There are so many recipes from my childhood that I now love to make for my own family!
Many of those recipes are a hit with my kids, too. Anybody who has kids knows that's a big win! One of the dinner recipes my mom frequently made was paprika chicken over dumplings. It's now a comfort food for me!
Although her Paprika Chicken still tastes better than mine (Why does that always happen? I swear she uses a secret ingredient that she refuses to tell me about!), I've altered the recipe a bit over the years to accommodate my family a bit better. AKA, hello, Crockpot! I'm all about quick and easy these days!
Cooking the Paprika Chicken in the Crockpot is really easy, but I'm not going to lie: making homemade dumplings is a bit time-consuming and messy. It is so worth it, though!
Mix broth, sour cream, and paprika in the Crockpot. I don't have a set amount of paprika. I just sprinkle it in until the sauce turns a light orange color.
Add in the chicken breasts.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or cook on high for 4 hours.
Just before serving, shred the chicken.
1. Crack 2 eggs into a mixing bowl.
2. Sprinkle in salt and pepper.
3. Pour in 2 cups of water.
4. Slowly stir in flour until a thick dough forms. You don't want it to be runny!
6. Scoop out the dumplings with a slotted spoon and transfer to a serving dish.
7. Repeat, repeat, repeat! Continue to cook the dough by several spoonfuls at a time until all the dough is gone. It's messy, but like I said, it's worth it!
Once the Paprika Chicken is done and the dumplings are cooked, you can either add the dumplings to the Crockpot and allow them to cook for an additional 15 minutes, or you can just top them with the sauce.
I've done both, but I typically serve them separately because my kids like to choose the amount of sauce. I always serve it with a side of vegetables or a salad.
This is one of those meals that I make that gets devoured. We never have leftovers!
What is your favorite meal to make for your family?
Linking up HERE for the Family Joy Linky Party!
Typically the husband is NOT a fan of the comfort foods, which makes me so sad) but I think with the addition of paprika, I MIGHT be able to sell him on this one!!!
Just add a lot of paprika! Haha!
Oh my, this looks so yummy and simple. I'm usually so lazy and add those pre-made biscuits...but this is a much healthier option. I'll be pinning this for sure. Thanks for the recipe, girlfriend!
I only make homemade dumplings once every 4-6 weeks. Too much work! Haha!
That chicken sounds yummy. I am a fan of anything in the crockpot. When we make dumplings I usually make the canned biscuit type, but I bet yours are way tastier! I love your burlap and lace place mats. Very cute!
I've never tried the canned biscuit kind, but now I'm intrigued!
Thank you-they're from the Target Dollar Spot!
I love my Crockpot. I'm all for quick and easy meals!
That looks so yummy! We will have to try it. :) Thanks for sharing.
Everything about this sounds delicious! I will have to try it!
Thanks for sharing! Ilove seeing what other people are eating!!
I have a theory of why it tastes different than you mom's. I find when I use the slow cooker for sour cream based food it changes the taste. Not bad, just different. Maybe it starts to break down in the long cooking time?
That is a good theory! Maybe I will have to make it on the stove next time and see if that makes a difference! Thanks!
I don't know how good I'd be at making dumplings but this looks really really good. I'm gonna have to pin that and try it sometime this next week! Thank you for sharing! I found your link on Family Joy Link Party.


text:
Shut out this year: OSU players should return in '21 draft
May 4, 2020 at 12:01 AM May 4, 2020 at 5:57 AM
By Scott Wright
STILLWATER — The NFL Draft came and went last weekend without an Oklahoma State player hearing his name called.
Not since 2008 has OSU gone silent in the draft. Spare a couple of free agent signings, the Cowboys were hardly on the minds of NFL folks last week.
But that's not a sign of an inability to develop NFL talent. It's just that all the NFL talent stayed in Stillwater. Next season, and then the 2021 draft, will prove that.
Running back Chuba Hubbard and receiver Tylan Wallace have first-round potential, and several other Cowboys will be in line to be drafted or signed as free agents afterward.
Let's take a look at the Cowboys and the 2021 NFL Draft:
The obvious names
Chuba Hubbard, running back: Hubbard has first-round talent, but running backs don't always carry first-round value these days. Still, he's going to be high on draft boards.
Tylan Wallace, receiver: Game-changing wideouts are valued better than running backs, and Wallace will contend with anyone in the draft class once he shows he's healthy after last year's torn ACL.
Seniors with a shot
Teven Jenkins, offensive tackle: Size, athletic ability and versatility to play either right or left tackle. All of that will make him a mid-round pick with the potential to climb.
Amen Ogbongbemiga, linebacker: His first year as a starter was stellar and his leadership in the middle of the defense is attractive, too.
Rodarius Williams, cornerback: Watching A.J. Green slide off the draft board isn't encouraging for Williams, but he has another year to prepare.
Dillon Stoner, receiver: Stoner isn't always flashy, but his reliability as an inside receiver will draw NFL eyeballs.
Cameron Murray, defensive tackle: You could argue Murray was OSU's most improved player last year, and if he keeps developing, he'll get more attention for it.
Malcolm Rodriguez, linebacker/safety: His change from safety to linebacker was a monumental move for the OSU defense, but Rodriguez likely has to switch back to safety at the next level. Still, his tackling ability and speed in pursuit make him attractive.
Dylan Galloway, offensive tackle: Entering his third year as a starter, Galloway can play either tackle spot and has the size to get a shot, even if it's as an undrafted free agent.
Devin Harper, linebacker: Harper has NFL size and ability, but hasn't been healthy enough to show it on a regular basis.
Landon Wolf, receiver: Undersized, but his hands and speed could land him an undrafted opportunity in a camp.
Calvin Bundage, linebacker: The biggest wild card of all, Bundage has electric playmaking ability, but hasn't played at full strength since sometime in the fall of 2018. If he can prove he's healthy, his talent will grab attention.
Early entry possibilities
Kolby Harvell-Peel, safety: OSU already has begun its Jim Thorpe Award push for Harvell-Peel after his superstar sophomore season that ended with a torn ACL in Bedlam.
Josh Sills, offensive guard: He's been granted a sixth year of eligibility, but there had already been talk of Sills pursuing the NFL rather than transferring when he left West Virginia. A good year could persuade him to test the waters.
Israel Antwine, defensive tackle: Overpowering and versatile, Antwine drew consistent double-teams last season, which will limit statistical production, but stats don't get defensive tackles drafted anyway.
Jelani Woods, tight end: Woods will be attractive to NFL types when the time comes, but OSU will have to use the tight end more regularly to give him a shot at leaving a year early.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The multi-dimensional design makes a grand statement from top to bottom. Made of Olde English Wall with insets of Cambridge 4 x 8 Holland Pavingstones from The KingsCourt Collection set in a herringbone pattern on 4 sides. The column is topped off with Bullnose accent trim from The Crusader Collection under a Cambridge Cast Stone Pyramid Cap. Available in 2 sizes – Large (32″ x 32″, 56″ high) and Extra Large (42″ x 42″, 68″ high) – to meet your individual needs. Shown in Extra Large with optional Column Mailbox Insert.
Download the Assembled Grand Column Instruction Manual.
This unique product group offers two choices to add the finishing touches to a column – a finished cap with or without a second hat dimension (i.e. "Cap & Hat"). Although designed specifically for the Cambridge Pre-packaged Column Kit made with MaytRx® 6 Wall Units, it can be adapted to other column applications as well. No cutting or splitting is required on either a "Cap" or a "Hat" installation.
An optional "Hat" can be added on top of the "Cap" for a more dimensional, top finish design. It consists of four specially made 10 in. x 10 in. units. The finished measurement of the assembled hat is 20 in. x 20 in. x 3 in. thick and weighs 92 lbs.
To add a popular "cap and a hat" column top design, the optional 'Hat" pattern made with the four Hat units can be centered on the top of the fully assembled, four-piece Cap.
Made of lightweight, earth friendly, expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam core with a heavy duty, impact resistant coating.
Cambridge Wall Systems and Cambridge Pavingstones colors.
Cambridge Pavers, Inc. warrants to the original purchaser (with a proof of purchase) that should the Cast Stone products (Steps, Caps, Ledgestone Cast Stone, or Cast Stone Slab 3 Pc. Design Kit) installed according to industry standards and in compliance with our installation guidelines, prove defective, it will be replaced without cost. Replacement labor is not included. This Warranty is good for as long as the original purchaser owns the real property on which the Cast Stone was installed. Cast Stone products meet or exceed ASTM C672. The use of de-icing salts (sodium chloride (NaCl)) will alter the surface texture of these products over time. Cambridge cannot guarantee the color match of any replacement units. Cast Stone products can not be compacted.


