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Home/Sports/Allegri outlines Juventus' tactical development with little advantage
NiehofOctober 4, 2021
After a poor start, Juventus found their way with five straight wins. Coach Massimiliano Allegri never had a complete list due to injury. The situation will improve after the second half and may involve some tactical adjustments.
For example, the coach has great faith in Arthur, reports Goal.com. The former Barcelona man skipped the early part of the game plan. In the off-season he had surgery to remove hardening of the lower leg. He returned to Derby della Mole.
"Arthur is a technical player, a good distributor who improves the quality of the team," Allegri told the press ahead of the match. The manager will test if he can be the playmaker they are looking for over the summer. If that's the case, he could switch to a three-man midfielder, said Tuttosport.
Otherwise, the coach is designed with a 4-2-3-1, similar to the one used before. The use of Federico Chiesa and Federico Bernardeschi as strikers was carried out immediately due to an emergency. They will return to the wings once the attacker recovers.
In this case, Allegri plans to bet on Cayo Jorge in the Serie A game as he is not included in the Champions League roster. The young star played against Turin for a few minutes. The coach later commented: "He only touched a few balls but you could see he was alert." Juventus will arrange an intermediary meeting to get both Brazilians in form.
Hungry Wolves feast on Spurs' European chances
Mounie punishes 10-man Lorient to win Derby Breton
United washed away after Moisés parts the Red Sea
The Brazilian prodigy that all European top clubs are queuing for
LCE: Mourinho says Roma are "in the right mindset" to beat Feyenoord


We have constructed a grid of non-LTE disk models for a wide range of black hole mass and mass accretion rate, for several values of viscosity parameter alpha, and for two extreme values of the black hole spin: the maximum-rotation Kerr black hole, and the Schwarzschild (non-rotating) black hole. Our procedure calculates self-consistently the vertical structure of all disk annuli together with the radiation field, without any approximations imposed on the optical thickness of the disk, and without any ad hoc approximations to the behavior of the radiation intensity. The total spectrum of a disk is computed by summing the spectra of the individual annuli, taking into account the general relativistic transfer function. The grid covers nine values of the black hole mass between M = 1/8 and 32 billion solar masses with a two-fold increase of mass for each subsequent value; and eleven values of the mass accretion rate, each a power of 2 times 1 solar mass/year. The highest value of the accretion rate corresponds to 0.3 Eddington. We show the vertical structure of individual annuli within the set of accretion disk models, along with their local emergent flux, and discuss the internal physical self-consistency of the models. We then present the full disk-integrated spectra, and discuss a number of observationally interesting properties of the models, such as optical/ultraviolet colors, the behavior of the hydrogen Lyman limit region, polarization, and number of ionizing photons. Our calculations are far from definitive in terms of the input physics, but generally we find that our models exhibit rather red optical/UV colors. Flux discontinuities in the region of the hydrogen Lyman limit are only present in cool, low luminosity models, while hotter models exhibit blueshifted changes in spectral slope.


Mark Canon, president of U.K.-based Yell.com (part of Yell Group) kicked off Interactive Local Media 2008 today with an insightful, and at times esoteric, presentation that challenged much of the conventional wisdom that has driven organizations making the transition from traditional to digital.
Also, understand that Google is "fanatical about relevance," so it is critical that your SMB content is "good enough so that it rises to the top of the food chain on Google," Canon said.
During Q&A, moderator John Kelsey challenged Canon's assertion that "voice search and navigation" will soon gain prominence in directories and local search. Kelsey asserted that predictions of the advent of voice recognition have always been too optimistic. Canon's retort was that "Google doesn't release software products until they work," referring to the new Google mobile application.
"own the context and not the content"?? What does that mean? It sounds cool like "do the time but don't let time do you".


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Douglas Messerli | "To the Hills" (on William DuBois's play Haiti)
William DuBois Haiti / directed by Ellen Geer at Will Geer's Theatricum Botanicum (Topanga Canyon, California) / I attended the performance on Sunday, September 2, 2018 with Pablo Capra and Christina Carlos
It's difficult to believe that in the very same year, 1938, that saw the premiere of Thornton Wilder's absolutely pared-down modernist, almost anti-theatrical play Our Town on Broadway, that William DuBois—a Columbia University graduate who later became an editor The New York Times Book Review, not the famed Black author and founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909— had a play, Haiti,produced, as part of the Hallie Flannigan's Federal Theatre Project (under the auspices of the Negro Theatre Unit) at the Lafayette Theatre in Harlem, a work at almost the opposite spectrum of theatrical emotional intensity.
If Wilder's play is almost abstract in its barebones attitude, DuBois' play hearkens back to the theater traditions of high melodrama and historical documentation that clearly lays out the moral ground of its figures. How can an audience not root for the Haitians, whose Creole citizens fought against British rule, and represented the first country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery and the first free Black nation, not side with this country's anti-colonialist heroes, Touissant L'Ouverture (Rodrick Jean-Charles) and his General Christophe (the dashing Max Lawrence) in their strategic retreat and later battles with Napoleon's army, who has arrived via a frigate, complete with Napoleon's sister, to "sway" the Haitians to return to the fold of obeisance to their rule. We know through history that these leaders too betrayed their ideals, but their early values are unforgettable.
The Haitian leaders of 1804, who now occupy the last of the large colonial estates, argue between themselves on how to protect their territory and government. The sly Touissant wants his soldiers to take to the hills—such an appropriate desire, given this production in the Geer family Theatricum Botanicum lies literally in the middle of the Topanga Canyon hills—to gradually wear-down their opponents, as opposed the more radical Christophe's insistence that they begin the fight at the port where the French are about to arrive.
Yet Touissant knows better; the French will not be able to survive their mountain fights with the Haitians nor the climate, with its malarial mosquitoes, and the lack of protection from the island's storms (all of which, of course, now reminds us of just how resourceful the Haitians, given the storms and earthquakes, despite the lack of organized US help, during they have managed, at very many times throughout history, their almost impossible survival). Indeed, the actors themselves literally do take "to the hills" before our very eyes, as the company uses, as in so many other Theatricum productions, the craggy landscape in which the theater sits. In this case, the hills are quite actually alive with Haitian revolutionaries.
When the French peevishly arrive at the former mansion, once owned by the family of the now royal consort, Odette (Tiffany Coty), along with unhappy General Leclerc (Mark Lewis) and his nearly always complaining wife, Pauline (Lea Madda), they discover no one around except for one seemingly obeisant servant, Jacqueline (the powerful Earnestine Phillips) who hides throughout most of this work behind a kind of stereotype of the Aunt Jemima-like maid, a woman who bows to her conquerors as if she were still the slave which she once was.
In fact, Jacqueline had an affair with the owner of the estate, birthing Odette, and has determined to stay on in this ridiculous position simply to care after her daughter, or, as she puts it, "rehear her lover's voice."
Although it might have been to the eyes of the 1930s US viewers terribly controversial to have an "octoroon" heroine (DuBois evidently kept his cast of blacks and whites from touching one another), in French culture such issues of miscegenation were often easily assimilated for French colonialists in Martinique, Haiti, and even New Orleans. For the French is was not so much a matter of skin-color, but a matter of class, of the proper education, and pedigree. Dozens of famed French writers, including Balzac, recount just such women and males, easily and sometimes not so easily, enfolded into high French society.
Odette, who if nothing else, knew that this was once her father's estate, does not know the identity of her mother, and that becomes the central theme of this complex oedipally-centered work.
Moreover, despite her marriage to the nasty Colonel Boucher (Jeff Wiesen), she is in love with the young, newly named Captain Duval (Dane Oliver) (a title awarded because Boucher has sent him into the wilds to destroy the Haitians, a journey he has incredibly survived).
Gradually, the French forces lose too many soldiers to the native resistance, while the Colonel is slowly consumed by malaria. Christophe jumps in and out of the scene, at one point revealing Odette's true paternity to the girl, the fact of which pulls her away from her beloved young hero, Duval. Discovered to be a spy, Jacqueline insists that her daughter escape with the others, that she return to the world that she, herself, has made possible for Odette to enter.
Yet perhaps it is too late, and as she is discovered as a spy and kills herself with a deadly potion, Odette is trapped in the world into which she was born, her lover murdered by the Haitian insurgents.
But not before a series of marvelous swordfights and battles that might have made Earl Flynn jealous. Never, on stage, have I seen a more convincing sword fight, with remarkable acrobatics, grand theatrical gestures, and heart-throbbing events. The mostly West Side Los Angeles audience, but this time, fortunately, joined by a large contingent of LA's black community, reacted with boos, pleas of salvation, and, at times, open laughter, that I might never have imagined in contemporary theater. Suddenly I realized just how much had been lost in the rise of modernism over this kind of old-fashioned melodramatic writing, a theater that didn't mind mixing up politics, love, fate, and just plain high-jinx.
In the end you could only laugh and cry and root for your favorite heroes. If a bit like Hamlet, a lot of those figures lay dead on the stage by play's end, their resurrection for curtain-call was as uplifting as theater gets. And at the wonderful Theatricum (despite their need to get ready for the late-night performance of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, a play with also has deep political roots, but with a kind of cold modernist objectivity that has always annoyed me), the actors all stand in front of the stage to greet and shake hands with the audience as it disperses. This is theater at its very best.
The director Ellen Geer has done something quite marvelous with her very large ensemble cast, children included, particularly given the fact that she determined to revive a play that should have never been lost.
Los Angeles, September 3, 2018
Posted by greenintegerblog at 10:33 AM
Douglas Messerli | "The Mirror of Truth" (on Matei...
Douglas Messerli | "Toys" (on Hotel Modern's produ...
Douglas Messerli "Afraid of Sleeping" (on John O'K...
Douglas Messerli | "A Family Circus" (on Jamie Ber...
Douglas Messerli | "To the Hills" (on William DuBo...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


