Brickyard Retreat is a repurposed glazed tile factory. Our 25 rooms and suites all open to vistas of the Great Wall though story and a half window walls. We also offer 11 vacation homes nearby with 2 to 5 bedrooms that were created from village homes. Our Spa offers an outdoor jacuzzi open year round with view of the Great Wall. The Gold Suite's unique sauna features panoramic glass windows looking at the Great Wall. Every treatment suite has an en suite bath and is open to light and nature. Dining is all day from 07:00 to 21:30 in the Lodge. Everything we serve, from breads to ice cream, is homemade from scratch. A generous country breakfast is included for all guests staying in rooms in the retreat and at other times we offer an a la carte menu with comfort foods from China and around the world. Our hotel offers many other facilities for the enjoyment of our guests, including free wireless internet throughout.
Great B&B at the base of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu.
Hi, I have tried emailing direct a few days ago but haven't received a reply. I am staying at the Retreat for one night in March and am wondering about how to arrange a transfer to and from Beijing, and also about the shuttle service to/from the wall entrance - what are the operating hours etc? I would like to visit the wall at sunset if possible. Can the Brickyard Retreat assist with this or am I better off hiring a driver myself?
Hi we will arrive May 1 and possibly by train. We haven't decided but, if we were to stay with you and arrange a car can you tell me which is better? We would be there until the 4th of May. We also want to be by the wall and yet go to other parts of the wall. Would you be able to arrange cars for us? Last I am worried about buying food. I understand you have a restaurant but if we miss your scheduled dining would there be a lot of other options? Thank you!
I am planning to book from Jan 6 until Jan 10 and I am traveling with kids. Can you please advise if this hotel is close to the many must-see locations In Beijing? Can the hotel help us arrange a cab for these locations since we do not understand Chinese? Also can someone please advise how cold does it get in January. Just want to come prepared with kids.
As Cheeriesaid, it is about 1.5 hours from the centre of Beijing, and longer if the traffic is bad, so while great for a couple of days' getaway I wouldn't make it the main hotel for a stay here - there are lots nearer the centre. The hotel does have a good English speaking staff - it's owned by an American and his wife - and they can arrange cars to take you around. Beijing in January though is VERY cold - it can be as low as -14C in the daytime. You need to cover practically every extremity to be comfortable - down coats are a must, as are ski gloves and hats.
Hello. I've booked to stay at your hotel next month and have emailed you a couple of times regarding matters such as organising a hike, a massage and transport. I have not received a reply to either of my emails. Please can you advise which email address I can best contact you on.
Dear Soho77, This is Jim Spear, a partner in the Brickyard. I am so sorry that your emails appear to have disappeared into the ether as our team tries very hard to be timely and responsive. Our email addresses are on our website. Trip Advisor does not allow me to respond to you with links or email addresses. Alternatively, please advise me your email address and/or confirmation number and I make sure on of our guest relations team follows up with you right away.
"If you care, check to make sure your bathroom has a door."
"Book the Chairman's suite if you can afford it (or one with a fireplace!)"
"Highly recommend the Chairman's Suite"
"Close to the wall, all rooms have great wall view, stay for lunch."


