When final breath is taken and released, what is it that occurs?
The particular form that we call "the body" becomes still and inanimate.
We sometimes say that the "soul" has left the body. Is that true?
Or has the body in its particular detectable form now become undetectable?
Yes, the particular form we've come to know lays still and unbreathing on the bed.
But where does the undetectable formless embodiment released from previous particular form go?
Has it become formless being?
Are our senses not capable to follow the diffused breath now exhaled and intermingled with every breath exhaled in the last 4.5 billion years of earth and the last 66 million years of man's tenancy?
Have we made the mistake of calculating the being of being and the being of particular beings as not of the same lineage?
When final exhalation of particular forms occurs, we are witnessing the continuation of wholeness in ways less and less observable.
Like the observation of silent shikantaza, we gaze at what is before us, seeing and unseeing.
By and by -- will we come to be what we see and unsee?
Whatever distinction added afterward -- body, spirit, mind. soul. elements, matter, human, divine, reason, emotions -- merely follow.
In this article I propose a theory of the biological and embodied nature of religion. This theory rests upon two premises: (1) Human (and all animal) embodiment places a sentient organism in a meaningful environment, that is, correlates an autopoietic self with a meaningful environment; here "meaning" entails both cognition and value, this latter involving some affect and an aesthetic dimension. (2) All human meanings are embodied, including cultural meanings based upon language. Thus, human beings are radically embodied.
It seems to me: To be is to be religious.
Whatever thought, belief, apprehension, or practice follows upon our being as and where we are, firstly we are.
Related and connected, we are.
No longer thinking about god, God becomes all not thought about.
Walking up stairs, sitting in chair, sipping coffee, watching squirrel.
There is no other place to be; here is what is here.
I look for nothing not here.
If someone asks for prayer, I say yes.
Do I think of Jesus? Only now does that question resonate.
At no other time does Jesus come to mind.
Expanse beyond expanse, beyond awareness, within immense within.
Do not ask if I believe in God. I cannot answer that question.
I cannot answer because I cannot see beyond that question.
There is nothing I can say that would not sound absurd.
God is this moment speaking. God is this moment coming to be.
I do not believe in this moment.
It is merely where I dwell.
It is possible we are becoming lost in victimhood.
Yes, those with money and power have ruled over those without money and power. And yes, the human race seems to be transmogrified into persons of personal opinion rather than persons of relatable rational thought and balanced emotional equanimity.
Universities, students and administration, seem intent on politically censuring or muffling different points of view, focusing on personal pique and social adumbration, rather than intelligent dialogue and dialectics fostering clear and response-inviting interactive conversation.
Blueprint" — and its theory about the evolutionary origins of virtue — became his balm. That's clear in the book itself, which makes unmistakable allusions to the Yale ugliness.
"I have seen the effects of overidentifying with one's group and witnessed mass delusions up close," he writes. He rues America's intense polarization, which perhaps makes this "an odd time for me to advance the view that there is more that unites us than divides us." But advance that view he does.
His reasoning, oversimplified, is this: Complex societies are possible and durable only when people are emotionally invested in, and help, one another; we'd be living in smaller units and more solitary fashions if we weren't equipped for such collaboration; and human thriving within these societies guarantees future generations suited to them. Yes, there are hideous wars and horrid leaders. But if that were the sum of us, how to explain all the peace and progress? Christakis urges a wide angle and the long view.
metaphorical hearts, down to the bone.
vulnerable, the unthinking, and even the dead.
It is eminently possible that the core of our individual and collective being is loving-kindness. And we might be afraid of that core.
Normally: We get stressed, frustrated, angry, anxious, overwhelmed, and then deal with it by running away and going to comfort foods and distractions (or other comforts). With kindness: We might still feel these difficult feelings, but then give ourselves compassion and loving kindness to help deal with it.
Normally: We mess up somehow, either by not sticking to a diet or a new habit we're creating, or not being the person we want to be … and then we feel guilty, beat ourselves up about it, etc. With kindness: When we mess up, we notice the feelings of guilt or harshness and then deal with it by giving ourselves compassion and loving kindness.
Normally: We get upset at someone for not acting in the way we'd like, and this can result in us being harsh with them, damaging our relationship. With kindness: We see that this person is acting less-than-ideally because of some difficulty they're having, and we might give them some compassion or loving kindness. Our relationship gets better.
As you can see, every time we act with compassion and loving kindness, things improve. When we act with harshness or by running away, we make things worse.
It is, the Chinese curse would exemplify, an interesting time.
We are beings between -- and we're not fond of being between. We don't seem to like ourselves because of where we locate ourselves; we don't seem to like one another.
So we run to a far edge, and shout from there or write memos from there.
I prefer to be in the middle.
Curiously, it is eremitic there.
We can be alone together there.
When you find me here, don't think me lonely, only alone.
Belief comes slow, late, and seldom at all.
Can we live without belief?
Despite all the darkness, human hope is based on the instinct that at the deepest level of reality some intimate kindness holds sway. This is the heart of blessing. To believe in blessing is to believe that our being here, our very presence in the world, is itself the first gift, the primal blessing. As Rilke says: Hier zu sein ist so viel — to be here is immense. Nowhere does the silence of the infinite lean so intensely as around the form of a newly born infant. Once we arrive, we enter into the inheritance of everything that has preceded us; we become heirs to the world. To be born is to be chosen. To be created and come to birth is to be blessed. Some primal kindness chose us and brought us through the forest of dreaming until we could emerge into the clearance of individuality, with a path of life opening before us through the world.
This day of my sister's remembrance of birth twenty years gone.
During the octave of Irish and the remembering of Joseph of the constellation of Mary with Jesus.
This is as good as I've heard.
Senator Warren answering "What role does faith play in your life?"
Three words: here, now, within.
If here is presence, albeit a presence both discernible and indiscernible, might we understand Father by "here?"
If now is immediacy, albeit a now both temporal and eternal, might we understand Son by "now?"
If within is interiority, albeit an interiority in both inner and outer form and appearance, might we understand Holy Spirit by "within?"
These three words are common, everyday, pragmatic.
If our religion is to remain meaningful in an irreligious environment, we might need to reimagine traditional religious concepts into ordinary language rooted in ordinary experience.
That's what John O'Donohue said in a talk we watched at practice tonight.
I am rich these days. The reading I am able to access is borderless.
singing one of his poems, a tenso: a poem written as an exchange of alternate voices. When pthe [sic] first stanza ended, Blondel sang the second in reply, and so they went on to the end of the poem, each certain by then of who the other was, and Blondel spread the news.
On Friday mornings in prison, in the corner room, the men, having dispensed with tedious dayroom apophatics, cross the border into open thought, and we speak together.
With, as it were, Blondel -- spreading the news.


The Institute continued to expand and now counts 104 people or 55.4 full-time equivalents. In 2018, IES scholars took part in a total of 131 media appearances. Moreover, the Institute was particularly successful in obtaining externally funded projects. At the end of the year, no less than 38 external projects were conducted by IES scholars, whereas an additional 15 projects were funded through our own budget. The number of externally financed projects brought an aggregate income of approx. € 1.9 million which is equal to 37% of total IES income.
IES research output contributed significantly to a range of prominent new policy developments, like the new EU and Flemish policies to achieve CO2 neutrality in the coming decades.
The Institute's leading advanced Master programmes deliberated 33 new graduates that have now obtained life membership to our 1250+ alumni group.
Despite a looming Brexit, the IES as well as the VUB strengthened its links with the University of Warwick. Also intra-VUB collaboration was further increased, in particular between the IES and Vesalius College.
The IES Annual report is now available online.


Happy Friday! That means the weekend is approaching and even better it's time for a new challenge here at Crafty Catz. We didn't have a huge amount of entries for last week's Paper Piecing, but what was lacking in quantity was made up by quality, goodness there were some good entries. Do stop by tomorrow for the winner and top 3.
Now don't run away screaming lol, it's not hard we just want you to take some inspiration from this picture and use it to make your card, that could be the colours, the theme, the picture, the sparkle, the celebration....the list is endless and limited only by your own imagination.
Is offering 2 images of their own choice to the winner!!
How cool is that? I lurve her images and so was delighted that she also very kindly provided us with images for the design team to use...'drool'.
The DT and GDT have come up with some amazing creations to inspire you, I think they have done a fantastic job, take a look at what they've created.
Aren't they fab? We can't wait to see what you have to show us. Please remember no more than 3 entries each to keep it fair to everyone.
Linda & the Crafty Catz DT.


