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Directions: Okeechobee Road N on Hartman Road W on Peterson Road S on Bent Creek Dr E on Silverstone N on Worlington.


The Japan Special Fund is providing a $700,000 grant to cover most of the cost of preparing the project, estimated at $875,000. The balance will be covered by the government of Palau. ADB will manage the technical assistance.
"The project will contribute to sustainable management of the national water supply system and improved reliability and security of the water supply in the project area," said Stephen Blaik, water supply and sanitation specialist of ADB's Pacific Department.
Babeldaob is the largest island of Palau, making up 80% of nation's land mass, and consists of 10 states. Limited water supply is constraining development in Babeldaob, and new water sources and expanded water supply networks must be developed. Koror, which consists of several islands, is the state comprising the main commercial center of Palau.
The Ministry of Resources and Development will be the executing agency for the technical assistance, which will be implemented over a one-year period.


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Displaying items by tag: River Liffey
That's The 'Spirit' As Dublin Is Discovered by Boat - So Who Are Top Five Visiting Nationalities
#riverliffey - Operating on the River Liffey of our capital city is Dublin Discovered Boat Tours which this summer welcomed overseas visitors, so who were the top five nationalities? to have taken the cruise, writes Jehan Ashmore.
But before these nationalities are revealed, the 45-minute cruise tours not just for tourists and they continue to operate beyond the high-season from Bachelors Walk (close to O'Connoll Briddge). In addition the cruises have an expert guide while cruising downriver on board the 48 seat 'Spirit of Docklands' . The tour commentary been both interesting and fun for all ages.
Stepping on board Spirit of Docklands, the purpose built craft offers sight-seeing cruises given the large windows and a glass roof above to maximise views along the Liffey Quays. So what about those top five nationalities... that came on board in the capital during summer of 2017, they are as follows:
2. US
3. Ireland
Now that's been revealed, some further details about the tours that begin with the iconic Ha'penny Bridge, before heading downriver towards the sea. En route is Liberty Hall, the beautiful 18th century Custom House and then through the 'Docklands' quarter. It is here where modern architecture is intersperseed with remnants of the old working port in the form of Georgian warehouses (Afloat will have more about this) and memorials to Ireland's past.
Also along the way is another Liffey floating attraction, the replica 19th century famine-emigrant museum barque Jeanie Johnston. The tour cruises as far as the Samuel Beckett swing-bridge (designed by Calatrava), where the river opens out, before returning to Bachelors Walk.
Published in Dublin Port
River Liffey
Two On Bail After Liffey Boat Joyride Makes Surprising Start To Riverfest
#Joyride - Two men appeared in court in Dublin yesterday (Thursday 1 June) over a boat chase on the River Liffey that surprised early morning commuters in the capital.
Brian Stacey and Ronan Stephens, both of Crumlin in south-west Dublin, face a number of charges relating to theft of a pleasure craft and boating under the influence of alcohol, according to The Irish Times.
Dun Laoghaire RNLI and the Dublin Fire Brigade were among the emergency services that responded to the incident around 6am yesterday after the €11,000 boat was taken from Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club, which is preparing for this bank holiday weekend's Dublin Riverfest.
The Irish Independent reports that a number of men on board the boat taunted those chasing them as they drove erratically through the Dublin Port shipping lanes east of the Eastlink Bridge, interfering with the passage of a cruise liner.
The boat was then pursued further up the Liffey, where it was finally halted at St John Rogerson's Quay.
Both men arrested after the incident have been released on bail.
Dublin Riverfest
Man Rescued From Liffey On Christmas Morning
#Rescue - Gardaí and Dublin firefighters rescued a man in his 20s from the River Liffey in Dublin's Docklands on Christmas morning.
According to the Dublin Fire Brigade Twitter account, the man was kept afloat by gardaí with a life buoy till he was recovered by the fire service rescue boat at Sir John Rogerson's Quay shortly before lunchtime yesterday.
1 person taken from the #Liffey by our rescue boat. @GardaTraffic used life buoy to keep person afloat, John Rogersons Quay #Dublin #fire pic.twitter.com/yQDBVxw7vO
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) December 25, 2016
In other rescue news, TheJournal.ie looks at the Irish Coast Guard's operations nationwide, co-ordinating the 1,000 volunteers who "face peril on every call out".
Published in Rescue
Body Recovered From River Liffey In Dublin City Centre
#Liffey - An emergency operation in Dublin city centre this afternoon (Monday 5 October) saw a body recovered from the River Liffey, as TheJournal.ie reports.
The body of a man was taken from the water around 2pm less than four hours after he was spotted from a bridge near the IFSC.
Emergency response teams from the Dublin Fire Brigade, the Irish Coast Guard, Dun Laoghaire RNLI and more raced to the scene for the multi-agency operation. The Journal.ie has more HERE.
Published in News Update
Currachs Race & Yachts Parade into Dublin for River Liffey Spectacle This Weekend
This weekend the River Liffey and surrounding areas come to life in celebration of Dublin's rich maritime heritage and local boating communities, past and present, with a mix of free open air spectacles and events for the public to enjoy both on the water and on land.
On Friday evening, 18th September, the Dublin Docklands Office and Oireachtas na Gaeilge will stage a Currach racing event on the River Liffey. At 5.30pm on Culture Night, currachs will set off from the pontoon by the Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship and race for 2km up river to the Ha'penny Bridge and back.
On land, a series of talks and films about currachs and the beautiful Galway Hookers will take place in the Dublin Docklands Office on Custom House Quay, while the Dublin Dockers' Preservation Society will also host an exhibition of photographs chronicling the history and the people of the Docklands.
On Saturday, 19th September, Dublin City Council in conjunction with Dublin Port Company will open three bridges consecutively - the Samuel Beckett, Sean O'Casey and East Link bridges - over the River Liffey to allow the passage of yachts from Dublin Bay to the Custom House Quay area of the city.
The Parade of Sail & River Liffey Cruise event will feature as many as 30 sail boats which will congregate at the East Link Bridge at 3pm on Saturday 19th September 2015. Between 2.30pm and 3.00pm both the Samuel Beckett and Sean O'Casey Bridges will open, followed by the East Link Bridge.
The boats will make their way down the River Liffey through the three bridges and will turn at the Matt Talbot (Custom House) bridge and come back up the river where they will then dock at the pontoons outside the 3 Arena.
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: "The Dublin City Council Docklands Office were delighted to be associated with these events which is in keeping with their policy of animating the River Liffey and facilitating its use as a natural resource for the public."
Eamonn O'Reilly, Chief Executive, Dublin Port Company, said: "Dublin Port Company is committed to integrating Dublin Port with the city through a wide range of events and initiatives that celebrate the maritime heritage and traditions of Dublin as a port city. We are delighted to be involved with the Currach racing and Parade of Sail, and I would encourage everyone to come along and show their support for the boating community on the River Liffey this weekend."
Published in Dublin Bay
Currachs
Dublin Port
Galway Hookers
Dublin's River Liffey To Welcome All Boats At Cruising Association Open Rally
With all the talk these days of cruise liners and where they might be berthed, we tend to overlook the fact that most recreational sailors in Ireland would list "cruising" as their primary boating interest writes W M Nixon.
But these mariners are thinking in terms of making determinedly non-racing sea passages – ranging from coastal hops of a couple of hours to voyages lasting many days – in command of their own vessels, rather than going as passengers on some cruise line company's luxurious behemoth.
The Cruising Association of Ireland was set up to cater for their specialized needs, and although most of the members do their cruising on their own, or maybe in company with one other buddy boat, from time to time they organize cruises in company, while every so often there's a CAI Rally.
One of the most successful was held in September 2014 in Dublin's River Liffey, when Dublin Port put out the hospitality mat at the new pontoons at the Point Depot. After a Vessels Parade up to the Samuel Beckett Bridge once the East Link Bridge had opened to let the fleet through, all the usual inter-boat visiting in a large and varied fleet kept them busy at the Point Depot pontoons, and then the evening was rounded out with a convivial meal aboard the restaurant ship Cill Airne.
So successful was that gathering that upwards of 30 CAI boats have already signed up for this year's assembly, which is this coming weekend, 19th to 20th September. The Association's Commodore John Leahy emphasizes that it's an entirely open event, and all boats are very welcome to take part whether their owners are CAI members or not, while powerboats are of course also warmly invited.
Last year's CAI September Rally saw the Samuel Beckett Bridge being the upper limit of navigation, but this year it will be opened for the enlarged fleet. Photo: W M Nixon
The format has been stepped up, as they'll now be also able to transit the Samuel Beckett Bridge for a proper river tour before berthing at the Point Depot, while the festivities at the Cill Airne on the Saturday evening have been developed further to include a hog roast, starting at 1900hrs.
In fact, Saturday is going to be one busy day, as they get through the East Link Bridge at 1500hrs, have their Parade of Sail "through three bridges", berth up and socialize at the Point Depot Pontoons, and then take in a scheduled CAI tour of the very impressive German Tall Ship Gorch Foch at 1700hrs.
On Sunday 20th the Eastlink Bridge will be opened at noon to permit the fleet to head downriver again. But rather than heading straight back to their home ports, CAI visitors and their guests from outside the Liffey are thinking in terms of an informal gathering for Sunday lunch at the hospitable Poolbeg Yacht & Boat Club marina.
Gathering of voyagers. The impressive fleet at 2014's Dublin CAI Rally is likely to be increased this coming weekend. Photo: W M Nixon
Published in Cruising
Cruising Association of Ireland
Man Rescued From Liffey In Dublin City Centre
#Rescue - TheJournal.ie reports on the rescue of a man from the River Liffey in Dublin city centure this afternoon (Monday 22 December).
The Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) responded to the scene between the Ha'penny and Millennium Bridges not long after 2pm, as passers by attempted to reach the man with lifebuoys from the boardwalk above.
One firefighter was lowered down from the boardwalk to reach the man in the water, who was safely removed on the DFB rescue boat and taken for treatment at the Mater Hospital.
TheJournal.ie has more on the story HERE.
Boat Parade To Light Up Liffey This Saturday
#Liffey - A parade of illuminated boats is set to light up the River Liffey in Dublin city centre this Saturday evening 17 May.
Organised by the Dublin Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI), the parade will depart from Grand Canal Dock at 8.30pm and will rally at the Civic Offices on Wood Quay around an hour later, ahead of a spectacular light show staged on a barge moored on the Liffey at 10pm.
This event is part of the IWAI's Dublin rally that began on 4 May and continued till saturday 24 May.
Nearly 100 boats are in Grand Canal Basin for the rally, many of them navigating the Royal and Grand Canals and River Barrow to Dublin for the rally. This year is a special celebration of a number of significant anniversaries.
Not only is the IWAI celebrating it's 60th year, but its Dublin branch is 50 years old this year, and this is the 30th year of the Dublin rally.
In addition, the Royal Canal Amenity Group is celebrating its 40th anniversary, while it's also 20 years since the Shannon-Erne Waterway was reopened as a gong concern, and 10 years since the IWAI's Boyne branch was founded.
The boat parade will also highlight the IWAI campaign for the reform of bye-laws governing Ireland's main inland navigation routes.
It's just one of numerous other events taking place including family fun days, BBQs and parties in various locations. For a full schedule of events and information on how you can get involved with the rally see the IWAI website HERE.
Boat Rally
Catch-And-Release Christmas On Select Salmon Fisheries
#Angling - Christmas Day will see an early start to the new salmon angling season on a select number of fisheries.
As Derek Evans writes in The Irish Times, the early fisheries include the Lower Liffey - from Islandbridge to Leixlip Dam - for catch-and-release angling for the second year running.
Elsewhere, it's been announced that Inniscarra Lake in Co Cork will host the World Feeder Fishing Championships next July.
And a new book on Ireland's sea trout fisheries had recently been published.
Nomads of the Tides by Chris McCully and Ken Whelan details 50 different fishing locations with grid references and information on permits and local accommodation which will surely make it a must for angling tourists.
The Irish Times has more on the new book HERE.
Published in Angling
Yellow Submarine Voyage For 50th Anniversary Of Irish Beatles Gigs
#YellowSub - It's recently charmed the denizens of Belfast - and now the famous Yellow Submarine is making its way from the Lagan to the Liffey to mark the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' first and only performances in Ireland.
As the News Letter reports, the colourful miniature vessel - a tribute to the 1968 album and animated movie of the same name - is headed to Dublin on the date the Fab Four played the old Adelphi Cinema five decades ago.
And it will also reach the Irish capital in time for a special weekend celebration of Beatlemania, the Dublin Beatles Festival from 7-10 November.
But Belfast fans have their own memories of the Liverpool lads' visit to their city - and even some who weren't born at the time are joining in with the festivities, such as 42-year-old Alan Gilfillan, the man at the controls of the former oil rig lifeboat converted to resemble the famous sunny-coloured sub.
The News Letter has more on the story HERE.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Deutella antonbruuni is een vlokreeftensoort uit de familie van de Caprellidae. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 2002 door Guerra-García.

