Night vision scopes have been around for many years, and the technology advancements made them more accessible for shooters all over the world. This kind of scopes is very efficient, and they will increase your accuracy during the night.
A night vision scope from Sightmak can come in handy if you're practicing your shooting or planning on spending your night hunting, but the real purpose of a night vision scope is to give you the edge in a tactical situation. Having the capability to hunt with your gun at night can change your overall experience by a large margin.
Whether you are simply camping outside or hunting in near total darkness, a night vision scope can help you see the environment clearly. To quickly locate your target in the dark during at far distance, night vision technology requires the best choice.
Night vision scopes amplify the small ambient light in the dark, making it easier for you to see your targets with more clarity. They can be a little expensive as they are high-quality scopes that utilize the latest technology, but all these should not stop you from buying one. The table below shows the list of top night vision scope from Sightmark.
Buying a night vision scope can be tricky as the market is flooded with different night vision devices. Buying the best night vision scope from Sightmark is not as easy as it sounds. The need of each person buying differs, when you are choosing the night vision scope, ensure that it is according to your need.
There are a lot of technical information that one has to know and understand in order to make the best purchase. You should pay attention to the individual features of a scope before making a purchase. In a nutshell, our unbiased buying guide will show you what to look for in a night vision scope from Sightmark.
When it comes to purchasing a night vision scope, image quality is one of the most important factors to consider, and two things come into play when you talk of clarity, which is contrast and resolution. Contrast is the range of optical density while the resolution is the ability of optics to evaluate the angular separation of an image.
This is one of the most important features that helps you to identify your target; the higher the scope resolution, the better clarity, and contrast of your image.
Infrared illuminators are highly useful to have in night vision scope, most especially if you will be hunting in low light conditions. The work of the Infrared Illuminator is to help with making a bright image that is easy to see in the dark. It is recommendable to go for scopes that feature an infrared night vision scope attachment rather than the units that feature built-in infrared illuminators.
Gain is the ability to enhance images when it gets darker. The best night vision scopes can improve gain in the dark without affecting the target view when the ambient light comes down and viewing distance increases.
Look for devices with high-resolution and high-definition images avoiding those that are blurred and distorted.
The best night vision device should offer images that are sharp at the center and the edges.
The night vision scope should be comfortable and not bulky as they are worn over the head. To avoid any inconvenience as well the eye socket should be comfortable. Hunting will need a lighter optic, because it is easier to aim, comfortable, and it will not interfere with your rifle's maneuverability.
How far the night vision device of choice can focus is important. When you need night vision scopes for night hunting, having long range scopes is important. Military exercises require different ranges which are why it is important to know exactly what range you need.
What type of magnification do you want with your choice of night vision scopes? This is dependent on how clear you need your images to be.
How long is the device going to offer you service once you purchase it? This is an imperative thing to consider because it will help you know whether to buy a cheaper device or a more complex and expensive device.
This is not a feature of the night vision scopes but is an important factor that you need to consider. How deep into your pocket will you dig to get the device?
If you will be engaging in long expeditions that last long hours, it is important that you get a device whose battery will last long. This also helps you be able to organize yourself and know how you will charge your equipment when it is low on power.
A device that is easy to use means that there are lesser risks of you having your equipment malfunction when you need to use it. Granted, most devices have manuals, but a device that is easy to use and master gets you going and working even faster.
This is a toughie especially when you are a first-time buyer and just beginning night time explorations. For those who have more experience with night time work, it is easier to pick between them.
Depending on what you aim to achieve, you will be able to pick the right device for you. Each of them is a night vision device; it's what they offer that makes the difference.
It is important that you know whether the scope you are purchasing is compatible with other devices like your phone, tablets, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections.
To help you with making that right decision, we have come up with a list of some of the top models on the market right now, and at the end of this guide, you will be in the right position to make a decision on the best night vision scope to buy.
If you are looking for high-quality images and resolution, then the Sightmark Ghost Hunter Night Vision is the way to go. It has a built-in illuminator that makes the experience even more amazing. Any night time or dark tunnel can be viewed using this masterpiece.
When you plan to purchase, consider choosing from any of the following magnifications, the 2×24, 4×50 or 5×60. The magnification you choose determines the distance that your night vision scope will cover.
It is known for its unmistakable ergonomic design and the fact that it powers up instantly giving you instant access to everything you need. It is a lightweight gadget that is easy to carry and easy to use as well. When adjusting the illuminator, ensure that you are not unscrewing the eyepiece.
When you purchase the Ghost Hunter, you get a ¼ inch socket for a tripod mount and a close range of focus which means that for longer ranges you need to adjust the magnification. Get the Ghost Hunter and revolutionize any night time activities or dark tunnels expeditions that you may be engaged in.
Sightmarks Ghost Hunter is the exact definition of an exceptional product. The sale of the Ghost Hunter is restricted to the US mainly. Grab yours today at affordable prices from any online store.
Related: You will love working with the Night Optics Long-Range Pro-Variable IR Illuminator. It mounts securely on rifles when you are out hunting in dark surroundings. It is lightweight not to add any unwarranted weight so that you can use your gun for hours on end.
Sightmark introduces yet another fantastic night vision equipment. The Sightmark PVS-14 Night Vision Goggle is a handheld night vision goggle that can be head and weapon mounted. The technology used to design this device is so advanced and sophisticated such that when the PVS-14 is exposed to bright light, it automatically shuts off.
When the PVS-14 third generation night vision goggle is on low battery, it has an indicator that informs you so that you can recharge and have enough charge when going on your hunting or any other night time activity. It has an IR illuminator and is AA battery operated.
This goggle is a military inspired night vision device meaning that it is a very sharp and powerful night vision scope. The resolution produced by the PVS-14 is three times that of other night vision models. The range on the PVS-14 is also greater meaning you can cover more ground easily and see even further.
The PVS-14 has so many features and wonders fitted into a lightweight gadget that is easy to carry and does not easily exhaust you since it is handheld. It is also waterproof. Everything is made clear as day when using this third generation PVS-14 night vision goggle.
Anyone who loves working in dark areas or the night vision enthusiasts need to have this goggle. You have not seen or heard the last of the PVS-14 third generation until you get to experience its power and prowess first hand.
Underwater expeditions are catered for by the PVS-14 since it is a waterproof device. It is also very useful for hunting and military grade exercises. The cost goes to show how advanced this device is and how much service it will offer.
Related: When you are working in the dark it can help to make sure that everyone is looking at the same target. To aid that take a look at the Firefield Laser Light Designator.
You have not seen the last of Ghost Hunters until you have come across the Ghost Hunter Night Vision Binocular. It offers clear vision and great nighttime services. You can use this device for night time hunting or any night time activity that you may be engaged in.
Ghost Hunter night vision binocular is a lightweight device that is easy to carry and also very easy to use. The beauty of a lightweight device is in that you do not tire easily when working long hours. The introduction of this binocular has opened up new levels night vision to be reached when exploring in the dark.
High image resolution is what you get with the binocular. With its 2×24 imaging resolution, the images are clear as day and offer incredible detail to the scenarios that you are in.
It is also built with a high power infrared illuminator. You have no worries in the dark. Its design is comfortable to hold and is made from durable plastic offering you service for longer.
Ghost Hunter night vision binocular offers the choice of 2x or 4x magnification. This makes it a long range device that allows you to explore further in the night. You can spot targets from far off when using the binocular.
There is an automatic shut-off feature on the Ghost Hunter Binocular that automatically turns off the device when it is exposed to bright light sources. This makes it a very durable device that will serve you for years and reduces risks of malfunctions.
This night vision binocular is highly suitable for hunting. When hunting with this long range Ghost Hunter Binocular, you can spot animals from far off and with the high resolution that it offers, you will see your target clearly for a perfect shot.
The ultimate Sightmark night vision riflescope, the Photon XT Digital Night Riflescope, for hunting that has a higher magnification of 4.6x. The range of this rifle is excellent and gives you clear imaging resolution. A riflescope may be intimidating, but the Photon rifle is a lightweight device that gives you no troubles carrying it around.
It comes with a 33% longer battery life meaning longer hours of service and suitability. The lens that is fitted into the Photon Digital night vision riflescope is specifically designed for medium range. The rifle also has a mil-dot reticle for helping you find your range.
Resolution is key, and a 640×480 resolution is quite remarkable that will get you to see very clear images up to 100 yards away. The beauty of this rifle is that it has video capabilities that you can capture and also connect to other accessories.
The rifle scope comes with a lens cloth, a storage case, the video cable and a user manual that will help unpacking and use of the rifle easy. The rifle features six reticle options, red, green, white digital reticles for many uses among which is the two crossbow reticles designed for 320, 350, 370 and 400 fps crossbows, two duplex reticles useful for hog hunting.
Related: To hold your riflescope tight when mounting on anything, we recommend the UTG 30mm/2PCs Hi Pro LE Grade Picatinny QD Rings. They are adjustable and can fit any scope to make it stable in the shooting. Also important is the Evolva Future Technology T20 IR 38mm Lens Infrared to pair with this night vision riflescope for enhanced visions at night using the infrared light.
The Twilight Digital Night Vision Monocular is the most compact digital night vision device available. With front-line technology that makes it a remarkable monocular for all your needs. All its features are integrated together and work excellently. It offers both day and night usage. It is a one of a kind digital monocular.
The built-in IR illuminator is very useful as it makes the device more effective and betters the performance of the device. You can attach an IR flashlight on the monocular to improve its capabilities. It has close range focus and is, therefore, useful for hunting at close range for more accuracy.
It is a digital monocular that offers you video advantages. You can also control the brightness and get the right amount of light for quality images. It has ¼ inch sockets that you can fit the flashlight and video output cable.
It works with another device, the recorded video can be transferred to your TV. It has two AA batteries that can last up to six hours giving you ample time to carry out your expedition. The Twilight digital night vision monocular is perfect for night time sports since they do not include a very long range.
Twilight Digital Night Vision Monocular that works day and night, provides video, works with other devices and is built with the latest technology is a device that you should consider getting for your night time activities that do not require a long range device.
It is well-designed, rugged and sturdy with tight quality control.
The Ghost Hunter 4×50 Night Binocular sets a milestone for night vision devices with its high-quality imaging resolution that guarantees you clear vision in the dark. This helps you to carry out your activities easily and quickly. It is easy to use and master.
It is a lightweight device that is easy to carry and focus with a built-in IR illuminator. It powers up quickly and is designed to last. This device will give you quality and unmatched service for years. It is made from the best quality plastic.
It offers sharp focus and great magnification that can increase the range. It is a medium range device that allows you to see quite a distance in the dark. With the ghost hunter binocular, quality is emphasized and it helps you be able to work well, get great results and it's an effective device.
Sightmark has devoted their time, energy and resources into producing the best night vision devices possible. The ghost hunter binocular makes the list. The Sightmark ghost hunter goggle binocular kit works well with the ghost hunter binocular.
You should have an easy time selecting the best model that works for you from the different reviews above. The Sightmark night scope has all the qualities of an excellent night vision scope. The improvement in technology is offering you multiple benefits within a single package.
So, if you are presently in the market for a night vision scope, the Sightmark is worth considering or using as your base for comparisons with other options.
We sincerely thank you for reading through this review, and hopefully, you will make the best choice when choosing your night vision scope as you look forward to making your hunting much fun and easier.
Next is your turn, let us know which option you went with in the comment section below. Also, share why you went with that option. Finally, please share this article out with your friends on social media. You never know when someone will be in the market for one of these scopes.