All block quotes below are from Wikipedia, and all emphasis within block quotes are MINE, and were not in the original.
Please see the previous post for a rev up on this issue of NSA spying on our phone and email activities.
Like many other areas of American law, the Fourth Amendment finds its roots in English legal doctrine. Sir Edward Coke, in Semayne's case (1604), famously stated: "The house of every one is to him as his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence as for his repose." Semayne's Case acknowledged that the King did not have unbridled authority to intrude on his subjects' dwellings but recognized that government agents were permitted to conduct searches and seizures under certain conditions when their purpose was lawful and a warrant had been obtained.
The 1760s saw a growth in the intensity of litigation against state officers, who, using general warrants, conducted raids in search of materials relating to John Wilkes's publications attacking both government policies and the King himself. The most famous of these cases involved John Entick, whose home was forcibly entered by the King's Messenger Nathan Carrington, along with others, pursuant to a warrant issued by George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax authorizing them "to make strict and diligent search for . . . the author, or one concerned in the writing of several weekly very seditious papers intitled, 'The Monitor or British Freeholder, No 257, 357, 358, 360, 373, 376, 378, and 380,'″ and seized printed charts, pamphlets and other materials. Entick filed suit in Entick v Carrington, argued before the Court of King's Bench in 1765. Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden ruled that both the search and the seizure was unlawful, as the warrant authorized the seizure of all of Entick's papers—not just the criminal ones—and as the warrant lacked probable cause to even justify the search. By holding that "[O]ur law holds the property of every man so sacred, that no man can set his foot upon his neighbour's close without his leave", Entick established the English precedent that the executive is limited in intruding on private property by common law.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government's gathering of Americans' phone records is likely unlawful, a judge ruled on Monday and ordered the suspension of the collection of data on two phone company customers who sued the Obama administration.
In a significant challenge to U.S. spying authority, U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington D.C. wrote that the government's program likely violated Americans' right to be free of unreasonable searches.
"I cannot imagine a more 'indiscriminate' and 'arbitrary invasion' than this systematic and high-tech collection and retention of personal data on virtually every single citizen," Leon wrote, citing earlier court precedent….
….Leon expressed skepticism of the program's value, writing that the government could not cite a single instance in which the bulk data actually stopped an imminent attack.
That is important, he added, because for the program to be lawful, the government must show its effectiveness outweighs privacy interests.
If this global search doesn't violate this, then what else could possibly rise to that level of violation?
…"papers, and effects" I take to include emails and phone calls, but it is – as everything – subject to the courts to interpret that. And I am certain that this has been done long ago. Legal precedence is out there.
…"searches" certainly would apply in the NSA case.
Sometimes I do the weirdest things, just for fun. Some might think they are boring, but sometimes my mind gets stuck on them and I have to see where they go.
The CET record since 1990.
Last week, Michelle Goldberg wrote a smart and provocative blog post that didn't get anywhere near the attention it deserved. In it, she argues that conservatives may be giving up the ghost, and abandoning the pseudo-populist brand of conservatism that, for decades, has been their mainstay, in favor of a more open elitism.
Goldberg takes as her main piece of evidence a new book by antifeminist activist Charlotte Hays called When Did White Trash Become the New Normal? A Southern Lady Asks the Impertinent Question. In the book, Hays mocks working class people for allegedly being fat, lazy, and poorly dressed. Oh, and she also apparently thinks poor folks who have diabetes are hee-larious. Classy!
Cool that Kathleen Geier brought up the Liberty League and the REAL old-style Republican politics. I just read a history book about that era, Anxious Decades, America in Prosperity and Depression, 1920-1940, , and everything you say is correct: The elites wanted desperately to undo every piece of the New Deal. But they couldn't do it then via elections, not after the debacle of the Great Depression and Herbert Hoover's 3-1/2 years of failure to make a dent in it via business-friendly actions. They did undo a lot of the New Deal, but not through legislation. They did it via the courts, with their unlimited pockets to pay for lawyers, plus an initially slightly business-leaning Supreme Court. Trailer trash had nothing to do with it, and in fact, the trailer trash was on FDR's side – because FDR was on their side.
Cool that Kathleen Geier brought up the Liberty League and the REAL old-style Republican politics. I just read a history book about that era, Anxious Decades, America in Prosperity and Depression, 1920-1940, and everything Geier says is correct: The elites wanted desperately to undo every piece of the New Deal. But they couldn't do it then via elections, not after the debacle of the Great Depression and Herbert Hoover's 3-1/2 years of failure to make a dent in it cia business-friendly actions.
It has been the aim of the GOP to do exactly that – to make sure none of the wealth escaped the wealthy.
…After the FDR-Truman years, and even through the Eisenhower years, they couldn't do much destroying of any remaining New Deal programs, because they didn't control the Congress (in '53-'55 they had the House but not the Senate) – but then Ike wasn't a real Republican, either, and by then Keynesian was the economics of the day. It was not until Bush II in 2005 that the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress plus the White House at the same time – and the VERY FIRST thing on Dubya's agenda was . . . wait now for the punch line… Social Security. He was there to do his master's bidding, and he wasted no time, with his so-called "political capital." But even mentioning it cost him and the Republicans so much popular support that he lost any chance actually do it.


Few phrases have stricken so much sorrow in the hearts of children on Christmas morning as those three evil words : "Some assembly required." For me, the agony of waiting for Pop to assemble that beloved Christmas gift felt like extended dental work without anesthesia.
My introduction to the phrase cam in the form of a Big Wheel complete with locking handbrake to perform perfectly executed skids. The ensuing 45-minute wait for said assembly felt like an eternity in my tender years. But my most excruciating assembly delay occurred on my ninth Christmas.
It had shaped up as the best Christmas Day ever when I gleefully ripped off the gift wrap to reveal my very own Electronic Battleship game. I had played the standard version at Boys and Girls Club, but TV the Saturday morning cartoon advertising had fixed the electronic game at the pinnacle of my desires for months. Two 9-volt batteries and a little imagination would result in the most intense naval battle I could experience on my own kitchen table!
My joy only mildly dimmed to see the infamous phrase stamped across the box. How difficult could a couple of batteries and a few plastic parts be? My Pop had assembled bicycles, wagons, race tracks, and trains. Although his efforts were dotted with complaints that Santa's elves should complete the assembly prior to delivery, he had a pretty good track record. I couldn't argue his point but never dared speak such blasphemy lest Santa overhear and document my displeasure on the following year's naughty list.
Unlike previous years, I resolved to wait with the utmost patience, trusting Pop's skills to put this item together quickly and maximize the hours of gaming pleasure I could experience in a single day.
My own grand resolve faltered after the half hour I estimated the task should have taken passed by with no results. I walked to the kitchen door and peered in. Mom and Pop sat on opposite sides of the table with what appeared to be a fully assembled Electronic Battleship game between them. Blips and tweets from the device led me to believe it must have been supplied with batteries as well.
"Woohoo! It's ready to play! Who's my first challenger?" I shouted.
A justifiable delay. In my innocence, I accepted this, returned to the living room, and curled up on the couch. To my chagrin, I next found myself stirring groggily after what the clock told me had been several hours of sleep. Sounds of routine beeps and trills emanated from the kitchen, interspersed with laughter. All sleepiness vaporized as I exploded up from the couch with renewed excitement to play my long-awaited Electronic Battleship.
I halted at the kitchen door. The view was unchanged except that the table was now littered with dirty plates and glasses from a meal apparently consumed at their stations, so engrossed were they in their commitment to preparing my new toy. Not many children have parents with such commitment, I assure you.
"Is it close?" I again inquired.
Disheartened, I sighed and wandered off to my room to organize my toy box for the new items to be stored there that evening.
As still more time passed, my concerns over the delay grew. They didn't even look up as I got a drink of water from the kitchen, diligently punching numbers into the keypads. I had to admit: They were handling this adversity well, sacrificing of a whole holiday for game assembly and instruction reading. But they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying every moment of their efforts to make my Christmas Day extra special.
A trip to the bathroom with a passing glance and still, the same scene.
Dusk approached, and Mom and Pop had not left the room. I walked silently to the door to try and guess an ETA based on their conversation. Again, the bleeps and blips, then raucous laughter as explosive sounds revealed a torpedo had hit its mark.
The error of their ways dawned upon guilt-ridden faces, and they quickly sat me down and began instructing me how to enter the locations of my ships, program a missile launch and savor the explosive sound of a successful strike on an enemy ship.
We played for almost a good hour before Mom and Pop sorrowfully reminded me of bedtime and shuffled me off to bed with an extra affectionate tuck-in and kiss goodnight. Comforted that they truly had my best interests at heart, I drifted off to sleep contentedly, barely making out the sounds of hushed voices, bleeps and blips coming from down the hallway.
To support mine and Jacob's dream to publish a book someday, click here.
Previous Previous post: 15,000 Visitors!


