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Home Volvo XC60 Reviews
2017 Volvo XC60 Review: Swedish Style
Brimming with safety kit and glorious Swedish minimalism.
By: Vicky Parrott
It's not hard to see why the Volvo XC60 is such a hit. In fact, seeing the XC60 is pretty much all you need to do to know that it'll be a hit. Though quite evolutionary in its looks, the 2017 XC60 is a totally different car from its popular predecessor. New platform, new interior, new engines and all.
With two diesel engines, a petrol and a plug-in hybrid on offer (all of them four-wheel drive and automatic as standard), the Volvo XC60 offers a great alternative to rivals like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, Jaguar F-Pace, and Lexus NX. It's set apart from its rivals mainly in its gloriously minimalist interior, complete with huge, portrait touchscreen system and unmistakably Scandinavian-style materials. The level of safety kit is another factor that could sway buyers towards the Volvo in the hard-fought, prestige SUV class.
Body Style: 5 door crossover Seats: 5 MRP: £37,205 - £57,895
Did you know? The wood interior trim in top-spec Inscription models is inspired by driftwood found on the west coast of Sweden
Verdict | Design | Interior | Technology | Performance | Safety | Specs | Running Costs | Pricing
The XC60 is one of the most competent SUVs in its class. It sets the standard for safety and interior aesthetics, and taking the generous kit into account, it's also very competitively priced, if not better value than key rivals provided you go for a low-end trim.
All of the engines are on a par with others for efficiency, or the T8 Hybrid betters any reasonable alternative given the stonking performance it offers for very little company car tax. You'll just need a company car scheme lenient enough to allow for a £50k SUV.
Sure, this isn't the most comfortable nor the sharpest-handling car in the class – the Audi Q5 is that – but the Volvo is quiet, easy-going and sure-footed at all times, which is enough to make this one of the best choices in the class.
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 9/10
Technology & Connectivity
Performance & Handling
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ 10/10
Spec & Trim Levels
Interior look and layout
Cruising refinement
Plentiful standard kit
We Don't Like
Intermittently clunky ride
Anodyne steering
Top-spec models are pricey
There's no doubting that the XC60 looks a lot like the bigger XC90, but that's no bad thing given that the XC90 is itself a seriously handsome thing. However, at just under 4.7 metres long and 1.7 metres high, it is noticeably smaller and the way the 'Thor's hammer' headlight design – all XC60s have LED headlights with the distinctive daytime running light signature – runs all the way into the front grille is a trademark of the 2017 XC60.
That grille is one of the easiest ways to tell what trim the car is, too, since you get vertical black bars on entry-level Momentum, horizontal bars on R-Design and vertical chrome bars on Inscription.
Even the cheapest XC60s come with 18-inch alloys, but R-Design (which is likely to be the most popular trim) and Inscription get snazzier-looking 19-inch alloys. Looks are a subjective thing, but certainly the clean, distinctive lines of the XC60 are sure to be one of its biggest selling points.
First things first – you can only get the XC60 with five seats. If you want seven seats in a premium product at this price point, you're looking at the Land Rover Discovery Sport and, well, that's about it. Otherwise, you'll have to sacrifice a bit of the posh image and go for something cheaper, such as the Skoda Kodiaq, Peugeot 5008 or Hyundai Santa Fe.
Still, plenty of people want a mid-sized premium SUV like this, and if you're one of them then the XC60's interior is likely to be one of its most appealing aspects.
Slide into the driver's seat and you're met with a 9.0-inch portrait touchscreen that takes up most of the centre console (more about that in the Infotainment section) and is also how you change the climate control temperature.
This is where most of your interaction with the car's systems will take place. You also get an 8.0-inch colour readout between the driver's dials, but it's a very affordable option to upgrade it to a 12.3-inch fully-digital display instead (or it's standard on R-Design and Inscription models). It's worth doing, since this means you can have the sat-nav map and various other useful bits of information shown in the dials, making it easy to glance at when you're driving.
All of which complements the standard leather seats that are comfortable and have plenty of adjustment – manual as standard other than in Inscription. Visibility is good, although the boxier Audi Q5 is a bit better for that over-the-shoulder, rear three-quarters view.
The back seats are roomy enough to cater well for two adults – even very tall ones – and you get a centre armrest with cupholders as standard. If you want to squeeze someone in the middle, though, the seat cushion is raised and a bit hard, and they'll have to straddle a low centre tunnel. Even kids will feel a bit squeezed for elbow room with three across, so it's best to keep any five-up trips fairly short.
The Volvo's isn't the biggest boot in the class, but at 505 litres (the most practical rivals have around 550 litres) it's a good size, with a floor that's flush with the load lip and 60/40 split seats that fold down to leave a smooth extended loadbay. A powered tailgate is standard, too, and there's a useful hidden storage area underneath the boot floor.
We'd have preferred 40/20/40 split seats and some levers in the boot to make it easier to drop them, but there is a well-priced Convenience Pack that includes power-folding rear seats (still in a 60/40 split), a 12v socket in the boot, a three-point plug in the back seat area and a cargo net. There are also some useful dealer-offered options, including a fitted dog harness and plastic boot floor.
All XC60s get the 9.0-inch Sensus touchscreen as the focal point of the dash, which comes complete with DAB radio, USB input, voice control, European sat-nav and free lifetime map updates. The only thing you'll probably want to add is the £300 Smartphone Integration, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus an additional two USB inputs.
In many ways this is one of the best systems out there. It's the biggest standard screen in the class (electric-only Tesla Model X not included), screen graphics are excellent, and the portrait screen is so big that most icons are chunky enough to hit easily when you're on the move. You can also pinch in and out to zoom on the map, so anybody used to using a tablet will likely get the hang of Vovo's Sensus system pretty quickly.
However, it is quite hard to find seemingly simple menu commands, because you have to swipe sideways to reveal an otherwise entirely hidden menu. It's also a bit slow to respond and can be prone to freezing momentarily, and when using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, the nav map is a small, landscape readout in the centre of the screen – you can't expand it to the full screen.
Even so, given that you've got the key phone connectivity apps (no MirrorLink, mind), plus you can add Spotify for music streaming, this is a well equipped standard system. The 10-speaker sound system is great, too, or if you're feeling flush you can add a Bowers and Wilkins 15-speaker system (although it seems a bit pricey to us given how good the standard audio is).
There's a rear entertainment pack with dual screens and TV on offer, too, but we'd save some money by just going for the official iPad holders and a trip to the shops for a few tablets.
The XC60 is pleasant and relaxing through and through, if not the sharpest handling nor even the most comfortable in the class.
The two diesel engines – the D4 and D5 - are varying power outputs of the same four-cylinder, 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged diesel. The D4, with 188bhp, isn't the quietest diesel when you're accelerating, but on a steady throttle it's impressively hushed.
Standard driving modes alter the eight-speed auto gearbox responses (you can't get a manual gearbox), the steering and throttle response, and suspension if you've got the optional air suspension.
The D4 always feels happier at a steady cruise, but it does put on a decent burst of speed without much hassle, so you can sneak into small gaps in the traffic. It's the auto gearbox that's a bit less ideal, since it's slow to respond when you prod the throttle for a burst of acceleration, but sticking it in Dynamic or using the wheel-mounted paddles gets around this.
While it's not as slick overall as the auto in an Audi Q5 or BMW X3, it is smooth-shifting and more than good enough than you can generally just sit back and forget about it.
The 232bhp D5 diesel has something called 'PowerPulse', which sounds like a cheesy exercise video, but is in fact a compressed air system designed to help reduce turbo lag, making the engine feel sprightly from lower revs.
It works, too – the D5 is a great engine, which has a noticeably stronger response than the D4. It just feels more potent, more of the time, and if you're the sort of SUV owner who likes to get a proper hustle on sometimes, it's probably worth the extra money.
The 251bhp T5 petrol is also a 2.0-litre, four cylinder turbocharged affair. Clearly, with diesel now officially on the car industry's naughty step, this is likely to be quite a popular choice. It's really quiet, until you decide to give it everything when it suddenly delivers hot-hatch eagerness and a slightly whiny exhaust note. That gearbox is still a little slow at times, but ultimately if you can justify the running costs of the T5, it's worth considering over the D4 diesel.
Or, there's always the T8 - a plug-in hybrid that is scaldingly quick, despite super tax-dodging CO2 emissions. Chucking out some 314bhp from the supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that powers the front wheels, and 86bhp from an electric motor that drives the rear wheels, you really can surprise yourself and most other road users as you fire off the line in your stealthy XC60 performance hybrid. More pertinent is that you can do some 28 miles on electricity alone, provided you've got a full charge (which'll take around 3.5 hours from a domestic wall socket).
It is not always the smoothest transition from electric to petrol engine, particularly if you give it reason to fire up the four-cylinder engine when it's in Pure electric mode, but leave it in Hybrid and it's generally a smooth and unobtrusive powertrain.
Comfort and handling
This, then, is a car that has a really decent turn of pace in its fruitier iterations. And yet, you're unlikely to really want to pedal them with any vigour because the steering is – while well weighted – entirely devoid of feel, real or artificial. It's quite a slow steering response, too, which is why you're unlikely to relish the idea of a good cross-country drive in your XC60.
However, the steering does offer enough sense of what's going on at the front end, so you can really lean on the car and enjoy its stoic grip. It's easy and confident, but you'd never describe it as fun.
There are two suspension options – standard steel springs, or you can pay a wedge of cash for air suspension (or it's standard on mega top-spec R-Design Pro and Inscription Pro). We'd save the money. The standard steel suspension is good enough most of the time, even on R-Design, which has a slightly firmer setup and is the only non-air car we've tried in the UK.
It does fidget and shiver a bit over rough surfaces, but even the air suspension will thud very heavily into sharp-edged potholes, and you get a touch more body float and lean with the air suspension. Ultimately, the XC60 is cushy enough as standard, although it is not the most cohesive ride and handling balance in the class.
Recommended engine: D4
0-62 MPH
136g/km CO2
If it could wrap you in cotton wool, it would. As it is, on top of the expected advanced ESP and traction control (and that standard four-wheel drive) every model has emergency braking, which will detect cyclists, pedestrians and large animals.
It'll also nudge the steering back into lane if you drift over the white line without indicating. Rear parking sensors, automatic headlight adjustment to the LED lights, traffic sign readouts on the dash, and a full complement of air bags including driver's knee airbag, makes this about as safe as a car gets.
On top of that, for a reasonable sum you can add a pack that adds a host of extra driver aids including blind spot radar cruise control, and a system called Pilot Assist where the car will virtually drive itself. You have to keep your hands on the wheel, and it's not infallible so you're still going to need to stay very alert, but it steers itself, adjusts its speed, stops itself and keeps its distance from the car in front.
It's impressive, although it's best for taking the strain out of busy traffic in town rather than any faster stuff, and it's a bit alarming the way it doesn't always centre itself in the lane particularly well. You can also add a heads-up display, although with the excellent digital dials so easy to read anyway, it's an expensive option to justify.
There's a range of official Volvo child seats and integrated booster seats, and there's a very cheap optional button that lets you turn the rear child locks on or off from the front seats. An alarm and immobiliser are standard. It's no surprise, then, that the Volvo XC60 got the full five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests including an impressive 95% for safety assist, and 98% for adult occupant.
Momentum or Inscription trims only have one standard colour – solid white. R-Design (a more style-led trim) you have the option of a bright red (not offered on the other trims) or solid white, but there's a palette of 11 metallic hues to choose from across the range. That R-Design red is the only really in-your-face colour; the rest are all quite subdued but suit the XC60's clean lines.
Trim Levels
The Volvo is one of the best equipped cars as standard of its immediate rivals. There are only three trims – Momentum (for lots of kit at the best price), R-Design (for sportier looks), and Inscription (for the lavish look and feel). There are also 'Pro' trims of each of these, which are targeted primarily at company car users. Momentum is the best value trim, and comes with masses of kit as standard including climate control, cruise control and leather seats, but you can't have it with the D5 engine.
The R-Design looks snazzier, with rectangular exhausts and various exterior style tweaks, plus the excellent sports seats, and is the best bet if you want the D5 engine.
Inscription is fully-laden with lovely stuff, including posh wood trim that'd be at home in any exclusive hotel, but you'll still probably want to add the panoramic glass roof and the full-fat safety Pilot Assist stuff, so you may as well go for the cheaper R-Design.
The 'Pro' trims all add active headlights, heated windscreen wiper blades and windscreen, and powered seat adjustment, among other extras.
4,688mm
Max towing weight unbraked - braked
750 - 2,400kg
Both of the diesels have decent claimed economy, and will likely do well over 40mpg very easily in the real world. They're also right up there for company car costs and CO2 emissions, while resale values should be very strong.
The petrol T5 is an interesting prospect, but its running costs are its big weak point. The potent petrol motor might have a claimed economy of around 40mpg, but the low 30s are likely to be a lot more realistic. Still, that's not too bad for a powerful petrol car.
The T8 hybrid is a funny one. It's got fantastic claimed economy and emissions, and you'll get up to 28 miles of pure-electric usage - more like 20 realistically - before the petrol engine kicks in. But when the petrol engine is in use you'll be very lucky to see 30mpg, so it's definitely one for those who mostly just do short urban journeys.
Surprisingly, the Volvo XC60 is a fraction more expensive to insure than rivals like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.
Reliability and servicing
Tricky to say, but Volvo has a good reputation for reliability. Its servicing intervals have generous mileage allowances, too, and a three-year, 60,000 mile warranty. You can take out fixed price service plans to cover the car for up to six years, and you can take them out up to 48 months after you've bought the car.
Surprisingly, the Volvo XC60 is a fraction more expensive to insure than rivals like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. You get three year's European roadside assistance as standard, and they'll carry on the cover for free after that if you service the car at an official dealer.
12 months or 18,000 miles
On list price alone, the Volvo XC60 is very competitive – especially given the fact that it's got such generous equipment levels. It gets LED headlights, for a start, which are optional on the Audi Q5, although it's not like any of them are short of night-time illumination.
Finance costs are also really good. For an entry-level D4 Momentum, a circa 20% deposit will get you monthly payments of around £400 on a 36-month PCP deal – you could be looking at 48 months of the roughly the same payments and deposit for the equivalent Audi Q5.
Company car costs are about on the nose, too, or of course the T8 is super-cheap on BIK tax. Having said that, it'll cost a lot to lease or buy outright, so persuading your company to foot the bill might be tricky.
Tech Junkie
The higher specs are more about style and comfort than gadgets; go for Momentum, and add the 12.3-inch digital dials and the safety pack with Pilot Assist.
Cost Conscious
D4 Momentum is the best value model, and promises to be the cheapest to run for private or company buyers
Luxury Seeker
Inscription. The pale wood trim looks stunning, and makes this the sort of interior that you'd look for in a plush hotel. If we were to have a car maker do our living room, it'd be Volvo.
More cohesive ride and handling, but pricier on PCP.
Sharp drive, but refinement and ride are a bit questionable.
Better CO2 emissions, but ride comfort is iffy.
Looks outstanding and handles with panache, but not the most practical and the interior feels a touch flimsy in some areas.
The only seven-seat option, and cheaper, too.
Gallery: 2017 Volvo XC60