China will further tighten limits on solid waste imports such as paper, plastics, scrap steel and copper and crack down on smuggling as part of the government's "war on pollution," according to a Reuters report that quoted the nation's environmental minister.
"In the next step, China will carry out a three-year plan to fully implement the reformed solid waste imports regulation and ban foreign garbage from entering the country," said Li Ganjie, minister of Ecology and Environment, in the statement reviewed by the State Council.
Be the first to comment on "China to further tighten solid waste imports in 2018-2020"


Below is the review I left on trustpilot regarding movement experiences with yodel!
Absolutely despicable! Biggest liars in existence! Worst service I've ever received from a courier!
Ordered flowers for mothers day from eflorist, all was on track to start with but then at 11.30 tracking stated couldn't find the house! Spent 2 hours between automated line of yodel and emailing florists whose lines were down. After finally managing to speak to a human at yodel they told me the driver couldn't find the address as eflorist did not provide them with the house number – I was in tears explaining that this might be missing last mothers day with my mum so it was urgent the flowers arrived – I even pleaded that I would collect them from anywhere with any ID they want. The yodel worker said that wouldn't be necessary and that he would contact the driver with the full address and they would be received today. The yodel worker lied and the flowers never arrived. I reported my complaint formally to yodel Monday – was supposed to have a response in 24 hours, it's now Thursday! But totally not surprised they make a habit of lying to customers! The cheeky buggers actually tried to deliver the bloody flowers 4 days late! With a bloody 'sorry'! They knew how important this day was from the state of my pleading phone call but instead of keeping their word they ruined what could be the last mothers day I actually celebrate, thank you yodel for making it memorable in all the wrong ways! The saddest thing is although eflorist didn't give them the house number the post code was there along with the home phone number of the address it was being delivered to – a simple "what house number are you?" would have sufficed! I'm no Einstein but seemed like a logical bloody move!
I have never been so upset by a company to the point where I've been in tears (I am a grown woman of 35 for christ's sake!) and I'm actually searching for companies yodel delivers for so i can close my accounts with any of them that are relevant to me and my simple explanation will be because i have no trust for their chosen courier whatsoever and doubt I'd receive my items! Not to mention the fact that getting through to a person in their customer service team is like breaking out of Alcatraz! Given there is bound to be issues it's not worth it! And they ignore formal complaints which again demonstrates their attitude of 'we don't give a hoot about our customers', not ideal for a courier company!
AVOID USING YODEL TO SAVE YOURSELF ANY GRIEF!


text:
Blur's Dave Rowntree and composer Ian Arber team up for BBC fake news drama
by Andre Paine
September 4th 2019 at 6:14AM
Blur's Dave Rowntree has collaborated with composer Ian Arber on the music for new BBC One series The Capture.
Arber recently composed the TV theme tune for the BBC Proms 2019.
The pair are known for their joint compositional work on award-winning documentaries including Bros' After The Screaming Stops and Mo Farah's No Easy Mile.
The Capture, which launched on Tuesday (September 3), is in the schedule previously taken by Keeping Faith, a series with its own successful soundtrack by Amy Wadge.
The score for The Capture is a blend analogue electronics, orchestra and percussion. The high-tech thriller was written and directed by Ben Chanan and touches on issues such as fake news. It stars Holliday Grainger, Callum Turner, Ben Miles, Ron Perlman and Famke Janssen.
We've woven together different instruments, themes and styles to make a dramatic but unsettling sound
Dave Rowntree
Music supervisor Michelle de Vries supervised the score, and worked with the production team to bring the musical elements to life throughout the series.
Rowntree said: "The show's tagline is 'seeing is deceiving'. As well as being a thriller, the story is a puzzle. What can you trust? We wanted the score to reflect that, so we've woven together different instruments, themes and styles to make a dramatic but unsettling sound."
Arber is a classically trained cellist and pianist with a reputation for experimenting with rare and exotic instruments.
"This is the third project Dave and I have worked on together," he said. "His background in Blur brings a deep understanding of electronic instruments and percussion, whereas my roots are in composing for orchestra. But fundamentally we both have a passion for big melodies. We write music the audience whistles on the way home from the cinema."
Arber's and Rowntree's agents are SMA Talent.
FOLLOW Andre Paine
For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to receive our daily Morning Briefing newsletter
Dave Rowntree,
BBC One,
Amy Wadge,
Ian Arber,
The Aftershow: Dave Rowntree
Lewis Capaldi covers the December issue of Music Week
Tap Music, Parlophone & TikTok hail Sam Ryder, Eurovision star looks ahead to 'amazing opportunities'
Parlophone's Nick Burgess & Mark Mitchell on Sam Ryder's star quality and 'epic' Eurovision campaign

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Not Like Other Folk: The Delicate Artistry Of Sandy Denny
Denny was one of Britain's finest vocal talents, and the aura around her has only enhanced since her passing.
Photo: Estate Of Keith Morris/Redferns
Any story about Sandy Denny has an element of sadness, for a life cut short at 31. But it seems much more fitting to celebrate what she achieved, and the music she left with us.
The recording output of Alexandra Denny, born in Merton Park in south London, was sadly limited to four solo albums. But when you consider both that catalog and her work with Fairport Convention, the short-lived Fotheringay, her early endeavors with the formative Strawbs and more, there's no room for doubt that she was one of Britain's finest vocal talents. The aura around her has only enhanced since her passing.
Listen to Sandy Denny's No More Sad Refrains: The Anthology right now.
Denny's recordings with a pre-record deal Strawbs — her early career plans to be a nurse by now on hold — were not issued at the time, but came out in the mid-1970s. Sandy had sung solo, including at London's famed Troubadour club (one of the real nerve centres of the folk scene from the 1960s onwards), even before she joined the Strawbs. Her first appearance on record was with some solo material on Scottish folk singer Alex Campbell's 1967 album Alex Campbell and Friends, and there was also work with British musician Johnny Silvo.
It was during that short period with the Strawbs that Denny wrote and first recorded the song that became, for many, her melancholy signature, "Who Knows Where The Time Goes." She auditioned for Fairport as a replacement for Judy Dyble, joining the ranks in time for their second album What We Did On Our Holidays, released early in 1969. It showed her abilities both as a vocal interpreter and an original songwriter, notably on the track "Fotheringay" which started the LP.
"It just so happened that I bumped into them, and it developed into quite a long relationship," Denny said of the Fairport relationship in the NME in 1972. "But I think I must have acquired an awful lot more musical ideas from them than I might have done from any other group. Their influences are so mixed."
Recording schedules being what they were in those days, the next Fairport album Unhalfbricking was released just six months later, for which she wrote "Autopsy"; led the band through a remake of her "Who Knows Where The Time Goes"; and joined them for an appearance on Top Of The Pops singing their near-Top 20, French language version of Bob Dylan's "If You Gotta Go, Go Now,' titled 'Si Tu Dois Partir."
There was a third Fairport album of 1969, Liege & Lief, in December, a sequence made all the more remarkable by the fact that these are considered to be among the crown jewels of the long-running band's mighty oeuvre. Denny had a songwriting credit, with Ashley Hutchings, on "Come All Ye," but the album was themed around remakes and updates of traditional material — and she was gone from the line-up even before it was released, departing on November 22.
Fotheringay, the band she then formed with her husband-to-be Trevor Lucas, was intended as a vehicle for her to drive herself, as it were. Their live work included a show at the Royal Albert Hall in the autumn of 1970, supported by the up-and-coming Elton John, but they lasted only one, self-titled album.
That led Denny, finally, to her first album under her own name, the mystical and revered The North Star Grassman and the Ravens. Now, she was in almost full writing control, as she was on the equally admired Sandy in 1972.
For all the acclaim, the albums didn't make the hoped-for commercial impact. North Star was her only UK LP chart entry during her lifetime, and that for only two weeks and a No.31 peak. The reaction to 1974's Like An Old Fashioned Waltz was further diluted by the fact that Denny had rejoined Fairport, briefly, by the time of its release.
The reunion lasted less than two years, and a return to solo work with the 1977 album Rendezvous did not reverse her fortunes. Hampered by alcohol and substance abuse, Denny grew more troubled, and died a few weeks after a fall while on holiday in Cornwall. The years since her death have enhanced the appreciation for Sandy Denny's rare skills as a songwriter, performer and artist of rare songwriting craft.
"I can't tell you about my songs," she said in that NME interview of 1972. "They're so strange. They're about people. I don't know why they are – they just come out like that. I do try to write a bit more cheerfully, but it doesn't always come off."
Sandy Denny's No More Sad Refrains: The Anthology can be bought here.
Follow the official Sandy Denny Best Of playlist.
Related Topics:Bob DylanFairport ConventionFolkFotheringayIsland RecordsOn This DaySandy DennyStrawbs
To me she was a beacon of hope. When i hear her voice it pulls me into 16th century English landscapes. Especially the Fairport years. I need to get familiar with her solo work. She left a beautiful legacy especially for one who died so young.
I AWAYS FIND HER VOICE BREATHTAKING
Des McClelland
Nearly 40 years after her passing and, in my opinion, no one else even comes close.
That's so true, Des.
VITUS J KONTER
Loved her early work with The Strawbs and also her killer duet with Robert Plant on Zep IV's "The Battle of Evermore".