text:
Hero Quest 2: Legacy of Sorasil
ADF (1.85 MB)
IPF (1455) (1.9 MB)
Add Comparisons
Sword & Sorcery / Multiplayer /
Board / Based on Other Media
Amiga (OCS/ECS)
Please log in to edit the game or upload files!
Rating [?]
Mr Creosote:
Please log in to rate this game!
Review(s) Please log in to review this game!
Mr Creosote (2004-12-12) [hide]
I'm not going to explain who or what 'Sorasil' is, nor am I going to bother you with what the 'legacy' the title speaks of is. You really don't need to know. Seriously - I've never heard so much boring cliché crap at once.
Let's rather get to the game itself. What we have here is a sequel of (you guessed it) Hero Quest. It's not based directly on the famous board game anymore, though the roots are still visible. In the end, it's a slightly enhanced version of the original.
You start by assembling your party. There are a few more character classes to choose from this time. Each character's stats can be enhanced a little, choosing from categories like strength and magical ability. Later in the game (after you've found some gold or other valuable items), you can also buy additional weapons and other stuff.
In the levels, each character gets ten movement points per turn (no more dice rolling). The maps are still laid out like in the board game (just that there are different maps, not just one), so you're moving from one square to the next. When you encounter monsters, you try to slaughter them. In addition, there are hidden traps which will mercilessly kill you if you don't discover and disarm them first.
All of this is pretty much the same the player is used to from the original. A few quality problems arise, though, mainly with difficulty. If you don't search for traps every few steps, they'll quickly get you. That's not fun, but just frustration.
Also, the graphics are actually worse than in the predecessor, because walls and other obstacles constantly get in the way so that you can't make out the exact location of monsters without consulting the map.
Hero Quest 2 can't really satisfy anyone. It doesn't appeal to the board game crowd who want simple challenges. Too many usability and fairness glitches. Hardcore RPG gamers also won't like it, because it's still lacking the complexity of a real RPG. If you think you're somewhere in the middle, try it out.
Contemporary Reviews [hide]
Amiga Computing 10/94 (English)
Amiga Joker 04/94 (Deutsch)
ASM 05/94 (Deutsch)
CU Amiga 09/93 (English)
Game Groups
HeroQuest (Amiga / OCS/ECS)
HeroQuest (PC / DOS)
Menzoberranzan
Unfortunately, this game entry is lacking gameplay videos. Please consider submitting one!
Unfortunately, this game entry is lacking related links. Please consider submitting some!
Comments (0) [Post comment]
Partners: Abandoned Places • Abandonware Ring • Free Game Empire • Just Games Retro
A Force For Good • Robot Ring • RetroGames.cz
ForumBrowseExhibitionsShare


text:
Fortunately, there are some brave companies that are still trying to stay one step ahead of Netflix's VPN catchers. Currently, Windscribe Pro is our top choice. The service delivers good speeds on its U.S. servers, and has a very simple approach to Netflix: Just select the "Windflix" connection from the desktop app or browser extension and you're good to go. Windflix is still technically in beta, but it works well and there's even a Windflix U.K. option if you'd like to experience Netflix from the other side of the pond.
Mobile Apps: If you're going to spend money on a VPN service provider (or even if you use a free one, frankly), you should be able to get a consistent experience across all of your devices. Most prominent providers offer desktop and mobile solutions for individual users, and while corporate and school networks may be a bit behind the curve here, they're catching up too. Make sure you don't have to use two different VPNs with two different policies and agreements just because you want to secure your phone along with your laptop.
Without a VPN, your connection is fully open. Your ISP, employer, the Wi-Fi router in the coffee shop mentioned above, any server along the way, or a person with the right tools can look at your data, log it and use it in ways you can't control. Government agencies can monitor your online activity and share the retained metadata with each other, including across country borders through intelligence alliances such as "14 Eyes." Based on your IP address, which depends on your geographic location, third-party sites and services may charge different prices or display intrusive targeted advertising.
Despite some of the drawbacks, ZorroVPN is a very interesting service if you are looking for advanced online anonymity. With their OpenVPN file config generator, you can create unique VPN chains with the Tor network and proxies (up to four hops). Unlike with Perfect Privacy, however, these multi-hop configurations cannot be dynamically changed within the VPN client.
Even if none of the above really sound right to you, you can still benefit from using a VPN. You should definitely use one when you travel or work on an untrusted network (read: a network you don't own, manage, or trust who manages.) That means opening your laptop at the coffee shop and logging in to Facebook or using your phone's Wi-Fi to check your email at the airport can all potentially put you at risk.
For example, when your computer is connected to a VPN, the computer acts as if it's also on the same network as the VPN. All of your online traffic is transferred over a secure connection to the VPN. The computer will then behave as if it's on that network, allowing you to securely gain access to local network resources. Regardless of your location, you'll be given permission to use the internet as if you were present at the VPN's location. This can be extremely beneficial for individuals using a public Wi-Fi.
To verify that each service effectively hid our true IP address, we looked at a geolocation tool, DNS leaks, and IPv6 leaks. When connected to each service's UK servers, we noted whether we could watch videos on BBC iPlayer, and using US servers we noted whether we could stream Netflix. We also visited the sites of Target, Yelp, Cloudflare, and Akamai to check whether our VPN IP addresses prevented us from accessing common sites that sometimes blacklist suspicious IP addresses.
In addition to blocking malicious sites and ads, some VPNs also claim to block malware. We don't test the efficacy of these network-based protections, but most appear to be blacklists of sites known to host malicious software. That's great, but don't assume it's anywhere near as good as standalone antivirus. Use this feature to complement, not replace, your antivirus.
A client running the Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 operating systems uses a DHCPINFORM message after the connection to request the DHCP Classless Static Routes option. This DHCP option contains a set of routes that are automatically added to the routing table of the requesting client. This additional information is available only if the Windows Server 2003 DHCP server has been configured to provide the DHCP Classless Static Routes option and if the VPN server has the DHCP Relay Agent routing protocol component configured with the IP address of the DHCP server.
IVPN also performed well in our speed tests. Though it wasn't always the fastest in the 54 measurements we took on each service, it ranked near the top on many servers at different times of the week—especially compared with the most trustworthy services. Private Internet Access, one of the most visible, privacy-focused VPNs, had slower speeds when connecting to most servers and less reliable connections than IVPN. For US servers (which we expected to be the fastest locations because we tested from California), IVPN ranked behind only OVPN and TorGuard. We liked OVPN—especially its speed results—but we thought that company's small team and small selection of servers and locations were too limiting for some people.
The free version allows you to connect only one device, and you can use only one server in America – which will not work with Netflix, Hulu, or other popular streaming sites. You can still use it to access YouTube, Facebook, and other favorite social media sites that may be blocked. Plus, it's compatible with all major operating systems, and it's one of the fastest VPNs out there.
Betternet Free VPN is a free multi-platform app that allows users to connect anonymously to the internet. A VPN or virtual private network sends your internet connection through a separate server meaning that any website you visit will not be able to track your location. This can be used for a number of reasons from accessing region-locked content to simply wanting to avoid being tracked. While many VPN services have an annual charge Betternet Free VPN does not. In this article you will discover why Betternet for Windows is one of the most comprehensive, secure and transparent VPN services around!
Some VPNs offer "split tunneling," which routes all traffic through your VPN except specific services or sites that you allow. For example, you might want to send your Web traffic through your VPN but stream Netflix on your fast, domestic connection. But these types of rules are complicated to implement without also leaking other important information, and we didn't assess how effective they were in practice.
The sheer amount of VPN jargon can be overwhelming, even if you are pretty tech-savvy. Do look out for OpenVPN though, as this connection protocol offers the best overall blend of speed and security. Ignore talk of military or bank-grade encryption and just look for AES-256, as that's the gold standard. Unless you know your DNS from your IPv6, a VPN killswitch is the main thing to look out for among security features as it will protect you from exposing your real IP address should your connection drop unexpectedly.
Even when browsing online in the comfort of your own home, using a VPN is a pretty good idea. For instance, you may want to buy your little nephew a birthday gift online without being bombarded with toy truck ads for next six months. Or perhaps you need to do a quick research of health clinics without attracting your employer's attention. If you live in the US, you may simply want to know that your ISP will not be able to sell your entire browsing history to the highest bidder.
When we test VPNs, we generally start with the Windows client. This is often the most complete review, covering several different platforms as well as the service's features and pricing in depth. That's purely out of necessity, since most of our readers use Windows (although this writer is currently using a MacBook Air). We currently use a Lenovo ThinkPad T460s laptop running the latest version of Windows 10. We periodically upgrade to a newer machine, in order to simulate what most users experience.
In this approach, the firewall must be configured with input and output filters on its Internet and perimeter network interfaces to allow the passing of tunnel maintenance traffic and tunneled data to the VPN server. Additional filters can allow the passing of traffic to Web servers, FTP servers, and other types of servers on the perimeter network. As an added layer of security, the VPN server should also be configured with PPTP or L2TP/IPSec packet filters on its perimeter network interface as described in "VPN Server in Front of a Firewall" in this section.
Speedify the third and final free VPN service that we recommend thinking about signing up to. It's a little different than the two options above in that it's designed from the ground up to absolutely maximise your connection speed. So if you're on a laptop with ethernet and wifi connections, it'll utilize both to pull bits out of the internet to the max. If you're on a phone it can use your 4G and WiFi connections at the same time to do the same time - to maximise throughput of data, improving download speeds and render times. In our tests this all proved to be more than just hot air - it really did work to speed up our download and browsing speeds. At the same time it's doing all the things you'd want from a VPN, ecrypting and obscuring, so you're private, safe and anonymous. The catch here is that you only get 1GB of free data. You get 4GB in the first month but that drops down to 1GB after that which just isn't enough if you're planning to use it a lot.
The best VPN services of 2018 allow you to enjoy private, encrypted browsing along with worldwide access to your favorite sites and apps, free from surveillance and unwanted data collection. You can rely on our choices to be capable of buffer-free streaming and super-fast downloads thanks to our proprietary speed test tool that allows us to constantly monitor speeds in several popular locations across the globe. To see which VPN we recommend for a specific purpose, tell us why you need one below, or read on for the best overall picks for 2018.
If you don't mind doing a little extra tinkering in a more complicated app to save some money, we recommend TorGuard because it's trustworthy, secure, and fast. TorGuard is well-regarded in trust and transparency; it was also the fastest service we tried despite being less expensive than much of the competition, and its server network spans more than 50 locations, more than twice as many as our top pick. But TorGuard's apps aren't as easy to use as IVPN's: TorGuard includes settings and labels that allow extra flexibility but clutter the experience for anyone new to VPNs.
Most of the popular VPNs have dedicated apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android, but VPNs can also be manually configured in various ways. Most VPNs allow a number of "simultaneous connections." What this means is that you can run VPN apps on a number of devices at the same time using the same VPN account. We now have detailed VPN setup for all major platforms, including:
The RADIUS server receives a user-connection request from the VPN server and authenticates and authorizes the connection attempt. In addition to a yes or no response to an authentication request, RADIUS can inform the VPN server of other applicable connection parameters for this user such as maximum session time, static IP address assignment, and so on.
Known for its speed, ease of use and native clients, HideIPVPN supports Windows, Mac, iOS and Android platforms. Its Smart DNS service is known to be able to unblock some sites. The service supports a variety of protocols, which include SSTP, OpenVPN, SoftEther, PPTP and L2TP/IPSec. With the service, torrenting is allowed although only on German and Dutch servers, this is due to the fact that it only has seven server locations in North America and Europe.
PIA is another great option and offers a 7 day money back guarantee. It keeps no logs, which is a claim that it has proved in court! And although optional, its security can be first rate. Its desktop software supports multiple security options, a VPN kill switch, DNS leak protection, and port forwarding. Up to 5 simultaneous connections are permitted. Its Android client is almost as good, and PIA boasts excellent connection speeds. PIA has servers located in 29 other countries.
Hotspot Shield VPN does not log your browsing activity. Almost all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) track your browsing history. So when you use a VPN like Hotspot Shield, there is no record of the websites you have visited and which apps you use. This prevents hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities in these websites/apps to get to your personal information.
Whether you're you're sick of your ISP throttling your connection, you want to secure your browsing sessions while on the road, or you just want to download whatever the heck you want without the man on your back, there's no substitution for a securely deployed Virtual Private Network. Now that you're armed with the knowledge necessary to pick a good VPN (and with three solid recommendations at that), it's time to secure your internet traffic once and for all.
Credit: Opera VPNAlso, although your data is encrypted as it travels between you and the far-off VPN server, it won't necessarily be encrypted once it leaves the VPN server to get to its final destination. If the data isn't encrypted — and that depends on the website you're connecting to — then the traffic might be intercepted and read. (One well-known VPN provider was recently accused of inserting ads in users' web browsers, which would violate users' security and privacy.)
Additionally, moves from the FCC to remove rules regarding net neutrality have raised questions about VPNs. Without net neutrality rules, it's possible that ISPs could charge companies extra for access to "fast lanes" that would deliver content faster. ISPs could also create cable TV-style packages where you pay for individual access to websites. A VPN might be able to restore net neutrality, somewhat, by tunneling past ISP restrictions. Unfortunately, we'll have to see how all this plays out before we can say for certain how much a VPN might help.
Secure connections for business: For businesses who operate at multiple nationwide locations, or for employees who travel on the road, a VPN can provide a fantastic means of security. Instead of connecting to your work network via the public internet, you can instead connect via the FreeVPN.se connection. This will encrypt your data, hide your devices IP address and ensure that any sensitive business information remains untouched and private. Learn More
These services offer many ways to connect, including without the service's client software; support operating systems and devices, such as routers or set-top boxes, beyond just the "big four" operating systems (Windows, Mac, Android and iOS); have hundreds, or even thousands, of servers in dozens of countries; and generally let the user sign up and pay anonymously.
Final Verdict – VyprVPN offers reasonably good security features with its NAT firewall and AES 256 encryption. At the same time, however, it lacks in a few departments such as server size, speed, and privacy policy. It works fairly well for going over firewalls preventing users from accessing blocked websites. Nonetheless, for purposes such as streaming and torrenting, there are better alternatives available.
CHAP is an improvement over PAP because the clear-text password is not sent over the link. Instead, the password is used to create a hash from the original challenge. The server knows the client's clear-text password and can, therefore, replicate the operation and compare the result to the password sent in the client's response. CHAP protects against replay attacks by using an arbitrary challenge string for each authentication attempt. CHAP protects against remote-client impersonation by unpredictably sending repeated challenges to the remote client throughout the duration of the connection.
Unlike the separate tunnels created for each voluntary client, multiple dial-up clients can share a tunnel between the FEP and the tunnel server. When a second client dials into the access server (FEP) to reach a destination for which a tunnel already exists, there is no need to create a new instance of the tunnel between the FEP and tunnel server. Instead, the data traffic for the new client is carried over the existing tunnel. Since there can be multiple clients in a single tunnel, the tunnel is not terminated until the last user of the tunnel disconnects.
When it comes to VPNs, however, speed is one of the most difficult factors to accurately quantify. We always run speed tests as empirically as possible when we review a VPN provider, but the fact of the matter is that the fastest VPN for where you live is not necessarily the fastest VPN for where I live. The fastest VPN for streaming video might not be the speediest for online gaming. Even the fastest VPN service at noon probably isn't the quickest at midnight.
Pricing is quite flexible, with a three-day plan available for just $2. But for those who want to avail of the complete service and support, A basic plan of $5 per month, a solid plan of $10 a month, and dedicated plan of $25 per month are also available. These packages offer users access to Proxy.sh servers in different countries and unlimited bandwidth. Custom plans can be arranged, all one has to do is contact support.
CyberGhost's popular free tier might not be amazing at speeds, but the paid Pro tier is phenomenal. It proved to be quick and consistent in our speed tests, scroll down. Want more? You can boost your speed with its "extra speed" feature; toggled before you connect. Use and setup are novice-friendly, and live chat is also available if you need a hand.
It's not suitable for users who want to unlock geo-restricted content as well as improving their privacy. The free version only offers U.S.-based servers, and access to services like Netflix Which VPNs Still Work With Netflix? Which VPNs Still Work With Netflix? Netflix is trying to stop people accessing its service through VPNs, but a handful of VPNs are managing to stay one step ahead of the streaming giant. Read on to find out which ones... Read More , Hulu, and BBC iPlayer are only available to premium users.
In the most recent round of testing, we've also looked at how many virtual servers a given VPN company uses. A virtual server is just what it sounds like—a software-defined server running on server hardware that might have several virtual servers onboard. The thing about virtual servers is that they can be configured to appear as if they are in one country when they are actually being hosted somewhere else. That's an issue if you're especially concerned about where you web traffic is traveling. It's a bit worrisome to choose one location and discover you're actually connected somewhere else entirely.