text:
Jeff Goldblum Recreates Jurassic Park Shot to Encourage Fans Vote
Adiantku October 10, 2020
Let's be honest with each other here, when you think Jeff Goldblum, you think that iconic shirtless shot of him from 1993's Jurassic Park and with the US Presidential Election coming up, the 67-year-old star has recreated the moment to encourage fans to get out and vote. His Instagram post can be viewed below!
RELATED: Colin Trevorrow Announces Production Halt for Jurassic World: Dominion
WOW! Thank you to everyone who used my @HeadCount page to make sure that you're #GoodToVote! Nearly 3,000 of you are ready for this November's election. Here's your reward…how time flies. @jurassicworld
A post shared by Jeff Goldblum (@jeffgoldblum) on Oct 9, 2020 at 1:22pm PDT
When he hasn't been hard at work shooting the third and final installment in the Jurassic World franchise, Dominion, Goldblum has been running a campaign on HeadCount.org to ensure fans are registered and prepared to vote in next month's election and promised recently that should his campaign receive 1,00 votes, he would recreate an iconic moment of Dr. Ian Malcom from the original film.
Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow return to executive produce Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment's Dominion, with Trevorrow once again directing the next chapter in one of the biggest franchises in the history of cinema. Producers Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley once again partner with Spielberg and Trevorrow in leading the filmmakers for this installment.
Recommended Reading: Jurassic Park: The Original Novel
The upcoming threequel will be starring returning cast members from the first two Jurassic World films include Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jake Johnson, Omar Sy Daniella Pineda, Justice Smith as well as original Jurassic Park stars Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum and Campbell Scott. It will also feature Mamoudou Athie (Sorry for You Loss), DeWanda Wise (She's Gotta Have It), Dichen Lachman (Animal Kingdom, Altered Carbon), Scott Haze (Venom, Antlers).
Joining the Jurassic team for the first time is Emily Carmichael (Pacific Rim Uprising, The Black Hole), who has crafted the screenplay with Trevorrow. They will work off a story by Derek Connolly and Trevorrow, who together co-wrote Jurassic World and Fallen Kingdom.
RELATED: Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous Trailer: The Mighty T-Rex Is Back
Jurassic World: Dominion is currently set to debut in theaters on June 10, 2022.
ComingSoon.net recommends all readers comply with CDC guidelines and remain as isolated as possible during this urgent time.
The post Jeff Goldblum Recreates Jurassic Park Shot to Encourage Fans Vote appeared first on ComingSoon.net.
Cardi B Is FIGHTING w/ Leaders Of Her 'Bardi Gang' Fanclub – And It's UGLY!
Armin van Buuren Calls on Jake Reese for Lovestruck New Single "Need You Now"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Вале́рий Па́влович Воробьёв (род. 19 октября 1945) — советский и российский дипломат, доктор юридических наук, специалист в области конституционного права стран Ближнего Востока. Член Союза писателей России.

Биография
Окончил факультет международных отношений МГИМО МИД СССР (1970). Доктор юридических наук (2002), профессор. Владеет ивритом, арабским, французским, немецким и английским языками.

На дипломатической службе с 1980 года. В 1978—1980 годах — декан МГИМО.
 С 21 апреля 1997 по 22 августа 2000 года — Чрезвычайный и полномочный посол Российской Федерации в Чаде.
 В 2000—2012 годах — проректор по кадрам МГИМО (Университета) МИД России, профессор кафедры конституционного права.
 В 2012—2013 годах — заведующий кафедрой конституционного права МГИМО (У) МИД России.
 С 4 июля 2013 года по 24 апреля 2018 года — Чрезвычайный и полномочный посол Российской Федерации в Марокко.

Награды
 Медаль ордена «За заслуги перед Отечеством» II степени
 Медаль «За трудовое отличие»
 Орден Дружбы народов (Монголия)
 Национальный орден (Чад)
 Почётный работник Министерства иностранных дел Российской Федерации.
 Заслуженный деятель науки Российской Федерации (19 октября 2009).

Дипломатический ранг
 Чрезвычайный и полномочный посланник 2 класса (21 апреля 1997).
 Чрезвычайный и полномочный посланник 1 класса (5 декабря 2013).
 Чрезвычайный и полномочный посол (22 декабря 2015).

Семья
Женат, имеет двух дочерей и внука.

Публикации

В. П. Воробьёв имеет многочисленные работы в области конституционного права стран Ближнего Востока, в том числе монографии:
 Политическая и государственная система НДРЙ. — М.: Наука, 1978.
 Правовые основы образования Государства Израиль. Учебное пособие. — М.: МГИМО, 2000.
 Государство Израиль: правовые основы возникновения и статус личности. — М., 2001.
 Государство Израиль: политическое устройство, право и статус личности (на иврите). — Иерусалим: Гешарим, 2002.
 Высшие органы власти Государства Израиль. — М.: МГИМО, 2002.
 Конституционно-правовая система Государства Израиль. — М.: Национальное обозрение, 2002.
 Конституционно-правовая система Государства Израиль. — Хайфа: Мобет, 2006 (2-е издание).
 Израильский парламентаризм: конституционно-правовой анализ. — М.: МГИМО, 2006 (соавтор — И. А. Чайко).
 Верховный суд в конституционно-правовой системе Государства Израиль. — М.: МГИМО, 2008 (соавтор — Е. В. Воробьёва).
 Болезни государства (диагностика патологий системы государственного управления и права). — М.: МГИМО, 2009 (соавтор — С. Я. Куриц).
 Верховный суд в конституционно-правовой системе США. — М.: 2010 (соавтор — С. А. Хаустов).
 Политические партии Государства Израиль. Конституционно-правовые основы. — М.: МГИМО, 2010 (соавтор — Д. Р. Бостоганашвили).
 Конституционно-правовой статус человека и гражданина в Швейцарской Конфедерации. — М.: МГИМО, 2010 (В. П. Воробьёв, О. Н. Литвинюк; под ред. Ю. И. Лейбо).
 Болезни государства (диагностика патологий системы государственного управления и права. — М.: Национальное обозрение, 2010 (соавтор — С. Я. Куриц, 2-е издание, исправленное и дополненное).

Примечания

Ссылки
 Биография на сайте МИД России
 Биография на сайте МГИМО
 [az-libr.ru/index.htm?Persons&000/Src/0002/19b20f58 Биография на az-libr.ru]

Выпускники МГИМО
Послы Российской Федерации в Чаде
Послы Российской Федерации в Марокко

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
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A unisex multi-strand Green Gold Cowl Scarf. Cotton jersey w/ screen prints. Length approx. 23 inches. This scarf is chunky & shorter in length so that it will come closer to your neck when you loop it. This scarf comes in a drawstring gift bag.


text:
package org.aanguita.jacuzzi.io.serialization;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.Serializable;
import java.util.Map;

/**
 * Created by Alberto on 04/01/2016.
 */
public class VersionedObjectPreview implements VersionedObject {

    private String version;

    private Map<String, Object> attributes;

    private VersionStack parentVersions;

    public VersionedObjectPreview(String path, String... backupPaths) throws VersionedSerializationException, IOException {
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    public VersionedObjectPreview(byte[] data) throws VersionedSerializationException {
        VersionedObjectSerializer.deserialize(this, data);
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    public VersionedObjectPreview(byte[] data, MutableOffset offset) throws VersionedSerializationException {
        VersionedObjectSerializer.deserialize(this, data, offset);
    }

    public String getVersion() {
        return version;
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    public Map<String, Object> getAttributes() {
        return attributes;
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    public VersionStack getParentVersions() {
        return parentVersions;
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    @Override
    public VersionStack getCurrentVersion() {
        // not used
        throw new RuntimeException("This method must not be used in this object");
    }

    @Override
    public Map<String, Serializable> serialize() {
        // not used
        throw new RuntimeException("This method must not be used in this object");
    }

