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Accidents Involving Trapped Motorists on Plummer Street in Northridge CA
Home » Accidents Involving Trapped Motorists on Plummer Street in Northridge CA
A small error in judgment by one driver can quickly spark a collision that draws in several other vehicles. Victims can suffer impacts from several directions. In some of the worst cases, victims can be left stranded in a crushed vehicle waiting on medical attention until they can be rescued.
These powerful collisions can leave victims with broken bones, internal injuries, and brain trauma. In severe cases, injuries can claim the lives of those hurt in a crash.
Four Hospitalized After Frightening Traffic Accident in Northridge
Two people had to be rescued from a car after a three-vehicle crash in northwest Los Angeles on Wednesday morning. NBC Los Angeles reports the accident occurred in Northridge along West Plummer Street near White Oak Avenue on November 9, 2022.
The accident involved three vehicles. Firefighters say they had to rescue two people from a white car using hydraulic tools to peel back the vehicle's top. In pictures from the scene, the white car is shown with its roof completely removed.
In all, four victims involved were rushed to the hospital. Officials say their injuries ranged from fair to critical. The Los Angeles Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the accident.
Seeking Financial Help for Victims After a Major Northridge Accident
California traffic codes allow the victims of a car accident to ask an at-fault driver's car insurance provider for support for the many hardships they face in recovery. The medical bills built up during a hospital stay should all be covered. The time a patient loses at their office or job site must also be part of the compensation involved. The physical pain and emotional trauma victims are put through should also earn support.
Insurance companies won't just provide this support automatically, unfortunately. Insurance adjusters can spend more time trying to shift blame from their policyholders and downplay the injuries victims receive. It's important for collision victims and their families to discuss their options with a real legal representative so that they aren't talked into forfeiting their rights to benefits.
Contact a Northridge Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one was the victim of a careless driver, don't allow insurance adjusters to determine how much support your family should receive. They work for their insurance company and want to save money for their shareholders. Your family's financial security after a devastating accident is much more important than their profits.
To make sure your family is protected from an insurance company's unfair practices, contact an experienced Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer such as Martin Gasparian for a free case consultation. Mr. Gasparian works closely with victims and families to earn them the compensation they'll need to safeguard themselves as they try to rebuild their lives.


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India's Big Brother: Fingerprint And Eye-Scans Required For Food And Medicine
…and after that comes the RFID microchip!
– India's Big Brother: Fingerprint And Eye-Scans Required For Food And Medicine:
India collects biometric data on 1.3 billion residents for use in a nationwide identity system called Aadhaar.
The New York Times notes Big Brother has Arrived in India.
Seeking to build an identification system of unprecedented scope, India is scanning the fingerprints, eyes and faces of its 1.3 billion residents and connecting the data to everything from welfare benefits to mobile phones.
Civil libertarians are horrified, viewing the program, called Aadhaar, as Orwell's Big Brother brought to life. To the government, it's more like "big brother," a term of endearment used by many Indians to address a stranger when asking for help.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other champions of the program say that Aadhaar is India's ticket to the future, a universal, easy-to-use ID that will reduce this country's endemic corruption and help bring even the most illiterate into the digital age.
The poor must scan their fingerprints at the ration shop to get their government allocations of rice. Retirees must do the same to get their pensions. Middle-school students cannot enter the water department's annual painting contest until they submit their identification.
The Modi government has also ordered Indians to link their IDs to their cellphone and bank accounts.
Although the system's core fingerprint, iris and face database appears to have remained secure, at least 210 government websites have leaked other personal data — such as name, birth date, address, parents' names, bank account number and Aadhaar number — for millions of Indians. Some of that data is still available with a simple Google search.
As Aadhaar has become mandatory for government benefits, parts of rural India have struggled with the internet connections necessary to make Aadhaar work. After a lifetime of manual labor, many Indians also have no readable prints, making authentication difficult. One recent study found that 20 percent of the households in Jharkand state had failed to get their food rations under Aadhaar-based verification — five times the failure rate of ration cards.
Does anyone see this system as a benefit for the people?
As one commenter notes:
Aadhaar, which was envisaged as a tool to ensure welfare reaches the right person (Indian system had immense leakages including corruption and pilferage and thus made sense in some ways) has now been turned into a surveillance tool by the BJP by making it mandatory to link it to bank accounts, mobile phone, driving license, buying property etc. (literally linking it to anything). A few activists have taken it to courts and the verdict is awaited. In a way press is also putting up a fight on this issue. How this will play out remains to be soon.
How things will pan out depends on the results of the general elections. IMO, BJP is still the strongest party and their twin heads – Modi, a great orator (probably better than Obama – like the US citizens in 2008 got fooled by the change we can believe in, Indians also get fooled) and Amit Shah, a great organiser – have the ability to pull it off. Hopefully it will not come to pass as without proper checks and balance in a porous democracy like India democracy can be easily transformed into a tyranny. Even now in many ways it is the Tyranny of the majority.
As The New York Times notes, opponents have filed at least 30 cases against the program in India's Supreme Court. They argue that Aadhaar violates India's Constitution – and, in particular, a unanimous court decision last year that declared for the first time that Indians had a fundamental right to privacy.
Rahul Narayan, one of the lawyers challenging the system, said the government was essentially building one giant database on its citizens. "There has been a sort of mission creep to it all along," he said.
Categories Global News, Politics, Society Tags 1984, Big Brother, Biometrics, Fingerprints, George Orwell, Global News, Government, India, New World Order, Politics, Society Post navigation
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


German car-makers BMW has time and again left its fans and critics spellbound, BMW M9 concept is definitely going to be the latest to cast a spell. It has to be the finest and most magnificently designed car ever. It is because the makers were specific about designing a coupe that is out BMW's league of styling. Some elements though bear a strong resemblance with BMW M1. As a concept car still under the wraps, very little can be talked about BMW M9. One thing is for sure it will surely revive BMW's super car market.
Not too long ago BMW planned to annex super car territory with BMW M1. Launched amidst much fanfare, the M1 story came to a disappointing end much earlier than one would have thought.
There is a bit of mixed opinion as to what BMW M9 will carry under the hood. Much of the information available is rather speculation. Latest report and few car experts have given an input or two that seems pretty plausible.
So right now there is a fair chance that M9 will not have any engine spec that is similar to i8, something different, powerful is in fact anticipated. Experts claim that it can become the first car in thirty years that will get a longitudinally mid-mounted inline 6-engine that will be mated with a pair of electric motors.
This 3 liter twin-turbocharged inline 6 will transmit power to rear wheels whereas electric motor wheels will independently power front wheels.Power output for this car may stand between 600 and 650 hp along with 750 lb/ft of torque.
Another group of experts is of the opinion that M9 will have either V8 or V12 engine under its skin. To achieve projected speed of 320 kph, weight of the car will also be reduced. Its precursor has 4395 cc engine, BMW M9 ( as its successor will surely have better to offer.
Concept model of BMW M9 has style and finesse to die for, so it is no wonder car lovers would like to know about its contributors. This sports car has been designed by independent design studio Radion. The Radion have equipped this car with every latest in design to make its exteriors impressive with their cutting edge technology use.
It also appears that the suspension degrees have been carried forward from its progenitors.
Though a very stylish two seat super coupe, M9 will not flash anything overtly loud for the interiors. In fact interiors seem to be very similar to i8. There is Alcantara leather upholstery and carbon fiber inserts that are to be found even in base models. A new updated deck along with battery charging port and music system too is available.
It has won the 2012 North American Concept Vehicle of the year award.
Green Car Journal awarded i8 as 2015 Luxury Green Car of the year.
BMW i8 Spyder has 2013 Best Production Preview vehicle award to its credit.
A series of carbon black luggage was designed by Louis Viton for BMW i8.
It has "butterfly doors" and head up display.
First production car to have laser headlights.
As of now it has cumulative sales number of 2164 units.
Major market other than the US includes China, India, Europe, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom and Switzerland. I8 was a sold out in the UK and there was a ten month-long waiting list.
BMW has plans to tackle all possible challenges in price from Audi R8 which is already available in the market. No price tag has been confirmed yet but it will be safe to assume that BMW M9 will cost at most $300,000 to 500,000. 2017 could be the year for concept model's release. Production will roll out right after.