The technology allows Internet browsers to display jazzed-up images and effects that react to users' actions, delivering game-like interactivity without installing additional software.
Actually, you don't need the browser. You can run the content as a stand alone app without any of the browser UI around it.
Developers can use HTML5 to get their creations on a variety of smartphones, tablets and PCs without tailoring apps for specific hardware or the online stores that have become gatekeepers to mobile commerce.
HTML5: The Technology Changing the Web – WSJ.com.


Pictures of allure flooring also brazilian cherry laminate flooring also quick step laminate flooring is created to be the inspiration of for you. This image was published on September 17, 2017 and published by Haruyo Hayashi this is fall into the category Flooring, the size of image is 736 x 736 and this post has 22 related images. If you have any questions please Contact Us. Hope it could inspire you, our beloved reader in stanleydaily.com, back to article please click The Beauty of Allure Flooring.


As promised recently, Mozilla now handles only bug fixes and updates to Thunderbird. The community is responsible for innovation.
Mozilla has just put the Thunderbird version 14.0 on track. This new version has nothing of a revolution since it comes just fix some bugs and improve the security of e-mail tool. Some of the updates are also performance of the tool. Mozilla is still filled five vulnerabilities are considered critical: also addressed flaws in Firefox, which uses the same Gecko rendering engine.
Despite its 20 million users worldwide, Mozilla has recently announced its desire to put aside the development of Thunderbird, which " is no longer a priority . " Only maintenance and security interest him now. This is the community that will handle the innovations and novelties.
For now, the original schedule continues, and new versions of Thunderbird should arrive before the end of the year, including the expected instant messaging tool. The innovations of the community will be integrated in 2013.


text:
De Kerkbrink is een brink en een straat in het centrum van de Nederlandse plaats Hilversum. De Kerkbrink loopt vanaf de Kerkstraat tot de Brinkweg en de Oude Torenstraat. Zijstraten van de Kerkbrink zijn de Langestraat en de Herenstraat. De straat is vernoemd naar de kerk die aan deze straat ligt. Het is een straat met daaraan een aantal rijksmonumenten. Een klein deel van de Kerkbrink, van de Oude Torenstraat tot de Brinkweg, is een deel van de binnenring.

Geschiedenis
Aan de Kerkbrink 6 bevindt zich het Oude Raadhuis van Hilversum uit 1881. Later is dit verbouwd door gemeentearchitect J. Rietbergen, zodat het groter werd en een deftiger uitstraling kreeg. Nog weer later in 1988 is het gerestaureerd en het dient tegenwoordig als museum, dat de naam draagt van Museum Hilversum. Ook aan deze straat op nummer 4 ligt de Grote Kerk. Aan de Kerkbrink 18 bevindt zich ook een reliëf van de arts Johannes Fredericus van Hengel, een sociaal bevlogen Nederlandse arts die schrok van de slechte leefomstandigheden en het gebrek aan hygiëne in Hilversum rond 1838.

Fotogalerij
.

Straat in Hilversum

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
By Roy Ayers
Release 11/07/2006
Music Genre Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo
Roy Ayers was born in 1940, Los Angeles and was a musical child prodigy. He turned pro in 1961 and worked with Teddy Edwards, Chico Hamilton and Phineas newborn among others. He made his recording debut as a leader in 1963 with "west coast vibes" produced by legend Leonard Feather. He then spent six years with Herbie Mann and recorded many Atlantic LPs with him including the classic "Memphis underground".· Ayers is considered by many to be the father of both "funk jazz" and "smooth jazz". An extremely prolific artist, he has recorded over 50 albums in a career spanning more than 40 years. This is the first worldwide release of the obscure 2001 release 'perfection' (originally recorded for Ayers' own AFI label in 2000 and now out of print). Quintessential "smooth jazz" at it's best and a must for all fans of the vibraphone and the soul jazz genre. 2006.
Artist: Roy Ayers
Title: Perfection
Label: Aim Records
Media Format: CD
All prices in AUD | WOW HD AU


Test your Biotechnoogy knowledge, send Biotechnoogy challenges to your Facebook friends. The most advanced, comprehensive and social Biotechnoogy Quiz on app store. To make it fun and engaging, create Biotechnoogy challenges for your Facebook friends and track scores through Leaderboards. Biotechnoogy fun and engaging like never before!!
The app has 27 comprehensive categories with 670+ questions to train and test your Biotechnoogy knowledge. All questions have been vetted carefully. Use "Challenge" to setup Facebook challenges for your friends.


text:
Canada in 2018: Ominous Shades of 1984
category: Canadian Politics 1 comment
Wrinkling my nose against the acrid smell of sweat clinging to his hockey uniform, I carefully probed the teenager's impressively swollen wrist. I sent him off to the radiology department with his grandmother and turned my attention immediately to another patient in the endless emergency queue, completely forgetting to send a digital requisition for the needed X-rays.
The radiology technician, attempting to correct my omission, asked grandma which doctor had attended her grandson. "I can't remember," she said, "But it was the short, handsome, Latino man."
One out of three isn't bad, I suppose: I'm a card-carrying member of the pocket-doctor set, indisputably small.
Her generous assessment of my wrinkly mug as "handsome" was proof only that she had to be legally blind, surely beset by the densest of cataracts. My vacation-acquired tan penetrated her milky lenses just enough for her to kindly bestow me with Brazilian or Puerto Rican heritage.
Ironically, though my roots are thoroughly Dutch, I'm endowed with the mercurial temper for which Latinos are famous (a most ignorant stereotype, let me hasten to stress, before level-headed Latin Americans launch irritable volleys of protest in my direction).
The healthiest prescription for folks like me is to pay only the barest attention to "issues of the day", so as to prevent dangerous spikes in blood pressure and Vesuvian eruptions of rage. But I'm helpless in the face of the ceaseless drumbeat of headlines, like a fly drawn by heaps of steaming manure.
Hence you can imagine my ire when confronted with the news that the Liberal Party of Canada is denying funds from the Summer Jobs Program to organizations who will not attest to support for "reproductive rights" (read "abortion"), under the auspices of "protecting the Charter rights of Canadians."
This is a tactic that should elicit howls of outrage from all of us, hotheads or not.
The popular Canada Summer Jobs Program, endowed with roughly 220 million dollars of our money, supplies funds for about 70,000 student placements and is widely accessed by religious groups in their administration of drop-in centers, summer camps, and other programs.
Anyone is welcome to submit an application: that is, until this year, when unless you agree with the Liberal Party's policy on "reproductive rights", you need not apply. Toe the party line or that pool of funds - that you helped create - is unavailable to you.
We are to leave aside, I suppose, that "sexual and reproductive rights" and the "right to legal abortion" appear nowhere in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Following the Morgentaler decision in 1988, Canada actually has no law on abortion, a vacuum that no Parliament has since had the courage to tackle. But the fact that it is not illegal to obtain an abortion (at any stage of pregnancy) is not the same as saying that the "right to abortion" is enshrined in law – there is no law.
What is enshrined in Section Two of the Charter are fundamental freedoms of religion, thought, belief, expression and peaceful assembly.
It's true that more than half of Canadians agree that abortion should be permitted whenever a woman decides she wants it, while almost a quarter support provision of the procedure but with some limits, according to an Ipsos poll last spring.
It is this majority to which Mr. Trudeau's government is pandering in the process of stomping all over the rights of Canadians who are disturbed by termination of life in the womb.
I shouldn't need to point out that one doesn't have to be "religious" to be uncomfortable or conflicted on the issue of abortion.
I spent months in the neonatal intensive care unit during my training in pediatrics, at a time when by consensus the "age of viability" outside the womb was considered to be around 24 weeks of gestational age (these days it's as low as 22 weeks – in Japan, for example, practically all "22-weekers" are resuscitated).
It was a period both poignant and precious, during which I was privileged to care for the tiniest humans, beautiful and delicate, some teeny enough to support in one hand.
We intubated them to help them breathe, nourished them through intravenous lines, nurtured them through the perils and pitfalls of prematurity, and rejoiced as they grew and thrived and eventually went home with their parents.
I was often struck by an uncomfortable but inescapable fact: only hours before these cherished babies were born and magically invested with all the rights and privileges and protections of Canadian citizens, just prior to being attended to with ferocious love and unmatched dedication, they were anchored by umbilical cords inside their maternal wombs, "property" of their mothers and amenable to being abruptly extinguished in place.
It's an open question as to what "science" will bring us in coming years and decades regarding the "viability" of extremely premature babies, and consequently their personhood and by extension their rights. Each era is considered by the humans living within it to be an "Age of Enlightenment" before history consigns it to the annals as only slightly less ignorant.
We collectively and universally agree that newborn babies and children are to be carefully protected, and we go so far as to remove from families those children we deem to be at risk. Few crimes are more repugnant to us than the neglect, abuse, and murder of children, the worst of our condemnation and scorn reserved for parents who harm their own offspring.
It's not difficult, therefore, to appreciate that prenatal termination remains deeply and morally disturbing for many people. And it's darkly ironic that such individuals, fiercely protective of the littlest among us, are dismissively labeled as "intolerant" of human rights.
But Canadians with these qualms need not apply to the federal Summer Jobs program. Such citizens are out of step with "where we are as Canadians", to use Prime Minister Trudeau's words, by implication mean-spirited, ignorant, divisive, close-minded, and judgmental because they do not "believe" as the majority do.
It's worth reflecting on the words of Winston Smith, hapless protagonist of George Orwell's 1984, who rightly commented (before he was re-programmed) that "sanity is not statistical" - which is to say that just because something is popularly held to be true and right does not mean it is true and right; or, conversely, that those in disagreement are knuckle-dragging whack jobs. Sanity and correctness do not automatically reside with the majority.
"Diversity is our strength", Mr. Trudeau tirelessly proclaims– unless, apparently, that diversity includes opinions that are different from his own. The Liberal Party's vaunted "tolerance for all" does not extend to tolerance for Christians or to anyone else at odds with the thoughts of the state.
(Mr. Trudeau's contempt for Christians is especially galling given that he has proudly taken as one of his banner achievements the welcoming of thousands of refugees to this country, while ignoring the out-sized role of the Christian community in housing and sustaining those very refugees.)
By invoking the Charter of Rights and Freedoms while simultaneously violating the rights and freedoms of millions of Canadians, Mr. Trudeau has demonstrated his mastery of saying one thing while believing and practicing another. He's proving to be an artiste on this score, whether pontificating about reducing taxes for the "middle class" while actually soaking them more or waxing eloquent about legalizing marijuana to "protect our youth" while casually normalizing its use.
It's the sort of behavior neatly encapsulated by Orwell's doublethink:
To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancel out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it.
The summer jobs fiasco sets us on the slipperiest of slopes. Liberal Employment Minister Patty Hajdu, asked if the government might be considering other programs to which it might apply its ideological litmus test, offered this: "At this point, my responsibility is for the Canada Summer Jobs program, this is a commitment that we've made to Canadians, and that's about all I have to say."
Be forewarned: be prepared to pay obeisance to the Liberal party line if you hope to access federal funds for any jobs, training, or social development programs on the Liberal government's watch.
Ms. Hajdu clumsily defended her party's heavy-handedness with nonsensical bunk about "core mandates":
"We're working very closely, as I said, with faith groups to make sure that they understand that as long as their core mandate is not in violation of Canadian human rights and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and it's not violating a woman's ultimate right to control her own body, that they should have absolutely no problem receiving grant money, provided they, you know, fill out the application properly."
She's apparently oblivious to the fact that the "faith" held by these groups has at its core the sanctity of human life. "Just sign the damn thing and you'll get your money" is the tenor of the minister's advice - trade in your moral compass for cash.
This is no mere "kerfuffle", as our Prime Minister disdainfully declared. This is a noxious attempt at thought control by the state, an egregious violation of our basic rights and freedoms, reprehensible and nakedly immoral.
Canadians should be united in being deeply offended by this and in demanding that our government rescind its "attestation" requirement.
Alas, many Canadians remain passive and in thrall to their Leader, blind to the peril this policy represents, their vision obstructed by moral cataracts of the most impenetrable sort.
One Response for "Canada in 2018: Ominous Shades of 1984"
Brilliant commentary on "doublespeak". Mr. Trudeau appealed to Canadians in his autobiography COMMON GROUND to believe he would work from this idealogical point of view for the good of all Canadians. He has proven entirely incapable of doing so but rather has consistently defined common ground is as determined by the Liberal Party of Canada's point of view. Justin Trudeau must be helped to learn that intolerance toward those who who are not "Liberals" cannot be tolerated! Rise up and speak out Canada!!
Submit Comment!