To die to set us free.
When you call upon his name.
Of the fruit that God forbid.
Unless they come through him.
When he died for you and me.
He rose to life again!
Who's alive in every way.
But in men who are long dead.
It's God's gift that cannot be earned.
Confess all things to him.
These words in humble prayer.
Because Jesus was your choice.
Pray to our Lord who cares.
As a thief comes in the night.
I am happy to say I havae accepted that friend request... What a stirring poem. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
What a wonderful post! I too have excepted that friend request! Our youngest son prayed to become born again today! He came with tears of conviction to me and said he wanted Jesus in his heart! What a blessing we have to be able to have Jesus as our friend and guide! God bless you today!


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St. Cloud Hotel - Chandler
1216 Manvel Avenue - Chandler , OK 74834
The St. Cloud Hotel is located on Manvel Avenue in Chandler, Oklahoma, along Historic Route 66. The native sandstone and brick structure was built in 1903 by Johh E. Gromley, a local lumberman. Gromley eventually owned several units on the street, which came to be known as Gromley's Block. The hotel found its niche after 1926, when Route 66 formally opened in Chandler, sending travellers and tourists its way. Although now occupied by businesses, the old building still retains much of its original architecture, including the pressed tin facade which covers its second floor. The St. Cloud Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.


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Eagles Settle 'Hotel California' Trademark Lawsuit With Mexico Inn
1/18/2018 by Colin Stutz
The Eagles photographed in 1977.
"Such a lovely place."
The Eagles have settled a lawsuit with a Mexican hotel using the name of the band's famous song "Hotel California."
A joint dismissal of the Eagles' lawsuit against the hotel in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, was filed on Wednesday with the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The same day, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office accepted Hotel California Baja's request to permanently abandon its trademark application.
"This matter has been settled by mutual agreement of the Parties," said Eagles' attorney Tom Jirgal of Loeb & Loeb LLP in a statement.
"I confirm that Hotel California Baja, LLC and its affiliates have settled the lawsuit with Eagles, Ltd. by mutual agreement of the parties," the hotel's attorney Bill Seiter of Seiter Legal Studio told Billboard. "The Hotel California and its affiliates will continue using the name, service mark and trademark 'Hotel California' in Mexico.... The Hotel and its affiliates continue to own some 28 valid Mexican trademark registrations for the mark 'Hotel California' and variants."
In the initial lawsuit filed last year, the iconic rock band argued that the hotel was trying to capitalize on its success. As the Eagles' filing pointed out, the band has become synonymous with the song "Hotel California." As the act's most popular album, it said to be "essence of the band itself" and, as such, all sorts of merchandise has been sold with the mark.
"Through advertising targeted to U.S. consumers, and in-person communications, Defendants lead U.S. consumers to believe that the Todos Santos Hotel is associated with the Eagles and, among other things, served as the inspiration for the lyrics in 'Hotel California,' which is false," wrote attorney Laura Wytsma.
The small hotel located near the tip of the Baja California Peninsula originally opened under the name Hotel California in 1950, but went through subsequent ownership and name changes, according to the complaint. The Eagles song was released in 1976 on an album by the same name, which went on to win the 1977 Grammy award for record of the year.
When the hotel's current owners, Debbie and John Stewart, bought the property in 2001, the suit alleged they intended to boost their business by creating a reputation "based at least partially on the hotel's reputed, but false, connection to the Eagles." In so doing, the hotel played the Eagles' music and sold T-shirts referring to then hotel as "legendary," which the band argued would bring consumers to believe "they have visited 'the' Hotel California made famous by the Eagles."
The hotel denied it was trying to mislead guests and argued customers were unlikely to be confused.


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The Roads to Home OFF-BROADWAY REVIEWS
Theater: Cherry Lane Theatre / 38 Commerce Street, New York, NY, 10014
Over our 32-year history, Primary Stages has produced some of the finest works of legendary Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Horton Foote. From The Day Emily Married to Harrison, TX and the Tony-nominated Dividing the Estate, Foote's legacy has flourished on our stage and we're proud to celebrate the Centennial of his birth with a tender, yet compelling new production of his quintessential comic drama, The Roads to Home. In this beautiful masterpiece, three women living in Houston, Texas in the 1920s grapple with the eternal question, "Where is home?" The Roads to Home offers a rare chance to experience a Foote gem not seen on the New York stage in over 25 years, in one of New York's most intimate and historic venues, the Cherry Lane Theatre. This timeless production will feature direction by Michael Wilson (Foote's longtime collaborator who won Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Orphans' Home Cycle) and performances from Drama Desk winner Devon Abner and Tony-nominated Hallie Foote, the foremost contemporary interpreter of Horton's work.
NEW YORK TIMES REVIEW OF The Roads to Home
'The Roads to Home' Offers Gossip and Insanity Most Genteel
Ben Brantley
October 5, 2016: For the women in Horton Foote's "The Roads to Home," which opened on Wednesday night at the Cherry Lane Theater, talking is close kin to breathing, and almost as essential to their survival. The three female characters in this plaintive, meandering trilogy of short plays are all displaced persons of a sort, uprooted from the Texas or Louisiana towns where they grew up and where they still live in their thoughts. If they can just keep chattering about events that took place there, even things that happened before they were born — why, then, they've never really left, have they? Reheated gossip — replete with animated genealogy charts and catalogs of place names — is their lifeline, while silences are scary vacuums. Home, it would seem, is where the tongue wags. Gabbiness as an existential force is as central to the genteel Southerners of Foote (1916-2009), one of the great American chroniclers of small-town angst, as it is to David Mamet's foulmouthed urbanites. Directed by Michael Wilson and featuring the wonderful Hallie Foote, the playwright's daughter, the Primary Stages production of "The Roads to Home" offers as clear a portrait as you're likely to find of the significance of loquacity in Foote's world.