When you want to make an appealing transformation indoors with simple and affordable accouterments, you should look no further than decorative planters. Indoor decorative planters go way beyond metallic plant stands and simple terracotta tones to include everything from antique nostalgia to contemporary takes on classic design. So if you're looking for something different in decorating and like the idea of bringing plants indoors, consider a few decorative planters you need to transform your tired interior.
Glass planters are the perfect marriage of sophistication and utility, giving you a way to display plants instead of simply bringing them inside. Glass planters are popular for decorating tabletops with a terrarium, which can either be open or closed to allow air inside. Terrariums are both fun and beautiful to look at, giving you the perfect ornamental addition for a room that needs a view. If you'd rather hang your indoor plants, glass planters can also be found in hanging versions that provide a light, elegant look that's space-saving and cool.
With easy maintenance and unconventional design, sky planters are an upside down take on the usual. Sky planters give you an unusual chance to hang flowers, herbs, and even edibles, like tomatoes, into an arrangement above your kitchen, patio, or any place you'd like to bring new energy. Sky planters hang the plant upside down through a specially-contained pot that does not leak water, soil, or nutrients onto your floor, so you can enjoy the arrangement and design an interesting display without cleaning up the mess.
Like sky planters, hanging boxes and vertical gardens offer you a way to decorate your indoors in a novel way while still saving space. If you're addicted to unconventional ideas, hanging boxes can be the answer to your design blues.
Hanging boxes can either be made with basic framing materials you'd find at a hardware store, or they can be purchased complete. And whether you choose smaller hanging boxes or wall-sized vertical gardens, you'll have a self-contained, easy-to-maintain alternative for indoor planting. They can also be changed with different plants throughout seasons or after blooms, so you max out the color and textural presentation on any whim.
Though large-scale vertical gardens that are wall-sized may make unrealistic lighting and maintenance demands on a small interior, smaller hanging boxes can be placed in a space as small as a picture frame. And small hanging boxes can be filled with anything from flower arrangements for eye-catching color to herb and succulent gardens that are low-maintenance and unique.


Hello Bali Lover, welcome to our update news all about Bali. On this post we love to share about one of the popular place to visit in South Bali, Uluwatu Temple. Staying in the South Bali like Nusa Dua, Kuta, Jimbaran or Pecatu its a must to visit Uluwatu Temple. This site is not only about the temple self but also about the other thing around the temple. The panoramic of the cliff and the blue Indian Ocean is always amazing. Alas kekeran with trees and Monkeys, the statue of Kumbakarna, Amazing Sunset Spot and unforgettable Kecak dance performance.
Uluwatu temple is believed was build by Empu Kuturan in the Dinasty of King Sri Haji Marakata. He ruled from the year of 944 Caka ( Balinese Year) / 1036 A.D. Mpu Kuturan is th King's spiritual master and as the priest of Dalem Waturenggong as well. He also participated in establishing several other important temples in Bali such as Pura Sakenan in Denpasar, about 1,000 years ago.
A holy priest from eastern Java, Dhang Hyang Dwijendra, then chose Uluwatu Temple to be his spiritual journey's final worshiping place. Balinese Hindu devotees believe that he reached the highest spiritual point of oneness with deities by a strike of lightning and completely disappeared.
Location: Pura Uluwatu is located in Pecatu Village, Kuta sub-district, Badung regency. About 25km south of Kuta and it usually takes around one hour to get to and from there.
How to get there: Take the bypass main road to Jimbaran and then follow the ascending road up to Uluwatu.
What to wear : Visitors must wear a sarong and a sash, as well as appropriate clothes common for temple visits. But you don't have to worry if you don't have any sarong to use, there is available sarong to use which is part of the ticket entrance.
Best Time to Come : The best time to visit is just before sunset. A Kecak dance is performed everyday at the adjacent cliff-top stage at 18:00 to 19:00. Visitors are charged a nominal fee. What makes it the most favorite venue to watch a Kecak dance is the sunset background of the performance.
Pay attention to your belonging: Precautionary signs warn visitors of the monkeys grabbing attractive items such as sunglasses and cameras. However, they can be calmer when approached with peanuts or bananas, lending an opportunity to retake stolen possessions.
Ceremony: Every six months according to the Balinese 210-day Pawukon cycle (Anggarkasih, Wuku Dungulan). Big temple anniversary celebrations are held at the temple. The temple's keeper, the royal family of Jro Kuta from Denpasar, are patrons for the event.
Transportation : There's no public transportation to get here and going back in to town will be difficult without any prearranged ride. Book a Car with English speaking driver to get there,The service offered from Suma Bali Tour is hassle-free at very minimum prices. A guide is not necessary, though helpful, our experience driver will assist you as your guide as well.
Uluwatu Half day Tour Padang Padang Surfing Beach – Uluwatu Temple, Temple on the cliff with Indian Ocean view perfectly for the sunset – Kecak and Fire Dance show – Jimbaran beach side Seafood cafe.


Brock Sampson, owner of Sampson Coaching & Advisory, has moved to the Netherlands with a mission: to help people achieve their personal goals and advise companies to do the same. The name of his company says it all: he is both a coach and a consultant. He does the coaching through rowing training, which he made a start with in America a few years ago. He also wants – among other things with his project Rowing Without Limits – to make society more aware of the fact that disabled people should be given more opportunities to participate in physical activities in order to push their limits.
In addition to coaching, he advises companies on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). He does this by implementing sustainable ICT solutions in the supply chain of companies, so that they can achieve their CSR objectives. Brock also wants to ensure that companies encourage their employees to do something for society more often and that employees are given the opportunity to further develop themselves.
Since his arrival from America, Brock has started working immediately, but has also remained socially active. For example, he ran the Nijmegen Four Days Marches and also raised money for War Child. Brock likes to challenge himself in different ways to push his own boundaries. By joining as an entrepreneur at StartUp Nijmegen, he has found an environment where he is challenged to get the best out of himself and his company. By participating in a community with various entrepreneurs, he always gets different perspectives to achieve a certain goal.


I love the progression of Spring colors. This week the predominant colors are lime green and purple. Around town, people are mowing their grass for the first time this year and there is a wonderful spirit and attitude.
I have a printable in lime green and purple for you all this week. I love the verses in Deuteronomy 6 where it encourages us to remember who God is and how we should follow His commands. We cannot be wholehearted followers of Christ if we don't bind His word on our hearts.
In our home, we have surrounded ourselves with Scripture. Every picture, wall hanging, magnet, and decoration includes Scripture in some way. I want to make sure that everywhere we look in our home we are reminded of God's Word.
But, I have found that we can surround ourselves with Scripture and still forget about God throughout the day. This verse is a great reminder to us that we need to be not only looking at Scripture, but talking about Scripture, not just a little but a lot. This isn't something that just happens accidentally.
I am reminded that if our heart is full of self, family, hobbies, work, pleasure, entertainment, fill in the blank...there is no room for a wholehearted love for God. Sometimes we have it backward. Our heart should be completely full of God and then He will help guide every other area of life. When this happens our conversation will now flow from a heart full of God instead of a heart full of everything else.
The printable above is 8.5x11. Two verses will print measuring 5.5x8.5. These are a little blurry on the computer due to a smaller pixel, but when you print them they will print on a higher pixel making them clear.
The printable above is a full page printable. It will print 8.5x11. I hope you enjoy these. Bind them on your heart. Print them and hang them on your walls! Feel free to share and pin these for others to enjoy as well.


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Dallas: Season Two Ratings
The second season of the new Dallas marks the final performances of Larry Hagman as JR Ewing. Will the episodes draw big ratings or could the show end up being cancelled instead? We shall have to wait and see.
The rest of the cast includes Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, Brenda Strong, Josh Henderson, Jesse Metcalfe, Jordana Brewster, Julie Gonzalo, Emma Bell, and Mitch Pileggi.
Below are the most recent ratings for the Dallas TV series on TNT. The show's ratings are the best way to tell if it will be cancelled or renewed for a third season. The second season of Dallas airs on Monday nights and there are 15 episodes.
These figures will be updated as the weeks progress so be sure to bookmark and return to this page:
UPDATE: Dallas has been renewed for a third season.
Final season averages: 0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 2.67 million total viewers.
Episode 02-15: Monday, 04/15/13
0.9 demo rating (+13% change) with 2.99 million (+6% change).
Season averages: 0.76 in the demo with 2.67 million.
0.8 demo rating (0% change) with 2.82 million (+16% change).
0.8 demo rating (+33% change) with 2.44 million (+26% change).
0.6 demo rating (-25% change) with 1.94 million (-25% change).
0.8 demo rating (+14% change) with 2.60 million (0% change).
0.7 demo rating (-13% change) with 2.61 million (-2% change).
0.7 demo rating (0% change) with 2.79 million (+9% change).
0.7 demo rating (-13% change) with 2.51 million (+4% change).
Episodes 02-01 and 02-02: Monday, 01/28/13
0.8 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 2.98 million total viewers.
Season average: 0.80 in the demo with 2.98 million.
It was a disappointing return for the folks at Southfork. The season premiere marked a series low in viewership and nearly matched a low in the demo.
Reference point: The first season of the new Dallas averaged a 1.1 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 4.42 million total viewers.
Cable ratings are typically released within a day or so of the show's airing, except for in the case of weekends and holidays. They are sometimes harder to come by so there may be occasional delays or gaps.
What do you think? Do you still like the new Dallas TV series? Are you hoping that it's renewed for a third season?
More about: Dallas (2012), Dallas (2012): canceled or renewed?, Dallas (2012): ratings
Dallas: TNT Show Staying Cancelled
Dallas: TNT TV Show Cancelled, No Season Four
Dallas: Season Three Ratings
Dallas: Cancel or Renew for Season Four?
Dallas: Season Three Starts February 24th on TNT
Dallas: Season Three Renewal for TNT Series
Dallas: Should the TNT Series Be Renewed for Season Three?
Dallas: Larry Hagman Still on the Show's Call Sheet
Dallas: Season Two Production Begins
Dallas: Season One Ratings
Dallas: Second Season for New TNT Series
Dallas: TNT Series Premiere Sets Ratings Record
Dallas: TNT Releases New Promo Trailer
Dallas: Ken Kercheval Booked for New TNT Series
Dallas: Behind the Scenes of the New TNT Series
Dallas: First Look at the New and Classic Cast
We watch it as a family and hope it continues. We love it!
Morris J
I absolutely love the new Dallas! The show is very well written and is the best show on tv right now. I will miss JR, but I think the show will do well without him. JR wouldn't want the show to end. Besides, there isn't much on television anymore for mature audiences. Memo to the networks…"We hate reality tv shows!"
Kuffs
It's GREAT! I think the new actors are excellent! TNT and the writers keep it coming. Season 3, 4, 5,……keep it going!
sharon butrum
Love this show please keep it on
Love Dallas and so does my Dad!
Please keep it on for season 3 . We still watch reruns of the original Dallas but love the new one!
We love this show. Every week gets there is more suspense and mystery. Love the story line and seeing the older actors weaved into the new generation. The younger cast is excellent also. Please keep this show going on!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We watch every episode and I think Season 2 is even better than Season 1.
This is a great great show. It's the fault of the network moving it to winter schedule from the summer. Please renew for a 3rd season its a great show
Kenn
I think that Dallas is picking up momentum. Year one was a good start but a little awkward. Year two continues to build. Bringing in the old cast periodically helps – Dallas has a rich history which they should mine a bit more but all told, I think it's addictive. Ratings are a rough tool to use to determine interest – I have three things I like to watch on Monday – all at the same time – I definitely watch Dallas as a first priority or the next day with On Demand. I think it's going to take the… Read more »
Reply to Kenn
Oh and yeah – is it just me or does Sue Ellen/Linda Gray look amazing – WOW! And Afton was no slouch on Monday!
Love this show. I'm going to cry if Dallas is cnceled :(.
Awesome bring bak Jenna wade
Reply to Just
Also her daughter Charlie add another twist for Bobby
Awesome show
Fred Mounez
AWESOME SHOW!!!!!! PLEASE RENEW FOR A THIRD SEASON AND MORE!!!!!!!!
77dallasfan
This show has great story writing, and actors just as the orignal. It just needs to build a larger audience, which could be done with maybe a new timeslot. Season 3 is a must.
Maya Patel
This show is amazing! please keep it on!
Keep Dallas on, but move it to a better time slot. There are some good actors on the show that have the ability to carry it forward – they just need to be given a fair change to play ball!