Planning on buying a house soon? You CAN'T MISS this important list!
Make sure owning a house is the right move for you, right now - So many people will tell you renting is throwing away money. However, if the time isn't right for you to own your own place, wait until it is.
Become a neighbourhood stalker - That's right, you need to be sure that the area you're buying in is definitely the area you want to live in. Now, it's up to you how far you take it but remember a great stake-out involves lots of doughnuts!
Budget like you've never budgeted before - Then do it all over again! You need to be completely on top of how much you can afford, every step of the way.
Research like a NASA scientist and start it early - Read websites, newspapers, and magazines with a real estate listing. Note down the homes you're interested in. See how long they took to sell, how much they sold for, and any changes of asking price in between.
Shop around and make an offer when you find one you like - Make sure you keep a list (as you'll be visiting a lot of houses), so you can keep track of your thoughts.
Open all the doors and windows - Check that they work properly.
Make sure you look at all of the neighbouring houses as well - You don't want to be living next to someone who was featured in the last series of 'Hoarders".
Check for termites but don't go it alone - Call in the professionals to do it before you sign anything..
Check with the council to see whether there's any planned development nearby - You don't want to be woken up by the builders next door at 7am for the next year.
Don't get caught in floodwaters - Check the local council maps to see if it's on a flood plan.
Get any planned renovations costed, before you buy - It might seem like a dream to buy a fixer-upper but if you budget incorrectly, it could turn into a nightmare.
Pick out curtains - ...and all the other exciting things that will make any house, your home.


My Amazon Influencer Page — you can access this page at ANY time, and I am continually adding to it! Categories included: fashion, beauty, kitchen, food/health, for the home, pets, technology, fitness and books, and more!
WFTW Kitchen Essentials – kitchen tools & appliances that I couldn't live without!
Apple Watch — $199 refurbished; Ethan & I both got our Apple Watches refurbished on Amazon and they work perfectly fine. You can save a lot of money! This is the Series 1, but the Series 2 and 3 are also linked on my Amazon "fitness" page. Click here to check out the other options.
Here is a post I wrote about the Apple Watch features I use and love.
Qalo Rings – currently 20% off entire site! (sharing these again because I love having this for workouts so I don't damage my diamond ring!) Men's & women's options.
I have and love these shoes, especially for the price! $50 for this style; comes in several other colors, prices vary. PS: these run large/wide, so I would size down 1/2 size.
Adidas Workout Tank — $18; I recently got this tank and I absolutely love it. It's super comfy, loose fitting, racerback, and I would say it runs true to size! I got a small, and it comes in tons of colors.
Dumbbell Sets — price varies depending on size (10 lb set for $32.99) — sometimes I wish I had some of these at home to use on days when I couldn't make it to the gym!
Vinyl Coated Kettlebell Weights — $18 for 15 lbs; this would be great for at-home workouts too!
Non-Slip Yoga Mat – $29.99; I'm in need of a new yoga mat & this has great reviews and doesn't break the bank.
Foam Roller – this one is only $14 and has over 2,000 amazing reviews! Comes with a free online instructional video.
Sudio Bluetooth Headphones — you can use my code FORTHEWIN to get 15% off! I actually have a pair of these and love them. The sound quality is great, they stay in my ears, and they are more affordable than other options. You just use a USB cord to recharge them, and they stay charged for several days! I am going to try their new cordless ear buds soon and will keep you posted on what I think!
$12.99-$36.99 depending on size; comes in tons of color options + a sport lid, which I love to use for workouts. — Click here for the sport lid.
I also have this in the 32 oz and love it! So many pretty designs! $19.99-$26.99 depending on the size you choose.
Nike Joggers — I have and love these!
Athleta Leggings: I know these are a little pricier than some other options, BUT the quality is amazing and they are made to LAST. I have had several of my Athleta leggings for years and they do not fall apart. They are all SO comfortable and flattering and worth every penny if you ask me! Linking some of my favorite ones here. I also want to mention sizing. I size down 1-2 sizes in most of their clothes. I wear an XXS in contender tights and XS in most of the others.
Garden Party Tight — on sale for $55!!
Elation Tight — if you are a Lululemon fan, these feel just like their Align leggings. BUTTERY SOFT!!!! Come in lots of colors.
Run Free 7/8 Tight — I didn't get these, but they are still on my list!!! LOVE the hot pink.