This is essentially a follow on to the excellent "Did You Know" video. it focuses specifically on social networking and social media and provides an excellent introduction and overview for anyone still trying to wrap their heads around these trends. Worth the few minutes of your time, even if you are familiar with the contents.


All gemstones used are only premium cut, fairly traded, and/or conflict-free! Our accent diamonds are always natural NEVER treated or enhanced for better color or clarity. For peace of mind, ever gemstone within our Rosados Box® line is NEVER simulated or imitation. We only offer stones that are lab grown or natural. Our products are only created with the finest of recycled metals. As part of our sustainability commitment, all our gemstones and alloys can be re-purposed for future redesign projects!


I'm going to start this with a disclaimer. I like Star Wars, but I in no way qualify as any kind of expert. I'm as familiar with Star Wars as anyone who's played a couple pencil and paper RPGs, both of the XBOX Knights of the Old Republic games, and read about a dozen of the books can be. Which sounds like a lot but in practice doesn't ever seem to be.
We're getting ready to launch a new pencil and paper game and it has been unanimously decided that this game shall take place in the Star Wars universe. This is not a first for our gaming group, though I definitely hope it ends on a better note than our last ill-fated excursion aboard the trusty "Aluminum Pigeon".... The weird part isn't that we named the ship that; it's that it was the best of several proposals put forth... And a huge step above the ignominious "Emperor's Bedpan".
To the point- Which system do we play? I'm a huge fan of the ever popular Saga Edition, but we recently played Star Wars: Edge of the Empire, and there's a lot to be said of this emerging game system. There's a certain intuitive flow that comes from the game, though I kind of suspect that part of that comes from the fact that the Edge of the Empire system, which utilizes a kind of soft rules, cooperative role-playing system similar to the Cortex system in the Marvel Heroic Roleplaying game. That same soft rules system has had positive and negative results for us however. When we played the aforementioned MHR, the rules light nature of the system required an extremely high level of cooperation and understanding between the Watcher (I'm like 90% sure that that's what they call the Gamemaster in that system) and the players. It can be hard to adjudicate fairly when the system has a certain (fairly large) amount of arbitrariness about it.
The Saga Edition, on the other hand, while lacking the organic flow of EotE, has a definite structure to it. While there's more rules overall to keep track of, they give you a strong framework for everyone to build from. Plus, they feature a pretty sweet d20 system that was born during the transitional period between 3.5 Dungeons and Dragons and the tragically short-lived 4th Edition, incorporating the best of the rules system that was, and the rules system that was to come.
The biggest problem with Saga Edition is the same problem that plagues many Star Wars games: Everybody wants to use the Force. I mean, no duh, right? Force using mystics with laser-bladed swords is pretty much the epitome of all that is iconic about Star Wars. But it just isn't much of a game without Scoundrels, Nobles, Scouts, and Droids. Sure, a party full of Skywalker's seems like it'd be awesome, but without Han Solo and Chewie, Luke would've just been some kid killed by Stormtroopers outside a seedy bar in Tatooine (literary license has been liberally taken with the prior sentence).
So, Saga Edition would require a certain compromise on the parts of all involved parties. A gentleman(or woman)'s agreement, that, despite how totally cool it would be if your carbine wielding bounty hunter also knew how to throw Force Lightning, you will quietly take Rapid Shot and allow someone else a chance to be the Jedi this time around. Edge of the Empire, which exists in a time when the Jedi have been more or less urged from the galaxy, doesn't seem to currently contain a Force-wielding element, which helps us avoid the issue altogether.
I'm just not sure where to go with this one... Ah, well, it shall be as the Force wills.


Dermaplaning is a deep exfoliation treatment suited for all skin types and ideal for those with sensitive skin.
DermaPlaning is the treatment that removes rough, dry and dead skin cells from the epidermis, which is the surface of your skin.
It is a non-surgical procedure which can be performed in either small, precise areas or can be applied to larger regions such as a full facial area.
The skin is exfoliated with the use of a blade that is positioned at a 45 degree angle to the surface of the skin. Dead skin cells are gently removed from the epidermis to achieve a deep exfoliation of the skin and the removal of facial "peach fuzz".
There is no required down time and virtually no side effects.
Each treatment encourages the growth of new, healthy skin cells. New cells reproduce at a rate of approximately 2 to 4 weeks, so DermaPlaning treatments are scheduled between 4 to 6 weeks apart.
DermaPlaning does not use the application of chemicals so it is a wonderful exfoliation treatment for sensitive skin. The freshly cleaned skin is then prepared to receive healthy hydrating lotions that aid in the reproduction of the new cells.
Whole Beauty® combines the DermaPlaning treatment with luxurious anti-aging aesthetic treatments for advanced benefits and results. Chemical Peels can achieve a deeper penetration after a DermaPlaning procedure, and the chemical-free Enhanced Oxygen Facial infuses healthful serums into the skin which provides important hydrating nutrients that help create more beautiful skin.
Complimentary Skin Evaluations by Appointment. Contact the Whole Beauty® Institute at 312-751-2112 to schedule your appointment at either our Chicago, Gold Coast or Winnetka, North Shore offices.