text:
Q: keeping track of a moving shell script I hope someone can help me out. For the past month or so I have be learning the Bash... I have a program ( a simple language study program ) that I want to be able to install and run from a script.
I have a script that will create a new folder and move itself into it. The way I am doing it at the moment is below, although I have had problems with arrays that I am using later. I was wondering if there was a cleaner way of getting the new path to file name. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.
#!/bin/bash

echo "# path to me --------------->  ${0}     "
echo "# parent path -------------->  ${0%/*}  "
echo "# my name ------------------>  ${0##*/} "

if [[ ! -d ${0%/*}/SomeNewFolder ]] && [[ ! -d ${0%/*}/../SomeNewFolder ]]
then
    mkdir ${0%/*}/SomeNewFolder
    mv ${0} ${0%/*}/SomeNewFolder/${0##*/}
fi

echo ${0%/*}
newpath=$(echo "${0%/*}/SomeNewFolder")
echo $newpath

All the best, Ben
    exit

A: For clarity, I would probably declare named variables for your common values instead of constantly reusing the ${0} array. It's also good practice to quote variables and strings.
The only major issue I saw, was running ./script.sh would make $0 equal just the filename, so I add "./" to the beginning in that case.
#!/bin/bash -u

ME="${0}"
if [[ ! "$ME" =~ /^\// ]]; then
        ME="./$ME"
fi
PARENT="${ME%/*}"
FILENAME="${ME##*/}"
FOLDER="SomeNewFolder"
NEW="$PARENT/$FOLDER"

if [[ ! -d "$NEW" ]] && [[ "${PARENT%/*}" != "$FOLDER" ]]; then
        mkdir "$NEW"
        mv "$ME" "$NEW"
fi

echo "$PARENT"
echo "$NEW"

A: Well, you could do something like this to get an absolute path:
PARENTPATH=$( cd "$( dirname "$0" )" && pwd )
NEWPATH=${PARENTPATH}/SomeNewFolder

A: Installing and setting up programs is more appropriately done from a make file. Granted, it seems intimidating at first, but the basics, such as what you want, are quite simple. For your project, you would ideally have three item:

*

*your program

*your run script

*your makefile i.e. your installer

This breaks apart each of these different components, making each of them easier to manage. If you tar them together, you can move the tar file to a new computer and reinstall without any changes. Bash is a wonderful tool, but an installer it is not.
Sample make script below:
.PHONY: all clean
SCRIPT=yourScriptName.sh
SUBFOLDER=someFolder

all: $(SCRIPT)

$(SCRIPT): $(SUBFOLDER)
    cp $(SCRIPT) $(SUBFOLDER)
$(SUBFOLDER):
    mkdir $(SUBFOLDER)
clean:
    -rm -f $(SUBFOLDER)/$(SCRIPT)
    -rmdir $(SUBFOLDER)

IMPORTANT! make is whitespace sensitive! Those indents are tabs not four spaces.

A: me="$0"
newdir=SomeNewFolder

if [[ $me =~ ^/ ]] ; then
    full_path="$me"
else
    full_path="$PWD/$me"
fi
full_path="${full_path//\/\.\///}" # prettify

path_to_me="${full_path%/*}"
parent_dir="${path_to_me##*/}"

if [ ! "$parent_dir" = "$newdir" ] ; then
    mkdir -p "$path_to_me/$newdir"
    mv -f "$full_path" "$path_to_me/$newdir/"
fi