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doi: 10.5455/ajvs.136755
Antibacterial Effects of Garlic Powder on Escherichia coli Isolated from Broiler Chickens
Manar R. Hattab, Mohammad M. Mousa, Nehad I. El Desouky.
A total of 100 random samples of freshly slaughtered chicken including, (50 breast and 50 thighs) were collected from poultry shops at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate for detection of Enteropathogenic E. coli. In addition, an experiment was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of addition of garlic powder as natural preservatives to control the contamination of chicken meat with Enteropathogenic E. coli. It was recorded that the prevalence of E. coli in breast samples (32%) was higher than that of thigh samples (18%). It was noticed that the E. coli count showed an increasing manner by time passing in the control group that did not treated with garlic powder (1×108 cfu/g at zero time till reach 8×1012 cfu/g after 96 hours). Concerning the treated groups, addition of garlic powder by 2% resulted in decrease of E. coli count (R% = 98%) after 2 hours (2×106 cfu/g) then the R% increased to 99.99% after 24 hours (1×105 cfu/g), 99.98% after 48 hours (2×104 cfu/g) and 99.96% after 72 hours (4×104 cfu/g). On contrary, R % of E. coli count decreased to 94% after 96 hours (6×106 cfu/g). At the same time, addition of garlic powder by 2.5% concentration resulted in decrease of E. coli count (R% = 99%) after 2 hours (1×106 cfu/g) then R% increased to 99.91% after 24 hours (9×104 cfu/g), 99.99% after 48 hours (7×103 cfu/g) and 99.99% after 72 hours (4×103 cfu/g). On contrary, the R% of E. coli count decreased to 99% after 96 hours (9×105 cfu/g). On the other side, addition of garlic powder by 3% concentration resulted in decrease of E. coli count (R% = 99%) after 2 hours (1×106 cfu/g) then R % increased to 99.87% after 24 hours (1.3×105 cfu/g), 99.99% after 48 hours (1.5×104 cfu/g) then slightly decreased to 99.97% after 72 hours (3×104 cfu/g). On contrary, R % of E. coli count decreased to 91% after 96 hours (9×106 cfu/g). Finally, it was clear that addition of garlic powder by concentration of 2.5 and 3% had more pronounced effect on inhibition of bacterial growth compared to 2% concentration especially after 72 hours.
Key words: E. coli, Chicken, Garlic powder, Preservation
Articles by Manar R. Hattab
Articles by Mohammad M. Mousa
Articles by Nehad I. El Desouky
Hattab MR, Mousa MM, Desouky NIE. Antibacterial Effects of Garlic Powder on Escherichia coli Isolated from Broiler Chickens. AJVS. 2020; 67(1): 55-62. doi:10.5455/ajvs.136755
Hattab MR, Mousa MM, Desouky NIE. Antibacterial Effects of Garlic Powder on Escherichia coli Isolated from Broiler Chickens. http://www.alexjvs.com/?mno=136755 [Access: November 27, 2020]. doi:10.5455/ajvs.136755
Hattab MR, Mousa MM, Desouky NIE. Antibacterial Effects of Garlic Powder on Escherichia coli Isolated from Broiler Chickens. AJVS. (2020), [cited November 27, 2020]; 67(1): 55-62. doi:10.5455/ajvs.136755
Hattab, M. R., Mousa, . M. M. & Desouky, . N. I. E. (2020) Antibacterial Effects of Garlic Powder on Escherichia coli Isolated from Broiler Chickens. AJVS, 67 (1), 55-62. doi:10.5455/ajvs.136755
Hattab, Manar R., Mohammad M. Mousa, and Nehad I. El Desouky. 2020. Antibacterial Effects of Garlic Powder on Escherichia coli Isolated from Broiler Chickens. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 67 (1), 55-62. doi:10.5455/ajvs.136755
Hattab, Manar R., Mohammad M. Mousa, and Nehad I. El Desouky. "Antibacterial Effects of Garlic Powder on Escherichia coli Isolated from Broiler Chickens." Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 67 (2020), 55-62. doi:10.5455/ajvs.136755
Hattab, Manar R., Mohammad M. Mousa, and Nehad I. El Desouky. "Antibacterial Effects of Garlic Powder on Escherichia coli Isolated from Broiler Chickens." Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences 67.1 (2020), 55-62. Print. doi:10.5455/ajvs.136755
Hattab, M. R., Mousa, . M. M. & Desouky, . N. I. E. (2020) Antibacterial Effects of Garlic Powder on Escherichia coli Isolated from Broiler Chickens. Alexandria Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 67 (1), 55-62. doi:10.5455/ajvs.136755
Manar R. Hattab, Mohammad M. Mousa, Nehad I. El Desouky
AJVS. Year: 2020, Volume: 67, Issue: 1: 55-62. DOI: 10.5455/ajvs.136755

