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Our Assimilation Nation
A 21st Century Journalism Project
Meet Sai Lakshmi Balaji
Behind every great story, there is an inspiration that kicks it all off. The focus on these posts, personally, has been on education or lack thereof for new Americans. The story was inspired by Sai, a woman that works at Sam's Club and was mentioned very early on in the first story. When I initially spoke with her, I had no idea how big of a piece she would have within the grand scheme of things. However, during our first meeting, she pointed out that a major problem with immigrants coming over to the U.S. was the lack of education they were getting in their home country or the fact that they were not getting proper education here, which led to dropping out of school. While some people can thrive and become successful without education, most need it and it is a very important aspect in ones life because it can lead to better opportunities and help build a stable future. Continue reading →
May 8, 2016 May 8, 2016 by rizzo2016blog Categories: #immigrants, Education in America, Erie, New Americans, People, UncategorizedTags: #immigrants, Culture Shock, Edinboro, Education, Erie, New Americans, People	Leave a comment
Diamond in Little Italy
Photos by Drew Patrick
There is no place that bring together cultures, races, genders, and ages quite like a good old-fashion Barbershop. Erie's Little Italy, has one of the best. Sitting in the heart of Little Italy lies Ruiz Barber Shop.
Little Italy known today only by name, started falling out of favor as factories moved out and the initial Italian immigrants moved with them. Little Italy is working on improving the area, with the help of grants given to the Sisters of Saint Joseph's Neighborhood Network. Today the area has become a Multicultural Community. In an area that deals with its fair share of blight,owner Cesar Ruiz and the Barber Shop has become a beacon of light.
Ruiz barbershop on W 18th street sees patrons of all ages and backgrounds. Conversations about Sports, Politics, family, you name it. With a talented and knowledgeable staff it truly is a place that you can embrace your own unique style.
Check out the complete Ruiz Barber Shop Transformation:
For more information on Ruiz Barbershop check out their Facebook Page.
May 5, 2016 May 5, 2016 by Drew_Patrick Categories: PeopleTags: Cesar Ruiz, Diamond in Little Italy, Drew Patrick, Edinboro, Edinboro University, Erie, Little Italy, Multicultural, Ruiz Barber Shop	Leave a comment
Assimilation Without Discrimination
By TIM COTTER & AARON FOSTER-WILLIAMS
Tim Cotter and Aaron Foster-Williams visit the Urban Erie Community Development Corporation to talk to their staff and students about new Americans and how the organization is providing help.
May 5, 2016 May 6, 2016 by foswill Categories: Erie, New Americans, Organizations and Institutions, People, UECDC	Leave a comment
Life in a refugee camp
Prakash Limbu's story of growing up in a refugee camp, and his journey of moving to and living in Erie, PA.
By Anna Ashcraft
Prakash Limbu is a typical 19 year old college student at Gannon University. He works, goes to college and plays soccer. Yet, a lot of people may not know he came to this country as a refugee, when he was in eighth grade.
In 1989, Nepalese and Bhutanese people began to have conflicts over religious and cultural freedom. Fear of persecution and freedom of religion led thousands of people to flee Bhutan.
Limbu's family arrived in a Bhutanese camp in Nepal in 1990. There were around 120,000 Bhutanese and Nepalese people in camp. Limbu was born in the camp in 1997.
A camp is not an ideal place to grow up. They did have schooling for the children, such as English, accounting, trigonometry, science, chemistry and physics. There also were organizations in camp such as UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and HHO (Holding Hands Organization), the Red Cross, and others helping with education, food, schooling, and medical. However the inequality of care and distribution was rampant. Prakash had a large family of seven children.
"Even though they provided everything, it wasn't enough. Some families had 7 kids or 5 kids, a big family, so it's hard to adapt in that kind of situation and survive. We didn't get much money. We couldn't afford to go to college or university back in Nepal because it was tough for us. It provided us up to high school," Limbu said.
There were also many problems such as religious disputes and trafficking. There were instances of things like sex trafficking, exploitation and even organ harvesting. There was a clash between Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, which created religious disputes as well.
Then a rebel group sprang up in 2007. A Bhutanese leader rose up as a leader of the rebel group. The rebels had heard about the IOM (International Organization For Migration). They are an organization that resettles immigrants and refugees. People can go to the U.S. or other countries like UK, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the Netherlands. The rebels didn't take well to being resettled and wanted to go back to their country.
In 2006 and 2007 there were protests. The people hated the leaders and rose up against them. In one of those protests, three people got shot. After that people began to chose resettlement and slowly, people began to move. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 everybody started leaving.
Limbu's father worked in a coal factory in India during their lives in the camp. He would travel from Nepal to India. He did hard labor; going inside holes and cutting coals to sell. He would work, then come home to provide money and essentials to Prakash's mother and the family. He had a family of five sisters and two brothers, many children to provide for.
"We never got to exchange our clothes; it was hard to ask for money, like one piece or two pieces just to eat new things. We had no cell phones, no computers. We had never heard about this kind of technology that we have here. It was very doomed, sad, and congested at the time."
Limbu's father did not want the family to resettle in the U.S. He did not think it would be an easy place to adapt to. He then said "We don't know about America. It's not what we see on television. People are different there. Who knows what happens tomorrow. We should stay in Nepal. It doesn't matter how long it takes. I will do everything to give you the best life."
Eventually he agreed it would be best for the family to go to America. The family filled out a form in 2008. The process for resettlement began in 2010 and the family was ready to go soon after.
His father passed away suddenly by heart attack in 2010, before the family left for the U.S.
Prakash moved to Erie, PA on January 26, 2011. He began eighth grade, after having already completed ninth grade in Nepal. "The language was different, the culture was different, fundamental beliefs were different, people were different.
" I don't know what to say. I have to feel fear about myself, fear about if I can offend others by my gestures or my language, or my body style, or my verbal. It was very hard for me to learn all those things when I was 13 or 14. My English was not great, the American accent was very new to me and it was very hard to comprehend at the time."
Then he learned about bullying.
"I started learning about bullying. I'd never heard about bullies. I got bullied, I didn't even know about it. I got into fights. I got beaten by, I think, six kids. I fought back and almost got suspended. I was new, and I had never experienced this kind of thing. I thought America was very friendly. That people were really nice and welcoming."
His mother encouraged him not to give up. She said "you have a very long way to go. You have to make your own future, your own life. There is no one to help you out. Trust in God, and do your hard work."
He began playing soccer. He played games against Cleveland, and Fairview. They won a lot of games and he scored many goals. He started to get recognition from his peers. He also got recognition for being top of his class in english and science.
He soon graduated from middle school and went to high school. Then he got a job in sales and began taking college classes at Gannon. He would commute from school, to work, then to Gannon. "I did up to grade nine in Nepal, so it was easy for me. There were so many Nepalese and Bhutanese kids at the high school, so it was easy for me to exist there. I had friends to talk to, it was a small school. The teachers were very nice and open about it, they knew about cultural differences and it was very nice for us to be in that school."During high school he took 15 college credits at Gannon.
Limbu graduated from high school in 2015. He gave a speech at his graduation to all his fellow graduates, Bhutanese refugees and all.
"It should not drag you out of success or all the goodness that this country offers. You just have to work hard and stay motivated, stay positive. Stay away from dysfunctional negativity that surrounds you. One day you'll be accepted by this country as a successful immigrant or a successful person."