Caprellidae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Volunteering is fundamental principle of all OLLIs. The cumulative donations of our volunteers' time and talents are essential in maintaining our high-quality program and fundamental to our success. Without our OLLI volunteers, staff would have to be larger, which in turn would increase expenses and impact tuition. Volunteers use their current skills, learn new skills, and have opportunities to take leadership roles in the many activities we offer. If you are interested in volunteering, please click here, Volunteer Profile, and complete the form. You can also contact the OLLI director if interested in volunteering.
The primary function of the Curriculum Committee is to secure a well-balanced selection of courses each semester that have academic merit and that appeal to the interests of OLLI members. Committee members accomplish this by identifying and soliciting qualified instructors, guiding and facilitating the submission of course proposals, ensuring complete proposals, determining a final schedule each semester, securing course coordinators and reviewing the success of courses. The Curriculum Committee works to maintain a balanced roster of new and veteran instructors and to balance the curriculum each semester with new courses and with the repetition and/or extensions of others. OLLI staff design and publish the catalogs, promote the catalog, secure and manage classroom space and AV equipment, and manage registration and wait lists. This committee meets monthly.
The Development Committee works closely with the director of OLLI as well as the director of Development at Penn State York, assisting with our annual appeal, Give Local York (York County's biggest day of giving,) planned giving and fundraising events. This committee meets monthly.
The Growth and Marketing Committee works closely with the director of OLLI as well as the director of University Relations at Penn State York. They are charged with continually marketing OLLI. This committee develops and secures promotional materials and mementos. The Speakers' Bureau (SB) is one aspect of this committee. The SB representatives speak to local organizations and clubs, sharing basic information about OLLI as well as the positive experiences they have had as an OLLI member. This committee also assists other OLLI committees with marketing needs. This committee meets monthly.
The Membership Committee welcomes new members into the OLLI organization and determines new members' expectations, details OLLI policies and procedures and shares the history of OLLI. The committee stays in contact with members for continuous quality improvement of OLLI. The Membership Committee is also charged with exploring volunteer opportunities with OLLI members and working with committees to meet their volunteer needs. This committee meets monthly.
The Social Committee offers opportunities for socialization beyond courses offered at OLLI. Committee members assess OLLI members of their interests and plan social events accordingly. Examples include soup and board game afternoon, dinner at a local restaurant, breakfast before OLLI courses, etc. In addition, the Social Committee assists other committees with setting/cleaning up events. This committee meets three to four times a year.
The Travel Committee assists with planning domestic and international overnight trips based upon suggestions of our OLLI members. Local and regional daytrips are offered as events through our Curriculum Committee. This committee meets approximately every 6 weeks.


The French Baseball Softball Federation (FFBS, Didier Seminet President) hosted the 2nd international baseball tournament, "Yoshida Challenge", from August 31 to September 4, 2016 at the Templiers Senart facility just south of Paris. The tournament served as preparation for the 2016 European Championship in HOOFDDORP, Netherlands in the middle of September for France, Netherlands and Germany as well as a strong boost to the growth of baseball in Europe.
The tournament has been named as "Yoshida Challenge" to honor Yoshio YOSHIDA who managed the French National Team for 7 years from 1990 and helped them get to 4th at the European Baseball Championship in 1991 and 1993. No wonder FEBS and fans gave him a big welcome at Templiers Senart beginning with his ceremonial first pitch before the opening game between Germany and France and throughout the five-day series with YOSHIDA in attendance. He managed the Nippon Professional League's Osaka Hanshin Tigers 3 times (1975-1977, 1985-1987, 1997-1998) before heading off to France in 1989. L'Équipe, French sports daily, called him "petit Samurai". He is a Hall of Famer shortstop of Tigers and a highly popular TV commentator and columnist of baseball in Japan.
On Day-4, a French outfielder, DAGNEAU Bastien (21) took advice from YOSHIDA before stepping into the batter's box and blasted the ball over the left-field fence. DAGNEAU was congratulated by Yoshida after the game and encouraged to play for big leagues.
At the Award presenting ceremony after the final game between Germany and Netherland on Day-5, YOSHIDA presented Netherlands the Champion's plaque. The former manager of Team France, YOSHIDA, was pleased with the remarkable growth of baseball in Europe both on skills and popularity, in particular among the young generation.
At the same time, he emphasized that baseball/softball community should continue its drive to remain as Olympic sport after 2020 in Tokyo and beyond. YOSHIDA helped reinstatement of baseball/softball to 2020 Tokyo Olympics as an international baseball ambassador and was instrumental to assist organizing the inaugural "Yoshida Challenge" in September, 2014, when the 85th Inter-City Baseball Champion, Seino Transportation, took part with the 3 national teams of France, Belgium and Netherlands.
1.	Netherlands 4W-0L, 2. Germany 2W-2L, 3. France 1W-3L, 4. Int'l 1W-3L.
Netherlands0-10France, Sept. 4, Int'l-9France, Netherlands5-3Germany.