Basically similar to what lunixbochs was doing, but with a few minor alterations

*

*lower case variable names so as not to be confused with environment variables

*crudely estimates absolute path

*-f and -p becuase interactivity is never cool, and why not

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Ryan Adams played the Beacon Theatre
Ryan Adams is on tour behind his latest full-length record, Prisoner. After stopping by Rough Trade this past winter to promote the new album, he dropped in on the famed Beacon Theatre for an absolutely breathtaking performance.
Despite hailing from North Carolina, Ryan Adams claims New York City as his spiritual home and it's clear that people here feel the same way. On his second consecutive night of sold-out shows at the iconic Beacon Theatre, Adams treated the crowd to a captivating and career spanning set. "I put so many songs on the set list that I don't really have time to talk" he announced about halfway through the show, and while Ryan can certainly entertain his audience with his witty banter, I doubt anyone minded the numerous favorites that were sprinkled throughout the evening. It's clear now that his record release show at Rough Trade earlier this year was in fact just that, a celebration of his really good new record. The nights at the Beacon, however, were for the fans that have waited for so long to hear tracks that have been emblazoned in their minds stretching back almost two decades. Pulling out "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)" for the second song of the night was an indicator that this was bound to be something special, but as the night progressed it became more and more clear that he was ready to pull out all the bells and whistles for a truly remarkable show. He's never possessed the downtown chic vibes of the Strokes, but his effortless cool still ripples in full effect and watching him arch his back while bursting into supreme guitar solos while his whiskey soaked wail carried rang out into the theatre was a mesmerizing sight to behold. He's alt-country rock and roll personified and not once did he let anyone think otherwise. Even with his illustrious chops and striking essence, the venue only heightened the experience. The sound was so sharp and crisp that even in a large setting, the performance felt intimate. It really felt like a night of magic. One that lifted spirits, ignited passion, and left a sense of resounding joy in the air. A solo acoustic rendition of "My Winding Wheel" felt life affirming, like an awakening. "Magnolia Mountain" turned into an epic jam session. "When the Stars Go Blue" was resilient and peaceful, somehow conjuring up even more spiritual bliss than the night had already produced. His long sought for and humbling cover "Wonderwall" was sensational and profound. Still, ending the set with "New York, New York" was cathartic beyond belief, inspiring and nostalgic, and a heartfelt tribute that really encapsulated the feeling and energy that resonated throughout the building. The encore of "Come Pick Me Up" was rather transcendent and saw the crowd rise to their feet for one last moment as this rock savior rose to the occasion and delivered everything the fans could have asked for and more. It was honest, pure, and exemplified everything that music can do to sooth the soul.
01 "Do You Still Love Me?"
02 "To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)"
03 "Gimme Something Good"
04 "Two"
05 "Dirty Rain"
06 "Outbound Train"
07 "Everybody Knows"
08 "English Girls Approximately"
09 "Prisoner"
10 "Wonderwall" [Oasis cover]
11 "Doomsday"
12 "When the Stars Go Blue"
13 "Let It Ride"
14 "Are You Home?"
15 "My Winding Wheel"
16 "Sweet Illusions"
17 "Magnolia Mountain"
18 "To Be Without You"
19 "Kim"
20 "Cold Roses"
21 "Shakedown on 9th Street"
22 "New York, New York"
23 "Come Pick Me Up"
Posted by marc at 12:30 AM
Labels: Ryan Adams
Stream of conscience blogging covering my thoughts on indie rock, electronic, punk, noise, and pop. I live in Brooklyn, like to make lists, and am trying to listen to more hip-hop.
Donut Club NYC
Lisztomania
Songs 2019
Albums of the Decade | 2010 - 2019
Songs of the Decade | 2010 - 2019
Albums 2000s
Songs 2000s
10 Years | | 10 Songs
10 Years of OMG!NYC
OMG!NYC - 5 Years Later
battles - brooklyn vegan
the knife - brooklyn vegan
wu lyf - brooklyn vegan
fucked up - brooklyn vegan
lightning bolt - brooklyn vegan
the dead weather - brooklyn vegan
portishead - pitchfork
japandroids - brooklyn vegan
All My Friends
Emilysaur
Lo Biz
My Sunday Sweater
Plus 1 Press
Utter Maundering
Washed Out - "Get Lost"
Real Estate played Brooklyn Steel
Broken Social Scene - "Hug of Thunder"
Slowdive played Brooklyn Steel
LCD Soundsystem - "Call the Police"