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DINA DONG/THE VARSITY
The faces of Ford's OSAP cuts
Three members of the U of T community share their stories
By Mélina Lévesque — Published September 29, 2019
Back in January, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced large-scale changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Notably, there were significant changes to grant-to-loan ratios, the defining guidelines of independent students, and the scrapping of the free tuition program for low-income students. The Varsity spoke to three members of the U of T community about the personal implication of these changes.
"Education is about liberation."
Yasmin Owis, a first-year PhD student and research assistant at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at U of T, was confirmed to receive thousands of dollars worth of funding through OSAP in June. Two months later, her funding was recalculated to zero.
Thinking back on the completion of her first two degrees, Owis wrote that she had relied completely on OSAP to be able to afford her education. Without it, she wouldn't have been able to get this far.
Although as a full-time PhD student she receives a funding package from the university that covers tuition, the amount she receives doesn't account for all the soaring costs of housing, food, and transportation that come with living in Toronto.
"I'm taking on extra work in an already stressful first year of doctoral studies to cover the funding I lost from OSAP and applying to as many scholarships, grants, and bursaries as I can," Owis wrote in an email to The Varsity.
Among students and families impacted by the Ford adminstration's drastic slash of OSAP funding, Owis' story stands as one of thousands.
For many postsecondary students across Ontario entering the new school year, the prospect of funding their education has become an anxiety-driven scramble for financial security before their fees are due.
This anxiety began metastasizing in January, alongside Ford's announcement. The previous Liberal government had implemented a program that offered affordable tuition to students whose families earn less than $50,000 a year. Coming into power early last year, Ford's administration disagreed with the sustainability of such a program.
Their response was cutting postsecondary tuition by 10 per cent, reducing the qualifying threshold for funding from $175,000 to $140,000, and requiring students under the $50,000 threshold to take on loans in addition to grants.
"It pulls focus away from academics and completing your degree to the best of your ability," Owis wrote.
Compared to others, Owis believes that she is one of the lucky ones. Many of her friends that are without funding packages are taking out lines of credit, moving back in with their parents, and balancing three jobs with their course load.
The mental costs of such a workload can be stark.
"If you're someone like me, who has both mental and physical health barriers, OSAP cuts [mean] that I have less funds for medication and mental health services that [are] not covered by my health insurance," wrote Owis. "Those who already face challenges [with] affording education are not spared."
"Despite having worked two jobs — both full time — this summer, the money I saved won't even help."
Morgan Murray, a third-year student double majoring in English and Cinema Studies, with a minor in Creative Expression and Society at U of T, has been commuting from Cobourg to the downtown campus for the entirety of her undergraduate studies. She wrote to The Varsity that she and her parents agreed on the commute to cut down on costs, but now, even that won't be enough.
"A major part of that decision was because I wanted to put all my energy into my studies and extracurriculars, rather than working [a job] after class or on weekends," wrote Murray.
As she now faces losing thousands of dollars in OSAP funding, the mounting costs that she didn't anticipate are another pile of responsibilities slammed on top of her textbooks. Her summer funds will be funnelled to her basic amenities, like transportation, food, and textbooks. Any potential for a layer of comfortable cushioning in her financial situation has all but dissipated.
"As I've become more educated from university, whether it's from my classes or the life lessons learned in between, it is very apparent that many people in government are not concerned about their citizens being educated," wrote Murray. "If they did, they would find ways to benefit the lives of students and help make an accessible way for all to attend, regardless of their background or family income."
As a result of the OSAP changes, many postsecondary students find themselves in a 'catch-22' situation. With less support from the government, students need to compensate by dedicating more time to pursue scholarships or potential jobs.
However, the more time spent on these activities, the less time students have to focus on their courses, which detracts from their ability to achieve a higher GPA. This then lowers their chances to receive merit-based assistance like scholarships that would alleviate their need to work a job, which swallows up time and perpetuates the cycle.
"It seems the only thing you can do is work harder than before," Murray wrote. "It's going to be difficult to not constantly worry about finances, but just taking it one day at a time is the best way to get through this."
"The next step is to definitely fight back."
"My heart sank when Ford [made the] cuts."
Ananya Banerjee, Assistant Professor and Interim Program Director at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, has seen firsthand how the drop in OSAP funding has impacted many of her students.
"I had a number of our top applicants email me when they received an offer and saw the tuition cost of our program. Many simply said they couldn't afford to enter our program as they didn't get the OSAP amount [that] they needed," Banerjee wrote to The Varsity.
Some applicants asked to be switched to part-time students so they could work on the side. "I noticed a high proportion of these top applicants were racialized and from low-income families," wrote Banerjee. "Fewer individuals from marginalized communities will be entering our post-secondary education system, and those that do will spiral into severe debt in order to afford it, leading to a rise in mental health issues."
Worries over losing a grip on postsecondary opportunities is shared amongst many. While the Ford government's OSAP cuts impact different students in very different ways, one sentiment remains the same across each and every subject: a growing fear of the unknown.
"We have to commit as an academic institution to build a barrier-free and accessible education system until we have a change in government," wrote Banerjee. "If we don't, we are going to lose the brightest students who rightfully deserve to [be] part of the University of Toronto."
"Our education is now a privilege."
Tags: Doug Ford, education, funding cut, OSAP, SCI, Student Choice Initiative
Students show lack of interest in UTMSU fall by-elections
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Sunday School, also know as Christian Discipleship, is offered for children in Kindergarten through 8th grade on Sunday's in classrooms off the main floor of the Parish Hall. Classes are from 9:30AM to 10:00am. At the conclusion of the class, the children join their family, friends and congregation in church for the remainder of the 10:00am service.
The Sunday School curriculum is the Essential 100 Challenge or E100. This is an effective Bible reading program built around 100 carefully selected short Bible passages — 50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament. The stories and guides are age specific and provide the children with the big picture of God's Word and in the process develop a daily Bible reading habit.
Adrienne Hahn is Calvary's Director of Christian Formation and Fred Galano is Calvary's Sunday School consultant and contributor. To speak with Adrienne or Fred about Calvary's Sunday School program, you can reach them by email at awhahn@yahoo.com and fgalano@yahoo.com.