Some of the buffalo hunters on the train carry Winchester Model 1873 rifles. Marvin Throneberry (Jimmie Ray Weeks), a U.S. Marshal tracking Blake, also carries a Model '73.
A buffalo hunter sits on the train with his Winchester '73.
Buffalo hunters behind the train fireman (Crispin Glover) fire Winchesters out the window.
A man in the street in Machine looks at Blake with a Winchester over his shoulder.
U.S. Marshals Lee Hazelwood with a Winchester '66 and Marvin Throneberry with a Winchester '73.
Marvin accidentally fires his Winchester, hitting Lee in the stomach, when he is shot by Blake.
Several characters, including the buffalo hunters and British soldiers (in Nobody's flashback) carry Sharps Carbines.
A buffalo hunter can be seen firing his Sharps in the background.
In Nobody's flashback, the British soldiers who kidnap him have Sharps rifles.
A shotgun and a Sharps rifle are visible on the wall behind the trading post missionary.
The Trapdoor Springfield 1873 Carbine appears to be the rifle carried by Benmont Tench (Jared Harris).
1873 Springfield Trapdoor Carbine - .45-70 Cal.
Benmont Tench aims his Springfield Carbine at Big George.
Bounty hunter Conway Twill (Michael Wincott) keeps a Henry 1860 as his long gun.
In front of Conway is his Henry 1860, leaning against the desk. Wilson's long range Sharps rifle leans on the desk in front of him.
Cole Wilson (Lance Henriksen) carries a Sharps 1874 Long Range with a telescopic sight.
Sharps 1874 Long Range rifle w/ 34" barrel, Vernier peep sight, and Lyman Beach front sight - .45-70.
Wilson checks his Sharps rifle.
Wilson grabs his Sharps off his horse after being shot by an Indian arrow.
U.S. Marshal Lee Hazelwood (Mark Bringleson) carries a Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy" Rifle. Blake (Johnny Depp) later takes this rifle and, after killing another man with it, offers it to Nobody (Gary Farmer), who fires it in the final scene.
Winchester 1866 "Yellow Boy" Rifle - .44 RF.
The U.S. Marshals with their Winchesters.
When Nobody comments on Blake's "new weapon", Blake tells him he got a "Winchester" that he took off a "dead white man".
Nobody takes Blake's Winchester Yellow Boy.
Blake with the Winchester '66 inside the missionary's trading post.
The man being "serviced" in the alley (Gibby Haines) when Blake first arrives in Machine aims a Colt 1860 Army at Blake. Johnny "the Kid" Pickett (Eugene Byrd) also carries two Colt Army revolvers.
The man draws his Colt Army.
The man aims at Blake.
The three bounty hunters practice drawing their revolvers inside Dickinson's office. Johnny is on the far left with a Colt Army.
Johnny holsters his Colt Army inside Dickinson's office.
William Blake (Johnny Depp) discovers a blued Single Action Army Quickdraw model under Thel Russell's (Mili Avital) pillow, which she promptly places under her pillow. After using the SAA to shoot Charlie, Blake takes it and carries it through the rest of the film. Bounty hunter Cole Wilson (Lance Henriksen) carries a nickel Quickdraw SAA.
Colt Single Action Army w/ 4.75" barrel, case colored and blued, referred to as "Quick-Draw" or "Civilian" model - .45 Long Colt.
Blake looks at Thel's revolver, which she warns him is loaded.
The three bounty hunters practice drawing their revolvers inside Dickinson's office. Wilson is on the far right with his nickel SAA.
Wilson draws his SAA on Conway to shut him up briefly.
Blake looks at the SAA in his hand when Nobody tells him that it will replace his mouth.
Blake fires at the fur traders.
Blake shoots U.S. Marshal Lee Hazelwood, asking him if he's familiar with his poetry.
Charlie Dickinson (Gabriel Byrne) shoots Thel Russell with a blued Smith & Wesson Schofield. The bullet apparently passes through Thel, killing her, and enters Blake's chest next to his heart.
Charlie draws his S&W Schofield.
Charlie's Schofield lays on the ground next to him after Blake shoots him in the neck.
Bounty hunter Conway Twill (Michael Wincott) also carries two customized Colt 1860 Army revolvers cut down to a more compact "Pocket" size.
The three bounty hunters practice drawing their revolvers inside Dickinson's office. Conway is in the center.
Conway reholsters his Colt Army Pocket.
Conway holds one of his Colt Army Pockets on Johnny.
The trading post missionary (Alfred Molina) attempts to draw a Colt 1849 Pocket but Blake knocks it away from him and shoots him with his SAA. Blake then takes the Colt 1849 Pocket and holds it in the canoe as he and Nobody float away.
The missionary draws his Colt Pocket on Blake.
The missionary's Colt Pocket sits on the desk next to Blake's bloody wanted poster.
Blake inside the canoe with the Colt Pocket.
Blake with the Colt Pocket.
John Dickinson (Robert Mitchum) carries a double-barreled shotgun with exposed hammers while inside his office. Behind his desk is a portrait of him standing with his shotgun as well. "Big George" Drakoulious (Billy Bob Thornton) also has a double-barreled shotgun, which Nobody (Gary Farmer) takes after slashing his neck. Nobody then tosses the shotgun to William Blake (Johnny Depp).
Dickinson holds his shotgun on Blake.
Blake stares down the barrels of Dickinson's shotgun.
Dickinson sets the shotgun on his desk.
Big George aims his shotgun at Blake.
Nobody fires the shotgun as he handles it.
Blake holds Big George's shotgun.


No, Churchill didn't say "fascists of the future will call themselves anti-fascists."
The passenger was put on a flight the following morning.
How does this kind of mentality take hold of a state of nearly 30 million, at least to the point that the governor himself would take official action?
Does Satire News Influence Elections?
The idea that a satire news show would take election coverage so seriously no longer comes as a surprise. How did satire news become such a major player in news media? And, is its increased social power dangerous for our democracy?
People who admit they aren't passionate about politics ask me why I'm voting for Wendy. As a mother, I'm voting for Wendy Davis because I agree with her position on women's reproductive rights. However, Wendy Davis is not a one-issue candidate.
Is Rick Perry a 'Culture Maven'?
In reading a recent piece in The Washington Times, you might think that Texas Gov. Rick Perry -- he of the hip new eyeglasses -- is deeper than his gun-toting persona would lead you to believe.
Don't underestimate the powerful asset of enthusiasm and excitement among those who believe in Davis, and don't underestimate Davis's second-best asset: the suicide strategies of the crazy-wing friends of Cruz.
Dan Patrick For Texas Lt. Governor - TV Ad "Fight"
Oct. 3 will someday be viewed by Texas historians, Texas media, Texas political leaders and Texas voters as the day the future began to change in Texas, as the day the tide began to turn.
Wendy Davis has set October 3 as the day she'll announce future plans. Meanwhile, the conservative machine in Texas, aided by her likely Republican opponent in the governor's race, Attorney General Greg Abbott, keeps abusing her to a degree unchecked.
Texas is now a battleground. The path to blue Texas will not be easy, but the road to get there is clear. Make no mistake, the Texas GOP's war against women will soon become a war against Wendy.
Texas is going blue. The only question is when. If Wendy Davis runs for governor in 2014, and Hillary Clinton runs for president in 2016, it will be "High Noon" in Texas with these two leading ladies starring in the Gary Cooper role.


In a picture-perfect setting with the temperature hovering around 80 degrees, His Eminence Luis Antonio Gokim Cardinal Tagle (Archbishop of Manila) delivered the commencement address at St. John's University in Jamaica, N.Y. on May 20, 2018.
He addressed the Queens Undergraduate Commencement Exercises at the Great Lawn of the university's Queens campus.
Cardinal Tagle also received a conferral of the degree of doctor of humane letters.
Welcoming him was the President of St. John's University Conrado "Bobby" Gempesaw, Ph.D., a Filipino-American, who is a graduate of Ateneo de Davao University, West Virginia University and Penn State University.
The two-hour event culminated in a luncheon reception at Bent Hall where Cardinal Tagle and Dr. Gempesaw greeted members of the school's administration, as well as friends of the President from the Filipino-American community.
The Cardinal also received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University.
Cardinal Tagle spoke to graduates about the needs of "the missing persons" — those often lost and marginalized in our interdependent, complex, and global society.
Cardinal Tagle asked graduates to remember those who have been kidnapped, murdered, and lost during war.
The Cardinal emphasized that people are also lost to human trafficking, online exploitation, poverty, injustice, neglect, marginalization, racism, and similar phenomena.
Cardinal Tagle told the Class of 2018 they will miss the University.
With Cardinal Tagle are his brother Manny (far left), owner and manager of a Filipino restaurant bistro in Ballston, Arlington, Virginia; and Ambassador Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr.
Amongst the President's impeccable credentials, which include degrees in economics and agricultural economics, he is a member of the St. John's University Board of Trustees and Board of Governors.
Furthermore, his expertise is in higher education administration, financial simulation analysis, marketing and international trade.
His wife is Clavel Albay Gempesaw, who graduated from the University of Delaware.
Founded by the Vincentian Fathers of the Roman Catholic Church in 1870, the university has New York campuses in Queens (main), Staten Island and Manhattan; and overseas in Rome, Italy.
St. John's is a four-year doctoral/research university and is balanced between arts and sciences and the professional fields.


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London Life Exhibitions
Alexander Mcqueen at the V&A
Last week I went to the Alexander McQueen fashion exhibition at the V & A. One of the most anticipated exhibitions in recent years it did not disappoint. I will go as far as to say that it was probably amongst the best exhibitions I've ever seen.
Duck feather dress | The Horn of Plenty, A/W 2009-10 | Alexander McQueen | Model: Magdalena Frackowiak represented by dna model management New York, Image: firstVIEW
Why is that, you may ask? Well, I see quite a few exhibitions every year and am fortunate to live in London where you get to see the cream of the crop. But what makes a great exhibition? It can be one or all of the following:
1. You love the artist, designer, theme, subject matter
2. The curation is exceptional
3. Both work hand in hand
In this case it's definitely number 3. As I walked through the exhibition I kept thinking that Alexander McQueen would have absolutely loved it. The only major retrospective in Europe of this talented and visionary fashion designer, it celebrates McQueen's career in the most spectacular way. A few years in the making, no costs have been spared. The attention to detail is exquisite and the production team deserves a medal. Lights, videos, rotating mannequins, holograms and the music will blow your mind and you'll leave elated and inspired.
Portrait of Alexander McQueen | 1997 | Photographed by Marc Hom | © Marc Hom / Trunk Archive
It felt like a wonderful theatrical piece of storytelling, starting with McQueen's Central Saint Martin's postgraduate collection of 1992 to his final designs for A/W 2010, completed after his death. The rooms became grander and more spectacular as you go along.
I loved this Romantic Gothic room, where all walls were lined with framed mirrors.
Installation view of 'Romantic Gothic' gallery | 2015 | Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty at the V&A | Victoria and Albert Museum, London
My absolute favourite part was the Cabinet of Curiosities, a double-height room with a plethora of box frames showcasing individual showpieces. I could have stayed there for hours, absorbing myself into McQueen's world. Totally inspired, I was however also aware of the thin line between genius and madness.
Installation view of 'Cabinet of Curiosities' gallery | 2015 | Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty at the V&A | Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Butterfly headdress of hand-painted turkey feathers | La Dame Bleue,S/S 2008 | Philip Treacy for Alexander McQueen | Model: Alana Zimmer, © Anthea Simms
My sketchbook spread drawn while in the 'Cabinet of Curiosities' gallery (outline only) and coloured in afterwards.
Savage Beauty is definitely worth travelling for. If you live in London or in the UK then get yourself a ticket pronto. If you live in Europe, like fashion, museums and London, then make sure not to miss this extravaganza. Check for times and tickets. It's very popular but look at maybe visiting early in the morning.
I cannot wait to go again.
"The collection at the V&A never fail to intrigue and inspire me. The nation is privileged to have access to such a resource….. it's the sort of place I'd like to be shut in overnight."
Alexander Mc Queen: Savage Beauty
14 March – 2 August 2015
www.vam.ac.uk/savagebeauty
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The Wildflower Café
A couple of weeks ago while home finding, I stopped at the delightful The Wildflower Café in West London. This café/florist by day and bistro by night is beyond charming. Passionate…
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Daily Sketching Part Three
What do they say? It takes 30 days to form a new habit. Well, I'm two and a half months into my daily sketching. For those new to my blog, you…