A Place to Bury Strangers (1) A Sunny Day in Glasgow (3) A Tribe Called Quest (2) Afghan Whigs (1) Alcest (3) All Points West (1) All Tomorrow's Parties (1) Amy Winehouse (1) Andy Stott (5) Animal Collective (8) Annuals (1) Arcade Fire (15) Ariel Lask (1) Ariel Pink (2) At the Drive-In (1) Atlas Sound (3) Atoms for Peace (5) Autre Ne Veut (3) Battles (6) Beach House (17) Beck (4) Beirut (1) Besnard Lakes (2) Big Boi (1) Big Troubles (1) Bloc Party (1) Boards of Canada (2) Bon Iver (8) Brand New (2) Bright Eyes (1) Broken Social Scene (10) Buke and Gase (1) Buke and Gass (3) Burial (8) Caribou (6) Ceremony (1) Chelsea Light Moving (1) CMJ (1) Coachella (2) Coping (1) cover (4) Crocodiles (2) Crystal Castles (5) Cults (4) Cursive (1) Daft Punk (4) Darlings (2) Deafheaven (13) Death from Above 1979 (4) Death Grips (1) Deerhunter (15) Desaparecidos (1) Dinosaur Jr (14) Dirty Projectors (8) documentary (1) Dr. Dre (1) Drexel (1) Earth (2) Enjoy the Experience (1) Explosions in the Sky (3) Fang Island (1) Feist (1) Fever Ray (4) Fiona Apple (4) FKA twigs (12) Flea (1) Fleet Foxes (9) Florence + the Machine (1) Four Tet (5) Frank Black (1) Fred Armisen (1) Fuck Buttons (3) Fucked Up (2) Girl Talk (1) Girls (3) Godspeed You Black Emperor (5) Governor's Ball (5) Grizzly Bear (13) Grooms (1) Haim (8) Headless Horseman (2) HEALTH (3) Hop Along (4) How to Dress Well (2) Iceage (10) Interpol (3) Interview (1) J Mascis (3) Jackpot Tiger (1) James Blake (7) Japandroids (8) Jay-Z (7) Jeff Mangum (4) Joanna Newsom (11) Johnny Marr (1) Julian Casablancas (2) Julianna Barwick (4) Justic (1) Justice (1) Justin Timberlake (1) Kanye West (9) Keep Shelly in Athens (8) Kendrick Lamar (7) Kevin Drew (1) Kim Gordon (1) King Tuff (3) Kraftwerk (1) LCD Soundsystem (12) Lee Ranaldo (1) Liars (4) Lightning Bolt (9) Lower (3) Lower Dens (7) M.I.A. (1) m83 (5) Mark Ronson (1) Mates of State (1) Mazzy Star (3) Medicine (1) Merchandise (1) Metz (8) Mikal Cronin (3) mixtape (4) Modest Mouse (1) Mogwai (5) Mountain Goats (1) Mutual Benefit (3) My Bloody Valentine (6) Neil Young (9) Neil Young and Crazy Horse (2) Neutral Milk Hotel (2) Nine Inch Nails (5) Nirvana (1) No Age (7) No Joy (1) Ought (4) Panda Bear (10) Parquet Courts (3) Perfect Pussy (4) Pharrell (1) Phoenix (8) Pixies (1) Plastic Bertrand (2) Portishead (4) Pulp (1) Pussy Riot (2) Quilt (2) Radiohead (16) Real Estate (10) Record Store Day (2) Redd Kross (1) Refused (3) Rock the Bells (1) Santigold (1) Santogold (2) Savages (1) Saves the Day (2) screaming females (4) Shabazz Palaces (6) Sigur Rós (5) Siren Festival (1) sleigh bells (3) Slint (1) Snoop Dogg (1) Solange (4) Spiritualized (3) Squarepusher (1) Sub Pop (1) Sufjan Stevens (9) Sun Kil Moon (2) Sweet Apple (1) Swervedriver (3) Tame Impala (11) Tennis (2) THABTO (1) The Appleseed Cast (1) The Beatles (1) The Big Pink (1) The Dead Weather (1) The Get Up Kids (2) the Hives (1) The Hood Internet (1) The Knife (2) The Libertines (1) The Men (6) The Morning Benders (1) The Most Serene Republic (1) The National (6) The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (5) The Rapture (1) The Raveonettes (1) The Strokes (6) the Weeknd (4) The White Stripes (3) The xx (6) The Zombies (1) These New Puritans (1) Thom Yorke (9) Titus Andronicus (4) Todd Terje (3) Tokyo Police Club (1) tUnE-yArDs (6) TV on the Radio (8) tv performance (4) Twin Sister (4) Ty Segall (2) Unknown Mortal Orchestra (5) Vampire Weekend (6) Vatican Shadow (2) Watch the Throne (1) Wavves (1) Weezer (1) White Hinterland (1) White Lung (4) Widowspeak (10) Wilco (4) Woods (2) WU LYF (3)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There will come a time in a person's life when seeking the help of a professional or a friend is not enough to comfort and ease doubts plaguing their mind. When you have exhausted your options, and you can't seem to find the right answers, it is typical to look for unorthodox solutions. It is not uncommon for people to scoff or look down upon the work of psychics, thinking that it is highly unlikely to find someone who indeed has the gift.
These doubts are not unfounded, because it is an unfortunate reality that many of those who consider themselves genuine practitioners or psychics are only out to get your money. How do you know if an online psychic is the real deal? Here are recommendations to guide you in your search.
This could be true to a point, but many genuine psychic practitioners take to the internet to reach a wider audience. Advertising is not always a negative thing if you are looking for a psychic. In most instances, searching online and stumbling upon extensive lists of the most trusted online psychic websites might lead you to the life-changing experience you've been looking for.
Word of mouth is a reasonable basis on which to assume a psychic is the real deal. But it is not often you'll find people admitting that they have consulted a psychic at some point in their life. It will help if you ask trusted friends and family members for recommendations. If you seek advice in confidence, they might be more willing to offer their suggestions.
Although online sessions don't offer the same personal experience as a face-to-face appointment, you will know that a psychic is the real deal by how he or she guides your session through questions. A good psychic is not out to scare or overwhelm you with theatrics. The psychic should not give frightening predictions just to entice you to come back.
Genuine psychics provide both positive and negative forecasts that are realistic. They will also allow you to ask questions to help steer the session further in the direction you want and not what they want.
Genuine psychics will not force you to finish an entire session if you feel uncomfortable at any point. You need to be able to feel safe and have the option to end the meeting in the middle if you so wish. Genuine psychics are always professional in their demeanor and behavior and will not use theatrics to make the experience more exciting.
Online psychic readings from the best psychics can be a rewarding experience which might open your mind to the answers you've been longing to get. This guide hopes to help you in selecting an online psychic to whom you can entrust your thoughts and who can assist you in gaining insights about your future.