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NFL WILD CARD PREDICTIONS
2021 NFL WILD CARD ROUND PREDICTIONS
NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Saturday, Jan. 9th
Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills
BetOnline odds: Bills -6.5 and O/U 51.5
The Bills haven't lost since a Hail Mary on the game's final play allowed Arizona to pull a 32-30 upset over Buffalo. That was November 15. Buffalo has won six straight since and really hasn't been tested. The Colts won four of their last five games finding a fairly explosive offense behind rookie RB Jonathan Taylor who finished the regular season with 1,169 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Buffalo is a 6.5-point home favorite, which isn't surprising. The Bills defense did improve over the second half of the season. They will need to be up to the task of stopping Taylor. Colts QB Philip Rivers has had his share of ups and downs. Indy's biggest weakness might be that they are simply good at everything and great at nothing.
That said, Buffalo has the better roster. WR Stefon Diggs led the NFL in receptions and QB Josh Allen was an early season MVP candidate and played himself back into consideration over the last few weeks of the season. At home, the Bills win… BUFFALO 38, INDIANAPOLIS 30
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
BetOnline odds: Seahawks -3.5 and O/U 42.5
The Rams and Seahawks will meet for the third time season in the Wild Card round. The teams split the season series with each team winning at home. If there is one certainty in Saturday's game, it will be defense. The Rams won 23-16 at home and Seattle returned the favor in Week 16 with a 20-9 win at CenturyLink Field.
The big question of course is whether Rams QB Jared Goff will be ready to play. If not, it will be John Wolford who scrambled his way to a win last week over Arizona to clinch a playoff berth. Without Goff, the Rams might not be able to attack what is one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL.
It's also worth noting the Seahawks are 53-35 against the spread when playing as a home favorite. The Seahawks are a 3.5-point favorite and backing Seattle QB Russell Wilson is usually a good thing for bettors. At home, the Seattle went 7-1 this season… SEATTLE 23, L.A. RAMS 16
Tampa Bay Bucaneers @ Washington Football Team
BetOnline odds: Bucs -8 and O/U 44.5
The Football Team is a 7.5-point home underdog thanks to backing into the playoffs with a 7-9 record. Only one team (2010 Seattle) has ever won a playoff game after a sub-.500 regular season. Don't expect Washington to do the same that is unless their defense can rattle a Tom Brady-led Bucs offense.
The bottom line is that betting against Brady just doesn't pan out that often. Brady is 258-82 straight up as a starter in his NFL career. In the postseason, he's 28-10. At 43 years of age, Brady threw for 40 touchdowns this season. Wide receiver Mike Evans, the recipient of 13 of those scoring tosses, should be okay after hurting a knee last week.
Washington's best win was over a Pittsburgh team caught in a late-season funk. The Football Team is just good enough to beat bad football teams. Tampa Bay is not a bad football team… TAMPA BAY 33, WASHINGTON 23
NFC Wild Card Playoffs - Sunday, Jan. 10th
Baltimore Ravens @ Tennessee Titans
BetOnline odds: Ravens -3.5 and O/U 55
The one team that should give Kansas City a run for its money in the AFC is Baltimore. After a midseason slump, the Ravens cranked it up and went 5-1 down the stretch. They own the league's best rushing offense averaging over 177 yards a game. Baltimore gashed Cincinnati for 404 yards on the ground in the season finale.
The Titans know a thing or two about running the ball. RB Derrick Henry led the NFL in rushing for the second consecutive season and became just the eighth player in league history to top 2,000 yards in a season.
Along with QB Ryan Tannehill, the Titans may have the more explosive offense but Tennessee's defense is suspect. They have recorded just 14 sacks the entire season. Baltimore has a superior defense, better special teams, and the NFL's best kicker in Justin Tucker… BALTIMORE 28, TENNESSEE 27
Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints
BetOnline odds: Saints -9.5 and O/U 47.5
Don't let the Chicago Bears fool you. There is a reason why the Saints are an 8-point favorite in this wild card matchup. Chicago started the season 5-1 but suffered through a six-game losing streak at midseason. The Bears even lost in Week 17 badly to Green Bay yet backed into the playoffs.
New Orleans has had its own share of difficulties but navigated them with a powerful defense and the next man up. RB Alvin Kamara missed Week 17 after testing positive for the coronavirus. WR Michael Thomas didn't play either because of an ankle injury. Both could return which would be a boost to the Saints.
The Saints beat Chicago 26-23 in overtime in Week 8 of the regular season. They did it without Thomas. New Orleans can't let the Bears hang around as the Saints have a history of losing home playoff games. Not this one though… NEW ORLEANS 27, CHICAGO 20
Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers
BetOnline odds: Steelers -6 and O/U 47
The Browns made the playoffs for the first time since 2002. They did so by beating Pittsburgh 24-22 in Week 17. Now, Cleveland gets the opportunity to play the Steelers again in the wild card round. This time, however, the Steelers will play with Ben Roethlisberger at quarterback.
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin decided to rest Roethlisberger in Week 17 and give backup Mason Rudolph the start. Rudolph almost pulled off the win, but Pittsburgh fell a two-point conversion short of tying the game late in the fourth quarter.
The Pittsburgh defense is the best in the NFL. The last time Cleveland won a game in Pittsburgh was 2003. In fact, since then the Browns have only five wins against Pittsburgh. Two of those victories have come in the past two seasons.
The Browns will rely on the ground attack of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Chubb had 108 yards and a touchdown in the Week 17 win. Pittsburgh rattled Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield sacking him four times and holding him under 200 yards passing (196). Cleveland may have earned a playoff berth, but they are going home early… PITTSBURGH 28, CLEVELAND 24
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2019 NFL Wild Card Predictions:
One of the NFL's best defenses will square off with one of the league's better quarterbacks when Buffalo travels to Houston in one of the AFC's two wild card games. The Bills finished third in total defense and second in scoring defense allowing just 16.2 points per game.
Buffalo almost knocked New England from its perch atop the AFC East finishing the regular season 10-6. QB Josh Allen came into his own in his second year throwing for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns. The Bills do not score a lot, but they usually don't need to because of their suffocating defense.
The defense is led by third year cornerback Tre'Davious White, the Bills' only Pro Bowl pick. White led the team with six interceptions. He will go up against Houston's Deshaun Watson who threw for 3,852 yards and 26 touchdowns. Watson got Week 17 off and will be looking to light up the Bills and advance Houston past the wild card round. Houston lost in last year's wild card round.
Both teams will look to run the football. The Bills are eighth (128.4 ypg) and the Texans ninth (125.4 ypg) in the league in rushing. While Houston has a 1,000-yard rusher in Carlos Hyde (1,070), the Bills had three players – Devin Singletary (775), Frank Gore (599), Allen (510) – who rushed for at least 500 yards.
Ball control and fewer mistakes, i.e. turnovers, will be the difference in this game. Give the advantage to the more playoff-experienced team…
HOUSTON 20, BUFFALO 17
The Patriots (12-4) blew a shot at a first-round bye when they lost to the Dolphins at home on Sunday. Now, New England is forced to have to win three games just to get back and defend their Super Bowl title of a year ago.
First up is the one matchup the Patriots most likely did not want. Tennessee (9-7) squeaked into the playoffs with a Week 17 win over Houston. The Titans are basically New England Lite, starting with general manager Jon Robinson, who learned everything he knows from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel played in 17 playoff games for Belichick and that includes three Super Bowl rings.
Former Patriot RB Dion Lewis is on the active roster and defensive coordinator Dean Pees is another former New England coach. There is a ton of knowledge about what the Patriots do in preparing for playoff games on the Titans sidelines. That could be an advantage for Tennessee.
The Titans will certainly need all the help they can get as the Patriots have been to the last eight AFC championship games and have won the last three. For Tennessee, it starts with NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry and continues through QB Ryan Tannehill, who took over the starting job from Marcus Mariota around midseason.
New England's strength though is its defense. The Patriots led the NFL in total defense allowing just 275.9 yards per game and scoring defense (14.1 ppg). New England had five players with at least five sacks on the season, led by LB Jamie Collins Sr. with 7.0. The Patriots will have to slow down Henry and pressure Tannehill to advance. The last time New England lost a home playoff game was in the 2012 season's AFC title game. The Patriots lost 28-13 to Baltimore. Tennessee isn't Baltimore… NEW ENGLAND 24, TENNESSEE 20
The 2017 version of this game gave us the "Minneapolis Miracle," that long Case Keenum pass to Stefon Diggs that turned into a touchdown on the final snap of the Vikings-Saints divisional round playoff game that year. Minnesota won that day when no one thought they would. Ironically, or not ironically, the same situation applies in 2019. No one expects the Vikings to win, especially in New Orleans.
The Vikings will get RB Dalvin Cook back, which is good since the Minnesota offense runs through him. As good as QB Kirk Cousins has been, Cook is the key. Cousins had nine games with a passer rating of 111 or higher. He ended the regular season with 3,603 passing yards and 26 touchdowns.
The problem was that in some games Cousins – Green Bay in particular – Cousins was awful. His lowest-production outings coincided with Vikings losses. If Cousins doesn't play well, Minnesota is going home.
The Saints, on the other hand, have one of the all-time greats at quarterback. Drew Brees returned after an early season injury and was simply magnificent. He threw for 2.979 yards and 27 touchdowns in 11 games. His wide receiver Michael Thomas set a new NFL record with 149 receptions.
Minnesota plays solid defense, but the Saints defense is underrated. New Orleans finished fourth in the NFL in rush defense holding opponents to 91.3 yards per game. If the Vikings can't run, they can't win… NEW ORLEANS 33, MINNESOTA 23
In the final game on the final day of the 2019 season, Seattle came about an inch or two short of defeating NFC West champion San Francisco. As a result of the loss, the Seahawks must travel to Philadelphia instead of having a first-round bye and home-field advantage during the playoffs.
That's okay, because the Seahawks have a strong history of success against the Eagles. The two teams played on Nov. 24 in Philadelphia and Seattle defeated the Eagles 17-9. Running back Rashaad Penny ran for a career-high 129 yards and one touchdown and the Seahawks defense forced five Eagles turnovers.
The last five times the Seahawks and Eagles have met, Seattle has been victorious in all five. The problem this time around is that Seattle does not have Penny. Head coach Pete Carroll doesn't have starter Chris Carson either. In fact, the Seahawks had to sign previously retired Marshawn Lynch to the roster to help out. Rookie Travis Homer ran 10 times for 62 yards against the 49ers. That should be enough to help Seattle get by Philadelphia, or will it?
Remember, the Eagles finished the regular season third in the NFL in run defense. Philadelphia allowed opponents just 90.1 yards a game on the ground. For both teams, it will come down to which quarterback plays better. Philadelphia's Carson Wentz threw for 4,039 yards and 27 touchdowns. Seattle's Russell Wilson ended the season with 4,110 yards and 31 touchdowns. Give the advantage to experience… SEATTLE 22, PHILADELPHIA 19
2018 NFL Wild Card Predictions
Indianapolis @ Houston
Betting odds: Colts -1.5 and O/U 48.5
It's Colt-Texans Round 3 on Saturday when Indianapolis heads to Houston to face their AFC South Division rival for the third time this season. The home team did not win either game this season. The Colts won on Dec. 9 at NRG Stadium, 24-21, as they rolled up 436 yards against the Texans defense. Houston won in Indianapolis earlier in the season. That game was also decided by three points.
Historically, the Colts have owned the Texans, but Houston is 5-2 at home this season. Indianapolis is 9-1 since starting the 2018 season 1-5. They are just the third team in the history of the NFL to start 1-5 and make the postseason. Both teams are playing solid defense. The return of a healthy Lamar Miller (973 yards rushing) will give Houston a boost. In a toss-up, take the home team in a close one… Houston 24, Indianapolis 23.
Seattle @ Dallas
Betting odds: Cowboys -1.5 and O/U 43
On Saturday night Dallas will host Seattle in a game of two teams that couldn't be more alike. Both went 4-1 down the stretch to earn a playoff berth after sitting out the postseason in 2017. Both teams had to go to the wire to win in Week 17 and both team's revival was due to solid defense and a recommitment to running the football.
Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott (1,434 yards) led the NFL in rushing and Seattle RB Chris Carson (1,151) was fifth. The Seahawks lead the league in rushing averaging 160 yards per game on the ground. The Cowboys will need WR Amari Cooper (53 receptions, 725 yards, 6 TDs) to come up with some big plays. He has been pretty quiet since his 10-reception, 217-yard, 3-touchdown performance against Philadelphia in early December.
Seattle has won the last three against the Cowboys, including two games in Dallas. The two teams have played in one playoff game – the 2007 NFC Wild Card game. Seattle won 21-20 at home. Call it an upset… Seattle 21, Dallas 20.
LA Chargers @ Baltimore
Betting odds: Ravens - 3.5 and O/U 41.5
Just two weeks ago, the Ravens went to Los Angeles and destroyed the Chargers holding a very good offense to just 198 yards and 10 points. Can they do it again? Yes. Baltimore went 6-1 over its last seven games and has one of the NFL's best defenses. The Ravens are first in total defense and second in scoring defense (17.2 points per game).
Baltimore has also been rejuvenated on offense by rookie QB Lamar Jackson, who has 695 yards rushing (2nd on the team). The Ravens are second in the NFL in rushing averaging over 152 yards per game. The combination of defense and running game is a good recipe for playoff success.
The Chargers (12-4) present a problem though. L.A. lost games to Denver and AFC West Division champ Kansas City earlier in the season. They avenged them both later in the year. That is why the Chargers will pull a huge upset in Baltimore on Sunday… LA Chargers 26, Baltimore 23.
Philadelphia @ Chicago
Betting odds: Bears - 6 and O/U 41
It was fate. The Philadelphia Eagles were supposed to have a chance to defend their Super Bowl title. Philly beat Washington in Week 17 and then watched Chicago beat Minnesota to guarantee their trip to the postseason. Now, the Eagles will face those same Bears on Sunday.
The Bears have likely the best defense in the NFL. They rank in the top-5 in most defensive statistical categories. Defensive end Khalil Mack is a game-changer. Chicago will face an Eagles offense that is one-dimensional, for the most part.
Nick Foles, last year's Super Bowl MVP, took over for Carson Wentz again and led the Eagles to huge wins over the Rams and Houston, both division champions, in order to secure a playoff berth. Philadelphia's defense is not what it was a year ago and the running game is virtually non-existent. The Eagles Lombardi Trophy defense ends quickly… Chicago 27, Philadelphia 21.
Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Exactly 10 years ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers entered the AFC playoffs as the No. 6 seed. They promptly marched on to their sixth Super Bowl win that season and it all started with a Wild Card round win over… Cincinnati. The two divisional rivals square off again and the Bengals will have to do it again without starting QB Andy Dalton. When the two teams met just four weeks ago, Dalton fractured a thumb and then gave way to backup A.J. McCarron. McCarron threw two interceptions, one was returned for a touchdown, and the Bengals lost 33-20.
This time around, the Steelers may have to play without their leading rusher DeAngelo Williams. If so, it would be a repeat of last year when Pittsburgh had to play without Le'Veon Bell in the Wild Card round and lost to Baltimore. Still, Pittsburgh will have QB Ben Roethlisberger and arguably the NFL's best WR in Antonio Brown. The Bengals defense, which is second in the league in scoring defense (17.4 points per game), will have to keep Cincinnati in the game long enough for guys like RB Jeremy Hill, WR A.J. Green, and TE Tyler Eifert (team-leading 13 TD receptions) to make plays… Pittsburgh 30, Cincinnati 20.
Kansas City @ Houston
r @ The hottest team in the NFL is Kansas City. The Chiefs started the season 1-5. Their star running back Jamaal Charles was out for the season, but somehow head coach Andy Reid and company managed to win 10 games in a row and almost capture the AFC West Division on the last day of the regular season.
The Chiefs do it with a recipe that usually defines success in the NFL. They have found a way to run the ball by committee. Charcandrick West (634 yards) leads the team and Spencer Ware added 403. The key to the Chiefs offense is 11-year veteran QB Alex Smith. He had easily his best year in the league with 3,486 yards passing and another 498 on the ground (Chiefs second-best). He threw for 20 touchdowns to just seven interceptions. Kansas City has a solid running game, an adequate passing attack, and they don't turn the ball over.
Houston, on the other hand, enters the playoffs having had four different players start at quarterback throughout the season. Make no mistake about it, the Texans strength is defense where two-time league defensive MVP J.J. Watt wreaks havoc on opposing offenses. Watt led the NFL again in sacks with 17.5 this season. The Texans defense will keep Houston in the game, but the offense may not have the firepower to gain a victory… Kansas City 17, Houston 10.
Seattle @ Minnesota
A little over three weeks ago, Seattle annihilated Minnesota 38-7 in the regular season. Now, the two teams meet again and the stakes are much higher. The Vikings defense, one of the NFL's better units, played without DT Linval Joseph, OLB/DE Anthony Barr, and S Harrison Smith. Those three will return this time around and they must be prepared for a Seattle offense that continues to improve.
The Seahawks started the season a dismal 2-4 but rallied to win 8 of their last 10 games, including a decisive 36-6 win over Arizona in the season finale. Seahawks QB Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns in the win and the league-leading (17.3 points per game) Seattle defense held the Cardinals to a single touchdown. In Seattle's last seven games, the defense gave up more than 13 points just twice. Once in a 23-17 loss to St. Louis and to Pittsburgh in a 39-30 victory.
If Seattle is able to contain the Minnesota running game and Adrian Peterson, it will be up to QB Teddy Bridgewater to make plays in the passing game. It was the Vikings defense that helped them win the NFC North with a win over Green Bay in the NFL's final regular season game. Captain Munnerlyn returned a Packers fumble 55 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter that proved to be the difference in a 20-13 win. Another effort like that will go a long way in assuring success for Minnesota… Minnesota 24, Seattle 20.
Green Bay @ Washington
It's not all that bad for Green Bay. In losing on the final week of the season, the Packers yielded the NFC North Division title to Minnesota. In return, they get a trip to NFC East winner Washington (9-7). The Redskins won their final four games of the regular season to earn the division and trip to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Washington QB Kirk Cousins (4,166 yards, 29 TDs in the regular season) has emerged as one of the league's better young quarterbacks. While the Redskins do not run the ball all that well, Cousins makes up for it with a passing attack that helped Washington average just under 33 points per game over the final four games. Head coach Jay Gruden's passing game might be just enough to give the Packers ailing defense fits.
The Packers have had an interesting season from the outset. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson tore an ACL in the preseason and missed the entire year. Offensively, Green Bay had its worst season since Aaron Rodgers took over at quarterback for Brett Favre in 2008. The running game is suspect and head coach Mike McCarthy's taking over of the play-calling has provided some inconsistency. Against the better teams in the league, the Packers did not fare very well. Five of the team's six losses were to playoff teams. While they may be able to get past Washington, advancing any further in the NFC playoffs would be very difficult for the Packers… Green Bay 27, Washington 23.
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As betting on sports becomes more popular all over the globe, it can attract some negative attention from the sports franchises and teams that are being bet upon.
With millions of dollars riding on each game, some unscrupulous sports teams or players attempt to fix the outcome. Most of us have seen the scandals highlighted in the newspaper or on TV. Despite these occasional trouble spots, sports betting remains a popular pastime for many fans.