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Home / The Ligier European Series reveals its calendar, tyre supplier (Michelin), and sporting information
The Ligier European Series reveals its calendar, tyre supplier (Michelin), and sporting information
ELMS - 20/09/2019 - Press release - Ligier European Series
Launched on 18 July 2019 in Barcelona, the new Ligier single-make series organised by the European Le Mans Series is being unveiled.
Time to get your diaries out! The first race will take place on the Barcelona circuit on 3-4 April 2020. It will be followed by Monza, Le Castellet, Spa-Francorchamps and Portimao: a mouth-watering programme for its first season. Michelin will supply tyres for the Ligier JS P4s and Ligier JS2 Rs. With one or two-driver teams and an obligatory pit stop the Ligier European Series promises non-stop on-track battles!
On the programme: five rounds, five "heats" on the most beautiful European circuits
The latest addition to the European Le Mans Series, the Ligier European Series, will kick off in 2020 on the famous Catalonian circuit beside Barcelona in Spain on 3-4 April 2020. The second race will be held in the Temple of Speed, Monza in Italy on 8-9 May. Then comes Paul Ricard in France on 17-18 July. After the summer break the series will resume at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium on 18-19 September and the curtain will come down in Portimao in Portugal, which hosts the final race on 23-24 October.
The heats will be held over two days, Friday and Saturday. Each round will include a 1-hour free practice session on Friday morning, 2 x 20 minutes qualifying on Friday afternoon, and 2 x 1-hour races, one on Saturday morning and the other in the afternoon giving a total time of 3h 40m running.
One or two drivers
Teams of one or two drivers will be at the wheel of the Ligier JS P4s and Ligier JS2 Rs. The eligible drivers are FIA non-classified drivers, Bronze drivers, Silver drivers. For teams of two drivers, at least one Bronze driver will need to be onboard. The Ligier European Series has been designed for gentlemen drivers who want to enjoy themselves on the greatest circuits in Europe as well as young chargers who want to learn the ropes and climb the steps of the Endurance pyramid.
During each race there will be a quick obligatory pit stop without tyre changes or refuelling.
Michelin, official series partner
The Ligier European Series is putting its trust in French tyre manufacturer Michelin to shod the Ligier JS P4s and Ligier JS2 R with Michelin Pilot Sport GT tyres. At each meeting the teams will be able to use one set of used tyres and two sets of new ones.
Michelin is not just the official supplier, but above all the official partner deeply involved in the Ligier European Series. A dedicated Michelin Motorsport technician will be present at all the races to advise the teams and drivers in addition to the fitting and balancing services.
Entries open in mid-October
Only a few weeks to go to the opening date for entries. Teams can enter from mid-October till the end of February.
The entry fee per meeting is 2 500 € (exclusive of taxes) for the Ligier JS P4 category and 2 000 € (exclusive of taxes) for the Ligier JS2 Rs. An offer covering entries for three seasons will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Ligier European Series will benefit from the same organisation as the European Le Mans Series and the Michelin Le Mans Cup with the interface of Team Area.
While awaiting the opening date for entries contact entry@ligiereuropeanseries.com now for any further questions.
Jacques Nicolet, President of Ligier Automotive:
"We're delighted to welcome Michelin to the Ligier European Series family. It was important for us to ensure that the teams and drivers would receive quality support in the domain of tyres so that nothing could spoil their pleasure.
Five races on the most beautiful circuits in Europe, sports prototypes and GTs, a prestigious tyre partner, all the ingredients are in place for a successful first season. And, of course, we're not stopping there. We've got more great news to announce in the coming weeks!"
Gérard Neveu, European Le Mans Series CEO:
"We are glad to offer with Ligier this new series that will be part of the European Le Mans Series events from 2020.
This new stage will be dedicated to new drivers wishing to join the Endurance world. This will be a unique experience, open to all, as well as a great opportunity to discover Motorsport."
Greig Coull, Michelin client competition manager:
"For us Ligier is a key constructor in the world of sports prototypes. In our respective DNAs we share the same ideas about the performance, safety and reliability of our products. So it was very important to cement our links with this French racing car brand to contribute together to the future of motor sport.
We're delighted through this partnership to be involved in the Ligier European Series concept. Beyond equipping the cars with Michelin Pilot Sport GT tyres, we'll also ensure the supply of technical support to the series."
The Ligier European Series is on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LigierEuropeanSeries/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ligiereuropeanseries/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LigierEuroSerie
Website:: http://ligiereuropeanseries.com/
Keep up to date with all the latest news on the series with the official Hashtag #Ligiereuroseries
The Ligier European Series team will answer your questions:
For information on the series log on to: entry@ligiereuropeanseries.com
Communications & Press Relations: communication@ligiereuropeanseries.com


Susana Pineda – vocals; Luis Salcedo – guitar; Jeff Denson – bass, percussion, backing vocals; John Santos – percussion.
Opaluna is the eponymous first album from this young California based vocal & guitar duo. Their distinctive collaboration brings together jazz , Latin and a range of other traditional and contemporary music. The project was overseen by Ridgeway Arts founder & bassist Jeff Denson, who is also featured in 'Instinto Ornitologico', an atmospheric jazz funk piece, and in Does it Rain on the Moon?, a melancholic ballad. Comprising predominantly original songs, sung in Spanish & English, 'Bridges' opens the CD with a brief coastal soundscape as a prelude to a breezy acoustic samba funk . Wayne Shorter's Mahjong and the original Petalos showcase the fluidity & versatility of Pineda's voice, often used instrumentally to supplement rhythmic passages, or as an additional melodic line. Throughout the album there is a strong sense of rhythm, most evident in Baile de Opuestos (Inchworm), featuring John Santos on percussion. Salcedo's guitar playing encompasses traditional Latin acoustic, jazz, funk, rock & folk. This variety, supplemented by the selective use electronic sounds & of vocal harmonies, provides dynamic depth and adds texture to the intimate vocal-guitar combination. An original and impressive debut.