    @Override
    public void deserialize(String version, Map<String, Object> attributes, VersionStack parentVersions) throws UnrecognizedVersionException {
        this.version = version;
        this.attributes = attributes;
        this.parentVersions = parentVersions;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
There should be two RWCs
rwc
Blackheart last edited by
One consisting of the top tier teams and one consisting of the 2nd tier teams.
Why? Because it would create far more evenly competitive games that would be alot more entertaining to watch and give hope to every team because they have a greater chance of winning. What is the use of scores that blow out to 50 -0 or even 80-0 or even worse 100-0. This is a lose lose situation for both teams. No one really wins.
Far better to have the top twelve nations battle it out for the RWC while twelve of the second tier sides battles it out for the Minnow RWC.
So.... a wild suggestion could be:
The first RWC would have 12 teams to make up 4 pools of 3: England. Wales. France. Ireland. Scotland. Argentina. South Africa. Australia. New Zealand. Italy. One from out of USA, Canada and Japan. And one Island team out of Samoa Tonga or Fiji.
Each team would be split into 4 pools of 3 and the first 2 teams go into the quarters. Semis and the final.
Pool 1. England. Argentina. Island team. Pool 2. NZ. Ireland. Scotland. Pool 3. South Africa. Wales. Italy. Pool 4. Australia. France. American/Japan team.
The team with the least points drops down to the 2nd RWC for the following RWC.
The 2nd RWC would also have 12 teams to make up 4 pools of 3: One Americas and Japan. Two Island teams. Georgia. Russia. Namibia. Uruguay. Japan. Spain. Portugal. Kenya.
Pool 1. American team. Russia. Georgia. Pool 2. Island team. Portugal. Namibia. Pool 3. Japan. Russia. Spain. Pool 4. Island team. Uruguay. Kenya.
Winner of the final is promoted to the first RWC for the following RWC.
The second RWC games would be played just before the first RWC games.
This would not only make every match more entertaining but give every team a real chance of winning. The 1st RWC incentive would be to be world champions and the 2nd RWC incentive is to not only win the 2nd RWC but get promoted into the 1st RWC.
I don't believe being thrashed and humiliated by another team that is vastly superior in every aspect of the game is beneficial to either team. They already know before they play that they're inferior and the massive lop sided result just confirms that. What do they do in their post mortem: Right guys we need to vastly improve our set piece, our running game, our lineout, our kicking game, our passing skills, our defence, our attack, our tackling, our goal kicking, our dicipline, our scrum, our fitness to try and keep up with them etc etc.
As I said they already knew than before they played.
It must be extremely difficult to improve when your being constantly pounded for 80 minutes. Better to play that 80 minutes on a level playing field where you can put everything you've planned into practice... have the thrill of scoring tries... kicking penalties...winning lineouts and have a huge driving incentive to win the game...possibly win your pool or be one of the two teams to get to the Quarter finals...then on to the semis and hopefully the finals and the ultimate goal to be promoted into the first tier competition.
Every match is a realistic bench mark to improve their game.
Yes we should be including the second tier nations alot more and grow the game globally but this current RWC model is not the way to do that IMO. Six minnows make the tournament instead of sixteen. Far better to grow the game with sixteen developing teams competing in the same RWC as the first tier... rubbing shoulders with them...playing in the same stadiums and being included as part of the global rugby family.
So they go home and say they played against the mighty Springboks. How did it go? Well we got totally manshamed for 80 minutes and they put 80 points on us...a point a minute...it was a great thrill to finally play against them at the start but by full time I really felt like shit as I crawled off the field battered to a pulp like I'd just done 15 rounds with Muhammad Ali. What did you learn? That we were totally out of their league and it was embarrassing experience....seriously...give me a competitive game any day.
Instead what do we have with the current RWC: just to give six minnow nations the buzz to play with the big boys we have to stretch it out to 6 long weeks (instead of four with my suggestion)...watch (or most probably not watch) 20 lop sided boring games and 10 competitive meaningless Minnow games where both teams have no hope of even getting out of their pool.
Kirwan last edited by
Nah, you lose the ability for a Japan vs SA or Ireland upset if you do that.
I like the alternative of the plate competition I saw mentioned the other day, so there is more to play for after the top two pool spots.
I'm only for this if we can relegate both of last night's teams
I don't think the scores have blown out as much as other RWCs? (although the next couple of AB games may change that)
I do like the suggestion in one of the other threads of having a plate competition like the 7's do. Then the lesser teams have a longer tournament and have more meaningful even matches
Serious Answer: I like the idea of a plate comp, it seems like a no brainer. But perhaps the economics don't stack up?
The other reason not to seperate is that it entrenches the two tiers of rugby, there will be bugger all movement between them if they never get to play the teams above. As it is now, they really only get to play those teams in a world cup.
Blackheart @Kirwan last edited by
@Kirwan These are just two of the real up sets in the history of the RWC...out of hundreds of boring games.
Kirwan @Blackheart last edited by
@Blackheart said in There should be two RWCs:
Boring to you maybe. I bet the minnows that get to play the ABs, for example, are pretty stoked to play regardless of the score. I know that the Portugal guy was pretty excited to score a try against the best team in the world a few years back.
RWCs are also about growing the game, your idea would ensure it stays exactly the same.
Blackheart @Kirwan last edited by Blackheart
@Kirwan There's only 6 minnow teams in this RWC...in my suggestion there would be 16...alot more playing alongside the Tier one teams in the same stadiums...directly involved in the Global rugby family....with the real hope that they could be promoted up.
jegga @Blackheart last edited by
What about you watch just the four or five games you give a shit about ?
World Rugby does have some things to think about though. There has been a very definite regression from a couple of nations who are World Cup mainstays. The Samoans are a far cry from their 1990s heights, and seem to be getting worse. Given where their players come from, you would think they will continue to regress as their player base become 3rd and 5th generation kiwis and Aussies.
Canada too seem to get worse nearly every cup.
This is countered by the improvement in Georgia and Uraguay (hell, and even Namibia if you remember them from 2003). Not enough is done getting these teams playing top nations and meaningful tests between cups. Even the horribly corrupt FIFA and UEFA do this better than rugby.
Promotion/relegation just makes the top tier stronger IMO. I'd rather have a WC with 24 teams, a fair chance for any of the pool teams to make the top 2, then a plate comp for the rest of the teams running at the same time.
Best of both worlds.
mariner4life @Kirwan last edited by
@Kirwan said in There should be two RWCs:
the only time promotion/relegation worked was when it kept Hawkes in the backblocks of the 2nd division.
Kirwan @Kirwan last edited by
In fact, have the plate and bowl like Sevens so there are even more meaningful games for the minnows.
To keep the costs down, maybe only televise the semis and finals for those two comps?
Unless there is a big financial incentive to 'qualify' for Comp A why would a team in Comp get excited about winning and going up? They would go from being winners to being ass raped.
The other point is that currently going to the big tournament in itself is the achievement and brings attention and growth locally. This is much like how when NZ qualifies for the wendyball WC junior enrolments and interest in the game rise.
It is then up to the organisations to take advantage of that and I agree that isn't always done. Not just a minnow issue though. Oz collected a nice windfall hosting in 2003 and managed to spend it on league players.
mariner4life @Crucial last edited by
@Crucial the Sevens comp tells me Nations are motivated to move up a tier. The US and Kenya are proof of that.
No Quarter last edited by
Promotion/relegation could never work with a comp 4 years apart.
I can't see any reason why they wouldn't do a Plate comp like in 7s. In fact I'm surprised they haven't done it yet.
gt12 last edited by
I don't think it would happen, but I wonder if you'd see mid-ranked teams intentionally not try (eg, select weaker sides) against the top teams with a view to not qualify, then try to win the plate? Also, as there is usually one pool of death, the 'unlucky' powerful team would then kill everyone through the plate semis and final (eg, England 2015, Someone this time). I could see the clubs jumping up and down if Farrell was injured in that semi and couldn't play for 9 months.
It's not that I don't like the idea, I just don't thinks it's quite right; perhaps with a plate and bowl some of that could be dealt with (eg, just a semi and final for each) so that those competitions were done with at the same time as the 'big' semis.
Blackheart @Crucial last edited by
@Crucial The team that wins the final of Tier 2 would be good enough and competitive enough to play in Tier 1...say Japan...they just beat 15 teams at their level...anyway in the current format their getting ass raped already so why not give them a better chance...I'd be interested to read what all the Minnow teams would think of this format.
Crucial @mariner4life last edited by
@mariner4life said in There should be two RWCs:
Very different example and also proves my point about financial reward. Getting into the sevens world series is a big deal as far as funding and development goes.
Crucial @Blackheart last edited by
Japan would have already been in your tier 1 comp. Georgia would be the next cab according to rankings before the cup started.
@Crucial said in There should be two RWCs:
gotcha, i misread your angle.
I'm not dismissing this idea out of hand and it is clear that there should be a better incentive for minnows given the gap but I also think that a plate comp would be the way to go and have been saying so going back to at least 2003.
It would need to be structured carefully though as you wouldn't want teams deliberately aiming for the plate and making the pools a waste of time.
and have been saying so going back to at least 2003
fucking hipsters
The other issue is you get movement amongst the rankings around the cutoff mark and the rankings are skewed by who you are playing.
If you took a top 12 based on current rankings Italy would be in the minnow section and Georgia would be in the top section. Italy's ranking i'm sure suffers due to being in the Six Nations similarly to Argentina's ranking suffers due to playing in TRC.
Rapido last edited by
Hate the idea, would make more sense though if it was still 2004.
4 groups of 3, doesn't even remove the only current flaw in the tournament- the uneven group numbers meaning short turnarounds.
Shrinking even below 1987 levels? Good for climate change targets.
A plate comp also is not a good idea IMO.
You'll have 2 teams gutted to be there , and 6 teams happyish.
7s is happy-clappy. It works there based on the festival tradition of Hong Kong, and now the modern series points incentive.
In a RWC it would be like one giant cruel 3rd/4th playoff .
mariner4life @Rapido last edited by
@Rapido said in There should be two RWCs:
but watching England go through it in 2015 would have been delicious...
Duluth @Rapido last edited by
This sounds amazing. Would definitely watch
Kirwan @Duluth last edited by
@Duluth said in There should be two RWCs:
Me too. Didn't even consider the agony of a Tier 1 team have to endure it. Drama!
Snowy last edited by
Nasty, cruel bastards - but yeah, I'd be all over it.
Cyclops last edited by
We should be making the RWC bigger not smaller. I'm not saying that should be right now, but I think world rugby should have a 20-30 year plan to expand RWCs to 24 teams (4 pools of 6) and then 32 (8 pools of 4).
Segregation won't make the '2nd tier' nations better. To be fair, neither does the RWC alone. World Rugby need to enable regular international competitions at all levels on a regular basis. The first step for that would be expanding RWC qualification. Let's toughen up auto qualifications; following the football example and only allow 2 auto qualies - the defenders and the hosts. Everyone else has to qualify. Having qualification pools stimulate international competition giving teams more regular game time. Have tiers in the qualification pools based on RWC finishes to avoid absolute mismatches but only to a point. Put seedings on the line too. So you might get an Italy-Georgia qualification match where both teams are going to qualify but it means the difference between a softer seeding and a tougher seeding. Getting the teams at the bottom of tier 1 playing the teams at the top of tier 2 more regularly will make the biggest difference to overall quality.
jegga @mariner4life last edited by
There's the attraction of the Olympics too .
NTA @mariner4life last edited by
How do you drown a hipster?
In a main stream....
It would be a radical change and you are essentially putting all your eggs in the knockout phase basket, but a 32 team (8 pools of 4) with a round of 16 to me both grows the game, retains the opportunity for upsets and wouldn't elongate the tournament.
Samoa were the second last team to qualify for the tournament. There is a very real chance one of the PI sides does not qualify next tournament.
Chester Draws last edited by Chester Draws
I don't believe being thrashed and humiliated by another team that is vastly superior in every aspect of the game is beneficial to either team.
And yet every nation and their dog want to play the ABs. We get told off because we don't play the PI nations often enough, yet those games are largely ritual humiliation for them and a chance to run third-stringers for us.
So which is it? We need to play minnows more? Or less?
Romania and Georgia would love to join the big boys of the Six Nations. So it's not just at this end of the world.
booboo @Blackheart last edited by
Aug 3, 2019 / Sports Talk
Best of RWC
https://www.thesilverfern.com/posts/booboo/2019-08/best-of-rwc-episode-1
antipodean @Chester Draws last edited by
@Chester-Draws said in There should be two RWCs:
Not us, but the other "tier ones". History shows that developing minnows have a chance against them which would be beneficial.
The problem with expanding established competitons is the clubs simply won't permit encroachment on the calendar.
booboo last edited by booboo
I love the RWC and the minnows in it.
There's been no absolute blow out as yet, two great upsets, and a couple of belters.
Put me down in favour of the Plate.
I could buy an argument for a 16 team comp.
Otherwise watching the Tier 2 and frankly Tier 3 teams is one of the pleasures of the Cup.
And it's huge for them to play the game's super stars.