The tournament is limited to ~150 entrants - register now before it fills up!
This tournament is NWSRS-rated. No membership fee or prior tournament playing experience is required. New players get a free NWSRS rating.
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Cash prizes for the top five entrants in the Kings section (1300+): $100 / $80 / $60 / $40 / $20.
In all sections, crystal trophies for the top 5 places.
Medals for plus scores and two sportsmanship trophies also to be awarded.
Cash prizes based on 100 total registrations, modified at the discretion of the organizer if < 100 entrants.
KINGS: For advanced players rated 1300+ in either USCF or NWSRS rating system. Four round Swiss, G45 + 5 sec delay. Notation and clocks required.
ROOKS: For players rated 1100-1299. Four round Swiss, G45 + 5 sec delay. Notation and clocks required.
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Another great home made video we found by Paul Greenacre of his recent 14lb rainbow catch for his Christmas dinner.
contactus@suttonspringstroutfishery.co.uk and include your name with a bit of information about the photo or video.
We stumbled across this video by top Irish fly angler Alan Hanna who compares catching monster rainbow trout at Sutton Spring's Testwood lake in England to the tiny wild brown trout in Ireland. It's an old video taken in 2006 but it's definately still relevant!
Skip to 05:05 minutes in to see his first monster catch, "that's probably the biggest trout I will ever see in my life" says Alan in the video.