Limbu attends Gannon University and is currently ending his freshman year. He is majoring in Physical Therapy.
"My freshman year is almost over and it was a very good experience. It was not easy being a refugee. Being an immigrant from another country, to learn and adapt in this situation. To learn the language, and all the cultural diversity that this country has. It was very tough. You can imagine being an American and going to China and learning all the languages and learning about the culture and their history, its really tough. I found it hard for me, but I just wont give up," Limbu talked about.
Limbu and his family are all American citizens now. One has to live in America for 5 years in order to become a citizen. It is around $750 per person to apply for a citizenship. Once you have a green card, you have to live in America for 4 and a half years longer in order to apply. You also have to take a test in order to gain citizenship.
"All the successful people this country have today are mostly immigrants. Even Albert Einstein is an immigrant from Germany. He is one of the greatest scientists that we have ever had. There are so many great people, even Barrack Obama is not even American, his father was an immigrant and he lived most of his childhood in Indonesia. There are so many great people that are not from this country. Since those people came a long way, did hard work, and became successful people, why cant we be successful one day. We should not give up on those things," Limbu said.
" For me and for us is was not that hard, but for my parents it was very tough. To face all those situations; fear of persecution, and all those hardships. I am very thankful to my parents and all the hard work they have done and the sacrifices they have made. I always say that to my mom."
May 5, 2016 by Anna Ashcraft Categories: PeopleTags: Bhutan, Erie, Gannon, Green Card, HHO, Nepal, refugee, refugee camp, UNCF	Leave a comment
Born in Nigeria, Africa, and third child of six children. His last name means "surpassing wealth," and his career would agree. Hakeem Olajuwon grew up in a small neighborhood with a close family. "They taught us to be honest, work hard, respect our elders, and believe in ourselves," said Olajuwon.
It's not often you meet someone over six feet tall, but Hakeem clocks in at a towering seven feet tall. This would give him an amazing advantage in his career, and would also help him earn his nickname: "The Dream." Continue reading →
May 5, 2016 May 5, 2016 by rachelnicely Categories: PeopleTags: Africa, Basketball, Hakeem, Houston, NBA, NCAA, Nigeria, Olajuwon, Rachel Nicely, Rockets, The Dream	Leave a comment
Acholi Dancers of Erie PA
For more information about Victoria Angelo, Marta Sam and the Acholi dancers visit their page here.
May 3, 2016 May 3, 2016 by Big Ben Categories: People, UncategorizedTags: Acholi Dancers, Africa, Assimilation Nation, Erie, Erie Art Museum, New Americans, Refugees, Sudan, Uraguay	Leave a comment
Baseball and a Dream: The Story of Successful Businessman Fernando Aguirre
By Karlee Dies
A boy. A favorite sport of baseball. A dream. And Determination.
Fernando Aguirre was born and raised in Mexico City. His love for baseball started out at an early age.
As a kid around 12 or 13, his father took their family to San Antonio, Texas to play in a baseball tournament.
"At that time, my dad used to speak very good English and we saw him interact with people and he would speak for all of us, the family. He would order food and take us shopping and whatever we wanted to do," said Aguirre.
It was at this time that in admiration for his dad's speaking abilities that he too wanted to speak English like he did.
May 3, 2016 May 3, 2016 by Karlee Dies Categories: PeopleTags: #immigrants, Baseball, Chiquita, Erie, Erie Seawolves, Fernando Aguirre, Karlee Dies, naturalization, New Americans, Procter and Gamble, Success Story, Undercover Boss	Leave a comment
Though there are many downsides that new Americans are faced with when they come to America, there are also many immigrant students who have good experiences that outweigh the bad. While most are bullied for their accents or clothing or choice in music, etc. there are also a large portion of students who don't have those unfortunate experiences.
For one student who came from Bosnia to America in 2013, Adina Spahalic, she has had mostly good experience. Coming to Erie, Pa to attend a local high school and play tennis, she faced some of the similar stories that many other new American students have. She recalls, "in Bosnia, we would call lettuce 'green salad' in literal translation, and I would always say 'green salad' when I first moved here and people would always laugh at that." This is just another tell tale story of a new American trying to overcome the boundaries that come with living in a country that doesn't speak your native language. Spahalic even remembers that the way people would laugh at her mis-translations was mockingly, not endearingly. Another recollection was when she would go to fast food restaurant establishments: "The menus were so complicated and I would need a long time to decide what I want, and people in line behind me would get angry with how long I was taking. I would get rolling of eyes from the people in line."
Beyond these small instances when Spahalic had to deal with the rude, impatient behavior of Americans who don't have the compassion or empathy for people coming to America and all the adjustments they had to make, she overall has had a pretty positive experience since being in America.
Today, Spahalic has state champion tennis titles under her belt, as well as a continuing education at a local college in Erie, Pa. While she did spend some time back in her home country between her completion of high school and beginning of college, she has hopes to get her degree here in America and find a job and become a permanent resident of the country.
She has had her fair share of being made fun for her Bosnian accent; however she shares that a majority of the reactions she has gotten from Americans about her accent have been that they find it "cute." Additionally, she stated, "People usually respond very positively to the fact that I'm from a different country and usually ask me a bunch of questions. I do get teased for my accent but I wouldn't call it bullying because no one has made me feel especially badly about the way I speak."
In a demographic that is known to have to endure plenty of bullying and shaming and even abuse, it is a refreshing fact that there are also many new American individuals who have had nothing but mostly positive experiences and are happy they are able to come here. Spahalic's situation is definitely somewhat rare, considering she came here by choice and has had an education set up for her as well as a very successful athletic career in addition to having plenty of good experiences here.
With the increasing numbers of immigrants infiltrating into America from other countries every single year, it's in the hopes of many that welcoming and empathetic behavior will only increase as well so more new Americans can feel nothing but welcomed and loved in "the land of opportunity" and truly live the "American dream."
May 1, 2016 May 1, 2016 by shayleejdillen Categories: PeopleTags: Bosnia, Bully, Bullying, Erie, New Americans, State Champion, Success Story	Leave a comment
Home in America: Pittsburgh, PA
BY TRACY GEIBEL
As a young girl growing up in Guyana, she was content watching her father make art. She grew taller, she grew older, but she also grew in her love for art and knew at an early age that it would be a significant part of her life.
Executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, janera solomon has been able to share her love of the arts with the entire community.
She considers herself to be a rule-follower, but spells her name in lowercase as a form of rebellion, a safe form of rebellion. She began writing it that way in elementary school and has been doing so ever since.
solomon came to America when she was nine years old. Her father worried about the country's future, but more so about his four daughters and their futures. solomon explained that Prime Minister Ptolemy A. Reid had become progressively more conservative, worrying artists and intellectuals alike. More so, the country's economic crisis was lowering the living standard. Like other countries in the Caribbean region, Guyana struggled because its most common exports yielded low income. Continue reading →
April 26, 2016 April 26, 2016 by Tracy Geibel Categories: PeopleTags: Edinboro University, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, New Americans, Pittsburgh, Success Story, Tracy Geibel	Leave a comment
New Americans and Depression
Literacy Green Bay
Welcome To The New Age
Meet Ansumana Kombo Gbembo
#immigrants
Education in America
Immigrant Entrepreneurship
Pat Cappabianca
UECDC
USCRI