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*Currently Meredyth is focusing her practice on her passion supporting women's evolving wellness, so is not taking new male clients at this time. Yet she is happy to give you a referral. Meredyth specifically designs each session to meet your appropriate needs at that time of your appointment, using a variety of techniques within her scope of practice.
All apppointment cancellations require a 24-hour notice directly to Meredyth via phone 612-280-9555 or email:doulalildance@gmail.com in order to avoid payment for the full session.
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Q: How to tell c++ linker that some classes will be added later by dlopen I have legacy c++ code that I'm trying to re-engineer.
I want to take some part of code out of the project as a ".so" shared library and load them dynamically by "dlopen".
I have written a dynamic loading mechanism which can load new modules dynamically at runtime.
Now I want to decouple existing modules from main project.
For instance I have extracted module "X" from the main project and created shared library which can be loaded later, but some part of the main project are using module X's classes directly and I can't change them yet.
I can compile the project by using module X's header files, but linker throw out "undefined reference" error.
How can I tell c++ linker that these classes will be added later by dlopen mechanism at runtime?
note: I can link and run project by copying created ".so" file of module X in "/lib" folder and use it when linking by "-lX" flag, but if I delete this file form the /lib folder the project fails on startup.

A: I know if you use X's classes directly you have to link X.so to your program. But if you link X.so you can use dlopen in runtime.

A: What you need is called an import library. They contain small wrappers for all necessary functions and thus satisfy all static linker dependencies. At runtime these wrappers will load dynamic library if it's not yet loaded and forward execution to real implementation inside library.
Import libraries is a standard feature of Windows DLLs but they are not available out-of-the-box on Linux (or any POSIX system). You can implement wrappers by hand or use Implib.so to generate them automatically.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Bremerton Valley Scottish Rite
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry S. J.
Orient of Washington
www.bremeronvalleyaasr.org
Bremerton Valley | BremertonValleyAASR | United States
Origins & Info
Calendar(s)
Liberal Arts & Sciences
In the Ancient world the Liberal Arts and Sciences consisted of grammar, rhetoric, dialectic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. Grammar also included the art of memorization.
Medieval Freemasonry
The Freemasons of the Middle Ages, always anxious to elevate their profession above the position of a mere operative art, readily assumed these liberal arts and sciences as a part of their course of knowledge, thus seeking to assimilate themselves rather to the scholars who were above them than to the workmen who were below them. Hence in all the Old Constitutions we find these liberal arts and sciences introduced at the beginning as forming an essential part of the body of Masonry.
The High Degrees
There is considerable speculation about the founding of Scottish Rite, but most agree that there is an inseparable link to the Scottish Jacobite cause of the 17th and 18th centuries (efforts to put the Stuarts back on the British throne). When looking up the history of Scottish Rite Masonry as early as 1733 a reference to "Scotch Masons' Lodge appeared in a manuscript list of lodges by Dr. Richard Rawlinson. Early Scottish Degrees, after the Master Mason's Degree were created in 1734-35 as "Excellent Mason" and "Grand Mason."
A New Era in the United States
One cannot begin to read about the Scottish Rite without seeing one name pop up instantly, Albert Pike. His devotion to the Craft can be read in Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (1871). It is still an integral part of our lives (and Craft) nearly 150 years later!
© 2023 by Bremerton Valley Scottish Rite, WA All Rights Reserved. Website issues please contact
prbvsrite@gmail.com


Every business needs to market their business in order to reach potential customers. There is absolutely nothing wrong with paying for ads but if I can reach potential customers without paying for ads, well then, SCORE! This is a long post so grab a cuppa tea or coffee. Read on for over ten ways to market your business without paying for ads.
HERE IS A LIST OF OVER TEN WAYS TO MARKET YOUR BUSINESS WITHOUT PAYING FOR ADS.
Feel free to PIN THIS POST and read later!
1. Make sure that your website or blog is optimized. Use Google Analytics to track how well your marketing efforts are performing. You need to know your website stats in order to know if you are getting better traffic. Optimize your content, your website description and use keywords that explain your business or service. Sites such as LSI Keywords can help you find keywords. You can also read our blog post on SEO Tips for Bloggers here.
2. Add share buttons to all blog posts and articles on your website. (although this one is more of a passive marketing action, you have to make it really easy for your readers to share your posts. If they have to go through a million and one steps to let their followers know about you, guess what, you've lost them.
If you are using WordPress for your blog, plugins such as Social Warfare (free plugin but there is also a premium version available) allows you to add share buttons before and after your posts and on your blog pages. Just install the free Social Warfare through the Plugins>Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
4. Create webinars on your niche or do a Facebook Live video. You can also co-host with another blogger or business owner that is in a complementary niche or business to yours. This is a great way to get your business in front of a new audience.
5. Create freebies aimed at your ideal customers that would be of help to them or make one of their mundane tasks more bearable, such as printable checklists and ebooks.
6. Test your website on all of your devices (cell phone, laptop, tablet) to make sure that it is mobile friendly and loading quickly. Slow loading website will cause your potential customers or readers to lose patience and abandon your website. Google and other search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites!
Studies have shown that more and more people are using their mobile devices to browse content. Having a mobile-friendly allows your reader to view your website as if they are looking at their desktop monitor or laptop. You can test your website's loading speed on Google PageSpeed Insights or on Pingdom.
8. Keep your website and content updated. I know this seems obvious but you would be surprised the number of websites I go to and their information is from 2010. If you have a blog post or article that you wrote even 2 years ago, a lot of that info may have changed especially if you have statistics listed. Take the time to redo your articles, it will keep you relevant to your audience.
9. Follow up with clients. Ask for referrals and post it on your website for social proof. People love reviews from others before buying or signing up.
10. Pinterest is becoming a powerhouse for sharing visual content online. Share other people's content when posting your own content.
11. Leave your business cards everywhere possible. This is good to reach local customers or clients. Make your business cards eye-catching, so you can attract attention. Get them professionally designed if possible.
12. Run contests, challenges or giveaways to build engagement and is a very popular way to market your business without paying for ads.
13. Open a pop-up shop in front of a store or in a plaza, if you can get permission. This works really well for product-based businesses because of impulse buys. You can also sign up for local green markets, school fairs or fundraisers.
14. Register your business with Google and Bing. Studies have found that more and more people are using their mobile device for viewing websites and using social media. Responsive, mobile-friendly websites will display the best on mobile devices. If your site isn't mobile friendly, then your website will not display very well. Your navigation menu may be cut off, only half of your website shows, and buttons may not even be clickable without having to an acrobatic sequence with a phone.
15. Comment, Like and/or Subscribe to other blogs, videos or websites. Again, be genuine in your engagement and leave a quality comment. Just saying "great blog post" is not enough. List the reason why you like the blog post and if you have tried any of the bloggers' suggestions.
This is a great way to network with other bloggers and build trust. If someone leaves a comment on your article or blog post – respond and pay it forward. If they leave a link to their website, go there and leave a comment. Be genuine when you return the favor.
I hope you have enjoyed this list of Over Ten ways to market your business without paying for ads. I have listed 2 more ways to market your business without paying for ads.
16. Partner or collaborate with other bloggers by guest blogging. This is another effective way to get in front of another audience. Find bloggers with complementary content as your own and reach out. Bloggers can be very welcoming and willing to help out others. Ask politely without being pushy and don't take responses personally. If a blogger says no, they may have a bit too much on their plate at the moment. Just keep asking other bloggers until you receive that YES!
17. Create an affiliate program for your product or service. Help other bloggers earn an income by marketing your goods and services for you.
Please comment below if used any of these tips and how it worked out for you! Feel free to share this article with a friend that would like to know how to market your business without paying for ads.
SAVE PIN TO READ LATER!