I've made a variation of this smoothie several times, alternating ingredients for what I have in the house. The components include a mixture of green veggies and various fruit. My main problem with traditional superfood or green smoothies has always been that they either taste like I'm drinking a liquified salad or they are so full of sugar that I think I'm cancelling out any benefit I'm getting from the healthy ingredients. Something about adding the matcha masks some of the earthiness of the green veggies. Plus, then you feel like you're indulging in a matcha iced latte while still getting a healthy dose of nutrients and antioxidants.
Toppings as desired: cut apples, almonds, coconut chips, etc.
Blend ingredients together in a blender, Vitamix, or Magic Bullet until blended. Add toppings and enjoy!


St. Bonaventure University senior Brandon Fields is on a roll.
The strategic communication and digital media major landed two internships in the past few months, became the head public relations director of SBU's chapter of the American Advertising Federation, and has been named by AAF as one of the nation's Most Promising Multicultural Students.
Fields was flown out to New York City this week to meet for four days with some of the top advertising agencies in the world, tour the facilities and participate in an active recruiting session with 49 other students.
Fields is excited for the opportunity to make connections and represent St. Bonaventure.
Kimberley DeSimone, a lecturer in the Jandoli School of Communication, offered to write one of Fields' letters of recommendation and was ecstatic when he won the award.
Although Fields proved his capability to his professors and peers, he still had his doubts.
The New York City event provides opportunities to recruit fresh talent to further prepare the advertising industry's best young prospects and to help the advertising and media workforce better reflect the diversity of today's society.
As part of the four-day experience, Fields will also attend workshops, listen to prominent speakers and get to participate in a job fair with places like Droga-5, Apple, Grey Group and Google among the several agencies actively looking for the next star in advertising.
Fields, a native of Queens, New York, taps into the ad world quite a bit. He subscribes to Adweek and regularly researches agency histories and commercials he's watched on TV.
For Fields, the opportunity is a dream come true.
You can follow Fields on Twitter here or @brando_ice.


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Working one's way through a divorce can be physically, emotionally and psychologically challenging. In fact, a divorce can represent one of the most stressful times in one's life, particularly if there are children involved. Thus, it is absolutely essential that a responsible and knowledgeable litigator is employed to help ease this painful transition. Unfortunately, not all lawyers are the same in their approach and expertise. It is therefore important to appreciate some of the most important factors to consider when choosing such an attorney.
Family law can be quite a complicated arena. Therefore, the first and foremost consideration is to look for lawyers that are well-versed in this arena. There may be times when a couple seek the advice of a firm specialising in general law, but this is to be avoided. Rather, an attorney with a discreet involvement with family law should be chosen.
Secondly, the lawyer and firm should be able to relate to the needs of both parties and any children that may be involved. Some attorneys can be rather "dry" when it comes to such interpersonal challenges. This attitude can actually make the process more drawn out and leave little room for compromise. A good divorce lawyer should be able to empathise with both parties equally.
Courtroom experience is a must. It is one thing to appreciate the intricacies of law from a theoretical standpoint but quite another to be able to work well under the pressure imposed by a courtroom. Always enquire as to an individual's experience before opting to choose his or her services.
Determine all costs before the litigation process begins. This is an important variable to remember, for most divorce attorneys will charge on an hourly basis. Even if the divorce is amicable, this can still result in hefty fees. Also, avoid dealing with lawyers who ask for a sizable amount of money up-front. Instead, many lawyers will offer a no win, no fee service. In essence, this means that they will not collect any funds unless their client's case has a favourable outcome. While this may seem an amenable approach, recognise that if a case is won, the lawyer will charge a higher fee as opposed to his or her normal hourly rates.
Always seek recommendations and testimonials from previous clients. This is an excellent way to determine the efficacy of a certain firm. Should they have achieved many considerable outcomes, clients are also likely to praise their personal approaches to each case. This can provide valuable insight as to which firm will prove to afford the highest chances of attaining a desirable result.
Considerable experience in family law.
Personal empathy with both parties and any children.
An appreciable amount of courtroom experience.
A clear understanding of any costs involved and the rates in regards to a "no win, no fee" approach.
While a divorce is indeed a difficult undertaking, the one benefit that the internet provides is the ability to compare and contrast a number of law services. There are also a great many online portals that can help a couple find the most relevant divorce lawyer for their needs. Let us briefly look at a few of the most popular websites that can help find such an attorney or firm.
This website is one of the largest legal referral services in the United Kingdom. One of the best features of Contact Law is their streamlined services that they provide for visitors. They offer either a toll-free number or a web form that can be filled in and sent through to a specialist that can help find the best lawyer for one's needs. In addition, this site will also provide advice on mediation and collaborative family services.
Although this may be a lesser-known site, the amenities offered are certainly worth a look. Divorce Aid is a personal service devoted to presenting all accredited divorce lawyers. All firms are categorised by county, thus making the selection process straightforward. While these services are quite useful, this site will additionally offer free advice on the legal processes involved, how children may be affected, the stipulations of the no win, no fee framework and the best ways to choose a solicitor.
This public resource is excellent in providing information on all aspects of divorce law as well as helping couples find the most appropriate attorney. A live help phone number is available as is a dedicated "find a solicitor" page that will have an updated list of all accredited divorce lawyers in a specific area of the country. The process is quick and easy while the advice offered is extremely valuable.
Filing for a divorce and choosing the most appropriate solicitor is never easy. However, by appreciating the qualities to seek in a firm and with the help of these online search portals, the process can be resolved quickly and with relatively little financial turmoil.