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The Quran, As Seen by the Muslims
Is India's BJP Government Set to Create a 'Hindu Pakistan'?
Discovering how most Muslims see their holy book means treading between the two extremes of radical Islam and liberal Western scholarship.
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri for The Diplomat
Credit: Amazon.com
Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Caner K. Dagli, Maria Massi Dakake, Joseph E.B. Lumbard, and Mohammed Rustom, The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary, 2048 pp., $59.99
November 2015 marked the release of a first-of-its-kind in the English language: The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary, edited by Seyyed Hossein Nasr. This Quran is impressive, timely, and necessary, especially for Western audiences debating the nature and teachings of Islam in light of attacks made by Islamist groups throughout the Middle East and the West, such as those in Ankara, Paris and San Bernardino, and increasingly heated presidential campaign debates regarding Muslims in the United States.
The Quran is a well-known and widely translated book. Even if one is not a Muslim, it is hard to deny that the Quran is a work with a distinctive voice of great poetic beauty, at turns melancholy, wistful and sharp. Why is this version different and why does it deserve a review? What sets this Quran apart from previous translations are the thousands of pages of commentary on each verse—sourced from traditional commentators, both Sunni and Shia—that along with analytic essays, swell the size of this Quran to over two thousand pages, instead of the normal 300–500 pages of most translations.
The commentaries are, in fact, the most important part of this Quran because they explain how the religious traditions of Islam are seen by their adherents and scholars. Most religious traditions understand their scriptures through a vast body of interpretation and commentary; to do otherwise is considered reductionist and the product of an incomplete understanding. However, many Westerners, especially those coming from a Protestant-influenced religious tradition, have an approach toward religious scriptures that is highly literal in nature. Unfortunately, this way of thinking is shared by the Salafist movement.
Those familiar with Nasr's work know that he is a traditionalist who strives to approach religion through authentic sources. The vision of Islam on display in his writing and in this Quran is thus uniquely powerful and honest because it eschews both the fanaticism and extremism of Salafism and Wahhabism, movements considered new and deviant within traditionalist Islam. It also shies away from the temptation many Muslim liberals face in reforming their religion: the temptation of progressivism, the idea that claims Islam must somehow be reworked to accommodate and fit in with contemporary liberal thought, and that in fact Islam is the prototype of such thought if interpreted "correctly." This last claim is wrong and dishonest because it flies in the face of both thousands of years of practice and scholarly conclusions. The world needs an Islam at peace with other civilizations, but it also needs forces that can check the excesses of 21st-century Western liberalism. It is one thing to realize that times are changing and adapt accordingly; it is entirely another thing to dilute belief systems to the point where they become meaningless.
Thus, the Islam presented in this Quran embraces the commentaries and traditions that "contextualize" passages in the text and demonstrate openness and flexibility without shying away from interpretations that many Westerners would disagree with. The Quran's purpose is to not to confirm with Western notions of religion, but to expound on a distinctive, self-contained spiritual system that is in itself a way of life.
For example, consider a couple of passages from the Quran that Westerners find problematic. One passage is from Surah 4, Ayah 34, and reads:
…Therefore righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [their husbands'] absence what God has guarded. As for those from whom you fear discord and animosity, admonish them, then leave them in their beds, then strike them. Then if they obey you, seek not a way against them.
This is obviously one of the more controversial verses of the Quran because it appears to permit wife-beating. Islamic commentator Reza Aslan disputes the translation of the word for "strike" or "beat," arguing that the Arabic word could be interpreted in over a dozen ways. But the explanation found in this Quran is more reliable in terms of what the traditions of the religion say, and takes a middle ground. The commentary explains that for the attitude of haughtiness (nushūz), "a husband is given a set of three sanctions to correct her behavior. These three sanctions are commonly understood as progressive, meaning husbands should begin with verbal correction…." The commentaries of three renowned Islamic scholars are cited in this interpretation of the commentary: al-Qurtubi (Spanish-Egyptian Sunni, died 1272), al-Tabataba'i (Iranian Shia, died 1981), and al-Zamakhshari (Central Asian Persian rationalist, died 1144).
The commentary then goes on to describe the process of how the verse was revealed to Muhammad: he had ordered a husband who struck his wife to be struck in retaliation before this verse was relayed to him, instructing otherwise. Six commentators quote Muhammad as saying "I wanted one thing and God wanted another," and several other scholars are cited as saying that striking one's wife is something to be avoided, and noting that striking is to be understood strictly for the purpose of altering behavior and not for punishment. But the scholarly exegesis here does not shy away from what is politically inconvenient today, noting that the commentators are in fact "unanimous" in translating the Arabic word to "strike."
The most controversial verse of the Quran for Westerners is the Sword Verse (9:5). In context, it says:
(3) And an announcement from God and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater ḥajj: that God and His Messenger have repudiated the idolaters. So, if you repent, it would be better for you. And if you turn away, then know that you cannot thwart God. And give the disbelievers glad tidings of a painful punishment, (4) save for those idolaters with whom you have made a treaty, and who thereafter commit no breach against you, nor support anyone against you. So fulfill the treaty with them for its duration. Truly, God loves the reverent. (5) Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wheresoever you find them, capture them besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayer and give the alms, then let them go their way. Truly God is Forgiving, Merciful. (6) And if any of the idolaters seek asylum with thee, grant him asylum until he hears the Word of God. Then convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who know not. (7) How can the idolaters have a treaty with God and with His Messenger, save for those with whom you made a treaty at the Sacred Mosque? If they remain true to you, remain true to them. Truly God loves the reverent.
The controversy chiefly arises from the lines, taken out of context, that say "slay the idolaters wheresoever you find them, capture them besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush." Again, extremists would argue that these lines permit them to wage endless jihad on non-Muslims, while liberals argue for an extremely narrow, historically conditioned interpretation of the sword verse. The traditional commentaries and understandings found in the Quran, again, occupy the middle ground. It is very interesting to see the enormous scholarly debate on the topic of the use of force in Islam, as this is one of the most significant passages concerning that topic in the Quran. For example, two classical Islamic commentators argued that idolaters are fought "by reason of their idolatry and polytheism." But most other commentators disagree since the next few passages explicitly guarantee safety ("if they remain true to you, remain true to them") for those who have treaties with Muslims. Moreover, the verses have not been abrogated—when there are contradictory commands in the Quran, generally the later verses abrogate the teachings of the earlier ones, as per Islamic tradition. The commentary on the famous verse 2:256, which declares that "there is no coercion in religion," reports that while some argue that these verses were abrogated by the Sword Verse, this interpretation would deny the "idea of responsibility before God, in which one is taken to account for one's actions in both this life and the Hereafter," according to the scholar Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (Sunni Persian, died 1210).
This Quran contains these discussions, and much more, including many poetic and mystical passages that do not necessarily have political or social implications. Take 24:35, for example: "God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is a niche, wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as a shining star kindled from a blessed olive tree, neither of the East nor of the West. Its oil would well-nigh shine forth, even if no fire had touched it. Light upon light." The commentary by al-Ghazzali (Sunni Persian, died 1111), a mystic who has been accused of anti-scientific tendencies and is probably the most important figure in Islamic history after Muhammad, is quite beautiful. For him, the "niche, glass, wick tree, and oil all represent levels of perception and consciousness"—the niche represents the physical sense; the glass, the imagination; the lamp, the soul's power; the olive tree, meditation; and the oil, the knowledge possessed by friends of God.
Evidently, the Quran is a complex book that never conforms to the fancies of those who want it to say whatever they would like. Without a doubt, some interpretations and passages of the text are difficult for modern Westerners to come to terms with. But this is fine: the purpose should not be to straightjacket all religions into a progressive worldview. The explanations, nuances and subtleties of the Quran are evident and worth noting in the commentaries found in this volume, which will help those unfamiliar with Islam gain a better understanding of it from its own perspective. The critical reader may note a few drawbacks to this Quran: for example, there are few contemporary commentaries or those drawn from South Asia, which demographically has the largest number of Muslims in the world and a long scholarly tradition of its own. And for a book that prizes tradition, this Quran lacks the Arabic version of the text, as is typical among most translations. However, these are all minor quibbles. As a whole, there is no resource as expansive, detailed and in line with what Muslims actually think about their own scripture that is currently available to those seeking to understand Islam as this Quran.
Akhilesh Pillalamarri is an analyst, editor and writer. He writes for the Diplomat and the National Interest. You can follow him on Twitter: @AkhiPill and visit his website: akhipill.com.
Akhilesh Pillalamarri
Akhilesh Pillalamarri is an international relations analyst. He is a contributing editor at The Diplomat, writing on foreign policy, politics, history, culture, and geography.
Dear Steve King: Here's What Asia Contributed to Western Civilization
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
Rep. Steve King's ahistorical commentary cannot go uncorrected.
Reductio Ad Hitlerum: Who Does the Swastika Belong To?
George Washington University is showing us why the West needs to come to terms with the eastern origins of the Swastika.
Beware the War Against ASEAN's Atheists
A look at the ongoing persecution of a minority group that continues to be under assault in some parts of the region.
Tracing the Quran's Journey
A major exhibit in Washington, D.C., showcases the world's many Qurans.
Pakistan's Crackdown on Pashtun Dissent Reflects Weakness, Not Strength
By Farahnaz Ispahani
The inability of the Pakistani state to stomach Pashtun dissent reflects internal fragility.
New Zealand's Ardern Will Seek Re-election in Sept. 19 Vote
Jacinda Ardern will face a steep challenge from the National Party's Simon Bridges.


Sepsis, a bacterial induced systemic inflammation reaction leading to multiple organ failure and therefore one of the most frightening and deathly complications after traumatic injuries, marks a global health problem. It often occurs after severe trauma and belongs to one of the main causes of death worldwide whereby the mortality rate reaches more than 50% with patients suffering from septic shock. Current treatment methods are limited and insufficient. Recent studies on the role of the sepsis marker PCT, a Calca-coded peptide showed promising results for possible targeted therapies, especially the antagonisation of its biological relevant receptor. However, the molecular function and role of PCT is still poorly investigated. We now are employing translational approaches to elucidate the molecular role of PCT during sepsis, using molecular and large-animal approaches. With the gained knowledge, we want to be able to develop novel pharmacologic approaches to treat affected patients and fight against one of the most appalling complications after traumatic injury.


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This page describes the commandline options and syntax that Exselt supports. They are ordered by importance, not alphabetically.
Commandline options are typically followed by a colon and a value, unless otherwise noted. The value can be an XPath expression or just a string. When you need to use spaces inside a value you can use quotation marks around the value.
-o defines the output document if serialization is requested. If absent, the output, if any, is typically serialized to the stdout. If you don't want that, you can use > nul on a Windows commandline shell, which must be the last thing on the line.
-it defines the initial template, if present, -if and -im must be absent. If this argument is absent, and -if and -im are also absent, the default named template used is xsl:initial-template which is an implementation-independent way of defining the entry point of an XSLT stylesheet or package.
-im defines the initial mode, if present, the -it and -if must be absent. If this parameter is absent and -if and -it are also absent then whether or not the entry point (a named template with the name attribute set to xsl:initial-template) is triggered, or the default initial mode is triggered depends on whether the -xml parameter is present. If present, the initial mode is set to the empty mode.
-if defines the initial function, if present,-it and -im must be absent. If this parameter is present, the default for the result tree is build-tree="no" and item-separator=" ". By default, Exselt will serialize the result using these parameters and it will honor the default xsl:output declaration, if present (this is not a requirement from the XSLT 3.0 standard, but it isn't disallowed either, we provide this as a convenience to users).


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Lautna is een plaats in de Estlandse gemeente Lääneranna, provincie Pärnumaa. De plaats heeft de status van dorp (Estisch: küla) en telt 17 inwoners (2021).