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Home Mobile Games Shipwrecked Castaway Island MOD APK 3.4.1 (All Unlocked)
Shipwrecked Castaway Island MOD APK 3.4.1 (All Unlocked)
The perfect open-world game to lost into the island of the beautiful world. Shipwrecked Castaway Island is the game to play with your friends and build a town and survive the cruelty of the Castaway Island. The game portrays a journey of a lonely traveler who loves to wander in the vast sea. You have to help this character to build towns in the islands. Shipwrecked Castaway Island APK contains all the great things which can be useful for defending his/her self against all the odds.
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Powered By PopReach Incorporated
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: How do I prove $2$ is prime (or irreducible) in all $Z[\sqrt{d}]$ with $d < -7$?
How do I prove $2$ is prime (or irreducible) in all $Z[\sqrt{d}]$ with $d < -7$?

I feel like the answer is right under my nose, but I just can't see it.

A: For convenience, let's say $-d$ instead of $d$, with $d \in \mathbb{Z}^+$ and $\mu(d) \neq 0$.
If 2 is composite or reducible in $\mathbb{Z}[\sqrt{-d}]$, that means $x^2 + dy^2 = 2$ has a solution in integers, or, if $d \equiv 3 \mod 4$, the equation $\frac{x^2}{4} + \frac{dy^2}{4} = 2$ holds. For the former, the only solutions are $1^2 + 1 \times 1^2$ and $0^2 + 2 \times 1^2$. And for the latter, $\frac{1^2}{4} + \frac{7 \times 1^2}{4}$. These solutions correspond to the factorizations $(1 - i)(1 + i)$, $(-1)(\sqrt{-2})^2$ and $\left(\frac{1}{2} - \frac{\sqrt{-7}}{2}\right)\left(\frac{1}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{-7}}{2}\right)$.
If $d > 9$ and $y \neq 0$, then clearly $x^2 + dy^2 \geq 10 > 2$ or $\frac{x^2}{4} + \frac{dy^2}{4} \geq \frac{5}{2} > 2$.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The replication crisis in psychology and other fields, in which researchers have found it difficult or impossible to replicate the results of many earlier experiments (see the Reproducibility Project) is now being addressed by those working in experimental philosophy (x-phi), a subfield of philosophy that borrows surveying and experimental methods from psychology, whose work may suffer from similar problems.
By way of comparison, the Reproducibility Project was able to replicate findings in only around 35% of a representative sample of psychology studies.
the academic culture of philosophy encourages researchers to be "more sensitive to certain methodological questions, such as what counts as strong evidence for a given claim," or have "a greater tolerance for negative or null results." More generally, for a few reasons, philosophers may be less susceptible than psychologists to the pressure of "publish or perish" when it comes to empirical studies.


Anyone know the Fork spacer(the tube inside) length ??
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Aruba Government Begins Talks with U.S. over Aruba Refinery Pause
February 22, 2018 EnergyNow Media
(Reuters) – The Aruba government said on Thursday it started talks with the United States after Houston-based firm Citgo Petroleum slowed work on an overhaul of the Caribbean island's 235,000-barrel-per-day refinery due to a lack of credit.
Sanctions imposed last year by President Donald Trump's administration on Venezuela and its state-run oil company, PDVSA, limit their access to long-term credit, affecting oil projects in the OPEC-member country and in the Caribbean islands where PDVSA operates.
Citgo, the U.S. refining unit of PDVSA, had selected a consortia of firms to handle the overhaul and hired some 600 local workers. But the lack of financing had delayed work to restart the idled refinery this year and to convert it into an oil upgrader, Citgo said earlier this week.
"The Aruba government has contacted American authorities to understand what is going on. The Dutch ambassador in Washington and lawyers in New York are also addressing issues related to the contract with Citgo," Aruba's Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes said.
Citgo in 2016 signed a 25-year lease contract with Aruba to refurbish and operate the idled refinery as part of a $685 million project.
"Sanctions (against Venezuela) are very firm. That is not something we can change. We are in the middle of this situation between the United States and Venezuela, and I don't think that can be solved soon," she added.
The facilities are open, but the refinery modernization project has been paused, she said.
Reporting by Sailu Urribarri in Jacksonville, Florida; Written by Marianna Parraga
UAE Says not Seeing Oil Investments at Right Level Yet
Oil from Sunken Iran Tanker Reached Japan Shores: Coast Guard
Tesla Wants to Help You Charge Your Electric Car at the Office