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We have rocked the internet for many companies, sites and projects since 2002. For some, even to this day.
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I enjoyed the workshop so much that I ended up asking Rockit to work with me on all of the weak areas of my website that we identified. Rockit was always very down to earth and never encouraged me to have unrealistic expectations, by which I mean that every one of the Rockit team always took my questions very serious, and never tried to sell me (a one-man band – from "Africa") anything that would be outside our budget, because we are only a small travel agency. All in all, I would highly recommend the workshop.
I can definitely recommend the workshop.
The SEO workshop Rockit Internet that was held for us focused on the basics of on-page and off-page optimization using our own website as an example.
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text:
Radnor House Twickenham: a parents' guide to Year 7 entry
Radnor House is an independent day school for boys and girls aged 9–18 located on the banks of the River Thames in South West London. The medium size of the school (445 pupils) allows teachers to get to know every child personally while offering a large-enough environment for pupils to enjoy a variety of co-curricular opportunities.
The four core values at Radnor House – courage, excellence, perseverance and respect – underpin school life. The school is a member of the Dukes Education Group and supports the motto 'Together We're Extraordinary'.
In 2021, pupils at Radnor House celebrated the school's best ever A level results with 58% of grades at A* or A. The previous year saw the school's best GCSE results to date, with 71% of grades at 9–7 (A*–A equivalent).
In September 2023, the senior school (Years 7 to 13) will be moving from the existing site at Pope's Villa to a new 30-acre estate at Kneller Hall, near Twickenham Stadium. The Grade-II-listed building was previously owned by the Ministry of Defence and is currently being transformed into a state-of-the-art school offering excellent facilities for sport, the arts, science and technology as well as an ecological corridor for pupils to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors.
Key information for Radnor House Twickenham
Principal: Mr Darryl Wideman
Address: Radnor House, Pope's Villa, Cross Deep, Twickenham, TW1 4QG
London Borough: Richmond-upon-Thames
Admissions contact: Enquire through the school website
Age range and gender: 9–18, boys and girls
Number of places in Year 7: 66
Ratio of applicants to places: Undisclosed, but oversubscribed each year
Open day date: Saturday 8th October 2022 – book online
Overview of selection procedure for Year 7 entry: Entrance exam, group activity, school report and headteacher's reference
Registration opens: Registration is open now and available online.
Registration closes: Friday 4th November 2022
Assessment date for Year 7 entry: 26th and 27th November 2022
Scholarship assessment date: Same as entrance exam (academic scholarship only)
Radnor House Twickenham fees and financial assistance
The school fees at Radnor House Twickenham in 2022–23 will be £7,130 per term for Years 7 and 8 and £7,430 per term for Years 9 to 13. For all new pupils joining Radnor House in 2023, the first term's fee is payable in advance on 1st July 2023 (in addition to the £2,000 deposit which must be paid before the deadline outlined in the offer letter to confirm the place).
Radnor House does not offer bursaries at Year 7 (limited funding may be provided by the Radnor Charitable Trust for sixth form entry only). Scholarships are awarded for academic excellence in Year 7 based on performance in the entrance tests, but these do not offer financial remuneration.
Radnor House Twickenham term dates
The 2022–23 term dates at Radnor House Twickenham are:
Autumn term: 5th September – 9th December 2022
Half term: 17th –28th October 2022
Spring term: 4th January – 31st March 2023
Half term: 13th –17th February 2023
Summer term: 18th April –5th July 2023
Half term: 29th May –2nd June 2023
Admissions process for Radnor House Twickenham
If you would like to register your child for a place in Year 7 at Radnor House Twickenham for September 2023, you will need to complete the online registration form and pay the non-refundable registration fee of £150 before Friday 4th November 2022. You will also need to upload a scan of your child's passport, an electronic copy of their latest school report and a passport-size photograph of your child.
All applicants will attend an assessment day at Radnor House Twickenham on either Saturday 26th or Sunday 27th November 2022. Pupils who are successful in the entrance exam will be shortlisted and invited back to the school for a 'Beyond the classroom activity', which is a group experience, on either Saturday 21st or Sunday 22nd January 2023.
The only scholarships available at Radnor House Twickenham are Academic Scholarships. These are automatically awarded to pupils who excel in the entrance exam.
Parents/carers will receive the outcome of their child's application to the school in early February 2023. Places are subject to the child's school reference and school report and their performance in the exam and group activity.
Radnor House Twickenham entrance exam format
The exam day at Radnor House Twickenham consists of two assessments:
Computer-based numerical, verbal and non-verbal reasoning (1 hour)
Written English & maths (1 hour)
There are no practice papers available for the entrance exam at Radnor House Twickenham. However, you may find the following resources helpful:
How to develop your child's reading comprehension exam skills
11 plus verbal reasoning – exam preparation guide
11 plus non-verbal reasoning: top tips for success
Common areas of difficulty on the 11 plus exam
How to help your child prepare for the selection process at Radnor House Twickenham
The 11 plus assesses a huge amount of content! Atom Nucleus takes your child through personalised learning journeys across the entire Key Stage 2 core curriculum, with over 90,000 teacher-created questions.
Familiarisation with the question formats and known styles ahead of the exam is absolutely essential. Access to quality, unlimited practice material ensures that your child will feel confident when tackling the test. Atom gives your child access to unlimited mock tests that mirror the content, format and structure of online adaptive 11 plus tests:
When working through challenging topics, your child will need immediate clarity with any misconceptions so that they feel truly secure in every topic. Atom gives your child access to video tutorials, help sheets and examples for each question to help build confidence and competence across all areas of the Key Stage 2 core national curriculum.
Celebrate your child's improvement in areas of challenge together. An accurate and ongoing assessment of their areas of strength and development is helpful. Atom's Parent Portal offers data-driven insights into your child's progress to help you prepare effectively, including targets achieved, a detailed breakdown of progress by subtopic and the ability to set custom practices to target your child's most challenging subtopics.
Atom Learning can help
It's our mission to help your child feel prepared and confident on exam day. Begin your free 5-day free trial of Nucleus today to unlock success in the classroom, entrance exams and more.
We know how crucial this time is, so our team is on hand to support you and your family every step of the way. You can book a call with one of our Education Experts to ask any questions you might have about Year 7 entry to Radnor House Twickenham:


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Angela Baldassarre
Starting from a.y 2020-21, the PhD in Statistics is no longer offered as it is replaced by the PhD program in Statistics and Computer Science. For details see www.unibocconi.eu/phdstatscompscience
The PhD in Statistics was established within the Bocconi PhD School in 2001 by Pietro Muliere, who was also the first Director of the program and was later succeeded by Sonia Petrone.
The four-year PhD program in Statistics gives a solid theoretical grounding for high level research in universities and international institutions. It aims at offering graduate students not only solid skills in probability and statistics, but also an interdisciplinary view of applied mathematics areas and decision processes under uncertainty. The program involves highly renowned researchers in statistics, applied mathematics, decision sciences and economics at Bocconi.
The program is organized into two years of courses, and two years exclusively devoted to the doctoral thesis. First- and second-year courses provide students with a solid mathematical and probabilistic background, in-depth methodological knowledge of statistical methods and specialized skills. The third and fourth years are entirely devoted to research. Dedicated mentorship is offered to students throughout their time at Bocconi. Multidisciplinary interchange with other graduate programs in Bocconi's PhD school is also encouraged.
The Faculty of the PhD in Statistics includes scholars at Bocconi's Department of Decision Sciences who are internationally well-acknowledged in the fields of Bayesian and classical statistics and decision sciences. The program also includes monographic courses held by visiting professors from the most prestigious Universities and research institutions.
The PhD in Statistics is designed for motivated students who wish to undertake first-rate research careers in theoretical or applied statistics or decision sciences, in academic or research institutions. Other career opportunities include central banks, governments and international organizations, and financial institutions. In recent years our students in Statistics have been hired by prestigious schools and organizations, such as: Stanford University, Duke University, Harvard University, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, EPFL, Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, Università di Torino, Università di Pavia, Bank of Italy, FAO and other prestigious research and financial institutions.
During the first year, PhD students have to attend compulsory courses and pass the exams in a satisfactory way. At the end of the year they have to sit a general exam.
During the second year, students have to attend compulsory and optional courses and pass the corresponding exams.
The third and fourth years are devoted to the doctoral thesis, which is the capstone of the PhD degree. It is expected to be an original piece of research of publishable quality.
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Anthony Ray Hinton, U.S. death row inmate, freed after 30 years
Fifty-eight-year-old Anthony Ray Hinton was released Friday morning from an Alabama prison. He hugged family members as he walked out, saying, "Thank you Jesus."
'While this moment is quite joyous ... this case is quite tragic,' said defence lawyer
The Associated Press · Posted: Apr 02, 2015 10:56 PM ET | Last Updated: April 3, 2015
A man who spent nearly 30 years on Alabama's death row has been freed following a decades-long fight to prove his innocence.
Hinton was convicted of the 1985 murders of two Birmingham fast-food restaurant managers. Prosecutors linked Hinton to the killings through a .38-caliber revolver found at his house.
"We've been hoping for this. We've believed that this should have happened," said Bryan Stevenson, Hinton's attorney and director of the Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative.
Ballistics experts wrongly linked a revolver found in Hinton's home to bullets found at a 1985 murder scene. (Alabama Dept. of Corrections/The Associated Press)
Stevenson has been arguing for 16 years that Hinton is innocent.
Hinton wept Wednesday night after learning the news that he would finally go free, Stevenson said.
"Every day, every month, every year that the state took from him, they took something that they don't have the power to give back. While this moment is quite joyous and is quite wonderful, this case is quite tragic," Stevenson said.
Six bullets were what prosecutors used in the 1980s to connect Hinton to the slayings. A modern analysis on the bullets is what led prosecutors to drop the case against him.
The Supreme Court last year ruled that Hinton had "constitutionally deficient" representation at his initial trial. Hinton's defence lawyer wrongly thought he had only $1,000 US to hire a ballistics expert to try to rebut the prosecution testimony about the bullets.
Some things back then that experts would be willing to attest to, they would not be willing to attest to now. They would need more now. - John R. Bowers, chief deputy district attorney
The lawyer hired the only person willing to take the job at that price, even though he had concerns about the expert's credentials. At the time, jurors chuckled as the defence expert struggled to answer questions on cross-examination.
"He was a poor person who was convicted because he didn't have the money to prove his innocence at trial. He was unable to get the legal help he needed for years. He was convicted based on bad science," Stevenson said.
John Davidson and Thomas Wayne Vason were killed during robberies at Mrs. Winner's and Captain D's restaurants. Investigators focused on Hinton after a person who was shot, but survived, at a third robbery at a Quincy's restaurant identified Hinton as the person who shot him.
However, Stevenson said Hinton had an alibi showing that he was at work when the Quincy's robbery was committed.
"The connection has always been the bullets," chief deputy district attorney John R. Bowers, Jr. said Thursday.
More 'conservative' standards
At his initial trial, state experts testified that the four bullets fired during the slayings, and another two from the Quincy's robbery, had all been fired from a revolver found at Hinton's home.
However, in 2015, three different experts from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences couldn't determine if any of those bullets were fired through the revolver taken from Hinton's home, or even if they had been fired from the same gun.
Bowers said the forensics experts explained that standards have gotten more "conservative."
"Some things back then that experts would be willing to attest to, they would not be willing to attest to now. They would need more now," Bowers said.
Asked if Hinton was wrongly convicted, Bowers said he couldn't say because his "experts haven't ruled him in. They haven't ruled him out."
"I don't have the evidence necessary to proceed with prosecution. I don't have the evidence to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt anymore," Bowers said.
No support for the wrongfully convicted, freedom but no guidance
Former prosecutor apologizes after man spent 26 years on death row
Ricky Jackson, Wiley Bridgeman absolved of Cleveland killing after 40 years
Exonerations of wrongly convicted in U.S. increased in 2014, registry claims
David McCallum exonerated after 29 years, thanks to two Canadians