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Home News Babcock to deliver further Phalanx systems
Babcock to deliver further Phalanx systems
Babcock, in association with Raytheon, is to deliver four Phalanx 1B kits and convert four land Phalanx Weapons Systems to their original marinised configuration to provide naval Close-In Weapon Systems (CIWS) capability (the UK's primary defence for ships against anti-ship missiles), under a contract awarded by the UK MoD. Three of the four Phalanx kits will add to the defensive capability of the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, the MoD has said.
Babcock is the in-service support provider to the MoD for Phalanx systems under a long-term availability contract awarded in 2006, managing and executing all upkeep support activities, including a 24/7 helpdesk for the Royal Navy, as well as providing logistics support for spares and repairable units. The company is also under contract to upgrade 16 Phalanx systems to the 1B configuration in an on-going programme.
The latest contract to provide a further four Phalanx 1B kits and four conversions, which follows a similar contract awarded last year for four kits and two conversions, will be delivered under an amendment to the existing support and upgrade contract. Babcock will procure the Phalanx 1B systems in partnership with the original equipment manufacturer Raytheon, and will undertake the land-based Phalanx weapon system conversions using Babcock weapons support engineers. The systems are to be delivered by March 2015
Babcock Weapons Business Manager, Martin Laity, said: "Following the successful on-schedule delivery of a similar contract last year, we are delighted to have this further opportunity to apply our expertise and work with Raytheon to help the MoD and Royal Navy build the Phalanx CIWS capability it needs. Babcock is already known for our weapon support work for the UK MoD and our expertise in the assembly, test and setting to work of naval weapon systems, with upgrade and long term support contracts for the 4.5 inch Mk8 Mod1 Gun as well as the Phalanx CIWS. We are well placed to support the MoD and Royal Navy in meeting this further Phalanx capability upgrade."
A spokesperson for DE&S added: "We are pleased to have signed this £20m contract with Babcock to provide the Royal Navy with this advanced Close-In Weapons System. Three of the four Phalanx kits will go on to add to the defensive capability of the Queen Elizabeth Carrier and we look forward to working with our counterparts in industry to ensure this important requirement is met."
Phalanx CIWS is a rapid-fire, computer-controlled radar and 20mm Gatling gun system. The Phalanx 1B upgrade incorporates a side-mounted Forward Looking Infra-Red Camera (FLIR) enabling the CIWS to defend the ship against surface targets and slow air targets in addition to anti-ship missiles.
Half year results for six months ended 30 September 2014
Babcock becomes a member of the ukactive Vanguard Group


APS Jaipur was founded by the AWES with the noble vision to provide the wards of the army personnel's with the best of education and raise individuals with a high academic caliber, unblemished character, nurtured with a strong motivation and commitment to serve the humanity.
APS Jaipur had itsAPS Jaipur had its humble beginning as a pre primary chinkara school with 20 students in the year 1984. As the number of students increased pre fabricated class rooms were erected and the primary wing shifted to these rooms on 14th November 2005 which is housed here till date. The school shifted to its new grand Rajputana culture inspired building on 15th may 2009.
The ultra modern building houses more than 3000 students today that are distributed in 75 sections.
Success is the realization of the estimate you place upon yourself. APS Jaipur has indeed proven itself true to its aim "SOARING HIGH IS OUR NATURE...".


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Q: Android WebView postMessage from iframe with pages in assets I have a WebView containing page A.
Page A has an iframe containing page B.
Both page A and B are in the app's assets.
Page A has a message event handler and page B calls parent.postMessage but I get a security problem:

I/chromium(997): [INFO:CONSOLE(27)] "Uncaught SecurityError: Blocked a
  frame with origin "null" from accessing a frame with origin "null".
  Protocols, domains, and ports must match.", source:
  file:///android_asset/path/to/my.js

I assume the origins are null because the files are assets but is there a way to allow them to communicate in this way?