Tot in oktober 2017 viel Lautna onder de gemeente Lihula, provincie Läänemaa. In die maand werd Lihula bij de gemeente Lääneranna gevoegd.

Plaats in Estland

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


We have put fresh soil in our motherstock production greenhouse to improve the quality of our motherstocks. The soil will be cultivated and steamed in order to serve as a structure improvement.
We invest continuously in our motherstock production greenhouse so we can supply you with the best quality corms and cormlets.


I have been canoeing for over thirty years, long enough to still apply the term canoeing generically to both paddling canoes and kayaks. Most of this time I have been actively competing in canoe slalom, in kayak and also in C1 and C2. The pinnacles of my career have been being included in the England team in C2 and C1, racing in the Premier division in both C1 and C2, and almost, but not quite, making Premier in my kayak.
From my earliest days in paddling I have enjoyed running rivers. At first it was in my slalom boat, as these were the only white water boats that were available at that time. The boats we paddled were the new "low line" boats, so they were quite lively. We did not want to break the boats, nor ourselves, so the upper limit of our adventures were grade 3 rivers like the Lune. Paddlers that were more serious about their river running tended to use older higher volume slalom kayaks. Neoprene spraydecks and shorts were only just emerging at that time, so we paddled in swimming trunks, old pullovers, nylon spraydecks and leaky cagoules. A winter paddle was a cold experience.
Plastic boats drastically altered what was possible. The first boats, the Perception Mirage and then Dancer, had poor performance, small cockpits and pointy ends that made them positively dangerous, but they were far less fragile than the glassfibre boats we had been used to, and they opened up new rivers. My first plastic boat was a Pyranha Master, about 3.5m long, with quite a lot of volume, and with slightly more performance than the Perception boats, and the advantage of a large cockpit, and this allowed me to join in the exploration of some of the harder rivers in the UK, and the Alps.
From early on I have been coaching, My formal coaching was mostly with beginners, though through the slalom training sessions and river running we were coaching each other on a peer to peer basis at a much higher level. Until recently I have avoided the official coaching qualifications, as on the occasions when I had come to paddle with these coaches I had universally found them to be both poor in their own technical ability, and what was worse, dangerously poor in their ability to work in a group situation and make assessment of risk.
More recently I have taken up coaching slalom on a more formal basis, and in order to have access to funding and coaching support I have progressed with getting some qualifications. I am now a level 2 slalom coach. I still teach beginners on a regular basis, mostly rolling in the pool. I also continue to run white water rivers, and this I believe represents the greatest test of my personal ability.
In getting qualified, I have had to firstly become more aware of the requirements of the old BCU coaching and personal awards, and how this has changed in the new UKCC awards. In general, I approve of the changes, though I am not altogether happy with the implementation. The greatest change for the better from my point of view, has been the change from performing techniques, some of which had become out of date, to focussing on outcomes. This has freed the coach to teach what they believe to be best practice, and to adapt their teaching in accordance to the latest thinking, and also to suit the type of craft they are coaching to. This also has its dangers: older coaches are free to continue to coach the techniques they learnt many years ago, and some coaches feel a little lost without a strict syllabus to work to.
Finally, the way my coaching has developed has caused me to always question anything and everything that is presented about the sport of kayaking, and to test them against my own personal experience and observations. In general the understanding of kayaking has improved in leaps and bounds over the past 30 or so years I have been involved in the sport; however not everything that is taught is useful or relevent to the average boater. Below is an article I have written on the coaching of bracing. Hopefully I will get around to adding more articles in the future.


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Zimbabwean Film- Mugabe & the Democrats – Unbanned
A documentary film, The Democrats, was banned in Zimbabwe shortly after it was filmed. The Zimbabwe High Court lifted the ban a few days ago.
The movie was made in the chaos & violence that followed the 2008 elections. This election was strongly disputed. The documentary film. a movie by a Danish filmmaker (Camilla Nielsson), explored the constitution making process in the country. It took years to make, & even longer to get it off the banned list.
The people of Zimbabwe are now able to watch this movie legally. IT has been made available on the Hope TV YouTube channel under a Creative Commons Licence. I am including in our film section as it is offered for reuse, & because people who the film was made for should be able to watch it.
I do not know whether the film will have the same impact now that it may have had years ago, but hopefully, the lifting of the ban signals a time of greater freedoms for the people of Zim.
The Democrats – Zimbabwean Film (Documentary)
Lawyers regard the lifting of the ban as a great win for the people of Zim. Let's hope the movie proves to be worth the wait. Originally released internationally 2015, & now available locally.
Credits: The credits & attributions are found in the film itself. The stated license is CC Attribution


Here's a festive, inexpensive way to get into the Fall spirit.
Color/paint all of the skewers gold in color. Situate the circles at the top of each skewer (one on each side) and secure with double sided tape.


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SCT4ME > Age-related macular degeneration
Library - Age-related macular degeneration
World J Stem Cells. 2014 Apr 26;6(2):111-9. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v6.i2.111.
Progress of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for neural and retinal diseases.
Ng TK1, Fortino VR1, Pelaez D1, Cheung HS1.
1Tsz Kin Ng, Daniel Pelaez, Herman S Cheung, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL 33125, United States.
Complex circuitry and limited regenerative power make central nervous system (CNS) disorders the most challenging and difficult for functional repair. With elusive disease mechanisms, traditional surgical and medical interventions merely slow down the progression of the neurodegenerative diseases. However, the number of neurons still diminishes in many patients. Recently, stem cell therapy has been proposed as a viable option. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a widely-studied human adult stem cell population, have been discovered for more than 20 years. MSCs have been found all over the body and can be conveniently obtained from different accessible tissues: bone marrow, blood, andadipose and dental tissue. MSCs have high proliferative and differentiation abilities, providing an inexhaustible source of neurons and glia for cell replacement therapy. Moreover, MSCs also show neuroprotective effects without any genetic modification or reprogramming. In addition, the extraordinary immunomodulatory properties of MSCs enable autologous and heterologous transplantation. These qualities heighten the clinical applicability of MSCs when dealing with the pathologies of CNS disorders. Here, we summarize the latest progress of MSC experimental research as well as human clinical trials for neural and retinal diseases. This review article will focus on multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, autism, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
Central nervous system; Clinical trial; Mesenchymal stem cells; Retina; Stem cell therapy
Cytotherapy. 2009;11(2):177-88. doi: 10.1080/14653240802714819.
Retinal pigment epithelial phenotype induced in human adipose tissue-derivedmesenchymal stromal cells.
Vossmerbaeumer U1, Ohnesorge S, Kuehl S, Haapalahti M, Kluter H, Jonas JB, Thierse HJ, Bieback K.
1Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
The non-exudative form of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is characterized by a progressive decay of retinal pigment epithelium cells at the posterior pole of the eye. As mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been shown to differentiate into various cell types from the mesodermal and ectodermal lineages, we investigated whether we can induce a phenotype displaying retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) characteristics.
The differentiation of human lipo-aspirate-derived MSC toward the RPE lineage was triggered by exposure to conditioned medium from either human or porcine RPE cells. In a second approach we tested whether adding vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is capable of further modifying differentiation processes. Resulting cell populations were assessed for expression of RPE-specific markers by immunofluorescence, quantitative real time (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting. The potential for pigment synthesis was assessed by the response to melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH).
Following culture of undifferentiated MSC with RPE-conditioned medium and/or VIP, expression of typical RPE markers bestrophin, cytokeratins 8 and 18 and RPE 65 was induced. MSH induced the formation of pigmented granula in differentiated MSC.
MSC are shown to express RPE markers upon induction with either RPE-conditioned medium and/or VIP. The gain of basic functional features of RPE cells was indicated by melanin synthesis. This alludes to a differentiation potential of MSC into the neuroectodermal lineage, yielding cells with phenotypic characteristics of RPE cells.
Prog Retin Eye Res. 2014 Sep;42:130-44. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2014.06.002. Epub 2014 Jun 13.
Stem cells as source for retinal pigment epithelium transplantation.
Bertolotti E1, Neri A2, Camparini M2, Macaluso C2, Marigo V3.
1Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
2Ophthalmology, S.Bi.Bi.T. Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Inherited maculopathies, age related macular degeneration and some forms of retinitis pigmentosa are associated with impaired function or loss of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Among potential treatments, transplantation approaches are particularly promising. The arrangement of RPE cells in a well-defined tissue layer makes the RPE amenable to cell or tissue sheet transplantation. Different cell sources have been suggested for RPE transplantation but the development of a clinical protocol faces several obstacles. The source should provide a sufficient number of cells to at least recover the macula area. Secondly, cells should be plastic enough to be able to integrate in the host tissue. Tissue sheets should be considered as well, but the substrate on which RPE cells are cultured needs to be carefully evaluated. Immunogenicity can also be an obstacle for effective transplantation as well as tumorigenicity of not fully differentiated cells. Finally, ethical concerns may represent drawbacks when embryo-derived cells are proposed for RPE transplantation. Here we discuss different cell sources that became available in recent years and their different properties. We also present data on a new source of human RPE. We provide a protocol for RPE differentiation of retinal stem cells derived from adult ciliary bodies of post-mortem donors. We show molecular characterization of the in vitro differentiated RPE tissue and demonstrate its functionality based on a phagocytosis assay. This new source may provide tissue for allogenic transplantation based on best matches through histocompatibility testing.
KEYWORDS: Bestrophin 1; Beta5-integrin; CRALBP; LRAT; MITF; OA1; RPE65; Retinal neurospheres; Retinal stem cells
Medicine (Baltimore). 2014 Dec 2. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000355
Preliminary Study on Electrophysiological Changes After Cellular Autograft in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Limoli PG1, Vingolo EM2,3, Morales MU4, Nebbioso M5, Limoli C1.
1Low Vision Research of Milan, Milan, Italy
2Department of Ophthalmology, A. Fiorini Hospital, Terracina, Italy
3Polo Pontino, Padova, Italy
4CenterVue, Padova, Italy
5Department of Sense Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Odontology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Evolving atrophic macular degeneration represents at least 80% of all macular degenerations and is currently without a standardized care. Autologous fat transplantation efficacy was demonstrated by several studies, as these cells are able to produce growth factors. The aim of the work was to demonstrate possible therapeutic effect of the joined suprachoroidal graft of adipocytes, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in stromal vascular fractions (SVFs) of adipose tissue, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
Twelve eyes in 12 dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients, aged 71.25 (SD ± 6.8) between 62 and 80 years, were analyzed. A complete ocular evaluation was performed using best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), retinographic analysis, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, microperimetry, computerized visual field, and standard electroretinogram (ERG). Each eye received a cell in graft between choroid and sclera of mature fat cells and ADSCs in SVF enriched with PRP by means of the variant second Limoli (Limoli retinal restoration technique [LRRT]). In order to test if the differences pre- and post-treatment were significant, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test has been performed.
Adverse effects were not reported in the patients. After surgery with LRRT, the most significant increase in the ERG values was recorded by scotopic rod-ERG (answer coming from the rods), from 41.26 to 60.83 μV with an average increase of 47.44% highly significant (P < 0.05). Moderately significant was the one recorded by scotopic maximal ERG (answer coming from the rods and cones), from 112.22 to 129.68 μV with an average increase of 15.56% (P < 0.1).
Cell-mediated therapy based on growth factors used appears interesting because it can improve the retinal functionality responses in the short term. The ERG could, therefore, be used to monitor the effect of cell-mediated regenerative therapies.