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High Airway Glucose Levels and P. aeruginosa Infection Linked to Worsening in CF
by Waqar ul Haq Shafaat
Hyperglycemia (high glucose/sugar levels) and infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria can acidify the airway surface liquid in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), especially in those with diabetes as well, contributing to disease pathogenesis, researchers report.
Their study, "Hyperglycaemia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa acidify cystic fibrosis airway surface liquid by elevating epithelial monocarboxylate transporter 2 dependent lactate-H+ secretion," was published in the journal Nature.
CF patients are known to have defective microbiocidal activity (ability to destroy microbes) in the airway surface liquid, due to abnormally acidic pH and poor transport of bicarbonate ions (HCO3-). The mucus of CF patients is also rich in several elements, including glucose, that make it a nutrient-rich environment for bacterial growth.
Both factors, an acidic and nutrient-rich environment, promote the growth of P. aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen notoriously associated with CF. The bacteria utilizes lactate (a product that can be converted to glucose) as a food source, and the acidic pH protects the bacteria from being destroyed by defense mechanisms.
It is estimated that about half of adults with CF also have CF-related diabetes (CFRD), a condition linked to respiratory decline and an increased risk of P. aeruginosa infection. CFRD patients are known to have more pulmonary exacerbations and be poorer responders to intravenous antibiotics than CF patients without diabetes.
Researchers assessed lactate production and its concentration in human airway epithelial cells (HBE) from CF and non-CF patients, and also in specific cell lines. They also investigated the impact of P. aeruginosa infection on lactate production and pH on airway surface liquid.
They found that airway fluid from CF patients' HBEs, which is hyperglycemic, had higher concentrations of lactate compared to normal cells. In CF, HBEs secrete lactate into the airway fluid, leading to an acidification of the environment (lower pH).
The transport of lactate in mammalian cells is, in part, performed through monocarboxylate transporters (MCT), which co-transport lactate with hydrogen ions (H+). It is these H+ ions that make the fluid acidic.
The team found that the changes in lactate concentration and in pH induced in the airways' fluid by hyperglycemia were exacerbated in the presence of P. aeruginosa bacteria, as the pathogen induces cells to secrete even larger amounts of lactate. An aggravating factor is the deficiency of bicarbonate ions (HCO3–) in the secretions of CF patients. The researchers point out that in normal cell airways, these bicarbonate ions compensate for the generation of hydrogen ions.
Inhibiting MCTs, so as to block the transport of hydrogen ions, can attenuate changes in lactate concentration and pH.
"We conclude that hyperglycaemia and P. aeruginosa induce a metabolic shift which increases lactate generation and efflux into ASL [airway surface liquid] via epithelial MCT2 transporters. Normal airways compensate for MCT-driven H+ secretion by secreting HCO3−, a process which is dysfunctional in CF airway epithelium leading to ASL acidification … processes [that] may contribute to worsening respiratory disease in CFRD," the researchers concluded. "Our data provide the first evidence that lactate is present in the ASL of human bronchial epithelial cells."
They believe their findings are important to further unraveling the pathologic processes underlying CF.
Tagged airways surface liquid, CF-related diabetes, CFRD, HCO3-, hydrogen ions, hyperglycemia, lactate, MCTs, pH, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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Next:Explaining B. Cepacia in Cystic Fibrosis Patients


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HomeDigital TokensCashaa and Airbitz Partnership for Secure and Fast Global Payments
Oct. 27, 2017 at 1:37 pm
Digital TokensMarketsPayment
Cashaa and Airbitz Partnership for Secure and Fast Global Payments
The Banking Platform for the next Billion (PRNewsfoto/Cashaa)
Cashaa, which aims to provide access to financial services for the billions of unbanked, uses blockchain technology to enable value transfer, without the end user having to interact with cryptocurrencies themselves. The company has now integrated with Airbitz, enabling Cashaa to strengthen its service further with the addition of secure, encrypted storage for its network of traders that work behind the scenes. The partnership will allow the platform to scale out and offer the faster services to the widest possible audience.
Kumar Gaurav, CEO & Founder of Cashaa, commented: "Airbitz is one of the most secure and trusted cryptocurrency wallets, which is in line with the ethics and vision of Cashaa, in providing platinum grade service for the people around the world"
Cashaa has been named one of the 100 most influential block chain companies after its service launched earlier this year. The platform already beta tested the transfer of fiat money for a flat fee of $1. The company believes its simplicity is key to its success and when combined, with the intuitive features of Airbitz, will send the service to the front of the forex payments ecosystem.
The platform will be powered by the Cashaa (CAS) token. CAS holders will be able to access premium services, instant loans, obtain a credit score, create smart contracts for trading and participate in the governance mechanism of CAS tokens. 1 billion CAS tokens will be generated, with 51% available to the public. The CAS TGE opens on the 6th of November until the 5th of December. The pre-sale is currently running now, offering between 60% and 100% bonus tokens.
Janina Lowisz, Cashaa`s VP Marketing, will participate in panels on the financial and social implications of blockchain technology at the CapitOx Conference – Reimagining Capitalism, on the 28th of October at the University of Oxford, and on the role of the diaspora and remittances at the European Women in Payments Conference on the 31st of October in Amsterdam.
Ethereum-Funded Movie Premieres at Hollywood
Blockchain and Smartwatches Intersect with Datum and SWINGS
EOD.IO Software Reaches End of Phase One
Blockchain Solution for Recruitment Sector
Independent Audit of TaaS $7.6 Million ICO
Using a Blockchain-Based Platform in Scholarly Communication
BeOne Provides Blockchain Technology and Online Education, Announces ICO


When the current NFL season started back in September, there were 32 teams getting ready for what they hoped (realistically or not) would be a championship season.
Heading into the last weekend of January only two teams remain though, as the Pittsburgh Steelers get set to face the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas, Texas. Now, if you think the big story here is Ben Roethlisberger vs. Aaron Rodgers, I regret to inform you that you are absolutely wrong.
No, there is a much bigger battle being waged on February 6th: That would be the one between Head & Shoulders and Suave.
That's right folks, the flowing locks of Pittsburgh's Troy Polamalu (our hero here in the football division of Kerrzy's Notebook) will go "head to head" with the golden mane of Green Bay's Clay Matthews on that fateful Sunday.
While Polamalu has represented H&S for a while now, Matthews is the newest newest member of the Suave team after signing an endorsement deal this week.
Lucky for you, this battle has already begun over at HairBowl.com where fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite head of hair. As the site notes (with I'm sure no pun intended), Polamalu has a bit of a "head start" over Matthews, another former USC Trojan.
Part of the reason he's out in front is that Troy's Hair jumped all over Twitter long before Clay's Hair did. Yes, that's right: they both have Twitter accounts!
You know who else has a Twitter account and awesome hair? I'm just saying…I wonder if either of these guys could get me an endorsement! My hair could be the PR hair for Troy's Hair! It could work!
While the Steelers and the Packers duke it out on the field at Cowboys Stadium in two weeks, there will be a different type of war taking place in the stands…a war involving towels.
More specifically, a war involving the type of towels that generally aren't used to dry oneself off in a time of great moisture.
If so, I bet Chicago car salesman John Stone would be interested. Did you hear the story about this guy?
He was fired from his job for wearing a Green Bay Packers tie to work on Monday, a day after Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a win over the Chicago Bears for the NFC title and a trip to the big game. NBC Chicago says his boss told him a few times to take the tie off or go home. Long story short, he didn't take the tie off.
Once this story spread like wildfire across the internet, Stone's ex-boss Jerry Roberts offered him his job back (provided he didn't wear the tie again), but he said no thanks. Can you guess why he said no? Oh, it might have been all the other offers he got since the story blew up!
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Stone is now working for a rival car dealer and there are people from all over the place calling in and talking about buying vehicles from him. All because of a tie! What a great means of self-promotion.
I think I have to start dressing more business-like, but in a controversial kind of way. Any ideas for me?
In what can only be described as a moment of sheer madness, Roger Goodell said that if there's a work stoppage when the current CBA expires in March, he'll take a pay cut. A pay cut of almost $10-million.
That's right folks, Goodell says he and the league's chief negotiator Jeff Pash (who is said to rake in about $5-million per year) will both chop their salaries down to $1 if there is no football!
The owners want the players to take less money in a new CBA and this is likely a way to try and show that the league really want to get a deal done. Do I believe that Goodell will actually give up $9,999,999 while the owners and players squabble over money? No.
The director of communications for the NFLPA seems to be on the same page, telling the LA Times that "this decision is irrelevant to the process." Carl Francis says what Goodell needs to do is guarantee that there won't be a lockout!
You know, he's right. Whether or not Roger Goodell is making his full salary has nothing to do with anything when it comes to CBA negotiations. Plus, the way football contracts are put together I'm sure that money is buried somewhere else anyways!
That wasn't the only labor-related news this week: After being ousted from the playoffs, NY Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie went all in on the league and the players union about the negotiation process.
Are these the crazed ramblings of one player, or does Cromartie speak for a larger segment of the player population here? That could be another wrinkle in what looks like it's going to be quite the Battle Royale.
Chad Ochocinco is changing his name again…umm back to Chad Johnson?