A: You should enable file access from within pages. Use this setting:
webView.getSettings().setAllowFileAccessFromFileURLs(true);

Edit:
This setting is valid from SDK version 16.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Adam Parfrey (1957–2018)
May 15, 2018 // books, children's books, Feral House, Floraphiles, Grandpa's Ghost Stories, profiles, reprinted editions
Adam Parfrey, a fearless, maverick independent publisher with a robust sense of humor (and a taste for the macabre), has died at age 61. We note his passing here because Adam's Feral House Books reprinted Jim Flora's legendary 1978 book Grandpa's Ghost Stories in 2017. Just last week we signed an agreement with Feral to reprint Flora's last (1982) book, Grandpa's Witched-Up Christmas.
Feral House was known for publishing edgy titles, and Adam was the heart and soul of the imprint's inclinations towards sensationalism and extremism. He had no tolerance for political correctness of any stripe; Adam took pleasure in sparking outrage among puritans across the spectrum. A mutual friend who worked with Adam when he was establishing Amok Press in 1987 wrote, "He gleefully offended anyone and everyone with his books, yet he was a very nice person."
We'd personally known and admired Adam for decades. When he approached us about reprinting Grandpa's Ghost Stories, we were intrigued, since FH was not known for serving the young-reader market. But Adam's interest was sincere, not ironic. Feral House had issued a commercially successful reprint of the gruesome 19th century classic Struwwelpeter, and Adam was developing a greater interest in offering ghoulish titles for tots—no doubt to corrupt innocent minds during their formative years. In Grandpa's Ghost Stories and Witched-Up Christmas, he picked a pair of Flora titles he found "funny and scary," two qualities that were hallmarks of his catalog.
We'll miss Adam's bonhomie, his tenaciousness as a publisher, and his wicked style. Adam's sister Jessica, managing editor of Feral House, is expected to continue the imprint, and we're hopeful Grandpa's Witched-Up Christmas will appear in time for the holidays.
Our friend (and fellow Floraphile) Mark Frauenfelder wrote a nice remembrance of Adam at BoingBoing. A New York Times obit by Sam Roberts called Adam a "publisher of the provocative," and noted that his father, actor Woodrow Parfrey, portrayed Maximus, an anthropoid judge, in Planet of the Apes. "I just figured everyone's father did this," said Adam. "Got up, went to work, played an orangutan in the movies."
The cause of death was a stroke, which occurred in April. The photo above of Adam was taken in the early 1990s by his buddy Scott Lindgren, deceased brother of Laura Lindgren, who designed our four Flora art anthologies published by Fantagraphics Books. The elegant portrait of Parfrey sporting a cigar (an homage to Orson Welles) was also taken by Scott.
The Mischievous and Diabolic art of James Flora (1914-1998). Glimpses of rare works from the archives and news about Flora-related projects.
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Epoch TV
5 Children Killed in Day Care Center Fire in Pennsylvania
August 11, 2019US
Paul Laughlin, 57, places stuffed animals outside a home at 1248 West 11th St. in Erie, Pa., where multiple people died in an early-morning fire on Aug. 11, 2019. (Greg Wohlford/Erie Times-News via AP)
ERIE, Pa.—An early morning fire in Pennsylvania at a residential building housing a day care center killed five children and sent the owner to the hospital, authorities said.
The fire was reported in Erie, a northwest lake town, at about 1:15 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11, Chief Guy Santone of the Erie Fire Department said.
Five children die in a daycare center fire at 1248 West 11th St. in Erie, Pa., on Aug. 11, 2019. (AP)
The victims ranged in ages from 8 months to 7 years, Santone said. The Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership lists a day care at the fire address.
Valerie Lockett-Slupski, standing across the street from the fire-damaged house, said she was the grandmother of four of the children, and that they were staying at the day care because their parents were working overnight, the Erie Times-News reported . She said the family had two boys and two girls and had used the day care for almost a year.
"So we are all at a loss, trying to figure out how this happened," Lockett-Slupski told the newspaper.
Update: Inspector: 1 detector found at scene of fire that killed 5 https://t.co/3hOU5AVXYU pic.twitter.com/eCebbYOuRI
— GoErie (@GoErie) August 11, 2019
The owner of the day care was flown to UPMC Mercy for treatment, Santone said. He said a neighbor was also injured.
Chief Fire Inspector John Widomski told the newspaper that the fire appeared to have started in the living room area on the first floor. The department's two fire inspectors and three Erie police detectives trained in fire investigations are working to determine the cause of the blaze.
Erie Bureau of Fire Inspector Mark Polanski helps investigate a fatal fire at 1248 West 11th St. in Erie, Pa, on Aug. 11, 2019. (Greg Wohlford/Erie Times-News via AP)
The chamber site lists the Harris Family Daycare at that address as "a 24 hour, 7 days a week childcare service including holidays. We provide transportation and teach kids age appropriate skills." The state Department of Human Services Office of Child Development and Early Learning listed the day care as in compliance with requirements following a Dec. 28, 2018, inspection.
Facts About Crime in the United States
Violent crime in the United States has fallen sharply over the past 25 years, according to both the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) (pdf).
The rate of violent crimes fell by 49 percent between 1993 and 2017, according to the FBI's UCR, which only reflects crimes reported to the police.
The violent crime rate dropped by 74 percent between 1993 and 2017, according to the BJS's NCVS, which takes into account both crimes that have been reported to the police and those that have not. The FBI recently released preliminary data for 2018. According to the Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January to June 2018, violent crime rates in the United States dropped by 4.3 percent compared to the same six-month period in 2017.
While the overall rate of violent crime has seen a steady downward drop since its peak in the 1990s, there have been several upticks that bucked the trend. Between 2014 and 2016, the murder rate increased by more than 20 percent, to 5.4 per 100,000 residents, from 4.4, according to an Epoch Times analysis of FBI data. The last two-year period that the rate soared so quickly was between 1966 and 1968.
NTD staff contributed to this article.
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Is your home filled with too much stuff?
Do you constantly lose important items and spend precious time searching for them?
Does the thought of getting rid of old clothes—even when you haven't worn them in years—send you into a panic?
Clearing clutter is one of the easiest things you can do to move your life forward. If you feel stuck in your weight release journey, get rid of your stuff to get back on track.
To become the lighter, slimmer version of yourself, you need to release the old to make way for the new. Have you heard the saying "nature abhors a vacuum?" What that means is as you create space by releasing clutter, the Universe naturally fills that space. Your energy field becomes open to renewed inspiration and expanded self-awareness that helps you live your best—and lighter—life.
Our homes reflect who we are on every level. Invisible threads of energy connect us to everything in it. When you hold onto too many things, especially from your past, your energy is scattered. Clutter also creates clogged energy that can dampen your mood. You may not notice how this affects you but once you let it go, you feel revitalized.
For example, have you ever noticed how good you feel after cleaning out a drawer or closet? That's because when you remove energy blocks created by all that clutter, you raise your vibration. As your energy flows more freely, you feel lighter.
Changing yourself—including releasing weight—happens from the inside out as you change your thoughts and feelings. Change also happens from the outside in as you release objects that no longer serve your emotional and spiritual growth.
Extra weight on your body and extra stuff in your life often equal emotional protection. But the true source of your strength comes from within. As you release clutter and the security it provides, you build confidence. You feel more secure on the inside as you let go of things on the outside.
Here's the thing: Holding on to something "just in case" reflects a lack of trust. When you keep unnecessary stuff around because you might need it "someday," you validate feelings of scarcity and insecurity.
Expand your thinking. Trust your needs will be met. Stop draining your energy by holding onto old possessions to feel safe. Relax, exhale… and release what you no longer need in your life now.
Take your time and pace yourself. Start with one room, one closet, one shelf or one box. As you let go of your stuff little by little, you let go of that need for protection and begin feeling more secure and emotionally safe to also let go of the weight.
My client Marianne used to collect anything with hippopotamuses on it. Kitchen towels, pictures, t-shirts—you name it, she found it. It wasn't until we explored this that she remembered being called "Hippo" when she was in grade school.
Collecting hippopotamuses subconsciously kept Marianne holding onto this painful identity. As long as she kept these images in her energy field, she was still that hurt, overweight kid. This stopped her from seeing herself differently.
At my suggestion Marianne began to let go of this collection. Remarkably, her identity shifted and she became committed to creating a healthier lifestyle. While she held compassion for the child she once was, she no longer needed to be that child.
Look with new eyes at everything you own. Get rid of anything that symbolizes a humiliating representation of being overweight. Get rid of the elephants, hippos and pigs. It's not that there's anything inherently wrong with these. It's that everything you own symbolizes something about yourself. As you create a slimmer body, embrace those images that support—and don't conflict with—your new self-image.
As a psychotherapist, I've seen the surprising results of clearing clutter to help relieve anxiety and mild to moderate depression. The simple act of clearing clutter—even a little bit at a time—opens energy blocks to offer some relief. As you release the heaviness of stuff suffocating your home, you feel physically and emotionally lighter.
Here's a tip: When you feel triggered to eat for emotional reasons, take a moment to clean out a closet, cabinet or drawer. The lightness you feel afterwards can help minimize or eliminate that urge to eat. Try it and see.
Reducing clutter also reduces disorganization and the stress of not finding what you need. When everything has a permanent place, you feel calmer and more in charge of your life.
If you experienced a traumatic childhood or difficult times as an adult, let go of mementos from those periods. Even if something doesn't seem to trigger sad feelings, the energy from that time is embedded in the objects and still surrounds you. Keep only what puts a smile on your face and let the rest go.
To support your weight release journey, make clutter clearing a lifestyle habit. Along with eating nutritious food and giving your body movement, make it a priority to clear the clutter from your home.
As you lighten your life this way, so, too, you lighten your mind, spirit… and your body.
Will you make clutter clearing a lifestyle habit? Start now and release one thing from your life today… okay?
When it comes to your clothes…remember the 80/20 rule!
At 71 I'm just experiencing the mixed emotions of having to go through things from my parents' estate. I have not been able to go to the old home place, so my equally abused sister is picking up my things and bringing them to me. (I feel so conflicted about that, too.) Still, just seeing and holding the photographs from my youth is filling me with bad memories. My parents were professional photographers and my life is exceedingly well documented. The trouble is these photos, while beautiful to other people, remind me – sometimes very specifically – of my abuse. Even though I know others can't see the pain behind my smiles, I feel like they might. Certainly, I can. Still, on one hand I love the photos of me on the beach or as a laughing baby with a bib on or in my stroller or virtually weekly until I went away to college. On the other hand I have bad memories even about that stroller. How can I not keep my history. How do I sanitize these photos in my mind so I can keep them for my child without being weighed down by them myslf.
Kay, your post really touched me. My question is about things… and the actual attachment of the energy of those experiences.
On the one hand, it does seem possible or likely that energy may attach itself to stuff, and so go on to transmit this in the future.
But on the other hand, I strongly suspect that our own psychology is responsible for playing a major role.
But what happens for instance, if I were to find your photographs in a shop and I looked at them and I loved that smiling face that I didn't know was hiding pain. Would the energy of that pain still be able to reach out?
I don't think so. And therefore I can't see how the energy is actually there at all but rather the images are no more than a collection of triggers in your own memory.
Perhaps if you were able to somehow resolve your painful childhood memories those photos would be different.
I loved the article about clearing clutter and have taken this advice which I did find cathartic. A big problem for me is that years later I have missed stuff I had chucked out. I sometimes pine for things that I discarded and now can no longer ever find.
So out with the old to make way for the new – all well and good theoretically but I am a person who finds special value in 'vintage' stuff and treasure things found at autions for example.
I do have a problem with clutter though – so what the ultimate solution I wonder for someone sentimental who feels nostalgic about old stuff with a history?
I need to let go but there is an unmentioned art to just chucking it all out and knowing what to let go.
Its just not as easy to do (withou regrets) as you think.
Rowena, You make a good point about what happens if someone else sees a photo that causes one person pain and someone else sees happiness. Thanks for bringing this up.
Here's the thing: Someone else looking at the photo won't necessarily be affected by it. They don't have a history with it so the energy doesn't connect with them in the same way as it does with the owner. They bring their own perspective—and new energy—to the object.
But for some people with highly sensitive and attuned energy fields, they may, in fact, feel something unsettling about certain objects that others don't feel or notice. That's also why some people do space clearing upon buying a home or moving into a rental. They want to clear out the old, stagnant energies in the space from prior owners.
Going through your parents' estate right now is understandably bringing up a lot of hard feelings. You're having to do so much at once that perhaps this isn't the best time to get rid of things you're just not sure about. It's emotional enough as it is.
My suggestion is to release those things that feel clear you can let go of, give some things to your child that you know he/she would want, and put some of the other things away in boxes with the intention that in six months or so, you revisit this. After some time has passed and you feel some distance from this major task, it may feel easier and the answers clearer.
One suggestion with the photographs. You could take digital photos of them to store on your computer and give the originals to your child. Once they're in a different form——and take up less space——it may create some distance that helps the happiness flow through without as much of the pain. Something to consider.
Hi–I was sexually abused by a family "friend" when I was a child. For a while, I just didn't think about it, then, it hit me hard. I have had self-esteem issues, and now I am overweight and always depressed and stuff is piling up in my house. I can't seem to get rid of it. It's becoming a huge issue with me and my husband. Could this really be an effect of my sexual child abuse??? My daughter went through this too, and she is skinny and so Neat!!!! Any Comments you have would be helpful. I have gone to many psychiatrists and none have helped me, but Everything that you said today really affected me. I want so Badly to get UNSTUCK!!! Anything you can say or do to help me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you. I am very emotional and cry a lot now too…especially as my children are leaving for college. I am 57 and still having problems with all this.
We all respond to life in different ways. Your sister responded one way to the abuse, you another.
It seems you're already dealing with letting go, aren't you, with your children leaving for college. That can feel hard.
If you have a lot of stuff around and it's hard to let go of things, start with at least organizing it all so it's not chaotic. As you do that, little by little, you may discover you naturally feel ready to let go of some stuff. Start small. One closet, one shelf, one drawer. The important thing is to get started.
I suggest you——and others who posted here——to read, Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui, by Karen Kinston. It's a great book that will help.
My daughter has NOT gone through ANY sexual abuse.
I meant to say MY SISTER!!!!!!! My Sister is the one who is SO NEAT, and THIN, and She seems to Never have any issues from all this!!!!
This man told us he would KILL our PARENTS if we told.
We were scared half to death!!!
We didn't know what to do!!!!!!!!!!!!