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Guy Lansing
NELC's Director of Business Development
Guy grew up in Cardiff, the capital of Wales and went to university just over the border in Bath, in the West of England. At the University of Bath, he studied Business Administration and graduated in 1993, having done 6 months' work experience in New York. After graduating, Guy worked for a number of years in banking and then in the world of advertising before deciding on a change of direction. In 1997, he qualified as an English teacher, before travelling extensively in Asia, Australia and S. America, teaching English in Quito and then in Bogota, where he started to learn Spanish. Guy returned to London for a couple of years to take the Trinity College Dip in 'Teaching English as a Second Language' and at that time, enjoyed performing sketch comedy in comedy clubs around London. He decided to do the Trinity Diploma so that he'd be able to train teachers, and when he arrived in Barcelona in 2000, he worked for a number of years on teacher training courses at the Windsor Institute and TEFL international before starting teaching at ESADE Executive Language Center. At ESADE, Guy taught for many years, working on a variety of different courses, but specialised in areas where he could use his real business experience, such as Executive English, and residential intensive courses for major multinationals, such as Roca and Telefonica. In early 2014, Guy joined NELC as a socio and works both as a language trainer and in Sales. In the classroom, Guy tries to 'keep things real' by developing activities which are as close as possible to the real situations in which his students will need to use English.