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Category: Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act
Pharmacists Authority To Give Vaccinations Expanded By HHS
By: Zach Simpson
On August 19, an amendment to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act was announced by HHS which allows pharmacists in every state to now administer childhood vaccinations to children ages 3 and older, subject to several requirements,
The vaccine must be approved or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The vaccination must be ordered and administered according to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) immunization schedules.
The licensed pharmacist must complete a practical training program of at least 20 hours that is approved by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). This training program must include hands-on injection technique, clinical evaluation of indications and contraindications of vaccines, and the recognition and treatment of emergency reactions to vaccines.
acpe cdc health and human safety hhs hhs on vaccinations pharmacist Pharmacy Pharmacy Law pharmacy vaccines public health Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act vaccination vaccines


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Chilling With Croquet And Cocktails At Jamaica's Most Charming Colonial Inn
Fathom Contributor
TRAVEL REINVENTED. Get inspired. Plan your trip. Pack your bags.
By Anne Roderique-Jones for Fathom | When I want rest and relaxation, I steer clear of all-inclusive resorts and sprawling golf courses. I want small and elegant. And I'm a huge fan of old colonial hotels. Jamaica Inn, a zippy four-hour plane ride from my home in New York City, fits the bill nicely. It's a resort where guests laze around in swimsuits and flip-flops during impossibly sunny days and spruce up with fancy sundresses and jackets at cocktail hour for rounds of gin martinis served by gentlemen wearing tony tuxedos.
Entrance and reception. All photos courtesy of Jamaica Inn.
Jamaica Inn is one of those marvelous old-school Caribbean resorts that celebrities have been flocking to since it opened in 1950. Scattered about the bar are tattered black and white photos of Marilyn Monroe, Ian Fleming, and Katharine Hepburn, who once sipped cocktails in their finest resort wear at the old mahogany bar. The resort still attracts its share of high profile guests, but the staff keeps their lips sealed about who's staying.
The real claim to fame is the resort's resident dog: always a black Labrador, always named Shadow. Currently, the fourth iteration of the pup is staking claim on-site, prancing about the white sand, frolicking in the ocean, and occasionally jumping in the pool. Technically, she's not supposed to be in the latter, but you'll seldom find guests swimming there anyway. The ocean is far superior.
The blue cottage.
Interiors of the blue cottage.
What's on Site
Jamaica Inn has 47 suites and a handful of cottages. The suites are all about outdoor space with sprawling living room-like verandas with sofas, chairs, a writing desk, and breakfast table. Guests spend most of their time in the suites, so a visit in the extremely hot months is not advised. Rooms don't have televisions, but WiFi is fantastic should urge strike for a Netflix binge.
The Ocean Spa offers local, organic treatments under thatch-roof huts in treatment rooms overlooking the water. There's no cheesy spa music; just the soundtrack of waves crashing in the background. Paddle boarding, kayaking, yoga, and playing croquet with a staff member is as active as it gets here. And that's perfectly fine.
I stayed in Cottage 7: a 2,000-plus square-foot splurg-y stunner that's worth every penny. (Rates start at $1,138 per night.) The two-level cottage has a bedroom on the top floor with an oversized bathroom, soaking tub, outdoor shower, and deck. The bottom level living space opens onto an expansive outdoor retreat with sun loungers and a sixteen-foot infinity plunge pool. The best part: a staircase that leads to a private cove in the warm blue-green Caribbean Sea. No need for swimwear.
The bedroom in cottage 7.
The living room in cottage 7.
One of the best things about traveling is experiencing the local cuisine, and the resort menu is packed with excellent Jamaican favorites. Chef Maurice Henry cooks incredible callaloo, jerk pork, ackee with saltfish, brown chicken stew, and escoviche — all smothered, to your liking, with tongue-numbing Scotch bonnet peppers. And the wine is fantastic. How refreshing for the Caribbean.
This Place Is Perfect for
Beach bums, honeymooners, and relaxation. It's perfect for the neurotic city slicker in need of decompression (guilty). I quickly developed a routine of doing nothing: sleeping in, eating a fresh Jamaican breakfast, swimming in the warm Caribbean, practicing yoga, and pressing repeat.
But Not So Perfect For
The partier, because, while there's a band each night, the place shuts down around 10:30 p.m. Or those toting a toddler, since children under ten are not allowed.
Around the hotel.
Neighborhood Vibe
Plenty of local stands offer fruit, beer, and beef patties. If you're all about doing it yourself, the resort's chef Henry offers weekly trips to the nearby farmer's market where you can buy fresh fish and veggies to cook for a simple lunch.
What to Do Nearby
The must-visit site is Coyaba Waterfall and Gardens. Everyone else schlepps to the tourist-laden Dunn's River Falls and misses the area's best-kept secret: gorgeous gardens surrounding a waterfall fit for climbing. We were the only souls in sight.
Ocho Rios is in the middle of the north coast of Jamaica. Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay (MBJ) is about an hour and a half by car; Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston is a little less than two hours away. If you're flying private, Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ) is right in Ocho Rios.
Rates start at $329. Click here for reservations.
READ MORE ON FATHOM
Fathom's Jamaica Guide
Everything's Irie at Rockhouse, Jamaica's Best Boho Hotel
The Ultimate Jamaican Food Tour with Legendary Local Chris Blackwell
Fathom celebrates all the reasons why we pack our bags, get on a plane, hitch a ride, and explore beyond our backyards. Fathom reinvents the travel website through inspi...


text:
// Copyright 2009 the Sputnik authors.  All rights reserved.
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text:
NYC Cathedral Shooter Had Extensive, Violent Record, Sources Say
Three officers officers fired upon the man as he fired several rounds from the front of the church, Commissioner Shea said
By Jonathan Dienst and Phil Lipof	• Published December 14, 2020 • Updated on December 15, 2020 at 3:54 am
What started as a peaceful Christmas concert on the steps of a historic New York City church erupted into chaos late Sunday after a lone gunman opened fire outside the cathedral, in an episode being investigated as a possible "suicide by cop."
Police say gunshots were first reported around 3:45 p.m. Sunday on the front steps of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine immediately following the annual concert program. The gunman, who police said was heavily armed, was seen firing an unknown number of shots outside of the Manhattan church as people outside scattered to take cover.
When police arrived, officers shot and killed the suspect, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said.
Two senior officials identified the gunman to News 4 as Luis Vazquez, a native of the Dominican Republic with an extensive criminal record. He was already wanted for an incident of menacing with a gun from this past summer. Prior to that, though, Vazquez had a record of assault, attempted murder, fraud and drug crimes going back more than 30 years. His lengthy history with law enforcement included six arrests, being convicted of attempted murder in 1989 for shooting at police, for which he served time in prison.
Law enforcement sources identified this as a photo of Luis Vasquez, the assailant in Sunday's shooting at Saint John the Divine.
The NYPD was at Vazquez's apartment Monday morning, preparing to search it. Photos from the scene showed a copy of the Ten Commandments posted on the 52-year-old's front door in Spanish. A look inside a bag believed to have belonged to Vasquez indicates how deadly a situation the shooting could've been, with a a can of gasoline, rope, wire, tape and knives being found inside, along with a Bible.
New York 13 hours ago
Hudson Valley Man Arrested in Connection With Capitol Riot: FBI
Crime and Courts 14 hours ago
Man Arrested on Multiple Gun-Related Charges at Inauguration Checkpoint Says He Made Honest Mistake
A neighbor of Vasquez said that he lived in the Bronx apartment with his mother, keeping to himself — not particularly friendly but never a problem.
Investigators are pursuing "suicide by cop" as a leading theory for what happened, the officials said. Multiple witnesses of the shooting say they heard the man yelling at police to shoot him.
"The shooter said, 'just shoot me! Shoot me! Kill me! Kill me!' He kept daring the police officer to do so," witness Judy Romer said. "I ran as fast as I could but only after the other people ran. I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it."
Shea said the exact number of rounds fired by the suspect was not yet known.
BREAKING: Police say they recovered two guns and a can of gas at the scene of a shooting outside St John The Divine Church. Suspect shot, killed. Parishioners not injured @NBCNewYork pic.twitter.com/NGOlPxQbEK
— Adam Harding (@HardingReports) December 13, 2020
A police officer and community affairs detective already at the scene, aided by a nearby sergeant, quickly engaged the gunman, Shea said at a press conference several hours later. Between the three officers, 15 rounds were fired, he said. The gunman was struck in the head and taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"It is horrible that our choir's gift to New York City, a much-needed afternoon of song and unity, was cut short by this shocking act of violence," cathedral spokeswoman Iva Benson said by email.
The cathedral is one of the world's largest. Construction began in 1892 and is still incomplete. The church has been connected to many New York luminaries and notable events over its long history. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a trustee. It hosted the memorial services for puppeteer Jim Henson and choreographer Alvin Ailey, and speakers over the years including South Africa's Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Copyright NBC New York
HarlemNew York CityNYPDgun violence


Splitback Chair by Innovation USA. Convertible chair that has adjustable back with three positions: sit, relax and bed. Two chairs in bed position make a comfortable daybed. One chair with Splitback Sofa by Innovation USA, may serve as a chaise lounge.
Sit position: W35" x D36" x H31"
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Bed position: W35" x D45" x H15"


text:
Der Verband Deutscher KonzertChöre (VDKC) ist ein deutscher Chorverband (Bundesverband) mit sieben Landesverbänden. Ihm gehören über 550 Mitgliedschöre mit mehr als 30.400 Sängerinnen und Sängern an. Er ist eine gemeinnützige Einrichtung mit Sitz in Neuss.