How to make waxing less taxing.
"Take a good look at my face. You'll see my smile looks out of place." Probably because you just got waxed. You're loving the brows but not the "ow's." Waxing is one of the oldest forms of human grooming and beautification…so why the tears? Below are some of the reasons why waxing can be taxing, and some ways you can make it so those tears clear faster than normal.
Rip. Curl (into a fetal position, and cry).
This is what many of us remember of early waxing experiences — eyes closed and preemptive wincing ("make it end quickly, make it end quickly").
What first pops into most people's heads when they think of waxing is the ripping. No matter how beautifully, expertly and soothingly it's done, it is what it is. You're uprooting hair from skin and it sounds pretty much like it feels: schwfffftk.
Redness and bumps are next to come to mind. Inflammation, plain and simple. As innocuous as waxing is for most people, make no mistake: the ripping up of hairs by their follicles is a physical trauma, and that's inflammatory. If your wax has allergens, the contact, however brief, is another source of possible inflammation.
Delayed bumps are folliculitis: hairs growing outwards through a distorted hair canal. This can also lead to follicular cyst bumps, which can be infected.
Because the heat in waxing is of a duration and temperature that's normally acceptable to skin, it isn't something that blips on your radar. But it can contribute to the ordeal. Heat usually aids in the absorption of anything applied on the skin. If your wax has allergens — fragrance, beeswax, lemon, for example — the heat could up the contact and sensitization. More rare, burns from hot wax can occur. Even if you don't burn, heat emits infrared light, which research has shown to be a cause of dark spots, melasma and other hyperpigmentations. As common a practice as waxing is, anything dealing with heat should be handled with care.
I've Got … Something … Under My Skin.
Another unseen danger, and the most nefarious: infection. Infection is always a risk whenever there are openings in the skin. Heat opens pores (aka follicles). Waxing uproots hair which can be enough of a break to cause bleeding. Waxing also removes the top layer of skin. If your skin is very dry or sensitive, you could be more at risk as the skin's barrier layer may be compromised, making it more susceptible to breaks or cracks.
What kind of infections are we talking? Everything from the simple (a topical antibiotic can treat it) to the life-threatening, antibiotic-resistant (MRSA or Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). One can get the herpes virus from poorly sterilized equipment, or have underlying herpes infections flare-up due to the heat and physical trauma of a waxing session.
Hair salons can be fantastic, star-birthing holy lands that make you wish you had your own purse-sized wind machine. But there's a reason why hair conditions, follicles and scalps are handled by dermatologists: past these areas, hair basically consists of dead cells. This is why it hurts when you uproot hair at the follicle but not when you cut it at the shaft.
Although waxing is hair removal, it is primarily a skin-related practice. Particularly if you have sensitive skin or regularly have problems with waxing (redness, bumps, infection), choose a spa whose primary expertise is skin…and ideally, sensitive or complex skin.
Go to a licensed and experienced esthetician who is up-to-date with best practices and innovations in health care. A great waxer will also take the the time to ask you about your skin and examine your skin for breakage, infection or sensitivity.
If you're going for more than just simple upkeep, choose an esthetician whose work you've seen and liked on others. You want someone who'll listen to what you're hoping to achieve and who has a good understanding of aesthetics and anatomy (brow shaping can be an art form and can change one's look dramatically).
3. Clean Cut. Emphasis on CLEAN.
Have you had an infection (a cold, flu, etc.) or wound recently, or do you have one now?
Do you have herpes or a similar condition that might require extra care?
We'll be applying a cream with an anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial after your session.
Apply a topical anti-microbial on the waxed areas for a few days after your session.
Call us if signs of infection appear: pain, swelling, redness, bumps with pus, tender bumps, etc.
Don't go in when you're feeling fluey.
Don't go in if you have wounds, flare-ups or active infections.
After waxing, slather on Know-It-Oil virgin coconut oil or Essence Hand + Body Soother to reduce redness, repair the skin's barrier, and prevent infection.
For bumps or soreness, dab on Boo-Boo Balm to hasten healing.
Skincare doesn't end on the face: start caring for skin on waxed areas daily. Bathe with a non-drying body wash and moisturize daily.
Check, check, check. Try our Hypoallergenic Waxing Services. Expert, safe, and allergen-free, our hair removal services use patch-tested wax plus our clinically-published (even awarded) anti-microbial, intensive moisturizing and anti-inflammatory remedies help heal compromised barriers and reduce redness, bumps and infection.
Call VMV Soho at (212) 216 2762 to book now.
Let us know: did you find this helpful? Have more questions?