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"To increase Hungary's global competitiveness by enhancing the country's attractiveness for investments."
The Investment Policy Task Force has defined three main objectives for the period of 2017-2020:
1.) Create an investor-friendly business environment to increase total investments with special regard to attracting high value-added new investments.
2.) Invented in Hungary: Encourage a shift to a knowledge-based economy.
3.) Align Hungary's education strategy to its new investment strategy
Members of the Investment Policy Task Force ("Investment PTF"), who are representing a wide range of sectors, work closely to foster the above goals and objectives.
According to the Global Competitiveness Index prepared by the World Economic Forum every year, Hungary ranks 48th out of 140 examined countries in 2018. For sustainable growth and enhanced competitiveness, Hungary's investment promotion strategy needs to be adjusted to the innovation driven global environment. Therefore, the Investment PTF suggests more focus on high value-added industries, building on the competitive advantages of existing, well–developed sectors such as, but not limited to, the pharmaceutical, electronics manufacturing and mechanical engineering industries, the shared service, ICT, financial and professional services sectors.
Main Achievements and Activities in 2019
Hungary's competitiveness according to the World Economic Forum
On January 22, AmCham's Investment Policy Task Force held an extraordinary PTF meeting, where our guest speaker was Mr. Péter Vakhal, research associate of Kopint-Tárki, who shared his insight on Hungary's recent ranking in the Global Competitiveness Report conducted by the World Economic Forum (in cooperation with Kopint-Tárki on domestic survey).
Second strategic meeting held between AmCham and State Secretary László György, Ministry for Innovation and Technology
On 13th of February, AmCham EC Members, Policy Task Force Leads and Board representatives of the four PTFs had a closed-door discussion with László György, State Secretary for Economic Planning and Regulation, and his expert colleagues, at the AmCham office.
Regular meetings between AmCham and the Ministry for Innovation and Technology are organized to provide opportunity for progressive and structured consultation about key advocacy issues. At the meeting, AmCham president Dr. Farkas Bársony officially handed over AmCham's recommendation package titled "Cooperation for a more competitive Hungary 2019" to the State Secretary, who is appointed as AmCham's key government contact by Minister for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics.
State Secretary László György presented an overview of the Ministry's industry strategies then explained and gave insight on several future Ministry projects. He also highlighted those areas which can be especially relevant for the business community represented by AmCham. President Bársony and the PTF Leads had the opportunity to present the 16 points that are incorporated in the fourth AmCham package, targeting to improve the competitiveness of Hungary. The recommendations relate to four key areas, these are: general business climate, competitive labour marker and education, innovation and R&D, and digitalization.
"Cooperation For a More Competitive Hungary 2018" recommendation package
The essence of a series of professional discussions within AmCham in 2017 was summarized and published in the above document, which was published and sent to the Prime Minister and government in January 2018. This document served as a key instrument and guide for the chamber's advocacy activities and consultations of the Investment PTF throughout 2018, including high-level meetings with Minister for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics, Minister of Finance Mihály Varga, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. In March, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga and Deputy State Secretary Antal Nikoletti sent a letter and a comprehensive, detailed position of the Ministry for National Economy as a feedback to the AmCham recommendation package for 2017.
NGM-AmCham Strategic Working Group
In February, the 8th Ministry for National Economy (NGM)-AmCham Strategic Working Group meeting was organized with István Lepsényi, Secretary of State for Economic Regulation, and expert colleagues of the ministry, where participants discussed a great number of competitiveness related issues, including taxation issues.
An Extraordinary PTF meeting held at K&H
On March 26, an extraordinary offsite PTF meeting was organized, where Ákos Ékes, director of business development of the host K&H Group gave a presentation on generation challenges in supplier development. After the presentation, participants discussed and exchanged experiences in their SME and supplier development programs. Investment PTF members then visited the Surf Studio at K&H Bank.
See photo gallery here.
Cooperation with HIPA
Based on the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed with the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) in 2015, a regular, meaningful dialogue has been maintained between the two organizations. At the May 31 Investment PTF meeting, Tünde Kis, vice president of HIPA, gave a presentation to members about recent trends, tendencies and results of investment promotion in Hungary.
Global Competitiveness Report
AmCham Hungary and the Investment PTF closely follow the updates of the Global Competitiveness Report and Index prepared by the World Economic Forum. In 2018, Hungary ranked 48th out of 140 examined countries. The Index examines 110 indicators across 12 pillars (institutions, infrastructure, ICT adoption, macroeconomic stability, health, skills, product market, labor market, financial system, market size, business dynamism, and innovation capability) to measure competitiveness. The current ranking cannot be compared to previous years' results since the methodology was entirely changed to put more emphasis on Industry 4.0 readiness, ICT adaptation, digital competency and innovation.
IV. Business Meets Government Summit
The key topic of the plenary panel of the IV. Business Meets Government Summit, organized by HIPA and AmCham on October 1, was the challenges and positive trends that influence Hungary's potential for moving up the international value chain. The panel was moderated by the Investment PTF lead Ferenc Pongrácz, who discussed ways to enhance Hungary's technological progress, and ways to help the Hungarian labor force acquire future proof skill sets with government representatives: László György, State Secretary for Economic Planning and Regulation, Ministry for Innovation and Technology; Gáborné Pölöskei, Deputy State Secretary for Vocational Training and Adult Education, Ministry for Innovation and Technology; Balázs Rákossy, State Secretary for the utilization of European Union Funding, Ministry of Finance; and Ádám Szigeti, Deputy State Secretary for Innovation, Ministry for Innovation and Technology.
Cooperation with the ministry for national economy:
István Lepsényi, Secretary of State for Economic Regulation and other high-level representatives of the Ministry for National Economy (NGM) met the AmCham delegation led by AmCham president Dr. Farkas Bársony on March 22, 2017 at a quarterly strategic working group meeting
At the 5th AmCham-NGM working group meeting, the Ministry representatives and AmCham president Dr. Farkas Bársony, Investment PTF leads Ferenc Pongrácz and Péter Gerendási and Electronic Manifacturing committee chair László Ábrahám discussed achievements and results of recent professional meetings. At the meeting, State Secretary Lepsényi gave a detailed evaluation about recent macroeconomic trends in Hungary. Participants have covered several topics, including electronic manufacturing industry, Industry 4.0, R&D, health industry, vocational training and adult education.
Ministry experts also shared their feedback on AmCham's general business climate related recommendations of the "Cooperation for a more Competitive Hungary 2017" package. Representatives of AmCham member companies, i.e. British Telecom, Citi, Enterprise Services Hungary and Morgan Stanley gave an overview on the economic weigth and importance of the SSC sector in Hungary as well as about the business development opportunities and challenges specific to this sector.
The next meeting is targeted to take place in June.
Partnership with HIPA:
Based on the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed with HIPA in 2015, a regular, meaningful dialogue has been successfully established between the two organizations. The Investment PTF in partnership with HIPA is pledged to support decision makers in appreciating corporate business processes and company procedures (including global decision making process). In 2016, the following two flagship events were organized jointly by AmCham and HIPA: the "Second Business Meets Government Summit" and the "Second Competitive Education Conference".
Business Meets Government Summit:
In line with AmCham Hungary's goal and vision, that is "to achieve a 10 spot World Competitiveness Ranking improvement in 10 years for Hungary with CEE", AmCham together with the National Investment Promotion Agency organized this flagship event for the second time to continue the dialogue on key challenges and priorities for improving Hungary's competitiveness. Similarly to the first summit, one of the main goals of the event was to develop a tangible list of recommendations in four selected areas: Business Sophistication and Environment, Digital Economy, Labour Market and Innovation. The event was hosted by Farkas Bársony, Lead of the Investment Policy Task Force.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó delivered the opening speech at the event, after which participants went on to exchange views in four closed-door roundtable discussions covering the four priority areas. High-level government representatives included István Lepsényi, Secretary of State for Economic Regulation, Róbert Ésik, president of HIPA, Ferenc Friedler, Vice President for Innovation and General Affairs, National Research, Development and Innovation Office, Ádám Szigeti, Head of Department, Department of Research and Development in Higher Education, Ministry of Human Capacities, Attila István Simon, Deputy Minister of State for Labour Market, Ministry for National Economy.
Cooperation for a More Competitive Hungary (2015/2016)
The essence of a series of professional discussions within AmCham in 2015, especially at the first Business Meets Government Summit and the first Competitive Education Conference, was summarized and published in a document titled "Cooperation for a More Competitive Hungary". The document, which incorporates 19 points of recommendation and commitment, was published and sent to the Prime Minister and the Government in February 2016. This document served as a key instrument and guide for the Chamber's advocacy activities throughout the year. Follow-up meetings with key decision-makers and stakeholders were organized to focus discussion on how to best implement the recommendations to enhance competitiveness. Recommendations have been thoroughly discussed with decision-makers of the Ministry for National Economy, HIPA, and Ministry of Human Capacities. There have been numerous legislative changes and impactful results based on this dialogue, about which Investment PTF Lead Farkas Bársony presented a report to the membership at the Second Business Meets Government Summit. A new issue of the "Cooperation for a More Competitive Hungary" recommendation package would be compiled by the end of 2016.
Cooperation with the Ministry for National Economy
The Ministry for National Economy and AmCham established a Strategic Working Group to ensure more progressive and structured relation between the two organizations and held a kick-off meeting on December 9, 2015, with the participation of István Lepsényi Secretary of State for Economic Regulation. Driven by the Investment PTF, two high-level working group meetings were organized in 2016, where participants discussed a great number of competitiveness related issues, in line with AmCham's 19-point recommendation package, including taxation issues, the impact of Brexit on the Hungarian economy, the vocational training system, industry – university co-operation and many more. Three sector specific discussions also took place, providing insight on the opportunities and challenges specific to the electronic manufacturing industry, the healthcare industry and the telecommunications industry.
Sustainability (non-financial) reporting obligation
The EU imposed a new reporting requirement regarding the disclosure of non-financial and diversity information, that is the sustainability reporting (also known as CSR reporting), which will become a new standard in the EU from Q1 2017. Certain companies, specified under new legislation, will have to disclose information in Hungary including description of policies, results of policies, risk assessment, management bases and performance ration in many areas.
The Investment PTF has initiated discussions with Ministry for National Economy to understand the Ministry's approach in this area. The Investment PTF has been dedicated to support our members in preparing for the sustainability (non-financial) reporting obligation that will come into force in January 2017. Representatives of the Investment PTF met the director and expert colleagues of the Accounting Department of the Ministry for National Economy responsible for new legislation in February 2016. AmCham provided information on the sustainability (non-financial) reporting obligation to the membership.
The Investment PTF
Cooperation with Committees: The Investment PTF cooperated and regularly exchanged views on key taxation related issues with the Tax Committee. The Investment PTF also cooperated on a regular basis with the Electronic Manufacturers' Committee in the preparations for the regular AmCham-Ministry for National Economy Strategic Working Group meetings.
Future Goals
In 2019 the Investment Policy Task Force is committed to:
Work closely with strategic partners (HIPA, NGM, Ministry of Justice) on realizing the above goals;
Advocate for raising Hungary's competitiveness based on the set of recommendations prepared at the Second Business Meets Government Summit;
Provide a platform for regular and meaningful dialogue between the government and business; organize the Third Business Meets Government Summit in 2017;
Support policy-makers in better understanding local and global corporate decision-making processes;
Support decision-making by conducting impact assessments before measures are introduced;
Enhance communications with current and prospective foreign investors
PTF Leadership:
Policy Task Force Lead: Dr. Ferenc Pongrácz
PTF Board Representative: Mr. Kevin A. Murray
PTF Board Representative: Mr. Zoltán Szabó
Mr. Kevin A. Murray
Citi Hungary
xriva.n.zheenl@pvgv.pbz
Mr. Zoltán Szabó
BT Regional Operations Centre
mbygna.fmnob@og.pbz
Ferenc Pongrácz
Tungsram Group
srerap.cbatenpm@ghatfenz.pbz
Zsuzsanna VARGA
mfhmfnaan.inetn@nzpunz.uh


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AIR & SPACE MAGAZINE
Hitting a bull's-eye on the Moon
I am in Bangalore, sitting awake in my hotel room at 4 am.
Paul D. Spudis
I am in Bangalore, sitting awake in my hotel room at 4 am. Last night was a memorable and exciting experience. Chandrayaan-1, in lunar orbit since last Saturday, released its Moon Impact Probe (MIP), designed to descend and hit the Moon at high velocity, sending images and other data as it went. This part of the mission had to go well in order to fully deploy the Chandrayaan antenna, required to send all the mapping data to Earth. Once the antenna is deployed tomorrow, Chandrayaan will begin the job of mapping the Moon from a polar orbit for the next two years.
What a great linked-together world we live in! As I sit here in India, in the middle of the night, on the opposite side of the Earth, my good friend Astronaut Don Pettit and six of his colleagues are getting ready to blast into orbit on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. I am watching the launch countdown on NASA TV over the internet on my laptop computer. In addition, I'm getting live launch status and weather reports via e-mail from my colleague Dr. Ben Bussey of the Applied Physics Laboratory, who is down at the Cape for the launch. Ben just sent me a Blackberry cell phone image he took of the Shuttle on the pad, lit up by floodlights; I reciprocated by sending him an image sent down last night from the Moon by the MIP just a few minutes before its impact. And just now, the NASA TV feed shows a nearly full Moon, slowly rising over the Atlantic and the Shuttle launch site. Three friends, separated by the globe and involved in two very different space missions, but looking over each others' shoulders. I think about it and find it profound and deeply satisfying.
Back to the MIP impact last night. It has the air of a Hollywood premier about it. The press is packed along the street outside the Mission Control Center, the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the former President of India are in the viewing room, along with hundreds of ISRO engineers and scientists. The air is electric with anticipation. Although the mission of Chandrayaan has been nearly flawless so far, the release, descent and impact of the MIP is a critical event, not only for its data, but also for the pride India feels in this mission, all riding on a little subsatellite with the national flag painted on its side.
We have little to look at in the control center. Large computer projection displays show technical data and graphs. We observe major mission events by noting a change in velocity here or a drop in voltage there. I am somewhat lost, but one of the investigators on the MIP mass spectrometer helps me interpret what I'm seeing. The MIP separates from Chandrayaan, begins to spin for stabilization, and then fires a solid rocket motor to brake itself out of lunar orbit. The descent to the surface takes about 25 minutes. We see none of the data in real time; the images and measurements are being relayed to the main spacecraft and will be sent down to Earth in 90 minutes, on the next orbital pass. We see that everything is working fine through the cryptic and delightful expedient of observing Chandrayaan's data recorder filling up – with numbers in hexadecimal, no less! – presumably with data from the probe. Suddenly, the graphs show a large spike or a drop to zero; the probe has hit the Moon! Applause and cheers!
There is much backslapping and good cheer in the room. President Abdul Kalam makes a brief and moving statement, dedicating the Moon probe to India's children as a symbol of hope for the future. My colleague from APL and I decide that it's been a long day and it's best to leave the facility now; there'll be plenty of time to look at the scientific results tomorrow. As we emerge from our cocoon, I am amazed to see the press frenzy outside. Long lines of reporters are doing TV remotes and newspaper people pace the sidewalk. They have been kept out of the control center and only a few are being let in for interviews. Therefore, anybody coming outside is fair game and they pounce on the two Americans (not particularly inconspicuous over here) for scraps of information. Who are we? Are we part of the mission? Was the probe impact successful? (This last question surprises me – haven't they been told yet that all went well?) We try to answer their questions, but our car is waiting and the last thing we want is to get caught in the obviously approaching massive traffic jam. So we leap for the car doors and speed off into the night.
The MIP impact is a major public and media event. It is a source of great pride to the Indians and ISRO has done a marvelous job on the mission. But the real work is yet to come. In the next two years, Chandrayaan will map the Moon in unprecedented detail. Future milestones may be less splashy, but they will largely make up the ultimate value of the Chandryaan-1 mission.
Paul D. Spudis | READ MORE
Paul D. Spudis (1952-2018) was a senior staff scientist at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, and a prolific author on the subject of the moon. His books include The Value of the Moon: How to Explore, Live, and Prosper in Space Using the Moon's Resources.