text:
Man freed from prison after 29 years, conviction overturned
By Eric Horng
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Arthur Brown, 66, was freed from prison after 29 years after his conviction was tossed out by a judge. He walked out of Cook County Jail shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday evening.
WATCH: Arthur Brown walks out of Cook County Jail
Arthur Brown walked out of Cook County Jail a free man after 29 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
"I don't have time to be bitter because I'm thinking about my family," Brown said upon his release.
Brown expressed only gratitude on his first night of freedom. He was greeted by relatives and his attorneys with tears and hugs, and feelings of vindication.
"Feels like a bird in the sky to be free. And I have to pick up my pieces of my life and put them together again," he said. "I knew the day would come and the truth would come out."
Brown said his future plans are still up in the air, but tonight he just wanted a great meal. He headed out with his family and attorneys for a champagne and seafood dinner.
"The only thing you can do is believe in yourself and keep marching forward," Brown said.
Brown was 37 in 1988 when he was charged with arson and double murder following a suspicious fire on the South Side that killed two people.
Brown, who did maintenance and construction work in the neighborhood, did work on the building that caught fire but maintained he was innocent and claimed he was beaten into a confession. When prosecutors wanted the death penalty, Brown collapsed in court.
Years later another man confessed to the arson, and Brown was granted a second trial but the jury did not believe the other man's testimony.
"It's a perversion of the justice system. And it's a script that unfortunately is played out all too often: a black man beaten into confessing, tossed into jail for decades, and once the system gets off the rails it's almost impossible to get it back on the rails," said Ron Safer, Brown's attorney.
In October 2017, a judge tossed out that second conviction citing false arguments that were made by prosecutors.
Tuesday morning the Cook County State's Attorney said it would not retry Brown, and the charges were dropped.
In a statement the Cook County State's Attorney's Office said, "After the case was brought to the attention of the executive staff, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office determined there were significant evidentiary issues that raised deep concerns about the fairness of Mr. Brown's conviction. Therefore, the State's Attorney's Office determined that dropping charges was in the interest of justice."
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Chicago snow totals: Lake effect snow pummels city, North Shore


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Q: java-maven-idea: including external library in jar I'm making telegram bot, and I need .jar to deploy it in cloud.
I'm building it with maven in intellij idea, but when trying to execute on my machine it throws this:
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/telegram/telegrambots/bots/TelegramLongPollingBot<br>

As I've understood, this happens because maven doesn't packing this lib into .jar.
How can I do this?

A: Roughly speaking, you have two options

*

*Make a "fat" JAR with all required classes present

*Make a "thin" JAR that references other JAR files

What is most suitable for your situation is something only you can decide. Here's how you do it:
Make a "fat" JAR with all required classes present
To follow this approach, you use the Maven Shade Plugin. In the package phase, you would invoke its shade goal. That would copy classes from your dependencies as well as your application classes together into one JAR-file. It could look like this in the POM:
<executions>
  <execution>
    <goals>
      <goal>shade</goal>
    </goals>
    <configuration>
      <finalName>my-packaged-application</finalName>
      <transformers>
        <transformer implementation="org.apache.maven.plugins.shade.resource.ManifestResourceTransformer">
          <mainClass>com.mycompany.MyApplication</mainClass>
        </transformer>
      </transformers>
      <filters>
        <filter>
          <!--
            Shading signed JARs will fail without this.
            http://stackoverflow.com/questions/999489/invalid-signature-file-when-attempting-to-run-a-jar
          -->
          <artifact>*:*</artifact>
            <excludes>
              <exclude>META-INF/*.SF</exclude>
              <exclude>META-INF/*.DSA</exclude>
              <exclude>META-INF/*.RSA</exclude>
            </excludes>
          </filter>
        </filters>
      </configuration>
    </execution>
</executions>

The advantage of this approach is that your application gets packaged as one file. The disadvantage is that it's rather large. Even when you change just a few lines of code for a new version, the whole file will be different.
Make a "thin" JAR that references other JAR files
In this approach, the JAR only contains your application classes. Its manifest file references the classpath, but you need to also provide the JAR file for the dependencies. To collect those, use the Maven Dependency Plugin, more specifically the copy-dependencies goal. You configure it like so:
<executions>
  <execution>
    <id>copy</id>
    <phase>package</phase>
    <goals>
      <goal>copy-dependencies</goal>
    </goals>
    <configuration>
      <outputDirectory>${project.build.directory}/libs</outputDirectory>
      <stripVersion>true</stripVersion>
    </configuration>
  </execution>
</executions>

Now you have all dependency JAR files in target/lib, and the last thing is make sure that the "thin" JAR references those. To do so, configure the Maven Jar Plugin:
<configuration>
  <archive>
    <manifest>
      <addClasspath>true</addClasspath>
      <classpathPrefix>lib/</classpathPrefix>
      <mainClass>com.mycompany.MyApplication</mainClass>
    </manifest>
  </archive>
</configuration>

In this approach, if you change just a few lines of your application code, only the application JAR will be replaced - the dependency JARs are left intact. On the downside, it requires you to distribute not one file but a directory structure: the application JAR file as well as the lib/ folder with its contents.


Golden Leaf Boutique hotel 3.9 out of 5 based on 17 votes.
Popularly known as one of the Johor Bahru hotel situated close to Johor Legoland, Golden Leaf Boutique Hotel was built in year, located at about km. away from the thrills of the city Johor Bahru. Sultan Ismail International Airport, Johor Specialist Center, Larkin Bus Terminal are just among numerous of the attractions accessible to visitors. This two-star hotel offers a strategic location and provides entry to the city's most significant attractions.
At Golden Leaf Boutique Hotel, the superb service and remarkable facilities will make sure each of its guest has an unforgettable stay. Tours, car park, airport transfer, Wi-Fi in public areas, laundry service, dry cleaning are some of the hotel's amenities provided by this popular Johor hotel.
Feel the excellent room amenities and services, including complimentary bottled water, hair dryer, microwave, refrigerator, shared bathroom, to help you recharge after a long day. In addition, this hotel also features an fantastic variety of recreational facilities, such as massage. Golden Leaf Boutique Hotel is a brilliant selection for visitors to Johor Bahru, either business or leisure, providing a relaxed and hassle-free stay every time.


text:
Bitka za Bihać 1592., bila je jedna od bitaka u pohodima bosanskog paše Hasan-paše Predojevića na Hrvatsku.

Političko-vojna pozadina

Nakon neuspjeha opsade Siska 1592. Predojević pripremao je teren za osvajanje Siska, "ključa Hrvatske", jer bi padom Siska bio otvoren put prema Zagrebu što je onda pretpostavljalo i konačno osvajanje čitave Hrvatske.

Tijek bitke
Osmanske su snage opsjele grad. Opsada je trajala devet dana. Grad je praktično pao bez borbe. Paša je lažno obećao građanima ako predaju grad imat će potpunu slobodu. Kapetan Lamberg otvorio je 19. lipnja gradske dveri na zahtjev građana. Obećanje se pokazalo lažnim. Predojević je prekršio obećano: Osmanlije su pobile dvije tisuće ljudi, a u ropstvo sa sobom odveli oko 800 djece.

Ishod bitke
Lako osvajanje Bišća, predstavljalo je veliki psihološki moment, jer je osvojio grad koji je u ona vremena bio nazivan i "glavnim gradom Hrvatskog Kraljevstva". Odluku o novom pohodu ohrabrio je i uspjeh u bitci kod Bresta u Pokuplju iste godine kad je Predojević porazio postrojbe hrvatskog bana Tome Erdődyja te uspješna pustošenja po Turopolju (Mraclin i dr.).