Go, go, go, Green 19!
It has been madness with work in the last few months that my social life is dwindling to near-nothingness, but a girl has still got to eat no matter how busy it gets.
A friend mentioned this place in passing, and the inner foodie in me could not resist the urge to dine there pretty much the same day. Except they were booked out solidly when I rang, and I was told I can come in earlier to try and grab one of the tables that they've set aside for walk-in customers. I must have sound pretty crest-fallen when the lovely staff relented and gave me a table for the same evening. Hurrah!
That was about 2 months ago, and since then I've been back several times with different friends. A cosy restaurant/cafe tucked neatly on Camden Street, I like the simplicity in terms of the decor and I definitely dig the paintings on the wall. It's akin to dining in a small art gallery and I find myself charmed.
There's nothing pretentious with the food that they serve in Green 19. Good, solid menu of hearty food and at a very reasonable price too, which has got to be a major plus at times when everyone's tightening their belts. Nary a price tag beyond €12 and even those are for shared plates of either cured meats and sausages, or cheese, or pinchos. Otherwise, it's a tenner or less.
Having tried several of their dishes by now, I have not yet come across anything that I don't enjoy. I do have a favourite though, which is the lamb chump tagine with orange-scented couscous. Another thing to note – it is quite a feat for anyone who can do a 3-course meal here. I've only managed 2 max, if one of the courses is a main course portion. Next time I ought to go for 2 starters and a dessert I think.
As for the drinks, you may booze up as you wish as the price range is variable, and the cocktails come at €9 each if that's what you fancy.
If only there are more places to dine out in Dublin that is as affordable as this, without the customers resorting to eating at ungodly time of 6pm in order to catch the early bird menu and the likes. This place has won my heart (and many of my friends), and here's to many more happy meals at Green 19!
Posted in Food & Drink | Comments Off on Go, go, go, Green 19!


text:
Home Featured Story Students, Tutors Say Pandemic Is Making Them Anxious about University
Featured StoryOff CampusPandemicStudents
Students, Tutors Say Pandemic Is Making Them Anxious about University
Some say lasting impacts of quadmester learning model leave them unprepared to continue their education
by Ariel Brookes March 14, 2022
written by Ariel Brookes March 14, 2022
Grade 12 students in Toronto say online learning, pandemic quadmesters, and exam cancellations have them feeling unprepared for post-secondary education. (Energepic/Pexels)
Students and tutors in Toronto say the quadmester learning model and inadequate lesson planning have left high school students unprepared for university.
The Toronto District School Board adopted the quadmester model — where the school year is divided into four instead of two — in September 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The TDSB said it would allow for more in-person learning, instead it was criticized as ineffective and retired prior to the 2021-22 school year.
Students didn't have enough time to learn the required material, said Sepideh Abolfazli, founder of Helix Academy, a Toronto-based tutoring company.
Abolfazli has seen plenty of struggling students over the past two years of online learning. She says they're increasingly stressed and anxious about entering post-secondary education.
"They're just going into this deep water without learning how to swim," she said. "Even before the pandemic, I felt like I'm sending these students with not enough knowledge."
Abolfazli says high school students picked up bad habits as a result of the quadmester model — habits she worries are likely to hinder them in university.
"They're learning how to skip over things," she said. Students tell her, "oh, my teacher said this is not important" or "my teacher said this is not going to be on a test." The problem, she says, is that they're often skipping core concepts.
"In university, they're going to be shocked because, when they're going into an exam, everything in those lessons is going to be included," Abolfazli said. And that's in addition to "what the teacher expects for you to learn outside of class."
Important units in Grade 11 English were completely skipped over, according to Taio Yacht, a Grade 12 student at Northern Secondary School.
By the end of the class, Yacht said, it felt like the teachers had given up. "They were just like, 'we know we just don't have the time to teach you how to do these,'" he said.
Yacht says he still doesn't know how to write citations properly because his teachers didn't teach it. "I feel like that's something I'll just have to figure out in university," he said. He's confident he'll figure out how to adjust and succeed at university.
Nadim Fahs, a fellow Grade 12 student at Northern Secondary School, isn't quite as confident. "I'm very anxious and I'm very scared," he said.
Fahs is hoping to study business or math at university next fall, but he's nervous about his academic performance. Because of pandemic exam cancellations, he hasn't written a formal exam since Grade 9.
"I've just been able to get away with not having to really put in the time for studying," he said. "I'd have to go and completely change the way I look at things to be able to adapt."
Fahs says not getting to speak to current university students due to the lack of open houses and university fairs has him feeling unsure about where he wants to go.
"You can't really talk to people from the school, and can't really get to know what it's like, until you're actually there," he said.
He also worries about the financial burden should he fail a university course.
"It's going to be an expensive fail," he said. Whereas in high school you can retake the course and the teacher will sometimes "throw you a bone… give you a flat 50."
Starting this semester, in direct response to the pandemic, Ryerson University offers support to first-year students through the NavigateRU program. It includes learning modules and resources to help take students through key themes of their university lives: identity, well-being, community, and learning.
Ariel Brookes
Toronto based journalist and general reporter at On the Record News.
https://ontherecordnews.ca/author/ariel-brookesryerson-ca/
Critics Say Ford Has Failed to Back Post-secondary Education
Making Sense of the War in Ukraine
36 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 at Ryerson
Ukrainian Students React to the Russian Invasion
CanadaCOVID-19Highschoolmental healthOntariopandemicStudentsTDSBtorontoToronto Metropolitan Universityuniversity
Ryerson Students Mark Pandemic Anniversary by Remembering Its Early Days
Ontario Universities to Keep Mask Mandates until End of Semester
'Seen and Celebrated': How TMU Athletics Marked Trans...
TMU Esports Teams Are Making it Big
Winter Weather and the Future of Campus Accessibility
On The Record – S3E6 – Singing the...
'Locked Away' During Pandemic, Students Anxious For Return...
Babies, Parents Rally For Emergency Response to Ontario...


text:
Q: ASP.NET MVC resource not found - route config, controller, view First of all, thanks for the help. I am trying to setup a very basic ASP.NET MVC setup. I have my route.config, controller (HomeController), and view (Index).
When trying to run my project I get the following error:

"Server Error in '/' Application.
The resource cannot be found.
Description: HTTP 404. The resource you are looking for (or one of its dependencies) could have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.  Please review the following URL and make sure that it is spelled correctly.
Requested URL: /
Version Information: Microsoft .NET Framework Version:4.0.30319; ASP.NET Version:4.8.9037.0"

I have checked many threads and most seem to indicate a spelling error. I double checked and while I could be wrong, I don't see one in my code. Below are my route, controller, and view.
Route:
Imports System
Imports System.Collections.Generic
Imports System.Linq
Imports System.Web
Imports System.Web.Mvc
Imports System.Web.Routing

Public Module RouteConfig
    Public Sub RegisterRoutes(ByVal routes As RouteCollection)
        routes.IgnoreRoute("{resource}.axd/{*pathInfo}")

        routes.MapRoute(
            name:="Default",
            url:="{controller}/{action}/{id}",
            defaults:=New With {.controller = "Home", .action = "Index", .id = UrlParameter.Optional}
        )
    End Sub
End Module

Controller:
Imports System.Web.Mvc
Imports System.Web.Mvc.Controller

Namespace Controllers
    Public Class HomeController
        Inherits Controller

        ' GET: Default
        Public Function Index() As ActionResult
            Return View()
        End Function
    End Class
End Namespace

View:

Index

Here is my folder structure:

What am I missing? I appreciate all help.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Georgetown, Texas, officials are lashing out at critics of its costly plan to get 100 percent renewable electricity.
Green energy contracts have cost the Texas city $30 million in three years, providing a cautionary tale for Green New Deal supporters.
Former Vice President Al Gore called the city a "trailblazer" on renewables, but now electricity rates will be going up.
Georgetown has spent $30 million since it began its transition to 100 percent renewable energy in 2016, and, now, city officials are lashing out at local reporters and a conservative think tank for scrutinizing the cost to taxpayers.
"The entire 100 percent renewable claim is misleading," Bill Peacock, vice president of research conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
TPPF has been holding public hearings with angry Georgetown residents since last fall. The group also called out the city's renewable energy claim that it runs solely on renewable power.
Peacock said the city's "dogged, almost bling pursuit of renewables" has cost residents $30 million, maybe more, in additional electricity costs because of how it structured its contracts. Georgetown, with a population of roughly 70,000 people, is reportedly the largest U.S. city to claim to run on 100 percent renewable electricity.
"Nobody else made this mistake that we're aware of," Peacock said.
Now, the city is scrambling to get out of its long-term, fixed-price energy contracts. But what's also remarkable is the city is also distanced itself from its claim to fame — running on 100 percent solar and wind power.
"The City has never claimed that the electrons produced by its energy contracts are the same electrons consumed in Georgetown," city spokesman Jackson Daly said in an emailed statement.
Except, that's the opposite of what city officials sold to the media over the past few years. In fact, "100%" is emblazoned on the city utility's logo. The city says it can claim this because it purchases more wind and solar power than it actually needs, even though it doesn't directly get all that power.
Georgetown also produced videos on its solar and wind contracts, framing them as the "first step in Georgetown's 100 percent renewable plan." Those videos also suggest Georgetown is directly receiving all that green power, which isn't the case.
Since joining the green revolution, Ross has been featured in films, including a cameo former Vice President Al Gore's 2017 film "An Inconvenient Sequel." Gore even called Georgetown a "trailblazer" for being the biggest U.S. city to go 100 percent renewable.
Georgetown's actions inspire other cities, including Washington, D.C., to follow suit and pledged to go 100 percent renewable. The news outlet CityLab compared what Georgetown was doing to the Green New Deal that's touted by Democratic 2020 presidential hopefuls.
But, now, Ross seems to be buckling under the public backlash. He reportedly threatened Lorraine Brady, the editor of the local newspaper, for reporting on the city's green energy woes.
Three weeks earlier, The Williamson County published an article showing Georgetown had lost roughly $30 million since it began purchasing wind energy in 2016. Losses amplified in the last year after it began buying solar power in 2017.
Ross declined to speak to TheDCNF, instead referring questions to Daly, who criticized TPPF and local reporters scrutinizing the city's decisions.
"Reports by a local newspaper and an anti-renewable energy advocacy organization have attempted to question Georgetown's status as an electric utility that uses 100 percent renewable energy," Daly said.
Georgetown started its move towards renewables in 2012 when the city paid the Lower Colorado River Authority $4.1 million to end its contract. Officials then began looking for other power providers, eventually signing long-term contracts with a solar and wind farm.
Ross called the decision a "no-brainer" that was based on dollars and cents, not global warming activism. The idea was to set electricity rates for the next 20 to 25 years, which he said natural gas providers wouldn't do.
Georgetown's utility signed up for wind and solar at fixed prices until 2035 and 2043, respectively, contracting to buy about twice as much power as it actually needs — the excess of which would be sold on the grid.
John Hesser, who joined the Georgetown city council in 2013, said he was the only council member to oppose the long-term green energy contracts, which the city signed in 2014 for wind and 2015 for solar.
After a career in finance, Hesser said he saw the risk in betting everything that electricity prices would go up, especially from natural gas and coal plants.
Energy prices plummeted, particularly natural gas prices, meaning the city lost money selling power back to the market. City figures show it exceeded its electricity budget for 2018 by $10.5 million.
City officials are looking for ways to make up the shortfall, including raising electricity rates. Recent rate hikes raised the average resident's bill about $13 a month to recover losses selling power on Texas's electricity market.
The city is also trying to renegotiate its power contracts, and Hesser said "some good things" were happening on that front but did not go into detail.
TheDCNF reached out to other members of the city council, but none responded.
Green New Deal? Biggest US City To Go '100 Percent Renewable' Lost Millions On Solar, Wind Contracts is original content from Conservative Daily News - Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust - Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.