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The Top 15 Unexpected Archaeological Discoveries
Ever since watching and falling completely in love with Indiana Jones and his many adventures, I have always found the digging up of treasures fascinating. Whether it be in movies, via Harrison Ford, or video games, like Tomb Raider, unearthing artifacts is a very impressive job. What if an archaeologist discovers something as important as the next Dead Sea Scrolls? Or perhaps proof beyond Plato's reasoning for the lost city of Atlantis? It would be hard to argue how much of a hero one would be if they stumbled upon something of that magnitude.
Beyond Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and its quest to find the Ark of the Covenant (which we will touch upon later), there is something to be said about the dedication it takes to make these discoveries. Years and years of hard work can sometimes lead absolutely nowhere. Again, what if the find was something with religious ties to it? I, for some reason, can only picture the movie Stigmata (1999) when I think of religious ties and archaeology.
I can surmise that there is still much to be discovered, who and when it is found remains the actual question. In the interim, let's look at some unexpected archaeology gold that has been unearthed dating back centuries in some cases. Did you know about all of these, or were some a complete surprise?
Ashkelon Baby Bones
via: ancient-origins.net
On the southern coast of Israel lies a city by the name of Ashkelon. In this town is a bathhouse, and below this bathhouse nearly 100 baby bones were unearthed. Upon an initial examination, it was discovered that all of the bones were intact. Speculation arose that these unwanted babies were simply tossed into the sewer below the bathhouse. The absence of telltale signs in an infant indicated that these infants most likely died shortly after birth.
Essentially, the babies were unwanted and tossed aside, left to either be cared for, or killed. The worst part? In these times, it was completely legal. Yeah, let that sink in.
Venetian Vampires
via: news.nationalgeographic.com
In the 16th century, the decomposition of bodies was not common knowledge. The Venetian plague of 1576 led most people to foster belief in vampires. Upon digging graves and finding bodies bloated and still growing hair, it caused panic. "Vampires" eventually became commonly known in Venice as "shroud-eaters." This nickname stemmed from the fact that the shrouds covering the deceased faces were found decayed, revealing the corpse's teeth.
It was believed that these shroud-eaters would go from grave to grave spreading pestilence to suck the little life left of corpse's and gain strength to walk the streets again. To stop the disease being spread, a brick would be inserted in the mouth of the deceased. Of all the vampire tales out there, this one certainly has a unique spin.
via: chicagotribune.com
The Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, was buried in 210-209 BCE. Buried along with him were thousands of clay soldiers, chariots, horses, and cavalry horses in a militant fashion. Specifically, 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, 520 horses, and 150 cavalry horses. This overzealous protection for the Emperor was thought to be his guarantees in the afterlife. These figures varied in height by their roles, with the tallest being generals, for example.
The discovery was made in 1974 by local farmers digging a water well. To this day, less than 1 percent of Emperor Qin's tomb has been excavated. Fear of damaging artifacts along with safety hazard concerns have attributed to this as well.
Atlantis, The Lost City
An Athenian statesman, lawyer, and poet by the name of Solon supposedly heard a tale of Atlantis from Egyptian priests who claimed that the Athenian people perhaps had some sort of mental block concerning the truth of their history. The Athenian people forgot because every so often, their civilization was destroyed by catastrophes.
More often than not, this city is seen as more fictional and a sort of political power play on the part of the philosopher, Plato; others believe it's rooted in the truth of a real disaster. There have been many theories and scholarly research; some people think Atlantis is based on a true ancient superpower.
Did Plato know about the lost city, or was it a conjecture? Was it a peaceful existence once upon a time, or, was this a political play on Plato's part?
via: fascmilefinder.com
The Copper Scroll is part of the extraordinary Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran. This particular scroll was discovered by an archaeologist in 1952, at the back of cave 3 in Qumran. The Copper Scroll ended up as the last of fifteen scrolls found. While some scrolls were written on parchment, this one was written on copper mixed with approximately 1 percent tin. Since the metal had corroded, it could not be viewed by conventional means. In 1955, the Copper Scroll was cut into 23 strips and pieced carefully back together.
Unlike the other scrolls, which contained literary works, the Copper Scroll included a list. Deciphered by John Marco Allegro, he figured out it held 64 locations where massive amounts of treasure could be found. There are over 6,400 references to precious metals listed on the scroll; this puts it at an excess of a billion dollars.
Homo Floresiensis
"Flores Man" nicknamed "hobbit" (no, not the loveable Frodo or Sam), is an extinct species in the Homo genus category. In 2003, at Liang Bua, a limestone cave on the island of Flores in Indonesia, the bones of a woman whose skull was less than one-third of an average human was unearthed. The discovery of these bones was by a joint Indonesian-Australian team of archaeologists looking for clues of the original human migration from Asia to Australia. The almost entirely intact bones they found were a surprise and dubbed the name "LB1". Excavations after LB1 recovered several additional skeletons, some dating back 74,000 years. Since these bones had the same consistency of "wet blotting paper," the bones had to be left to dry before being to be dug up. Also present in the cave were stone implements sized proportionately to someone who would be 3-foot-tall.
In October of 2004, Homo floresiensis was unveiled and nicknamed "Hobbit" after J.R.R. Tolkien's popularized fictional race.
Super Henge
There is Stonehenge, and then there is Super Henge. Super Henge is 15 times the size and located a mere 2 miles away from the widely-known Stonehenge. This recent discovery was found by British archaeologists. The finding of this was announced more recently in September of 2015, at the British Science Festival in Yorkshire. Simply put, everything scientists and researchers know about the original henge may need to be reevaluated. These huge stones were discovered at the Durrington Walls, which is surrounded by a 58-foot long ditch that has a land enclosure of approximately 1 mile in length. This monumental landscape is associated with the Late Neolithic period dating back 4,500 years. I think we can all agree that these rock formations have more stories to unearth that we have found currently.
via: ventanasvoyage.com
Carved in 196 BC, the Rosetta Stone was discovered in 1799 by French soldier Pierre-François Bouchard of the Napoleonic expedition to Egypt. Bouchard, along with other French soldiers, were constructing Fort Julien in Egypt near the town of Rashid (Rosetta) by the Nile Delta. This stone was written in two languages (Egyptian and Greek), with the use of three different scripts: hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek. Numerous scripts were used because that is how many existing languages were in Egypt at the time.
Hieroglyphics were used for important or religious documents, demotic script was the common script of Egypt, and Greek was the language of the rulers of Egypt at the time. The text itself was written by a group of priests to honor the Egyptian pharaoh and lists all of the good he had done for the priests and people of Egypt. However, the deciphering of the text didn't happen until 1822 by Jean-François Champollion. He could read both Greek and Coptic and, by using his knowledge of these languages, was able to figure out what they meant.
Grauballe Man
via: alchetron.com
In April of 1952, in the city of Grauballe, Denmark, a body was discovered by men cutting peat in a field. What makes this find so remarkable is how well-preserved the body was. Known as a "bog body" (human cadaver that has naturally mummified in a peat bog), the commonly known Grauballe man still had his hair and fingernails intact. One of the peat diggers, Tage Sorensen, used his spade to dig and hit something he knew was odd. Once seeing the head, he alerted a local doctor and archaeologist. From what could be seen of the body, it appeared as though his throat may have been slit. As human nature has always bred nosiness, locals came to see what the commotion was about and one accidentally stepped on the Grauballe man's head. His body was removed to a museum, still encased in peat, the next day.
Radioactive-carbon tests placed this man at around 55 B.C., which is a similar timeframe to Julius Caesar's existence.
via: thehistoryblog.com
What exactly are the Dead Sea Scrolls? Well, they are a collection of approximately 981 different texts discovered between the years 1946 and 1956. They were found in the Qumran Caves (Judean Desert), which is a little over a mile from the Dead Sea.
Of the 11 caves these texts were found in, caves 1 and 11 produced relatively unscathed manuscripts. With scholars and archeologists working hard to uncover more truths about these mysterious texts, they discerned that two categories were appropriate for them: biblical and non-biblical. The languages these were written in? Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek.
Another interesting find for archaeologists in connection with these scrolls are the ancient ruins of Qumran. They were excavated in the early 1950's.
Headless Vikings of Dorset
The time is June 2009. The place is a town called Weymouth in Dorset, England. The reason it's on this list is because 54 dismembered skeletons and 51 skulls were unearthed by archaeologists. These remains are thought to be from the Middle Ages between the 5th and 10th centuries. Through science and analysis, the remains have been conclusively decided to have belonged to Scandinavian Vikings. Mostly males ranging from the age of 18 up to the age of 25, the bones showed no sign of wounds from battle, thus leading researchers to believe it was an execution. With 54 dismembered skeletons and only 51 skulls found, it is also believed that perhaps the three remaining skulls were kept as souvenirs and placed on stakes. What immediately comes to my mind is Vlad the Impaler. Again, we are talking about the Middle Ages here, so it's also a very likely possibility that it was a show of power to overthrow, or set an example against, an enemy.
via: historyheretic.org
A gold-covered wooden chest as described in the Book of Exodus as containing two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments written on it has been the subject of much speculation in regards to it being found. Also referenced as the Ark of the Testimony, this mystery has yet to be unsolved. Dating back to biblical times, the Ark was created by a pattern given to Moses by God on a 40-day stay on a mountain top in Mount Sinai.
Although there has been no substantial proof of its discovery, there have been claims of possible locations. In 100 BC a prophet, Jeremiah states being warned by God, took the Ark, the Tabernacle, and the Altar of Incense and buried them in a cave on Mount Nebo.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims to possess the Ark. After a lot of back and forth claims to unveil its existence in said church, it was never unveiled, and only the word of a patriarch was given. The actual claims have yet to be substantiated.
Southern Africa, Europe, and Egypt have similar claims to having it over the years. However, nothing concrete has come to light as of yet. Well, at least from what I've found.
via: churchmilitant.com
In 1898, scientific inquiry into the Shroud of Turin began. It wasn't until the year 1969 that scientists were granted permissions to examine the shroud; this was the setup of the "Shroud of Turin Research Project" led by the United States. This project consisted of 33 members with high credentials, equipment weighing in the tons, and shifts lasting 24 hours a day. The conclusion states that it is an image of a real human form of a crucified man, not the product of an artist. However, under the circumstances, nothing could adequately account for the image.
The shroud is a 53-foot square linen believed by many Christians to be actual burial garment of Jesus Christ. There were carbon-14 tests done in 1988 stating that the shroud is from an age many years beyond the life and death of Jesus Christ. Speculation that the testing was flawed came into question with a vehement denial that it was indeed flawed. Even with all of the research, labor hours, and testing, the question of all questions remains: how did that image get onto the shroud?
The Great Pyramid of Giza
via: galaticconnection.com
As the only surviving structure of the seven wonders of the world, it comes as no surprise that the pyramids of Giza made it to almost the top of this list. The great pyramid, built between 2589 BC and 2504 BC, has one thing historians can agree on: it took massive amounts of labor to complete them. For approximately 3,800 years, the pyramid stood as the tallest structure in the world (that spot is currently taken by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai). And although it may not be the tallest structure anymore, and technological advances have vastly improved, the pyramids have yet to be replicated with the precision it took initially. Over 2 million blocks averaging about 2.5 tons each make up this massive structure. Even though the Great Pyramid is located in the deserts of Egypt, the interior of the structure stays at an even 68 degrees Fahrenheit on average.
Greek historian Herodotus believed it took around 20 years and 100,000 men to complete this task. However, archaeological evidence suggests it was more likely to be around 20,000 people. Either way, that's one hell of an army to accomplish such a task.
via: nbcnews.com
Tutankhamun, more commonly known as King Tut, was only 19 years old when he died. There has been much debate surrounding his death such as whether or not it was accidental. The tomb he was buried in was much smaller than someone of his status would have typically received. Splotches on the wall in his tomb could indicate that it was a rushed burial and that the paint hadn't been dry by the time he was buried.
In 1922, Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon discovered an almost entirely intact tomb, causing worldwide press coverage. This find breathed new life into the public's interest of King Tut, whose mask was now at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Exhibits of artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb have gone around the world and continue to interest many. Some mysterious deaths of a few people who excavated King Tut's tomb led to the belief of the "curse of the pharaohs." As with the news, though, it was most likely a hyped up story for circulation, much like celebrity gossip these days.
Sources: archive.archaeology.org, reuters.com, ancient-origins.net, livescience.com, ancientegypt.co.uk,news.nationalgeographic.com
Former Dance Moms Star Has Phone Hacked
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Amber Heard Fined Big Money For Skipping Court


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GOP debate: Attacks focus on Gingrich
By Jonathan Easley - 12/11/11 05:21 AM EST
With less than a month before the first ballots are cast at the Iowa caucuses, the GOP field went after frontrunner Newt Gingrich at a debate in Des Moines on Saturday night.
The former House speaker knew the assault was coming - surrogates for other campaigns spent the last week attacking Gingrich as erratic and lacking the character needed to lead the party.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry hit Gingrich on a personal level over the character issue.
"I've always been of the opinion that if you cheat on your wife you'll cheat on your business partner, so I think that issue of fidelity is important," Perry said. "It's a characteristic of which people look at other individuals, whether it's in their business lives, or in their personal lives, or picking someone to serve in public office for them."
"I think that sends a very powerful message – if you will cheat on your wife, if you will cheat on your spouse, then why wouldn't you cheat on your business partner, or why wouldn't you cheat on anybody for that matter."
Gingrich is on his third marriage and has admitted to past infidelities, but says those days are behind him and that he repented when he joined the Catholic Church.
The former House Speaker sought to deflect the "fidelity" attacks by admitting his mistakes.
"I think it is a real issue, I think that people have to look at the person to whom they will loan the presidency, and I think they have the right to ask every single question," he said.
"In my case, I've said out front openly – I've made mistakes at times, I've had to go to God for forgiveness, I've had to seek reconciliation. But I'm also a 68 year old grandfather, and people have to measure now whether I'm a person that they can trust."
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney passed on attacking Gingrich over his marriages, although earlier this week his campaign released an ad touting his long relationship with his wife, which many interpreted as a veiled swipe at Gingrich.
The candidates also tried to paint Gingrich as erratic for his controversial remarks last week that the Palestinians are an "invented" people – remarks that Gingrich stood by at Saturday's debate.
Romney said he didn't disagree with the facts of what Gingrich said, but that Gingrich shouldn't have thrown "incendiary words into a place which is a boiling pot" because it makes life more difficult for the Israelis.
"That's just stirring up trouble," Rep. Ron Paul said. "To go out of our way to say that so and so is not a real people … this is how we get involved in so many messes."
But Gingrich didn't back down, and even doubled down by continuously blasting the Palestinians as "terrorists."
"Is what I said factually correct? Yes. Is it historically true? Yes," Gingrich said. "We are in a situation where everyday rockets are fired into Israel while the United States – the current administration – tries to pressure the Israelis into a peace process."
"Somebody ought to have the courage to tell the truth," he continued. "These people are terrorists, they teach terrorism in their schools … it's fundamentally the time for somebody to have the guts to say enough lying about the Middle East."
On immigration, Gingrich has taken heat for his idea of a review board for illegal immigrants that have established lives in the U.S., potentially opening a path to citizenship for some.
Romney called the plan a "magnet that draws people into the country illegally."
Gingrich again had to defend his ties to mortgage giant Freddie Mac, who paid him over $1.5 million for advice "as a historian."
"I never did any lobbying for any agency. I was in the private sector," Gingrich said with a glance at Romney, who has touted his private sector experience as a qualification to be president.
"K Street isn't the private sector," Romney retorted.
Bachmann, who referred to the two leading candidates as "Newt Romney," also blasted Gingrich as a lobbyist, and repeated her line that Gingrich profited from working on K Street, which she called "the Rodeo Drive of Washington D.C."
Gingrich largely skirted his past support of the individual healthcare mandate, although it was brought up that he supported the mandate as late as May of this year.
Still, the former House speaker never seemed flapped by the attacks. On the matter of his past divorces, the camera showed him listening intently as each candidate discussed what it meant about his character, before he was finally given the opportunity to respond.
Vicki Needham contributed.