Hrvatski sabor je nakon pada Bihaća brzo reagirao. Donio je insurekciju (insurrectio), tj. odluku o općem ustanku, gdje je napisano da na banov poziv plemići, kmetovi, građani i sve duhovne osobe moraju krenuti u rat.

Vidi još

 Dodatak:Popis bitaka 1401.-1800.
 Hrvatska pod Habsburzima
 Hrvatske zemlje pod osmanskom vlašću
 Stogodišnji hrvatsko-turski rat

Izvori

Hrvatske novovjekovne bitke
Hrvatsko-turski ratovi (nakon 1527.)
Povijest Bihaća
Bosna i Hercegovina u Osmanskom Carstvu
Bihać
Bihać
Bihać
Bihać

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Back in MailBag Episode 50, we gave new and young colorists some advice about how to succeed in their coloring careers. After that episode, we got several very heartfelt emails from members explaining how meaningful some of the things we discussed here were.
Thank you! We always like hearing we're making a difference for our members.
In this installment of From The Mailbag, we want to discuss the other side of the coin – advice that we've gotten that has significantly helped us in each of our careers.
Some of the advice we've received is simply how to carry one's self and the attitude you should have in the grading suite. Some of it is technical like how scopes should be an aid, not something you're beholden too. And some of it is about understanding creative highs and lows.
P.S. Our apologies for some of the Max Headroom glitches in this recording especially on Robbie's track. Robbie was on the road for this recording and the hotel Internet wasn't totally behaving!


Russian President Vladimir Putin, escorted by the Russian Federal Space Agency head Igor Komarov, left, arrives at the Vostochny Cosmodrome October 14, 2015 near Uglegorsk, Russia.
The Soyuz rocket shortly after arrival to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The Soyuz MS-08 rocket is launched with Expedition 55 Soyuz Commander Oleg Artemyev of Roscosmos and flight engineers Ricky Arnold and Drew Feustel of NASA, Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Artemyev, Arnold, and Feustel will spend the next five months living and working aboard the International Space Station.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, second left, and Russian Federal Space Agency head Igor Komarov, left, stand at a launch pad while visiting the Vostochny Cosmodrome October 14, 2015 near Uglegorsk, Russia.
The Soyuz MS-10 spacecraft is launched with Expedition 57 Flight Engineer Nick Hague of NASA and Flight Engineer Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. During the Soyuz spacecraft's climb to orbit, an anomaly occurred, resulting in an abort downrange. The crew was quickly recovered and is in good condition.
March 24, 2009 - The Soyuz rocket is erected into position at the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
BAIKONUR - A visitor watches a model of the Sputnik in the main hall of the Cosmodrome museum.
September 28, 2009 - The Soyuz rocket is seen shortly after arrival to the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The Soyuz rocket and Soyuz TMA-20M spacecraft is assembled Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Launch of the Soyuz TMA-20M spacecraft is scheduled for March 19 and will send Expedition 47 Soyuz Commander Alexey Ovchinin of Roscosmos, Flight Engineer Jeff Williams of NASA, and Flight Engineer Oleg Skripochka of Roscosmos to the International Space Station for a five and a half month stay.
BAIKONUR - Kazakh museum and tour guides explain the working of an ejection seat of the Vostok spacecraft in the Cosmodrome museum.
The Soyuz launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
BAIKONUR - A model of the Buran space shuttle at a checkpoint in the Russian administered town of Baikonur.
BAIKONUR - The Soyuz rocket MS-03 is beeing rolled out by train to the Gagarin Start launchpad on monday morning.
BAIKONUR - The Soyuz rocket MS-03 is beeing rolled out by train to the Gagarin Start launchpad on monday. It will be launched on friday morning.
October 10, 2008 - The Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft arrives at the launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.


Ethical research promotes knowledge, truth and accountability. It fosters honest collaboration and puts moral and social values, such as human rights, social responsibility, animal welfare and compliance at the centre of our work as an institution of higher learning.
Research that involves human participants must be approved by the Research Ethics Board, and research that involves animal subjects must be approved by the Animal Research Ethics Board. Proposals can be submitted anytime, but work on projects cannot begin until after an ethics proposal has been approved.
ROMEO, our online system for managing human and animal ethics applications, provides a streamlined approach to this important task. Submit applications, modifications and renewals all in one place.
Guided by the cardinal principle of modern research ethics—respect for human dignity—the REB approves, rejects, proposes modifications to and terminates proposed or ongoing MacEwan research that involves human participants.
This flowchart can help you decide if you need to complete an REB application for your research initiative.
If your project requires REB approval, take these steps to ensure the success of your application.
Before submitting a proposal to the REB, you should be familiar with MacEwan policies and procedures pertinent to the proper selection and involvement of research participants.
The following documents are provided to assist you in developing a successful REB application.
The REB has developed a series of standard operating procedures (SOPs), based on those released in March 2016 by the Canadian Association of Research Ethics Boards (CAREB) and Network of Networks (N2).
These procedures are designed to assist you in creating and managing your ethics application and to increase the transparency of the ethics review process.
Additional SOPs related to board administration are available on request.
If the REB determines that your study is of minimal risk to participants, it is subject to a delegated review by select members of the board. The full board does not need to convene for this review, and you will learn the outcome within ten business days of the date you submitted your application.
If your study is found to present higher than minimal risk to participants, it is reviewed by the entire board at a convened meeting. The Ethics Officer lets you know if your study requires a full board review and invites you to attend the review meeting to discuss your project if you'd like. You can expect to hear from the board with its decision within five business days of the meeting.
The REB meets to review proposals on the following dates. Applications can be submitted at any time on ROMEO, but to be eligible for review at a meeting, they must be received by that meeting date's application deadline.
The REB will continue to review ethics applications over the summer holidays; however, meetings are called on an ad-hoc basis should an application require full board review.
Apply for REB approval using the online system ROMEO.
If you are a MacEwan faculty member, log in to the research portal using your MacEwan ID and password.
If you are a student or external researcher, you need to register for a ROMEO account before logging in.
Read the Research Ethics Board's Terms of Reference.
All researchers who submit an REB application must complete the federal government's TCPS-2 tutorial before REB approval can be granted.
The AREB approves animal-use protocols, reviews proposals for projects that involve live animals and oversees the post-approval monitoring of animal-use protocols. Application reviews are guided by the policies and guidelines established by the Canadian Council for Animal Care.
If your research requires AREB approval, take these steps to ensure the success of your application.
Before submitting an AREB application, you should be familiar with MacEwan University policies and documents related to the ethical treatment of live animals.
The following documents are provided to assist you in developing a successful AREB application.
The AREB acts in accordance with guidelines, policies and associated documents established by the Canadian Council of Animal Care (CCAC). The CCAC assesses MacEwan's animal care and use program every three years. The most recent assessment was conducted in March 2017.
The following standard operating procedures promote the highest standards of practice in research, teaching and testing involving animals.
The AREB meets on the following dates to review applications. Applications can be submitted at any time using the online submission system, ROMEO. However, to be eligible for review at a meeting, applications must be received by the deadline indicated. You can expect to hear from the board with its decision within five business days of the meeting.
Apply for AREB approval using the online system ROMEO.
Read the Animal Research Ethics Board's Terms of Reference.