If your "Plan A" for survival sinks, do you have a Plan B backup?
Forget rushing to the grocery store when disaster like a snowstorm strikes. Everyone else will have the same idea. Need I say more?
The supermarket and the convenience store are the first places a panicking town will flock to for food and water. While they're duking it out there, you can obtain essential supplies at other places where the masses of people won't even think to look.
Before some critical event hits, locate all the businesses and water sources within two miles of your home. When compiling this list, don't assume that any particular business can't possibly have something valuable. Once the list is complete, sift through it to determine if any have any valuable items. Take your time.
Businesses you might never think have water will have water, such as a dental clinic: bottled water. Same with beauty spas and health clubs. Many gyms also sell food. Don't blow off the hobby shop: It might sell craft wood and twine. And don't scratch off an office supply store: the big ones sell candy. Major bookstores sell bottled beverages, pastries and sandwiches.
Make sure you have a bicycle to get to these businesses in the event of a disaster, because a car won't be practical during or after an event like a tornado, hurricane or flood. And don't wait for the event to see if the bike works.
If you normally walk your dog or do fitness walks or runs, take different routes to get used to all the different routes throughout your town, in the event that a calamity obstructs your main route. You'll then instantly know an alternate route to get to a business to obtain essential supplies.
Finally, keep physically fit. Pedaling a bike for a few miles with a duffel bag full of food and bottled water will be very taxing for an out-of-shape person.
What was going through the head of a burglar as he was hovering over a baby after breaking into a house? Did he momentarily pause to take a breather and find a sense of peace and calm at the sight of an innocent baby? Or…was he contemplating harming the toddler or kidnapping?
One thing we know for sure: The 19-year-old actually hovered over the sleeping baby, as this was caught on tape. The man admitted to involvement in two other Houston burglaries, and in one of those he had stolen a gun.
The latest crime occurred on April 5 and the video went viral. The burglar's name is Christopher Gomez; he confessed to being the star of the video.
His arrest record includes breaking into a car and marijuana possession.
Gomez committed the April 5 crime while the baby's family was asleep. Nobody heard him enter (makes you wonder what kind of home security the homeowner had, but that's a whole new article). A laptop computer and briefcase, property of the homeowner, were found later in a neighbor's yard.
Gomez's lawyer stated that he's not sure that the man in the video is his client (even though Gomez confessed). Furthermore, the lawyer, Ralph Gonzalez, pointed out that even if his client is the intruder, he didn't harm the baby or anyone else. Gonzales added that the video makes the crime seem worse than it actually was.
Gomez is in jail meanwhile, but if he gets out, he's ordered to remain within a thousand feet of his home and wear an ankle monitor.
You never know when malware will bite. Even browsing an online restaurant menu can download malicious code, put there by hackers.
Much has been said that Target's hackers accessed the giant's records via its heating and cooling system. They've even infiltrated thermostats and printers among the "Internet of Things".
It doesn't help that swarms of third parties are routinely given access to corporate systems. A company relies upon software to control all sorts of things like A/C, heating, billing, graphics, health insurance providers, to name a few.
If just one of these systems can be busted into, the hacker can crack 'em all. The extent of these leaky third parties is difficult to pinpoint, namely because of the confidential nature of the breach resolution process.
A New York Times online report points out that one security expert says that third party leaks may account for 70 percent of data breaches, and from the least suspected vendors, at that.
When the corporation's software remotely connects to all those other things like the A/C, vending machines, etc., this is practically an invitation to hackers. Hackers love this "watering hole" type crime , especially when corporations use older systems like Windows XP.
Plus, many of the additional technological systems (such as video conference equipment) often come with switched-off security settings. Once a hacker gets in, they own the castle.
The New York Times online report adds that nobody thinks to look in these places. Who'd ever think a thermostat could be a portal to cyber crime?
Security researchers were even able to breach circuit breakers of the heating and cooling supplier for a sports arena—for the Sochi Olympics.
One way to strengthen security seems too simple: Keep the networks for vending machines, heating and cooling, printers, etc., separate from the networks leading to H.R. data, credit card information and other critical information. Access to sensitive data should require super strong passwords and be set up with a set of security protocols that can detect suspicious activity.
Law enforcement agencies detect data breaches before businesses do because the former seeks evidence of the cyber crime, reports a networkworld.com article.
Unlike law enforcement agencies, businesses don't go undercover in hacker forums. Nor do they get court permission to bust into enclaves of cyber thieves. Businesses don't have moles. It continues: Law enforcement agencies interview imprisoned cyber crooks. The FBI does a lot of undercover work.
The law is always buffing up on its skills at fighting cybercrime to keep up with its evolution, such as a drastic decrease in solitary criminals and an increase in complex crime rings. These rings have all sorts of technical tricks up their sleeves, including hosting their own servers and changing up their communication methods to vex law enforcement. It doesn't help that some foreign countries don't place an emphasis on fighting cybercrime.
The evidence that the law presents to the business when that time comes is rock solid, though again, the company may lack aggression in its immediate response. The company's legal counsel is commonly the first person to get the forensics report. Upper management usually gets involved before the IT department does. This is all part of keeping legal control over potentially harmful situation.
If you feel like you are starting to get the flu, going to the doctor's office can get you some medicine and get you on the road to recovery. But, there's no pill or surgery that can protect you from medical identity theft—which can kill you. Literally. The thief who steals your identity doesn't mean to kill you; he just wants to obtain free medical care on your dime.
If a thief has access to your personal information, he can pose as you and see doctors and have procedures done—for free or for a nominal copay. The crook uses fake IDs and phony insurance cards to pull off this scam.
The problem really starts kicking in when the imposter's medical situation gets tacked onto your medical record—since they are posing as you. This can result in a number of harmful outcomes for you. Not only can it potentially cause misdiagnoses, you could be issued a prescription to a drug that you have a fatal reaction to.
Just think about it for a moment: Someone else's medical condition getting integrated with yours. This can cause a lot of problems. You could be denied medical coverage or lose your current coverage because of false information in your medical records. In the United States, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects your right of access to your medical records. If someone else is pretending to be you and accessing your records, you might not be able to access your own records. That's a scary thought.
But even you are lucky enough not to suffer any negative consequences to your health as a result of the medical identity theft, cleaning up the mess can be enough to give anyone a heart attack.
So how can you prevent becoming a victim of medical identity theft?
Protect your mail: Install a locking mailbox so no one can access your mail.
Shred all medical documents: Make sure to properly dispose of your medical documents so you don't become a victim to dumpster-diving thieves. This includes digital files as well.McAfee LiveSafe (put tm in here and links this) service comes with a digital shredder that uses higher than government standard file shredding—don't rely on simply putting something in the "trash bin" on your computer and then emptying it.
Leave medical cards at home: Only take them when you are visiting the doctor. If you're worried you might need them in the event you have an accident and need immediate medical treatment, memorize your health ID number. If you're unconscious upon arriving at an ER, you'll get treated anyways—it's the law. Simply provide your medical card after the fact. Don't carry identity cards either: Identification cards or Social Security number cards should also be left at home in a safe place. Since many medical systems use these numbers as your identifier on the policy, you don't want them falling into the wrong hands. And with access to these cards, a thief could easily create the fake credentials needed to commit medical identity theft.
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman! Yes, this superhero might be the epitome of courage, justice, and strength, but he might also be the biggest threat to you online.
We've entered a new age of superheroes. No longer are they just pictures in a comic book. They are now accessible on computers, game console devices, and mobile devices. Superheroes like Captain America, Thor, and Spiderman star on the silver screen. The Green Arrow and The Flash have their own television shows. Videos like Batkid and the Spiderman dad went viral on YouTube (and consequently, melted our hearts).
This is great news to comic publishers like Marvel and DC Comics. Unfortunately, it's also good news to hackers and scammers too. Cybercriminals know that search engines (like Google, Yahoo! and Bing) can also be used for criminal means. Therefore, they use popular search terms to draw victims in like celebrity gossip, holidays, viral hits, and…you guessed it…superheroes.
McAfee just released a study on the Most Toxic Superheroes that analyzed what superhero search led to the most risky websites using McAfee® SiteAdvisor® site ratings. And the Man of Steel topped the list. The study determined that searching "Superman," "Superman and free torrent download," "Superman and watch," "Superman and free app," and "Superman and online," yields a 16.5% chance of landing on a website that has tested positive for online threats, such as spyware, adware, spam, phishing, viruses and other malware.
Want to know more? Join the discussion on Twitter using hashtag #toxicsuperhero.