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Q: RestSharp POST not working properly. I am attempting to send user input to webapi I m trying to POST the request using RestSharp client. My code is as follows. The objective is to send the user input to a Web API. I am working in VB and I am having a hard time formatting the request properly. As soon as I try to execute I get a error that prevent the application from starting. For api I am using Postman.
Here is code used to call the web api
private async void StartBtn_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            isWorking = true;
            if (isWorking == true)
            {

                for (int i = 0; i < NumbersListbox.Items.Count; i++)
                {
                    if (ToggleSelected.IsChecked == true && ToggleRandom.IsChecked == false)
                    {

ApiKey = Your_API_KEY
var client = new RestClient("https://myurl.com/api/send?key= + Your_API_KEY");
browserprimary.Address = client;
client.Timeout = -1;
var request = new RestRequest(Method.POST);
request.AddParameter("phone", "NumbersListbox.Items[i].ToString()");
request.AddParameter("message", "MessagesListBox.Items[i].ToString()");
IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);
Console.WriteLine(response.Content);;

                    }
                    else if (ToggleSelected.IsChecked == false && ToggleRandom.IsChecked == true)
                    {

                        var random = new Random();
                        int index = random.Next(0, MessagesListBox.Items.Count);

ApiKey = Your_API_KEY;
var client = new RestClient("https://myurl.com/api/send?key= + Your_API_KEY");
browserprimary.Address = client;
client.Timeout = -1;
var request = new RestRequest(Method.POST);
request.AddParameter("phone", "NumbersListbox.Items[i].ToString()");
request.AddParameter("message", "MessagesListBox.Items[i].ToString()");
IRestResponse response = client.Execute(request);
Console.WriteLine(response.Content);");

                    }

                    await Task.Delay(12000);

                    browserprimary.ExecuteScriptAsync("document.querySelectorAll(\"[data-icon ^= 'send']\")[0].parentElement.click();");

                    if (Delaybox.Text != "")
                    {
                        await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(Convert.ToDouble(Delaybox.Text)));
                    }
                }
            }

            StartBtn.IsEnabled = false;
            StopBtn.IsEnabled = true;

        }

A: After more studying, I figured out it was a syntax error.
 private async void StartBtn_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            isWorking = true;
            if (isWorking == true)
            {

                for (int i = 0; i < NumbersListbox.Items.Count; i++)
                {
                    if (ToggleSelected.IsChecked == true && ToggleRandom.IsChecked == false)
                    {

                  var client = new RestSharp.RestClient("https://myurl.com/api/send?key=" + APIKey);
                        client.Timeout = -1;
                        var request = new RestRequest(Method.POST);
                        request.AddParameter("phone", "NumbersListbox.Items[i].ToString()");
                        request.AddParameter("message", "MessagesListBox.Items[i].ToString()");
                        var response = client.Execute(request);
                        Console.WriteLine(response.Content);

                    }
                    else if (ToggleSelected.IsChecked == false && ToggleRandom.IsChecked == true)
                    {

                  var client = new RestSharp.RestClient("https://myurl.com/api/send?key=" + APIKey);
                        client.Timeout = -1;
                        var request = new RestRequest(Method.POST);
                        request.AddParameter("phone", "NumbersListbox.Items[i].ToString()");
                        request.AddParameter("message", "MessagesListBox.Items[i].ToString()");
                        var response = client.Execute(request);
                        Console.WriteLine(response.Content);

                    }

                    await Task.Delay(12000);

                    browserprimary.ExecuteScriptAsync("document.querySelectorAll(\"[data-icon ^= 'send']\")[0].parentElement.click();");

                    if (Delaybox.Text != "")
                    {
                        await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(Convert.ToDouble(Delaybox.Text)));
                    }
                }
            }

            StartBtn.IsEnabled = false;
            StopBtn.IsEnabled = true;

        }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
News Sports Entertainment Lifestyle Guardian USA TODAY Obituaries eNewspaper Legals
Bosses sugarcoat bad news, but workers know better
JARED SANDBERG The Wall Street Journal
Whenever Kristy Keith heard her boss begin a meeting with the words, "Today is a good day for change," she knew something bad was afoot.
Not that a casual observer could ever tell. He would briefly disclose news that they had lost a client, had to have layoffs, or had to fire someone, then follow it with a lengthy soliloquy about just how good this bad news was. After all, the loss of that revenue stream meant more time for the company's current clients, he reasoned. It meant that now the company could woo the former client's competitors, and finally devote resources to getting new clients (which is even better than actually having them).
To new employees: ``It was comforting to some people who didn't know any better,'' Keith said. The veterans, however, ``got back to their offices and huddled,'' marveling at the disparity between reality and message.
Without so much as an ``abracadabra,'' bosses can turn bad news into good. Or so they think. Take any layoffs or benefit cuts, apply the managerial science of bummer-alchemy, and Presto! happiness spreads across the land.
It's hard to focus on the positive message when the messenger seems so clueless. No matter how much chatter employees have heard from their insulated bosses, nothing quite prepares them for the moment when the person with his thumb on their future ignores the plain-as-day truth, proving that he's stuck on some planet without return rockets.
These spin measures might be well-intentioned efforts to preserve the fragile filament of workplace morale, but bosses often torch them. Resistant to admitting a mistake or leveling with employees, executives endlessly find themselves putting lipstick on pigs.
After Motorola shut its satellite communications division in 2001, employees were in danger of losing their jobs. Nobly, the company tried to move them to a new Earth-based initiative and held a big shindig in a Phoenix convention center. Part of the entertainment included senior executives dressed up as skydivers while a video showed real skydivers plunging as earthward as Motorola's dashed satellite hopes. ``I thought, `This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen,' " said one former engineer.
In an environment where trust in leadership has never been so wobbly, it doesn't take something very dramatic to injure it. In the late '90s, when the office-supply company where Marla Karlin worked was having a bit of a management/sales/turnover/layoff problem, the news that employees had to work late and through weekends wasn't very warmly received. So, the company resorted to the corporate default solution to perk up despondent staffers: free food.
But no number of bagels or submarine sandwiches could ease her sense of loss. ``I would have much rather eaten my oatmeal in the comfort of my own kitchen on a Saturday,'' she says.
Paul Argenti, professor of management and corporate communication at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, says sometimes managers just chicken out and bury the bad news. "They'll get less flak,'' he says.
Communication breaks down because executives typically speak through loyal managers, who often mischaracterize the message from above and dilute the return message from below. The result is that the top brass is ``naive about the mentality of the work force and not very sophisticated communicators,'' Argenti says.
The irrational behavior, he adds, just causes widespread fret. Everyone begins to understand that the less responsibility they had for making the bad business decisions that led to this mess, the more likely they are to have to pay the price for it. The rumor mill begins.
Staffers have ``incredibly well-preserved memories of a decades-old lie,'' says Linda Dulye, founder of a firm that specializes in workplace communications. So, the restoration of trust can take forever. Violate her rule to be ``honest in advance,'' and you'll end up spending much more money cleaning up after the mess than you would coming clean before it.
The instruments of corporate spin are tattered euphemisms such as "rightsizing" or "merger of equals." Fired executives get to leave ``to pursue other interests." But laid-off staffers are trimmed ``fat'' or cut "deadwood."
Similarly, "cost efficiencies" means, according to Meredith Roth, ``your job just went to Bangalore." Roth's own brush with dot-comedy included an executive who laid people off but insisted that, despite the company's obvious problems, ``this is not a situation where the emperor has no clothes."
Her rule: "Anybody who pulls out the emperor's analogy is surely naked,'' she says.
Molly Gardiner prefers her layoff notices unvarnished - like the retail store she worked for. A former publishing company, on the other hand, sent out a form letter with everyone's paycheck, thanking staffers for their hard work and dedication. It would have been a lovely gesture had a number of staffers not been fired three hours earlier.
It was demeaning and disconnected, she says, "like they didn't know they were laying us off."
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