Catania may be considered a symbol of revival. Many times destroyed by the forces of nature (earthquakes and Etna's eruptions) and by conquerors who, more than once ransacked and plundered to the limit the city and many times reborn from the rubble; the inscription on the Ferdinandean Gate (or Garibaldi Gate) clearly states "Melior de cinere surgo" (I reborn from my rubble more beautiful than ever).
Even if there are many Greek and Roman remains, such as the Roman Theatre, the Odeon, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Thermae, today the visitors can see a Baroque city, totally rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693, and declared by UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002, together with the seve Late-Baroque towns in val di Noto.
Saint Agatha's Cathedral is the Dome of the city, realized by the architect Vaccarini in 1711, in typical Sicilian baroque style, after the earthquake of 1693. Not too far from the Cathedral, in the middle of the square, there is the symbol of Catania, the "Fontana dell'Elefante" (the Elephant Fountain), assembled by Vaccarini; it is made of marble portraying an ancient lavic elephant and surmounted by an Egyptian obelisk.
Catania is also the birthplace of the famous musician and composer Vincenzo Bellini (to whom the Teatro Massimo is dedicated) and of Giovanni Verga, the most important Italian realist writer.
This town web page has been visited 91,128 times.


Well done to all those that competed at NT Titles. The club was well represented and many put themselves outside their comfort zones to have a go. Another opportunity exists to compete next weekend so register now for another opportunity to put all those skills to the test. Win or lose every competition teaches students valuable Jiujitsu skills in a pressure but fun environment. Look forward to seeing you all there.