Crossville began manufacturing porcelain stone at its newly constructed plant in August 1986. Today, Crossville is the largest domestic manufacturer of porcelain stone, and operates the first U.S. tile plant designed to manufacture large-unit porcelain tiles. Planned and equipped to be state-of-the-art facilities, Crossville's plants manufacture tiles ranging in size from 3" x 3" to 18" x 18".


Author WmPosted on 02/17/2011 Categories InterviewsTags Dan Harrington, Literature, memoir, mormon arts8 Comments on Q&A with Dan Harrington, author of Who's at the Door?
This is not my review of Elna Baker's new book. This is an accident. I read her first chapter then nine minutes later gave birth to a healthy essay. This sort of thing can happen, even with virginal New York Mormons like Elna. I promise I will do whatever it takes — count to 100 by sevens, whatever — to keep from conceiving an essay per chapter. If all goes well, you will not hear from us again until her book's estimated due date, October 15.
The first "chapter" (it's not called a chapter, yet that's what I'm calling it) of The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance is stage-setting, it's an introduction — she hasn't brought out the funny yet (though it's funny), she hasn't brought out the memoir yet (though it's memoiric) — she's setting the stage, she's introducing us to her life's dramatic conventions. She's world-building.
Several things happened during Haley Hatch Freeman's time in the spirit world: she was given the choice to return to earth life, she was shown one of her future children, she was reunited with her dead sister and dead grandmother, she was commanded to learn sign language, and she was commanded to write a book about her experiences as an anorexic teenager. Her memoir, A Future for Tomorrow, is the result of that commandment and is a unique and honest account of Freeman's experiences with a harrowing mental illness.


To accommodate the expansion of some roads around the Walt Disney World Resort, overnight construction will take place in phases across World Drive, with the final phase scheduled to occur between September 27 and September 28.
On Tuesday, Sept. 27, northbound World Drive from Osceola Parkway to Buena Vista Drive will be closed from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. All traffic will detour via Osceola Parkway west to Buena Vista Drive north to World Drive north.
On September 28, southbound World Drive from Buena Vista Drive to Osceola Parkway will be closed from 1 – 5 a.m. Traffic will detour via Buena Vista Drive to Osceola Parkway east to World Drive south.
The safety of Guests, Cast Members, and those working on this project is critical. For this reason, be sure to always follow signage and directions and take extra caution when traveling through this area.


text:
Covid-19 News, Health & Medical News, Heart Health News
COVID-19 patient autopsies reveal 'unique pattern of cell death' in hearts
Doctors say damage seen in deceased coronavirus patients 'not consistent with typical heart muscle inflammation patterns.'
NEW ORLEANS — It's become quite evident the past few months that COVID-19 can have an adverse effect on the heart. Still, scientists and doctors are still struggling to fully understand the relationship between COVID-19 and heart health. Now, a series of autopsies performed by Louisiana State University pathologists yield some unusual observations.
The team at LSU says that the damage done to the hearts of COVID-19 patients is not consistent with typical heart muscle inflammation patterns seen with myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation). Instead, the observed pattern of cell death is quite unique, and spread across scattered, individual heart muscle cells.
"We identified key gross and microscopic changes that challenge the notion that typical myocarditis is present in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection," says Dr. Richard Vander Heide, professor and Director of Pathology Research at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, in a release. "While the mechanism of cardiac injury in COVID-19 is unknown, we propose several theories that bear further investigation that will lead to greater understanding and potential treatment interventions."
Additionally, the pathologists also note SARS-CoV-2 was not present in any heart muscle cells. This is especially odd because the first SARS coronavirus from 2003 was found within the heart muscle cells of SARS patients.
COVID-19 patients also showed no signs of blood vessel blockages in their coronary arteries.
'Extreme stress on heart'
A total of 22 autopsies are included in this study. All of those patients had passed away due to COVID-19 while being treated at the University Medical Center in New Orleans. Most of the patients are African-American, with 10 being male and 12 being female. Their ages range from middle age (44 years old) to elderly (79). Most had preexisting high blood pressure, half had type 2 diabetes, and 41% were obese.
So, what was found? Diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), or damage to the small lung airspaces that facilitate the exchange of gas, was observed among the autopsied patients. Also, both blood clots and bleeding were seen in the blood vessels and capillaries of the lungs. All of these factors were determined to be major contributors to the patients' deaths.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER & GET THE LATEST STUDIES FROM STUDYFINDS.ORG BY EMAIL!
"These findings, along with severely enlarged right ventricles, may indicate extreme stress on the heart secondary to acute pulmonary disease," says Dr. Sharon Fox, Associate Director of Research and Development in the Department of Pathology at the school.
Pathologists also point to viral infections among cells in the lining of the smaller blood vessels (endothelium) of patients. While these infections were at relatively "low levels," the team at LSU theorize it may have been enough to induce individual cell death.
The "cytokine storm," or overreaction of the immune system to the infection, may also contribute to these observations.
"Given that inflammatory cells can pass through the heart without being present in the tissue proper, a role for cytokine-induced endothelial damage cannot be ruled out," Dr. Heide concludes.
The study is published in Circulation.
Tags: cell death, coronavirus, COVID-19, heart health


text:
By: Mike Walton (blackeagle) Posted On: 2020-03-02
Nike image used under Fair Usage guidelines
(The NIKE company owns the copyright to the phrase "Just DO IT!" and is being used here with no infringement made. This article was originally in one of the last issues of American Scouting Digest magazine, where I served as a senior editor and writer. The Jamboree referred to was the 2010 National Scout Jamboree, the last one held at Fort AP Hill, Virginia.)
A famous sports apparel and sneaker manufacturer a few years back introduced a new slogan into the American lexicon. The firm, called NIKE, gave us "Just Do It!" as an incentive for us to do whatever activity we wanted to do to remain healthy, stay happy, and of course, to promote their products. We saw an impressive amount of money being poured into small basketball tournaments, chess events, marathons, runs and races, and the like. Practically every recognized sporting event was transformed in some way by the firm into yet another way to sell shoes, hats, jackets, shirts, and pants -- all with their "swoosh" symbol and those few words.
We had no real clue why we were "doing it" – we just "did it!" It was a great marketing tool…
But please allow me to turn this around to a cornerstone of Scouting in America - specifically, the idea of the Good Turn. Do we really understand WHY it's important for us to "Do a Good Turn Daily"? I spent most of one of the last days during the last National Scout Jamboree at the two largest venues. I spent the morning half of that day at the Environment-Conservation Area and the other half at the Scout Fair. I asked 12 Scouts some questions; the most important for this column was, "Why do you think we "Do a Good Turn Daily?" (and the follow-up, "Have you done one today?")
EIGHT of the TWELVE Scouts at each venue answered the first question predictably: "To get credit toward ..." -- whether it was credit toward a merit badge, rank, or the Service to America emblem. I asked them to explain the importance of the "Good Turn." On purpose, I was in my military battle dress uniform (BDU) while interviewing these Scouts and not in my Scout duds; I was looking for real responses, not "canned Scout responses" or "memorized phrases" said because a Scouter is interviewing them for a Scouting publication.
A Scout from Central Alabama Council explained that "well, in order for you to become an Eagle Scout, you have to do some projects, and that means that you have to help out others..."
A Scout from central Indiana said that "there's a badge called the Service to America badge, and they ("the Scouts") want you to earn it because it gets them more money or something."
[Point of fact: no, the BSA doesn't receive any money for the performance of Scouts doing "Good Turns" as part of earning the Service to America emblem.]
Two Scouts said that "when you help someone you get credit for it toward a merit badge (they couldn't tell me which one, one thought it was "Citizenship in the Community").
You get the idea. The other four from each venue answered similarly...
- A Scout from eastern Pennsylvania, an Eagle Scout, said, "you're always supposed to be of use to someone else. All of the time, like you're a doctor or medic or something..."
- A male Venturer from Utah said, "I haven't done any good turns since becoming a Venturer, but I'm always helping out with just about anything that's going on. It doesn't have to be anything big...sometimes I just smile at someone and they smile back and that's a good turn, don't you think?" (yes, I do!)
- A Scout from Florida told me that "Scouts today don't know how to really do a good turn. I know how because our Scoutmaster beat that into us...not like hitting us or something, but every time we turn around, we're always doing something for some group or poor people or something. And it helps us get the word out that we're around town because now everyone wants to have us to help out. It gets old sometimes..."
- A Scout from Texas (he was really from Oklahoma, he said, but he came with a Texas contingent) said, "we do this stuff, and people don't care. I thought that way until like a month or so after we were doing a project for a school and some kid saw me at the store and came over and hugged me and thanked me. I didn't know what to do but I said, "thanks." I don't even remember what we did...."
Many of us in the BSA have had this idea that "everything we do, we get a badge for it." It starts with Cub Scouting:
Go on a day hike, get a badge.
Pick up paper alongside a highway, get a badge.
Watch TV with your friends, get a badge.
Everything in the program is associated with a badge. Not really -- the advancement program is there, and there are steps one takes before they earn Wolf or Bear or the WEBELOS Badge. But those smaller steps -- those intermediate steps -- are now being "recognized" with some 80 or so "stock badges," which are sold at Scout Shops(TM) and through the Supply Division.
And I get lots of letters sent to me asking, "Where does my son put the recycling badge he got last week. He can't put it on his uniform pocket because the badge he got for going to a historical location two weeks ago is there..."
By the time the Cub Scout becomes a Boy Scout, the idea is already there: Do something for someone, get a badge. And when it doesn't happen, as in the case of some Troops whose adults and youth REALLY understand what the Good Turn is all about, the parents go ballistic because "MY SON ain't pickin' up anyone else' trash for NOTHING. You've gonna hand him a merit badge, or a pin or something!!"
Scouts, Scouters, and PARENTS need to understand what the Good Turn is. Here is what the Good Turn is, in simple American English:
The Good Turn -- Some positive form of action performed by a present or former Scout, either alone or as part of a group, which directly benefits another human being, an animal, or a place of community service or reverence. This action is performed WITHOUT THE EXPECTATION OF ANY FORM OF RECOUPMENT, PAYMENT, HONORIAUM, OR FEE simply because the action is performed by a Scout, living the Scouting ideals. To be effective, this action should be performed DAILY.
There are four parts to this:
- The action is POSITIVE in nature. Beating up on some kid because he's a bully is NOT a positive action. An entire patrol, however, confronting the bully and telling him or her to "back off" someone MAY BE positive in nature. Taking out the trash as a daily chore is NOT a positive action, but taking out the trash, cleaning the trash cans, and perhaps even taking the recyclables down to the recycle center MAY BE a positive action. What or who determines if this is a "positive action"? The person you are performing the action for.
- The action DIRECTLY BENEFITS SOMEONE OR SOMETHING ELSE. Whether it is something to benefit the school, a church, a community action center, a pet shelter, or someone who lives on your street....it has to help THEM, not you. The action is something that they could do, sure. But you have chosen to do it for them, either by yourself or with others who are as like-minded as you.
- The action is PERFORMED WITHOUT PAY. Whether the pay comes in "camperships for your Scouts" or "money in your Scout account" or a direct "Here's a quarter, call someone who cares..." Scouts DO NOT ACCEPT MONEY FOR GOOD TURNS. Nor do they accept a free gift card at the local restaurant. They should not accept patches, either. When Scouts accept those items, they have been PAID for their services. As someone told me on the Conservation Trail, "When you start taking money for doing what is supposed to come from the heart, it becomes a job." Smart Scout.
- Finally, the action SHOULD BE PERFORMED DAILY, as in "Do a Good Turn DAILY." It is not something to be done to "count toward next weeks' count" of the number of service hours (although the BSA is asking us to compile that information so that they can statistically tell the public "you know, if your tax dollars had to pay for all of the Good Turns that Scouts and Scouters have done, it would come to... X number thousands of dollars.").
I did that one year – calculated the amount of money that 38,232 service hours have been recorded by a local Council's Scouts in the performance of "Good Turns," excluding things like Scouting for Food and the annual blood drive promotion. At the then- minimum wage back in 1998 ($5.15), it came to a whopping $196,894.80 – enough to fund that local Council for a full year!
With that information, I was able to support that local Council in their efforts to receive funding from the communities: "What would happen if the Boy Scouts – and all of the great things Scouting does for youth -- went away?" was the message of that campaign. Many people do not realize that youth and adult members of Scouting put in extra time on their own to make their communities cleaner, enjoyable, and respectable – and they do not get a red cent for such efforts.
The BSA is trying...they are trying to bring back the idea of the Good Turn, but they are tying it to marketing campaigns. These campaigns do help to get the word out about the BSA and the good we do but just doesn't have the impact that you and me and the rest of the BSA would have if we would stop holding out our hands for something to wear at the conclusion of a day's hard work and instead concentrate on the task at hand -- to make someone else' life a lot better than what they experienced. Have YOU done your Good Turn today? Have you done more than ONE??
Settummanque!