Every four seconds another person enters a human trafficking situation somewhere in the world. It is estimated that there are over 40 million people in modern-day slavery today—more than any other time in history. To make sense of this important issue and its relevance in today's U.S. banking community, Matt Friedman will offer a comprehensive update on this topic.
Matt Friedman is an international human trafficking expert with more than 29 years of experience as a manager, program designer, evaluator and frontline responder. He is the CEO of The Mekong Club, an organization of Hong Kong-based private sector business leaders who have joined forces to help fight human trafficking in Asia. Mr. Friedman was previously Regional Project Manager at the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) in Thailand, an inter-agency coordinating body that linked the United Nations system with governments and civil society groups in China, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh and Nepal where he designed and managed country and regional human trafficking programs. Mr. Friedman also offers regular technical advice to numerous governments and corporations working to stop slavery, and is the author of eleven books.
ABA Professional Certifications has approved this program for 1.25 CAFP and 1.25 CRCM continuing education credits for the live program and the recording.
This group-live event is eligible for 1.0 CPE credit for CPAs (Specialized Knowledge). Recordings are not eligible for CPE credits. No prerequisites required.


How much is Brad Gilbert Worth?
Brad Gilbert net worth: Brad Gilbert is an American tennis coach, commentator, author, and former professional tennis player who has a net worth of $10 million. Brad Gilbert was born in Oakland, California in August 1961. He turned professional in 1982 and retired in 1995, winning $5.5 million in career prize money. Gilbert won 20 career singles titles with his highest ranking coming at #4 in January 1990. He reached the quarterfinals of the US Open in 1987 and Wimbledon in 1990. Gilbert also won three career doubles titles. He won a gold medal at the 1981 Maccabiath Games and a bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games representing the United States. Since retiring Gilbert has coach several professionals including Andre Agassi, Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, and Kei Nishikori. He authored the books Winning Ugly and I've Got Your Back and works as a tennis analyst for ESPN.