Good afternoon everyone. Hopefully someone has done this before. 12 months ago I bought my first real estate investment. A 4plex with an FHA loan. I am currently living in one unit and renting the other 3 (house hacking). I want to get started on my 2nd deal one year later (which is now) and want to purchase another 4plex to house hack with an FHA loan. I visited a local bank today but they want to do a conventional loan at a 6% interest (I currently have a 4.25%) and do a 20 year fixed rather than a 30 year fixed. My monthly payment will now increase to $320 a month washing away my cash flow.
Has anyone done something like this before and what methods have you used. I really want to go with another FHA loan with the next 4plex but the numbers need to make sense when refinancing the one I currently have.
Thank you very much in advance and Happy New Year.
@Daniel Hinojosa I would also check with a broker on any FHA program. Depending on your scenario you might find better terms. Was your score very low a year ago? FHA rates were not that high a year ago unless your score was very low or the lender had a huge margin built in.
@Daniel Hinojosa , nothing wrong with ambition. So long a you bought a super-bargain a year ago (ie. already having achieved 20%+ equity?), you should be able to refi out of your original FHA-approved loan. Keep in mind that to refi into a conventional non-occupant investment loan, it will be at a higher interest than your next FHA owner-occupier house-hack loan.
@Daniel Hinojosa holy rate batman. You're talking to the wrong bank/lender. Conventional, investment property loan rates are in the low 5's, and you can absolutely do a 30 year term. But the max LTV on a 4-unit IP refi is 75%. Do you have 25% equity yet? If so, PM me and I can get you in touch with a rockstar LO that won't bend you over on the rate.
Or perhaps you're getting those terms because you don't have enough equity for Conventional financing and they are giving you a portfolio product.
Either way, if you want to house hack another 4-unit with 3.5% down, then FHA is your only option. And you'll need to refi out of your current FHA loan in order to get a new FHA loan.
No, I didnt have a low credit score. This was at the beginning of the year when the interest rates hiked to 4.25 (I was at 720). I do not have 20% equity, but I wanted to free up my FHA in my current house hack to do it all over again without putting a large amount down.
What about the loans out there for 5% down? Keep us posted on what you find and as the podcasts constantly says, if one says no, go to the next.
You could be right about that. I just became aware of Homestyle Loans - for Investors. Under certain circumstances (single unit investments), they lend up to 95% LTV!
From what I understand you are required to stay in an home for two years when using an FHA loan. After that you should be able to get another FHA loan on the next property without refinanancing the first. Why not wait another year then get another FHA loan on the next 4-plex and keep the old loan with the low interest rate?
@Daniel Hinojosa Considering your credit score and assuming you have a stable income, have you considered going with a 5% down loan? Refinance will probably cost you points and as well as a higher rate on the conventional loan. Why do that? Use your current FHA loan and get a second mortgage using conventional finance. If you plan on holding on to the properties, it doesn't make too much sense, in this environment, to convert to conventional financing and get a second FHA loan.
At the end of the day, you'll be doing extra steps to achieve the same outcome - 1 conventional and 1 FHA loan.
@Anthony G you're only required to stay in an FHA loan property for 1 year before you're allowed to move out and keep it. Also without special circumstances you may only have 1 FHA at a time. to the op I would keep the FHA you have until you get 25% equity, and use the conventional to get the 2nd 4plex, even if getting a 5% down loan will force you to get PMI.
@Anthony G I was under the impression you can only have one FHA loan at a time and not two like you mentioned waiting a 2nd year to get my second FHA. @Omar Khan I think i will go with a conventional loan in my 2nd property and give the 20% down and wait until i have 20% equity on my 1st 4plex property. It was just a great year house hacking the 4plex that I wanted to repeat it again this year with another 4plex without giving that much down or going high on interest.
Thanks everyone, really appreciate the info!!!


OXNARD, Calif., May 16, 2011 - DeVry University, one of North America's largest degree-granting higher education institutions for business, technology, and management education, announced that it has begun recruiting for the university's newest California center location in the Ventura County City of Oxnard, located at 300 E. Esplanade Drive. Classes at DeVry University Oxnard are expected to begin in July.
DeVry University Oxnard will offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs, with both onsite and online classes available. DeVry University will offer degree programs year-round at the Oxnard location, allowing students to earn a bachelor's degree in as few as three years and an associate degree in as few as two years. DeVry University's Keller Graduate School of Management will also offer a number of master's degree programs in business and technology. DeVry University is institutionally accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
DeVry University offers active career services that support students and graduates seeking positions in their fields of study.
DeVry University also announced it has appointed Christine Bosworth, Ed.D., as center dean for the new Oxnard location. Dr. Bosworth brings to DeVry more than 12 years of experience in traditional and online academics. Most recently, she served as school director at Professional Career Education in Los Angeles. Dr. Bosworth earned a doctorate degree in educational leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master of Education and Bachelor of Arts from Florida Atlantic University. As center dean for the new Oxnard location, she is responsible for launching and managing the new location, including enrollment, academics, marketing and operations.
DeVry University has been providing high-quality, career-oriented education in California since 1983 with locations in Alhambra, Anaheim, Bakersfield, Colton, Daly City, Fremont, Fresno, Long Beach, Oxnard, Palmdale, Pomona, Sacramento (Elk Grove), San Diego and the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles. In fall 2010, more than 13,200 students were enrolled at DeVry University in California.
For more information about undergraduate and graduate degree programs offered at DeVry University or to register for classes, please call 866-623-9266 or visit www.devry.edu.
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text: Q: Установка 1с битрикс управление сайтом Пробую установить 1с битрикс управление сайтом. Зарегался на хостинге. Далее в папку закинул скрипт, перешёл на сайт установил путь /скрипт.php вышла установочная страница, начал установку и у меня перезагрузил ась страница с ошибкой. То есть дальше должна по идее вылезти установочная страница, но вышла ошибка (The requested URL /bitrix/urlrewrite.php was not found on this server. Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.), какие-то предустановки я должен делать? Может кто-то сталкивался