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Private number plates are a status symbol that appeals to most drivers. They are the perfect addition to any vehicle, providing a personalised driving experience that will make you fall in love with the car all over again. However, you'd be very naïve to think that the sense of grandeur and satisfaction are the only rewards. In truth, they can be used to accomplish so much more, which is something regularly utilised by the country's most successful people.
It may not seem like something as trivial as a personalised number plate could make a major difference to your life and business, as well as society in general. Nonetheless, when used well, they can make a telling impact to all of those factors and more. Here are four known faces that prove that once and for all.
#1. Lord Alan Sugar: Private Number Plate – AMS 1
Business tycoon Lord Alan Sugar has owned personalised number plates for over four decades. However, the most famous plate under his possession is the instantly recognisable AMS 1 plate.
Sugar's first major company, Amstrad, gained its name by combining his initial (Alan Michael Sugar) with 'trad' (trading) and was launched way back in 1968. The AMS 1 plate continues the trend of embracing his initials, which becomes a great promotional tool for both his personal brand and business activities.
In fact, the AMS 1 plate was voted as one of the most famous in Britain thanks largely to its usage in Sugar's highly successful BBC show "The Apprentice". The private number plate is displayed in the title sequence and has been seen in many episodes over the programme's 13-year duration.
The AMS plate is currently displayed on Sugar's Rolls Royce.
#2. Theo Paphitis: Private Number Plate – RYM 4N
Another wealthy and successful entrepreneur who uses a private number plate to promote a business is former Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis. The Cypriot-born Brit owns the RYM 4N number plate to promote Ryman Ltd, one of the UK's largest stationery companies, of which he is the owner.
The former Millwall chairman's famous suffix style number plate stands out to promote the brand exceptionally well. It can be seen by thousands of passing motorists each week and, given most people fall into the store's potential demographic, it has been a major marketing tool upon the owner's cars, including a 2007 Maybach 62 5.5litre beast.
There can be no confusion about what the message relates to either, making it a highly useful resource indeed.
#3. Afzal Kahn: Private Number Plate – F1
In terms of motoring circles, British motoring designer Afzhal Khan is a major celebrity. To the wider population, though, his F1 personalised number plate is far more recognisable.
Bought for £440k in 2008, the F1 plate hasn't only been used to promote his own business endeavours and personal brand. It is registered to a stunning Bugatti SuperSport and has subsequently been used to promote various businesses through social media posts, special events, and other revenue spinners. After all, such an iconic number plate is always going to attract attention.
Kahn may not be the owner for too long, placing on sale in a bid to fetch over almost £15million! This would obliterate the UK's current record of £518k for the "25 O" plate. Now, that is some truly incredible asset growth in the space of just 10 years. It also makes the decision to reject a £6million offer in 2014 seem very shrewd indeed.
#4. Chris Evans: Private Number Plate – FAB 1
Sometimes, a private number plate will stand out from the crowd on its own merits. In truth, many would argue that the FAB 1 option falls safely into this category. However, famous entertainer Chris Evans was taking no chances when putting it upon a pink Rolls Royce in order to raise millions for charity.
The iconic car and number plate did just that in 2013, raising awareness for Breast Cancer Care research by driving from Land's End to John O'Groats on April 13th. The plate itself was rented out on a daily basis with those proceeds also going to the worthy cause.
While the secondary activity showed that there could be a potential business model hidden in that field, there's no doubt the charity aspect was the main incentive. Frankly, the fact that a personalised number plate can achieve so much good for the world is nothing short of incredible.
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Self-employment taxes are your responsibility when you have a handmade business. When you are self-employed, you are responsible for paying your own Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare), and perhaps even additional city or local taxes. You don't have a choice and you can't choose when you start contributing or paying these types of self-employment taxes.
Tax payments are a major part of running your handmade business – you have the Sales Tax payments to the State that you need to track and pay – PLUS – you'll have self-employment taxes that you need to pay. A good rule of thumb is to set that money aside (in a separate bank account) so you aren't tempted to spend it.
As self-employed business owners we don't have FICA (Social Security) & Medicare taken out of our paychecks – simply because we don't have paychecks like we would if we worked for someone else. Because of this our taxes at the end of the year tend to be higher and you need to hold onto some of the money that your business brings in so you aren't sent into a state of panic when you file your tax return.
So, how do I figure out how much money to set aside and what I'll be taxed on?
Well, that's where it gets complicated – so bear with me.
You're probably wondering – How do I figure out my tax rate(s)?
You should be able to determine your Federal, State and any City or Local Tax rates by looking at last years tax return or by contacting your tax preparer.
Set that money aside – act like you don't even have it!
You had $1,000.00 in sales with $500.00 in expenses for the previous month. This leaves you with $500.00 in Net Income/Profit. Now, multiple $500.00 by 33%, this equals $165.00 in self-employment tax. You should immediately transfer $165.00 out of your checking account and into a separate savings account that you use to hold tax money. This way you aren't temped to spend it.
What if my expenses are more than my income?
As handmade business owners our sales and income often changes month by month. Some months you'll make a profit and other months you'll have a loss (a loss occurs when your expenses are more than your income), and that's ok. For that month, you simply don't set aside any money. This is also why it's important to do the calculations every month, so you aren't freaked out at the end of the year.
So, when does all this self-employment tax stuff apply to my handmade business?
This is strictly my opinion as a career bookkeeper.
My best advice, to all business owners or those of you who are thinking about taking that journey down the road to owning your own business, is to start tracking your expenses the very moment you decide that you want to own your own business. These initial expenses or costs are considered start-up costs and you are able (at this point) to deduct those start up costs when you file your tax return. It's also important that you track those initial start-up costs separately from your normal monthly income and expenses once you start selling your finished product.
Now remember, I'm NOT a CPA and I'm NOT YOUR bookkeeper, but this is what I know from experience and research.
According to the IRS website, you need to file a business tax return when you have had $600.00 in revenue. However, a recent article I read said that if you had more than $400.00 – so there's a little confusion there. I would suggest that YOU speak with y our tax preparer or someone from your local SBA (Small Business Administration) office.
As your business grows and you need to pay in more than $1,000.00 per year in taxes, you'll need to make quarterly estimated tax payments – don't worry, your tax preparer will let you know and tell you what you need to do at this point.
While self-employment tax is based on your business profit, the IRS lets you count what would normally be the employer portion (if you worked for someone else) of 7.65% as a business deduction when calculating the tax.
At the end of the year, let's say your handmade business had a net profit of $20,000.00. Your CPA will take the $20,000.00 and deduct 7.65% (or $1,530.00) which then gives you $18,470.00 and THEN multiply that by just the self-employment tax rate of 15.3% for a total of $2,825.91 in self-employment (FICA and Medicare) tax. Then they will calculate Federal, State, City and/or local taxes on top of that.
Don't feel that you have to wrap your head around all of this, your tax preparer will know just what to do when it's time to file your tax returns. The most important thing YOU need to remember – always set aside that money (using the 33-35% rule) and DO NOT SPEND IT! The government wants their money and they don't want to hear any excuses!
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North Korea test-fires three Rodong medium-range missiles
North Korea has reportedly test-fired three medium-range Rodong ballistic missiles from Hwangju, a town in the Western part of the country, towards Japan.
Srivari
The latest missile test fire follows the recent launch of a KN-11 ballistic missile from a submarine.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs Of Staff (JCS) have said that the missiles flew more 1,000km after being launched from North Hwanghae province on Monday.
"We will raise our concerns at the UN about the threat posed to international security by these programmes."
At least one of the three missiles fell into Japan's Air Defence Identification Zone, Reuters reported citing a South Korean military official.
The US strongly condemned North Korea's launch of three ballistic missiles into the sea of Japan, which threaten civil aviation and maritime commerce in the region.
These launches violate multiple UN Security Council Resolutions that prohibit North Korea's launches using ballistic missile technology.
US Department of State spokesperson John Kirby said: "We will raise our concerns at the UN about the threat posed to international security by these programmes.
"We will also do so in other fora—including the upcoming East Asia Summit—to bolster international resolve to hold the Democratic People's Republic of Korea accountable for its provocative actions. Our commitment to the defense of our allies in the face of these threats remains ironclad.
"We call on North Korea to refrain from actions and rhetoric that further raise tensions in the region and to focus instead on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its international obligations and commitments."
North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes threatens the US and its allies Japan and the Republic of Korea.
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Home / Latest Updates / Taliban ramp up attacks on Afghans: Pompeo told
Taliban ramp up attacks on Afghans: Pompeo told
admin January 3, 2021	Latest Updates, World Leave a comment 101 Views
KABUL: The US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo's recent remarks that no U.S. service member was killed in almost one year, had faced a widespread criticism among the Afghans officials and social media users.
A Spokesman for the Presidential Palace, Dawa Khan Minapal said that the reason for cessation of the foreign troop casualties is that the Afghan security forces "are directly" involved in the war and fighting the militants.
However, the casualties of the foreign forces have been significantly dropped – Minapal said that the Afghans have been suffering a huge tool on a daily basis. He said that the Taliban has been fighting the Afghan government and its people.
As the U.S. incumbent Administration of Republican is on the edge of leaving, Pompeo in a series of tweets praised the US foreign policy made in his tenure.
He backed the American troop drawdown in Afghanistan, saying that every US administration has wanted to draw down the number of troops in the country.
The US and Taliban after over ten rounds of controversial peace negotiations forge a peace deal on February 29th of 2020. The agreement that also laid out the drawdown of the US troops in Afghanistan stipulated the Taliban to cut ties with the al-Qaeda terrorist network who mastermind the 9/11 attack in the US, leaving over 2,500 American killed and scores of others wounded.
Secretary of State cited that the US mission in Afghanistan is to eliminate the al-Qaeda and threats against the US. "Don't need 10s of 1,000s of U.S. troops on the ground to do that. We have partners: brave Afghans, NATO forces. We also have the ability to project power from afar," Pompeo said.
But a previous report of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan revealed that the Taliban didn't cut its links with the al-Qaeda.
The agreement also paves the ground for the intra-Afghan negotiations which are presently paused after the negotiation teams of the government and Taliban decided to take a break to consult the agendas of the talks with their leaderships .
"No U.S. servicemen have been killed in Afghanistan in almost a year, and Afghans are finally discussing peace and reconciliation among themselves. Such incredible progress," Pompeo added.
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Officer describes struggle, shooting
Grappling on the ground with a suspect on a dark, empty patch of desert, North Las Vegas police officer Michael Eggers reached around the suspect's waist and unexpectedly grabbed the barrel of a gun.
Eggers held tight with his left hand as he drew his gun with his right.
He ordered Tyrise Bell to drop the weapon. The 18-year-old kept pushing it toward him, Eggers said.
Exhausted after a long foot chase, worried his backup might not find him in time, and scared at the prospect of being shot, Eggers pulled the trigger.
"I thought he was going to kill me," Eggers testified Friday at a coroner's inquest into Bell's death.
Five shots fired. Four hit Bell, with the fatal shot striking his chest and hitting several major organs.
After hearing Eggers' account of the deadly Jan. 23 encounter near Ann Road and Revere Street, a jury deliberated about an hour before ruling his actions justified. The courtroom was packed with more than 35 of Eggers' fellow officers and about a dozen of Bell's family and friends.
The verdict angered Bell's mother.
"He died for jaywalking," Michelle Johnson said.
Eggers, who was hired by North Las Vegas about a year and a half ago after five years with the Las Vegas marshals, said the incident began about 7:15 p.m. when he tried to stop Bell and another man after they jaywalked near the intersection.
The pair ignored Eggers' commands to stop and ran in opposite directions.
Eggers chased Bell, who ran through the parking lot of a PT's Pub and jumped over two cinder block walls on his way to the desert lot, according to Eggers and eyewitnesses.
When the officer caught up to the teen, Bell turned and punched Eggers in the face, Eggers said.
The officer tackled Bell to the ground and tried to get control of his hands.
"Sometime during that struggle, he said, quote, 'I'm going to kill you,' " Eggers testified.
Eggers tried to use his Taser, but it stuck in its holster. He pulled out his collapsible baton, which was not extending properly, and hit Bell twice in the back before it fell out of his hands, he said.
During the scuffle, Eggers grabbed Bell's gun and held on until the fatal shots had been fired.
Eggers said he remembered firing three shots. Investigators determined he had fired five.
Four hit the teen, according to the coroner's office.
In an interview with the Review-Journal shortly after the incident, Bell's family said they never knew him to carry a gun.
On the witness stand Friday, classmate and friend Elijah Payne testified that Bell had shown him the 9 mm semiautomatic Beretta several times, including once two weeks before the fatal encounter.
An analysis of the gun also found Bell's DNA on the weapon's grip and barrel, Detective Paul Freeman said.
Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0281.
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US wasted no time getting El Chapo to supermax prison
By Tom Hays The Associated Press
A lawyer says authorities have wasted no time in sending the convicted Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo to an ultra-high-security prison where he will serve a life sentence.
Texas mom pleads guilty in shooting deaths of 2 young daughters
A Texas woman was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty Wednesday to shooting and killing her two young daughters in 2017.
US warship destroys 'hostile' Iranian drone, raising tensions
By Darlene Superville and Robert Burns The Associated Press
July 18, 2019 - 12:43 pm July 18, 2019 - 1:30 pm
Earth sizzles with hottest June on record, July may follow
By Seth Borenstein The Associated Press
July 18, 2019 - 12:28 pm July 18, 2019 - 12:28 pm
The heat goes on: Earth sizzled to its hottest June on record as the climate keeps going to extremes.
Ex-Nevada Senate Majority Leader Atkinson gets 27 months in prison
By Max Michor / RJ
July 18, 2019 - 11:12 am July 18, 2019 - 1:49 pm
Former Nevada Senate Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson, who resigned earlier this year, was sentenced Thursday to 27 months in prison for misusing campaign funds.
Berkeley bans gender-specific terms like 'manhole' from city codes
Berkeley, California, has adopted an ordinance to replace some terms with gender-neutral words in the city code.
Trump regrets 'send her back' chant at campaign rally
By Debra J. Saunders / RJ
President Trump on Thursday did something he rarely does: Express regret over a chant his supporters used at a North Carolina rally on Wednesday evening.
House-approved $15 minimum wage has little chance in Senate
By Lisa Mascaro The Associated Press
Rural Ohio county staggers from impact of opioid influx
By Angie Wang and John Minchillo The Associated Press
The numbers are staggering: An average yearly total of 107 opioid pills per resident were distributed over a seven-year period in this rural county deep in Appalachia.
Records show Trump involved in flurry of calls to pay porn star
By Jim Mustian The Associated Press
July 18, 2019 - 9:01 am July 18, 2019 - 2:13 pm
Court records show that in the days leading up to the 2016 election, President Donald Trump spoke with aides rushing to squash stories about alleged affairs he had.