSW for information purposes only. WMHCA doesn't officially endorse a position regarding this issue.
The Washington Mental Health Counselors Association has been asked to endorse draft legislation on the use of deadly force. The draft proposal comes to us from the Black Alliance of Thurston County. The BATC was formed in response to the May 21, 2015 shooting of two black men in Olympia. The BATC has a number of goals, one of which is to change the law on the use of deadly force, RCW 9A.16.040.
When police officers shoot someone who is firing a gun at them or clearly putting others in extreme danger, people understand that and are able to come to terms with it. However, when there are shootings of a person being pulled out of their car and shot, or killed for having what appears to be a small knife and walking away from an officer, family, friends and the WA public are often outraged and traumatized with basically no recourse. This is because our present laws make it virtually impossible to charge a police officer that shoots someone. Mental Health clients, many of them People of Color and other marginalized populations, who were mistreated by police are triggered time and time again by hearing about these incidents and justice not being served.


Here is the larger pictures.
They look pretty real, don't they? Of course, one of them must be false because they both have the same pose! But guess what – they are both fake!
Sure, it really looks like he was holding a yellow Bersih 4 or 5 t-shirt. But why would Michelle Obama show a heart, instead of the number 4 (for Bersih 4) or 5 (for Bersih 5), with her hands?
Here is President Barack Obama's own tweet using that picture, in which he showed his support for those who were killed in the church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina on the 17th of June 2015.
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