Tulum's Mayan and Mexican culture runs deep if you know where to look! We'll immerse you into the local lifestyle and Tulum's best highlights . From food delicacies and cocktail spots to sacred Mayan ceremonies, and wonderful off the beaten track spots , you'll get not only pretty photos, but also memories of unique experiences.
Browse here for a no brainer vacay that fits your desires !
Ready to book ? Choose one of our lifestyle packages and make a reservation right away !


START GENERATING MORE LEADS TODAY. REGARDLESS OF WHAT INDUSTRY YOU ARE IN MATCH PRO MEDIA CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR ABILITY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LEADS YOU CAN GENERATE.
Match Pro Media is a Multi Vertical lead generation company that uses a Multi-Channel approach.
We pride ourselves on customer service, communication and the creation of unique marketing programs to fit the individual needs of our clients. There is no project too big or too small and our team has experience in a wide array of industries.
The planning phase of multichannel marketing campaigns is often overlooked and underappreciated.
In order for a multichannel marketing campaign to be successful, we find that the planning phase is essential. Every business is different so why shouldn't your marketing plans be different, too?
Our team of experts within each channel will work together to create a custom plan for your business that sets your company apart from the competition and gives you a higher chance of acquiring more customers.
Our team of experts will research the market and then begin to execute the channels identified as being the best ways for you to succeed. Sometimes this means utilizing our very owned and operated web sites and call centers and other times it will mean leveraging our large network of advertisers and call centers.
Either way, the prospects will begin to flow and our team will provide you with the tools necessary to effectively turn a prospect into a customer.
Part of the Match Pro Media service is assisting companies like yours to monetize on a new lead and retain that new customer to be monetized indefinitely.
Too often, companies are proficient in monetizing a prospect on their primary sale but lack the ability to take advantage of further monetization.
Match Pro Media has the needed tools to ensure your company generates the full value from your customers while providing excellent service every step of the way.
Smartphones have developed into companions, tagging along with internet users wherever they go. Match Pro Media connects your company to your existing customers and prospects using our proprietary mobile marketing tools.Simply stated, our mobile tools result inbetter engagement, retention and monetization.
Set up a free consultation with one of our experts.


text:
Wiley and Ridley take home Tasmanian AIB Award
Wiley is honoured to announce that, up against tough competition, we were awarded the Tasmanian / Victorian Australian Institute of Building Award, in the category of Other Construction, for the Ridley project.
The prestigious awards recognise professional excellence in building and is the only Australian awards program that recognises the professional excellence of individuals within the building and construction process, focusing on how the project was built. They provide the opportunity to showcase and reinforce the role of the building professional in managing the construction process and provides a forum to acknowledge industry leadership and management teams that deliver their projects with the highest levels of quality and expertise.
Wiley's Senior project manager, Logan Ashmole received the award at the virtual online event from the Wiley Tasmanian office in Launceston. The Wiley team watched live on the AIB YouTube channel to cheer Logan and the team on.
"It was an exciting evening for the Wiley and Ridley team! We set up in the office with our families to watch the virtual AIB Awards and were honoured to get the win amongst such tough competition. It really was a fantastic project and we had a great extended team." Mr Ashmole said.
Watch the full awards night HERE
Wiley would like to congratulate all other winners from the night and all the nominees.
Wiley and Ridley were also awarded the People's Choice award for Victoria and Tasmania earlier this year.
Wiley CEO, Robert Barron said, "Congratulations to Logan and the Ridley team for winning this award. I am very proud of the Wiley team, our consultants, our suppliers and subcontractors. The Ridley project was a massive team effort by many people from across the construction industry. This award is a testament to every individual's diligent hard-work as a member of the team led by our project leader, Logan Ashmole."
Special thanks to Ridley and Wiley's project partners; Prodig Earthworks, Crisps / Haywards, Elite concreting, SERS roofing, Kolmark, Bitwise, Graintec, LGPM, Midlands plumbing, Tasbuilt homes and Andritz.


text:
ITWatchIT
Hackers Can Downgrade Tor Network Efficacy Through Costly DoS Attack: Research
A new study has revealed that a hacker or a nation-sponsored bad actor can degrade the performance of the Tor network for a few thousand dollars per month.
The research, conducted by Georgetown University and the US Naval Research Laboratory, analyzes the cost for slowing down the Tor network through different methods.
Tor is the most popular anonymous communication system ever deployed, with an estimated eight million daily active users. These users depend on Tor to anonymize their connections to Internet services and distributed peers, and also to circumvent censorship by local authorities that control network infrastructure.
Tor is used by ordinary citizens and businesses to protect their privacy online, by journalists and activists to more freely access and contribute digital content, and by criminals to perform illegal activities while avoiding identification.
However, relatively understudied but arguably more viable is the threat of denial-of-service (DoS). The Threat of Denial-of-Service: Bandwidth-based DoS against Tor is a relatively understudied but relevant threat
According to the researchers, their DoS attacks either can be outsourced to third party "stresser" services that will flood a target with packets for an amortized cost of $0.74/hr. per Gbit/s of attack traffic, or utilize lightweight Tor clients running on dedicated servers at an amortized cost of $0.70/hr. per Gbit/s of attack traffic.
Nation-states are known to sponsor DoS attacks, and the ease of deployment and low cost of our attacks suggest that state actors could reasonably run them to disrupt Tor over both short and long timescales. We speculate that nation-states may, e.g., choose DoS as an alternative to traffic filtering as Tor continues to improve its ability to circumvent blocking and censorship [32]. Non-state actors could also reasonably deploy the attacks since they require only a few servers or can be completely outsourced.
According to the researchers, they were able to demonstrate the feasibility of several bandwidth DoS attacks through live-network experimentation and high-fidelity simulation while quantifying the cost of each attack and its effect on Tor performance.
First, they explored an attack against Tor's most commonly used default bridges (for censorship circumvention) and estimate that flooding those that are operational would cost $17K/mo. and could reduce client throughput by 44% while more than doubling bridge maintenance costs.
Secondly, they explored attacks against the TorFlow bandwidth measurement system and estimate that a constant attack against all TorFlow scanners would cost $2.8K/mo. and reduce the median client download rate by 80%.
Thirdly, they explored how an adversary could use Tor to congest itself and estimate that such a congestion attack against all Tor relays would cost $1.6K/mo. and increase the median client download time by 47%.
Finally, they analyzed the effects of Sybil DoS and deanonymization attacks that have costs comparable to those of their attacks.
According to the researchers, these methods do not affect the Tor network entirely but are enough to discourage users from using it because of its poor performance.
Previous articleNIST Releases Plan For Federal Engagement in the Development of AI Standards
Next articleDISA Launches SAFE to Allow Enterprise-Wide Ability to Safely Transfer Files in the DoD
DOJ Indicts John McAfee for Tax Evasion
Cisco Ordered To Pay $1.9 Billion in Patent Infringement Suit, Plans Appeal
U.S. Senators Press Trump Administration to End Weaponization of Facial Recognition Technology
ITWatchIT is your premier source for the latest tech news, with product reviews and substantial interviews with subject-matter experts.
Advertise With ITWatchIT
© Copyright 2020 - ITWatchIT News
Verizon, Corning Collaborate on $1.05B Fiber Optic Deal
Annual Cap on H-1B Visa For High-Skilled Workers Maxes Out in Only Five Days