Der Verband vereint leistungsfähige Konzert-, Oratorien- und Kammerchöre. Mitglieder des Verbandes sind Chöre, die anspruchsvolle Chormusik pflegen und stilgerecht auf hohem künstlerischen Niveau zur Aufführung bringen, sei es der Gregorianische Choral, die barocke Kantate, die romantische Motette, das zeitgenössische Oratorium oder das chorische Gospel. Die Arbeit des VDKC ist darauf ausgerichtet, für Konzertchöre – egal welcher Rechtsform – günstige organisatorische und künstlerische Rahmenbedingungen zu schaffen.

Geschichte
Entstanden ist der Verband durch Initiativen zur Bildung des Schutzverbandes Deutscher Konzertgebender Vereine 1921.
1925 wurde der Reichsverband der gemischten Chöre Deutschlands gegründet; 1950 erfolgte die Neugründung als Verband gemischter Chöre Deutschlands, der 1956 in Verband Deutscher Oratorien- und Kammerchöre umbenannt wurde. Nach der deutschen Wiedervereinigung erfolgte im Mai 1991 ein Zusammenschluss mit ostdeutschen Verbänden zum Verband Deutscher KonzertChöre.

Angebot
Der Verband bietet Mitgliedern Rahmenverträge mit GEMA- und VGM-Abwicklungsregelungen und Versicherungen. Daneben gibt es unter anderem eine eigene Schriftenreihen mit Publikationen rund um das Chorwesen sowie die umfangreiche Internetpräsenz.

Im Abstand von etwa vier Jahren veranstaltet der Verband Deutscher KonzertChöre das Deutsche Chorfestival, zuletzt 2017 in Magdeburg (19. Deutsches Chorfestival "Welt in Atem"). Seine Mitgliedschöre berät der Verband in künstlerischen, organisatorischen und wirtschaftlichen Fragen. Der VDKC versendet den newsletter CHOR und KONZERT online und gibt einmal jährlich die Chorzeitschrift CHOR und KONZERT heraus. Er vertritt auch die Interessen der Mitgliedschöre im Deutschen Musikrat.

Leitung
Seit 2013 ist Ekkehard Klemm Präsident des VDKC. Die Bundesgeschäftsstelle mit Sitz in Weimar wird seit 2000 von VDKC-Generalsekretär Ralf Schöne geleitet.

Weblinks
 VDKC

Einzelnachweise

Chorverband
Organisation (Neuss)
Gegründet 1921


text:
Politician, Musician and Father
kevin@kevindavis.org.uk
My other place
Ventnor, Isle of Wight
The 2022 battle of the London Mayors
Lyndon B Johnson once said: "When the burdens of the presidency seem unusually heavy, I always remind myself it could be worse. I could be a mayor."
At the 2022 London Borough elections Mayors could be taking centre stage. Borough Mayors are not new. There are four London Borough Mayors in existence currently (Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, and Tower Hamlets) and there is soon to be a fifth following the recent referendum in Croydon.
To date, changes to the governance of London Boroughs to mayors have come about through the referendum process where public acclamation calls for the referendum to change the system of governance. Often these acclamations are generated by political activists (as in Croydon) but more rarely are genuine grassroots campaigns often driven by dissatisfaction with the local political system. It is a little known and little exercised power, but a council does not need to hold a referendum to introduce a directly elected Mayor. The council can merely trigger a motion and with a simple majority hold a mayoral election within 6 months of that date.
Tower Hamlets has always brought us political interest and it will continue to do so next year. Whilst Mayor Biggs is now secure in his position within the local Labour party there are stirrings of a resurgence of support for the former Mayor Lutfur Rahman. Rahman was once the Labour Mayoral candidate and then elected in 2010 as an independent. After various investigations, he was banned from public office for five years, during which time he has been resurrecting his independence movement for another run against Mayor Biggs. In a recent by-election in Tower Hamlets, the new Aspire party of Rahman didn't just win but crushed the Labour candidate, reversing the position at the 2018 elections. Rahman is back and he looks like he could be Mayor again.
In Croydon, we have a very difficult to read the picture. Croydon is bust. No money, Government intervention and sackings have created a cocktail that the Conservatives should be able to take advantage of. We all love to think residents pay attention to what is happening to their council and you would hope in this case there is a genuine mood for change. The Conservatives have already selected their hyper-local and current Conservative Leader as a candidate and this has left the Labour party looking somewhat flat-footed as it is suggested they will not be selecting a candidate until January — plenty of time for the Conservatives to frame the debate and get campaigning. The money must be on the current Labour leader being selected, but given the backdrop of council finances and the fact that their leader has just spent weeks arguing why there should not be a Mayor in the first place, it makes a tricky selection. Based on all these factors and the results of the recent London mayoral elections in Croydon means the Conservatives must start as favourites to win the election.
Despite the recent Croydon referendum, elected Mayors have not been the most popular choice of governance for councils. The reforms of the Local Government Act 2000 and the subsequent amendments under the Cameron Government have created an incredibly mixed and some would argue chaotic landscape of Local Government in the UK. There are strong leaders, leaders and cabinet, committee systems and mayors. It is no wonder that the public seems confused and at times angry with local politicians whenever they try to engage with their Council. In London Boroughs it has become like bin collections — no two ways of collecting the bins are the same.
But then you need to ask a question. Whilst we cannot gerrymander the electoral system, is it possible that in some Boroughs the Conservatives could win the Mayoralty when they might not win the majority of Councillors? I am sure, with the changing demographics of London, that is a calculation Croydon Conservatives will have made. If Croydon were to prove to us that Conservatives can win in a Borough that has been drifting towards Labour for a considerable number of years and has the character of an outer/inner London Borough, then where else would this work?
We know the Government has now moved regulations to move all Mayoral elections to "first past the post" (FPTP). If you took the GLA elections and applied them to the Boroughs on an FPTP then the good news is we would win an additional six boroughs — Croydon, Sutton, Richmond, Kingston, Harrow and Enfield. However, we would lose Westminster. In fact, we would end up with control of 13 London Boroughs in total — probably the best haul for a few decades. The bad news is we would lose Westminster City Council to Labour.
Next year's elections in the five Mayoral Boroughs will be watched, if only because we know that Michael Gove is something of a fan of Mayors. There are rumours that he would like to see more, especially the wider strategic Metro Mayors. This makes me wonder whether Gove might move to a default system of governance for councils of directly elected Mayors and actually use referendums as a tool to adopt some other system if residents want it. Whilst there will be many local politicians who would be against such an idea there are many voters who would welcome the clarity.
Boris, fleas and the need for a new constitution
Targets don't make things better
The beautiful and damned
All Right Reserved @wp theme space 2019


I'm into my 3rd week in the IT department of an international school in Dongguan, China. And the big boss asked me at lunch if I had any suggestions about VOIP teleconferencing for people around the world, including inside of and outside of the Great Firewall of China.
I know some of you have a lot of experience working overseas, and since you are the closest thing *I* have to Tech Support, I was hoping to pick your brains on suggestions.
We're on a system-wide VPN which defaults our perceived location to Hong Kong. I don't know anything beyond that of how it is set up.
Also, if it matters, the first language of the people using the software is nearly universally English, so that is one less complication. But Chinese-friendly would be a plus moving forward.
They've been using WeChat (which, for anyone who doesn't know, is pretty much the biggest app of all in China - it's used for everything, chatting, voice calls, social media, ordering food, ordering taxis, transferring money, and even checking out at a physical store), but the sound quality was not good.
*BONUS QUESTION* - we have several people whose phones, tablets, or laptops either don't connect at all to our WiFi, or are fine until a certain time of day (almost always exactly 1:11 pm China Time) when the internet just stops working. The devices are still connected to the WiFi, just not the Internet - and other physically nearby devices are just fine (connected to the same router and network, and still accessing the Internet. Interestingly, the vast majority (if not all) of the devices in question are Apple products. Android phones and Windows laptops seem unaffected.
Thanks in advance for any and all advice / help / and even any mocking that may come as a result of this. Funny is always a good answer.
Depending how many folks are on WiFi, maybe your dhcp server is running out of ips around that time? Apple products also do a "phone home" to test for a login screen - so maybe there's an Internet hiccup around that time that tricks the Apple devices into thinking the WiFi lost its external internet?
For much of that time the "Great Firewall of China" was pretty spotty and kind of lame. Very easy to work around in other words.
In the past 5 years it has gotten significantly more robust. Nothing that is google based works AT ALL.
I would rate my success to be 80% overall, much of the difficulty can be attributed to the instability of the Chinese internet overall.
I have had the best consistent success with soft phone apps like Bria and Zoiper that were setup to work with an asterisk instance located in USA. One was a cloud instance, the other premise based.
FWIW the last time I checked VOIP was illegal in China, at least for business and residential use. They did not have any VOIP providers (a la Vonage, ring central etc) a couple of years ago.
If your use is minimal you might try https://www1.pbxes.com for free limited use asterisk cloud server, or cheap alternatives for more rigorous use.
We think it may be connected to iOSes "WiFi Networking" Location Services "Feature". Turning that off on one iPhone seems to have solved the problem for now. We are monitoring it moving forward. I appreciate your help!
Sheesh, that is weird. I guess that means all phone calls are bugged. Great.
Anyway, I believe they've been using some kind of ... er... online solution? ... already, but it's just poor quality. I will look into pbxes.com - thank you.
Skype is out because the app is pulled from all non-VPN'ed app stores here. As is Duo. Although I'm not really sure if the people involved are making these calls from home / the office / or mobile. That would be good to find out.
Any additional thoughts / suggestions / comments / snide remarks from anyone is welcome.