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Home › DVD Audio › Everclear - So Much For The Afterglow
Everclear - So Much For The Afterglow
DVD-A $ 19.98 Add to Cart
DVD Audio version of Everclear's best selling album.
Everclear's 1997 hit album "So Much for the Afterglow"sold over 2 million copies and even earned them a Grammy nomination. The album had four charting singles - "Everything to Everyone", "I Will Buy You a New Life", "Father of Mine" and "One Hit Wonder".
The disc includes extras: a photo gallery, music videos for "Father of Mine" and "Everything to Everyone", and lyrics.
This is a DVD-Audio disc which is playable on most DVD players as well as all DVD-Audio players.
1. So Much For the Afterglow
2. Everything to Everyone
3. Ataraxia (media intro)
4. Normal Like You
5. I Will Buy You a New Life
6. Father of Mine
7. One Hit Wonder
8. El Distorto de Melodica
9. Amphetemine
10. White Men in Black Suits
11. Sunflowers
12. Why I Don't Believe in God
13. Like a California King
Medeski, Martin and Wood - Uninvisible


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NewsMilitary
U.S. military helping to search for missing Argentine submarine
By: Nick Boykin
Posted at 10:08 PM, Nov 19, 2017
NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. – The U.S. navy is sending additional aircraft and underwater vehicles to assist the Argentine Navy submarine that went missing last week.
The U.S. Navy will be sending unmanned underwater vehicles(UUV's) and a P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft to assist Argentina, which lost contact with its sub located almost 300 miles off shore.
The aircraft and a crew of 21 personnel will depart Jacksonville, Fla., and are expected to arrive in Argentina the same day., says the Navy.
One Navy P-8A aircraft is already in Argentina, where it joined a NASA P-3 research aircraft already supporting the ongoing search efforts over the submarine's last known location.
The UUV's will be deployed to Argentina from Pearl Harbor, and will assist other equipment in the area already helping with the search.
At least 44 crew members were on board, state-run news agency Telam reported Friday, Nov. 17.
Multiple countries are helping to search for the submarine.
"We have ordered all terrestrial communication stations along the Argentine coast to carry out a preliminary and extended search of communications and to listen in to all the possible frequencies of the submarine," the navy said in a statement Friday.
The vessel had been traveling from far southern Argentina's Tierra del Fuego archipelago to its home base in Mar del Plata, a coastal city hundreds of miles to the northeast.


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Anthony Davis Tells Pelicans Fans, "It's Just My Time"
Scott Prather
New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis, who has requested a trade out of New Orleans, met with the media today for 14 minutes, making his first public comments since news broke on Monday he wanted out.
Based on tweets and reports from Pelican beat writers Andrew Lopez and Scott Kushner, Davis consistently said, "It's my time".
When pressed why he didn't think he could win in New Orleans, Davis responded with, "It's just my time". He went on to say the Pelicans lack of success during his time with the team was mainly due to injuries.
NBA rumors are running rampant that Davis' preferred destination is the Los Angels Lakers, where he could team up with LeBron James. James long time friend and agent Rich Paul also represents Davis, who signed with the Paul run Klutch Sports last summer.
Davis denied that he ever told the Pelicans he had a specific timeline of when or where he preferred to be traded.
The trade deadline is February 7th. If he's not dealt before then, he can't be traded until the offseason.
David, who has missed the last several games with an injured finger, said he intends to play when healthy, but it's the Pelicans right to choose whether or not to do so.
Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said the team is undecided on whether or not they'll play Davis again this season.
If he were to suffer a serious injury, it would severely hinder his future, as well as the Pelicans who are hoping to get the best trade value possible in return for a top 5 talent like Davis.
He added he hopes the city of New Orleans and Pelicans fans will always love him, as he'll always have a place in his heart for them.
Source: Anthony Davis Tells Pelicans Fans, "It's Just My Time"
Filed Under: alvin gentry, anthony davis, New Orleans Pelicans
Categories: sports, State News, State Sports
CJ And Jenn's Everything You Need To Know For January 20, 2020


It's obvious that Twitter is cool, but honestly, it takes too much work. I mean, sure, I can try to answer the question "What are you doing?" in 140 characters, but why bother? That's a lot of effort!
My new service will be named tw which is shorter than "Twitter" and has no uppercase letters, so you don't even have to hit the shift key. And that "140 characters"? Forget it! We will be using two. Yes, two. Here are some examples.
I think tw will be able to convey all human emotions with just two characters.
Posted on Monday, March 12th, 2007 at 7:30 pm. Subscribe to the comments feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. Post on your own blog.


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Too Good To Auction
Fiat 4x4 (Used)
LEVC Electric Van (New)
Mercedes-Benz Vans (New)
Mercedes-Benz Vans (Used)
Peugeot Vans (New)
Peugeot Vans (Used)
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Toyota Vans (Used)
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Volkswagen Commercials (Used)
Abarth Offers
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LEVC Offers
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Abarth Servicing
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Citroën Servicing
CUPRA Servicing
Fiat Servicing
Jeep Servicing
Kia Servicing
Lexus Servicing
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Mazda Servicing
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BMWi
Snows Leasing
Snows Toyota Plymouth see great success from Apprentice Jacob Muldoon
Jacob Muldoon promises to have a bright future at Snows Toyota Plymouth
Recently, Snows Toyota Plymouth has seen a proud achievement from their Academy Apprentice, Jacob Muldoon, who has managed to sell his first ever vehicle from start to finish.
Jacob Muldoon originally started at Snows Toyota Plymouth back in June 2016 as part of an Apprentice Programme set up by Snows. From there he has continued to learn, develop, progress and has now become a valuable member of the team.
The idea behind the programme is to have keen, new apprentice's touching on all areas of the business in order to identify where they stand out and also to identify where they could potentially build a career. On top of this, these individuals have course work set out for them and if they pass this they will then gain an NVQ qualification, which Jacob is well on track to pass!
Over the last six months, Jacob has noticeably grown in confidence and gained valuable skills and knowledge about the automotive industry. He is also very liked by all members of staff around the business and customers alike, by presenting himself as a very pro-active worker and having never complained about any task asked of him.
After working in all the departments at the Snows Toyota Plymouth dealership, he discovered that car sales was the career path that he would most like to pursue.
Mark Edmunds (Regional General Sales Manager) at Snows Toyota Plymouth explained "Jacob approached myself to ask if he could take his FCA training, at first I was concerned that for such a young person this is quite a lot of work and a lot to take in. I have had many established Sales Executive who have struggled with this training which if passed gives them the authority to legally speak to customers in regards to finance and insurance products. But Jacob passed this with flying colours!"
From starting out as an apprentice, Jacob now shadows experienced Sales Executive, Darren Copp who he has formed a strong bond with and can learn the tricks of the trade by his example. Involving taking on every task, talking to customers and helping out the rest of the team when needed.
This fantastic training has truly proved to pay off, as on Saturday the 6th May Jacob consulted a lovely couple about what they required by asking relevant qualifying questions. After finding out the couple were very interested in purchasing a brand new Toyota Rav 4 Hybrid, which can be quite a daunting deal for such a young sales person. However, Jacob appointed them a test drive in the next few days which they managed to attend, after this session he completed the entire sales process efficiently so when it came to a close, they shook his hand and accepted his offer, including taking finance and insurance products.
For such a young individual to have conducted himself in a friendly and professional manner, just shows how much Jacob Muldoon has progressed and he is sure to have a very bright future with Toyota and Snows. Helping to keep up the high standard of quality customer service that Snows Toyota prides themselves on.
Snows has seven Toyota dealerships in the South and South West, located in Exeter, Hedge End, Honiton, Paignton, Plymouth, Southampton, and Waterlooville. The Group prides itself on its reputation and dedication to delivering excellent customer service, and is rewarded by the fact that over half of its business comes from returning customers. With Snows, driving becomes an experience, rather than a chore.
Author: Sophie Taylor
Please contact Sophie Taylor using Sophie.Taylor@snowsgroup.co.uk or 02380 707750 with all press enquiries.
Reserving Online