Alright, I have it...the tipping point for illegal immigration. First, this is based off the premise that illegal immigration is indeed an epidemic that needs to be addressed. So, if you can't concede the problem, then obviously no solution is needed. For those who are looking for a solution and don't like the financial repercussions of a Great Wall of Mexico, how bout this? If an American corporation knowingly hires an illegal or undocumented worker, the worker responsible for the hiring receives 6 months in prison.
you are brutal. isn't it already illegal for corporations to hire illegal immigrants. I had to shown ID when I started to prove I was a citizen.
Who are the people that are hiring these II's. I really doubt it's the corporations. Maybe mcdonalds and walmart???
Yes, it already is illegal. But, that isn't stopping the problem, is it? Workers often can get away with not showing identification, or presenting false identification that never gets checked, or get paid under the table, and never pay taxes, but still claim all of the social service benefits of taxpayers.
When I say businesses, I'm not talking about Intel. I'm talking about hotels, farmers, restaurants, waste management, warehouses, factories, construction, maintenance companies, cleaning companies. There's enough people hiring and not getting caught that millions of people are coming. Instead of putting the mouse in jail, how bout taking away the cheese.
exactly..but catalina is USING the current laws in place along with Randy's unrequited love in order to become a legal citizen. Earl is obviously behind my plan as well.
Who Would Vote For Layoffs?


The form Documentary films represents a specific category or genre of resources found in SAILS Library Network.
1 a minute : what will you do?
A certain kind of death : what happens to the unmourned?
America the beautiful : is America obsessed with beauty?
Bret Hart : "Hit man"


text:
Media Circus: Post-Pride: A Potpouri of Crazies
From the Editor: An Amazing Half Century and the Road Ahead
Perspectives: Stonewall's Inner-Peace Officers
Theater: For God's Sake
Music: Sophisticated "Lady" Emerges from the Shadows
Theater: Women on the Verge
LGBTQ Players Lead Team to World Cup Title
US WOMEN'S SOCCER TEAM/ TWITTER
The US women's soccer team, which boasts five out LGBTQ players, captured their second straight FIFA World Cup victory on July 7 when they beat the Netherlands in the final round, 2-0. Comment
Boston's "Straight Pride" Organizer Sounds Off
SUPERHAPPYFUNAMERICA.COM
It's like "All Lives Matter" but for straight people. Comments (4)
BYU Valedictorian Comes Out on the Graduation Stage
YOUTUBE/ MATT EASTON
The valedictorian of Brigham Young University's (BYU) class of 2019 spent most of his graduation speech congratulating others, but when it was time to focus on himself, he turned heads by making a short, but bold statement: "I am proud to be a gay man of God." Comment
Transgender Military Ban Takes Effect
The ban on transgender service members initially announced by President Donald Trump in 2017 and later fleshed out further by the Pentagon went into effect on April 12, officially signaling the beginning of a new era of government-sanctioned discrimination by the nation's largest employer. Comment
Tom Duane Visits West Point
BY DONNA ACETO
In an April 2 visit to Spectrum, the LGBTQ organization at the United States Military Academy at West Point, former State Senator Tom Duane recounted tales from his early days as an out gay elected official, while hearing coming out stories from both cadets and officers who had served during the days of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Comment
Mormons Relax Policies on Children of LGBTQ Couples
FLICKR/ TIM EVANSON
In a surprise move on April 4, the Mormon Church announced it would immediately begin allowing children of LGBTQ couples to be baptized and that gay couples would no longer be viewed as "apostates," which is a term used to describe people who deviate from Church teachings. Comment
Google Employees Slam Heritage Foundation Prez's New Role
GAGE SKIDMORE/ WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
More than 2,000 Google employees and others in the tech industry have written a letter demanding that the tech giant revoke its appointment of the president of the anti-LGBTQ Heritage Foundation to its Advanced Technology External Advisory Council (ATEAC). Comment
Gay Catholic Leader Confronts Alt-Right Harassers
By his own admission, Aaron Bianco was a "nobody" until he was discovered by the alt-right. Comment
Mortgage Discrimination Hobbles Gay Male Couples
Gay male couples — especially black gay couples — are at heightened risk of discrimination by mortgage lenders nationwide when they are seeking to purchase a home, according to an analysis published in the University of Chicago Law Review based on empirical data disclosed under federal housing law. Comments (1)
Alt-Right Site Denies Harassing Gay Catholic
A radical right news site that calls itself the "Christian militia" is pushing back against allegations by a former administrator of a Catholic church in San Diego after he blamed that site and others for harassing him until he was forced to resign, marking the latest twist in the ongoing targeting of the gay community's presence in the Church. Comments (1)
Gay Sailor, Husband Recreate V-J Day Photo
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It was a holiday dream come true. Comments (3)


Optic lines radiate from within the bowls of the Gatsby collection to create an artistic play of light adding drama and elegance to your service. Striking hand blown glass craftsmanship, coupled with unique shapes offer an elevated experience for the most discriminating wine and spirit connoisseur. Crystalline glass provides lead-free clarity and superior brilliance. Hand washing is recommended for all hand blown glassware.


Yves Sain Laurent L'Homme is a fresh woody fragrance. Intense and charismatic this fragrance is designed for refined masculine gentleman. Top notes of lemon zest, cedrat, bergamot and ginger of china. Middle notes of violet leaves, basil flowers, and white pepper. Base notes of sandal wood, Virginia cedar, vetiver and Tonka beans.


text:
Giulio Andreotti (Roma, 14 de enero de 1919-ibidem, 6 de mayo de 2013) fue un político y periodista italiano. Fue presidente del Consejo de Ministros de Italia en diferentes gobiernos (desempeñó el cargo de presidente del Consejo de Ministros de Italia en siete ocasiones) y fue también uno de los máximos exponentes del partido Demócrata Cristiano.

Andreotti estuvo en el centro de la política italiana durante toda la segunda mitad del siglo XX, presente desde 1946 en el Parlamento y desde 1991 senador vitalicio.

Biografía
Andreotti nació en Roma. Estudió Derecho en la misma ciudad, y a la par fue miembro de la Federación Universitaria Católica Italiana FUCI. Entre sus miembros estaban muchos de los futuros dirigentes de la Democracia Cristiana. En julio de 1939, mientras que Aldo Moro era el Presidente de Federación, Andreotti se convirtió en director de su revista Azione Fucina. En 1942, cuando Moro se inscribió en el ejército italiano, Andreotti lo sucedió como presidente de la "Federación", cargo que ocupó hasta 1944.

Durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Andreotti escribió para la Rivista de Lavoro, una publicación de la propaganda fascista, pero era miembro del periódico Il Popolo, entonces clandestino. En 1944, Andreotti se convirtió en miembro del Consejo Nacional de la Democracia Cristiana. Después del final del conflicto, se convirtió en responsable de la organización juvenil del partido.

En 1946 Andreotti fue elegido miembro de la Asamblea Constituyente, el Parlamento "provisional" que tenía la tarea de redactar la nueva constitución italiana. Su elección fue apoyada por Alcide de Gasperi, fundador del partido. En 1948, fue elegido miembro de la recién formada Cámara de Diputados para representar a Roma-Latina -Viterbo-Frosinone.

Andreotti inició su carrera en el poder ejecutivo en 1947, cuando se convirtió en subsecretario del Presidente del Consejo de Ministros en el cuarto gabinete de Alcide De Gasperi, cargo que ocupó hasta enero de 1954. Entre sus acciones destacables está la firma del acto constitutivo de Il Canto degli Italiani como Himno Nacional de Italia.

En 1954 se convirtió en Ministro del Interior. Más tarde fue ministro de Finanzas y estuvo involucrado en el llamado Giuffrè Scandalo (un fraude bancario) de 1958. La Cámara de Diputados rechazó todas las acusaciones en su contra en diciembre del año siguiente. En 1962 fue censurado oficialmente por la Cámara por irregularidades en la construcción del Aeropuerto de Fiumicino de Roma.