5.45pm – 6.00pm, every Thursday.
We have invited those who are passionate about David Lynch from Teesside and beyond to take part in our David Lynch Intervention Adventure.
We have invited those who are passionate about David Lynch from Teesside and beyond to take part in our David Lynch Intervention Adventure. They will be sharing their response to David Lynch Naming in their own style, whether it is dance, mime or the spoken word.
In the words of Special Agent Dale Cooper "I have no idea where this will lead us, but I have a definite feeling it will be a place both wonderful and strange".


text:
Theology|
Orthodoxy Today|
Homilies and Spiritual Instruction|
Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days|
Churches and Monasteries|
Church History|
Coming to Orthodoxy|
Sretensky Monastery|
Orthodoxy Around the World|
Suffering Church|
Church and State|
What Abortion Rhetoric Says About the State of Our Souls
Joel J. Miller
If you want to understand how people justify their behavior, look at the language they use. The less emotional the words, the easier it is to rationalize the actions.
We're watching this play out with Center for Medical Progress's ongoing Planned Parenthood exposé. But we've already seen where it's going in the larger abortion debate—and the trajectory should give us pause.
It's worth looking at the evolution of abortion rhetoric in three stages.
Stage 1: The Denial
In the early days of the abortion debate, it was popular to deny the humanity of the unborn child and thus the tragedy and culpability in taking its life. Ayn Rand offers a fairly standard example of the thinking. "A proper, philosophically valid definition of man as 'a rational animal,' would not permit anyone to ascribe the status of 'person' to a few human cells," she said in 1981.
And Rand knew exactly what's at stake in this rhetorical maneuver. "A piece of protoplasm has no rights—and no life in the human sense of the term," she said a few years earlier. "[B]y ascribing rights to the unborn, i.e., the nonliving, the anti-abortionists obliterate the rights of the living: the right of young people to set the course of their own lives."
If we acknowledge the child as a human person, in other words, we can't kill it and get on with our agendas. So let's instead call it "a few human cells" or "a piece of protoplasm," comparable to an overlong fingernail that you can simply trim and discard. By verbally creating emotional distance, you can do whatever you want with it.
Ah, but there's a catch.
While easy to create, that distance is hard to maintain. "When the embryo is one month old it is a tiny mass of tissue, with no resemblance to a human being," says a text quoted in Women and Their Bodies, a book first published in 1970 that went on to sell over four million copies in various editions under the title Our Bodies, Ourselves.
But what's most telling is the observation that follows. "The earlier the abortion is done ... the easier it is on the doctor." Why? It turns out that "pulling out an arm and then a leg" closes the emotional distance in a hurry. People people carving up protoplasm is one thing. People carving up people is quite another.
And all those arms and legs kept multiplying.
Stage 2: The reckoning
States began lowering restrictions on abortion in 1970. And by 1973, thanks to Roe v. Wade, it was legal across the country. The number of abortions skyrocketed. As David Frum recounts in his history of the seventies, after Roe it took only three years for the number of abortions in Washington, D.C., to equal the number of live births in the district.
"From late the 1970s until the mid-1990s," says Frum, "the number of abortions in the United States seldom dipped below the 1.5 million mark." But despite the rhetoric, all those arms and legs eventually bothered even more than the doctors' consciences.
In 1995, the young feminist writer Naomi Wolf finally threw a flag on the play. In "Our Bodies, Our Souls," an article for the center-left New Republicshe said that abortion advocates were at risk of killing their own souls by refusing to fully reckon with reality. "[W]hen we defend abortion rights by emptying the act of moral gravity, we find ourselves cultivating a hardness of heart," she wrote.
Pro-lifers may parade gruesome pictures in public, she said, but the humanity they depict is undeniable. By then, advancements in medical research had not only provided a clear window on fetal development, but also created a booming market in prenatal tips and products, all of which presume the unique humanity and personhood of the unborn child. Said Wolf,
This has led to a bizarre bifurcation in the way we who are pro-choice tend to think about wanted as opposed to unwanted fetuses; unwanted ones still seen in schematic black-and-white drawings while wanted ones have metamorphosed into vivid and moving color ... So, what will it be? Wanted fetuses are charming, complex, REM-dreaming beings whose profile on the sonogram looks just like Daddy, but unwanted ones are mere "uterine material"? [Worth reading in full, Wolf's essay was here republished for Roe's fortieth anniversary.]
Despite her insistence on the humanity of the unwanted, her refusal to empty abortion "of moral gravity," Wolf remained pro-choice. Given the weight of taking a life she was prepared to see as fully, totally, incontrovertibly human, however, abortion was to her a dreadfully serious choice, one to which too many people too easily resorted. Remember Frum's number: 1.5 million abortions a year.
That number has since gone down, perhaps owing to the reckoning that Wolf advocated. But it's still over a million a year. How is that possible given what we now know about the humanity of the child? As the saying goes in another debate, the science is settled.
Stage 3: The shrug
We're past Stage 1 and the effect of Stage 2 has been felt. We're not talking protoplasm anymore; we're talking people. And we all know it. But people still want abortions, lots of them. And that has painted us into a very morally disturbing corner. Yes, it's a human child. Yes, I'm going to kill it anyway.That's the moral calculus today.
"[T]hroughout my own pregnancies, I never wavered for a moment in the belief that I was carrying a human life inside of me," Mary Elizabeth Williams wrote for Salon when Roe turned forty.
I believe that's what a fetus is: a human life. And that doesn't make me one iota less solidly pro-choice ... If by some random fluke I learned today I was pregnant, you bet your ass I'd have an abortion. I'd have the World's Greatest Abortion.
Williams justified this by saying she's over forty and in an experimental drug trial. But, according to the Guttmacher Institute, most the women who get abortions are in their twenties and decide to abort because they don't want the responsibility of raising a child or their freedom and life choices limited by a surprise pregnancy. Roughly half use no contraception to prevent creating the life they subsequently decide will be too burdensome to deliver.
I'm not vilifying these women. Many are frightened by the prospect of going through with their pregnancies, vulnerable, and pressured by family or others. But how can we rationalize killing humans for what can only be considered relief or convenience? Easier than you'd think.
"All life is not equal," says Williams. "[A] fetus can be a human life without having the same rights as the woman in whose body it resides. She's the boss. Her life and what is right for her circumstances and her health should automatically trump the rights of the non-autonomous entity inside of her."
The fact that Williams' argument could just as easily exculpate a parent drowning a child with Down syndrome (or practically any child for that matter) is evidently of little concern. What matters is freedom and self-determination, and what do I care about the rest?
"Personal freedom is paramount," said one advertising executive when asked her thoughts on rebranding the pro-abortion movement. "[T]he idea of government limiting your full participation in the world (professionally, economically, socially, et cetera) simply because you have a vagina [is] an insufferable limitation of rights and freedoms."
So while the total number of abortions is down—thank God—the moral state of our nation is arguably worse off nonetheless. We're knowingly ending human life because, well, some lives matter more than others. Everything Wolf feared about losing our souls is coming true. We had the reckoning and just shrugged our shoulders.
So where does that leave us with the our current Planned Parenthood situation?
A Wink and a nod
It's hard to escape the thought we're watching these same stages play out in CMP's Planned Parenthood videos. On the one hand we have researchers, executives, and others quick to use dehumanizing terms like "product of conception" or "intact cases," while at the same time actually laughing over a meal about the shock of dead human eyes staring back from an open shipping container.
It's all just tissue for research, but those vacant eyes still possess enough humanity to wink and accuse and judge. You don't need science to tell you that, just the same humanity possessed by the mutilated creature there in the box.
We're back at Stage 2, a new point of reckoning. There's no way to deny any longer or play games with words. We're talking about the trafficking of human body parts, harvested—it would seem—with the intent of driving profit. We cannot afford to shrug our shoulders, or we risk killing our very souls.
Theology that Sticks
BREAKING: Undercover video catches Planned Parenthood selling aborted baby body parts BREAKING: Undercover video catches Planned Parenthood selling aborted baby body parts
An undercover video released this morning shows a national leader of Planned Parenthood admitting that the abortion provider uses the illegal and highly controversial partial birth abortion procedure to sell intact fetal body parts. 'Horrifyingly high' abortion rate must be cut, says head of Russian Orthodox Church 'Horrifyingly high' abortion rate must be cut, says head of Russian Orthodox Church
"The idea of absolutely prioritising the value of free choice and of rejecting the priority of moral norms has become a slowly exploding bomb for Western civilisation," he said in a speech to lawmakers. A woman's response to the Culture of Death A woman's response to the Culture of Death
As we face an increasingly secular and materialistic world, the role of women as bearers of life is consciously and masterfully being turned upside down.
Here you can leave your comment on the present article, not exceeding 4000 characters. All comments will be read by the editors of OrthoChristian.Com.
Enter through FaceBook
Enter the digits, seen on picture:
to our mailing list
Orthodoxy Today
Homilies and Spiritual Instruction
Saints. Asceties of Piety. Church Holy Days
Coming to Orthodoxy
Sretensky Monastery
Orthodoxy Around the World
Suffering Church
© 1999-2018 OrthoChristian.com
When reposting our material a link to OrthoChristian.com is required.
editor@orthochristian.com
We are on social networks