Do you have any blogging tips, how Tos or great ides about blogging? I'd love to check them out. Leave them in the below linky and I will add them to my Blogging Tips, How Tos, and Great Ideas Pinterest Board. Right now I have over 75 ideas posted on my pinterest board. Stop over and check them out.
Hi Kelli! Thank you for hosting. Have a wonderful weekend!


text:
Q: Creating zip of all directories and files in the same directory format I am trying to make zip of array of files in the same directory format as it is in my computer the script I've written is working the only issue is that it is overwriting the first element of directory with the second one only the last element in the directory array is going in the zip file I need to add all the files from the directory array provided. Here is my code please tell me what am I doing wrong.
// Get real path for our folder
$rootPaths = array(
               'D:\xampp\htdocs\moko\wp-content\plugins\moko\classes',
               'D:\xampp\htdocs\moko\wp-content\plugins\moko\templates',
             );

$valid_files = array();
if (is_array($rootPaths)) {
     foreach ($rootPaths as $new_files) {
          if (file_exists($new_files)) {
               $valid_files[] = $new_files;
          }
     }
}

// Initialize archive object
if (count($valid_files)) {
    $zip = new ZipArchive();
    $zip->open('file.zip', ZipArchive::CREATE | ZipArchive::OVERWRITE);

// Create recursive directory iterator
/** @var SplFileInfo[] $files */
foreach ($valid_files as $rootPath) {
    $files = new RecursiveIteratorIterator(
            new RecursiveDirectoryIterator($rootPath), RecursiveIteratorIterator::LEAVES_ONLY
    );
}

foreach ($files as $name => $file) {
    // Skip directories (they would be added automatically)
    if (!$file->isDir()) {
        // Get real and relative path for current file
        $filePath = $file->getRealPath();
        $relativePath = substr($filePath, strlen($rootPath) + 1);

        // Add current file to archive
        $zip->addFile($filePath, $relativePath);
    }
}
// Zip archive will be created only after closing object
$zip->close();
}

This script is only creating zip file with the files and directory structure of following directory.

'D:\xampp\htdocs\moko\wp-content\plugins\moko\templates'

A: You need not to create a variable $valid_files at all. And the loop you are talking about is to check valid files with in the directories, is only checking that directories in $rootPaths variable exists or not. Also I've changed how you were adding files to zip. Loop was overwriting $files variable every time on execution. Have a look at following code.
// Get real path for our folder
$rootPaths = array(
    'D:\xampp\htdocs\moko\wp-content\plugins\moko\classes',
    'D:\xampp\htdocs\moko\wp-content\plugins\moko\templates',
);

if (is_array($rootPaths)) {
    foreach ($rootPaths as $key => $new_files) {
        if (!file_exists($new_files)) {
            unset($rootPaths[$key]);
        }
    }
}
// Initialize archive object
if (count($rootPaths)) {
    $zip = new ZipArchive();
    $zip->open('file.zip', ZipArchive::CREATE | ZipArchive::OVERWRITE);

// Create recursive directory iterator
    /** @var SplFileInfo[] $files */
    foreach ($rootPaths as $rootPath) {
        $files = new RecursiveIteratorIterator(
                new RecursiveDirectoryIterator($rootPath), RecursiveIteratorIterator::LEAVES_ONLY
        );
        foreach ($files as $name => $file) {
            // Skip directories (they would be added automatically)
            if (!$file->isDir()) {
                // Get real and relative path for current file
                $filePath = $file->getRealPath();
                $relativePath = substr($filePath, strlen($rootPath) + 1);

                // Add current file to archive
                $zip->addFile($filePath, $relativePath);
            }
        }
    }
// Zip archive will be created only after closing object
    $zip->close();
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Old Town Boutique District is having its first-ever Trick or Treat with the Boutiques, Saturday, Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Young and old alike will be given a trick or a treat (but mostly treats!) when they visit the 27 stores in the Old Town Boutique District. Some stores are having extra events like an olive oil tasting at La Cuisine, a tarot card reader at Red Barn Mercantile, mini pumpkin decorating at Apple Seed, and a Halloween costume contest at Pink and Brown.
These special treats, discounts and events will be available during daylight hours (sorry vampires), so families can spend the afternoon trick or treating in Old Town and still have time to make it to their after-dark Halloween festivities.
More information and updates on the Trick or Treat with the Boutiques will be published on the Old Town Boutique District's web site, www.oldtownboutiquedistrict.com.


This series is for those who have completed all Tango Basics courses with us or elsewhere and are familiar already with basic tango steps and concepts. You will continue to work on your technique, understanding of tango terminology and musicality, and expand your tango vocabulary.
Class Time: 1hr 15 minutes.
Open step versus cross step.


View all of our Specials Home Banking. Personal Credit Union online Apply Online. Quick, easy and secure loans.
Our auditors are doing a verification of credit union accounts.
Please activate your new "Chip" Debit Card as soon as possible. Your PIN did not change.
Kelco Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1955 as the Credit Union for the Kelly Springfield Tire Company in Cumberland, Maryland. Although Kelly Springfield Tire Company has moved, Kelco Federal Credit Union continues to serve former Kelly Springfield employees in the Tri-State area and has also solicited SEG's-(Selected Employee Groups) as a means of increasing membership. These SEG groups are located primarily in the Tri-State area. Kelco Federal Credit Union is an open Credit Union. All residents of the Tri-State area are eligible to join.
To obtain more information on accounts, services and membership at Kelco Federal Credit Union, call us at 301-777-8100 or fax us at 301-777-2879. We can meet your financial needs today and tomorrow through tailoring products to fit your financial needs.


Is your face awake? Is your skin awake? Hold your face in your hands and simply feel what it is like to do this. It is like holding a baby. It is like holding something precious that cannot hold itself. Feel the weight of your head in your hands and let go. Let go of all the thoughts and simply feel the warmth of your hands upon your face. Fingers over your eyes. Cheeks in the palm of your hands. Chin nestled between them. You hold the key to your own awakening. Take care. Hold your head in your hands and let go of all thoughts of judgement and worry. Let go of all that ails you. Just sit and feel the warmth of this simply action and let go. Waken. Thaw. Warm up to the possibilities and let them unfold. Hold yourself in the highest regard and start where you are. And when you have this sense that you are there for you, lift your head and go.
Begin with a meditation and a mantra to help you find peace. Peace is the key to happiness. Hold that essence – some say it is the soul – that is yours until you believe everything is as it should be. For it is. There is an order to life. There is an order in this universe. There is an absolute call and response system to the way we choose to live. It exists. It is real. Trust it.
Start your day with love, self love, universal love, unconditional love, basic love, expansive love, only love. Ponder what it means to love yourself and others. This is a simply act that can only bring goodness to you and the world you live in. Ponder this as you ready yourself for the day. Consider it a walking meditation. Ponder this as you navigate traffic to get to your place of work. Love.
It is all there is. It is the only thing that matters. It is a choice that humans make and can make. Love. It starts with a simple intention. Trust this and dwell in this. Go forward in your day and love yourself as gently as you can. Love others in this way, too.


In the modern busy world, it is really hard for people to find the time to clean the entire home. Sure, you may vacuum everyday and occasionally scrub down the house, but how clean is your carpet really? If you have kids or pets, the necessity for having perfectly cleaned carpets becomes a priority as your kids are prone to picking up a ton of diseases from lying around on the carpets and your pets are very prone to dirtying up the carpet. While it may still look clean, there is hidden dirt and stains that can be a spot for the infestation of germs and other types of bacteria that can cause a number of serious infections.
Cleaning your carpet at home is never quite enough and can be a very big problem. Generally people try spot cleaning and thus, the carpet overall may be extremely dirty without looking too stained or dirty in a general sense of the word. Getting your carpet cleaned by a professional Carpet Cleaning Doylestown company may seem like an unnecessary luxury, but it is actually a must if you wish to make your home hygienic and a place where your kids may run around without any concern. The estimated time between each cleaning session must not exceed a year, but if you have kids or pets, you may want to get your carpets cleaned more often to maintain the safety.
There are a number of ways by which different types of problems are treated when you get your carpets professionally cleaned by a Carpet cleaning Bristol company. The two general umbrella types are hot water extraction method or dry cleaning. Hot water extraction method works best for fabric that is shrink-proof as hot water may shrink some materials. The hot water along with a cleaning agent is pumped onto the carpet and then vacuumed up with the dirt, grease and grime. This process is often used with a method called pre-conditioning, which is basically to treat the stain beforehand so that less time is required to clean it. In cases where this is necessary, there is generally a wait time before you can actually use the carpet again. The process is done by spraying an alkaline/acidic substance, depending on the nature of the carpet. Then the cleaner is passed to rinse the dirt and the sprayed substance.
Dry cleaning uses machines that use low moisture substances to clean and is generally a much faster process than hot water extraction. The process comprises of the same steps of using preconditioning and spot treatment for heavier stained areas through the use of chemicals that dissolve the grease and grime and then is brushed off. Though relatively more expensive, it is better for your carpet and does not attract more dirt over time. Dry compounds that are biodegradable can also be spread on the carpet that break down the dirt and can be simply vacuumed up, shortening the time of action by quite a bit. However, it is impossible to get all the residue and may cause allergies or discolouration on the carpet.
There are definitely pros and cons to both the methods. While hot water extraction has fewer risks and costs less, dry cleaning is a more efficient solution in terms of actual cleaning and takes much lesser time. Choose wisely to ensure that you get the best cleaning system for your home.
Know the best option for you before you opt for a http://www.sosdeepcleaning.com/carpet-upholstery-cleaning-doylestown.html Carpet Cleaning Doylestown or a http://www.sosdeepcleaning.com/carpet-upholstery-cleaning-bristol.html Carpet Cleaning Bristol company to ensure that you get the best type of cleaning for your specific requirements.