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Despacito - Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee
Our new song of the week before "Semana Santa" for IB Spanish 2 is the pop tune Despacito by Luis Fonsi, featuring Daddy Yankee. This extremely catchy tune was voted as the favorite tune out of sixteen by my IB Spanish 2 students, and if you take a listen, it will be easy to see why.
Luis Fonsi was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moved with his family to Florida at the age of ten. Fonsi was trained professionally, studying Vocal Performance at Florida State University's School of Music before beginning his career as a recording artist.
His latin pop tune Despacito was released in January 2017, and is a collaboration featuring the singer Daddy Yankee. The tune was the first Spanish-language song to reach the Top 10 Global Chart for Spotify Music, and has seen international recognition since the release date in January.
The music video is also quite beautiful. Filmed in Puerto Rico, the music video shows scenes of the Puerto Rican coastline, as well street scenes of Puerto Rico. When I show my students the music video, I usually show the first three minutes, as the dancing gets quite intense towards the end of the video. Use your discretion to decide how much of the music video you would like to show. The music video can be found by following this link.
Intrigued? If you'd like to teach this song to your students, consider using the song warm-up resource I have created by clicking this link.
To find out more about how to start each day with a song warm-up in your classroom, follow this link.
Enjoy! Happy teaching!
HEY THERE! NICE TO MEET YOU!
I'm Katherine Lupton: language teacher and author. I live in the lovely state of Oregon. My favorite things include my energetic dogs, music and books (both reading and writing them).
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Creative Language Class
Cynthia Hitz
El Mundo de Birch
Kristy Placido
Martina Bex
Somewhere to Share


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Jorge Láscar
For The First Time, Researchers Have Mapped The Inside of a Pyramid Using Cosmic Rays
JOSH HRALA
The pyramids of Egypt have long been a source of archaeological wonder. There are countless movies and books about the possible treasures and traps hidden inside them, but fiction being fiction often glosses over the fact that exploring a pyramid is a lot of hard work.
Not only does it take a tonne of time, but it could also damage the ancient artefacts researchers are trying to study. Thankfully, scientists have been devising ways to get a look inside these structures without all of these headaches for years. Now, they finally have their solution: muons.
Instead of physically going inside the structure - at least, at first - why not scan the whole thing to see what's there?
Well, researchers from Cairo University's Scan Pyramid project are doing just that by, using cosmic particles known as muons that have the power to penetrate deeply into most materials and require only a few special instruments because they rain down naturally from the atmosphere above, reports Rossella Lorenzi for Discovery News.
"Just like X-rays pass through our bodies allowing us to visualise our skeleton, these elementary particles, weighing around 200 times more than electrons, can very easily pass through any structure, even large and thick rocks, such as mountains," mission co-director Mehdi Tayoubi said to Lorenzi.
The team's first successful scan was of the 4,500-year-old Bent Pyramid, which lies 40 km (25 miles) south of Cairo and was built by Pharaoh Sneferu.
To look inside, the team had to place a plate of emulsion film inside the pyramid's lower chamber to catch muons as they fell through the structure. After 40 days of exposure, the plates were collected and developed.
When the analysis was complete, the team had a complete map of the inside of the pyramid.
As Tayoubi explains in Lorenzi's report:
"From these plates, more than 10 million of muon tracks were analysed. We count the muons and according to their angular distribution we are able to reconstruct an image.
For the first time ever, the internal structure of a pyramid was revealed with muon particles. The images obtained clearly show the second chamber of the pyramid located roughly [18 metres] 60 feet above the lower one in which emulsions plates were installed."
This isn't the first time scientists have attempted to use muons to map the inside of the pyramids. Back in the 1960s, a scientist called Luis Alvarez used a similar technique to look for hidden chambers within Giza's Pyramid of Chephren, but the technology wasn't sensitive enough back then to reveal any real details about the internal struture of the pyramid.
The real advance this time is that the detectors in the emulsion plates being used by the Scan Pyramid project are a whole lot more sensitive, which means they can pick up a lot more information from those muons than ever before.
While this technique still requires archaeologists to enter the pyramids to place the emulsion plates, it's really the only way to check the entirety of the structure for hidden passageways without breaking into walls and potentially damaging extremely valuable pieces of history.
Next up for the team is the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, which could have hidden chambers or passageways somewhere inside its sloped walls.
The team, which presented its findings in Cairo, is still working on making their system better and more accurate. There's no word yet on when the findings will be published, though the team is still in the midst of their study.


Keeping Your Employees Happy and Productive: 5 Simple Tips.
One of most valuable skills you can have as a small business manager is the ability to engage and challenge the people you employ. To keep everyone motivated, one of the best things you can do is encourage employees to participate as partners in the business. This does not mean they have joint ownership in the company, but it does mean that everyone who works for you is personally invested in the company's success and growth.
There are a number of options to keep your workforce happy. Here we present you with a few of them.
Let your employees know how you feel about their performance at work. Praise and constructive criticism pushes employees to make improvements in areas that could use a little more attention. Do not wait for an annual review. Praise and criticism should be offered frequently, because they communicate that you care about the business, the assigned tasks, and the employee.
2) Communicate problems and issues affecting the company.
Many times, the best solutions come from the employees, so it is a good idea to keep everyone informed when problems and issues surface. Though you might be tempted to hide your challenges, withholding important information can have a demoralizing effect on staff.
3) Ask for suggestions and solutions.
If you give feedback, you should also be willing to receive it. Let your employees offer their ideas for fixing systems that aren't working and developing new programs that you need as the business takes off. Challenge them to make the small business even better.
4) Whenever possible, let employees define their duties.
Need someone to volunteer for a charity event, design a storefront display or do some painting? Ask for volunteers and then delegate. People will be happier about taking on non-routine assignments when it is something they have an interest in.
5) Don't take advantage of employees.
If your employees are working hard and are not getting any reward or encouragement, they probably will not stick around for long. Using non-monetary incentives like flex-time, employee discounts, and recognition programs (such as employee of the month) are ways you can reward a job well done.
As the boss and owner of your own business, your job is to create an environment that encourages and rewards the hard work and innovation of the people who keep your business functioning from day to day.
Make sure you keep the best people by acknowledging and helping them grow in their own careers. Building up the new generation of leaders is the best strategy a small business owner can have in order to succeed.


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Class action lawsuit links Johnson & Johnson baby powder to ovarian cancer risk
Johnson & Johnson was hit with a class action lawsuit in California federal court over claims that its baby powder products significantly increase the risk of ovarian cancer when used by women for personal hygiene.
Talcum Powder Use Increases Ovarian Cancer Risk By 33%
According to studies, women who used talcum powder in their genital area were at a 33 percent increased risk of developing ovarian cancer compared to women who did not use the products on their genitals.
A jury recently found in favor of a woman who sued Johnson & Johnson, claiming that years of using the company's Shower to Shower powder in her genital area caused her to develop ovarian cancer. A jury found that despite studies that indicated this risk, the consumer health care giant was negligent for not alerting consumers of the cancer risk.
Class action Plaintiff Mona Estrada claims she used Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder regularly since 1950, and assumed it was safe. The only warnings on the product's label were to keep the powder away from the eyes, avoid inhaling it, and to use it only externally.
However, the class action lawsuit states that Johnson & Johnson knew as early as 1982 of the elevated ovarian cancer risk after a study was published and the study's author was contacted by a Johnson & Johnson doctor. Sixteen years later, the American Cancer Society warned that a new study showed that women who used the powder more frequently and over longer periods of time were at greater risk of ovarian cancer.
The lawsuit states:
"Despite the potential catastrophic health consequences, defendants do not tell consumers about the dangers associated with the talc-based Johnson's Baby Powder.
Instead, defendants continue to expressly and impliedly represent that the product is safe and intended for women to use the Baby Powder in the very manner most likely to result in an increased risk of ovarian cancer."
Courthouse News


Two stories this week, however, may challenge endlessly naïve European and American fealty to the Palestinian narrative.
Israel uncovered a huge new tunnel from Gaza into Israel, built with the concrete slabs Israel permitted to be imported for the construction of houses. And the European Union, the largest provider of economic assistance to the Palestinians, discovered in an audit that the PA has stolen, lost or misappropriated $2.7 billion in EU development money.
Israel and Egypt maintain an embargo on a variety of goods entering Gaza as a result of the Hamas rocket war and the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit (since released). The UN Palmer Commission deemed the blockade legal under international law, but Israel has been castigated by "humanitarian" organizations for its embargo on building supplies, which Israel maintains can be diverted for military use. Last month, however, with Gaza feeling the effects of a much more stringent embargo by Egypt and the destruction of perhaps 90% of its smuggling tunnels, Israel permitted cement and other building supplies to enter. It was a humanitarian gesture that resulted in Hamas building a mile-long concrete-lined tunnel 60 feet underground, running about 1,500 feet into Israel. According to the IDF, it had lights and a rail for a small trolley, "probably intended to transfer terrorists or soldiers from side to side rapidly." It was, in short, a tunnel with no economic value, designed to kidnap Israeli soldiers and transport them into Gaza for ransom or mayhem.
No word from the "humanitarians" on the diversion of civilian aid to more nefarious ends.
Palestinian theft of European and American aid money simply is not new (for samples, look here in 2007, here in 2009, here in 2010, here in 2012, and here earlier this year.). Not for nothing do 78% of Palestinians think the PA is corrupt and 64% think Hamas is corrupt. The Palestinians create for themselves a perpetual financial crisis, which they — with help from international institutions — blame on Israel. In its most recent report, the World Bank blamed the Palestinian economic crisis on Israeli checkpoints. That is to say, the Palestinian right to practice terrorism against its neighbor (and most practical trading partner) trumps Israeli security concerns.
But if the findings of the EU audit are not a surprise, European taxpayers might consider taking a hard look at the sheer magnitude of the fraud, both in economic and political terms.
In 2004, the PA was among the first members of the European Neighborhood Policy. Since 1995, it has been a member of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and since 1997 the EU and the PLO have an interim Association Agreement on Trade and Cooperation. The EU participates in the training of the Palestinian security services and provides technical assistance for the establishment of courts that meet international legal standards. These agreements imply responsibility on the part of the Palestinians in international institutions.
And then there is money. In 2013, direct financial support for the PA was scheduled to be $124 million, up from $115 million in 2012, plus another $97 million in additional "projects," and an average of $136.5 million annually for UNRWA. On top of which, there are the "programs." The PA is eligible to receive EU money through the Partnership for Peace — $6.8 million for 2013; the Cross Border Cooperation Program; Investing in People; and the Erasmus Mundus External Co-operation Window; and Tempus (higher education) programs. In 2012, the EU put extra money into UNRWA through its Food Facility, Social Safety Net ($54.3 million), and Instrument for Stability ($10.2 million) programs, sums that are expected to be provided again in 2013. Plus and plus, the total comes to nearly $500 million annually.
On the other side of the equation is Palestinian budget math. The PA in 2013 expects to take in revenues of $2.88 billion and run a deficit of $1.4 billion, which it plans to cover with foreign aid – including some $400 million from the U.S. (not including more than $70 million to the Palestinian security services and $200+ million to UNRWA ). It should be noted that the Hamas budget is separate from that of Fatah on the West Bank, but the math is similar. Hamas's expected revenue in 2013 is $243 million, against planned expenses of $897 million, the deficit of $654 million to be covered by donations (from Iran?). The destruction of smuggling tunnels by the Egyptian army may force a revision of the figures, but by way of comparison, for 2012, Hamas planned on revenues of $60 million and a deficit of $480 million.
The story of Israel's departure from Gaza in 2005 is well known. There was no Gaza embargo, no impediment to independent Palestinian economic activity. In fact, the Palestinian new agency Ma'an was ecstatic about economic opportunities in Gaza, particularly with the acquisition of the greenhouses and agricultural equipment the Israelis were leaving behind in a $14-million deal. It is also well known that Palestinian looters attacked the greenhouses, and by early 2006, they and the $100 million in annual exports to Europe they had produced were destroyed.
What appears less well understood is that Palestinian choices, both in Gaza and in the West Bank, have economic consequences. Violence against Israelis from terrorism and rockets makes it all but certain that Israel will take a "security first," not "economic development first," attitude toward its Palestinian neighbors. The willingness of the EU and other international donors to believe that Israel's security accounts for Palestinian poverty is a manifestation of their attitudes toward Israel — not a result of poverty. Perhaps $2.7 billion in aid money stolen from European taxpayers will get their attention and their ire.
It would be a first step toward a rational view of the violent destructiveness of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas not only toward Israel, but toward their own people as well.