You are now able to observe the performance of your business in the last month or last quarter using quarterly cash flow projection template excel added here for your help. Effective cash flow ensures smooth daily operations of your business without any hindrance. Looking at some Cash flow template in Excel?
You are able to pay out our clients timely if you have enough cash in the company account. However, this is easier through using projection sheets added here. For download cash flow spreadsheet template, you must go through this topic before completing the procedure.
You are now able to observe what are the cash amounts required by your company to pay your vendors? As well as an expense which is required to fulfill in the quarter? At the same time, it shows the amount which will be received by your company from the clients.
Most companies must give attention towards this every quarterly in a year; check all cash transaction requirement before operating this procedure.
Opening cash balance: it the amount of money in the company account or in the hand, when the quarter is started.
Cash receipts: this section of the sheet shows the details of the cash receipts.
Sales: total sales made by the company in the specific year are shown as well as the number of sales in the quarter.
Other: any other receipts, which are increasing the revenue and cash, are shown here.
Subtotal: the total cash earned from these are calculated and mentioned.
You are able to enjoy multiple benefits improving your company performance and ensuring good relationships with your suppliers, clients, and vendors if you are having the knowledge of projected cash flow of your company in the specific quarter. The cash flow chart shows the net cash flow and net cash balance in different quarters.
As the name show, these sheets are ideal for making exact forecasts regarding the coming periods. This is important as the majority of the sales and purchases of your business are based on credit terms.


Recent developments in the Gulf - including the war in Iraq and the crisis surrounding the Iranian nuclear programme - are presenting new challenges to security and stability in the region. This book provides expert contributions on the full range of topics pertaining to the date palm, from its archaeology, cultivation and traditional uses, to biotech applications in modern propagation methods and disease control. The irony is that Africa is, once again, becoming an arena for international competition. It will also continue to ignore traditional military investments by China, Russia, and others both north and south of the Sahara. Later that year, the two countries signed a agreement. And in many ways, the two documents nest nicely.
Those areas are not the whole of Africa, however, and the United States would benefit from viewing the continent the way other powerful states do: as several strategic regions rather than one underdeveloped market. It discusses future policy and strategy of Gulf states. Russia is also engaging in efforts to strengthen bilateral ties with Tunisia. . Russian efforts are also well underway to establish a foothold on the continent, particularly in North Africa.
Sheikh Salman of Bahrain and H. Alice Hunt Friend is a senior fellow with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D. The National Defense Strategy should be the place to look for the answer. What is the future of oil as a primary source of energy? This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the future of oil by assessing the present realities and prospects of the oil sector, tracing the growth of alternative and renewable energy sources and examining the impact of environmental concerns. Its research is nonpartisan and nonproprietary. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author s.
Starting in 2016, the Russian government began of terrorist groups in the Maghreb to help foil a series of terrorist plots. The inconsistency will confuse resourcing requests for Department of State and DoD activities in Africa, not to mention policy. The struggle for power in Africa among non-African states may be classic, but it will not always be conventional. The country long ago surpassed the United States as. Is the world moving inexorably towards the end of the oil era? You will find a curious disconnect. But the issue is larger than Africa.
A quick glance at the scramble for military basing rights in the Horn of Africa—mostly in the small country of Djibouti—reveal the extent to which Chinese, Middle Eastern, and even Russian interests have begun to vie for space alongside American and European forces. Its value as the sustaining pillar of market gardens in marginal agricultural communities cannot be overemphasized. They investigate the need to establish a coherent and permanent defence system in the region, and address internal security challenges facing the Gulf countries which have cross-border repercussions, such as organized crime, migrant labour and terrorism. Seeking to nurture defence and security dialogue, contributors examine both immediate and potential threats to Gulf security and underline the need for the Gulf countries to develop a greater range of consultative mechanisms. Although controversial business practices and low environmental and labor standards underpin these relationships, no alternative partner— —has been able to marshal resources at a scope and scale competitive with China. This is true even in a narrow military sense. The divergent themes for U.
National Security and Defense Goals in Africa: A Curious Disconnect February 13, 2018 Despite the brief notoriety of U. As a tree that has emerged from ancient history into the modern world, the date palm is eliciting a great deal of interest in fields as diverse as biotechnology and international marketing. The date palm has come of age. Ariel Fanger is a research intern with the International Security Program. The volume also focuses on aspects of energy quality in the ongoing energy transition, highlights new technological developments in the oil industry and suggests ways to ensure price stability in the oil market. China has expanded African mining and oil industries in exchange for trade deals and has made large infrastructure investments via lucrative debt financing arrangements.
None of this is to claim that there are easy answers to either U. Although there are echoes of past American democratization and development goals in Africa, as well as the continuing challenges posed by insurgencies and terrorist groups, these are all a function—or a product—of economic performance. © 2018 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. This book aims to offer useful perspectives on some of the more critical issues involved and provides insight on the views held by prominent decision-makers, including Lord Robertson, General Sir Charles Guthrie, H. Security of the Gulf region is an important topic.
It provides a thorough overview for any reader wanting to gain insight into this industry, from its ancient roots to its modern day practices. Djibouti is home to fully half of the U. There is nothing explicitly about China or methods for securing African commerce or the future of African defense industries. The National Security Strategy frames the approach to Africa largely in economic terms, which, it explains, serves two purposes: profit and competition with China. Or does DoD not see a role for itself in state-level competition in Africa? Defence policy-makers from Britain and the Gulf here analyze different aspects of British policy and its repercussions for Gulf security. Cultivated for millennia in the arid regions of the world, from the Atlantic Ocean across North Africa, the importance of the date palm is being rediscovered.


text:
Q: Filter queryset results based on a boolean field which is True class User(models.Model):
    name = models.EmailFiled()

class Product(models.Model):
    title = models.CharField(max_length=50)
    is_active = models.BooleanField(default=True)

class Cart(models.Model):
    product = models.ManyToManyField(Product)

class Order(models.Model):
    user = models.ForeignKey(User,on_delete=models.CASCADE)
    cart = models.ForeignKey(Cart,on_delete=models.CASCADE)

We have multiple products. some of them are active=False the other ones are True. I should take the products which is active=true requesting user.