En el mismo período, Andreotti comenzó a formar una facción dentro de Democracia Cristiana, que entonces era el partido más grande en Italia. Su Corriente fue apoyado por la derecha católica. Inició su actividad en una conferencia de prensa donde acusaba al Secretario Adjunto Nacional de la Democracia Cristiana, Piero Piccioni, del asesinato de la modelo Wilma Montesi en Torvaianica. Después de la eliminación de los otrora seguidores de Alcide De Gasperi en el Consejo de Democracia Cristiana Nacional, Andreotti derrocó junto a sus adeptos a Amintore Fanfani, que era primer ministro de Italia y Secretario Nacional de la DC.

El 20 de noviembre de 1958 Andreotti, entonces ministro de Hacienda, fue nombrado Presidente del Comité Organizador de los Juegos Olímpicos de Roma 1960. En la década de 1960 Andreotti fue designado Ministro de Defensa por Antonio Segni. En este período se dio el escándalo de los expedientes del Servicio de Inteligencia y del Piano Solo, un golpe de Estado planeado por el neo-fascista el general Giovanni De Lorenzo. A Andreotti se le encomendó la destrucción de los expedientes. Se ha comprobado que los expedientes, antes de ser destruidos, fueron copiados y entregados a Licio Gelli, líder de la logia Propaganda Due.

En 1968 Andreotti fue nombrado representante del grupo parlamentario de la Democracia Cristiana, cargo que ocupó hasta 1972.

En 1972 Andreotti inició su mandato como primer ministro de Italia. Ocupó el cargo en dos períodos consecutivos de centro-derecha (1972-1973). Accedió al cargo con apoyo del Partido Liberal Italiano y el Partido Republicano Italiano.

Abandonó el cargo en 1973 para volver en 1976 después de las elecciones generales. Duraría en el cargo tres años más, hasta 1979, sostenido su gobierno por el Partido Comunista Italiano, sin que hubiera ministros comunistas, gracias al llamado Compromesso storico. No volvería a ocupar el puesto de presidente del Consejo de Ministros hasta 1989, con la coalición del Pentapartito. Sus tres años como primer ministro coincidieron con el destape de los casos de corrupción que acabarían con el sistema político.

El 24 de octubre de 1990, al final de la Guerra Fría, siendo entonces presidente del Consejo de Ministros de Italia  fue descubierta y expuesta por Giulio Andreotti la red de espionaje conocida con el nombre de Gladio, la cual fue ideada después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial por la CIA y el MI6, y tenía como objetivo prepararse ante una eventual invasión soviética de la Europa occidental por medio de fuerzas armadas paramilitares secretas de élite dispuestas en diversos países capitalistas. El nombre Gladio se solía aplicar a una serie de organizaciones paramilitares de diversos países, aunque lo más común es su utilización para referirse exclusivamente a los paramilitares italianos. Finalmente la situación degeneró en el empleo de varias estrategias de guerra sucia, tales como la infiltración, y las operaciones de bandera falsa (como en la estación de Bolonia, en Italia) para destrozar la imagen pública de partidos políticos (al señalarlos falsamente como los autores del ataque) no colaboradores con los Estados Unidos (nacionalistas y comunistas), y así evitar su ascenso por las urnas. Todos los países capitalistas de dicho continente poseían contingentes secretos. Muchos nazis derrotados tras la Segunda Guerra Mundial fueron miembros de Gladio, que aceptaba solamente a «gente segura», es decir, militantes nacional-socialistas alejados del conservadurismo moderado y de la izquierda; librándose también de esta manera de juicios de guerra y en muchos casos manteniendo un alto nivel de vida.

Desde 1991 fue senador vitalicio en el Senado de Italia. Tras las elecciones generales de 2006 fue propuesto por el centro-derecha (la Casa de las Libertades) para presidir el senado. Sin embargo, perdió la votación ante Franco Marini. Poco después, los senadores vitalicios acordaron mantener al gobierno de Romano Prodi, lo que provocó la ira de muchos políticos de la Casa de las Libertades hacia Andreotti, al considerar su apoyo a Prodi como una traición, aunque él no perteneciese a ningún partido.

Andreotti murió el 6 de mayo de 2013 a la edad de 94 años en su casa de Roma (Italia), a causa de una crisis respiratoria.

Acusaciones de connivencia con la mafia
Acusado de connivencia con la mafia, fue absuelto en primera instancia en 1999. La Corte de Apelación de Palermo confirmó la absolución en 2003 para los casos posteriores a 1980 y para los casos anteriores a esos años estableció que tampoco se debería proceder. Por último la Corte de Casación, en 2004 confirmó la plena y total absolución de Andreotti para todos los casos. Ninguna de las acusaciones pasó la fase de proceso.

Su vida en el cine
En 2008 se estrenó la película Il divo, dirigida por Paolo Sorrentino, que relataba (con algunas licencias humorísticas) el paso de Andreotti por la política romana y su presunta relación con la mafia. Esta película concursó en el Festival de Cine de Cannes y tras recibir casi diez minutos de ovación, fue galardonada con el Premio del Jurado.

Referencias

Bibliografía
 Manfredi Giffone, Fabrizio Longo, Alessandro Parodi, Un fatto umano - Storia del pool anfimatia, Einaudi Stile Libero, 2011, ISBN 978-88-06-19863-3 (en italiano)
 Massimo Franco, Andreotti. La vita di un uomo politico, la storia di un'epoca, Editora Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, 2008 ISBN 978-88-04-58150-5 (en italiano)
 Tiziano Torresi, L'altra giovinezza. Gli universitari cattolici dal 1935 al 1940, Editora Cittadella, 2010 ISBN 978-88-308-1032-7 (en italiano)
 Antonio Nicaso, "Io e la mafia, la verità di Giulio Andreotti", Monteleone, 1995 ISBN 88-8027-016-8 (en italiano)
 Saverio Lodato, Roberto Scarpinato, "Il Ritorno del Principe", Editora Chiarelettere, 2008 ISBN 978-88-6190-056-1 (en italiano)
 Gianluigi Nuzzi, Vaticano S.p.A. Da un archivio segreto la verità sugli scandali finanziari e politici della Chiesa,  Editora Chiarelettere, 2009. ISBN 978-88-619-0067-7. (en italiano)
 Nicola Tranfaglia, La sentenza Andreotti. Politica, mafia e giustizia nell'Italia contemporanea, Editora Garzanti, 2001 ISBN 9788811738985 (en italiano)
 Giuseppe Leone, "Federico II Re di Prussia e Giulio Andreotti - Due modi diversi di concepire la politica", su "Ricorditi di me...", in "Lecco 2000", enero de 1996. (en italiano)
 Pino Arlacchi, Il processo. Giulio Andreotti sotto accusa a Palermo, Milan, Rizzoli, 1995.(en italiano)
 Franco Rizzo, Andreoti, Moro ... e gli altri, Rome, Lanua, 1990.(en italiano)
 Jean-Louis Briquet, « L'histoire au tribunal. Jugement pénal et jugement politique dans le procès Andreotti », Laboratoire italien, Politique et société, 2001/2, ENS Editions.(en francés)
 Jean-Louis Briquet, Mafia, justice et politique en Italie. L'affaire Andreotti dans la crise de la République (1992-2004), Paris, Karthala, 2007.(en francés)
 Patrick McCarthy, L'Italie dans la tourmente, Paris, Presses de la FNSP, 1995.(en francés)

Enlaces externos

 Ficha en la NNDB

Políticos demócrata-cristianos de Italia
Presidentes del Consejo de Ministros de Italia
Senadores de Italia
Alumnado de la Universidad Sapienza
Políticos condenados por delitos
Anticomunistas de Italia
Católicos de Italia
Caballeros grandes cruces de la Orden de Isabel la Católica
Medalla Robert Schuman
Galardonados con la Orden Olímpica
Caballeros de la Orden de Malta
Caballeros grandes cruces de mérito de la Sagrada Orden Militar Constantiniana de San Jorge
Doctores honoris causa de la Universidad Católica de América
Doctores honoris causa de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Nacidos en Roma
Ministros de Asuntos Exteriores de Italia
Ministros de Defensa de Italia
Ministros de Italia
Fallecidos en Roma
Giulio Andreotti

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