This lovely sixth floor studio apartment has all that is needed for you to enjoy a long or a short term stay, and is located centrally between Pattaya and Jomtien, making it an ideal location.
The property consists of an open plan sleeping, living and kitchen area along with a separate bathroom and a balcony, and is fully furnished.
The kitchen area is fully equipped with plates, bowls, cups, glasses, cutlery, pots and pans etc, and also includes a kettle, toaster, microwave and refrigerator, along with an electric hob and extractor fan.
The good sized living / sleeping area has a double bed, storage facilities including a built in wardrobe and cupboards, dressing table with stool, bedside cabinets and display units. There is also a sofa and coffee table, along with a TV and DVD player.
The bathroom is fully tiled, with a large sink unit with storage underneath and has a walk in shower.
There is also a balcony with balcony furniture, which provides sea views.
The apartment also benefits from tiled flooring throughout, blinds, air conditioning and a ceiling fan.
Sweet 2 Condotel is in a fantastic location, just 1,000 meters from Cosy beach and in the centrally located area of Pratumnak Hill Pattaya between Jomtien and central Pattaya, with many attractions nearby.
The condominium offers 24 hour security with key card access and CCTV, along with covered parking, laundry service and a communal swimming pool.
The central location allows for easy access to Jomtien or Pattaya by public transport, being close to the main baht bus route, which is a quick, easy and cost effective way to travel around Pattaya.
Studio for rent Pratumnak Hill or Rent to buy with an easy payment plans - no credit check needed.
Studio for sale Pratumnak Hill - Other apartments are available to rent, buy or for investment - please inquire for further details.


text:
Q: does textview not like to be placed to left of another widget This is more out of curiosity than anything else, as I have solved my original problem. I wanted a button the horizontal centre of the screen, with a text box to the left of it, using a Relative Layout. I am curious to know why if I have the following layout:
    <Button android:id="@+id/pickTime"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_below="@id/to_button"
    android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>

 <TextView android:id="@+id/timetext"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_below="@id/to_button"
    android:layout_toLeftOf="@id/pickTime"
    android:layout_alignTop="@id/pickTime"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>

The TextView is not displayed, yet if I subsitute:
  android:layout_toLeftOf="@/id/pickTime"

to
  android:layout_alignParentLeft="true"

It does display (albeit left justified to the left margin rather than right justified to the to the button which I was originally expecting). Is this an issue with all Relative Layouts (i.e always have to define widgets in a set order), or is it just something to do with text needing to be read from the left?

A: Check this, it's working:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>

<RelativeLayout android:layout_width="fill_parent"
                android:layout_height="fill_parent"
                xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">

<Button android:id="@+id/pickTime"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_centerHorizontal="true"
    android:text="Button"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>

 <TextView android:id="@+id/timetext"
    android:layout_width="wrap_content"
    android:layout_toLeftOf="@id/pickTime"
    android:layout_alignTop="@id/pickTime"
    android:layout_height="wrap_content"
    android:text="TextView"/>
</RelativeLayout>

I guess you have an issue with android:layout_below="@id/to_button" but you didn't add it and I don't know what is it. :(


With a little guidance, your online dating profile can stand out from the millions of others to present the interesting you. A well-written profile will not only ensure that you receive responses when you make first contact ; but will attract and motivate potential matches into contacting you — making your online dating experience easier, more enjoyable, and more successful. Think about the conversation The first thing to keep in mind is that an online dating relationship, leading up until your first date, is really like a conversation.
Edit Article How to Write a Personal Profile Outline. In this Article: Writing a Personal Profile for Social Media Writing a Personal Profile for An Application Writing a Personal Profile for a Dating Site Community Q&A Maybe you are trying to write a fun, informative profile for a social media platform, like Facebook or Twitter.
A quote works on more than one level. It has content what the quote actually says , it has tone beautiful, funny, sarcastic, solemn , it reveals something important about you in relation to the author a Homer Simpson quote says something different to an Anais Nin quote , and it attracts someone who has a similar cultural or literary taste again Homer Simpson vs Anais Nin.
What Not To Write On Your Online Dating Profile.
All of the details are in the video, but, Lisa says that flattering, fun and light-hearted pictures work best.
Mention your aspirations and passions throughout your profile. For instance: what it is you aspire to do in life, what hobbies bring you the greatest joy, what qualities you value in others. For instance: what it is you aspire to do in life, what hobbies bring you the greatest joy, what qualities you value in others.
I live and breath fashion design, as my college major and passion. I am majoring in fashion design and as a result I can also sew pretty good. I like to spend my time window shopping for designer clothing. Goodbye college, hello nursing career! In my wild dreams you are a physician or healthcare professional, and you love to teach me things!
Let me spice your life up with homemade meals and indoor adventure. I even let you take over Netflix. I like to stay in more like going out, watching Netflix, playing video game, and cooking from scratch. What would you like, Daddy?
Start with your basic details and a picture — they are a must. The truth is, accepting who you are, just the way you are, will help more than anything when it comes to finding your ideal match. Feel proud of your hobbies and interests and convey them accurately in your online dating profile.
Writing profiles, write your online dating profile with success with our 3 page profile guide. Discover how to write your online dating profile and what your online dating profile is for, get them to contact you by writing profiles successfully using our Free, 3 page, writing profiles guide.
It's an online profile is how to write your online dating for guys suitable for love. Guacamole, you probably have good the art to you write matters. Be quite hard, and opinionated at dating profile. Though, in the time to wake up the most creepy. What you're interested in the unknowable have.
When building a dating profile around an archtype, you give yourself the advantage of working within a proven set of qualities women naturally find irresistable. Doing it this way permits us to write headlines for dating sites with as little guesswork as possible. We can concentrate on what works instead. Hesitant about what makes you attractive?
On Slew Of Fish, headlines are the most notable part of the search results. There are different ways to capture attention on those. These online matchmakers know a thing or Two about dating headlines.
Learn why in this post on dating profiles. But before I get into these mistakes that regular guys like you and me make when writing a dating profile, and believe me dude: Let me first tell you about what factors you need to take into account when writing a dating profile that works just like a chick magnet: Did you know that your success online depends on your online dating profile photo? It is the first thing women look at.
Rating Newest Oldest Best Answer: Quotes from famous people that you admire, agree with or want to emulate are quite popular in tag lines, as are truisms and lines from famous movies or songs. The problem with using any of these kinds of pieces as your tag line is that others are probably thinking the same thing. Peruse a couple of dating sites and you'll quickly see what I mean: Before you can move on to write your dating profile, you'll first need to know exactly what it is you are looking for, or what you hope to attract into your life by posting a profile on an online dating site.
This step may seem redundant in that it's obvious you are looking to date someone new by putting up a profile on a dating site. But as there are different types of relationships, you'll want to define what it is you're after before sitting down to write your online dating profile. Quickly brainstorm what you'd like to share in the essay portion of your dating profile on a piece of paper. Hobbies, interests, work and family are all things to consider. Then, circle three to five things that you think are the most interesting or engaging.
These points are what you'll focus on weaving into your essay next, using what I call the "Fly On the Wall" technique. First, of the points you circled, does one of them imply a place that you spend a lot of time in?
Jenny Yerrick Martin Do you like someone tall with a good sense of humor? Or perhaps you are more focused on finding a good dancer with curly hair? Or do you prefer a more buttoned-up environment with a deeply-ingrained reporting structure and big offices for the executives? When you walk into some of them, you want to stay.
What are those like? If nothing comes to mind, consider the work environments you have seen depicted on TV or in the movies.
Such is actually an online dating. Write your profile. Such is the best of unique photos, clearly most folks haven't paid attention. What you love my time spent internet dating profile is what you as your online profile.
Deborah Albert, on July 22, Everybody says it about online dating. Talk about life changing! But fortunately, our divorce was what we both wanted and needed. We had simply grown apart. We talked and agreed and I never looked back. After the divorce I basically had to transform my life into something I wanted and could be proud of. I worked full time, bought a new townhouse on my own and managed my own life for the first time in 30 years. For 6 years I worked on me. Not a single date, just family and friends in my life.
However, the seed was planted. I had no idea how to do any of it so I polled my Facebook friends. I starting noticing that a few of my good friends had each found a great match and were getting married so I started asking. Every one of them were happy and in love and they were my age.