A: You are looking for the ability to filter results of a ViewSet based on your active flag. I highly recommend you to read DRF Filtering documentation
You simply need to add to your ViewSet or APIView the following fields
from django_filters.rest_framework import DjangoFilterBackend

class ProductList(generics.ListAPIView):
    queryset = Product.objects.all()
    serializer_class = ProductSerializer
    # Add Filtering Backend
    filter_backends = [DjangoFilterBackend]
    # Add filtering fields (Default behavior is to exact match provided values)
    filterset_fields = ['is_active']

and now in your request, you should have the query param
http://example.com/api/products?is_active=1

A: You can obtain the Products that are active and in the Cart of a user with:
Product.objects.filter(is_active=True, cart__order__user=my_user)


It is a sad truth that churches are not always unified. At times the reasons for division appear trivial, but in most circumstances the disagreements are based on interpretations of Scripture. When the disagreement centers around the direction of the church or on the emphasis of its ministry resolution can be difficult. One of the major questions with which the church has struggled is the question of how the church should relate to the secular world. Teaching on the subject has fluctuated over time with some churches encouraging clear separation and others embracing cultural change. Most churches I have attended have taught that Christians should love and serve others as much as they can without compromising their principles or in anyway implying acceptance of inappropriate behavior. This traditional response has recently come under attack as our society has become increasingly secular and embracing cultural change become more challenging.
The attacks have not come only from those outside of the church. Many pastors are teaching that the model of Jesus is to fully engage with people "right where they are at", encouraging Christians to intentionally go into settings previously considered taboo. The argument is that this is what Jesus did. Christians who value purity and who are fearful of condoning inappropriate behavior are labeled as judgmental, out of touch, and unconcerned about the lost.
In support of this more tolerant attitude passages of Scripture are cited in which Jesus is described as dining with "sinners and tax-gatherers" and as a result drawing the ire of the religious leaders of the day. In the culture in which Jesus lived sharing a meal was a significant sign of acceptance. That Jesus would accept those who were deemed unclean by the religious authorities was a big deal. There is no question that when Jesus dined with these people he was setting an example for others. But what is the example Jesus set? I have heard several sermons in which people were urged to be like Jesus, to go and partake of the lives of those traditionally not a part of the church. The teaching was that we go with an attitude of acceptance, welcoming people just as they are, regardless of lifestyle or behavior.
"One of the most controversial aspects of Jesus' ministry was his willingness to share meals with outcasts, sinners, and the marginalized. Sharing a meal with someone in Jesus' day was considered a form of acceptance and social approval. This was called table fellowship, and used by Jesus to manifest the open and expansive nature of his movement.
This sounds wonderful, but this understanding of Jesus' "table fellowship" is inaccurate. The implication that Jesus was going out of His way to dine with immoral people without conditions in order to extend grace and show His love to outsiders is dangerously wrong. This is not what Jesus was doing and this is not the example we are to follow.
There are only three episodes in the gospels in which Jesus is specifically described as participating in a group meal as a guest in an outsider's home- in the home of Matthew, a tax-collector who left his work to follow Jesus, in the home of Zacchaeus, another tax collector, and in the home of a leper named Simon. A close look at each of these stories reveals details that counter the popular "table fellowship" narrative.
Mark's words are important, for they tell us the nature of those who were at the celebration. They were followers of Jesus! Jesus did not invite himself to the house of a stranger or simply join in a secular gathering. He went into a home where he was invited to dine with people who believed in who he was and what he was teaching. These people came from questionable backgrounds, but their faith was what mattered.
The famous story of Zacchaeus, the diminutive tax collector of Jericho, provides additional insight. Zacchaeus had apparently heard of Jesus and his teaching prior to Jesus' coming to Jericho. The amazing stories Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus had aroused his interest. Zacchaeus wanted to know more about who Jesus was. Luke's account says that Zacchaeus climbed a tree because he wanted to "see who Jesus was." He did not want only to lay eyes on Jesus and see what he looked like. He was interested in who Jesus was, in gaining knowledge of him. Jesus, in response to Zacchaeus' interest, called him down from the tree and invited himself to Zacchaeus' house for dinner. While Zacchaeus had been an immoral tax gatherer, subsequent events confirm that his interest in Jesus was genuine.
Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus "gladly" into his home. When others criticized Jesus for going into the house of a sinner, Zacchaeus answered their criticism by proclaiming that he was a changed man. He promised to give half of his wealth to the poor and to make fourfold restitution to any he had cheated. In this story we see that the key was not who Zacchaeus had been, but who he was becoming. Again, it was his faith that mattered.
The story of Simon the leper contains little information, but there is still something we can infer. As it was unlawful for a leper to live in a town and to be in direct contact with others, and as there were others present in the home, it is likely that Simon had been cleansed of his leprosy, most likely by Jesus. This account would then follow the pattern of the other stories in that those who were outcasts were outcast no longer because of Jesus. Jesus was not going into a place where he was unknown or where his teaching was not embraced. He was a welcome guest, welcome for who he was and as who he was. There was no trust to be gained, argument to be won or persuasion to be achieved. He was welcome.
This leaves the question of how Christians should interact with those outside the faith. Jesus is the perfect example. Everywhere he went he went with a singular purpose- to proclaim the truth of who God was and of God's plan for saving people from their sins. He was not afraid to address the sins of others, for the first recorded words of his public ministry were "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He loved and served others, but His primary objective was not meeting the physical needs of others. His goal was to bring people into right relationship with God. It was what he lived and died for.
The question remains as to why an incorrect application of the concept of table fellowship has taken hold in so many places. I believe it is a reflection of the negative attitude toward the church that is prevalent in our society. As traditional Christian teachings and practices become viewed with an increasingly critical eye there is a natural tendency for some to want to place the blame on something the church is doing wrong. With the desire to "win people over" comes a desire to identify areas where Christians are in the wrong. Teachers search the Scriptures looking for something that Jesus did that we don't, believing that if we could be more like him that the world would see our love and goodness and respond. In spite of their good intentions, when people approach Scripture with presuppositions error is often the end result.
True followers of Christ need to remember that being liked by the world has never been a characteristic of godliness. The opposite is true. No one was more like Jesus than Jesus and the world crucified him. The reward of living for Christ is not found in this life or in the responses of those who are outside the faith. The reward is in the next life and in the response of our Heavenly Father.
The final question is more difficult. How does the church avoid conflict and division? The question is over 2000 years old. As long as churches are led by and filled with people the challenge will remain. The church will do better when it is careful in choosing its leaders, cautious in accepting new teaching and consistent in its commitment to Scripture as ultimate authority. It is when we are known primarily by the love we have for one another and not by our love for the world that unity can blossom.
Follow me on twitter @bartbarrettmd. Comments are welcome!