text:
Immigrant Investor Program
Changes and Trends in EB-5 Investment Immigration
Is it the End of the EB-5 World as We Know it? How to Prepare for Potential Changes
USCIS Retains $500,000 Minimum Investment Amount After Voluntary Dismissal of Behring Regional Center Appeal
Jackson Walker on 1/18/2022
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on January 5, 2022, filed an unopposed motion to dismiss its August 2021 appeal to a district court ruling in Behring Regional Center LLC v. Chad Wolf, et al. The previous ruling...more
What Investors Need to Know About Lapsed Authorization for EB-5 Regional Center Program
As of June 30, 2021, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program has lapsed, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has since rejected any submissions received on or after July 1, 2021, of the following...more
Judge Voids EB-5 Immigrant Investor Modernization Rule, Restoring Old Investment Amounts and Targeted Employment Area Standards
On June 22, 2021, Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the Northern District of California ruled that Former Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan exceeded his statutory authority in issuing the July 2019...more
Following a shift in U.S. presidential administrations and changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson Walker partner Christian Triantaphyllis, who leads the Firm's Investment Immigration practice, covers some potential...more
EB-5 Enforcement on the Uptick
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program is one that attracts its fair share of attention, not all of it good, and too much of it from organizations named with that part of the alphabet — SEC and DOJ — that can strike fear in the...more
Supreme Court Preserves But Limits SEC Disgorgement Power
In Liu v. Securities & Exchange Comm'n, No. 18-1501, 2020 WL 3405845 (U.S. June 22, 2020), the United States Supreme Court upheld the authority of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to seek disgorgement as an...more
EB-5: Status Update
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP on 12/24/2019
For the past 4 weeks, the EB-5 industry has been anxiously awaiting the status of the pending complaint filed in the United States District Court in the District of Columbia by a Florida regional center against USCIS and...more
EB5 Industry 2019 - Where Are We Now?
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP on 12/4/2019
Saul Ewing Arnstein and Lehr LLP has been extremely active in navigating the current status of the EB5 industry and determining what courses of action need to be taken given the existence of the new regulations ("New...more
New EB-5 Program Regulations Take Effect
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule on July 24, 2019, that makes a number of significant changes to its EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program ("EB-5 Program"). These new rules are designed to...more
EB-5 Programs Update, New Legislation Introduced
Jackson Lewis P.C. on 11/25/2019
On November 21, 2019, the new EB-5 Investor Visa Program rules went into effect. That was also the day that the government could have shut down if a spending bill or another continuing resolution had not been approved. It...more
EB-5 Immigrant Investment Program Regulatory and Judicial Update
Stinson LLP on 11/22/2019
On November 21, 2019, the EB-5 "Immigrant Investor Program Modernization" became effective. This is the first significant EB-5 regulatory change instituted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) since 1993....more
New EB-5 Program Rules Start November 21: What To Expect
Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP on 11/14/2019
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made significant changes to the Immigrant Investor Program (EB-5) through their establishment of new EB-5 modernization regulations. The EB-5 program permits individuals...more
Longstanding EB-5 Visa Program Undergoes Significant Changes
As of November 21, 2019, the United States EB-5 immigrant visa, employment-based fifth preference category, or EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program, will be revised for the first time since its 1990 enactment. The revisions,...more
Senate Leaders Propose Significant Changes to the EB-5 Program: Big City Developers Are Likely to Rejoice
Polsinelli on 11/8/2019
On November 5, 2019, Senators Rounds (R-SD), Graham (R-SC) and Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Immigrant Investor Program Relief Act (S. 2778) ("Relief Act"). The Relief Act would extend the Immigrant Investor Program (known as...more
USCIS Policy Manual Changes to Implement EB-5 Modernization Regulation
Baker Donelson on 11/8/2019
On November 6, 2019, USCIS updated its Policy Manual to incorporate changes made by the EB5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization Final Rule, published on July 24, 2019, and effective November 21, 2019, available at 84 FR...more
USCIS Publishes EB-5 Modernization Rule: the Impact on the EB-5 Program
Seyfarth Shaw LLP on 7/31/2019
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 24, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the immigration-benefits component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), published a final regulation on "EB-5 Immigrant...more
USCIS Issues New EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regulations
Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP on 7/31/2019
The EB-5 immigrant investor program, first introduced in the early 1990s, has not had an overhaul since its inception. Major changes will apply to all I-526 petitions filed on or after the Effective Date of November 21, 2019....more
Regulatory Change to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
Stinson LLP on 7/26/2019
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on July 23, 2019 that final regulations will be published on July 24, 2019 making a number of significant changes to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program effective...more
Modernization at Last: Insight to the Newly Published EB-5 Modernization Rules … Now the Race is On...
Polsinelli on 7/26/2019
On July 23, 2019, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) regulations to update the Immigrant Investor Program were published in the Federal Register. The new EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization...more
EB-5 Alert! New Regulations Increasing The Minimum Investment Amounts And More!
On Wednesday, July 24th 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a new EB-5 regulation which will go into effect November 21, 2019. The new EB-5 regulations will effectuate a number of changes, including...more
Changes To EB-5 Investor Visa Program
Jackson Lewis P.C. on 7/25/2019
USCIS has published its new final rule significantly changing the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program to address concerns about fraud, abuse, and national security risks. The new regulations will become effective on November 21,...more
OMB Completes Regulatory Review of EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program Modernization Rules: Final Reform Measures may be Published...
Polsinelli on 7/2/2019
The Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) completed its review of United State Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) proposed regulations to update the Immigrant...more
EB-5 And Its European Counterpart Subject To Expected Changes, Oversight
Jackson Lewis P.C. on 3/4/2019
In June 2018, Congress held a hearing on "Citizenship for Sale: Oversight of the EB-5 Investor Visa Program." The current EB-5 program allows wealthy individuals to apply for and obtain green cards by investing anywhere from...more
The Shutdown: USCIS and E-Verify
Burr & Forman on 1/17/2019
The current government shutdown does not affect the vast majority of USCIS's activities. Their offices are open, and interviews and appointments are proceeding as normal. USCIS continues to accept petitions and applications...more
Blog re Aila/Iiusa Eb-5 Industry Forum in Chicago, Illinois
I just attended the combined AILA/IIUSA Conference in Chicago. The low attendance reflected the general mood of the industry that there is significant pull back in EB-5 investments in various jurisdictions, especially in...more
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)EB-5EB-5 Regional CentersForeign InvestmentImmigration ProceduresMotion to DismissUSCISVisas


text:
Finland hit by strikes over austerity measures
Thousands take to the streets of Nordic nation in protest against cutbacks aimed at rescuing economy from downturn.
A one-day strike in Finland halted public transportation and shut down ports nationwide on Friday as workers protested against government cutbacks aimed at trying to drag the Nordic country out of a three-year economic downturn.
Trains and city buses were not running. Finnair, the national carrier, cancelled about two dozen domestic flights and there were delays at airports, such as in Helsinki, where security staff briefly walked off.
The strike came after talks on a collective agreement on wages and working hours collapsed.
Three unions claiming to represent up to 2.2 million people – nearly half of Finland's population of 5.5 million – are protesting government cutbacks, including limits to holiday benefits and overtime pay.
Juha Sipila's government says the measures are necessary to improve Finland's competitiveness, lift exports and investments, and create new jobs.
"The global economy has been growing for the last few years, but we have not managed to board that train," Sipila said in a speech this week.
After taking office in May, the Finnish prime minister attempted to get the unions and employers' organisations to agree on cuts as part of a so-called social contract, but the talks failed.
On Friday, he gave employers and unions until September 30 to agree on cuts before going to parliament.
Sipila heads a government comprising his Centre Party, the conservative National Coalition Party, and the populist Finns Party.
Source : Al Jazeera, News Agencies
Finnish PM offers his home to asylum seekers
Al Jazeera talks to Finns on the PM's recent move and what role the Nordic country should play in EU's refugee crisis.
Should Finland join NATO?
The public debate on Finland joining NATO has been marked by misrepresentation and historical amnesia.
Bruno Jantti
From: Inside Story
The true cost of austerity
The hard-hitting findings of a new study sheds light on the social impact of devastating spending cuts.