text:
PDF2 PDF |Add To My Favorites | Version: 07/10/17 - Chaptered 06/21/17 - Enrolled 02/16/17 - Introduced
SB-543 Civil actions: service of documents.(2017-2018)
Current Version: 07/10/17 - Chaptered Compared to Version: 07/10/17 - Chaptered 06/21/17 - Enrolled 02/16/17 - Introduced
SB543:v97#DOCUMENT
An act to amend Sections 877.6, 2016.050, and 2034.260 of the Code of Civil Procedure, relating to civil procedure.
[ Approved by Governor July 10, 2017. Filed with Secretary of State July 10, 2017. ]
SB 543, Morrell. Civil actions: service of documents.
(1) Existing law provides that a party to an action in which it is alleged that 2 or more parties are joint tortfeasors or co-obligors on a contract debt is entitled to a hearing on the issue of the good faith of a settlement entered into by the plaintiff or other claimant and one or more alleged tortfeasors or co-obligors, upon giving a specified notice. In the alternative, a settling party may give notice of settlement to all parties and to the court, together with an application for a determination of good faith settlement and a proposed order. Existing law requires that the notice, application, and proposed order be given by certified mail, return receipt requested.
This bill would provide that the notice, application, and proposed order may additionally be given by personal service.
(2) Existing law provides for the service of documents in a civil action, and establishes procedures for the service of documents by mail, Express Mail or other means of overnight delivery, facsimile transmission, or electronic service, as specified. Existing law applies these procedures to methods of discovery or service of a motion, as provided.
This bill would additionally apply existing procedures governing the personal service of documents to methods of discovery or the service of a motion, as provided.
(3) Existing law authorizes a party to demand that all parties simultaneously exchange information concerning each other's expert trial witnesses. Existing law requires all parties who have appeared in the action to exchange information concerning expert witnesses in writing on or before the date of the exchange specified in the demand. Existing law permits the exchange of information to occur at a meeting of the attorneys for the parties involved or by a mailing on or before the date of exchange.
This bill would revise the methods by which parties may exchange information concerning expert witnesses by authorizing the parties to follow the procedures described above that are applicable to personal, mail, and electronic service, as specified.
Section 877.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:
877.6.
(a) (1) Any party to an action in which it is alleged that two or more parties are joint tortfeasors or co-obligors on a contract debt shall be entitled to a hearing on the issue of the good faith of a settlement entered into by the plaintiff or other claimant and one or more alleged tortfeasors or co-obligors, upon giving notice in the manner provided in subdivision (b) of Section 1005. Upon a showing of good cause, the court may shorten the time for giving the required notice to permit the determination of the issue to be made before the commencement of the trial of the action, or before the verdict or judgment if settlement is made after the trial has commenced.
(2) In the alternative, a settling party may give notice of settlement to all parties and to the court, together with an application for determination of good faith settlement and a proposed order. The application shall indicate the settling parties, and the basis, terms, and amount of the settlement. The notice, application, and proposed order shall be given by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service. Proof of service shall be filed with the court. Within 25 days of the mailing of the notice, application, and proposed order, or within 20 days of personal service, a nonsettling party may file a notice of motion to contest the good faith of the settlement. If none of the nonsettling parties files a motion within 25 days of mailing of the notice, application, and proposed order, or within 20 days of personal service, the court may approve the settlement. The notice by a nonsettling party shall be given in the manner provided in subdivision (b) of Section 1005. However, this paragraph shall not apply to settlements in which a confidentiality agreement has been entered into regarding the case or the terms of the settlement.
(b) The issue of the good faith of a settlement may be determined by the court on the basis of affidavits served with the notice of hearing, and any counteraffidavits filed in response, or the court may, in its discretion, receive other evidence at the hearing.
(c) A determination by the court that the settlement was made in good faith shall bar any other joint tortfeasor or co-obligor from any further claims against the settling tortfeasor or co-obligor for equitable comparative contribution, or partial or comparative indemnity, based on comparative negligence or comparative fault.
(d) The party asserting the lack of good faith shall have the burden of proof on that issue.
(e) When a determination of the good faith or lack of good faith of a settlement is made, any party aggrieved by the determination may petition the proper court to review the determination by writ of mandate. The petition for writ of mandate shall be filed within 20 days after service of written notice of the determination, or within any additional time not exceeding 20 days as the trial court may allow.
(1) The court shall, within 30 days of the receipt of all materials to be filed by the parties, determine whether or not the court will hear the writ and notify the parties of its determination.
(2) If the court grants a hearing on the writ, the hearing shall be given special precedence over all other civil matters on the calendar of the court except those matters to which equal or greater precedence on the calendar is granted by law.
(3) The running of any period of time after which an action would be subject to dismissal pursuant to the applicable provisions of Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 583.110) of Title 8 of Part 2 shall be tolled during the period of review of a determination pursuant to this subdivision.
Section 2016.050 of the Code of Civil Procedure is amended to read:
2016.050.
Sections 1011 and 1013 apply to any method of discovery or service of a motion provided for in this title.
(a) All parties who have appeared in the action shall exchange information concerning expert witnesses in writing on or before the date of exchange specified in the demand. The exchange of information may occur at a meeting of the attorneys for the parties involved or by serving the information on the other party by any method specified in Sections 1011 or 1013, on or before the date of exchange.
(b) The exchange of expert witness information shall include either of the following:
(1) A list setting forth the name and address of a person whose expert opinion that party expects to offer in evidence at the trial.
(2) A statement that the party does not presently intend to offer the testimony of an expert witness.
(c) If a witness on the list is an expert as described in subdivision (b) of Section 2034.210, the exchange shall also include or be accompanied by an expert witness declaration signed only by the attorney for the party designating the expert, or by that party if that party has no attorney. This declaration shall be under penalty of perjury and shall contain all of the following:
(1) A brief narrative statement of the qualifications of each expert.
(2) A brief narrative statement of the general substance of the testimony that the expert is expected to give.
(3) A representation that the expert has agreed to testify at the trial.
(4) A representation that the expert will be sufficiently familiar with the pending action to submit to a meaningful oral deposition concerning the specific testimony, including an opinion and its basis, that the expert is expected to give at trial.
(5) A statement of the expert's hourly and daily fee for providing deposition testimony and for consulting with the retaining attorney.


This link takes you to the Indistar page where the ACSIPs are housed.
Providing an excellent education to all Arkansas students is of the utmost importance, and many schools are implementing innovative programs to inspire student success. To better assist schools with providing the best education possible, the Arkansas Department of Education is launching the Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Planning Statewide Field Test during the 2016-2017 year.
All Arkansas public and charter schools use the ACSIP model, as defined by Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-419, to identify a school's goals, instructional programs, and strategies toward meeting student needs. The statewide field test this school year continues to feature a process and software that opens the door for improvement at all schools and districts.
The process and program allows district and school leadership teams to collaborate to determine best practices and areas for improvement, in addition to developing strategies for meeting short- term and long-term goals. It also gives schools an opportunity to receive coaching feedback from districts throughout the entire year. Providing the best education possible requires effort, collaboration and innovative strategies. To view the school's Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plans please go the following link http://www.indistar.org/ and type in the user name and password. You may view the 2015-2016 Arkansas Comprehensive School Improvement Plans by clicking on the PDF file.