text:
Update: The Key to My Heart Granted Smashwords Premium Status
Well, good news! The Key to My Heart has been approved for Smashword's Premium Distribution, which means it will be soon available on such retail websites as Chapters Indigo, Apples iTunes and Barnes and Noble. Meanwhile, you can always buy it here.
Meanwhile, as I said, I'm reading the latest installment in Taylor Anderson's long-running Destroyermen series, The Iron Gray Sea. I'm about half-way through it, but by now, you should know that I'm a dedicated fan of the series who is eagerly wondering how the whole thing must end.
At one point soon, I'll also be talking about my next favorite, Charles Stross' spy/horror series, The Laundry Files, which I can only describe as Len Deighton meets H.P. Lovecraft. Not that it has much to do with alternate universes –some—but it is a darn good read.
Meanwhile, you can help out a poor unemployed writer by purchasing my other two books, Elvis Saves JFK! for just 99 cents and War Plan Crimson, A Novel of Alternate History, for $2.99 (both are free to preview). Both books -- which are already on Smashword's premium distribution list -- are also available through such fine on-line retailers such as Chapters Indigo, Barnes & Noble and Apple's iTunes Store. And if you're looking for an experienced marketing communications guy, do me a favor and have a look here. Thanks.
Posted by Somerset House Press at 6:41 PM 0 comments
An Excerpt: The Key to My Heart
I knew she was trouble as soon as she stepped into my office. The type of trouble that only gets talked about by lonesome men in dusky bars over gin in dirty glasses. The type of trouble that leaves a smile on your face and you begging for more. The type that if it hasn't killed you stone cold, it's only because it's driven you nuts first.
She wore a long black cape with her hood up and under it, a hint of long blonde hair. Her cold red lips parted in a ghost of a smile. "Mr. Gannon," she said. "Chance Gannon."
"That's what it says on the door," I said, sitting up behind my desk. Behind me, a tabletop fan battled the steamy August night air. I could tell by the sweat beading on my forehead it was losing. Somewhere, the latest Dorsey tune droned from a radio. A half-read pulp magazine – Amazing Stories- lay unfinished on my desk with a shining finned rocket ship sitting tail-first on a moonscape with jagged alpine peaks in the background and planet earth glowing in the sky above. It was a cinch I wasn't going to finish that. "Have a seat. What can I do for you Mrs...?"
"Miss," she smiled. "Miss Melody." She lounged in my sofa, her long tanned legs peeking through her cape. "Mr. Gannon, six months ago, you were retained by an associate of mine, the late Walter Carswell."
I said nothing. But I remembered Carswell. He vanished just after I started to work for him. Never knew what happened to him; but she seemed to. I slid my hand towards half-open desk drawer where my .45 lay.
"That's all right; I know. Before Walter died, he placed something with you for safekeeping. It belongs to me."
"You'll have to excuse me, but I'll need a bit more proof than that before I hand anything over."
"Carswell said when the time was right, I should come to you and give you this." She stood up and placed it on my desk. The golden heart basked in the weak light from my lamp's 40-watt bulb.
I picked it up. "There's a little tarnish on your heart."
She smiled. A gleaming 9 mm automatic appeared from the folds of her cape. "Give the item to me, Mr. Gannon. Now."
I dove for my drawer and my .45, but she'd fired first. Two slugs bore into me, burning hot pokers of pain into my leg and my thigh, tearing into already scarred flesh. As I lay up against the wall in a pool of my own Type "O," I looked up at her as smoke curled up from the barrel of her gun. We could both hear wail of sirens coming down the block. That's what you get for having nosy neighbors. "Guess you lose, babe. You don't get it."
"Next time, Mr. Gannon," she smiled, walking for the door. "Next time."
She'd be back. And I don't think it was because she loved me. As her heels clicked down the linoleum of the corridor and the sirens got closer, I slumped back against the wall. The pain shooting up through my body, it wasn't nearly as bad as when I got shot up after jumping into France back in '44. But four years later, on damp mornings — which are most mornings in San Francisco — my knee still ached and I still walked with a cane. And I didn't like the idea of carrying more lead in my body.
I looked up to the sound of flat feet charging up the hall. I knew the uniform that came through the door, gun drawn: Bertinelli. Holstering his revolver, he walked over and knelt beside me. "Jeez...Chance!"
"I'll live," I croaked. "Anyone see the woman who did this to me?"
"A skirt." Bertinelli got to his feet, smiled as he picked up the phone to call for an ambulance. "Always figured it'd a be woman who'd do you in."
Copyright 2013, Michael Cnudde
And the mystery, as they say, only deepeens. Liking what you read? You can buy The Key to My Heart here, for just $2.99.
Meanwhile, you can help out a poor unemployed writer by purchasing my other two books, Elvis Saves JFK! for just 99 cents and War Plan Crimson, A Novel of Alternate History, for $2.99 (both are free to preview). Both books are also available through such fine on-line retailers such as Chapters Indigo, Barnes & Noble and Apple's iTunes Store. And if you're looking for an experienced marketing communications guy, do me a favor and have a look here. Thanks.
The Key to My Heart Launches on Smashwords!
I must apologize. I've missed a whole month on this blog; but rest assured it's not been in vain.
I can now announce that my latest novel, The Key to My Heart is now on sale as an e-book via Smashwords.
Chance Gannon is washed-up P.I. who survives in post-war San Francisco by taking divorce cases and drinking himself to sleep at night. When he's gunned down in his own office by a mysterious and beautiful femme fatale, it launches him on one last case that not only threatens his life, but the entire world!
The Key to My Heart is my homage to hardboiled detective fiction, complete with the femme fatale, the loyal girlfriend, and the hard-nosed cop who'd just as soon see Gannon behind bars.
But… if you know me, I've also thrown in a dash of SF – something about aliens and time-travelers, if you can believe that, plus a few other things. But I'll say no more, because I'd be spoiling it.
As The Key to My Heart is not yet available through Smashword's Premium distribution system, you can buy it here, for just $2.99. Watch this space for further announcements regarding this.
As an update, I'm also reading the latest installment in Taylor Anderson's long-running Destroyermen series, The Iron Gray Sea. I'll talk about it in a future posting.
Update: The Key to My Heart Granted Smashwords Pre...