text:
<?php
			session_start();
			// $phone = $_POST['phone'];
			$phone = $_SESSION['phone'];

			$obtained = $_POST['utility'];
			$amount = $_POST['amount'];
			$charge = 0.05;

			$dbc = mysql_connect("localhost", "heart", "F0undAti0n#1");
			mysql_select_db("db_heart_foundation");

			$query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM account WHERE phoneNumber = $phone ");
			while ($row = mysql_fetch_array($query)) {
				$ecode = $row['electricityCode'];
				$wcode = $row['waterCode'];
				$senderAccountNumber = $row['accountNumber'];
				//$paymentAccount = $row[''];
				$availableBalance = $row['abalance'];
				$currentBalance = $row['cbalance'];
				$name = $row['name'];
			}
			if ($obtained == 'electricity') {
				if ($amount < $currentBalance)
					electricity($amount, $availableBalance, $currentBalance, $ecode, $senderAccountNumber, $name);
				else {
					print "
 You do not have enough balance in your account to make this transaction
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					print "
 Your balance is " . $currentBalance . " cedis
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				}
			} elseif ($obtained == 'water') {
				if ($amount < $currentBalance)
					water($amount, $availableBalance, $currentBalance, $wcode, $senderAccountNumber, $name);
				else {
					print "
 You do not have enough balance in your account to make this transaction
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					print "
 Your balance is " . $currentBalance . " cedis
";
				}
			} elseif ($obtained == 'phoneCredits') {

			} else {
				print "
You did not select any utility
";
			}

			function electricity($amount, $availableBalance, $currentBalance, $ecode, $senderAccountNumber, $name) {
				$availableBalance = $availableBalance - $amount;
				$currentBalance = $currentBalance - $amount - $charge;
				mysql_query("UPDATE test.account SET cbalance = $currentBalance,abalance = $availableBalance WHERE account.accountNumber = $senderAccountNumber");
				$insert=mysql_query("INSERT INTO test.electricity (name,accountNumber,amount,code) VALUES ('$name','$senderAccountNumber','$amount','$ecode')");
				print "
Your remaining balance is " . $currentBalance . " cedis
";
				print "
You paid " . $amount . " cedis for Electricity Bill
";
			}

			function water($amount, $availableBalance, $currentBalance, $wcode, $senderAccountNumber, $name) {
				$availableBalance = $availableBalance - $amount;
				$currentBalance = $currentBalance - $amount - $charge;
				mysql_query("UPDATE test.account SET cbalance = $currentBalance,abalance = $availableBalance WHERE account.accountNumber = $senderAccountNumber");
				mysql_query("INSERT INTO test.water (name,accountNumber,amount,code) VALUES ('$name','$senderAccountNumber','$amount','$wcode')");
				print "
Your remaining balance is " . $currentBalance . " cedis
";
				print "
You paid " . $amount . " cedis for Water Bill
";
			}
			?>


Gabicci is an Italian inspired brand created by Jack Sofier and Alex Pyser. Alex and Jack decided to create Gabicci, a brand styled with an air of class and authority; after a trip to the Italian seaside town of Gabicci Mare.
Since its inception in 1973, Gabicci has been worn by a variety of celebrities including Bob Marley and The Specials. More recently, Gabicci's recognisable 'gold G' logo has been seen on the likes of Labrinth and Maverick Sabre.
With its bold and vibrant colour palette, unique fabrics, buttons and lining; attention to detail and originality is at the heart of every Gabicci collection.
All products are manufactured with the finest quality yarns and fabrics, ensuring that style is complimented by quality and comfort.


text:
Copperas Cove 3rd graders learn at 17th annual EcoHarvest
Mon, 2022-10-17 16:25 david_morris
By PAMELA GRANT
Hundreds of Copperas Cove students had the opportunity to learn about our environment and what they can do to protect it.
Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful hosted the 17th Annual EcoHarvest for CCISD students.
The theme for this year's event was "Saving Our Earth: One Drop at a Time." 900 students in two large groups attended the event which was held at Copperas Cove City Park and the Civic Center from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
"We kinda outgrew the Civic Center, so we only have our performer and our hospitality inside and everything else is outside, and it makes a huge difference," said Roxanne Flores, KCCB Executive Director proudly. "The kids learn with hands-on activities…The kids get to go outside, have fun, and learn."
Flores said that she hopes the kids learned something new during the EcoHarvest and that they are inspired to go back and talk to a teacher or a friend or family member and tell them all about what they learned.
"I hope they are having conversations, continuing to learn, and learning that they are always learning whether they are outside, indoors, in a classroom, or in a store, they are always learning," said Flores.
Students were separated into one of five colors: blue, green, purple, orange, and pink. Groups were determined by which schools the students attended with each staying in their "zones" and visiting five different stations out of the many available stations. All of the students had a chance at seeing Lucas Miller the Singing Zoologist perform inside the civic center and all of the other stations were outside in the shady area by the park's stage.
"I think it's awesome," said Teresa Gorres, a 3rd grade teacher at Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary School, about the EcoHarvest. "I love the fact that they have everything spread throughout the park. We're in a natural ecosystem setting. There are lots of different booths for the students to see. They're raising awareness on explosives, on water systems and keeping them clean, we had people from Gatesville talking about how to conserve water, the dental clinic passed out free toothbrushes and talked about how to keep their teeth clean, a recycling station to teach the kids about recycling and what that does for our planet, so it's been awesome. Inside, we got to listen to the Zoologist, and he was great. The kids got to sing songs and learn things about animals. It's a great grade level to start raising awareness of things they can do to help our ecosystem and our planet."
Scott Summers, Environmental Protection Specialist, ran one of the many stations seeking to teach the students about how the Army balances natural resources with sustained Army training.
Summers and his assistants talked about how they work to keep natural landscapes intact and maintain biodiversity on Fort Hood.
"I lead off with explaining the importance of balancing natural resources with the military mission," said Summers about what he's trying to teach his young audience. "They get a snapshot of the animals that live on Fort Hood and how these animals have adapted to survive."
Mark Turner, Superintendent of Residential Collections of Solid Waste for Copperas Cove, ran another station along with his fellow workers in the Solid Waste Department.
They showed off three different solid waste vehicles, demonstrating how they use them to pick up larger bulk items which excited the children every time.
"They like watching the arm move and seeing the couch go up and down and they're startled when I clack the claw together," said Turner.
Turner said that he and his fellow workers enjoy volunteering their time to work with the children.
"It helps when you educate them at this age," said Turner. "I hope they understand how important the solid waste department is to the community."
"It's really fun," said Kamrya Sims (8). Kamrya said that her favorite part of the Eco Harvest was Lucas Miller the Singing Zoologist and that her favorite song was a remix of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" about a skunk. Kamrya said that she learned a lot at the Eco Harvest. For example, she learned that "You should never leave your water unattended."
"Don't ever waste water," said Jeffrey Smart (8) who also learned about the importance of water conservation. Smart said his favorite part of the Eco Harvest was learning about explosive safety. "If you see one, don't touch it," said Smart, sharing what he'd learned about explosives.
3rd graders learn at 17th annual EcoHarvest in Copperas Cove


Oil additives are chemical compounds that improve the lubricant performance of base oil (or oil "base stock"). The manufacturer of many different oils can utilize the same base stock for each formulation and can choose different additives for each specific application.
RAVENOL VSI SAE 5W-40 is a PAO (Polyalphaolefin) based, fully synthetic low friction motor oil with especially USVO® and proven CleanSynto® technology for passenger car petrol and diesel engines with and without turbo-charging and direct injection.


Enjoy your first day back at work after the Xmas holidays. Everyone will be feeling the same. You need to lift your spirits otherwise it will be a gloomy day. Take a smile into work with you and compliment people. What goes around, comes around. ENJOY.
REMEMBER : You only get holidays because you work.


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