This is a copy of a publication in Encyclopedia of Drug Policy, edited by Mark Kleiman and James Hawdon. Sage Publications, 2011.
Please cite as: Deflem, Mathieu and Stephen Chicoine. 2011. "International Drug Policies: International Cooperation." Pp. 406-409 in Encyclopedia of Drug Policy, edited by Mark A. Kleiman and James E. Hawdon. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Narcotic drugs have been the subject of international policies and regulations for many years at various levels of international governance. International drug policies supplement and aim to strengthen relevant policies at the level of national states and foster cooperation among them. Countries that sign international conventions are expected to develop necessary legislation, law enforcement capacities, and administrative measures, in addition to cooperating with one another and with international drug control agencies. The history of international drug policies dates back to the early 20th century and has since steadily evolved and, in most recent times, witnessed certain changes in direction. Among the most important international regulating bodies involved with the control of drugs throughout history are the League of Nations, the United Nations (UN), and several regional bodies, such as the Organization of American States and the European Union.
Before the formation of the League of Nations after World War I, drugs were already the subject of international control when an international convention was held in Shanghai in 1909. Attended by 13 countries, the conference set the foundation of much of the future of international drug polices by developing a prohibition regime that outlawed the recreational use of drugs (opium and morphine) while additionally regulating their medical use. As a result of the 1909 conference, the First International Opium Convention was drawn up in The Hague in the Netherlands in 1912. Developing a multilateral drug control regime, the Convention included specific provisions outlawing the use of opium, morphine, and cocaine, as well as controlling the manufacture and trade of these substances. The Convention was signed by 41 nations just before the outbreak of World War I.
The League of Nations continued and extended its policies from the international drug agreements that had been developed before World War I. The Versailles Treaty included an international obligation for nations to agree to the 1912 Convention. Subsequently, the International Opium Convention of 1925 created the Permanent Central Board to end the diversion of main narcotics from legal (medical) to illicit (recreational) channels. The export of coca between producing countries and manufacturing countries also became controlled, and the Convention included the first provision regarding the export of cannabis.
In 1931 the Narcotics Limitation Convention required states to estimate their respective needs for narcotics for medical and scientific purposes as the basis for an annual statement of the world narcotics requirements. The Permanent Central Board was authorized to intervene in cases of noncompliance with respect to the limitations that were set on production. Because nations often did not readily cooperate to control the trafficking of drugs, a new international convention was drawn up in 1936 that provided provisions for the prosecution and extradition of drug traffickers as well as for the organization of police cooperation on drug-related offenses.
After the dissolution of the League of Nations and the carnage of World War II, the UN carried on the world's drug control policies. A new international protocol in 1946 summarized the previous drug conventions and transferred all authority to the UN, whose Economic and Social Council created a Commission on Narcotic Drugs. The existing Permanent Central Board and Drug Supervisory Board were combined into the International Narcotics Control Board.
Testifying to the recognition of the drug problem as an international concern among the world's nations, the United Nations was able to draw up a series of drug-control conventions even during the period of international political conflict that marked the Cold War.
In 1948 a UN protocol addressed the problem of synthetic drugs and further expanded the scope of provisions to include any potentially addiction-forming drug that might be created in the future. A 1953 convention prohibited the nonmedical use of all controlled substances, required governments to acquire a monopoly of poppy fields to control cultivation and the production of opium, and authorized some countries to legally produce opium.
The 1953 convention served as the basis for the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, which sought to integrate all previously developed international policies. Focused on plant-based drugs (heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and opium), the Single Convention extended the basic idea of a drug prohibition regime, in which ideally all nations of the world would cooperate, by criminalizing the production, trade, and use of drugs, extending the scope of control to cannabis and coca, and limiting the possession of drugs for medical and scientific purposes. The Convention also extended the 1925 policies on import regulations for poppy and further developed an international system of statistical control that applied to all transactions concerning drugs, and advanced new medical obligations concerning drug addicts.
The 1961 Single Convention also established the International Narcotics Control Board, while the powers of the World Health Organization were increased to oversee the medical and scientific aspects of drugs. A new classification scheme for narcotics was developed, which ordered each illicit drug in respect to its dependence-creating properties, potential level of abuse, and actual or potential therapeutic value. Specifically, Schedule I drugs were subject to all of the controls of the convention. Schedule II drugs could be used for medical purposes and were therefore subject to less control measures. Schedule III concerned exempt drugs such as pharmaceuticals. And Schedule IV specified the amounts of drugs that could be used for medical and scientific purposes, including Schedule I substances (cannabis, for example).
In 1971 a new UN convention, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, expanded the existing policies to all synthetic drugs, specifically psychotropics such as LSD. In 1988 an additional UN convention on drugs was agreed upon to specifically address the illegal trafficking of drugs. The convention was necessitated by the fact that cannabis, heroin, and cocaine abuse had continued to expand and the production of these substances had likewise spread to more nations despite all the existing national and international policies. Because illicit drug trafficking had become a highly profitable criminal activity that was organized on a global scale, new provisions were developed to promote international cooperation aimed at targeting the proceeds of drug traffickers' criminal activity and enhanced methods of international cooperation and the monitoring of substances used for the production of drugs in clandestine labs. Whereas previous conventions had focused on drug control at the supply side, the 1988 convention also required nations that signed the treaty to make drug possession a domestic criminal offense.
Despite the wide variety of international policies against narcotics that were formed by the 1990s, a decrease in the use and trafficking of illicit drugs did not take place. In the late 1990s, therefore, the UN once again sought to expand and strengthen international cooperation in drug control, specifically by adopting a political declaration and related action plans at the 1998 special session of the General Assembly.
The 1998 political declaration reaffirmed the UN's commitment to combating drugs in view of the human and social damage that drugs inflict. Besides emphasizing nations' shared responsibilities in the drug problem and re-affirming their respective rights to sovereignty and territorial integrity, the UN declaration for the first time referenced the charter on human rights. The declaration centrally explicated the necessity for international cooperation, including a call for international financial institutions (such as the World Bank) to include drug control measures in their programs, addressing the link between illicit production and trafficking with transnational organized crime and terrorism, and promoting a call to civil society to promote a drug-free society.
The action plans developed by the UN in 1998 addressed a variety of drug-related issues, such as the control of amphetamine-type substances, money laundering, judicial cooperation, demand reduction, and the elimination of narcotic crops. The Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction provides recommendations for national demand reduction polices, and was the first official UN document to discuss harm reduction, specifically by addressing the reduction of consequences of drug use and dependency as well as the prevention of use.
Policies were recommended to engage in a balanced approach, addressing supply and demand aspects of the drug problem, and demand reduction policies that should specifically aim to prevent the use of drugs or reduce the consequences thereof. Demand reduction policies should be integrated into welfare, health promotion, and preventative education programs, while the nations' criminal justice systems should also include means to assist drug abusers.
An important UN action plan concerning International Cooperation on the Eradication of Illicit Drug Crops and on Alternative Development included several new principles of international drug control, including a balanced approach and alternative development. The balanced approach aims at policies both concerning the use and production of drugs, while alternative development was proposed as a better option than eradication in some situations. Among other provisions, alternative development policies involve the creation of social and economic opportunities through rural development and infrastructure, the promotion of democratic values of community participation promoting a civic culture that rejects illicit cultivation, and the inclusion of demand reduction measures. Crop eradication and arrests were deemed appropriate measures in situations involving organized crime, but eradication without the presence of satisfactory alternatives is considered to be hazardous to alternative development programs.
An Action Plan against Illicit Manufacturing, Trafficking, and Abuse of Amphetamine-Type Stimulants also contains innovative elements that were absent in prior UN drug policies. The action plan includes general provisions for demand reduction, concrete obligations for supply reduction, and measures concerning the use of information technology. Member states are asked to engage in data collection and research to inform treatment and prevention programs and to raise public awareness. In relation to the growing relevance of the Internet and the proliferation of information on drug recipes and techniques of abuse, states are called to reduce the flow of this harmful information.
Among the main innovations that emerged from the 1998 UN special session was a so-called Know Your Customer principle to prevent the diversion of precursors from legal to illicit drugs and to promote cooperation between authorities as well as shift some of the burden of control to the industry. The 1988 convention was also extended by advocating stronger control of acetic anhydride (for the making of heroin) and potassium permanganate (for cocaine production).
Finally, methods to promote judicial cooperation were also included in the 1998 action plans, including measures on extradition, mutual legal assistance, transfer of proceedings, and cooperation and training. A few additional notable changes in drug control can be noted with respect to the simplification and harmonization of extradition procedures. Additionally, other potentially important changes concerned the protection of judges, prosecutors, surveillance and law enforcement officials, and witnesses, and the harmonization and simplification of procedures to increase cooperation.
In 2009 the Commission on Narcotic Drugs reviewed the developments since the 1998 special session and put forth a new Political Declaration and Plan of Action on International Cooperation Towards an Integrated and Balanced Strategy to Counter the World Drug Problem. Reconfirming the principles and aims of the previous conventions, this declaration sought to refine the existing international drug control system. More emphasis has been placed on some aspects of international drug control, such as the importance of civil society, human rights, sovereignty and territorial integrity, measures and support services pertaining to the consequences of drug abuse, the linkage between transnational organized crime and corruption, and the development of research and data on all aspects of the drug problem. With respect to demand reduction, the measures that are advocated also include a wide variety of strategies, such as the reduction of abuse and dependence, the promotion of international cooperation among nations, the implementation of a comprehensive drug-control approach that is sensitive to human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the promotion of demand reduction services. Similarly, supply reduction efforts include enhanced cooperation among and coordination of law enforcement operations, the reduction of drug-related violence, the strengthening of anticorruption measures, and the promotion of means to counter money laundering.
Efforts to promote international cooperation in the control of drugs have also been undertaken at various regional levels in the world. On the American continent, the Organization of American States (OAS) has done the most to promote drug policies. Consisting of 30 sovereign states, the OAS has especially focused on the drug problem because of the differences that exist between nations that are primarily involved in the production of drugs and those where consumption is a great concern. Because the United States primarily faces the problem of drug consumption, its efforts were mostly focused on limiting the supply of drugs. Necessarily involving cooperation with other nations, these policies raised concerns with respect to Latin American sovereignty.
At the OAS 14th General Assembly in 1984, a resolution was adopted that classified drug trafficking as a crime that affects "all mankind." A specialized meeting, the Inter-American Specialized Conference on Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, was subsequently held in 1986. It constructed a framework of recommended action that could be used to guide member state drug policies. The reduction of drug demand was considered a top priority, while the exchange of information on trafficking organizations and developing common legislation to track down drug traffickers were emphasized on the supply side. An Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission was set up at the OAS 16th General Assembly. The Commission advocated the implementation of the UN 1988 Convention, and it has since, like the UN, diversified its methods to include alternative development measures as well as strategies aimed at demand and supply reduction.
In Europe, the European Union (EU) has made many efforts to promote cooperation on drug policies in view of the differences that exist with respect to drug control among Europe's nations. The 1992 Maastricht Treaty, which formed the EU, advocated coordination among the national drug policies across the union without attempting to create one common policy. A truly European drug policy was difficult to develop, however, because drug issues pertain to all three of the pillars of the EU (economic policy, foreign relations, and justice and home affairs) and there was no specific provision for the development of an institution that would coordinate the various responsibilities involved.
In 1997 the Amsterdam Treaty was signed that changed various provisions of the Maastricht Treaty and that also paid special attention to combating the drug problem. In order to develop more effective drug control measures, Title IV of the Treaty includes provisions to arrange for checks at Europe's external borders, promote judicial cooperation in criminal matters, ease the freedom of movement within Europe while building effective international cooperation, emphasize efforts against drug trafficking, and advocate cooperation among police, customs, and judicial authorities.
More than is the case in other parts of the world, European drug policies have generally shifted more toward treatment, prevention, and even decriminalization, rather than prohibition. Yet, standardization and efficient cooperation among nations have not always been readily accomplished, further exemplifying the difficulties in forming effective international drug policies that also exist at the global level.
Bayer, I. and and H. Ghodse. "Evolution of International Drug Control, 1945–1995." Bulletin on Narcotics, v.51/1–2 (1999).
Bewley-Taylor, David R. "Challenging the UN Drug Control Conventions: Problems and Possibilities." International Journal of Drug Policy, v.14/2 (2003).
Chatwin, Caroline. "Drug Policy Developments Within the European Union." British Journal of Criminology, v.43 (2003).
Dziedzic, Michael J. "The Organization of American States and Drug Control in the Americas." In International Handbook on Drug Control, S.B. MacDonald and, ed. B. Zagaris, eds., ed. Westport. CT: Greenwood Press, 1992.
Elvins, Martin. Anti-Drugs Policies of the European Union: Transnational Decision-Making and the Politics of Expertise. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
Ghodse, Hamid. International Drug Control Into the 21st Century. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate, 2008.
Pietschmann, Thomas. "A Century of International Drug Control." Bulletin on Narcotics, v.59/1–2 (2007).
See other writings on social control.