RunUO uses client/server fastwalk system to prevent use of gear, in fact, if a client uses some speedup software to increase its speed, even if the client sees its player run faster than normal, the server put the player at the right position. (more tiles backward).
Last edited by VeNdOr on Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
As optional feature if use too cpu.
The use os softwares that modify speed *MUST* end!!!!
I agree strongly with one thing: That this be optional. Some shards simply have zero trouble with this sort of thing, and it would be nice to leave out what I suspect could be a fairly significant amount of processing.
That said... this is a very interesting issue that I wish I knew more about the specifics of the walk-related packets and client/server communications to play with, as an exercise. I imagine it would ultimately have to come down to being able to keep a running total of incoming walk request packets and being able to determine if they have been coming in at too fast a rate. The trick, I imagine, would be in finding a sweet spot where you catch enough fast walkers, but don't get anyone that simply has a very fast connection... beyond doing it in such a way so as not to slow things down generally.
well I've done this with a packethook with a small bit of lag attached to it. It was enough to generate many complaints about it in legitimate situations and I stopped it. The core could possibly handle this a bit faster to the point where it wont be lagging people behind a little. Marilla its not that much processing at all even in scripts. Clients are sent random 32-bit numbers that the client recieves and automatically sends back with the move request packet (which its doing anyway, just with POL its 00 00 00 00 since POL doesnt send any of these packets). POL just needs to check that its an actual number it sent and that its not 0 and it will be fine. Its still a bit rough to do in a packethook though.
So, how do the client/server deal with the issue of the walk requests being queued up by the client? Does the client just send 00's until it starts getting acks with the next numbers to use, or does the server pre-send something to the client to tell it which numbers to use for it's first couple of walk requests?
Then, beyond that, I'm guessing the client just stores the key values sent in the acks and sends them back out, in order, with the walk requests from there on, and then the server keeps track of the numbers it has sent the client, and validates them on the incoming walk requests to be sure it's sending back the same info it sent out?
Any chance we can see the packet hook you did? That might get some juices flowing.
Basically the client has this all hardcoded. You can use the 0xBF packet to send these 32-bit numbers.
On login, you'd use 0xBF with the first subcommand which initializes the buffer for movement. You can send 6 32-bit numbers to the client. When the client requests to move with packet 0x02, appended onto the end of it is going to be either one of these 32 bit numbers or 0.
Now what I had was an outside script (checking a prop on the character to see if it was going and if not, start_script for each character) that at regular intervals, would send out 0xBF with the second subcommand which sends one more key to the client for every successful move they made. So basically, this makes the client receive keys at a regular interval as its moving so it should never run out of keys unless of course, you're running too fast or you're running beyond the lag buffer (smoothwalk). But the client does help the server a lot in that situation if you decide to use it because if it ever requests a move and its out of keys to send, it just sends 0. I say though that you SHOULD check if any non-zero was actually sent to the client in case someone mods their packets to send anything other than 0 which would break the whole system if the server wasn't checking.
This was the code I used but apparently, it was a bit laggy to use..
Last edited by CWO on Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
I agree with Marilla, it should be an option in serverspecopt. I was personally accused of using FastWalk on a shard. This was back in my early UO days and had no idea what Fast Walk was. In truth I had a Broadband connection and the other user (the plaintif) was on a dial-up. So it appeared to them that I was "fastwalking" when in reality I wasn't.
It appeared to him. But what players see and what the server sees are 2 different things. Theres only one problem so far seen and thats with the 3D client. It really does run slightly faster than the 2D client.
CWO wrote: It appeared to him. But what players see and what the server sees are 2 different things. Theres only one problem so far seen and thats with the 3D client. It really does run slightly faster than the 2D client.
and thats what the scripts I posted above do... it sends the reject packet before saying "Too Fast!" in antispeed.src. Then after that, it blocks the move packet from POL. This is exactly how you force them back to their old spot if they stepped to quickly. But just like we said, it would probably fare better in the core since the scripts tend to generate a bit of lag.
And on my reply, I was saying, if you're on broadband, you would appear to be moving faster to him because hes not only lagging in running but lagging in seeing where you are. So you suddenly jump to him. But the server sees every step you take otherwise you wouldn't be able to take them well in the first place.
If it can be scripted then I don't see why this needs to be a core feature. Good work CWO.
CWO wrote: But just like we said, it would probably fare better in the core since the scripts tend to generate a bit of lag.
Remember this, this script is triggered 10 times/sec on a mount 5 times/sec without a mount when someone moves. This script also runs critical too. 20 people online can trigger this 200 times. On top of that, this can reach 100 or so instructions per invocation easily... multiply it all up and you have around 20000 instructions per second 1.2 million per minute... way overloading for critical.
Yukiko wrote: If it can be scripted then I don't see why this needs to be a core feature. Good work CWO.
because as CWO says, it's too heavy to make it with script.
Then I would like to see it as an option in serverspecopt.
News... as in... you want a status report from the Devs as to whether or not they have hopping straight into line to get on what you want them doing?
I think the lack of any Dev posting in this thread could be indicative of something - though perhaps not of outright rejection of the idea. Perhaps they have long since been considering how to best do such a thing, but because they know how much potential for trouble there could be with this, they are opting to carefully consider it, among all the other requests and plans they have, and so right now, they just aren't able to comment much more on it.
So.... be patient. They know this is something that people want, as are so many other things.
Marilla wrote: So.... be patient. They know this is something that people want, as are so many other things.
Anyway, don't expect something like that till we get the core close to where it really needs to be anyway.
I don't write the long ones for you guys... the long ones are written for Austin's #1's, to keep them busy, and for people asking a question.
For you guys, when I'm trying to make a point, I keep it short and sweet. Like this post.
Sorry for bringing up an old post!
Would it be faster to just hook the walk packet from the client, record the time of each step, compare it against the previous time, if it's too close (too many walk packets from the client) notify a GM and/or disconnect the character or just send a deny packet?
If anyone has some "speed hack" software and a live shard, I could write a packet hook implementing the above suggestion and we could test it out. Or we could all wait until 098.
I already made one and posted it in this thread. The problem is, it adds a very noticeable amount of lag to the shard and it false alarms a lot. Remember this too tek, you cant expect every packet to be evenly spaced, it comes in in bursts legitimately too. My packethook uses a basically foolproof system that makes sure you have an allowance of moves over a period of time. The problem is, the lag it causes builds up and causes it to trigger the alarm.
I saw it but you said it was laggy so I was suggesting a simpler solution. Now that I think about it though, it's going to be laggy no matter what since you're hooking such a common thing. How common is fast walking?


Why is dehydrating the best way to preserve a lemon?
Lemons are magical. Lemons contain high levels of Vitamin C, Vitamin P, B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, and fiber, and have been used for their medicinal purposes throughout history. Lemons have health benefits that include treatment of throat infection, fever, internal bleeding, burns, and high blood pressure. They help strengthen the immune system and are considered one of the best natural blood purifiers… WOW, right?!
Dardimans California Lemon Crisps are RAW! We dehydrate at temperatures that range from 110-113 degrees Fahrenheit over a course of 9 to 12 hours. This ensures that they crisp slowly without burning and retain their nutritional value.
Preserving fruits whilst maintaining their nutritional value is tricky business. Boiling, canning, and freezing destroys most of the vitamins we are trying to benefit from. Naturally dehydrating is the preferred way to keep all the nutritional goodness of a lemon intact. At Dardimans California, we make it a fine act for you to snack on these incredible slices.
Check the Dardimans California Lemon snack packs below. They are excellent to keep at your office, in your car or around the house. With our dehydrated lemon crisps, you can take advantage of the benefits lemons have to offer without compromising their nutritional value. Add them to your water and meals, or simply enjoy them as a grab-and-go snack.


Taken from the viewing platform at Mutitjulu Waterhole Uluru NT as Rainbow Bee-eaters used this perch adjacent to the waterhole prior to hawking for insects. This particular Bee-eater was obviously eyeing a potential target. Mutitjulu Waterhole Uluru NT is major feature of Uluru and is situated at the base of the rock itself your will be able to see this situation at : http://www.upfromaustralia.com/mutwatatul.html.
No wonder this place is sacred to our aboriginal people, when there you get an all pervading mystical feeling about the place and we really only have been here 200+ years !!