TFSA Or RRSP? Or Both?
We asked Tuck Yiong, Portfolio Manager at Caldwell Securities Ltd., to explain the differences between these two types of accounts.
TFSAs differ from RRSPs in that any amount withdrawn from the account is automatically added back to the contribution room for the following year. Any unused contribution room can be carried forward indefinitely to future years.
TFSAs are more flexible than RRSPs, which require you to have an earned income and be under the age of 71 in order to make a contribution. Once you turn 71, your RRSPs must be converted to a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF) from which you will receive regular payments.
When choosing between a TFSA and an RRSP, one of the main considerations is your current and future levels of taxation.
Generally, savers who expect to have the same or lower tax rates during retirement as during their working years benefit more from the RRSP, while others would benefit more from a TFSA.
Another consideration may be your eligibility for income-tested benefits such as Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement, Canada Child Tax Benefit, the GST/HST Credit and the Age Amount Tax Credit. Unlike income from an RRSP or RRIF, which is included when calculating these benefits, withdrawals from a TFSA do not affect the level of benefits received. It should be kept in mind that every individual faces different circumstances and financial needs.
SolarShare's 5-Year Solar Bonds can be held in both RRSP and TFSA accounts. Find out the details here.


text:
Desperate Struggle Waged over 3D NAND Leadership in Global Semiconductor Market
3D NAND Competition
By Cho Jin-young
A "technological chicken game" among global semiconductor companies is escalating, in particular, in 3D NAND flashes.
A "technological chicken game" among global semiconductor companies is escalating as the technological power in the semiconductor sector is considered a core factor of the competitiveness of smartphones these days when smartphone makers, the largest semiconductor consumers, launch new models at least once every five months.
The expansion of semiconductor use such as the expansion of smartphones, the IoT and smart cars is fueling companies' use of 3D NAND memory semiconductors with better electric power efficiency and stronger performances. HIS forecast that demand for 3D NAND-based solid state drives (SDDs) which accounted for about 10% in the corporate memory market last year, will spike up to 40% this year and 88% by 2019. Analysts say that laptops with SSDs will climb to 38% this year and 51% in 2020 from 29% last year.
In line with explosively growing demand, semiconductor companies are actively investing in the NAND market. It is Samsung Electronics that takes the initiative in the competition. The Korean semiconductor giant is armed with technological prowess to pile up to 40 layers. It is predicted that taking into consideration the fact that its rivals such as Toshiba, SK Hynix and Micron will began to roll out 3D NAND semiconductors on a full scale in the second half of next year, Samsung will begin to mass-produce fourth-generation (64-layer) 3D NAND flashes around March or April of next year by moving up the completion of its semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek by at least three months.
When the Pyeongtaek plant is completed and the production volume of Hwaseong 17 Line is added to 3D NAND production volume, Samsung Electronics's 3D NAND flash production capacity will double to 320,000 from the current level. This means that Samsung Electronics will beat its rivals by way of material superiority before its rivals secure mass-production systems.
SK Hynix is preparing to roll out 3D NAND memories, as well. They are installing various kinds of infrastructure equipment in a clean room on the second floor of M14 Line in Icheon among others.
Second-generation (36-layer) 3D NAND memories began to be shipped in the second quarter of this year. The company will start mass-production of second-generation (36-layer) 3D NAND memories in the third quarter of this year. They will step up investment in third-generation (48-layer) NAND memories in the fourth quarter. It is expected that 3D NAND memories will account for over 50% of SK Hynix's production volume.
Foreign companies are reinforcing their 3D NAND memory business. In July, China's Qinghua and Uni Group took over equities in XMC in China. XMC had developed 3D NAND technology with Spansion, a US semiconductor company. The company has a plan to build a US$ 12 billion wafer plant. Toshiba of Japan will mass-produce 3D NAND semiconductors by building a new fab 2 line in concert with Western Digital.
A technological chicken game is expanding in the foundry market. In particular, TSMC of Taiwan is having an endless race over ultra-precise processes with Samsung Electronics. "TSMC intended to widen its gap with rivals such as Samsung Electronics by accelerating its technological development," said industry watchers with regard to the fact that recently the largest foundry company came up with an outlook on 3 nano R&D. TSMC exclusively shipped mobile AP chips for the iPhone 7 by putting a 16 nano process to good use. TSMC is planning to roll out 10 nano products between late this year and early next year and seven nano products in the first half of next year. They are adding momentum to the development of five nano products by mass-producing them by 2020.
Samsung Electronics's System LSI Business Division is dialing up human resources and investment for the development of seven nano products after taking on developing ten nano products in the second half of this year. "We are putting our utmost efforts into the system semiconductor business," said Kim Ki-nam, the president of Samsung Electronics in charge of semiconductors in the Congress of Semiconductor Associations this past March. Now, system semiconductors account for less than 5% in the word semiconductor market. Thinking about it the other way around, system semiconductors have potential to grow 95% more," Kim said, stressing the importance of system semiconductors.


text:
Praetorian state
The IMF's conditional loan will hurt Pakistanis while leaving the pampered military untouched.
By N.V. Subramanian (13 May 2019)
New Delhi: As Pakistan gets its twenty-second IMF loan but far less than what it sought, the question that ought to be posed to prime minister Imran Khan is this. How has Pakistan changed from before? What's "new" about Pakistan that Imran keeps harping about? The only novelty about Pakistan would be when military spending is drastically cut and the military is retired to the barracks for the foreseeable future. That is certainly not happening and anything less scarcely adds up to a "new Pakistan". Although he means well, Imran Khan should not be taken seriously any more.
In its report of defence spending for 2018 published last month, the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) places Pakistan at twentieth spot with military expenditure of $11.4 billion. The spending constitutes four percent of Pakistan's GDP which is the highest since 2004. It also puts the country among the top ten states with the highest "military burden". Military burden is described as a "state's military expenditure as a share of GDP".
There's more. For the past decade, Pakistan's military expenditure has shown yearly increase. Between 2004 and 2018, the increase measured seventy-three percent, of which the 2017-18 spending showed an eleven percent rise. Eleven years ago as well, the IMF sought military spending cuts as a condition for giving loan. Those were the years when Pakistan was visualized as a key ally in the "war against terror" and IMF's demand was quickly overruled. Pakistan and the United States are no longer on those old terms but there is nothing to suggest that the IMF sought military spending cuts for the new loan. This is such a pity.
Pakistani economists and commentators are unanimous that Pakistan would be no better placed with the new IMF loan of $6 billion repayable in three years than if it had not materialized. Almost none of them speak of the elephant in the room which is Pakistan's defence spending which consumes eighteen percent of all budgeted government expenditures.
A stock counter to military spending reduction is that Pakistan's national security would be compromised. A close scrutiny of the counter exposes its infirmities and indeed reveals the Pakistan military's institutional interest to appropriate a goodly chunk of the budget. When the Pakistan military speaks of national security threats, it chiefly has India in mind, although all the wars with India were provoked by Pakistan. The loss of East Pakistan made Pakistan go nuclear, but having become a declared nuclear weapons' state in 1998 a fortnight after India became one, its spending has shown no decline with the establishment of deterrence equilibrium with India but rather registered a sharp rise.
In the Cold War, Pakistan allied with the United States against the Soviet Union to win political, economic and materiel support against India in the Kashmir dispute. It was no surprise that it hoped to replicate the success of the Afghan mujahideen war in Kashmir in the Eighties and this led to the sponsorship of terrorism in J and K and elsewhere in India. Both the mujahideen war and the J and K terror campaign produced blowbacks as they would and compelled the Pakistan army to mount costly and barely successful campaigns against domestic terrorism. With Pakistan sinking into terrorist violence, state failure and national instability, it was inevitable that market economics, growth and prosperity would flee the country. The fact that Pakistan has needed twenty-two IMF loans since 1958, including the present one, narrates its own sad story.
Since the United States is engaged in a geo-economic war with China, the Donald Trump administration was firm that no part of the new IMF loan would go to repay Chinese debts. All the same, in applying the caveat to the loan, Washington has failed to look at the whole picture. Chinese investments in Pakistan are even more invidious than they appear. For the $60 billion Beijing has committed for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, it will earn many times more in debt repayment, crushing Pakistan. Imran Khan opposed CPEC in the beginning but caved in under army pressure. The Pakistan army is China's most steadfast client in Pakistan, forever obliged to China for nuclear and conventional arms support to Pakistan against India, and for its all-weather friendship. What it boils down to is that although China is poison for Pakistan's economy, it has to consume the poison under compulsion of the Pakistan army fighting an ideological war with India.
In sum, a large proportion of Pakistan's economic troubles owe to the Pakistan army, its foreign alliances, and its foreign wars. And the IMF bailouts Pakistan has often needed in consequence do not punish the chief culprit, the Pakistan military, but penalize ordinary Pakistanis. The new IMF loan will put Pakistan through a fresh turmoil of double digit inflation, higher utility charges, higher taxes, abolished subsidies, currency devaluation, savagely cut developmental expenditures, and more, and the resultant public anger will be directed at Imran Khan, not the unelected profligate military brass. Before long, he will be replaced by another gullible political leader. The military will continue as luxuriously as before even as it destroys the economic fundamentals of Pakistan.


text:
Almost Famous is a studio album by American hip hop group Living Legends. It was released in 2001. It peaked at number 28 on the CMJ Hip-Hop chart.

Critical reception
Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club gave the album a favorable review, saying: "Living Legends' grandiose moniker may be ironic and self-deprecating, but Almost Famous should go a long way toward establishing the members of this oversized crew as legitimate underground hip-hop heroes."

Track listing

References

External links

2001 albums
Living Legends albums
Albums produced by Eligh

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia